Super Bowl XLI countdown

3 countdown days away

CHICAGO BEARS vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

At Miami, Fla.; Sunday, 4:25 p.m.;

TV: Ch. 2

SAY WHAT?

"Not having them here, it's kind of tough. But I think they're still going to be in the house. I think they're still looking down on me from above. I think I just have to go out there and make the most out of the situation." — Gary Brackett Colts linebacker, who lost his father, mother and brother during a 16-month stretch starting in late 2003

TRIVIA

The winning team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy. What is the name of the trophy presented to the MVP?

NOTES

Indianapolis starter Peyton Manning says he's spoken with a number of quarterbacks who possess Super Bowl experience in recent days, picking their collective brains as he prepares for his first appearance in the NFL's biggest game.

Turns out, CBS analyst Boomer Esiason was not among Manning's braintrust.

"My only advice to him would be to talk to quarterbacks that won the Super Bowl," Esiason said, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, "not the ones that lost."

Esiason's chance in the Super Bowl was at Miami after the 1988 season, when he won the NFL MVP award. Esiason's Cincinnati Bengals lost to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers 20-16.

There's something simple, yet mysterious, outside Chicago's Super Bowl hotel this week.

Staked near the front entrance is a large sign, one that followed the Bears from their Halas Hall home to South Florida. It's a to-do list, with three check marks:

• Play Angry.

• NFC Champions.

• Win Super Bowl.

There's a large checkmark to the left of each of the first two entries, with the box next to the third one still blank, of course.

"I don't know how the sign ended up here," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "But we won a game, so evidently the person thinks that's the reason why we won. We didn't bring it and I don't know exactly who brought it."

Apparently, two die-hard Chicago fans put the original "Play Angry" sign up outside the Bears' complex about three weeks ago, and the theme has stuck with the team since.

ANSWER

Pete Rozelle Trophy.