Miami – Former Broncos superstar return man Rick Upchurch has watched Chicago Bears rookie Devin Hester’s spectacular season.
This season, Hester has an NFL record six returns for touchdowns – with one game remaining. Five of the six were at least 83 yards. Hester has been compared to the great return men of all-time. While Upchurch said Hester has been amazing, he is not ready to crown him the best.
“Gale Sayers was a tremendous returner of his era,” Upchurch said. “Travis Williams was a tremendous return man of his era. Billy ‘White Shoes’ Johnson was a tremendous return man of his era. Brian Mitchell did some tremendous things.
“Devin Hester clearly is a great returner and will be one of the greats of his era, but there have been so many great returners that I can’t say he’ll be the best of all time.”
Upchurch said Hester has a combination of speed and field vision that make him special. He also said the Bears’ special-teams unit is excellent.
“It takes all 11 guys on the field to make it happen,” Upchurch said. “With the Broncos, I used to map out a plan with my teammates during the week and follow the plan. It looks like the Bears and Hester have a similar connection going.”
Divided, he stands
Emery Moorehead has resolved his dilemma. The Bears’ tight end during their 1985 Super Bowl season, Moorehead lives in the Chicago-area, but his son, Aaron Moorehead, is a receiver for the Indianapolis Colts.
His allegiance split for Super Bowl XLI, Moorehead will wear a split football jersey – the Bears and his old No. 87 on one half, and the Colts and Aaron’s No. 85 on the other.
“I’m a longtime Bear, and I love the Bears, but this is my son,” said Moorehead, who played at Colorado. “And for him to have that Super Bowl ring would be very special, and I want him to have it.”
Dancing his way to ribbing
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was asked to describe the time he had felt the most pressure. Instead of the fourth quarter in a game against New England, Manning picked the time in eighth grade when he signed up for a musical theater class as a way to avoid a computer class.
This led to a required part in a play called “The Boyfriend,” in which he had to perform the tango. Naturally, Manning performed in front of his assembled schoolmates on a Friday.
“Which wasn’t much pressure, but they said you had to do it again Saturday night in front of the families, which meant in front of brothers, Eli and Cooper,” Manning said. “Now that’s pressure.”
EXTRA POINTS
The Denver Post’s Anthony Cotton reports from Super Bowl XLI in Miami.
DID YOU KNOW
Oh, brother
Seventeen sets of brothers have played in the Super Bowl. One set, the Griffins, had three siblings – Archie and Ray (XVI) played a few years ahead of their brother Keith (XXII).
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Hester is a handful
Colts K Adam Vinatieri vs. Bears KR Devin Hester. Special teams are always an 11-on-11 deal, but in this case, it will be interesting to see if Indianapolis decides to kick to Hester. Chances are it will deal with the return man like it did with Kansas City’s Dante Hall in the wild-card game – skidding kicks into the corners of the end zone.
SUPER FACT
Don’t touch that dial
The 13 highest-rated television programs of all time are Super Bowls. Last year’s game between Pittsburgh and Seattle drew 141.4 million viewers, second-best all time behind New England vs. Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
ON THE WATERFRONT
Fore!!!
Amid all the gridiron hoopla in South Beach, there was a little sliver of opportunity wedged out on Wednesday for golf. Namely, a presentation by the PGA Tour to promote the upcoming World Golf Championship event to be held in March at the famous Doral resort.
IN SIGHT
Smooth on his feet
Emmitt Smith, former Dallas Cowboys superstar running back and “Dancing With the Stars” champ, was waltzing about the media center Wednesday.
SOUND BITES
Any day of the week
“I got this one, but they told me if I score any more touchdowns I won’t be eligible for it next year.” – Colts center Jeff Saturday, after receiving ESPN.com’s most valuable non-quarterback, non-running back player award for 2006
GAME TIME
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., KCNC-4, Miami
* Web extra: NFL reporters Bill Williamson, Mike Klis and Anthony Cotton provide .
