Pittsburgh’s Ward leaps
over the NFC

If Peyton Manning didn't throw for three touchdowns, Pittsburgh's Hines Ward was a possibility for the player of the game.

Ward scored twice, including a 41-yard strike from Manning that gave the AFC an early 14-0 lead in yesterday's 38-27 Pro Bowl victory over the NFC.

Ward's other score was perhaps the most exciting play of the game. Lined up on the right side on the kickoff-return team, Ward leaped to grab an onside kick attempt by Philadelphia's David Akers and sped home for a 39-yard touchdown, the first kickoff return for a score in Pro Bowl history.

Ward needed to weave around NFC defenders as he got closer to the end zone, and he made a spin move to fool Atlanta speedster Allen Rossum right before diving in for the six points.

"My special teams coach (Kevin Spencer of the Steelers) looked at his notes and at what he learned was their tendencies," Ward said. "He told me to be alert for the onside kick all game. I held my ground and jumped over (Green Bay's William) Henderson to get the ball. Right when I got it, my first thought was to score because everybody (on the NFC side) was running forward and I was running the other way. With a guy like Rossum charging down behind me, I wasn't sure about getting in, so I tried (the spin move) to get in."

Steeg oversees his final Pro Bowl Yesterday's Pro Bowl was the last NFL event under the supervision of Jim Steeg, the league's senior vice president in charge of special events. Steeg was responsible for planning and execution of the past 26 Super Bowls and the past five Pro Bowls. He negotiated with the state of Hawaii last year to put together the new contract that keeps the game here through 2009. "I'm proud of how everyone's come together to improve the game," Steeg said of his Pro Bowl association. "I think the players are having fun and the fans are having fun. Five years ago they said no one wanted to come to the game. Now we had 11 (players) who were injured, and 10 of them came to the game anyway." Steeg will attend next month's owners meeting on Maui in his new role as chief operating officer of the San Diego Chargers. "Jim played an important role in making the Super Bowl what it is today," NFL spokesman Michael Signora said. "Throughout his tenure with the NFL, Jim's dedication to the league and its fans was indisputable." Frank Supovitz, a former NHL executive, succeeds Steeg. Dave Reardon

Last Bus stop?: Steelers running back Jerome Bettis carried five times for 23 yards yesterday. His 9-yard run up the middle with 3:15 left in the third quarter might have been his last as an NFL player. But he's not saying.

"It's still 50-50," said Bettis, who announced he was contemplating retirement after the Steelers' playoff loss to the Patriots last month.

"Odds are I won't be back here (in the Pro Bowl), so that made this a special game," Bettis said.

On the run: New England special teams warrior Larry Izzo didn't flinch when his number was called.

As the up man on a punting situation in the first quarter, Izzo took a short snap and rumbled 27 yards for a first down.

"I'm glad that they called it," Izzo said. "It's a lot of fun to do that. I've carried the rock a little before. In 1996 and 2000, I had carries for first downs. This year (during the regular season), it didn't work so well. Hopefully, I get to do it up in New England again.

"I think my yards-per-carry average stacks up with guys like Jim Brown, Curtis Martin, Walter Payton -- you name it."

Laughing aside, Izzo was the AFC's leading rusher after the first half, and with that one carry, finished third on the team behind Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson (33 yards on six carries) and San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson (28 yards on seven carries).

Fans' voice: Neither of the plays voted upon by fans on NFL.com were quite executed as designed, and produced mixed results.

Fans had the chance to vote on the Internet on a play for each of the teams to run in the fourth quarter.

The NFC's pick -- Double Right 'Z' Around LT Fake 18 Strong -- was a bust. New Orleans receiver Joe Horn took the handoff on a reverse but was cut off by Miami defensive end Jason Taylor. With nowhere to go, Horn fired a pass into the turf.

The AFC's play -- Ride 34 Flea Flicker -- didn't work exactly as planned either but resulted in a 33-yard gain with three San Diego players touching the ball.

Quarterback Drew Brees handed the ball to LaDainian Tomlinson, who flipped it back to Brees. The toss was a bit off the mark and Brees was forced to scramble. He dumped the ball to a wide-open Antonio Gates and the Chargers' tight end rumbled to the NFC 38.

The drive ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Tomlinson to put the game out of reach.

Eagle in flight: Philadelphia cornerback Lito Sheppard turned in one of the game's defensive highlights with his interception of a Tom Brady pass early in the third quarter.

With the NFC trailing 28-17, Sheppard leaped in front of receiver Andre Johnson to snag the pass. Michael Vick converted the turnover into a score to bring the NFC to within four, but it would get no closer.

"They tried a little out-and-go and I got my head around in time to make a play on it," Sheppard said. "We needed a play and I was able to come down with it, and it was a little boost for our team."

Sheppard also broke up a pass in a game that's notoriously tough on defensive backs.

"You're limited to two coverages and they have numerous routes they can run," he said. "It makes it a lot tougher, especially when you can't bump or jam. But it's all in fun."

Get a T.O.: Eagles receiver Terrell Owens didn't suit up for the game, but snagged a few passes before kickoff -- from the opposing quarterback.

Owens helped Peyton Manning, the AFC's starting QB, get loose about 90 minutes before the game, running routes and catching passes from Manning.