Cold Weather Super Bowl; a hot topic for bettors

Mark this one in your calendars! Super Bowl XLVIII will be the first of its kind to be played outside in a cold weather location. The NFL announced Tuesday that they will hold the 2014 championship game in Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

And the cold February day for the players will be a hot topic among bettors. While the weather-factor in previous Super Bowls was almost non-existent – the only question for open-air games was whether it would rain or not – the elements could play a huge role in the 2014 edition of the NFL’s biggest game of the year. Bettors might have to factor in the Super Bowl teams’ past performances in snow and will have to consider how the teams have faired in cold temperatures. The conditions in New Jersey could turn an underdog into a favorite.

I like this development, and while many players would rather travel to a warm city after a grueling season, Roger Goodell has already said that more cold weather Super Bowls are a possibility.
Roethlisberger cleared to return to Steelers

Roger Goodell cleared Ben Roethlisberger to return to the Steelers this week. However, he has not made a decision on whether the QBs suspension will be reduced. The Steelers hold their next offseason workout Tuesday. They have five more over the course of the next two weeks and then are off until the start of training camp.

Roethlisberger is suspended for the first six games of the season. He will miss games against the Falcons, Titans, Buccaneers, Ravens, and Browns before returning to game-action in a matchup with defending Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints on October 31. Byron Leftwich is expected to take Roethlisbergers place in the first six games.
Saints TE Shockey hospitalized after seizure symptoms, released one day later

Jeremy Shockey suffered a seizure during a weightlifting session Thursday and was hospitalized for one night at a facility in New Orleans. Speculations arose about dehydration being a possible cause for the seizure. Shockey has suffered from dehydration before. The cause of Thursday’s seizure has not been released yet, but Shockey left the hospital Friday and said he felt fine.
Chargers TE Antonio Gates misses minicamp with foot ailment

Gates sat out the three day minicamp because of plantar fasciitis. The 29 year-old All-Pro tight end will rest the foot for two to three weeks before he resumes running. Gates should be ready for training camp. The Chargers’ camp is scheduled to open on July 31.
Dolphins DE Merling charged with aggravated battery

The Dolphins are turning into the new Bengals. Defensive end Phillip Merling was arrested Wednesday in Weston, Fla., marking the fourth arrest among Dolphins players this year. Ronnie Brown, Tony McDaniel and Will Allen were arrested earlier in the offseason.

Merling was released on $15,000 dollar bail and practiced with the team Friday. The 25 year-old, who started two games in each of the last two seasons, was arrested for aggravated battery against his girlfriend, who is two months pregnant.

While a suspension for Merling wouldn’t hurt the team very much, the continuing off-field disruptions can’t be good for the team’s preparation for the 2010 season.
Dolphins trade OG Smiley to Jaguars

Justin Smiley passed a physical Tuesday which sealed his trade to the Jaguars. Jacksonville waived running back Allen Patrick to make room for Smiley. The Guard is supposed to bring in help on the offensive line that struggled to protect David Garrard last season.
Moss was treated by Galea, says he didn’t use HGH

Santana Moss’s name showed in an affidavit in connection with Anthony Galea, a Canadian doctor who faces charges for allegedly bringing unapproved drugs into the United States when his assistant was stopped at the US border with HGH among other drugs. He also faces charges for illegitimately treating athletes. Galea’s clients include big names in sports like Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez. Moss said he didn’t use HGH and received only standard treatments from Galea.
Seahawks Cut White

That didn’t take long. The Seahwaks released RB LenDale White Friday before he even participated in the team’s training camp. Seattle acquired White on the third day of this year’s draft in a trade with the Tennessee Titans.

White is facing a four game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.