President Bush called Colts owner Jim Irsay on Monday to congratulate him on the team's Super Bowl victory. Then, in a separate phone call, Bush congratulated the quarterback and the coach, said Scott Stanzel, deputy White House press secretary.

Manning and Dungy also heard lots of requests and plenty of questions about repeating this scene next year.

''We'll enjoy this,'' Manning said. ''Once the first day of weightlifting, which will be March, comes, we'll be in there working. For me as a player, I want to be a better player next year than I was this year.''

An improved Manning is a scary thought for opponents.

The nine-year veteran already holds the single-season record for touchdown passes (49), is the only quarterback in league history with consecutive 9-0 starts and now has a Super Bowl MVP award to go with his two NFL MVP awards.

He's also headed back to Hawai'i — his seventh time as a Pro Bowl player — and will finally get to make the fashionably late arrival he always wanted.

''I've been out there the past few years and I was always real envious seeing the Patriots guys show up late. The Super Bowl guys always come in late,'' Manning said. ''I wanted to go out there as a winner, so it will be fun to go out there now.''

The problem with looking toward next season is that the future remains uncertain. Some wonder whether team president Bill Polian or Dungy, or both, could be leaving the game.

Polian had been chasing a Super Bowl title for nearly three decades before winning it Sunday with the 29-17 victory over Chicago. Dungy, the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl, ended his quarter-century quest for the Lombardi Trophy.

Dungy provided some insight to his future Monday, strongly implying he would be back on Indy's sideline next season.

''I'm not burned out. I'm not tired at all,'' he said. ''I'm very fired up and looking forward to coming back. But I'll evaluate it and we'll see where we go. ... I do look forward to helping these guys defend this title.''

The other questions may prove more critical.

Jim Caldwell, Indy's assistant coach and quarterbacks coach, didn't get the Arizona job last month but now may have a shot at the Dallas job. Caldwell couldn't have asked for a stronger endorsement from his prized pupil.

''There's no question he's ready,'' Manning said. ''I certainly don't want him to leave, I'm being selfish in that regard, but there's no question he's ready to be a head coach either in the NFL or at the collegiate level. There's no question he's taken my game to the next level.''

If Polian stays, he'll also have to make some critical personnel decisions.

Dominic Rhodes, who saved his only 100-yard game of the season for the Super Bowl and then delivered an MVP-like performance, will become an unrestricted free agent in a few weeks.

Joining him on the open market are four defensive starters, including three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, the 2005 NFL sacks leader, and former Pro Bowl linebacker Cato June.

The decision on Freeney should be the easiest. He's the leader of the defense and if no deal is done before free agency starts, there's little doubt Indianapolis would use its franchise tag on Freeney.

Other decisions will be more difficult. Rhodes started all 16 regular-season games but rookie Joseph Addai rushed for more yards, proved more consistent and is 5 years younger.

The running back tandem wore down defenses and their contrasting styles seemed to keep them off balance, too. Indy must still figure out whether Addai, who split carries throughout his college career, could stay healthy if he were the featured back.

''I don't know what's going to happen,'' Rhodes said Sunday night. ''I love the Colts, but I'm going to do what's best for my family.''

And then there's the potentially major defensive shake-up.

Starting cornerback Nick Harper and linebackers June and Rob Morris could all hit the open market.

Harper has been the Colts' most consistent cover corner over the past several seasons, and Morris played a major part in Indianapolis' defensive turnaround in the playoffs. With the converted middle linebacker replacing Gilbert Gardner on the outside, the Colts suddenly had a bigger, more physical defender, which made a huge difference.

During the playoffs, the Colts nearly cut in half the average number of yards rushing allowed per game _ from more than 170 to less than 90. That proved one of the big reasons the Colts won their first Super Bowl since moving to Indianapolis in 1984.

Perhaps the biggest question is June, who blossomed into a Pro Bowl player in 2005 and then was inconsistent this season.

The Colts understand how quickly it can all change, which is why they wanted to cherish the moment.