Super Bowl spectacle, second chances and a familiar Browns dilemma

A few thoughts from the week in sports …

The Super Bowl has become the ultimate expression of American excess and capitalism.

The game is so much more than just the game. It’s about culture, parties, food and drink, entertainment and money.

If a business wants to put an ad on the 2026 broadcast, it will cost approximately $8 million for a 30-second spot.

On the day after our nation’s unofficial holiday, people often talk about the halftime entertainment or commercials as much, or more, than the game itself.

The 2025 Super Bowl had 127.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched broadcast in American TV history. The game didn’t live up to the hype, with the Philadelphia Eagles jumping out to a 24-0 halftime lead en route to a 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

When the action on the Super Bowl field is underway, legacies are made or shattered. Diehard fans can close their eyes and picture some of the most famous plays.

The New England Patriots (17-3) will take on the Seattle Seahawks (16-3) in Super Bowl 60 Sunday, Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the 49ers. The matchup has all the makings of a great game.

The Seahawks are favored by 4.5 points and bolstered by the NFL’s best defense, which gives up just 17.1 points a game.

Two storylines really stand out: the resurgence of Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.

Darnold and Vrabel have ridden the roller coaster of success and failure like few others in football history, but in reaching the Super Bowl, they show the true meaning of perseverance.

Four or five years ago, it’s doubtful anyone would have bet on Darnold being the first quarterback from the star-studded 2018 draft class to reach the Super Bowl.

Darnold, playing for his fifth team, will start for the first time in a Super Bowl on Sunday. He was a Super Bowl backup to the 49ers’ Brock Purdy in a 2023 season loss.

Last season Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-win season, but they let him walk in free agency. After going to Seattle, Darnold became the first QB in NFL history to lead two different teams to consecutive 14-win seasons.

The Bills’ Josh Allen and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson have both been much more successful overall since being drafted in 2018, but they haven’t been able to lead their teams to the big dance.

Baker Mayfield, the top overall pick in 2018, has shone at times but also bounced around, going from the Browns to the Panthers, Rams and Buccaneers.

Vrabel was fired by Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk in 2023 after back-to-back losing seasons. He was 54-45 overall leading the Titans.

The alum of nearby Walsh Jesuit and Ohio State, who went on to win three Super Bowls as a linebacker for the Patriots, didn’t let the dismissal from the Titans get him down.

Instead, Vrabel took a job as a consultant for the Browns last season and contributed where he could. He observed what he liked and didn’t like about the Cleveland organization.

When New England had an opening, Vrabel got the head coaching job and inherited a team that went 4-13 in 2024. He turned them into a Super Bowl team.

It’s an incredible lesson in continuing to believe in oneself and working for the next opportunity.

Extra points

I saw a stat that this will be Seattle’s fourth Super Bowl appearance. The Seahawks beat the Broncos 43-8 in the 2014 Super Bowl and lost to the Steelers (2006) and Patriots (2015).

That just doesn’t seem right — four Super Bowls for Seattle. I didn’t think they had that many. It makes me a little sadder to be a Browns fan (pulls Cleveland hat down over face, knowing Browns have zero Super Bowl appearances in 60 years).

—Patriots QB Drake Maye has had an incredible second season in the NFL, becoming a finalist for the NFL MVP award. He led the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl.

—This is a rematch from the 2015 Super Bowl, which had one of the most memorable endings. The Patriots held off the Seahawks 28-24 after Malcom Butler intercepted Russell Wilson at the 1-yard line in the final minute.

Super pick

I'm going with the Seahawks, their journeyman quarterback Darnold, standout wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba from Ohio State and a suffocating defense to win 27-20.

Parting shots

As I watched the Browns play football in 2025, one weakness stood out more than any. The offense was really bad.

With that being said, and the Browns head coach opening not very high on the list compared to others, Todd Monken was about the best owner Jimmy Haslam could do.

Northeast Ohio media and fans alike blasted the hiring of Monken as the Browns’ 19th head coach Jan. 28.

However, Cleveland was never going to get one of the top offseason candidates, like John Harbaugh (Giants), Jesse Minter (Ravens) or Mike McCarthy (Steelers). Working for Browns owner Jimmy Haslam at The Factory of Sadness ranks near the bottom of the NFL list.

The Browns were going to have to take a chance on someone, and Monken is worth a shot under the circumstances. The 59-year-old first-time head coach directed potent offenses as a coordinator for the Ravens, Buccaneers and the University of Georgia.

Monken will be tasked with developing a quarterback and hopefully getting some help in the draft and free-agent market for the rest of the offense. It remains to be seen if disgruntled defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will leave after feeling “snubbed” in favor of Monken.

—The high school sports tournament season is fast approaching. The top area boys basketball teams to watch are Hiland, Orrville and Smithville. Some of the best girls teams to follow are Norwayne, Chippewa, Hiland, Dalton and Waynedale.

Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.