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.
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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.
AP
MIAMI - Even in the end, with his jersey covered in dirt and his skin pierced with bruises, Chad Pennington had to smile.
The improbable comeback season for the Miami Dolphins and their resurgent quarterback came to an abrupt close Sunday, losing 27-9 to the Baltimore Ravens in their AFC wild-card playoff game.
Playing in his first game since being awarded The Associated Press 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Pennington had four interceptions against the Ravens after only having seven all season, ending one of the greatest one-year turnarounds in NFL history.
“It’s been magical,” Pennington said. “That’s why it hurts even worse.”
Pennington set team records with his 67.4 completion percentage and 97.4 quarterback rating. But Sunday, his rating was a dismal 53.7.
With the Dolphins trailing 20-3, Pennington tried to rally them with a 58-yard drive to the 13 before Ed Reed intercepted him for the second time late in the third quarter. Reed also made an over-the-shoulder interception in the second quarter after receiver Ted Ginn Jr. tripped, and Reed reversed field and sprinted for a touchdown.
Pennington tried to make a tackle but was planted into the grass by Terrell Suggs at the 5-yard line, getting an all-too-close view of the Ravens’ celebration.
“I certainly didn’t expect for it to end this way,” Pennington said.
For the Dolphins, Pennington’s worst game of the season didn’t erase all his other memories.
Teammates praised him for his leadership, calm presence in the huddle and efficient play. He threw for a career-high 3,653 yards with only seven interceptions during the regular season, directing an offense that totaled just 13 turnovers, an NFL record the Dolphins share with this season’s New York Giants.
“I told Chad Pennington that he’s my guy and that I believe in him,” Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. “I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for us. The guy’s a real trooper.”
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“Pennington’s been great all year. It just wasn’t a good day,” Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said. “We really don’t have anything to complain about. The guy’s done a great job. It’s been a heck of a year.”
Pennington’s four interceptions Sunday closed his remarkable season for the Dolphins (11-6), who won the AFC East after going 1-15 in 2007. The 10-game turnaround is tied with the 1999 Indianapolis Colts for the best in league history.
And the Dolphins say Pennington is to thank.
“If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be where we are right now,” Ginn said.
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He straightened his hair one last time, then put on his Dolphins cap, slowly savoring the last moments of a season he thought would never end.
“It’s been a special year,” Pennington said. “You wanted it to keep going. You wanted to keep it going and see how far you can take it.”
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.
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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.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.
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.
