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?
LIVE VIDEO: NBCSports.com shows Washington-New York, with alternate camera angles, HD views and more.
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.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
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.
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -England defender Joleon Lescott preserved Manchester City's two-point lead in the Premier League by scoring a second-half winner in a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday.
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.
BOSTON RED SOX
2005 finish: 95-67, 2nd place in AL East
Manager: Terry Francona (3rd season)
Incoming: RHP Josh Beckett, CF Coco Crisp, SS Alex Gonzalez, 2B Mark Loretta, 3B Mike Lowell, RHP Julian Tavarez, OF Wily Mo Pena, RHP Rudy Seanez, 1B J.T. Snow, RHP David Riske, C Josh Bard, IF Willie Harris, C Ken Huckaby, 1B Hee Seop Choi
Long gone: CF Johnny Damon, SS Edgar Renteria, 3B Bill Mueller, RHP Bronson Arroyo, 1B Kevin Millar, C Doug Mirabelli, LHP Mike Stanton, RHP Matt Mantei, SS Hanley Ramirez, RHP Anibal Sanchez, RHP Chad Bradford
Rotation: RHP Curt Schilling, RHP Tim Wakefield, RHP Josh Beckett, RHP Matt Clement, LHP David Wells
Relievers: Closer: RHP Keith Foulke; Setup men: RHP Mike Timlin, RHP Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Julian Tavarez, RHP Rudy Seanez, RHP David Riske, RHP Craig Hansen
Regulars: CF Coco Crisp, 2B Mark Loretta, LF Manny Ramirez, DH David Ortiz, RF Trot Nixon, C Jason Varitek, 3B Mike Lowell, 1B Kevin Youkilis, SS Alex Gonzalez
Role players: C Josh Bard, 1B J.T. Snow, IF Alex Cora, OF Wily Mo Pena, OF Adam Stern, IF Tony Graffanino, IF/OF Willie Harris, OF Gabe Kapler
The pressure is on: Closer Keith Foulke must rebound, or the bullpen rebuilding will be for naught.
Breakout candidate: Kevin Youkilis finally gets a long-awaited shot at 400-plus at-bats.
Rundown: Only Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez andTrot Nixon and are left in the regular lineup. Josh Beckett is in the rotation and Bronson Arroyo isn’t, at least three new arms will be in the bullpen, and there will be a couple of new faces on the bench as well. At least the front office hasn’t changed – just kidding. What a winter! But you know what? The big makeover was needed, as the team that won the 2004 World Series was aging, injury prone and limited defensively. The Sox have addressed most of those problems, but that’s not to say this team will win as many games as last year. There still are a handful of question marks that need to be answered positively before a 90-plus-win season can materialize. Leading the way is Beckett’s shoulder and blister problems. Also, how much will they get from Curt Schilling and closer Keith Foulke? And can Mike Lowell turn it back around, or did they err by dealing away Andy Marte, arguably the game’s best third-base prospect? Early indications are positive on Schilling, but not so for Foulke, who has yet to show he’s healthy. The word on Mark Loretta’s surgically repaired thumb is good, but he will be part of an entirely new infield that will take time to come together Loretta is only two years removed from a .335 average and All-Star Game appearance, but is 34. Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is one of the best defenders in the game at his position, but his home-run production dropped alarmingly from 23 to 5 last season, in part due to injury. Lowell, 32, also struggled mysteriously in 2005 after getting a huge four-year contract. He fell from .293-27-85 in 2004 to .236-8-58, but with that being his only down season after five very productive ones, you figure he’ll bounce back at least somewhat. On-base percentage monster Kevin Youkilis gets the first crack at first base, with J.T. Snow around just in case. It will be Coco Crisp’s unenviable task of replacing popular and productive Johnny Damon, but he should be up to it, as at 26, he is about to enter his peak seasons. Trot Nixon has had consecutive sub-par seasons, due mostly to injuries, and figures to lose at-bats against lefties to Wily Mo Pena, who came from Cincinnati for Arroyo. Surprise – David Wells is still around, and in the fifth spot in the rotation, as developing talent Jonathan Papelbon is needed more in a setup role. The pen can’t help but be better than last year with him, plus new additions Julian Tavarez, Rudy Seanez and David Riske supporting Mike Timlin and Foulke. However, there is no quality left-hander. Tony Graffanino, who will lose his utility infield role to Alex Cora, is expected to be dealt. For all the changes, this remains a talented if unsettled team. Perhaps this roster will come together, but it also has the makings of a disparate clubhouse and a closer-to-.500 finish.
Prediction: 3rd place, 85-77
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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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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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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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