NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Could Aaron Smith find his way into the biggest game of the season Saturday when the Steelers take on the Ravens at Heinz Field? Probably not, but the defensive linemen and the Steelers are holding out a faint hope that it could happen.

Smith won’t practice this week, but the team says he may be able to play in a limited capacity. He will have an MRI taken on Friday on the partially torn triceps that has cost him a huge chunk of the season.

If the MRI comes back clean, there is an outside chance that Smith could suit up for the Ravens game. “It’s nice because it’s been a long journey up to this point,” Smith said. “The guys have done a great job of doing what they had to do to carry us this far. I’d just like to get another opportunity to contribute.”

Smith dressed for practice Tuesday but did not participate in it. He started lifting weights last month, and says that he’s been running up to five days a week since he started working his way back from the injury.

“I’m probably in better shape than when I got hurt,” Smith said.

The National Football League injury report, as provided by the league (OUT – Definitely will not play; DNP – Did not practice; LIMITED – Limited participation in practice; FULL – Full participation in practice):

BALTIMORE RAVENS at PITTSBURGH STEELERS — RAVENS: DNP: C Matt Birk (knee), WR Donte’ Stallworth (illness). LIMITED: CB Chris Carr (thigh). FULL: LB Tavares Gooden (shoulder), S Tom Zbikowski (back). STEELERS: DNP: S Troy Polamalu (ankle). LIMITED: CB Bryant McFadden (abdomen), DE Aaron Smith (triceps).

GREEN BAY PACKERS at ATLANTA FALCONS — PACKERS: DNP: G Jason Spitz (calf), LB Frank Zombo (knee). LIMITED: S Atari Bigby (groin), T Bryan Bulaga (shoulder), T Chad Clifton (knees), RB Korey Hall (knee), DE Cullen Jenkins (calf), LB Clay Matthews (shin), DE Ryan Pickett (ankle). FULL: WR Donald Driver (knee), CB Charles Woodson (toe). FALCONS: DNP: CB Brian Williams (knee). LIMITED: DE John Abraham (groin), DT Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder), S Thomas DeCoud (ankle), LB Curtis Lofton (knee), C Todd McClure (ankle), WR Roddy White (knee).

NEW YORK JETS at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — JETS: DNP: G Brandon Moore (back), WR Brad Smith (groin), WR Patrick Turner (illness). LIMITED: WR Santonio Holmes (quadriceps), S James Ihedigbo (knee, ankle), CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring). FULL: CB Antonio Cromartie (groin), TE Ben Hartsock (back), C Nick Mangold (shoulder), DT Sione Pouha (back), RB Tony Richardson (finger), QB Mark Sanchez (right shoulder), LB Bryan Thomas (ankle). PATRIOTS: DNP: DT Myron Pryor (back). LIMITED: LB Tully Banta-Cain (groin), WR Deion Branch (knee), DE Jermaine Cunningham (calf), TE Aaron Hernandez (hip), DE Eric Moore (hamstring), T Sebastian Vollmer (shin). FULL: CB Kyle Arrington (elbow), QB Tom Brady (right shoulder, foot).

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at CHICAGO BEARS — SEAHAWKS: DNP: LB Lofa Tatupu (head). BEARS: DNP: CB Charles Tillman (not injury related).

“I’ve been called worse.”

That was the reply of Tom Brady Wednesday after he was asked his feelings about Jets CB Antonio Cromartie calling him an a-hole. Brady, as cool as ever, shrugged off the comments of the Jets, who have retorted to name calling instead of just keeping it on the field.

"We see that a lot. He does it a lot," Cromartie said. "That's the kind of guy he is. We really don't give a damn, to tell you the truth."

Okay, what kind of guy is Brady?

"An ass—-.

"—- him."

Why stir up a hornets nest? Brady and the Pats have proven their greatness over and over again, and no words need to be said about playing their biggest division rival Sunday afternoon in a game that will decide what team goes on to the AFC Title game the following week.

The Jets all week, actually from moments after the win over the Colts, have done whatever they could to try and stir up the Pats. From Rex Ryan saying it’s him against Bill Belichick, to now Cromartie resorting to profanity, they are hoping to do whatever they can to get into the Pats heads.

They should know already – that’s easier said than done. They will learn that the hard way Sunday.

Adam Schefter is reporting that the Dolphins called in former Browns offensive coordinator for an interview regarding either the offensive coordinator job, or the quarterbacks coaching vacancy.

Also, the Palm Beach Post is reporting that there are two other names coming up about the Dolphins vacancy at the OC spot.

Owner Stephen Ross has said that he wants an offense that is explosive and prolific, as well as exciting. Personally, I think the quarterbacks coach of either the Patriots or the Packers would suffice and make a good choice.

John Garrett, the tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys the past four years, has been linked to the job, with his Dallas roots, and connections to both Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland. He also coached current Dolphins tight end Anthony Fasano.

Rob Chudzinski has also been rumored to be involved in the coaching search. "Chud's" claim to fame is his development of star tight ends such as Antonio Gates during his stay with the Chargers, and other young tight end prospects such as Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey, and Bubba Franks over the course of his tight end coaching career.

With an exciting and thrilling Wild Card weekend in the history books, we found out that the Seahawks belong, Rex Ryan got his revenge, the Packers are dangerous and perhaps nobodys' better on the road in the playoffs than the Ravens.

Let's dive a little deeper in last weekend's playoffs games and go inside the numbers:

0 – number of touchdowns thrown by New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez and Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel; catches for Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe

1 - Third downs converted by the Chiefs against the Baltimore Ravens

3 – consecutive seasons the Ravens have won a road playoff game

4 – teams Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (131 rushing yards) outrushed by himself (Colts, Chiefs, Eagles and Saints); combined catches for WR's Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs), Reggie Wayne (Colts), DeSean Jackson (Eagles) and Greg Jennings (Packers)

5 – turnovers committed by the Chiefs;  consecutive home playoff wins by Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck

6 – number of Saints' players who had at least four catches against Seahawks

7 – consecutive home playoff losses by Chiefs

9 – completions by Matt Cassel

10 – receptions by Ravens tight end Todd Heap (Chiefs only had nine catches the entire game)

15 – yards rushing from Green  Bay Packers other than RB James Starks

19 – first downs passing by Baltimore Ravens

20.4 – Matt Cassel's QB rating in Sunday's loss against Ravens, his second-worst QB rating of season.

27 – consecutive points scored by the Ravens after trailing 7-3 at end of 1st quarter

36 - wins by Ravens QB Joe Flacco in his first 3 seasons in NFL, tying mark held by former Miami Dolphins QB Dan Marino

46 – average number of points scored per game in Wild Card Round

56 -  combined receiving yards by Dwayne Bowe, Reggie Wayne, DeSean Jackson and Greg Jennings

112 -  receiving yards by Indianapolis Colts WR Pierre Garcon

122.5 – QB rating by Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, highest QB rating of Wild Card Round

123 – rushing yards by Packers rookie RB James Starks

169 – total yards rushing by Jets in win against Colts

263 – total receiving yards by Colts WR Pierre Garcon in consecutive playoff games against Jets

676 - combined passing yards by New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees and Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck

It appears that the Browns are close to getting a coach, as the team is getting near a deal according to reports with Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

The plan states that a deal will get done, and he will be introduced him as their head coach at a news conference on Friday, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter today.

The contract should not be difficult to close, since Browns president Mike Holmgren, general manager Tom Heckert, executive vice president Bryan Wiedmeier and Shurmur all have the same agent, Bob Lamonte.

Shurmur, 45, is represented by the same agent as Holmgren and Heckert. Shurmur, who worked with Heckert in Philadelphia for eight of Shurmur's 10 years there, was the first candidate interviewed by the Browns. They also talked to Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

If the Browns can't reach a deal with Shurmur, they could interview former Panthers coach John Fox, Schefter reported. Fox, also a Lamonte client, spent Wednesday interviewing for the Broncos head coach job.

Shurmur has served the last two years as offensive coordinator of the Rams, where he helped develop rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick, this season. Before that, he was Eagles quarterbacks coach for seven seasons and tight ends coach for three.

He's the nephew of the late Fritz Shurmur, Holmgren's defensive coordinator in Green Bay and Seattle.

Senior writer jclombardi: OLB Matthews is Sporting News NFL Defensive Player of Year.

2010 SN NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Green Bay Packers OLB Clay Matthews: Beyond his statistics (23-1/2 sacks, 11 passes defended, three forced fumbles and one interception returned for a touchdown in his two NFL seasons), Clay Matthews impacts a game in ways few defensive players can. He is the NFL's Tasmanian Devil, a player who is in constant motion, attacking from here, there and everywhere. Even while fighting through a shin injury this season, he was the most feared defender in the league.

Yes, the classy birds are at it again. As the photo above shows, one of their finest – Terrell Suggs, was at it again on Wednesday, wearing a shirt that featured a purple raven flipping the bird, and read “Hey Pittsburgh.”

Suggs, always the college graduate, said his choice of wardrobe was not intended to send a message to the Steelers. "No, there ain't no message," he said after Wednesday's practice. "They rep their city, and I'm repping mine. So here we go."

Uh, whatever you say Terrell.

This from the same guy that billed the the AFC Divisional Playoff game as “World War III” and on Tuesday called it the real Super Bowl.

Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie ripped into Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in a profanity-laced rant Tuesday, calling him an “ass—-,” and claiming he hates him according to Gary Myers of the New York Daily News.

Cromartie, in his first year with the Jets after four years with the Chargers, backed up Ryan Tuesday when he was asked if he’s ever seen Brady pointing after the Patriots score.

“We see that a lot. He does it a lot,” Cromartie said. “That’s the kind of guy he is. We really don’t give a damn, to tell you the truth.”

Okay, what kind of guy is Brady?

“An ass—-.

“—- him.”

Cromartie says Brady’s antics are evident when the Jets watch the film of their games against the Patriots. “He’s doing the pointing at our defensive line and stuff like that,” Cromartie said. “That’s the kind of a guy he is. He’s a competitor, he loves what he’s doing. He’s going to compete. When you’re competing, you are not worrying about anything else, about what anybody else is doing. You’re just worried about what you have to do.”

Between the untimely death of the Metrodome and the Vikings desire to receive public financing for a new home, there are sure to be near-daily updates on the looming stadium battle.

Today, news broke that the Vikings have made a public offer to pay for one-third of the cost to install a new roofless stadium for the Vikings to play in.

The catch, however, is that the Vikings will still only pay the third of the cost for a roofless stadium even if the State Legislature decides to build a more expensive option that includes a roof.

The Vikings say that precedent was set when the Twins paid about one-third the cost of an outdoor stadium, Target Field.

Of course, lawmakers might decide that the new stadium for the Vikings must include a roof, retractable or otherwise, so that it can accommodate as many non-NFL events as possible during its lifetime.

An outdoor stadium is expected to cost around $700 million and a roof would cost upwards of $200 million additional.

The debate is expected to heat up in February when the State Legislature is expected to address the issue.