MIAMI — Peyton Manning worked the room masterfully. He took questions from all directions, throwing in plenty of eye contact. He spoke glowingly when necessary, took a few stabs at humor and steered away from anything that might come across as controversial.

Yes, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback handled Super Bowl media day with the same aplomb he shows at the line of scrimmage.

Manning, a four-time MVP and clearly the biggest star in South Florida, spoke on a wide range of subjects Tuesday without revealing a whole lot we didn’t already know. He certainly didn’t provide any bulletin-board fodder to Sunday’s opponent, the new Orleans Saints.

Heck, that’s his hometown, the city where his father Archie played and still lives. if the Colts weren’t trying to win a title of their own, Manning would’ve been the Saints’ biggest fan. He was certainly happy when they beat Minnesota in an overtime thriller to earn their first trip to the Super Bowl, a game that Manning won three years ago.

“The Saint were my team growing up,” he said. “I was really excited for new Orleans, watching them win that game against the Vikings. it was exciting to see the French Quarter empty in the third quarter and then be packed after the game. I had a lot of friends down there tell me what it was like.”

Manning said he also appreciates the history of the Colts, dating back to their days in Baltimore. In fact, one of his father’s favorite players was Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas (the other: Mickey Mantle).

“I understand the significance of Unitas,” Manning said. “I still feel that connection to Colts history.”

Not long after being drafted by Indianapolis, Manning met Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who was then playing at right-down-the-road Purdue.

“He came to see a Colts game,” said Manning, who then quickly pointed out that Brees “paid for his ticket. everything was on the up-and-up,” apparently in case the NCAA was listening.

Manning didn’t get any offbeat questions, but that didn’t stop him from trying to add a little levity to the proceedings.

“No, I’m not superstitious,” he said. “I’m just a little ‘stitious. OK, that’s a bad joke. Eli gave me that one. I take it back.”

Later, when another reporter broached the same subject, Manning was more revealing. He doesn’t carry around a rabbit’s foot, but he does have a routine he goes through before every game. When he first gets to the stadium, he reads the game program from front to back. Then, exactly two hours before kickoff, he goes out to the field to throw a few balls with receiver Reggie Wayne.

Manning shied away from any questions that might have turned controversial.

For instance, when asked about Lane Kiffin bolting from Manning’s alma mater, Tennessee, to take the coaching job at USC, the quarterback replied, “I’m looking forward when it comes to the situation in Knoxville. I just want to wish the best to coach Dooley,” referring to Kiffin’s successor Derek Dooley.

On other subjects, Manning said:

— He misses former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, who was slain last summer by his mistress in what was ruled a murder-suicide. “There was no tougher player in the NFL than Steve McNair. I’m really proud to have shared the MVP award with him in 2003.”

— The Colts will try to establish their ground game Sunday, even though they ranked last in the NFL in rushing yards during the regular season. “I don’t think you can just drop back and pass on every single play.”

— He believes the league is sincere in its efforts to deal with concussions. “I appreciate what the NFL is trying to do. The game is about being tough, but it’s about being smart as well.”

— The Florida quarterback who’s getting mixed reviews from NFL scouts will do better in the pros than many are expecting. “Any NFL team would be lucky to have Tim Tebow. I think about all the problems we’ve had on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1. He was probably 100 percent in his college career at converting those.”

— It’s too early for him to assess the impact of his career, even though he’s been in the league for a dozen seasons and is one win away from joining the elite group of quarterbacks who led teams to more than one Super Bowl title. “When my career is over, I’ll look back and reflect. But it’s so year-to-year right now.”

During his hour-long session, Manning took just under 80 questions and was often surrounded by up to 100 reporters, photographers and cameramen — all crammed into an area not much bigger than the hotel rooms most fans are staying in this week.

Not surprisingly, putting that many people into such a confined space can cause tensions to rise. Police had to be called to settle a dispute between two media members who jostled for prime real estate even before Manning arrived. But everyone came to an uneasy truce.

Unlikely trio of Colts star in media day show

MIAMI — Indianapolis’ three-ring circus had an attraction for everyone Tuesday.

In front of Peyton Manning’s riser, security officials were called to break up an argument among reporters — before the league’s four-time MVP even arrived.

Receiver Pierre Garcon took the podium wearing a bandanna imprinted with the Haitian flag, and when Dwight Freeney walked to his spot, he joked about having a larger audience than Manning.

“I don’t know how Peyton feels,” Freeney said, drawing laughter.

The All-Pro defensive end finally cleared things up about his sprained right ankle.

Yes, he has a torn ligament, contrary to what the Colts had been saying. Yes, he has been getting treatment in South Florida since Friday. Yes, he has been waking up in pain, and, yes, he still hopes to play against new Orleans.

It sounded remarkably similar to the comments Freeney made in September after being diagnosed with a strained right quadriceps, an injury that reportedly was going to keep him out almost a month. Remarkably, Freeney didn’t miss a game and thrived in obvious passing situations that week against Seattle.

Could it happen again? The Colts wouldn’t be surprised.

“He’s been very consistent that way (healing quickly),” defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. “All you can say about that is that we have a game at 6 o’clock and we have to show up and play. We have to show up and play with whoever is there.”

Freeney said the attention on his ankle is “actually kind of crazy.”

“I try to stay away from all the TV stuff and focus, but I’ve got like 80 text messages telling me ‘You’re all over the TV about the ankle. are you going to be ready to play?’ I’m like, ‘Listen, I’m going to take it day by day, I don’t know.”’

While Freeney may be the biggest story of the week, Manning isn’t far behind.

He’s attempting to join the short list of quarterbacks with multiple Super Bowl victories, a list that includes John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady and Joe Montana. all Manning has to do is beat his hometown team, the one his father, Archie, played for.

For Manning, though, the questions are never just about the next game.

He was asked about Indy’s spring soap opera, when offensive coordinator Tom Moore and offensive line coach Howard Mudd announced their retirements then came back with new titles. He was asked which coach had the most influence on his development, what he learned from former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, about his superstitions and even the rain that forced media day inside.

“I understand they had to make the call weather-wise to move it in here,” Manning said. “I think all our players and, I am sure the Saints players, have our fingers crossed that the weather will be good on Sunday, no matter what happens during the week.”

Meantime, Garcon, who grew up and attended school in Palm Beach County but who has family in Haiti, has drawn national attention for his efforts to raise money for the earthquake-devastated country. He waved the Haitian flag after Indy beat Baltimore in the divisional round and draped it over the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the Colts rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat the Jets in the AFC title game.

On Tuesday, he showed up with the special bandanna to make another sales pitch for relief efforts in the stricken country, his parents’ homeland.

“I think things are getting a little better now that they are starting over and trying to rebuild and pick up where things left off,” Garcon said. “I’m trying to play for them and for the people of Indianapolis and win the game for all of them.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Saints linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Stanley Arnoux, who, like Garcon, have relatives in Haiti.

Vilma is selling T-shirts with the phrase “Department of Domeland Defense.”

“Everything about the shirt was something that I felt like we needed, and it really helped with everything going to the Haiti relief effort,” Vilma said. “That really was a huge plus for me, because I can’t really do anything else besides that at the moment.”

Injured Freeney still hopes to play in Super Bowl

MIAMI — Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney still hopes to play in the Super Bowl despite a torn ligament in his right ankle.

“Hopefully, towards the end of the week it starts to get better,” Freeney said at Tuesday’s media day. “The decision will come later on in the week. It’s kind of early now.”

An All-Pro player, Freeney wore a pair of flip-flops to the morning session. his injured ankle was unwrapped.

“Very discouraging” was how he described his inability to practice for Sunday’s NFL title game against the new Orleans Saints.

“The competitor in me says they’ll never stop me from being on the field,” he said with a laugh before adding: “There’s some pain there definitely, with throwing everything at it, all types of techniques, to find the best thing to get this thing as good as possible. you name it, I’ve probably done it.”

Freeney injured the ankle in the AFC championship game against the new York Jets and said the chances of working out later this week weren’t good.

He’s the only starter on either team who might miss the game because of injury.

Freeney said he’s enlisted the help of chiropractors, slept in an oxygen chamber, used ice, regular therapy and anything else team doctors prescribed, to try to get the ankle to heal.

Despite everything, his teammates still believe Freeney will be on the field Sunday.

Defensive lineman Raheem Brock, who would replace Freeney in the lineup, took it a step further.

“I think he’ll be back and playing third downs. and I think he’ll be effective, until I see something different,” Brock said.

Freeney, the former league sacks champ, led the Colts with 13 1/2 sacks and is considered the team’s defensive leader.

Irsay hopes to extend Manning’s deal after season

MIAMI — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay hopes to sign Peyton Manning to a contract extension when the season ends, a move that could make the four-time MVP the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history.

Manning’s contract is set to expire after the 2010 season, but Irsay doesn’t want to wait.

“With one year to go, even having the franchise tag and all that sort of thing, we’d like to get something done, sooner than later,” Irsay said. “So once the season ends, we’re going to be talking about that and hopefully getting something done before next season begins. It’s something that’s going to get done, so honestly, those aren’t the ones you worry about.”

First order of business for Manning and the Colts: trying to beat new Orleans on Sunday for their second Super Bowl title in four years.

A new deal could keep Manning in Indianapolis for the rest of his career, something Irsay would like to do.

The 34-year-old Manning has won a record number of MVPs, one Super Bowl MVP and is one of four quarterbacks to throw for more than 50,000 yards. He is third all-time in career TD passes with 366, trailing only Brett Favre (497) and Dan Marino (420).

He has started 209 consecutive games including the playoffs.

Manning signed a $98 million deal in 2004. his brother, Eli, has since signed a six-year, $97 million contract, giving him a higher per-year average than his brother. Irsay said it’s likely Manning will regain the status he once held as the league’s highest-paid quarterback.

“I really don’t see that having a bearing on that. I really don’t,” Irsay said. “Ideally, you know, if it’s possible, I’d like to get something done.”

New Orleans Saints

Bush a star and disappointment at same time

MIAMI — Reggie Bush can make the spectacular look routine.

And he can make the routine look too hard to handle.

Since the new Orleans Saints made the dynamic running back from Southern California the second overall pick in the 2006 draft, Bush has been a revelation and a disappointment. at times, he resembles the breathtaking game-breaker who won the Heisman Trophy in 2005. Then he morphs into a fumbling, pass-dropping, injury-ravaged nonentity — a third-stringer with little impact in the NFL’s most potent offense.

Unquestionably, the Saints need him to display every one of his award-winning talents and none of his weaknesses in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts.

“I haven’t lived up to the expectations I set for myself,” Bush admitted Tuesday while seated on a podium at media day, surrounded by dozens of reporters. “Before I got to the NFL, I thought it would be the Super Bowl every year, make the Pro Bowl every year. you discover it’s hard. It’s hard to get to the Super Bowl. I’ve been in the league four years and just got here. There’s a lot of great players who never get to the Super Bowl.

“I haven’t lived up to the expectations I set for myself,” he repeated, “but I know it will come.

“All I want to do is be the best player ever to play this game, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t feel that way,” Bush said. “If I didn’t feel that way when I step on the field, I’d be selling myself short.”

Some might argue Bush has come up far too short for the Saints. He hasn’t made the Pro Bowl or All-Pro team. He hasn’t approached 1,000 yards rushing in any season, and his career total of 1,940 yards is 66 fewer than second-year back Chris Johnson’s for the Titans in 2009.

He hasn’t beaten out Pierre Thomas, an undrafted free agent in 2007, for the starting job, but, worse, sometimes Bush is coach Sean Payton’s third choice to carry the ball. his second choice is another undrafted player, Mike Bell.

Then there is Bush’s inability to stay in the lineup. He’s missed 12 of 48 regular-season games with a variety of knee injuries.

Ah, but then there are glimpses of greatness.

Two of them came in the divisional round victory over Arizona: an 83-yard punt return and a 46-yard run, each for scores. On both, Bush’s burst past would-be tacklers was jaw-dropping.

Bush generally has lived up to his billing as a punt returner and is an important piece of Payton’s passing schemes — so much so that opponents must plan for him at all times, even to the point of making sure a cornerback covers him.

“They have really good backs, fast backs with Reggie Bush,” Colts linebacker Clint Session said. “We try not to get a lot of separation with a guy like him in the open field, so we’re probably playing him a little tighter than normal.

“We have to know the beast, as we call it. know the beast, respect his speed, and try to keep a close eye on him.”

The Colts have a practice squad player named Taj Smith who is quite elusive, but as Session notes, Smith is no beast. and no Bush.

“That’s a once-in-a-lifetime athlete that you’ll see,” Session said.

That’s what everyone expected to see when Bush landed in new Orleans four years ago. even members of the local archdiocese who often attend Saints games suggested Bush was destined to come to their city; after all, there was a St. Reginald of Orleans in France in the 13th century.

When the Houston Texans drafted defensive end Mario Williams with the first overall pick, the Saints never hesitated to select Bush, whose resume at USC included two national titles.

His rookie season was impressive, at times dazzling. He scored nine touchdowns, combined for 1,307 yards from scrimmage, and helped the Saints reach the NFC championship game for the first time since their inception in 1967.

He was healthy. He was productive. He was a budding superstar.

Since then, not so much.

Plagued by knee woes and inconsistency, Bush at times became an afterthought. The Saints didn’t make the playoffs in 2007 and ‘08, and Bush made more headlines for his relationship with celebrity model and pitchwoman Kim Kardashian and his role in potential recruiting violations at USC.

Left knee surgery at the end of 2008 and a long recuperation slowed Bush for early parts of the 2009 schedule. The brilliant Bush didn’t truly return until the Cardinals game last month.

“I’ve always been my biggest critic,” he said. “I’ve always set the highest goals for myself. I aspire to be the MVP of the league, of the Super Bowl, all the highest goals that I can set. Eventually it’s going to happen for me.”

Little-known “Big Neck” keeps Brees safe

MIAMI — Jermon Bushrod wasn’t blind to the daunting responsibility the new Orleans Saints gave him when they lost the services of former All-Pro left tackle Jammal Brown to a preseason injury.

Bushrod hadn’t played a single regular-season snap on the offensive line during his first two seasons as a pro. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the 2007 second-day draft choice out of Towson was expected to protect quarterback Drew Brees’ blind side.

“I was kind of unsure how everything was going to turn out,” Bushrod recalled Tuesday. “It’s my first opportunity in this league. A lot of people say it’s like my rookie year.”

No one in new Orleans is complaining about how Bushrod handled his first year — not with the Saints in the first Super Bowl in the club’s 43-year history.

“My hat’s off to Jermon Bushrod,” Saints running back Pierre Thomas said. “The things he’s been doing and the guys he’s been going against. I mean, he’s been holding it down.

“I’m surprised he wasn’t in the Pro Bowl, honestly. For a first-year (starter), you’re doing the things you’re doing protecting Drew Brees, and now you’ve protected him long enough you’re in the Super Bowl. He stepped up for this team a whole lot.”

For the last couple decades, NFL teams have invested high draft picks and a lot of money in left tackles, who have to be both big enough and quick enough on their feet to stop some of the most fearsome pass rushers in the NFL.

Brown was a first-round choice — 13th overall — in 2005 out of Oklahoma. The popular Sandra Bullock film, “The Blind Side,” recounts the story of Michael Oher, the Baltimore Ravens’ first-round choice last year.

Bushrod played in a low-profile college program and hadn’t even been heard of by members of his own family. of course, that’s changed in the past five months.

“I have a lot more cousins and all that good stuff. It’s a great opportunity just to meet all the family that I didn’t know I had,” Bushrod said, stressing that he was not in fact joking.

He said numerous distant relatives have contacted him on his Facebook page on the Internet, congratulating him on his success and wishing him well.

“I don’t really get aggravated by it. I kind of enjoy that,” he said. “Coming from a small town, I’m not used to this whole situation. It’s all a blessing to me.”

Few college scouts came to see Bushrod play in high school in the small town of King George, Va. Towson was one of the few choices he had for college.

He thrived there and was picked as an All-Atlantic 10 in 2006. The Saints used a fourth-round draft choice on him in 2007. it was second year in a row new Orleans had drafted a lineman from a relatively small college program. Jahri Evans, a 2009 All-Pro, came out of Division II Bloomsburg in 2006.

Bushrod’s playing time in his first two seasons was limited to a couple games on special teams

This season, he helped anchor one of the top offensive lines in the NFL. Brees was sacked only 20 times in the 15 games he played.

Colts left tackle Charlie Johnson said that although Bushrod didn’t play during his first couple years, it’s important to consider he was behind a former All-Pro.

“He’s been in the system for a couple years. They see him in practice every day. They see him work. obviously they wouldn’t have kept him around for a couple years if he couldn’t play,” Johnson said. “You only dress so many linemen. You’ve got to have two or three guys that you believe in that can play. from what I’ve seen, he’s an athletic guy who’s doing a great job.”

In the NFC title game against Minnesota, Bushrod kept conference sack-leader Jared Allen from bringing down Brees. if All-Pro Dwight Freeney’s right ankle has healed enough for him to play on Sunday, then that’s who Bushrod will have to block.

At 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds, the man teammates call “Big Neck” eagerly awaits the challenge.

“He’s one of the most athletic offensive linemen we have. He’s got some of the best feet on the whole team,” said left guard Carl Nicks, who coined Bushrod’s nickname. “He hasn’t got his name out there yet because this is his first year starting, but in two or three years everybody will know who he is.”

Elsewhere

Notebook: who (seen) Dat? A fleur-de-lis at the Super Bowl

MIAMI — Jonathan Goodwin couldn’t take his eyes off the scene.

From his seat, about 35 rows from the field where his new Orleans Saints will play Indianapolis on Sunday night in the Super Bowl, Goodwin was mesmerized by what 14 workers down on the turf were doing.

Spray guns in hand, they were painting the golden trim on his team’s logo, the famed fleur-de-lis, in the corner of an end zone.

Who’d have ever thought that was going to happen?

“It’s … it’s … I’m just happy for the city and happy for the whole organization,” the Saints’ center said Tuesday at Super Bowl media day, needing a moment to find exactly the right words and still with both eyes locked on the paint crew. “It’s amazing how the fans are. They’ve really bonded with the team and I’ve never had so many people tell me that us winning games touches their lives.”

He’s a big, strong man, and a Pro Bowler this season.

But there was no mistaking that he was moved emotionally by it all, either.

Media day is always packed and often silly, and having it indoors for the first time may have added another layer to the spectacle. The sessions for each team were shifted because of Monday’s rain and the threat of more wet weather.

As a result, most players from the Saints and Colts were set up on the club level of the Miami Dolphins’ home stadium, while a few commandeered spots in the stands for their interview sessions.

Goodwin said he thrilled to get one of the outdoor spots, especially on a sunny day. He was taking in all the sights for the full allotted hour.

“After today, we have to get our mind back and treat this like a normal week,” Goodwin said. “There’s definitely a lot going on, but we’re here to win the game. We’re not here to celebrate.”

Maybe it was a coincidence, but when the painters were gone and the fleur-de-lis was complete, Goodwin quickly departed as well.

NOT-SO-SUPER SINGERS

Indianapolis guard Jaimie Thomas left with a shiny trophy on Tuesday.

No, not the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

A practice squad player, Thomas won the “Entertainment Tonight” Super Bowl Idol contest at media day, after singing better than any of his teammates who dared to try it on-camera.

Which, apparently, wasn’t much of a challenge.

It was one of the many off-the-wall things tried during media day, which has seen more than its share of zany antics over the years. Players interviewed each other in some cases, just about everyone had a video camera

“It was fun and I didn’t want to subject myself to a bunch of horrible questions about first-down plays or defensive blitzes and stuff like that,” said Kevin Frazier, an “Entertainment Tonight” host. “Look. It’s Tuesday. The game is Sunday. We’ve been analyzing it now for a week and three days. enough already. Let’s stop and have some fun and that’s the beauty of today.”

The show asked former “American Idol” contestant Kimberly Caldwell to judge which player could perform the best. she picked Thomas from the Colts and Tyler Lorenzen of the Saints as the winners, then gave the overall nod to Lorenzen.

“He was the best of the day,” Caldwell said.

About five Saints players and four from the Colts participated in the contest. at first, players were shy but more came forward.

YOUNG REPORTER

Media day reporter Damon Weaver has already interviewed President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with other megastars such as Oprah Winfrey, Dwyane Wade, Samuel L. Jackson and Larry King.

Quite a lineup for any journalist. He’s 11.

Weaver is a star-in-making at Canal Point Elementary in Palm Beach County, about an hour north of the stadium where the Indianapolis Colts and new Orleans Saints will play in the Super Bowl.

“Every day is interesting because every day I have life,” said Weaver, a sixth grader who started on his “career” after a teacher came up with the idea to have Weaver interview Biden.

He got the interview.

“That’s when the magic happened,” said Weaver, who’s become a bit of a phenomenon since.

Ah, but even Weaver didn’t have enough magic for Peyton Manning.

The scrum around Manning’s seat at media day was worthy of professional wrestling, dozens and dozens of reporters and cameramen jostling for every inch, screaming out questions over one another with hopes that the NFL MVP would acknowledge and answer.

Weaver is little and quiet. not a good combination for media day success, but the kid wasn’t disappointed not to add Manning to his ledger.

“He had to go,” Weaver said.

BIENVENIDO, SUPER BOWL

Indianapolis receiver Austin Collie spent two years on a mission in Argentina before becoming a standout receiver at BYU, and of course, he picked up Spanish pretty well during his time around Buenos Aires.

In South Florida, where the Latin influence is everywhere, he got to show off those language skills.

Once Spanish-language reporters at Tuesday’s media day figured out that he was bilingual, Collie became an even bigger hit, speaking fluently with those outlets for several minutes — even though they had to prod him along a couple of times for the right word.

How often does he get to use Spanish in Indianapolis?

“Never,” Collie said.

Collie was off the football grid from January 2005 through January 2007, not knowing much of anything that was going on back home on the sports front.

Oddly, he came back to the U.S. just in time to see the Colts win the Super Bowl in Miami three years ago. and now, he’s with them.

“I missed seeing the 2005 and 2006 Super Bowls, but was back in time to see the Colts win over the Bears,” Collie said.

MEDIA DAY SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Longtime NFL linebacker Junior Seau was among the estimated 2,000 media members asking questions of the Saints and Colts on Tuesday. … The Saints’ Marques Colston talked around answering a question on who his favorite Kardashian sister is. Kim Kardashian is the longtime girlfriend of Saints’ running back Reggie Bush. … Colts TE Tom Santi, who is on injured reserve, attracted some attention Tuesday because the letters of his last name, when rearranged, spell “Saint.” Said Santi: “Yeah, I have heard that a lot today. A lot.” not so obvious is this factoid, however: Santi was born in new Orleans.

The prospect of Super Bowl overtime a scary one

MIAMI — Go ahead, try to make heads or tails of this scenario:

The Super Bowl is tied after four quarters. The captains from Indianapolis and new Orleans trudge wearily back to midfield, exactly where they stood four hours earlier to begin Sunday night’s game. A referee holds the silver coin, turns toward one side and says, “This is heads. This is tails. you make the call.”

Could it happen? Absolutely. Some might say it’s due to happen.

And if it does, the Saints and Colts agree that it could easily be the most harrowing moment of their football careers.

“This is the big boys’ game,” Indianapolis linebacker Clint Session said, “and that’s the rules.”

The rules of NFL overtime have been a hot topic for years, especially since college football adopted a plan to give both teams the ball 25 yards from the end zone and play an even number of possessions until someone wins.

In the NFL, the first team to score prevails, no matter what.

Hockey is sudden-death, but both teams have the same chance of getting the puck and scoring.

In basketball, an overtime is played to the end.

In baseball, there’s always the bottom of the extra inning.

In the NFL, it can come down to a flip. Picking the right way the coin lands doesn’t guarantee victory, but in the 15 overtime games this season, including playoffs, seven lasted only one possession (including Arizona’s win over Green Bay in the wild-card round, when the Cardinals won with a defensive touchdown).

“Hey, those are the rules,” new Orleans running back Reggie Bush said. “Can’t change them now.”

So far, there have been no overtimes in any of the 43 Super Bowls played so far.

“If it happens, yeah, that would be something,” new Orleans cornerback Jabari Greer said.

This season, roughly one in every 18 games has gone to overtime. Prior to last year’s Super Bowl, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell noted that the winner of the coin toss got the ball and scored on that first possession 47 percent of the time. He also said league owners would discuss changes to the existing OT rule. They did, briefly. no changes.

“It’s the most exciting, dramatic, true-to-the game overtime format,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. “It forces teams to do everything possible to win in regulation time. In overtime, the games ends with a score, which can occur at any time on offense, defense or special teams. and the players and coaches — the participants — have consistently supported the format as being fair.”

It can’t be a surprise that the Saints are loving the overtime scenario these days.

Tied with the Minnesota Vikings after 60 minutes of the NFC championship game, they could only stand by and watch as the Vikings’ Steve Hutchinson called the flip to decide who got the ball first in OT.

“Heads,” Hutchinson said, looking straight ahead, as Saints quarterback Drew Brees turned his gaze downward and put his hands on his hips.

The coin was in the air for 1.2 seconds.

“You know,” Bush said this week, “that might have been the slowest coin toss I’ve ever seen.”

It hit the Superdome turf, then flipped one last time. Tails.

“Very, very relieved,” Greer said. “Because then, I realized the offense had the chance to do something special. Fortunately, they were able to do it.”

Saints ball, and the rest was history. after 60 minutes, it came down to 1.2 seconds!

Brees and new Orleans took the kickoff and got deep into Minnesota territory. Garrett Hartley’s field goal was perfect and true. Just like that, the Aints weren’t Aints anymore. Brett Favre and the Vikings never even got a chance to touch the ball in the extra session.

“It’s almost like it took forever for that coin to come down,” Bush said. “You’re just watching it, praying, hoping that we won the toss. I was just prepared for whatever situation was going to come out of it, whether they were going to get the ball first, whatever happened. Take it for what it is.”

It has never played out that way in a Super Bowl, but the NFL championship in 1958 — the “Greatest Game ever Played” — needed more than four quarters to decide a winner.

Yankee Stadium. Dec. 28. The first overtime game in NFL history. new York Giants vs. Baltimore Colts.

“We really didn’t know what to do,” Raymond Berry, who caught 12 passes for 178 yards, told The associated Press in 2008 for a story commemorating the 50th anniversary of the game. “We’d never played it. Nobody had ever played it. Nobody really knew what came next.”

What came next is part of NFL — and Colts — lore.

The Giants won the toss, had to punt, and the Colts marched 80 yards for the win, capped by Alan Ameche’s 1-yard touchdown plunge for a 23-17 victory and the championship.

“You have to play the game that way,” Greer said. “The two best teams from that year, playing for a championship … if it happens that way, it happens.”

So forget run or pass. Heads or tails might be the biggest call the Saints or Colts ever make.

“If it happens, I’m just hoping that 18 gets another shot,” said Session, referring to Peyton Manning by his jersey number. “That’s all I’m hoping. You’ve seen what he’s done throughout the year and his career. Give him a second chance and I’ll feel confident. … and whether you like it or not, it’s a part of the game.”

Robots, bomb-sniffing dogs ready for Super Bowl

MIAMI — Several dozen bomb-sniffing dogs, robots that defuse explosives and police bomb squads are being deployed to protect the Super Bowl.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives showed reporters Tuesday how the dogs can detect even minute amounts of bomb compounds. Four dogs easily found a small amount of residue hidden in a closed car trunk.

Miami ATF chief Hugo Barrera says the dogs can smell 19,000 different bomb components. The ATF puts them through a 16-week training course before they’re ready for duty.

Some of the ATF dogs deployed for the Super Bowl are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Dogs from the Miami-Dade Police Department and Broward Sheriff’s Office also are on duty for Sunday’s game.

Four injured in stage collapse at Super Bowl site

MIAMI — Four people were injured when a small stage collapsed outside Sun Life Stadium, where the Super Bowl is being played this weekend.

A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue news release says all four victims were taken to area hospitals Tuesday night. Two were transported by helicopter and the others by ambulance. The injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The Indianapolis Colts and the new Orleans Saints are set to play Super Bowl XLIV at the stadium on Sunday.

A message seeking further comment from a fire department spokesman wasn’t immediately returned.