Brandon Marshall was taking in the hoopla at Super Bowl XLIII on Thursday while working the radio and TV circuit.

But something was noticeably missing - his team.

It's something he hopes to quickly rectify, as soon as next season.

"It was painful at first just sitting on the couch and watching some of these playoff games," the Broncos receiver said. "But it brings excitement for me now, just being involved in some of the festivities at the Super Bowl and watching guys do interviews for the Cardinals and Steelers. I'm imagining how it's going to be when we get there.

"And I don't think it's a question of if we're going to get there, but when we're going to get there. . . . It's only a matter of time."

First things first, though.

Next week, Marshall will leave for Honolulu and his first Pro Bowl. It will be a chance to get away before going full bore into his offseason conditioning work.

And, he hopes, it's a chance to unveil a mystery celebration he admits is so big, he's already practiced it and is "nervous about."

The player who found himself in the middle of a minibrouhaha this season because of a painted glove in Cleveland, hinted his latest post-touchdown show involves even bigger performance enhancements.

"A big prop, a huge prop," he said. "Stay tuned. It's really big."

Marshall has spent the past several weeks in nearby Orlando, running routes at his alma mater, the University of Central Florida.

He also said he has been running a couple of miles a day, while bowling and golfing, though not faring well in the latter two.

His true preparation for the 2009 season will begin shortly after returning from Hawaii. It might include more informal gatherings with teammates instead of organized sessions last winter in Atlanta. Teammate Eddie Royal is in charge of organizing those workouts.

Marshall views these next few months as critical in his development, particularly after major forearm surgery in March interrupted his workouts and affected his season despite a solid statistical output: 104 catches, 1,265 yards and six touchdowns.

"Last year, anybody who watched saw that I wasn't as explosive and I didn't look as quick and fast as I did the year before," he said. "Mainly, it was because of my offseason. You win games and get better in your offseason, and my offseason was horrible. I didn't lift weights. I was sidelined by my arm injury. And I paid for it.

"I put up some decent numbers, but it could have been a heck of a lot better and I could have done more for our team to probably give us another game or two in the win column. But it's something I'm taking advantage of this offseason, building strength and muscle and just being strong."

Marshall also plans soon to meet meeting face to face with new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. And while the departure of Mike Shanahan initially was shocking, he hopes McDaniels can be a mentor like his predecessor.

So far, the receiver likes what he hears, though many schematic specifics have not been offered.

"He said we're going to score a lot of points," Marshall said, adding with a smile, "Coach, I hope that's not putting too much pressure on you, but that's what you told me . . . "