Warren to try for third ring
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on February 6, 2011 12:00 AM
The list of great NFL players who never won a Super Bowl is long and well decorated.
Dan Marino never won the biggest game. Nor did Bruce Smith, Barry Sanders or Anthony Munoz.
Perhaps that is what makes winning three rings so special.
Wayne County native and former Southern Wayne High School standout Greg Warren will try to claim his third Super Bowl trophy tonight when the Pittsburgh faces off against Green Bay in Dallas.
"It never gets old being a part of the Super Bowl," Warren said after practice on Thursday. "I think I am taking in more and enjoying this week more than I have with either of my first two experiences."
Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl at the end of Warren's rookie season in 2006. Warren described the 21-10 triumph over Seattle as a "whirlwind."
Three years later, the Steelers defeated Arizona 27-23 in the Super Bowl. Warren participated in the weekly activities, but missed the game with a knee injury. More experienced and fully healthy, Warren is excited to see what his team can do against the NFC's top contender.
"To be a part of this game and to watch all the guys get into the festivities has been really special, just as special as the first two," said Warren. "I am so happy to be healthy and to have a chance to reach some of my personal goals during the game."
The uncertainty of the NFL landscape has added to Warren's adjulation.
"You never know if you are going to get another chance to come back here," he said. "Teams in this league change every season with free agency and guys retiring, so it forces you to live in the moment."
So what does Warren expect to feel when the stadium is packed and the cameras come on?
"It's pure excitement," he said. "It's overwhelming at first, but once the game starts it's football and everyone has a job to do."
Pittsburgh enters the game with one of the top special teams units in the league. With Warren handling all of the long-snapping duties, the Steelers have averaged 41.9 yards per punt. Place kicker Shaun Suisham has connected on 14-of-15 field goal tries and all 19 of his extra-point attempts.
Along with strong special teams, the Steelers also boast one of the league's best rushing attacks. Warren expects the running game to play a big role in who wins.
"We have to be able to run the football and control the clock on offense," said Warren. "You can't be sure of what Green Bay is going to try to do when they have the ball, but for us it begins with the ground game."
The Steelers have been to seven Super Bowls as a franchise and have a 6-1 record in those games. Players like Lynn Swann, Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris already have three Super Bowl rings.
Warren hopes he makes that list, too.