Saturday, February 5th 2011, 4:00 AM
Battle for Lombardi
Which team do you think will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XLV?
DALLAS – Steelers coach Mike Tomlin officially confirmed the worst-kept secret of Super Bowl week: standout rookie center Maurkice Pouncey won’t play Sunday due to a high ankle sprain.
“He’s out,” Tomlin told a pool reporter after Pittsburgh‘s practice Friday.
Doug Legursky, who will make his first career start at center against the Packers, has the daunting task of dealing with Packers’ defensive lineman B.J. Raji.
“The NFL is made up of lots of players like him – guys who somehow got an opportunity and seized it,” Tomlin said. “We’re completely confident that he will seize this opportunity and play well. That’s why we’re not changing what we do.”
Pouncey injured his ankle early in the Steelers’ win over the Jets in the AFC Championship Game when linebacker Bryan Thomas rolled up on it from behind. Tomlin insisted that his team’s game plan won’t change without Pouncey.
“Obviously he’s a quality player, and how it affects the game, no one knows,” Tomlin said. “But as far as what we do, we have a plan and that won’t change.”
YANKED AARON
Pittsburgh defensive end Aaron Smith is also out for the Super Bowl with a torn triceps injury he suffered in October. Hoping that Smith would be able to return for the playoffs, the Steelers didn’t place him on injured reserve.
KRAFT DRAFTS PLAN
With a lockout looming, Patriots owner Robert Kraft offered a solution to improve negotiations between the league and union: Get rid of the lawyers.
“Put them in the background,” Kraft said. “Lawyers are deal-breakers. They’re not deal-makers.”
COLD REALITY
The troubles stemming from the wintry weather this week certainly won’t help Redskins owner Daniel Snyder‘s attempt to bring a Super Bowl to the nation’s capital. But Snyder doesn’t believe that Dallas’ relatively poor job will hinder his chances in the future.
“I think we need to play it out and see how the experience is at the end,” Snyder said. “(Yesterday), obviously, looking out the window, you’re saying, ‘Wow. Where are we? In Fargo, North Dakota? Let’s wait until Monday.'”
GOOD DRIVER
Donald Driver has spent 12years in the NFL trying to get to the Super Bowl. There’s no way he’s going to miss it now. Even though Driver was limited in practice Friday for the second straight day due to an injured quad, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he’d be “shocked” if Driver isn’t ready Sunday. At his final news conference of Super Bowl week, McCarthy insisted he’s been holding Driver back as a precaution.
He also doesn’t expect the 36-year-old receiver will be affected by the lack of practice time.
“I would be shocked if Donald Driver does not play on Sunday. He would practice today if I would let him,” McCarthy said Friday. “He tweaked (the quad) in Wednesday’s practice and I did not want to take any chances at this point.
“Donald has played a lot of football, he knows the offense, and he’s had a whole week of preparation with the plan last week, so this is clearly just being safe with him.”
PICTURE SHOW
The Packers took their much-anticipated team photo Friday at Highland Park High School in Dallas. All 15 players on their injured reserve list were present. The Packers were originally scheduled to take the photo during Tuesday’s media day, but they switched after two injured players – linebacker Nick Barnett and tight end Jermichael Finley – complained via Twitter about being left out.
FEWELL, TITANS TALK
Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell interviewed for Tennessee‘s head coaching vacancy Friday, according to the Titans. He is one of four known candidates for the job. A decision is expected next week.