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.
Getty ImagesAlthough there will be a pair of new starters at linebacker, two at cornerback and one at safety, all of them have seen playing time and were ready to compete for starting roles, coaches said.
Peveto called his current linebackers "as talented of a group as we've had."
Senior Darry Beckwith is the only returning starter. He'll be joined by sophomore Kelvin Sheppard and junior Perry Riley, while junior Jacob Cutrera, who saw a lot of action last season, will rotate in regularly.
At cornerback, junior Chris Hawkins and sophomore Jai Eugene are expected to step in, with either Chad Jones, Danny McCray or Harry Coleman joining returning starter Curtis Taylor.
On offense, whoever wins the quarterback job will have plenty of help. A corps of big-play receivers return in Demetrius Byrd, Brandon LaFell and Terrance Toliver. Richard Dickson may be the best receiving tight end in the SEC.
In the running game, LSU has lost Jacob Hester to the NFL, but still has four regulars in Richard Murphy, Charles Scott, Keiland Williams and small but blazing fast Trindon Holliday, who also returns kicks.
With so much talent returning, Miles expects his new quarterback to do nothing more than master the fundamentals and limit mistakes. No need for the quarterback to try to be a star here.
"Anytime you bring a new starter to the mix, it's imperative that the strength of the offense help that quarterback," Miles said. "One of the strengths certainly is the offensive line. I like the idea that the running backs are veteran, the tight end is veteran, the full back, and the receivers are veteran.
"If you want to look at it, I think it's probably a great position for a newcomer at quarterback to get comfortable and understand that the guys that are around him are all capable."
Capable enough, certainly to have earned the national championship rings they were given during the offseason.
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.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
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 Memphis fulfills BCS dream Tigers officials thrilled to announce that school has been accepted to join the Big East Conference in 2013. |
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The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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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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