Playoff fate now out of Browns' grasp

The Cleveland Browns could have clinched a playoff berth by beating the woeful Bengals in Cincinnati yesterday. Had they done that, they would not have had to worry about what the Tennessee Titans did in their game last night against the Jets. The Browns could have gone into week 17 knowing they were locked into the sixth slot in the AFC playoff race which would have allowed them to give some of their key players some rest. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen.

Derek Anderson picked a bad time to have what was probably his worst game of the season, throwing four interceptions, three in the first half, which led to 14 Cincinnati points. The weather conditions weren't exactly ideal as gusting winds pounded both sides all afternoon long, but Anderson was all over the place. Twice he was picked off deep into Bengals' territory, once at the five-yard line on a pass intended for Kellen Winslow.

Because of Anderson's erratic throws, Cincinnati jumped out to an early 19-0 lead. Cleveland battled back, as Anderson was able to find Braylon Edwards in the end zone twice in the second half to cut the lead to five, 19-14, but it wasn't enough.

Now, the Browns have to rely on Tennessee to lose next week in their game at Indianapolis. It doesn't matter what Cleveland does. If both the Browns and Titans win, Tennessee is in because of tiebreakers. However, if both teams lose, Cleveland makes it because they would then own the tiebreaker. It's confusing, but that's how it works.

In the case of the Titans, they will be playing a Colts' team that has already locked up the number two spot in the AFC. Tony Dungy has already said that backup quarterback Jim Sorgi will play at least one half, and it is not known how much other regulars like Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, etc. will play. Dungy stated that he wants to win the game, but it is more important for him to go into the postseason healthy than beat a division rival.

Should Dungy remain true to his word and sit Peyton Manning for a good portion of the game, the door will be wide open for Tennessee to make it to the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season and it would take a major choke-job for them not to do so. The Titans didn't look too extraordinary in their 10-6 win over the Jets on Sunday, but they did enough to win, atypical of Tennessee in all of their victories. Vince Young completed 12 of 23 passes for 166 yards and threw a pick, but it didn't cost his team the game. Now, they sit at 9-6 and one win away from playing January football.

The question remains as to how dangerous either of these two squads jockeying for the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC can be. The Titans have shown they could be a dominant squad this season with a stellar defense led by Pro Bowl tackle Albert Haynesworth and linebacker Keith Bulluck, but their offense has been extremely spotty. Young has only thrown nine touchdown passes this season compared to 17 interceptions, good for a dismal quarterback rating of 69.5

The running game has been pretty effective, with second-year back LenDale White rushing for over 1,000 yards, backup Chris Brown averaging 4.6 yards per carry, and Young going for 376 yards and three touchdowns. However, White is averaging only 3.7 yards per carry, and in the postseason where the teams involved are generally good at stop the run, that could pose a problem.

The Browns, on the other hand, can have a very explosive offense at times. It all hinges on whether or not Anderson plays mistake-free football. He has looked brilliant at times this season, throwing for 3,635 yards and 28 touchdowns. However, those 18 interceptions make you wonder whether or not he can lead Cleveland on a potential playoff run this year.

Fortunately for the Browns, their offense is not one-dimensional. Jamal Lewis has re-discovered himself in a Cleveland uniform, carrying for nearly 1,200 yards through 15 games. The Browns also have a change-of-pace back in Jason Wright who, like Tennessee's Brown, is averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. Anderson also has several weapons to throw to, and they don't only go by the names of Winslow and Edwards. Joe Jurevicius has stepped up in a big way for Cleveland this season, catching 49 balls for 602 yards.

That's where the Browns have a huge advantage over the Titans. Tennessee does not have a true number one receiver in its corps. Roydell Williams is the team's leading wide-out and he has only caught 49 passes for 660 yards this season. Jurevicius has produced just as much as Cleveland's third option. Justin Gage has been re-born since coming to the Titans, grabbing 48 for 646. However, that duo is not going to get Tennessee very far if their defense doesn't completely shut down the opposition. Considering they're going to be playing either Pittsburgh or San Diego in the first round if they reach the playoffs, that doesn't bode well for the Titans. You have to be able to score with those teams, something Tennessee can't do. The Browns, on the other hand, can.

Cleveland will end the season at home against San Francisco at 1:00 PM. The Titans will travel to Indianapolis to face the 13-2 Colts, most likely the second-string Colts. That game has been moved to the prime-time slot at 8:00. It's simple: if Tennessee wins, they're in. If they lose, the Browns get in.

Vikings no-show against Redskins

They came into the game with one simple guideline: win, and you're in. The Minnesota Vikings had won five in a row, obliterating the Giants, Lions, and 49ers and handling the Raiders and Bears. Their ground game was on a roll, with Adrian Peterson running through everything in sight and Chester Taylor doing pretty much the same behind him.

Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson had been blossoming over the first four wins of Minnesota's streak, and because of that his subpar outing last week against Chicago was only considered a minor setback to a very promising end of the season for the 23-year old Jackson. The run defense was nearly impenetrable, demonstrated by its number one ranking in the NFL.

Still, all of that went by the waste-side on Sunday night against the Washington Redskins. The Vikings had the home crowd behind them. Everyone in the building knew that a playoff berth was theirs for the taking. However, Minnesota put up a sad sac of a performance, getting down by 25 early and ultimately falling 32-21.

Things went awry right from the start for the Vikings, with Jackson picking up right where he left off last weekend by throwing an interception into the arms of Fred Smoot on the second play of the game for Minnesota. Smoot returned it 47 yards to the eight-yard line, setting Washington up for a score. But, the Vikings' defense came up big as it has done many times this season, holding the Redskins down on their first three plays and, on fourth-and-goal from the one, stopped fullback Mike Sellers from getting into the end zone. It was originally ruled a touchdown, but Brad Childress challenged the play and won.

This gave Minnesota the ball at their own one, and that's where the disaster began. Jackson handed the ball off to fullback Tony Richardson who was stoned back in his own end zone for a safety. Washington would then score on the ensuing possession thanks to a 33-yard pass from 36-year old journeyman quarterback Todd Collins to tight end Chris Cooley.

After being scored on twice more to fall behind 25-0, the Vikings began to hear the boos from the hometown fans. Many in the state of Minnesota thought Christmas would come early, assuming their team would clinch a playoff spot by beating the Redskins a day before Christmas Eve. That didn't happen, and because of this the Vikings now find themselves on the outside looking in on the playoff picture.

Now, in order for Minnesota to get in, they would have to go to Denver and win next week while Washington would have to lose at home to the Cowboys, a squad that has absolutely nothing to play for as they have already locked up home-field advantage in the NFC. Not only that, but Terrell Owens certainly won't be playing as he nurses a high ankle sprain and there is also a chance that Tony Romo may sit to avoid causing further damage to a sore thumb on his throwing hand. I can see the Vikings beating the Broncos, but I cannot see the Redskins losing at home to Dallas with that much at stake.

Jackson appeared to be coming into his own for Minnesota, but back-to-back head-scratching performances are making everyone wonder once again whether or not the Vikings have truly solved their quarterback situation. In the past two contests, the second-year player has thrown five interceptions compared to one lone touchdown. It would probably help if he had some receivers to throw to, though, as the team's number one receiver is Bobby Wade. Wade has caught 49 passes for 555 yards this year. A decent number three wide-out on any other team could post those numbers without much of a problem. This is where Minnesota is lacking and will continue to lack unless they do something to rectify it in the draft and in free agency.

The Vikings had a nice run, but there was a reason they started the season with a record of 3-5. They're a solid team, but they are not good enough to contend in the playoffs like many thought they could after they reeled off those five victories in a row.

Washington, on the other hand, seems like a club on a mission. After the death of Sean Taylor, the Redskins lost a heartbreaker to Buffalo, and their season appeared to be over. However, Washington didn't give in, not even after losing their starting quarterback Jason Campbell to a leg injury in the first half the following week against Chicago. Collins stepped in and led the 'Skins to victory. Washington then went on to beat the Giants in terrible weather conditions at the Meadowlands, putting them at 7-7 and in great position to make a playoff push. Clearly, they knew what was at stake Sunday night, as they did almost everything right in blowing the doors off of Minnesota (the score doesn't tell the story as to how one-sided the game was). They now control their own destiny; win next week against the Cowboys, and they're in as the sixth seed.

Give a lot of credit to Collins, who, after not starting a game in the NFL for 10 years, came in in week 14 to spark this ball-club. He threw two touchdowns against the Bears and despite going only 8-for-25 against New York, he didn't make any costly mistakes and did enough for the Redskins to win the game. Also remember that there were 40-50 MPH winds in Giants' Stadium. Collins then had what was the best game of his career against the Vikings, completing 22 of 29 passes for 254 yards and two scores.

I expect this trend to continue next Sunday.

Somehow, the Redskins will be playing January football.

Jacobs, Bradshaw lead Giants to playoffs

In a game that featured rain, sleet, snow, and 60 MPH winds, an electrifying backfield tandem led the New York Giants to a 38-21 win over the Buffalo Bills. The victory put the Giants in the postseason for the third consecutive year.

Halfbacks Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 296 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, Jacobs running for 145 and two and Bradshaw running for 151 and one. However, things did not start out all fine and sweet for New York.

The Bills won the opening coin toss and Trent Edwards led his team 60 yards down the field for a score. The drive was featured by a 30-yard catch-and-run by Marshawn Lynch. Edwards was leveled by safety Michael Johnson right as he threw the football, but fortunately for Buffalo, Lynch was in the right spot at the right time and ran to the six-yard line. Two plays later, Edwards tossed a three-yard pass in the end zone to tight end Michael Gaines, giving the Bills a 7-0 advantage.

After forcing the Giants to go three-and-out, Buffalo took over from their own 34. The drive was very similar to the previous one, as Edwards was hit by Johnson on the fifth play of the drive but somehow found Roscoe Parrish 42 yards down the field to get the Bills down to the eight-yard line. He then threw a four-yard touchdown to Lee Evans, making it 14-0.

New York still could not get much going on their next possession despite a 39-yard completion from Eli Manning to Amani Toomer that gave the Giants great field position at the Buffalo 31. They would punt for the third consecutive time.

That's when things began to bounce New York's way. After a seven-yard drive that only gained them 19 yards, the Bills were forced to punt. However, Brian Moorman muffed the snap and, after picking the ball up, proceeded to fumble after being hit by Bradshaw. Chase Blackburn recovered at the Giants' 23-yard line. Jacobs then got New York on the board with a six-yard touchdown run. Buffalo kicked the ball away once again on their next drive, leading to a 43-yard run by Jacobs to knot the score up at 14.

The Giants' defense began to take full control of the game, and after holding the Bills to another three-and-out, they went down the field and Lawrence Tynes converted on a 42-yard field goal attempt to give New York its first lead since beating Philadelphia two weeks ago, 17-14. The Giants had an opportunity to add more points at the end of the half, but Manning had the ball knocked out of his hand at the Buffalo 26 by Aaron Schobel to end the second quarter.

Manning then started the second half on a sloppy note, throwing an interception to Keith Ellison on the first play. It took the Bills two snaps to score a touchdown, both runs by Lynch, one for 28 yards and then a three-yard rush into the end zone to give Buffalo a 21-17 edge.

No points were scored again until Kawika Mitchell intercepted Edwards and ran 20 yards for a score to start out the fourth quarter, giving New York a 24-21 lead. This followed a huge goal-line stand by the Bills, stopping the Giants on a fourth-and-one on the one-yard line after a 13-play drive.

All the momentum was now on New York's side, as the Giants' defense continued to apply pressure to Edwards and force him into bad throws. Still, Manning refused to make it easy for his squad, getting picked off by Terrence McGee with 8:10 to play. Thankfully for Manning, his defense relentlessly backed him up, forcing the Bills to punt after three plays.

That's when Bradshaw shined. On the first play of New York's next possession, the rookie seventh-round pick bursted 88 yards up the middle and then down the sideline for a touchdown, making it 31-21 Giants. It was the longest run of the season in the NFL and the third longest in Giants' history. Corey Webster then sealed the deal with an interception for a score on the ensuing drive, putting New York up 38-21.

With the win, the Giants clinched a playoff berth for the third consecutive year, joining the Patriots, Colts, and Seahawks as the only teams to accomplish that feat the past three seasons.

Injury notes: Jacobs injured his ankle in the third quarter, but returned. However, to get the 270-pound back some rest, Bradshaw got the bulk of the carries from there on in.

Eagles top Cowboys; Patriots sneak by Jets

TITANS 26 CHIEFS 17
TEN: Young: 16/26, 191 yds, 2 TD White: 24 car, 93 yds Williams: 4 rec, 94 yds, 2 TD
KC: Croyle: 25/43, 217 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Smith: 18 car, 82 yds Bowe: 5 rec, 64 yds

BILLS 0 BROWNS 8
BUF: Edwards: 13/33, 124 yds Lynch: 21 car, 82 yds
CLE: Anderson: 9/24, 137 yds Lewis: 33 car, 163 yds Edwards: 4 rec, 64 yds

SEAHAWKS 10 PANTHERS 13
SEA: Hasselbeck: 27/41, 274 yds, TD Engram: 9 rec, 84 yds Branch: 8 rec, 79 yds, TD
CAR: Moore: 19/27, 208 yds Williams: 15 car, 61 yds, TD Smith: 8 rec, 72 yds

FALCONS 3 BUCCANEERS 37
ATL: Redman: 4/15, 34 yds, 2 INT Norwood: 9 car, 73 yds
TB: Garcia: 15/25, 109 yds, TD, INT Graham: 22 car, 79 yds, TD, 5 rec, 40 yds Spurlock: 90-yd kickoff return TD

PACKERS 33 RAMS 14
GB: Favre: 19/30, 227 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT; passes Dan Marino for most passing yds. all time Grant: 18 car, 55 yds, TD Driver: 5 rec, 80 yds Jennings: 4 rec, 66 yds, TD
STL: Bulger: 20/39, 219 yds, TD, 2 INT Jackson: 24 car, 143 yds, TD Bruce: 4 rec, 72 yds Bennett: 5 rec, 65 yds

JAGUARS 29 STEELERS 22
JAC: Garrard: 17/33, 197 yds, 3 TD, INT Taylor: 25 car, 147 yds, TD Jones-Drew: 12 car, 69 yds Northcutt: 4 rec, 81 yds, TD
PIT: Roethlisberger: 16/33, 146 yds, 3 TD Parker: 14 car, 100 yds

CARDINALS 24 SAINTS 31
ARI: Warner: 19/30, 233 yds, 3 TD, INT James: 16 car, 84 yds Boldin: 6 rec, 83 yds
NO: Brees: 26/30, 315 yds, 2 TD Stecker: 22 car, 95 yds, 2 TD Colston: 8 rec, 114 yds, TD Patten: 4 rec, 71 yds, TD

JETS 10 PATRIOTS 20
NYJ: Clemens: 0/1, INT; left game (ribs) Pennington: 25/38, 186 yds Washington: 4 car, 57 yds Baker: 8 rec, 66 yds
NE: Brady: 14/27, 140 yds, INT Maroney: 26 car, 104 yds, TD Moss: 5 rec, 79 yds

RAVENS 16 DOLPHINS 22 (OT)
BAL: Boller: 10/19, 159 yds, TD, INT McGahee: 29 car, 104 yds Mason: 4 rec, 45 yds, TD
MIA: Lemon: 23/39, 315 yds, TD Gado: 18 car, 43 yds, TD Camarillo: 3 rec, 109 yds, GW-TD in OT M. Booker: 8 rec, 88 yds

COLTS 21 RAIDERS 14
IND: Manning: 22/39, 276 yds, TD, INT Addai: 15 car, 44 yds Gonzalez: 7 rec, 86 yds, TD Wayne: 4 rec, 69 yds
OAK: McCown: 13/24, 94 yds, TD Fargas: 26 car, 89 yds, TD

LIONS 14 CHARGERS 51
DET: Kitna: 26/45, 302 yds, 2 TD, 5 INT Johnson: 5 rec, 102 yds Furrey: 7 rec, 80 yds
SD: Rivers: 14/21, 142 yds, TD Sproles: 25 car, 122 yds, 2 TD Tomlinson: 15 car, 116 yds, 2 TD Chambers: 4 rec, 69 yds

EAGLES 10 COWBOYS 6
PHI: McNabb: 23/41, 208 yds, TD, 9 car, 53 yds Westbrook: 18 car, 81 yds, 9 rec, 63 yds
DAL: Romo: 13/36, 214 yds, 3 INT Witten: 8 rec, 113 yds

NBA Power Rankings, 12/16/07

1. Boston Celtics- 19-2. What else is there to say?
2. San Antonio Spurs- The fact that they were able to beat Dallas and Utah without Tim Duncan says something about this squad. Still, although Duncan is back, but Tony Parker is now injured.
3. Detroit Pistons- For some reason, Detroit always flies under the radar. I really don't see how with that starting lineup, which is second best in the league only to Boston. They are the only team in the East capable of beating the Celtics in a playoff series.
4. Dallas Mavericks- It appears that they have come out of their mini slump, and Josh Howard and Devin Harris are having phenomenal seasons. Also, there is more depth here than ever. How about Brandon Bass?
5. Phoenix Suns- You still get the feeling that they won't be able to make it over that hump come playoff time. Still, the acquisition of Grant Hill has worked wonders for this squad, as he is averaging just under 16 PPG.
6. New Orleans Hornets- Chris Paul and David West is a poor man's version of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. If they stay healthy, New Orleans is going to be a factor in the West come April.
7. Orlando Magic- They seem to be coming back down to earth lately, but you can't overlook the unbelievable season Dwight Howard is having. He is a top three MVP candidate right now without a doubt.
8. Golden State Warriors- That 0-6 start is nothing but a distant memory now, as the Warriors have gone on a roll. Baron Davis and Monta Ellis may very well be the NBA's deadliest backcourt, and I now see why they let Jason Richardson go so easily (have you seen Kelenna Azubuike?).
9. Utah Jazz- Utah has been struggling, but the talent on this team should win them a top four seed without a problem. Ronnie Brewer has been a very pleasant surprise for Jerry Sloan this season, but Mehmet Okur needs to step his game up.
10. Denver Nuggets- Allen Iverson has been dropping double-doubles left and right, but it hasn't resulted in many Denver wins lately. Outside of Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets are getting no offensive production from anyone else.
11. Washington Wizards- No Gilbert Arenas, no problem. Caron Butler has developed into a premier player in this game, and guys like Andray Blatche and Nick Young are coming along very nicely. When Arenas returns, this team will be extremely dangerous.
12. Toronto Raptors- Seven players are averaging double-figures in scoring this year, demonstrating the balance this team has. Add the surprise that has been Jamario Moon into the mix, and Sam Mitchell has got to be very happy with the way things have gone so far.
13. Los Angeles Lakers- Andrew Bynum is showing why he was touted so highly coming out of high school through the first 22 games, but outside of he, Kobe Bryant, and maybe Jordan Farmar, not many others are living up to expectations (Lamar Odom has to score more than 13.5 PPG).
14. Portland Trail Blazers- Travis Outlaw has sparked the Blazers to six consecutive wins, and LaMarcus Aldridge is learning the game very fast. Martell Webster has cooled off a bit, but he can still go off in a minute's notice, and Jarrett Jack appears to have shook off his early struggles.
15. Indiana Pacers- Danny Granger is slowly turning into the star many expected him to be when the Pacers drafted him, and Mike Dunleavy has having a very solid year. Also, Shawne Williams is developing quickly. The only problem here is actually the play of Jermaine O'Neal, who is clearly not 100% healthy.
16. Houston Rockets- The Rockets are the fourth best team in the division, no questions asked. They have no depth off the bench, and only two players (Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming) are averaging double-figures. Steve Francis has been a bust of a pick-up.
17. Atlanta Hawks- Atlanta is going to have a nice team in a couple of years that may even contend in the East. Al Horford is making a case for Rookie of the Year, and Josh Smith is on his way to being a top 15-20 player in the game. Also, Marvin Williams has shed his "bust" label.
18. Milwaukee Bucks- There is talent here, but it just hasn't meshed. Andrew Bogut has been a big-time disappointment as far as I'm concerned, and Charlie Villanueva needs to get more playing time. Why Yi Jianlian is starting over him is beyond me.
19. Philadelphia 76ers- Philly has been playing very good basketball recently, and it all starts with Andre Iguodala. This kid has really turned into a nice player. Still, I'd like to see Thaddeus Young and Rodney Carney on the floor more. There is an ample amount of young talent here.
20. Chicago Bulls- It looks like they are finally turning it around, winners in six of their last nine. That still doesn't make up for Kirk Hinrich's miserable start. I really think he lost his confidence in the playoffs last year. And does anyone else think trading Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas on draft day 2006 was a bad idea?
21. Cleveland Cavaliers- They are terrible, and it's not just because of injuries. There is no chemistry here at all, and while LeBron James is getting help in the scoring department, it is not translating into wins. A move needs to be made. Getting Shannon Brown some more playing time might help, as well.
22. Los Angeles Clippers- Well, they have fared much better than I thought they would without Elton Brand. Chris Kaman has really stepped his game up and is actually putting up MVP-caliber numbers (18.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG). Where did this come from?
23. New Jersey Nets- Depth is what is really killing this team. Outside of the Big Three, New Jersey doesn't have any consistent scorers. Bostjan Nachbar and Antoine Wright are producing, but it hasn't been enough. It also looks like Nenad Krstic came back from that ACL tear too soon.
24. Sacramento Kings- Life without Kevin Martin hasn't been all that bad, but you can bet that Reggie Theus is frantically counting the days until his leading scorer returns. Beno Udrih has been a great addition (14.8 PPG), and this is a guy who was dealt from the Spurs to Minnesota for a second-round pick and then waived.
25. Memphis Grizzlies- Rudy Gay continues to prove why he should have been the number one pick of the 2006 Draft. He is averaging 19 PPG and has had several outings where he looked unstoppable this season, and Juan Carlos Navarro is showing he can play in the NBA without a problem.
26. Charlotte Bobcats- I don't get why this team has been performing so badly this year. There is plenty of talent here, from Emeka Okafor to Gerald Wallace to J-Rich. Oh, I forgot to include Raymond Felton in there. Maybe a coaching change is in order.
27. New York Knicks- Much like Charlotte, I don't get this team. They have one of the most talent-laden rosters in the league but cannot seem to win ball-games. The only consistent players have been Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, and David Lee's production has drastically dropped since last season.
28. Seattle Supersonics- Kevin Durant is scoring, but he is not shooting the ball well (only 39.4% from the floor). And what has happened to Luke Ridnour? Many considered him a poor man's Steve Nash last year, and now he is struggling to remain in P.J. Carlesimo's rotation.
29. Miami Heat- Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Heat are simply awful, and I don't think they will be able to recover this time around. Shaquille O'Neal isn't even a shell of his former self, and Dwyane Wade doesn't look right out there. Good luck to Pat Riley.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves- Yeah, they're 3-19, but that will look very different a couple of years down the road. Al Jefferson and Craig Smith are forming a formidable duo up front, and Rashad McCants is starting to blossom. However, this whole knee injury with Randy Foye is scary.

Saturday's NBA scores

BOBCATS 84 HAWKS 93
CHA: Wallace: 24 pts, 7 rebs Okafor: 14 pts, 14 rebs
ATL: Johnson: 31 pts (12-24 FG), 6 assts M. Williams: 20 pts Smith: 19 pts, 10 rebs, 6 assts

GRIZZLES 123 MAGIC 119
MEM: Gay: 32 pts (13-21 FG), 7 rebs Navarro: 27 pts (5-11 3PT) Miller: 19 pts, 8 rebs, 8 assts
ORL: Howard: 31 pts (10-11 FG), 20 rebs Turkoglu: 24 pts Nelson: 18 pts, 8 assts

KINGS 79 WIZARDS 92
SAC: Miller: 21 pts, 9 rebs Udrih: 12 pts, 10 assts
WAS: Stevenson: 19 pts, 7 assts Haywood: 17 pts, 11 rebs

76ERS 92 CAVALIERS 86
PHI: Iguodala: 20 pts, 4 stls Miller: 20 pts Dalembert: 16 pts, 19 rebs
CLE: Gooden: 21 pts, 10 rebs James: 21 pts, 6 rebs, 6 assts

PACERS 106 HEAT 103
IND: Tinsley: 26 pts (10-27 FG), 6 assts O'Neal: 24 pts, 7 rebs
MIA: Wade: 24 pts (12-13 FT), 9 assts, 8 TO Haslem: 24 pts, 7 rebs

NETS 86 KNICKS 94
NJ: Carter: 24 pts, 7 assts Kidd: 18 pts, 7 rebs, 7 assts, 4 stls
NY: Crawford: 32 pts, 7 rebs Curry: 23 pts, 9 rebs Randolph: 20 pts, 13 rebs

SUNS 98 HORNETS 101
PHX: Hill: 17 pts, 7 rebs Bell: 17 pts
NO: Paul: 21 pts, 10 assts Peterson: 21 pts West: 15 pts, 11 rebs Chandler: 14 pts, 18 rebs

MAVERICKS 96 ROCKETS 83
DAL: Howard: 23 pts Nowitzki: 23 pts, 8 assts, 6 rebs Stackhouse: 17 pts
HOU: Yao: 28 pts, 14 rebs McGrady: 12 pts (5-18 FG)

TIMBERWOLVES 92 BUCKS 95
MIN: Smith: 30 pts (12-17 FG), 10 rebs Jefferson: 23 pts, 15 rebs
MIL: Redd: 32 pts (7-12 3PT), 9 assts, 6 rebs Yi: 22 pts Williams: 19 pts, 6 assts

NUGGETS 91 SPURS 102
DEN: Iverson: 30 pts
SA: Oberto: 21 pts (10-11 FG), 13 rebs Finley: 21 pts

SUPERSONICS 75 JAZZ 98
SEA: Szczerbiak: 24 pts
UTA: Boozer: 21 pts, 16 rebs Williams: 18 pts, 10 assts Brewer: 18 pts

D'Backs acquire Haren, send Valverde out

The Arizona Diamondbacks completed two major trades on Friday. First, they acquired right-hander Danny Haren from the Oakland Athletics for top-flight prospect Carlos Gonzalez and five other minor-leaguers, including pitcher Dana Eveland. The 27-year old Haren went 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA last season. He also struck out 192 in 222.2 innings.

Arizona then shipped closer Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros in exchange for reliever Chad Qualls, utility man Chris Burke, and right-handed prospect Juan Gutierrez. Valverde led the majors in saves last year with 47. He posted a 2.66 ERA and fanned 78 in 64.1 innings of work.

Playoff race: Dec. 9th

AFC
1. New England Patriots (13-0) yz
2. Indianapolis Colts (11-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-4)
4. San Diego Chargers (8-5)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
6. Cleveland Browns (8-5)
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7. Buffalo Bills (7-6)
8. Tennessee Titans (7-6)
9. Denver Broncos (6-7)
10. Houston Texans (6-7)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) e
12. Kansas City Chiefs (4-9) e
13. Oakland Raiders (4-9) e
14. Baltimore Ravens (4-9) e
15. New York Jets (3-10) e
16. Miami Dolphins (0-13) e

NFC
1. Dallas Cowboys (12-1) y
2. Green Bay Packers (11-2) y
3. Seattle Seahawks (9-4) y
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
5. New York Giants (9-4)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
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7. Washington Redskins (6-7)
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
9. Detroit Lions (6-7)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-7)
11. Carolina Panthers (5-8)
12. Chicago Bears (5-8)
13. Philadelphia Eagles (5-8)
14. Atlanta Falcons (3-9)
15. San Francisco 49ers (3-10) e
16. St. Louis Rams (3-10) e

z- denotes first-round bye
y- denotes division winner
x- clinched playoff berth
e- eliminated from playoff contention

Giants top Eagles, inch closer to playoff berth

It was anything but pretty, but the New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 16-13 on Sunday, completing their second season sweep of the Eagles in three years and essentially knocking them out of playoff contention.

Eli Manning picked up from where he left off in the fourth quarter against Chicago last week, completing 17-of-31 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown and playing turnover-free football for the first time in three weeks.

Philadelphia got off to a quick start in this one, scoring on their opening drive. They drove 68 yards on six plays, the touchdown coming off a dump pass from Donovan McNabb to Brian Westbrook to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

After being forced to punt on their first two drives, the Giants sustained a long 13-play drive that ate up 6:25, but could only muster a field goal after a 35-yard run by Reuben Droughns set them up at the one-yard line.

New York would add another field goal right before halftime to make the score 7-6. Brandon Jacobs, who missed the past two games with a pulled hamstring, then fumbled the ball on the Giants' first drive of the second half. Mike Patterson picked up the loose football and ran 12 yards to New York's eight-yard line. However, the Giants held their ground and forced Philadelphia to kick a field goal, which David Akers converted on to extend the Eagles' lead to 10-6.

Jacobs was not the only one with slippery hands in this game. Westbrook fumbled after being hit by Justin Tuck with 7:24 to play in the third quarter, and Sam Madison recovered, setting New York up at the Philadelphia 37. It took three plays for the Giants to get in the end zone, all passes from Manning. He started off the drive with a short three-yarder to tight end Michael Matthews, and after a false start by Jeremy Shockey brought New York back to the 39-yard line, completed a 19-yarder to Amani Toomer and then a 20-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to give the Giants their first lead of the game at 13-10. The Eagles would never recover.

After forcing Philadelphia to go three-and-out on the ensuing drive, New York took the ball 61 yards down the field on seven plays resulting in another field goal for Lawrence Tynes, this one from 23 yards out. That gave the Giants a 16-10 advantage.

The Eagles then went on a long 12-play drive to start out the fourth quarter that took up 7:22, but only came up with three points off a 39-yard boot by Akers. New York would get the ball back with 8:21 remaining. The drive featured a 31-yard pass from Manning to Burress that got the Giants to the Philadelphia 31. However, on the next play, Jacobs took the ball 21 yards up the middle to the 10-yard line but lost the football for the second time. Juqua Thomas recovered the fumble for the Eagles, putting them on their own five with 5:51 to play.

Philadelphia started out the drive well, their first four plays going for nine, 13, 13, and 12 yards. That was when New York's defense stiffened up. After a five-yard scamper by Correll Buckhalter, Westbrook was stopped at the line of scrimmage by Antonio Pierce and then behind the line of scrimmage by Madison. The Eagles went for it on fourth-and-six but could not convert, as McNabb attempted to squeeze a pass into Jason Avant but had it broken up by Pierce.

The Giants took over at their own 44-yard line with 1:57 to go. Fortunately for Philadelphia, they had all three of their timeouts, allowing them a chance to potentially get the ball back. They did. Jacobs rushed for gains of two, three, and four yards, one yard shy of picking up the first down and probably putting the game away. Jeff Feagles punted to Westbrook, who returned it five yards to his own eight-yard line.

The Eagles took possession with 53 seconds remaining and trailing by three. McNabb began the drive with a 19-yard completion to Reggie Brown and followed it up with an 18-yarder to Greg Lewis. After spiking the ball to stop the clock at the Philadelphia 48, McNabb completed a 13-yard pass to Brown, putting the ball at the New York 39 with six seconds to go.

Akers then took the field to attempt a 57-yard field goal to try and send the game into overtime. The last time he lined up to kick a field goal of this magnitude against the Giants was back in the January when he drilled a 38-yarder, pushing the Eagles past New York 23-20 and into the Divisional Round of the playoffs. However, despite being on the same turf he was 11 months ago, the 19-yard difference between the two kicks proved to be too much. Akers' kick bounced off the right upright, and the Giants improved to 9-4, all but sealing the fifth seed in the NFC, while Philadelphia dropped to 5-8 and nearly completely out of playoff contention.

Winter Meetings heating up

• Don't punch Johan Santana's ticket to Boston just yet. The Angels are reportedly making a push for the left-hander, and they may offer a package including Jered Weaver and Brandon Wood among others. Boston's offer is much less talent-laden, consisting of Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, and some minor-leaguers, namely Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson.
• The Yankees have closed the door on the Santana talks, according to a high-ranking New York official.
  
• Despite previous reports, the Marlins and Angels are still not close on a deal for Miguel Cabrera. Los Angeles is still refusing to give Florida the players it wants, and the Marlins will not budge on their demands. It's looking more and more each day like the 24-year old slugger will be a Marlin in 2008. The Angels seem to be turning their attention to Santana.
• The Dodgers are very interested in Erik Bedard and may offer up Matt Kemp and Jonathan Broxton for the lefty.
• Atlanta has offered Kansas City left-handed starter Chuck James for David DeJesus.
• The Diamondbacks are very interested in Danny Haren and would be willing to offer top prospect Carlos Gonzalez and first baseman Conor Jackson. Arizona and Oakland have had talks regarding this today.
• St. Louis is aggressively shopping young starter Anthony Reyes and have talked to several teams about him, including the Indians. Cleveland would be willing to send Cliff Lee and another player over to the Cardinals for the 26-year old.
• The Royals seem to have interest in Sammy Sosa. Why?
• Milwaukee is mulling over multiple options at third base, and it doesn't seem like such a sure thing that they will wind up with Scott Rolen anymore. They have interest in Joe Crede, Hank Blalock, Pedro Feliz, Miguel Tejada, and even the Dodgers' Andy LaRoche. I can't see Los Angeles trading him unless it's in a blockbuster deal, though.
  

More MLB news and rumors

• The Twins are not at all flustered by the Yankees' deadline and will take their time in trading Johan Santana. However, it is believed that New York has made the best offer for the 29-year old ace.
• Andy Pettitte will pitch for the Yankees in 2008.
  
• The Rangers and Cardinals are discussing a deal that would send Hank Blalock to St. Louis for Scott Rolen and Chris Duncan. However, the Cardinals have expressed their reluctance to trade Duncan.
• Houston has had discussions with Minnesota about Joe Nathan.
  
• Elijah Dukes is headed to Washington for 20-year old left-hander Glenn Gibson.
• Cincinnati has shown interest in Tim Lincecum. Still, this doesn't seem plausible as the Reds do not want to include top prospect Jay Bruce in any deal.
• Damaso Marte is drawing interest from Atlanta and the Yankees. The Yankees are also looking for a lefty reliever, namely Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt.
  
• The Mets are still trying to pry Erik Bedard away from Baltimore, but the Orioles are not biting on any of New York's offers. Their first offer, which was believed to be Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, and Aaron Heilman, was brushed off. They'll probably have to include Fernando Martinez to even catch Baltimore's attention.
• Atlanta might put outfielder Matt Diaz and/or first baseman Scott Thorman on the market.
  

The mess that is the NFC Wild Card race

The NFC essentially has five locks for the postseason: Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and the Giants. For the Cowboys and Packers, it's a matter of who gets homefield advantage, and for the final three, and barring a major collapse by one or more of the Seahawks, Buccaneers, or G-Men, those three 8-4 teams are in. That's where things start to get interesting, as there are then eight other teams in the conference with a realistic shot at making the playoffs. Three of those teams (the Cardinals, Lions, and Vikings) are 6-6 while the other five (the Panthers, Saints, Redskins, Bears, and Eagles) are 5-7. So, which of this multitude of squads will earn that sixth and final playoff spot? Here's a breakdown of each and every team and their chances:

• Arizona Cardinals (6-6)
  
• Schedule: @ SEA, @ NO, ATL, STL
• Predicted final record: 9-7
  
• Analysis: Technically, Arizona is not even out of the picture in the NFC West yet. If they take care of business this Sunday at Seattle, that will give them the tiebreaker over the Seahawks should the two teams end up with the same record, but given Seattle's light remaining schedule, I can't see it happening. Because of this, the Cards should simply focus on winning enough games to get that final wild card berth. Had they not lost a heartbreaker to San Francisco one week ago, Arizona would be 7-5 and would have the inside track to the playoffs, but that didn't happen. However, the Cardinals responded with a huge win over Cleveland yesterday thanks to another solid performance by Kurt Warner. Arizona has a fairly easy final four games to end the year, and I can easily see them going 3-1 in that span. However, I'm not sure if that will be enough with the hard-charging Vikings right on their tails.
• Minnesota Vikings (6-6)
  
• Schedule: @ SF, CHI, WAS, @ DEN
• Predicted final record: 10-6
• Analysis: Let me say this right off the bat: no one wants to see Minnesota in the playoffs. No one. They have the perfect formula for January football: a good running game and a good run defense. Adrian Peterson has carried this team all year long, and even in the two games he sat out, the Vikings took care of business thanks to Chester Taylor. When you have two halfbacks of that talent on your roster, you know you can go places. In their past two games, Minnesota has out-scored its opponents 83-27, scoring 42 yesterday against Detroit and 41 a week ago against the Giants. It also helps that Tarvaris Jackson has been playing much better as of late, completing 78% of his passes and throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns in his past two contests. The Vikings have a very manageable schedule, and because of that and the way they have been playing recently, I can't see how this team won't make the playoffs. Take away the 34-0 drubbing Green Bay gave them four weeks ago, and the Vikings have been rolling, blowing out San Diego, New York, and the Lions and coming out with a good win over the Raiders.
• Detroit Lions (6-6)
• Schedule: DAL, @ SD, @ KC, @ GB
• Predicted final record: 6-10
• Analysis: Things were looking very promising for the Lions back in week nine when they were 6-2, but everything has just gone downhill from there. Detroit has lost four straight, and their schedule doesn't suggest they're going to start winning anytime soon, with three of their last four games coming on the road in three of the toughest places to play in the NFL. Especially now with Roy Williams out for the season, I don't see any way the Lions can somehow make a comeback and make the postseason. All of the momentum is against them, and the running game has been non-existent the past several weeks. Detroit is done.
• Carolina Panthers (5-7)
• Schedule: @ JAC, SEA, DAL, TB
• Predicted final record: 6-10
• Analysis: Carolina waited too-little-too-late to try and make their run. The Panthers find themselves with an extremely tough schedule to finish out the year, and having three home games in that span doesn't mean much as they got their first home win in their last eight games in Charlotte yesterday. Had Jake Delhomme been healthy this season, Carolina might very well have been in control of the NFC South or at least ended up a wild card spot. It doesn't do them any good that Steve Smith has been playing hurt for a good part of the year, too. The 2007-08 campaign has been a lost cause for the Panthers.
• New Orleans Saints (5-7)
• Schedule: @ ATL, ARI, PHI, @ CHI
• Predicted final record: 8-8
• Analysis: The Saints have been the biggest enigma of the season. They start out 0-4, then win four straight to climb back to .500, and then proceed to get embarrassed by the then winless Rams and have only won a single game since. They are not done, but considering that two of the three 6-6 teams in front of them have much easier schedules, it's going to take a miracle for New Orleans to get into the playoffs. Reggie Bush has done nothing to shake off his bust status this year, averaging only 3.7 yards per carry, and Drew Brees does not even resemble the Drew Brees of last season. I will say this though: Marques Colston is an elite receiver. Still, that comment is not going to earn them a postseason berth.
• Washington Redskins (5-7)
• Schedule: CHI, @ NYG, @ MIN, DAL
• Predicted final record: 7-9
• Analysis: Bottom line: they had to beat Buffalo yesterday. That will probably end up being the easiest game remaining on their schedule unless the Cowboys sit everyone in week 17 (which they may very well end up doing). Now, the Redskins have to play at the Meadowlands and at red-hot Minnesota in two of their final four games and have a not-so-easy-to-beat Bears' team next week. Clinton Portis has been very average this season, rushing for 100 yards only twice and averaging only 3.9 yards per carry overall. That and the fact that Washington has gotten virtually no production from their wide receivers leads me to believe that this team isn't playoff material.
• Chicago Bears (5-7)
• Schedule: @ WAS, @ MIN, GB, NO
• Predicted final record: 5-11
• Analysis: Much like the Redskins needed to win yesterday, Chicago had to beat the Giants. They were up 16-7 in the fourth quarter and blew it. Had they won, they would have put themselves in great position to make a run at the sixth seed, but the demoralizing loss has to have deflated their confidence, and now their upcoming schedule looks more ominous than it would have had the Bears been sitting at 6-6 at 8 PM yesterday instead of 5-7. I honestly can't see them winning another game for the rest of the year, especially with Rex Grossman at quarterback. Despite his solid numbers against New York, Grossman completed only 10 of his last 29 passes and looked terrible on Chicago's final few drives.
• Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)
• Schedule: NYG, @ DAL, @ NO, BUF
• Predicted final record: 5-11
• Analysis: I really don't want to repeat myself for a third time, but I will anyway: Philly had to win yesterday. A.J. Feeley was awful, throwing four picks, three of them to Seattle's Lofa Tatupu, in a 28-24 loss. Brian Westbrook is really Philadelphia's entire offense right now, and the defense has been below average all year. With two tough division rivals coming up over the next couple of weeks followed by games looming against two teams fighting for their playoff lives, the Eagles are in very bad shape in the playoff picture whether Donovan McNabb comes back or not. They are done.
  

Boston includes Ellsbury, but with ultimatum

The Red Sox will include Jacoby Ellsbury in a deal for Johan Santana, but not without a condition: Jon Lester would not be involved in the trade. Clay Buchholz has also been deemed untouchable, so I cannot see the deal being all that enticing to Minnesota.

Ohio State, LSU to meet in BCS Title Game

This season was probably the most befuddling in the 10-year existence of the BCS in college football. USC started the season ranked number one and ended ranked sixth. Michigan started at the two-spot, but lost their first game of the year to Appalachian State and never recovered. LSU was ranked number one at one point, then number two, began yesterday seventh, and end the season back at second. Ohio State is now number one for the second time.

As if things couldn't get any worse for the BCS, Missouri and West Virginia entered last night as the top two ranked teams in the country. All the two squads needed to do was win, and they would both virtually assure themselves spots in the National Title Game. However, the Tigers fell to ninth-ranked Oklahoma, and the Moutaineers suffered an embarrassing loss to then 4-7 Pittsburgh, throwing a monkey wrench into the entire ranking system.

In the end, it will be the Ohio State Buckeyes and LSU Tigers facing off in the BCS Championship Game. Despite the fact the Buckeyes defeated only two ranked teams, neither of whom have a spot in the final AP poll, 11-1 Ohio State did just enough to earn a spot. LSU looked dominant at times this season, but very vulnerable in other instances. They've experienced many highs and lows, ranging from beating Virginia Tech by 41 to giving up 50 in a loss to Arkansas. However, they took care of business by winning their conference, and because of that, they will have a shot at the title.

Hot Stove report

• The Yankees are really stickling about the third player in the Johan Santana deal. They have declared both Alan Horne and Austin Jackson, the two players Minnesota wants, as untouchable. They have also said they will not include pitching prospect Dellin Betances or Jose Tabata, and you can simply forget about Ian Kennedy being thrown in because New York would is already losing Philip Hughes. My thoughts? Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and maybe Alberto Gonzalez? Boston remains interested in the two-time Cy Young award winner, but they are still refusing to part with Jacoby Ellsbury and are instead insisting on Coco Crisp. The Red Sox have also kept their stance on Clay Buchholz. The one player that the Twins want that Boston is willing to trade is Jon Lester. Nonetheless, don't be surprised if Minnesota simply winds up holding on to Santana and then re-visits the whole situation near the trade deadline.
  
• If the Bronx Bombers do not come to an agreement with the Twins for Santana by today or tomorrow, expect them to turn their attention to Oakland's Danny Haren. They would probably offer the Athletics a similar package to what they are offering Minnesota for Santana, but I am almost 100% sure it would not include Hughes. It could, however, be centered around Kennedy. If Haren is too expensive, the Yankees may go for a much cheaper option from Oakland in Joe Blanton. The Mets appear determined to make a push for both pitchers as well.
  
• Cleveland is showing interest in Jason Bay. However, given Bay's miserable 2007 season, how much they would be willing to part with is in question. They have discussed sending catcher Kelly Shoppach Pittsburgh's way, and Cliff Lee is another possibility. Some feel the Indians would include pitching prospect Jeremy Sowers or third-base prospect Andy Marte in the deal, but I cannot see that happening. More likely candidates are outfielders Shin-Soo Choo and Ben Francisco. The White Sox may also make an offer to the Pirates for Bay.
• Giants' GM Nick Sabean doesn't seem too confident that the Marlins will trade Miguel Cabrera, saying: "Maybe they're not going to get something done." Many feel that Florida is now going to hold on to the 24-year old superstar until at least July where teams involved in pennant races may be more willing to give up more for the slugger. The Marlins want four major-league ready players and minor-league pitchers in return, a price that has been deemed too step for each team trying to deal for Cabrera.
• Jim Edmonds would waive his no-trade clause to play for a team in southern California. The Padres have showed some interest. However, if the Yankees trade Cabrera in a deal for Santana, don't be surprised to see them make an effort to then deal for Edmonds to take his spot in center field, as they do not feel too confident in Johnny Damon playing out there anymore.
  
• Pittsburgh is doing all they can to get rid of Xavier Nady, even if it means non-tendering the 29-year old. Jose Castillo will likely be non-tendered, as well.
• The Mets have shown interest in relievers Luis Vizcaino and Octavio Dotel.
  
• How about Scott Rolen for Chris Capuano?
• Aaron Rowand wants a five-year deal. The Phillies and White Sox are the most interested parties, but the Yankees may jump in if, again, they trade Melky. Don't count out the Dodgers and Nationals, either.
• If Santana goes, it seems very likely that Joe Nathan will be the next out the door, but the possiblity of both going in the same deal? Slim-to-none.

Santana update

The Twins want either Alan Horne or Austin Jackson, a minor-league outfielder with plenty of upside, as the third player in the deal from the Yankees. However, New York is reluctant to part with either one. Also, Boston will only include Jacoby Ellsbury in any trade for Johan Santana if they get more than the 29-year old left-hander in return, but I can't see that happening.

Yankees close to landing Santana

The Yankees are reportedly close to trading for Johan Santana. The deal will definitely include Philip Hughes and Melky Cabrera, as expected, but a third player is still being determined. The Twins want Ian Kennedy along with those two, but there is no way New York does that. Other players rumored to be the third and final piece heading to Minnesota are pitching prospect Alan Horne or minor-league shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. Jose Tabata likely isn't going anywhere.

However, before the Twins make any trade with New York, they will consult with the Red Sox to see if they changed their minds on either Jacoby Ellsbury or Clay Buchholz. Boston has a deal on the table that is most likely centered around Jon Lester with Coco Crisp and prospects being sent Minnesota's way. However, the Twins either want Ellsbury instead of Crisp or Buchholz instead of Lester, something the Red Sox have not been willing to do.

All things considered, it looks like Santana is headed to the Bronx.

MLB rumors

• The Yankees and Red Sox are still battling for the services of Johan Santana. The same names are still being thrown around in possible deals, but New York's recent interest in Mark Loretta suggests that they may be thinking of including Robinson Cano in a trade. However, I still find that unlikely.
  
• If Boston does not get Santana, expect them to turn their attention to Oakland's Danny Haren. As a matter of fact, some feel that Haren is actually Boston's number one target and that they are just bluffing on Santana to drive up his price for the Yankees.
• A day after the Angels came out and say they and the Dodgers were not happy with the way the Marlins were handling trade talks for Miguel Cabrera, the Giants made a similar statement, saying that Florida's asking price is unrealistic. The Marlins probably wanted one of Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain plus more from San Francisco.
• Several teams are interested in Baltimore's Erik Bedard, including the Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, and Dodgers. The Mets are reportedly throwing an offer of Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, and Aaron Heilman out there while Los Angeles is dangling Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, and Jonathan Broxton. They obviously would not include all three, but one might go in any deal for Bedard.
• The White Sox may talk with the Pirates about Jason Bay.
• Houston is reportedly very close to signing Kaz Matsui.
• The Rockies have re-signed Yorvit Torrealba to a two-year, $7.25 million deal with a $4 million mutual option for 2010.
• Toronto has expressed interest in Paul Lo Duca.
• LaTroy Hawkins is drawing interest from plenty of teams, including the Yankees and Tigers. Don't count out the possibility of the Rockies re-signing the reliever, either.
  

Mets send Milledge to Nats for two

The New York Mets sent outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church on Friday.

Milledge was touted by the Mets as a top prospect for the past several years, but attitude problems and mediocre performance prompted New York to deal the 22-year old who batted .272 with seven homers and 29 RBI last season.

Schneider leaves the Nationals after spending his entire eight-year career with the organization. He batted .235 with six homers and 54 RBI in 2007 and is a lifetime .252 hitter. Church, 29, hit .272, belted 15 long balls, and drove in 72 runs last year.

Santana sweepstakes drawing to a close?

• The Yankees are still the top dogs in the chase, but are very reluctant to offer Philip Hughes. They are currently offering Minnesota a package including Ian Kennedy and Melky Cabrera, but the Twins would prefer Hughes to Kennedy.
  
• Boston is giving the Yankees a run for their money, but they are still refusing to include Jacoby Ellsbury in any deal and will not budge on Clay Buchholz. They will, however, to send Jon Lester Minnesota's way along with some prospects, namely Brandon Moss, Jed Lowrie, and pitchers Michael Bowden and Justin Masterson. Obviously all four would not go in the trade, but I would assume at least two would have to be dealt.
  

Santana updates

• The Yankees have stated that Joba Chamberlain and Robinson Cano are untouchable, so one would assume that Philip Hughes and Melky Cabrera would be the main pieces of this deal. Jose Tabata and/or Alan Horne, another one of the Bombers' young pitchers, are other candidates who might be involved in the package. If New York does in fact deal Cabrera, they would be interested in Aaron Rowand.
• Boston is doing everything they can to keep Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury out of these talks. They are reportedly offering Kevin Youkilis and prospects Jed Lowrie and Brandon Moss. However, Minnesota wants Ellsbury, and if the Red Sox decide to include the young outfielder in the deal, Santana will be playing in Boston next season.
  
• The Angels are trying to jump in on the Santana chase as well, and they have loads to offer including top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart. The Twins would probably also ask for Brandon Wood and another player, possibly Reggie Willits or Jeff Mathis. Ervin Santana may also be discussed.
  

Twins, Rays close to deal

The Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays are close to completing a significant trade, and no, it does not involve Johan Santana. In the deal, the Twins would send Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Juan Rincon to the Rays for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie.

Breaking down the candidates for Santana

1. New York Yankees- The Yankees are clearly the frontrunners for Johan Santana's services, and they have the goods that Minnesota wants. Melky Cabrera would have to go in any deal for the left-hander, and he would most likely have to be accompanied by Philip Hughes. New York probably will not be forced to include Robinson Cano, and if the Twins asked I'd imagine they would be turned down immediately. The Yankees have also deemed Joba Chamberlain untouchable. Don't be surprised to see a deal that would send Cabrera, Hughes, and another pitching prospect (maybe Alan Horne or Humberto Sanchez?) for Santana.
2. Boston Red Sox- Boston has enough to acquire Santana, but the question is whether or not they would give any of it up. The Red Sox have repeatedly stated that they are not trading Clay Buchholz, and although Jacoby Ellsbury is not untouchable, they would really like to do everything in their power to keep him as well. Jon Lester is another candidate to be involved in a potential deal, but Minnesota would want much more than Lester and some prospects.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers- The Dodgers have more than any other team on this list, but Ned Colletti has said that he does not want to give many of his young players up, and I can't blame him. The Marlins wanted some combination of Matt Kemp, James Loney, Andy LaRoche, Clayton Kershaw, and Chad Billingsley for Miguel Cabrera, but Colletti refused. For Santana, the Dodgers would certainly have to include one of Kershaw or Billingsley and then some. I would think the Twins would have the most interest in Kemp. The chances of Los Angeles making a deal for the two-time Cy Young award winner are very slim.
4. New York Mets- They are the least likely of any of the teams on this list to make a deal for Santana, especially because they will not include Jose Reyes in any trade for the 29-year old. The Mets could try and lure Minnesota into taking a deal consisting of either Mike Pelfrey or Philip Humber and Carlos Gomez or Fernando Martinez plus some other prospects, but I can't see the Twins biting on that. Pelfrey and Humber both saw their stocks drop this past season, and Gomez may never be anything more than a .240-.250 hitter on the major-league level.
5. Seattle Mariners- This one is really out there, but the Mariners are rumored to be in the running for the star pitcher's services. Things would start with Adam Jones, one of the top outfielding prospects in baseball. Minnesota may also ask for Jeff Clement and/or Wladimir Balentien, two more highly-touted minor-leaguers in Seattle's system. However, the Mariners love all three players, and it seems very unlikely that they would deal two of them in a deal for anyone.
   

Tuesday's MLB notes

• The Twins want Melky Cabrera and one of the Yankees' young pitchers for Johan Santana. Philip Hughes seems to be the most logical, as New York does not want to give up Joba Chamberlain and Minnesota will likely want more than Ian Kennedy. The Red Sox are also interested in Santana, but they would have to give up Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury, something they are not willing to do.
  
• It's looking less and less like Miguel Cabrera is going to get traded. About a week after the Dodgers backed out of the Cabrera sweepstakes, the Angels are now pulling out because the Marlins are asking for much more than the Halos are willing to pay.
• The Dodgers are interested in Erik Bedard, but for some reason, the Orioles want to see what happens with Florida's Cabrera first before they try and trade the left-hander.
• Minnesota is very interested in Coco Crisp, and it has been reported that the Twins and Red Sox are in serious discussions about the center-fielder.
• Jose Guillen will probably wind up in either Kansas City or Baltimore.
  

Santana headed to the Bronx?

The Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees are in trade talks involving star pitcher Johan Santana. The Twins reportedly offered Santana a multi-year contract worth $93 million last week, but that seems to have fizzled out, and Minnesota is now shopping the two-team AL Cy Young award winner.

The Yankees would probably have to part with Philip Hughes and Melky Cabrera, and possibly more. Another candidate to be involved in a potential trade is Ian Kennedy. Both Hughes and Kennedy are two of New York's top pitching prospects, and each spent time in the majors last season.

However, the Yankees are not the only team making a big push for Santana. The Mets, Red Sox, and Dodgers are also trying to acquire the soon-to-be 29-year old left-hander, but the Bronx Bombers appear to be the frontrunners at the current time.

Santana went 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA and struck out 235 in 219 innings last season. He owns a lifetime record of 93-44 and an ERA of 3.22.

Preview: Vikings vs. Giants

The New York Giants have all but locked up a spot in the playoffs, while the Minnesota Vikings are fighting for their postseason lives. These two teams will meet on Sunday at the Meadowlands.

The Giants, 7-3, are sitting comfortably in the first wild-card spot in the NFC. They hold a two-game lead in the loss column over the 6-5 Detroit Lions, and that gap is essentially three games since New York holds the tiebreaker over Detroit. It would take a monumental collapse over the remaining several weeks of the season for the Giants to miss the playoffs.

Minnesota, on the other hand, owns a record of 4-6 and is tied for last in the NFC North. Excluding New York, five teams are positioned ahead of them for the sixth and final playoff spot in the conference. However, the Vikings will have a chance to make things much easier on themselves when they play some of those teams in the future, as they face off against the Lions next week and the 5-5 Redskins on Dec. 23rd.

On a negative note, Minnesota still isn't sure when star rookie halfback Adrian Peterson will return. The league-leading rusher tore his lateral collateral ligament in his knee two weeks ago against Green Bay and will most likely be on the sidelines for at least one more game. Fortunately for the Vikings, Chester Taylor was more than ready to carry the load in their last contest, rushing for 164 yards and three touchdowns against the Raiders in place of Peterson.

The Giants have some injury issues of their own. They lost second-year linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka to a broken fibula last week against Detroit, and halfback Brandon Jacobs left the game with a pulled hamstring. Kiwanuka is done for the year, and although Jacobs was last considered out for Sunday's game, there is still a chance he may play. Another New York halfback, Derrick Ward, is expected to miss his fourth straight game with an ankle injury. If neither player goes, Reuben Droughns will get the start and rookie Ahmad Bradshaw will handle some of the workload. Also, wide receiver Plaxico Burress is still being hindered by a bum ankle, and it has gotten worse over the past couple of weeks. He will play this weekend, but the 6'5" Burress is not close to 100%.

The last time these two teams met was back on Nov. 14th, 2005, a 24-21 Minnesota victory. Brad Johnson was the squad's quarterback that year, but the Vikings are now led by sophomore signal-caller Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson has struggled mightily in the six games he has played this season, throwing only two touchdown passes and compiling a paltry 55.5 quarterback rating. But, in the 24-year old's defense, Minnesota doesn't exactly have the greatest receivers. Bobby Wade leads the team in receiving yards with only 358, and the Vikings have only gotten three touchdowns from wide-outs this year, two of them coming from rookie Sidney Rice.

Giants' quarterback Eli Manning got back on track last week against the Lions, completing 28-of-39 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown. New York plays only one team over .500 the rest of the way, that team being the undefeated New England Patriots in week 17. The Giants sit two games back of Dallas for the NFC East lead, although the Cowboys hold the tiebreaker between the two squads, technically ballooning their cushion to three games.

Reds come to terms with closer Cordero

The Cincinnati Reds signed closer Francisco Cordero to a four-year, $46 million deal on Friday, the largest four-year contract ever for a closer. The deal also includes an $11 million club option for 2012.

Cordero, 32, saved 44 games in 51 opportunities and posted a 2.98 ERA last season for the Milwaukee Brewers. He also struck out 86 in 63.1 innings. The nine-year veteran spent most of his career in Texas with the Rangers (2000-2006), but was shipped to Milwaukee in a trade during the 2006 season.

Angels come out of nowhere to sign Hunter

It looked for sure that Torii Hunter would sign with either the Texas Rangers or Chicago White Sox, but he shockingly agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

The 32-year old Hunter spent all of his 11 seasons with the Minnesota Twins, collecting seven consecutive Gold Gloves (2001-2007) for his outstanding work in center field in the process. He also had the best season of his career at the plate this past year, batting .287 with 28 homers and 107 RBI. Hunter, a career .271 hitter, hit .278 while belting 31 homers and driving in 98 runs in 2006.

Hunter also hopes to bring some postseason experience for a club that has struggled in the playoffs their past few appearances. He is a lifetime .300 hitter in four October series'.

Kendall to Milwaukee; Hunter has five offers

• The Brewers signed Jason Kendall to a one-year deal. The 33-year old catcher batted .241 with three homers and 41 RBI with the Athletics and Cubs last season.
• The Angels may have interest in two of their former players: David Eckstein and Darin Erstad.
• The Yankees would consider trading Philip Hughes in a deal for Johan Santana. Boston might think about parting with Clay Buchholz.
• Cincinnati may deal either Ryan Freel or Josh Hamilton to clear a spot for prospect Jay Bruce. However, it seems very unlikely that they would trade Hamilton.
• Ian Snell of the Pirates may be on the trading block. The 26-year old right-hander posted a 3.76 ERA in 2007.
• It has been reported that Torii Hunter has at least five offers on the table. The Rangers and White Sox appear to be the two most aggressive teams in the sweepstakes, while the Nationals, Dodgers, and Royals have all made offers, as well.
• Troy Percival is drawing plenty of interest. Some teams chasing him include the Yankees, Giants, Brewers, Astros, and Rays. The 38-year old posted a 1.80 ERA and struck out 36 in 40 innings last season.
• There is a rumor that Oakland GM Billy Beane may trade both Danny Haren and Joe Blanton.
• The Mets may wind up non-tendering Johnny Estrada, whom they just acquired in a trade for Guillermo Mota yesterday.
• Texas is slightly interested in Scott Podsednik. The 31-year old outfielder was designated for assignment by the White Sox yesterday.
  

Brewers send Estrada to Mets

The New York Mets finally completed their search for their next catcher on Tuesday night, sending reliever Guillermo Mota to the Milwaukee Brewers for Johnny Estrada.

Estrada, 31, batted .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBI in 442 at-bats last year with Milwaukee. In 2006, he batted .302 and drove in 71 runs. He is a lifetime .280 hitter, his best season coming in 2004 when he hit .314 while driving in 76 runs for the Atlanta Braves.

The 34-year old Mota, once viewed as one of the league's best relief pitchers, is coming off a miserable 2007 campaign. He missed the first 50 games of the season thanks to a steroid suspension, and then proceeded to post a 5.76 ERA in 52 appearances. He also allowed eight home runs and blew three saves.

Around the majors

• The Yankees are reportedly interested in relievers Ron Mahay and Scott Linebrink. Because Linebrink is a type A free agent, they would have to relinquish their 28th overall draft pick to Milwaukee in exchange for the right-hander. The Astros, White Sox, and Pirates all have interest, as well. In Mahay's case, no draft pick would have to be given up in return because he is a type B free agent. Several other teams are also looking at him, namely Atlanta, the Brewers, Tampa Bay, Colorado, and Kansas City.
• The Rangers are discussing a potential five-year deal with Torii Hunter. Hunter met with Rangers' brass last night. The White Sox, Dodgers, and possibly even the Brewers will also make a play at the outfielder.
• The Indians signed Japanese reliever Masahide Kobayashi to a two-year, $6.25 million contract. Kobayashi, 33, went 2-7 with a 3.61 ERA in Japan last season.
• The Mets are rumored to be trying to make a trade with the Nationals involving catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church. Second baseman Ronnie Belliard was also a part of the talks at first, but the signing of Luis Castillo took Belliard out of the picture.
• The White Sox designated Scott Podsednik for assignment. They are also aggressively shopping shortstop Juan Uribe, as he is now out of a position due to the acquisition of Orlando Cabrera. The Devil Rays are showing interest in the 28-year old who hit 20 homers in 2007. Chicago, who just dealt Jon Garland for Cabrera yesterday, may be trying to clear payroll to sign Hunter.
  
• Pittsburgh relievers Solomon Torres, Damaso Marte, and John Grabow are all on the trading block and drawing interest. Marte is probably the most valuable of the three, as he posted a 2.38 ERA and struck out 51 in 45.1 innings last season.
• The Phillies may have interest in Baltimore's Melvin Mora. Mora would waive his no-trade clause should he get dealt to Philadelphia.
• Don't be surprised to see the Giants put Bengie Molina on the block, and with the scant supply of catchers in free agency, he would draw plenty of interest despite his old age.
  

Rollins captures first MVP award

Jimmy Rollins said at the beginning of the year that the Philadelphia Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East. He was right, and he backed up his talk with his play. The 28-year old shortstop won the National League MVP award, it was announced on Tuesday.

Rollins received 16 of a possible 32 first-place votes, edging out Colorado Rockies' left-fielder Matt Holliday, who received 11. Rollins also totaled 353 points in the balloting while Holliday finished with 336.

Rollins batted .296 with 30 homers, 94 RBI, and 41 stolen bases this past season and led the Phillies to their first NL East title since 1993. Philadelphia went 89-73, but was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by Holliday's Rockies in three games. Rollins struggled in that series, batting only .182 (2-for-11). He did, however, knock in four runs.