Freeney hopeful he'll play

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney still hopes to play in the Super Bowl despite a torn ligament in his right ankle.

"Hopefully, towards the end of the week it starts to get better," Freeney said at Tuesday's media day. "The decision will come later on in the week. It's kind of early now."

An All-Pro player, Freeney wore a pair of flip-flops to the morning session. His injured ankle was unwrapped.

"Very discouraging" was how he described his inability to practice for Sunday's NFL title game against the New Orleans Saints.

"The competitor in me says they'll never stop me from being on the field," he said with a laugh before adding: "There's some pain there definitely, with throwing everything at it, all types of techniques, to find the best thing to get this thing as good as possible. You name it, I've probably done it."

Freeney injured the ankle in the AFC Championship Game against the New York Jets and said the chances of working out later this week weren't good.

He's the only starter on either team who might miss the game because of injury.

Freeney said he's enlisted the help of chiropractors, slept in an oxygen chamber, used ice, regular therapy and anything else team doctors prescribed, to try to get the ankle to heal.

Despite everything, his teammates still believe Freeney will be on the field on Sunday.

Defensive lineman Raheem Brock, who would replace Freeney in the lineup, took it a step further.

"I think he'll be back and playing third downs. And I think he'll be effective, until I see something different," Brock said.

Freeney, the former league sacks champ, led the Colts with 13 sacks and is considered the team's defensive leader.

Jets' Sanchez to have knee surgery: New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will have surgery on his left knee and is expected to be ready in time for training camp.

The team said Tuesday that the operation, which will repair the patella ligament that holds the kneecap in place, will be performed by Jets physician Dr. Ken Montgomery and orthopedist Dr. Elliott Hershman in the next few weeks.

Jets coach fined for gesture: New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has been fined $50,000 by the team for making an obscene gesture at a mixed martial arts event last weekend.

The team's decision Tuesday comes after a smiling Ryan was caught gesturing by a cell phone camera at the competition in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday night.

Ryan apologized the next day, calling his actions "stupid and inappropriate." General manager Mike Tannenbaum had said the organization was disappointed and would address the matter internally.

The coach also could be fined by the NFL under its personal conduct policy.

Ryan led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in his first year as an NFL head coach.

Eagles sign punter: The Philadelphia Eagles have signed punter Durant Brooks to a two-year contract, giving incumbent Sav Rocca competition.

Brooks, a sixth-round pick by Washington in 2008, played six games with the Redskins. He had a gross average of 39.6 yards on 26 punts.

Redskins hire McCardell: Longtime NFL wideout Keenan McCardell will be the receivers coach for the Washington Redskins.

McCardell was hired Tuesday as the replacement for Stan Hixon, who was not retained by new coach Mike Shanahan. Hixon was hired Monday as Buffalo Bills receivers coach.