Hawai'i trip perfect end of season for Bruschi
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi said coming out to Hawai'i "resetted my mind" after the Super Bowl, where the Patriots won their third title in four years.
"It helped a lot, it helped so much," he said. "There was a lot of pressure, AFC championship, Super Bowl. Super Bowl for two weeks. And we constantly were thinking about trying to be a world champion.
"To finally get it done and come out here and enjoy the beach and enjoy the weather, and enjoy the sun and the waves, it was something that really resetted my mind."
Bettis unsure of future
Even Jerome Bettis doesn't know whether he suited up for the final time at the Pro Bowl yesterday.
The veteran Pittsburgh running back puts his chances of returning to the Steelers at "50-50," he said after rushing for 23 yards on five carries in his sixth Pro Bowl.
"This is a special game for me because regardless if I play or not, I probably won't be back here," Bettis said.
Bettis plans to spend a few weeks at home relaxing and getting acquainted with his new daughter, whose birth last week briefly caused him to consider skipping the game. He doesn't know when he'll decide whether to return to Pittsburgh for his 13th NFL season.
Ward does hula
Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward did the hula with "Vili the Warrior" to celebrate scoring his first touchdown, a 41-yard pass from Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning in the first quarter.
"I enjoy Hawai'i, the people, the whole community," Ward said. "It's a great feeling, anytime you get the chance to score touchdowns," Ward said. "It's a great consolation prize. I didn't get a chance to play in the Super Bowl, but it's a great feeling, to get out here."
Halftime highlights
During halftime, Kapena performed "Drums of the Island," featuring Halau Hula Olana, and American Idol's Jasmine Trias sang "Walking on Sunshine," surrounded by hundreds of dancers.
Trias joined Don Ho in the finale to sing "Tiny Bubbles," as members of the crowd blew soap bubbles.
Recording artist Jason Mraz sang the national anthem, and the Kamehameha Schools Children's Choir sang "Hawai'i Pono'i."
Adams sidelined
Dallas offensive tackle Flozell Adams was unable to play in the Pro Bowl yesterday because his equipment never arrived.
Because of an unexplained mix up between Dallas and Honolulu, Adams didn't have his Cowboys helmet, shoulder pads and other gear.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
• • •
AFC 38, NFC 27
NFC 0 10 14 3—27
AFC 14 14 0 10—38
First Quarter
AFC—Harrison 62 pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick), 8:33.
AFC—Ward 41 pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick), 2:49.
Second Quarter
NFC—Westbrook 12 run (Akers kick), 12:09.
AFC—Ward 39 kick return (Vinatieri kick), 12:01.
AFC—Gates 12 pass from Manning (Vinatieri kick), 5:50.
NFC—FG Akers 33, 1:41.
Third Quarter
NFC—Holt 27 pass from Vick (Akers kick), 11:11.
NFC—Vick 3 run (Akers kick), 3:53.
Fourth Quarter
AFC—FG Vinatieri 44, 14:14.
NFC—FG Akers 29, 9:04.
AFC—Tomlinson 4 run (Vinatieri kick), 5:15.
A—50,225 (paid attendance)
TEAM
NFC AFC
First downs 26 15
Rushing 7 5
Passing 19 9
Penalty 0 1
Rushing attempts 27 27
Net yards rushing 155 120
Net yards passing 337 223
Passes attempted 48 22
Passes completed 24 12
Had intercepted 3 1
Total offensive plays 77 51
Total net yards 492 343
Average gain per play 6.4 6.7
Return yards 136 223
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 3-28 2-10
Interceptions-yards 1-0 3-51
Punts-average 1-59.0 2-42.5
Punt returns-yards 0-0 1-7
Kickoff returns-yards 5-136 6-165
Third-down conversions 10-16 3-10
Fourth-down conversions 0-1 2-2
Time of possession 35:34 24:26
INDIVIDUAL
NFC
RUSHING TC Yds TD Long
T. Barber 9 70 0 21
B. Westbrook 7 39 1 15
A. Green 5 25 0 6
M. Vick 3 10 1 4
D. Culpepper 2 8 0 6
D. McNabb 1 3 0 3
PASSING PA PC PI Yds TD
M. Vick 24 14 1 205 1
D. Culpepper 15 9 1 124 0
D. McNabb 8 1 1 24 0
J. Horn 1 0 0 0 0
RECEIVING No. Yds TD Long
T. Holt 5 99 1 27
J. Horn 4 60 0 18
M. Muhammad 4 54 0 20
J. Walker 4 53 0 20
J. Witten 3 50 0 24
A. Crumpler 1 24 0 24
B. Westbrook 2 7 0 5
T. Barber 1 6 0 6
PUNTING No. Avg. Long
M. Berger 1 59.0 59
FIELD GOALS FGA FGM Long
Akers 2 1 29
PUNT RETURNS No. Yds Long
None - - -
KICKOFF RETURNS No. Yds Long
A. Rossum 5 136 44
TACKLES UT AT Tot
M. Lewis 4 1 5
R. Barber 3 1 4
B. Berry 3 0 3
D. Morgan 3 0 3
S. Rogers 3 0 3
K. Williams 3 0 3
K. Brooking 2 0 2
I. Reese 2 0 2
J. Trotter 2 0 2
M. Washington 2 0 2
R. Williams 2 0 2
M. Fields 1 0 1
L. Glover 1 0 1
J. Horn 1 0 1
M. Muhammad 1 0 1
SACKS: B. Berry, K. Williams.
INTERCEPTIONS: T. Spikes, N. Clements, J. Porter.
AFC
RUSHING TC Yds TD Long
R. Johnson 6 33 0 18
L. Tomlinson 7 28 1 6
L. Izzo 1 27 0 27
J. Bettis 5 23 0 9
T. Richardson 3 6 0 6
H. Ward 1 4 0 4
T. Brady 1 2 0 2
D. Brees 3 -3 0 -1
PASSING PA PC PI Yds TD
P. Manning 10 6 0 130 3
D. Brees 2 2 0 58 0
T. Brady 9 4 1 48 0
L. Tomlinson 1 0 0 0 0
RECEIVING No. Yds TD Long
M. Harrison 2 66 1 62
H. Ward 3 63 1 41
A. Gates 3 51 1 33
T. Gonzalez 1 25 0 25
A. Johnson 1 24 0 24
T. Richardson 2 7 0 9
PUNTING No. Avg. Long
S. Lechler 2 42.5 44
FIELD GOALS FGA FGM Long
Vinatieri 2 1 44
PUNT RETURNS No. Yds Long
N. Clements 1 7 7
KICKOFF RETURNS No. Yds Long
T. McGee 5 126 35
H. Ward 1 39 39
TACKLES UT AT Tot
E. Reed 6 0 6
T. Polamalu 5 0 5
T. Spikes 5 0 5
J. Farrior 4 0 4
T. James 4 0 4
M. Stroud 4 0 4
N. Clements 3 0 3
J. Lynch 3 0 3
J. Taylor 3 0 3
C. Bailey 2 0 2
J. Henderson 2 0 2
J. Porter 2 0 2
T. Bruschi 1 0 1
T. McGee 1 0 1
A. Smith 1 0 1
SACKS: J. Henderson, A. Smith.
INTERCEPTION: L. Sheppard.
Pro Bowl Results
2005 — AFC 38, NFC 27
2004 — NFC 55, AFC 52
2003 — AFC 45, NFC 20
2002 — AFC 38, NFC 30
2001 — AFC 38, NFC 17
2000 — NFC 51, AFC 31
1999 — AFC 23, NFC 10
1998 — AFC 29, NFC 24
1997 — AFC 26, NFC 23, OT
1996 — NFC 20, AFC 13
1995 — AFC 41, NFC 13
1994 — NFC 17, AFC 3
1993 — AFC 23, NFC 20, OT
1992 — NFC 21, AFC 15
1991 — AFC 23, NFC 21
1990 — NFC 27, AFC 21
1989 — AFC 34, NFC 3
1988 — AFC 15, NFC 6
1987 — AFC 10, NFC 6
1986 — NFC 28, AFC 24
1985 — AFC 22, NFC 14
1984 — NFC 45, AFC 3
1983 — NFC 20, AFC 19
1982 — AFC 16, NFC 13
1981 — NFC 21, AFC 7
1980 — NFC 37, AFC 27
1979 — NFC 13, AFC 7
1978 — NFC 14, AFC 13
1977 — AFC 24, NFC 14
1976 — NFC 23, AFC 20
1975 — NFC 17, AFC 10
1974 — AFC 15, NFC 13
1973 — AFC 33, NFC 28
1972 — AFC 26, NFC 13
1971 — NFC 27, AFC 6
Pro Bowl MVPs
Most Outstanding Player Award-winners since the Pro Bowl began in 1971 (in 1971 and 72, an outstanding back and an outstanding lineman were chosen):
2005 — Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
2004 — Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis
2003 — Ricky Williams, RB, Miami
2002 — Rich Gannon, QB, Oakland
2001 — Rich Gannon, QB, Oakland
2000 — Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota
1999 — Keyshawn Johnson, WR, New York Jets, and Ty Law, CB, New England
1998 — Warren Moon, QB, Seattle
1997 — Mark Brunell, QB, Jacksonville
1996 — Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco
1995 — Marshall Faulk, RB, Indianapolis
1994 — Andre Rison, WR, Atlanta
1993 — Steve Tasker, WR, Buffalo
1992 — Michael Irvin, WR, Dallas
1991 — Jim Kelly, QB, Buffalo
1990 — Jerry Gray, CB, Los Angeles Rams
1989 — Randall Cunningham, QB, Philadelphia
1988 — Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo
1987 — Reggie White, DE, Philadelphia
1986 — Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants
1985 — Mark Gastineau, DE, New York Jets
1984 — Joe Theismann, QB, Washington
1983 — Dan Fouts, QB, San Diego, and John Jefferson, WR, Green Bay
1982 — Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Tampa Bay, and Kellen Winslow, TE, San Diego
1981 — Ed Murray, PK, Detroit
1980 — Chuck Muncie, RB, New Orleans
1979 — Ahmad Rashad, WR, Minnesota
1978 — Walter Payton, RB, Chicago
1977 — Mel Blount, DB, Pittsburgh
1976 — Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, WR, Houston
1975 — James Harris, QB, Los Angeles
1974 — Garo Yepremian, PK, Miami
1973 — O.J Simpson, RB, Buffalo
1972 — Back-Jan Stenerud, PK, Kansas City; Lineman-Willie Lanier, LB, Kansas City
1971 — Back-Mel Renfro, WR, Dallas; Lineman-Fred Carr, LB, Green Bay
NFL Calendar
Feb. 23-March 1 — Scouting combine, Indianapolis.
March 20-23 — NFL owners meeting, Maui.
April 23-24 — NFL draft, New York.
Aug. 7 — Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions, Canton, Ohio.
Aug. 8 — Pro Football Hall of Fame game, Canton, Ohio.
Sept. 8 — First regular-season game.
