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Star-Bulletin Sports


Wednesday, February 2, 2000


P R O _ B O W L




By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning
throws a pass during the AFC's first day of practice
yesterday at the Ihilani Hotel.



Pro Bowl
nothing new
to Manning

The Colts' quarterback, who will
lead the AFC in Sunday's game
against the NFC, was here as a kid
in 1980 to watch his father play

Lewis' teammates stunned by charge
Notes & Quotes

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Tapa

This is not the first trip to the Pro Bowl for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

As a 4-year-old, Manning came to the inaugural Pro Bowl in Hawaii to watch his father, Archie, compete in the 1980 National Football League All-Star game.

That afternoon, Archie Manning completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Drew Hill as the NFC beat the AFC, 37-27. His son has a chance to add to the family legacy in this Sunday's 50th annual Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

"It's a thrill for me to be out here," the second-year NFL standout said after yesterday's AFC practice. "My first one I came out here to watch my dad play in 1980.

"It was the first time they had it in Hawaii. They used to have it in different states. I remember Roger Staubach and Walter Payton. So to come back here as a player is especially thrilling for me."

The former Tennessee Volunteer led the Colts to the playoffs this season. He is one of three young Indianapolis stars playing this weekend. The other two are fourth-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison and rookie running back Edgerrin James.


By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Carolina Panthers quarterback Steve Beuerlein signs
autographs for appreciative fans yesterday durin
g the NFC's first practice at Aloha Stadium.



This season, James led the AFC in rushing with 1,553 yards and in scoring with 102 points. Manning was first in passing with a 90.7 rating. He completed 331 of 533 passes for 4,135 yards and 26 touchdowns. Harrison was second in the league in receptions with 115 for 1,663 yards and 12 scores.

"Obviously, we want to win the game, but I think this week is a reward for the hard work you put into the season," Manning said. "It was a great year for our team. We turned things around quickly.

"To have three players out here from the Colts, something that hasn't happened very often there, is nice. Hopefully, the three of us can play together for a long time."

Harrison won't be the only target downfield for Manning, who said he plans to play a lot this weekend. His other receivers include Jacksonville's Jimmy Smith, Oakland's Tim Brown, New York's Keyshawn Johnson and Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzales.

It's a receiver corps quarterbacks can only dream about.

"Just looking around the huddle, I was saying to myself, Boy, if I could have these receivers," Manning said. "If you can't complete a pass to Tony Gonzales or to Keyshawn Johnson, you've got problems. Those guys are so big and so fast.

"Everybody thinks I'm going to throw it to Marvin a good bit. Of course, he's going to be telling me he's open every time. That's nothing new for me. But with so many great players out here, it's a thrill for me."

This past season had its fair share of thrills for Manning and the Colts. They advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1996. The Tennessee Titans beat Indianapolis in the second round of this year's playoffs, 19-16.

Granted, it was a disappointing defeat. But considering the Titans advanced to Sunday's Super Bowl, it's something Manning can live with for now.

"This season was an improvement from the season before," Manning said. "The thing about the NFL, once you get into the playoffs, only one team is going to leave happy. And that's the Rams.

"It probably gets more painful the closer you get. The Titans feel worse than the Jaguars and the Jaguars feel worse than we do. But that's what it's about. You look at that Super Bowl game and the Titans were one yard away.

"You can come so close. But you'd rather be in the mix and in the arena, than going 3-13 and not even being in the playoffs. We feel like we got some good experience this year and got close. It's going to leave us hungry going into the off-season. I look forward to being where the St. Louis Rams are this year."

As for Sunday, Manning wants to win the game. But he also plans to share the stage with Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon and Jacksonville Jaguars counterpart Mark Brunnel.

At 23, Manning is the fourth-youngest starting quarterback in the history of the Pro Bowl. The three youngest are Dan Marino, Drew Bledsoe and Brett Favre.

"Being here in my second year is a lot younger than I expected," Manning said. "Sure, I'd love to come back here every year, but it's so competitive. So when you do have a good year and make it out here, you should take a lot of pride in it. And feel honored."


Raven players
stunned by news

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Tapa

The three Baltimore Ravens taking part in this week's Pro Bowl expressed shock and disbelief this morning over teammate Ray Lewis being charged with a double murder in Atlanta.

"That's my man," Ravens safety Rod Woodson said. "I hope it ain't true. That's all I can say."

Baltimore teammates Peter Boulware and Jonathan Ogden were saddened by the news of Lewis' alleged involvement in a altercation outside an Atlanta-area bar. Ogden said he heard about it Monday on his way from the airport.

"My first thought was shock and disbelief," the two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman said. "I don't know all the facts. All I know is what I've seen on TV. What I know of Ray, it doesn't sound like something he would do. I'm definitely going to take the innocent-until-proven (guilty) approach."

Boulware felt the same way. The outside linebacker from Florida State couldn't believe it when he first heard the news.

"It doesn't sound like something he would do," Boulware said. "He's a great dude. It's kind of hard for me to believe he would do anything like that. I've been thinking about it all day. That's the way it is. If you've got a close friend involved in something like this, you're worried about him."

San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau will replace Lewis on the AFC roster.


Notes & Quotes

Seau in: With Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis out of Sunday's game pending charges in Atlanta that he was involved in a double murder, San Diego standout Junior Seau will take his place in this Sunday's 50th annual Pro Bowl.

Seau learned of Lewis' arrest early yesterday morning, but didn't find out about the Pro Bowl invite until he returned from his daily morning workout.

"Obviously it's a bittersweet invite to the Pro Bowl," Seau said at a news conference at his restaurant. "My heart goes out to Ray Lewis and his family, first of all. What has happened is unbelievable. I hope that it's not true, and we must go on."

Seau, the first alternate at inside linebacker, had played with Lewis in the past two Pro Bowls. Lewis was voted the starter for Sunday's game, and Miami's Zach Thomas was picked as the backup.

Practice for real: Jacksonville head coach Tom Coughlin is known for his no-nonsense practices, even in the Pro Bowl.

As head coach for the AFC, Coughlin gently chided New York Jets wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson for missing a team meeting, something that brought a smile to the face of the two-time All-Pro player.

"He expects us to enjoy this experience away from the field," AFC starting quarterback Peyton Manning said. "But when we're on the field or in team meetings, Coach Coughlin expects us to go hard and play to win."

As Coughlin put it, "First and foremost, this is a reward for having a great season. We don't want to lose sight of that fact. But we also want our players to compete to the best of their abilities. Our goal is to win this game on Sunday."

Titans, Rams arrive: The dozen players who took part in Sunday's Super Bowl were scheduled to arrive yesterday over an eight-hour period.

The Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams have eight players taking part in the 50th annual NFL all-star game. The Tennessee Titans have four.

Regular-season and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner spent Monday at Disney World, while his teammates took part in a ticker-tape parade in St. Louis. All eight Pro Bowlers learned yesterday that head coach Dick Vermeil opted to retire.

Despite his unexpected departure, the Rams are in good shape with only a short list of concerns. Chief among them is the status of All-Pro cornerback Todd Lyght, who could become an unrestricted free agent later this month.

Lyght is the old man of the Rams. He was a first-round draft pick in 1991 when the team was in Los Angeles.

Other Rams who are unrestricted free agents are center Mike Gruttadauria and offensive tackle Fred Miller. The top restricted free agent is cornerback Dexter McCleon.


By Paul Arnett



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