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.
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts have relied on Peyton Manning’s talented right arm for a decade.
This year’s Super Bowl hopes may now rest on Manning’s repaired left knee.
It’s an unusual start to the 2008 season for the 32-year-old quarterback who has never missed a regular-season or playoff game. And for the only NFL team with six straight playoff appearances.
Manning had surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his knee July 14 and was kept out of public view until mid-August, leaving many to wonder whether he would be ready to open the season against Chicago on Sept. 7. So far, there’s been no definitive answer.
“It’s really been a challenge for me, something totally different than I’ve ever had to experience,” Manning said. “It has not been a pain-free process. I’d be lying if I said that. But that is my goal, to be ready for that first game.”
Playing without Manning for a week or two might not seem too bad.
But in the AFC, one or two losses could be the difference between staying home in the playoffs or going on the road. The conference is loaded with Super Bowl contenders like New England, Pittsburgh and San Diego, and Jacksonville is trying to break the Colts’ stranglehold in the AFC South.
Since arriving in 1998, Manning has led the Colts to the playoffs eight times and produced league records with five straight 12-win seasons and three straight 7-0 starts. The Colts also have won five straight division crowns, and, oh yeah, one Super Bowl title.
So what happens if the two-time league MVP and one-time Super Bowl MVP isn’t ready to start the season? Manning’s longtime backup, Jim Sorgi, would likely get the call.
While the public perception is that the Colts would struggle, Sorgi’s teammates and coaches believe they can survive.
“We’re very confident in his ability,” middle linebacker Gary Brackett said of Sorgi. “If Peyton’s not out there, Jim has to step up. In this game, you’re going to have injuries and you have to deal with them.”
The Colts at least are experienced in overcoming similar obstacles.
When former league sacks champion Dwight Freeney and record-setting receiver Marvin Harrison missed the final seven games last season, the Colts responded by winning six straight. In 2006, when Indy lost both projected starting defensive tackles for the season, it wound up winning its first Super Bowl title since moving to town in 1984.
This time could be different.
Manning has started all 174 games, including playoffs, during his first 10 NFL seasons, and team owner Jim Irsay said he doesn’t want to rush Manning back before he’s ready. Irsay also acknowledged it may be difficult for Manning to be completely healthy for the opener.
“I think it will be close,” Irsay said. “I just told him, ’I want to make sure you feel 100 percent and you’re ready to go because it’s a long season.’ With the human body, you just don’t know for sure. But we’re hopeful that he’ll be able to go.”
Manning is the biggest question heading into the season, but not the only one.
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 |
 | Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
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.