Steelers Hoping To Catch Seahawks Looking Ahead To Pro Bowl

DETROIT--With a league-leading seven players selected as All-Pros this season, the Seattle Seahawks have reason to look forward to the Pro Bowl on February 12. But they still have one major obstacle to overcome before the big day: the Super Bowl. Their opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, have made no secret of the fact that they are hoping to catch the Seahawks looking ahead to next week.

“Hey, you never know, they could be so focused on the Pro Bowl that they overlook the Super Bowl” said coach Bill Cowher. “I’ve seen it happen. We’ve got a few guys going to the Pro Bowl, too, and I’m riding them like crazy to make sure they don’t look ahead. You can’t win the Pro Bowl next week, boys. You’ve got to play the games that are on the schedule, one at a time.”

Cowher then discussed the media hype surrounding the big game.

“Pro Bowl hype is pretty deafening. It’s especially tough during Super Bowl week because it can make you look past the game you’re playing. I remember earlier this season, we were playing the Texans, but we were really looking ahead to our game against the Patriots the next week. And you know what happened? We won, actually. Maybe the Texans were the wrong team to use for that example.”

Several teams have complained in past years about the Pro Bowl coming so quickly after the Super Bowl. Not only is it difficult to prepare for the game on such short notice, it’s also quite a distraction.

Seattle linebacker Lofa Tatupu is playing in his first Pro Bowl and has confessed to being preoccupied with it.

“I have to admit I’ve been thinking a lot about it,” said Tatupu, who is filling in for the injured Brian Urlacher. “The Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl. Unbelievable. Every kid in America dreams of someday flying down to Hawaii and playing a leisurely game of two-hand touch in front of a tiny crowd, then sitting back and enjoying the native Hawaiian dancers at half time. But we all know that the Super Bowl comes first, and I am totally focused on that. I just hope that we run the ball a lot and grind the clock down, because the quicker that game is over, the quicker I can get my ass out of here.”

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren knows the lure of the Pro Bowl may be a major distraction for his players, so he is emphasizing the need to stay focused on the task at hand. His major concerns are Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck, two key offensive players who are both bound for Hawaii.

“There is definitely a concern among the coaching staff that some of our players may be looking passed the Super Bowl,” said Holmgren. “As a coach, it’s my job to get these guys prepared for it. I keep telling them, you may get to the Pro Bowl again during your career, but you may never get back to the Super Bowl, so seize the moment while you can. I sometimes get the feeling they’re not listening to me, though, especially when they say things like 'Coach, we're not listening to you.'’’

One player Holmgren doesn’t have to worry about is lineman Walter Jones. Jones will play in his 6th Pro Bowl this year, and that game is the furthest thing from his mind.

“I could care less about the Pro Bowl. It’s just a social event and a free trip to Hawaii,” he said. “The Super Bowl, on the other hand, is a different story. It’s something I can tell my grandkids about. It’s a once in a life time thing for me – kind of like showing up for training camp.”

After practice yesterday, Jones’ teammate, Matt Hasselbeck, provided some bulletin board material for the opposition by guaranteeing a victory for the NFC in next week’s Pro Bowl.