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Stuck on you By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH Go ahead and think all of that is pure coincidence. But you’d be ignoring undeniable cosmic pigskin forces, the same ones that will do their best to make sure Drew Brees and Philip Rivers square off in the Super Bowl. You’d be ignoring the fact that sometimes, players’ careers are so intertwined they could be sharing an orbit. Always on the same path, they can’t reach their destination without going through the other. It’s Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. It’s Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan. In football, it’s Ty Law and Marvin Harrison. It’s been three years since Law went up against Harrison and Peyton Manning in the playoffs. The cycle is up. “We have had some classic battles throughout the years,” Law said. “Each and every year is different.” Well, that’s not quite true. The battle has normally looked the same — with Law and, more important, Law’s team coming out on top. Law was widely considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league even before the Patriots won three Super Bowls. But he looked like a Hall of Famer on Jan. 18, 2004, against the Colts. Indianapolis came into the game with an air of invincibility. The Colts had already beaten the Chiefs 38-31 and left Kansas City without punting the ball. Manning threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns against a sievelike Chiefs defense. The next week, Law and the Patriots welcomed the Colts to New England, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Law picked off three Manning passes, and the Patriots won 24-14. Law finished the game with more receptions from Manning than Harrison did. This week, Law wanted to lie low. He knew the questions would come about his dominance of Manning and Harrison. “You can’t live off your past because you’ve had success,” Law said. “I’m sure it’s been brought up to Peyton, but I’m sure he’s not going around saying: ‘Ty Law did this to me. He picked off three balls.’ Just like I’m not going around saying, ‘I picked off Peyton three times three years ago.’ You don’t go into it like that.” Law and Manning may not be talking about it, but both teams are aware. Law has intercepted Manning seven times in his career. This week, as the Chiefs’ defense prepared for the Colts, they knew whom to ask questions. Law’s mistreatment of the Colts’ wide receivers in that game was so historic that the NFL changed its rules after the season regarding contact with receivers. It’s known as the “Ty Law rule.” “I don’t know if it’s in Peyton’s head that Ty’s back there,” Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks said, “but I’m sure Peyton didn’t forget that Ty had three picks that day and beat the Colts by himself. Having him back there is going to be nothing but an asset. Hopefully we can get a little bit of intimidation out of it just by having him out there.” Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard, who played the role of Manning in practice this week, was a backup on the Patriots that year. He smiled and shook his head when asked about Law’s game. “It was a game for the ages,” Huard said. “It certainly made his legend grow even more.” Law has not become a playoff legend by accident. Seven years ago, he approached track and field coach Bob Kersee, Jackie-Joyner Kersee’s husband and coach, about doing extra training. “Ty was already at the top of his game,” Bob Kersee said. “In order to stay there, he wanted to take it to someone who was going to push him beyond. That’s what really intrigued me about working with him.” Law showed up in St. Louis that first summer with a bag full of videos. Of himself. Of great receivers. Of Marvin Harrison. “I hope he doesn’t get mad at me,” Kersee said, “but people don’t realize how much privately he breaks down film on his own time. He studies people.” Kersee remembers a summer a few years back when Law was joined by Jerome Bettis, Anthony Dorsett and Aeneas Williams. When Kersee asked Law about Williams coming to work out, Law gushed: “Heck yeah! If I could work out with him, that would take us to even another level!” Law has always pursued a higher level, and when he signed with Kansas City, he hoped he could take the Chiefs there with him. Law’s presence alone today will give the Chiefs’ defense a level of credibility it never could have achieved without him. “You know he’s been a part of greatness before,” Hicks said. “We can follow a guy like that.” But Law hasn’t been a Pro Bowl-caliber player for the Chiefs this year. His four interceptions are down from last year’s 10, but that’s to be expected. Herm Edwards admits that Law has been just “OK.” You may be frustrated with Law’s performance, but you can’t argue with the guy’s timing. His interception in the fourth quarter at Arizona may have saved the Chiefs’ season. And his pick in last week’s victory was a true difference-maker. Law seems to have a sense for when his team needs him to make a play. Today certainly will be one of those times. “I’m able to block out a lot and concentrate more with all the screaming fans, when you can’t hear anything,” Law said. “I’m able to get in my own zone, especially being out there on that corner in a one-on-one situation. I don’t know if it’s a gift or a talent or whatever. But not everyone’s able to do it.” Peterson admits that Law isn’t the same player he was five years ago. Chiefs wide receiver Rod Gardner, who goes against Law in practice, says that Law succeeds because of his brain now. “I’ve practiced against Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot a lot,” Gardner said. “Champ just had physical ability that was amazing. Ty Law, I think he’s got the smarts. He understands situations. He sits on routes sometimes when he’s not supposed to because he just knows. He knows what you’re going to do.” Today, Law should know what Harrison is going to do more often than not. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to stop it like he did in the past. Edwards nodded and flashed a sly grin when asked about Law’s success against the Colts. A former cornerback himself, he seemed to know something. “He’s been good, he’s been good,” Edwards said. “He’s always on Harrison, and they throw that guy the ball. He catches some passes, too. They’ve known each other for a long time. Kind of interesting.” They’ll meet each other again today. Go ahead and think
it’s a coincidence.
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J. Brady McCollough - jbrady@coveringsports.com (email) - 816-868-2621 (cell) |
