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.
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Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
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
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - As if the loss of Michael Vick wasn’t enough, the winless Atlanta Falcons are dealing with another distraction involving a high-profile player.
Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall said Wednesday he’s been fined $100,000 by the team and may have to sit out one or two quarters of the next game for his meltdown last week against the Carolina Panthers.
Hall wasn’t pleased with the decision and plans to appeal through the NFL Players Association.
The Falcons (0-3) acted quickly after their defensive star was called for three penalties totaling 67 yards on one possession, including two personal fouls, then got into a heated sideline confrontation with coach Bobby Petrino and one of his assistants.
Petrino decided on the penalties after consulting some of the team’s leaders.
“I don’t think this is the first time it’s happened in the National Football League, and it definitely won’t be the last time,” Hall said. “I think it’s a little bit unfair. But he made his decision, and we need to move on from here. I’ll try to rectify it and move on.”
The penalties led to a Carolina touchdown that tied the game at 17 in the third quarter. The Panthers went on to a 27-20 victory.
“When things like that take place, it’s unacceptable,” said 10th-year linebacker Keith Brooking, who’s been with the team longer than anyone. “DeAngelo knows that. I know he feels bad about it. But when things like that do occur, guys have to be held accountable.”
Brooking added, “That’s not the total reason we lost that game. But that was part of it, no doubt about it.”
NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis said the union had received notice of the fine against Hall.
“We will be discussing the possibility of an appeal with DeAngelo and his representatives soon,” Francis said.
Hall has 45 days to appeal. If he does, the team would get seven days to respond. After that, the case would be submitted to a neutral arbitrator, who would set a hearing date and eventually rule on whether the team had proper cause to impose the sanctions.
In addition to the hefty fine, Hall said he might be suspended for either the first quarter or the entire first half of Sunday’s game against Houston (2-1). The Texans’ offense is directed by former Falcons quarterback Matt Schaub, who’s completing nearly 76 percent of his passes.
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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Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
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.