You know about Hines Ward and Kurt Warner, but this week we'll also try to spotlight some non household names who could play crucial parts in Sunday's Super Bowl.Who: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
What Does He Do: Cardinals starting cornerback.
How Did He Get Here: Rodgers-Cromartie was seen as somewhat of a risk coming out of college because he played at tiny Tennessee State. But after he put together an outstanding performance at the Senior Bowl, and an even more impressive combine showing (4.33 40-yard dash), he quickly climbed the draft boards. Arizona selected him with the 16th pick in the first round. He was the second cornerback taken behind only Leodis McKelvin. Rodgers-Cromartie was the team's nickel back when the season began, but he had earned a starting role before September ended. By the playoffs he was getting the team's toughest assignments, including covering DeSean Jackson all over the field in the NFC Championship game.
What To Look For: Rodgers-Cromartie's outstanding speed combined with excellent size, he has quickly developed into a big-play corner. Rodgers-Cromartie has picked off six passes in his past 10 games, including two in the playoffs (although with the way Jake Delhomme was throwing the ball around, it was hard not to pick one off against the Panthers). Once he gets his hands on the ball, he is a threat to take it all the way--he had returns of 52 and 99 yards. At the same time, he is a rookie with less than perfect technique, so the Steelers are likely to see if he can be caught on a double-move. He was beaten for a Jackson touchdown against the Eagles, but that touchdown came despite Rodgers-Cromartie's excellent coverage--he got his hands on the ball.
Prediction: Ben Roethlisberger's strengths are his ability to extend plays, shrug off pass rushers and use his strong arm to fit the ball into tiny windows. But he also sometimes tries to throw deep into double coverage, although he has toned down that tendency since a three-interception effort against the Colts. If Roethlisberger does inadvisedly air one out, Rodgers-Cromartie is the likely beneficiary.
Super Bowl Heroes and Goats
Goat: Eugene Robinson, Atlanta Falcons, Super Bowl XXXIII
Sure, Robinson (right) struggled in the Falcons' 34-19 loss to Denver -- including getting smoked on this 80-yard Rod Smith score -- but he made bigger news before the game. The morning prior to the Super Bowl, Robinson was arrested by an undercover cop for trying to solicit sex from a prostitute.
Tony Ranze, AFP / Getty Images
Hero: Joe Namath, New York Jets, Super Bowl III
Namath guaranteed an upset win over the Colts, then delivered. Broadway Joe won the MVP (despite not throwing a TD pass) after guiding the AFL's Jets to a stunning 16-7 victory.
Darryl Norenberg, WireImage
Goat:Scott Norwood, Buffalo Bills, Super Bowl XXV
Norwood's "Wide Right" moment is etched in NFL lore, alongside things like "The Catch" and "The Drive." Norwood's last-second miss in Super Bowl XXV gave the Giants the championship -- and Buffalo the first of four straight runner-up finishes.
Phil Sandlin, AP
Hero: Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XIV
Bradshaw led the Steelers to four titles and won the Super Bowl MVP award in both Super Bowl XIII and XIV. In 1980, against the Rams, Bradshaw threw for 309 yards and two TDs -- one year after his three-touchdown performance beat the Cowboys.
Andy Hayt, Getty Images
Goat: Neil O'Donnell, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XXX
The Cowboys won their third title in four years on Jan. 28, 1996, but not without help from Pittsburgh's quarterback. O'Donnell chucked three interceptions, including a pair to game MVP Larry Brown, as the Steelers lost 27-17.
Doug Mills, AP
Hero: Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl XVI
Montana won his first of four Super Bowls -- and three game MVP awards -- in 1982 against the Bengals. The QB scored on a one-yard run early, threw a second-quarter touchdown pass and the Niners held on for a 26-21 win in Detroit.
AP
Goat: Jackie Smith, Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl XIII
In a back-and-forth matchup with Pittsburgh, Smith had a chance to tie the game at 21 in the third quarter. Instead, he dropped a wide-open touchdown pass, Dallas wound up kicking a field goal and the Steelers went on to win by four.
Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Hero: Adam Vinatieri, New England Patriots, Super Bowl XXXVI
On the final play of the game, Vinatieri drilled a 48-yard field goal, giving New England a surprising 20-17 win over heavily-favored St. Louis. Just for good measure, Vinatieri repeated the feat two years later, hitting a 41-yarder in the final seconds to knock off Carolina.
Amy Sancetta, AP
Goat Thurman Thomas, Buffalo Bills, Super Bowl XXVI
Thomas scored a touchdown in Buffalo's 37-24 loss to Washington, but the one-yard plunge was his only highlight. The Bills running back racked up just 13 yards on 10 carries for the game.
Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Hero: Doug Williams, Washington Redskins, Super Bowl XXII
Williams became the first African-American quarterback to start a Super Bowl, and he made the opportunity count. In a 42-10 Washington rout of Denver, Williams captured the game MVP by throwing for 340 yards and four touchdowns.
Ronald C. Modra, Sports Imagery / Getty Images
