INDIANAPOLIS — Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted his 2010 team to be the first to play in a Super Bowl in its home stadium, but that dream fell short.

Colts owner Jim Irsay likely had the same wish this season, but his team slumped to 2-14 without star QB Peyton Manning.

Next year, the city of New Orleans will host the NFL’s biggest event, Super Bowl XLVII. Saints OT Jermon Bushrod, appearing at the FedEx awards news conference Wednesday, was asked about what it would be like if the team played in the game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

“We always have the same dreams and aspirations of playing in this game,” Bushrod said. “It’s not about trying to put too much more added pressure on ourselves because New Orleans is so close to the Super Bowl. We have pressure week in and week out just to try to open up a hole or try to protect our quarterback.”

Although he doesn’t want to add any pressure to the Saints, Bushrod believes the atmosphere for a New Orleans home game in the Super Bowl would be “sweet.”

“I think the city would probably shut down after it’s all said and done because Mardi Gras is not too far around the corner. If that was to happen, it would be awesome,” Bushrod said. “We’ve got to fight to win these games because we’ve got people depending on us. We help put smiles on people’s faces. They’ve been through a lot, so it would be great.”

– Matt Florjancic, Special to NFL.com

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