SAN DIEGO – Super Bowl XLV is days from kickoff at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
An ice storm and frigid temperatures in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area subdued the social buzz surrounding the event but did not lessen the excitement of the NFL’s greatest stage, 
“The atmosphere right now, man, is pretty somber because of the ice we just got,” said Crayton, a Dallas resident.
“Everybody’s like, ‘When is it going to be about going out at night and all the activities that were scheduled?’ because the roads are iced over. It’s a little down right now but I think it’ll get picked up. It’s supposed to start getting warmer.”
Crayton noted the irony of the weather almost a year after Dallas hosted the NBA’s All-Star weekend during a major snowstorm.
Cowboys Stadium, which opened May 27, 2009, should provide a spectacle, said Crayton, who played home games there for the Dallas Cowboys during its inaugural season.
“It’s going to be a concert-type atmosphere in there. It’s going to be ridiculous I’m sure,” Crayton said. “Mr. Jones (Cowboys owner Jerry Jones) is going to put on a show, trust me. They always say everything is bigger and better and Texas, so it’s going to be a good fit.
“It’s a big deal in Dallas. It’s a big opportunity to really showcase the city. They plan on doing it pretty good this year.”
PRAISE FOR SD: Crayton caught 23 passes for 420 yards and a touchdown during the final five games of his season, including a pair of 100-yard efforts.
He also became popular with fans for a highlight stiff-arm against the Broncos but dislocated his wrist falling into the end zone on a 40-yard touchdown against Denver and did not play in the final six games.
Crayton, obtained in a trade with Dallas a week before the season, has one year remaining on his contract with the Chargers but speaks highly of the organization.
“I’d love to stay there and finish out my career. Another four or five years would be great,” Crayton said. “We’ll see. We’re going to take it one year at a time and go from there.”
Crayton also said his wrist “is coming along. Day by day it gets better.”
GOODMAN SIGNED: The Chargers signed receiver Richard Goodman to a Reserve/Future contract this week.
Goodman, 6-foot, 192 pounds, landed on the practice squad as an undrafted rookie out of Florida State. Signed to the active roster Week 6 at St. Louis, he played in three games, catching one pass for 25 yards and making five special teams tackles as a gunner.
Dealing with a hamstring injury, he returned to the practice squad Nov. 10 and was designated Practice Squad/Injured on Dec. 1.
RIVERS GETS VOTES:
Rivers finished third in fan voting for FedEx Air Player of the Year behind Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. He also finished fourth in the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year vote won by Brady.
Rivers led the NFL with 4,710 passing yards, threw 30 touchdowns against 13 interceptions and finished with a passer rating of more than 100 (101.8) for a third consecutive season.
