TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -When Arizona’s Terrelle Smith takes the field for the Super Bowl, the words of his late mother will be on his mind.
“People have dreams that never come true, but right now is a dream come true,” the Cardinals fullback said Wednesday.
“Being here is giving me a closeness with my mother’s spirit. I hear her telling me that I would be here every time I go out and play. I just wish she was here to experience it.”
Smith’s mother, who died last month of breast cancer, told her son in April that she dreamed he would play in the biggest game in Arizona history and that the ninth-year pro would dedicate the game to his late father, who died from bone marrow cancer in 2004.
The Cardinals face the Pittsburgh Steelers for the NFL championship on Sunday.
f you keep working. Your father would want you to keep working,”’ Smith said.
Smith said he learned many valuable lessons about life from his mother, who raised more than 20 foster children.
“I think the most we had at one time was 22. That doesn’t include her six children,” Smith said.
“I never really understood why my mother did it when I was growing up. As I got older, I realized that there are a lot of people on this earth that are less fortunate. … It was a tremendous experience. It was a different upbringing, but it was very good for me.”
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REMEMBERING PAT: Arizona’s Adrian Wilson played with Pat Tillman for only one year, but the late Cardinals safety made a lasting impression.
Tillman was killed in Afghanistan after leaving the NFL in 2002 to join the Army Rangers. He has been on Wilson’s mind as the NFC champions prepare for the Super Bowl.
“You never want, somebody like that, his legacy to die,” said Wilson, the only remaining player on the roster who played with Tillman.
s to the type of person that he was.”
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CHASING THE RABBITS: If Santonio Holmes zigzags like a rabbit in the Super Bowl, there’s a good reason: The Pittsburgh wide receiver grew up catching ’em.
The speedy Steelers star comes from Belle Glade, Fla. The town right off Lake Okeechobee is known for producing football players, plus a local tradition. Each year when sugarcane is burned during harvest, young boys run after the bunnies that scramble from the fires.
“I chased rabbits up until my sophomore year of high school,” Holmes said Tuesday. “I actually did it a couple of times during my freshman year of college. I came home and had some free time to lounge around, and I went out to chase rabbits just to see if I still had it.
“That was something that we did to pass time and to make money as kids, because jobs were very scarce,” he said. “The opportunity to catch rabbits and sell them to people in the area allowed us to make money and to take care of ourselves. On a single day we would probably get between 30 and 40 rabbits and we would sell them for $2 or $3 and make money that way.”
Holmes weaved for a 65-yard touchdown catch in the AFC championship game against Baltimore. He helped the Steelers beat San Diego earlier in the playoffs with a 67-yard punt return for a TD.
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Dallas tight end Jason Witten was chosen NFL Neighborhood MVP for work through his own S.C.O.R.E. Foundation, which helps families and individuals affected by domestic violence.
The award is sponsored by The Home Depot, which made a $25,000 contribution to the foundation.
Witten was one of eight finalists who joined volunteers Tuesday in building a playground for kids in East Tampa.
“I try to bring the same energy and dedication to community service that I do to football. … Giving back to the community has always been important to me, and I appreciate the support for my work to raise awareness of domestic violence,” Witten said.
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PETERSON: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Minnesota Vikings running Adrian Peterson won the FedEx Air and Ground NFL players of the year. The company will donate $25,000 to the Safe Kids USA coalitions in New Orleans and Minneapolis in honor of the star. A $25,000 contribution also was made to Tampa Safe Kids coalition.
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