Super Bowl Losers: Coincidence or Trend?

Last night in Washington, the Bears fell 24-16 to the Redskins to fall to 5-8; for all intensive purposes eliminating them from the NFC Wild Card race. That will mark the sixth time in seven years that the losers of the Super Bowl will miss the playoffs the following season, and the Seahawks should have been the champions in my mind against Pittsburgh, but that's another article for another time. When something like this goes on for several years, it makes me wonder what's actually behind something that's been going on for so long. It's been going on for too long to be a coincidence; there has to be some reasons behind it. I posed the question to Matt Williamson of Scouts' INC, and he said that a combination of many factors answers this big question:
"Could be many reasons: Usually their roster gets picked apart somewhat and they only have late draft picks to restock. Players can also get the feeling that they have reached their goal and don't realize that getting back is as tough as it really is. Lastly, winning is tough in this league- it's that simple. I think the competitiveness of this league is sometimes overlooked a bit. Brutal to stay on top."
Williamson makes many good points. The Super Bowl loser usually loses many parts the following season. This year's Bears team doesn't have starting RB Thomas Jones who was traded to the Jets, and Tank Johnson who was a large part of their run stuffing defense last season who now plays for Dallas after various offseason problems forced Chicago to cut him. Many Bears rookies played big roles when they won the NFC, but the young players this year haven't made the kind of impact that they were probably looking for. I don't know if I agree with the sentiment of complacency among the players who made it so far only to lose on the biggest stage. I believe that would be a sort of motivational factor for the SB losers. Once you taste success, and once you've gotten so far, you want to get back to capture the ultimate prize. But Williamson then says that players may not realize how difficult it is to get back to the postseason. With highly competitive balance in free agency and the draft coupled with the wild parity that goes on during the season, it's so hard to win year in and year out without a down season along the way. There are 31 other teams who want that prize just as badly as you do, if not an even bigger desire to thrive. You have to have such a well rounded organization from the top all the way down. From the ownership willing to keep the team together, for GM's and directors of player personnel to deal with the constant roster turnover, down to the coaching staff to not only teach the system to the players, but to adapt with the latest schemes and to adjust their styles along with the times. Not to mention the players who actually have to succeed on the field. It's certainly interesting that six out of the last seven Super Bowl losers missed the postseason the following year, but with all the factors laid out, maybe it shouldn't be so surprising. Coincidence or trend? It's a combination of so many factors that maybe we shouldn't be so shocked when it happens. The climb to the top of the mountain is as hard as it gets.

SprungOnSports College Hoops Top 25

Top 25
1) UNC- Wins over Ohio State and Kentucky? Hellooo top ranking.
2) Kansas- Win over USC has them leapfrogging Memphis.
3) Duke- Demolished Wisconsin and beat Davidson.
4) Texas- Beat UCLA, movin on up Jeffersons style.
5) Memphis- Way to show Austin Peay who's boss!
6) Georgetwon- Nice win over ODU.
7) Washington State- Beat Baylor, teams behind them did better.
8) UCLA- Falls down to 8th, beat GW though.
9) Michigan State- Destroyed NC State.
10) Indiana- Big wins over GT and SIU move them up.
11) Louisville- Keeps up their good play with a win over Miami.
12) Tennessee- Beat up on crappy teams to keep up their rank.
13) Texas A&M- Good win over Bama, bad loss to Arizona.
14) Butler- Moves up with a win over Ohio State.
15) Oregon- Nice win over K-State.
16) Marquette- Beat UWM but still slides down a couple.
17) Gonzaga- Wins over St Joe's and UConn move them up.
18) Clemson- Good wins over Purdue and South Carolina.
19) Pitt- Beat BU and Toledo, but move down because of the Zags.
20) Arkansas- Wins over Mizzou and Oral Roberts keeps them at 20.
21) Xavier- Beat Oakland and Belmont, which is pretty good.
22) Vanderbilt- Beat GT and South Alabama to move into this week's rankings.
23) Stanford- Mauled Colorado to move up.
24) BYU- 5-1 and debuts this week.
25) Villanova- Pounded Penn to enter this week.

Winter Meetings Day I

Winter Meetings!!!!!! What a great week to be a baseball fan. Today may very well be decision day for the Twins regarding Johan Santana, and who knows what else could go down from the Grand Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Let's hope there are as many deals as there are rooms in the sprawling building.

8:45am EST
-Ken Rosenthal says that the heat is now on Mets GM Omar Minaya. Rosenthal also reports that a trade of Miguel Tejada will likely hinge on what happens with Miguel Cabrera, but that the Astros, Cardinals, and Giants would be interested regardless. The Brewers are still the frontrunners for Scott Rolen. Many are saying that the Orioles would definitely trade Brian Roberts if Baltimore owner Peter Angelos allowed it. The Mets and Astros were interested until they got second basemen of their own, but the Cubs are still intrigued. Mike Piazza interests the Padres if Michael Barrett leaves for Tampa, Florida, or the Orioles, who would have interest if they deal Ramon Hernandez. Jim Bowden offered Chad Cordero to the Brewers for Rickie Weeks, and was flatly rejected on the spot. Atlanta no longer has interest in Coco Crisp, the Mets and Yankees are both interested in Octavio Dotel, and Craig Brazell has signed a contract with Seibu of the Japanese League.
-Jim Molony of MLB.com gives his report from Nashville: Florida may hold on to Miguel Cabrera until July. Jon Lieber could go to the Astros, and Jason Jennings could go to Colorado, San Diego, or Washington.
-Colorado could swing a trade for Chris Burke and has interest in Mark Loretta, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com.
-Now that Jake Peavy will be signed to an extension, Arizona could do the same with Brandon Webb. (Arizona Republic)
-The Cubs could trade Matt Murton, and the Padres have interest in Mark Prior. (Chicago Sun-Times)

College Hoops- Freshman Fantasy

- Back from my brief stint on the bench, I'm back, and it feels good. College Basketball, possibly the best basketball being played right now, is a wonderful thing. Freshman seem to be taking over the game. Some of them are phenoms. Players that come around once in a lifetime. We thought last years' class was good with Oden, Durant, Hawes, Budinger and the rest of the gang. Well I'm about to take you on a tour of the best freshman class,(in my opinion), in a long time. - I'd like to start in Manhattan, Kansas, in a school called Kansas State University. Michael Beasley is leading the nation in scoring with 27.2 a game while averaging 15.5 rebounds a game. In their last game scouts said he played poorly, i didn't know that 13 and 10 was poor. The guy has big man skills, slashing skills, shooting skills, leadership ability and is playing alongside Bill Walker, another solid frosh, on a team playing sleeper. Oh hes good, and watch out because he's coming to a city near you, if your team is as bad as mine, the Knicks. - Not to far below Mr. Beasley is the second leading scorer in the Nation, from Indiana, Eric Gordon. Averaging 27 points, 3.5 boards and 3.5 assists, he already the go-to-guy for a top 25 ranked ball team. Had his "worst" night lately as well, finishing with 20 points, 3 boards and 2 assists. He is the next NBA star guard. Kind of reminds me of a young Paul Pierce, just better. - Derrick Rose, who is playing PG for the Memphis Tigers, is proving early that he can be a pass-first point guard with tremendous scoring ability. Averaging 16.6 points, 5 boards and 4 assists, he is jumping out as the captain of a top 5 team. Memphis relies on this high-flyer from Chicago to lead them to the holy Final Four. - USC will put their fate in the hands of super-frosh OJ Mayo. This kid is super athletic and has a knack for scoring. 21 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists are this kids stats. He showed us that he can take a game into his own hands against Kansas when he scored the teams first 5 points and had 5 steals to start the game. He is a defensive maven and what we call a true all-around ball player. - Possibly the most over looked freshman is Kevin Love. Because he is playing for a stronger team, he doesn't need to take over games. That doesn't stop him from being the player of the game in all of the games of the CBE Invitational. Averaging 19.5 and 10 a game, he is the true meaning of a post player. His amazing rebounding ability and outlet passing ability have pro-scouts craving his teamwork style of play. He also has guard like handles which makes him even more dangerous.

- Donte Green of Syracuse is playing out of his mind. Alongside Johnny Flynn, The Orange have found their rhythm and are playing pretty well. He is scoring 20 points a game while also averaging 8.8 rebounds. He had huge games against both Washington and Ohio State and looks to continue a great year.

- Jerryd Bayless who is averaging 18 points, 4.5 boards and 5.5 assists a game for Arizona, is proving that there was a reason for Chase Budinger to stay another year. While Coach Lute Olson is gone, Budinger and Bayless are playing very well together and developing a chemistry that should take them deep into the dance.

That's all for now, if you want to read more about this years Freshman class, check out the College Basketball section of rivals.com.

Adam Ehrenreich