Cam Newton promised to be an icon and an entertainer before he was even officially the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Then, he went out and basically delivered on his vow with one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history.

But by the end of it, Camania was largely overshadowed. Why?

Tim Tebow. Tebowmania. Tebowing.

While Netwon was recognized with the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, he also probably would have been a front runner for the Under-hyped Award.

“In my mind, (he) was the greatest rookie quarterback to ever enter the league,” NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said on “NFL Total Access” on Wednesday. ”What he was able to accomplish in Carolina, very few people got a chance to really see him on any given Sunday outside of a couple of highlights, and most of those highlights were overshadowed by Tim Tebow.

“This guy was really indefensible by midway through the season.”

Most who study such things suggested Newton would have trouble translating his skill set to the NFL, much less succeed as a rookie. Almost indescribably, Newton sent shock waves through the NFL by passing for 854 yards in his first two games, putting everyone on notice.

Newton didn’t keep that pace but still went on break Peyton Manning’s single-season rookie record for passing yards with 4,051 yards and account for 35 total touchdowns, also a rookie record.

While Tebow was moving the masses off the field, he often struggled to move the Broncos on it, completing 46.5 percent of his passes for 1,729 yards and 12 touchdowns, much of the hype over Newton still faded.

There seems to be little else Newton could really do. Perhaps he simply needs better marketing of his “Superman” touchdown ditty. It didn’t quite catch on to the level of Tebowing.

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The debate over whether or not Giants QB Eli Manning has solidified his spot in the Hall of Fame with a second Super Bowl title has heated up thanks to comments made by NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner on Tuesday.

Well, we took it to the next level Wednesday on “NFL Total Access,” pitting Warner vs. NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi, who is in favor of Manning’s Hall of Fame candidacy on the basis of his two championships. Not so for Warner.

“I know as well as anybody that Super Bowls are often synonymous with quarterback careers,” Warner said. “But when I think of a Hall of Famer, I think of someone who is consistently great — not just at critical moments like Eli has been. … When I think of a Hall of Famer, I think of a guy that every time out is a great player, every season (he) displays greatness.”

Which Eli hasn’t, posting a career passer rating of 82. 1, completion percentage of 58.4, and throwing at least 16 interceptions in five of his eight seasons.

For Lombardi, though, the standard of mediocrity (or worse) in the regular season but coming up big in clutch situations has already been set.

“When you look at Eli’s seasons,” Lombardi said, “and you see that he’s won two championships, and then you go graze into the Hall of Fame and see some of the name’s that are in there … Let’s take Joe Namath: Certainly worthy of the Hall of Fame, but his quarterback rating for his career was 65. He threw 220 interceptions to 173 touchdown passes. It wasn’t a consistently great career for Joe, but he did, on the biggest stage, make the biggest plays. And I think that’s where Eli is.”

Kind of makes you wonder if Namath even belongs, doesn’t it? But if he’s in, then yeah, maybe Eli is a lock, after all.

In the public view, Super Bowl XLVI was defined by the plays that weren’t made – fumbles the Patriots didn’t recover, a ball Wes Welker didn’t catch, a few throws Tom Brady didn’t make.

But when you pop in the coaching tape, you see there are even more aspects of the game where the Giants excelled, earning them a win in a well-contested championship game.

Here are a few key factors that brought New York its second Super Bowl in five years:

A patchwork offensive line made of steel thread

The Giants offensive line sprung a few leaks when Will Beatty went down in the regular season, moving David Diehl from guard to left tackle and Kevin Boothe off the bench and into Diehl’s original spot.

Nevertheless, this group was able to spring the Giants’ running backs for 114 yards on 4.06 yards per carry, affording the Giants a semblance of balance on offense.

Boothe, combining with Diehl or center David Baas, was especially effective at the point of attack on double teams versus New England’s defensive tackles. He even managed to acquit himself in one-on-one matchups with Vince Wilfork.

A consistent push inside made life more difficult for the Patriots’ linebackers, too, who were already a step slow at diagnosing the Giants’ run schemes and filling their gaps. Add a fantastic effort from fullback Henry Hynoski and the Giants rolled to 4.79 yards per carry out of two-back sets versus the Patriots.  The G-Men were the only team to face New England in the playoffs and average four or more yards per carry on the ground.

While New York can’t count on this offensive line to pull them through the entire 2012 season – expect upgrades through the draft or free agency – it played its best game of the year during the most important one. 

Patriots in a blanket

You still had to be impressed by the cohesion and timing of the Patriots inside receivers with Brady in a losing effort.  They kept this offense moving in critical situations throughout the game.

But on the winner’s side, you have to be even more impressed by the work of the Giants secondary and its aggressive play.

By not dropping their safeties deep, the Giants dared Brady to throw the ball over the top – and, with no outside threats, the Patriots couldn’t do it. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was masterful at mixing his coverages on Brady, bracketing inside receivers with linebackers and defensive backs. Even defensive linemen were involved in walling off in-breaking pass routes.

Against the Patriots’ bunch and stacked formations — their bread and butter – the Giants communicated very well and passed off underneath receivers with ease. This forced Brady to hold the ball more than normal, making him uncomfortable at times.

While Brady had sufficient time to scan the field, his timing was thrown off by a group of corners who effectively jammed and re-routed his receivers. Antrel Rolle was asked to play a lot of press, man-to-man on Welker in the slot and definitely held his own, forcing Brady to look away from his favorite target at times.

Better in the end

After the Giants jumped out to a 9-0 lead, their first-down offense progressed as the game moved along.

In the first half, New York only gained 3.2 yards per carry on first down and 5.4 yards per pass. That hindered drives and allowed the Patriots to regain the lead.

But in the second half, the Giants upped their run average to 3.6 yards per carry with a fresh set of downs. And Eli Manning, who finished with 126 yards on first down, threw for 8.8 yards per pass during the game’s back-half; that includes an absolute drop-in-the-bucket throw to Mario Manningham along the left sideline for 38 yards, a strike that led to the Giants’ game-winning score.

“Playbook” — the ultimate football Xs and Os show – aired Thursday and Friday on NFL Network during the season. Check the NFL Network broadcast schedule for further details. Follow “Playbook” on Twitter @NFLN_Playbook.

Colts owner Jim Irsay and Peyton Manning are expected to meet soon, very soon, to determine the end game in Indianapolis.

Despite the numerous variables involved, many consider it a foregone conclusion — more when, less if — Manning will in one way or another be jettisoned from the only organization he’s known.

But what type of market would exist for Manning in that new reality? NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora took a stab at that scenario Tuesday on “NFL Total Access.”

“Manning won’t be getting big, guaranteed money,” La Canfora surmised. “But that’s not because of his willingness to do certain things or him being magnanimous about his contract situation. It’s simply the reality for a 36-year-old quarterback coming off three straight neck surgeries with a pre-existing nerve condition and serious questions about his short- and long-term future.

“No one knows more about Manning’s health than Irsay, and no one owes him more on a personal or professional level. Yet it’s Irsay himself who’s willing to walk away from Manning precisely because of his health questions.”

The fact is Irsay will have to pay Manning a $28 million bonus to stay on the roster. Irsay, who has already acknowledged the Colts are rebuilding, would have to make that decision under what he knows now about the regenerating nerve in Manning’s arm.

Nearly every NFL team would be interested in a healthy Manning. But what is the risk worth until Manning proves that to be the case? It’s likely any future contract for Manning would be heavily constructed on bonuses and incentives based on playing time and performance.

“Gone are the days of Manning getting tens of millions of dollars guaranteed, up front, at the time of signing,” La Canfora said. ” That’s a new market reality for this Peyton Manning.”

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Vincent Jackson has had an acrimonious relationship with the Chargers throughout most of his seven seasons in San Diego, one that could be coming to an end.

Negotiations were expected to begin this month between the Chargers and Jackson, who said at the Pro Bowl the two sides had yet to talk contract details. While Jackson maintains he would like to stay in San Diego, and GM A.J. Smith is reportedly now “comfortable”  exploring a long-term deal, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora isn’t betting on it.

“I don’t see any way he’s back there,” La Canfora said Tuesday on “NFL Total Access.”

“The Chargers won’t franchise him, they’ve come out and said that.”

Jackson earned $11.4 million during the 2011 season under the franchise tag. That figure would increase to $13.7 million if the Chargers change course to keep him around another year. What’s left is for the Chargers to determine if they can afford Jackson, who asked for a five-year, $50 million contract in 2010.

Given the perceived — but potentially small — market for wide receivers, and recent contracts given to Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White and Brandon Marshall, it seems likely Jackson will cash in as a free agent.

Teams with salary cap room like the Rams, 49ers and Buccaneers could come calling.

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You wouldn’t expect Eli Manning to embrace the pressures of playing quarterback in New York. A soft-spoken guy with a small-town sensibility and a modest manner, Manning nevertheless thrives in the harshest environment imaginable for an NFL quarterback.

What’s his secret? To hear Manning talk, it’s all about being himself. Growing up used to the pressure of being a Manning (following in the footsteps of a father who was an accomplished NFL quarterback and an older brother who was even better) didn’t hurt, either.

“When there’s pressure situations or you’re expected to do something or everybody’s looking at you, you can’t change your personality. You can’t change what your job is. You can’t think about those circumstances,” Manning told NFL Network’s Kurt Warner this week during a sitdown interview for “NFL GameDay Morning.”

So the vitriol that threatens to consume his crosstown counterpoint, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, rolls off Manning like water off a duck.

“There’s not a better place to win,” Manning said of New York. “(I’m) grateful for my fans and the way they’ve been patient with me and my career. And you know, I’m trying to get them another championship.”

It’s been an up-and-down ride for the Giants since winning Super Bowl XLII. They finished 12-4 the next season and won the NFC East but flopped in the playoffs, losing at home in the divisional round to the Eagles. They missed the playoffs in 2009. In 2010, Manning threw a career-high 25 interceptions, yet the Giants still went 10-6 and barely missed the playoffs after blowing a big lead against Philadelphia late in the year.

In light of that inglorious finish, Manning raised more than a few eyebrows this offseason when he said he considered himself to be in the same quarterback class as Tom Brady. Many fans clearly regarded him as an interception-prone mediocrity who caught lightning in a bottle once.

So Manning threw for a career-high 4,933 yards, beat the Cowboys twice to earn a playoff spot, outplayed Aaron Rodgers and triumphed over the hard-hitting San Francisco 49ers defense to earn a chance at ring No. 2. No one’s talking about luck now.

Manning says he’s definitely a better quarterback than he was in 2008, and he feels he’ll be ready for anything the Patriots throw at him Sunday.

“If, all of a sudden, New England comes out (and) they’re playing a different defense … than we prepare for, which is very common with them, we can make quick adjustments,” he told Warner. “I’ll be right on-page. And we can just, you know, not lose a beat.”

Catch the entire interview on “NFL GameDay Morning” Sunday at 9 a.m. ET, and follow NFL Network on Twitter @nflnetwork.

Tom Brady knows it takes only one play for NFL dreams to begin, or end.

After all, it took a sideline hit on Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe during the 2001 season to launch Brady’s storybook career. Another infamous hit in the 2008 season opener ended that season for Brady, then the reigning NFL MVP.

Brady has lived it, both sides of the not-for-long story. The underdog turned MVP, pitchman and super model-marrying Brady has some perspective on winning his fourth Super Bowl and joining some very elite company.

“I think one thing for certain is that when I missed the 2008 season and you sit there and watch your team play without you, you don’t take for granted these opportunities,” Brady told NFL Network this week during a sitdown interview for ‘NFL GameDay Morning.’” You realize how much you love the game. You realize how lucky you are to be in a place where winning is truly what’s most important, which are team has always been about. So, I love the game. I love playing.

“You think about one game for your fourth Super Bowl championship, like, it’s pretty incredible.”

It’s a candid side of Brady that doesn’t exactly show through on UGG ads or when he graces the covers of magazines. While he will never talk about his individual achievements over those of his team — which would be “The Anti-Patriot Way” — it’s a good bet the memories of entering the league as an sixth-round afterthought still drive him to this day.

Really, it’s all too incredible not to enjoy.

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As far as Jeff Saturday is concerned, the term “debacle” is as good as any to describe the current state of the Colts, and the he-said, he-said public back-and-forth between QB Peyton Manning and owner Jim Irsay.

Saturday, the Colts’ longtime center who has been with the organization his entire 13-year career, would presumably have as much insight into Manning, Irsay and the Colts as anyone. Saturday did avoid criticizing either side while suggesting that the outcome — unintended or otherwise — doesn’t benefit the first Super Bowl held in Indianapolis.

“It’s tough that it’s happening this week,” Saturday told NFL Network on Friday. “You have two of the best teams in the NFL and about to have the biggest game of the NFL year. Peyton Manning and with Jim Irsay and all this stuff that’s happening, I think that kind of overshadows this game a little bit. I know Peyton well enough to know that he doesn’t want that. Jim Irsay doesn’t want that. That didn’t help.

“Really, it’s all premature anyways. Nothing is going to happen for another month no matter what anybody else says. They’re going to continue his progress, continue his work, then ultimately sit down and make the decision.”

Remember, the week started with Irsay vowing he wouldn’t discuss Manning during Super Bowl week. That, obviously, did not  happen. It ended with another curious (but expected) statement from the Colts proclaiming unity.

In between, no one grasped the concept of “no comment.” Some would suggest much of that was premeditated and calculated.

Much like teammate Reggie Wayne, Saturday’s future with the Colts has also been overshadowed by the unfolding drama. Saturday said he’s going to sit back and wait to make a decision, but what happens with Manning won’t impact where he chooses to play next.

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Every football coach in every season learns about the makeup of his team in bits and pieces as time passes, proving his intuitions right or wrong.

Some of those moments and milestones are definitive. So when Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looks back on his team’s run to Super Bowl XLVI, he doesn’t hesitate when asked when his team proved to him it was mentally tough.

“No question,” Belichick told NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi during a sitdown for “NFL GameDay Morning,” it was during a Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We started from behind in that race and just were never able to catch up,” Belichick recalled. “But we hung in there, we kept fighting, we played a tough football game, it just wasn’t good enough to beat the Steelers that day. But we were in it right there to the end in a real tough environment against a tough football team that day.

“I thought that was the game that really showed me this team was tough, they’re resilient, they’re going to hang in there. It’s not always perfect, but the toughness and the willingness to go out there and compete and fight was there.”

The Patriots fell behind early in the loss, the Steelers kept Tom Brady under wraps and sustained five long scoring drives. Despite the loss, the Patriots showed Belichick something that day.

The Patriots then lost at home the following week — 24-20 to the Giants — their only back-to-back losses of the season. Belichick’s intuition of sensing a difference in his team has proven correct, because the Patriots haven’t lost since.

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With the season coming to a close, the crew at “Playbook” has taken to the film to find players who made marked improvements on the field.

This time, we are looking at running backs:

Quarterbacks | Defensive backs | Defensive tackles | Wide receivers

C.J. Spiller, Bills

Spiller was brought in last season to be the explosive component the Bills felt they lacked. For the majority of his short career, Spiller had been used as a returner, receiver, but rarely at running back (only 74 carries all of last season). When Fred Jackson went on injured reserve before Week 12, there was concern that the Bills running attack would all but disappear. Spiller had averaged a mere 3.8 yards a carry up until this point, so the concern was definitely warranted.

Spiller proved his doubters wrong by upping his yards per carry to 5.2 and ending the team’s final six games with five touchdowns and 633 yards of total offense. The biggest improvement we saw from Spiller was a decisiveness and confidence that was not visible in his rookie season. As he began to develop a patience of letting blocks develop while using his instincts to attack, his numbers improved tremendously.

By displaying a balance of consistency and big-play ability, Spiller has most definitely warranted an increase in touches next season. He is gaining an intuitive feel for the position and Chan Gailey‘s offense.

Darren Sproles, Saints

Sproles has always been classified as a third down/scat-back type of player. Standing at 5-foot-6 and 190 pounds, Sproles has never been viewed as a prototypical running back. In San Diego (2010), the Charger offensive line did not excel at getting to the second level of defenders, which prevented Sproles from getting open space to maneuver in the run game.

Now, with New Orleans, Sproles has the luxury of two All-Pro guards.

Sproles has proved to be a perfect fit to go along with the Saints passing attack. By attacking intermediate portions of the field, the Saints are constantly drawing the attention of linebackers away from Sproles. He is left with more space and favorable matchups to excel, which explains why he generated 86 catches for 710 yards as a running back.

Sproles is virtually unstoppable when he is one-on-one in the open field, either with the ball in his hands or en route as a receiver. As long as the Drew Brees is at the helm and attacking every blade of grass, Sproles should continue to thrive.

Reggie Bush, Dolphins

Since he was drafted second overall in 2006, Bush has always been looked upon as an underachiever. He had never played a full season or rushed for more than 581 yards in a single year.  The Saints tried to utilize Bush in specific formations and positions on the field, but he never seemed to show a level of consistency.

When the Dolphins signed Bush and drafted Daniel Thomas, they envisioned a “Thunder and Lightning” tandem. However, when Thomas caught the injury bug, Bush was given the opportunity to start in all of the 15 games in which he appeared.

Reggie continued to display his big play capability, but he was forced to mold himself to provide the Dolphins offense with a complete ground game. For the first time in his career, Bush displayed a comfort in attacking defenses north and south. More handoffs created more rhythm as a runner; Miami’s use of various play-calls (misdirection, traps and sweeps) played to Bush’s advantage. Contrary to his prior reputation, Bush was more physical to and through the line of scrimmage.

With opportunities finally coming to Bush, he was able to register five yards per carry and record his first 1,000-yard rushing season.

“Playbook” — the ultimate football Xs and Os show – airs Friday at 6 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Check the NFL Network broadcast schedule for further details. Follow “Playbook” on Twitter @NFLN_Playbook.

With the season coming to a close, the crew at “Playbook” has taken to the film to find players who made marked improvements on the field.

Today, we look at wide receivers:

Quarterbacks | Defensive backs | Defensive tackles

Torrey Smith, Ravens

Smith is another one of our rookies that improved so much during the course of the season that we had to include him on our list. He started out with a bang –- catching five passes for 152 yards and 3 TDs in his debut -– but he was far from a complete receiver.

In the first half of the season, he did all of his damage on vertical routes. But his underneath routes were imprecise, he had a number of drops, and he failed to make much happen after the catch.

In Week 11 against Cincinnati, Smith displayed some versatility for the first time. In addition to his vertical routes, he caught a quick screen and broke it for 22 yards, got 15 yards on a deep curl, exploded upfield for 28 yards after catching a slant, and added 13 yards on an out. He finished the day catching six of his seven targets for 165 yards.

Smith continued to improve from that point forward, showing off much more polished underneath routes. He also added a crisp comeback route to his arsenal, which makes him very tough to defend when complimenting his blinding speed on “go” routes.

Victor Cruz, Giants

Cruz had an impressive 2010 preseason, but saw only limited action in three games and was held without a catch before a hamstring injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. He got off to a strong start in 2011 statistically, providing a spark and plenty of big plays for the Giants.

These big plays, however, came as a result of his athletic talent and raw ability, like his acrobatic 68-yard TD reception off of a tipped pass in Week 5 against Seattle. Cruz was also involved in a number of critical mistakes, including his drop on a wide open corner route in Week 10 at San Francisco, his slip out of a break against Seattle that resulted in a backbreaking pick-6, and other miscommunications with Eli Manning.

Cruz remedied these issues in a hurry and became one of the NFL’s most complete receivers. His route running became precise, he cut out his drops (just one in his last nine games, including the playoffs), and both he and Eli got on the same page. His 10-catch, 142-yard effort against San Francisco in the NFC Championship accounted for almost half of Manning’s passing total and was key to the Giants’ return to the Super Bowl.

Antonio Brown, Steelers

After a slow rookie season, in which he recorded just 16 receptions for 167 yards, Brown turned heads this preseason with nine catches for 230 yards and three TDs in just three games. The impressive preseason didn’t translate into regular season right away, but from Week 7 forward, Brown was an explosive weapon for the Steelers’ passing attack, recording 18 receptions of 20 yards or more during the rest of the season, including the playoffs.

Starting in Week 7, Pittsburgh started utilizing Brown more frequently and took advantage of his strengths. While he can be shifty and make some plays in the short and intermediate passing game, his strength is his ability to run deeper routes with precision and use his speed to create separation from defenders.

He ran quality vertical routes from the start, but as the season progressed, his post and dig routes became much more polished. His ability to operate both over the middle and to the outside made him especially dangerous and difficult to defend.  Brown finished with 69 receptions for 1,108 yards, which is especially impressive considering that 48 of those catches (for 948 yards) came over the last 10 games of the season. Look for him to continue this success in 2012.

“Playbook” — the ultimate football Xs and Os show – airs Friday at 6 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Check the NFL Network broadcast schedule for further details. Follow “Playbook” on Twitter @NFLN_Playbook.

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady sit on the precipice of becoming arguably the greatest coach-quarterback combination in NFL history.

The Patriots will be 4-1 in Super Bowls during the Belichick-Brady era with a win over the Giants on Sunday, which would tie Brady with Joe Montana (4-0) and Terry Bradshaw (4-0) for most wins among quarterbacks, and would leave his coach at the top of the list with Chuck Noll (4-0).

But the Patriots’ current run of success was a thing of the future when the team finished 5-11 in Belichick’s first season in 2000, the same year the team drafted Brady in the sixth round. So it’s when he’s asked about how their relationship has grown during the 12 seasons together since then that Brady’s admiration for his coach becomes a bit more transparent.

“Quite a bit,” Brady told NFL Network when asked if their relationship has grown. “He coaches us hard. He coaches me hard. He’s relentless on (things like), ‘Brady can’t complete a hitch. Wide open, and you throw it in the dirt?’ Part of me, you want to stand up and strangle him, saying ‘Don’t you know?’

“But he wants us to be at our best every single day.”

Brady’s summation of Belichick’s coaching style is as simple as it is accurate. Belichick, who might have what some would describe as a maniacal attention to detail, leaves no stone unturned in getting the best out of his players and putting them in a position to succeed.

In return, the ensuing culture fostered by Belichick’s drive — dubbed, simply, “The Patriot Way” — has earned the lifelong respect of players like Brady.

Catch the full interview with Brady and NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest on “NFL GameDay Morning” on Sunday (9 a.m. ET).

The will-he or won’t-he conversation surrounding Peyton Manning and the Colts has dominated the headlines during Super Bowl week. But the bottom line is that until Manning proves he can throw a football at the level required for an NFL quarterback, it’s all idle talk.

Manning’s surgeon, Dr. Robert Watkins Sr., issued a statement Thursday night declaring the four-time NFL MVP “medically cleared to play professional football,” although NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi suggested any clearance holds little meaning if Manning can’t actually play.

“Having been in the NFL for more than 20 years, I know this: Being cleared to resume your career and being actually able to play are two entirely different components,” Lombardi told “Super Bowl Live.”

Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted early Friday morning: “Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts. Team statement coming on Friday.”

Irsay has maintained this week that his decision on Manning — who’s owed a $28 million bonus March 8 –  is based first on the QB’s medical condition. To that end, Irsay has said there’s still much uncertainty in the equation.

Irsay is referring to the question that remains unanswered: Will Manning’s arm strength return?

“The nerve has been the issue for months, not the neck,” NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora said. “I’ve talked to people in the Colts’ organization who said, ‘We’re not going to respond to the report, because we don’t see any news in it.’ … There are times where he has tingling, has the wrong sensations, he can’t grip the ball, throw the ball with velocity. There is no consistency there.”

Manning was cleared to resume throwing before the end of the regular season in the next phase of his rehabilitation following three neck procedures. He proclaimed to reporters Wednesday that his recovery process was on schedule and he had no intentions of retiring. Little question exists that the ultra-competitive Manning is motivated to not let the injury end his career.

Simply put, no one can put a timetable on when the nerves in Manning’s arm will fully regenerate. As Irsay pointed out Wednesday on NFL Network, the process is filled with uncertainty because no NFL quarterback has ever suffered this type of injury.

While the clock is ticking on the Colts and their decision on Manning’s future, it continues to hold true that no one knows with any certainty that he will play again.

Without making a full guarantee, Drew Brees seems to be running out of ways to say that he’ll be back with the Saints.

Brees told “Super Bowl Live” Thursday that the process has already started and will likely be done before he even officially becomes a free agent.

“Contract talks are underway, as we speak,” Brees told NFL Network. “I’m very hopeful, and very confident that a deal will get done prior to free agency. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to be a Saint for the rest of my career. Certainly that’s what I hope and pray for.

“Like I’ve said, I have all the confidence in the world that we’re going to get that deal done very soon.”

It’s widely expected that Brees’ deal — he just completed a six-year, $60 million contract — will carry an annual average in the range of $18 million per season.

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After living through the last year of Tebowmania, Tim Tebow says he’s the same guy he’s always been.

Keep in mind the 24-year-old Broncos QB made that claim during an interview Thursday on the “Super Bowl Live” set at Super Bowl XLVI, which was surrounded by fans four rows deep, who happened to be chanting his name.

Uh, yeah. Sure, Tim. We’re skeptical.

“It’s had a few ups and downs and some pretty cool moments,” Tebow said. “But, for the most part, I don’t believe I’ve changed. Hopefully I’m still the same guy. Just be very genuine, treat everybody still the same. I’ve been blessed to do some cool things in my life. I’m very thankful for that. Hopefully that ride can continue.”

In the last year of his life, Tebow has reached the iconic status Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton probably had in mind. Tebow has transcended sport, making him a world-wide figure recognized by everyone. Consider, for a moment, the  act of “Tebowing” inspired by his end zone celebration has reached the Seven Wonders of the World.

Or, if that’s not proof enough, he’s been courted by Katy Perry’s parents and given a cold shoulder to Kim Kardashian.

Tebow finally relented that fame has had an impact, admitting that walking down the street, “sometimes it can be a little more difficult.”

How often does he really walk down the street?

“Not often,” Tebow said.

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