JOHN Elway, Super Bowl XXXIII's MVP, easily could have been the Pro Bowl's most outstanding player as the American Conference defeated the National Conference for the third straight year at Aloha Stadium. Elway’s act brief but
still stole the showAfter all, he led the AFC on a 61-yard scoring drive in his first and only series at quarterback. Elway completed 4 of 5 passes for 55 yards, culminating his cameo role with a 3-yard TD pass to Buffalo's Sam Gash.
And then John Elway rested.
Early retirement? Nah.
He had fun watching from the sidelines as his AFC teammates never looked back in posting a 23-10 victory.
At least the 38-year-old Denver superstar stuck around 'til the end of the game, unlike Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys, who left to catch a plane in the fourth quarter in the 1993 Pro Bowl.
Deion Sanders of the Cowboys set a record yesterday with the longest pass interception return of 87 yards and New England's Ty Law recorded the longest interception return for a touchdown with a 67-yarder that gave the AFC a 17-3 lead early in the third quarter.
But that was nothing compared to the "record" that Elway set, one that probably will never be topped: at halftime, they were already passing out game quotes from him.
"I had fun today. We had a good drive and got the job done and that's what it's all about."
AS for the really big question -- will he or won't he? -- Elway hedged. You just know that the possibility of a first-ever Super Bowl three-peat is very much on his mind.
For now, though, Elway enjoyed the Pro Bowl week, and was especially touched by the pre-game tribute when he was introduced last -- as any star among stars should be introduced.
"It was great and I really appreciated it. The crowd reaction was great," Elway said.
It was a far cry from the 1988 Pro Bowl when he was soundly booed by the Aloha Stadium crowd after losing his second Super Bowl.
"They were booing the last couple times I was here," Elway recalled. "I can remember telling myself, boy, I'm never going to come back. But it's a lot different coming back as Super Bowl champs."
Instead of Elway, New England's Ty Law and Keyshawn Johnson the New York Jets -- two of 18 AFC players playing their first Pro Bowl -- wound up sharing honors as the game's outstanding players.
"Keyshawn and Ty? That's great. They played great and played hard. They're very deserving. I'm glad they got it," Elway said.
"The young guys like to play and compete. They get over here and like to fly around. It's fun to watch."
BESIDES his 67-yard TD interception return, Law had five tackles and broke up three passes. Johnson caught seven passes for 87 yards, and also played on the kick coverage team.
"I enjoyed it. I'd like to be Super Bowl MVP, obviously, but it was fun," Johnson said. "I hope it'll be the first of many Pro Bowls for me, but I don't want to see my coaches here, though."
Johnson was referring to the NFL policy that calls for the coaches who lost the conference championship games to handle Pro Bowl duties.
Law, the first Patriot to be honored in the Pro Bowl, came up with the game's biggest play -- intercepting a pass by Minnesota's Randall Cunningham intended for Green Bay's Antonio Freeman.
"I just read it pretty good and I jumped on it. The only one who could catch me was Randall. Unless he had wheels like Randy Moss, I figure I can take it in." He did.
But while it was the first-timers' turn to shine in yesterday's Pro Bowl, Elway, if ever so briefly, was still the brightest of them all.