Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals square off again in Pro Bowl
HONOLULU -- Peyton Manning's first Pro Bowl experience came when he was just three years old.
He watched his father, Archie, from the stands of Aloha Stadium in the NFL's first all-star game in Hawaii. And little brother, Eli, wasn't even born yet.
This time, dad is the one proudly cheering on his sons in the final game in Honolulu - at least for now, as the NFL experiments with moving the game to the mainland.
"We're very proud," Archie Manning said.
The Manning brothers are on opposite sidelines and the first quarterback-playing brothers in Pro Bowl history.
Peyton, of the Indianapolis Colts, is making his ninth appearance in Hawaii in 11 seasons and will start for the AFC. Meanwhile, Eli is representing the New York Giants and making his Pro Bowl debut as a reserve for the NFC.
So who's dad pulling for?
"No. No. No. No. It doesn't matter," Archie Manning said. "I just don't want anybody to get hurt in this game. I don't care if they play for the Colts or Giants or Patriots or Titans, I don't want anybody to get hurt."
Besides the first QB siblings, Sunday's Pro Bowl also features another intriguing matchup for fans who didn't get enough from the Super Bowl: The Pittsburgh Steelers' shutdown defence versus the Arizona Cardinals' high-powered offence.
"Maybe the fans want to see an exciting game like that, but I don't know if my heart can take it anymore," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "This is the closest they can get, but this don't even come close to what they want to get back from us."
The world champion Steelers have three members on the AFC squad, and they're all on defence: Farrior, Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, who's still trying to catch his breath from his Super Bowl-record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown.
They'll go up against an NFC offence featuring three starters from the Cardinals: quarterback Kurt Warner and receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
"We can maybe beat them here," said Warner, who's considering retirement. "But I don't know if it's the same consolation as beating them in the Super Bowl."
Farrior doesn't know what to expect from the Cardinals in the Pro Bowl, which is usually played at half-speed and features more handshakes than hits.
"I don't know how they're going to act, if they're going to play hard or they're going to try to enjoy this like everybody else," he said. "But those guys are a great team and they showed the heart of a champion. We just came up with the plays at the end."
Boldin said he's moved on from the Super Bowl.
"This is an all-star game," he said. "We all just want to come out and have fun."
The he added, with a laugh: "It's not anything as far as revenge."
But for the first time in forever, the Cardinals aren't on the underdog team. The NFC, which also features all-pro running back Adrian Peterson, is favoured by 2 1/2.
Polamalu didn't like the sound of a mini-rematch of the Super Bowl.
"I don't want any more of them. No way," Polamalu said.
While the world champs have only three representatives, the New York Giants have seven, including Eli Manning and John Carney, the oldest player to participate in the Pro Bowl.
Carney, who's two months away from turning 45, is joined by Giants teammate and punter Jeff Feagles, who's a month shy of turning 43.
One of the highlights of the week came when they showed up at practice wearing leather helmets.
"It looked great," Giants centre Shaun O'Hara said. "It looked like their rookie year."
In a twist, Eli Manning, who led the Giants to a Super Bowl win last year, is now a backup to Warner, who he replaced in New York.
Besides possibly being Warner's final game, it may be the final time several players put on their team's helmets because of the possibility of free agency or requests to be traded. Among them is Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins, who isn't worried about his future right now. He's too busy enjoying the scenery.
"It's amazing to look out there and see Tony Gonzalez, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall," he said. "One after the other, it's just phenomenal players. It's a real treat."
For offensive players, the Pro Bowl is a dream come true. With no blitzing and limited defensive schemes, they won't have to worry being tormented by players like Ray Lewis or Joey Porter.
"It's a vanilla defence, so you know you're going to get a lot of one-on-one coverage," Collins said. "So from a quarterback's standpoint, that's all you can ask for."
In his 14th season, Collins is one of the most veteran players in the game. But he knows who's in charge of the AFC.
"Peyton's like the mayor around here," he said.
Peyton in 2012? If not politics, Manning has already shown some promise with acting. Still, Manning insists he'll stick with what he knows best: "I am a meat-head football player," he said.
Copyright (c) 2009 The Canadian Press
One Hall of a Super Bowl for Warner
TAMPA -- In all my years of covering and watching Super Bowls, it's hard to imagine a more accomplished performance in a losing cause than what Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner delivered Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After watching the Cardinals fall behind 20-7, and Warner being victimized by one of the most eye-popping interception returns for a touchdown ever by Steelers linebacker James Harrison, it seemed like there was no chance of the two-time NFL MVP raising Arizona.
But lift it up he did, passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone as the Cardinals overcame the biggest deficit in Super Bowl history. They just couldn't hold it.
Still, despite Pittsburgh rallying behind Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Santonio Holmes to score the game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining, the devastating 27-23 loss for the Cardinals probably enhanced Warner's chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In fact, it might have even locked up a bust in Canton for the 37-year-old gunslinger.
Many believed going into Super Bowl XLIII that an Arizona victory would have secured Warner's place in the Hall, but his performance in losing was so terrific, it's hard to imagine that he won't get there. It might have been the best Super Bowl ever by a losing quarterback.
Playing against the NFL's top-ranked defense, and also No. 1 against the pass, Warner threw for 377 yards and three touchdowns. Had anyone on the Cardinals just tackled Harrison on his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown as the first half expired, Arizona might well have won the game.
Without any running game to balance things out, Arizona put the game in Warner's hands and he did more than enough to win, distributing the ball to his three 1,000-yard receivers -- Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. He played almost perfect once the Cardinals went to the no-huddle offense with over 11 minutes remaining.
Warner has now played in three Super Bowls, and though he's lost twice, he has thrown for over 300 yards in each game and also broke his own personal record for most passing yards in one postseason.
Kurt Warner fell just short in becoming the first quarterback to win two Super Bowls with two different teams. He probably would have been the game MVP until Holmes took it away with his game-winning touchdown catch in the right corner of the end zone, snaring the ball while deftly keeping his feet inbounds.
Warner narrowly missed pulling off a win for the ages. But he just might have gained a nice consolation prize with Hall of Fame voters - a future place in Canton.
(c)Copyright The Florida Times-Union
Cardinals' Keys to Super Bowl Win
Pray. That's the proper place to start.
No, the 2008 Steelers are not in the same class as the 2007 New England Patriots. They can be beat, but the Cardinals have one formula for success and if that doesn't work, the house of cards comes down. No pun intended.
For Arizona to win on Sunday, they will need to come out firing the football; the ground game will not work.
But the Steelers have only been beaten through the air one time this year: a 24-20 loss to the Colts. And even then, there was some luck involved. Peyton Manning's first TD pass to Reggie Wayne, for 65 yards, was deflected off the CB's hand right into Wayne's before he took it the rest of the way for the score.
So while it won't be easy, it's the only way.
Warner will have to execute the short passing game to perfection because the Steelers will not allow him to sit back there and pick apart their secondary. They've seen enough film from the Eagles game to know that you've got to break the timing between Warner and his receivers (Fitzgerald and Boldin).
Utilizing this passing attack successfully will allow Arizona to implement the running game once they get the lead.
Defensively, the Cardinals won't have to worry about getting run over by Pittsburgh because they don't employ the overwhelming running game that we all became accustomed to throughout the Cowher years.
And if Arizona has a lead, they'll be at their best, playing aggressive defense - exotic blitz packages and the safety in the box (to stop the run and bring the extra man) - and allowing their secondary to remain disciplined in their coverage.
Now again, this scenario isn't likely. It worked beautifully against the Panthers and during the first half of the Eagles game. It will have to work once again to provide them their best shot to take home the Lombardi Trophy.
Check back tomorrow for Pro Football 101's keys to a Steelers victory.
Copyright (c) 2009 Bleacher Report, Inc
Sweed contributes after his glaring drop
PITTSBURGH - Had the Steelers lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Limas Sweed isn't sure what he would have done.
But Steelers Nation might have thrown him in the Ohio River.
Regardless, Sweed is glad the Steelers hung on to beat the Ravens 23-14 in the AFC championship game - that way, he's not the goat.
Sweed, the team's second-round draft pick out of Texas, dropped a sure touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger late in the second quarter that could have given his team a 20-7 lead.
Instead, the Steelers ran out of time before they could get kicker Jeff Reed on the field, and they came away empty on the drive.
Afterward, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked to comment on the play.
"I would like to respond that I wish he would just catch the football so that I don't have to respond,'' he said. "That is all a part of growing up. He is a young player that wants to deliver for this team. Sometimes he comes up short.''
Sweed said he just dropped the ball and he didn't offer any excuses for it. He had to be helped off the field because he landed on the ball and he had the wind knocked out of him, but that didn't compare to the razzing he took from the Ravens.
"I can't even repeat it,'' he said. "But it was just general football stuff.''
Sweed did repeat what his teammates said to him, in particular, Hines Ward.
"He told me to be ready to make some plays,'' Sweed said. "He said, 'I drop balls, too. But I bounce back.' So I just shook it off and went out and played.''
Sweed made a small contribution later on, when he leveled Baltimore's Corey Ivy with a hit after tight end Heath Miller had caught a pass.
The hit left Ivy woozy, and Sweed feeling good that he had contributed to the team.
"Any time you can help the team,'' he said, "it feels good.''
Tomlin agreed.
"Hats off to the guys for sticking with him and allowing him to be a part of this,'' he said. "That is the nature of this thing, everybody is going to have to ante up and kick in like they have done all year through the good and the bad. Thankfully, he was able to come back and provide a play or two for us.''
Choice words
To say Larry Foote relished the win might be an understatement. With all the media attention leading up the game focusing on Baltimore's rookie quarterback and its defense, Foote figured the Steelers were being given second billing.
So to oust the Ravens from the playoffs was sweet, Foote said.
"Our (statistics) were better than theirs,'' Foote said, "but they wanted to talk about their defense. And then they wanted to talk about a rookie quarterback instead of Ben. It made good sports talk. ... In this rivalry, it don't matter what happens the next 20 years. This game will be in the back of their minds. They could beat us in the AFC championship game next year, but until they beat us, we have the bragging rights.
"Take that, Baltimore.''
INJURY WARD
Sweed was seeing significant playing time because Ward, the team's top receiver, left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury.
Tomlin didn't offer any diagnosis, but said Ward would have an MRI today to see of there was any internal damage. Ward was injured while catching a pass from Ben Roethlisberger. His right knee appeared to twist behind him when he was dragged to the ground by two Baltimore defenders.
"He's definitely a leader on and off the field,'' said running back Willie Parker. "When he said he was all right, we just went out and played for him.''
With Ward out, the Steelers were left with only three healthy receivers: Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington and Sweed.
One vote for Troy
All week long, TV commentators spent countless time debating whether Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu is a better safety than Baltimore's Ed Reed.
Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel says he knows where he stands. So when asked if Polamalu was the better player, Keisel didn't shy away from the question.
"No question, (Troy's better),'' he said. "I don't want to take anything away from Ed Reed, because he is a heck of a player, but I'm biased I guess because I'm on this team.''
Speechless
Chris Hoke was so happy the Steelers won that the defensive lineman didn't mind losing his voice.
"To have this one win is big,'' said the raspy-throated Hoke, who said he lost his voice while cheering in the fourth quarter. "My family is here. To do it in front of them is special.''
NOTES
Former IUP offensive lineman Jason Capizzi was again deactivated before the game. Since signing with the Steelers prior to the regular-season finale, Capizzi has been deactivated before each game. ... The announced attendance was 65,350, setting a franchise record at Heinz Field. The listed capacity is 63,050. The previous record attendance was set in the 2005 AFC championship game - 65,242. ... Third-down back Mewelde Moore left the game in the second half with an ankle injury. ... Former Steelers Rod Woodson and Dermonti Dawson were the honorary captains. ... After going 1-3 in the divisional playoff round, home teams went 2-0 in conference championship games. ...
Copyright (c) 2009 Indiana Gazette
Your Team Has No Chance Against The Pittsburgh Sumo Attack
Steel Curtain Decends To Host AFC Title Game. All of that makes this report from NFL.com's Adam Shaefter more intriguing. The league web site approved insider claims that there's a legitimate chance that the Chargers could try to move Tomlinson this offseason to avoid the sizable cap hits his contract will bring. To wit, that's worth nearly $9 million next season. That money would be more than enough to lock up both Sproles and quarterback Philip Rivers, which will almost certainly give the storyline more legs.
What Is Domination? This is. The Steelers gutted the Chargers yesterday in the final playoff game of the weekend. The conference championship rounds are set, Philadelphia/Arizona and Baltimore/Pittsburgh. If defense wins championships, I think the deck is stacked for whomever wins the AFC to win the Super Bowl. Not to sleep on Philadelphia's defense, but it is no comparison to Baltimore or Pittsburgh's tenacious D.
Playoff Chaos? Blame Realignment. Blame the realignment of 2002, which broke the league into eight four-team divisions. The realignment gave us situations like the one we've had here in 2008, when a 12-4 team (Indy) has to go on the road to face an 8-8 team (San Diego), while an 11-5 team (New England) that beat a 9-7 title-game contender (Arizona) by 40 points just a few weeks ago sits at home and watches it all unfold.
What Do You Do With A Ratbird Hat? OK, here's the situation I was in. I'll tell you what happened and what I did, and then I want to hear your comments about what you would do in the same situation. Titans vs Ratbirds, it's halftime with the score tied 7-7, and I go to the facilities. After taking care of business, I'm heading out the door behind some real stupid-looking goofus dressed in fugly purple and he drops something on the floor...
All Aboard The Purple Express, Redskins Fans. I know that you hate us, and there's no way I can convince you to do otherwise. But if you think about it, the Baltimore Ravens are your best chance at peace with the remainder of the football season.
One Of These Probably Cost Us The Game... Choose Wisely Edition. Jeff Fisher on the blown delay of game call on the crucial 3rd down: "I've always maintained that there's a human element in the game as far as officiating is concerned. There are going to make mistakes; it is part of our game,'' Fisher said. "But this particular mistake was unacceptable. There is no excuse for it, it was a mistake, and it was a costly mistake." Peter King gives some inside scuttle-butt about the D.O.G. and what rules may change in reaction to what happened Saturday.
Pathetic, They Almost Looked As Bad As Denver. San Diego must have listened to everyone picking the Steelers because it looked like they bought into the whole bullcrap "Steelers mystique." At least the defense made some decent plays, but they also gave up some critical yardage and first down conversions. I won't mention the lousy officiating by Bill Leavy and crew.
Big Ben Should Get Concussed Every Week. See David Brent there? That was me during the second half. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.
deadspin.com
Packers Fire Defensive Coordinator, 5 Other Coaches
Packers coach Mike McCarthy has fired defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and five other coaches.
Sanders ran the Packers defense for three seasons.
The 2008 squad was the worst of the three -- 22nd in the NFL in points allowed, 20th in yards allowed- and they gave up more fourth quarter points than all but one NFL team.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy has fired defensive coordinator Bob Sanders.
Sanders ran the Packers defense for three seasons.
The 2008 squad was the worst of the three -- 22nd in the NFL in points allowed, 20th in yards allowed- and they gave up more fourth quarter points than all but one NFL team.
Also fired were defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer, defensive nickel package/cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington and strength and conditioning coordinator Rock Gullickson.
"These are difficult decisions," McCarthy said in a statement on the Packers Web site. "I hold each of these men in high regard on a personal level, and I want to thank them for their service to the Green Bay Packers."
Candidates to replace Sanders include linebackers coach Winston Moss, and several former NFL head coaches -- Mike Nolan, Jim Haslett, Gregg Williams and Romeo Crennel.
Copyright 2009 by WISN.com
Colts face tough road despite 9-game win streak
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts survived a long, grinding journey to earn a playoff spot. Reaching the Super Bowl will be far more difficult.
The Colts open the postseason Saturday on the road against an old nemesis, San Diego, and a victory would mean a return trip to Tennessee or Pittsburgh. If things go well, the Colts could play in all three venues.
It isn't how the Colts envisioned chasing another Super Bowl title - or how 12-4 teams are typically rewarded. But after two consecutive months of must-win games, the Colts believe they're ready.
"I think maybe that grind of having to win seven or eight in a row to stay in the race maybe made it feel that way," coach Tony Dungy said Monday. "But it's been rewarding, I'll say that. I like where we are."
Dungy and the Colts know perhaps better than any team in the playoffs what it takes to win.
Over the past decade, they have faced virtually every possible playoff scenario with the usually mixed results.
- Since 1999, Indy has had three first-round byes - and lost its first game all three times.
- In 2003, they needed two wins, including a shootout at Kansas City in which neither team punted, to reach the AFC title game before losing at New England.
- In 2006, they had to win four times, including a game at Baltimore in which they did not score a touchdown and a 15-point second-half comeback against the Patriots, to give Peyton Manning his first Super Bowl title.
- The last two times they were a wild-card team, 2000 and 2002, they lost at Miami in overtime and 41-0 at the New York Jets.
But this generation of Colts has never gone into the playoffs like this.
After an uncharacteristic 3-4 start, they closed the regular season with nine straight wins - something the franchise hadn't done since 1975, when it was still in Baltimore. The Colts lost that season at Pittsburgh in the first round.
But there are indications this season could be different.
Manning's remarkable closing flourish has put him back in contention for a record-tying third MVP award. He's completed more than 70 percent of his passes in each of the last six games, has thrown 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions and has virtually willed the Colts to victory during the second half of the season.
"I really didn't like what happened last year," Manning said, referring to last year's season-ending loss to Tennessee and ensuing loss to the Chargers in the playoffs. "We had the same situation and just didn't play good as a team (against the Titans)."
That wasn't this past Sunday's season finale, when Manning was a perfect 7-of-7 for 95 yards with a TD in a 23-0 victory of the Titans.
The defense looks better, too.
Touchdown returns at Cleveland and Jacksonville produced the decisive margin in those victories, and the Colts' backups produced the franchise's first shutout since 1997. Meanwhile, the secondary allowed an NFL-record low six TD passes in 16 games.
That combination has rejuvenated the Colts' confidence.
"We've found ways to win," Dungy said. "We've won in tough venues. It's going to be tougher in the playoffs. But I like the way it's developed."
Clearly, the Colts have flaws.
Most point to the two areas that usually create playoff success or failure - running the ball and stopping the run.
Joseph Addai, who played one series Sunday after missing two straight games with a right shoulder injury, produced the team's only 100-yard day back in early October.
"I guess it probably doesn't matter because we've won nine in a row the way it is," Dungy said of the ground game.
Critics contend the Colts' run defense is a problem, too, although it has allowed a respectable 3.9 yards per carry over the last three months.
Plus, the Colts are getting healthy.
This week's only real question is whether defensive captain Gary Brackett will play. Brackett has missed four straight games with a cracked bone in his lower right leg, and although Brackett said he hopes to be ready for the first-round game, Dungy said Monday he probably wouldn't practice this week.
But the biggest difference is how the Colts have performed in what they considered a stretch of elimination games.
"I think the biggest key during our winning streak is that we've had good preparation," Manning said. "So the main focus right now is having a good week of practice."
The Colts hope that will be good enough.
"The healthy teams, the hot teams going in, have a chance to win it. San Diego, I think, is just as dangerous as anybody in this tournament right now," Dungy said. "They've played well down the stretch, very much like us, where it's kind of been must-win all the way through."
Copyright (c) 2008 CustomWeather, Inc
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