Newton didn't dab, he McNabbed

The Steelers felt like they let one get away when they lost to the Broncos in the AFC division round game three weeks ago. Now they have to deal with the added layer that the Broncos went on to win Super Bowl 50.

The morning sports shows are pointing out the Broncos beat Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and 2015 MVP Cam Newton in their playoff run. It was an impressive performance by a good defense, but it should be noted that Roethlisberger threw for 339 yards and the Steelers offense totaled 396 yards without All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell or DeAngelo Williams in the 23-16 loss at Mile High Stadium.

If not for Fitzgerald Toussaint’s fumble in the fourth quarter that led to Denver’s go-ahead touchdown with three minutes remaining the Steelers probably would have faced New England in the AFC championship game and there wouldn’t be any talk of Peyton Manning riding off into retirement with a Super Bowl in tow.

The talk would be of another choke job and an early playoff exit from an all-time great quarterback.

*Speaking of choke jobs, how about the performance of Newton?

There was a Super Bowl prop bet of how many times Newton would do the “dab” in Super Bowl 50.

Who knew Newton would instead “McNabb”?

From his huffing and puffing throughout the game – how are you out of shape for a Super Bowl? – to his failure to go after his own fumble when the game was still within reach, it was one of the sorriest performances from a supposed big-time player in the game.

Not that he received much help from his offensive line or offensive coordinator, who never seemed to grasp that his offensive tackles couldn’t block Von Miller or Demarcus Ware.

Still, an NFL MVP who is known for his running as much as his passing never threatened the hard-charging Broncos defense.

The Panthers totaled 315 yards, but only managed 10 points. Newton was 18 for 41 for 265 yards. He threw an interception and lost a fumble.

Afterward, his postgame news conference lasted three minutes when he simply announced it was over and walked away.

Kind of like he did when the fumble lay on the grass when his team still trailed by only six points later in the fourth quarter.

He walked away.

If Newton never gets an opportunity to play in another Super Bowl that play will define him.

*On Saturday night, Tony Dungy was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If Dungy is a Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher should join him.

Here are their resumes:

Dungy: 139-69 regular season record (.668), 9-10 playoff record, 1 Super Bowl win

Cowher: 140-90-1, regular season record (.623), 12-9 playoff record, 1 Super Bowl win

Yet Cowher’s name almost never comes up for the Hall of Fame.

Here is another resume for a head coach in the Hall of Fame.

143-112 regular season record (.561), 11-8 playoff record, 0 Super Bowl wins

That resume belongs to Marv Levy, and Cowher beats him too, with one more Super Bowl win, a better regular-season record and virtually the same playoff record.