FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — According to Sean Payton, the New Orleans Saints are right on schedule -- practice-wise -- for Sunday's Super Bowl XLIV matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
"We're on our normal schedule. There are a few little nuances just in regards to the bus logistics. You know, you set up shop in the hotel much like you would at training camp. You get your meetings established, you get your itinerary established and you try to stay in routine. Those are things that are important," Payton said Friday.
The Saints head coach added that he was hoping to keep his team relaxed this week and not to get too caught up in the importance of this week's game.
"If you go back earlier in the year, this term 'big game' was used. In week four against the (New York) Giants it was a 'big game' and then week seven or eight another 'big game' and then another one on Monday night against Atlanta. Then there's another 'big game' against the (New England) Patriots. So you get used to that idea that we're in a big game. If you continue to play well, we're going to be in more games that are certainly bigger than this one, and obviously this is the last game," Payton said.
"This is the championship game and yet, that routine, that mindset as to preparation and going and playing, and keeping it just like we've done throughout the course of the year. Sure, there's going to be nerves and guys are going to be wound up, but we're going to manage that fine."
Payton and Peyton
After facing the likes of Kurt Warner and Brett Favre in their last two postseason games, will going up against Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning have much of an effect against the Saints' defense?
"He's a tremendous player. We've got a lot of respect for his accomplishments, just like we did with Kurt Warner, Hall of Fame player a couple weeks ago, and Brett Favre, another Hall of Fame player last week. We've had a stretch here, where each week these guys are special," the Saints coach said.
"(Manning's) done it -- we were talking about this at (Friday's) breakfast -- he's done it over time. His staying power and his consistency and his approach is unique. That's why it is talked about so much. We've got a lot of respect for his abilities and what they've done offensively there and coaches and preparation. It will be a tremendous challenge for us. We're going to have our work cut out for us with the way he's playing."รน
Payton the motivator
It doesn't take much to get New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees motivated before a regular-season game, much less the Super Bowl.
Still, Brees thinks his head coach does a pretty good job getting the Saints ready to play.
"Sean is awesome at that. He finds every little thing. Whatever it takes to motivate and inspire. However he can narrow the focus down to something that's very singular, saying 'This is what we need to do.' Or 'let's use this single factor as our motivation.' He's great at that," the former Purdue quarterback said.
Porter wants to win for city of New Orleans
Tracy Porter is an adopted Hoosier after spending his college career at Indiana University.
But when it comes to playing in the Super Bowl, the Port Allen, La., native is all about New Orleans.
"It is surreal because I'm playing for the hometown team. We're in the Super Bowl, and it's the first time in this organization's history that we've made it here. My days at IU helped prepare me," Porter said this week.
"Although we weren't known for much football at IU, we steadily improved every year I was there. Winning, guys on the back end, guys on defense, players in general just did a great job improving year by year."
He figures no matter what happens, his friends at Indiana could have the best of both worlds.
"At the end of the day, they're winning no matter what. If we win, they have two alumni, myself and Courtney (Roby), winning a ring. If it's the other way around, they have their Colts winning. Either way, we definitely want the trophy and the ring coming back to New Orleans," Porter said.
Colts
Saints Notebook: Payton not caught up in 'big game'
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