NOTEBOOK
AFC finds early success with deep passes

By Kyle Sakamoto and Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writers

AFC quarterbacks Steve McNair and Peyton Manning combined to hit just 3 of their first 12 passes, but they sure got the most out of them.

NFC players, from left, Corey Chavous of Minnesota, Dre Bly of Detroit and Jerry Azumah of Chicago celebrate a fourth-quarter interception. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"We knew those guys, especially the defensive backs, they like to take chances and gamble early in the game so we thought we'd have a chance to go deep early," AFC coach Tony Dungy said.

In the first half, McNair was 1 of 3 and Manning 11 of 22 for 203 yards.

McNair didn't play in the second half, and Manning re-entered early in the fourth quarter and finished with a record-breaking performance.

He set Pro Bowl records with 342 passing yards, 22 completions and 41 attempts.

• He's human after all: After going through the season perfect on field goals and extra points, Mike Vanderjagt missed two field goals from 52 and 51 yards yesterday. His longest on the season was 50 yards. He was 37 for 37 on field goals and 46 for 46 on extra points during the regular season.

"He doesn't miss very often," said AFC coach Tony Dungy, who coaches Vanderjagt on Indianapolis. "He missed two long ones. We were hoping he could get those. But normally he doesn't miss those."

Added St. Louis kicker Jeff Wilkins: "When he hit it (the game-tying attempt), it looked like a good ball. He's one of the best kickers in the league. It just so happened when you're working with a different snapper and different holder, your timing is a little off. He still hit a great ball. It just didn't go. I did the same thing twice today, too, so I know exactly how he feels."

• Super sweet victory: NFC defensive tackle Kris Jenkins of Carolina had a key 12-yard sack of the AFC's Peyton Manning in the final seconds, which put the ball at the NFC 33. After a spike by Manning with four seconds left, Mike Vanderjagt missed a 51-yard field goal as time expired.

Carolina lost to New England in last week's Super Bowl, but the victory allowed Jenkins to get a bit of revenge on the Patriots.

"The way it ended it felt like it was the Super Bowl all over again," Jenkins said. "Just to win instead of losing at the last minute; it feels good to give New England a bit of a bad taste in their mouth."

There were three Patriots and four Panthers in the game.

• Fans get into game: The NFC's scoring play from Marc Bulger to Alge Crumpler came on a play called "Press 67, Solid Seattle" chosen by fans on NFL.com. More than 60,000 fans voted on the play.

• FieldTurf's better: Tennessee's Derrick Mason and Philadelphia's Troy Vincent liked playing on the new FieldTurf.

"It was better now," said Mason, who played in his second Pro Bowl. "In 2001, they had that (Astroturf) and nobody in the NFL likes to play on turf. Playing on that new turf out there is a lot better."

Vincent, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, said: "I'm used to it because it's the exact same thing we have in our practice facility. If you're not used to the turf you can wear the wrong shoes and when it gets wet it can be slippery. (But) it was excellent today."

• Persistence pays off: Baltimore's Ed Reed blocked a punt and returned the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter. It came after he missed blocking an earlier kick.

"The first punt, I saw an opening but I missed it," Reed said. "The second punt was all mine. It's intense out here and I think it's very entertaining for the fans."

• Captains' corner: The AFC's team captains were Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair (offense), Tennessee linebacker Ray Lewis (defense) and Kansas City's Gary Stills (special teams). The AFC honorary coach was former Buffalo head coach Marv Levy.

The NFC's captains were Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper (offense), Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher (defense) and Carolina's Todd Sauerbrun (special teams). The NFC's honorary coach was former Miami head coach Don Shula.

• First-year excitement: There were 41 first-time Pro Bowlers in yesterday's game.

According to New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, a six-time Pro Bowler, the first-timers helped make it a more exciting game.

"Once the game got close everybody definitely got more serious, especially when you have 41 new guys here," he said. "Everybody (among the first-timers) is excited first of all and nobody wants to lose."

• Cashing in: The NFC players and coaches each collected $35,000 and $15,000, respectively, for the victory. The AFC players received $17,500 and the coaches $10,000.

• Vili in spotlight: Vili the Warrior, the University of Hawai'i mascot, was one of the more popular mascots at yesterday's Pro Bowl. Scores of fans took pictures with Vili, who marched along the sidelines and joined other NFL mascots from Philadelphia, Detroit, Kansas City and Tennessee.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041 and Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.