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.
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.
Getty ImagesBest Misdirection Play? Operation Dumb Drop in Durham
The plan for North Carolina’s home opener versus McNeese State was to have skydivers descend into Kenan Stadium with the game ball. The parachutists made a bad read, though, landing instead in Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium.
Most Exciting Freshman? Robert Griffin
Baylor’s signal-caller is the youngest starting quarterback in the FBS and a world-class intermediate hurdler as well. If the Big 12 were not in the midst of a historic season in terms of quarterback talent, Griffin would be more widely known outside of Waco.
Best Misnomer? Air Force
The Air Force Academy aimed high, low and everywhere but on target in a game against Houston, completing zero passes. They still won, though. And by the way, the Falcons are the only offense not to have allowed a sack (50 pass attempts) this season.
Most Gruesome Injury? Charlie Weis gets chop-blocked
The Notre Dame coach was blindsided by Irish outside linebacker John Ryan, who was blocked into him by a Michigan player during a punt. The 6-5, 265-pound junior sailed directly into the side of Weis’ left knee, tearing both his ACL and MCL. To Weis’ credit, if that is the correct word, he never missed a play nor a day of work since the hit.
Most Eye-Popping Score? BYU 59, UCLA 0
Norm Chow learns the hard way that you can’t go home again. Or it’s best that you do not.
Stats Incredible!
Two statistics, both involving Big 12 offenses, that we find difficult to comprehend: 1) Missouri went 51 offensive drives before its first three-and-out, which happened in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State, and 2) Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell has been sacked just once in 262 pass attempts.
And yet her namesake university, Notre Dame, has never, to the best of our recollection, won a game in this manner.
Both Buffalo and Middle Tennessee State have won games this season on game-ending Hail Mary passes. The Blue Raiders have actually completed two such last-ditch tosses but the former, at Kentucky, ended one yard shy of paydirt.
Most Precarious Position? Quarterback at Oregon
Beginning when Dennis Dixon tore his ACL — ending both the Ducks’ national title and Dixon’s Heisman hopes — in Tucson last November, Oregon has had seven quarterbacks knocked out of action. As a Los Angeles Times headline put it recently, “Oregon quarterbacks haven’t learned to Duck.”
Lehman Brothers Award for Fiscal Responsibility
West Virginia granted first-year head coach Bill Stewart a six-year contract extension after the Mountaineers lost at East Carolina. At the time Stewart had yet to win a regular-season game against a BCS conference team. Coach Paterno might want to mention this item when his contract comes up for review.
Speaking of Stock Plummeting…
East Carolina opened its season with impressive wins against Virginia Tech and West Virginia. ESPN dispatched Dr. Lou to do a segment on the head coach, who happens to be his son, and the only blemish the program appeared to have was its overzealous security personnel. Then, quicker than you can say, “BCS-buster”, the Pirates lost three straight to sit at 3-3 at the halfway point.
Most Favorable Hue? Golden
The Golden Gophers of Minnesota are the season’s biggest surprise (sorry, Vandy). Now 6-1, Minnesota is bowl-eligible just one year after a 1-11 disaster that included a loss to North Dakota State. The undefeated Golden Hurricane of Tulsa lead the nation in scoring, averaging 53.17 points per game. And sophomore Golden Tate leads Notre Dame in receptions (28), receiving yardage (518 yards) and touchdowns (4).
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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 | Slideshow: A look at Paterno's legendary career Take a look back at legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno through the years. NBCSports.com |
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 | Flying under the radar Some of the top college football coaches that haven't been getting much recognition |
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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