San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees were honored Wednesday as the NFL's players of the year, while the Saints' Sean Payton picked up another coach of the year award. Tomlinson, who won The Associated Press' MVP award by a wide margin over Brees, rushed for 1,815 yards and a league-record 28 touchdowns this season, plus he set another NFL record by finishing with 186 points and 31 overall touchdowns. "This means a lot to me," Tomlinson said in video remarks shown at a news conference at the Super Bowl.

The NFL fined the New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush $5,000 for taunting Brian Urlacher at the end of his 88-yard touchdown reception in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 21, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported. Bush wagged his finger at the trailing Urlacher shortly before crossing the goal line with a somersault jump.

New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs interviewed Saturday with the Dallas Cowboys. Gibbs, a former Cowboys assistant, was the third outside candidate to visit Valley Ranch for an interview since Bill Parcells retired as head coach Monday. San Francisco offensive coordinator Norv Turner was scheduled to interview Sunday. Turner was the Cowboys' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 1991-93, when they won consecutive Super Bowls, and had a 58-82-1 record as head coach in Washington (1994-00) and Oakland (2004-05).

San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips interviewed Friday with the Cowboys about replacing retired head coach Bill Parcells. Phillips, the former head coach at Denver and Buffalo who also had interim stints in New Orleans and Atlanta, said he had a "very encompassing talk" with Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones. "I'm going to go on my record," Phillips said. "I've won as a head coach, been in the playoffs three out of the five years I've been a head coach. ... I have a lot of experience; I've been 30 years in the league, 25 as either a head coach or coordinator." Jones also plans to talk to San Francisco offensive coordinator Norv Turner, a former head coach for Washington and Oakland, and New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. Both are former Dallas assistants.

A federal investigation has revealed audio tapes that could confirm Reggie Bush received extra benefits while at USC.

The Chicago Bears advance to the Super Bowl with a convincing 39-14 win over the New Orleans Saints.

New Orleans reserve linebacker Danny Clark was served papers in a paternity lawsuit involving a Chicago-area woman after the Saints arrived at their hotel for Sunday's NFC championship game. Clark, who was served by a private investigator while getting into a sport utility vehicle outside the team's downtown hotel Saturday night, wasn't immediately available for comment before the game.

Peyton Manning knew that he would have to beat Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to get to the Super Bowl. The Saints would like the best season in their franchise history to end with a trip to the Super Bowl. For the third time in the last four years, Manning and the Colts will face Brady and the Patriots in the playoffs. The meeting takes place in the AFC championship game for the second time on Sunday.

Peyton Manning knew that he would have to beat Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to get to the Super Bowl. The New Orleans Saints would like the best season in their franchise history to end with a trip to the Super Bowl. For the third time in the last four years, Manning and the third-seeded Indianapolis Colts will face Brady and the fourth-seeded New England Patriotsin the playoffs. The meeting takes place in the AFC championship game for the second time on Sunday.

Who needs Mardi Gras when you're one game from the Super Bowl? Deuce McAllister and rookie sensation Reggie Bush gave this battered city a reason to throw itself a party, carrying the Saints where they've never been before -- one game from the Super Bowl. To constant chants of "DEUCE!" or "REG-GIE! REG-GIE!" the Saints used an assortment of spectacular plays to beat the Eagles 27-24.