THE UNLIKELY HISTORY-MAKER

 

It’s telling that, even amid the hoopla of Super Bowl Week, nobody mentioned Bennie Fowler. The wide receiver, an undrafted free-agent in 2014, walked around the new-fangled Opening Night and was barely recognised. Gridiron was one of the guilty parties; his name didn’t come up once over the course of over 20 hours of interviews and podcasts.

The Big Dance, though, has a habit of turning no-names into men who will go down in the history books. That penchant was displayed before the game as the great and good were wheeled out in front of the crowd. There were star names aplenty as we saw the living MVPs from each Super Bowl, from Bart Starr to Joe Montana, Jerry Rice to Tom Brady. And then the final one called was… Malcolm Smith. The former Seattle Seahawks linebacker, now of the Oakland Raiders, who scooped the famous gong two years ago.

While the award this year went to a man writing quite the impressive tale in Von Miller, it’s arguable Fowler’s moment in the sun will endure similarly when all is said and done. As he lined up against Carolina safety Roman Harper for what appeared to be an inconsequential two-point conversion, Fowler could never have envisaged that a defining moment awaited.

Fowler shaped to run an out before expertly cutting inside and continuing to the end zone. The flat-footed Harper could then only watch as Peyton Manning looked right and unleashed a perfect pass straight into the expectant hands of the sliding wide-out. Suddenly, Denver led by 14 with just over three minutes left and the franchise’s third Lombardi Trophy was all but sealed. Just as pertinent was that Fowler had just been on the end of future Hall of Famer Manning’s final NFL pass – and completed the only successful two-point conversion in Super Bowl history.
Gridiron caught up with Fowler for a quick chat after the game.

SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07:  Bennie Fowler #16 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a successfull 2-point conversion against the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Q.) Bennie, you are a Super Bowl champion. How does it feel?

A.) It’s the most amazing feeling in the world. This is everything you work for all year long and we’re at the top of the world right now.

Q.) You might have just caught the last pass that Peyton Manning ever throws…

A.) Wow, that’s surreal. He is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He has one of the greatest minds and I am going to keep that ball forever. I am going to go and get it signed for him. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s incredible and I love it.

Q.) The brilliant part was how Peyton threw the pass and just strolled off the field like it was normal…

A.) He knew exactly what the coverage was. He told me before the play what they were going to run and that I should be ready for the ball. And he threw it to me.

Q.) The rumour is that the team meeting was emotional before the game. Can you confirm that?

A.) Absolutely, it was. You have guys like DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, Peyton. It’s so hard to get to this moment and the emotion they showed yesterday was incredible. You have to just take it all in and enjoy this moment.

Q.) Two of those guys are stars of the defense. How special has that unit been?

A.) They are one of the top-five defenses of all-time. Especially the corners and up front. You saw what Von did today; he was incredible. We’re world champions now and nobody can ever take that away from us.

Q.) What’s next for the Denver Broncos? Manning could go, but can you repeat?

A.) Without doubt. We had a lot of young players step up and make plays. We have to continue to just find ways to win and that’s what we will do.

 

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