"The New Orleans Saints, too often the "Aints," still were the rage when Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning were youngsters in New Orleans.

So many years later, their hometown team is squarely in their professional team's crosshairs. On Feb. 7 in Miami's Sun Life Stadium, Wayne, Manning and the rest of the Indianapolis Colts must deal with the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. Not surprisingly, the pending game on a worldwide stage has memories bubbling to the surface.

"At the time I was growing up, there was a lot of brown paper bags, a lot of (television) blackouts," said Wayne, who attended New Orleans' John Ehret High School. "Had to listen to the game on the radio.

"But those times are gone."

The Saints have reached the Super Bowl for the first time in their 43-year history. The days of fans wearing paper bags to the Superdome -- local sportscaster Buddy Diliberto implored fans to wear them over their heads after the team lost its first 14 games in 1980 -- are a distant memory.

Manning's New Orleans ties are well-documented and deep. He attended Isidore Newman School. His father, Archie, was the Saints quarterback for 12 years and has been associated with the organization for nearly four decades. Archie and his wife, Olivia, still reside in New Orleans. So does their eldest son, Cooper, and his family.

"We definitely have strong ties," Peyton Manning said Wednesday. "The Saints have had a great year. They deserve it, and I know the city is excited."

The Manning family pitched in when Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and the surrounding areas in 2005. So did Saints players. Quarterback Drew Brees and the current Saints remain committed to the city's rebuilding efforts.

"It's been a great relationship between the players and the fans," Manning said, "and what a great way for these players to reward them with a trip to the Super Bowl."

Manning is 2-2 against his hometown Saints during his 12-year career, and has won the past two meetings. Wayne has played the Saints three times since joining the Colts as a first-round draft pick in 2001.

Every time it's Colts vs. Saints, Wayne's memory is jogged.

"I had a lot of fun times growing up, being a Saints fan," he said. "Obviously, my favorite receiver growing up was Eric Martin. I so idolized him. He's by far my favorite."