While he didn't provide any insight into DeSean Jackson's future with the Eagles, Andy Reid did praise the receiver's attitude change towards the end of the season. "I was proud of DeSean for standing up," Reid said. "I thought he matured and showed maturity this season. I think he's done that every year he's been here. But he showed it, he stood up and admitted to everybody that he didn't handle things the right way. I will tell you the last six games, he did a nice job for us. I was proud of him for that. We're going through all of that right now. We're looking at everything right now. We haven't come to any conclusions on anything, but we're going through that. Again, you saw progress there. You saw a different attitude the last five or six games there. You've got to make sure you look at that part too." Jackson's rookie contract is set to expire and the Eagles have a huge decision to make. "We're going to go through and look at all that," Reid said. "We really haven't gotten to that point ... We're analyzing the free agents, we're analyzing what we did, we went through our team then we're going to analyze the draft and then you kind of put all that together and talk through it, where you have a feel on kind of the whole picture of the personnel side of it."

Brandon Jacobs says Plaxico Burress wanted to sign with the Giants as a free agent this past offseason, but he ended up with the Jets. Asked if Burress had his heart set on returning to the Giants, Jacobs said Tuesday, "Oh, no question, I know he did. I know he wanted to come to the Giants. We just didn't think it was going to be able to be done financially. But he may be (back) next year, who knows?" Burress signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Jets. "I don't see him back with the Jets next year at all," said Jacobs, who speaks with Burress regularly. "I don't know what he's thinking, but I don't see that. They've got a lot of things going on over there, and I don't know if he wants to be part of that."

Aaron Rodgers wasn't happy with the effort put forth by some of the NFC Pro Bowlers in Sunday's exhibition game. "I'll be honest with you," Rodgers told ESPN 540 in Milwaukee. "I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like some of the guys on the NFC side embarrassed themselves." The AFC routed the NFC, 59-41, in a game that drew boos at Aloha Stadium for its lack of early intensity. "I was just surprised that some of the guys either didn't want to play or when they were in there didn't put any effort into it," Rodgers said.

Andy Reid won't replace Juan Castillo as the defensive coordinator of the Eagles. Reid, explaining why it took him until the end of January to address the 2011 season, said he wanted to take some time to reflect on all aspects of his team after a disappointing 8-8 record. "Bottom line, we have to get better," he said. Reid said he didn't want to make excuses for the 2011 season, but "I'm very optimistic going forward."

Peyton Manning says he feels really good and that he expects to play football again. However, there is no timetable for the quarterback's decision. "I really feel good. I continue to make progress every day," he said. "Everything that the doctors have told me has been on point, which is encouraging to me. I just had a great day today with rehab, just got back from the facility, and that's what we continue to do. Just keep trying to get better. So far I have. That's the plan from here on out." Manning said that he'll continue to have checkups over the next several weeks, and termed his mood as "encouraging." The Colts face a March 8 deadline for a decision on Manning. They owe him a $28 million option bonus on that date. If they don't pay it, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Ricky Williams, who will turn 35 before the 2012 season, says he will return to the Ravens for his 12th professional season. "My body feels good and I know I'm going to train hard and so I'm excited about next year," Williams said. "I've grown a lot, kind of falling into a new role and a new city and a new organization, and I've gotten better. And like everyone else, I feel like I have something to build on for next year." Williams had career lows in carries (108) and rushing yards (444) after joining the Ravens last summer on a two-year contract. He served a critical backup role to Ray Rice, who often said Williams was "the best thing that ever happened to me."

Yahoo! Sports reported on Monday night that Peyton Manning has hit a plateau in his recovery from neck surgery and might not be able to play football again, citing two sources. The vertebrae in Manning's neck have healed as expected, but the nerves in his arm aren't progressing enough to indicate that he will play again. The Yahoo! story also quoted two doctors with experience in spinal fusion surgery who said it could take up to one year before Manning will even know if he can return.

The Browns were ready to let Peyton Hillis go around midseason, but now they want to keep the running back. Hillis missed five games with a hamstring injury and also skipped a contest because of strep throat in 2011. Since then, though, Hillis has worked his way back into the team's good graces, according to a source. Cleveland has until March 13 to sign him without other teams being able to bid on him.

The Patriots have a number of pedigrees littered among their offensive line and a few first-round pick on their defense. However, New England also has 18 undrafted free agents on their roster as they prepare to face the Giants in this Sunday's Super Bowl. Eight of their starters were undrafted free agents. "I tell the team that I don't care how you got here, it's what you do when you get here. It doesn't matter if you were drafted in the second round, the fifth round, or not drafted at all," coach Bill Belichick said.

Keith Butler has decided to remain on the Pittsburgh staff as linebackers coach. He had the opportunity to interview with the Colts for their offensive coordinator position. Butler was scheduled to interview with new Colts Coach Chuck Pagano on Tuesday in Indianapolis, but he changed his mind after meeting with team president Art Rooney II and Coach Mike Tomlin.