Super Bowl's new Lords of the Rings get measured early

By Julian Linden

Had his team lost, McCarthy's instructions would almost certainly have been condemned as an act of brazen arrogance but McCarthy, a master motivator and tactician, said it was all just part of a psychological ploy to instill his players with the self-belief needed to win.

"I talked to the football team a lot about having real confidence," McCarthy told a news conference Monday following his team's 31-25 victory Sunday.

"I felt the measurement of the rings would be special. I wish I'd have made a bigger deal out of it.

"I just told them, 'We're going to measure for rings tonight, during snack.' I thought it was an appropriate time, that it would be special."

But not all of the Packers followed their coach's orders with quarterback Aaron Rodgers revealing that he skipped the finger measuring because he was worried about tempting fate.

"I didn't get sized up," he said. "I was wondering when I was taking my pregame shower if that was a bad omen or not, to not get sized for my ring.

"Hopefully I can still get sized with that."

Rodgers need not have worried. He was named MVP after producing an inspired display in his first trip to the Super Bowl, completing 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards and throwing three touchdown passes and no interceptions.

And he did manage to get his hands on one of the rewards for his game-winning performance, receiving the keys to a new 426-horse power convertible at a packed conference center in downtown Dallas Monday.

The 27-year-old was still bleary-eyed when he met with the media and said he was only just coming to terms with the magnitude of his success after a slow and patient rise through the ranks, which included serving as Brett Favre's understudy for three years.

"That's kind of been my career there, getting my opportunity and making the most of it," he said.

"In high school, junior college, Division I, being a backup, getting overlooked on draft day, three years as a backup, finally getting an opportunity and making the most of it.

"This was another opportunity that doesn't come around too often. I just wanted to make the most of it and we did. Great team, great locker room. I'm just glad to be a part of it."

(Editing by Steve Ginsburg; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)