Sunday, February 8, 2009
Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl players, from left, Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, and James Farrior pose with two hula dancers at the Ihilani Resort and Spa Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, in Kapolei, Hawaii. (AP)HONOLULU — The Pro Bowl features an intriguing matchup for fans who didn't get enough from the Super Bowl: The Steelers' shutdown defense versus the Arizona Cardinals' high-powered offense.
"Maybe the fans want to see an exciting game like that, but I don't know if my heart can take it anymore," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "This is the closest they can get, but this don't even come close to what they want to get back from us."
The world champion Steelers have three members on the AFC squad, and they're all on defense: Farrior, Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, who's still trying to catch his breath from his Super Bowl-record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown.
They'll go up against an NFC offense featuring three starters from the Cardinals: quarterback Kurt Warner and receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
"We can maybe beat them here," said Warner, who's considering retirement. "But I don't know if it's the same consolation as beating them in the Super Bowl."
Troy Polamalu throws a pass during an AFC Pro Bowl football practice at Aloha Stadium, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, in Honolulu. The Pro Bowl football game will be held Sunday. (AP)Farrior doesn't know what to expect from the Cardinals in the Pro Bowl, which is usually played at half-speed and features more handshakes than hits.
"I don't know how they're going to act, if they're going to play hard or they're going to try to enjoy this like everybody else," he said. "But those guys are a great team and they showed the heart of a champion. We just came up with the plays at the end."
Boldin said he's moved on from the Super Bowl.
"This is an all-star game," he said. "We all just want to come out and have fun."
The he added, with a laugh: "It's not anything as far as revenge."
But for the first time in forever, the Cardinals aren't on the underdog team. The NFC, which also features All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson, is favored by 2 1/2.
Polamalu didn't like the sound of a mini-rematch of the Super Bowl.
"I don't want any more of them. No way," Polamalu said.
James Harrison, right, rubs the shoulders of Steelers teammate James Farrior during an AFC practice for the Pro Bowl NFL football game, in Kapolei, Hawaii, Thursday Feb. 5, 2009. (AP)Today's game
What: NFL Pro Bowl
Who: AFC vs. NFC
When: 4:30 p.m., today
Where: Honolulu
TV: NBC (WPXI-11)
More info: Check out NFL.com
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