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 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.
APEric Maynor, Jazz: Well, what do you know, another rookie point guard who has earned the immediate confidence of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.
That, alone, says plenty about last June's 20th overall selection.
When Williams missed two recent games, Maynor stepped in with 13 points and 11 assists against Philadelphia and then 24 points against Cleveland.
There's just something about the Jazz and homegrown point guards.
Darren Collison, Hornets: The plan was a slow go behind Chris Paul for last June's No. 21 pick, but with Paul sidelined by a sprained left ankle, the minutes have arrived sooner than expected.
So far Collison has appeared up to the challenge, including an 18-point game against Portland. While the shot has been off, there still was enough to lead the Hornets to victories over the Clippers and Suns amid the absence of Paul, which is plenty heartening.
Rodrigue Beaubois, Mavericks: While the No. 25 pick lately has been starting at shooting guard alongside Jason Kidd in place of injured Josh Howard, he very much has the look of the team's point guard of the future.
The native of Guadeloupe has the combination of speed and athleticism that have some comparing him to Tony Parker. He has become the first Mavericks rookie to assume a regular spot in the rotation since Howard and Marquis Daniels in 2003-04.
No wonder the Mavericks went to such great lengths to mask their interest leading up to the draft.
Stephen Curry, Warriors: Under any other coach, last June's No. 7 pick would certainly rank higher at his position in this rookie class. But under Don Nelson, Curry has seen his minutes yo-yoed, while also trying to make it work alongside combo guard Monta Ellis.
Through it all, Curry continues to rank among the rookie leaders in almost every measurable statistic, as well as near the very top in shooting and 3-point percentage.
He did become the first Warriors first-round pick to start on opening night since Todd Fuller in 1996.
Soon enough, Nellie will be gone. Then expect Curry's career to take off.
Toney Douglas, Knicks: Among the reasons the Knicks bypassed the opportunity to sign Allen Iverson is the desire to see what they have in last June's No. 29 pick.
Already elevated into the starting lineup, albeit alongside incumbent point guard Chris Duhon, Toney has emerged as a high-volume, high-percentage scorer. In fact, he became the first Knicks rookie in five years with a pair of 20-point games in his first eight outings.
Also: Although currently playing limited minutes, No. 17 pick Jrue Holiday, the youngest player in the NBA, eventually could emerge in Philadelphia amid concerns about whether Lou Williams truly is a point guard. And Jeff Teague, taken at No. 19, showed flashes during the preseason with the Hawks, who envision him potentially taking over for Mike Bibby.
Ira Winderman writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the Heat and the NBA for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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.
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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.
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.
Jeremy Lin had the most astounding performance of his remarkable week, scoring a career-high 38 points and outdueling Kobe Bryant as the New York Knicks held off the Los Angeles Lakers 92-85 on Friday night.