NFL

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NFL's burning offseason storylines /nfl/lists/nfl-offseason-storylines-peyton-manning-indianapolis-colts-020612 http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2012/02/06/020612-NFL-Denver-Broncos-PI_20120206175617746_136_102.JPG
Most disliked professional athletes Here's a Top 10 countdown of America's most disliked athletes. /nba/lists/MSN-2012-most-hated-professional-athletes-020812 http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2012/02/08/020812-Most-Hated-Pro-Athletes-PI_20120208180443843_136_102.JPG
Top 10 bold offseason predictions /nfl/lists/nfl-bold-offseason-predictions-013112 http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2012/01/31/013112-Lightning-Stikes-Twice-SW-PI_20120131205953654_136_102.JPG
Top 10 athlete falls from grace Top 10 athlete falls from grace /nfl/lists/Top-10-sports-falls-from-grace http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/10/22/102210-Sports-Scandals-Gallery-JW-PI_20101022100539_136_102.JPG
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NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868376 Reggie Bush, Saints RB/PR NFL He may as well change his name to "X Factor," because he is the ultimate example. Nobody gets more attention per touch in the league than Bush, who ranked third in his own backfield this season (Pierre Thomas — 186, Mike Bell — 176, Bush — 117). Bush only had eight touches per game, but still scored eight TDs. But the supposedly dangerous punt returner failed to return one for TD in 2009, and also led his backfield with four fumbles despite many fewer chances.

In the playoffs, Bush revealed his positive energy with three touchdowns (including a punt return score vs. Arizona) — but also his self-inflicted risk by muffing a punt against the Vikings that set up an easy TD. Good or bad, Bush could decide Super Bowl XLIV with one memorable play. — Adrian Hasenmayer

 Chris Graythen - Getty Images http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/1-Reggie_20100206115706_600_400.JPG http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/1-Reggie_20100206115706_70_70.JPG
NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868403 Austin Collie, Colts WR NFL Meet Peyton Manning's secret weapon.

While fellow rookie receiver teammate Pierre Garcon scoops up much of the press attention this week (deservedly so, as reported by Alex Marvez), Austin Collie may be the most under-reported X Factor of this Super Bowl. It was Collie (a fourth-round pick from BYU) who had more catches (60) and touchdowns (7) than Garcon, with Collie's TDs ranking third on the team behind stalwarts Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark.

Peyton Manning seems to be warming up to Collie quite a bit. In each of the past five games that the Colts tried to win (not including the two losses when the team benched its starters), Collie has scored a touchdown. The Saints should be very aware of this nugget by now.
 Andy Lyons - Getty Images http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/2-Austin_20100206115630_600_400.JPG http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/2-Austin_20100206115630_70_70.JPG
NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868402 Raheem Brock, Colts DT NFL Sure, it's the Super Bowl and Indy's freakish DE Dwight Freeney will probably find some way to get on the field and play. But how effective will he be with a torn ligament in his foot? A ligament tear does not just magically heal overnight.

If Freeney is not the real Freeney Sunday, it's up to Brock to step up the pass rush. No Freeney means Indy's Pro Bowl bookend DE Robert Mathis (9.5 sacks, team-high 5 forced fumbles in 2009) with face double teams and tight-end chip blocks. Can the veteran Brock (3.5 sacks this season) make the Saints pay?
 Harry How - Getty Images http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/3-Raheem_20100206115554_600_400.JPG http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/3-Raheem_20100206115554_70_70.JPG
NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868401 Will Smith, Saints DE NFL Smith has to thank his lucky STARCAPS that he can even play in this game, much less for the entire season he got to star in.

Compared with all of the league's other big sack artists, Smith may be the most anonymous. But the Colts would be idiotic to ignore Smith, who finished 5th in the NFL with 13 sacks this season, on Super Sunday. For the Saints to do the impossible and rattle Peyton Manning, Smith must be an instant celebrity and partying with movie star Will Smith by the post-game show.
 Jed Jacobsohn - Getty Images http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/4-Will-Smith_20100206115509_600_400.JPG http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/4-Will-Smith_20100206115509_70_70.JPG
NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868373 The kickers NFL Here's the kicker: The only dome teams to win a Super Bowl: 1999 Rams, 2006 Colts.

Sunday the Colts or Saints become the third. The winner may be decided by the kicking game in what should be a competitive game, but one played outdoors in Miami. A weather check calls for clear skies, but those unpredictable South Florida winds could play a factor, as could the grass at Sun Life Stadium.

How has each kicker fared in the great outdoors? Indy has the longtime leg of Matt Stover, the eighth-most accurate kicker in NFL history (83.7 percent of field-goal attempts) and one who kicked outdoors on grass during home games in Cleveland and Baltimore for 18 of his 19 seasons.

New Orleans has Garrett Hartley, 19 years junior of the 42-year-old Stover, who in his two seasons has missed only two field goals (22-for-24, 91.7). In his career, he's 10-for-11 outside on grass, 10-for-11 all-time in domes.

May the best foot win.
 Lyons/ Martinez - Getty Images http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/5-stover-garrett_20100206115416_600_400.JPG http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/5-stover-garrett_20100206115416_70_70.JPG
NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868400 Antoine Bethea, Colts S NFL Everyone knows about the Saints' new playmaker at safety this season, ex-Vikings star Darren Sharper.

But the Colts also have a dynamic savior in the secondary, Antoine Bethea. The fourth-year veteran has picked up where injured former Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders left off after being lost for the season. Bethea led the Colts with four interceptions, as well as several other impact plays for Indy's defense. He's the one guy in particular to whom Saints QB Drew Brees must pay extra close attention.
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NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868370 Robert Meachem, Saints WR NFL The Saints have so many options on offense, it's easy to forget about former first-rounder Robert Meachem – and losing track of him is normally a fatal mistake.

Meachem is Drew Brees' major home-run threat. This sums up his impact: Though 80 NFL receivers caught more passes this season, Meachem tied for 10th in the league with nine TD catches, most of the deep-ball variety. If the Colts can't harass Brees Sunday, Meachem may be the big beneficiary.
 Doug Pensinger - Getty Images http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/7-meachem_20100206115243_600_400.JPG http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/7-meachem_20100206115243_70_70.JPG
NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868369 Colts DTs vs. Saints guards NFL The Saints and Colts are big-time passing teams, of course. But the run game cannot be ignored.

The hidden element of the Saints' offense is their running game, which ranked sixth in the NFL this season despite struggling late in the season when Pierre Thomas was hurt. But he's back healthy, and gets the chance to run behind arguably the best 1-2 guard combo in the league in Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks.

But they also face an underappreciated tandem of interior tackles in Indy, Antonio "Mookie" Johnson and Daniel Muir. Whichever duo proves more dynamic Sunday will go a long way in deciding how well the Colts can hold the Saints offense.
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NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868367 David Thomas, Saints TE NFL Jeremy Shockey is the star tight end in New Orleans, but he tends to get banged up. Armed with that knowledge after Shockey's first season as a Saint in 2008, GM Mickey Loomis went out and picked up a very solid backup, former Patriots third-round pick David Thomas.

Often filling in when Shockey was injured this season, Thomas set career highs in every category and is capable of making many of the big plays as the athletic Shockey. Now Brees has such confidence in Thomas that coach Sean Payton will roll out a few double-TE sets , with Thomas as a sneaky safety valve with so much defensive attention on other Saints weapons.
 Jed Jacobsohn - Getty Images http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/9-david-thomas_20100206115006_600_400.JPG http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/9-david-thomas_20100206115006_70_70.JPG
NFL 5 43 Top 10 Super Bowl X Factors 10868366 Chad Simpson, Colts RB/KR NFL Chad who?

Exactly. That's how under the radar he is, and yes, he only has 15 carries in each of his first two NFL seasons. But if you're looking for a total unknown as your wild-card pick to become this year's Timmy Smith, Simpson's your guy.

Considering he only has 30 NFL carries, his three touchdowns are impressive. He's lightning-quick and at 5-9 he can sometimes be the changeup that gives headaches to worn-out defenses looking to pass-rush Peyton Manning on every play. One quick draw to Simpson and he's gone.
 Sam Greenwood - Getty Images http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/10-chad-_20100206114916_600_400.JPG http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/02/06/10-chad-_20100206114916_70_70.JPG
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http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2012/02/06/020612-NFL-Denver-Broncos-PI_20120206175617746_136_102.JPG NFL's burning offseason storylines How will Tebow progress as Denver tinkers with his throwing mechanics? Feb 9, 2012 9:36 AM ET 1 58 /nfl/lists/nfl-offseason-storylines-peyton-manning-indianapolis-colts-020612
http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2012/02/08/020812-Most-Hated-Pro-Athletes-PI_20120208180443843_136_102.JPG Most disliked professional athletes Here's a Top 10 countdown of America's most... Here's a Top 10 countdown of America's most disliked athletes. Here's a countdown of America's most disliked athletes. Feb 8, 2012 10:49 PM ET 1 58 /nba/lists/MSN-2012-most-hated-professional-athletes-020812
http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2012/01/31/013112-Lightning-Stikes-Twice-SW-PI_20120131205953654_136_102.JPG Top 10 bold offseason predictions Tomlinson should end his career playing in San Diego. Feb 7, 2012 5:40 PM ET 1 58 /nfl/lists/nfl-bold-offseason-predictions-013112
http://static.foxsports.com/content/fscom/img/2010/10/22/102210-Sports-Scandals-Gallery-JW-PI_20101022100539_136_102.JPG Top 10 athlete falls from grace Top 10 athlete falls from grace Top 10 athlete falls from grace Top 10 athlete falls from grace Feb 7, 2012 4:21 PM ET 1 58 /nfl/lists/Top-10-sports-falls-from-grace
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