Helton talks dead; Bonds re-signs with Giants

Rockies, Red Sox break off Helton talks
What looked to be an inevitable deal between the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox fell apart on Monday night. The Rockies had been trying to move Todd Helton to Boston, but the Red Sox were not offering anybody of Colorado's interest. The Rockies wanted Craig Hansen and/or Manny Delcarmen involved in the deal, but Boston was not willing to give up either of them. The Red Sox were reportedly offering Mike Lowell and Julian Tavarez, two players that the Rockies expressed virtually zero interest in. It is not known whether or not Colorado will continue to shop the 33-year old Helton.

Giants, Bonds come to terms
The San Fransisco Giants have re-signed Barry Bonds to a one-year, $15.8 million deal. The 42-year old Bonds can earn another $4.2 million through playing time incentives. The single-season home run champion batted .270 with 26 home runs and 77 RBI last season.

Marlins observe Stewart at private workout
The Florida Marlins, still in search of a center-fielder, have once again expressed interest in outfielder Shannon Stewart. The Marlins watched him along with several other teams in a private workout last Friday. The 32-year old Stewart has been hampered by injuries in two of the past three seasons, playing in only 44 games last year because of a foot ailment. He batted .293. He is a lifetime .299 hitter. The Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox were the other six teams who observed Stewart on Friday, although Florida appears to be the frontrunner. Stewart has stated that he would be interested in playing for the Marlins.

Rockies, Red Sox talk Helton; Weaver to M's

Rockies, Red Sox discuss Helton trade
The Colorado Rockies have reportedly put first baseman Todd Helton, the face of the franchise, on the trading block, and the Boston Red Sox were the first team to come calling. Boston and Colorado are already in discussions for the 33-year old who batted .302 with 15 home runs and 81 RBI last season. The Red Sox would almost definitely have to send Kevin Youkilis Colorado's way in any trade for Helton, and the Rockies also like Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen. There is a possibility that Mike Lowell would be a part of the deal, although Colorado already has their third baseman of the future in Garrett Atkins. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Hansen would be included in the deal and Lowell would not. He also says that the Rockies would like to receive outfielding prospect Jacob Ellsbury in return as well. Buster Olney of ESPN says that Matt Clement may be included. Colorado and Boston reportedly also talked about a deal for Helton last autumn.

Weaver signs with Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have signed Jeff Weaver to a one-year, $8.3 million deal. The 30-year old right-hander went 8-14 with a 5.76 ERA in 2006, but posted a 2.43 ERA in the post-season.

Utley gets extension; nothing yet for Bonds

Phillies give Utley extension
The Philadelphia Philles have given second baseman Chase Utley a seven-year, $85 million contract extension. The 28-year old Utley batted .309 with 32 home runs and 102 RBI in 2006. He also had an MLB-best 35-game hit streak at one point last season.

Bonds, Giants still can't find deal
The San Francisco Giants are reportedly still in discussions with left-fielder Barry Bonds about a new contract. The Giants re-signed Bonds to a one-year, $16 million deal earlier in the off-season, but the recent news about the 42- year old Bonds testing positive for steroids last season has San Francisco worried. Some say that the Giants are carefully trying to back out of the deal. There are some teams that would take on the single-season home run king for about $10 million.

Ohka to make decision soon
30-year old right-hander Tomo Ohka is expected to decide whether he will pitch for the Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, or Toronto Blue Jays within the next couple of days. The New York Mets seem to be out of the running.

Cubs, Floyd closing in on deal
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly close to a deal with left-fielder Cliff Floyd. There is no word yet on any potential financial terms.

Kevin Garnett suspended one game

Minnesota Timberwolves' forward Kevin Garnett has been suspended for tonight's game against the Phoenix Suns for his actions during an altercation with Antonio McDyess of the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Jermaine O'Neal close to being dealt?

Rumors have it that Indiana Pacers' forward Jermaine O'Neal may be closer to being dealt than originally expected. However, if the 28-year old O'Neal is traded, it most likely will not be until this summer. A source said that the Denver Nuggets and the Sacramento Kings could make an attempt to acquire him.

The 6'11" O'Neal is averaging 19.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game this season.

Pats' Harrison to miss AFC Championship Game

Despite speculation that New England Patriots' safety Rodney Harrison might play in the AFC Champioship Game against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday, the 34-year old veteran will not be available.

Harrison was injured in the final game of the season against the Tennessee Titans when he was blocked low by Titans' receiver Bobby Wade. Wade's helmet collided with Harrison's right knee, causing a severe MCL sprain. One report said that the MCL was torn, but recent reports clarified that it was only a sprain.

Considered by many to be the heart-and-soul of the Patriots' defense, Harrison missed all but three games of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee and was absent for six games this year due to a broken shoulder blade.

23-year old James Sanders will once again start in place of Harrison.

Minor MLB happenings

Samardzija gives up football, signs with Cubs
Former Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to give up football and commit to baseball, his "first love." He signed a five-year, $10 million contract with the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The 21-year old right-hander was Chicago's fifth-round pick in last year's amateur draft.

Twins sign Ramon Ortiz
The Minnesota Twins have signed Ramon Ortiz to a one-year, $3.1 million deal. The 33-year old right-hander went 11-16 with a 5.57 ERA in 190.2 innings and once took a no-hitter into the ninth inning last season while playing for the Washington Nationals.

Trot Nixon to Cleveland
Outfielder Trot Nixon signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cleveland Indians on Friday. Nixon will join a plethora of Cleveland outfielders, including Casey Blake, Shin-Soo Choo, Ryan Garko, David Dellucci, Jason Michaels, and Franklin Gutierrez. The 32-year old Nixon will most likely come off the bench.

Schottenheimer to remain with Chargers

Marty Schottenheimer will return to coach the San Diego Chargers in 2007-2008, but he turned down a one-year extension worth $4.5 million.

Despite 205 career wins, Schottenheimer has not exactly been successful in the playoffs, demonstrated by his 5-13 record in post-season play.

Schottenheimer led the Chargers to an NFL-best 14-2 and a first-round bye in the playoffs this past season, only to fall to the New England Patriots, 24-21, in the Divisional Round. The loss further raised questions about Schottenheimer's job security, as his head coaching duties were said to be on the line last weekend.

"Martyball" also led San Diego to a 12-4 record and an AFC West title in the 2004-2005 season, but lost to the New York Jets in the Wild Card Round. He has gone 35-13 in his past three seasons as Chargers' coach, taking the team to the playoffs twice in that span.

Braves send LaRoche to Pittsburgh

The Atlanta Braves sent first baseman Adam LaRoche to the Pittsburgh Pirates for closer Mike Gonzalez on Wednesday. It is also believed that one prospect will be heading Atlanta's way.

The 28-year old Gonzalez has been the most sought-after reliever of the 2006-2007 off-season, with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox also making serious pushes at the right-hander. Gonzalez posted a 2.17 ERA in 54 innings of work last season. He has a career ERA of 2.37.

LaRoche, 27, hit .285 with 32 home runs and 90 RBI in 2006. Most notable about the young slugger was his impressive second half of the season, as he batted .323 and belted 19 of his long balls after the All-Star break. LaRoche is a career .274 hitter.

Pacers, Warriors make eight-player trade

The Indiana Pacers sent Al Harrington, Steven Jackson, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Josh Powell to the Golden State Warriors for Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, Ike Diogu, and Keith McLeod on Wednesday.

Both Indiana and Golden State have been struggling for a good part of the season, the Warriors in particular. Golden State was expected to be a playoff team in the West but sit at 19-20 and in ninth place in the conference. The Pacers are currently 20-18 and hold the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite the spot Indiana has in the playoff picture, it appears that Jermaine O'Neal may force his way out of town if the team does not improve.

The Warriors have been plagued by injuries for most of the 2006-2007 campaign thus far, as Jason Richardson, arguably the team's best player, has missed 16 games, seven in a row, due to knee problems. Richardson is averaging career lows in every major category except blocks per game, as he has posted a pedestrian 12.7 points, four rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 0.7 steals a night. He is also shooting career-worsts from the floor and at the free throw line, 37.4% and 60.3%, respectively. Last year, "J-Rich" compiled averages of 23.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game and connected on 44.6% of his shots.

Golden State is in action tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers. Indiana has the night off.

NFL free agent profile: Adalius Thomas

Baltimore Ravens' linebacker Adalius Thomas is sure to command a lot of attention in the 2007 off-season, as the 6'2", 270-pound behemoth recorded 83 tackles and a career-high 11 sacks during the 2006-2007 season.

The 29-year old Thomas has been a Raven for the first seven years of his career, but that is likely to change this summer with the pass-rushing specialist bound to receive many offers from many other teams. Baltimore most likely will not be able to afford Thomas, who was part of the Ravens' linebacking trio that consisted of himself, Ray Lewis, and Bart Scott.

What is a possible destination for Thomas?

The New York Giants are a possibility, as Brandon Short is a free agent as well, leaving the Giants with a hole at that position. Carlos Emmons cannot be relied upon because of his tendency to get injured, and Gerris Wilkinson is too young and inexperienced to be thrust into the starting job next season. Expect the Giants to be one of the many teams who will be competing for Thomas' services this off-season. The Giants will come into next season hoping that Antonio Pierce and LaVar Arrington will be sure-things in the starting lineup, although there is no guarantee that Arrington will be healthy either, as he has just recovered from a torn Achilles. Short will most likely be gone so New York can make room for other free-agent pickups, and Emmons will most likely be a back-up unless Big Blue cannot find anybody on the market.

Picking up Thomas would give the G-Men arguably the most feared pass rush in the NFL, as it would consist of ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, tackle Fred Robbins, and Thomas and Arrington at the linebacker position. The Giants would probably be the best fit for Thomas, as their aggressive approach in putting pressure on the quarterback perfectly suits his style of play.

Cabrera asks for $7.4M; K-Rod re-signs with LA

Marlins re-sign Olivo; Cabrera asks for $7.4 million
A day after the Florida Marlins re-signed starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis to a one-year, $6.45 million deal, they re-signed catcher Miguel Olivo to a one-year contract worth $2 million. Olivo hit .263 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI in 127 games last season.

The Marlins are also in the process of re-signing star third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who asked for $7.4 million for one year. Florida counter-offered with a one-year, $6.7 million deal. The 23-year old Cabrera made $472,000 last season. There is still a possibility that the Marlins will try and sign Cabrera to a long-term contract.

Angels re-sign Francisco Rodriguez; come to terms with Shields, Quinlan
The Los Angeles Angels re-signed closer Francisco Rodriguez to a one-year, $7 million deal on Tuesday. Rodriguez, who saved a major-league leading 47 games last season, avoided arbitration.

The Angels also made two other moves today, re-signing reliever Scot Shields and first baseman Robb Quinlan. They re-signed Shields to a one-year, $3.4 million deal. The 31-year old Shields went 7-7 with a 2.87 ERA in 77 relief appearances in 2006. Quinlan signed for two years, $1.85 million. The 29-year old Quinlan hit .321 with eight home runs and 32 RBI in 234 at-bats last year.

Mets finalize deal with Scott Schoeneweis; sign Jorge Sosa
Relief pitcher Scott Schoeneweis signed a three-year, $10.8 million contract with the New York Mets on Tuesday. The 33-year old Schoeneweis posted a 4.88 ERA in 71 games with the Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds last season.

The Mets also signed right-hander Jorge Sosa to a one-year, $1.25 million contract. The 29-year old from the Dominican Republic finished with a 3-11 record and a 5.42 ERA in 118 innings with the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.

Timberwolves finally showing some bite

They started out the season 2-0 and had the look of a promising team, but the Minnesota Timberwolves then lost six of their next seven games and dropped to 3-6. Since then, the Timberwolves have gone 17-10 and have jumped to the seventh seed in the Western Conference. They have also moved to within two games of the Utah Jazz in the loss column for the Northwest Division lead. How are they doing it? They're finally staring to jel, that's how.

On January 26th of last season, Minnesota traded Wally Szczcerbiak, Michael Olowokandi, and a first-round draft pick to the Boston Celtics for Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, and Justin Reed. Banks has since departed, but the other three remain members of the Wolves. The deal looked even for both sides when it went down, as Szczerbiak was in the middle of the best season of his career and Blount, Banks, and Reed were considered mere scrubs in Boston.

Based on the way the Timberwolves played last season, it would be easy for one to make the assumption that the trade was equal. Why? Because Minnesota went 14-28 after the trade, and Wally was sidelined for a good portion of the season for Boston with knee problems. However, 42 games surely isn't enough for essentially a completely new roster to get used to each other and learn how to play within the scheme, correct? Correct.

The Timberwolves have proven that this season, as Davis and Blount have been Kevin Garnett's right-hand men throughout most of the 2006-2007 season thus far. Davis, who started out slow, has recorded over 20 points in three of his past four games and is averaging 19.3 points per game in the month of January, nearly four points better than his overall average of 15.8. Blount has been the real key to Minnesota's success over the past several weeks, as he has elevated his game higher than even his own parents could have dreamed of. He is averaging 17.5 points per contest this month compared to a career average of eight. He is also tallying 7.3 rebounds a night. Sounds worthy of an All-Star appearance to me.

But, it doesn't end with Davis and Blount. Rookie Randy Foye has stepped his game up in a big way over the past two months, already having a game-winning shot and numerous clutch fourth-quarter performances under his belt. Foye would probably be my choice for Rookie of the Year if the season ended today, and he would be followed closely behind by fellow teammate Craig Smith. Smith has been arguably the biggest surprise of the 2006 draft class and has by far been the Timberwolves' most pleasant surprise. It wasn't known whether Smith would even see the floor this year. Well, he has seen the floor, and he has responded. In the second game of the season, Smith recorded 20 points off 10-of-15 shooting. That's when the Timberwolves knew he was on his way. In only 16.8 minutes a night, Smith is averaging 6.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and nearly a steal per game. He is also shooting 55.3% from the floor.

But of course, the T'Wolves will only go as far as Garnett takes them, and he is the main reason for their recent surge in the Western Conference standings. KG has posted a double-double in 13 of his past 14 games, including an active streak of 10. He leads the league in double-doubles with 32, and he has also leap-frogged Dwight Howard as the NBA's leader in rebounds per game. In the month of January, Garnett is averaging 26 points, 14.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.8 blocks a night, leading the Timberwolves to a 7-1 record in 2007. Oh, and he has been shooting 91.1% from the free-throw line in that span.

Imagine how good this team can be if Rashad McCants comes back healthy and ready to go? He would give them the perimeter threat that they have been lacking for most of the year, and he would form a potent backcourt combination with Foye. Also, the emergence of Bracey Wright into the rotation is going to pay dividends for this team in the long run, as he also has a silky smooth outside shot and can play defense.

What's been most impressive about Minnesota over the past several weeks has been their quality wins. They have beaten the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets in Minnesota, and are coming off a victory over the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. If not for Corey Maggette hitting a game-winner for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Timberwolves on January 10th, the Wolves would be winners of eight straight and only one game back of the division in the loss column. You also have to take into account that Minnesota has lost two other games on buzzer-beaters this season, once to the Portland Trail Blazers and once to the New Orleans Hornets. Take those three games away, and the Timberwolves would probably be 23-13 right now. But 20-16 is still very respectable, and I'm sure they'll take it considering they were 18-18 and losers of eight of 13 at this time last season.

The Timberwolves are only a player or two away from being serious title contenders. If the recent rumors of them sending Marko Jaric to Detroit for either Nazr Mohammed or Antonio McDyess are true, then that will obviously give them a huge boost. If they can't get either of those two big men, you can be sure that Minnesota will look elsewhere to stockpile more talent, because the players and the organization can smell a deep playoff run.

Marlins, Willis agree to one-year deal

The Florida Marlins re-signed Dontrelle Willis to a one-year, $6.45 million a deal on Monday, a day before the 24-year old left-hander was scheduled to exchange salary arbitration figures with the team. The deal includes $50,000 on incentives and bonuses if he makes the All-Star team or if he wins NL Cy Young, Silver Slugger, or Most Valuable Player.

Willis posted a 12-12 record and 3.87 ERA last season, and is 58-39 with a 3.44 ERA in his first four major league seasons, all with the Marlins. He finished as the runner-up to Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2005 NL Cy Young award voting, tallying 22 wins and a 2.63 ERA. The "D-Train" won NL Rookie of the Year in 2003.

The Marlins are also in the middle of negotiations with star third-baseman Miguel Cabrera. According to several sources, a long-term deal is a possibility for the 23-year old phenom.

Webber to Pistons; Marko Jaric too?

Chris Webber to sign with the Pistons
ESPN has reported that 33-year old Chris Webber has agreed to sign with the Detroit Pistons. He cannot officially sign until Tuesday, as the NBA front office is closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Timberwolves, Pistons close to deal
According to multiple NBA sources, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Detroit Pistons are discussing a deal that would send Minnesota's Marko Jaric to Detroit for one of Nazr Mohammed, Antonio McDyess, or Dale Davis. Mohammed appears to be the most likely candidate as of right now.

The Timberwolves traded for Jaric in the 2005 off-season, sending Sam Cassell and a future first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for the 6'7" guard. Jaric, however, has not lived up to expectations in Minnesota and has been unhappy with playing time in his two seasons with the team. He has averaged 6.8 points per game in 106 contests with the Timberwolves.

The Pistons are trying to make room for Chris Webber, who should sign with them within the next day or so. They would prefer to dump Mohammed, as McDyess' and Davis' contracts both expire at the end of this season. The 6'10" Mohammed is averaging 7.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this year. He signed with Detroit as a free agent this past off-season.

AFC Title Game preview: Patriots at Colts

The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts will meet in the playoffs for the third time in four years as the Colts host the Patriots at the RCA Dome in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.

The Patriots, who are going to their fourth conference title game in six years, won the previous two meetings in the playoffs against Indianapolis. They were victorious, 24-14, in the AFC Championship Game in the 2003-2004 season, and followed that up with a 20-3 win in the Divisional Round a year later. However, both of those games took place at New England. Indianapolis has won the last two regular season meetings between these two teams, both on the road.

Peyton Manning will look to break out of his post-season slump in this one, as he has thrown five interceptions compared to only one touchdown thus far in the playoffs. He completed only 15-of-30 passes and threw two interceptions in his team's 15-6 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. A week earlier in the Wild Card Round, Manning threw three interceptions in a 23-8 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tom Brady struggled to find his groove in his team's 24-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers in the Divisional Round, but finally got into a rhythm late in the fourth quarter. Brady threw for 280 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the win. Jabar Gaffney, who caught only 11 passes during the regular season, compiled 10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. He had eight catches for 104 yards in New England's 37-16 Wild Card Round win over the New York Jets.

The Colts' defense has surprisingly stepped in a big way in their first two games of the post-season, allowing a total of only 14 points. Indianapolis, whose run defense was ranked last in the league this season, has surrendered only 85 yards to starting halfbacks thus far in the playoffs. They held Kansas City's Larry Johnson to 32 yards and Baltimore's Jamal Lewis to 53.

New England's defense, ranked sixth in the NFL this year, allowed only 14.8 points per game during the regular season, second only to the Ravens. They boasted the second-ranked defense in the second half of the season. However, the Patriots will once again likely be without safety Rodney Harrison, who suffered a partially torn MCL in the final game of the season against the Tennessee Titans. Harrison has missed both of New England's post-season games thus far.

Should the Patriots win, it would mark their fourth Super Bowl appearance in six years. They have won all of their past three appearances (2001-2002, 2003-2004, 2004-2005).

Including the post-season, Indianapolis is 9-0 at home this year while New England is 8-1 on the road.

NFC Title Game preview: Saints at Bears

The Chicago Bears are going to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1988-1989 season, a 28-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and will host the surprising New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The Bears, who finished 13-3 this season, topped the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in overtime in the Divisional Round thanks to a 49-yard field goal by Robbie Gould. Rex Grossman, who has come under a lot of fire this season as Bears' quarterback, threw for 282 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once. The win by Chicago snapped a three-game home-playoff losing streak. They lost 29-21 to the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field in the Divisional Round last year.

The Saints defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, 27-24, to get to this point. They compiled 210 rushing yards, 143 by Deuce McAllister, and two touchdowns on the ground in the win. Drew Brees also played well, throwing for 240 yards and a touchdown.

Chicago and New Orleans finished one-two in the NFC, respectively. The Saints finished three games back of the Bears at 10-6. The two teams did not meet this season.

The Saints come into this game boasting the NFL's number one-ranked offense. Meanwhile, the Bears have the fifth-ranked defense.

Brady rallies Patriots; NE to AFC Title Game

It wasn't easy for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, but they did just enough to defeat the number one-seeded San Diego Chargers 24-21 on Sunday.

The Patriots struck first, as rookie Stephen Gostkowski connected on a 50-yard field goal, the longest of his career. Gostkowski would play an even bigger role later in the game.

The Chargers were able to bounce back, running off 14-unanswered points. MVP LaDainian Tomlinson put San Diego up 7-3 with a two-yard touchdown scamper at the 11:50 mark of the second quarter, and Brady was then intercepted by Donnie Edwards leading to a seven-yard score by Michael Turner for a 14-3 advantage.

However, Brady and the Patriots rebounded before the half ended, as the three-time Super Bowl champion led New England on an 11-play, 72-yard drive capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to newly discovered Jabar Gaffney, cutting San Diego's lead to four, 14-10. Gaffney, who caught 11 passes all season, had 10 catches for 103 yards and the touchdown Sunday.

Brady was intercepted again with 10:45 to play in the third, this time by Drayton Florence. The Chargers were not able to capitalize on the turnover, however, and were forced to punt.

New England started from their own two-yard line on their next possession, and after going three-and-out and punting the football, San Diego's Eric Parker muffed the punt and the Patriots recovered at the San Diego 31. That wasn't the only mistake the Chargers made on the drive.

On third-and-13 from the 29-yard line, Brady was sacked for a loss of seven yards for Shaun Phillips. The ball came loose, but the Patriots recovered and lost an extra yard. However, after the play was over, Drayton Florence headbutted Kevin Faulk and was assessed with a 15-yard penalty and an automatic New England first down. The Patriots were able to come away with three points off a 34-yard field goal by Gostkowski, making it a 14-13 game.

Rosevelt Colvin then intercepted Philip Rivers on San Diego's next drive, but New England was forced to punt. The Chargers then took a 21-13 lead after a nine-play, 83-yard drive concluded by a three-yard touchdown run by Tomlinson. However, San Diego shot themselves in the foot again, as Shane Olivea was given an unnecessary roughness penalty which would be assessed on the kickoff.

Because of the penalty, Brady and the Patriots would start with good field position on their own 37. On the sixth play of the drive, Brady was intercepted by Marlon McRee, but McRee fumbled and New England recovered on the Chargers' 32-yard line, resulting in a Patriot first down. Marty Schottenheimer challenged the ruling on the field that it was a fumble, but the call was clearly correct and was upheld.

Brady took advantage of the second opportunity, as he went 3-for-4 with 23 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Reche Caldwell to make the score 21-19. The Patriots then went for two points and converted, as Faulk ran it in to tie things up at 21.

New England then forced San Diego to go three-and-out, and the Patriots took over from their own 15-yard line. Brady, who had 23 fourth-quarter comebacks coming into this game, started the drive off by completing a 19-yard pass to Daniel Graham. He then threw a 49-yard bomb down the sideline to a streaking Caldwell who ran out of bounds at the Chargers' 17. That set the stage for Gostkowski, who kicked a 31-yarder through the uprights to give the Patriots a 24-21 lead with 1:14 to go.

San Diego started from their own 25 and got within the range of their Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding. However, Kaeding missed a 54-yard field goal, sealing things for the fourth-seeded Patriots.

Things got a little testy after the game, as Tomlinson went after several New England players because they were imitating the sack dance of Chargers' linebacker Shawne Merriman. Tomlinson later called the Patriots "classless" and took a shot at Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick, saying that he may have had something to do with the celebration.

The Patriots will travel to Indianapolis to play the Colts in the AFC Championship Game next Sunday. New England and Indianapolis have met in the playoffs twice in the past three years, once in the Conference Championship in the 2003-2004 season and once in the Divisional Round in 2004-2005. The Patriots won both meetings and went on to win the Super Bowl both years. However, both of those meetings were at New England.

Defense, Vinatieri compensate for Manning

The Indianapolis Colts overcame poor quarterback play from Peyton Manning for the second consecutive game and were able to top the Baltimore Ravens 15-6 on Saturday.

It was all about the Colts' defense in this one, forcing Steve McNair into two key interceptions, one of them being at the goal line. They also forced two fumbles and recovered both, one being on Todd Heap at the beginning of the game and one on McNair with 19 seconds remaining.

Adam Vinatieri scored all 15 of Indianapolis' points, connecting on all five of his field goals, including a 51-yarder and a 48-yarder. He also finished things off in the fourth quarter, giving the Colts a 15-6 lead off a 35-yarder with 23 seconds to play. Vinatieri passed Gary Anderson for most career post-season field goals.

Despite the win, the Colts would still like to see more out of Manning, who completed only 15-of-30 passes and threw two interceptions, both to Ed Reed. He was very close to throwing two more, one bouncing off the chest of Chris McAlister and the other off Reed. The 30-year old quarterback has thrown five interceptions and only one touchdown thus far in the playoffs. He only threw nine interceptions during the regular season.

Depending on the outcome of tomorrow's game between the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis will either travel to San Diego or go back home to the RCA Dome to play New England in the AFC Championship Game. The last time the Colts were in the AFC Championship Game was in the 2003-2004 season when they lost to the Patriots 24-14.

Webber to Detroit, but Pistons not done dealing

Chris Webber to Detroit
Webber can't officially sign with any team until Tuesday, but sources say that a deal that would bring Webber back to his home-town of Detroit is nearly done. Expect him to be a Piston by next week.

Dale Davis on the block
The Detroit Pistons are reportedly shopping 37-year old Dale Davis to make room for the soon-to-be-acquired Chris Webber. The Seattle Supersonics are very interested in his services.

Pistons may go after Morris Peterson, Bonzi Wells
The Detroit Pistons tried to get Bonzi Wells in the off-season, but they were too pre-occupied with trying to re-sign Ben Wallace that they let 30-year old Wells get away. The Pistons may also make a run at Morris Peterson, but they may not have enough to give up for him. The Toronto Raptors are interested in Antonio McDyess, but McDyess has a trade kicker that may cause the Raptors to stay away from the 10-year veteran.

Webber wants Detroit; Mo-Pete to Minnesota?

Chris Webber wants Detroit
Sources say that the 33-year old Webber has the Detroit Pistons at the top of his list, and the several teams behind them are distant choices. Other teams that are vying for his services include the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, and the New York Knicks. The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, two teams on Webber's list, were never in the running and most likely never will be.

Morris Peterson drawing plenty of interest
The Toronto Raptors have received at least 10 offers for swingman Morris Peterson, according to sources. The Minnesota Timberwolves are rumored to have made an offer that would send Ricky Davis and Bracey Wright to Toronto for Peterson, Kris Humphries, and a second-round draft pick. However, the legitimacy of this rumor is not known.

Suns to buy out Jalen Rose
The Phoenix Suns are reportedly going to buy out the contract of 34-year old Jalen Rose.

Isiah Thomas denies Steve Francis buy-out talk
New York Knicks general manager Isiah Thomas shot down any notion of a potential buy-out of guard Steve Francis, who has not lived up to expectations as a Knick. However, most indications are that Francis will be bought out. The question isn't if; it's when.

MLB Fantasy Rankings

Catcher
1. Joe Mauer, Twins
2. Brian McCann, Braves
3. Victor Martinez, Indians
4. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers
5. Jorge Posada, Yankees
6. A.J. Pierzynksi, White Sox
7. Miguel Olivo, Marlins
8. Ramon Hernandez, Orioles
9. Russell Martin, Dodgers
10. Paul Lo Duca, Mets
11. Kenji Johjima, Mariners
12. Bengie Molina, Giants
13. Michael Barrett, Cubs
14. Jason Kendall, Athletics
15. Johnny Estrada, Diamondbacks
16. Mike Piazza, Athletics
17. Ronny Paulino, Pirates
18. Josh Bard, Padres
19. Yadier Molina, Cardinals
20. Gregg Zaun, Blue Jays

First base
1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2. Ryan Howard, Phillies
3. Lance Berkman, Astros
4. Mark Teixeira, Rangers
5. Justin Morneau, Twins
6. Paul Konerko, White Sox
7. Carlos Delgado, Mets
8. Todd Helton, Rockies
9. Adam LaRoche, Braves
10. Richie Sexson, Mariners
11. Lyle Overbay, Blue Jays
12. Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
13. Mike Jacobs, Marlins
14. Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers
15. Conor Jackson, Diamondbacks
16. Nick Swisher, Athletics
17. Prince Fielder, Brewers
18. Nick Johnson, Nationals
19. Sean Casey, Tigers
20. Scott Hatteberg, Reds

Second base
1. Chase Utley, Phillies
2. Dan Uggla, Marlins
3. Robinson Cano, Yankees
4. Tadahito Iguchi, White Sox
5. Jeff Kent, Dodgers
6. Ray Durham, Giants
7. Luis Castillo, Twins
8. Brian Roberts, Orioles
9. Orlando Hudson, Diamondbacks
10. Placido Polanco, Tigers
11. Jose Lopez, Mariners
12. Josh Barfield, Padres
13. Brandon Phillips, Reds
14. Mark Grudzielanek, Royals
15. Ronnie Belliard, Cardinals
16. Ian Kinsler, Rangers
17. Aaron Hill, Blue Jays
18. Jorge Cantu, Devil Rays
19. Jose Castillo, Pirates
20. Jose Vidro, Mariners

Shortstop
1. Derek Jeter, Yankees
2. Miguel Tejada, Orioles
3. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
4. Michael Young, Rangers
5. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
6. Bill Hall, Brewers
7. Carlos Guillen, Tigers
8. Jose Reyes, Mets
9. Edgar Renteria, Braves
10. Rafael Furcal, Dodgers
11. Orlando Cabrera, Angels
12. Yuniesky Betancourt, Mariners
13. Jhonny Peralta, Indians
14. Felipe Lopez, Nationals
15. Omar Vizquel, Giants
16. David Ecsktein, Cardinals
17. Khalil Greene, Padres
18. Jason Bartlett, Twins
19. Alex Gonzalez, Reds
20. Alex Cintron, White Sox

Third base
1. Miguel Cabrera, Marlins
2. Garrett Atkins, Rockies
3. David Wright, Mets
4. Aramis Ramirez, Cubs
5. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
6. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
7. Joe Crede, White Sox
8. Troy Glaus, Blue Jays
9. Scott Rolen, Cardinals
10. Freddy Sanchez, Pirates
11. Hank Blalock, Rangers
12. Chad Tracy, Diamondbacks
13. Chipper Jones, Braves
14. Mark Teahen, Royals
15. Adrian Beltre, Mariners
16. Edwin Encarnacion, Reds
17. Wes Helms, Phillies
18. Melvin Mora, Orioles
19. Eric Chavez, Athletics
20. Morgan Ensberg, Astros

Left fielders
1. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox
2. Matt Holliday, Rockies
3. Carlos Lee, Astros
4. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
5. Jason Bay, Pirates
6. Carl Crawford, Devil Rays
7. Raul Ibanez, Mariners
8. Adam Dunn, Reds
9. Josh Willingham, Marlins
10. Barry Bonds, Giants
11. Andre Ethier, Dodgers
12. Chris Duncan, Cardinals
13. Craig Monroe, Tigers
14. Reed Johnson, Blue Jays
15. Juan Rivera, Angels
16. Garret Anderson, Angels
17. Matt Murton, Cubs
18. Dave Roberts, Giants
19. Frank Catalanotto, Rangers
20. Jay Payton, Athletics

Center fielders
1. Vernon Wells, Blue Jays
2. Andruw Jones, Braves
3. Carlos Beltran, Mets
4. Grady Sizemore, Indians
5. Johnny Damon, Yankees
6. Torii Hunter, Twins
7. Rocco Baldelli, Devil Rays
8. Juan Pierre, Dodgers
9. Gary Matthews, Angels
10. Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks
11. Mike Cameron, Padres
12. Corey Patterson, Orioles
13. Curtis Granderson, Tigers
14. Chone Figgins, Angels
15. Mark Kotsay, Athletics
16. Kenny Lofton, Rangers
17. Ken Griffey Jr., Reds
18. Alex Sanchez, Marlins
19. Shane Victorino, Phillies
20. Aaron Rowand, Phillies

Clemens is 50/50 on playing in 2007

Mets sign Scott Schoeneweis
The New York Mets have signed 33-year old reliever Scott Schoeneweis to a three-year deal worth $10.8 million. Schoeneweis posted a 4.88 ERA in 51.2 innings of relief last season. He was also traded last season, going from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Cincinnati Reds. In 14.1 innings with Cincinnati, Schoeneweis had a 0.63 ERA compared to a 6.51 mark in Toronto.

50/50 that Roger Clemens returns next season
According to many sources, there is a 50/50 chance that 45-year old Roger Clemens will return for his 24th season in the Major Leagues next year. The New York Yankees and Houston Astros are the frontrunners to acquire him, but Clemens most likely will not sign until after the season has begun (think May or possibly June). The Boston Red Sox have seemed to lose interest in "The Rocket."

Diamondbacks, Pirates talked trade
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates reportedly discussed a trade that would have sent third baseman Chad Tracy to Pittsburgh for 28-year old reliever Mike Gonzalez. If the deal occurred, the Diamondbacks would have then went out and traded for Morgan Ensberg of the Houston Astros to fill the void at third base. However, talks did not go very far.

Tomo Ohka has two offers
30-year old right-hander Tomo Ohka reportedly has two offers on the table, most likely from the Washington Nationals and New York Mets. The Pittsburgh Pirates may also jump in.

Boykins traded; Webber to Detroit?

Earl Boykins traded to Bucks
The Denver Nuggets dealt Earl Boykins and Julius Hodge to the Milwaukee Bucks for Steve Blake on Thursday, according to ESPN.com.

Chris Webber bought out; 17 teams interested
After being bought out and released by the Philadelphia 76ers this week, 33-year old Chris Webber has already received calls from 17 teams vying for his services. However, Webber has already narrowed down his choices, and they are the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, or Los Angeles Lakers. Detroit, Webber's home-town, is the frontrunner to acquire the 13-year veteran. Dallas is probably the least likely destination of those five teams, and early indications are that the Spurs are an unlikely candidate as well. Other teams that cannot be counted out are the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and possibly the Phoenix Suns. Webber's main interest is to win a championship.

Nets may deal part of their Big Three
Although their management does not want to trade Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, or Richard Jefferson, it is not out of the question that the New Jersey Nets will move one of them before the February 22nd trade deadline. The Nets are reportedly interested in Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis of the Seattle Supersonics, and Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves. New Jersey will reportedly ask for the world for Carter, as a league source said they want several players (a big man will probably have to be involved) and draft picks. They would probably ask for even more for Kidd.

Tom Coughlin to coach Giants in 2007-2008

Much-maligned New York Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin will be on the Giants' sidelines for the 2007-2008 season, as New York has given him a one-year contract extension.

There has been much speculation that Coughlin was going to be fired within the next few days after a very disappointing season for his Giants. New York, who had the most difficult schedule in the NFL this year, finished 8-8 after a very promising 6-2 start. The Giants went 2-6 in their final eight regular season games and lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles, 23-20.

Although bad coaching has been blamed for the Giants' disaster of a season, the team's collapse can also be attributed to injuries. Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer, and Luke Petitgout missed seven, eight, and seven games, respectively. Strahan and Toomer were both injured in week nine against the Houston Texans. Toomer missed the rest of the season was a torn ACL, while Strahan missed seven of the team's last eight games with a sprained foot. He returned in week 16 against the New Orleans Saints only to re-aggravate his foot injury. Strahan was then placed on injured reserve.

However, those three weren't the only three major injuries for the G-Men this season. They also lost LaVar Arrington for the season to a torn Achilles in week seven against the Dallas Cowboys. Still, the list keeps on growing: Osi Umenyiora missed five games with a hip flexor, Sam Madison missed four with a strained hamstring, Brandon Short missed seven with a bad quad, Carlos Emmons sat out four games with different injuries, Justin Tuck sat out from week seven on, and, finally, Corey Webster missed four games with turf toe.

The 60-year old Coughlin has compiled a regular season record of 25-23 during his three-year tenure as Giants' coach, but has gone 0-2 in the post-season.

Although Coughlin's job is safe, the rest of the coaching staff is still in limbo.

No Leak here: Florida wins National Title

Chris Leak threw for 213 yards and a touchdown and the Florida defense held Ohio State to 82 total yards as the Gators defeated the Buckeyes, 41-14, to win their first BCS Title and second national title overall, the first coming in 1996. Leak was named the BCS National Championship MVP.

Things started out with a bang for Ohio State when Ted Ginn Jr. returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Buckeye lead. Ginn would later leave the game with a sprained ankle. The tide quickly turned, however, as Leak led Florida down the field on a seven-play, 46-yard drive capped by a touchdown pass from Leak to Dallas Baker, knotting things up at seven. Leak went 5-for-5 during the drive. The touchdown was largely the result of great starting field position, as a 15-yard penalty by the Buckeyes put the ball at their own 46-yard line.

On the ensuing possession, Heisman winner Troy Smith threw an incompletion, had a four-yard carry, and then was sacked for a seven-yard loss, forcing the Buckeyes to punt. Ohio State again killed themselves with a penalty on the kick, as a 15-yard infraction moved the ball up to their own 34. Florida capitalized once again, as Leak threw a 20-yard pass to Cornelius Ingram to set up a four-yard touchdown run by Percy Harvin two plays later which gave the Gators a 14-7 edge.

Smith was then intercepted by Florida's All-American safety Reggie Lewis on the Buckeyes' next possession, and Florida once again took advantage of their opponent's miscues. Leak led the Gators on a 10-play, 71-yard drive touched off by a two-yard touchdown scamper by DeShawn Wynn. Florida led 21-7 at this point. Leak completed his first nine passes before finally throwing an incompletion.

Ohio State finally showed some signs of life on their next possession, as Antonio Pittman's 18-yard run to the end-zone cut the deficit to seven, 21-14. However, that would be the last time the Buckeyes would score in the National Championship game.

Florida kicker Chris Hetland, who made only four of 13 field goal attempts this season, put two kicks through the uprights, one 42-yarder and one 40-yarder, extending the Gators' lead to 13, 27-14. The second kick was the result of a failed fourth-down conversion by the Buckeyes, as head coach Jim Tressel opted to go for it on fourth and 1 from his team's own 29-yard line. Second-string halfback Chris Wells got the call, but could not advance the ball past the first-down marker.

Ohio State started from their own 20 after the second field goal by Hetland, only to see Smith fumble on a sack by Jarvis Moss. Florida's Derrick Harvey recovered and brought it down to the Buckeyes' five-yard line. Tim Tebow then tossed a touchdown to Andre Caldwell on third and goal, pushing Florida's lead to 20 at halftime, 34-14.

The second half was much slower offensively for the Gators, but their defense held Ohio State to only nine net yards. Florida sacked Smith five times overall and forced him into bad throws, as Smith, known for his ability to come up big in big games, completed only 4-of-14 passes for 35 yards.

The Gators dominated the heavily favored Buckeyes in every facet of the game Monday, especially time of possession in which they had the ball for over 20 minutes longer than the former undefeated and number one ranked Buckeyes, 40:48 to 19:12.

Florida took over the number spot in the Associated Press rankings, receiving 64 of a possible 65 first-place votes. The one vote they did not get went to the 13-0 Boise State Broncos, who were ranked fifth. Ohio State dropped to second.

Seahawks win wild one in Seattle

The game had everything. It had great throws. It had big runs. It had safeties, hail maries, and, most significant, it had bobbled snaps.

Trailing the Seattle Seahawks 21-20 with 1:19 to play in regulation, the Dallas Cowboys lined up to kick what would seem to be an automatic 19-yard field goal on paper. But like they always say: the games aren't played on paper.

The Cowboys got off a perfect snap, but place-kick holder Tony Romo, also the starting quarterback, bobbled the snap, and kicker Martin Gramatica was not able to get a kick off. Romo picked the ball up and ran to the left side but was stopped just short of the end-zone by Jordan Babineaux.

The Seahawks got the ball back with 1:14 remaining, and after Shaun Alexander broke a 20-yard run, Seattle failed to get a first down for the remainder of the drive and was forced to punt to Dallas with eight seconds left in the game. Ryan Plackemeier got off a 26-yard punt that sailed out of bounds at midfield, and the Cowboys would have one more chance with two seconds left. Romo launched a hail mary to the end-zone, but it was deflected and incomplete, and the Seahawks advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs while the Cowboys are going to be forced to ponder what happened to their once promising season.

Dallas was 8-4 at one point this season and seemed to be in control of the NFC East. However, they lost three of their final four games, including three straight at home, and surrendered the division title to the Philadelphia Eagles. Many thought the Cowboys might even win 10+ games and earn a first-round bye, but they finished with a 9-7 record and with only the fifth seed in the NFC.

The game started off slow, the first three scores being field goals, two by Seattle's Josh Brown, one by Dallas' Gramatica. Dallas then had the ball on 4th and 2 from the Seattle 35-yard line. Bill Parcells decided to go for it, and Romo completed a 32-yard pass to Jason Witten at the Seattle 3 with 39 seconds left to play in the first half. A holding penalty drove Dallas back 10 yards, but Romo then threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton, giving the Cowboys a 10-6 advantage going into halftime.

The Seahawks took a 13-10 lead at the 6:15 mark of the third quarter, as Matt Hasselbeck capped a 12-play, 62-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jerramy Stevens. However, Dallas kick returner Miles Austin answered with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and the Cowboys re-gained the lead, 17-13.

Hasselbeck was then intercepted to start the fourth quarter, and the result was a 29-yard field goal by Gramatica to give Dallas a 20-13 edge. That's when things started to get crazy.

Seattle drove down the field on their next possession and went for it on 4th and 2 from the Cowboys' 2-yard line, but could not convert. Dallas took over from their own 2. Romo completed a screen pass to Terry Glenn, but Glenn proceeded to lose the football after being hit by Kelly Jennings. The ball bounced into the end-zone, and after being knocked around a few times by several Seattle players, was eventually recovered by Michael Boulware for a touchdown. However, the play was challenged and reversed, as it was determined that Lofa Tatupu's foot was out of bounds in the end-zone when he tipped the ball to Boulware. The end result was a safety, cutting the Cowboys' lead to five, 20-15.

The Cowboys then punted off to the Seahawks because of the safety rule, and Seattle went on a quick four-play, 50-yard drive capped off by another Hasselbeck-to-Stevens connection in the end-zone. The Seahawks went for the two-point conversion but were stopped. The score was 21-20 Seattle with 4:31 to play in the fourth.

After the kickoff, Dallas started at their own 28 and eventually reached the Seattle 9, but their promising drive ended with the mis-handled snap by the 26-year old Romo. The Seahawks took this one by a final score of 21-20 in what could become one of the best, if not the best, games of the 2006-2007 NFL Playoffs.

The Seahawks will either travel to New Orleans or Chicago to play the Saints or the Bears depending on the outcome of the other NFC Wild Card match-up, the New York Giants and the Eagles, tomorrow. Should the Giants win, the Seahawks would play New Orleans. Should the Eagles win, Seattle would take on Chicago.

Colts prevail despite Manning's struggles

The Indianapolis Colts overcame a poor game from Peyton Manning and got an outstanding effort from their defense as they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-8, in the AFC Wild Card Round.

The Chiefs could not get anything offensively right from the start, as their normally explosive running game was non-existent against Indianapolis' normally horrible run defense. Kansas City ranked 9th in the NFL this season in rushing; the Colts' rushing defense ranked last, allowing 173 yards per game, the most since the 1987 Atlanta Falcons. They were also the first team since 1984 to allow over 100 yards rushing in every single regular season game. However, the Colts completely reversed their fortunes Saturday night, holding halfback Larry Johnson to just 32 yards on 13 carries, a minute 2.5 average.

Not only could the Chiefs get nothing on the ground, but they couldn't get anything through the air, either. Trent Green completed 14-of-24 passes for only 107 yards. He threw a touchdown pass, but also threw two interceptions, both coming in the fourth quarter.

The Colts' passing game wasn't exactly stellar, either. Manning, known for his playoff failures, threw three interceptions, two to Ty Law, and only one touchdown. However, Joseph Addai and the Indianapolis ground game more than made up for Manning's misfortunes, as Addai rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown off of 25 carries. Dominic Rhodes totaled 68 yards off of 13 attempts.

The Colts did not score a touchdown until the 11:10 mark of the third quarter, when Addai punched it in the end-zone on a six-yard carry. They had three promising drives in the first half, each resulting in field goals by Adam Vinatieri, one being a 50-yarder.

Lawrence Tynes missed a 23-yard field goal for the Chiefs in the second quarter as Kansas City went into halftime without a point, down 9-0.

Trailing 16-0 late in the third, the Chiefs' offense finally showed some signs of life. Green led Kansas City down the field on an eight-play, 60-yard drive by going 6-for-6 with 55 yards and a six-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez. Kansas City was then successful on a two-point conversion, as Green completed a pass to Kris Wilson in the end-zone, cutting Indianapolis' lead to eight going into the fourth quarter, 16-8.

However, Manning finally came alive on the Colts' next drive, capping a nine-play, 71-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. Green then threw two interceptions in the final period. Indianapolis sealed the game when Josh Thomas recovered a fumble forced by Robert Mathis when he sacked Green with 4:00 to play in the fourth. Green was dropped three times on that drive, and then threw an interception to Antoine Bethea with 1:31 to play.

The Indianapolis defense was the story of this game, allowing only 126 total yards. They also held the Kansas City offense to a 2.8-yard average per play.

The Colts will be in Baltimore to play the Ravens next week in the Divisional Round.

Jermaine O'Neal hints at wanting out of Indiana

In a recent session with reporters, O'Neal said, "If I can't take this team to another level, I truthfully believe we should go our separate ways at the end of the season." He did say that his first choice would be to remain in Indiana, but said that he is frustrated and called the Pacers a "very average team." The 28-year old O'Neal is averaging 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game this season.

What teams would be interested in the 6'11" forward? Well, a lot. I can see the New York Knicks getting involved, as they have expressed interest in "J.O." in the past. Maybe they could offer a package including Channing Frye and a future first-round draft pick (they do not have any 2007 first-rounders)? Another possibility is the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that tried to trade for a star player just recently in Allen Iverson, but came up short because of a lack of expiring contracts and draft picks. Other than Randy Foye, whom Minnesota reportedly did not offer to the Philadelphia 76ers for Iverson, I don't see who the Timberwolves could offer Indiana for the 11-year veteran. Maybe they could include rookie forward Craig Smith in a package along with two or three of Ricky Davis, Mike James, Eddie Griffin, and Troy Hudson? Still, Minnesota would be giving up too much depth there, so I don't see it happening.

The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks both pursued O'Neal in the 2003 off-season, but O'Neal decided to re-sign with the Pacers. I can't see either San Antonio or Dallas making a run at O'Neal now. The New Jersey Nets could become a team to watch for, as they could offer Richard Jefferson, other players (maybe Josh Boone and someone else?), and a first-rounder. Maybe even the Boston Celtics, who can offer a package including Al Jefferson, can become a factor, but their reluctance to include Jefferson in a deal for Iverson spoke volumes. If they wouldn't give up the 21-year old forward for A.I., then why would they give him up for J.O.?

The Chicago Bulls are another team looking for a big man, and they have put Luol Deng on the trading block. They may also be willing to include Ben Gordon in a deal. Chicago's main target is Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, but it doesn't seem like he is going anywhere with the Timberwolves in the playoff hunt. Don't be surprised if they forget about Garnett and then turn around and go after the cheaper O'Neal.

The Golden State Warriors have also been searching for a big, and they too want the unavailable Garnett. Do they offer break-out forward Andris Biedrins and possibly Monta Ellis to try and get O'Neal, or do the .500 Warriors stick with the young talent they have and work from there? We'll have to wait and see.

There have been no reports of any teams making contact with Indiana about the availability of O'Neal yet, but after his recent comments, I can guarantee you that Indiana's phones will be ringing off the hooks soon enough.

Wild Card Round "X-factors"

Each year in the NFL Playoffs, players that aren't normally a major part of their team's success during the regular season, or players that are overlooked, step up in the post-season and are a huge factor in leading their team on a potential Super Bowl run. There are several players that have the ability to do that this year, also. Here is a list of guys, one per team, who I think can have a big influence on the outcome of the 2006-2007 NFL Playoffs:

Laurence Maroney, halfback, New England Patriots- Maroney had a great rookie year, rushing for 745 yards and six touchdowns. However, the 21-year old back is overshadowed by seasoned veteran Corey Dillon, New England's primary halfback in two of their past three Super Bowl triumphs. The New York Jets need to pay attention to the speedy Maroney, who can confuse defenses by using his finesse running style to contrast Dillon's power-style. If the Jets are not careful, the rookie might be the one they have to stop, and not the 32-year old veteran. Still, with their athletic defense, New York is well-equipped to hold Maroney in check. They just have to avoid his potential game-breaking runs.

Leon Washington, halfback, New York Jets- Washington was wrongly overlooked in the voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The 24-year old rushed for 650 yards and four scores and caught 25 passes for 270 yards. He is one of the fastest players in football, even faster than Maroney, and against New England's physical-oriented defense, Washington may have a big day. Although the Patriots play the 3-4, they are not exactly what you would call a speedy defense. Washington should be able to get to the outside and break some big runs against a defense that bases itself on physical toughness, not athleticism.

Dallas Clark, tight end, Indianapolis Colts- Although Clark is widely known as a considerable threat in the passing game, he is hidden by wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, the two focal points of the aerial attack and the offense (other than Peyton Manning). Clark is a player that benefits from having two good receivers to open him up over the middle for 10-to-15-yard throws. With Harrison and Wayne both being deep threats and two players that defenses key on, Clark tends to be forgotten. The Kansas City Chiefs will have to keep a close eye on him tonight.

Greg Wesley, free safety, Kansas City Chiefs- Wesley has always been one of the most underrated defensive backs in the league. He tallied 67 tackles and three interceptions this season, and is one of the better safeties in terms of coverage and picking passes off in the NFL. The 28-year old safety has very good hands and is a very intelligent player. If he can step his game up today, it would certainly frustrate the Colts' Manning who also has elite cornerbacks Ty Law and Patrick Surtain and strong safety Sammy Knight to deal with. If Wesley is able to do that, then the Colts will have to get into a ground-battle with the Chiefs, and that is a category in which Kansas City has an enormous advantage.

Jordan Babineaux, cornerback, Seattle Seahawks- With three cornerbacks out for the Seahawks today (Marcus Trufant, Kelly Herndon, and Jimmy Williams), Babineaux has to come up big against Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn of the Dallas Cowboys. Although Trufant and Herndon are clearly two best corners, Babineaux is no slouch. He totaled 55 tackles this season and logged one interception. He had 74 tackles and three picks last season, so obviously, he can play. The 24-year old is young, quick, and feisty, and his assignment will likely be Owens. You can be sure that he will get help from safeties Ken Hamlin and Michael Boulware, but he'll be fine either way.

Marcus Spears, defensive end, Dallas Cowboys- The Cowboys are going to have to put pressure on Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck today. It's not an option; it's a must. Excluding Kenyon Coleman (who is not a starter), Spears is the team's best pass-rusher on the defensive line. Jason Ferguson is solely a run-stuffer, and Chris Canty would be second or third-string on most other NFL teams. Other than DeMarcus Ware, Dallas has not been able to generate any sort of pass rush all season long. Even so, they must do that tonight, or else they're going to be in for a long game against the potentially explosive aerial attack of the Seahawks.

Sean Considine, strong safety, Philadelphia Eagles- With the New York Giants' 6'5" Plaxico Burress coming to town against the Eagles' smallish defensive backs, Considine is going to have to come up big for Philadelphia's secondary. Burress has burned Philly's defensive backs both times the two teams have met this season, accumulating over 100 yards receiving in both games and catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime of the first game. Neither Lito Sheppard or Sheldon Brown can handle him in single-coverage, and Brian Dawkins is going to be too pre-occupied with the run and is going to spend most of the game in the box, making Considine's role all the more larger. He needs to help out his cornerbacks in covering Burress. Not only does he have Plax to worry about, but he also has to tend to Jeremy Shockey. He is definitely going to have his plate full on Sunday.

Sinorice Moss, wide receiver, New York Giants- With Amani Toomer being done since tearing his ACL on November 5th, the Giants have yet to find a reliable number two wide receiver. Tim Carter hasn't really stepped up in Toomer's absence, and neither has David Tyree. Moss has been injured for the majority of the season, returning on December 3rd. Because the Eagles are a blitzing team, expect New York to use the explosive Moss on streak and curl routes to burn Philadelphia when they blitz. The Eagles don't exactly have the fastest secondary either, so if Moss can get open downfield, he and Eli Manning might have a field day. If the Giants establish Moss in the passing game, that will force the Eagles to stop blitzing, therefore giving Manning more time to throw, and it will force Philly to keep Burress in single-coverage. Shockey will also benefit, as he will not be double-teamed near as much. And, of course, this will open up Tiki Barber and the running game, as the Eagles' linebackers would then have to watch the triple-threat (Burress, Shockey, Moss) in the aerial attack at the same time.

Garnett hits game-winner, Wolves hold off 76ers

With the scored tied at 96 late in the fourth quarter, Kevin Garnett missed a shot at the buzzer that would have won the game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The contest then went into overtime.

Garnett got another opportunity in the extra period, and this time, he did not fail. Garnett drained a 16-footer at the buzzer with Samuel Dalembert's hand in his face and the Timberwolves topped the Philadelphia 76ers 104-102 Friday night.

Garnett had another one of his patented all-around games, tallying 25 points, 14 rebounds, six of them offensive, and five assists. But it was Trenton Hassell who was the biggest story of the night for Minnesota, who recorded a career high 22 points off of 10-of-13 shooting. Mark Blount had another solid outing, racking up 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Timberwolves also got a great game from rookie Randy Foye, who recorded his first career double-double. Foye had 11 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. He also had two blocked shots. Ricky Davis had 16 points.

Kyle Korver and Andre Iguodala led the way for Philadelphia, scoring 25 and 23, respectively. Iguodala also totaled nine assists and seven rebounds, but shot only 8-of-23 from the floor. Andre Miller had a double-double, going for 18 points and 11 dimes. Dalembert had a good all-around game, finishing with 11 points, eight boards, and four blocks.

The game featured 17 lead changes and 14 ties until Garnett finally sealed the deal in overtime, scoring six of Minnesota's eight points in the five-minute quarter and putting his team out in front 102-100 with 1:02 to go after knocking down a jumper. He then won it at the buzzer later in the period.

The win improved the Timberwolves' record to 16-15, the first time they have been over .500 since a four-game winning streak had them at 10-9 on December 9th. It was also the third straight win for Minnesota, who upped their home record to 10-5. The 76ers dropped to 9-24 with the loss and are now 3-12 against Western Conference teams this season.

Jason Taylor wins Defensive Player of the Year

Miami Dolphins' defensive end Jason Taylor was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Friday, edging out Denver Broncos' cornerback Champ Bailey by six votes, 22 to 16.

Taylor was probably the lone bright spot for the otherwise disappointing Dolphins this season, tallying 60 tackles, 13.5 sacks, two interceptions, and forced an unbelievable nine fumbles. He also recovered two.

San Diego Chargers' linebacker Shawne Merriman, whom Taylor has had a war of words with after criticizing the 22-year old Merriman for taking performance enhancing drugs, was in third place with six votes. He was suspended for four games earlier in the year for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Chicago Bears' linebacker Brian Urlacher came in fourth with four votes.

Two Baltimore Ravens' players got consideration, as both linebacker Ray Lewis and defensive lineman Trevor Pryce received one vote apiece.

Yankees deal Johnson, sign Mientkiewicz

The New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks have reportedly agreed to a tentative deal that would send 43-year old left-handed starter Randy Johnson back to the team he won the World Series with in 2001, the Diamondbacks, for reliever Luis Vizcaino and three prospects, namely pitchers Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson and shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. The Yankees would also pay in between $1.5-2 million of Johnson's 2007 salary.

"The Big Unit" went 17-11 and posted a pedestrian 5 ERA last season. He underwent back surgery in the off-season, but it is not expected to affect him on the mound. However, Johnson did experience nagging back problems in his two-year tenure with New York.

The Yankees did not get Brandon Medders, the reliever they most wanted back in the deal, back they did get a very serviceable pitcher in Vizcaino. The 32-year old right-hander had a 3.58 ERA and struck out 72 in 65.1 innings of relief last season.

They also only got one of the several prospects they sought from Arizona, that prospect being Ohlendorf. Micah Owings was at the top of New York's list, but the Diamondbacks did not want to move him. The 25-year old Ohlendorf went 10-8 with a 3.29 ERA at Double-A Tennessee last year, and in limited time at Tucson, posted a 1.28 ERA.

The second minor-league pitcher the Yankees got back in return was the 24-year old Jackson, who had a record of 8-11 and an ERA of 2.65 last season in 24 starts with Tennessee.

The 24-year old shortstop Gonzalez, the only minor-leaguer in the deal who is not a pitcher, hit .290 with six home runs, 20 doubles, and 50 RBI last year for Tennessee. He went 3-for-15 at the plate (good for a .200 average) in four games at Tucson.

The Yankees also made another move earlier in the day, signing first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The 32-year old batted .283 with four homers, 24 doubles, and 43 RBI in 314 at bats with the Kansas City Royals last season. He also boasted a .359 on base percentage. Mientkiewicz is a lifetime .270 hitter.

LaDainian Tomlinson named NFL MVP

San Diego Chargers' halfback LaDainian Tomlinson's unbelievable season has been rewarded. Tomlinson captured 44 of a possible 50 first-place votes and was named the 2006 NFL MVP Thursday.

Tomlinson set the NFL-record for total touchdowns by a halfback, totaling 31 touchdowns, 28 of them on the ground. He also rushed for a league-leading 1,815 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. He also led the Chargers to an NFL-best 14-2 record and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

However, Tomlinson's journey has not been completed yet, he says. "I would feel so much better about winning if we win the Super Bowl," said the 27-year old Tomlinson. "It would feel like it would be everything."

LSU dominates Notre Dame, wins Sugar Bowl

JaMarcus Russell threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns and Keiland Williams rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns as the LSU Tigers defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 41-14, to capture the Sugar Bowl title.

Things started going LSU's way as early as the first drive of the game. After forcing Notre Dame to go three-and-out, the Fighting Irish sent the punting unit onto the field on 4th and 3 inside their own territory. Notre Dame faked the punt and tried to run for the first down, but could not convert. LSU took over at the Notre Dame 35-yard line. Two plays later, and the Tigers led 7-0. Russell completed a 31-yard pass to Early Doucet on the first place, and Williams followed it up with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Notre Dame then ran five plays on their next possesion and were forced to punt. There was no trickery this time. Russell took LSU down the field on an eight-play, 90-yard drive capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Russell to Dwayne Bowe, giving LSU a 14-0 lead. Russell went 4-for-5 on the drive and accounted for 59 of the team's 90 yards, rushing for 21 yards on one play and throwing for 38 overall.

The Fighting Irish showed signs of life, however, in the second quarter. After a shaky start, Brady Quinn led Notre Dame 80 yards down the field and finished off the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to David Grimes. This cut the deficit to seven, 14-7 being the score.

All of the momentum appeared to be on Notre Dame's side when Terrail Lambert forced Russell to fumble on a sack on LSU's next possession. The Irish recovered at the LSU 34-yard line. However, after they only gained five yards on the drive, Carl Gioia missed a 34-yard field goal, and Notre Dame squandered great field position and a chance to either tie the game or cut the lead to four.

Notre Dame would come back, though. After making LSU go three-and-out, Darius Walker fueled an eight-play, 86-yard drive leading to a 10-yard touchdown toss from Quinn to Jeff Samardzija. Walker rushed for 53 yards during the drive. The score was now tied at 14.

But, much to the dismay of the Fighting Irish, Russell would again take the Tigers down the field on a five-play, 82 yard drive highlighted by a 58-yard pass from Russell to Doucet. Russell then ran five yards into the end-zone, putting LSU up 21-14 going into the half.

After a close first half, LSU took over in the last 30 minutes, out-gaining Notre Dame 330 yards to 30. Colt David got things started by kicking two field goals in the third quarter, giving LSU a 27-14 advantage. Things got out of hand quickly after that, as Russell threw a 58-yard touchdown bomb to Brandon LaFell, making the score 34-14 and essentially putting the game out of reach with 18 seconds to play in the third. Williams then put the icing on the cake with a 20-yard touchdown scamper with 4:17 to play in the fourth quarter, extending LSU's lead to 41-14.

The suffering of Notre Dame's offense in the second half was due much in part to poor quarterback play, as Quinn completed only 42.9% of his passes (15-35) in the game and threw for under 30 yards and an interception in the second half.

Russell proving his worth, making case for #1

LSU Tigers' quarterback JaMarcus Russell wasn't even considered to be a possible first-round draft choice at the beginning of the year. Now, many people are changing their tunes about the 6'6", 260-pound behemoth of a signal-caller.

Many feel that the 21-year old Russell will be the best player to come out of the 2007 NFL Draft. Some mock drafts have him going as high as second, to the Oakland Raiders. Russell posted unbelievable numbers last season, completing 68.5% of his passes and throwing for 2,797 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. Even more amazing was his unheard of quarterback rating, a ridiculous 168.1. Is that even possible?

Scouts say that he has the strongest arm alive. No, I'm not joking. And not only can he throw the ball, but despite his seemingly cumbersome 260-pound frame, Russell can run. He is not Michael Vick, but he can get out of the pocket and do things. Granted, he must improve his playmaking in the running game, as Russell had four games in which he rushed for negative yardage this year, once totaling as little as -23 yards on the ground in a game against Fresno State. However, Russell has also had his moments in pounding the football on the turf. On November 18th at Tennessee, he tallied 71 rushing yards on seven carries, his longest being a 34-yard scamper. Russell's numbers in that game were good for a 10.1 average, his best of the season.

Also, having the ability to move around and get out of the pocket isn't just limited to running the football. Russell can throw on the run, and he has the potential to develop into one of the best play-action and roll-out quarterbacks we've seen in a while with his combination of athleticism and arm strength.

Most (if not all) mock drafts have quarterback Brady Quinn of Notre Dame going number one to the Detroit Lions. However, in a recent statement, Quinn said that he would prefer to go to the Cleveland Browns, possibly eliminating the Lions and the Raiders from the equation, as the Browns have the third pick overall. This would take Quinn off both teams' minds in planning their draft and would give both teams the opportunity to take Russell with their first pick.

Now, there is no guarantee that the junior from LSU would make an immediate impact in the NFL. He would most likely have to sit for a year and learn the game. Let's face it. The kid has all of the talent in the world, but he is a work in progress. He must develop his playmaking skills and improve his field awareness. He must also learn to read defenses better and recognize blitzes, something he has improved on dramatically in his third season in college.

There is also no guarantee that the Lions will take a quarterback with their first pick, as some say that they would be content going in the 2007-2008 season with Jon Kitna running the offense and that they will select a defensive player with their first pick in the draft. This would mean that Russell could wind up going to the Raiders like the many mock drafts predict.

Personally, I think either Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith or Russell will be the best quarterback to come out of this draft. Smith is another player who may very well sneak up the draft board and into the top five, maybe even top two or three. His status in the draft clearly depends on how well he plays in the National Title game against Florida next week. Smith is known as a big-game quarterback, widely considered one of the best big-game quarterbacks in college history. Russell is yet to display the poise that Smith has demonstrated in big situations, something that may effect the perspective on both in the draft.

Russell has a huge game tonight against, you guessed it, potential draft-rival Quinn and Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. I will be watching to see how well he performs: will he make game-changing plays with his rocket arm? Will he make smart decisions, particularly in scrambling out of the pocket? Will he take control of his offense and the game? Will he out-play Quinn and therefore catapult himself in front of him on the draft boards? And, most importantly, will he display the kind of poise and sangfroid that every NFL team looks for in a quarterback? Winning the game isn't necessarily a must provided that he does well individually, but it would be a huge bonus. If Russell can do most or all of those things, I can assure you that he will be a very high pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Young, Ryans win rookie awards

Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans and DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans were named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, respectively, Wednesday.

Young took over as the starting quarterback in week four when the Titans were an 0-3 team. After losing his first two starts, Young won 8 of his last 11, including six straight at one point, to lead Tennessee to an 8-8 record and a near playoff berth. Despite his less than desirable numbers (2,199 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, good for a 66.7 quarterback rating), Young went 8-5 overall as a starter and was the driving force in four fourth quarter comebacks, three of them consecutive. Young also had a game-winning 39-yard touchdown run in overtime against the Texans on December 10th. The 23-year old rookie from the University of Texas rushed for a total of 552 yards and seven scores this season.

Young easily took the award, getting 23 of a possible 50 votes from a nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Jacksonville Jaguars' halfback Maurice Jones-Drew and New Orleans Saints' wide receiver Marques Colston were tied for second, each getting nine votes. San Diego Chargers' tackle Marcus McNeill came in third with six votes, and Saints' halfback Reggie Bush tallied three votes, good for fourth place.

Ryans recorded 155 tackles this season, second in the NFL. The 22-year old second-round draft pick, 33rd overall, recorded more tackles than any rookie in the past 20 years. Ryans won the award even easier than Young, receiving 36 of a possible 50 votes. Chicago Bears' defensive end Mark Anderson, Ryans' teammate at Alabama, was second with five votes. Linebacker A.J. Hawk of the Green Bay Packers came in third place with four, and Cleveland Browns' linebacker Kamerion Wimbley totaled two votes and came in fourth.

Miami coaches making news

Nick Saban leaves Dolphins, returns to NCAA
Miami Dolphins' head coach Nick Saban has left the team and has decided to return to college football. Saban will not only return to the NCAA, but he will return to the same conference in which he last coached with the LSU Tigers: the SEC. Saban will coach the Alabama Crimson Tide next season, and possibly for the next eight years, as he reportedly agreed to an eight-year, $32 million contract. Saban went 15-17 in two seasons with the Dolphins. His Dolphins were one of the NFL's most disappointing teams this season, finishing 6-10.

Pat Riley takes leave of absence
Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley took a leave of absence on Wednesday due to hip and knee problems. Riley will undergo surgery on Friday to remove floating chips in his right knee. He has not yet scheduled hip surgery, even though that is what is hindering the 61-year old Riley the most right now. Despite the possibility that Riley will not be with the team for a while, he says he is not re-signing by any means. "I'm going to be displaced for a while, but not disconnected at all," said the Miami coach. However, it is not yet known when Riley will return. The Heat have gone 13-17 in 30 games under Riley this season. Assistant coach Ron Rothstein will take over as interim head coach for the time being.

Yankees did not grant D'Backs 72-hour window

Yankees did not grant Diamondbacks 72-hour window
Despite reports yesterday that the New York Yankees granted the Arizona Diamondbacks a 72-hour negotiating window with Randy Johnson, they did not, according to the New York Times. There is no new information otherwise. Players that may be involved from Arizona are major-leaguers Brandon Medders and Conor Jackson, and minor-leaguers Micah Owings, Ross Ohlendorf, and Dana Eveland. The USA Today expects a deal to be completed by the end of the week, but nothing is definite.

Mets interested in Tomo Ohka
Newsday is reporting that the New York Mets are negotiating with 30-year old right-hander Tomo Ohka. Three teams have looked at Ohka's medical records, and one other NL East team is reportedly in the mix, most likely the Washington Nationals. Washington made Ohka an offer a month ago, but it wasn't enough money for the former Milwaukee Brewer.

Keith Foulke to take physical in Cleveland
Barring unwanted results in a physical, it looks like 34-year old reliever Keith Foulke will be a Cleveland Indian by the end of today. Foulke has been hampered by injuries the past two years, so passing the physical is no guarantee. However, if the right-hander does pass his physical, he will likely receive a one-year contract worth in between $3-4 million.

Conor Jackson involved in Johnson deal?

Randy Johnson rumors; Conor Jackson may be involved
The New York Post reports that the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Randy Johnson himself all want to get a trade done. However, although the two teams continue to negotiate, money is still a major issue. The Journal News reports that Arizona has requested a 72-hour negotiating window, and it could take effect today. The Arizona Republic reported that the Yankees want two of Micah Owings, Ross Ohlendorf, or Dana Eveland. New York is no longer interested in Dustin Nippert. The paper also confirmed that Brandon Medders would be involved in the deal, and another prospect, likely an infielder, may be thrown New York's way. There is also a rumor that the Diamondbacks and Yankees have agreed to a trade that would send 24-year old first baseman Conor Jackson and a pitching prospect or two to New York for Randy Johnson and $6 million. However, this deal would pend contract talks when Johnson returns from his vacation in Hawaii.

Rockies favorites to acquire Brian Lawrence; interested in Rodrigo Lopez, Javy Lopez, Chris Reitsma
Because Lawrence wants to pitch in the NL West and grew up in Colorado, the Rockies would seem to be a logical choice for him to land. The Giants and Diamondbacks may also jump in, but Colorado is the favorite as of right now. The Rockies are also interested in starter Rodrigo Lopez and catcher Javy Lopez. Another possibility for Colorado is reliever Chris Reitsma, who has received interest from six teams, the Rockies being one of them. However, the Cincinnati Reds currently appear to be the favorites to acquire the 29-year old right-hander.

Rose Bowl: USC 32 Michigan 18

John David-Booty threw for 394 yards and four touchdowns, two of them to his primary target Dwayne Jarrett, and the USC Trojans used a 16-point third quarter to defeat the Michigan Wolverines 32-18 Monday night to claim their third bowl victory, two of them National Championships, in four years.

The game started out slow with the score being tied 3-3 at halftime. However, things heated up quickly in the second half, with David-Booty coming out slinging. Each of David-Booty's four touchdown tosses came in the second half, two in the third quarter, two in the fourth. Jarrett had 11 catches and 206 yards to go along with his duo of touchdown grabs, and fellow receiver Steve Smith snared seven balls for 108 yards and a score. Chris McFoy also had a touchdown catch.

Michigan tried to rally in the fourth quarter, opening up with a touchdown pass from Chad Henne to Adrian Arrington, making it a 19-10 game. However, David-Booty answered with two touchdown throws of his own, one to Jarrett and one to Smith, giving the Trojans a 32-10 advantage. Henne threw one more touchdown to Steve Breaston with 1:09 to go, but it was too little too late. Despite a great performance from Henne, who threw for 311 yards and two scores, David-Booty and the USC defense were too much for the favored Wolverines to handle.

It was a disappointing end to a fairly disappointing season for Michigan who had National Title hopes nearly all year long. However, it was a bitter ending for Lloyd Carr and company, as they were dominated in every facet of the game in the final 30 minutes by a hungry USC team.

OTHER BOWL SCORES FROM MONDAY:
Outback Bowl
Penn State 20 Tennessee 10
Cotton Bowl
Auburn 17 Nebraska 14
Gator Bowl
West Viriginia 38 Georgia Tech 35
Capital One Bowl
Wisconsin 17 Arkansas 14
Fiesta Bowl
Boise State 43 Oklahoma 42 OT

Garnett, Timberwolves rally against Bobcats

Kevin Garnett scored 32 points and hauled in 14 rebounds, seven offensive, and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 20-point deficit to defeat the Charlotte Bobcats 102-96 on Monday.

Garnett shot 12-of-18 from the floor after three dismal shooting performances in a row, his worst coming in a 4-of-15 effort against the Seattle Supersonics on Friday. He was 16 for his last 47 coming into today's game, good for 34%, 14 percentage points below his seasonal average. Garnett also shot 8-of-10 from the free throw line tonight.

Ricky Davis also had a great game for Minnesota, recording 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Davis was 9-of-18 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from behind the three-point line. Mark Blount accounted for the third Timberwolves' player with over 20 points in the win, scoring 21. Blount also grabbed seven boards.

Five players were in double-figures for Charlotte, with Matt Carroll leading the way with 23 points. He shot 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Raymond Felton tallied 22 and was one assist shy of a double-double. Rookie Adam Morrison had a solid all-around game, putting up 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Emeka Okafor had a double-double, recording 12 points and 14 boards.

The Bobcats shot a very efficient 52% from the floor and 53% (10-19) from three-point range, but their defense couldn't hold a double-digit lead entering the fourth quarter as Minnesota out-scored Charlotte 34-17 in the final period.

The Bobcats were cruising for most of the game and led by as much as 20 in the second quarter and had a 12-point advantage in the fourth. Garnett then took over, scoring 13 points in the final 12 minutes, including a field goal that capped a 12-0 Minnesota run to give them the lead. Garnett then scored nine more points after that basket and had a key offensive rebound off a missed free throw by Davis on which Davis then scored on, putting the Timberwolves up 99-94. Carroll then knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to three, but Garnett answered with a jumper with 16 seconds left to seal it.

The loss by Charlotte ended their first winning streak of the season, as they had won two straight entering the game. Minnesota improved to 14-15 and the Bobcats fell to 9-22. The Timberwolves currently hold the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Johnson talks hit snag; Red Sox want Cordero

Red Sox, Nationals talk Chad Cordero
The Boston Red Sox have been pursuing Washington Nationals' closer Chad Cordero all off-season long, but it appears that they will have to pay a steep price to get him. The Nationals apparently want 22-year old right-hander Clay Buchholz, a pitcher that Boston is extremely high on. They are also interested in Craig Hansen and Michael Bowden, with Bowden being the preferred one of the two. The Red Sox are also looking at Pittsburgh's Mike Gonzalez or Houston's Brad Lidge to fill the gap at closer, but talks went nowhere. Several sources also believe that Boston and Washington did not have any serious discussions about a possible trade for the 25-year old Cordero. If the Red Sox are not able to acquire a closer in the off-season, don't rule a return to the bullpen for Jonathan Papelbon. Julian Tavarez may also get the job.

Chris Reitsma in detailed discussions with Reds
It looks like Chris Reitsma is going to sign with the Cincinnati Reds. The 29-year old right-hander is well into discussions with Cincinnati despite receiving offers from six other teams.

Lastings Milledge for Joe Blanton?
The New York Mets and Oakland Athletics may make a trade that would send New York outfielder Lastings Milledge to Oakland for starting pitcher Joe Blanton, according to Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle. If appears that Blanton will definitely be dealt, whether it's to the Mets or not.

Randy Johnson deal hits snag; Padres back in sweepstakes
Despite several reports that a Johnson-to-Arizona deal had been completed, the potential trade has hit a snag over money, the one aspect that could possibly hold up the deal. The Arizona Diamondbacks not only want the New York Yankees to eat some of Johnson's 2007 contract, but they also want them to throw some money into the deal. The New York Post reported that the Diamondbacks have only offered minor-leaguers for Johnson despite the rumors that major-league reliever Brandon Medders was to be included in the deal. The newspaper also believes that Brian Cashman may be stockpiling minor-leaguers to try to pull off a blockbuster trade for Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins or Dontrelle Willis of the Florida Marlins, although Florida has stated multiple times that Willis is untouchable. The San Diego Padres may also sneak back into the Randy Johnson sweepstakes, as their offer of Scott Linebrink, Kevin Kouzmanoff, and a prospect intrigued the Yankees.

Mark Mulder pondering over offers
Mulder has reportedly received a two-year, $8 million offer from the Cleveland Indians with $7 million in incentives. The Texas Rangers are offering less than $8 million in guaranteed money, but they may offer a package of $18.75 million. There is no word on any offers from the St. Louis Cardinals, but they are still believed to be in the running for Mulder's services.

Rodrigo Lopez drawing interest
Five teams are reportedly interested in the 31-year old Lopez, with the St. Louis Cardinals considered a possibility.

Giants may be interested in David Wells
Wells has preached his desire to stay in California, and although the San Diego Padres appear to be the frontrunners to sign the 43-year old left-hander, the San Francisco Giants may jump in. The Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Mets may also be interested in Wells, but any of those three would be unlikely.