Published: Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Not-so-super storyline
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DETROIT — At least one member of the Seattle Seahawks has had his fill of Jerome Bettis' Homecoming celebration.
"That's all we're hearing about," said wide receiver Darrell Jackson during Tuesday's mostly tame Super Bowl Media Day at Ford Field.
"Coming back to his hometown, I'd like to see him go out on top," Jackson said of the Steelers tailback, "but I really don't think that's going to happen."
Trash talk was rare as the Steelers and Seahawks were questioned by more than 2,000 credential media during hour-long sessions. Even Steelers linebacker Joey Porter pretty much kept his six-shooters holstered.
"It's part of the Super Bowl so it's a good thing," the Steelers' seventh-year linebacker said of being questioned for 60 minutes. "Trust me, it's a good thing as much as [we] complain about doing it."
Porter said the alternative is not being in Detroit for the Steelers' biggest game in 10 years.
"I'm not really a spokesperson," Porter said. "There's a reason why Coach [Bill] Cowher doesn't let me do the press conferences."
Pushed on what he expects on Sunday, Porter said, "We didn't come here to just be happy to be here. We came out here to win the Super Bowl."
Showing respect
Jackson, who overcame a severe case of the dropsies two years ago to become one of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's favorite targets, said Bettis deserves praise for a 13-year Hall-of-Fame career.
"We need to give him respect because he's a heckuva player," Jackson said. "He's been here 13 years.
"And this is special, his coming back to his hometown and everyone wanting to talk about it," Jackson said. "After the game, we can take all the attention from the Jerome Bettis parade, I mean his Key to the City Week, and shift it on us."
Sunday, the Seahawks (15-3) will play in the 30-year-old franchise's first Super Bowl against the Steelers (14-5), who are playing in the team's sixth.
Cowher, whose team has won seven straight games including three playoff contests on the road, said the biggest challenge facing his squad in the hype-filled week "is perspective.
"There was nothing like this [around us] six-seven weeks ago," said Cowher of Pittsburgh's 7-5 start. "We had a journey, we had to travel and it was not easy. We had to work hard to get to this point.
"To get this close, the last thing you do is get caught up in yourself and taking yourself too seriously," the Steelers' 14th year coach said. "[We] recognized that we have to have a good week of work, stay prepared, stay humble and go out there and play a good focused game.
"I think these guys understand that's what we have to do."
Seattle's key guy
The key to the Seahawks' first NFC Championship is Coach Mike Holmgren, who has two Super Bowl teams on his resume (the 1997-98 Green Bay Packers).
"I want to sit back and watch what's happening, kind of soak it in more than I did the first two times," said Holmgren who joined the Seahawks seven years ago. "Not that those weren't great experiences but I'm not sure I spent enough time just enjoying the moment.
"Winning the Super Bowl is quite a feeling," said Holmgren whose Packers defeated the Patriots nine years ago. His team lost the following January to the Broncos.
"It took me a long time to get over that because it was a close game," Holmgren said of the 31-24 loss in San Diego. "But you know what? You move on. There's more to life than even the Super Bowl."
To a certain extent, Steelers left guard Alan Faneca agrees with Jackson.
"The [Bettis] storyline is not going to win us the game. I think we know that and they know that," Faneca said. "If you've got to have something to rally around, that's just as good as anything to get guys focused, to get guys keyed in."
Deflecting attention
Bettis deflected thoughts of his quest by saying "it would be great to get a trophy to [owner] Mr. [Dan] Rooney because the Rooney family is incredible in the sense that their commitment to people is more significant than the stats, the numbers, the wins and losses.
"That's why the organization really mirrors them because they're concerned about the person," said Bettis who is finishing his 10th season as a Steeler. "That's allowed me to stay in Pittsburgh a lot longer than probably I would have in another organization.
"There's been some down years but there's also been some where I've been able to make good on what they wanted," the Detroit native said. "That's why Coach Cowher has been here so long. People say, 'Why is he so tenured? What is it?'
"I think it's the organization and it starts at the top with the owners who believe in people first and the numbers second."
williams@vindy.com
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DETROIT — At least one member of the Seattle Seahawks has had his fill of Jerome Bettis' Homecoming celebration.
"That's all we're hearing about," said wide receiver Darrell Jackson during Tuesday's mostly tame Super Bowl Media Day at Ford Field.
"Coming back to his hometown, I'd like to see him go out on top," Jackson said of the Steelers tailback, "but I really don't think that's going to happen."
Trash talk was rare as the Steelers and Seahawks were questioned by more than 2,000 credential media during hour-long sessions. Even Steelers linebacker Joey Porter pretty much kept his six-shooters holstered.
"It's part of the Super Bowl so it's a good thing," the Steelers' seventh-year linebacker said of being questioned for 60 minutes. "Trust me, it's a good thing as much as [we] complain about doing it."
Porter said the alternative is not being in Detroit for the Steelers' biggest game in 10 years.
"I'm not really a spokesperson," Porter said. "There's a reason why Coach [Bill] Cowher doesn't let me do the press conferences."
Pushed on what he expects on Sunday, Porter said, "We didn't come here to just be happy to be here. We came out here to win the Super Bowl."
Showing respect
Jackson, who overcame a severe case of the dropsies two years ago to become one of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's favorite targets, said Bettis deserves praise for a 13-year Hall-of-Fame career.
"We need to give him respect because he's a heckuva player," Jackson said. "He's been here 13 years.
"And this is special, his coming back to his hometown and everyone wanting to talk about it," Jackson said. "After the game, we can take all the attention from the Jerome Bettis parade, I mean his Key to the City Week, and shift it on us."
Sunday, the Seahawks (15-3) will play in the 30-year-old franchise's first Super Bowl against the Steelers (14-5), who are playing in the team's sixth.
Cowher, whose team has won seven straight games including three playoff contests on the road, said the biggest challenge facing his squad in the hype-filled week "is perspective.
"There was nothing like this [around us] six-seven weeks ago," said Cowher of Pittsburgh's 7-5 start. "We had a journey, we had to travel and it was not easy. We had to work hard to get to this point.
"To get this close, the last thing you do is get caught up in yourself and taking yourself too seriously," the Steelers' 14th year coach said. "[We] recognized that we have to have a good week of work, stay prepared, stay humble and go out there and play a good focused game.
"I think these guys understand that's what we have to do."
Seattle's key guy
The key to the Seahawks' first NFC Championship is Coach Mike Holmgren, who has two Super Bowl teams on his resume (the 1997-98 Green Bay Packers).
"I want to sit back and watch what's happening, kind of soak it in more than I did the first two times," said Holmgren who joined the Seahawks seven years ago. "Not that those weren't great experiences but I'm not sure I spent enough time just enjoying the moment.
"Winning the Super Bowl is quite a feeling," said Holmgren whose Packers defeated the Patriots nine years ago. His team lost the following January to the Broncos.
"It took me a long time to get over that because it was a close game," Holmgren said of the 31-24 loss in San Diego. "But you know what? You move on. There's more to life than even the Super Bowl."
To a certain extent, Steelers left guard Alan Faneca agrees with Jackson.
"The [Bettis] storyline is not going to win us the game. I think we know that and they know that," Faneca said. "If you've got to have something to rally around, that's just as good as anything to get guys focused, to get guys keyed in."
Deflecting attention
Bettis deflected thoughts of his quest by saying "it would be great to get a trophy to [owner] Mr. [Dan] Rooney because the Rooney family is incredible in the sense that their commitment to people is more significant than the stats, the numbers, the wins and losses.
"That's why the organization really mirrors them because they're concerned about the person," said Bettis who is finishing his 10th season as a Steeler. "That's allowed me to stay in Pittsburgh a lot longer than probably I would have in another organization.
"There's been some down years but there's also been some where I've been able to make good on what they wanted," the Detroit native said. "That's why Coach Cowher has been here so long. People say, 'Why is he so tenured? What is it?'
"I think it's the organization and it starts at the top with the owners who believe in people first and the numbers second."
williams@vindy.com
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
At least one member of the Seattle Seahawks has had his fill of Jerome Bettis' Homecoming celebration.
"That's all we're...
