Talking The Talk

1962 | PAUL HORNUNG

BRAG: Before the season Packers great Hornung, who wore a sweater emblazoned with his initials in foot-high letters, said he planned to do "something the fans haven't seen before.... I just can't help being dramatic." REALITY: The Golden Boy--who played RB, WR, QB and kicker--suffered a knee injury and played just nine games, scoring 74 points, far below the record 176 he scored in '60.

1967 | FRED WILLIAMSON

BRAG: Chiefs CB, known as the Hammer because he often tackled with a forearm to the head, said before Super Bowl I, " Green Bay Packers ... we're gonna whip their asses." He added, "I'm going to lay a few hammers on 'em, and they're going to go back into the huddle with their heads ringing." REALITY: Williamson was carried off the field after being run over by Packers RB Donny Anderson in the fourth quarter of Green Bay's 35-10 win.

1970 | TERRY BRADSHAW

BRAG: Upon being picked No. 1 in the draft by 1-13 Pittsburgh, the Louisiana native announced, "I'm going to take the Steelers to the Super Bowl!" REALITY: As late as October 1974, when he was benched, it appeared Bradshaw would eat his words. But he rebounded to lead the Steelers to a first Super Bowl title that season. Then he did it again ... and again ... and again.

1979 | THOMAS ( HOLLYWOOD) HENDERSON

BRAG: Before Super Bowl XIII, Henderson, a LB, said his Cowboys would shut out Pittsburgh, adding, " Bradshaw's so dumb, he couldn't spell cat if you spotted him the c and the a." REALITY: "Empty barrels," Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll said, "make the most noise." Steelers won 35-31, and Bradshaw passed for 318 yards. "I rated his intelligence. I didn't rate his ability," said Henderson, who later admitted to having sniffed 1 1/2 grams of liquefied cocaine during the game.

1986 | OTIS WILSON

BRAG: Chicago LB, before Super Bowl XX against Pats: "If we follow our game plan, we'll shut them out." REALITY: No blanking, but Bears scored 17 points before allowing a first down and won 46-10.