[ PRO-BOWL ]
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair and Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning played catch at yesterday's practice.
Rucker finding
therapy in HawaiiLosing Super Bowl XXXVIII was
not easy for the Carolina Panthers
defensive end
The guys who win the Super Bowl aren't the only ones who don't sleep the night after the game.
While the New England Patriots partied on for the second time in three years, there was no victory celebration for the Carolina Panthers.
Defensive end Mike Rucker had nothing to smile about after his team lost 32-29 to the Patriots on Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
And when he tried to close his eyes that night, all he saw were replays, ones he wished he could change and knew he could not.
Rucker had a career-high 12 sacks for the Panthers in 2003. But he and his teammates couldn't get to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for even one takedown.
So yesterday's Aloha Stadium practice for the first-time Pro Bowl player was bittersweet.
"I didn't get a whole lot of sleep that night. I thought a lot about the game," Rucker said. "I flew out the next morning and it's been a long 48 hours. It was tough on the plane, but this is definitely helping me out. I'm definitely happy to be here. But it's hard to get the game out of your mind. It's not something you just say 'be gone' and it's gone. This experience out here is definitely helping me get over it though. It's what I need now."
Rucker said that since he arrived here on Monday people who have recognized him have been appreciative of the season he had in helping the upstart Panthers get to the NFL championship. He's cordial and accommodating to autograph seekers, but don't expect him to smile for a while.
"Again, this is really helping me get over that," Rucker said. "But I want this feeling for now. I don't want to forget this feeling because I want it to drive me for next year."
The fifth-year pro from Nebraska is one of four Panthers set to play in Sunday's game. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and punter Todd Sauerbrun were also at Aloha Stadium yesterday, and running back Stephen Davis was expected to arrive today.
THE PANTHERS RETURN a strong nucleus for next year, but Rucker knows Carolina won't be sneaking up on anyone, and reinforcements are needed via the draft and free agency.
"We definitely need to add some people. We can always get better," Rucker said. "We're definitely going to do that and that will make us stronger."
The NFC stars were the first pro players to work out on the stadium's FieldTurf surface that was put down last summer. The players' union was vocal in its distaste for the AstroTurf that was previously there, and the new turf could be a key in upcoming negotiations to extend the state's Pro Bowl contract that runs through next year.
"This is better. It helps our knees and saves on overall wear and tear," said Rams receiver Torry Holt after yesterday's practice.
The AFC also jogged through its first workout yesterday, but it was on the natural grass of the Ihilani Resort. The Patriots' contingent of cornerback Ty Law, linebacker Willie McGinest and defensive tackle Richard Seymour was missing; they were slated to arrive sometime today, possibly in time for practice.
THE MAIN TOPIC of conversation on the sidelines and in postgame interviews was still last Sunday's big game.
Hall-of-Fame quarterback Joe Theisman, now with ESPN, agreed it was one of the best Super Bowls ever.
"In the last three minutes of the first half, 24 points were scored. The teams took some chances, opened it up, there were big plays. The 2-point conversion by New England was huge, on a trick play. So you had trick plays, great special teams play and quarterbacks who just played spectacularly, and you had some great defense," Theisman said. "You're going to be hard-pressed to find something wrong with this Super Bowl. Even the worst detractor is going to be hard-pressed."
What about the halftime show that ended with Justin Timberlake pulling off Janet Jackson's version of a tear-away jersey?
"Halftime? That's not the NFL, that belongs to somebody else," Theisman said.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, here for his fifth Pro Bowl, was in Houston during Super Bowl week, but he skipped the game.
"I hardly ever watch it. If I do it's for the commercials. I'm a little bitter at the end of the season. It's hard to watch without having that pain from the last game. And now here I am playing for the coach of the team that beat us in the playoffs (the Colts' Tony Dungy)," Gonzalez said with a big smile. "I love coming here. The best part is getting to know guys you play against all year. There's 40 first-time guys here."
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Pro Bowl Events
TODAY
AFC practice at Aloha Stadium, 10 a.m.THURSDAY
AFC practice at Aloha Stadium, 10 a.m.FRIDAY
NFC practice at Aloha Stadium, 10 a.m.
Pro Bowl Football Festival at Kapiolani Park, free, noon-6 p.m.
Charity Golf Tournament at Waialae Country Club, 12:30 p.m. Call 943-9865 or e-mail n.nicolosi@verizon.net to register.
NFL Military Challenge at Kapiolani Park, 3-4:30 p.m.
Pro Bowl Block Party and Fireworks Show at Aloha Tower Marketplace, free, 6 p.m.-midnight.SATURDAY
AFC and NFC practice at Aloha Stadium, 9 a.m.
Pro Football Festival and Fan Appreciation Day at Kapiolani Park, free, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunset at the Beach Pro Bowl Style, at Queen's Beach, Waikiki, 6 p.m.
25th Anniversary Pro Bowl Concert and Party at Waikiki Shell, featuring K.C. and the Sunshine Band, 7 p.m. Tickets available at the Blaisdell Box Office.SUNDAY
Official NFL Tailgate Party at Richardson Field, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers.
Pregame festivities begin at Aloha Stadium, 1:45 p.m.
Pro Bowl game at Aloha Stadium, 2:30 p.m.
