Davante Adams and Jermaine Kearse had their best games to help their teams reach the NFC championship game. Trent Richardson and Jonas Gray watched in street clothes while their teams advanced to the AFC title game.The NFL playoffs are a time for unsung heroes and busts.Often, the standout stars in big games arent the biggest names or players making the most money. Two prime examples in past conference championship games are cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. and linebacker A.J. Duhe.Manning intercepted Donovan McNabb three times in Carolinas 14-3 win over the Eagles in January 2004. Duhe picked three of Richard Todds passes and returned one for a touchdown in Miamis 14-0 over the New York Jets in January 1983.Last weekend, Adams, a rookie second-round pick, had a career-best seven catches for 117 yards and one touchdown in Green Bays 26-21 win over Dallas. Kearse, a third-year pro, had three catches for a career-best 129 yards and one TD in Seattles 31-17 win over Carolina.In the AFC, Gray was inactive for New England in a 35-31 over Baltimore. The little-known running back burst on the scene when he ran for 201 yards and a franchise-best four TDs in the Patriots 42-20 win at Indianapolis in Week 10. But Gray has rushed for just 80 yards since that effort.Richardson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 draft by Cleveland, was a healthy scratch for Indianapolis in a 24-13 upset at Denver. Richardson had already been demoted to third-string and couldnt make the active roster on special teams.Here are potential unsung heroes for each team on Championship Sunday:PACKERS: Tight end Andrew Quarless had four catches for 31 yards and a touchdown last week against Dallas. With Adams, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb facing Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell, Quarless might end up being Aaron Rodgers go-to guy.SEAHAWKS: Rookie first-round pick Justin Britt has started every game at right tackle and faces another tough task this week. Britt cant focus on just one player because the Packers move their linemen around, but he should see plenty of veteran end Julius Peppers. Britt hasnt allowed a sack in the past three games.COLTS: Free safety Sergio Brown had a rough time against Rob Gronkowski when the teams last met. Brown, who broke Gronkowskis arm in 2012, was tossed into a camera cart by the All-Pro tight end after a 26-yard, tackle-breaking touchdown catch. So Brown certainly has extra motivation going into this matchup.PATRIOTS: Backup tight end Michael Hoomanawanui caught two passes for 30 yards when the Patriots lined up in a unique formation that confused the Ravens. Since Gronkowski will get extra attention, Hoomanawanui has a chance to sneak in a few more big catches.Here are players who were busts this season for each team:PACKERS: Rookie defensive tackle Khyri Thornton, a third-round pick, spent the year on injured reserve after hurting his hamstring in a preseason game. While the Packers have received significant contributions from other draft picks, they got nothing from Thornton because of his injury.SEAHAWKS: Wide receiver Percy Harvin was traded to the New York Jets in October for a mid-round draft pick less than two years after the Seahawks gave up a first and third-round picks to get him and signed him to a lucrative contract.COLTS: The Colts traded a first-round pick for Richardson last year, but he lost his starting job to Dan Herron and was inactive last week in favour of a player the team had just signed.PATRIOTS: Gray led the Patriots in rushing this season, though 201 of his 412 yards came in one game. Gray was sent home from practice for reporting late the Friday after his breakout game and hasnt played much since that performance.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org___Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi Vans Sk8-Hi Shoes For Sale . The fourth-year guard from Carleton University kicked off his varsity career with rookie of the year honours in 2011, before racking up three straight Mike Moser Memorial Trophies for outstanding player. Vans Old Skool White Sale . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. http://www.vansshoesclearancesale.com/vans-old-skool-sale.html . They find themselves trying to knock each other out in the Western Conference finals for the second straight year. The Blackhawks prevailed last year on their way to the Stanley Cup, and they have the early lead this time after taking the opener, 3-1. Vans Sk8 Hi Reissue .Corey Brewer had 19 points eight rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Timberwolves, who snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the third time since Ricky Rubio went out with an injured ankle on Nov. Cheap Vans Sk8 Hi Shoes . Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone dismissed Tuesdays massive anti-government protest in Manama as "a lot of kids having a go at the police." "I dont think its anything serious at all," Ecclestone was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday.With less than a week until the NHL Trade Deadline, check out the latest trade-related reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. Flip it and Reverse It? The Buffalo Sabres made the first big move of the pre-trade deadline season by dealing Ryan Miller and Steve Ott for Chris Stewart, Jaroslav Halak and draft picks, but they are probably far from done dealing. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun believes the Sabres could look to flip Stewart before Wednesday. LeBrun believes the Sabres may consider Stewart as a possible fit for the teams rebuilding core, given that he has one year remaining on his contract and is still only 26. However, LeBrun countered, the offers on Stewart could also be enticing to the Sabres with the Ottawa Senators believed to be interested in the forward dating back to before Fridays blockbuster. Meanwhile, LeBrun tweeted Saturday afternoon that the Minnesota Wild are kicking the tires on goaltenders available via trade, including Halak. Pitt Stop? While Ryan Keslers availability via trade remains a contentious issue around the Canucks, the Pittsburgh Penguins might be leading the charge to try to pry the 29-year-old loose. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Reviews Rob Rossi tweeted early Saturday that the Pens are "very interested and [it] sounds like theyre on his list." Kesler has two years remaining on his current contract at an average annual value of $5 million. Rossi expanded on his tweet in an article on Saturday, reporting that the Penguins would offer Brandon Sutter, two 2014 draft picks and the Canucks choice of deefensemen Simon Despres or Brian Dumoulin Out of Oil If this is Ales Hemskys last week in an Oiler uniform, the Czech forward appears ready for whatever comes next.dddddddddddd "It could be my last two games in this locker-room, so I better enjoy it,” the 30-year-old winger said after practice on Friday. “I want to enjoy every moment Ill spend with the guys, with my friends, with the people I know." “Im ready for it. Im excited.” With a provincial showdown with the Flames on tap for Saturday it could provide one last battle-ground for the winger, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Strictly Business Cory Schneider doesnt want to see his crease-mate Martin Brodeur traded, but understands that if the 41-year-old does get moved its just part of the business of being an NHL player. “Marty is big part of this team and has been forever. Im not sure there is any player as synonymous with the franchise as Marty has been or is. So it wouldnt be just anybody leaving this team. It would be the most important player in the franchises history,” the 27-year-old netminder told The Star-Ledger. Schneider, of course, is no stranger to speculation, having endured years of rumours in Vancouver playing alongside Roberto Luongo. The way that situation played out this off-season – resulting in his relocation to New Jersey – has shown Schneider that anything is possible. “It would be difficult for everybody, but thats kind of what happens. I didnt think I was going to get traded and I did. It happens. It could happen to anybody.” ' ' '