Super Bowl

Will remain among elite Sam Farmer Los Angeles Times Tom Brady's decision to do a bargain-basement extension with the Patriots is remarkable in a business where getting as much as you can is everyone's endgame. But his three-year, $27 million deal figures to pay off for New England in a big way, giving the Patriots a truckload of salary-cap relief that will allow them to remain among the NFL's elite. As long as Brady stays healthy, it's entirely conceivable that he could lead the club to two more Super Bowl s. The rest of the AFC East is in flux, and although there are other threats in the conference the Patriots have the roster and coaching continuity to be knocking on the door every season.

Jacoby Jones danced in several NFL end zones this season as he went from unheralded free agent pickup to one of the heroes of the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers earlier this month. He'll now take his dance moves to another stage, and this time, they'll be judged. The wide receiver and Pro Bowl return man was unveiled by ABC tonight as one of the contestants on 'Dancing With the Stars.' The rest of the cast will be announced Tuesday on Good Morning America . Season 16 of the show will debut on March 18 on ABC. The announcement was made during a commercial break of tonight's Academy Awards on ABC. "Jacoby Jones just won a Super Bowl ring," the commercial said.

The season may be over and they may be former Ravens, but excitement for all things purple and black still drew a crowd on Saturday to the Giant Food store in Perry Hall for an event with former Baltimore Ravens Matt Stover and Kyle Richardson. The two Super Bowl champions came to the store, 8905 Belair Road, Perry Hall, on Saturday, Feb. 16, to meet with residents, sign autographs and perform a little kicking demonstration in the Giant parking lot. Stover was the place kicker, and Richardson was the punter, on the Ravens' 2000-2001 Super Bowl champion team.

On behalf of the people of New Orleans, we want to thank you for allowing us to host your fans for Super Bowl XLVII. It was a great week and a great game between two great teams. And as we all experienced, no one does drama like New Orleans. Your fans are a real class act, and it was a joy to have them in our city, which we affectionately refer to as NOLA. Our lives in politics and media have allowed us to experience some pretty important and exciting events, but nothing has given us more pride than welcoming you to our city and representing New Orleans for this year's big game.

Gov. Martin O'Malley's Super Bowl tickets went to a pair of top aides and a city delegate, the administration said this week.  As governor, O'Malley has a state skybox at Ravens stadium, which allows him to purchase up to eight Super Bowl tickets, ranging in price from $950 to $1,250 apiece. O'Malley and his wife, Baltimore District Judge Catherine "Katie" Curran O'Malley, used two of those tickets and paid for them with personal funds. Three other pairs of tickets were purchased at face-value by the governor's public affairs director, Stephen Neuman; state budget director T. Eloise Foster; and State Del. Shawn Z. Tarrant, a Baltimore Democrat.   O'Malley spokeswoman Raquel Guillory has said no taxpayer funds were used for the trip.

The Baltimore-based officers of the Cable Ship Resolute, who are working in the United Kingdom this winter, watched this year's Super Bowl at the Walkabout Pub in Bristol in southwest England. It was one of half a dozen venues in that city featuring Super Bowl parties. The place was packed and the locals were very much into the game. The room was pretty evenly split between Ravens and 49ers fans, with our table of 10 mostly from Baltimore. The game started at 11:30 p.m. local time and went until 3:30 a.m. but it was well worth it. It's great to see American football thriving over here, and it was even better to see the Ravens take the Lombardi trophy.

I was in New Orleans from San Francisco for the Super Bowl . I was impressed with the graciousness and friendliness of the Baltimore Ravens fans after their win. Out in the French Quarter after the game, walking around in my red 49ers jersey expecting catcalls and rude remarks (there were a few), I had Ravens fans shake my hand, compliment my team with "good game" and "see you next year in the Super Bowl . " I even got a hug from a pretty purple clad lady. Congratulations on your win. Your fans represented your team and city well.

When the going got tough - and things got pretty dicey in December - the Ravens didn't wilt. They didn't even wonder if a season that once seemed to have such promise was coming unraveled at just the wrong time. Or so they say. The three-game losing streak that ramped up the suspense after the Ravens seemed to be cruising into the playoffs was troubling enough to prompt a risky, late-season change in offensive coordinator, but it still wasn't enough to make John Harbaugh, Ozzie Newsome or owner Steve Bisciotti entertain a molecule of doubt that the ultimate goal was still attainable.

Prior to The Game on Sunday, Anthony Mitchell made a bold forecast on Facebook. The former Raven posted photos of both his 2000 jersey and his Super Bowl ring with this decree: Time to get another one. The Ravens obliged. Why did Mitchell share his entry? "Once a Raven, always a Raven," said Mitchell, 38, a former defensive back. "Play for that team and you always have a special bond with Baltimore. " Ever since the Super Bowl , folks who know Kim Herring have sidled up, pumped his hand and offered their congratulations.

The comparisons are inevitable because there has been only one other Super Bowl winning season in the Ravens' 17-year history in Baltimore. Both the 2000 and 2012 teams will have their special place, but no championship season will ever compare to the first. This season's title, however, adds to the distinction of the Ravens being one of the best franchises in the NFL, and it has created a whole new generation of fans - and excitement - for the organization. The 2000 season was special because it was the first winning season in club history.