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.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
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.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
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.
Getty Images2. The players who the Irish can’t afford to lose for long stretches of the season are quarterback Jimmy Clausen, kicker Brandon Walker, nose tackle Ian Williams, defensive end Pat Kuntz, center Dan Wenger.
That doesn’t mean they’re the best five players — arguably free safety David Bruton is the best — but depth at those positions needs to be built over time and can’t be microwaved.
3. Five freshmen who would be on the field, at least as key reserves, if the season started today: cornerback Robert Blanton, tight end Kyle Rudolph, defensive end Ethan Johnson, center/long snapper Braxston Cave and wide receiver Mike Floyd. Blanton is at the head of the class.
"He’s one of those guys that the wide receivers can’t stand because he chirps the whole time," Weis said of Blanton. "As the head coach now, and not as the guy who calls the offensive plays, I love guys like that. I used to hate guys like that when I was (the offensive play-caller) because they’re the guys that really annoy you.
"That’s always been his game. It was his game in high school. He’s as mild-mannered as they come off the field, but he’s a chirper and he has a lot of confidence in his ability."
Just because a freshman doesn’t play early or at all in 2008, doesn’t means he’s on the back-burner for the long term. Look no further than sophomore Harrison Smith for an example.
4. Some of the most improved players on the team over last year come at a spot where it’s needed the most — offensive line.
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5. Weis is kinder/gentler off the field, all business/all the time on it.
"I’m in training-camp mentality," Weis said, "so I’m always in an ornery mood in training camp when it comes to a lot of things."
It took a while for the light bulb to go on, but when it did, Jonas Gray finally showed the talent many had expected from the blue-chip prospect from Detroit. In a recent interview, Gray, who is rehabbing an ACL injury to get ready for the NFL Scouting Combine, expressed the confidence and support he has for head coach Brian Kelly.
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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.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.
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.
