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January 30, 2004
TROUBLE: Panthers, Pats aware of Super Bowl pitfalls
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
HOUSTON
Celebrities looking for the Super Bowl nightlife could ask their limo driver for recommendations or they could call Antowain Smith.
Smith, the New England Patriots running back who makes his off-season home in Houston, knows all the hot and not-so-hot night spots in town, but he doesn't plan on making any appearances for the next few days.
"All my teammates were counting on me to show them all the good spots, because it's my city, but that's going to have to wait," Smith said. "On the plane ride over here, everyone was asking, 'Where you taking us, where you taking us?' Hopefully, we'll all have a good time, but not until Sunday night."
Smith and the rest of players in Super Bowl XXXVIII said they will not repeat infamous late-night mistakes made by players in past Super Bowls.
The most recent incident involved Oakland center Barrett Robbins, who disappeared the Saturday morning before last year's Super Bowl. Robbins, who later had a bipolar disorder diagnosed, was suspended for the game.
Five years ago, Atlanta safety Eugene Robinson was arrested for soliciting a prostitute on the eve of Super Bowl XXXIII. He played the next day, but he and his team were blown out by Denver.
The night before Super Bowl XXIII, Cincinnati tailback Stanley Wilson overdosed on drugs in his hotel room and missed the game.
In all three instances, the offending player's team lost the Super Bowl.
"We've all heard those kinds of horror stories, and I think that kind of scares you straight," said defensive end Julius Peppers of the Panthers. "There's just so much going on in the city, but you can't be part of it. This is my first Super Bowl, but I could see where guys maybe got cooped up in their hotels and wanted to go out and let off some steam. That's what gets you in trouble, though. We know that, and we won't have that problem."
Just to be sure, players from both sides received a lecture from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue about the dangers of hanging out late during Super Bowl week, as well as stern warnings from coaches.
"(Patriots coach Bill) Belichick let us know, and the league did a good job of letting us know what could happen," said receiver Troy Brown of the Patriots. "We know everything's picking up the next few days, both on and off the field. The weekend's coming, and that means the celebrities and the parties are going to pick up, but we're getting closer to game time, so our preparation picks up."
Neither Belichick or Carolina coach John Fox gave their players curfews early in the week, but both teams imposed a midnight curfew starting last night. Fox mentioned that he could shorten that curfew to 11 p.m. Saturday.