Former Orange Have Super Bowl In Sight

The National Football League's second season has arrived. Twelve former Orange standouts are on the rosters of eight of the NFL squads competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Eight of the Syracuse alumni who are on playoff teams play on the defensive side of the ball, including Anthony Smith (Pittsburgh), James Wyche (Jacksonville), Tanard Jackson (Tampa Bay), Keith Bulluck (Tennessee), Rich Scanlon (Tennessee), Steve Gregory (San Diego) Dwight Freeney (Indianapolis) and Josh Thomas (Indianapolis) and four of the top five defensive teams in the league have at least one former Orange making a contribution. Three former Orange play offense, Kevin Sampson (Washington), David Tyree (New York Giants), Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis) and one, Tom Coughlin (New York Giants), is a head coach.

Offensive tackle Sampson's Redskins kick the postseason off when they travel to Seattle on Saturday, Jan. 5 for a 4:30 p.m. (NBC) contest against the Seahawks. Sampon signed with Washington on Dec. 27, three days prior to the Redskin's 27-6 playoff-clinching victory against Dallas on Dec. 30.

The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Saturday's last game, which will be at 8 p.m. (NBC). Smith, a free safety, played 16 games for the Steelers this year and registered 69 tackles, 53 solo and two interceptions. He is on the top-ranked overall defense in the league (266.4 ypg) and the third ranked passing (176.5 ypg) and rushing (89.9 ypg) defense. Wyche, a defensive end for the Jaguars, will miss the contest after spending the entire season on injury reserve.

Coughlin leads the New York Giants into Tampa Bay on Sunday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. (Fox). The game pits two former Orange standouts against each other. Tyree, a Giants receiver, will go against Jackson, a Tampa Bay free safety. Tyree, who has played with injuries for most of the 2007 season, has four catches for 35 yards in 12 games, while Jackson is having a great rookie season with 56 tackles, 53 solo and two interceptions in 16 starts. The Buccaneers' defense ranks second overall (278.4 ypg) and first for passing defense (170.5 ypg).

Bulluck, the Tennessee Titans' outside linebacker, leads the fifth best defense (291.6 ypg) into San Diego on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (CBS) to battle with the Chargers. Bulluck, who has 88 tackles, 68 solo and five interceptions. The Titans also have Scanlon (six tackles in nine games) in their linebacking corps. Gregory will lineup in the San Diego secondary at cornerback. He has 11 tackles in 10 games in 2007.

Three former Orange will enjoy a first round bye for the defending Super Bowl Champion Colts. Harrison hopes to be back in the Indianapolis lineup for the first playoff game after missing the majority of the season with a knee injury. Thomas, who has filled in for an injured Freeney for most of the season, has 28 tackles, including 21 solo, in 15 games. Freeney was put on injured reserve on Nov. 14 with a left foot injury and will not play for the rest of the season.

Syracuse University Athletics

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