Super Bore XL
Posted February 5, 2006, 10:32 PM ET

At halftime, the Rolling Stones foreshadowed what we could come to expect in Super Bowl XL...."You Can't Get No Satisfaction".

Unless you are a Steelers fan.

Super Bowl XL was a super snooze...even the commercials were nondescript.

The good news is that the Steelers now have "one for the thumb", and they join the 49ers and Cowboys as the only franchises with five Super Bowl titles.

The people of Detroit did a great job making everyone feel right at home...but the city, the storylines, and unfortunately the game had very little juice.

Paul Tagliabue, the NFL Commissioner, stated last month in SI that "baseball was about as exciting as standing in line at a supermarket"...Hey, Commish, you've got a lot of nerve to talk about anybody or any game being boring based on your own product during Super Bowl XL.

But America will continue to party...especially in the Steel City, regardless of what the critics might say about the game and commercials.

Looking back at the game and the day's events, I do have some questions....

What was going on during the national anthem? Did Aretha and Aaron Neville even bother to rehearse?

Tom Brady, the NFL's all-stud QB, was present for the coin toss? Are you kidding me? Surely he has something better to do other than to wear a suit at midfield and flip a coin.

If that is the best that Madison Avenue can do, then the advertising world is in deep, deep trouble.

John Madden had a good week...he broadcasts his final game on ABC before moving on to NBC...and he also was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Al Michaels is also moving from ABC...he has a deal with ESPN, but there are rumors that he could join Madden at NBC.

I guess it is a fitting end to the 2005 season...the 11-point win by the Steelers means that 8 of the 11 games in the playoffs were by double-digit margins. The only playoff game decided by a field goal or less was the Steelers' 3-point win over the Colts.

Mick Jagger had it right...Super Bowl XL and the entire playoff season left me empty and a bit disappointed. And now, we all have to wait for nearly 6 months before the guys report back to camp.

In the meantime, congratulations to Steeler Nation....and to Bill Cowher for winning his first world championship. Cowher has been great for the Steelers and for the game of football.

And much like last month when Texas and Mack Brown won the national championship....you can add Cowher's name to the list of coaches that proved that they can indeed win the "Big One".

And to take another cue from the Stones...as for the 2006 football season...."Start Me Up"....it can't get here fast enough.