The Super Bowl has flipped its last flop, now that a former corner drug dealer has formally accepted the MVP honor. But is there still time to hand out a final award?
Good. This one is for the most conspicuous missed opportunity of the year to do something right.
Step forward for your honor, players of the NFL.
The most remarkable statistic to come out of Super Bowl week was not Santonio Holmes' receiving yardage. Maybe you haven't heard about the response Minnesota Vikings center Matt Birk received when he led a drive to raise funds for the plight of retired NFL players.
Birk sent a letter to every active player, suggesting they chip in a share of their paycheck from the games of Dec. 21. It was like passing a hat through an exclusive and well-heeled gentleman's club.
Some of the old guys are in bad shape, Birk noted. Some don't have much of a pension. Some are broken down from their days in pro football, when they helped build the sport into the land of milk and honey, where the NFL can now ask $1,000 for Super Bowl tickets and keep a straight face.
"We are members of a brotherhood that lasts forever," Birk wrote. Any contribution would be appreciated. Large or small.
That's 32 teams … 53 players on the active roster … 1,696 potential donors.
Know how many answered back?
Roll of the drums …
As of late last week, maybe 15.
Not teams, people.
