MIAMI � Indianapolis Colts All-Pro 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.�
Freeney said it�s �very discouraging� not to be able 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 nine days ago. He said chances of him practicing the rest of the week are not good. He�s the only starter on either team who might miss the game because of injury.
Freeney led the Colts with 13 sacks and is considered the leader of a defense that has performed well in the playoffs.