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.
APOther teams benefited that way, too.
Indianapolis, last year’s champion, has consistently drafted and signed well. Its version of Bradshaw is Ed Johnson, an undrafted free agent who was kicked off the team at Penn State, and started all year at defensive tackle after Anthony McFarland was hurt.
The Colts also have a player like Smith, Anthony Gonzalez, chosen with the last pick of the first round last April.
Smith was the nominal No. 2 receiver at Southern Cal behind Dwayne Jarrett and Gonzalez was No. 2 behind Ted Ginn Jr., at Ohio State. They had big-game experience in top-level college programs and turned out better as rookies than the guys who overshadowed them.
Yes, the Giants have key players they signed in past years as free agents, led by Burress and middle linebacker Antonio Pierce. Also in that group are two offensive linemen, center Shaun O’Hara and tackle Kareem McKenzie, plus Mitchell and cornerback Sam Madison, picked up when he was cut for salary cap reasons by Miami.
But the heart of the team remains young players acquired through the draft; as undrafted free agents (S James Butler, TE Mike Matthews and CB Kevin Dockery); or off the waiver wire (FB Madison Hedgecock and KR Domenik Hixon). By contrast, San Francisco, which spent a bundle on free agents last season, finished 5-11, and Snyder in Washington has been spinning his wheels in free agency since buying the team in 1999.
So pay attention to the scouting combine, which starts next week — although not too much. Plenty of teams have been fooled over the years by speed or strength stats in shorts that don’t translate to playing with pads on.
Consider that last season’s best teams have all drafted well. That includes Indianapolis, San Diego, Dallas, Green Bay, the Giants and New England, who got Wes Welker and Randy Moss last season for draft picks. “They were our draft,” coach Bill Belichick said.
The best free agents plug immediate needs at moderate prices. The worst overload salary caps and underproduce.
Good drafts are guaranteed to produce winners.
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 |
Super Bowl XLII |
Team pages: Giants | Pats | More coverage |
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.
NBC Sports TV and livestream listings
