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.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
2005 finish: 100-62, 1st place in NL Central
Manager: Tony La Russa (11th season)
Free agents: RHP Matt Morris, OF Reggie Sanders, 2B Mike Grudzielanek, RHP Julian Tavarez, IF Abraham Nunez, OF So Taguchi, IF/OF John Mabry, C Einar Diaz, RHP Al Reyes, RHP Cal Eldred
On the block: None
Looking for: Corner outfielder, relievers
What’s going on: After another disappointing postseason, the Cardinals have some work to do this winter, most of it involving their own free agents. Matt Morris, Reggie Sanders, Mark Grudzielanek and Julian Tavarez are free agents, along with role players John Mabry, So Taguchi, Abraham Nunez, Einar Diaz, Cal Eldred and Al Reyes. On top of that, Larry Walker has said he will retire, although left-handed setup man Ray King has backed off a trade request. The first priority is an impact corner outfielder. Brian Giles is a likely target. Jacque Jones could be another, but the market is pretty slim after that, so look for an offer to be made to Sanders. A decision on Morris could be tied to Jason Marquis, who is arbitration-eligible. One of the two may not be back. Grudzielanek, Nunez, Taguchi and Mabry could be re-signed if the price is right. As complicated as all that sounds, remember that general manager Walt Jocketty had to replace a starting pitcher, catcher, second baseman and shortstop last winter, and the Cardinals hardly missed a beat this season, easily winning the NL Central. But he’ll have to do it on about the same budget — $95 million — despite the expectation of revenue increases from the new Busch Stadium.
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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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