Super Bowl Pregame Capsules: Who Dat Nation: Super Saints become team America loves to cheer

MIAMI — Marshall Faulk ran as far as he could from the dead-end Desire Projects. He bolted the New Orleans streets to play college ball in San Diego, then blossomed into an NFL star with the Indianapolis Colts.

Forced to take sides in this Super Bowl, it was easy. Faulk rooted for his roots.

From President Barack Obama to a Queen, from Mr. Big to Miss America, the retired All-Pro had lots of company. For one game, the Saints were America’s Team — champions, too, after a 31-17 win over the Colts on Sunday night.

"We played for so much more than ourselves," quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees said.

That’s for sure, Faulk said.

"This is very important to the city," he said a few days ago. "For the last five, maybe 10 years, whether it’s Katrina, or the crime rate, the city’s always in a bad light. Now ... you’re getting to see some of the great things that we have to offer."

French Quarter hotels and restaurants filled up as Sunday’s game between the Colts and Saints approached, with fans streaming into Louisiana hoping to begin celebrating a week ahead of Mardi Gras.

Almost 4½ years after flooding from Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and nearly chased the Saints out of town for good, the club’s first Super Bowl win may well represent the city’s rebirth.

"You can’t put it into words," receiver Marques Colston said after the win. "This city and region have been through so much."

Even the Colts grasped the soulful connection between the Saints and their town.

"There’s a reason America is pulling for New Orleans, and why wouldn’t they? They’ve been through a lot," Indianapolis safety Antoine Bethea said recently. "Sports tends to pull people together, so it’s commendable for New Orleans to be, as I guess you’d say, America’s Team right now."

Who Dat! That’s the shortened version of the team’s rally cry: "Who dat, who dat, who dat say gonna beat dem Saints?"

Egged on by New Orleans players, Saints fans started that loud, familiar chant inside Sun Life Stadium an hour before kickoff. Adorned in black-and-gold beads, toting parasols in team colors and stirred by a brass band, they paraded outside. Clearly, they needed no prompting to start the party.

Long after the final whistle, Saints fans lingered inside, chanting and cheering. It was a win many of them thought they may never see. The franchise began playing in 1967, one year after the first Super Bowl, and had never reached the big game.

Perhaps the Saints’ biggest fan — literally — is the NBA’s Shaquille O’Neal, the 7-foot-plus Cleveland Cavaliers center who got his start at LSU.

"It’s good for the city, the economy and the organization. When I went to school, they had, like, a 99-year curse and hopefully that curse is over," O’Neal said. "They haven’t won it at all. They haven’t always had bad seasons but they’ve always had, like, one play — a missed field goal or a fumble or somebody getting hurt — and now this is their chance."

The Saints have managed only nine winning seasons in their 43-year history, with blooper tapes often replacing highlight reels. Try as they might, their fleur-de-lis logo often stood for losing.

But the emblem took on a different meaning this week in South Florida. It came to symbolize the Saints’ spiritual connection to New Orleans — and hope for a city that once had little.

The Superdome, which hosts the 2013 Super Bowl, was an even more tangible example of the town’s renaissance.

In the days after Katrina, the stadium became a place of last resort, with perhaps 30,000 helpless, homeless people trapped inside without plumbing or power. When the Saints beat Brett Favre and Minnesota in overtime for the NFC championship, the dome was packed again — this time with jubilant fans toasting their heroes.

Obama found himself drifting in their direction, even though the Colts were still five-point favorites.

"I do have a soft spot in my heart for New Orleans, mainly because of what the city’s gone through over these last several years and I just know how much that team means to them," he said during a pregame interview broadcast by CBS.

Made sense to Queen Latifah, who sang "America the Beautiful" before the game. She’s worked and lived in New Orleans.

"It would be kind of fun, it’d be almost a Cinderella story to see the Saints come through against someone who’s as strong and dominant and skillful as Peyton Manning and the Colts," she said.

Ah, Manning. He’s a four-time Most Valuable Player and was MVP of the Colts’ Super Bowl win three years ago. He’s also from New Orleans, where Brees is now the star quarterback.

"It’s a special place to me. My family lives there," Manning said. "What Drew, and really the entire Saints team have meant to that community has been extremely impressive. Being a fellow New Orleanian, I certainly appreciate it."

The Manning vs. Brees matchup attracted a lot of pregame attention. Comedian Chris Rock liked the Saints because of their QB.

"Just for a practical reason, not a sentimental one," Rock said. "Drew Brees has been as good as Peyton Manning the last two years."

New Orleans linebacker Scott Fujita left the Cowboys after the 2005 season and signed with the Saints seven months after Katrina.

"The Saints are America’s adopted team. There’s no question about it," he said. "When I chose to leave Dallas, everybody said, ‘Why would you leave Dallas? They’re America’s team.’

"Well, they were self-proclaimed America’s Team a couple decades ago, and they have really, really good, loyal fans, but the rest of the country hates them. I mean, let’s be honest," he said. "So New Orleans, yeah, you’ve got people all over the country who are pulling for us for so many reasons and really, really valid reasons."

Echoed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: "It’s a great success story for us, and while I can’t root for a team, I’m really proud of what happened there and I’m thrilled for the people of the Gulf Coast."

"I don’t think that can be stated enough," Saints safety Darren Sharper said. "It’s just a close tie between the city and the team. Everyone says, ‘Are you guys playing for the community? Are you guys playing for New Orleans?’ We think that we are."

For some fans, close to Super Bowl is good enough

MIAMI — Alvin Boseman didn’t have a ticket to the big game. Didn’t really care, either.

The longtime New Orleans Saints fan got together with nine of his family and friends, rented a $400-a-day RV and made the 14-hour haul to Miami — just so he could park his house on wheels in a friend’s driveway to watch the Super Bowl on a big-screen television.

Being close (about 8 1/2 miles away from Sun Life Stadium) was good enough when you’ve waited 43 years for your team to make it this far.

"They can feel us," said Ronald Higgins, who also came along for the ride. "We’re a spiritual team. They know we’re here."

There were some 75,000 people in the stands for the game between the Saints and the Indianapolis Colts, but some of the most passionate fans for both teams gladly settled for watching on TV somewhere in the vicinity of Sun Life Stadium.

Boseman is a Saints’ season-ticket holder, which gave him a shot at landing one of the limited number of Super Bowl tickets doled out to each team. But his name wasn’t picked in the lottery, so he began making other plans. Everyone chipped in $500 and the party was on. They rented the RV, hired a friend known as "Goody Woody" to take care of the driving duties, and stocked every cabinet and cupboard with all the necessities: mainly, plenty of food and plenty of alcohol.

They expected some 50 people to join them for Super Sunday and a menu that included gumbo, ribs, red beans, pork chops, chicken, turkey salad and a drink — or six. There was a Saints flag flying in the front yard, turning this little patch of South Florida into Miami Gras.

"I may never see this day again," Boseman said. "Tomorrow isn’t promised to you."

This group knew a thing or two about real life. The 65-year-old Boseman underwent open-heart surgery just six months ago (and he’ll gladly pull up his shirt to show you a scar running from just below his neck to just above his belly button).

Higgins just lost his father, who was buried Thursday after a long battle with cancer. A few hours after the funeral, he hopped in the RV and headed for Miami.

He feels like his father came along for the ride.

"I was telling him, ‘Pop, if you hang on another week, we’ll bring home the trophy,"’ said Higgins, sitting outside the RV wearing a black "Who Dat?" T-shirt. "He didn’t quite make it, but he’ll know."

The Colts also were represented on the outside. Arjun Ishwar, who recently moved from Indianapolis to California, watched the game with about six friends from a parking lot near the stadium. They hooked up a television in the trunk of their vehicle and brought along plenty of food and booze.

"This was kind of always the plan," the 24-year-old Ishwar said. "We just wanted to be here."

But why pay to sit in a parking lot when they could have stayed at home for free?

"It’s the Colts!" he shouted. "They’ve always been my team. Even when they were 1-15."

Then there were the fans who did get in. Michael Bell of New Orleans said he’s been a season-ticket holder since the Saints entered the NFL in 1967, After enduring so many losing seasons — after all, this team was once dubbed the "Aints" — he felt as though he had reached nirvana.

"We’re finally here," he said, wearing black-and-gold beads. "If we don’t win, the consolation prize: We go home to 10 days of Mardi Gras."

Added his wife, Aimee, "The party goes one whether we win or lose. We’re going to win ... (but) it’s OK if we don’t. We love our boys."

Back on the outside, Higgins’ personal loss was soothed by the Saints’ run to their first Super Bowl. He was right where he wanted to be — not in the stadium, but close enough.

"Win or lose, the party’s on," he said. "We love to party."

-- Paul Newberry

Super Bowl ads: Betty White, Bud Light, big laughs

NEW YORK — Betty White plays football, babies talk about "milkaholics" and a house made of Bud Light cans falls slowly apart.

It must be the Super Bowl — or at least the advertising showcase that entertains amid the gridiron action.

Not every commercial was strictly humorous. Automaker Toyota aired several ads before and after the game to reassure worried owners after its recalls connected with accelerator problems.

A hotly anticipated commercial by conservative Christian group Focus on the Family hinted at a serious subject, although even it had a surprise punchline.

Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother talk about her difficult pregnancy with him — implying an antiabortion message, because she had been advised to end the pregnancy for medical reasons. But the ad ended with Tebow tackling his mom and saying the family must be "tough."

Amid the the laughs Sunday night on CBS, advertisers such as Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola also put the focus on their products, Villanova marketing Professor Charles R. Taylor said. That marks a turn from ads that were heavy on entertainment but light on salesmanship.

Taylor said he had been disappointed for at least the past five Super Bowls in the effectiveness of ads in connecting with products. Advertisers pay dearly for the airtime — from $2.5 million to more than $3 million per 30 seconds — and marketers say ads work best when they sell the product, as well as entertain.

He cited a commercial by tiremaker Bridgestone featuring men carrying a whale in the back of their truck, and another by Dove launching its new men’s skin-care line. They were winners, he said, because they manage to entertain while telling people about the brands. The ad for Dove tells the story of boy growing into a man and the signal events in a man’s life.

"So far from what I’ve seen I’m quite positively impressed, more than I thought I would be," he said.

A first Super Bowl ad by Google — which rarely advertises on television — told an affecting story of a budding relationship through a series of Google searches, beginning with "study abroad" and "how to impress a French woman" and ending with "churches in Paris" and "how to assemble a crib."

That was one of the few strong ads this year, said Laura Ries, president of marketing consulting firm Ries & Ries outside Atlanta.

She figured people would most likely talk more about the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianpolis Colts — which was close until the waning minutes — rather than ads. Often, it’s the other way around.

"It’s very, very difficult to be entertaining in a place like the Super Bowl and have a connection to your brand," she said. "The home runs here are few and far between."

Other highlights included a series of ads by restaurant chain Denny’s that showed chickens nervous about all the eggs they’d have to lay when the company gives out free Grand Slam breakfasts again this year.

A top topic on Twitter was "green police" — the name of an ad by carmaker Audi pushing its new diesel-fueled vehicle the TDI.

Using word play on Cheap Trick’s "Dream Police" — "Green" police officers deal with people making questionable environmental decisions. A man is arrested for choosing a plastic bag at the grocery store, for example.

But not all ads were winners. Taylor said an ad by Boost Mobile, Sprint’s prepaid cellular phone service, didn’t work because it depended too heavily on the 1985 Chicago Bears’ "Super Bowl Shuffle," a reference that could be too old for the brand’s buyers.

An ad by Kia for its Sorento SUV will be remembered for its story of a whimsical joyride taken by children’s toys — but people won’t likely remember the brand behind the ad, Ries said.

Celebrities weren’t as plentiful as in some years. Notable sightings include Charles Barkley rapping for Taco Bell, Betty White and Abe Vigoda playing football for Mars’ Snickers brand and Beyonce for low-price television brand Vizio.

A promotion for CBS’ "Late Show with David Letterman" might be among the most talked about because its punchline was spoken by rival Jay Leno, whose show will again be squaring off with Letterman in March.

Letterman, sitting on a couch with Oprah Winfrey, says, "This is the worst Super Bowl party ever."

Leno replies that Letterman’s "just saying that because I’m here."

-- Emily Fredrix

Super Bowl TV spot brings Leno, Letterman together

NEW YORK — Super Bowl viewers were rubbing their eyes at the sight of a TV spot pairing CBS late-night host David Letterman with longtime NBC archrival Jay Leno, plus media magnate Oprah Winfrey.

Appearing early in the CBS-aired game Sunday, the ad depicted Letterman and Leno glumly sharing a couch watching the Super Bowl, with Winfrey seated between them trying to make peace.

Letterman grumbles, "This is the worst Super Bowl party ever."

"Now, Dave, be nice," Winfrey urges.

A disgruntled Leno replies that Letterman is only complaining "because I’m here."

In a whiny high voice, Dave mocks what Jay has just said. Oprah shakes her head and sighs. That’s it. The spot only lasts 15 seconds.

It revisited a promo from the 2007 Super Bowl with Letterman and Winfrey watching the big game. But with the surprise addition of Leno, the 2010 version addresses in compact form the talk-show turmoil at NBC, and the soon-to-be-rekindled competition between Letterman and Leno when he reclaims NBC’s "The Tonight Show" on March 1.

In the age of "Avatar," some viewers might have thought that getting Jay and Dave, plus the super-busy Oprah, together in the same frame was probably accomplished through sophisticated computer-graphic imagery.

But no, the spot was produced the old-fashioned way, according to Rob Burnett, executive producer of "Late Show with David Letterman." And it was put together quickly, and very hush-hush. According to Burnett, CBS offered "Late Show" a slot for a promo to air during the Super Bowl.

"Dave had this idea, ‘What about getting Jay and Oprah together with me?’ and he wrote it," Burnett explained by phone shortly after the spot had its single airing Sunday. (It is posted on the CBS Web site.)

"We said, ‘This is too funny to pass up.’ First we called Oprah." Then Leno was approached, and he, too, signed on. That was two weeks ago.

Arrangements had to be made to get the Los Angeles-based Leno and the Chicago-based Winfrey to New York for filming — and do it without word getting out.

"Security was a big priority for us," Burnett said. "We really wanted to keep this under wraps. There were a lot of internal logistical conversations about how to even get Jay and Oprah into our building secretly."

Filming took place last Tuesday at the Ed Sullivan Theatre, home of "Late Show." According to Burnett, Leno arrived in disguise: hooded sweatshirt, dark glasses and fake mustache. (Viewers might recall that, last Tuesday, NBC’s "The Biggest Loser" was extended by an hour, pre-empting Leno’s soon-to-end "Jay Leno Show" and enabling his round-trip dash to New York.)

Filming took less than a half-hour, Burnett said.

"It was quick, it was easy," he said. "The attitude was professional and cordial. Dave and Jay were fine with each other."

Maybe so. But that very funny, very startling promo has neatly paved the way for a late-night battle between rivals that will resume in just weeks.

-- Frazier Moore

Tebow Super Bowl ad: A hard hit and a soft sell

NEW YORK — Even the long-awaited Super Bowl ad from conservative group Focus on the Family came with a punchline — a hard hit and a soft sell.

The 30-second "Celebrate family, celebrate life" ad starring Heisman winner Tim Tebow ended with a surprise — Tim Tebow tackling his mother after she says she nearly lost him during her pregnancy. The pair jokes that they have to be "tough" with all the family has been through.

The commercial sparked debate before it was even broadcast, and some groups called for CBS not to air it. Planned Parenthood made an online video response to the Tebow ad with former NFL player Sean James and Olympic Gold medal winner Al Joyner. The two discuss the importance of women being able to make their own health decisions.

The ad is the first such advocacy ad to appear in television’s most-watched broadcast, which draws about 100 million viewers. It aired early in the first quarter. The subtle and humorous ad made some wonder what all the fuss was about.

The commercial, which shows just Tebow and his mother, Pam, against a white backdrop, does not contain an overt antiabortion message. Instead it sends people to Focus on the Family’s Web site, which tells more of the Tebows’ story and offers a more straightforward message.

The devout quarterback’s mother gave birth to him in the Philippines in 1987 after spurning a doctor’s advice to have an abortion for medical reasons.

"I can remember so many times when I almost lost him," Pam Tebow said in describing her pregnancy.

The ad was "very gentle", which was surprising considering how much talk it generated before it even aired, said Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He said the use of humor helped make the ad more accessible — and not off-putting to most people — although the ad’s message was hidden, which made it confusing to people who weren’t familiar with it.

"I think they took a very interesting strategy. It’s clearly an effort to steer away from controversy," he said. "I suspect the people they were going after understood the message, but ... for most people, I don’t think the ad really did a lot for them."

Because the ad was so subtle and had so much mystery to it, it will get people whose minds are not made up about the abortion debate to evaluate the group’s agenda, said Charles R. Taylor, professor of marketing at Villanova School of Business.

"To the extent that there are people that they can influence, this probably does a good job of driving them to the Web site and getting them to check it out. I think it’s much more effective than something more explicit would have been," he said.

The Women’s Media Center, which had objected to Focus on the Family advertising in the Super Bowl, said it was expecting a "benign" ad but not the humor. But the group’s president, Jehmu Greene, said the tackle showed an undercurrent of violence against women.

"I think they’re attempting to use humor as another tactic of hiding their message and fooling the American people," she said.

The ad didn’t draw much attention at the Underground Lounge in New York, where the game was on. Sarah Cashin, 39, a business manager, said she didn’t see why the ad was controversial.

"I didn’t find it offensive. I don’t quite understand why everyone was so up in arms about it," she said.

-- Emily Fredrix

Pete Townshend: Nice to be part of spectacle

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Pete Townshend is used to playing in front of stadiums filled with rabid fans who know every note of The Who’s songs. He didn’t get that at the band’s Super Bowl halftime performance, but he’s OK with that too.

Townshend and bandmate Roger Daltrey performed a medley of some of their most famous songs on entertainment’s biggest stage Sunday, including "Won’t Get Fooled Again" during a 12-minute set that included a laser-lit stage and plenty of fireworks.

While the crowd was involved, and some held up their cell phones to illuminate the night as instructed by the stadium announcers, they were somewhat subdued, and was clear it was not a Who event. Backstage after their show, Townshend laughed and said: "You know, you could kind of tell from the stage the crowd is really here for the game."

"It was nice for that reason. It was nice to feel a part of something and not having it all to be about us," he added. When it was mentioned that most rock stars want everything to revolve around them, he joked and said: "We’re too far gone to care I think."

It was the first football game Townshend and Daltrey, both Brits, ever saw (Daltrey went after his performance to watch the game, which the New Orleans Saints won over the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17). Townshend said he was awed by the spectacle, and the sheer work of putting together the event.

"It’s extraordinary," said Townshend. "You forget how big sport is and how every week it happens ... I’m not trying to be humble but we felt like a very small piece of a huge team."

The Super Bowl also saw the debut of a new remix of "My Generation" by will.i.am and Slash. It is available for sale on Amazon.com, will.i.am’s dipdive.com and the Who’s Web site, and proceeds will go to aid Haiti after the earthquake there. Townshend said he was impressed with the remix: "It’s actually very elegant, it’s not gangsta," he said of will.i.am’s rap on the song.

Townshend called his entire Super Bowl experience a success, despite protests by some children’s rights advocates about his presence in the Super Bowl. Townshend was arrested in 2003 in Britain as part of a child pornography sting but later cleared. He accessed a Web site containing child pornography but said it was for research for his own campaign against child porn. He was required to register as a sex offender, despite being cleared. Townshend said he has been a children’s advocate for years and was abused himself as a child.

He had to address the controversy at the Who’s Super Bowl news conference, and though he feels like the protests were "a bit of a cheap shot," he said it was "dealt with fairly elegantly in the press conference."

"I think if people don’t believe, they fall on that side of the line, there’s little I can do, but most people have been very kind, very understanding, and I know I did nothing wrong," he said.

-- Nekesa Mumbi Moody

Townshend, Daltrey are still The Who at Super Bowl

NEW YORK — Maybe 30 years ago, The Who would have been an explosive act for a Super Bowl halftime show. Or anywhere else.

At Sunday’s Super Bowl, The Who — led by what’s left of them from the original groundbreaking foursome a generation ago — did all that was expected under these circumstances. Filling the dozen minutes allotted them between two halves of football pageantry, the group pounded out nostalgia and spectacle — and five classic songs.

They’re not ready for Branson, Mo. The set began with "Pinball Wizard," which quickly led into a generous rendition of "Baba O’Riley." After "Who Are You," there was a brief musical nod to "See Me, Feel Me," then a big finish with "Won’t Get Fooled Again" — all songs released between 1969 and 1971, except for the last, in 1978.

Original drummer Keith Moon died in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle died in 2002, but The Who lives in the spirit of its two intrepid front men: guitarist-composer Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey.

The original Who were British lads who early on forged a timeless up-yours message to their seniors with the mantra "Hope I die before I get old." But that lyric wasn’t heard Sunday night, nor was their landmark song "My Generation." After all, Townshend and Daltrey are well into their 60s.

Their voices aren’t what they were, and it’s been a long time since the once-hyperkinetic axman Townshend did his balletic leaping and springing. During Sunday’s show he offered only a few trademark windmill guitar licks.

This is not to say these musicians, even in their advancing age, didn’t make a powerful impression. And, of course, the staging helped, with plenty of pyrotechnics, laser pinstripes slicing the Sun Life Stadium, and illuminated eruptions dousing the arena.

Despite its brevity, it was a big, warm, enjoyable show, and The Who looked right at home.

Maybe they should, since their Super Bowl miniconcert was being aired on CBS. Three of the five songs they played are heard every week as the themes for CBS’ trio of hit "CSI" crime dramas.

Hmm, was all this just an elaborate "CSI" plug?

-- Frazier Moore

Notebook: Holmes hoping the Super Bowl has no winner

MIAMI — One year ago, Santonio Holmes got his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Watching someone else take a turn with the NFL’s shiny silver chalice this season is a difficult reality for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ standout wide receiver.

As such, here was his Super Bowl pick: He wanted both the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints ... to lose.

"I kind of wish both teams would lose so that we could still be the Super Bowl champions, but we know that’s not going to happen," Holmes said. "But it’s great to see someone else get an opportunity for the biggest game on the biggest stage to help solidify a place in their career, in their history."

Holmes was in South Florida for part of Super Bowl week, attending some Reebok events and mingling with other NFL players. But by game time Sunday, he was long gone, saying he wanted to only watch on television instead.

"I am not playing," Holmes said, "so I will not be there in attendance."

For his actual pick, Holmes was noncommittal.

"I’ve got friends on both teams," Holmes said.

That still didn’t mean he wanted any of those friends taking over for the Steelers as Super Bowl champions.

MORE FOR HAITI

If you like what Reggie Bush was wearing at Sunday’s Super Bowl, get to your computer and get your credit card out. You could buy it.

Bush plans to auction several of his game-worn Super Bowl items on eBay, with all proceeds going to Mercy Corps and their work aiding Haitians whose lives were devastated in the series of earthquakes there last month.

"The devastation in Haiti is stunning," Bush said, adding that he’s trying to "do my part to help the people of Haiti."

Bush has also teamed with Adidas to create a custom shoe, which will be available online through Feb. 11 for $105 and proceeds of which also will be given to Mercy Corps for additional Haitian relief.

SUPER EATS

New Orleans offensive lineman Carl Nicks is the heaviest player in this Super Bowl, tipping the scales at a listed 341 pounds. Imagine 12,000 of him.

That’s about 4 million pounds, or roughly how much fat the Calorie Control Council and Snack Food Association say gets consumed in potato chips alone during a typical Super Sunday.

The numbers they’ve come up with for what’ll be consumed by fans watching the Saints and Indianapolis Colts on television are colossal. By their math, Americans will eat 11.2 million pounds of potato chips, 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips, 4.3 million pounds of pretzels, 3.8 million pounds of popcorn and 2.5 million pounds of nuts.

Calories? Somewhere around 100 billion from those crunchy snacks alone. And to think, that doesn’t even include burgers, dogs, dips, guacamole or wings. Or beverages, for that matter.

MAN OF THE YEAR

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed Sunday that Brian Waters of the Kansas City Chiefs was this season’s winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Goodell made the announcement shortly before kickoff of the Super Bowl, flanked by Payton’s children, Brittany Payton and former University of Miami running back Jarrett Payton.

The Man of the Year award has been issued by the NFL since 1970, then re-named in Payton’s honor in 1999.

One player from each team is nominated for the award, which recognizes a player for his community service activities as well as his excellence on the field. A charitable donation of $25,000 will be made by the NFL in Waters’ name.

London Fletcher of the Washington Redskins and Mike Furrey of the Cleveland Browns were the other finalists.

BART STARR AWARD

Newly retired Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is still winning awards. He picked up the NFL’s Bart Starr Award this weekend, recognizing his leadership and work in the community.

Warner and his wife, Brenda, established the First Things First Foundation in 2001, working with sick children and single parents, plus sending care packages to military personnel serving overseas. The couple is also involved in other charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics.

Warner announced his retirement last month, ending a 12-year career. One year ago, he was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

"It’s not about the award or the hardware, but it’s about what it represents and the message that it sends," Warner said.

NFL players vote on the award, named after Starr, the Hall of Fame quarterback. This year’s other finalists were Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees — both of whom played, of course, in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

NORTH TEXAS GETS READY

At least 70 members of the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee, which gets its turn at the NFL title game on Feb. 6, 2011, spent parts of the past two weeks in South Florida taking notes on how Miami handles the big game.

Sunday’s was the 10th Super Bowl in South Florida. Next year’s will be the first in the Dallas area.

Members of the North Texas committee took notes at Media Day on Tuesday and other events, including media parties and things happening inside the media center. They also studied this Super Bowl (and the Pro Bowl the week before) from a logistical standpoint, trying to get details on everything from traffic control to security.

-- Tim Reynolds

Party Scene: Rihanna’s celebrates, BEPs party late

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Miami’s South Beach was swamped with celebrities during Super Bowl week. Whether they were hanging out on South Beach, mingling together at intimate parties or participating in some of the more high-profile celebrity events, they often times outshined the football players during the sport’s biggest showcase.

Here’s a look at some of the more notable things seen, heard and observed leading up to Sunday’s Super Bowl.

(MORE THAN) FASHIONABLY LATE

The Black Eyed Peas were more than tardy for the party.

The Grammy-winning band was the main attraction for Playboy’s Super Bowl bash, which started around 9 p.m. But many guests had already headed out the door by the time the Peas rolled into the event around 2 a.m.

They may have had a better excuse than most for being late: The quartet had performed earlier Saturday night at American Airlines arena for the second date of their "The E.N.D." tour.

Nearby, another men’s magazine — Maxim — was also holding court with stars like LL Cool J.

WEEK OF CELEBRATION

Rihanna had more to celebrate during Super Bowl week than most. The singer was still excited over her two Grammy wins a week ago.

"You never come down from that," said Rihanna, who won with Jay-Z and Kanye West for "Run This Town."

"When you remember it, you’re like, ‘Wow, I won a Grammy."’

Rihanna will switch from the music world to the literary world soon. She’s finishing a coffee table book that will be out this year.

"It’s like a look into my life, behind the scenes, what you don’t really get to see, but also fashion shots," she said.

BRODY BEING BRODY

Brody Jenner had some fun at a scantily clad woman’s expense on a windy afternoon in Miami Beach.

The TV personality was hanging with his buddies outside the swank Eden Roc hotel when they observed a very tan, short brunette wearing a low-cut mini-dress waiting for a cab. She was desperately trying to keep her dress down in the wind and not show what little was left uncovered.

As she did, Jenner and his crew yelled out, "SNOOKI! SNOOKI! SNOOKI!" — because of the woman’s resemblance to the reality starlet from the MTV reality show "Jersey Shore." When her cab finally arrived, she stopped holding on to her dress, revealing her underwear — and Jenner and friends cheered.

HEIDI’S LONG RECOVERY

Holly Montag says it’s been tough for her sister Heidi to deal with all the critics of her massive plastic surgery.

Heidi — famous for her role on "The Hills" — admitted to having 10 procedures in one day to create her ideal look, including breast implants, a lip job, liposuction and more.

"She’s being very strong and holding to her own morals and I’m very proud of her," said Holly, also on "The Hills," at Playboy’s party on Saturday. "She’s the strongest woman I know. She’s done a brilliant job."

Holly Montag also said her sister is still not adjusted to her new body.

"She was still just getting used to it and it’s a long recovery time. It’s several months," she said. "She’s being a trooper about the whole thing."

CELEBRATIONS AND HEADACHES

Kelly Rowland wasn’t one of the celebrities who popped into town for the Super Bowl. She lives in Miami, and like a lot of residents, was trying to grapple with the headaches that come with the world’s biggest game on your doorstep.

"I happened to come home during Super Bowl. I was like, ‘Why is there so much traffic?’ and everyone is like, ‘Super Bowl!"’ the singer said. "Nobody wants to drive. So I have to spend a lot of money for a car service."

Rowland — who shot to fame with Destiny’s Child — said she’s working on a new album with Akon, Ne-Yo and more.

PROUD MOTHER

Solange Knowles was a bit nervous when Rihanna and Jay-Z brought her young son Juelz on stage with them when they accepted their Grammy Award last Sunday.

"I was very surprised and very nervous when Rihanna put his mouth to the mic, because anything could have come out," she said Friday. "But I was very proud as a mom that he used his manners."

Knowles also downplayed her tweets on Grammy night where she seemed frustrated that despite sister Beyonce’s record-breaking six Grammy wins in one night for a female, much of the attention was going to Taylor Swift, who won album of the year.

"I wasn’t frustrated at all, I was just a proud sister. So, of course I wanted that to be celebrated. It was national history, it had never been done before and not only is it history, it’s black history, it’s music history. Anytime you break a record, I feel like it should be celebrated," she said.

Knowles, who was a DJ at Venus Williams’ Tide party, said she was just in town for the parties, not the game: "I’m just in a different zone right now, not in party football mode."

-- Nkesa Mumbi Moody

New Orleans Carnival parades are rolling tailgate

NEW ORLEANS — Dogs dressed in Saints jerseys and gaudy floats carrying masked riders provided a rolling pre-game tailgate party for thousands as New Orleans started partying long before the Super Bowl kicked off.

The game fell on the first big weekend of Carnival season parades, and most who came to watch the floats and marching bands wore the black and gold team colors of the Saints. They lined the streets while sidewalk vendors and downtown bards did a brisk business in corn dogs, nachos and beer.

David Frazier and Daphne Naro, of the San Francisco area, were among the parade goers along Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter. The game brought them back to New Orleans, Frazier’s home town.

"The Saints in the Super Bowl, man. That’s a once-in-forever thing," Frazier said.

He could have headed to Miami, but, "I got no connections in Miami. My connection’s here."

They predicted "pandemonium" would accompany a Saints victory over the Indianapolis Colts; and a good time for all even if they lose. "The Saints have been used to losing for so many years, as fans, we lose very well," Frazier said.

In the French Quarter, the afternoon celebrations began with the procession of the "Krewe of Barkus," a mini-parade for dogs. Dogs sporting black and gold feathers, beads, sequins and Saints jerseys marched with their owners through the Quarter.

One yellow labrador retriever walked the parade route past St. Louis Cathedral dressed like Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey, complete with stringy blond wig and fake tattoos running down his legs below the No. 88 jersey.

"He has a laid-back surfer personality, like Shockey," said Stas Zhuk, gesturing to 2-year-old Diego being walked by his wife. "He’s friendly to everyone."

They moved to New Orleans six months ago, "so we became intense rabid fans in a short amount of time," Zhuk said.

"It’s a beautiful day. The Saints are in the Super Bowl. We had to come out and celebrate," said Kathy Graffeo, who had her 5-year-old Beagle mix dressed in a black skirt with gold sequins in tow as she headed to the parade route.

Frazier said Sunday was a remarkable day for the storm-scarred city, where many neighborhoods are still battling to recover from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Saints were making their first appearance in the Super Bowl, a successful Carnival season was underway, and the city had united a day earlier to elect a new mayor, Mitch Landrieu, with 66 percent of the vote over 10 other candidates.

"There’s never been a day like this in New Orleans ever," said Frazier. "Ever."

-- Kevin McGill and Stacey Plaisance

Colts fans hoped to celebrate Super Bowl title

INDIANAPOLIS — Colts fans were fired up as the Super Bowl got under way Sunday, hoping to cheer their team to its second title in four years.

The atmosphere throughout Indianapolis was festive even before the Colts started playing the New Orleans Saints on Sunday evening. Bars, especially those downtown, were prepared for big crowds. Monument Circle, at the center of the city, was the hotspot for celebrating fans after the Colts beat the Chicago Bears in 2007.

Indianapolis fan Rick Destefano said he hoped the team members appreciated the opportunity.

"I hope they don’t take it for granted, since they’ve been there before."

Blue jerseys and shirts were the Sunday best for members of Circle City Church in northeast Indianapolis. Still, fans there said it wasn’t the same as before Indianapolis beat the Bears.

"That was exciting," Colts fan Arlindo Chimbanda said. "This year, it’s a different type of emotion. We feel a little bit more confident. We’re not the underdogs; we’re supposed to win. It’s still exciting."

Chimbanda felt fortunate to be cheering for his Colts in another Super Bowl, considering that coach Jim Caldwell replaced Tony Dungy and longtime star receiver Marvin Harrison no longer is with the team.

"Going into the season, no one thought the Colts could get this far with all the changes they made," he said.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning already has a championship and more than 50,000 yards passing. Colts fan Cord Hale said he thought another win could solidify Manning’s place in NFL annals.

"I really think I would like to see Peyton Manning go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time," Hale said. "Rings do matter when you look back in history."

But not everyone in Indianapolis was wearing blue. Many Purdue fans were pulling for the Saints because New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees attended the university that’s about 65 miles from downtown.

-- Cliff Brunt

Goodell: NFL would consider ban on 3-point stance

MIAMI — A ban on the three-point stance? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says it’s possible.

Concerned about concussions, Goodell said the league will keep looking for ways to make the game safer. Speaking on CBS’s "Face the Nation" hours before the Super Bowl, he didn’t rule out the idea of banning the three-point stance for linemen to reduce the ferocity of collisions at the line of scrimmage.

"As you’ll see tonight, you’ll see a lot of players that never get down in a three-point stance," Goodell said Sunday. "So it’s possible that would happen."

While science is still trying to determine the long-term effects of concussions, Goodell said, the league has made progress in increasing awareness about the severity of such injuries.

"For many years the culture had been quite different — that concussions weren’t serious injuries," he said. "I think we have changed that culture and made sure that people understand they are serious, and they can have serious consequences if they’re not treated properly."

Goodell has met with NFL competition committee co-chair Rich McKay to begin evaluating possible rules changes.

Another priority for Goodell is the league’s stalled labor negotiations. He predicted players’ salaries will still grow under a new agreement, even if their share of revenue is reduced as owners have proposed.

Goodell said the owners need more money to cover rising costs for international ventures and infrastructure projects such as new stadiums.

"You have to invest in these stadiums that we’re in today," the commissioner said. "You need to find new ways of creating revenue, whether it’s international or otherwise. And that takes investment. And we need to make sure that the owners have the capital to be able to do that. And then the pie grows, and everyone benefits."

The union has said management wants players to reduce their share to 41 percent of applied revenues from about 59 percent. Goodell counters that of the $3.6 billion in incremental revenues since 2006, players received $2.6 billion.

"We want to structure something that really is going to lead us into the next decade in a way that’s constructive, so the players benefit, the teams benefit, and most of all, the game," Goodell said.

The league’s current labor contract expires in March 2011. NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said Thursday the chance of a lockout next year is "14" on a scale of 1 to 10.

"I don’t agree with that," Goodell said. "The owners don’t win by having a lockout. Shutting down your business is not good for anybody. And it’s certainly not good for the players. It’s certainly not good for the fans."

Wyclef keeps Haiti in his heart amid Super Bowl

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The contrasts are stark: As Haiti grapples with chaos, death and despair after last month’s earthquake, the world’s most famous VIPs party in luxurious fashion in preparation for a football game.

Wyclef Jean — who has been an advocate for his native Haiti since the disaster — was in Miami for those celebrations this week, and understands that the festivities won’t stop because of Haiti’s pain. But he said he’s partying with a purpose.

"(The) Super Bowl is Super Bowl. Super Bowl in Miami is one of the greatest Super Bowls," Jean said Saturday, a few hours before his performance at Eden Roc as part of 944’s weeklong Super Bowl bash.

"But something I love about Miami is like, they know how to party hard," he added. "But at the same time, what was incredible to me was, somewhere in people’s head it’s like, ‘But let’s not forget Haiti’ at the same time, which is incredible."

Indeed, stars have spoken out about Haiti during this week of decadence and raised funds for relief aid. On Friday night, Jean joined top celebrities like Diddy, Queen Latifah, Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige and former President Bill Clinton in Miami for the BET "SOS Saving Ourselves — Help for Haiti" telethon and concert.

Jean — who also was part of last month’s "Hope For Haiti Now" telethon that raised more than $60 million — said Friday’s event was key because it was "more geared to the youth."

"It makes the Haiti situation a little hipper in the sense of, when you have Trey Songz wearing a ‘Yele Haiti’ T-shirt, then his fans think, ‘We can’t forget Haiti,’ or Justin Bieber," he said.

Yele Haiti is Jean’s charity, which became the center of a firestorm after the quake when financial irregularities were uncovered. Since then, Yele has gotten a new accounting firm, and Jean says the company plans to introduce a new board in a couple of weeks.

"We’ve learned from the mistakes and we’re moving forward. It’s all about organization," Jean said. "I think moving forward, we will be one of the greatest NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to come out of Haiti because of the fact that we’re Haitian and we implement on the ground, and we know our people on the ground."

While Jean helps rebuild his home country — a task he believes will take 25 years — he’s also still focused on his music.

"When you have drama, that’s when you have the best music," he said, laughing. "That album’s almost finished. I think that will probably be the best Wyclef album, because that’s a lot to write about."

-- Nekesa Mumbi Moody

Daughtry brings Saints, Colts fans together

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — They are on opposing sides, but Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints fans found something to bond over at the Super Bowl on Sunday — a Daughtry concert.

Black and gold mixed with Colts blue as the rockers performed before the game. Lead singer Chris Daughtry joked that he was able to bring together a rowdy group. He said: "There was a lot of segregation ... a lot of fights getting ready to break out."

Guitarist Josh Steely interjected: "He eased that crowd though."

While The Who is the main entertainment for the Super Bowl, performing at the halftime show, and Carrie Underwood and Queen Latifah are singing the national anthem and "America the Beautiful" before kickoff respectively, there was still other entertainment at the game. Besides Daughtry, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Winwood performed.

Chris Daughtry said the biggest challenge for the band, who performed several songs including the hit "Home," was not winning over a crowd more interested in football than music, but getting themselves hyped up so early in the day.

"We’re used to nighttime shows. ... but you just have to roll with it and pretend it’s nighttime," he said.

While most of the band said they were rooting for the Saints, they still gave Colts fans some love. Chris Daughtry high-fived with a crowd of mostly Colts fans hanging out at a fence behind the stage, and later, he threw out guitar picks for the crowd.

The band kicks of a U.S. tour next month.

-- Nkesa Mumbi Moody

Who Dat? Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and Demi, Dat Who

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The cry of "Who Dat" wasn’t all about the New Orleans Saints at the Super Bowl — it was also said by onlookers as cameras flashed at the sight of A-list celebrities at the big game, including Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise with kids in tow.

Sometime New Orleans resident Pitt was escorted into the game on a golf cart with security moments before it began. The bearded Pitt was with son Maddox and shouted out his allegiance to "Who Dat" nation before the Saints big win over the Colts. By contrast, Cruise just went into the stadium like other ticket holders, up an escalator with daughter Suri in his arms.

Demi More and Ashton Kutcher didn’t have security, but may have wished they had opted for some after cameras chased them into the stadium. Later, they huddled together on the sidelines before kickoff, avoiding the cameras — even though they were inches from their face.

Other celebrity sightings included John Travolta, who was seen leaving before the Saints made their game-winning comeback. Before the game, LL Cool J declared himself on the side of the team that ultimately lost, the Colts.

"I’m from New York: There’s a Manning connection," he said, referring to Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning’s little brother, New York Giants quarterback Eli.

But he knew the potential repercussions of announcing his pick as soon as he said it.

"They’re gonna beat me up," he said of rabid Saints fans. "I feel like I’ve got five pounds of beads!"

Gloria Estefan and husband Emilio, part owners of the Miami Dolphins, proclaimed they weren’t there to root for anybody in particular — they were just proud the Super Bowl was back in their town.

-- Nekesa Mumbi Moody

Ex-NFL star Sapp released from Fla. jail on bond

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Former NFL star Warren Sapp was released from jail Sunday on $1,500 bond, a day after being arrested for allegedly choking a woman in his hotel room.

Sapp was released at about 11 a.m. Sunday — a time the NFL Network analyst would have been helping with Super Bowl coverage. The network has pulled Sapp off the air until it investigates the matter.

Police arrested Sapp on Saturday on one charge of misdemeanor domestic battery. An arrest affidavit says the incident happened around 5 a.m. Saturday in the former defensive tackle’s hotel room at the Shore Club on Miami Beach.

Sapp’s attorney said the former player is taking the matter seriously and will cooperate with authorities.

"He sincerely apologizes to the NFL family and fans for taking away any distraction from today’s big game," Christopher Lyons said. "We ask that everyone reserve judgment on the matter until all the facts come out in a court of law."

The woman said she had been dating Sapp about two years. She told officers the two were partying with a large group of friends when she got tired and went to lay down.

Sapp entered hours later, pulled her out of bed and tried to get her out of the room, according to the complaint. The complaint says he yelled at the woman about men she had been hanging out with and men listed in her cell phone.

The woman told police Sapp choked her, threw her down on a couch, then picked her up by her shirt and neck and threw her down again — injuring her leg.

The victim had a swollen knee and bruises on her neck, the affidavit says. She was taken to the hospital.

Sapp told investigators he let the woman stay in his room but asked her to leave a few hours later because he was expecting company. He told police the woman fell on her leg when he tried to help her get off a couch.

Sapp played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during a 13-year NFL career. He also was once a contestant on ABC’s "Dancing with the Stars."

Freeney creating problems for Saints line

MIAMI — Indianapolis’ Dwight Freeney is having an impact in the Super Bowl, sacking Drew Brees early in the second quarter. The Colts defensive end doesn’t seem to be having any problems with his injured right ankle.

Freeney’s sack forced the Saints into kicking a 46-yard field goal. The All-Pro defensive end played almost every play in the first quarter, and twice got close to Brees before finally getting to him.

Freeney had been listed as questionable after tearing a ligament in his right ankle late in the AFC championship game, but the injury didn’t keep him out of the game — or out of the Saints backfield. He worked out on the field less than two hours before kickoff at Sun Life Stadium and repeatedly overpowered the Saints offensive linemen.

Obama adviser confident in Super Bowl security

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s counterterrorism adviser says he’s not aware of any credible terrorist threats against the Super Bowl.

John Brennan says officials are "very comfortable" with the security measures in place for Sunday night’s game in Miami between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts.

Fans aren’t going to be allowed to bring large bags into the Super Bowl stadium. Also, there will be 100 magnetometers — like those in use at airports — to detect metal objects. Other measures include radiological, biological and chemical weapon detection and protection devices. And nearly everyone entering the stadium will be subjected to a pat-down search.

Brennan spoke on NBC’s "Meet the Press."

Obama predicts Colts victory in Super Bowl

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the Indianapolis Colts "have to be favored" in the Super Bowl, even though he has a "soft spot" for the New Orleans Saints.

Obama’s Super Bowl prediction was based on his opinion that the Colts have "perhaps the best quarterback in history."

"Peyton Manning is unbelievable," the president told CBS’ Katie Couric during a live pre-game interview. Still, Obama says he has a soft spot for New Orleans, "mainly because of what the city has gone through over these last several years" since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

Obama says he may be biased against the Colts, since they beat his hometown Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl in 2007.