The NFL speculation never quits, and neither does ESPN’s John Clayton, who has already laid out his favorites for next year’s Super Bowl, aside from the two teams that played in XLV.  Clayton notes the Patriots as his first team, but makes sure to point out that Tom Brady’s last three playoff performances have been underwhelming, dating back to the Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.  He also talks offseason.  “The offensive line has shown the wear and tear from age and needs serious upgrades,” Clayton writes.  ”The front office needs to patch up the relationship with guard Logan Mankins and get him a long-term deal.  With two picks in each of the first three rounds, the Patriots can continue their youth movement and do it with quality.”

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The Tennessee Titans have promoted offensive line coach Mike Munchak to head coach after interviewing him and other candidates.  Titans owner Bud Adams called it a special day for the franchise.  “Mike has been successful at everything he has been associated with at our franchise and I have no reason to believe that he won’t be successful as our head coach,” Adams said in a released statement. “He earned Hall of Fame distinction as a player and yearly he has been one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL.  He understands where we have been and knows where we need to go.”

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The Dallas Cowboys are making many changes during this offseason, but the franchise can take a little breather to celebrate the success of a former Cowboy. According to ESPN, former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders received the highest honor in the NFL by making the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011.

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Now that linebacker David Harris is said to be the man with the golden ticket – the franchise tag, that is – in New York, the rest of the Jets hitting free agency are up for grabs. Or are they? The Jets have some work ahead of them this offseason in either re-signing or denying their free agents, and all eyes are now on all-star players like Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie to see if Rex Ryan will give them another go with Gang Green.

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Over the years, advances in technology have changed the game of football, like the many angles that cameras can capture on a single play in order to determine the correct call. With all of the advances, though, many parts of football have remained relatively low-tech.

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Rumor has it the New York Jets are unwilling to chance losing linebacker David Harris this offseason. Although league labor negotiations haven’t yet been hashed out, the Jets (according to ESPN) will place the franchise tag on Harris if it’s allowed per labor agreement, ensuring he stays with the team through the 2011-12 NFL season.

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It looked like a blowout early, but came down to the final drive of the game in the end.  While the Green Bay offense played very well in the contest, it was the defensive unit that came up with the big stop on a drive that could have won the Pittsburgh Steelers the game.  Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers won the game’s Most Valuable Player award in the 31-25 Green Bay victory.  Rodgers has certainly eased the fans’ lingering pain from parting ways with legend Brett Favre several years ago.  “You can stop it now,” veteran receiver Donald Driver said after the game.  ”Aaron’s proved that he’s one of the best, if not the best, quarterback in this game today.”

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It all comes down to Sunday.  It seems like the conference championship games were played a month ago, but we’re finally just two days away from Super Bowl XLV.  Two of the most storied franchises in the game, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, will square off for the Vince Lombardi Trophy this weekend.  The game should be a close contest and could definitely go either way.  The Packers are trying to win their first Super Bowl of the Aaron Rodgers era, which would immediately place Rodgers among the top signal callers in the game.  “I think he’s definitely the quarterback we all hoped he would become,” coach Mike McCarthy said of Rodgers this week.  ”He was a young talented quarterback, had a very bright future, and now we’re in year three of his development and he’s definitely developed into a special player.”

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Brett Favre seems to finally be retired, but people are still finding ways to give him credit, or at least show his impact on the Super Bowl.  Obviously, Aaron Rodgers might not even be playing for the Packers if Brett Favre had never flirted with retirement and eventually forced Green Bay to trade him, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter takes it a step further.  “Back in 2008, the Packers traded Favre to the Jets for a conditional fourth-round pick that turned out to be a third-round pick,” Schefter writes.  “The Packers then traded that third-round pick, along with their second- and third-round picks, to New England for the Patriots’ first-round pick — where Green Bay used the draft’s 26th overall selection on USC linebacker Clay Matthews.”

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Mark Sanchez had his fingers crossed that he wouldn’t need surgery on a right shoulder injury he sustained in Pittsburgh on Dec. 19, and reports today confirm that his injury won’t require him to go under the knife, after all. The injury to his throwing arm didn’t seem to hinder Sanchez’s playoff performances as he led the Jets to postseason wins over the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, but now he’s getting some rest time in during the offseason.

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