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February 3, 2017

Stamps predictions for Sunday’s big game

Josh Bell is, we’ve come to understand, a decidedly different kind of a cat. Someone who marches to a different drummer.

In his case, a Buddy Rich ’skins-scorching solo.

“Me?’’ says the Calgary Stampeders’ safety from his off-season home in Texas. “I’m picking the Patriots.

“Oh, man. They gonna get them balls deflated, pay those refs off …

“But seriously, I am sorry but you cannot go against the GOAT. Like goin’ against Michael Jordan in the finals.”

As anyone not holed up in a Tibetan monastery is doubtless aware, the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons collide in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday.

The game features no end of fascinating match-ups:

The glamour-puss QBing duel between Tom Brady and Matt Ryan, Atlanta’s powerhouse backfield of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman matching up against Pats’ run resistance, defensive masterminds Bill Belichick and Dan Quinn trading adjustments on the fly.

And on and on. Etc., etc.

Among those keenly interested in the outcome, naturally enough, are the Calgary Stampeders.

A random canvasing of four Stamp players and one coach delivers a 3-2 split, advantage Falcons.

Not that that influences Josh Bell one iota.

“I know everybody’s jumping on Atlanta’s bandwagon because they’re like the pretty girl, right?’’ he sighs. “That’s Atlanta’s offence. The pretty girl. Got all the curves, the smile. Everyone wants their phone number.

“But like they say, offence wins games, defence wins championships. No. 1 scoring defence in the NFL is … the Patriots.

“The Patriots, they’ve got it all. They gonna give up yards from 20 to 20 but once they get in the red zone, they will not let you score. They lock down.

“Atlanta can move the ball all day, pile up 500 yards in offence but they may leave the game with 20 points.

“New England’s going to have at least 28.”

Stamps’ punter Rob Maver, who’ll be attending a Super Bowl shindig being thrown by a New England fan, is siding with Atlanta.

“I think it’s going to be a great football game. I bet Jeff Hecht, so I’d better win. I like the Falcons, mainly because of (general manager) Tom Dimitroff.”

Born in Ohio, Dimitroff grew up in Guelph, Ont.,  and was an equipment manager for the Gryphons, where Maver played his CIS ball.

“Tom invited me to a Falcons’ mini-camp seven years ago … is it really seven years ago now? It was such a great experience. I went from spring ball with the Gryphons to having Tony Gonzalez in front of me in the stretch line.

“So I’d really like to see Tom win a Super Bowl with them.

“But there’s more to it that just that.

“I don’t think anybody plays the quarterback position like Matt Ryan has, in a while. I don’t think the Patriots can slow him down. New England, in my opinion, is going to have to score a lot of points to stay in that game.

“That’s not to diminish what Brady and the Patriots do on offence because they make it happen regardless of who they’re throwing the football to but Atlanta’s offence is just too good right now.

“I mean, they absolutely destroyed the Packers two weeks ago and nobody saw that coming. I wouldn’t be shocked if Atlanta puts up 28-plus.”

Stamps defensive coordinator DeVone Claybrooks is on board with Maver.

“As a defensive coach,’’ says the Super Bowl XXXVII winner with the Tampa Bay Bucs, “I look at it from that perspective.

“In this game, you’ve got two defensive gurus as head coaches, which is great. Belichick always takes away the No. 1 receiver. But I think with the other receivers Atlanta has, when (the Pats) take away Julio (Jones), and the run game with the dual-headed monster” – Coleman and Freeman – “they’ll score enough to win.”

The big man with the Barry White pipes might be the teensiest bit bias, too, though.

He has ties to Atlanta through current Falcons’ head coach Dan Quinn, the architect of the Seattle Seahawks’ championship defensive resistance of 2013.

Quinn was D-line coach 10 years earlier at San Francisco when both he and Claybrooks, then a defensive tackle, were out by the Bay in the employ of the 49ers.

“Very keen on the fundamentals, very player friendly,’’ says Claybrooks of Quinn. “In Seattle, he was a player favourite and they played hard for him because they knew he had their best interests at heart.

“Both teams will be prepared, you know that.

“Actually, in that way (Quinn) and Belichick are mirror images of each other, except that Dan is way more open to exposing the Wizard behind the curtain.

“Everybody you talk to that played for either one of them have nothing but great things to say.”

Stamps’ linebacker Deron Mayo has heard umpteen Belichick stories, of course. His brother Jerod, now retired but a two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XLIX champion, played eight seasons at Foxboro.

“First of all,’’ the Calgary Mayo says, clearing his throat and adopting his best campaign-manager voice, “I’d just like to say: Brady for President.

“Somewhere down the line.

“Yeah, I have some (loyalty) ties to the Patriots. But, honestly, I just think they’re gonna win.

“Why? Because they’re going to be prepared. Over-prepared. The culture they have in that locker room is what delivers championships. That kinda reminds me of the Calgary Stampeders a little bit.

“Plus they’ve got the greatest quarterback in the history of football. Check that, the greatest player in the history of football. You have no real other standout guys but together, as a group, the best core in the entire NFL.

“I’m never gonna bet against Bill Belichick. It’d be crazy to make that mistake. So as much as I do like Atlanta – explosive, great young talent – I can’t bet against Bill Belichick.

“Also, I can’t see Atlanta’s defence, as well as they’ve been playing, controlling Brady.

“So let’s go … 31-17 Patriots.”

On Sunday, Mayo is one of those heading over to Stampeder quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell’s house for a Super Bowl party.

And speaking of the CFL MOP …

“I,’’ says Mitchell, “like the Falcons. I mean, if you can get Brady to throw two picks, you should win the game. And Atlanta’s defence, run by Dan Quinn, whose defence in Seattle won a Super Bowl back in the day, is capable of doing that.

“Offensively, I think the Patriots will slow down Atlanta but I don’t think they can stop them. At some point, they’re too explosive.

“I like Matt right now. I like those two running backs. And I like their receivers – stop Julio Jones and someone else can go off.

“To me, the Falcons have a Patriots-like offence but more explosive players.

“My prediction is 27-23, Atlanta.

“But like everybody else, I think it should be a heckuva game.”