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Montee Ball Ties, Doesn't Top Barry Sanders' Historical Season

Historic season

Touchdown record did not fall

Good news for football

(A Haggy Haiku)

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As much fun it is to see records from seasons and generations past fall, it was extremely gratifying to see that Montee Ball did not overtake Barry Sanders in the history books. 

Oregon limited the Wisconsin running back and Heisman Trophy finalist to one touchdown in its 45-38 Rose Bowl victory Jan. 2. 

Just one more score and Ball would have set the single-season touchdown record, passing Barry Sanders. 

Instead, Ball and Sanders will share the distinction and total (39).

Similar to Roger Maris' home run feat in 1961 to best the Sultan of Swat Babe Ruth's mark of 60 in one season, another score and Ball would have edged Sanders while playing in more games. 

Ruth's 60 dinger effort in 1927 was over a 154 game season. Maris' 61 came during a 162 game schedule.   

Sanders scored 39 touchdowns in 11 games (the five he scored in the 1988 Holiday Bowl were not counted). Ball needed 14. 

Not to take anything away from Ball, Sanders simply put together a better season (and more touchdowns if you include the bowl game). 

As such, it would have been unfair to recognize the Wisconsin back as the single-season touchdown king. 

Matt Millen Broadcasts Fiesta Bowl

Worse than the BCS, which needs to go, failed Detroit Lions executive now ESPN analyst Matt Millen got the nod for Monday night's Fiesta Bowl between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Stanford Cardinal.
The marquee matchup between the No. 3 and 4 team in the country, one which features incredible talent on both sidelines, was underscored by the presence of Millen in the broadcast booth.
Football knowledge he has. But like his days in the corner office of the Lions organization, Millen makes mistakes and personalizes the game in front of him too much to warrant such a billing.
Thank goodness the game lived up to the hype.

Aaron Rodgers v. The Green Bay Packers

Matt Flynn set records for the Green Bay Packer passing attack in his second career start that Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre never achieved.
Rodgers' backup from LSU threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns, including the game-winning strike to Jermichael Finley with 70 seconds remaining to lead Green Bay over Detroit 45-41.
The game meant more to Detroit, who was trying to win for the first time at Lambeau Field since 1991 and avoid having to travel to the Superdome for a first round matchup with the red hot Saints.
Instead Flynn, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to start while Rodgers rested for the postseason, upstaged Matthew Stafford, who amassed 520 yards passing to eclipse 5,000 for the year and five scores of his own.
Flynn, in Rodgers fashion, found Jordy Nelson for three touchdowns of 7, 36 and 58 yards. He hit running back Ryan Grant for an 80-yard score and connected with Donald Driver from 35 yards out in a back-and-forth fourth quarter before finding Finley with the game-winner.
The win did not change Green Bay's postseason outlook; the Packers had already clinched home-field advantage.
It did open up an interesting question about the value of Mr. Rodgers.
With Peyton Manning in 2010 the Indianapolis Colts went 10-6. Without this year: 2-14.
The Packers, on the other hand, won with Flynn against a Lions team with everything to play for.
Rodgers was unstoppable for 13 consecutive weeks. When Greg Jennings went down with a knee injury, he lost to Kansas City.
Now this.
There's no question the defending Super Bowl champ is an elite signal caller. But like the chicken or the egg question, is it the system and personnel of Green Bay that makes Rodgers so good or the other way around? (Or maybe simply the Detroit Lions defense is just that bad.)
Let the debate begin.