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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals fared well at Super Bowl XLIII media day.

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic didn't flinch when a reporter dressed in drag asked to borrow her lipstick. Cardinals linebacker Monty Beisel also rolled with the media day madness.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic leads his notebook with an item about Anquan Boldin's contract situation.

Also from Somers: a look at the Cardinals' offensive tackles, who face tough work Sunday.

Craig Harris of the Arizona Republic says Kurt Warner's wife knows the Super Bowl routine.

Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals punter Ben Graham, the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl.

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic feels the presence of Steelers fans at Super Bowl XLIII.

Also from McManaman: Darnell Dockett's tattoos tell a personal history.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com looks at the Cardinals-related story lines at media day.

Also from Urban: a look ahead at the off-field moves facing Arizona.

More from Urban: the team's online Super Bowl headquarters.

Mike Tulumello of the East Valley Tribune explores Edgerrin James' strange Cardinals journey.

Also from Tulumello: This isn't the Cardinals' first week-long road trip to the East Coast this season.

Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune details Larry Fitzgerald's Pittsburgh ties.

Also from Bordow: Cardinals coaches might say there's nothing personal in facing their former team, but Bordow isn't buying it.

Pete1020 of Revenge of the Birds sizes up key matchups in Super Bowl XLIII.

Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' prolonged search for an offensive coordinator does not reflect well on head coach Mike Singletary. Ratto: "Singletary has reached the outer limit of what passes for due diligence on this job search. Whether the impetus is his or those of the candidates, he looks like he is too hard to please ... unless he is simply not a very good salesman. Maybe he drops his pants when he's trying to sell the salary and benefits package."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says former 49ers receiver Billy Wilson, who died Tuesday, fell short of the Hall of Fame despite Bill Walsh's efforts.

Also from Maiocco: Hue Jackson appears to be the frontrunner to become the 49ers' offensive coordinator. Michael Johnson, who interviewed to coach quarterbacks, left the Ravens' staff after the 2007 season when new coach John Harbaugh decided to hire 49ers castoff Jim Hostler instead.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says people told Wilson he was the most qualified person not enshrined in Canton.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune catches up with former Seahawks Jerheme Urban and Chike Okeafor. Both have contributed to the Cardinals' Super Bowl run. Okeafor: "I'm not a, 'I told you so,' and 'this and that' [kind of guy]. Those things seem to work themselves out. I just play the game like a kid at recess, for the love the game." 

John Morgan of Field Gulls continues his look at free agents of interest for Seattle. Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh is in the spotlight this time.

Rob Staton of Seahawks Draft Blog looks at potential Seattle draft choices and whether they meet standards outlined by general manager Tim Ruskell.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a Rams statue honoring the team's Super Bowl championship is long overdue. Burwell: "I bring this up now because the local artist who sculpted all those familiar bronze masterpieces in front of Busch has been trying to get a similar project off the ground for football for more than six years. Now, Harry Weber has grown tired of running into one frustrating roadblock after another."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explains, among other things Rams-related, why the Rams probably would not consider a middle linebacker with the second overall choice. Thomas: "You just don't pay $50 million for a guy, if he's sitting on the bench on second-and-long and third-and-long because he can't cover his shadow."

Mark Schlereth explains what happens now that media day is over.

Photo by Sean Hintz/ESPN.com

Media day is over and now the Cardinals and Steelers will focus on Sunday.

Mark Schlereth and Merril Hoge discuss Ken Whisenhunt, Steelers and Cardinals.

Photo by Sean Hintz/ESPN.com

While most players are looking ahead to Sunday's game, Steelers linebacker James Farrior said he eagerly anticipating what is to come on Wednesday.

Photo by Sean Hintz/ESPN.com

Teammates say safety Troy Polamalu is not as quiet as everyone believes.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

TAMPA, Fla. -- According to Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward, there are some similarities between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh's last title team.

After the 2005 season, Pittsburgh had to win three straight playoff games to get to the Super Bowl. Once the Steelers made it to the big game, they beat the Seattle Seahawks to cap an amazing run through the postseason.

So far, Arizona's run through the playoffs has been just as impressive.

"The road that they took is kind of similar to the road that we took when we won it," Ward said. "We came in as a six seed and nobody gave us a chance. They beat a pretty good Falcons team. They went on the road and beat up on a Carolina team and came back home and played a great Philadelphia team who was a hot team. So confidence is high right now on their side."

The Steelers are sizable favorites to stop Arizona's run, which could help the Cardinals in terms of motivation. Arizona's media day was filled with underdog questions Tuesday.

"Well, stop saying they don't have a shot then; why don't you help us out?" Ward said, laughing. "I don't think players buy into that. They're an explosive team."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

TAMPA, Fla. -- The most kinetic action at Super Bowl media day is invariably at field level spanning the stands and massive risers where star players squeeze mostly predictable answers between hastily barked questions.

I spend less time down there every year. The more informative sessions tend to unfold in the stands, where the relatively relaxed atmosphere affords team owners, executives and assistant coaches an opportunity to speak more freely than they would during a typical week.

The sense of accomplishment an organization feels can be palpable in the stands at media day. More than any other environment, media day provides a green light for participating teams to discuss their success. The lines of questioning are generally positive, a reflection of the successful season.

A fan of the Cardinals would have reveled in the somewhat surreal atmosphere at Raymond James Stadium as reporters asked president Michael Bidwill, general manager Rod Graves and other members of the organization the sorts of questions posed more routinely to the Robert Krafts and Scott Piolis of Super Bowls past.

I used the opportunity to ask various coaches and executives a few specific questions.

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Photo by Sean Hintz/ESPN.com

Questions came from reporters of all ages as Shelby Fallin, 10, of Scholastic News interviews the Steelers' James Harrison.

Photo by Sean Hintz/ESPN.com

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall takes questions on media day.

Ed Werder talks about two of Super Bowl XLIII's key players, Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward.

Photo by Curt Johnson/ESPN.com

Quarterback Kurt Warner discussed how important team chemistry is for the Cardinals.

"What I have come to realize in my career is that so much of a team's success is about relationships and chemistry."

Posted by ESPN.com staff

TAMPA, Fla. -- The power and pageantry of the Super Bowl comes to full bloom Sunday, but if it were up to Steelers linebacker James Farrior, the real hype would be for Wednesday.

"Wednesday is the best day," Farrior said. "And tomorrow is going to be the best Wednesday ever."

A little explanation is in order. Seems that dating back to days when current Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was coordinating the offense for the Steelers, his unit would square off against defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's squad in a little, well, mayhem.

"Every Wednesday we'd have this unscripted session, our defense against our offense, just tee it up," Farrior recalled. "It was so great going against coach Whisenhunt, because they did everything to try to beat you. Pull out all the stops. But the difference is, coach Whisenhunt always thought they could win. Coach LeBeau knew we were going to win. And for winning, I gotta' give it to coach LeBeau."

Farrior says the legacy of Wednesday showdowns continues, something wide receiver Hines Ward confirmed.

"Coach Whisenhunt was great for us, but now he has Pittsburgh West," said Ward, referring to the Cardinals. "So it's up to us to carry on that tradition."

Posted by ESPN.com staff

TAMPA, Fla. -- Troy Polamalu, when asked to put into his own words the existential meaning of the "Pittsburgh Legacy," came up with this:

"It is to carry on that blue-collar tradition. It has never been a legacy of success, though we have had success. It is a legacy of mentality. I can never see another team having the same relationship with a city that the Steelers have with Pittsburgh."