JACKSON, Miss. — Sure, the New Orleans Saints talked Super Bowl this summer. And why not? The core of last year's NFC South championship team returns, along with an intact coaching staff and a top front office. Throw in major free-agent acquisitions, and New Orleans becomes a favorite to play on sports' biggest stage for the first time.

The chatter's time frame doesn't end with next February, though. The Saints' young stars, from dazzling back Reggie Bush on offense to ferocious end Charles Grant on defense, say they want to hang here awhile and bring stability to one of the NFL's most frustrated franchises.

"In the past, this team would have players, and they would win a little," Grant said. "And then they would tear this team apart. Now, guys want to be here, and those guys are wanted here. Now I want to retire here."

Attitudes like those have grown popular among the Saints, who in two years have morphed from mess to model organization. After a 2005 season marked by Hurricane Katrina, locker-room dissension and a 3-13 record, New Orleans spent last season winning its third division title in 40 seasons.

An NFC title-game loss in Chicago kept the Saints from their first Super Bowl appearance. But the improvement reinforced one of the NFL's crucial truths — no team is more than few good decisions from the league's penthouse.

"With the draft and free agency and guys moving around, things are set up for that," veteran back Aaron Stecker said. "It's parity. And last year we were that team."

Part of 2007's challenge, though, is not getting stuck in 2006's success. Second-year coach Sean Payton focused on that this offseason, even leading a team ceremony to bury a mock casket filled with last year's mementos.

"This is a show-me league," he said. "What happens in the prior year is not a predictor of what will happen. We've got smart enough players to understand that."

Payton's arrival provided the cornerstone for the team General Manager Mickey Loomis hoped to rebuild in time for the 2006 season. A longtime offensive coordinator, Payton replaced defensive-minded Jim Haslett. Then he watched Loomis begin to gather playmakers.

First came the signing of quarterback Drew Brees. Cast aside for younger, stronger Philip Rivers in San Diego, Brees finished second in the Most Valuable Player voting last season. In April, Loomis bookended his 2006 draft by choosing eventual starters — Southern Cal's Bush in the first round and Hofstra wide receiver Marques Colston in the seventh.