Steelers sighting: Dallas Baker a practice player

While the hubbub of Super Bowl media day unfolded Tuesday on the field below, Dallas Baker sat virtually isolated in a Raymond James Stadium seat, his head concealed by a white towel and yellow Steelers cap.

For a moment, one had to wonder if Baker was basking peacefully in the moment, or simply sweating out another dormant stretch in his career.

Baker, who waited four years before enjoying a breakthrough season at UF, again is toiling in obscurity. A Steelers' seventh-round pick in 2007, he's spending Super Bowl week on Pittsburgh's practice squad, where he has spent most of his two pro seasons.

"Really, I think it's all about continuing to work and staying positive and not giving up," said Baker, who has one career NFL catch, for 6 yards. "I think that's what it's all about really. You've got to have a story when it's all said and done. That's the way I look at it."

Media samples Tampa drinks, food and cigars

TAMPA -- Journalists descended on Ybor City's Cuban Club tonight for all the food and drink they could consume and a concert by .38 Special.  The Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee staged the annual media party, which drew reporters from across the country and around the world.

The NFL has issued credientials to more than 4,500 journalists, including media from a record 28 countries. A total of 141 international media organizations will be in Tampa, compared to 116 for the Super Bowl in Arizona last year. The countries with the most media representation? Japan and Mexico, with 22 different organizations each.

Young reporter gets the answers

Eleven-year-old Tyler Smith wanted answers.

He made his way through to the front of Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby's post at Tuesday's Super Bowl Meda Day.

"Do you have any superstitions?" he asked

"I have to eat salmon before every game," Dansby answered.

Smith, a fifth grader at Claywell Elementary in Tampa, was selected by Weekly Reader to be the magazine's student Super Bowl reporter.

He was undoubtedly the most politest reporter there, raising his hand at Cardinals running back Edgerrin James' post. He got in the last question before the Arizona players departed.

"What would you do if you weren't a football player?" Smith asked a smiling James.

"Something with kids," he answered. "I would have a stress-free job. Not a hard job."

-- Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer

Tampa fifth-grader Tyler Smith, here with Cardinals linebacker Chike Okeafor, was selected by Weekly Reader to be cover the Super Bowl for the magazine.

Warren Moon: Kurt Warner's resume still could use a couple years to be Hall worthy

Former NFL quarterback Warren Moon took the long road to the Hall of Fame, going undrafted out to college and through six seasons in the CFL before becoming one of the NFL’s most prolific passers.

Moon, who was enshrined in Canton in 2006, was working Tuesday’s Super Bowl Media Day for Sporting News Radio.

Asked Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner’s place in history – Warner was also undrafted out of college and played three years in the Arena Football League but can become the first quarterback to win the Super Bowl with two different teams – Moon said he’s not far away from being a legitimate Hall of Famer.

“I think if he has another year or two of strong solid football, he won’t have any arguments,” Moon said. “Even if he loses (the Super Bowl), I think he’s got a legitimate shot of making the Hall of Fame. A lot of it has to do with who he’s up against. A lot of it is timing.

“Winning has a lot to do with it and he’s done that,” he added. “Playing at a high level, he’s been able to do that. And then consistency is huge in making the hall of fame because you want to look at the whole body of work. The only downfall with Kurt is that he had those four or five years where he really wasn’t playing that much. Other than that, when he’s played well, he’s played as well as anyone who’s every played the game. That’s what you kind of have to measure with him.”

As for Moon’s Super Bowl prediction, after dancing around it, he took the Steelers, 24-22.

-- Eduardo A. Encina, Times Staff Writer

Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon (right), who it working with Sporting News Radio, does an interview with Steelers backup quarterback Byron Leftwich at Super Bowl Media Day Tuesday/Eduardo A. Encina

Tampa Super Bowl's media day in photos

Raymond James Stadium hosted Media Day on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Arizona Cardinals took the field first, with the Steelers appearing in the afternoon session.

Q & A: Rod Woodson

On Tuesday, the Times (not to mention umpteen other media outlets) caught up with former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson, whom many project to be chosen Saturday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first try:

Give us your take on the (Ken) Whisenhunt/(Russ) Grimm factor (Cardinals coaches previously employed by Pittsburgh.

"I don't think it's a factor. Ken knows the defense, but they still have to make the calls, and then when they make the calls, the players still have to make the play come alive for them. And if they don't make the play come alive for them, it doesn't matter what (Steelers defensive coordinator) Dick Le Beau calls, it doesn't matter what Ken Whisenhunt calls...it won't be a good play for that team."

Giants LB Antonio Pierce joins the media scrum

This time last year, Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was fielding questions at Super Bowl Media Day. On Tuesday, he was one of the many asking them.

Pierce, a key part of last year’s Super Bowl champions, is working as a guest reporter for Best Damn Sports Show Period this week. After experiencing being on both sides of the microphone, Pierce said being a media member was definitely more fun

“It’s easier to ask them because you don’t have to worry about what the answer’s going to be or whether it’s good or the wrong question,” Pierce said. “You just ask whatever. The pressure’s on those guys to make the right statement."

He also didn’t hesitate to show off his Super Bowl ring (See Pierce's right hand in above right photo, where Pierce mingles with Telemundo Sports Network reporter Mireya Grisales).

“I had a lot of fun with these guys,” he said. “The thing is I played these guys in the regular season and I beat them so I have bragging rights.”

Pierce didn’t survive the even unabated. Steelers safety Ryan Clark, a former teammate of Pierce’s with the Giants, wanted to know why Pierce didn’t come to his interview stand sooner.

“I’m trying to figure out why it took 27 minutes for one of my best friends in the whole entire world, I’m talking about a guy who I flew to Hawaii for and everything, for him to get to me (late),” Clark said. “Man, I know I’m on the end, but man!”

“I’m just a part of the media,” Pierce retorted, laughing.

“Naw, you’re never just part of the media for me,” Clark said. “You’re family.”

-- Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer

Dockett: I don't remember battle of twisted knee

In addition to celebrities and superfluous questions, Tuesday's annual Super Bowl media day also brought out some good ol' Florida-FSU animosity.

Or more specifically, a debated recollection of Dockett-gate.

On Tuesday morning, the man for whom the controversy was named sat on a riser inside Raymond James Stadium and insisted he doesn't recollect it at all.

"I actually don't even remember what happened," Cardinals defensive tackle and former FSU star Darnell Dockett said.

OK, Darnell, here's a refresher: In the third quarter of Florida's 37-13 victory against FSU in 2001, Gators tailback (and current Buc) Earnest Graham said Dockett intentionally twisted his knee after he was tackled, resulting in a sprain.

Gators coach Steve Spurrier later sent copies of the play to ACC and SEC officials, and Graham even retained an attorney to determine if a civil lawsuit was justified. On Tuesday, Dockett said he and Graham "done moved on."

"At that time, you never know what could happen in football and everybody had their speculations on what happened," Dockett said. "But at the end of the day, he's a professional athlete, I'm one, and whatever happened back in the day happened."

But what did happen? Dockett doesn't recall, or so he claims.

"Of course he would say that, that's a very political thing to say," said Steelers fifth-year offensive tackle Max Starks, then a Gators sophomore.

"But I know, I was right there and I had to pick Earnest up. So the film evidence, if anybody ever looks at it, hey, it speaks for itself."

JOEY KNIGHT

Ross the Intern is a Super Bowl Media Day menace

Ross the Intern of the Tonight Show is a Media Day menace.

He's going from player to player asking embarrassing questions and offering to show them the Care Bear tattoo on his inner thigh.

Sadly, on a day when there are no other celebrities in the house -- except for TV crews from south of the border trying to get players to play the maracas -- Ross is also the best sideshow in town.

-- STEVE SPEARS, Times Staff Writer

Tuesday's Super Bowl photos

The Bucs pirate ship is now decorated with Super Bowl flags. [BRENDAN FITTERER | Times]

Few celebrities at Super Bowl Media Day

The celebrity factor at Super Bowl Media Day is nearly non-existent. Ross the Intern of the Tonight Show probably qualifies as an A-lister. Comedian Jerry O'Connell is here as well.

Former San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions head coach Steve Mariucci is dressed like Robert DeNiro in ''Casino''. Celebrity broadcasters Keith Olbermann, Deion Sanders and Tom Jackson are some of the more familiar faces.

Asked about the halftime entertainment by Times pop music critic Sean Daly, Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James said he would prefer ''some hip-hop act, preferably southern, but I'm not going to name names.''

Security was ridiculous getting into Raymond James Stadium. We were frisked twice, had to go through metal detectors, and bomb-sniffing dogs examined all of our bags.

-- STEVE SPEARS, Times Staff Writer

(Pictured: Robert DeNiro in ''Casino''.)

Drew Brees, Warrick Dunn teach 'Financial Football'

Armwood High student Jeremy Yencer, right, watches as Warrick Dunn answers a question during Financial Football, a NFL-themed interactive quiz game about money management Monday in Tampa. [Times photo: James Borchuck]

Drew Brees often seems untouchable as the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. But until two years ago, he was still explaining to bankers why his credit score took a hit after he stopped paying a cell phone bill during his junior year in college.

He shared this advice Monday with a group of students from Hillsborough's Armwood High School: "Save your money, live within your means and understand that your credit score is your financial report card."

Tampa Bay Buccaneer Warrick Dunn and Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the mother of two Armwood graduates, offered similar advice as Super Bowl XLIII kicked off with a game of "Financial Football."