Around the Horn: Feb. 8, 2010
(1) The Yankees sign Marcus Thames and Randy Winn. (2) Carlos Beltran continues bickering with Me...
Who Dat?
Last night in Miami, Florida the New Orleans Saints ended a 42-year streak of Vince Lombardi trophy...
Manning's Legacy
The hot topic of this post-Super Bowl Monday appears to be Peyton Manning's Legacy - his ranking am...
To Be Or Not To Be
ESPN.com's Chris Broussard, perhaps the single-most unsubstantiated journalist covering the NBA tod...
With the First Pick in the Draft
I was trying to think of a way for NASCAR to drum up a little more excitement about the sport as we...
Greg Olsen, TE - Chicago Bears
February 9 @ 8:16am CT
Olsen to see significantly reduced role under Martz - New Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz suggested that Greg Olsen will be asked to block much more than he has in the past, according to Pro Football Talk. "All tight ends, their first responsibility, they have to put their hand down on the line of scrimmage and be a successful blocker, and then they move to receiving," Martz said. "To just skip by that and say, 'He's a terrific receiver,' well, then you might as well just put another wide receiver in there."
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Devin Hester, WR - Chicago Bears
February 9 @ 8:11am CT
Martz plans to move Hester to slot - New Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz indicated that he plans to reduce Devin Hester role on offense slightly so that Hester can focus more on special teams, according to Pro Football Talk. "It would be very difficult for [Hester] to play every snap on offense and still play effectively on special teams," Martz said.
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Joey Porter, LB - Miami Dolphins
February 8 @ 11:02pm CT
Porter expected to be cut by Miami - Joey Porter is expected to be cut by the Dolphins prior to the start of free agency, according to the Miami Herald.
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Herb Taylor, OT - New York Giants
February 8 @ 10:44pm CT
Giants claim Taylor - The Giants have claimed Herb Taylor off waivers from the Broncos, according to Brad Biggs of the National Football Post.
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Brian Urlacher, LB - Chicago Bears
February 8 @ 9:33pm CT
Urlacher expected to be ready - Brian Urlacher is expected to be ready to participate at the start of the Bears' offseason program, according to their official team website.
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Kenny Phillips, S - New York Giants
February 8 @ 8:57pm CT
Phillips ahead of schedule - Kenny Phillips is ahead of schedule in his rehab from knee surgery, according to the Star-Ledger.
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A.J. Hawk, LB - Green Bay Packers
February 8 @ 8:11pm CT
Hawk won't be asked to take pay cut? - The Packers are not expected to ask A.J. Hawk to take a pay cut, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
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Reggie Hayward, DE - Jacksonville Jaguars
February 8 @ 7:41pm CT
Hayward is not finished - Reggie Hayward expects to keep playing after suffering a season-ending fractured shin in 2009, according to the Jaguars' official website.
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Jamey Wright, P - Cleveland Indians
February 9 @ 10:59am CT
Indians sign Wright to minor league deal - The Indians have signed Jamey Wright to a minor league deal, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.
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Victor Marte, P - Kansas City Royals
February 9 @ 8:47am CT
Marte re-signs with Royals - The Royals have re-signed Victor Marte to a minor league deal, according to the Kansas City Star.
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Jeff Bianchi, SS - Kansas City Royals
February 9 @ 8:45am CT
Royals sign Bianchi to minor league deal - The Royals have signed Jeff Bianchi to a minor league deal, according to the Kansas City Star.
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Mike Pelfrey, P - New York Mets
February 9 @ 8:40am CT
Pelfrey to enter camp 25 pounds lighter - When Mike Pelfrey arrives at the Mets' camp next week, he'll be around 25 pounds lighter than the weight he finished last season at, according to the New York Post.
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Daniel Murphy, 1B - New York Mets
February 9 @ 8:34am CT
Murphy getting training at first base with Hernandez - Daniel Murphy has been training with former Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez in an effort to improve his defense at first base, according to Newsdays' David Lennon.
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Scot Shields, P - Los Angeles Angels
February 8 @ 8:32pm CT
Shields won't be ready - Scot Shields, who has been recovering from June knee surgery, is not expected to be ready to throw off a mound at the start of spring training, according to ESPN.
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Todd Wellemeyer, P - St. Louis Cardinals
February 8 @ 8:27pm CT
Giants make offer to Wellemeyer - The Giants have offered Todd Wellemeyer a minor league deal, according to the Mercury News.
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Skip Schumaker, 2B - St. Louis Cardinals
February 8 @ 7:03pm CT
Schumaker avoids arbitration - Skip Schumaker has agreed to a two-year deal with the Cardinals to avoid arbitration, according to team beat writer Matthew Leach's twitter page. It is believed to be worth $4.7MM.
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Tyson Chandler, C - Charlotte Bobcats
February 9 @ 10:36am CT
Chandler back tonight after six weeks off - Tyson Chandler (foot) is expected to play tonight, according to the Charlotte Observer.
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Raymond Felton, G - Charlotte Bobcats
February 9 @ 10:34am CT
Felton should be able to go tonight - Raymond Felton (ankle) expects to play tonight, though coach Larry Brown says he'll be a game-time decision, according to the Charlotte Observer.
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Darrell Arthur, F - Memphis Grizzlies
February 9 @ 10:32am CT
Arthur to return tonight after four months off - Darrell Arthur (pectoral surgery) will make his season debut with the Grizzlies on Tuesday, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
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Tyrus Thomas, F - Chicago Bulls
February 9 @ 10:28am CT
Thomas' days with Bulls numbered - Tyrus Thomas' days with the Bulls seem very much numbered, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
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Monta Ellis, G - Golden State Warriors
February 9 @ 9:41am CT
Ellis sprains left knee, MRI scheduled for Tuesday - Monta Ellis suffered a sprained left knee on Monday night, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
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Coby Karl, G - Golden State Warriors
February 9 @ 9:25am CT
G-State won't give Karl another 10-day contract - The Warriors have opted not to sign Coby Karl to a second 10-day contract, according to the Contra Costa Times.
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Paul Pierce, G - Boston Celtics
February 9 @ 9:20am CT
Pierce expected to play on Wednesday - Paul Pierce (left foot sprain) is expected to suit up and play tomorrow when the Celtics take on the Hornets, according to the Boston Herald.
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Kobe Bryant, G - Los Angeles Lakers
February 9 @ 9:17am CT
Bryant to be a game-time decision on tomorrow - Kobe Bryant said that he cannot push off his sprained left ankle, which has limited his ability to run and shoot, according to the Orange County Register.
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Andre Deveaux, C - Toronto Maple Leafs
February 9 @ 11:15am CT
Leafs promote Deveaux from AHL - Andre Deveaux has been called up by Toronto, according to the Toronto Star.
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Nazem Kadri , C - Toronto Maple Leafs
February 9 @ 11:13am CT
Kadri recalled by Leafs - The Maple Leafs have called up Nazem Kadri, according to the Toronto Star.
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Ray Emery, G - Philadelphia Flyers
February 9 @ 11:09am CT
Emery may require surgery in the future - Ray Emery underwent an MRI yesterday and may have a torn labrum that could require surgery at some point down the road, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
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Tuomo Ruutu, LW - Carolina Hurricanes
February 9 @ 9:46am CT
Ruutu will return tonight after 15 games off - Tuomo Ruutu (upper body) will be back in action for the Hurricanes when they take on Panthers, according to the Raleigh News and Observer.
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Ryan Miller, G - Buffalo Sabres
February 9 @ 9:35am CT
Miller will start against the Bruins tonight - Ryan Miller will get the nod to start between the pipes against Boston on Tuesday, according to the Buffalo News.
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Pavol Demitra, LW - Vancouver Canucks
February 9 @ 9:30am CT
Demitra out due to personal matter - Pavol Demitra will not be available for Vancouver on Tuesday as he tends to a personal matter, according to the Vancouver Sun.
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Jonathan Quick, G - Los Angeles Kings
February 8 @ 11:50pm CT
Quick struggles at Anaheim - Jonathan Quick only stopped 29-of-33 shots in tonight's 4-2 loss at Anaheim.
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Anze Kopitar, C - Los Angeles Kings
February 8 @ 11:46pm CT
Kopitar lights lamp at Anaheim - Anze Kopitar slipped a goal past netminder Jonas Hiller in Monday's 4-2 loss at Anaheim.
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Ambrose facing high expectations entering Daytona
February 9 @ 7:37am CT
After a surprising 17th-place finish in the standings last season, Marcos Ambrose has been tabbed as a Chase contender in 2010, according to Yahoo! Sports.
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Ragan looks to start bounceback season at Daytona
February 9 @ 7:33am CT
After a disappointing 2009 season, David Ragan will look to start the 2010 season off on the right foot with a strong showing in the Daytona 500, according to SceneDaily.com.
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Speedweeks engine rule update
February 8 @ 4:16pm CT
Unlike other races, teams may change engines prior to Happy Hour practice for the Daytona 500 and not forfeit their starting position, according to Jayski.com.
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Lagasse Jr. signs Nationwide deal
February 8 @ 3:38pm CT
Scott Lagasse Jr. will drive for Barker Curb Racing in the Nationwide Series in 2010, according to SceneDaily.com.
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Nemechek looking to secure full-time sponsorship
February 8 @ 3:34pm CT
After locking himself into the Daytona 500 field during qualifying, Joe Nemechek hopes to secure enough sponsorship to run a full season in 2010, according to SceneDaily.com.
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Papis to attempt 20 Cup races in 2010
February 8 @ 8:39am CT
According to Jayski.com, Max Papis will attempt to run 20 Cup Series events in 2010.
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Tommy Baldwin Racing securing sponsorship
February 8 @ 8:36am CT
Tommy Baldwin Racing signed a deal with Wave Energy Drinks that will allow Mike Bliss to run 14 in 2010, according to NASCAR.com.
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Sticker emerges victorious at Northern Trust Open
February 8 @ 1:11am CT
He needed a bit of conservative play and perseverance but give Steve Stricker credit for finding those traits and more in earning the win at the Riviera today, carding a final round of 70 (-1) to take the Northern Trust Open, according to the Associated Press.
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Na, Verplank, Campbell get spots in Match Play Championship
February 8 @ 1:02am CT
Today was the official cutoff to push into the World Rankings with hopes of qualifying for the WGC Accenture Match Play Championships next week, and Kevin Na, Scott Verplank and Chad Campbell all made good on it, according to the Associated Press. The top 64 players in the world, barring withdrawal or refusal, make the grade and those three players all pushed into that group following positive results at the Northern Trust Open.
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Jimenez tops Westwood in playoff at Dubai
February 8 @ 12:55am CT
Miguel Angel Jimenez defeated Lee Westwood on the third hole of a sudden death playoff Sunday to win the Dubai Desert Classic, according to the Associated Press. Westwood missed a 5-foot par putt on the third playoff hole to leave Jimenez with a 4-footer for the win, which he calmly sank for the 16th victory of his career. "After so many years of coming to Dubai and playing well, I am proud to have finally won this title," the Spaniard said. "I have always loved the course, the ambiance and the people here."
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Stricker takes strong 5-stroke lead at Northern Trust Open
February 7 @ 2:01am CT
Our pick of the week has taken a sizeable lead with expectations of piling on in the final on Sunday, giving fantasy owners reason to smile for Steve Stricker, touting a five-stroke lead over all comers at the Northern Trust Open, according to the Associated Press. Stricker was nearly perfect, finding his irons and running a stretch of six greens within 15 feet of the hole through seven holes.
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Westwood, Jimenez, Jaidee, Quiros set for Sunday at Dubai
February 7 @ 1:53am CT
The powers caught the man on the rise as solidified golf greats Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez carded rounds of 68 on Saturday to match overnight leader Thongchai Jaidee for a share of the lead in third-round play at the Dubai Desert Classic, according to the Associated Press.
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Fox claims Tiger will not return for Match Play Championship
February 6 @ 1:01am CT
Sources claimed to be "close" to Tiger Woods are reporting the golf great will not be returning to PGA play at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in two weeks, according to FoxNews.com. "As far as I know (Woods' return) will not be at the Match Play," a source close to Woods told FOXSports.com Friday. A second insider said he had no direct knowledge of when Woods would make his comeback but that his "gut feeling" was that it would not be in Arizona.
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Stricker pulls into tie atop Northern Trust Open
February 6 @ 12:43am CT
First-round leader Dustin Johnson needed a hole-in-one to keep the pace at the Northern Trust Open today as Steve Stricker made a serious charge, carding a round of 65 (-6) on the day, according to the Associated Press.
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Jaidee grabs the lead at Dubai Desert Classic
February 6 @ 12:13am CT
Thongchai Jaidee has moved in front of the pack at the Dubai Desert Classic, carding a round of 66 (-6) today on the European Tour, according to the Associated Press. Jaidee carded six birdies without a single bogey on the day, holding a one-shot lead on Lee Westwood, Stephen Dodd, and the great Miguel Angel Jimenez.
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