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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 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 Titans and free agent CB Cortland Finnegan have yet to make progress toward a long-term contract extension.
Finnegan has been insisting he does not expect to be re-signed, and the Titans have remained mum on the situation. It's unlikely Finnegan, who briefly walked out of training camp last summer over dissatisfaction with his contract, would be open to playing under the franchise tag.
Titans re-signed OT Mike Otto to a two-year, $3.2 million contract.
The reserve tackle was due to reach free agency next month. A seventh-round pick out of Purdue in 2007, Otto has played 41 games over the past five seasons with two starts for the Titans. Otto's deal includes a $750,000 signing bonus. The deal's monetary value suggests the team views him as a "swing tackle," or the top backup behind LT Michael Roos and RT David Stewart.
Titans re-signed WR Lavelle Hawkins to a three-year contract.
Hawkins, who turns 26 in July, finished the 2011 season with career highs in receptions (47) and yards (470), though he's averaged under 11 yards per catch in his career and with just one touchdown in four years. Hawkins should enter 2012 as the Titans' fourth receiver behind Kenny Britt, Nate Washington, and Damian Williams. The club values Hawkins because he can play all three receiver positions and contribute on special teams coverage.
The Titans are now reportedly beginning preliminary discussions with free agent DL Jason Jones on a contract extension.
It's a reversal from the club's attitude over the past month, when all signs pointed to Jones walking after he struggled mightily at defensive end in DL coach Tracy Rocker's scheme. It's not clear if the Titans want him back at tackle or end. The Rams are a logical fit if Jones does make it to the open market.
Titans GM Ruston Webster plans to focus on the defensive front seven and upgrading the rushing attack this offseason.
The team has a few building blocks up front in DT Jurrell Casey, pass rusher Karl Klug, and 2010 first-rounder Derrick Morgan, but Jason Jones, Dave Ball, William Hayes, and Barrett Ruud are all free agents. At $35 million under the cap, the Titans are in "pretty good shape," and Webster believes there's a strong crop of free agents. The running game upgrades will likely come on the interior of the offensive line.
Titans GM Ruston Webster indicated that Kenny Britt's recovery from ACL surgery is still going "a little faster than anticipated."
Coach Mike Munchak indicated a month ago that Britt was ahead of schedule, so Webster is just reinforcing the notion. The Titans expect Britt to be ready for training camp, though April OTAs may be pushing it.
Titans GM Ruston Webster hinted that the team will not pursue Peyton Manning this offseason.
Manning is often connected to the Titans because he went to college at Tennessee, but Webster is "excited" about his QB situation with Jake Locker pushing Matt Hasselbeck this offseason. Webster confirmed that Locker showed enough in practices and three relief stints to warrant a fair shot at the starting job.
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.
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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.