Former linebacker Bill Romanowski, known for his dirty play in the NFL, still doesn’t seem to care if players get injured. On Tuesday, he recommended the Seahawks hurt one of the Broncos receivers in order to gain momentum in the game.
“I think Seattle has to lay someone out in this game,” Romanowski said on Houston’s SportsRadio 610. “I think they need to bring that cart out, or that stretcher.”
When 49ers linebacker Navorro Bowman was injured late in the NFC title game, Romanowski felt Seattle gained an emotional advantage.
“When those kind of bad things happen to your team and you’re wheeling a guy on a cart, there’s a certain energy that a team takes on and it hits you,” Romanowski said. “I think if [the Seahawks] are able to make one of those big monster hits against a Demaryius Thomas, a Julius Thomas, a [Eric] Decker, a [Wes] Welker, that could potentially swing the outcome of the game, and if they do that, then Seattle will win.”
Seahawks general manager John Schneider said the team grew excited during the 2012 draft when quarterback Russell Wilson slipped through to the third round.
“To a certain extent, quite honestly I prayed about it a bunch,” said Schneider, who selected Wilson with the 75th pick. “When he started coming closer to us, there was a group of quarterbacks taken higher and then there was a second group that was going to start going in there. I didn’t know if he was going to be the first one or not, but I knew we weren’t going to go by him again.”
Broncos vice president John Elway, who won two Super Bowls as the team’s quarterback, was asked whether it is more challenging as a player or as an executive.
“It’s different,” he said. “Obviously, playing is a lot more physical and much tougher that way, but I think that in my position now it’s kind of trying to stay two steps ahead and make decisions on what we have to do in the future. Hopefully they’re the right ones.”
Peyton Manning and Wilson won’t be the only players impacted by the conditions at Met Life Stadium. The punters and kickers will, as well.
And no one knows what it’s like to deal with the windy conditions better than the Giants’ Steve Weatherford, who gave advice to both punters — Denver’s Britton Colquitt and Seattle’s Jon Ryan — and to whom Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka plans to reach out.
“It’s a fraternity,” Weatherford said Tuesday at the Sheraton in Midtown. “I know how special the Super Bowl can be. Winning one absolutely changed my life. I want those guys to get that opportunity and to rest this week knowing what the wind is going to be like.”
Cornerback Marquice Cole, cut by the Patriots Dec. 26, then picked up by the Broncos Jan. 15 after they lost cornerback Chris Harris to a season-ending injury, has gone from the unemployment line to the Super Bowl.
“It’s a great feeling to finally be in the Super Bowl and fight to be called world champs,” said Cole, who played in two AFC title games with the Jets. “I feel great. I’ve never played this late in the season.”
Get to know: Broncos WR Andre Caldwell
Caldwell grew up in Tampa, where he followed the footsteps of his older brother, Reche, a fellow Florida Gator and former NFL wide receiver. Selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Bengals, Andre Caldwell won a national championship in Gainesville, where he also played with Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin.
Quote of the day
“At least we got 6 ½ minutes out of him.” — Seahawks coach Pete Carroll on Marshawn Lynch’s participation in Media Day
Boldface prediction
BRIAN CASHMAN, Yankees general manager
“Seattle will find a way to upset Denver thanks to defense and Russell Wilson’s ability to scramble. [Seahawks], 28-17.”
SUPER FORECAST
18% chance of snow
High: 39; Low: 25
A chance for rain or snow showers in the morning; otherwise, mainly cloudy. Winds: 8 mph
Source: Accuweather