Arizona Cardinals: A dynasty or dud?

Arizona Cardinals: A dynasty or dud?
February 1
Washington Times

"The start of something despite the age of their quarterback and a nonproductive running game or merely a magical five weeks? That's what the Arizona Cardinals face regardless of how they fare in Sunday night's Super Bowl.

The birth of a mini-dynasty with a young quarterback, young coach and Master Lock defense or a troublesome bump in the road? That's what the Pittsburgh Steelers face as they strive for their second championship in four years.

While the subject has been taboo for players, coaches, front-office types and ownership this week, that Arizona is the eighth different NFC representative in as many years and that Pittsburgh missed the playoffs after its last Super Bowl title exhibit how fleeting dominance in the NFL can be.

The Steelers are the more established of the two - this is their seventh Super Bowl appearance, second only to Dallas' eight, but they've also experienced droughts and playoff disappointments.

"When I think about how successful they've drafted and how well they coach, that's the kind of successful team we'd like to be," Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said. "We've got some challenges ahead, but we set our goal on trying to keep this team together."

Pittsburgh has faced the same issues for years. Drafting well means winning but also tough calls on whom to pay and whom to thank while wishing them good luck. Arizona will confront those obstacles this winter - Kurt Warner is a free agent, and Anquan Boldin wants a new contract.

Regardless of the teams' personnel moves, history indicates one team - or neither - will return to the Super Bowl next year in Miami. Only once in Super Bowl history both teams returned for a rematch - Buffalo and Dallas in Super Bowl XXVIII.

Waiting a year or two will determine if Arizona was a one-year wonder and/or Pittsburgh was starting a stretch of excellence. Here are five teams that had staying power after winning their first Super Bowl appearance or winning in their first trip in several years along with five teams that lost in the Super Bowl and struggled in subsequent seasons. "
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