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.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
2005 finish: 88-74, 2nd place in NL East
Manager: Charlie Manuel (2nd season)
Free agents: LHP Billy Wagner, RHP Ugueth Urbina, OF Kenny Lofton, OF Michael Tucker, C Todd Pratt, IF Ramon Martinez, RHP Terry Adams
On the block: 1B Jim Thome, RF Bobby Abreu, RHP Vicente Padilla, RHP Cory Lidle, 3B David Bell, LHP Rheal Cormier
Looking for: Center fielder, third baseman, catcher
What’s going on: The first order of business was to find a new general manager, and the Phils wisely bucked the whiz-kid trend by picking 68-year-old proven winner Pat Gillick. The albatross known as Jim Thome’s contract looms large. Can they find a taker despite owing the 35-year-old first baseman $43.5 million including a buyout in 2009? Seattle, Baltimore, Boston and Los Angeles could be possibilities. If not Thome, perhaps they can deal Bobby Abreu and shift Ryan Howard to right field. They are trying to re-sign Billy Wagner despite already having $78 million tied up in 12 players for 2006. He is looking for a three-year deal for at least $30 million, and will get it. Ugueth Urbina, arrested in his native Venezuela, won’t return even if Wagner leaves. Tom Gordon could be a fit as a closer if Wagner signs elsewhere. It is possible that none of the other free-agents will be back. They are willing to trade starting pitching, so that likely will put them in good bargaining position. Somebody will want to take a chance on Padilla, who has great stuff but remains an enigma. Lidle is a serviceable No. 4-5 starter. With Mike Lieberthal in decline, they could try to do something behind the plate.
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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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