The New York Jets made a bold move in signing rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to the biggest contract in franchise history. The Jets are betting that Sanchez can lead the Jets to their first Super Bowl in 50 years.

Sanchez, drafted fifth overall, signed a 5 year deal worth $50 million. The deal guarantees Sanchez $28 million with incentives that could reach more than $60 million.

The Jets huge investment is the writing to on the wall for Kellen Clemens, the “other” Jets QB. Clemens was expected to start before Mark Sanchez was signed.

“For me, this is the tip of the iceberg,” Sanchez said yesterday. “There is so much more I want to accomplish. This doesn’t assume that you’re going to be successful. It’s going to take a lot of hard work.”

If the Jets had any reservations about signing a rookie QB to such a large contract, they only needed to look at Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, the first pick in 2008, who let Atlanta to the playoffs.

Hopefully the signing of a new QB, combined with a new head coach, will mark a new beginning for the post-Mangini Jets.

Now that Barack Obama is President, I think it’s time that push our commander-in-chief to make Superbowl Monday a national holiday (it would have been better if the Chicago Bears were playing, though).  That’s right, Superbowl Monday, the day after the biggest athletic event in the world. America needs to make it a nationally recognized day of observation.

Think about it.  Superbowl Monday is more of a family, friend and national event, than any other – including the Olympics.

Should it be a day off? Sure, instead of giving employees two floating holidays, remove one and replace it with Superbowl Monday, call it All American Day!

Now, I’m talking tongue in cheek here, but I was looking online and found a website that is actively petitioning for Superbowl Monday to be a national holiday.  There goal was to have 20,000 signatures by the end of 2008 (I think they got over 16,000) and to have the Superbowl Monday part of the U.S. calendar by 2010.

The truth of the matter is Superbowl Monday is probably the least productive day of the year.  People are hung over or tired or come to work and chat around the water cooler all day.  Then you have to listen to that guy who won the office Superbowl pool, the one who knows nothing about football. And then you get pissed off because they have no idea of football pool etiquete- no  clue that he’s obligated to bring in donuts for everyone on All American Day -  Superbowl Monday!

The truth of the matter is Superbowl Monday is probably the least productive day of the year.  People are hung over or tired or come to work and chat around the water cooler all day.  Then you have to listen to that guy who won the office Superbowl pool, the one who knows nothing about football. And then you get pissed off because they have no idea of football pool etiquette and their obligation to bring in donuts for everyone in the office. 

Anyway,  Superbowl Monday should be a national holiday.  And  I don’t want to hear whining of those who are soccer fans, or cricket fans, or those of you against competitive sports all together.  It should be almost as big as the fourth of July!

Superbowl Monday should be almost as big as the fourth of July!

The much anticipated SuperBowl is arguably the biggest holiday in America.  People will travel and huddle around their high-def TVs and basically tailgame in the home.  The 2009 Superbowl will be played on Sunday, February 1, 2009. Game time is set for 6:20 pm Eastern Time.  NBC will televise the forty-third Superbowl live from Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa, Florida.

Superbowl XLIII will feature the NFC Conference Champions, the Arizona Cardinals and the AFC Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will be a contest between the number one defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the high flying offense of the Arizona Cardinals led by quarterback Kurt Warner.  Expect it be an exciting, hard hitting game.

NBC looks to score big with a day full of Super Bowl coverage, and the hope that the ratings will turn out to be huge not only for the big game, but the commercial breaks that tend to also draw large audiences. Joining the game will be pop-singer Jennifer Hudson, who will perform The Star-Spangled Banner before the first kick-off, in what will be here first public performance since the tragic death of her family members. For the halftime show sponsored by Bridgestone, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform live at a Super Bowl for the very first time.

Due to the economic times, NBC has been forced to drop pregame ad rates for advertisers.  Sales of ads for next Sunday’s Super Bowl are holding up fairly well though, even at $3 million (U.S.) for 30 seconds. But commercial spots that will run in the pregame hours? That’s a different ball game.

Depending on the number of ads bought or the hour of the day, pregame ads can cost about half the price of an in-game commercial, ad buyers said. That would mean some of this year’s pregame ads could cost more than $1 million for 30 seconds.

The NBC television listing for Superbowl Sunday is:

12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
“THE ROAD TO THE SUPER BOWL”

1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
SUPER BOWL XLIII PRE-GAME SHOW
Commentators:  Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth, Keith Olbermann, Dan Patrick, Jerome Bettis, Tiki Barber, Peter King, Matt Millen

6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
SUPERBOWL XLIII
Commentators:  Al Michaels, John Madden, Andrea Kremer, Alex Flanagan