Remembering The 2010 NFL Season

With all the confetti and streamers on the ground in Cowboys Stadium, the 2010 National Football League season is now over. After a great Super Bowl XLV game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, the dreams of Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Green Bay Packers is now a reality – Super Bowl Champions. Entering the playoffs as a number six seed and having to win three games on the road before finally winning the big one is an amazing feat. A feat that included the progressing maturity of what could be the next elite quarterback in the NFL for years to come in Rodgers. Although, the 2010 NFL season will always be remembered as the year that “could've been” for Jet fans like myself, it was another year of great stories and moments. And with a 2011 season up in the air due to an expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement and unresolved issues, holding on to the memories and moments of 2010 cannot be taken for granted. With that said, here are the moments yours truly will remember from the 2010 NFL Season.

• Waiting and hoping Darrell Revis would end his holdout.
• Knowing, like every other sports fan that Bret Favre pushed his luck coming back for one more season.
• …and watching Favre, a legend, dissolve, and embarrass himself.
• …and one more thing about Favre (What is this, ESPN?), from the Jen Sterger texting scandal, ending his consecutive streak, gaining a reputation as a coach killer, and witnessing Aaron Rodgers lead the Packers to a Super Bowl victory, how can 2010 not be the worst season of his NFL career?
• Speaking of controversial quarterbacks, the 2010 NFL season was the continuing disrespect of Donovan McNabb. His return to Philly was an emotional one where Philadelphia, for one night only, showed some class. However, did not care as they had an even better story in…
• …Michael Vick. The 2010 DP Comeback of the Year Award winner. His rise as one of the NFL’s premier and most exciting players was fun. Including that memorable Monday Night Football game where he destroyed (historically destroyed!) the Redskins. 20-28 passing for 333 Yards for 4 TDs. 8 Rushes for 80 yards for 2 TDs. Crazy.
• Watching yet another great talent in Randy Moss, finally get his wakeup call when he was shipped out of New England. Then Minnesota. Then to Tennessee. Eventually into irrelevancy.
• However, that one handed catch over Darrell Revis at the New Meadowlands stadium– good stuff.
• Live game Souvenirs in football? Apparently Brandon Jacobs thought so, throwing his helmet into the stands in frustration.
• Cringing at the sudden rise and danger of helmet-to-helmet hit, after hit, after hit. Especially, the one of Austin Collie for the Indianapolis Colts.
• Just as bad was watching the New York Giants destroy quarterback, after quarterback,  after quarterback.
• Speaking of crushed quarterback, how about Jay Cutler? Having to leave that NFC title game will forever haunt his soul.
• And oh yeah, speaking of crushed souls, did I mention Bret Favre?
• Watching the Jets on national television get destroyed 45-3 in a much anticipated game.
• Only to rebound to get the biggest win they have ever had in my entire existence. (First Time Ever (In a lifetime), Jets Are Soarin’)
• Bart Scott delivering a promo that even upstart pro wrestlers would be jealous of…CAN’T WAIT!

  

  A 2011 Pondy Nominee? Absolutely.
• Seattle’s subpar season, only to upset the defending champs. Of course, highlighted by Marshawn Lynch’s run which included breaking tackles from eight Saints, five camera men, seven cheerleaders, two referees, and a ball boy. Well, Okay, maybe not so much, but it sure seemed that way.
• Another defenseless Pro Bowl…
• A great Super Bowl game between two historic franchises, and two hard working cities.
• Finally, leaving a  lasting wonder ponder about how a small city like Green Bay, Wisconsin can be on top of the world in the nation’s biggest sport, all in the face of modern arguments of small vs. large market comparisons. Amazing.