INDIANAPOLIS —
For a night, the Circle City went Hollywood.
Just 24 hours before all eyes turned to Indianapolis for today’s Super Bowl XLVI showdown between the New England Patriots and New York Giants, the National Football League’s most heralded players, treasured legends and a host of celebrities walked the red carpet at the Murat Theater for the inaugural "NFL Honors" awards program, broadcast on NBC on Saturday night.
Hosted by actor Alec Baldwin of "30 Rock," the "NFL Honors" combined all NFL and Associated Press awards typically handed out over several weeks into one glamorous night.
But before the hardware was presented inside the theater, the league’s biggest stars took time to meet with the throng of television and print media stuffed into a heated tent outside.
Washington Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan was one of the first players to walk down the red carpet. A former standout at Muncie Central and Purdue, Kerrigan thought his home state was doing a terrific job as a first-time host of the Super Bowl.
"I’ve heard nothing but great things," Kerrigan said. "It makes me proud to be from here and see what kind of event they’ve put together."
Some time at home gave Kerrigan, who garnered 63 tackles, four forced fumbles and an interception in a rookie campaign that earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration, a chance to see family and friends.
"I grew up an hour away from here in Muncie," Kerrigan said. "It’s definitely great for the city and definitely great for the state of Indiana."
Fellow Boilermaker and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was among several notable stars missing from the red carpet. Brees, who broke Dan Marino’s single-season passing yards record this season and won Offensive Player of the Year later in the evening, reportedly was taken in a side entrance.
Embattled Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning also skipped the red carpet, opting to stay out of the spotlight that’s shined on him much of Super Bowl week. Manning, who presented the Most Valuable Player award, and Colts owner Jim Irsay have been stuck in a seemingly unending yet civil war of words regarding the veteran quarterback’s recovery from neck surgery.
While Brees and Manning were missing, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the leader in red carpet voting for MVP, was not.
Neither were Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, former 49ers signal callers Joe Montana and Steve Young, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, Denver Broncos Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and a host of others.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall was one of several players who said they’d spent much of the week enjoying the Super Bowl festivities in Indianapolis.
"We did a ton of things. We went to a few parties, we went to the fan experience," Marshall said. "Tomorrow, we’ll go to the game."
Players weren’t the only ones on hand Saturday. Four-time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz, who performed during the show, arrived near the end of the nearly two-hour red carpet parade. "Captain America" star Chris Evans, "Twilight" hunk Taylor Lautner and "Mad Men" actor Jon Hamm also were spotted brushing elbows with the NFL’s elite.
Super Bowl XLVI
Related Photos
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Host Alec Baldwin is seen with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, left, and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers after Rodgers won the MVP during the inaugural NFL Honors show on Feb. 4 in Indianapolis. Marcio Sanchez
Discussion
Football, Hollywood stars mingle at NFL Honors
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