There's The Catch (Dwight Clark, 49ers, 1982 NFL Championship) and there's The Drive (John Elway, Broncos, 1987 AFC Championship). Not as famous, but just as decisive—and bigger, if you consider Roman numerals were involved—was The Tackle (Mike Jones, Rams, Super Bowl XXXIV).

Kahuku alumnus Aaron Francisco is part of an iconic big-game image, too. But not the kind you want as your legacy.

In The Picture, Francisco is the Arizona safety arriving late on the scene in last year's Super Bowl as the Steelers' Santonio Holmes catches the winning touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger.

Francisco fielded some questions about The Picture the past two weeks—because he's the only player in today's Super Bowl who played in last year's.

Most athletes on the wrong end of things in the big game go entire careers without a chance to make it right. Francisco, now of the Indianapolis Colts, gets an opportunity tonight against the New Orleans Saints in Miami, just 12 months after the Cardinals lost up the road in Tampa.

Redemption is a familiar theme for Francisco. In 1999, Kahuku lost to Saint Louis in Hawaii's first state championship football game. Then, the next year, Francisco and Chris Kemoeatu led the Red Raiders over the Crusaders as seniors.

Last year, Kemoeatu got a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers. Francisco hopes it's his turn now.

THREE NAMES dominated the talk leading up to today: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Dwight Freeney. The two quarterbacks, and the biggest X-factor because of injury.

Aaron Francisco? Some might remember him as the guy in The Picture, not much else. If people were asked to list all of the Colts and Saints in the order of how much they might impact the outcome, most would put Francisco's name near the bottom.

But they might be dead wrong, and here's why:

While Francisco does not start on defense, he is a key special-teams player (as he was with the Cardinals before they released him). The Colts picked up the four-year pro who was an undrafted free agent out of BYU more for his solid kick coverage, not pass coverage.

The team made a concerted effort in the offseason to improve that facet, and got good returns on the investment. Actually, not-so-good returns for opponents. The Colts had yielded eight touchdowns on kicks in 2007 and 2008. Francisco is part of a revamped crew that allowed just one in 2009, and 5 fewer yards per kickoff.

“;I think we match up pretty well on special teams,”; Francisco said in a phone interview from Miami. “;We don't do anything fancy, but we've been effective.”;

Part of his job on punts is to track Reggie Bush, the Saints' sometimes-explosive return man.

“;I'm the (punter's) personal protector, and then I don't really have a lane,”; Francisco said. “;So I can go get him.”;

HE FITS in perfectly with the Colts. He's not flashy or flamboyant. He's a smart, solid professional who happened not to have a great game in last year's Super Bowl.

It might be hard to picture a laid-back guy from Laie this way, but his approach is how an analyst described the Colts overall: “;briefcases and wing-tips.”;

Aaron Francisco wants people to forget about The Picture. He'll settle for The Win.

Reach Star-Bulletin sports columnist Dave Reardon at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), his “;Quick Reads”; blog at starbulletin.com, and twitter.com/davereardon.