BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT

The most exciting play for the Atlanta Falcons also turned out to be their tackiest.

The 94-yard kick return for a touchdown by Tim Dwight early in the fourth quarter was overshadowed by his decision to run the final five yards backward, facing the charging Broncos with a pose that could only be considered a taunt.

Whenever Dwight went out for a pass the rest of the game, he was shoved and pushed by angry Bronco defenders, even after he had fallen.

“The Dirty Bird’s dead,” Bronco Howard Griffith said. “We plucked them turkeys.”

OLDER AND BETTER

By playing in his fifth Super Bowl, John Elway is starting to rack up the career Super Bowl records.

He has thrown more career passes (152) than anyone in Super Bowl history.

He has also thrown more interceptions (eight), a record many incorrectly thought had been set in one game by Neil O’Donnell.

At age 38, Elway has also become the oldest player to score a touchdown in Super Bowl history.

“I remember sitting down next to John during off-season workouts last summer and complaining about how much I hurt,” Rod Smith said. “He looks at me and says, ‘Don’t worry, you’ve only got 10 more years to go.’ ”

FLAGGED FOR BAD DECISIONS

Dan Reeves should be commended for his team tying a Super Bowl record by committing no penalties.

But he could be criticized for his early play-calling that may have helped squelch the Falcons’ early momentum.

Facing third-and-one from the Bronco 26-yard line in the second quarter, trailing 7-3, he ran Jamal Anderson into the middle of the line for no gain.

Then on fourth down, the Falcons pitched the ball to Anderson behind the line, and he never escaped Keith Traylor for a two-yard loss that cost them the ball.

A 42-yard field goal then by Morten Andersen would have closed the gap.

The next time the Falcons looked up, it was 17-3.

“If I had to do it over again, I would have gone for a field goal,” Reeves admitted.

CHASING THE GRASS RING

How intense are the Denver Broncos?

After Sunday’s Super Bowl win, receiver Rod Smith thanked the guy who cuts the grass at the Broncos’ facility.

“His name is Russ, and he does a great job cutting the grass, and he inspires me,” Smith said. “During the summer, he comes to my house and shows me how to cut my grass better. We all work together.”

Whatever.

NEXT, STEVE DeBERG

Long after the game, a young man waiting next to the Bronco locker room was rewarded with an appearance by Elway.

Just before going inside, the quarterback stopped, leaned over and signed the boy’s autograph pad.

“I’ve got John Elway! I’ve got John Elway!” the boy shouted while running down the hallway waving his pen.

The security guards broke into applause. Elway smiled and waved and disappeared behind the door.