As the NFL closes shop for the season, the AFC plays a game it sometimes wins.
While AFC teams are 0-10 over the last decade in Super Bowls, the American Conference all-stars have won two of the last four Pro Bowls against the NFC. That includes a 23-20 victory last year in the lone overtime game since the series began in its present format back in 1971.The AFC still trails 13-10, however.
Marty Schottenheimer and his Kansas City Chiefs staff coach the AFC; George Seifert and his San Francisco 49ers' assistants lead the NFC.
Schottenheimer is 2-0 in previous trips to the game, winning in 1987 and 1988, when he was coach of the Cleveland Browns. Seifert is 0-2.
"My feeling is that this is a great opportunity for the coaches and players," Schottenheimer said. "If you can't be in the Super Bowl, this is the best place to be."
Schottenheimer's AFC squad has an impressive offense, including quarterbacks John Elway of Denver and Warren Moon of Houston, and running backs Thurman Thomas of Buffalo and Marcus Allen of Kansas City.
The starting wide receivers are Anthony Miller of San Diego and Tim Brown of the Los Angeles Raiders, with Denver's Shannon Sharpe the tight end.
Defensively, the AFC features linemen Cortez Kennedy of Seattle and Ray Childress of Houston, plus linebackers Junior Seau of San Diego and Derrick Thomas of Kansas City.
The NFC offense also is explosive, with Steve Young of San Francisco the starting quarterback, rookie Jerome Bettis of the Los Angeles Rams among the running backs, and the 49ers' Jerry Rice and Dallas' Michael Irvin among the receivers.
The National Conference defense has Reggie White of Green Bay at one end and Richard Dent of Chicago at the other, and also includes New Orleans linebackers Rickey Jackson and Renaldo Turnbull, and cornerback Deion Sanders of Atlanta.
Some of the NFL's big names are absent. Among those voted onto the Pro Bowl squads but missing because of injuries are quarterbacks Troy Aikman of Dallas, Joe Montana of Kansas City and Phil Simms of the New York Giants; running backs Emmitt Smith of Dallas and Barry Sanders of Detroit; and wide receivers Andre Reed of Buffalo and Sterling Sharpe of Green Bay.
Defensive end Bruce Smith of the Bills also is among the 15 players who bowed out of the game because of injuries.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Irvin wants new deal
Wide receiver Michael Irvin wants Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to renegotiate his $1.25 million contract before the NFL imposes its salary cap. Otherwise, Irvin might not be a Cowboy after the 1994 season.
Irvin also wants to ensure that Jimmy Johnson will remain the Cowboys' coach before making a long-term commitment.
"If Jimmy's not here, I don't want to be here," Irvin said.
Irvin has produced the top three receiving seasons in Cowboys history with 1,523 yards in 1991, 1,396 yards in 1992 and 1,330 yards in 1993.