There may be more than a few people who are having a tough time hashing out their loyalties for Super Bowl XLIV. They'll be watching a pair of quarterbacks, though, who are about as decisive as it gets.
Peyton Manning faces his hometown team, once quarterbacked by his father, as the Indianapolis Colts try for their second title in four years Sunday at Miami in a matchup with Drew Brees and a New Orleans Saints team making its Super Bowl debut.
Three years ago, Manning won his first championship, leading Indianapolis to a 29-17 win over Chicago in South Florida. He's returning to the same site, this time to face a team that has deep roots in his family.
New Orleans is the city where his father, Archie, played and still lives. Manning played at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, as did his brothers, Eli -- who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants two years ago -- and Cooper.
If Manning can outduel Brees in what has the potential to be one of the highest-scoring Super Bowls, many fans in New Orleans will certainly be celebrating their hometown hero's accomplishment.
"New Orleans is a huge part of my life, as well as Eli's life," said Manning, who became the only four-time league MVP this season. "My dad's been a part of the Saints organization for 39 years in some ways. We definitely have strong ties."
Manning's top receiver, Reggie Wayne, also grew up in New Orleans and Colts running back Joseph Addai was still playing for LSU when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area in 2005.
Despite those ties, the Saints (15-3) have the undying loyalty of New Orleans natives, perhaps as much for their role in helping rebuild the city following Katrina as their success on the field.
Brees led the NFL with a 109.8 passer rating, throwing for 4,388 yards and a league-best 34 touchdown passes. He threw for three TDs as New Orleans won the NFC championship game 31-28 in overtime against Minnesota on Jan. 24.
