Five final thoughts, including a Super Bowl prediction

Five thoughts as we close out Super Bowl week and get set for the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens to square off in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans on Sunday (and yes, we have a prediction):

1) The brother of all press conferences. Did you catch the presser Friday morning with Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh? Great move by the NFL to switch up the traditional Friday plan in which the two Super Bowl head coaches hold their final media availabilities in separate pressers at the media center.

Pretty cool, eh? But here’s the thing: Why can’t they do that every year? Think about how cool it would have been last year if Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin were sitting next to each other as they faced the media together. (Or next year, when it will be John Fox and Pete Carroll.) C’mon, NFL, let’s make this happen.

2) Moss ado about nothing. It doesn’t take much to throw NFL writers, bloggers and talking heads into a frenzy. That was never in question, but Randy Moss just hammered it home.

It’s one thing to report on the fact that Moss declared himself the best wide receiver of all-time at Media Day. And it’s okay to take him seriously. But it’s ludicrous to take Moss’ comment and use it to launch into a lengthy statistic and analytical breakdown on the subject.

While Moss might very well be the second-best receiver of all time (because he is), he’s not worthy of Jerry Rice. Simple. Done. So many great stories and angles were either overshadowed or just ignored in favor of piling on the Moss remarks. What a waste.

3) Social misfits. I’ve always enjoyed following my old friends from the NFL media world on Twitter, but this week has been tough. More than gaining solid insight into the game, this week’s Twitter experience has been all about seeing and hearing who is dining at what famous N’Awlins establishment or gallivanting down Bourbon Street. Am I jealous? Yes, I am. I’m also intrigued about what Twitter will have in store for us next year, when the Super Bowl comes to the New York area. With so many varied opportunities in Manhattan, I fully expect more interesting food choices, celebrity sightings and questionable nightlife decisions to be broadcast via Twiiter next year.

4) Most underplayed stat. Between the Harbaughs, Ray Lewis, Colin Kaepernick and Joe Flacco, there wasn’t much room to focus on lower-profile players who could make a big impact in this game, but the one player we oughta keep an eye on Sunday is Jacoby Jones. The Ravens led the NFL with an average of 27.3 yards per kickoff return. Jones averaged 30.7 yards per return and scored twice. And considering the fact that John Harbaugh was a special teams coordinator before taking the job as Ravens head coach, it’s fair to think this game could be decided on special teams.

5) And the winner is… When the Super Bowl matchup was set two weeks ago, I felt the 49ers would be solid pick. I started to hedge earlier this week and now I’m solidly picking the Ravens. Here are the reasons why:

• Colin Kaepernick is and will continue to be an exciting and successful NFL quarterback. But still, this is just his 10^th career start – and the first time anyone has had two weeks to prepare for him. The Ravens defense is not the dominant force it once was, but I expect them to capitalize on facing a relatively inexperienced QB. There will be turnovers, and I anticipate at least one defensive touchdown for Baltimore.

• It’s not so much that the Ravens are a team of destiny; it’s that the Ravens players believe they are a team of destiny.

• Groan if you want about this one, but it’s legit: The 49ers are 5-0 in the Super Bowl. Simply put: They are due for a loss.

The pick: Ravens 24, 49ers 14

If not for Tyree and Manningham, Belichick is the greatest

For starters, let’s get one thing straight. Bill Belichick is a Hall of Fame coach regardless of what you think about the videotaping scandal. And as far as I’m concerned, it does not minimize my view of the man’s coaching ability. He was an integral part of two Super Bowl champions with the New York Giants, he presided over a dynasty with the New England Patriots that won three Super Bowls in four years, and he has kept the Patriots near the top of the NFL for more than a decade. Enough said.

Two painfully close losses to the Giants in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI don’t tarnish any legacy. He is one of just three head coaches (along with Hall of Famers Don Shula and tom Landry) to appear in five Super Bowls. That’s impressive, to say the least.

For those who just don’t like Belichick and point to spygate as a bone of contention to his greatness, Super Bowl XLVI came so close to elevating Belichick to another level.

How cool was it when NFL Films captured Belichick on the sidelines before the Giants’ game-winning drive, imploring his defense to make Eli Manning throw to Mario Manningham?

“This is still a Nicks and Cruz offense,” he shouted. “Make them throw to Manningham.”

Simply put, if Manningham doesn’t make that once-in-a-lifetime grab and keep his feet in-bounds on a perfect Manning pass to start that drive, then Belichick’s genius status is stronger than ever.

It played out just the way he wanted it to. Same as when he had the Giants right where he wanted them in Super Bowl XLII before David Tyree made the greatest play in Super Bowl history.

Think about it. Belichick is two crazy, improbable, unbelievable catches away from being a coach with five Super Bowl titles and a perfect season on his resume. And don’t forget, it’s not like those catches were made by Plaxico Burress or Hakeem Nicks or even Victor Cruz.

Belichick’s status as the unquestioned greatest coach in NFL history is held back by David Tyree and Mario Manningham. That’s almost too ridiculous to comprehend.

But if two unfathomable catches by two unfathomable Super Bowl heroes is all that stands between Belichick and re-naming the Vince Lombardi Trophy after him, then he’s at least earned the right to be in the conversation.