He'll be in the booth for his 11th big game Sunday when he joins Al Michaels for NBC's telecast of Super Bowl XLIII.

Over the years, there have been major changes.

"When I first started, there was no NFL Network, no information all day," Madden said. "You had to seek out information.

"Now, you throw open your laptop and you have all the information you could ever use. We're overloaded with information. And we use about 5 percent of it on the telecast."

That doesn't mean Madden misses the old days.

"It's a lot better now," Madden said. "TV is so much better than it has ever been."

This is the 16th time NBC has carried the Super Bowl, but the first since 1998.

Michaels will be the play-by-play man for his seventh game, tying Curt Gowdy for most Super Bowls by a play-by-play man.

Michaels and Madden previously called Super Bowl XL in Detroit and Super Bowl XXVII in San Diego together.

Michaels also worked Super Bowl XXII in San Diego and Super Bowl XXIX in Miami. That game feature the 49ers vs. the Chargers.

"Televised football today is off the charts," Michaels said. "With HD, cable cam and all, you're right there as a viewer. The Super Bowl is the essence of live TV.

"If you're in the TV business, there is no better day.

"My first Super Bowl was 1988 ---- Denver-Washington in San Diego. There have been a lot of technical advances that have taken place since then."

The Cardinals have been network TV's least favorite team.

ABC/ESPN has carried just three Cardinals games on "Monday Night Football," the last in 1999 against the 49ers in Steve Young's last game.

"Win or lose Sunday, I guarantee the Cardinals will be on Sunday and Monday night next year," Michaels said.

Before then, though, Michaels and Madden will have the privilege of calling the Cardinals' first Super Bowl appearance.

"There is no more pressure on us now, than any other game," Michaels said. "But John and I will both soak in the moment before we go on the air. I'll think about how I want to start. I'll enjoy the moment."

Said Madden: "We don't do anything special before a game. There are no secret handshakes, no prayer. We just get the signal and go."

Super Bowl notes

-- NBC's "Today" show will broadcast live from Tampa. Starting at 6 a.m. Sunday, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry will all be on hand.

-- During NBC's Super Bowl pregame show, Lauer has a sitdown interview with President Barack Obama. The interview will also air Monday on "Today."

-- The pregame show starts at 10 a.m. Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth, Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick are the hosts. They'll be joined by Jerome Bettis, Tiki Barber, Peter King, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren, Matt Millen and Rodney Harrison. NBC officials said there will be fewer features than past Super Bowl pregame shows. The network will rely more on input from its announcers.

-- The entertainment during the pregame show is Journey and John Legend. Faith Hill will also perform and will sing "America the Beautiful" before the national anthem.

-- Jennifer Hudson will sing the national anthem. Bruce Springsteen is the halftime entertainment.

-- "Road to the Super Bowl" precedes the pregame show at 9 a.m.

-- As of late Wednesday, there were only two ads left to be sold. Cost for a 30-second ad is $3 million, so the telecast will generate about $186 million in revenue. Anheuser-Busch has purchased 4 1/2 minutes worth of ads. GoDaddy.com had two somewhat racy ads approved by NBC officials.

Super Bowl by the numbers

-- NBC will use more than 450 people on its production, technical, administrative and support crews.

-- There will be 93 microphones, including 12 on the field.

-- 52 HD cameras will be used, including 22 hand held, five robotic, two Super Slo-Mos and three X-Mos.

-- 45 vehicles will be employed, including control trucks, mobile units, offices and horse trailers.

-- 50 miles of camera and microphone cable will be laid.