TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

What's In A Name?

ADVERTISEMENT

By ROY CUMMINGS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2008

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Donte' Stallworth is talking. You know it's Donte' because it's Wednesday and only Donte' talks on Wednesdays. If you want to talk to Nicco, you've got to wait until Sunday.

Nicco?

Yes, Nicco. You've seen Nicco. You know his work. It's usually credited to Donte,' but it's Nicco who straps on the helmet and pads, lines up at receiver and makes all those plays for the Patriots.

"Whenever I need to be aggressive or outgoing, Nicco takes over," Donte' says.

True alter egos don't spring up. They materialize over time. Nicco, be he real or contrived, materialized while Donte' was at the University of Tennessee.

At first, he had no name. When he was playing for the Saints in his first four NFL seasons, someone with that organization named him, but Donte' didn't like the name and went in search of something different, something more appropriate.

An avid reader and history buff, Donte' chose Nicco. It's short for Niccolo, as in Niccolo Machiavelli, the 15th-century Italian statesmen and author whose most notable work is "The Prince." A man who was believed to have faked his own death, Machiavelli believed in accepting a lesser evil to perpetuate a greater good, even if it meant taking on an evil or demonic personality.

Nicco isn't evil. He's mean and he's nasty and he'll go across the middle and take a hit to make a catch for you. He'll throw a block and he'll sure as heck get in your face, which is something Donte' never would do.

"I'm the reserved one - the book reader, the documentary watcher, the History Channel guy," Donte' said. "He's the outgoing one. He just wants to play football and have a good time with his friends.

"But this week, he's coming in for the game and leaving right after; in and out, that's it. That's his job and he's fine with it. He knows his role. He's a team player. Me and him, that's the team."

Two personalities, one ring. Sounds like there could be a problem if Nicco and the Patriots beat the Giants and win Super Bowl XLII on Sunday. Not so, says Donte.'

"I get the ring," he says. "Nicco's too irresponsible. That's why I can't let him out of his cage too often. I let him out when I need him, and then I shoo him back in."

Though Nicco only caught 47 passes this year - fourth on the Patriots - his gain-per-catch average of 15.2 matched that of Randy Moss. He also had New England's longest touchdown catch of the season - a 69-yarder against Dallas on Oct. 14 - and made the 53-yard catch that set up the game-sealing field goal against Jacksonville in the AFC divisional playoff.

Like running back Kevin Faulk and fellow receiver Jabar Gaffney, he has been one of the Patriots' unsung heroes. His quarterback doesn't see them that way, though.

"Every time you get the ball in their hands, they're making plays," Brady said of Faulk, Gaffney and Nicco. "They've all found ways to impact games, so they're never lost in my mind. They're always part of our offense."

Don't think the Giants haven't noticed. Moss is their biggest concern among Pats receivers, but Nicco's ability to make a big plays has planted a seed of concern as well.

"Our big thing is to not give up big plays," cornerback Sam Madison said. "That's always hard when you're going up against a guy like Brady, but we believe we'll fare well."

Donte' is hoping Nicco fares well. There's a reason Donte' and Nicco came to New England from Philadelphia last offseason.

"This is the reason right here," Donte' said, speaking of the Super Bowl. "I knew that last year they went to the AFC Championship Game and they probably should have won it.

"And with everybody pretty much coming back from that team, I knew this would be my best opportunity to win a Super Bowl. Nicco, he didn't have a say in that process, but believe me, he's glad we're here. Like I said, we're a team."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT