Super Sunday is a national holiday regardless of your team affiliation or even if you like football. For some, the game is about the food, the beer, Jon Batiste’s national anthem, prop bets including how long the national anthem will be, celebrity sightings in the stands, Kendrick Lamar’s half-time show and the commercials.
New York Giants fans think back to their last appearance in the game, February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis when Big Blue and Eli Manning defeated the New England Patriots and Tom Brady 21-17. Meanwhile, our AARP card carrying New York Jets fans think back to their last appearance in the game, January 12, 1969 when Gang Green delivered on Joe Namath’s guarantee and defeated the heavily favorite Baltimore Colts 16-7.
Today’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles features many familiar faces, though only one ex-Giant, not sure if you heard of him, but he wears #26 and finished 3rd in the MVP voting this year. Saquon Barkley is the Eagles headliner in today’s game and has created mixed feelings among Giants fans. Do you root for him because the Giants never made an offer to keep him and he’s a class act? Or does your hatred for the Eagles prevail?
Jets fans have it easier emotionally as none of their former players are up on their respective teams’ marquees, but there are some solid contributors, nonetheless.
FORMER JETS IN TODAY’S GAME
- Mekhi Becton (Philly) – The former 2020 first-round bust has found a home in Philadelphia at RG on one of the league’s best offensive lines. According to Pro Football Focus he graded out as the 21st best guard in the NFL this season.
- Anthony Firkster (KC) – The reserve tight end played 4 games for the Jets earlier this season, and then 3 games with the Chiefs.
- Mecole Hardman (KC) – Hardman had a brief, insignificant stint with the Jets in early 2023, before being traded back to the Chiefs in time to catch a TD pass in OT to win Super Bowl 58. He is currently injured and will not appear in today’s game.
- Bryce Huff (Philly) – A rare misstep by the Eagles, Huff had 10 sacks with the Jets in limited playing time in 2023, but only 2 ½ sacks in 2024.
- Braden Mann (Philly) – The Jets former punter was best known for making a game saving tackle against the Los Angeles Rams when the previously 0-13 Jets were on the fast track to get the #1 pick in the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. This season, his second with the Eagles, Mann finished 10th in net punting average.
- C. J. Uzomah (Philly) – The popular back-up TE had an injury marred first season with the Eagles before ending up on Injured Reserve.
HONORABLE MENTION
Today’s the biggest gambling day on the calendar with the American Gaming Association estimating that 1.39 billion will be legally gambled in the United States alone. As a matter of fact, there are estimates that worldwide gambling, legal and otherwise, will be over 23 billion. Which made me think of one more player with New York ties… Hassan Reddick. It’s quite possible, no one bet, and lost more this football season.
If Reddick stayed with Philadelphia, he would’ve earned $14m and would’ve been playing in today’s Super Bowl. If Reddick had accepted the Jets one year upgrade offer, he’d be home today but having made $20m according to NFL.com. Instead, after holding out for the first six weeks of the season, he ended up making approximately $10m while having the worst year of his career (1 sack and 14 tackles in 10 games) heading into unrestricted free agency.
Safe to say, regardless of the outcome of today’s game, Reddick will take home the title of this season’s biggest loser.
