The Post’s Steve Serby kicks off Super Bowl week with a chat with the 50-year-old NFL commissioner about the CBA, PSLs, guns and all of the big issues facing the league.

Q: Are you going to need a Hail Mary to avoid an uncapped year?

A: It looks that way now. Not much progress has been made in addressing the concerns of clubs about the current agreement. But these things can come together quickly. Our team will work hard to get something done before the uncapped year starts on March 5, but our clubs are prepared for the uncapped year. We have another season to play under this CBA. And we will have a new agreement. It’s just a question of when.

Q: What would you tell the fans about the NFL in an uncapped year?

A: Enjoy it. We will have another good season of football in 2010. There are rules in place that the union agreed to in this CBA that protect competitive balance. Every team will have the resources to be competitive.

Q: What are the players missing here?

A: We all need to deal with the economic realities of what’s going on in the world, including how it impacts the NFL. Our fans and business partners are still hurting. Our costs are rising faster than revenue. This is an expensive CBA. The biggest change we’ve seen in our league is the cost of operating a franchise today. The union needs to recognize those costs so we can continue to grow. The players will be well paid and deserve to be well paid.

Q: What do you think Wellington Mara’s reaction to PSLs would have been, and what is there to say to longtime Jets and Giants fans who could not afford them?

A: I think Mr. Mara would understand the economics involved today in building a stadium. It is financially more challenging than ever, requiring much more private investment. PSLs have worked well in many cities. They are a necessary financing tool in building new stadiums and give fans that purchase PSLs something of value. They essentially own those seats. The Jets and Giants have developed ways to make PSLs as affordable as possible to help current season-ticket holders continue in the new stadium. We recognize that affordability is a concern and that not everyone is going to be able to attend games. In fact, 95 percent of our fans watch NFL games on TV.

Q: Is a New York Super Bowl realistic, and would you like to see one in your backyard?

A: Yes, it’s realistic. Our Super Bowl advisory committee decided it was deserving of consideration by the full membership of the league. It will be a great new stadium that is the home of two of our teams that have invested a great deal of money in this stadium. Playing the Super Bowl in the nation’s biggest city — one of the world’s most exciting cities — has enormous benefits. So we are willing to waive our 50-degree temperature rule for outdoor stadiums to consider it. Some of the most famous, memorable games in NFL history involved adverse weather conditions, so you could argue that playing against the elements is part of our game.

Q: What causes you to lose sleep at night?

A: The tremendous responsibility we have to our fans, players, and teams to address challenges, make the right decisions, and keep improving.

Q: How do you relax?

A: I work out early in the morning just about every day. And I make sure to carve out as much family time as possible. They remind me of what is important in life.

Q: Your recollections of your first day on the job?

A: I remember speaking to our staff that day about teamwork, communication and innovation. . . . My view is that you can’t take your success for granted. You have to keep looking for ways to improve.

Q: Your most rewarding day on the job?

A: Super Bowl Sunday. The entire day captures everything we stand for — bringing people together, recognizing leaders like our Walter Payton Man of the Year, excellence on the football field, a spectacular event with all the trimmings like the halftime show, and then presenting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It’s an emotional, uplifting day in so many ways. And when we have thrilling games like we’ve had the past two years, it’s even better.

Q: Your emotions at the time of Katrina?

A: Horror, sadness, and great sympathy for the people of the Gulf Coast. We all wanted to do something to help and the NFL contributed along with so many others. It was a devastating tragedy.

Q: How concerned were you that the Saints would move?

A: We knew how strong the fan support was for the Saints in the Gulf Coast region. It was a matter of working through the issues involved in repairing the dome and making sure the Saints had the facilities to continue their operations. Then the fans stepped up and supported the Saints very strongly. Mr. Benson has shown his commitment to that community and having his Saints in the Super Bowl is a great story. It means so much to the spirit of that city, and the fans there deserve it.

Q: How, in your view, did Michael Vick’s reinstatement go?

A: He was given a chance to return to the NFL by meeting and adhering to strict conditions. He has done that. It’s all up to him — on and off the field.

Q: In the wake of the Gilbert Arenas fiasco, what makes you more optimistic that another Plaxico Burress incident is less likely?

A: Those should be wake-up calls to all athletes about the dangers of possessing guns. We have a strict policy that prohibits players from having any type of weapon in the workplace or while on club business. We discourage players from owning guns, period, but advise them if they do, they had better be in compliance with the law. No one is above the law.

Q: Your view on full-time officials?

A: I’m in favor of anything that will improve the consistency of our officiating, but we do not see full-time officials as the answer. They put in a great deal of time as it is and the quality of our officiating is better than ever because of the technology we use now to train and improve our officials. I am very proud of our game officials. They do a great job.

Q: Your opinion on whether the overtime rule should be changed?

A: The players and coaches think our system is fair. Our games involve offense, defense, and special teams and you can win in overtime when any of those units is on the field. No one has come up with an alternative that has received much support in our league.

Q: The greatest Super Bowl, in your opinion, and why?

A: Many said that two years ago (Giants-Patriots) was the greatest Super Bowl. Then last year (Steelers-Cardinals) was declared the greatest Super Bowl by a lot of observers. I like the trend.

Q: What amazes you most about Peyton Manning?

A: His focus and the way he prepares. He’s so talented that you would think he doesn’t have to work that hard, but he works harder than anyone. Then it all unfolds in games with amazing precision.

Q: Your most memorable USO trip?

A: I’ve been on one and it was an incredible experience. It gave me even more admiration for the men and women that serve our country in the military. It was two years ago and Osi Umenyiora and Drew Brees were on the trip. Tremendous young men. The soldiers kept thanking us for coming and we kept saying, “No, thank you. We appreciate what you do for us.”

Q: Favorite Pete Rozelle anecdote, and the best lesson you learned from watching him?

A: I enjoyed being his driver at the Super Bowl in New Orleans in the ’80s, one of my first NFL jobs. It was a chance to observe him. He had a wonderful knack for dealing with people. He was a good listener and knew how to build consensus and resolve issues. He was a smooth operator.

Q: Favorite Paul Tagliabue anecdote, and the best lesson you learned from watching him?

A: Paul is an incredible analytical thinker and strategist. I learned a great deal serving as his chief operating officer and I loved debating him. It sharpened my thinking. He was amazing during difficult situations, especially 9-11.

Q: Your thoughts on how the Rooney Rule is working, and why?

A: It has worked well. The results prove it. More minority coaches and front-office executives have been interviewed and hired since the Rooney Rule was put in place. It has opened up the thinking of everyone in the league on how to conduct open, inclusive searches to find the best talent. It has become a model for other business.

Q: Why are you confident that Spygate will never happen again?

A: We took steps to strengthen our policies and procedures regarding all aspects of the integrity of the game. Our clubs know that we will find any violations and issue severe penalties. We will remain vigilant about the integrity of our game. It is Job One.

Q: How much more progress do you expect to be made in the coming years vis a vis concussions?

A: We have changed the culture on concussions in sports and we will continue to be leaders on this issue to reduce the number of concussions and to make sure they are properly managed when they occur. It’s a serious injury and the awareness of that is much better than it used to be.

Q: How far away is a team in Los Angeles?

A: It’s difficult to predict. For the first time, we have clearance to build a stadium — Ed Roski’s site in the City of Industry. Financing it is the biggest challenge and that will depend in part on how we come out of our CBA negotiations in terms of the union recognizing the costs of stadium construction in the agreement.

Q: Is an 18-game regular season imminent? Or will an uncapped year delay it?

A: We are still evaluating it and discussing it with all of our partners, including the players. It is not imminent as of right now.

Q: Will there be two games in London next year?

A: One — Denver and San Francisco.

Q: Why the Pro Bowl at the Super Bowl site is a good idea?

A: We are constantly looking to improve and the Pro Bowl needed to be re-energized and we think this is working. It is an innovative way to start Super Bowl week. It gives our Pro Bowl players a bigger stage. We discussed it with the players a few years ago and many wanted to try it. It has certainly given us more media coverage. I’m looking forward to being there tonight, seeing these outstanding players, and kicking off Super Bowl week.

Q: Best piece of advice your father (the late U.S. Senator Charles Goodell) gave you?

A: Do what’s right regardless of the consequence. He didn’t just say it. He lived it.

Q: Climbing Mount Rainier ( in Washington)?

A: It was the biggest physical and emotional challenge I have ever faced. I made it to the summit so I met the challenge. But I won’t be doing it again any time soon.

Q: Boyhood idol?

A: Johnny Unitas.

Q: Boyhood dream?

A: I slept with my first Duke football when I was 6 years old. It must have influenced my dreams.

Q: Your experience working (as an intern) for the Jets?

A: One of my best experiences. Being involved with a team gave me a different perspective from the league office and helped me better understand the NFL as a whole. I made some lifelong friends from that 1983 Jets team and met several members of the media, including a young writer named Steve Serby, that I still see regularly.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Jane, Sarah and Susanna (my wife and twin girls).

Q: What would you hope your legacy will be?

A: When you start talking about your legacy, it’s time to go.