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.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had 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.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
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.
AP61. Nick Hardwick, C, San Diego Chargers
Worth mentioning: Bronson Arroyo, RHP, Cincinnati Reds.
62. Jeremy Perry, G, Oregon State football
63. Jeff Saturday, C, Indianapolis Colts
Saturday does his best work on Sundays, when he's snapping the ball to Peyton Manning.
64. Edwin Mulitalo, G, Detroit Lions
When the best guy at a number plays for the Lions and his name is not Roy Williams, it is not a strong number.
65. Andre Gurode, C, Dallas Cowboys
66. Alan Faneca, G, Pittsburgh Steelers
67. Kareem McKenzie, OT, New York Giants
68. Kris Dielman, G, San Diego Chargers
Worth mentioning: Mike Wahle, G, Carolina Panthers.
69. Jon Runyan, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
70. Jammal Brown, OT, New Orleans Saints
71. Walter Jones, OT, Seattle Seahawks
Worth mentioning: Larry Allen, G, San Francisco 49ers; Willie Anderson, OT, Cincinnati Bengals.
Jones is the best offensive lineman in the NFL.
72. Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin football
Worth mentioning: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU football; Matt Light, OT, New England Patriots.
When an offensive lineman goes in the top three in the NFL draft, you know he's good.
73. Marcus McNeill, OT, San Diego Chargers
Worth mentioning: Shawn Andrews, G, Philadelphia Eagles.
74. Aaron Kampman, DE, Green Bay Packers
Worth mentioning: Steve Justice, C, Wake Forest football.
75. Barry Zito, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Worth mentioning: Jonathan Ogden, OT, Baltimore Ravens.
Zito's number seems more suited to a spring training invitee than a guy in the first year of a seven-year deal worth $126 million. But he doesn't want to change it. "It seems like a good symmetrical number," he told reporters. "It just looks good on the back."
76. Orlando Pace, OT, St. Louis Rams
Contender: Steve Hutchinson, G, Minnesota Vikings.
77. Kris Jenkins, DT, Carolina Panthers
Contender: Jake Long, OT, Michigan football.
78. Tarik Glenn, OT, Indianapolis Colts
Worth mentioning: Matt Birk, C, Minnesota Vikings; Jared Gaither, OT, Maryland football.
79. Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State football
80. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
Worth mentioning: Isaac Bruce, WR, St. Louis Rams; Donald Driver, WR, Green Bay Packers; Jeremy Shockey, TE, New York Giants; Kellen Winslow, TE, Cleveland Browns.
What, if anything, does it say about the NFL that virtually every team has a No. 80 and that Jerry Rice, who made the 80 great, is widely considered the best wide receiver ever, yet no NHL player will ever wear No. 99 after Wayne Gretzky (it has been retired leaguewide)? Perhaps Gretzky was that much better than Rice. More likely, hockey better lends itself to reverence than football does.
But don't tell Johnson about the lack of reverence for Rice. He grew up idolizing the 49ers legend and chose No. 80 as a tribute. After two years in the NFL, he was still so nervous about meeting Rice that he wouldn't approach him after a joint practice between the Texans and Broncos. (Rice was in camp with the Broncos. Ugh.) Friends shoved Johnson toward Rice. "I can't believe I got to meet him," Johnson told reporters.
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.
NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''
Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.
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Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
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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