FOR USE AS DESIRED
POW-20           1/21/04 

PATRIOTS RB ANTOWAIN SMITH, PANTHERS CB RICKY MANNING & PATRIOTS K ADAM VINATIERI

NAMED NFL PLAYERS OF CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Running back ANTOWAIN SMITH of the New England Patriots, cornerback RICKY MANNING of the Carolina Panthers and kicker ADAM VINATIERI of the New England Patriots are the NFL Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for the Conference Championships (January 18), the NFL announced today.

New England’s Smith rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries (4.5-yard average) to help the Patriots earn their third AFC Championship in the past eight years with a 24-14 AFC Championship Game victory against the Indianapolis Colts.  This marks New England’s second AFC title in the past three seasons under head coach BILL BELICHICK.

Leading the Colts 18-7 with 6:17 remaining in the third quarter, three consecutive handoffs to Smith moved New England from its own 31-yard line to the Colts’ 20.  Smith garnered 52 rushing yards on five carries during the drive, which resulted in a 21-yard field goal by Vinatieri for a 21-7 Patriots advantage.

 Smith, who will return to his hometown of Houston for Super Bowl XXXVIII, gained 100 of New England’s 112 rushing yards amid snow flurries in Foxboro.  Smith became the third Patriots player to reach 100 rushing yards in a playoff game.  CURTIS MARTIN accomplished the feat in January of 1997 while CRAIG JAMES did it twice in January of 1986.

“It seems like they always run me in the snow, so I knew it was going to be my day when I saw snow in the forecast,” says Smith, who grew up idolizing Pro Football Hall of Fame running back ERIC DICKERSON.  “The offensive line did a great job of opening up some holes for me.

 “I’m going home to play the game (Super Bowl) in front of family and friends.  That’s the ultimate dream.”

Manning, a rookie third-round selection from UCLA (No. 82 overall), earned defensive honors for his role in the Panthers’ 14-3 road-win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field, helping Carolina earn its first trip to the Super Bowl.

Manning enjoyed a memorable performance, notching three interceptions, five passes defensed and adding two tackles in the victory.  His three picks marked the first time a player has accomplished the feat in an NFC Championship Game since JOE LAWS did it for the Green Bay Packers in a 14-7 win over the New York Giants on December 17, 1944.

“He has a lot of magic and he’s played very, very well for us,” said head coach JOHN FOX.  “He’s extremely tough mentally.  To go this deep into his rookie season is remarkable.  It says a lot about him.”

With the Panthers leading 7-3 in the second quarter, the Eagles faced a third-and-seven from their own 44-yard line, when Manning struck.  His first interception of the game ended the Philadelphia drive and helped the Panthers retain a halftime advantage.  Then, with the Eagles driving on the first possession of the third quarter, Manning’s interception at the Carolina 14 ended the threat.

His third interception of the day came on the home team’s ensuing possession.  The pick and subsequent 13-yard return gave Carolina possession at the Philadelphia 37.  Four plays later, running back DE SHAUN FOSTER’s one-yard touchdown run gave the Panthers a 14-3 lead.

“We have been concentrating on how important it is to attack and be aggressive,” Manning said.  “That has been our method.  It has worked out great and now we have to keep it going for one more game.”

Vinatieri etched his name in the NFL record book Sunday as his five field goals tied the all-time record for most made in a playoff game as the Patriots moved past Indianapolis to reach Super Bowl XXXVIII. 

The South Dakota State product’s five-for-five performance made him only the third kicker in NFL playoff history to register five successful field goal tries without a miss, joining BRAD DALUSIO of the N.Y. Giants (1997 NFC First Round vs. Minnesota) and Minnesota’s CHUCK NELSON (1987 NFC Divisional vs. San Francisco).

New England’s eight-year veteran kicker was perfect from 31, 25, 27, 21 and 34 yards and converted a point-after-touchdown to account for 16 of the AFC Champions’ 24 points against the Colts.

“Whenever you can help your team out – no matter if it’s an extra point, three points or five field goals – it’s great,” says Vinatieri, a former four-sport letterman at Rapid City (South Dakota) Central High School.