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.
AP
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on steroid use.
Edwards has been a starter for most of the season, but was replaced by Erasmus James for last Sunday’s game against Detroit. Coach Brad Childress said that decision had nothing to do with Edwards’ violation, which the coach learned of on Wednesday morning.
Childress said he was disappointed in Edwards and could not comment further because of the confidentiality surrounding the policy.
“It’s disappointing, but there are policies in place and our players have to adhere to those policies,” Childress said. “Every team goes through challenges as you go through the year. We’ve been through some of our own. It’s an opportunity to have others step up.”
The Associated Press left a message with Edwards’ agent, Doug Hendricks, seeking comment.
The Vikings (6-6) will turn to James, rookie Brian Robison and Jayme Mitchell to fill in during Edwards’ absence. The Vikings have won three games in a row to rebound from a 2-5 start and play at San Francisco (3-9) on Sunday.
“I guess we’re taking it about as good as a team can,” Robison said. “We know things happen, and you just have to make sure that when things do happen, you just have to push through it and come together as a team and make sure we keep playing the way we’re playing.”
James, who recently returned after a major knee injury in Week 2 of last season, missed practice on Wednesday after Childress said he “banged his knee a little bit” against the Lions on Sunday.
|
He started the day second on the team in sacks, but jumped to the lead when the Elias Sports Bureau made a scoring change from the Lions game. Edwards hit quarterback Jon Kitna on the shoulder, forcing the ball to flutter into defensive end Kenechi Udeze’s hands during a play that was initially ruled an interception.
But on Wednesday, Elias announced it was changing the scoring to give Edwards a sack — his fifth of the season — and Udeze a fumble recovery. Edwards also has 41 tackles, including five tackles for loss, 22 quarterback hurries and a touchdown on a 9-yard fumble return in Week 2 against Detroit.
Edwards will not be allowed at Vikings headquarters or with the team while he is suspended. Also missing practice on Wednesday were safety Mike Doss (hamstring), safety Tank Williams (knee), linebacker E.J. Henderson (illness) and receiver Robert Ferguson (personal).
Edwards is eligible to return to the team after the Dec. 30 season finale against Denver and could play if the Vikings make the playoffs.
“A lot of us younger guys like Jayme and myself have to step in and make sure that there’s no dropoff,” said Robison, who is second on the team with 4½ sacks. “It’s just like if Ray was there. That’s what we’re going to do this week.”
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.
 | Slideshow |
 | Super Bowl XLVI shots See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots more photos |
Latest from ProFootballTalk |
 | Video: Football from NBC Sports |
 Getty Images |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
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.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.
