SEATTLE – Sam Darnold was just minutes removed from securing his first Super Bowl trip – as a starter, more on that important distinction later – and he’d already wrangled an apology out of me.
In the aftermath of a drama-filled, 31-27 defeat of the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game, which gave Darnold’s Seattle Seahawks the rubber match in their epic thrill-ogy of games against their NFC West rivals this season, I asked him about his personal journey from the New York Jets quarterback who infamously admitted “seeing ghosts” amid a four-interception debacle against the New England Patriots on “Monday Night Football” more than six years ago into the two-time Pro Bowler he is now – and ahead of a much bigger game against the Pats.
“Yeah, I almost forgot about that. So thanks,” Darnold cracked back good-naturedly.
Sam, I am sorry. (And you most certainly weren’t sorry in what was probably the best football performance of your life.)
“No, you’re good,” he smiled, while indulging my question with a moment of reflection.
