Quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady joined two-time selections Willie Roaf, Larry Allen and Warren Sapp among the 53 players announced yesterday as members of the NFL's All-Decade team.

Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy were selected as the best coaches of the decade, and Dante Hall made it as both a kick and punt returner.

Roaf, Allen and Sapp were also part of the 1990s team.

Manning and Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, along with New Orleans safety Darren Sharper, were part of the team and will be playing in the Super Bowl. A dozen players on the 2000s squad also were playing in yesterday's Pro Bowl.

Chicago Bears center Olin Kreutz, a Saint Louis School alum, was also selected to the offensive team.

SUPER BOWL QBS

MANNING, BREES ON PRO BOWL SIDELINE

Peyton Manning said he was excited to be on the AFC sideline during the Pro Bowl, renewing acquaintances with players he's gotten to know over the years.

He was more excited, of course, knowing that he has "a real game next week."

And on this same Pro Bowl field, too.

Manning and the rest of the Pro Bowl players from the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints appeared last night at the Miami Dolphins' home stadium to be part of the NFL's All-Star showcase, perhaps one final moment of relaxation before both teams begin the final wave of Super Bowl preparations around South Florida today.

COLTS

FREENEY RECOVERING FROM ANKLE SPRAIN

The Indianapolis Colts are maintaining that Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney has a low ankle sprain, not a torn ligament, and that he is still questionable for the Super Bowl.

Team spokesman Craig Kelley said last night that Freeney was being treated in Florida.

Earlier in the day, http://ESPN.com reported Freeney was unlikely to play against the New Orleans Saints because of a torn ligament.

Freeney injured his right ankle with about 2 minutes to go in last week's AFC championship game. He was rushing quarterback Mark Sanchez when he pulled up and hopped toward the sideline.

PANTHERS

AGENT: FREE AGENT PEPPERS LIKELY TO GO

The agent for Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers is convinced the five-time Pro Bowl pick will play elsewhere next season.

Carl Carey said last night that the Panthers have "not made a single inquiry this offseason" regarding the impending unrestricted free agent. It comes after they went to great lengths to keep Peppers in 2009, using the franchise tag and paying him an NFL-high $18.2 million.

Using the tag again in 2010 would cost about $20.1 million. Carey says he hasn't heard from the Panthers since an informal conversation on the final weekend of the regular season and "we don't expect to hear from them."

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

JETS

REX RYAN SORRY FOR OBSCENE GESTURE

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has apologized for making an obscene gesture at a mixed martial arts event.

Ryan was booed Saturday night while doing a TV interview at the MMA event in the Bank Atlantic Center, the Florida Panthers' home arena. He was smiling when caught making the gesture by a cell phone camera.

Ryan called his actions "stupid and inappropriate" and apologized to the Jets organization, the NFL and its fans.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum added the organization will address the matter internally.

TRIBUTE

STATUE, NFL AWARD IN HONOR OF SHULA

A statue of Don Shula has been unveiled in front of the Miami Dolphins' new offices at their stadium, and the NFL is establishing an annual Coach Shula Award.

The award will honor a coach at any level who displays the integrity, achievement and positive impact on others exemplified by Shula.