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.
APQ: What’s left to prove for Peyton Manning? Will he just fall into the superstar quarterback role and continue to break and set every record imaginable without the stigma of never winning “the big game” on his back, or has he peaked at age 31?
— Will Balvanz, Dectaur, Ill.
A: Doesn’t look like he’s near his peak yet. If he keeps this up, he could break every record in the book and go down as the best of all time.
Here’s the problem: the Colts have excelled at managing their salary cap and identifying players to surround Manning. This can’t last forever. Someday, Marvin Harrison will need to be replaced. For rookie left tackle Tony Ugoh to replace retired veteran Tarik Glenn this season is remarkable. Brett Favre is enjoying his second childhood in Green Bay but only after the offensive line was retooled and the team was rebuilt around him. Manning is bound to incur some bumpy times because it’s unrealistic to expect the Colts to be able to maintain the high level of talent around him.
You saw what a difference one man on defense, safety Bob Sanders, did last year when the Colts couldn’t stop the run without him, yet won the Super Bowl with him. I see Manning playing at a high level for at least six more seasons.
Q: At 0-2, can the Jets make a run at the playoffs?
— Gary, Monroe, N.Y.
A: It will be very tough because they play in the AFC, where 9-7 teams aren’t likely to sneak in. An NFC team with an 0-2 record has a better chance because the teams simply aren’t as good. The good news for the Jets is they are no worse off in the AFC East division than the 0-2 Bills and Dolphins. Somebody other than the Patriots is bound to win a game one of these weeks.
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A: Those are two ideas I’ve never heard of. I wouldn’t think there would be much sentiment for either one. Playing offense in the shadow of your own goalposts is punishment enough without being penalized more than half the distance. Remember, owners like scoring and therefore try to give the offense every advantage.
For that reason, your idea for making kickers thread the needle won’t fly either. Granted, field goals can be dull, but not as dull as missed field goals and your proposed rule change would increase missed field goals by a bunch.
Q: Will Jerry Kramer ever make the HOF?
--John, Lisle, Wisc.
A: Nobody’s name has come up so often for so many years, so he certainly hasn’t been forgotten yet by fans or voters. His main problem is so many teammates are already in the Hall and there comes a point when enough’s enough.
There are people in Green Bay who believe Gale Gillingham was at least as good a guard as Kramer. Maybe they both belong.
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.
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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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.
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.
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