Cooper is most popular Manning

It was Super Bowl Sunday, so naturally by midafternoon a Manning brother was trending nationally on Twitter.

Sure, it was the Manning brother who is tied with Lady Gaga in career Super Bowl rings, but that's OK, because when it comes to the many, many television hours before the big game, anything that breaks the tedium is welcome.

And so it was when Cooper Manning, older brother of Peyton and Eli, took to the Fox red carpet on Sunday wearing a tuxedo.

He encountered actor/ producer Mark Wahlberg, who is from Boston and a Patriots fan.

Said Cooper: “The Falcons going to do it today?”

Wahlberg said ... nothing. He merely glared.

“Things are off to a good start,” Manning said.

Wahlberg: “I'm just glad your little brother's not here, so we're in good shape.”

Manning: “Normally, people don't have a problem with ‘E,’ but you have a little hostility here.”

Wahlberg: “I have a major problem with those two fluke plays and ruining our perfect season.

“But we're here, and I have the utmost respect for him.”

OK, so it was a little goofy, but again, those who watch pregame shows, which kicked off on the NFL Network at 9 a.m., can't be choosy.

The official 41⁄2 hours of Fox's pregame largely were formulaic, which is not a slight.

The afternoon slogs on the three networks that rotate Super Bowl coverage are formulaic by design.

The point is to eat up a few hours, rack up decent ratings, promote Fox shows and collect loose advertising and sponsorship change to help pay the NFL rights fees. Pretty harmless.