Monday, February 8, 1999
Law’s thoughts
with teammate
Law dedicates game to his Patriots
teammate, who is down with a
dislocated left kneeBetter LT than never
By Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinTy Law, the first defensive player to get a piece of the Pro Bowl's player of the game trophy since 1990, had only one thought as he left the field after the American Football Conference's 23-10 victory.
"Me being out here is irrelevant," said the New England Patriots cornerback. "Robert Edwards is more important to me than anything else right now. I'm definitely going to dedicate the game to him. "
Law referred to his Patriots teammate, who went down with a dislocated left knee in the NFL Rookie Beach Bowl on Friday and was operated on that night.
The Star-Bulletin learned from an unnamed source over the weekend that the dislocation damaged the sole artery behind the knee and caused a blood clot. The clot could have led to an amputation, but surgery at Straub Hospital and Clinic corrected the situation. The source also said Edwards has a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear.
He remains at the hospital and there has been no official word on whether or not he will be able to play the 1999 season.
"I'm going to pray for him every night, and I'm going to try to get by and see him today," said the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Law, who shared player of the game honors with New York Jets wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
Part of the fun of this game was going
against guys like Jerry Rice, Cris Carter and
Randy Moss. That's a great group of receivers.
Coach Belichick challenged us and we responded.
Ty Law
Most Valuable Player
New England Patriots
Surrounded by a pressing mob of print and broadcast media, Law looked up at a TV camera and said, "Robert, I'm praying for you, man."Law was the first defender to receive player of the game honors since defensive back Jerry Gray of the Los Angeles Rams in 1990. Gray returned an interception 51 yards for a score that year.
Law is also the first New England player so honored.
His interception of Randall Cunningham's pass with 9:42 left in the third quarter and 67-yard return for a touchdown gave the AFC a 16-3 lead. It was the longest scoring run off a pick in the history of the Pro Bowl.
Asked if he knew he could score on the interception, Law said, "The only one who could catch me was Randall and unless he had wheels like Randy Moss, I figured I could take it in there."
Law, a fourth-year player from Michigan who led the NFL in interceptions last season (nine), was also credited with five tackles and three pass deflections.
Johnson, the first New York Jet to win a Pro Bowl player of the game award since 1985 (Mark Gastineau), had seven receptions for 87 yards. Two of his receptions helped set up field goals.
Law and Johnson were the first co-MVPs since 1983, when Dan Fouts and John Jefferson shared the award.
"It was extra fun because my coaches were coaching me," said the 6-3, 210-pound Johnson, referring to the fact that the staff of the team that loses in the AFC championship game gets to coach the conference in the Pro Bowl.
"But I don't want to see my coaches here next year. That means I hope we'll wind up with some good things."
Most Outstanding Player Award-winners since the Pro Bowl began in 1971 (in 1971 and 72, an outstanding back and an outstanding lineman were chosen): Pro Bowl MVPs
1971 Back: Mel Renfro, WR, Cowboys; Lineman: Fred Carr, LB, Packers
1972 Back: Jan Stenerud, PK, Chiefs; Lineman: Willie Lanier, LB, Chiefs
1973 O.J Simpson, RB, Bills
1974 Garo Yepremian, PK, Dolphins
1975 James Harris, QB, Rams
1976 Billy Johnson, WR, Oilers
1977 Mel Blount, DB, Steelers
1978 Walter Payton, RB, Bears
1979 Ahmad Rashad, WR, Vikings
1980 Chuck Muncie, RB, Saints
1981 Eddie Murray, PK, Lions
1982 Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Buccaneers, and Kellen Winslow, TE, Chargers
1983 Dan Fouts, QB, Chargers, and John Jefferson, WR, Packers
1984 Joe Theismann, QB, Redskins
1985 Mark Gastineau, DE, Jets
1986 Phil Simms, QB, Giants
1987 Reggie White, DE, Eagles
1988 Bruce Smith, DE, Bills
1989 Randall Cunningham, QB, Eagles
1990 Jerry Gray, CB, Rams
1991 Jim Kelly, QB, Bills
1992 Michael Irvin, WR, Cowboys
1993 Steve Tasker, WR, Bills
1994 Andre Rison, WR, Falcons
1995 Marshall Faulk, RB, Colts
1996 Jerry Rice, WR, 49ers
1997 Mark Brunell, QB, Jaguars
1998 Warren Moon, QB, Seahawks
1999 Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Jets, and Ty Law, CB, Patriots
Better
LT than never
Lawrence Taylor looks
By Paul Arnett
forward to his Pro Football
Hall of Fame induction
Star-BulletinLawrence Taylor spent most of his time before yesterday's Pro Bowl pregame festivities tucked safely away in the corner of the dugout at electric Aloha Stadium.
His fellow Hall of Fame inductees -- Ozzie Newsome, Eric Dickerson, Billy Shaw and Tom Mack -- traded war stories and good times, but Taylor took a decidedly low-key approach.
What could have been interpreted as sullen behavior by Taylor was perhaps a way to step from the spotlight and allow the other standouts to have their due.
"Yes, I've had some problems. But I'm not guilty of everything that I've been accused of, either. That stuff shouldn't take away from what I did on the field.
"I played 13 years. I played hard and I left everything I had on the field. I wasn't given this. I earned it. I deserve it."
A week ago, Taylor made inflammatory remarks about the Hall of Fame selection committee prior to the vote. He was under the impression that only the New York members were in his corner.
He was told yesterday that about 30 committee members spoke out on his behalf before voting him in during the Jan. 30 meeting in Miami. The vote was 30-5.
"If I knew then what I know now, I would have felt differently," the former New York Giants linebacker said. "I didn't know these things. You're telling me something I didn't know. I didn't know the other guys did that. I appreciate it."
The former North Carolina All-American is looking forward to his induction this summer and added he wasn't sure who his presentee would be at Canton, Ohio.
"It's the best of the best," Taylor said. "There are 199 people in the Hall of Fame out of how many ever thousands there are, who played the game.
"It's great to be recognized as one of the best, no matter how you get here. And I'm here to stay, you can't take it away."
