Sports Betting Professor

MIAMI — Colts fans are longing for the day not long ago when we debated the necessity of the Colts’ Pro Bowlers making an appearance at Sunday night’s game.



Instead, the week-long debate is on as to whether Dwight Freeney will be able to play, and if so how effectively, in Super Bowl XLIV a week from tonight.



John Clayton reported Freeney’s ankle injury was serious and he came to South Florida Friday to ramp up his intensive rehab. Adam Schefter followed that report with one saying that Freeney has torn ligaments. The latest is here.



The team classified him as questionable on Friday. Clayton is viewing him as doubtful.



The Colts would certainly miss Freeney’s threat off the edge. He’s got seven tackles and two pressures in Indianapolis’ two postseason games, but not a sack. Even without putting the quarterback on the ground, he influences what an offense can try to do. He was just named as a defensive end on the NFL’s All-Decade Team and is regarded by many as the best pass rusher in the league right now or even of his generation.



Raheem Brock, the Colts’ versatile third defensive end would be in line to start against the Saints if Freeney can’t go or get the additional snaps if Freeney is limited.



We’ll hit on this more soon, we promise.

MIAMI — Looks like a slick track for Sunday night’s Pro Bowl.



A steady mist is falling on Sun Life Stadium. That could make footing difficult and the crowd even smaller than it was going to be.



A couple dozen NFL coaches are groaning over the possibility of a star player potentially tearing a groin muscle.



Conditions in Honolulu as of this posting? It’s 81 degrees with zero percent chance of precipitation.



But in the comfy confines of the press box, you can join us for the Pro Bowl edition NFL Nation Live at 7 p.m.



Drop by to chat with ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton, NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert, NFC West blogger Mike Sando and I from the game. AFC South potentate Paul Kuharsky will provide his thoughts from his bunker in an undisclosed location, and moderator Emily Schaible will try keep all of us clowns in line.

MIAMI — Seeking snarky commentary during the Pro Bowl?



Sorry, but I’m not a part of ESPN.com’s NFL Nation Live tonight. Perhaps Tim Graham, Kevin Seifert and Mike Sando will be able to give you what you yearn for.



Perhaps Pat Yasinskas and I, granted clemency by our bosses, will join you as questioners, grilling them.



Simply head here shortly before kick.

MIAMI – I’m getting ready to watch the Pro Bowl and will be checking in with any developments involving the NFC South.



Our writers who are covering the Pro Bowl will be chatting on NFL Nation Live during the game. Weather could be a real issue in the Pro Bowl. I’m looking out my window and it’s pouring rain right now.



Looking ahead to tomorrow, the Saints are scheduled to arrive in Miami Monday at approximately 11:45 a.m. Coach Sean Payton and six players will meet the media at about 3:45 p.m. I’ll be out there and will bring you all the latest.

MIAMI — The line that separates fun-loving and juvenile is a thin one.



New York Jets coach Rex Ryan crossed it Saturday night, when he was caught on camera displaying a middle finger to Miami Dolphins fans at a mixed martial arts event in Sunrise, Fla.



Ryan has flirted with trouble all season because of his gregarious personality and recently reiterated his regret over getting into a sophomoric exchange with Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder during training camp.



Yes, Ryan is hilarious. But occasionally he goes too far and embarrasses the Jets.



“It was stupid and inappropriate,” Ryan said in a statement released by the club. “I wouldn’t accept that type of behavior from one of the coaches or players and it’s unacceptable from me. I apologize to the Jets organization, the National Football League and NFL fans everywhere.”



Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum admonished Ryan.



“Rex showed extremely poor judgment, and his conduct was inappropriate,” Tannenbaum said in the statement. “He knows he was wrong, has apologized and we have accepted his apology. Any other actions regarding this incident will be addressed internally by the organization.”



The NFL has been known to impose fines for obscene gestures. Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was fined $250,000 for giving the Buffalo Bills sideline a double middle finger salute from his suite in November. Newsday’s Bob Glauber reports the NFL will look into the Ryan situation.



On the humiliation scale, what Ryan did seems pretty minor in my book. He’s out in public, not at an NFL event, apparently not wearing Jets gear and presumably getting badgered enough by Dolfans to respond.



That said, as head coach of the Jets, Ryan will find himself in many similar encounters with his brash personality. He’s easily recognizable, and he needs to be prepared to handle taunts from opposing fans, especially when he’s on the turf of a divisional rival.



“I’d like to thank everybody here in Miami. I know they love me,” Ryan said with a grin during a ringside interview shown within Bank Atlantic Center.



“I want to just tell everybody in Miami, hey, we’re coming to beat you twice next year.”



Yeah, that might get the Dolfans a tad restless.



The Jets went to the AFC title game this year, but the Dolphins beat them both times they played.

MIAMI — I know what you’re thinking: What to do on the sleepy Sunday night between the Championship Games and the Super Bowl?



I have it: Come join some of the funniest, most knowledgeable people that write NFL blogs at ESPN.com for a live conversation over on NFL Nation Live. You’ll have me, Tim Graham, Mike Sando, John Clayton and maybe some surprise guests all checking in with insightful observations and witty banter.



It all starts right here at 7 p.m. ET. We’ll have a good time. I promise you.

MIAMI — As we await word on the conclusion of Chicago’s search for an offensive coordinator — Mike Martz? Kevin Rogers? — Brandon of Huntington Beach, Calif., brings up an interesting point.



Would you compare the Bears’ potential hiring of Mike Martz to the Packers search last year that lead to the hiring of Dom Capers? Both seem to be/have been controversial, big-name hires. If the Bears pull the trigger on Martz, do you think he can have similar, immediate results?



My short answer, Brandon, is that I think Martz is the best candidate the Bears have interviewed to produce immediate results. And there are some similarities between the way the Packers decided on Capers and the way the Bears have meandered to Martz.



The Packers interviewed at least three other candidates — Mike Nolan, Gregg Williams and Jim Haslett — before hiring Capers. The Bears interviewed Rogers, Ken Zampese and Rob Chudzinski before giving Martz his interview.



Capers’ defense is based on being unpredictable and coming at the quarterback from all angles, making big plays through forced turnovers and lost yardage. It was flexible enough to cover for some personnel mismatches in his 3-4 scheme.



The same is true for Martz’s offense. Martz is by no means perfect, and there is a reason his services are available. But of all the candidates the Bears have interviewed, I think Martz has the best chance to effect a quick turnaround.



That’s my take from the baseball press box here at Sun Life Stadium. Don’t believe I’m actually at the Pro Bowl? Take a look at the byline on the picture above.

MIAMI — The photo I provided from Sun Life Stadium, the newly renamed site of the Pro Bowl, showed empty stands.



Just to clear up any confusion: The fans did not withdraw from the game. It’s just early.



Kickoff is at 7:20 p.m. ET.

MIAMI — Arizona Cardinals free safety Antrel Rolle is participating in his first Pro Bowl, and it just so happens to be taking place in his hometown.

Rolle

Rolle told South Florida reporters this week he would love to keep playing in Sun Life Stadium.



Rolle, a native of nearby Homestead and former Miami Hurricanes standout, noted he’s happy with the Cardinals but sounded keen on the idea of staying home to play for the Miami Dolphins.



“That would be nice,” Rolle told Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero. “I would love to take some of the burden off of mom and dad seeing as they travel to every game. Miami is home for me. I haven’t played here in five years. But, hey, we can make it happen.”



The Dolphins certainly could use him. They made Gibril Wilson one of their big free-agent acquisitions last season, signing him to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million. But he proved to be a liability in the secondary. Wilson routinely blew coverages and missed tackles.



An uncapped year, which seems unavoidable, would be the perfect time for teams to dump high-paid players they don’t want anymore because they can unload the pro-rated portion of the contract onto this year’s ledger and be done with it.



Rolle is supposed to make $12.1 million in 2010, the final year of his contract. If the Cardinals don’t want to pay him, then they could part ways.



“I’m still a Cardinal right now, you know,” Rolle said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I love the Cardinals and their organization. I’ve been good to them, and they’ve been great to me also. Let’s just see what plays out.



“I don’t know what’s going to play out. They haven’t given me any indication. I know they want to keep me there. We’re trying to keep our franchise together, but I don’t know what they’re thinking right now.”

MIAMI — Soon I’ll be starting the trek over to the Pro Bowl. Colleagues Mike Sando (NFC West) and Tim Graham (AFC East) will be joining John Clayton in a pseudo-live chat throughout the game. Please join us here at NFL Nation Live at 7 p.m. ET.



I read through many of your comments from Saturday’s post on Bryant McKinnie’s dismissal from the NFC team. Many of them were legitimate and one stood out. This from Vikes4ever70:



“Hey KS, I don’t think Bryant McKinnie was/is the only NFC north member at the pro bowl. How bout another blog that is about one of them, instead of taking every chance you get to focus on one negative incident involving a Viking.”



I don’t know about taking “every chance,” but you’re right in this regard: It’s time to stop giving McKinnie any more attention. Instead, we’ll focus the rest of our coverage on Aaron Rodgers, Steve Hutchinson, Johnny Knox and the rest of the NFC North players who actually braved the week of practice and will participate in this game.



I’ll check back in a few hours from Sun Life Stadium. Until then, let’s take a Sunday afternoon spin around the division:

• At the very least, it looks like Mike Martz is a serious contender for Chicago’s offensive coordinator job. He met Saturday with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in Nashville, Tenn. Here are reports from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.
• Offensive tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, both pending free agents, are the Packers’ two highest priorities this offseason, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a Q&A with former Packers tight end Mark Chmura, who will be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame. Chmura: “You know, I’ve said I’m sorry 100 times. I don’t know how many more times I can say it.”
• John Niyo of the Detroit News looks at a relatively rare occurrence for the Lions: Relative continuity on the coaching staff.
• The Lions will improve their defense, one way or the other, with the No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.