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 three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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 title chances now.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
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.
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HOOVER, Ala. - Joe Cox might not become the next Matthew Stafford, a top draft pick now enjoying NFL riches.
Georgia’s new starting quarterback would happily settle for being the latest incarnation of D.J. Shockley, a guy who patiently waited his turn and then took advantage of it four years ago.
“I would love to have a chance like D.J. had to play for an SEC championship,” said Cox, a senior with one college start under his belt. “Obviously I would like to do exactly what he did during that season as far as preparation and how he handled everything.
“It’s kind of scary how similar our situations are.”
Also frightening for fans and coaches is just how many new starters the Southeastern Conference could have at quarterback. Sure, Florida has Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Mississippi is led by Jevan Snead, a one-time Texas Longhorn projected as a potential No. 1 overall pick like Stafford.
Beyond them, there are no proven stars.
Nine SEC teams, including Alabama and LSU, figure to either have new starters or loads of competition in camp — or both.
It makes for intriguing if unsettling situations around the league when teams open practice in the next couple of weeks.
At Arkansas, Bobby Petrino has Tyler Wilson vying with 6-foot-7 Ryan Mallett, a one-time starter as a freshman at Michigan who tight end D.J. Williams said has “the strongest arm in college football.”
“He’s going to be a great quarterback to watch this year,” Williams said.
But Petrino points out the importance of experience for a quarterback, especially when it comes to eluding the tough, fast defenses in the SEC.
“I think it’s very critical just to experience the speed,” said Petrino, who has worked with such quarterbacks as Jason Campbell, Chris Redman and Jake Plummer. “You go out there and you practice and you can throw the ball, but until you understand how fast those defensive rush men are going to be getting to you, how you can train yourself to keep your vision downfield when things are flashing in front of you and moving in front of you, you really don’t have any idea what it’s like.”
South Carolina (Stephen Garcia) and LSU (Jordan Jefferson) both are expected to start sophomores, who gained an idea of what it’s like last season.
Jefferson flashed plenty of potential in leading the Tigers to a 38-3 rout of Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
“The kid played a phenomenal game,” LSU offensive lineman Ciron Black said. “He really stepped up to the challenge. When Jordan got his chance, he really showed up. He’s got to step up to the challenge again.”
Garcia takes over for Steve Spurrier, who hopes the troublesome quarterback will adopt an approach more along the lines of Tebow’s preparation and commitment.
“That’s a commitment level that (Tebow) has that is unmatched by any other player probably in the nation,” Spurrier said.
Auburn has the potential for a three- or four-man race, though Kodi Burns and Neil Caudle are the front-runners.
“We’d like to get that cleared up, but the fact of the matter is it’s not,” Tigers coach Gene Chizik said. “It’s wide open.”
Tennessee also has holdovers Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens vying to run an offense that ranked 115th out of 119 major college teams last season.
“We’ve got a great quarterback competition to look forward to,” Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin said.
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 |
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
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.
Adreian Payne scored 15 points, Draymond Green added 12 and defense-minded No. 11 Michigan State beat No. 3 Ohio State 58-48 Saturday night, ending the Buckeyes' 39-game home winning streak.