Super Bowl week off to a rainy, soggy start

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Rain drove the New Orleans Saints indoors Monday. The NFL scrambled to move Tuesday's media day activities under cover. And tourism officials tried to shrug off the public-relations blow of a soggy start to Super Bowl week. "Sometimes you need a break from the sun," said Nicki Grossman of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Everybody all over the country has weather. And you don't have to shovel anything that has fallen on us."

Even so, the less-than-Super weather — daylong rain blanketing the region — stirred unpleasant memories of the last time the NFL title game came to town three years ago. That was the first time rain fell on a Super Bowl, and it continued throughout the game, chasing some fans away at halftime and sending others into concourses to watch on television as the Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears. "The same weather," Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning said. "I don't know what that is — the Colts bringing rain to Miami."

Although this is the middle of South Florida's dry season, steady light rain also fell during Sunday night's Pro Bowl in Miami.

The Colts and Saints landed Monday and were greeted by their Pro Bowl teammates — seven from Indianapolis and seven from New Orleans — who watched the all-star game from the sideline. One Pro Bowler was Manning, who said he didn't mind making the trip the day before most of the Colts arrived. "I got to fly on a private plane with six of my best friends and teammates," Manning said. "We had Ruth's Chris Steak House food on the plane, took a private escape down to Miami, shook a few hands, did a wave, did one interview and made $45,000. I can think of some worse things to put yourself through."

The forecast called for a 30 percent chance of showers Tuesday, prompting the media day switch. And, there is at least a slight chance of rain every day the rest of the week, with a 20 percent chance Sunday. "We'll get prepared for it just in case we have to deal with some of the same issues we had to deal with last time," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "It looks like it may rain during the course of the week, so maybe we'll have an opportunity to practice in it. But our game plan won't change."

Media day will, however. Instead of conducting interviews on the field at Sun Life Stadium, the NFL will hold them in an indoor concourse on the club level.

All players and coaches from the Saints and Colts will still be available for interviews.