The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the Bears’ Pro Bowl kicker, who will go up against his childhood hero Adam Vinatieri tonight in Super Bowl XLI:

Q: Super Bowl dream?

A: To kick the game-winner against Adam Vinatieri and the Indianapolis Colts.

Q: You’ve actually dreamed it?

A: Oh, yeah. For the last couple of days. Game on the line, three seconds to go, down by one point. I hit the game-winner. Forty yards. The place goes nuts. All of us are holding the Lombardi Trophy.

Q: Remember when Vinatieri beat the Rams in the Super Bowl?

A: Rams, Panthers … who hasn’t he beaten on a game-winner?

Q: Most embarrassing moment?

A: When I was in New England and told Adam Vinatieri he was my childhood hero.

Q: His reaction?

A: “I’m glad I can be your hero and glad you’re here. Hopefully you learn a lot from me.”

Q: Why was he your hero?

A: Being a great kicker but also playing for the Patriots, which was my favorite team.

Q: What did you learn from him?

A: Mental focus.

Q: How about off the field?

A: I’d ask him about how to be a professional and what it’s like to be in the NFL and how do you make it?

Q: What were his answers?

A: “Stick with it. You have the ability, you’re gonna get an opportunity, just be ready for that opportunity.”

Q: Bill Belichick welcomed you as a free agent.

A: He liked me as a player and person. I appreciate them giving me the opportunity to get started. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be in this position today.

Q: Are you a celebrity in Chicago?

A: I guess you could say that. More and more people recognize me, and it’s been fun. I’ve met news anchors, weathermen, soldiers, war veterans, other professional athletes, country music singers … Chicago’s just a fun place to be.

Q: Favorite Chicago restaurant?

A: The ESPN Zone to play games and goof around.

Q: Any funny stories about being recognized?

A: The biggest thing is trying to eat dinner and having people come up for autographs. I’m not used to it.

Q: M & R Contracting in Lock Haven, Pa.?

A: I worked there after I got cut from Baltimore for about a week until I got a job a week later with the Bears. I did everything from field work to office work to dealing with suppliers.

Q: And hammering nails?

A: Anything from hammering nails to laying out a foundation to carrying two by fours … you name it.

Q: What was the pay?

A: Between $10 and $13 an hour.

Q: Was it fun?

A: A lot of the guys I worked with I had known from the community. Would I trade it for being in the NFL? Definitely not, but I enjoyed it while I was there.

Q: A Joe Paterno story?

A: Every day he preached, “Be on time. If you’re 15 minutes early, you’re late.”

Q: A funny Joe Paterno story?

A: When I got ready to kick in practice, he’d come up and hit me with a lineman’s bag to keep me concentrating on the kick. I faked him out so he couldn’t hit me. He kinda stumbled a little bit and then turned around and smacked me in the back of the head with a bag.

Q: Your favorite NFL kick was the 49-yarder in OT to beat Seattle. Favorite kick at Penn State?

A: A 51-yarder against Wisconsin. I had four field goals in that game, but that one won the game.

Q: How many game-winning kicks have you made?

A: Five. Four with the Bears and one in college.

Q: Does it bother you when a team calls time out to ice you?

A: No. Teams do it to try to throw off your rhythm.

Q: What’s the key to blocking everything out?

A: Focus on the kick. All you hear is the snapper and holder.

Q: Do you ever feel pressure?

A: Not really. I was a little nervous on my first NFL field goal because it was a 44-yarder. I didn’t want to screw up.

Q: Did you make it?

A: Yup.

Q: You call home every night at nine?

A: I usually call every day to make sure my family’s doing all right.

Q: How long have you been doing that?

A: Since college.

Q: Least favorite stadium in which to kick?

A: Cleveland. Just a tough place with the wind.

Q: If you weren’t a football player, what would you be?

A: CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Muhammad Ali; Jennifer Aniston; Michael Jordan.

Q: Three wishes?

A: To win the Super Bowl; to win the Pro Bowl; to meet Barack Obama.

Q: Why Obama?

A: He’s a political figure who changed the face of Illinois and a lot of the country It would be awesome to get his insight on political issues.

Q: Favorite childhood memory?

A: Winning a youth soccer tournament with my brother.

Q: Soccer hero?

A: Pele.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Talladega Nights.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Ashton Kutcher.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Eva Mendes.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Anything Italian.