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.
"Fans will want to see matchups (the UFC) can't make,'' said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights, who added that his organization is reluctant to join the alliance as well. "(But) I don't know that WAMMA solves that, either, if Dana doesn't want to be a part of it.''
WAMMA does pack plenty of name recognition, with several notable figures from boxing coming on board to help avoid the problems that spoiled their sport.
Its medical advisory board is headed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, and its legal counsel is Fred Levin, who worked for years with former boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. Others involved include boxing promoter Godwin Asifo and Kay Stephenson, former coach of the Buffalo Bills.
The inclusion of Andrews, who has worked for years with athletes from more mainstream sports like Major League Baseball, comes at a time when safety and unified rules are once again a major issue in the sport.
Sam Vasquez of Houston was injured at a Renegades Extreme Fighting show in Houston on Oct. 20 and died about six weeks later. The 35-year-old's death is believed to be the first linked to a sanctioned mixed martial arts bout.
WAMMA will release its first rankings on Monday and will include fighters from all organizations, even those that want no part of it. The alliance hopes to schedule its first world championship bout in mid-2008, and eventually help put together 20-25 title fights a year.
"This has nothing to do with interfering with the financial stream of the UFC or any of the promoters,'' said Szady, stressing that each organization will remain autonomous and that WAMMA will have no part in promoting fights.
Rather, it is a concerted effort to prevent mixed martial arts from fracturing, alienating its fans and finding itself with the same tarnished image as boxing.
"I think there's other potential there,'' Szady continued, "and what I really believe is that if the UFC maintains the sport the way it is, I don't know how long it will remain popular.''
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.
 | Slide show |
 | The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | Who's hot on Twitter? Check out which of your favorite athletes have the best pages and most followers! NBCSports.com |
 | Special feature |
 | NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | Presidential candidates and sports How do President Obama and his Republican rivals stack up when it comes to their sports backgrounds? |
Inside NBCSports.com |
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.
NBC Sports TV and livestream listings
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.