JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - They play for millions of dollars in a sport where every move is analyzed and scrutinized by owners, general managers, coaches and scouts.

Every once in a while, though, the system doesn't work quite according to plan.

That's how Hank Poteat ended up in the Super Bowl. It's the way Jeff Thomason made it here, too.

Poteat, a cornerback for the New England Patriots, and Thomason, a tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles, both will be playing for a championship Sunday even though they spent the bulk of the season involved in other pursuits.

Poteat got cut by Carolina in the preseason and spent most of the year taking classes at the University of Pittsburgh. Last month, the Patriots called and Poteat was playing football again.

Thomason hadn't been on the field since 2002 and was working as a manager at a construction company near Philly. Suddenly, the Eagles found themselves in need of a new tight end and Thomason was wearing silver and green.

"Never give up. Always have faith. Believe in yourself," was what Poteat said when asked what advice he'd give to those who had been in his situation. "Don't worry about what anyone else says about you."

Nobody said much about Poteat during the last two seasons, ever since he played the last of his 41 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Released at the end of training camp in 2003, he had a brief stint with Tampa Bay - one game - and had a chance to catch on with the Panthers this preseason, but was released Aug. 24.

With Tyrone Poole hurt and Ty Law gone for the season, the Patriots became desperately short-handed in the secondary as the postseason approached. The trade deadline had passed, the Patriots didn't have a suitable replacement on their practice squad and the search for another corner landed Poteat, a 27-year-old who was a third-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2000.

His has been much more than an honorary role on the roster. Poteat is a key reserve defensive back and has been in both of New England's playoff games.

"I was truly excited," he said about his reaction to getting signed. "It was a relief. I basically thought the year was over for me."

The 35-year-old Thomason really had moved on.

After a 10-year career, which included two Super Bowls with the Packers, he hadn't played in three seasons. He took a job as a project manager for a builder in suburban Philly and was participating in triathlons to keep in shape - more for his own good than because he dreamed an NFL team might want him back.

But when Chad Lewis hurt his foot in the NFC championship game, the Eagles had an opening - and a need. Their second-string tight end, L.J. Smith, could step in without a problem. But the third-string guy, Mike Bartrum, is a long snapper and considered too valuable to play on offense in anything other than an emergency.

Enter Thomason, who could see a decent share of action come Sunday.

"I don't feel like I truly should be here, and these guys deserve it," he said. "So, I want to do my share to make sure they get done what they want to get done."

Eagles coach Andy Reid was an assistant coach with the Packers when he last coached Thomason. He signed him on the advice of Lewis, who became good friends with his fellow tight end when the two played together in Philly.

"The one thing he was before he left, was very, very smart," Reid said. "He kind of lined everybody up with the formations. He was able to get everybody in the right positions. He's a good blocker. It's a matter of him getting back into the swing of things, and he's been doing that the last couple of weeks."

When Thomason was first signed, it appeared he would have to burn his two weeks of vacation to play in the Super Bowl. Since then, though, his company has more than gotten into the spirit.

At media day Tuesday, public-relations folks from the construction company announced they will donate $50,000 to charity for every catch Thomason makes. And he's getting his vacation back.

It's quite a lot to take in for a guy who was looking at blueprints two weeks ago.

"A week from now, I know I'll be sitting back behind my desk," Thomason said. "It should be quite a trip."