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.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had 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 ImagesWhich other teams may be better or worse than they appear? Here’s a quick look at a few.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Record: 4-0.
Status: Paper Tiger
Reason: They are playing with great confidence and efficiency and have a “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” deal going. But they are the beneficiaries of a very easy early schedule against the Redskins on Jim Zorn’s maiden sideline voyage, the Rams, Bengals and Seahawks (combined 1-12). They get two more relatively easy opponents – Cleveland and the Niners – before things get hairier. Still a very good team but not the juggernaut they appear.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Record: 2-3
Status: Sleeping Lion
Reason: Injuries to LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates and now to the wide receivers corps have hobbled them some but their biggest issue has been dealing with the loss of Shawne Merriman. San Diego’s pass defense is 32nd in the league – absurd for a secondary with Antonio Cromartie, Quentin Jammer and Clinton Hart in it. They’re better than this and begin to prove it this week against New England.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Record: 2-3
Status: Sleeping Lion
Reason: They’ve lost their three games by a total of 14 points and have played some pretty good NFC competition – Dallas and the surprising Bears and Redskins. The injuries plaguing Brian Westbrook could keep them from hitting their stride but one thing for sure is that the Eagles are not a sub-.500 team.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Record: 2-2
Status: Paper Tiger
Reason: They are 32nd in the league in rushing yards allowed per game defensively and last in the league in rushing yards gained per game offensively. They aren’t in a good place right now and – given the number of injuries they’ve sustained – they are not going to get that much better. They should be 1-3. A playoff appearance will be a triumph.
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.
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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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.
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.