Heavy showers change Super Bowl plans

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-03 16:04

MIAMI: Heavy rain greeted the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints as they arrived on Monday, forcing the Saints inside for a key workout as both clubs began preparations for Sunday's Super Bowl showdown.

"The rain put a damper on some of our plans," Saints running back Reggie Bush said. "It rains a lot in New Orleans too. It's something we're used to. I don't think the weather is going to be too big a deal for us."

The Saints and Colts, who both play home games in dry and warm domed stadiums, will also be forced indoors for Super Bowl Media Day, the annual event where oddball inquistors join journalists in questioning players.

Monday's day-long downpour and bleak forecasts prompted the National Football League to move the session from the soggy field at Sun Life Stadium to an upper level enclosed concourse.

The Saints shifted from a planned outdoor workout at the University of Miami to an indoor session 30 miles away at an enclosed area of the Miami Dolphins' training camp.

"It was good we had the 'bubble' to use," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We knew going in this would be the rain plan. The forecast for the balance of the week after tomorrow is pretty good so those fields will dry up well.

"We wanted to get a workout in today. We felt that was important. Overall, it went pretty good."

Saints blocker Jahri Evans said the team handled the disruption well as it tried to stay focused before the club's first Super Bowl appearance.

"The weather took us off schedule a little bit but it felt good to get a workout in. We got that done. That was most important," Evans said.

The first Super Bowl played in the rain was staged here in 2006 when the Colts defeated Chicago.

"The same weather appears to be true," Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said. "I don't know what that is, the Colts bringing rain down to Miami."

The next two Super Bowls, set for 2011 in Dallas and 2012 in Indianapolis, will be staged in retractable-roof stadiums.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees said his team knows how to handle adversity and heavy showers were just one more disruption to be overcome.

"Weather the storm. We know how to do that," Brees said. "We got here early for a reason. We got a good workout in. I think it has just really set the tone for us and our mindset for the week. It's all business."

Brees took the same attitude about a possible high-scoring shootout with Manning and the Colts in a game that matches the most prolific point scoring attacks in the NFL.

"That's exactly the trap I'm not going to fall into, which is trying to keep up with Peyton," Brees said. "I have a lot of respect for Peyton and what he has been able to accomplish but it's not me against Peyton Manning.

"This is a game that could be back and forth or one team could get a lead and then all of a sudden the other team closes the gap. We've both shown the ability to come back from big deficits. The game is always within reach no matter the situation. It's me and my offense against their defense and vice versa.

"I know that Peyton is going to make his plays and he's going to be Peyton. That just means that I need to be me."

AFP