Patriots eager to prove AFC superiority

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Patriots cornerback Ty Law says there's bond among players from the AFC. "All the guys in here were rooting for the AFC to win (the Super Bowl)." Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser GAME FACTS What: NFL all-star game Where: Aloha Stadium When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday Television: ESPN, live. Radio: CBS radio, live. Tickets: $30 to $150 Ticket purchases: Aloha Stadium box office, or through Ticketmaster (877) 750-4400, or at ticketmaster.com Parking: $5. Gates Open: 11 a.m. (parking) 11:30 (stadium gates)

Hours after a championship parade that attracted an estimated crowd of 1.5 million in Boston, the three New England Patriots arrived in Honolulu Tuesday night as the toast of the NFL.

"We're being humble about it," said Seymour, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, who joined his American Football Conference teammates following a 13-hour trip on owner Robert Kraft's private jet. "It's definitely fun to be around the AFC guys. They're congratulating us and it's definitely a fun time for us."

Seymour and his teammates have an opportunity to defend the AFC's recent dominance at Sunday's Pro Bowl, and can also earn extra spending money.

Players on the winning team will each earn $35,000 (coaches get $15,000), while the runners-up will each receive $17,500 (coaches get $10,000). The AFC has won the past three Pro Bowls, and six of the past seven, and the winning Super Bowl conference has won four of the past five Pro Bowls.

"We're having a good time," said McGinest, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker. "The cap for us was winning the Super Bowl. Now it's just getting together with all these all-stars. I'm honored to be here, and of course we want to win every time we go out and play."

New England defeated the Carolina Panthers, 32-29, in the Super Bowl and finished with 15 straight wins. Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins (17-0) accomplished that feat in a single season. The Patriots, who won their second Super Bowl in three seasons, also topped the league in scoring defense, allowing just 14.9 points per game in the 16-game regular season.

Law said he appreciated all the well-wishes he has received from his AFC teammates.

"We respect each other for just being in the NFL," said Law, a four-time Pro Bowl cornerback, who was the all-star game's co-MVP in 1999. "And being we're all in the AFC, we root for each other. All the guys in here were rooting for the AFC to win (the Super Bowl)."

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said he has befriended many of Patriots, including Law, and said he was happy for their Super Bowl victory. Yesterday, Lewis described the euphoria that came with winning the Super Bowl in 2001.

"That's what we train all year for, what we train all our lives for," Lewis said. "And now they (the Patriots) have it. If anything, you're the happiest you've ever been in your life."

Added McGinest: "It's great, man. I just think we're blessed. The words to describe it is indescribable."

Seymour said Tuesday's victory parade in Boston filled him with emotion. The parade shut down offices and spurred students to skip school.

"Once we got to see our fans — the million-plus people out there — that's when it really sunk in," Seymour said. "We were getting pumped up to play again once we saw our fans out there going crazy, yelling, with their facemasks on, and paint on. It was just unbelievable with the support we get. It makes it all worthwhile."

Law said the Super Bowl was the ultimate goal for the team, and winning the Pro Bowl would give the AFC great pride.

"You're amongst the best in the league, and you want to go out there and prove that you should be here," Law said. "You're amongst the AFC's best so we want to prove that we're a better conference than the NFC."

AFC coach Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts said he admired the Patriots for taking charge of their championship responsibilities in New England, and traveling to Honolulu "as quick as they could."

"That tells you a lot about them," Dungy said. "They're leaders, they're great players, but most of all they're quality people. I'm looking forward to being with them throughout this week."

Dungy said the AFC players are enjoying Hawai'i, and will be ready to defend their three-time Pro Bowl winning streak.

"I know these guys are competitive," Dungy said. "That's what makes them great. When the game starts, they want to win. They'll play well and we're pretty confident that our group will play as well as we can."

NOTES: After winning the Super Bowl, Richard Seymour described playing in the Pro Bowl as the "cherry on top with the whip cream." ... Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, said the new FieldTurf at Aloha Stadium is "10 times as better" than the previous AstroTurf. "I think the players have come to a point where they don't want to play on anything else beside grass or this FieldTurf. Any of the owners or anybody who keeps (AstroTurf) around is just jeopardizing the players (with possible) injuries. It doesn't make any sense not to use this. I'm so glad that they put it over here because it makes it a lot easier on us." ... The state installed new turf at Aloha Stadium last year. The project cost $1.3 million, of which the NFL offered to pay $560,000. The rest was the state's responsibility. The turf installation was part of the state's contract with the NFL's Pro Bowl.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.

PRO BOWL SCHEDULE

All events subject to change. For information, call the Pro Bowl hotline at 233-4635. Admission free for all Aloha Stadium practices. Enter through Gate 4.

TODAY

• 10 a.m. — AFC practice at Aloha Stadium.

TOMORROW

• 10 a.m. — NFC practice at Aloha Stadium.
• Noon to 6 p.m. — Pro Bowl Football Festival at Kapi'olani Park, presented by the Paradise Yellow Pages (admission free). Features local bands, free autographs from NFL players and Pro Bowl cheerleaders, NFL mascots, interactive football games and prize giveaways.
• 12:30 p.m. — Pro Bowl Charity Golf Tournament at Waialae Country Club. To register, contact Nick Nicolosi at 943-9865 or n.nicolosi@verizon.net
• 3 to 5:30 p.m. — NFL Military Challenge at Kapi'olani Park (admission free). Features football skills competition of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy.
• 7 p.m. to midnight — Pro Bowl Block Party at Aloha Tower Marketplace (admission free).

Features live bands, free autographs from NFL players and Pro Bowl cheerleaders, NFL mascots and fireworks.

Saturday

• 9 a.m. — NFC practice at Aloha Stadium.
• 10 a.m. — AFC practice at Aloha Stadium.
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Pro Football Festival and Fan Appreciation Day at Kapi'olani Park, presented by the Paradise Yellow Pages (admission free).
• 6 p.m. — Sunset at the Beach at Queen's Beach, Waikiki. See football movie "Radio" on the beach.
• 8 p.m. — 25th Anniversary Pro Bowl concert and party at Waikiki Shell, featuring K.C. and the Sunshine Band and Papa Doo Run Run. Tickets available at the Blaisdell Arena box office and Ticketmaster.com (877) 750-4400.

Sunday

• 11 a.m. — Aloha Stadium parking gates open.
• 11:30 a.m. — Aloha Stadium gates open.
• 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Official NFL Tailgate Party, "Surfin' NFL," at Richardson Field. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, (877) 750-4400, and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers. Features free autographs from NFL players, Pro Bowl cheerleaders and mascots, and music and entertainment.
• 2:30 p.m. — 2004 NFL Pro Bowl Game. AFC All-Stars vs. NFC All-Stars at Aloha Stadium.