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.
APFormer Alabama and NFL player Barry Krauss thinks the $4 million is money well spent.
“We needed that drive and vision,” said Krauss, a motivational speaker and broadcaster in Carmel, Ind. “I don’t think there’s any question we got what we paid for.”
They also get a driven coach and recruiter who puts in long hours.
“I don’t think he’s happy unless he’s coaching or recruiting,” Krauss said.
Defensive end Lorenzo Washington says Saban’s salary talk has been overblown.
“People just think they’re giving him the money,” Washington said. “He works for everything. He’s up here before everybody and leaves after everybody. He’s worth every penny.”
Ozzie Newsome knows football from both the business and on-field perspective as a former Alabama and NFL star who is now the Baltimore Ravens’ general manager. It comes down to what the market demands, he said.
“In sports today, collegiately and in the National Football League, coaches’ salaries have escalated, just like players’ salaries in the NFL have escalated,” Newsome said. “It’s just like anything else, it’s supply and demand. In order to get a quality person you’re going to have to pay a premium price. It’s just like buying a Mercedes over a Chevrolet.”
Newsome said it takes a winning product to get people to fork over money for suites and sponsorships. Enter Saban. The Tide won only seven games his first season, including an Independence Bowl victory over Colorado.
Saban’s second ’Bama team has almost matched that total already, and the fans are following the Tide even on the road despite high gas prices and other economic issues, Moore said.
“I think he is a perfect fit for this university and this athletic department,” Moore said. “When we hired him, looking at the national salaries, we were right in the ballpark, maybe at the top edge of it at the time we need the very best coach.
“The economy is frightening for everybody, but our fans are following the team.”
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 |
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.
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