A few quick observations/concerns as we get ready for kickoff of Super Bowl XLV.

ARLINGTON, Texas – NFL.com’s Gil Brandt is here, attending his 43rd Super Bowl. That’s a lot of history, folks. Brandt’s notebook is always filled with nuggets about the game, so here’s a sampling:

Part of the Super Bowl coverage is knowing what type of spread President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and the 100 or so guests (a list that includes entertainers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony as well as various elected leaders) will be partaking in at the White House Super Bowl party.

Yup, that’s NFL.com’s own Dave Dameshek on the scene at Cowboys Stadium, wondering if he can get any closer to Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, who are being interviewed behind him.

Here’s a look back at the Super Bowl picks from some notable celebrities such as Fergie, Pamela Anderson, Sugar Ray Leonard and others.

The crowd at Cowboys Stadium is ready to cheer for anything. A Steelers player flashes on the big screen, huge ovation from the Steelers fans. And the same thing for the partisan Packers fan cheering anything Green Bay-related on the big board.

Michael Irvin sat down with Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger to talk about Pittsburgh’s road to Super Bowl XLV, his quarterbacking style and what it will take for him to be considered an elite quarterback. Part I of the interview is in the video above. Click here to watch Part II. On his third-and-19 play to win the divisional round against the Ravens: “I got in the huddle and said ‘Hey listen, I’m going to score, who’s coming with me? You guys want to come?’” On how often he has said that in the huddle: “I’ve only done it a few times. There’s something about (the moment) and you’ve got to go, so I told them and they all looked at [...]

Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward — the MVP of Super Bowl XL and one of eight Steelers who are vying for their third Super Bowl ring — does some stretching on the field at Cowboys Stadium, a little over two hours before kickoff.

The Packers announced that starting OLB Erik Walden has been deactivated for Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Steelers.

One of the best things about hanging out with NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt is that the man is universally beloved. Can’t tell you how many current and former players came up to give Brandt a hug when we were down on the field during pregame warmups.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney made an appearance on the field at Cowboys Stadium as his team was coming out for pregame warmups. He didn’t have a prediction for the game, but he was excited to get it started. Rooney said he didn’t plan to address his team before Super Bowl XLV kicks off. If he were to say something, he would have just two words. “Johnny Unitas used to say, ‘Let’s play,’” Rooney said. That’s all I’d tell them. Let’s play.”

Well, it appears that not all steel workers had to go into work today. Some plant is missing an eight-foot worker with a giant head.

Hall of Famer Rod Woodson greets former teammate and current Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene on the field at Cowboys Stadium.

NFL Network’s Michael Irvin sat down with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers to discuss his journey to Super Bowl XLV and how he has balanced the pressures and expectations that come with replacing a legendary quarterback on a legendary franchise.

NFL Films president Steve Sabol is in the box next to us here at Cowboys Stadium, and you can tell in this photo that he can really appreciate how his company’s football highlights look on the giant screen hanging from roof.