Lilly might pitch before opener
A major part of the Cubs' pitching concerns this springcould be alleviated if the latest progress reports on rehabbingveteran Ted Lilly hold up when he returns to his throwing programthis week. Lilly, who left camp Sunday for the birth of his first child, isexpected to return Thursday, and manager Lou Piniella said theleft-hander could be ready to throw live batting practice to Cubs hitters almost immediatelyafter that. Live BP is the last major step before being ready to pitch in anexhibition game. And if Lilly can throw BP by, say, next weekend,he might have a chance to pitch in two games before the club breakscamp.
Big Ben visits Brookfield
In 2004, Dr. Devang Doshi flew from Iowa to see Ben Wallace and the Pistons defeat the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Last week, Dr. Doshi's son, Neal, didn't have to go anywhere. Ben Wallace came to him, visiting his class at Brookfield Academy.
Be careful what you wish for with free agency
Grant Hill's story may be one of the most special, inspiring and unusual in the history of the NBA. And perhaps his place a decade ago as one of the most sought after free agents in NBA history gives a clue to what will happen among the big free agents th
Team Bonding At "Tonight Show"
The Blackhawks will take part in a little team bonding out in Los Angeles today as they have been invited to attend the taping of NBC's "The Tonight Show." The guest list includes Hugh Jackman and Betty White with musical guest Collectiv...
Wall, Turner top early look at 2010 NBA Draft board
Do you know where your GM is? Sam Smith does. He is watching bad college basketball conference tournaments and soon the NCAA betting pool extravaganza, all to find that gem. John Wall and Evan Turner top an early look at the 2010 NBA Draft board.
Lalonde Assigned To Rockford
Shawn LalondeThe Chicago Blackhawks have assigned defenseman Shawn Lalonde to the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.Lalonde, 20, tied for fifth a...
Groundhog Day
Just like their last game at Atlanta, the Pistons got blown out early, falling 18 behind in the first quarter and 29 by halftime in what became a 26-point loss at Boston.
Wall, Turner top early look at 2010 NBA Draft board
Do you know where your GM is? Sam Smith does. He is watching bad college basketball conference tournaments and soon the NCAA betting pool extravaganza, all to find that gem. John Wall and Evan Turner top an early look at the 2010 NBA Draft board.
49ers' QB Hill on his way to Detroit
SANTA CLARA Squeezed out of San Francisco, quarterback ShaunHill will be throwing passes for the Detroit Lions in 2010. The 49ers have agreed to trade Hill tothe Lions for a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, according to asource with knowledge of the deal. Hill, who began last season as the 49ers' starting quarterback, becameexpendable when the team acquired David Carr at the start of freeagency. Hill had been given permission to shop himself around toother teams late last week.
Ovechkin Banned Two Games For Campbell Hit
Alex Ovechkin was suspended for two games without pay by the National Hockey League on Monday for his hit on Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell early in Sunday's game in Chicago that reportedly has ended Campbell's regular season.NHL Senior...
ROSTER REPORT
White Sox GM Ken Williams insisted that most of his "heavy lifting" for 2010 was in fact done in the second half of the 2009 season, when he acquired Jake Peavy and then claimed Alex Rios off waivers. But that didn't stop Williams from building up the bench and bullpen this offseason. Signing Omar Vizquel, Andruw Jones and J.J. Putz highlighted the offseason, as well as acquiring Mark Teahen to start at third base. ARRIVALS: 3B Mark Teahen (trade with Royals), INF Omar Vizquel (free agent from Rangers), OF/DH Andruw Jones (free agent from Rangers), RHP J.J. Putz (free agent from Mets), OF Juan Pierre (trade with Dodgers), RHP Freddy Dolsi (waiver claim from Tigers). DEPARTURES: OF Dewayne Wise (free agent, signed minor league deal with Phillies), OF Scott Podsednik (free agent, signed with Royals), RHP D.J. Carrasco (free agent, signed minor league deal with Pirates), RHP Octavio Dotel (non-tendered, signed with Pirates), RF Jermaine Dye (free agent, unsigned). SPRING FOCUS: Will a DH please step up? That is the one -- and only real -- storyline for the White Sox this spring, after they let Jermaine Dye walk into free agency this offseason and then took a pass on bringing back Jim Thome. Manager Ozzie Guillen wants a DH-by-committee, but the club would like to see Andruw Jones be the frontrunner for that spot. The middle-relief portion of the bullpen has to be sorted out, but the White Sox's roster is pretty well set for the regular season. PROJECTED ROTATION: 1. RHP Jake Peavy 2. LHP John Danks 3. RHP Gavin Floyd 4. LHP Mark Buehrle 5. RHP Freddy Garcia The White Sox are beating their chests when it comes to talking about their rotation, and with good reason. Not only does the club believe it has one of the best staffs in the Central Division; it considers it one of the best in the entire American League. Buehrle was on a shoulder-strengthening program the entire offseason, while Peavy and Garcia are both talking about how great they feel despite their injury-plagued 2009 seasons. This unit is the strength of the team, without question. PROJECTED BULLPEN: RHP Bobby Jenks (closer) RHP J.J. Putz LHP Matt Thornton LHP Randy Williams RHP Scott Linebrink RHP Tony Pena RHP Daniel Hudson Guillen likes having 12 pitchers at his disposal and didn't seem real eager to change that this year. The back end of the bullpen is in capable hands with Jenks at least 40 pounds lighter, along with Putz and Thornton to get the ball to Jenks. If Linebrink and Pena can handle the sixth and seventh innings, then the Sox will be in really good shape. Hudson could make the team as a safety net for the starters, considering the injury history Buehrle, Garcia and Peavy have had. PROJECTED LINEUP: 1. LF Juan Pierre 2. 2B Gordon Beckham 3. RF Carlos Quentin 4. 1B Paul Konerko 5. CF Alex Rios 6. C A.J. Pierzynski 7. DH Andruw Jones 8. 3B Mark Teahen 9. SS Alexei Ramirez Guillen will have the type of athletic lineup he has wanted since taking over in 2004. He maintains that his lineup has power throughout, mixed with the ability to steal bases and create runs. The two keys will be Rios and Quentin, however, with Quentin coming off an injury-filled 2009 and Rios all but disappearing once the Sox claimed him off waivers from the Jays. PROJECTED RESERVES: C Ramon Castro INF Omar Vizquel INF/OF Mark Kotsay INF/OF Jayson Nix or Brent Lillibridge The Sox's bench was dismal the first half of the season, and that's why Williams went out of his way to strengthen that unit by re-signing Kotsay and then adding Vizquel, Castro and Jones to the mix. The only real spring battle will be for the last roster spot, with Lillibridge and Nix battling it out. Both can play the infield and outfield, but Lillibridge is more of a threat on the bases, which could help his cause. TOP ROOKIES: C Tyler Flowers hit .297 with 15 homers last season, starting the season with Class AA Birmingham before moving to Class AAA Charlotte. The White Sox did call him up at the end of the season, but the plan is to have him ready to be an everyday catcher by 2011. If Castro should stumble, however, they will have no problem going to Flowers this season. RHP Daniel Hudson was the story of last season, moving from Class A Kannapolis all the way to Class AAA Charlotte and then even a short stint with the big-league team. He went 14-5 with a 2.32 ERA in 26 minor league starts. MEDICAL WATCH: --No significant injuries.
Highly Skilled
Though Austin Daye hasn't had the same amount of playing time to show his progress as Jonas Jerebko, Pistons assistant Steve Hetzel says Daye is the most efficient offensive player of the three with skills rarely seen in a player of Daye's size.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Lions' No. 1 need is talent. They have gone 2-30 over the past two seasons -- and 3-37 over the past 21/2 -- because of serious holes in their roster after years of mismanagement by former president Matt Millen. Though the Lions feel they found a quarterback in Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, they know they must build around him. They need weapons to complement wide receiver Calvin Johnson on offense, and they must shore up a defense that ranked last in the NFL each of the past three seasons.OFFSEASON STRATEGY The Lions were among the most active teams as free agency began, adding wide receiver Nate Burleson and four defensive players: end Kyle Vanden Bosch, tackle Corey Williams and cornerbacks Chris Houston and Jonathan Wade. But they were curiously quiet at running back, and much more work must be done. --QB Shaun Hill was acquired by Detroit from San Francisco for a seventh-round pick in 2011. Hill was given permission to seek a trade after the 49ers signed David Carr to back up Alex Smith. In Detroit, Hill will likely back up Matt Stafford, decreasing the chances of Daunte Culpepper returning in 2010.TEAM NEEDS 1. Running back: Kevin Smith is recovering from a torn ACL and separated shoulder, and the Lions needed more explosiveness at the position even before he got hurt. 2. Defensive back: Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham likes to blitz, but the Lions couldn't cover behind it in 2009. Safety Louis Delmas, the first pick of the second round last year, is their only really promising DB. 3. Left guard: Coach Jim Schwartz has said the Lions must find a starter and solidify the position this off-season, after watching Daniel Loper and Manny Ramirez rotate from game to game and within games last season.FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.TRANSITION PLAYER: None.UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS --OL Damion Cook spent the season on injured reserve. If he comes back, it will be for depth. --QB Daunte Culpepper appears certain not to return after the acquisition of Shaun Hill. --TE Casey Fitzsimmons is a good receiving tight end and a valuable player on special teams. He could be back in that role. --CB Anthony Henry isn't the cover man he once was and spent most of the season in the doghouse. --CB Will James might have been the Lions' most consistent corner, and the team would like him back at the right price with the position so thin. --S Marquand Manuel started six games, but did not distinguish himself, then finished the season on injured reserve. --QB Patrick Ramsey signed only at the end of the season to dress as the third quarterback with Matthew Stafford injured. The Lions are looking for a veteran backup.UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers) --DE Copeland Bryan (not tendered as RFA) finished the season on injured reserve and would return if the Lions want him for depth. --*LB Cody Spencer (not tendered as RFA) spent the season on injured reserve with knee injury.RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year) --*S Daniel Bullocks (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) has missed two out of the last three seasons because of a knee injury. He is recovering from microfracture surgery. --*OG Dylan Gandy (tendered at $1.176M with fourth-round pick as compensation) started at right guard after Stephen Peterman suffered an ankle injury. --CB Kevin Hobbs (tendered at $1.101M with no compensation) was the top nickel back, but for one of the league's most porous pass defenses. --*DE Jason Hunter (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) started at left end and was solid. Lions think he would be better in more specific role with more talent around him. --*OT Daniel Loper (tendered at $1.226M with no compensation) couldn't hold onto the starting job at left guard, rotating with Manny Ramirez all season. --OG Manny Ramirez (tendered at $1.101M with fourth-round pick as compensation) couldn't hold onto left guard spot, either, rotating with Loper. --*S Ko Simpson (tendered at $1.176M with fourth-round pick as compensation) is recovering from microfracture surgery. Health could be determining factor.EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS --LB Zack Follett made an impact on special teams when signed off the practice squad; also contributed in four-linebacker package. He's likely to be tendered. --OT Corey Hilliard, signed during the season for depth, could return to compete for a roster spot. --TE Jake Nordin spent the preseason with the Lions, then returned when they had injury problems at tight end. --RB Cedric Peerman provided depth at running back. He could return at thin position. --CB DeAngelo Smith provided depth at corner.PLAYERS RE-SIGNED --LB Vinny Ciurciu: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown. --TE Will Heller: UFA; $3.95M/3 yrs. --OT Jon Jansen: UFA; $855,000/1 yr, $50,000 SB.PLAYERS ACQUIRED --WR Nate Burleson: UFA Seahawks; $25M/5 yrs, $11M guaranteed. --WR Brian Clark: Not tendered as RFA by Buccaneers; 1 yr, terms unknown. --RB DeDe Dorsey: FA; 2 yrs, terms unknown. --QB Shaun Hill: (trade 49ers; seventh-round pick 2011). --CB Chris Houston (trade Falcons). --LB Ashlee Palmer: Waivers Bills. --DE Kyle Vanden Bosch: UFA Titans; $26M/4 yrs. --CB Jonathan Wade: Not tendered as RFA by Rams; terms unknown. --DE Corey Williams (trade Browns).PLAYERS LOST --CB Phillip Buchanon (released). --DE Jared DeVries (released/failed physical). --LB Larry Foote: UFA Steelers; 3 yrs, reported $9.3M. --DT Grady Jackson (released). --DE Dewayne White (released).
A Day To Forget For Star Players Around The League
Sunday wasn't the best day to be an NHL star player.The most notable action happened in Chicago, when Alex Ovechkin was given a boarding major and a game misconduct for hitting Brian Campbell into the boards just 7:44 into the game. Campbell r...
ROSTER REPORT
Cubs GM Jim Hendry spent almost all of his offseason undoing most of what he had done over the winter of 2008-09. Every major pickup from previous offseason has been sent packing as the Cubs try to get back into the playoffs. Manager Lou Piniella needs to find Nos. 3 and 4 starting pitchers with LHP Ted Lilly on the shelf, possibly until May 1, as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder. The Cubs may look for another reliever during spring training, but overall, the roster is a veteran one, but one that needs bounce-back years from several players. ARRIVALS: CF Marlon Byrd (free agent from Rangers), RHP Carlos Silva (trade with Mariners), RHP Jeff Gray (trade with Athletics), OF/INF Xavier Nady (free agent from Yankees), INF Chad Tracy (minor league free agent from Diamondbacks), INF Kevin Millar (minor league free agent from Blue Jays), INF Bryan LaHair (minor league free agent from Mariners). DEPARTURES: RF Milton Bradley (traded to Mariners), INF/OF Jake Fox (traded to A's), INF Aaron Miles (traded to A's, who traded him to Reds), RHP Rich Harden (free agent, signed with Rangers), RHP Aaron Heilman (traded to Diamondbacks), RHP Kevin Gregg (free agent, signed with Blue Jays), LHP Neal Cotts (non-tendered, signed minor league deal with Pirates), OF Reed Johnson (free agent, signed with Dodgers), RHP Chad Fox (free agent, unsigned). SPRING FOCUS: The Cubs need to find a leadoff hitter, and they could alternate SS Ryan Theriot and RF Kosuke Fukudome once the regular season starts. Manager Lou Piniella will use the spring to see who shakes out as the Nos. 4 and 5 starting pitchers: LHPs Sean Marshall and Tom Gorzelanny and RHPs Jeff Samardzija and Carlos Silva. PROJECTED ROTATION: 1. RHP Carlos Zambrano 2. RHP Ryan Dempster 3. RHP Randy Wells 4. RHP Carlos Silva 5. LHP Tom Gorzelanny The rotation will be in flux until LHP Ted Lilly fully recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder. That could be in mid-April or not until May 1. Gorzelanny, Silva, LHP Sean Marshall and RHP Jeff Samardzija will compete for the last two slots. The losers in this competition will end up in the bullpen. Zambrano needs to firmly establish himself as the ace, and Wells must show that last year's solid rookie season was no fluke. PROJECTED BULLPEN: RHP Carlos Marmol (closer) LHP John Grabow RHP Jeff Samardzija LHP Sean Marshall RHP Jeff Gray RHP Justin Berg There are no more excuses for Marmol, who pouted last spring after losing the closer's competition to Kevin Gregg. Marmol eventually won the job back in August and then went 11-for-11 in save situations. He'll have to do better than 65 walks and 12 hit batters in 74 innings. Grabow brings a veteran presence and dependability from the left side. Gray, acquired in a trade with the A's, was slowed by a groin strain early in spring training. Berg is a prospect who caught the Cubs' eye last year in a brief stint by keeping the ball down. Another bullpen candidate, RHP Angel Guzman, last year showed flashes of the brilliance that once made him a top prospect, but he had to be shut down in September because of triceps issues and now has a torn ligament in his pitching shoulder, which means he won't be ready for opening day. PROJECTED LINEUP: 1. SS Ryan Theriot 2. RF Kosuke Fukudome 3. 1B Derrek Lee 4. 3B Aramis Ramirez 5. CF Marlon Byrd 6. LF Alfonso Soriano 7. 2B Mike Fontenot 8. C Geovany Soto No longer will there be any questions about Soriano batting leadoff. Those days are over, according to Piniella. Theriot and Fukudome likely will split duties in the No. 1 spot, depending on the pitching matchup. Theriot will have to get his on-base percentage back up to 2008 levels. Fukudome has trouble against left-handed pitching. Byrd replaces Milton Bradley in a lineup that has power potential. PROJECTED RESERVES: C Koyie Hill INF Andres Blanco INF Jeff Baker OF Xavier Nady OF Sam Fuld 1B/OF Chad Tracy or 1B/OF Micah Hoffpauir or 1B/3B Kevin Millar Nady could supplant Fukudome as the everyday right fielder if his surgically repaired right elbow is OK and if he continues to show he can hit right-handed and left-handed pitching. Hill took some playing time from Soto last season and is a dependable defensive catcher. It's possible Baker could win the everyday second base job if Fontenot falters. Blanco is a smooth fielder. The rest of the bench spots are wide open. TOP ROOKIES: SS Starlin Castro is this year's phenom, and the Cubs hope he outshines past phenoms Corey Patterson, Hee Seop Choi and Felix Pie. Castro, who doesn't turn 20 until March 24, hit .302 at Class A Daytona last year before batting .288 at Class AA Tennessee. The Cubs won't rush him. RHP Andrew Cashner, the Cubs' top draft pick in 2008, could start or relieve. He had a 1.50 ERA in 12 games last year at Daytona and went 3-4 with a 3.39 ERA at Tennessee. The Cubs figure they're OK either way, with Cashner as a starter or as a reliever. MEDICAL WATCH: --2B Mike Fontenot (strained right shoulder) was hurt sliding awkwardly into third base on March 4. He was day-to-day. --RHP Jeff Gray (groin strain) did not get up to throw off a mound, as hoped, by the exhibition opener because he had been slow to heal. He may pitch off a mound by March 10. He suffered the injury in fielding practice as spring training was starting. "Gray still feels it when he throws," manager Lou Piniella said. --RHP Angel Guzman (torn ligament in right shoulder) was expected to see Dr. James Andrews during the week of March 15-21. He is out indefinitely and is facing possible career-ending surgery. --LHP Ted Lilly (left shoulder surgery in November 2009) had begun throwing in February, although not off the mound, before he was slowed by a viral infection. He might return around May 1. --INF Andres Blanco (sprained right knee) was hurt March 7, and he was expected to be sidelined up to two weeks. --1B Derrek Lee (bruised left foot) was hurt March 10, and he was expected to miss a week of action. --3B Aramis Ramirez (right triceps soreness) left the March 13 game, but the ailment was considered minor.
NOTES, QUOTES
--RHP Freddy Garcia didn't exactly look lights out in his first few Cactus League games, but the best news manager Ozzie Guillen got from Garcia in his outings came afterward when the veteran informed Guillen that he felt good. "As long as Freddy leaves the mound healthy, that's all we care about right now," Guillen said. "You know Freddy -- he could care less about what the scoreboard (says). He just goes out there and does his job. The last guy I worry about is Freddy." Garcia is the projected No. 5 starter in the rotation. --RHP Daniel Cabrera continued making the decision to leave him off the 25-man roster an easy one as he once again struggled out of the bullpen. Cabrera allowed a run on two hits in his March 11 appearance and had given up seven earned runs in his first three appearances, including a "B" game. Manager Ozzie Guillen did say that Cabrera still hasn't shown the velocity he did earlier in camp when the pitchers were just throwing bullpen sessions, so there will be a certain amount of patience with him. The club was hoping that Cabrera's 96-98 mph fastball could be controlled to make him a force as a middle reliever. That hope is dwindling, however. --OF Jordan Danks, the younger brother of pitcher John Danks, has opened up some eyes this spring, specifically with his defense. While his chances of making the major league roster are all but non-existent, he has put himself in position to be a call-up in September or even earlier if there is an injury in the outfield. "Jordan has really, really impressed us a lot," Guillen said. "This kid, he has a chance to be a good big-league player. This kid has good at-bats, he's a good baserunner. Maybe the best outfielder we have in the minor-league system." --Manager Ozzie Guillen said he understood the comments made by Torii Hunter recently and even defended the Angels outfielder. "To me, in our country (Venezuela), we play baseball," Guillen said. "That's our choice. Here you can play basketball or do so many things. We don't have that opportunity. You look around where are the superstars in baseball right now and the people making the most money, you will see a lot of Latin American players names up there. Everybody has their opinion. I hope Latin players don't take this context a different way. A lot of people have to respect what Torii says and he's right. A lot of times I say in 10 more years, American players will need a visa to play this game because we are going to take over." --RHP Daniel Hudson has been the talk of camp through the first few weeks, but manager Ozzie Guillen said the reality of the situation is the team's top prospect would be better served pitching every five days in the minors rather than sitting in a major league bullpen and going four or five days without any work on the mound. With health concerns for pitchers like Garcia, Jake Peavy and Mark Buehrle, having Hudson stretched out in the minors, ready to go if need be, would allow Guillen to sleep a bit better at night. Hudson entered camp as one of five candidates for the 12th spot on the pitching staff. BY THE NUMBERS: 5-0 -- The career record of RHP Gavin Floyd against Detroit. He also has a 3.34 ERA against the Tigers. QUOTE TO NOTE: "Offensively, we feel the release of the obligation to hit for power. Where you felt like we had to keep up with the big power-hitting teams, I feel like, 'OK, we're punting on that idea.' We're not that type of team anymore, and it's kind of refreshing to be a team that goes into a game with that kind of mindset because it was always the other way around. It was no one's fault, it was just the pieces we kind of had here. It's a good thing now." -- Team captain Paul Konerko on the Sox's offensive philosophy this season.
Bulls unveil the first of 25 EnergizaBulls Fitness Centers
On March 3, Mayor Daley and Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman joined Bulls players Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Jannero Pargo and James Johnson to officially unveil the first of 25 EnergizaBulls Fitness Centers.
NOTES, QUOTES
--Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he needed help choosing a bottle of wine to bring to defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch's house at the opening of free agency. "My knowledge of wine begins and ends with Boone's Farm," Schwartz said. "But I know some people that know a lot about wine, and I brought a bottle that was going to get his wife's attention." For the record, it was a 2005 Opus One Cabernet. "If you want to make a statement, if you want to let people know how important they are, you don't go in half-(way)," Schwartz said. "You go in with some guns blazing." Schwartz didn't only bring the wine for Vanden Bosch's wife, Lindsey. He brought three stuffed-animal lions for their kids -- daughter Payten, almost 5, and twin sons Bastian and Case, almost 3. He brought T-shirts, too. --Schwartz said he was inspired by the aggressiveness and guts Jets coach Rex Ryan displayed last year, when he showed up at linebacker Bart Scott's house at the opening of free agency. Ryan had been Scott's defensive coordinator in Baltimore, as Schwartz was Vanden Bosch's defensive coordinator in Tennessee. "I think it only works if you have a relationship with the player," Schwartz said. "If I had never met Kyle before, it would have been very awkward. You would have shown up, we would have spent 10 minutes and then you would have been gone. ... If it's somebody else, maybe they're pretending they're not home, turning the lights out." --Though Schwartz's relationship with Vanden Bosch helped the Lions pursue him in free agency, Schwartz stressed that it wasn't the reason the Lions signed the defensive end to a four-year, $26 million deal that will pay him $10 million in the first year. "We were very careful of not letting that affect our judgment," Schwartz said, "and I actually played a little possum on this one." Schwartz said he didn't say much when general manager Martin Mayhew raved about Vanden Bosch in December and other Lions officials concurred in personnel meetings. He didn't want to influence anyone. "I let everybody speak, and then I sort of closed it out," Schwartz said. "And I had guys coming up to me afterwards, 'Whew, thank goodness. I didn't think you liked him. You didn't mention this guy for six weeks.' " --Schwartz scoffed at Vanden Bosch's declining sack stats -- 12 in 2007, 4 1/2 in '08 and three in '09 -- because they don't tell the whole story. Vanden Bosch was limited by a groin injury in '08 and looked fine on film to Schwartz in '09. "A lot of people talk about declining production. They can't read between the lines," Schwartz said. "Sacks isn't the final determination of how effective a player is. I think you can get a little too stat-happy when you say, 'He's a declining player because he had three sacks.' He rushed the same as I always remembered him rushing." --Before wide receiver Nate Burleson and the Lions came together on a contract, they sized up each other up Nov. 8 at Seattle's Qwest Field. Burleson ran out to return a punt as the Lions' Calvin Johnson was getting up off the ground. "I was kind of like, 'Hey, big man, you all right?' " said Burleson, who's 6-foot, while Johnson is 6-5. "And he stood up, and it just ... he kept ... he kept going. Before I knew it, I went from the ground to looking up. I went to the sideline. I was talking to Deion Branch. I was like, 'Man, have you stood next to that guy? He's huge.' " The Seahawks smothered Johnson that day, limiting him to two catches for 27 yards, even though the Lions targeted him nine times. Burleson led the Seahawks with seven catches for 75 yards in their 32-20 victory, and Schwartz saw what offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had seen for a long time. "All of a sudden I knew what Scott was talking about," Schwartz said. "You watch the way he gets open on every single play -- the suddenness that he plays with, his ability to play inside and outside, natural instincts for the game." --The morning of March 4, Schwartz watched every snap Burleson played to make sure the Lions wouldn't have buyer's remorse. Then he spoke to offensive coordinator Linehan. Schwartz already was headed to Nashville, Tenn., to woo defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. He suggested Linehan go to Seattle to woo Burleson. So Linehan got on a plane. Linehan, Burleson and Burleson's dad, Alvin, went to dinner at Daniel's Broiler in downtown Seattle. Burleson was touched by the gesture. He ate a Caesar salad and some sea bass, then agreed to a five-year, $25 million deal that includes $11 million guaranteed. "I just skipped on desert," Burleson said. "The contract was dessert." --Cornerback Jonathan Wade doesn't want to be typecast as a backup and special teams player after signing a one-year deal with the Lions. He wants to compete for a starting job. "I am looking forward to proving I belong," Wade said. "It's been a quiet three years for me, and I want to do something about that." Wade, 25, was a third-round pick out of Tennessee in 2007. The Rams drafted him when their coach was Scott Linehan, now the Lions' offensive coordinator. He started the first four games. But then he was demoted to nickel back, and then he was benched. He was inactive for the first time in his career late in the season. Finally, the Rams declined to make him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, putting him on the open market. "It's not that they may have anything personal against me," Wade said. "But it was very obvious that I must not have been the type that they were wanting to build with." QUOTE TO NOTE: "All due respect to Kid Rock ... Detroit has another American badass." -- Lions coach Jim Schwartz, introducing defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.
Bob Sansevere: Fossil hunting could become a great gig for the Vikings
BOB SANSEVERE He's too old. He's washed up. Just look at how much he struggledlast season. LaDainian Tomlinson? Well, yeah, those things are being said about L.T. But that'snot whom I was thinking about. In the months leading up to the Vikings' signing of Brett Favre,those were the knocks on ol' No. 4.
DIRECTV, VERSUS Reach Carriage Agreement
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., and PHILADELPHIA – DIRECTV and Comcast have reached an agreement to return VERSUS to the DIRECTV programming lineup today. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.VERSUS will return to the same DIRECTV programming pa...
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