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Thursday, February 1, 2001
Five Pro Bowl Ray Lewis sat in the makeshift locker room at the Ihilani Resort looking like a man more in need of a bed than a practice after breakfast in paradise.
Ravens still
feel glow
Pro Bowl notebook
By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin"I may be as tired as I've ever been," the Baltimore Ravens' middle linebacker said to American Football Conference teammate Richie Anderson of the New York Jets. "First, the Super Bowl, then the parade in Baltimore and now a 12-hour flight to Honolulu. I don't know how much practice time I have in me."
Such is the life of the National Football League's defensive player of the year and the Super Bowl MVP. A year ago, Lewis should have been on the same practice field, but was in jail, instead, charged with a double murder in Atlanta.
His well-chronicled journey over the last year has been an odyssey for Lewis, who conceded after yesterday's AFC practice that he was glad in be in Hawaii for his fourth Pro Bowl in five seasons.
PRO BOWL
Who: AFC vs. NFC
Pro Bowl 2001
"It's always great to come over here and be with the best of the best," Lewis said. "It's even more special because we won the Super Bowl. Everybody looks at you with a little more respect."
His four Baltimore Ravens' teammates -- Pro Bowl stars Sam Adams, Jonathan Ogden, Matt Stover and Rod Woodson -- also felt the Super Bowl glow.
This is Woodson's ninth Pro Bowl in 14 years, but the first time he's been in the islands as the Super Bowl champion, something not lost on the 35-year-old safety.
"It's nice because everyone is congratulating you for winning the big game," Woodson said. "For me, it was great to finally be in a Super Bowl and win it. It's one thing I wanted to accomplish before I ended my career.
"Right now, I plan on playing at least two more seasons. So, who knows? Maybe I can get another one before I'm through. It's always great to come out here, but it's even more special knowing I got the (Super Bowl) ring, too."
Unlike Woodson and Lewis, this is the first Pro Bowl for Stover and Adams. The two Texans are enjoying their experience here, especially coming off a Super Bowl victory last weekend.
"If you can get the respect of your peers, it's great," Stover said. "I've been an alternate three times in 11 years. What it really comes down to is having enough opportunities."
With Baltimore's offense struggling for most of the season, Stover not only got the opportunities, but he made the most of them, hitting 35 of 39 field goals. He also connected on all 30 PATs.
"At the beginning of the season, we had a lot of field goals because our offense wasn't doing that well," Stover said. "They weren't getting the ball in the end zone.
"But that wasn't so much of a bad thing because we knew our defense could stop them. I wasn't the offensive MVP. The defense put the offense in good field position, so five field goals sometimes was as good as two touchdowns."
Adams had a lot to do with the defense being so dominant. With his size (6-foot-3, 297) up front, Adams was able to occupy blockers, allowing Lewis to roam free.
"Our defense is a team thing," Adams said. "We play together well as a unit with each man doing his job. To be recognized by my peers is a great honor. I've wanted to be in the Pro Bowl since I first started. Just to be out here with all these great players is a real thrill for me."
Trace Armstrong waited a dozen years to be named to his first Pro Bowl. The defensive end for the Miami Dolphins realized just how long that is after meeting American Football Conference head coach Jon Gruden, who is in his inaugural National Football League all-star game as well. PRO BOWL NOTEBOOK
Armstrong finally makes it
"But when the coach is only two years older than you, it kind of puts everything in perspective," the 35-year-old Armstrong said after Tuesday's practice. "I'm just glad to finally get the opportunity to play in a game like this one."
Armstrong had an outstanding season for the Dolphins. Despite not being a starter, the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder finished the season with 33 tackles, including 16.5 quarterback sacks.
He may have a reserve role with Miami, but the former University of Florida standout is an active member in several off-the-field endeavors. He is the president of the NFL Players Association and the youngest member ever to serve on the six-member executive committee.
Armstrong also is a member of the Brian Piccolo Foundation and once served as a spokesman for the Les Turner ALS Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
"Playing in the Pro Bowl is a big honor for me," Armstrong said. "I don't tell any of the young guys this is my first time here. They look at me and figure I'm a veteran, but I'm just as excited as they are to be out here with all these great players."
Dillon on the run
Corey Dillon seems to set records wherever he goes.Despite playing only one year for the Washington Huskies and starting just eight of 11 games, Dillon set the single-season school rushing mark held by Napoleon Kaufman with 1,555 yards.
This year with the struggling Cincinnati Bengals, Dillon broke the single-game rushing mark held by Walter Payton with 278 yards on 22 carries against the Denver Broncos.
He became only the 11th player in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons and is making his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance thanks to 1,435 yards and seven touchdowns in 2000.
"Coming out here last year was a big thrill for me," Dillon said. "And it feels great to be out here again. You can't beat the weather and the surroundings, and taking part in the Pro Bowl.
"My year was kind of up and down. I didn't finish as strong as I wanted to (he had only 157 yards in his final three games), but overall, it was good. Setting the record is obviously something I won't ever forget."
Pro Bowl events
The NFL Alumni Legends Beach Bowl will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The event will be taped and shown Saturday on ESPN-TV.Taking part in the game that is free to the public are such past greats as Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Boomer Esiason and Joe Theismann.
There will also be an NFL Charities Beach Bowling Bash tomorrow at noon at the same beach near the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Eight players are scheduled to take part in this event, including Baltimore's Ray Lewis, Sam Adams and Rod Woodson, and Kurt Warner of St. Louis.
Paul Arnett, Star-Bulletin Pro Bowl 2001
