Patriots bask in afterglow

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Super Bowl champions Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Larry Izzo and Richard Seymour received an ultimate welcome fitting of the NFL's "ultimate team" yesterday at their first Pro Bowl practice at the Ihilani Resort.

Tom Brady has reason to smile after guiding the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory. Ronen Zilberman • Associated Press

Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri arrived earlier this week and missed the team's parade in Boston that drew nearly 1 million fans on Tuesday.

"There's always a lot of congratulations," said Brady, the team's quarterback on meeting his Pro Bowl teammates. "We kind of reminisce about the games we played. Especially the Steelers guys and the Colt guys. We had some hard-fought battles. Now we're on their team. It's going to be a lot of fun this week."

The NFL's annual all-star game will celebrate its 26th AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The NFC won last year's game, 55-52, and ended the AFC's three-game winning streak.

Brady and his Patriots teammates will play on the AFC team coached by Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher. The NFC team, coached by Atlanta's Jim Mora Jr., also received a boost yesterday with the arrival of eight players from Super Bowl runner-up Philadelphia. Eagles free safety Brian Dawkins arrived earlier this week.

"It's tough to put the Super Bowl loss behind you in just a couple of days," Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said. "We're obviously trying to enjoy ourselves while we're here with the rest of the guys, and focus in when we leave here and what we need to get to (Super Bowl site) Detroit next year."

Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour wore his commemorative Super Bowl T-shirt yesterday and said that everyone in the NFL wants what his team has.

"You have to go out and earn it," Seymour said of the Super Bowl. "That's the beauty about this game. It doesn't matter how much money you have, doesn't matter what type of car you drive, when you step out on that football field, you know it's about the work that you put in. I think we have the ultimate team.

"We're willing to sacrifice for the success of the team," said Seymour, who will sit out of the Pro Bowl because of a knee injury. "It drives the point home for the college kids and high school kids, you always want to play within the system. You don't have to try to be a superstar, just let it happen. That's what we do."

Buffalo outside linebacker Takeo Spikes said he was honored to play alongside the Super Bowl champions and called them an "inspiration."

"I'm trying to get to where they've been," Spikes said. "It's motivation just trying to be the best. If you don't have the (Super Bowl) ring, you can't walk with the swagger. If you can't walk with the swagger, now you're trying to find out how to walk with the swagger."

First-time Pro Bowler Bruschi said he didn't know what to expect in the all-star game, and told reporters he asked fellow inside linebacker Izzo, his three-time Pro Bowl teammate, for advice.

"I have no idea how it's going to be," said Bruschi, who was added to the AFC roster as a replacement for injured Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. "It was nice to get my feet wet out here, and see the tempo of practices. Once the game starts, it's only going to take me a couple of plays to get my rhythm."

Players on the winning team will each earn $35,000 (coaches get $15,000), while losing team members will each receive $17,500 (coaches get $10,000).

Polamalu sees greater things from Chow

New Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow has a chance to be even better in the pro ranks than he performed at USC, according to Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl strong safety Troy Polamalu, who played at USC when Chow coached the offense there.

Chow, 58, is a Punahou School graduate and former Waialua High football coach.

"I think he probably has a better chance to be more successful because you have more time with your players, more time to gameplan," Polamalu said. "Your players are in there all day long so you can expect more out of them."

Chow helped USC win three consecutive Bowl Championship Series games and two consecutive national titles. He also tutored Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

Roster change: St. Louis receiver Torry Holt replaced Philadelphia's Terrell Owens, who is recovering from an ankle injury. Jacksonville defensive tackle John Henderson replaced Seymour.

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