Woodson: Noll in conversation as NFL's greatest coach

Chuck Noll passed away Friday at the age of 82, leaving in his wake a masterful football legacy. Rod Woodson was there for the end.

The Hall of Fame defensive back played five seasons under Noll, whose coaching run with the Steelers spanned from 1969 to 1991. Woodson remembers Noll as a leader who challenged him to win football's considerable mental battle while giving players a way to look at the game from different perspectives.

"He was a huge catalyst for teaching football life," Woodson said Friday on NFL Network. "He loved to read, he would take different scriptures from different literature that he would read and then he would apply it back to the team in some form or fashion to motivate us to win football games. He was an amazing man. I caught the tail-end of his career, and I just couldn't imagine what he was like when they were winning all the Super Bowls.

Woodson was asked if Noll -- who won an unprecedented four Super Bowls -- is in the conversation as the greatest coach in NFL history.

"Well, I think you definitely have to put him there," Woodson said. "Just the way he looked at the draft, the way he wanted to form his team, he was a catalyst of putting that team together, along with all the other ones in the front office for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"But when you talk about somebody who put his thumb print on a football team and they played their way, the Steeler way, it's Chuck Noll. Chuck Noll made it the Steeler way, and they've been playing that way ever since."

Copyright: nfl.com

Money may send Vince Wilfork away

The 32-year-old defensive tackle asked for his release after apparently feeling spurned by recent contract discussions, according to the NFL Network. When reached yesterday, Wilfork’s agent, Kennard McGuire, had no comment.

As surprising as it may be, the signs existed of an unhappy ending with Wilfork’s $11.6 million cap hit in 2014. Financially, the Patriots would save $8 million against the cap by granting Wilfork’s request, so the business side of it works in the team’s favor.

The final season of Wilfork’s five-year, $40 million contract included $7.5 million in base salary, a $400,000 workout bonus and $200,000 weight bonus, plus the prorated portion of his $18 million signing bonus, accounting for $3.6 million in dead money.

So, the Pats didn’t want Wilfork to account for an $11.6 million cap hit a year after tearing his Achilles, and made their attempt to tweak that margin. Because Wilfork fought so hard in 2010 for his contract, the thought of taking a pay cut after 10 years of service was likely nauseating.

It’s possible the Pats offered an extension to Wilfork to spread out the cap hit to future years, but the high probability of a team-friendly offer appeared to irk him, which became evident with yesterday’s news of his asking to be released.

Wilfork is now betting on himself. In terms of actual cash, he would have made a minimum of $7.5 million in salary in 2014, and if he’s healthy enough after surgery, he would have earned the extra $600,000 with good attendance during the team’s nine-week offseason workout program.

In terms of average annual value, defensive tackle Paul Soliai set the market this offseason by earning $6.6 million per season in his five-year, $33 million deal with the Falcons, and Wilfork’s situation isn’t conducive to that type of deal. So, it’s clear he’s going to take less money by playing elsewhere in 2014, but Wilfork is likely taking the long-term view.

If he signs a one-year, prove-it deal, Wilfork could cash in next offseason with a two- or three-year contract that could ultimately net more money than he believes he’d receive immediately with the Pats. Considering Wilfork was a first-time first-team All-Pro in his last full season before the injury, it’s understandable why he’d feel confident in himself.

Pride might also be in play.

There’s no doubt the Patriots broke from their traditional philosophy Wednesday night by signing cornerback Darrelle Revis and making him the highest-paid player on the defense, as well as the second highest-paid player in the locker room.

Wilfork might shake his head and wonder why the big deal happened so quickly with Revis, who signed five hours after getting cut by the Buccaneers, and it’s been so difficult for him to get his own money, plus others who had come before him.

That’s just a theory.

However, the combination of Wilfork’s business sense and the timing of his request make it intriguing to connect the dots.

With so much in play from each side, there are positives for Wilfork and the Patriots to stand their ground, even if that results in a divorce.

Copyright : bostonherald.com

Are Broncos risking future to win now?

The Denver Broncos own the NFL’s best regular-season record in the two seasons since quarterback Peyton Manning improbably hit the market and signed with them. However, they are only 2-2 in the playoffs over that span, compared to a combined 12-3-1 for the more defensively oriented Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. And after enduring a Super Bowl humiliation last month, there was no way the Broncos could sit by idly and hope for a different result next time. They were going to address their defense in some fashion, but could anyone have expected this? 

One day into free agency, the Broncos slammed the accelerator to the floor in a clear push to win a championship before the nearly 38-year-old Manning's career is finished. While the money Denver allocated for cornerback Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward sent a clear message on its own, the Broncos’ immediate interest in the recently released DeMarcus Ware left little doubt. The question is whether the Broncos can have it both ways. Will their win-now mentality cause them to pay a steep price later? 

Every NFL general manager would tell you successful franchises ideally build through the draft and supplement with value buys in free agency.

Copyright : insider.espn.go.com

Report says Miami Dolphins bullying was widespread

An investigation into the racially charged Miami Dolphins bullying scandal detailed widespread harassment in the team's locker room that extended beyond the two players at the center of the probe.

The NFL-ordered report stated there was a "pattern of harassment" committed by at least three players and extended to two linemen and an assistant trainer, all targets of vicious taunts and racist insults.

Lawyer Ted Wells released the report Friday, saying guard John Jerry and center Mike Pouncey followed Richie Incognito's lead in harassing Jonathan Martin, who left the team in October. They threatened to rape his sister, called him a long list of slurs and bullied him for not being "black enough."

In a statement emailed by a league spokesman, the NFL did not make any mention of possible punishment stemming from the case. The league only confirmed it had received the report and said it appreciated the Dolphins' cooperation. Wells said he does not intend to comment further.

Martin is biracial, Incognito is white, and Jerry and Pouncey are black.

Martin's agent Kenneth Zuckerman said his client feels "vindicated" by the report.

Incognito's attorney Mark Schamel released a statement calling Wells' report "replete with errors" and said that Martin "was never bullied by Richie Incognito or any member of the Dolphins' offensive line."

Martin, a former Stanford star, declined interview requests.

Incognito was suspended in November, but Pouncey and Jerry remained starters throughout the season.

The report mentioned but didn't identify another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer who also routinely came under attack from the trio.

The inquiry said Martin was taunted and ridiculed almost daily and that, "To a great extent, Incognito dictated the culture."

The report found no evidence the Dolphins front office or coach Joe Philbin was aware of the conduct Martin found abusive.

Copyright : mercurynews.com

Pete Carroll, Seahawks win with style all their own

Nancy Armour, USA TODAY Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Peyton Manning and his high-octane Denver Broncos offense had never seen a defense quite like the Seattle Seahawks.

Then again, nobody in the NFL has seen a team quite like the Seahawks.

The new Super Bowl champions are feisty, led by a defense that embarrassed Manning and the Broncos. They're fearless, smart enough to know they lacked the experience and pedigrees to pull this off and too young to care.

Mostly, though, they're a whole lot of fun, something the NFL sorely needs after years of dour teams that treat games like negotiations over the debt ceiling. Yes, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, that was directed at you.

"We tried to do a little bit of everything, but mostly we tried to play the football that we know how to play," coach Pete Carroll said.

SEAHAWKS: Super Bowl result follows their plan

BRONCOS: Early mistakes doom Peyton and Co.

While the NFC West teams are all too familiar with the havoc the Seahawks can wreak, most of America got a crash course over the last two weeks. But nothing could have prepared anyone for the abuse they inflicted on Manning and the Broncos early and often on their way to a 43-8 victorySunday night that gave Seattle its first Super Bowl title.

Blame Manning and the Broncos for their botched snap on the first play from scrimmage, which gave the Seahawks a safety. After that, however, it was all Seahawks.

They were so disruptive they looked as if they really did have a 12th man on the field. The big guys up front clogged up the running lanes, and the "Legion of Boom" made sure Manning couldn't reach any of his favorite toys.

Instead of stacking touchdowns as they did in the regular season, the Broncos struggled to get first downs. Their first six drives went like this:

Three-and-out.

An interception, which set up Seattle's first touchdown.

Another interception, this one taken 69 yards to the end zone by Malcolm Smith.

A drive stalled on downs in the red zone.

A punt.

A fumble.

Finally, at the end of the third quarter, the Broncos got their first – and only – score. By that point, though, the Seahawks had a 28-point lead and NFL officials were already loading the confetti canons with blue and green paper.

BELL: Peyton far from Super on this night

SEAHAWKS: Sherman all smiles after win

Manning had a fumble to go with his two interceptions, and finished with a passer rating of just 73.5. That's a number Denver hasn't seen since Tim Tebow was quarterback.

"We liked this matchup," Smith said. "We know Peyton's a great quarterback, and he likes to get the ball out fast. But we play with an amount of speed they haven't seen, and we executed well."

And unlike the Broncos, they didn't overthink things.

So much of the attention on this game was focused on Manning, and what it would mean to his legacy. Win, and he would have to be considered one of, if not the best, quarterbacks the game has ever seen. Lose, and it adds more fuel to the argument that he can't win the big one.

The Seahawks just had to play and enjoy themselves, something Carroll has turned into an art form.

Carroll was the football version of the Pied Piper when he was at Southern California, livin' the dream and taking everyone he could along with him on the ride. He saw no reason to change when he returned to the NFL four years ago and everyone in Seattle, from his players to the fans to owner Paul Allen, has responded to his infectious enthusiasm.

They may seem like a bunch of carefree hipsters, but don't be fooled. Carroll demands discipline, hard work and maximum effort. So long as his players give him that, he gives them the freedom to be themselves.

"He just tells you every week is a championship opportunity, every week is a championship game," Richard Sherman said of his coach, who joined Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer as the only coaches to win titles at the college and professional levels. "So when you make it to a championship game, the moment isn't any different. He doesn't give a 'rah-rah' speech for a Super Bowl. He doesn't give a 'rah-rah' speech for the NFC Championship."

BLOWOUT: Five other Super Bowl snoozers

MVP: Smith leads Seahawks' 'bunch of misfits'

In fact, the closest the Seahawks got to a rah-rah speech is when quarterback Russell Wilson got up at a players-only meeting last summer and told his teammates how his father used to ask "Why not you?" when he was younger.

"Why not us?" Wilson asked the Seahawks.

It was a simple philosophy, but it fit the Seahawks perfectly. Many of them have been underdogs their entire careers, and there's nothing they like better than doing what everyone tells them they can't.

As long as they have the support of each other and their 12th Man fans – think it's a coincidence they scored 12 seconds into each half? – that's all they need.

"We're a part of history," linebacker Bobby Wagner said. "That's something we've been dreaming about the whole season. One hundred years from now, y'all are going to remember this team."

After the show they put on Sunday night, no one will ever forget them.

NFL's Goodell mentions more playoff teams, replay

NFL comissioner Roger Goodell looks at artificial snow falls on stage as he speaks at a news conference Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

NEW YORK — If Commissioner Roger Goodell gets his way, change could be coming to the NFL.

Adding playoff teams. Monitoring instant replay from league headquarters. Possibly creating a set of guidelines to prevent locker-room bullying.

Short on details or precise timetables, and acknowledging he'll need approval from team owners for action, Goodell painted the picture of an ever-evolving league during his annual pre-Super Bowl news conference, held Friday in a theater in midtown Manhattan.

Goodell said "there's a lot of benefits" to increasing the postseason field from 12 to 14 clubs.

"We think we can make the league more competitive. We think we can make the matchups more competitive toward the end of the season. There will be more excitement, more memorable moments for our fans. And that's something that attracts us," Goodell said. "We think we can do it properly from a competitive standpoint. So this will continue to get very serious consideration by the competition committee."

That sort of proposal would require "Yes" votes from 24 of the 32 owners.

At least one who attended Goodell's speech, Jeffrey Lurie of the Philadelphia Eagles, sounded in favor of the idea, with a couple of caveats: He wouldn't want to let too many teams into the postseason, and he'd like to hear more about scheduling.

"We don't want to become like some other sports, where it's too easy to make the playoffs," Lurie said. "Adding one team would not put us in a counterproductive situation. But when you would play the games, I think, is very important, so that the following games, you have virtually an equal time to prepare."

Making a not-so-subtle reference to mistakes by game officials this season, Goodell said that committee also will make recommendations to the 32 owners about having replays from all games overseen by the league office.

Major League Baseball recently joined the NHL as sports that have centralized replay systems.

"We think there's plenty of room for us to improve the game of football, and officiating in particular. What we all want is consistency and fairness in our officiating," Goodell said.

"I do believe there is a possibility that some version of that will occur — where our office can at least be involved with the decision. It may not make the decision," he added, "but at least can provide some input that would be helpful to the officials on the field to make sure they're seeing every angle."

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney said he needs more information before deciding whether he'd be in favor.

"Our situation is different than hockey. But I think we should look at everything," Rooney said. "Maybe we want to expand the number of incidents that you look at. A lot of times they'll say, 'That's not reviewable.' Look into that, for example."

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft likes the suggestion.

"Games should be standardized and have the same people making the calls," Kraft said. "I don't want to ever lose a game based on poor interpretation of rules by (different) officials."

Another focal point, according to Goodell, will be preventing the kind of alleged bullying that rocked the Miami Dolphins this season.

"I've already begun discussions with outside parties. I've discussed it with the union, I've also met with several groups of players, individually and collectively, to talk about the circumstances. What needs to be done?" Goodell said. "Some of it will be education. Some of it possibly could be policy change."

Speaking two days before the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks play in East Rutherford, N.J., Goodell did not respond directly to questions whether other cold-weather cities with outdoor stadiums could host NFL championship games.

During his opening remarks, Goodell said: "One unique aspect about the focus for this year's Super Bowl has been on the weather. Of course, we cannot control the weather. I told you we were going to embrace the weather. Here we go."

And with that, flakes of fake snow fell from the ceiling above the stage, drawing laughter.

Among other topics addressed by Goodell:

—The NFL is working to convince a federal judge in Philadelphia that the tentative $765 million settlement reached with former players who sued the league about concussions "can provide the kind of benefits that we intended, and we're confident that we'll get there";

—The difficulty in selling out wild-card playoff games resulted from "mistakes that were made by us, the NFL, and our clubs," and not fans' fault, and that improving stadium safety "is a critical component";

—The NFL is "not actively considering" allowing players to use marijuana for medical reasons, but "that's something we would never take off the table, if it can benefit our players";

—Selling out all three of next season's games in London is "just another indication that the more we give fans in the U.K. of NFL football, the more they want" and that the possibility of placing a franchise in that country is closer to reality than a year ago;

—He deflected a question about whether he'd call a Native American a "Redskin" face-to-face, saying, "Let's not forget this is the name of a football team."

___

AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner and Sports Writers Rachel Cohen, Tim Booth and Tom Canavan contributed to this report.

Copyright : bostonherald.com

Super Bowl odds and spread 2014: Broncos remain favored, line moving in both directions

James Brady, SBNation

The Denver Broncos are still favorites over the Seattle Seahawks with an official line of -2.5, but the trends have spiked in both directions of late.

SB Nation 2014 NFL Playoff Coverage

The Denver Broncos still have not been an underdog all season and it's unknown if that's going to change at this point. Earlier in the week, the lines dipped to have the Seattle Seahawks at +2.5 underdogs, at which time a lot of action came in on them to push it back down to +2. But the line has once again started trending in the other direction.

According to OddsShark, the current line has the Seahawks at +2.5, meaning the Broncos are -2.5. It's been right around there for much of the past week, and it sounds like the consistent money on Denver is not changing aside from the aforementioned spike.

The Broncos have been favored in 18 games this season, obviously counting the playoffs. They've fielded the most productive offense in NFL history; it just doesn't make sense to have them as the underdog. While the recent trends did show a spike toward Seattle that could drive the lines further, it seems unlikely to happen.

Bovada has the Broncos favored by three points, which is significant. Other sites sit at 2.5, while others still have a narrow -1 line for Denver, though that is a rarity at this point. At the time of writing, 62 percent of money is coming in on Denver, while 55 percent of the money is on the under for the total, which currently sits at 48.5.

Copyright : philly.com

Super Bowl sex traffic crackdown in US

Denver Broncos will face Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl this Sunday, the National Football League's yearly championship and one of the most watched sporting events in America.

New York and New Jersey are hosting the game for the first time and hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to travel to the region.

But officials say there is a dark side to the event - sex traffickers who want to exploit the occasion for profit.

Nada Tawfik reports from New York

Copyright : bbc.co.uk

Lynch brief, but better with media

TERRY BLOUNT via ESPN

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch cooperated Thursday in a compromise deal arranged with the Pro Football Writers of America, answering questions from selected journalists that were football-related only.

He spoke for 7 minutes, 25 seconds before asking if he could leave a designated area at the team hotel. He didn't abruptly leave and answered every question he was asked.

A table was set up with seven chairs facing Lynch and fullback Michael Robinson, where designated reporters asked the questions. Dozens of cameras were behind the chairs

Lynch answered each question briefly, bringing laughs with a couple of his responses. Lynch was asked what his first thoughts were of Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable, the former head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

"I knew he came from Oakland and I knew he punched a guy," said Lynch, who is from Oakland. "So he's my kinda guy."

Cable allegedly had a physical altercation with an assistant coach while he was with the Raiders.

Lynch had become the talk of Super Bowl week with his brief appearance on media day Tuesday, along with another brief interview session Wednesday where he said almost nothing before climbing over a table to leave after a little over six minutes of questions.

He walked into the pre-arranged interview area Thursday with Robinson, his best friend on the team and the person who has spoken for Lynch many times when Lynch didn't speak.

Lynch did not talk to reporters this season until the NFL was going to fine him $50,000 if he didn't do interviews during the playoffs.

As part of Thursday's agreement, the questions centered on football and Sunday's game.

Lynch was asked why some of his best games have come in the playoffs.

"I'm not sure," he said. "It's not like I prepare any different, so I couldn't tell you."

When did he know quarterback Russell Wilson would be a great player?

"It probably was in the preseason [of Wilson's rookie year in 2012]," Lynch said. "He started to show some of the things he can do."

What are his concerns about the Denver defense?

"Pot Roast," he said, referring to the nickname of Broncos nose tackle Terrance Knighton. "He a big boy. But they all rally to the ball. They're a good defense."

That's when Robinson was asked what makes Lynch so good.

"Hey, I got a question," Robinson joked with his arm around Lynch. "What I hear is he's the best in the league and the hardest to bring down. From a physical standpoint, the other guys in the league I talk to tell me there isn't another guy in the league doing it like that"

When Robinson first sat down, he smiled and said, "I'm like a prop here."

Lynch said the biggest asset of the Seahawks' offense is its explosiveness. And what is it that allows him to break big runs?

"The receivers," he said. "They know where they're supposed to be, and be there on time."

Lynch was asked if it's more difficult to get ready for the Super Bowl with all the distractions and media requirements this week.

"I stay ready," he said. "There ain't no getting there."

Copyright : abcnews.go.com

NFL Playoffs: Broncos-Patriots, 49ers-Seahawks Matchups Set For Championship Weekend

The NFL's final four is set.

The Huffington Post  |  By Chris Greenberg

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos grabbed the last spot in the NFL's upcoming Championship Weekend with a 24-17 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday afternoon. Manning tossed two touchdown passes and led a late clock-killing drive as the Broncos held off a fourth-quarter rally by Philip Rivers and the Chargers. The win snapped a three-game playoff losing streak for Manning that stretched back to his time in Indianapolis.

As a reward for this closer-than-expected triumph over the Chargers in the all-AFC West divisional-round playoff game, the top-seeded Broncos will host Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 42-23 on Saturday night in the first AFC divisional-round playoff game to book their spot in Championship Weekend.

AFC Championship Game

Broncos vs. Patriots

DATE: Sunday, January 19

TIME: 3 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Denver

TV: CBS

This AFC title tilt will be the 15th career meeting between Manning and Tom Brady and their third matchup with a Super Bowl berth on the line. Brady has won 10 of the 14 previous meetings overall but the quarterbacks split their two matchups in conference championship games. Brady and the Patriots overcame Manning's Colts 24-14 in January 2004 en route to winning Super Bowl XXXVIII. After the 2006 season, Manning rallied his Colts past the Patriots 38-34 in the conference title game. In both cases, the home team won and the winner went on to win the Super Bowl.

"Well, it's the Broncos versus the Patriots," Manning told CBS' Tracy Wolfson on the field at Mile High when asked about his upcoming matchup with Brady. "Certainly Tom and I have played against each other a lot but when you get to the AFC Championship it's about two good teams that did a lot to get there."

Before the Broncos and Chargers kicked off in Denver on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers clinched a spot in the NFC title game for the third year in a row. The defending NFC champions defeated the Carolina Panthers 23-10 in Charlotte to advance out of the divisional round. In order to return to the Super Bowl, the 49ers will have to do something that they haven't been able to do in a while: win in Seattle.

NFC Championship Game

Seahawks vs. 49ers

DATE: Sunday, January 19

TIME: 6:30 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Seattle

TV: FOX

The Seahawks defeated the New Orleans Saints 23-15 on Saturday behind yet another beastly performance by running back Marshawn Lynch to ensure that the road to Super Bowl goes through Seattle.

The 49ers were routed by the Seahawks 29-3 and 42-13 in their previous two regular-season trips to CenturyLink Field but quarterback Colin Kaepernick sounded confident after his team's divisional-round win over the Panthers.

"We're different team than we were the first time we played them up there. We have a lot of key playmakers back and we're ready to go," Kaepernick said on Sunday, via The Associated Press.

While the 15th Brady-Manning heavyweight fight in the AFC will likely dominate conversation ahead of Championship Weekend, the young quarterbacks in the NFC could be in the early stages of a rivalry that will be talked about for years to come.

Preview: Patriots vs. Colts

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will be looking to make a run at their sixth Super Bowl starting Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts. (Lynne Sladky / AP photo)

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots will open postseason play against the Indianapolis Colts Saturday, the start of another hopeful Super Bowl run for the NFL’s most experienced active head coach and playoff quarterback.

Bill Belichick, in his 39th season, will be seeking his 19th postseason victory against the Colts, a team that is led by the second-year tandem of head coach Chuck Pagano and quarterback Andrew Luck. The two are 0-1 against the Patriots, losing big last season in a regular season matchup, 59-24.

This Colts team has grown since that time.

“I think you’d have to say we’ve made progress,” Pagano told New England reporters. “Again, we’ve had some really good wins, and then we’ve had some disappointing losses this season. But the one thing that this group has done, and I think it’s because of players like Andrew and our veteran leadership, guys like Robert [Mathis] and Reggie [Wayne], even though Reggie’s been out since the Denver game, and Antoine Bethea and Adam Vinatieri and Cory Redding and all those guys. We’ve got great vets in the locker room, and whether it’s a big win or a disappointing loss, they’ve been sticking to the process and put it behind them and move on to the next game. So from that standpoint we’ve matured, and guys have a better understanding of what we want to get done in all three phases.”

The Patriots will have to go ahead without rookie wide receiver Aaron Dobson. Dobson, who was seen in a walking boot this week, was ruled out Friday with a foot injury.

New England has played four games without Dobson this season, winning three of those contests. It’ll be another opportunity for top receivers Julian Edelman (105 receptions, 1056 yards) and Danny Amendola (54 receptions, 633 yards) as well as fellow rookie Kenbrell Thompkins (32 receptions, 466 yards), who was listed as questionable with a hip injury, to make their mark.

Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard (knee/shoulder) was listed as questionable while nine other Patriots players were listed as probable.

The Colts, coming off a stunning 45-44 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round, will be working without one of their top receivers as well. Darius Heyward-Bey was ruled out on Friday after missing the entire week of practice with a hamstring injury. Four other players, including safety LaRon Landry and defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin, were listed as probable.

This is the fourth time Brady has faced the Colts in the playoffs, winning two of three times. He’s 10-4 against Indianapolis all-time. Brady will be looking for his 18th playoff win. His 17 postseason victories are the most in NFL history for a starting quarterback.

Here are the details for the game:

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m.

Records: Patriots 12-4 regular season; Colts 11-5 regular season (1-0 postseason).

TV, radio: CBS (Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf, Allie LaForce); 98.5 FM The Sports Hub (Bob Socci, Scott Zolak); Westwood One (Ian Eagle, Trent Green, Tony Boselli).

Projected starting lineups:
Based on information distributed to the media, practice observations, and injury reports.

Patriots offense: WR Kenbrell Thompkins, LT Nate Solder, LG Logan Mankins, C Ryan Wendell, RG Dan Connolly, RT Marcus Cannon, TE Michael Hoomanawanui, WR Julian Edelman, QB Tom Brady, RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Danny Amendola.

Patriots defense: LE Rob Ninkovich, DT Sealver Siliga, DT Chris Jones, DE Chandler Jones, LB Dont'a Hightower, LB Dane Fletcher, LB Jamie Collins, CB Aqib Talib, CB Alfonzo Dennard, S Devin McCourty, S Steve Gregory.

Colts offense: WR T.Y. Hilton, LT Anthony Castonzo, LG Hugh Thornton, C Samson Satale, RG Jeff Linkenbach, RT Gosder Cherilus, TE Coby Fleener, WR Da’Rick Rogers, QB Andrew Luck, FB Stanley Havili, RB Donald Brown.

Colts defense: DE Cory Redding, NT Aubrayo Franklin, DT Ricky Jean Francois, SLB Erik Walden, MLB Kelvin Sheppard, WLB Jerrell Freeman, RUSH Robert Mathis, LCB Darius Butler, SS Antoine Bethea, FS LaRon Landry, RCB Vontae Davis.

Get linked

- Which Patriots CB should be matched up on Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton? Well, Erik Frenz examined that very issue.

- As the Patriots face the Colts Saturday evening, see what play the Patriots are most likely going to run with our play-predictor.

- Follow the game and comment on the action in our live blog.

Zuri Berry can be reached at zberry@boston.com. Follow him on Twitter @zuriberry and on Google+.

Lambeau Field – Home of the Country’s Most Welcoming Fans

Yes, that’s someone’s grandmother and possibly great-grandmother out there in -13 wind chill.

Jason Thomas

I grew up in Northern California.  I started seriously watching football in 1986.  The 49ers had guys by the name of Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Roger Craig, Tom Rathman, Charles Haley, and a highly skilled, young receiver from Mississippi Valley St. in his second season that was better than anyone else on the field at all times.  His name was Jerry Rice.  I was hooked.  Fast forward to 2014, and I’m as big a fan as I was back then.  I can’t remember the last time I missed a game.  Even in the awful, Dennis Erickson/Mike Nolan/Mike Singletary years, when I was away from the Bay Area living briefly in Portland and Phoenix, I would always make it to a sports bar on Sunday to find the Niners game on one TV off in the corner with no audio.  I’d order a bucket of beers and watch the game, often alone.  It’s a little different today with the Red Zone Channel, NFL Sunday Ticket, a 55 inch HDTV in the living room, beat writers on Twitter, text chains with fellow fans back in the Bay Area, etc.  A full room at The Globe Pub is dedicated to the Niners game every Sunday as they fly not only a Chicago Bears flag outside, but a red & gold one as well.

As the above paragraph might indicate, I pretty much have everything figured out on game day, but something happened on the final Sunday in December.  Julius Peppers wasn’t able to sack Aaron Rodgers on a 4th down play and the Packers ripped the Bears’ hearts out by pulling out a win at Soldier Field in the de facto NFC North title game.  This meant that the 12-4 49ers would be traveling to Lambeau Field to face the 8-7-1 Green Bay Packers in the first round of the NFL Playoffs.  Yes, the 8-7-1 team was playing at home and the 12-4 team was on the road.  Super annoying and pretty nonsensical, but that’s another story…

As a fan of the 49ers and a person that enjoys being outdoors in the winter, it was pretty much a no-brainer.  I had to go to Lambeau Field.  Lambeau, in January, with extreme cold in the forecast.  Even better.  It’s the “Frozen Tundra.”  It wouldn’t be an authentic experience if you weren’t dressed in 13 layers, right?  Fortunately, for a person looking for tickets at the last minute, the game didn’t sell out until a few days before and with so many tickets available at face value that week, the secondary market was cheaper than ever before.  I picked up a couple of 50 yard line seats 30 rows from the field for a very reasonable price.  Score.

When Sunday morning finally comes around, it’s off to Green Bay.  200 miles and 3 hours later, I’m driving around the suburban neighborhood that surrounds the stadium and park on someone’s lawn for $15.  The woman directed us onto her lawn and introduced herself.  Her name was Melanie and she told us that we were welcome to tailgate on the snow-covered lawn.  She also said that if we needed to use the bathroom, we could go right inside, if we wanted to warm up in the house for a few before we changed into our outdoor gear, that was fine too, and finally, we received an invite to a backyard party of theirs with a bonfire.  Yes, even the guy with the Jerry Rice jersey was invited.  I met everyone in the backyard and after a tiny bit of good-natured ribbing for being a fan of the opposing team, we talked football.  They admired and feared the Niners and I have a ton of respect for the Packers and their sustained excellence over the past 20+ years, so we had plenty to talk about while sharing swigs from the bottle of Fireball that I brought to the party.  After an hour or so on Thorndale St. it was time to move on.  Walking through the small stadium parking lot, we found a sea of tailgaters that were more than happy to loan a bottle opener or a Bic lighter so I could crack into another Lagunitas (Northern CA brew, had to rep the area) while we talked about the upcoming game.  They were terrified of Kaepernick, I was terrified of Rodgers.  They know their football, I like to think I know my football.  They’re not afraid of hanging out in sub-zero wind chills for hours at a time, and neither am I.  We have a lot in common.

After a parking lot lap, it was over to Kroll’s West, a bar/restaurant across the street from the stadium with a wide open patio that wasn’t too strict about outside beverages being consumed on the premises.  A group of 20 & 30-somethings asked if I’d like to shotgun a can of watery light beer with them.  I like to be a good guest, so I took them up on it.  I took it down in a couple of seconds (I’ve still got it!) and it was pretty refreshing, actually.  As a fan of stouts, porters and other 8-11% microbrews, it felt like slamming a can of LaCroix.

Kaitlin Montes, XRT Promotions Director and Packers fan. Oh, the guy with the Batman hat behind us was the one that we shotgunned beers with.

Kaitlin Montes, XRT Promotions Director and Packers fan. Oh, the guy with the Batman hat behind us was the one that extended the shotgunning invitation.

Oh, did I mention that the wind chill is about -12?  Not a problem.  Heavy Gore-Tex hunting boots, snowboard pants with a couple layers underneath and a down jacket are doing their jobs, and I’d be lying if I said that the occasional swig of cinnamon whiskey wasn’t helping me to forget about the Polar Vortex that was making itself at home in the Upper Midwest.

After making my way into the stadium, I enjoyed a helluva game that ended up going the way of the visitors.  I cheered for my team, even shouted a few times (it’s a reflex) and no one talked any kind of shit to me.  Nothing like you’d find in Philly or Boston.  When the Packers made a big play, I received a few pats on the back from elated fans behind me, but it was in good fun and they even congratulated me after the game.  Yes, after their team lost on the final play of the game, in heartbreaking fashion, a few people shook my hand, told me how good the Niners were, and wished us luck in the next round against the Panthers.  Are you kidding me?!  I’d been to Lambeau once before, had roughly the same experience and knew what to expect, but doing it again, in the playoffs, in sub-zero wind chills really drove it home.  You can hate losing to the Packers, you can curse Aaron Rodgers on the field, you can even grit your teeth at the sight of a Jordy Nelson jersey, but once you visit the hallowed ground in Green Bay and experience the kindness and hospitality first-hand, you’ll always have a soft spot in your heart for the people up north.

Protecting the N.F.L. Brand

At the N.F.L., Jaime Weston-Parouse Is Vice President for Brand and Creative

By MARY BILLARD

On the fifth floor of the N.F.L. offices in Midtown is an area designed to recreate for visitors the in-your-face feel of being on the football field. Giant screens stream live games, and larger-than-life photographs of players plaster the walls. The crowds roar, the music swells.

On a recent afternoon, the last Sunday of the regular season, it was all perfect except for one thing: the stubborn presence of a poinsettia.

“That is actually a bench, not a table,” said Jaime Weston-Parouse, vice president for brand and creative at the N.F.L. “And the flower people keep sticking a plant on it, which really annoys me, and I walk over here every day and move it.” She moved the offending plant and stepped back. “We should rethink this bench.”

Ms. Weston-Parouse, 42, was showing a reporter around the league offices on Dec. 29, a day that would begin with 18 teams with a mathematical shot at the playoffs and end with the 12 that would continue on. As the early games played behind her, she described her portfolio as working with the league, licensees, sponsors, broadcast partners and teams to present a cohesive brand image and message, a function that did not exist when she was hired in 2003. She oversees the departments responsible for creative services, brand management discipline, quality control and television advertising.

“Everyone jokes that I’m the brand police, but I’m not,” Ms. Weston-Parouse said. “Every employee is responsible for managing the brand.” Ms. Weston-Parouse pushed to update the N.F.L. shield, a process that took two years and 200 designs. (“It was archaic! We called the football the hamburger.”) She worked with the Miami Dolphins to update their logo. (“We thought the helmet on the dolphin was sacred, and the fans thought it was silly.”) And along with the N.F.L. creative director, Shandon Melvin, she searched for a perfect pink when the breast cancer awareness campaign, which started with the players, became a leaguewide initiative. (“We needed a masculine pink. Is that an oxymoron?”)

At one point in the tour, as she stood in front of a glistening case displaying the Super Bowl trophy, Ms. Weston-Parouse talked a little about her father, Jimmy Weston, who owned the popular Manhattan supper club on East 54th Street bearing his name. (The restaurant closed in 1989.) A former narcotics police officer who had played basketball for St. John’s University, Mr. Weston counted among his friends and patrons Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali and Pete Rozelle.

In 1970, Mr. Rozelle, then the N.F.L. commissioner, and some colleagues went to Jimmy Weston’s after the funeral of the legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “And that’s where they decided to name it after Lombardi,” she said of the Super Bowl trophy. “A few days later, they made the announcement.”

Ms. Weston-Parouse retired to watch the games in a corner office, called the Fan Cave, which was decorated in homage to the 2013 Super Bowl champions, the Baltimore Ravens. There was also a very comfortable couch and products from the N.F.L. Homegating collection. A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet held pretzels and cheese. There was a Carolina Panthers “wine shoe,” a high heel with the team’s logo that cradles a bottle. “The shoe is one of our top sellers,” she said. “It’s amazing.” The quality control group will review about 170,000 licensing requests this year. “We have been broached by coffin licensees, but we’ve turned it down,” Ms. Weston-Parouse said. “People do want to get buried in football regalia.”

The early games were now in the final quarter, and Ms. Weston-Parouse was sorting out the domino ramifications of wins and losses. The designs for T-shirts for each team that had the potential to become conference champions were hanging on the wall outside. The Jets were beating the Dolphins. Ms. Weston-Parouse, a Jets fan, muttered, “Why couldn’t they play like that during the season?”

While taking in hard hits or cheering for a superhuman catch, Ms. Weston-Parouse commented on the logos. Every five years, teams are what is called “open,” or allowed to change their uniforms or logos, she said, adding that the hope is that they do not update their iconic DNA too often. Ms. Weston-Parouse admired the look of the Cincinnati Bengals. (“They have a great identity. I mean no one else has the stripes on the helmet, it’s so recognizable.”) She mentioned that the Atlanta Falcons took a pass on redesign. (“They didn’t have the appetite for it.”)

The Ravens lost to the Bengals that day, eliminating their chance to get to the playoffs, so the Fan Cave will be redecorated after Super Bowl XLVIII. The game will be played Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., but the championship will be omnipresent in New York. Ms. Weston-Parouse showed a mock-up of a 180-foot toboggan run that will be on “Super Bowl Boulevard,” taking over Broadway from Herald Square to 47th Street. More than 230 street poles will have Super Bowl banners. The N.F.L. is running a pop-up steakhouse, Forty Ate, at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, working with the restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events. League players will make appearances, and the 47 Super Bowl championship rings will be on display.

“New York is tough; it’s not like focusing on an eight-block section of Indianapolis,” Ms. Weston-Parouse said. “It’s really important that we found the key areas to reach fans.”

Soon, Ms. Weston-Parouse would be heading back to Long Island City, Queens, to watch the late afternoon games with her husband, David Parouse, and their two children, their son, D. J., 8, and their daughter, Tyler, 6. Her children play N.F.L. Rush Fantasy Football, a game geared for kids in which the lineup is set before kickoff each week.

Ms. Weston-Parouse admitted to looking over her daughter’s roster earlier in the day, and explaining to her son that players on teams that have clinched playoff berths may be sitting out the game. She tried to keep it to a minimum. “Otherwise my husband and I are playing fantasy football against each other,” she said.

NFL shows bounty evidence

Associated Press

Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove, Scott Fujita, and Jonathan Vilma each attended appeals hearings with Commissioner Roger Goodell at NFL headquarters.

The NFL went public Monday with some of its evidence against the four players suspended for their roles in the New Orleans Saints bounty program. Among the things the league revealed: a prize of $35,000 or more for knocking Brett Favre out of the NFC Championship game in January 2010.

The league also showed a computer slide it got from the Saints, dating from before a playoff game against Seattle the following season, showing photos of three Seahawks with “Now it’s time to do our job. Collect bounty $$$!. No apologies. Let’s go hunting’’ printed on it.

NFL lead counsel Jeff Pash showed reporters the material at the end of a day when the suspended players - Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove, Scott Fujita, and Jonathan Vilma - each attended appeals hearings with Commissioner Roger Goodell at NFL headquarters.

One document showed linebacker Vilma offering “two five-stacks,’’ or $10,000, to knock out Favre in the title game, which the Saints won, leading to their Super Bowl victory over Indianapolis in February 2010.

Vilma left his session after about an hour Monday morning. When that hearing was adjourned until early afternoon, both Vilma and attorney Peter Ginsberg vowed he would not return. He didn’t.

“Roger Goodell has taken three months to tear down what I built over eight years. It’s tough to swallow. I have been linked to a bounty and it simply is not true,’’ said Vilma, who is suing Goodell for defamation. “I don’t know how I can get a fair process when he is the judge, jury and executioner. You’re assuming it will be fair, but it’s not.’’

Tomlinson makes it official

Joined by his family and several former teammates, LaDainian Tomlinson ended his brilliant 11-year NFL career the same way he started it - with the San Diego Chargers. Tomlinson signed a one-day contract with the Chargers Monday and then announced his retirement . . . R.C. Owens, a longtime 49ers front office man and eight-year NFL wide receiver whose impressive leaping ability earned him the nickname “Alley Oop’’ and helped popularize the phrase, died Sunday in Manteca, Calif. He was 78.

LaDainian Tomlinson to retire as San Diego Charger

By Bernie Wilson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN DIEGO —  LaDainian Tomlinson’s brilliant NFL career will officially end when he rejoins the San Diego Chargers in a ceremony for a day.

The Chargers said yesterday that Tomlinson, who was the NFL MVP in 2006 with San Diego and is the fifth-leading rusher in league history, will re-sign with the team today and then announce his retirement.

Tomlinson was drafted in the first round by San Diego in 2001 and became one of the biggest stars in team history, helping revive the Chargers after the devastating Ryan Leaf years and turning them into a force in the AFC West. He spent the first nine years of his career in San Diego. He played the last two seasons with the New York Jets.

Tomlinson was MVP in ’06, when he set NFL single-season records with 31 touchdowns, including 28 rushing, and 186 points. He ran for a career-high 1,815 yards that year, giving him the first of two straight league rushing titles.

Tomlinson finishes his career with 13,684 yards and 145 touchdowns.

Tomlinson spoke at the public memorial service for Junior Seau on May 11, drawing the biggest cheers of the night.

Perhaps his most memorable moment with the Chargers came on Dec. 10, 2006, when he swept into the end zone late in a game against the Denver Broncos for his third touchdown of the afternoon to break Shaun Alexander’s year-old record of 28 touchdowns.

His linemen hoisted him onto their shoulders and carried him toward the sideline, with Tomlinson holding the ball high in his right hand and waving his left index finger, while the fans chanted “L.T.! L.T.!” and “MVP! MVP!”

When the Chargers released him in February 2010, quarterback Philip Rivers said: “I had the best view in the house on some of those awesome runs he made.”

Tomlinson had said recently that he might continue his career if the right opportunity was available. Some fans hoped the Chargers would bring back Tomlinson as a third-down back, but that appeared impossible as long as general manager A.J. Smith was in control.

Tomlinson had a less-than-smooth separation from the Chargers. The slashing, dazzling runs came less frequently and Tomlinson was slowing down because of injuries and age. He became less and less the face of the franchise as his role was reduced in a pass-happy offense. The Chargers would have been on the hook for a $2 million roster bonus, along with a $5 million salary.

Days after his release from the Chargers, Tomlinson held a tearful news conference at the suburban country club where he and his wife lived.

L.T. also had a public tiff with Smith.

A year before the Chargers released Tomlinson, Smith came under fire for mocking a statement Tomlinson made about wanting to stay in San Diego. 

Battle of the NFL Cheerleaders (Super Bowl XLIV): Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints

Peyton Manning and Drew Brees will duke it out on the field Sunday for all the marbles, but when it comes to the Super Bowl XLIV battle of the hottest cheerleaders, well, everyone's a winner.

Let's start with the New Orleans Saintsations squad, making their first appearance in the big game.

Who dat? And do you have her phone number?

Decked out in black and gold, they always gets things started quite nicely in New Orleans. But can they hold their own down in South Florida?

They'll lock pom-poms with these cute Colts girls.

No wonder Manning is so motivated.

Ahem, we're getting motivated now, too. Perhaps one or two fewer hot wings on Super Bowl Sunday. Not that we need it, but ...

Of course, the road to the Super Bowl starts with 32 teams. In honor of the AFC and NFC squads that didn't make it...here are a lot more cheerleader photos!

No matter how ugly it got on the field at times this season for the Jets (read: AFC title game) and Giants (read: um, most of the year), there was still one sweet sight to look forward to at the Meadowlands and around the NFL.

Whether they're wearing long-sleeved Jets jackets ...

... or old-fashioned Titans sweaters ...

. or Gang Green tank tops ...

. or even if they turn their backs to you ...

.. the Jets' Flight Crew is always in style at the Meadowlands.

As for the Giants ... they don't have any 'official' cheerleaders, but they do have some, um, super fans.

Speaking of superheroes, these Redskins cheerleaders show some flash one day ...

.. and, well, a little bit more 'skin the next.

Did we mention the Redskins have cheerleaders?

The Patriots cheerleaders may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but they do manage to cross the pond this season for a game at London's Wembley Stadium.

The Patriots cheerleaders may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but they do manage to cross the pond this season for a game at London's Wembley Stadium.

Not to be outdone, the Buccaneers squad lights up Wembley as well ...

... and some more so than others.

Beckoning us back to the States are the Tennessee version of Titans cheerleaders ...

. whose fiery outfits ...

... deserve a second look.

Did we mention we like these uniforms?

From uniforms with flames, to uniforms with aims, these Bengals cheerleaders put their best feet forward to fight breast cancer.

Now THERE'S a cause we can believe in!

From pretty in pink to gorgeous in gold, the 49ers Gold Rush squad spins it into high gear ..

. lighting some fires at Candlestick Park during a November game against the Titans.

Alo, there are the red and white Chiefs cheerleaders ..

... the blue and black Jaguar ladies ...

. and the red, white and blue Buffalo Jills.

When it comes to patriotism, it's hard to top these Texans cheerleaders.

While we sure do love women in uniform, the Texans cheerleaders look just as good ..

... when they're dressed as themselves.

Need more proof?

Meanwhile, nothing says All-American ...

... quite like the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders ...

.. though the Chargers girls ...

... will have you down on one knee in no time.

I said get down on one knee!

Or both knees!

The Falcons girls get feisty, too ...

... doing Hotlanta proud ...

... with some funky moves of their own.

Are you even reading these captions? If so, she's a Broncos babe ...

... these are Dolphins dancers ....