Super Bowl XLVI
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.
Buried on the bench a little more than a week ago, the Knicks' Jeremy Lin is now the toast of New York.
Beyond the Arc: No. 14 UNLV's 65-63 victory over No. 13 San Diego State adds spice to the Mountain West Conference race.
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.
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1. Jets sign LaDainian Tomlinson
The Jets head-scratchingly cut ties with 1,400-yard rusher Thomas Jones in favor of the washed-up future Hall of Famer. While Tomlinson, 31, has name value, the same can't be said for his on-field worth.
His yards-per-carry average has tumbled by at least a half yard in each of the past four seasons and he is no longer a passing-game asset. Having lost several steps, L.T. was the subject of numerous negative minicamp reports, one of which was entitled "LaDainian is pretty much LaDone." At least the Jets drafted third-down back of the future Joe McKnight as insurance.
2. Browns sign Jake Delhomme
Delhomme has committed an otherworldly 27 turnovers in his last 12 games, and it shouldn't have taken a season-ending broken finger for the Panthers to shut him down last year. He was awful in 11 starts, going 4-7 with career worsts in completion rate (55.5), yards-per-attempt average (6.3), and touchdown-to-interception ratio (8:18).
New Browns president Mike Holmgren -- whose track record as a personnel evaluator was already unimpressive -- still gave Delhomme a $12.4 million contract. Don't be surprised if the 35-year-old gets outplayed by Seneca Wallace this preseason.
3. Bills pass on Jimmy Clausen, twice
Entering April's draft with the league's worst quarterback situation, the Bills had two chances to select pro-ready Jimmy Clausen. They passed both times, opting instead to bolster an already strong tailback corps with C.J. Spiller at No. 9, and taking raw nose tackle Torrell Troup 41st.
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4. Jaguars give Aaron Kampman $11 million guaranteed
Aaron Kampman has been a good player for a long time, but his signing by Jacksonville smacks of desperation. Though he was forced out of position at linebacker in Green Bay, Kampman is coming off a 3.5-sack season. He also missed time with a concussion before tearing his ACL in November.
Entering his age-31 campaign with a reconstructed knee, Kampman isn't a good bet to regain explosiveness until midseason. The Jaguars get burned in free agency every year.
5. Redskins switch to 3-4 defense
The 3-4 scheme is new coach Mike Shanahan's preference and has a successful track record, but the change in Washington was unnecessary. The ’Skins already had a top-10 defense, and the switch alienated their best defender -- Albert Haynesworth. While outside linebacker Brian Orakpo is a good fit for the new system, bookend Andre Carter's effectiveness is now in doubt.
6. A.J. Smith plays hardball with stars
San Diego's A.J. Smith is one of the game's most stubborn general managers, so we can't say we were surprised when he didn't meet left tackle Marcus McNeill and Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson's contract demands.
The risk Smith runs, however, is enormous. Already suspended for the first three games, Jackson's threat to hold out through Week 10 is real, and McNeill has made similar threats. The offense won't be the same without two of its top players.
7. Steelers give Leftwich the nod over Dixon
The most crippling fallout from Pittsburgh's tumultuous offseason was the four-game suspension of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. From all indications, coach Mike Tomlin has opted to use Byron Leftwich as his starter in the meantime.
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8. Rest of league lets Dallas get Dez Bryant
Skipping college classes (didn't we all?) was essentially the extent of Bryant's transgressions at Oklahoma State, but reports of "consistent tardiness" and a so-so Pro Day were enough to “Randy Moss” Bryant all the way to pick No. 24.
The Cowboys smartly traded up for the Andre Johnson-like talent, and inserted Bryant with their first-team three-receiver set in OTAs. Bryant, Jason Witten, and Miles Austin are going to form a wildly productive pass-catching corps for a long time.
9. Seahawks trade for LenDale White
Seattle executed a draft-day trade for White with Tennessee, and it took just one month for a winner of the trade to emerge. The Seahawks cut White 34 days later, after he exhibited poor work ethic on the practice field. It was also revealed that White is suspended through Week 4 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Unsurprisingly, he's generated no free agent interest.
10. Texans re-sign Kevin Walter
The Texans will field a great offense again, but not because they re-signed Kevin Walter. Houston handed its 29-year-old possession receiver a $21.5 million contract after a 611-yard, two-touchdown season. While the Texans value Walter's blocking and professionalism, they have a better starting receiver option on the roster already in Jacoby Jones. And he only costs $550,000.
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.
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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 | Super Bowl XLVI shots See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots more photos |
 | Video: Football from NBC Sports |
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Phil Pressey's first 3-point attempt went in off the glass. The sophomore guard, known more for flashy, no-look passes than his outside touch, took that sketchy success and ran with it.
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.
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.
