Charles Woodson, Donald Driver suffer injuries, but Super Bowl XLV victory helps ease the pain

ARLINGTON, Tex. - Charles Woodson waited eight long years to get a second chance to win a Super Bowl and he hated having to stand on the sidelines and watch it happen. "It was very hard to watch," Woodson said afterward. "But not anymore."

The agony of injuries was replaced by the unrestrained joy of a long-awaited championship for the 34-year-old Woodson and 36-year-old Donald Driver, both of whom were knocked out of Super Bowl XLV in the first half. Woodson broke his collarbone. Driver suffered a high ankle sprain.

Both of them were standing helplessly on the sidelines when the Packers finally put away the Steelers, 31-25.

"It was very hard," Driver said. "I went in at halftime and the doctor told me that we were going to try to tape it up and see if I could go. I couldn't jump on it anymore and he told me I was done, even though I felt like I could still go. He said, 'No good.'

"Sometimes you have to follow what the doctor says. I followed the doctor's orders."

While Driver, the Packers' receiver, was trying to finagle his way back onto the field, Woodson already knew he was out. So the cornerback and captain instead delivered some inspirational words.

"I told the guys before they went back out, they understand how much I wanted it," Woodson said. "I was pretty emotional so I didn't get a whole lot out, but just to tell them to get it done. And they did."

Woodson was still in pain after the game, but he said, "I'm a champ, so it doesn't matter. World champion. That's what it's all about."

RINGING IT IN
How confident were the Packers? On Saturday, coach Mike McCarthy had the team fitted for its championship rings.

"It's a pretty quiet process," Packers guard Daryn Colledge said. "It's a ring fitting like you probably did for your own wedding ring. I think it just sets that mental mind-set that you've got to go out there and you've got something to accomplish."

BAD IDEA
Before Rashard Mendenhall's fourth-quarter fumble swung the momentum back to the Packers, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin nearly did so when he decided to have Shaun Suisham try a 52-yard field goal with 4:29 left in the third quarter and the Steelers trailing 21-17.

He missed badly, wide left, giving the Packers the ball near midfield. The Steelers dodged the bullet when the Packers were forced to punt. "That was a terrible decision by me in hindsight," Tomlin admitted. "That wasn't even close."

NUMBERS GAME
The NFL announced the attendance as 91,060, including those outside the stadium in the Party Plaza. It also took the unusual step of announcing there were 12,159 "credentialed" people at the game, including media, workers and league officials. That brought the "total" to 103,219.

No word on whether that included the 400 unlucky people who bought $800 tickets to the game, but were left without seats because several sections of temporary seating weren't completed in time.

PACK GETS THE JUMP
The Packers have scored first in all five Super Bowl appearances.... The Packers had 50 rushing yards - second-fewest ever for a Super Bowl-winning team. The St. Louis Rams had just 29 in Super Bowl XXIV. ... Had the Steelers rallied from a 21-3 deficit, it would've been the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The record is 10 points, twice, including by the New Orleans Saints last year.

PAIN REIGNS
Steelers rookie wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was carted off the field in the second quarter with a foot injury. He was placed in a walking boot and didn't return. Pittsburgh cornerback Bryant McFadden (hip) and right tackle Flozell Adams (left shoulder) left the game for a short time in the first half before returning.

HAVING THEIR PHIL
In what is fast becoming a ritual for the Steelers, Mike Tomlin had his team listen to a CD of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" on Saturday night to visualize its goals, as Tomlin had before the AFC title game. Asked about Tomlin's message, one player told the NFL Network, "Nothing much actually. Phil Collins runs the meeting."

The Packers, on the other hand, had motivational speaker Kevin Elko address them on Saturday night.