Cowboys And Steelers Both Come Out Winners

The great thing about a major event is that everybody, at some point, winds up with an award. And so it is with Super Bowl XXX, for better, for worse and for everything in between:

Best job of overt groveling

Deion Sanders, for repeatedly jabbering to the Dallas play-calling minds that the Steelers were putting him in single coverage when he lined up as a receiver on offense early in the game.

“They were playing man on me, and I was begging from the sidelines, ‘Come on, man, I can get these guys,”’ Sanders said. “Troy (Aikman) put it up there. He put it where it needed to be.”

Aikman did indeed, throwing long to Sanders, who beat Steeler cornerback Willie Williams on a post pattern for a 47-yard gain on the Cowboys’ second possession. The completion, Sanders’ only catch of the game, set up a touchdown that gave Dallas a 10-0 lead.

Image-enhancement medallion

To Dallas owner Jerry Jones, for signing an autograph for an admirer as the final seconds ticked off the Cowboys’ victory. The surface that Jones used was the face of a dollar bill.

Cheap political plug

Switzer, a native of Arkansas, upon speaking on the telephone with President Clinton, who also hails from that state: “Mr. President, the Cowboys are behind you 100 percent - because you’re a winner, just like we are!”

Miller genuine moment

Dallas safety Scott Case, a 12-year veteran who spent his first 11 seasons playing on mostly mediocre Atlanta teams, on his first Super Bowl experience: “The grass was greener than I’ve ever seen it, and the ball was nice and brown, and the lights were brighter than I’ve ever seen. That’s the Super Bowl. That’s what it’s all about.”

Cheaters never prosper

Pittsburgh special-teams player Myron Bell, who, as a Steelers punt was rolling dead, blocked the Cowboys’ Robert Bailey in the back, causing Bailey to fall and apparently graze the football. And if an offensive player touches the ball on a return, it’s a live ball, right?

Nice try. The referees caught Bell’s sneak attack, declared the play dead and gave Dallas possession at its 14.

Thanks, 49ers

Near the end of the regular season, the Cowboys appeared to be rattled and unsure of themselves - and, said quarterback Troy Aikman, they were. But that was before the 49ers lost to the Atlanta Falcons in their final game, opening the door for Dallas to snatch home-field advantage through the playoffs if it could beat Arizona the next day. It did.

“I think maybe if San Francisco had won, who knows what might have happened?” Aikman said. “We’d have clinched the NFC East but been playing the Cardinals with absolutely nothing riding on it. Instead, we were able to have a motivator, and it got us back together.”

Kicking up some doubt

If the Cowboys appeared to be on their heels in the fourth quarter, it’s because they were. Pittsburgh’s successful onside kick with 11:15 remaining floored the entire Dallas team and introduced the Cowboys to a whole new element: doubt.

“They almost broke our back with that onsides kick,” Cowboys defensive end Charles Haley said. “It was almost something we couldn’t get over.”

Norm Johnson’s 46-yard field goal had just cut Dallas’ lead to 20-10, and the Cowboys had every intention of burning away most of the remaining time. Instead, Johnson’s little squibber bounced directly to teammate Deon Figures on the right flank.

Boys are back

Weary from lack of sleep, the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys returned home, still recovering from a party thrown by team owner Jerry Jones.

The Cowboys’ chartered jet landed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport late Monday afternoon. After the four team buses left the airport, well-wishers slowed rush-hour traffic on Interstate 635, hoping to glimpse the players.

In the days leading to the Cowboys victory, Jones lamented that Arizona’s 1 a.m. alcohol curfew would cut into postgame celebrating. Apparently, he found a way to keep the booze flowing Sunday night and well into Monday morning.

“I’m tired. I haven’t slept,” Switzer said as he stepped off the plane. “We stayed up late last night. Jerry threw a great party.”

Cornerback Larry Brown, whose two interceptions earned him MVP honors for the game, was tired - but beaming.

“It’s a great feeling, but I’m gonna go home and get some rest,” he said.

Around the NFL

Kansas City quarterback Steve Bono was chosen to replace injured Miami quarterback Dan Marino on the AFC team for the Pro Bowl. With Marino out, Cincinnati’s Jeff Blake will start the all-star game Sunday night… . Minnesota quarterback Warren Moon and his wife have withdrawn most of their motions in a domestic assault case against the football player, so the family can attend the Pro Bowl this weekend… . A federal judge denied Dallas cornerback Clayton Holmes’ preliminary injunction against the NFL. Holmes is challenging his suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy… . Former Baltimore defensive back Nelson Munsey was arrested on an outstanding warrant following an hour-long standoff with San Diego police.