Howard sheds 'bust' label in win

The Associated Press Arizona Daily Wildcat Green Bay Packers' Desmond Howard (81) returns a 99-yard kickoff return against the New England Patriots during the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXI yesterday in New Orleans. Patriot's Mike McGruder follows the play.

NEW ORLEANS - Desmond Howard didn't need another Heisman pose. This time, he flashed the Super Bowl Strut.

Just when the New England Patriots were envisioning an upset, Howard assured the Green Bay Packers of their first championship in 29 years - in the mere seconds it took for him to run from one end of the Superdome field to the other.

Howard's 99-yard kickoff return late in the third quarter of Green Bay's 35-21 victory over the Patriots was the biggest play in a game filled with big plays. He finished with a Super Bowl-record 244 yards on kickoff and punt returns, becoming the first special-teams player to win the game's MVP award.

It was astonishing to watch a player who actually gets on the field so little make such a huge contribution.

The 1991 Heisman Trophy winner returned three punts for touchdowns during the regular season, then got another in a divisional playoff victory over San Francisco. But he had never brought a kick back all the way during his five-year NFL career.

Until Sunday.

The Patriots, a 14-point underdog, had just scored what seemed to be a momentum-changing touchdown on Curtis Martin's 18-yard run, shrinking the Packers' lead to 27-21.

Howard dropped back at the goal line to take the kick from Adam Vinatieri, while the New England fans, though outnumbered, made the place sound like Foxboro Stadium. So much for that blowout nearly everyone was expecting. This game was going down to the end.

Howard cradled the ball at the 1, burst up the middle, bounced off a tackle by Hason Graham at about the 30 - and that was it. He was gone. Touchdown.

And though there was still 3:10 left in the third, the game was basically over.

Howard didn't run one step further than he had to. He stopped at the goalline and began strutting a Deion-like dance, a grin showing through the facemask.

For the first time in NFL history, a player has returned both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in the same postseason.

No longer will Howard be remembered for the touchdown pose he struck during his Heisman-winning season at Michigan.

No longer will he be remembered for being a first-round flop at Washington.

No longer will he be remembered as the Packer who almost was cut in training camp.

The next time Howard dropped into return position after his touchdown, New England's Tom Tupa punted the ball out of bounds.

By then, though, it was too late. Howard's legacy was assured.