A brilliant day in Phoenix, a cloudless sky and the thermometer pushing the low 70's as the Green Bay Packers depart for the NFC Wild Card game this afternoon.

The news down here remains pressimistic for wide receiver Anquan Bolden.  He did not practice Friday making it three straight days without work because of the ankle and knee injuries he suffered last week against the Pack.  Corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and safety Antrel Rolle are, like Bolden, officially listed as questionable for the game.   Up in Green Bay Friday, Mike McCarthy said his staff is preparing as if all the Cardinals will be available.  Its a lot easier to prepare for them all, rather than the other way around.   As for the Packers final injury report heading into the game, safety Derrick Martin remains doubtful with his ankle sprain.   He hasn't practiced this week but McCarthy says they'll give him every opportunity to try and play since he was named one of the playoff captains on special teams.  All of the other players who've had injuries were full participants at the final practice Friday so the checkmark alongside the healthier team appears to be on the Packers ledger.

Rookie Clay Matthews got a nice bit of news Friday.   Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs won't be able to play in the Pro Bowl in Miami so as a first alternate, the USC rookie will take his place.  Matthews becomes the first Packers rookie to make the Pro Bowl since James Lofton and the first since 1970 to represent the defense.   I thought Matthews should have been voted ahead of Washington's Brian Orakpo who had one more sack than Clay, but the Packers defense clerarly outpeformed Washington's this season.

Off for a bit of sightseeing before the team joins me later in the Valley of the Sun, aptly named today.