By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
The AFC's Tim Brown runs away from the NFC's
Aeneas Williams for an 80-yard touchdown that
sent the game into overtime.
Not only are the Pro Bowl players among the most gifted athletes in the league, they are the highest form of competitor as well.
Once they are put into a win-lose setting, it's best just to sit back and enjoy the show.
"They didn't get here on talent alone," National Football Conference coach Dom Capers said. "They're also here because they like to compete and hate to lose."
There are some who would say that's just the company line. And it's easy to be cynical when so many multimillion-dollar bonus babies are crying all the time.
But yesterday's dramatic 26-23 overtime victory by the American Football Conference before 50,031 fortunate fans at Aloha Stadium was pretty close to the real deal.
Why else was Green Bay's Reggie White still playing the minister of defense for the NFC deep in the fourth quarter? Wasn't that New England's Curtis Martin, Dave Meggett and Ben Coates hanging around in overtime?
And don't look now, but there's former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown setting a Pro Bowl record for most receiving yards with 137, including 80 on the touchdown toss from Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell that sent the game into overtime.
"I was just trying to make a play," Brown said. "We knew what was going to happen, we just had to capitalize on it. So it worked out great for us. Mark put the ball right where it had to be."
Chris Gardocki and Cary Blanchard
were jubilant after Blanchard's
kick won the game.
Associated Press
Brunell, this year's captain comeback, didn't stop there. Under a heavy rush from Minnesota's John Randle, Brunell shook him off and completed a 43-yard backbreaking pass to Coates to set up Cary Blanchard's 37-yard field goal to win the game.
The former University of Washington quarterback was named the game's most valuable player. Brunell, who was acquired in 1995 from the Green Bay Packers for two draft choices, said it's all about winning.
"Our sidelines were pretty jacked up down there toward the end," said Brunell, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown. "Everybody was up and cheering. We wanted to win it in the worst way."
Both sides had numerous chances to do just that coming down the stretch. The NFC led by as much as 15-3 in the third, only to see the AFC rally behind Brunell.
Twice NFC quarterback Gus Frerotte thought he had managed the winning drive, but fate conspired against him.
His 53-yard touchdown strike to Cris Carter gave the NFC a 23-16 advantage with 4:07 left in regulation. Even after Brunell countered with his game-tying bomb to Brown, Frerotte still drove the NFC into field-goal range with 11 seconds left, only to see John Kasay's 39-yard attempt tumble just beneath the upright.
"It was painful watching that kick," Frerotte said. "Coach Capers told me on Saturday I was going to be the quarterback in the fourth quarter.
"So I new I had the chance to be the hero. We were all out there trying to win the game. I hope I can get back here again some day and be the winning quarterback."
Frerotte led the NFC in passing by connecting on 13 of 25 for 193 yards and one touchdown. He also threw an interception in the end zone in the second quarter.
"You always want to win every time you step on the field," Favre said. "I thought the game was entertaining. The money is not why we're here. We play in this game because we want to compete with the best guys in the league."
Talented tailback Barry Sanders proved that fact with his 11 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown that occurred midway through the third quarter. The Detroit Lions' veteran, who has been in the Pro Bowl all eight of his NFL seasons, also turned a routine screen pass into a 40-yard gain.
"You always want to show people why you were picked to play in this game," said Sanders, who ran through a Junior Seau tackle for his 6-yard scoring run. "There's always the money, but for most of the guys out here, playing in this game means much more than that."
Fellow NFC veteran Darrell Green concurred.
"I'm not saying people are out there running around with Super Bowl intensity," the 14-year NFL veteran said. "But everybody out there wanted to win."
Especially Blanchard, who had missed a 41-yarder to win the game early in overtime.
"John (Kasay) and I had our problems all day because we were with a different holder and snapper," Blanchard said. "It definitely affects your rhythm.
"Fortunately for me, everything was perfect on that last kick. All I had to do was hit it well and watch it go through. It's a wonderful feeling I won't ever forget."