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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' national 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.
ESPN New York's Rich Cimini suggests the Jets' decision to guarantee RT Wayne Hunter's 2012 base salary reflects poorly on former second-round pick Vladimir Ducasse.
The Jets probably would have released Hunter, freeing up $2.45 million, if they believed Ducasse could provide an upgrade. Hunter was horrible in 2011, allowing a team-high 8.5 sacks and committing a club-most 11 penalties. The 61st overall pick in the 2010 draft, Ducasse is quickly shaping up as a bust.
NBC Philadelphia's Howard Eskin reports that free agent Plaxico Burress "badly" wants to sign with the Eagles.
Burress makes more sense for the Eagles this year than last because they've seen what Riley Cooper is (not much) and have a need for improved red-zone offense. Entering his age-35 season, Plax offers little between the twenties, but he can still score touchdowns. He'd likely be a third receiver in Philly.
Jets ILB Bart Scott's 2012 salary of $4.2 million is fully guaranteed.
The Jets guaranteed Scott's first four base salaries when he reworked his six-year, $48 million contract last July. Newsday reported in January that Scott would not be back with New York, but they'd really be biting the bullet to cut him. Now going on age 32, Scott has regressed into a two-down run defender. He's still one of the best in the league at blowing up and redirecting blocks.
Jets RT Wayne Hunter's $2.45 million base salary became guaranteed Wednesday because the team did not release him.
The Jets seemed to protect themselves in Hunter's 2011 contract by writing in a loophole to get out of the deal if they released him on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of this week. It never happened. Hunter, 30, was a media whipping boy in his first season as a starter, and for good reason. Pro Football Focus graded Hunter as the fifth-worst offensive tackle in football. Considering his salary, Hunter figures to return as a starter in 2012.
TheSidelineView.com's Adam Caplan expects the Eagles to pursue free agent Plaxico Burress this offseason.
It was no secret last offseason that Burress wanted to play for the Eagles, leaving prison in a Philly ball cap amid multiple reports that they wanted him. The Jets won a bidding war, giving Plax over $3 million guaranteed. Caplan believes Burress could upgrade the team's red-zone offense, and points out that in-house supposed red-zone target Riley Cooper "doesn't fight for the football" enough to excel in that role. The Eagles likely would not be signing Plax as a starter. He'd be a third receiver and inside-the-20s guy.
Jets signed WR Patrick Turner to a one-year, $875,000 contract.
Turner spent the majority of the 2011 season on the Jets' practice squad, catching two passes for 26 yards in five games. The former Dolphins third-rounder was scheduled to hit restricted free agency this offseason.
The Jets triggered another $7.5 million in guarantees for Santonio Holmes by keeping him on the roster the second day after the start of the 2012 league year waiver system.
The Jets had to place Holmes on waivers by Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. to avoid $15.25 million in total guarantees over the next two years. Holmes' locker room standing and strained relationship with Mark Sanchez suggest the Jets could end up sorely regretting the decision. Fixing the poisonous locker room is the team's top priority of the offseason.
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.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
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.