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https://theathletic.com/1324549/2019/11/06/kravitz-18-holes-of-golf-and-18-random-topics-discussed-with-former-colts-great-dwight-freeney/
After that decision was made, the Colts had to reach the Super Bowl, which they did. But Freeney was injured in the AFC Championship Game against the Jets and was deeply limited in the Super Bowl loss to the Saints …
“You know how that happened?” Freeney said. “It was on a screen pass and I was trying to avoid the quarterback because if I’m remembering correctly, that was the year they put in all those rules on how not to hit a quarterback. So, I was trying to avoid him, so I jumped over him and somehow somebody hit him from the other side and he rolled on my ankle. And that was in the fourth quarter when we were up (13 points).
“Dealing with that ankle was horrible. It was non-stop rehab. I’d wake up at 8 a.m., do beach stuff, chiropractic work, soft tissue, acupuncture, muscle activation, electrical stim, hyperbaric chamber. Every day we did that. …
“When the Super Bowl started, I was good. But halftime destroyed me. Believe me, I did everything I could to keep on going, but when I got back out there, it was a flat tire. I had nothing. And they (the Saints) changed the game plan. It was all three-step throws, some five-step. Even if (Drew Brees) was holding onto the ball, I don’t know if I could have gotten there (to the quarterback). Now, it doesn’t trump what I experienced in Atlanta (when the Falcons blew a 28-3 Super Bowl lead to the Patriots). For that one, I still wake up in cold sweats.”
Well, since you brought it up …
“We forgot, from an offensive perspective, that we had the clock on our side,” Freeney said. “Those three-and-outs were killing our defense. We were out there for 90 plays, and they’d pass every play. That’s draining. The Patriots were taking out their starting receivers and putting in backups to run routes, then pulling them and putting the starters back in, so they’re fresh. Still, that whole game, I’m thinking, ‘We have this game. We have it. All we’ve got to do is run the ball and the game is over.’”
Freeney takes a moment, collects his thoughts, stabs a chunk of stone crab.
“And we don’t (run the ball). After Julio (Jones) made that catch, we had it at the (New England) 22-yard line, now, all we’ve got to do is run the ball and the game is over. And we decide to pass it. I couldn’t believe it. (After a Devonta Freeman run that lost 1 yard on first down), we take a freaking sack that pushes us out of field goal range. Then we pass again and we get a (holding penalty on Jake Matthews).
“I couldn’t believe it. What were we doing? That’s the one Super Bowl that will haunt me forever, absolutely forever. Thank God I won one, right? After that game, it was hard for me to eat, drink. … I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was thinking, ‘Maybe if we win this Super Bowl, I’ll retire on top.’ Nope. It didn’t happen.
