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.
PBT: Jeremy Lin wasn't his hot self on Saturday, but he still led the Knicks to victory.
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.
ATLANTA BRAVES
2005 finish: 90-72, 1st place in NL East
Manager: Bobby Cox (17th season)
Free agents: SS Rafael Furcal, RHP Kyle Farnsworth, 1B Julio Franco, OF Brian Jordan, OF Todd Hollandsworth, C Eddie Perez, RHP Jay Powell, RHP Jim Brower
On the block: C Johnny Estrada, 3B Andy Marte, RHP Dan Kolb, IF Wilson Betemit
Looking for: Relievers, corner outfielder
What’s going on: The big question is can they hang onto Rafael Furcal? He is seeking something in the five-year, $50-million range, and that’s probably more than where the Braves want to go. At least he has expressed a desire to stay put, but the Cubs and Mets – among others – have interest. If Furcal leaves, the Braves would be looking at Wilson Betemit at shortstop, or be forced to make another move. If Furcal re-signs, teams could come after Betemit, who has shown that he can hit. They also will try to re-sign Kyle Farnsworth, one of the few dependable arms in the bullpen. With Mike Hampton out for 2006, they exercised a $4.5-million option on John Thomson. They want to keep Julio Franco, but he also has drawn some interest from the Mets. Dan Kolb isn’t likely to be offered arbitration. The organization is loaded with catchers, so someone other than Brian McCann could go, possibly Johnny Estrada. Roger McDowell has the tall task of trying to replace Leo Mazzone. The former big-league reliever has been in the Dodgers organization the last four seasons.
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SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
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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.
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