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PRO BOWL NOTEBOOK

Smith’s numbers
not too shabby

Jacksonville's Jimmy Smith might have been the player of the game had he lined up on the other side of the football field.

The American Football Conference wide receiver led his team in receptions with eight for 119 yards and a Pro Bowl record three touchdowns. Unfortunately for the talented Jaguar, a guy named Randy Moss for the NFC played even better.

"You have to give Randy credit, he made some big plays for them," Smith said. "He not only had a touchdown, they scored a lot of points off big plays he made during different drives.

"For me, this was a great week. It's not often you get to write your name in a record book. To be able to do it here in a game like this, makes it even more special."

Smith set two Pro Bowl marks. His three touchdowns were the most by a receiver in one game. And his four career touchdowns in the Pro Bowl is also a record, breaking the old mark of three held by Minnesota's Cris Carter.

Smith led the NFL in receptions with 116 for 1,636 yards. The seven-year veteran from Jackson State has accumulated a staggering 5,386 receiver yards over the past four seasons.

"I had a lot of fun this week hanging out with these guys," Smith said. "I wish we had made it to the Super Bowl and I wish we could have won this game today. Hopefully, we can accomplish those goals next season."

Taking it back

Tampa Bay's Tony Dungy believes good teams win by making big plays on defense. You won't get any argument from AFC counterpart Tom Coughlin. He claimed the reason the AFC lost were the five interceptions.

Two of those were returned for touchdowns by Aeneas Williams of Arizona and Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks. Williams' return of 62 yards was the second-longest in Pro Bowl history. Brooks had one of 20 yards to put the game away for the NFC in the fourth quarter.

"We always like it when the defense scores," Dungy said. "Williams and Brooks can make plays. So did Brian Dawkins (who had two interceptions). They've been doing it all year."

Injury list

Three players were forced to leave the game after suffering injuries.

The worst was a fractured wrist to kick return specialist Tremain Mack of the Cincinnati Bengals. He injured it in the first half and didn't return.

Fellow return man Glyn Milburn of the Chicago Bears pulled his left hamstring in the first half, forcing Moss to return punts for the NFC. He had two for 46 yards.

Carter injured his foot in the second half. He said he thought it was OK, but would have it examined after returning to Minnesota this week.

Warnderful week

St. Louis quarterback Kurt Warner played only the first quarter and a series in the second, but was still the media darling after yesterday's high-scoring game.

Television crews crowded around the league and Super Bowl MVP to get one last comment or two about his magical season.

"I enjoyed it," Warner said. "It's been a busy two weeks, but coming out to Hawaii gave me a chance to relax. We came out of here with a victory.

"But the chance to come out of here with some fellowship between the players is what I enjoyed the most. I'm going to take a little time off now and hopefully pick up where I left off."

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Paul Arnett, Star-Bulletin