advertisement
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.
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.
The Charlotte Observer expects the Panthers to let free agent MLB Dan Connor walk on the open market.
The Panthers can't promise a starting job with Jon Beason returning, and Connor has earned a long-term deal with high-quality run defendse over the past two seasons. Connor, 26, should appeal to both 3-4 and 4-3 teams. He's one of the top players available in a loaded free-agent inside linebacker class, along with Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne, D'Qwell Jackson, and Stephen Tulloch.
The Charlotte Observer lists Antwan Applewhite and Jordan Senn as high priority free agents for the Panthers.
Applewhite has a history with coach Ron Rivera in San Diego and can play both linebacker and end. Senn finished fourth on the team in tackles (73), but is severly undersized and not likely to command much attention on the open market.
The Charlotte Observer expects free agent G/C Geoff Hangartner to re-sign with the Panthers.
Hangartner started all 16 games at right guard in 2011, but could be expendable with guard/tackles Geoff Schwartz and Garry Williams returning from injuries. Entering his age-30 season, Hangartner may ask for a salary similar to the $2.8 million he received last year.
The Charlotte Observer expects re-signing Jeremy Shockey to be a priority for the Panthers this offseason.
Shockey is seeking a deal close to the $4 million he made last season, which could be cost prohibitive for a team with a 2012 cap projection in the range of $121 million. If he's unwilling to take a pay cut, the Panthers would likely turn to fourth-year pro Gary Barnidge as a complement to Greg Olsen. Barnidge missed all of the 2011 season with a broken ankle.
Panthers re-signed LB Jason Phillips to a one-year contract.
Phillips was scheduled for restricted free agency, but Carolina didn't want to pay the nearly $1.3 million it would have required to tender Phillips at the "original pick" level. Instead, he'll return on a minimum base salary. Phillips, 26, appeared in four games last year, making four tackles on defense before landing on I.R. with a calf injury. He'll compete for a roster spot.
Panthers re-signed LS J.J. Jansen to a four-year contract extension.
Undrafted out of Notre Dame, Jansen has handled long-snapping duties in Carolina since 2009. He was credited with zero "bad snaps" in 2011.
The Panthers are expected to release WLB Thomas Davis (ACL surgeries) before he's due an $8 million roster bonus on March 15.
Pro Football Weekly does suggest that Davis and the Panthers could work out a less pricey, shorter-term deal "later in the offseason." Davis has torn his ACL three times. He most recently blew out his right knee in September.
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.