In keeping with his Super Bowl tradition of sitting down with the network broadcasting the big game, President Obama opined on gender issues, gays in the Boy Scouts and, of course, football with CBS News' Scott Pelley.

On women in combat, the president said that there are women in the military who could do "anything that a man can and more," and that they shouldn't be prevented from advancement. He also said that gays should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts and have access to the same opportunities and leadership as everyone else.

When the interview turned to the economy, Obama called for "smart spending reductions" made gradually so that they reduce the deficit but don't "have a huge impact" on average Americans.

Obama also reiterated a previous statement in which he said that if he had a son, he'd have to think twice before allowing him to play football.

"I want to make sure we're doing everything we can to make the sport safer," he said, adding that "the game is probably going to evolve a little bit" in terms of learning more about the effects of head injuries.

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(Photo: CBS News)