Super Bowl stories actually worth reading

Now that the Super Bowl matchup is set, get ready for two weeks of hell. During the next 14 days, you can expect to read stories on just about every member of both teams, including the water boy, the special teams coach, and the guy who uncoils the headsets on the sidelines.

With so many unnecessary puff pieces and sob stories flooding your brain, it can be easy to forget the real issues behind the game. Fortunately, Keyboard Quarterbacks is here to help. Here's a list of interesting topics and stories to talk about during the next weeks while we wait for Super Bowl XXXIX:

T.O. flaps his wings, his legs, and his gums

Even though he'll probably be watching from the sidelines on February 6, there's no doubt the Eagles' Terrell Owens will say something stupid during the next couple of weeks. Of course, we in the media will love it because it'll give us something to talk about other than the punters' shiny new kicking shoes. And the Patriots -- a team that has proven it does not need any extra motivation -- will privately vow to make him eat his words by embarrassing Donovan McNabb and the rest of his teammates.

By the way, did you see Owens celebrating and dancing around on the sidelines Sunday like a boy with new legs? Apparently that injury isn't so bad.

Eagles fans must be wondering why their best receiver was doing a samba on the sidelines while bums like Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell are trying to catch bullets from McNabb. But I guess nothing surprises me with the traveling sideshow known as T.O.

Perfect Pats vs. Dangerous Donovan

Donovan McNabb is one of the best athletes and quarterbacks in the game, and the best playmaker on the Philadelphia offense. But he faces a defense that has already humiliated Peyton Manning's Colts and a host of other top offenses this year.

The Patriots win games by not making mistakes, and forcing opponents to make a lot of them. If McNabb can keep the ball out of the arms of the Patriots defensive backs, the Eagles have a 50-50 shot to win this thing. Bonus points if Philly can actually pick off Tom Brady, who hasn't thrown a key interception since... well... ever.

The Westbrook factor

TV analysts made a big deal about Brian Westbrook being the key to the Eagles' offense with Owens out of the lineup. They're not wrong -- Westbrook is an exceptionally versatile back who can excel both as a receiver and a runner. But the Eagles would be wise to gameplan some other options.

After all, this is the New England team that shut down Marshall Faulk three years ago, when he was the best receiving/running back in the league. Westbrook can have an impact, but he isn't likely to gain the 135 all-purpose yards he picked up against Atlanta. Bill Belichick and Romeo Crennel will make sure of that.

Will Philly decide to come out throwing, get McNabb some confidence and open up holes for Westbrook by forcing the Patriots' DBs to drop into coverage?

Halftime show mayhem

Now folks, I hate the Super Bowl halftime show just as much as the next real football fan, but after last year's chaotic spectacle, I admit I will be watching. Naturally, the execs at FOX will take the necessary measures to ensure that a repeat of last year's $550,000 peep show does not occur.

One of those measures was naming as a performer ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, the sight of whose right breast would only make the 200 women in the viewing audience over the age of 60 swoon with glee, not flood the FCC offices with calls.

Unfortunately, the FOX honchos can't prevent Ashlee Simpson from dressing up as McCartney, running on stage, singing a few bars of "La La" and causing the 82,000 in attendance to storm the field in defense of their eardrums.

Troy Brown

As far as I'm concerned, this is the only guy on either team who deserves as much attention as he will get the next two weeks. Never once opening his mouth to complain, Brown willingly accepted Coach Belichick's request that he help out the Patriots' wounded secondary by transforming himself into a nickel cornerback.

Bear in mind that just three years ago, Brown caught 101 passes and was one of the top receivers in the league. This year, he caught just 17 -- the same number as he had tackles. But his three interceptions were his biggest stat.

In an era where you can't even get a player like John Abraham to limp onto the field to play half the game, Brown sacrificed stardom in exchange for W's -- and exemplified exactly why the Patriots are in the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

Who will win Super Bowl XXXIX?

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