The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Finley is a free agent this offseason and there hasn't been any movement on a new contract. "Hey, it's the NFL," Finley said Friday. "With business right now, I don't even know what's going on. ...You just have to play that (waiting) game. It's the Green Bay way. "I don't know anything. I'll just hope for the best." Reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Diehards Line: As Journal Sentinel staffer Tyler Dunne notes, if Finley does receive the franchise tag from the Packers, it's expected that he will seek to be classified as a wide receiver. An arbitrator would make that final call. The franchise tag number for wideouts will likely be around $9 million. This season, Finley had 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns.

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The Facts: Following up on the previous item. ... ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Chiefs hired former Dolphins assistant Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator. Reported by FootballDiehards.com

Diehards Line: Daboll, most recently Miami's offensive coordinator, has a history with general manager Scott Pioli and he was selected over QBs coach Jim Zorn and former Raiders OC Al Saunders.

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The Facts: According to a league source, the Bills and Lindell have agreed on a contract that will keep him in Buffalo. Lindell was set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 13, but the two sides have hammered out an agreement. Reported by WGR550.com

Diehards Line: Lindell has spent nine seasons as the kicker for Buffalo since arriving from the Seattle Seahawks. From 2003 to 2010, Lindell didn't miss a single game for Buffalo. It wasn't until this past season that he missed eight regular season games due to a shoulder injury. In his career in Buffalo, Lindell has connected on 204 field goals out of 246 attempts, a field goal percentage of nearly 83-percent. He's also missed only one extra point, that coming on a block against the Chicago Bears at the Rogers Centre in Toronto in 2010.

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The Facts: Friday's final Super Bowl XLVI Injury/Status Report is now available for your review. Reported by FootballDiehards.com

Diehards Line: Under NFL rules, teams are only required to list if a player practiced or not until Friday. Then they must reveal the player's status for the game (out, doubtful, questionable, or probable). That information can now be accessed HERE.

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The Facts: Following up on a previous item. ... Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes have talked by phone in an attempt to repair their relationship, and they're planning to meet soon for a kind of quarterback-wide receiver retreat. HC Rex Ryan told ESPN.com Friday that Sanchez and Holmes have discussed the possibility of taking an entire weekend to hash out their differences -- a couple's getaway, NFL style. "I'm not sure if they're going to or not, but that's something they mentioned," Ryan said. "I'm not sure where it would be or anything like that. I know they had mentioned that to me." Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Ryan said he has spoken individually to Sanchez and Holmes, whose year-long rift became public at the end of the season. Asked if he planted the seed for the get-together, Ryan smiled and said, "I'm not going to take credit for that." Owner Woody Johnson revealed Thursday that he's planning to have dinner next week with Sanchez, and the team also has to make a final decision on Holmes' contract. If they wanted to cut him, they'd have to do it by Wednesday, according to a clause in the five-year, $45 contract he signed last summer. If he's still on the roster by Wednesday, his guaranteed money increases from $7.75 million to $15 million. Ryan, reiterating the team's public stance on Holmes, said there's no chance of him being released. "That's not going to happen," he said. ... We'll see.

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The Facts: Ahmad Bradshaw didn't participate in practice Friday, the final session before Sunday's Super Bowl. Defensive back Tyler Sash and defensive end Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee) were limited. All three players are listed as probable, along with wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and linebacker Jacquian Williams (foot). Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: The absences came after HC Tom Coughlin had presented a rosy picture of his team's health while addressing the media Friday morning. "Everyone wants to be a part of it at this point in time," Coughlin had said. "No one wants to be someone who is not able to participate or be a part of this wonderful experience. We’ve had everyone on the practice field, and hopefully, thank God, it will be that way Sunday. ..." As NFL.com's Albert Bree notes, Bradshaw had participated in Wednesday's practice on a limited basis and was a full participant Thursday. It has not been unusual for Bradshaw to play in a game after missing a day or two of practice since he broke a bone in his foot during the regular season.

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The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Colts owner Jim Irsay released a statement on Friday. “Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts family remain close and unified as we continue to work through all the options that relate to his future with the Colts,” the statement reads. “The present focus is on the Super Bowl and the great game that awaits.” Reported by FootballDiehards.com

Diehards Line: At the risk of sounding cyncial and mean-spirited, the words in the release don't match the actions either side have taken this week. The two sides appear to be using the enormous world-wide stage that comes with the Super Bowl being hosted in Indianapolis to gain some kind of media or public relations advantage in what appears to be the process of separating after a lengthy and mutually-beneficial relationship. And every time they say it's not so, it becomes even clearer that it is. ... We'll further suggest we'd expected more from both sides.

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The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... TE Rob Gronkowski is listed as questionable on the team's final injury report. Gronkowski participated in Friday's hour-long walk-through. He practiced for the second straight day after being limited in practice on Thursday. The Patriots listed 10 other players as questionable, including safety Patrick Chung (knee), left guard Logan Mankins (knee), linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee) and wide receiver Wes Welker (knee). Reported by the Redzone.org

Diehards Line: All 11 players were listed as taking part in a limited portion of Friday's practice and Boston Herald staffer Ian Rapoport advised his readers that Gronkowski is likely to play, as will likely all of the questionable. "This is kind of like Saturday for us," said HC Bill Belichick. "We've had a little bit of extra time this week (to practice). I think we're ready to go. We've worked hard this week Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in practice, and we had good practices back (in Foxboro) last week. We went through some mental-review things out there (Friday). ..." Stay tuned. We'll be posting the full injury report for Sunday's game once it's released by the league office.

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The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Matt Forte said he would be fine with the Chicago Bears using the franchise tag on him as long as it leads to a long-term deal and is not simply a tactic to keep him off the free-agent market for another season. "It depends on the motive of (the franchise tag)," Forte said Thursday. "If they are doing the franchise tag just to get more time in order to negotiate a long-term deal then I would be OK with it. But if it's just to hold me another year and just 'Let's throw some money at him right now to keep him quiet,' that's not going to solve anything." Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said on Tuesday that the team has no intention of letting Forte become a free agent. Forte, who made his first Pro Bowl in the final year of his rookie contract, hopes that means an amenable resolution to a contract issue that has gone on since the lockout ended in July. Forte turned down a contract offer from the Bears before the season with $13 million to $14 million in guaranteed money, ESPN.com reported. Now with Phil Emery taking over for Jerry Angelo as Bears GM, Forte is hopeful an agreement can be reached. He said his agent has already spoken with Emery and expects to have more conversations in the next few days. Forte missed the final four games of the regular season after suffering a sprained right medial collateral ligament during the Bears' home loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4. He finished the season with 1,487 yards from scrimmage and returned to play in Sunday's Pro Bowl.

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The Facts: The Kansas City Chiefs are talking to Brian Daboll about their vacant offensive-coordinator position, according to a league source. Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: As previously noted, the Chiefs have also looked at Jim Zorn as an in-house candidate and have spoken to former Raiders coordinator Al Saunders, who has worked previously in Kansas City. Daboll, most recently Miami's offensive coordinator, has a history with general manager Scott Pioli and several executives expect him to be a top candidate for the job.

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The Facts: What started on Nov. 23, 2006 when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos 19-10 at Arrowhead Stadium in NFL Network's first-ever "Thursday Night Football" broadcast will expand to a 13-game schedule of games being played on the NFL Network in 2012. Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: The "Thursday Night Football" prime-time games will be played from Weeks 2 to 15, which increase the NFL Network schedule from the eight games it broadcast during the 2011 regular season. "This will result in every team appearing in Thursday football games and every team having a prime-time appearance throughout the season," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at his annual state of the NFL news conference Friday. ... That means Fantasy owners will be more affected by Thursday night kickoffs more than we have been in the past. Fortunately, there have been enough Thursday games to know the drill when it comes dealing with lineup issues.

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The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Manning’s agent, Tom Condon, said in an appearance on NFL Network Friday morning that he believes Manning will be healthy and ready to go for the 2012 season. “Peyton’s not done,” Condon said. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Following up on Thursday’s reports that Manning had been medically cleared to return to the field — reports that Colts owner Jim Irsay denied — Condon said that Manning’s medical clearance means it would be safe for him to play, and that he wouldn’t be risking greater injury to his neck. Condon added, however, that Manning’s nerve regeneration hasn’t reached the point where he would be able to step on the field and play in an NFL game today. ... And again, the two sides, both of whom insisted the story this week should be about the city of Indianapolis hosting the Super Bowl (and perhaps even about Peyton's brother Eli Manning playing in it), continue to do everything possible to make their own situation the biggest story going. Nice job by them. We'll continue to follow up as needed.

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The Facts: Following up on a previous item. ... Foster will be a restricted free agent this offseason. The 2010 NFL rushing champion was asked about his contract situation on Thursday afternoon during an interview with SportsRadio 610. “It’s out of my hands,” Foster said. “But I want to – they’ve expressed interest that they want to, and they already know that I want to stay in Houston.” Reported by HoustonTexans.com

Diehards Line: Foster is entering his fourth season in the league. As a restricted free agent, he can sign an offer sheet with another team after free agency begins, but the Texans will have the right to match it. The Texans can place as high as a first-round tender on Foster, meaning if another team signs him to an offer sheet and the Texans elect not to match it, they would get a first-round draft pick in return. An undrafted free agent in 2009, Foster played last season on a one-year contract. He didn’t raise any issues with his contract in the media or miss any of training camp. He went on to finish fifth in the NFL with 1,224 rushing yards despite missing three-and-a-half games.

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The Facts: Following up on the ongoing saga. ... In the wake of ESPN's report that Manning has been medically cleared to play, Colts owner Jim Irsay responded via Twitter early this morning: “Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts,” Irsay said. “Team statement coming on Friday.” Reported by FootballDiehards.com

Diehards Line: According to a statement released Thursday evening by the firm that manages his surgeon's public relations, "Peyton Manning underwent a thorough medical re-evaluation as part of a postoperative visit with his surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins Sr. of the Marina Spine Center in Marina del Rey, Calif. As a result of this examination, Manning is medically cleared to play professional football. ...' Still, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told the Indianapolis Star that "nothing's new' regarding Manning's situation. The team still has serious concerns about his long-term health. Even with Dr. Watkins' latest evaluation, it's possible Manning won't pass a Colts- administered physical at the proper time. Remaining issues include whether the nerves in his right arm have sufficiently regenerated and if he has regained the necessary arm strength.

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The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Gronkowski practiced on Thursday for the first time since injuring his left ankle in the AFC Championship game, and HC Bill Belichick said his young TE came through well. "He was OK this morning. I don’t think he had any setbacks," Belichick said today at his final press conference before Super Bowl XLVI. Reported by the Newark Star-Ledger

Diehards Line: The coach added: "We'll see how it goes out there today, but I think he's gotten treatment probably morning, noon and night, and he's gotten better on a daily basis. Hopefully he’ll be able to continue that same progress today and tomorrow and all day Sunday, and we’ll see where it takes us." Asked to elaborate on Gronkowski's load in practice Thursday, Belichick said only: "He practiced on a limited basis. He did some of the things that we did in practice but not all of them. ..." Gronkowski said he may take a pain-killing injection before the game or wear a supportive device on his foot. He said he will make the decision on if he plays, based on his pain tolerance.

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The Facts: HC Romeo Crennel and GM Scott Pioli are looking to plug holes on their coaching and scouting staffs and emphasized Thursday the need to bring in competition for Matt Cassel at starting QB. Crennel has interviewed QBs coach Jim Zorn and Oakland Raiders OC Al Saunders for the vacant offensive coordinator's job and said, "I might interview another one or two" before making a decision, perhaps early next week. Reported by the Kansas City Star

Diehards Line: The new OC also would have some say in the selection of a veteran QB - or QB taken in the draft - because Crennel and Pioli were adamant that there will be competition for Cassel, who along with second-year man Ricky Stanzi are the only two QBs under contract. "What happens in free agency remains to be seen," Crennel said. "I know competition makes everybody better, and we'll just have to see what kind of competition we're going to have at the quarterback position." As Star staffer Randy Covitz noted, Crennel's stance on Thursday was a bit of a departure from the unqualified backing he gave Cassel last month. Pioli took it a step further saying "There will be increased competition at every position, including the QB position. Who that is, I don't know. Maybe it's Kyle (Orton), maybe it's another free agent, maybe it's a draft choice, I don't know." Orton, who finished the season as the starter, winning two of the last three games, including a victory over then-unbeaten Green Bay after Crennel replaced Todd Haley on an interim basis, is an unrestricted free agent. ... Stay tuned. It's a situation well worth watching.

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The Facts: Taking to Twitter to discuss his recovery from back surgery, Knox tweeted Thursday that he remembers the injury he suffered in a Dec. 18 game against Seattle "like it was yesterday." The third-year receiver tweeted a photo of a back brace that he said he must wear until mid-March, which only comes off when he showers and is uncomfortable "only when i sleep." Asked if he thought he would be able to play in the 2012 season, Knox tweeted, "Im focusing on getting 100% first!"  Reported by the Chicago Tribune

Diehards Line: Asked what he most recalled about the devastating hit he sustained from the Seahawks' Anthony Hargrove, which required surgery to fuse a fractured vertebra, Knox replied, "Damn i fumbled lol. ..." Knox, who had 37 receptions for 727 yards and two touchdowns this season, tweeted that he has yet to watch a replay of the incident. Asked how close he was to never being able to walk again, Knox replied, "If i tell u u wont be able to sleep. ..." Stay tuned. We'll follow up on Knox's progress throughout the offseason.

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The Facts: Williams, who was placed on injured reserve with an ankle/leg injury he suffered on Dec. 18, said he is off crutches and rehabbing at the team's headquarters. He indicated that he might not be ready to take part in OTAs and minicamps, which begin in mid-April. "I'm just really focused on having a great offseason and getting back to form," he said. Reported by mynorthwest.com

Diehards Line: Williams added: "This past season I came into camp and [within] a couple of days I had a foot [injury], and then I had a hamstring, then I had a back. I just never really got going. I was always fighting something along the way. ..." Last season, that included his weight. His plan for improving on a disappointing 2011 season includes playing at a lower weight. "I've got to get better, I've got to get faster, I've got to get more explosive. I won't be playing at 240 [pounds] this year. I'm going to go down and go a lot lower than that just to give myself the best chance," the receiver said. Weight issues were part of the reason Williams was out of football for two seasons prior to joining the Seahawks in 2010. The contract extension he signed later that season includes a weight clause. Williams suggested that he has played at 240 pounds in the past -- he's been listed at 235 the past two seasons -- but added, "I've got to take a different step and really give myself a chance to be the player that I can be and that I know I am."

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The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... HC Bill Belichick isn't exactly going to fill up a reporter's notebook with information about one of his injured players, but to the extent that he discussed Gronkowski's return to practice today, Belichick sounded positive. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Pool reporter Alex Marvez spoke with Belichick after the practice session at the Colts' facilities, and Belichick said things went well, but the real key is seeing whether Gronkowski feels tomorrow like he overdid it today. "It was good," Belichick said. "It was fine. We'll see where he is tomorrow - whether that set him back, whether it didn't and whether he's able to continue to progress on a daily basis. But it was a good test for him, too, at least. At least he was out here and did some things to see how it feels. We'll see how it goes. ..." Stay tuned. More to come.

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The Facts: Thursday's Super Bowl XLVI Injury/Practice Report is now available for your review. Reported by FootballDiehards.com

Diehards Line: Under NFL rules, teams are only required to list if a player practiced or not until Friday. Then they must reveal the player's status for the game (out, doubtful, questionable, or probable). Thursday's edition can now be accessed HERE.

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