NFL

Peyton Manning unflappable in Super Bowl spotlight

Peyton Manning would rather swim in the ice-cold Hudson River than talk about himself. But there he was Tuesday morning, sitting at Podium 2 in the middle of the floor of the Prudential Center in Newark, surrounded by hundreds of reporters armed with recorders, cameras and microphones, sometimes 10 or 12 deep, trying to ask him questions.

Super Bowl Media Day featured more than 100 players and coaches from the Broncos and the Seahawks. More than 5,000 media members showed up and 7,000 fans paid $28.50 to watch it from the stands.

All eyes were on Manning.

Super Bowl week in New York has become all about a New Orleans native who became famous in Knoxville, a star in Indianapolis and a legend in Denver. Now, he can become immortal Sunday in New Jersey.

But first he had to face the media horde that descended on Newark. He was asked about his pregame playlist, his favorite Real Housewife, hosting “Saturday Night Live” this week and, of course, “Omaha.” The questioners ranged from an Olympic gold medalist to a former All-Pro wide receiver with plenty of entertainment reporters in between.

The 37-year-old Manning handled it all with the ease of breaking down a high school defense.

Hosting SNL this week: “This week? I probably won’t be there this week. I don’t think so.”

Favorite Real Housewife — Orange County or New Jersey: “I have not had a chance to see either show.”

As for his pregame playlist, he said he rides to home games with wide receiver Eric Decker and tight end Jacob Tamme: “We have mixed it up. We put Jacob Tamme in charge of the music. Late in the season, the playoffs he was going with ‘XM Coffehouse.’ It’s kind of those cover songs. I’m not sure what that means, how that’s going to damage our reputation by any means. It’s good music. I like it. It’s been working for us.”

As for his famous “Omaha” call, he said plenty of other teams use the same call and they were using it in Denver before he got there.

Gymnast Gabby Douglas, who won gold two summers ago in London, was at Prudential Center working for “Inside Edition.” She asked Manning if he’s nervous (he’s not). Former NFL receiver Randy Moss made his way through the crowd of reporters in his role for FOX. “What’s up old timer?” Moss said to Manning.

Manning answers everything with his folksy, “aw shucks” style that has made him millions in endorsements and kept him as a fan favorite for more than a decade.

“I think he’s just a very personable guy,” Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker said. “He’s just a good guy. You can’t hide that.”

While Manning dealt with more than his fair share of Media Day silliness, he also talked about football.

This is Manning’s third Super Bowl and many people view this game as the one that will define his legacy. He won it all with the Colts after the 2006 season, then lost to the Saints three years later. A Super Bowl win over the Seahawks would be another line on his résumé and another argument for him being the best ever to play quarterback.

Not that Manning wanted to talk about that.

“I’ve been being asked about my legacy since I was about 25 years old,” he said. “I’m not sure you can have a legacy when you’re 25 years old or even 37. I thought you had to be like 70 to have a legacy. I’m not 100 percent sure what the word even means.

“I’m still in the middle of my career … let me rephrase that: I’m in the homestretch of my career, but I’m still in it. It’s not over yet. It’s still playing out. This has been the second chapter of my career and it’s an exciting chapter. I’m certainly excited to be back at the Super Bowl on behalf of the Denver Broncos.”

Manning has the chance to be the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams. He is the third to make it to the big game with two teams (Kurt Warner, Craig Morton are the others). Manning had no interest in talking about an individual achievement.

“I really feel that we’ve gotten here as a team, as an organization,” he said. “I’m part of that team. For me personally I really try to not get into that as much because I need the team this week. I’ve needed the team all season long. I need to do my part to help the team. That’s really how I look at it.”