A brief conversation with Drew Brees unfolded Thursday as an NFL Network makeup artist dabbed “blot” powder on the Saints QB’s face.

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

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

Saints QB Drew Brees and Eagles RB LeSean McCoy put together special seasons and were honored Wednesday for their efforts as the FedEx Air and Ground NFL Players of the Year.

John Madden was live from the Super Bowl Media Center — via satellite — to award the 2011 Madden Protectors Award to the Saints’ offensive line.

When the Giants and 49ers earned their way into the NFC Championship Game, they had won their games on the scoreboard – and one particular area of the field.

Four divisional playoff games this weekend to break down. Let’s get right to it.

It’s a simple yet complex question: Would you take Tom Brady or Drew Brees at quarterback to win one game?

The No. 3 seeds (Houston and San Francisco) are feeling pretty good about themselves after big wins in the Wild Card round. What kind of obstacles will they face this week?

Mark Sanchez is the latest target of player ire in the Jets’ locker room. But is he the root cause of Gang Green’s offensive woes this season and how does it affect the team’s fantasy outlook for 2012?

His individual numbers won’t stand out (with just 4 carries for 4 yards and 11 catches for 50), but Jed Collins has been a critical part of a Saints’ run game that resembles more of the 2009 Super Bowl champion squad than a 2010 team that veered heavily toward the pass game.

Even with the lure of double points, most owners shied away from starting players on bye weeks in the first run of the NFL Playoff Challenge. But there were some interesting names that found their way into lineups.

Ben Roethlisberger says his ankle isn’t feeling great, but it shouldn’t necessarily scare Playoff Challenge players away from using his favorite WR targets.

Rashard Mendenhall could be out for an extended period of time with a knee injury. It opens an opportunity for Isaac Redman but he may not be the first choice of fantasy owners.

With Week 17 in the books, we now know who will play who and when during NFL Wild Card Weekend.