The Facts:
With Brady entering the final year of his contract with the Patriots, the sides are expected to negotiate an extension that will likely make him one of the highest paid players in the NFL. The question is when those talks will truly heat up. 

Diehards Line:
According to ESPN's Mike Riess, the presence of a $3 million roster bonus could potentially take negotiations to a higher level. Brady is due the roster bonus on March 5, which is the first official day of the 2010 league year. ... Brady's new deal could be anywhere from $15-18 million per season, and possibly higher, so it's difficult to gauge how much a $3 million roster bonus could factor into the pace of negotiations. But it is one factor that could come into play with Brady's contract situation.

The Facts:
Following up on an ongoing story. ... The Browns have released Stallworth. 

Diehards Line:
That didn't take long. ... Stallworth was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he pleaded guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Florida. He spent 24 days in jail. Goodell confirmed last Friday that Stallworth would be reinstated after the Super Bowl. He was and Cleveland terminated his contract. Stallworth played one season for the Browns, catching 17 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown in 2008.

The Facts:
The NFL has been testing an emerging technology for tracking players' movements, which could result in a computer chip inside footballs so viewers could see every down measured virtually, the NFL confirmed to ESPN.com. "This is a priority for us," said Hans Schroeder, vice president of digital media for the NFL. "What exactly that means for next [season], we're still trying to work through that." 

Diehards Line:
Four companies were allowed to install cameras in a handful of NFL stadiums this season -- concluding with the Pro Bowl last Sunday in Miami -- where each play of the game was optically tracked and the data sent to servers. The information was processed in real time, allowing for mapping the time players spent on the field as well as their overall speed, among other things. ... While placing computer chips in footballs is not on the immediate horizon, the NFL is actively allowing companies to determine a way to track every play, including the location of the ball and where players specifically step out of bounds.

The Facts:
The Saints have declared RB Lynell Hamilton, LB Anthony Waters, G Jamar Nesbit, TEs Darnell Dinkins and Tory Humphrey, WR Adrian Arrington and DE Paul Spicer inactive for Super Bowl XLIV. The Colts will be without PK Adam Vinatieri, WR Sam Giguere, TE Colin Cloherty, DT John Gill, T Michael Toudouze, G Mike Pollak, DE Ervin Baldwin and DT Fili Moala. 

Diehards Line:
Matt Stover will continue to handle the Colts' kicking duties with Vinatieri out; as previously noted, Colts DE Dwight Freeney (ankle) is active and slated to start. ... The Saints will have no lineup changes and Chase Daniel is listed as the No. 3 QB.

The Facts:
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Colts DE Dwight Freeney is active and starting in today's Super Bowl game against the Saints. 

Diehards Line:
Freeney was listed as questionable with a third-degree ankle sprain suffered in the team's AFC Championship win over the Jets two weeks ago. ... We'll have the full inactive lists for both teams when released.

The Facts:
Dwight Freeney watched the Colts’ final Super Bowl practice from a golf cart, and it’s still uncertain whether he will play in Sunday’s Super Bowl. The All-Pro DE hasn’t practiced since tearing a ligament in his right ankle late in the AFC title game Jan. 24. Saturday’s brief walkthrough was no different. 

Diehards Line:
HC Jim Caldwell said Freeney had improved from Friday to Saturday but declined to say whether the star would play against the Saints. As previously noted, it's widely believed Freeney will play. The question will be one of effectiveness. ... Meanwhile, Reggie Wayne eased any concerns about his possible absence Sunday, returning to practice one day after aggravating a season-long right knee injury. Wayne left Friday’s practice 20 minutes early, and Caldwell sounded confident that Wayne would play Sunday.

The Facts:
All-time greats Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith led a class of seven into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Rice and Smith both made it in their first year of eligibility. They will be inducted into the Canton, Ohio, shrine on Aug. 7. 

Diehards Line:
The NFL’s career receiving and rushing leaders were joined in the Hall by John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau. Little and LeBeau were elected as senior committee nominees. ... The list of candidates failing to make it this year included Cris Carter, Shannon Sharpe and Andre Reed.

The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that Freeney will test his injured ankle during pre-game warmups and, barring a setback, will be in the lineup when the Colts face the Saints tomorrow in Super Bowl XLIV. 

Diehards Line:
It's not known how much Freeney would be able to play, but as PFT's Josh Alper suggests, it seems a safe bet that he'll be rushing Drew Brees on obvious passing downs. ... As always, those interested will want to check back in the hour leading up to kickoff for official inactive announcements of interest.

The Facts:
The Torry Holt experiment in Jacksonville is only going to last one season. Vito Stellino of the Florida Times Union reports that Holt and tackle Tra Thomas will be released Monday by the Jaguars.  

Diehards Line:
Still only 33, Holt had decent numbers in Jacksonville with 51 catches for 722 yards. But as PFT's Gregg Rosenthal pointed out this morning, the veteran wideout's speed and ability to win one-one-battles has declined rapidly the last few seasons. The Jaguars have a promising young group of wideouts with Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Thomas, and Jarrett Dillard. Holt was due $9 million over the next two seasons.

The Facts:
Taylor, who turned 34 on Jan. 27, assumes he will return to the Patriots to finish out his two-year contract. Any running back with 12 years of experience and 11,540 yards on his tires is a candidate for retirement. Taylor said he is definitely coming back next year. “I signed a two-year deal,” Taylor said. “In my mind, I would like to finish it. I haven’t really spoke to anyone regarding what’s going to happen, but we’ll see soon, I think. 

Diehards Line:
Taylor wants to not just come back, but also to compete for the featured role in the backfield. “I’m not just going back to sit,” Taylor said. “I can do that down here. ..." Taylor spent most of the 2009 season sidelined with an ankle injury and finished with 269 yards on 63 carries in just six games. Sounds like he's looking for some redemption. “I feel like I let some people down, including myself,” Taylor said. “But I’ve got another chance, another opportunity to prove myself.”