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You could say Jason Elam got a kick out of the last play of the Super Bowl. Elam happy for Vinatieri
By Nick Abramo, Kalani Simpson and Dave Reardon
nabramo@starbulletin.com
ksimpson@starbulletin.com
dreardon@starbulletin.comWhen Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal gave the New England Patriots a 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Elam was elated for his colleague.
"That's how kickers write 'em," said Elam, the former Hawaii star who is here for his third Pro Bowl with the Denver Broncos. "That's how any kicker would want it to go. It was huge.
"He (Vinatieri) was my MVP for sure, and that's not to take anything away from Tom Brady, because he was patient and got the job done. But I would have given them co-MVPs at least."
Elam was almost in a position for a winning Super Bowl kick in January 1998.
In Super Bowl XXXII, the Broncos had a third down and 15 deep in Green Bay territory with the score 24-24. The odds were good he'd be in on the next play, but Terrell Davis bolted for a first down all the way to the Packers' 1-yard line and scored on the next play for the winning points.
Kreutz draws a crowd: After the NFC practice at Aloha Stadium yesterday, center Olin Kreutz of the Chicago Bears was blitzed by local media and fans. The first-time Pro Bowl player who prepped at St. Louis School was clearly happy to be home.
He said he hopes the Bears continue their resurgence next season.
"Of course we wanted to end better, win a playoff game, but we won the Central and that was a goal. The other goal was to get to the Super Bowl and we just didn't get it done."
In between several interview sessions, Kreutz signed autographs for fans for more than a half hour before finally heading to the locker room.
Secure situation: With practices closed to fans at the Ihilani Resort and open at Aloha Stadium, NFL Senior Director of Security Reuben Bradford says it's the best of both worlds for the players.
"It's not only a safety issue," he said. "It's better for the players to deal with the fans at the stadium because it's set up much better for the large crowd. The practices here (at the resort) allow the players, their families and the other guests a little more privacy."
Easy living: Pro Bowl practices are a little more laid back than the normal NFL player's workday, as clearly embodied by Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb playfully flipping a shovel pass behind his back near the end of yesterday's Aloha Stadium workout for the NFC.
Seconds after the first air horn, McNabb's Eagles teammate, defensive end Hugh Douglas, had already set the tone, joking, "I'm starting to sweat."
"I thought this was a walk-through," chimed in Chicago defensive tackle Ted Washington.
"Just having fun," Douglas said after practice. "You know, just get out here and schmooze with some of the guys you played against this season and just talk to them. You know, it's still a football game, true enough, but you're not going to attack it with the same intensity as you would a regular-season game."
"Yeah," said Washington, "but you know, come Saturday, everybody's ready to go."
They love him: San Francisco wide receiver Terrell Owens received big cheers every time he neared the crowd yesterday, while personalized signs professed love and urged him to "Spike it on the star again."
Hawaii has always been a hotbed of 49er fandom.
A reporter observed that Owens, who has had a reputation as being disgruntled in the national media, was smiling.
"When you're having fun," Owens answered, "that's what you tend to do -- smile."
Marathon man: Owens' 49ers teammate, quarterback Jeff Garcia, making his second Pro Bowl appearance, should get the writer's cramp award. Garcia signed autographs for well over half an hour before finally jogging for the locker room to a rousing ovation.
Even those left without signatures were filled with more admiration than disappointment.
"That's all right," one fan yelled. "I respect that man."
Beach Bowl: Marcus Allen, Warren Moon, Andre Reed and other former AFC players were scheduled to go up against Tony Dorsett, Jack Youngblood, Jim McMahon and fellow former NFC players in the DirecTV Legends Beach Bowl today at 11 a.m. at Hilton Hawaiian Village/Fort DeRussy Beach. The event is open to the public and admission is free.
Replacement Horn replaced: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn, who was supposed to replace injured Isaac Bruce of the St. Louis Rams, won't be able to play and has been replaced by the Rams' Torry Holt.
Champ Bailey of the Washington Redskins was also added to the NFC roster yesterday as a replacement for Philadelphia's Troy Vincent, who is out with a hamstring problem.
Chad Lewis, the Eagles' tight end, was added as a "need" player.