It's where young and old alike both can be rookies
HOUSTON -- You didn't have to look too far yesterday to see a contrast in Super Bowl tales that define how hard it is to figure this game out.
To your left inside of Reliant Stadium stood Vinny Ciurciu, camcorder in hand. To your right, Rodney Peete, who accepted hug after hug, back slap after back slap. They are teammates on the Carolina Panthers, but how the similarities end there.
Ciurciu, at 23, is an NFL rookie who came on board with the Panthers as a free agent, got cut, went to Tampa Bay, got cut again, then re-signed with Carolina late in the season. That he has made it to the Super Bowl in his first go-round is something that still amazes him, especially as he watched Peete attract a crowd of well-wishers. Six weeks shy of his 38th birthday, Peete is in his 15th NFL season, playing for his sixth club, and a veteran of more than 100 games. That he has made it to his first Super Bowl is something that still warms his spirits.
"It's been a long, long time to get here," said Peete, who made stops in Detroit, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, and Oakland before signing as a free agent with Carolina in 2002. "But I got here."
Ciurciu did on his first try, though the former Boston College linebacker feels almost embarrassed by the fact. "I've got to say, I'm very fortunate. You see guys play 15 years [motioning to Peete] and never even sniff the playoffs or Super Bowl, so to be a rookie and go to the Super Bowl is definitely a God-given blessing."
His route is most intriguing, because Ciurciu was once a fullback with great promise. For two years the kid from Paramus, N.J., was involved in the Clemson program, only coach [Tommy] Bowden came aboard "and changed the offensive system and didn't use a fullback," so he transferred to BC. Only thing is, the Eagles didn't need a fullback, so again Ciurciu changed gears.
"They needed a linebacker and you know what, at that point I just wanted to play football."
So a linebacker he was and a linebacker he still is, though his main role with the Panthers is on special teams. Ciurciu said he was happy to have a role with the team. "Hopefully, it will be something different next year," said the 6-foot, 235-pounder, but for now, he's soaking up the experience.
"To see all these people out here, the media swarming everywhere," he said, shaking his head as he scanned the crowd with the camcorder. "The intensity is definitely picking up."
Peete could feel it, too. When one of the many NFL players who are here representing various sponsors stopped by to give him a hug, Peete let out a yell and said how great it was to finally be here. And to think, he was told, Southern California -- Peete's alma mater -- took a share of the national title just a month ago.
The longtime QB nodded. "Yeah, it's a good year all round."
Interviewing himself?
Brentson Buckner conceded to the throng of media members what is obvious -- that he is eating this all up. He loves to talk. He even said he thought he could handle both football and media responsibilities if he had to this week. "Why can't I go back and forth? Bill Parcells did," said Buckner . . . Asked about teammate Rod Smart, Buckner laughed. "I loved him," he said. "He's the only thing I remember from the XFL." Smart, of course, was infamous for his "He Hate Me" nickname playing for the Vegas Outlaws of the now-defunct league . . . Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad was asked his impressions of Patriot quarterback Tom Brady. He shook his head. "He went to Michigan. I went to Michigan State, so I don't have a lot of good things to say about him," said Muhammad, who had 54 receptions for 837 yards and 3 touchdowns during the regular season. "But he's a good player and not bad looking." . . . Panthers coach John Fox reiterated that only 75 percent of the game plan was put into effect last week in Charlotte, that 25 percent will be introduced in the coming days.
