GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM AFC running back Ricky Williams escaped Brian Urlacher's attempt at a tackle during yesterday's Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

Williams adds to
Hawaii-won honors

AFC strolls past NFC
Kick returner made statement
NFL's best played to win
Pro Bowl notebook
Game stats and history

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By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com

He's used to winning awards.

The Heisman in 1998.

The Hula Bowl MVP in 1999.

There's no Super Bowl MVP hardware in the trophy case ... yet. But give Ricky Williams time. At some point, that likely will show up, right next to the trophy he won yesterday as the Pro Bowl MVP.

Williams ran for 56 yards on 11 carries, scoring two of his team's first four touchdowns, to help the AFC to a 45-20 rout of the NFC at Aloha Stadium. He also caught three passes for 18 yards and forced a fumble.

Playing on special teams for the first time since intermediate school, Williams knocked the ball out of NFC punt returner Jeremy Shockey's hands at the 37 with 10:13 left in the second quarter.

"The best thing about the Pro Bowl is that we get to do whatever we want to do," said Williams, who set 20 NCAA rushing records while at Texas. "This was fun. I haven't been on special teams since maybe eighth grade. I was just trying to go out and hit somebody, and play hard.

"I wasn't trying to force a fumble. I hit the guy with the ball and he popped it up. I'm probably prouder of forcing that fumble than the two touchdowns."

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM AFC running back Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins scored two touchdowns and was named Pro Bowl MVP.

His second touchdown didn't come easy. With the ball on the 6, Williams took a swing pass from Drew Bledsoe and aimed for the end zone.

Williams was knocked out of bounds by linebacker LaVar Arrington at the 1, in one of the hardest hits of the game. Williams returned the favor on the next play, bowling over Champ Bailey en route to his second score.

"Arrington and I were laughing about it," said Williams, the NFL's leading rusher this season with 1,853 yards. "He made a nice hit.

"And it was exciting to see all the Dolphins have a good day today. But we still didn't make the playoffs."

Miami finished 9-7, tied with the New York Jets and New England Patriots for the best record in the East Division. The Jets won the tiebreaker and the division, while Williams and the Dolphins got to stay home and watch the playoffs.

"Watching the first couple of rounds were tough," said Williams, in his first year with Miami after three seasons with New Orleans. "But I got over it.

"It's a little bit of redemption to be here, being with the guys on this beautiful island, and having time to relax. It was a great experience. I never knew what it was all about. It's a really great week and, hopefully, I'll have the opportunity to come back many, many more times."

Williams also won a Cadillac as the MVP. The one at Aloha Stadium yesterday was black, but he already knew that he could order it in orange, Texas burnt orange.

"I don't know what it is about Hawaii," said Williams. "I was the MVP at the Hula Bowl, but this is a lot bigger. It's the NFL. It's a bigger deal.

"I knew it would be one of these kinds of games where people make plays. I'm not sure who voted on the MVP, but you could have given it to a lot of guys."

Williams' choice would have been Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez, who had five catches for 98 yards and one touchdown. Williams also liked the job reserve quarterback Peyton Manning did, with five completions in 11 attempts for 100 yards and one touchdown.

The Dolphins had four defensive starters in yesterday's game, three of whom made interceptions: Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas and Brock Marion.

"And then Ricky Williams got the MVP," said Thomas. "It shows that we have a lot of good guys on our side of the ball."

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AFC 45, NFC 20

NFC	3	3	0	14	--	20
AFC	14	14	3	14	--	45

AFC--R.Williams 1 run (Vinatieri kick), 12:15.
NFC--FG Akers 45, 9:16.
AFC--Gonzalez 11 pass from Gannon (Vinatieri kick), 6:29.
AFC--Henry 13 pass from Gannon (Vinatieri kick), 10:20.
NFC--FG Akers 53, 4:27.
AFC--R.Williams 1 run (Vinatieri kick), :47.
AFC--FG Vinatieri 20, 10:41.
AFC--Law 43 interception return (Vinatieri kick), 11:52.
AFC--Ward 32 pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick), 7:31.
NFC--Horn 12 pass from B.Johnson (Akers kick), 5:01.
NFC--Alstott 4 pass from B.Johnson (Akers kick), 2:04.
A--50,125.

	NFC	AFC
First downs	19	28
Rushes-yards	12-62	29-109
Passing	236	324
Punt Returns	2-32	2-22
Kickoff Returns	7-244	4-73
Interceptions Ret.	2-2	6-113
Comp-Att-Int	27-54-6	26-47-2
Sacked-Yards Lost	2-16	0-0
Punts	5-42.8	5-45.8
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	2-1
Penalties-Yards	5-35	3-25
Time of Possession	28:17	31:43

RUSHING--NFC, McNabb 3-24, Bennett 2-17, McAllister 2-14, Faulk 4-7, Booker 1-0, Booker 1-0. AFC, R.Williams 11-56, Tomlinson 7-23, Neal 3-18, Henry 7-12, Manning 1-0.
PASSING--NFC, Garcia 4-12-3-36, McNabb 10-23-1-97, Franks 0-1-0-0, B.Johnson 13-18-2-119. AFC, Gannon 12-18-0-102, Bledsoe 9-18-1-122, Manning 5-11-1-100.
RECEIVING--NFC, Owens 5-70, Horn 4-54, Bennett 4-26, McAllister 3-23, Lasott 3-17, Booker 2-19, Shockey 2-19, Faulk 2-8, Driver 1-9, Franks 1-7. AFC, Gonzalez 5-98, Heap 4-57, Rice 4-36, Harrison 3-29, R.Williams 3-18, Ward 2-45, Moulds 2-23, Tomlinson 2-5, Henry 1-13.
MISSED FIELD GOALS--None.

Pro Bowl Results

2003: AFC 45, NFC 20
2002: AFC 38, NFC 30
2001: AFC 38, NFC 17
2000: NFC 51, AFC 31
1999: AFC 23, NFC 10
1998: AFC 29, NFC 24
1997: AFC 26, NFC 23, OT
1996: NFC 20, AFC 13
1995: AFC 41, NFC 13
1994: NFC 17, AFC 3
1993: AFC 23, NFC 20, OT
1992: NFC 21, AFC 15
1991: AFC 23, NFC 21
1990: NFC 27, AFC 21
1989: AFC 34, NFC 3
1988: AFC 15, NFC 6
1987: AFC 10, NFC 6
1986: NFC 28, AFC 24
1985: AFC 22, NFC 14
1984: NFC 45, AFC 3
1983: NFC 20, AFC 19
1982: AFC 16, NFC 13
1981: NFC 21, AFC 7
1980: NFC 37, AFC 27
1979: NFC 13, AFC 7
1978: NFC 14, AFC 13
1977: AFC 24, NFC 14
1976: NFC 23, AFC 20
1975: NFC 17, AFC 10
1974: AFC 15, NFC 13
1973: AFC 33, NFC 28
1972: AFC 26, NFC 13
1971: NFC 27, AFC 6

Pro Bowl MVPs

Note: In 1971 and 1972, an outstanding back and an outstanding lineman were chosen.

2003: Ricky Williams, RB, Miami
2002: Rich Gannon, QB, Oakland
2001: Rich Gannon, QB, Oakland
2000: Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota
1999: Keyshawn Johnson, WR, New York Jets, and Ty Law, CB, New England
1998: Warren Moon, QB, Seattle
1997: Mark Brunell, QB, Jacksonville
1996: Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco
1995: Marshall Faulk, RB, Indianapolis
1994: Andre Rison, WR, Atlanta
1993: Steve Tasker, WR, Buffalo
1992: Michael Irvin, WR, Dallas
1991: Jim Kelly, QB, Buffalo
1990: Jerry Gray, CB, Los Angeles Rams
1989: Randall Cunningham, QB, Philadelphia
1988: Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo
1987: Reggie White, DE, Philadelphia
1986: Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants
1985: Mark Gastineau, DE, New York Jets
1984: Joe Theismann, QB, Washington
1983: Dan Fouts, QB, San Diego, and John Jefferson, WR, Green Bay
1982: Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Tampa Bay, and Kellen Winslow, TE, San Diego
1981: Ed Murray, PK, Detroit
1980: Chuck Muncie, RB, New Orleans
1979: Ahmad Rashad, WR, Minnesota
1978: Walter Payton, RB, Chicago
1977: Mel Blount, DB, Pittsburgh
1976: Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, WR, Houston
1975: James Harris, QB, Los Angeles
1974: Garo Yepremian, PK, Miami
1973: O.J Simpson, RB, Buffalo
1972: Back-Jan Stenerud, PK, Kansas City; Lineman-Willie Lanier, LB, Kansas City
1971: Back-Mel Renfro, WR, Dallas; Lineman-Fred Carr, LB, Green Bay

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National Football League