clarinews@clarinet.com (MIKE RABUN, UPI Sports Writer) (01/16/90)
DENVER (UPI) -- The outspoken owner of the Denver Broncos said Monday he would consider it an upset if his team lost Super Bowl XXIV to the San Francisco 49ers. ``The owner can say anything he wants to,'' Denver Coach Dan Reeves said when he heard the comments made by franchise owner Pat Bowlen. ``He doesn't have to play.'' Bowlen, relishing in his team's third AFC title in four years, watched his players jog through a light workout Monday and then said he thought the team that will meet San Francisco is a much better club than the ones which lost two straight Super Bowls to the New York Giants and Washington Redskins. ``I think about half the players on this team weren't with us when we played in our last Super Bowl,'' Bowlen said. ``The new players we have are better than the players who left. And the players who are still here are better than they were two years ago. ``I know (San Francisco quarterback) Joe Montana is a God. But in my mind if San Francisco wins it will be an upset.'' Reeves, meanwhile, began his week by showing the Broncos the seven championship rings he has won over the years -- two for Super Bowl victories while with the Dallas Cowboys and five conference championship rings (the last two as Denver's coach). ``You should have seen the eyes of some of our young players,'' Reeves said. ``They don't care about the money. They just want one of these rings.'' Denver quarterback John Elway said, however, the veteran players had grown used to seeing Reeves' rings. ``He did the same thing when we went to the Super Bowl before,'' Elway said. ``I've seen them all a couple of times. ``What matters most is how we play. And we know we will have to be perfect. This is the best team I've been on going to the Super Bowl. But we're also playing the best team we've ever played in the Super Bowl.'' In the first of what will be almost daily news conferences leading up to the game Jan. 28 in New Orleans, Reeves said backup tight end Pat Kelly would undergo knee surgery Tuesday. Kelly, who started the AFC Championship game in place of the injured Clarence Kay, suffered knee damage during the opening series against Cleveland. The Broncos coach also said he would not know for several days whether rookie running back Bobby Humphrey would be available for the Super Bowl. Humphrey suffered two cracked ribs against Cleveland. As for the 49ers, Reeves said: ``Do I have to talk about them already? I know that if you go 14-2 in this league, as competitive as it is, it says a lot about what kind of team you have. ``They have always been one of the better defensive teams in the NFL, although they don't get the credit they deserve because of all the attention their offense gets. ``I know we cannot get into a scoring contest with them. Our offense has to move the ball and try to keep them off the field as much as we can because no one has stopped them. ``Montana has had an unbelievable season. And that happened, in part, because he has a great team around them. ``I just know if we have a high scoring game, we are probably in trouble. It will be a long afternoon and I've been in a couple of those long afternoons in the Super Bowl lately. I don't want to go through another one.'' When asked whether he would portray the 49ers to his players the same way he has portrayed them to the media, Reeves said: ``I don't want our team to think I'm dumb,'' Reeves said. ``We know how good they are. But we feel if we play a very good game we will have a chance to win.''