Freeney's Injury Likely to Keep Him out of Super Bowl
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 8:57PM 
In my opinion, it seems that Dwight Freeney will be in street clothes for Super Bowl XLIV. This evening, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell says that the team is preparing for Sunday as if they will not have the services of Freeney.
This is a huge blow to the Colts. You could easily make the argument that Freeney is the second best player on the team behind Peyton Manning. Even if he could somehow manage to get on the field, Freeney’s greatest asset is speed. A third degree ankle sprain with a torn ligament would greatly diminish Freeney’s vaunted pass rush.
One thing that I have not seen brought up is the fact that Freeney should not have even been in the game when he was injured in the AFC Championship. The game was well in hand against the Jets when Freeney turned his right ankle.
For a team that was so overly cautious to pull its starters instead of going for perfection, it is ironic that Freeney gets hurt in a time when he could have been kept on the sidelines.
How will this affect the game? Now the other all-pro defensive end Robert Mathis will get a lot more double teams. Raheem Brock will more than likely take Freeney’s spot at end. The loss will be felt the most on obvious Saints passing downs. Drew Brees many now have just that one extra second to find a receiver to convert a first down.
I hate this for Freeney. He is such a class guy. I hope there is some way he will be out on the field, but I think the Colts are going to have win this championship without him.
Reader Comments (2)
I saw the play as it happened live on TV, and I wondered the same thing -- why was he still in there at that point in the game? It will be very disappointing if Freeney ends up not being able to play in the Super Bowl...
talked to an orthopedist said he wouldn't be surprised if he played sparingly with that injury but would be very limited.