Miami – When Ricky Proehl was drafted by Phoenix in 1990, he had as much chance of playing in the Super Bowl as I did. The Cardinals hadn’t been in an NFL championship game since they were in Chicago in 1948.
Seventeen seasons after he signed with the Cardinals, Proehl is a wide receiver at the Super Bowl for the fourth time – with a third different team.
None Cardinals.
Proehl has tried to retire more often than Frank Sinatra.
But another Ol’ Blue Eyes is back at The Big Game.
And he may retire again after Sunday.
Add the Roman numerals of the Super Bowls Proehl has now been to in the 2000s, and it comes up CXLIX. (You figure it out.)
He was with St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome, and the Rams barely held off Tennessee on the last play, 23-16. Proehl again played for St. Louis in XXXVI at the Superdome when New England won on a field goal by Adam Vinatieri as time expired. Proehl had joined his fifth team, Carolina, before the Panthers lost to New England on another field goal by Vinatieri with four seconds remaining in XXXVIII at
Reliant Stadium.
Now Proehl is in Miami (no domed stadium) with the Indianapolis Colts at XLI, and this time his team cannot be beaten by a Vinatieri field goal. The wide receiver and the kicker, like the frog and the tarantula, have been united with the Colts.
A few weeks ago, the only way
Proehl could get into the Super Bowl was to buy a ticket on eBay.
He retired from the Panthers after last season … for the second time.
Proehl started this season as a TV commentator for the Rams, but was called for more active duty by the Colts on Nov. 29.
At 38, Proehl became the oldest wide receiver in the league. He caught two passes against Jacksonville, then started the next week in the Cincinnati game and had another grab.
As ancient athletes are prone to do, Proehl pulled a hamstring the week of Christmas and hasn’t played since. He may or may not play Sunday. However, he could get his second NFL championship ring, despite playing in only two or three games with Indy. Proehl is only the fifth player to reach the Super Bowl with three franchises.
At media day Proehl said he wishes to duplicate Jerome Bettis’ farewell last year in Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl win.
“Play this game, win and ride off into the sunset. … What a way to end,” Proehl said. “Seventeen years is a long time. I’m ready to enjoy my family and go on to the next stage of my life.”
The 6-foot Proehl, born in the Bronx and educated at Wake Forest, was a third-round pick of the Phoenix (now Arizona) Cardinals and became the first rookie in 40 years to lead the team in receptions. He was traded to Seattle in 1995, was waived by the Seahawks in 1997 and signed with the Chicago Bears.
This could be an “Invincible” story – player comes out of retirement toward the end of season, injures his leg, has to watch the conference championship game and recovers to play in the Super Bowl against the team that picked him up for one season, then dumped him, and catches the winning touchdown pass. Could happen.
Proehl had the leaping, one-handed game-winning reception in the NFC championship game of the 1999 season.
Two years later, before the Rams-Patriots Super Bowl, Proehl predicted “the birth of a dynasty.” He was right. The Patriots did a Ming.
Proehl did score the tying touchdown with a minute and a half left, but Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal. Good receiver, lousy prophet.
Two years later, Proehl was with the Panthers and again caught the tying touchdown pass with 1:08 to go. And Vinatieri beat him again.
It would be fitting if Proehl caught the tying touchdown on the last play of the fourth quarter Sunday, and Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal in overtime for Proehl’s team.
“I’m enjoying this all the way,” Proehl said. “I went though some rough times the first 10 years. You’ve got to remember I played on a lot of 4-12 teams.”
That sounds like an exaggeration. But you can look it up. While Proehl was with the Cardinals, they finished 4-12 twice (and 5-11 once); the 1997 Bears had an equally dreadful 4-12 record, and the Rams he signed with the next year ended up, that’s right, 4-12.
He loves the 15-4 Colts. “How could anyone hate this team? You don’t have any guys that are selfish me-guys. It’s a great football team. That’s why I came back.”
The comeback could be complete if there’s a catch to it.
Staff writer Woody Paige can be reached at 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com.
