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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.
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.
The Raiders have paid Richard Seymour's $7.5 million roster bonus, ensuring he'll remain with the club this year.
There was speculation that Seymour would be a candidate for release due to his massive salary, but GM Reggie McKenzie indicated the Raiders "wouldn't be making wholesale changes" despite their recent decision to part with CB Stanford Routt. Seymour is set to make $15 million in 2012 and is now fully guaranteed the $30 million extension he signed with the Raiders in 2011.
Rams hired Falcons director of player personnel Les Snead as general manager.
One of two finalists for the job, Snead became the de facto frontrunner when Vikings director of player personnel George Paton accepted a promotion to assistant general manager. Snead has spent the past 13 years in Atlanta's personnel department, and the past three as director of player personnel. He oversaw both the Falcons' college and pro scouting. He is not expected to have final say on personnel decisions over coach Jeff Fisher in St. Louis.
Vikings promoted director of player personnel George Paton to assistant general manager.
Paton was reportedly one of two finalists for the Rams' vacant general manager position, with Falcons director of player personnel Les Snead being the other. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the job was Paton's "to lose." It's possible Paton's decision to stay in Minnesota was due to the fact that new Rams coach Jeff Fisher is expected to have final say on all personnel moves.
Chargers signed OLB Ricky Elmore and S DeAndre McDaniel to reserve/future contracts.
A sixth-round pick of the Packers last year, Elmore was cut following a disappointing training camp. An undrafted free agent, McDaniel was waived by the Saints before final cuts.
Bucs hired former Giants QBs coach Mike Sullivan as offensive coordinator.
Sullivan is not a particularly well known NFL assistant, but he certainly made himself more interesting as the position coach during Eli Manning's best season. In Tampa Bay, Sullivan inherits a good deal of talent. Josh Freeman, who just turned 24, can expect top-notch tutoring. Mike Williams, 25 in May, projects as a strong long-term NFL No. 2 receiver if he keeps his head on straight. LeGarrette Blount could be Sullivan's version of Brandon Jacobs. Expect a vertical passing game and power rushing attack, like the system Kevin Gilbride runs in New York. Sullivan has learned under Gilbride since 2004.
Titans re-signed OT Mike Otto to a two-year, $3.2 million contract.
The reserve tackle was due to reach free agency next month. A seventh-round pick out of Purdue in 2007, Otto has played 41 games over the past five seasons with two starts for the Titans. Otto's deal includes a $750,000 signing bonus. The deal's monetary value suggests the team views him as a "swing tackle," or the top backup behind LT Michael Roos and RT David Stewart.
49ers signed GM Trent Baalke to an extension through 2016.
The NFL's 2011 Executive of the Year as voted by the Pro Football Writers of America, Baalke was promoted from 49ers VP of Player Personnel to GM in 2011. A scout going since 1998, Baalke looks to have nailed his first draft class. First-rounder Aldon Smith and third-rounder Chris Culliver are long-term building blocks, while Kendall Hunter (fourth round) and Bruce Miller (seventh) made major rookie-year impacts. The 49ers also got a promising young QB in freakishly strong-armed, athletic second-round pick Colin Kaepernick.
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.