NFL

48 facts about Super Bowl XLVIII

I: Seahawks tackle Breno Giacomini sold hot dogs at Fenway Park during his senior year in high school.

II: Broncos defensive back Omar Bolden has a website on which he sells bracelets with positive slogans and donates the proceeds to the community.

omarcbolden.com
III: Seahawks punter Jon Ryan played five sports in high school: football, hockey, lacrosse, basketball and track.

IV: Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has endorsed more than a dozen products and has starred in commercials for, among others, DirectTV, Sprint, Papa John’s, Master Card, Oreos, Gatorade and Buick.

V: Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has twice been drafted by Major League Baseball teams — the Rockies selected him in the fourth round in 2010, while the Rangers chose him in the 2013 Rule 5 draft.

VI: Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey’s first name is Roland.

VII: Seahawks safety Chris Maragos went to Wisconsin, as did his brother Troy, who is a former Bucky Badger mascot.

VIII: Broncos linebacker Stewart Bradley led his high school rugby team to three national titles.

IX: No member of the Seahawks has ever appeared in the Super Bowl, marking the first time since the 1990 Bills a team had no prior experience.

X: Broncos running back Jacob Hester is a distant cousin of Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw.

AP
XI: Seahawks running back Christine Michael’s mom named him before he was born because she was hoping her child would be a girl.

XII: Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno’s first name is a combination of his father’s nickname (Knowledge) and his mother’s name (Varashon).

XIII: Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin has a series of YouTube videos called “Fresh Files,” in which he answers fan mail and talks about his life.

XIV: Peyton Manning was the third-string quarterback his junior year at Tennessee, behind former Rockies first baseman Todd Helton.

XV: Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch eats Skittles on the sidelines during games, a ritual dating back to high school.

XVI: The Broncos and Seahawks boast a combined five players from the University of Tennessee — more than from any other school.

XVII: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is a “Deadhead,” a diehard fan of The Grateful Dead.

XVIII: The Broncos have more than 458,000 Twitter followers while the Seahawks have over 415,000. Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman leads players with the most followers at more than 694,000.

XIX: Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker is married to country singer Jessie James.

AP
XX: Both teams have cheerleaders. The Broncos team doesn’t have a name, while Seattle’s crew is known as the Sea Gals.

XXI: Broncos linebacker Paris Lenon played for the Memphis Manix of the XFL in 2001.

XXII: Richard Sherman was the Salutatorian or his high school class, finishing with a 4.2 grade-point average.

XXIII: Broncos coach John Fox used the name “Johnny Drama” when he checked into the hospital in December with heart problems.

XXIV: Russell Wilson admitted to being a school bully until eighth grade, saying he used to bite kids on the playground.

XXV: Peyton Manning is the only player on either team to win a Super Bowl ring. Only three others have even appeared in the Big Game — Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (XLII, XLVI), tight end Jacob Tamme (XLIV) and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (XLIII).

XXVI: Most common first name: There are six Michaels — Adams and Huff on the Broncos, and Bennett, Bowie, Morgan and Robinson on the Seahawks.

XXVII: Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman is the first legally deaf offensive player in the NFL.

XXVIII: Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor worked in a barber shop sweeping up hair when he was 10 years old.

Reuters
XXIX: Seahawks safety Earl Thomas is taking his barber to the Super Bowl.

XXX: When he was a junior in high school, Earl Thomas’ home in Texas was demolished by Hurricane Rita, forcing the family to live at a Super 8 motel.

XXXI: Center Manny Ramirez and guard Louis Vasquez of the Broncos were not only teammates at Texas Tech, but roommates as well.

XXXII: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie goes bowling three times a week.

XXXIII: Blitz the Seahawk has been Seattle’s mascot since September 1998. Miles the Bronco has been Denver’s mascot since January 1999.

XXXIV: Broncos tight end Julius Thomas led Portland State’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and 2009.

XXXV: Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice loves chicken wings so much he is opening five new Wingstop locations in Seattle.

XXXVI: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is the cousin of Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie

XXXVII: As a child, Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman played on a youth football team in California coached by Snoop Dog.

XXXVIII: Seahawks center Max Unger hasn’t shaved since July 27, and sports a massive beard, but said win or lose, it will be gone after the Super Bowl.

Getty Images
XXXIX: In 2004, Wes Welker became the second player in history to kick a field goal, kick an extra point, return a kick, return a punt and record a tackle in the same game.

XL: Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner was a member of the 2005 Broncos.

XLI: Broncos safety Mike Adams is from Paterson, N.J., just 10 miles from MetLife Stadium.

XLII: Russell Wilson uses a wallet made of duct tape a child gave him during one of his many hospital visits in Seattle.

XLIII: Broncos backup quarterback Brock Osweiler is 6-foot-8, which ties him for tallest quarterback in NFL history with former Seahawk Dan McGwire.

AP
XLIV: Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant overcame dyslexia and is the first member of his immediate family to graduate from college.

XLV: Champ Bailey (10 seasons) is the longest-tenured member of the Broncos; defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (seven seasons) holds that distinction for the Seahawks.

XLVI: Brandon Browner won the Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL in 2008.

XLVII: Peyton Manning is one of three current NFL players to host “Saturday Night Live,” along with brother Eli and Tom Brady.

XLVIII: Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton’s nickname is “Pot Roast,” stemming from the time he raised his hand when a flight attendant asked who ordered the meal on the team plane.