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.
PBT: Jeremy Lin wasn't his hot self on Saturday, but he still led the Knicks to victory.
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 fileBRONZE MEDALS
Pirates
I feel the Pirates deserve a bronze medal for their work over the winter, first and foremost for hiring Jim Tracy, who skippered the Dodgers for the last five seasons, as their manager.
Tracy reminds me more of former Twins manager Tom Kelly than anyone I've ever come across in baseball. Both played briefly in the major leagues, served their managerial apprenticeships by managing in the minors and coaching in the majors, and both are highly regarded because they exert a quiet, but very strong presence over the teams they manage.
Like Kelly, Tracy understands the players are the story -- not the manager. I think with the Dodgers, Tracy was underappreciated, but in Pittsburgh, I believe his managerial style will be a much better fit.
After making the Tracy hire, the Pirates swung trades to acquire first baseman Sean Casey, left-handed pitcher Damaso Marte, and dipped into the free-agent market to sign third baseman Joe Randa, outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, and relief pitcher Roberto Hernandez.
These trades and signings should strengthen the Pirates, and are even more impressive when you take into account the spiral of failure of the franchise in recent years -- something which made attracting free agents that much more difficult.
I think in the six-team N.L. Central Division, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee are the two teams with the best chance of showing the most improvement.
Royals
A similar situation to Pittsburgh because in Buddy Bell, whom they hired last May, the Royals now have a perfect manager for their situation. Like Pittsburgh, Kansas City has been stuck in such a rut of failure that attracting prime free agents has been out of the question.
Kansas City went out and was finally able to get some veteran players who have been on winning teams to sign on. Among those they landed in free agency are Reggie Sanders, Mark Grudzielanek, and Doug Mientkiewicz. This trio brings knowledge of how to win to a clubhouse that is loaded with young players.
Among those young players are shortstop Angel Berroa, third baseman Mark Teahen, and catcher John Buck, a trio the Royals hope will be their core for years to come. These three young players should get some leadership and instruction from the veterans the team has signed -- veterans who know how to win.
No one is expecting the Royals to contend for the playoffs, but in terms of what they did in the offseason, they look like a far better team than they were on the last day of last season.
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.
HardballTalk headlines |
 | Interactive |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | Unbreakable records in baseball A look at the most unbreakable records in baseball including Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters. |
| Slideshow |
 | The top tools of baseball You hear a lot about the tools of baseball, but who are the best hitters, fielders and pitchers? We break it down. more photos |
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.
NBC Sports TV and livestream listings
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.