Romanowski's Super Bowl experience could help Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Bill Romanowski scooped up a fumble and scurried down the field to greet the fans -- just because he felt like it.

It was the fourth quarter, and the 36-year-old linebacker had energy to burn. He tossed the football into the Black Hole, the section of Oakland Raiders fans behind the south end zone known to be the most nasty.

Classic Romanowski.

His teammates call him insane because he's so intense. They marvel at his medical kit filled with supplements of all sorts. His locker smells like a medicine cabinet.

This week more than any other, Romanowski believes the Raiders should look to him to get them through their preparation for Sunday's AFC championship game against the Tennessee Titans.

"I've played in four Super Bowls, I know what it takes," said Romanowski, who signed with the Raiders as a free agent last February after six seasons with Denver.

"I'm a pro. There's a certain standard in which you practice, in which you prepare for an opponent. My group of linebackers, we have a great group of guys, guys who are good football players. But I don't think they had somebody to really show them what kind of intensity you have to have out on the football field, how you've got to prepare. It's not about fun and games during the week. There are times to laugh and there are times to work, and we've got workers."

Work is what has kept Romanowski in the league for so long.

He spends thousands of dollars on trainers, massage therapists and dietitians. He lectures his younger teammates on the importance of taking care of their bodies.

He gave tight end Roland Williams a cream to loosen his muscles before games. Back in October, Romanowski talked running back Terry Kirby into using a machine on his broken right leg to speed up his recovery time.

Romanowski's philosophy has gotten him in trouble, too.

He was acquitted in June 2001 on charges he had illegally obtained the appetite suppressant phentermine from prescriptions written for his wife, Julie, and two other people. Investigators said he took phentermine to enhance his play. The drug is not banned by the NFL.

But many of his methods are effective. He has started 129 straight games.

Romanowski made 90 tackles in his 15th NFL season, along with four sacks, an interception and five pass deflections to help the Raiders win their third straight AFC West title.

When Broncos coach Mike Shanahan couldn't guarantee Romanowski a starting job for this season, the two-time Pro Bowler left for Oakland. Owner Al Davis values veterans and is known for giving them a second shot.

"He has a passion for the game, and he's going to play it as hard as he can, within the framework of the rules," coach Bill Callahan said.

Romanowski has four Super Bowl rings in four chances, winning back-to-back titles with San Francisco and again with the Broncos.

He was on a Denver team that won the AFC championship game at Pittsburgh in 1998, so Romanowski realizes having home-field advantage isn't everything.

Romanowski is more resilient now than when he was younger. Practicing without pads for years has helped.

"I feel better now than when I was 22," he said. "I take care of myself better. I pay attention to things more now than when I was 22. I don't bounce back as quickly, but I still feel good on Sunday, if not better."

The Raiders are a special team this season, he said, and he sees a huge difference between this group and the Oakland players who were dominated at home in the AFC championship game two years ago by Baltimore.

"This team believes we can win," Romanowski said. "There's a certain feeling, because winning truly is mental. Everybody's got great football players, everybody's got good athletes, but mentally are you tough enough? Mentally do you believe that you're going to win? This group believes we're going to win."