Wait worth it for Dungy and Colts DT McFarland

By RICK STROUD and STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published February 5, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Tony Dungy is dunked after his Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in a rainy Super Bowl XLI on Sunday night in Miami. Related coverage Gary Shelton: Top of the world John Romano: A legacy completed, Manning gets his title View photo gallery Complete coverage

MIAMI - Tony Dungy got his Super Bowl title after 11 seasons as a head coach.

He was fired in 2001, just one season before the Bucs won Super Bowl XXXVII. But Dungy said it was worth the wait.

"We went to Tampa 11 years ago with this in mind, going to the Super Bowl," he said. "We didn't get there as a group. But so many of our guys have gone on and branched out. And I thought it was just fitting. Lovie (Smith, Bears coach) has a couple of coaches from that staff. We have a few, and we made it this year.

"But the Lord doesn't always take you in a straight line. He doesn't always take a new direct path. I think he tests you sometimes to see if you're going to keep the faith and hang in there, and I think we did. We did as an organization, and it's just such a great feeling to get here, to win this game. It's not the biggest thing in the world, but it feels great."

Will Dungy, 51, retire?

"We'll party tonight," he said. "We've got a parade in Indianapolis (today). We'll probably go to the White House. Those are the things I'm thinking about right now. Anything else will work itself out. I'll talk with (Colts owner) Jim (Irsay), my wife, and we'll see where we are. But right now, we've got some celebrating to do."

BOOGER BLESSED: Anthony McFarland, the 1999 first-round pick of the Bucs, was traded to the Colts for a second-round choice after Tampa Bay's 0-4 start.

On Sunday, he had a sack and helped force five turnovers.

"I'm just truly blessed," he said. "The way this thing was put together, I couldn't describe it. And it shows you how the good Lord works. He definitely works in my life and for this team."

McFarland said he was happy for Dungy, who drafted him in Tampa Bay: "Words won't describe it. There's an old saying in football you get what you deserve. He finally got it."

McFarland was injured and did not play in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Bucs get the last pick in the second round for McFarland.

WET AND WILD: It was the first Super Bowl played in the rain. The slick field and wet ball likely were responsible for some of the six combined turnovers in the first half, eight for the game. The Bears lost three fumbles, and the Colts fumbled twice. A light rain started falling around midnight, but the field remained in good condition. Dolphin Stadium has a drainage system that can handle as much as 3 inches per hour.

HISTORY IN A HURRY: It took Devin Hester just 14 seconds to make history. The Bears rookie returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. It was the eighth time a kickoff had been returned for a touchdown in the Super Bowl but the first on the opening kickoff. Hester, a former Miami Hurricane, set an NFL record with six returns for touchdowns during the regular season. But this one couldn't propel his team to victory. "Whenever you come out and set the tempo in a game, it does a lot," Hester said. "It builds up your confidence, and we kind of felt like we were going to come out today and get a victory."

NICE TIMING: Kelvin Hayden's 56-yard return for a touchdown came on the first interception of his two-year career.

BENSON OUT: Cedric Benson, with former Buc Thomas Jones part of a productive tandem of Chicago runners, left after being taken down by Antoine Bethea with 1:07 left in the first quarter. Benson hurt his right knee when his leg was bent awkwardly. He remained down for a few minutes before walking off gingerly without assistance. Later, he was sitting on the sideline with his knee bandaged in ice.

TIMEOUT: A pregame moment of silence was observed for the 20 people who died in Friday's tornadoes in Central Florida.

RECORD: The Colts' Adam Vinatieri set a mark for points in a single postseason with 49. And he set Super Bowl records for points and made field goals, with 34 points and seven field goals in his four Super Bowl appearances.

[Last modified February 5, 2007, 01:54:31]