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  Wes WelkerNE - WR

  Welker caught seven passes for 60 yards in Sunday's Super Bowl loss to the ...

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  Welker caught seven passes for 60 yards in Sunday's Super Bowl loss to the Giants. He also rushed the ball twice for 21 yards. Impacts: Unfortunately, Welker's outstanding regular season -- a league-high 122 catches for 1,569 yards with nine TDs -- will be overshadowed by a potentially game-changing pass in the fourth quarter that he was unable to corral. Though it wouldn't have been an easy grab, it's a play that Welker usually makes. Welker is slated for free agency this offseason and while some other teams may make a run at him, it's hard to believe that the Patriots won't make retaining their "slot machine" a priority.

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  Tom BradyNE - QB

  Brady completed 27-of-41 passes for 276 yards with two touchdowns and a pic...

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  Brady completed 27-of-41 passes for 276 yards with two touchdowns and a pick in Sunday's Super Bowl loss to the Giants. Impacts: An intentional grounding penalty on Brady early in the game resulted in a safety for the Giants, but to his credit he bounced back and was a break or two away from his fourth Super Bowl ring. Brady finished the regular season with 5,235 passing yards, a figure that ranked second in the league in 2011, as well as all-time. His 39 TD passes (versus 12 picks) were fourth in league, all numbers indicative of his continued status as an elite QB, in both real and fantasy terms.

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  Rob GronkowskiNE - TE

  Gronkowski (ankle) is active for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Giants, th...

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  Gronkowski (ankle) is active for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Giants, the Boston Globe reports. Impacts: It remains to be seen if Gronkowski can make it through the game without a setback, but if he can, he figures to be a focal point in the New England passing game as he was all season, in particular in the red zone.

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  Rob GronkowskiNE - TE

  Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) did not appear to be limping Saturday, the ...

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  Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) did not appear to be limping Saturday, the Boston Herald reports. Impacts: It's fully expected that Gronkowski will be available for Sunday's Super Bowl, but how effective he will end up being will largely hinge on his ability to avoid any setbacks with his balky ankle.

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  Hines WardPIT - WR

  Ward recently underwent surgery to remove bone fragments from his right ank...

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  Ward recently underwent surgery to remove bone fragments from his right ankle, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Impacts: The surgery was minor in nature, and Ward expects to resume working out Monday. The most prolific Steelers receiver of all time, Ward began this season as a starter, catching 20 passes in his first five games, but finished with 46, the lowest total since his rookie season in 1998. "I'm not going to get into whatever happened last season," Ward said of his decreased playing time, which some speculate was the decision of departed OC Bruce Arians, and maintains he will be ready for OTAs. Ward is due a roster bonus next month in addition to a $4 million contract. A significant pay cut seems likely if Ward is to return, and the Steelers have to make a decision by March 1 due to a clause in Ward's contract.

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  Deion BranchNE - WR

  Branch (knee) is listed as probable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Gia...

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  Branch (knee) is listed as probable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Giants, the Boston Globe reports. Impacts: Branch only has five catches in the playoffs this year, but few players in league history are as accomplished in Super Bowls as he is. He has 21 catches for 276 yards and a touchdown from the 2003 and 2004 games.

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  Wes WelkerNE - WR

  Welker (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the...

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  Welker (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Giants, the Boston Globe reports. Impacts: Welker's knee is fine. He'll definitely be in the starting lineup Sunday and should be at or very close to 100 percent health.

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  Ahmad BradshawNYG - RB

  Bradshaw (foot) did not practice Friday but is probable for Sunday's Super ...

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  Bradshaw (foot) did not practice Friday but is probable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Patriots, NFL Network's Albert Breer reports. Impacts: Even with the missed Friday practice, there's no reason to suspect that Bradshaw will be especially limited Sunday.

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  Hakeem NicksNYG - WR

  Nicks (shoulder) is probable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Patriots, ...

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  Nicks (shoulder) is probable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Patriots, NFL Network's Albert Breer reports. Impacts: Nicks should be his normal self for a matchup that is extremely appealing on paper.

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  Rob GronkowskiNE - TE

  Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Super...

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  Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Giants after a limited practice Friday, Newsday's Tom Rock reports. Impacts: Gronkowski is fully expected to be in the lineup Sunday, though it's similarly likely that he'll fall a fair distance short of 100 percent health.

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  Peyton ManningIND - QB

  Manning, contrary to earlier reports, has not been cleared for football act...

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  Manning, contrary to earlier reports, has not been cleared for football activity, according to Colts owner Jim Irsay. Impacts: Irsay tweeted Thursday that "Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for the Indianapolis Colts." Irsay said the team would put out a statement Friday. This comes after an ESPN report earlier Thursday that Manning had been cleared medically. The issue is a tricky one for the Colts, whose $28 million option on Manning is due in March.

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  Ahmad BradshawNYG - RB

  Bradshaw (foot) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Newark Star-Le...

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  Bradshaw (foot) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Newark Star-Ledger writer Mike Garafolo reports. Impacts: Even if Bradshaw heads into the Super Bowl without a full practice, there's no reason to think he won't be close to full strength for Sunday. The Giants have managed his injury this way since the start of December, and it has proven to be an effective method.

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  Hakeem NicksNYG - WR

  Nicks (shoulder) was a full practice participant Thursday, Newark Star-Ledg...

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  Nicks (shoulder) was a full practice participant Thursday, Newark Star-Ledger writer Mike Garafolo reports. Impacts: With this development, it appears likely that Nicks will be at or close to full strength for the Super Bowl on Sunday.

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  Peyton ManningIND - QB

  Manning (neck) has been cleared for football activities, ESPN's Chris Morte...

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  Manning (neck) has been cleared for football activities, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports. Impacts: This news obviously does nothing to clear up questions about Manning will play in 2012, but at least his health is trending in the right direction at the moment.

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  Rob GronkowskiNE - TE

  Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) practiced Thursday, Boston Herald writer Ian...

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  Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) practiced Thursday, Boston Herald writer Ian Rapoport reports. Impacts: Gronkowski was expected to play in the Super Bowl all along, but this development makes the idea especially believable. He'll be active as long as he avoids setbacks.

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  Ahmad BradshawNYG - RB

  Bradshaw (foot) will not practice Wednesday, ESPN.com reports.

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  Bradshaw (foot) will not practice Wednesday, ESPN.com reports. Impacts: Coach Tom Coughlin said this is just a normal routine day off for Bradshaw, who is fully expected to play in the Super Bowl.

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  Rob GronkowskiNE - TE

  Gronkowski (ankle) said Tuesday that he has taken his walking boot off for ...

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  Gronkowski (ankle) said Tuesday that he has taken his walking boot off for good, Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald reports. Impacts: This is a good sign, and now there's little doubt that Gronkowski will play in the Super Bowl. The question is how well he'll be able to move around come Sunday. It would be nice if he could make the practice field by the end of the week, but that's beginning to look unrealistic.

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  Rob GronkowskiNE - TE

  Gronkowski (ankle) did not practice Monday, Boston Herald writer Ian Rapopo...

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  Gronkowski (ankle) did not practice Monday, Boston Herald writer Ian Rapoport reports. Impacts: Gronkowski's high ankle sprain could badly limit his practice availability this week, but he's still expected to play Sunday. He will more than likely be limited, however.

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  Rob GronkowskiNE - TE

  Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) was still in a walking boot when getting off...

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  Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) was still in a walking boot when getting off the team's plane Sunday, the Boston Globe reports. Impacts: Obviously there isn't much that we can discern from someone disembarking from a plane that we won't be able to tell later in practice this week, but in the interest of getting as much information to you as possible, here you go.

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  Peyton ManningIND - QB

  Colts owner Jim Irsay denied a report from NFL Network's Jason La Canfora t...

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  Colts owner Jim Irsay denied a report from NFL Network's Jason La Canfora that the Colts decided to move on from Manning (neck) weeks ago. "No he hasn't been released nor was a decision reached weeks ago," Irsay said via his Twitter account. Impacts: After a war of words in the media about Indy's recent decisions to change most of the coaching staff and GM, Irsay and Manning issued a joint statement Friday that they had a long talk and are committed to working together on the team's plan for 2012. Manning is due a $28 million option bonus in March and it's hard to see the Colts making that payment given Manning's uncertain health and with the ability to take Andrew Luck with the No.1 overall draft pick in April. La Canfora reports the Colts will make a move before the start of the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, so we may get some news on Indy's decision soon.

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