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.
PBT: Jeremy Lin wasn't his hot self on Saturday, but he still led the Knicks to victory.
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.
Pioneerof the Nile didn’t look anywhere near as impressive as Friesan Fire in winning the San Felipe Stakes (Gr. 2) at Santa Anita. But the son of Empire Maker, the shortest-priced favorite of the weekend’s action at 3-10, showed he could win on a day when he was at less than his best, which is a good quality to have.
In against five seemingly overmatched rivals, the Bob Baffert-trained colt found himself in a difficult position, as New Bay grabbed an easy lead and appeared to be cruising. That got Pioneerof the Nile’s jockey, Garrett Gomez, nervous and he sent his mount up to challenge the front-runner much sooner than he would have preferred.
Pioneerof the Nile, who is more comfortable unleashing a powerful late burst, changed gears as his rider asked and disposed of New Bay exiting the far turn.
But once he did and without his customary target, he seemed to lose his focus for a few strides as long-shots Feisty Suances and Jeranimo came running up on the outside and for a moment it looked like the favorite was in trouble.
But Gomez got his mind back on business and he did just enough to win, crossing the wire 1 ¼ lengths clear of Feisty Suances.
The results weren’t impressive to the eye, but as with Old Fashioned, I think it was a better race than it appeared. The horse was taken out of his comfort zone and handled it pretty well.
Nor did Baffert sound worried after the race.
"I was a little bit nervous today because it looked too easy on paper, and usually, that’s when things go wrong … but I just like that he got through this and he handled it well, no problems, and it wasn’t too hard on him. … He likes to run at horses, and he’ll get plenty to run at from here on out.”
That was a reference to the speedy The Pamplemousse, the other leading West Coast Triple Crown contender. The two are expected to meet in the Santa Anita Derby (Gr. 1) on April 4.
Maybe the grittiest effort of the weekend was turned in by Musket Man, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (Gr. 3) . The son of Yonaguska was bottled up behind a wall of horses at the top of the stretch, but jockey Daniel Centeno played the boy who lets the genie out and swung his mount five wide. Once Musket Man got clear, he stormed home and edged 35-1 shot Join in the Dance by a neck.
Meantime, Hello Broadway, the 2-1 favorite in the field of 10, raced wide throughout and never got in the hunt.
Musket Man is not nominated to the Triple Crown, so owners Eric Fein and Vic Carlson will have to pony up $6,000 if they want to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Derek Ryan suggested that payment may be forthcoming by indicating that his charge would likely start next in either the Illinois Derby (Gr. 2) or the Wood Memorial (Gr. 1), both on April 4.
Late scratches
The highly regarded Giant Oak is likely off the Derby trail after closing late to finish a non-threatening fourth in the Louisiana Derby, trainer Chris Block told Brisnet.com. “Right now, I just don’t consider him a Kentucky Derby horse, and I’m not going to chase down that road and ruin a horse just to say I had a horse in the Kentucky Derby.” … Bill Mott looks to have a good late-developing 3-year-old in Tintim Por Tintim, winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile Saturday at Gulfstream by seven lengths. It was the first start for the son of Zilzal.
The first of three pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager begins its three-day run on Friday and the bet's opening scenario is very similar to each of its opening pools since the wager was created in 1999.
It's first time that Classic will be broadcast in primetime on Nov. 3.
 | Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
 | INTERACTIVE |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | Derby celebs Plenty of stars from the entertainment and sports world attend the 136th Kentucky Derby. more photos |
| INTERACTIVE |
 | Triple Crown winners The horses that have won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in the same year. |
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.