COLUMBUS – The two quarterbacks facing off in Sunday’s Super Bowl took different paths to arrive at the same destination, though the mother of Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow hits that the Ohio native’s presence on the big stage has the ring of inevitability about it.
“I feel like we are pinching ourselves because it seems like we’re living in a daydream,” Robin Burrow said in an interview Wednesday with Sunny This Morning hosts Stacy McKay and Dino Tripodis. “But, at the same time, I feel like I’ve always felt like this could potentially happen.”
While Joe Burrow got to the Super Bowl faster than any other No. 1 pick quarterback, the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford’s journey from top pick to the title game has taken longer than any other quarterback.
Sunday’s game will be a rare Super Bowl meeting between top-draft-pick quarterbacks.
Stafford and Burrow will be the 10th and 11 quarterbacks among the 26 taken with the top pick in the common draft era to start in the Super Bowl.
The only other time No. 1 pick QBs squared off in the Super Bowl came six years ago when Peyton Manning beat Cam Newton.
Sunday is “Bengals Day” in Ohio
Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that Sunday will be recognized as Cincinnati Bengals Day in Ohio.
The governor, who reportedly plans to attend the game with wife Fran, encourages Ohioans to wear orange and black in the team’s honor.
“I wish the Bengals luck as they prepare to play the Los Angeles Rams this weekend. They have had a great season and hopefully they can win once more to bring home Ohio’s first Super Bowl championship and tenth NFL title!” DeWine said in a statement issued by his office.
Place your bets (if you can)
The gambling industry’s national trade group estimates a record 31.5 million Americans plan to bet over $7.6 billion on Super Bowl LVI.
Since last year’s game, 45 million additional people will be able to bet on the Super Bowl because their states have legalized sports betting over the past year and Derek Longmeier, executive director of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio, is worried that could lead to more people getting in over their heads.
“Opportunities to sports bet will not only just be the casinos and racinos but it can be your bar, restaurant, or bowling alley; through the mobile element there’s going to be plenty of opportunities to bet on sports probably 24/7 in the palm of your hand any given day,” Longmeier said.
The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio’s “Get Set Before You Bet” and “Change the Game Ohio” programs are two resources for help. The Ohio Problem Gambling Hotline is 800-859-9966.
Thirty states plus Washington D.C. now offer it, though Ohio is not yet one of them.
The state’s Casino Control Commission is currently crafting the rules that will govern sports betting in Ohio.