The raw rookie
Shaun King, Tampa Bay: "I like Shaun King's swagger," said Jerry Angelo, the Bucs' director of player personnel. "He shows himself to be a cool customer in the framework of our offense. We take a lot of pressure off him with a good defense and a couple of good running backs."

	Steve McNair has endured some frustrations, but he's 2-0 in the playoffs.

To say the least. One of those backs, Warrick Dunn, saved King by scooping up his fumble and advancing it for a critical first down late in the game-winning drive in the NFC divisional playoff victory over Washington.

King, the 50th player taken in the 1999 draft, was no stranger to pro-style offenses at Tulane, where he led the Green Wave to its first undefeated season since 1931. In the 1998 Liberty Bowl, he helped beat BYU by throwing two touchdown passes and running for 109 yards.

When five-year starter Trent Dilfer was lost for the season, King led the Bucs to a 4-1 finish and the NFC Central title. He's now a win away from the Super Bowl, where no rookie quarterback has ever played.

"The good players are able to bounce back, and they keep playing," King said. "I wouldn't say I played great, but I didn't lose the game. So I was proud of that."

The natural
Kurt Warner, St. Louis: Warner became only the second quarterback after Marino to throw for more than 40 touchdowns, but there were questions going into Sunday's game against Minnesota about his ability to handle the playoff pressure. Remember, the old Arena Football League product wasn't even supposed to play this year as the backup to Trent Green.

Warner, in his first full NFL season at age 28, swiftly dismissed the doubts. The very first pass of his NFL playoff career was a 77-yard rocket to Isaac Bruce for a touchdown. That was the beginning of the end of the Vikings, who the Rams torched 49-37.

Warner was very nearly perfect, completing 27 of 33 passes for a team record 391 yards and five touchdowns. His completion percentage of 81.8 was the third-highest in NFL playoff history, and his passer rating of 142.9 was the eighth-highest. The five TDs? Only the second-best total ever.

Most important, Warner showed poise in the critical third quarter. With the Rams trailing 17-14 at the half, Warner completed 11 of 12 passes in the third period in rallying the Rams to 21 unanswered points.

How would those five scoring passes stand up in the Arena Bowl, where Warner appeared twice with the Iowa Barnstormers?

"It would be an average game," Warner said. "About average. But I'll take it today."

The athlete
Steve McNair, Tennessee: When Neil O'Donnell won four of five games this season for the injured McNair, there were suggestions that he was an upgrade over Jeff Fisher's annointed starter.

In the playoffs, McNair, 26, has not exactly been a huge factor, which is probably a good thing for a postseason neophyte. In narrow victories over AFC East powers Buffalo and Indianapolis, McNair completed 13 of 24 passes in each game for a modest total of 188 yards. More importantly, though, he ran for a touchdown, set up six Al Del Greco field goals and threw only one interception.

Coming off the field after the last two Del Greco kicks in Indianapolis, McNair's mindset was obvious in his scowl. "We worked too hard to get that close and not score six points," he said. "I love Al to death, but if we can keep him off the field, we want to."

McNair is no stranger to big games. He beat the Jaguars 41-14 in a Dec. 26 rout, throwing five touchdown passes.

The end of the victory over the Colts was a little easier on the nerves than Kevin Dyson's dramatic 75-yard kick return to beat the Bills.

"It was a little calmer than last week," McNair said. "When you know you've got four plays and you can run them and kneel, well, that's the best play we've got in our playbook."

The young vet
Mark Brunell, Jacksonville: There were widespread questions whether Brunell, coming off a sprained knee ligament, would play against Miami -- everywhere except in the mind of Brunell himself.

If you read this line in a vacuum after the Dolphins game, you'd suspect the Jags might have lost: five completions, nine attempts, 105 yards, two touchdowns.

But, of course, Jacksonville was already leading 38-0 when Brunell and his tender knee were lifted in the second quarter. His seventh playoff game had been a success for the 29-year-old.

"The guy was inspiring," tackle Leon Searcy said.

Playing with two knee braces, Brunell looked sharp and even displayed an ability to move around in the pocket. Not bad for a guy who was nearly downgraded from probable to questionable last week when he was flailing around in practice.

Backup Jay Fiedler, a playoff rookie, mopped up with an impressive 7-for-11, 172 yards and two touchdowns.

And what of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the dreaded Titans, will Brunell be able to drag himself on the field?

"Come on," Brunell said, with a trace of annoyance "If I played in this game, I'll sure be able to play in that one."