It makes for an interesting story, but here's the part where I would start to disagree with those theories.
Peyton had already won a SB 3 year prior. It doesn't make sense that there would be a greater appeal in "The New Orleans boy won a SB!! (again)" compared to "the actual team in New Orleans which had long been viewed as a losing franchise and had to undergo major renovations to their home stadium that once housed thousands of Katrina evacuees managed to win a title" On the contrary, I think the NFL got EXACTLY what they wanted in February 2010.
Now, whatever happened later, who knows.