If you were to ask Miami Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell if he would trade places with Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea right now, even if it meant missing his very first Pro Bowl appearance, he wouldn't even blink an eye before giving an affirmative answer.

But it's because Bethea's Colts knocked off the New York Jets yesterday to advance to Super Bowl XLIV that Bell will get to play in his first Pro Bowl, and as an added bonus he will take his home field at Sun Life Stadium as a member of the AFC squad this coming Sunday. Bethea will take the same field a week later against the New Orleans Saints for a chance to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy, making South Florida the center of the football universe for the next two weeks.

Bell's selection as a Pro Bowl alternate ensured that the Dolphins would not be shutout of being represented in their own backyard. Second-year left tackle Jake Long was selected as a starter but had to pull out due to an injury, and had the Jets managed to upset the colts at Lucas Oil Field, Bell wouldn't have gotten his chance. He is no doubt looking forward to the experience just as other first-timers are, even though the game is not being played in Hawaii for the first time in 30 years.

"I think it's going to be cool and it's going to be exciting to have it in the States back on the mainland," said New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith, who became the first Giants receiver since Homer Jones back in 1968 to make the Pro Bowl. "I think it'll be fun for Miami and for all of the players and I'm just grateful to be a part of the Pro Bowl. I'm disappointed that we didn't reach the Super Bowl and it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, but playing in the stadium where that game is going to be played will motivate me to play even harder."

Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Clay Matthews, Jr. continued a strong family tradition by earning his spot on the NFC squad after his first season in the NFL. His father Clay Sr. was selected to four Pro Bowls with the Cleveland Browns and his uncle, Bruce Matthews, made it to 14 Pro Bowls as a guard/center with the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans. He made the trip to Hawaii with his father one year when he was a kid and was hoping to return the favor this time around, but the game being in Miami added a different dynamic to that proposal.

"Yeah, I got a little ribbing from him and in fact I think that's why he's not traveling down to Miami this time," Matthews said. "If it was Hawaii I'm sure he'd already have a ticket out there, but he and my uncle are very happy for me. Hawaii's a little different, but at the same time we're here for one reason and that's to play the game and be honored and I'm very thankful for the opportunity."

Unlike the Giants, who missed the playoffs, Matthews got a taste of the postseason with Green Bay and nearly was part of an epic comeback as his Packers erased a 31-10 deficit to the Arizona Cardinals and forced overtime before losing 51-45. Knowing they came so close to advancing to the second round and having a shot at reaching the Super Bowl still bothers Matthews, and he was hoping to make a trip to Miami for a different reason than the Pro Bowl.

"It's definitely tough, and last Saturday and Sunday just watching the games and watching what these teams were able to accomplish hit home even harder," he said. "To make plays like these guys are doing, it shows how tough it is but it gives us something to really work harder on next year as far as trying to win every game and trying to get into the position that these two teams are in going to the Super Bowl. I know for me personally just watching these guys play is motivation."

Matthews, Smith, Bell and all of the others making the trip to South Florida this week will carry that motivation onto the field at Sun Life Stadium this Sunday night and serve as a solid opening act to Super Bowl XLIV. The first practices will be held Wednesday at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

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