Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc: Syracuse is among a solid group of No. 1 seeds in our latest tournament projections, but the middle of the pack is much more murky.
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.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
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.
Reuters
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There are so many ifs attached to the Falcons that they might have to stay in training camp until December to get them all sorted out.
With the fate of quarterback Michael Vick suddenly hanging heavier than ever over their heads following his indictment on illegal dogfighting charges, the Falcons enter camp with a distraction impossible to escape. Even if Vick avoids a suspension, the main question for football fans is whether he can finally emerge as the kind of dominant quarterback his many skills suggest.
It's up to Bobby Petrino, Vick's third coach in his seven-year pro career, to sift through the residue of busted plays and broken promises and either make the coaching fit the player or make the player fit the coaching. Either way, the coach and quarterback must move forward. By all accounts, Vick concentrated like never before this offseason, appearing to take his job more seriously now that life outside football suddenly doesn't look so inviting.
Vick's unique talents forced the Falcons to assemble all their plans around him, so trading promising Matt Schaub to Houston was seen only as another way to add parts to the Vick model. If he fails, the whole team fails. In hindsight, of course, trading Schaub now looks like the unfortunate mistake of the offseason. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been moving faster than the judicial system in disciplining other players, so surely part of Vick's season already is in jeopardy.
The search for more and better receivers continues, though adding older Joe Horn from New Orleans as the projected No. 1 wideout is no sure way to improvement unless he discovers a fountain of youth at age 35. More likely, the Falcons will find life in youth such as third-rounder Laurent Robinson, who starred in mini-camps, or former Miami practice squadder Fred Gibson, or smaller Adam Jennings, or third-year man Roddy White. Somebody has to emerge to push Michael Jenkins and help take pressure off Vick's favorite target, tight end Alge Crumpler. The Falcons even signed a Japanese receiver, Noriaki Kinoshita, who played in NFL Europa.
Petrino wants a bigger offensive line, so 335-pound Justin Blalock is expected to start at left guard unless 340-pound journeyman Toniu Fonoti does. The line doesn't have to be overwhelming to protect Vick or make holes for quick Warrick Dunn and last year's excellent rookie, Jerious Norwood. The Falcons added Baltimore fullback Ovie Mughelli to a group that almost automatically leads the league in rushing, thanks to Vick.
Changes from front to back are expected on defense, with top draft choice Jamaal Anderson providing a pass-rushing presence that last year's free agent John Abraham couldn't. With tackle Rod Coleman rehabbing a quadriceps injury as camp starts, big and old veteran Grady Jackson must come through again. Fortunately for the Falcons, Jackson dropped a lawsuit against them and signed.
At linebacker, Demorrio Williams tore a pectoral muscle that could sideline him and allow rookie Stephen Nicholos or newly-signed Orlando Huff to start. Keith Brooking moves back inside as Michael Boley develops as one of the league's best outside as well as unfamiliar forces.
Another rookie, second-rounder Chris Houston, must start right away at cornerback opposite DeAngelo Hall, with newcomer Lewis Sanders providing depth. Jimmy Williams was moved to free safety next to Lawyer Milloy in another experiment.
Hot seat
Couldn't be hotter for Vick, the closest thing in the NFL to a one-man team. If new backup Joey Harrington has to play for an extended period of time, Petrino may have to install a new playbook. Vick vowed to take his profession more seriously during his tulmultuous offseason. He has heard the second-guessers and now his entire career is suddenly on the line. If he is suspended by the league or convicted of the serious offenses, the Falcons will have to decide whether he is more bother than worth. It's presumptuous to think he can continue to perform under enormous pressure.
Overheard
Allen Rossum is getting old as a kick and punt return specialist on special teams that are ordinary. But he'll never catch up with kicker Morten Andersen, who will turn 47 if he lasts. Don't discount him. The only competition comes from castoffs Billy Cundiff and Aaron Elling.
Outlook
Iffy. In a division with so much competition, it's hard to count on a team with so many question marks, especially the big one Vick wears on his back. One more setback on or off the field could mark the end of Vick's welcome in Atlanta. That being said, it's not a roster full of talent on either side of the ball unless the defense stars playing more consistently. It can give up three points or 30.
Prediction
Fourth.
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Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
Rotoworld: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill among the 10 players who will slip down draft boards, but probably shouldn't.
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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.
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The Red Wings have finally started to embrace a record they've been chasing.
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