In case you missed it, New Orleans is elated its Saints are in the Super Bowl. And if they beat the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the city will celebrate like never before.

That notion was confirmed again and again during the Saints' session at Super Bowl media day, which didn't have as much flair as previous years, but still featured a horde or reporters and attention seekers.

The annual event was indoors for once — rainy weather forced it to move inside Miami's Sun Life Stadium — where the Saints fielded question after question about their role in New Orleans and its fans.

Quarterback Drew Brees, the face of the franchise, summed it up:

"It means so much. I know season-ticket holders that have had tickets for 42 years. For so many of them just to have waited so long, and to have been through so many tough times in order to get to this point, and not only them but what people have gone through in New Orleans post-Katrina, it is so much more a game to us. It's a feeling that we have the opportunity to give them so much hope and lift their spirits and give them something they deserve."

Cornerback Jabari Greer says the city loves the team, win or lose. They received a standing ovation despite losing their first game of the season to the Cowboys in Week 15. "They just want us to go out and give everything we have for them, and we will do that on Sunday," he told ESPN.

But if the Saints win Sunday, it'll be more than a standing ovation. Executive vice president Rita LeBlanc, a New Orleans native thinks the ensuing celebration will be more like "Mass pandemonium for weeks," she told ESPN.

When the Colts players held court earlier, most of the attention focused on defensive end Dwight Freeney who was a little amazed to receive attention usually reserved for the team's star quarterback, Peyton Manning.

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"Yeah, I know. Now I know what Peyton feels like," the Indianapolis defensive end said, grinning.

Freeney, whose 13½ sacks was tied for third in the NFL this season, sprained his right ankle in the AFC title game against the Jets and missed all four practices last week. Freeney also came to the Miami area early, but not to show off his skills in the all-star game. He insists he'll play on Sunday against the Saints and shrugs off any talk of playing a "Kirk Gibson-like role" where he makes a dramatic late entrance and a huge contribution.

"I really hadn't thought about that. I literally just been dealing with this thing day to day," he said. "I really try to stay positive. That's really all I can do."

Even the Saints had to deal with Freeney questions. One of the first queries to New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees centered on the ankle. However, Brees isn't even thinking about a Freeney-less Super Bowl.

"We're planning on him playing," Brees said. "Anytime you play against a team like this in an atmosphere like this, you plan on everyone playing."

It won't be the last time the players are asked about the injured ankle, though it sounds as if Freeney's teammates are already tired of all the questions.

Colts linebacker Gary Brackett, according to an ESPN.com report, shook his head at another Freeney question: "How much do we talk about it? Other than today, not much. You guys are talking about it."

OK then. Let's move on.

The indoor setting helped thin the crowds a bit. Without an open field to spread out on, it was harder for reporters to move from player to player. Even the crowd around Freeney didn't last long, which is fine with the Colts. They're not a group known for cracking wise.

"It's not really a joking crowd," said receiver Reggie Wayne. "If anybody's gonna say anything, it's gonna be myself."

Or maybe Brackett, who had the early crack of the day.

"Reggie Bush in space? You can't simulate that. If you miss the tackle you have to have everybody running to the football to get your back," he told ESPN.

As for the Saints players, who began their media day session about two hours after the Colts, they had their share of inane questions.

Defensive end Will Smith was asked if he ever had been teased about having the same name as actor Will Smith. He wasn't having it. "I thought that got old a real long time ago".

Someone tried working in the Kardashians, who have their own reality TV show. It's nod to Bush, who dates Kim, one of the sisters. Not that any of it interested Saints receiver Marques Colston.

"Someone just asked me who my favorite Kardashian sister was. I wouldn't know how to answer that one," SI's Richard Deitsch reported.

Perhaps the game will be more entertaining.

Few Super Bowls have matched such explosive offenses; the Saints led the league with 510 points and the Colts scored 416. Each defense will have enough of a challenge without showers straight through the weekend. More wetness could make the footing treacherous, yet another advantage for the team with the ball.

More on: Media day  |  Super Bowl

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