The Facts: Following up on an ongoing story. ... The Browns have released Stallworth. Reported by The Sports Ticker

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.

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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." Reported by ESPN.com

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.

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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. Reported by FootballDiehards.com

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.

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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. Reported by FootballDiehards.com

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.

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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. Reported by the Associated Press

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.

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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. Reported by the Associated Press

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.

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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. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

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.

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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.  Reported by Profootballtalk.com

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.

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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. Reported by the Boston Globe

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.”

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The Facts: Jacobs underwent surgery last month to repair a partially torn meniscus that hampered him all season. Looking back, he realizes he should have had the injury repaired after it occurred in in the opener against the Redskins. "I would’ve got it done Week 1, missed four or five weeks and came back and played," Jacobs said during a Super Bowl-related media appearance. Reported by the Newark Star-Ledger

Diehards Line: Jacobs had his least effective season since becoming a starter in 2007. He rushed for 835 yards on 224 carries for an average of 3.7 yards per attempt. ... As for the surgery and how it went, Jacobs said "everything feels good" and that he doesn't expect this to be a lingering issue. He'll be back to running and working out soon and will participate in the Giants' off-season workout program, which starts in March.

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The Facts: HC Bill Belichick does not plan to name a defensive coordinator in 2010 and instead will be more involved on defense to share the workload with his assistants, according to the team's official website. "Titles are fine, nothing wrong with them,” Belichick said on Patriots.com, “but the most important thing is each person’s role, that we do everything we can to help the players succeed." Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: The Patriots and Dean Pees, who served as DC the last four seasons, parted ways in January. ... Meanwhile, the Patriots also have not named an offensive coordinator at this point. If they do in the future, it would almost certainly be QBs coach Bill O'Brien, who handled much of the play-calling duties in 2009 when the team went without an official coordinator.

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The Facts: Friday's Super Bowl XLIV 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 of a normal game week. Then they must reveal the player's status for the game (out, doubtful, questionable, or probable). That information for Sunday's Saints-Colts Super Bowl can be accessed HERE.

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The Facts: The Bears on Friday finalized their coaching staff by naming Rod Marinelli defensive coordinator, Eric Washington defensive line coach and Shane Day quarterbacks coach. Reported by ChicagoBears.com

Diehards Line: Marinelli, who also will retain his title as assistant HC, joined the Bears a year ago as DL coach after spending the previous three seasons as HC of the Lions. ... Marinelli and new OC Mike Martz will be more involved with a position group this season than Bears coordinators have been in the past, with Marinelli continuing to work with the defensive line and Martz tutoring quarterbacks along with Day, previously a quality control coach for the 49ers. Day also worked with new TEs coach Mike DeBord at Michigan in 2005-06. In addition to Martz, Day and DeBord, other Bears offensive coaches include the recently hired Mike Tice (OL) and holdovers Darryl Drake (WRs) and Tim Spencer (RBs).

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The Facts: DE Dwight Freeney, continuing to nurse his torn ankle ligament, missed his sixth straight day of practice Friday. He remains questionable for Super Bowl XLIV. CB Jerraud Powers (foot) did return to practice, albeit on a limited basis. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Meanwhile, WR Reggie Wayne left practice early with an "aggravated knee injury," according to pool reporter Peter King of SI.com. King advised his Twitter followers that Wayne's injury isn't "a big story. ..." Freeney, meanwhile, will be. Look for a Dreaded Game-Time Decision with the star pass rusher playing a limited role against the Saints. We will, of course, continue to update through kickoff.

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The Facts: Stafford said he is “pretty close” to being recovered from the left shoulder injury that kept him out of the final four games of the season.  Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: When the Lions’ off-season program begins, Stafford said his top priority will be to analyze his 20 interceptions and 24 sacks to look for common denominators. “I want to get back and look at all the mistakes, the interceptions and the sacks,” Stafford told ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert. ... Remember: Stafford played in only 10 games because of injuries. Projected over a full 16-game season, he was on pace for a 32-interception season. Meaning he has some work to do.

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The Facts: Pennington, he of the thrice-repaired throwing shoulder, isn't ready to call it a career. The popular former Jets QB intends to play in 2010, even as a backup, and he's willing to consider any offer. Even from the Jets. Reported by the New York Daily News

Diehards Line: While acknowledging it "would be tough" to return to the team that fired him only 19 months ago, Pennington -- an unrestricted free agent in four weeks -- told the Daily News Thursday he would definitely listen if GM Mike Tannenbaum called. ... Still, Pennington would prefer to stay in Miami as Chad Henne's backup. But the Dolphins have remained noncommittal, so Pennington is preparing to play the free-agent game.

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The Facts: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says Stallworth will be reinstated from his suspension for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk. Reported by the Associated Press

Diehards Line: At his annual Super Bowl-week news conference Friday, Goodell said Stallworth’s suspension will be lifted after the Super Bowl on Sunday. Goodell said he met with Stallworth about a month ago, and the receiver is “in a better place than he was.” Goodell said Stallworth recognizes what he did and has prepared himself to return to the NFL. ... Stallworth's return to the league by no means guarantees his return as a Brown. It seems quite likely the speedy receiver will be moving on. Stay tuned.

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The Facts: HC Jim Caldwell sounded optimistic Friday that Freeney could play against the New Orleans Saints in Sunday’s Super Bowl. “He’s trending in the right direction,” Caldwell said at his final pre-Super Bowl news conference. Reported by the Associated Press

Diehards Line: Freeney has been receiving treatment several times daily since arriving in South Florida last week, trying to speed up the recovery after tearing a ligament in his right ankle during the Colts’ AFC championship game victory over the New York Jets. Whie Freeney believes he’s improving, he has yet to practice this week. He could test the ankle in practice today or wait until Saturday's final walkthrough. ... Stay tuned.

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The Facts: Following up on a previous item. ... Any plans Johnson has for a renegotiated contract are “premature,” according to HC Jeff Fisher. Fisher said Johnson would likely have to wait regarding any extension, especially with a contract that contains three more seasons currently. “For me to come out right now, it’s way too premature to say we have any intention of doing anything for CJ,” Fisher said. Reported by the Nashville City Paper

Diehards Line: Johnson, the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, ran for 2,006 yards this past season, just his second in the league, and said at season’s end -- and again this week -- that a sizeable raise wouldn’t be something he would push for but something he and agent Joel Segal would likely explore. Johnson is scheduled to make $550,000 in base salary for 2010, $800,000 in 2011 and $2.21 million in the deal’s final year in 2012, although he has already reached incentives that will bump his salary.

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The Facts: Tomlinson knows he has played his last game as a Charger. “I’m not coming back,” Tomlinson told The Union-Tribune on Thursday. “I don’t believe I’ll be back in San Diego. I’ve accepted it.” Reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune

Diehards Line: Tomlinson has two years remaining on his contract, but he is due a $2 million roster bonus March 5 and would be paid $5 million in total salary in 2010. As part of the renegotiated contract he signed last March, he is guaranteed $1 million by the Chargers for next season. As Union-Tribune staffer Kevin Acee reiterated Wednesday, both sides have said since a restructuring of Tomlinson’s contract last March that the deal would not be reworked again -- with LT making it clear earlier this week that he has no intention of taking a pay cut. His comments today only confirm the inevitable.

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