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Rotoworld: Oregon RB LaMichael James and Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon among top 10 players who are being overhyped for the 2012 draft.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
PBT: Boston's Rajon Rondo continues to be named in trade talks, which is madness. The Celtics guard creates offense and makes everyone around him better, which was evident in Sunday's win over the Bulls.
Arc: Syracuse is among a solid group of No. 1 seeds in our latest tournament projections, but the middle of the pack is much more murky.
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.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods greeted their Sunday pairing at Pebble Beach with optimism. But the day would end happily only for one.
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.
Citing multiple NFL sources, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Eagles will place the franchise tag on free agent DeSean Jackson.
They'll be able to do so, formally, in eight days. As the Inquirer notes, tagging Jackson will leave the Eagles with three options: Franchise and keep him, franchise Jackson and trade him, or use the tag as an avenue toward a long-term contract. The third scenario is least likely, and the first one may be most probable. The Inquirer mentions New England, Baltimore, and San Francisco as potential trade partners. Stumbling blocks for a sign-and-trade include Jackson's at-time toxic attitude, the high pick it would take to acquire him, and the mega contract he most certainly wouldn't play without.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer considers it a foregone conclusion that the Browns will add a veteran receiver through the trade market or free agency.
Browns GM Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur both have a history with free agent DeSean Jackson from Philly. Just based on speculative dot-connecting, Jackson could make some sense in Cleveland if the Browns are willing to fork over a high pick and the long-term contract it would take to complete a deal. NFL Network's Jason La Canfora and The Sideline View's Adam Caplan both believe the Eagles will shop Jackson on the trade market after franchise tagging him.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the "widespread assumption" remains that the Eagles will trade CB Asante Samuel.
He's currently set to make $8.4 million in what will be his age-31 campaign in 2012. Samuel was reportedly nearly dealt for a pair of second-day draft picks last summer. Even after grading as the Eagles' best cornerback by Pro Football Focus in 2011, it's unlikely he would fetch that much this winter. For his part, Samuel hopes to remain in Philadelphia. "I'm getting ready for next year," Samuel said. "I had a productive season."
Former West Virginia RB Noel Devine has signed a two-year contract with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes.
Devine, 24, went undrafted last April and walked out of Eagles training camp after just a few days. A former top high school recruit, YouTube sensation, and highly productive scatback in Rich Rodriguez's zone-read spread offense, Devine was never going to make it in the big leagues as an 170-pound running back.
The Sideline View's Adam Caplan believes the Eagles will shop DeSean Jackson around the league after placing the franchise tag on the free agent later this month.
NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora has suggested the same scenario several times. Highly respected around the league, Caplan has an especially good read on the Eagles. Should Philly find a trade partner for Jackson, they would likely to turn free agent market or the draft to find a replacement.
Eagles coach Andy Reid revealed Tuesday DT Mike Patterson is "doing pretty good" following his recent brain operation.
Patterson recently had the arteriovenous malformation (tangle of blood vessels) that caused his August seizure removed. His recovery could take anywhere from 1-6 months, but he is expected to be ready for camp. Patterson will make $2.1 million in 2012 after tallying 35 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 15 games this season.
Eagles coach Andy Reid confirmed Tuesday he offered former Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo a spot on his staff, but said they never discussed job titles.
Reid also insisted DC Juan Castillo would have remained with the team were Spags hired. "If you could have two great coaches on defense, it's better than having one." Reid's refusal to talk "titles" may have been what led Spagnuolo to accept the Saints' defensive coordinator job. After whiffing on Spags, the Eagles settled on new DBs coach Todd Bowles to look over Castillo's shoulder in 2012.
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.
The Red Wings have finally started to embrace a record they've been chasing.
On their last trip to Atlanta, the Miami Heat were missing two-thirds of their Big Three.