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Heads-up gets Lynch piece of history

By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 5, 2001

HONOLULU -- Bucs safety John Lynch walked off Aloha Stadium on Sunday with a helmet belonging to Bengals running back Corey Dillon.

But it was not just any helmet.

Lynch asked Dillon if it was the same one he wore when he set the NFL's single-game rushing record (278 yards against Denver). When Dillon said it was, Lynch had to have it. "He told me just not to sell it on eBay," Lynch said. "I told him, 'No way. This one is going home with me.' "

NOT HALF BAD: Tony Gonzalez did not catch a pass in the second half. He didn't have to. What he did in the first half was enough to ignite the AFC to a 38-17 victory over the NFC.

[AP photo] NFC quarterback Daunte Culpepper, left, from the Minnesota Vikings, talks with Pro Bowl teammate Warren Sapp during the fourth quarter.

The Kansas City tight end caught six passes -- five from former teammate Rich Gannon -- for 108 yards and a touchdown.

"Those guys are the best in the business, and they did a good job in the second half of shutting me down," Gonzalez said. "(The AFC quarterbacks) also weren't really looking for me anymore."

BUCS BY THE NUMBERS: Tampa Bay had nine players in the game, more than any team. Running back Warrick Dunn was added a week before the game to replace injured Dallas running back Emmitt Smith. Tennessee had eight voted to the game. Five Bucs started: linebacker Derrick Brooks, Lynch, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, center Jeff Christy and guard Randall McDaniel. McDaniel was introduced last for the NFC to honor his record 12th straight Pro Bowl appearance.

SACK DADDY: Sapp finished second in the NFL in sacks with 16.5. On Sunday, he showed why. Beating the Raiders' Steve Wisniewski on an inside rush, Sapp sacked Colts quarterback Peyton Manning for a 5-yard loss in the second quarter.

ONSIDE: Bucs placekicker Martin Gramatica made a 48-yard field goal to provide the only points for the NFC in the first half. But it was his shortest kick that provided the most excitement. After Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb cut the AFC's margin to 24-10 with a 17-yard touchdown pass to 49ers receiver Terrell Owens, Gramatica attempted an onside kick. The ball was fielded by Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, who fumbled it briefly when he was stripped by Gramatica. Thomas recovered at the NFC 36.

NICE TACKLE: The defensive play of the day might have been made by the Chiefs mascot. When a fan ran onto the field in the second half, he was promptly tackled by K.C. Wolf.

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