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?
LIVE VIDEO: NBCSports.com shows Washington-New York, with alternate camera angles, HD views and more.
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.
AFP - Getty ImagesDinara Safina
Size and strength are becoming a premium on the WTA tour, and Marat Safin’s little sister has both of them. She stunned Maria Sharapova in Paris by combining power and precision. She won the match by taking the last six games after being down 5-1 in the third set.
Before this year, I doubted Safina's commitment, but she’s in much better shape now, and is playing smarter.
Due to her large frame, she’ll never be fast, but if she keeps working on her technique she should be able to compensate for that by taking control of points early and not letting go.
It's my feeling she should make a strong run at the top 10 by year’s end after finishing 2005 ranked No. 20.
Shahar Peer
This spunky Israeli really came into her own this spring, upsetting Anastasia Myskina to win the Istanbul title, and nearly knocking off Martina Hingis at the French Open.
She’s very fast, has a terrific backhand, and also possesses a world of fight. This Israeli soldier (she’s currently doing two years of military service) seems well adjusted, displays tactical smarts, and isn’t intimidated easily.
After closing out last year ranked No. 45, watch for her to finish this year in the top 15, and move up from there in 2007.
Anna-Lena Groenefeld
After seven long years post Steffi Graf’s retirement, Germany finally has a women's player worth watching again.
Groenefeld is a tall blonde with a big serve and gigantic forehand. She doesn’t always play intelligently, but fought very well at the French Open in her run to the quarterfinals.
With a little more seasoning, and a greater willingness to charge the net, she should crack the top 10 in the near future. She wound up 2005 ranked No. 21.
Maria Kirilenko
What would an up-and-comer list be without an attractive Russian?
Dozens of Eastern Europeans are still coming in the junior ranks, but Kirilenko is finally breaking out, off the court and on.
Maria’s Sharapova's closest friend on the tour, Kirilenko has Barbie Doll looks, which is why she’s modeling Stella McCarthy’s Nike line.
On the court, she’s quick, has terrific hands, and fine court knowledge. She’s grittier than she looks, and while I don’t see her becoming a top shelf player, a few years in the top 20 are not out of the question.
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.
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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.
