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.
Royals and OF Alex Gordon avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.775 million contract.
Gordon requested $5.45 million and was offered $4.15 million by the Royals when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. The two sides took about three weeks to find a middle ground, and are expected to continue negotiating toward a multi-year deal up until the start of spring training. Gordon, 27, is currently under team control through the 2013 season.
Corey Brock of MLB.com reports that the Padres will sign right-hander Jeff Suppan to a minor league contract.
Suppan, 37, had a 4.78 ERA and 94/51 K/BB ratio over 165 2/3 innings with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate last season. He had a 5.06 ERA between Brewers and Cardinals in 2010 and is likely to serve as organizational depth for San Diego.
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports that the Royals and Alex Gordon appear close to avoiding arbitration with a one-year contract.
Gordon, who is arbitration-eligible for the third time this offseason, requested $5.45 million and was offered $4.15 million by the Royals when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. Negotiations on a multi-year deal are expected to continue once a one-year deal is reached. According to Dutton, the Royals are believed to have offered Gordon a four-year deal in the range of $30 million. Gordon, who turns 28 on Friday, remains under team control through 2013.
Royals signed OF Ramon Hernandez Jorrin to a minor league contract.
"We had a chance to watch him play in games and we liked him," general manager Dayton Moore said. "Several other teams were trying to sign him as well.'' Jorrin, 22, agreed to terms with the Royals when the team evaluated him in the Dominican Republic. His signing bonus is expected to be in the range of $550,000.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Reds are close to a minor league deal with Jeff Francis.
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer mentioned earlier that the two sides were "talking." And it seems they've quickly found a common ground. Francis will presumably be allowed to compete for a spot in the Reds' starting rotation this spring. He posted a 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio in 183 innings last season for the Royals.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay, the Reds are "still talking" to Jeff Francis.
Francis is also thought to be attracting interest from the Mariners, Blue Jays and Mets. The left-hander posted a weak 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio in 183 innings last season for the Royals, but he should come cheap.
Royals signed RHP Roman Colon to a minor league contract.
The deal also comes with an invitation to spring training, but Colon is doubtful to earn a spot in the Royals' Opening Day bullpen. He spent the entire 2011 season at the Triple-A level, posting a 4.85 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. The righty will function as organizational relief depth for the Royals.
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.
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.
