Hall of Famer Deacon Jones is interviewed Thursday on Radio Row. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s not a good idea to question Deacon Jones on just about anything — especially his football knowledge.

I learned that firsthand Thursday morning while conducting a Super Bowl-prediction scavenger hunt along Radio Row. My task was to glean scores from any athlete or celebrity I stumbled upon, and few predictions carry more weight than ones from Hall of Fame defensive ends.

So I cautiously approach Jones, who was nattily attired in his old Hall of Fame blazer (Note: He was born in 1938, and I was born in 1987; this fact will become more relevant in a second.)

This is what transpired:

What’s your Super Bowl prediction?

Giants 45, Patriots 44.

MVP?

Justin Tuck.

That’s interesting. A defensive MVP when the score’s 45-44.

How old are you?

24.

Man, I’ve got jockstraps older than you!

I’m sure you have jockstraps a lot older than me.

(Laughter).

That laughter meant I could breathe a deep sigh of relief. I’m not in the business of offending men who made a living destroying quarterbacks for 14 seasons. Just something I’ve gathered in my time — short time, according to Jones — on Earth.

– David Ely

Posted in: Super Bowl  |