Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Golf's dream pairing - Woods and Mickelson - is on the course in the final round at Pebble Beach. Jason Sobel has hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Euro Roundup: First-place Manchester City won 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday on Joleon Lescott's goal in the 63rd minute, maintaining its two-point lead over Manchester United in the Premier League.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
AP fileSILVER MEDALS
Blue Jays
Toronto made significant changes, and the only thing that holds me back from giving their offseason a gold medal is concern over the health of A.J. Burnett, a right-handed starter whose services were sought by a bunch of teams after he became a free agent following seven seasons with the Marlins.
Burnett has great stuff, but injuries have stood in the way of his producing results to match. After seven major league seasons, his career won-lost mark was 49-50. And he's not starting off in Toronto in great shape as he won't make at least his first two starts of the season since he is on the disabled list because of elbow pain.
Besides Burnett, the Blue Jays made another huge move to upgrade their pitching when they signed free-agent closer B.J. Ryan from the Orioles. Ryan had 36 saves last season, and there are times when he is virtually unhittable.
Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi did a magnificent job strengthening the team's lineup. In free agency, the Blue Jays signed catcher Benjie Molina from the Angels, and traded with the Diamondbacks for third baseman Troy Glaus, and the Brewers for first baseman Lyle Overbay --all very strong moves.
A member of the A.L. East, the strongest division in baseball, the Blue Jays have a chance to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox both for the A.L. East title, and the A.L. wild card, but only if Burnett gets and stays healthy, and gets the results the kind of stuff he has should bring on a consistent basis.
Giants
The Giants are trying to win again in the limited time Barry Bonds has left in his career, and I think San Francisco by far had the most underrated offseason.
The Giants signed free-agent, right-handed starting pitcher Matt Morris, and did so at about half the price the Blue Jays paid to sign A.J. Burnett, noteworthy since in his career Morris has achieved much greater success than Burnett. Morris will settle in quite nicely at the top of the rotation with Jason Schmidt.
I thought the trade the Giants made with the Angels to get veteran outfielder Steve Finley brought them a tremendous acquisition. They got Finley for third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo, a player who after last season no longer figured in their plans.
Also in outfielder Mark Sweeney and infielder Jose Vizcaino, the Giants brought in two bench players who I think add a lot to their team -- and not just with their play on the field.
The last year or two the Giants have had to deal with a lack of clubhouse spunk and togetherness -- a subject that has been openly talked about. The team addressed that issue by adding players such as Finley, Sweeney, and Vizcaino, who all provide very solid presences in the clubhouse.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
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Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
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Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.