HOUSTON -- The last time Jermaine Wiggins was seen in a Super Bowl, he was making a pivotal reception in the New England Patriots' game-winning drive in the 2002 upset of the St. Louis Rams at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Wiggins has resurfaced in the Super Bowl. The tight end will be suiting up Sunday for the Carolina Panthers as they try to upend the Patriots at Reliant Stadium.
The former star at East Boston High was a solid player for the Pats two years ago. He started six of the 16 games, grabbing 14 passes, four of which went for touchdowns.
But he shined in the playoffs, especially in the snow against Oakland, when he hauled in a New England postseason record 10 passes for 68 yards.
Wiggins, though, was let go after Super Bowl XXXVI, ultimately playing for Indianapolis and Carolina last year. This season, he caught eight passes for 80 yards, accounting for one touchdown.
There will be no special incentive for him Sunday, though, Wiggins insisted yesterday.
"There's no revenge factor at all," said Wiggins. "I'm just trying to win a championship. I don't care who's on the other side of the ball."
Davis expects to play
Carolina running back Stephen Davis, who has been hampered by a strained left quadriceps, is hoping the extra week off between the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl will have him ready for Sunday.
"I don't know what's going to happen Sunday, but I'll be prepared to play the whole game," said Davis.
Davis, who rushed for 1,444 yards after the Redskins let him go following the 2002 season, suffered the injury in a playoff win over St. Louis. He started against Philadelphia in the NFC title game and led the Panthers with 76 yards on 16 carries.
'Dog tired
Much is being made here about the Panthers coming out of nowhere, a la the Patriots two years ago, in earning a spot in the Super Bowl.
But the Panthers are getting a bit tired of hearing the "underdog" label being applied to them.
"Underdogs?" said receiver Steve Smith. "I guess everybody's an underdog on this team. Everybody's got a sad story. But we're tired of sad stories. We're here. In the Super Bowl."
As big as it gets
Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers was a basketball star as well as a football star at the University of North Carolina. He played in a Final Four. But the Super Bowl, he says, is a cut above March Madness' title game.
"The Super Bowl is the biggest game of the year," said Peppers. "The Final Four is huge, but it doesn't compare with the Super Bowl."
