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 three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
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.
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.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
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.
APWant to hit the road to watch your favorite NFL team play during the preseason or regular season? How about a summer vacation or a few days to enjoy training camp and all the crunching hits up close and personal?
Here are recommended road trips per team, including information on each club’s training camp locations. Most are open to the public and free.
For camps, also be sure to check the team website for fan access, including practice schedules and more. I’ve included contact information in each team profile.
In the NFC, the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Bears, Vikings, Panthers and Cardinals train outside their home city. The remaining nine teams in the NFC (Redskins, Packers, Lions, Saints, Buccaneers, Falcons, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks) hold training camp at their year-round practice facility, which is in or within an hour’s drive of their home city.
Among my top five favorites for the most lively, intimate and fan-friendly camps in the NFC are the Eagles, Packers, Bears, Panthers and Cardinals.
As for regular-season roadies, here are among my five most intriguing:
Vikings fans
Don't miss an opportunity to visit opening night in the Big Easy. Minnesota opens the NFL season on Sept. 9 inside the Superdome as the Saints raise their championship banner, and the purple hope to spoil the party and get some revenge for that NCAA Championship loss. Mr. Favre, can we expect your attendance?
America’s Team fans
|
Battle of the Mannings
The Giants make their first visit to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 19 for a prime-time tilt against Peyton Manning and the defending AFC Champion Colts. If you’re feeling ultra-adventurous, consider flying into Cincinnati and catching the Ravens-Bengals 1 p.m. AFC North showdown at Paul Brown Stadium that same day. With a rental car, you can make the two-hour drive to Indianapolis with time to tailgate before the Colts' 8:20 p.m. kickoff.
Who Dat?
Saints fans can beat the New Orleans September heat by heading to San Francisco on Sept. 20, as the 49ers welcome the defending Super Bowl Champions on Monday Night Football. Get into town a day earlier and catch the Raiders across the bay in Oakland host the Rams in the former Battle of Los Angeles.
Who Dat, Times Deaux
Saints fans grab your biggest, baddest ‘ole Saints hat and head to Dallas on Thanksgiving Day to compare against those of Cowboys fans and big wig Jerry Jones.
|
Joe Connor is a contributor to NBCSports.com and author of the annually-updated online training camp and stadium guide, “A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate NFL Travel Experience” which is available for purchase exclusively at his Web site: www.mrsportstravel.com.
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.
Take an NFL trip in 2010 |
Top training camps, best regular-season games |
 | Slideshow |
 | Super Bowl XLVI shots See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots more photos |
 | Video: Football from NBC Sports |
 Getty Images |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
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.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
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.
