Whenever I hit the Super Bowl, I'm quickly reminded of the '80s rap title from Ice T -- Freedom of Speech...Just watch what you say.

Same thing this year, with 2,700 reporters just praying for what's known as "bulletin-board material." Coaches would sooner give away their playbooks than see any bragging in the paper. And loudmouths like Shannon Sharpe act as mouthpieces for players we really want to hear.

Come on, people. Do you really think one insult is going to change the outcome of a game of this magnitude? Moments after Baltimore had defeated the Raiders for the AFC title, Ravens receiver Patrick Johnson stood among a throng of pressies and spat, "I know you guys wanted to see Minnesota and Oakland in the Super Bowl. But the Vikings' defense couldn't stop my high school team." Oooh. Cocky. But if Johnson said that a week earlier, the Giants would still have been in the Super Bowl. Maybe the NFC Championship final score would have been 38-0.

Does it really matter if you articulate your confidence in a loud and manly voice? Do you really run the risk of providing your opponent a psychological edge by saying what's on your mind? Every guy out there is thinking to himself he's the baddest man on the planet and no one can stop him. So why suggest otherwise? If you're the superior player or the superior team, you're going to win regardless of your opponents' spiritual incentive.

Former Bills coach Marv Levy once said the emotional effects of a pregame speech will last only until you get your a-- kicked on the first play of the game. The fact that Levy's teams lost four straight in The Show isn't a testament to their lack of incentive -- with each loss, their desperation to win had to grow, didn't it? -- it's a reflection of their inferiority. Put that one up on your wall.

Despite his posturing this week, I'm sure Ravens coach Brian Billick would agree. Prior to his Ravens' matchup against the Titans in the divisional playoff, Billick loudly proclaimed that the winner of that game would go to the Super Bowl. The Raiders surely pinned up that quote. But Billick was right.

So let the trash talk flow. I promise it won't ruin the game of football. It might actually make this media melee a little more enjoyable for everyone. Example: I asked Patrick Johnson what he knew about Jason Sehorn. "He's tall, strong, and he makes a lot of plays," he said. Then I asked him what Sehorn's weaknesses were. "Oh, I'm sure I can find some weaknesses," he said rather matter-of factly. "That's what my job is."

I laughed and thanked him. But then something struck Johnson. Was this reporter collecting "bulletin-board material"? As I walked away, Johnson shouted after me. "Sehorn's good though, man. He makes a lot of plays."

It's okay, Patrick, I know how you really feel.

Alan Grant, a former NFL defensive back, is a writer/reporter for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at alan.grant@espnmag.com.