Delay of Game

Stan the Man

If you haven't heard, the Los Angeles Dodgers were sold Tuesday night.

And while Magic Johnson is the face of the new ownership group and Mark Walters is the controlling partner, another man holds the key to future success.

No, it's not Stan Musial, but rather Stan Kasten.

Kasten, 60, 

As Good As Sold

The Tiger Awakes From Slumber

Red Flag

Izzo-ver

Even a Saint Does Wrong

Jetting East

Buy N' Him

Bynum's development has closed the gap
between him and Howard.

The Los Angeles Lakers are committing to Andrew Bynum, at least for now.

After months of speculation and trade rumors, Bynum stayed put at this year’s trading deadline, and had his $16 million option for next season picked up Tuesday. It’s the fourth year of $58 million contract extension Los Angeles signed him to in October 2008, despite missing most of the season with a dislocated kneecap.

Los Angeles had until June 30 to pick up the option, otherwise Bynum would become a hot commodity this summer. He has played in 41 of the Laker’s 45 games this year, missing the first four not by injury surprisingly, but serving a suspension he was slapped with following the team’s Game 4 loss in Dallas a year ago.

But in his season debut against the Denver Nuggets, Bynum tallied 29 points and 13 rebounds, setting the stage for the year to come.

Bynum, who is just 24-years-old, but in his seventh NBA season, is enjoying a banner campaign. He is averaging career-highs in points (18.1) and rebounds (12.9).

Those numbers saw him be selected to his first All-Star team, starting for the Western Conference in Orlando. He’s posted 31 double-doubles this season, including ten straight and in 16 out of his last 17 games.

During that streak Bynum recorded his first career 20/20 game.

On Feb. 6, in the Laker’s 95-90 loss to the 76ers, and on the same night Kobe Bryant passed Shaquille O’Neal for fifth on the all-time scoring list in his hometown of Philadelphia, Bynum scored and grabbed 20 points and rebounds each.

Once urged by Bryant to be traded for Jason Kidd and six years of waiting, Bynum is developing into the player Los Angeles always thought he would be.

He was most recently named the Western Conference Player of the Week, averaging 27.5 points and 14.8 rebounds over a four-game span. And while Bynum is clearly the best center in his conference, he has a long way to go to be the best in the league.

That title belongs to the Magic’s Dwight Howard.

For the last eight years, Howard, who will stay in Orlando through the 2012-13 season after waiving his opt-out clause, has become the NBA’s next dominant center.

Throughout that time, he has averaged 18.4 points per game, along with 13 rebounds and two blocks. Not to mention his record three straight Defensive Player of the Year Awards.

This season has been no different.

Howard is totaling 21.1 PPG, 14.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks on a Magic team that is currently the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. But it’s not just Howard’s on the court presence that sets the two apart, but his ability to stay on the floor.

Since being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2004, Howard has played in 616 of the possible 623 regular season games. He has started 615 of those and missed as many as four games in a season.

On the other hand, Bynum was drafted just a year later with the No. 10 pick in the draft. In the 540 games the Lakers have played since that time, Bynum has only played in 376 of them, mainly due to various knee injuries.

They have gone head-to-head 16 games in their careers, including the postseason with Howard showing almost every time why he is the best at his position.

Against Bynum, Howard has averaged 18.8 PPG, 13.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. Compare that to Bynum’s eight points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

However in those games, Howard has complied 18.6 more minutes and 4.3 shot attempts than Bynum, giving him the slight advantage. But Bynum has continued to work hard and improve, fairing better in their more recent matchups.

In Bynum’s last three games against Howard and the Magic, he has totaled 12.3 PPG, 13 rebounds and 2.3 -- a significant upgrade from his career totals versus Orlando. That could be attributed to the extra minutes (28) and shot attempts (10.3) he is receiving.

And despite what the numbers say, Bynum’s Lakers have won nine of the 16 games, including four in the 2009 NBA Finals.

If things stay they contractual are, Howard and Bynum will both become free agents following the 2012-13 season.

But I’d expect the Lakers to sign Bynum to a contract extension in the near future as they look to continue the tradition of the franchise's dominant big men with a spot open on their Mount Rushmore, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal.

There's no disputing who the best center in the game is, but maybe a swap isn't as likely as it once was in Los Angeles.

New Pair of Horseshoes

Manning is making Denver is

next NFL home.

It looks like two of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history are teaming up.

Nearly two weeks after being released from the only team he'd ever played for, Peyton Manning has informed his agent to open contract negotiations with the Denver Broncos. Manning also called Hall of Famer and the Broncos vice president of football operation, John Elway, Monday morning to inform him of his decision.

Elway played his entire 16-year career with Denver, becoming the greatest quarterback in franchise history. He played in a record five Super Bowls, winning two of them in 1997 and 1998.

Manning, 36, hopes to do the same.

The San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans were the other two teams still vying for Manning's services, but were also notified by Manning himself that he would be playing for the Broncos.

Initial contract negations are said to be worth $95 million over a five-year span.

Manning is a record four-time NFL Most Valuable Player and a Super Bowl champion. He has thrown for 54, 828 yards in his career and one touchdown shy of joining the elusive 400 club. And until his injury this year, that caused him to miss the entire season, Manning had been the league's active iron man, playing in the second most consecutive games (208) in NFL history.

He becomes only the fifth quarterback in NFL to win multiple league MVPs with the same team and then go play for another, joining Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Kurt Warner. However, Warner is the only one to reach a Super Bowl with another team, that coming as an Arizona Cardinal in 2009.

There question is, what will Denver do with their current starting quarterback?

According to sources, the Broncos will try and trade Tim Tebow, making 'Tebowmania' a brief phenomenon in Colorado.

Last season, Tebow took over an 0-4 Bronco team helped lead them back to the postseason, somewhere they hadn't been since 2005. En route to that playoff appearance, Tebow orchestrated a six-game winning streak, including five fourth quarter comebacks.

In the postseason, Tebow led the Broncos to an improbable, overtime victory over the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, 29-23. In that win and on the first play of overtime, Tebow threw a career-high, 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, ending the extra period before it even got started.

But Tebow and Co. would be over matched the following week in Foxborough, being upended by the New England Patriots, 45-10.

However, despite all of his overachieving in 201, Tebow completed just 46.5 percent of his passes and averaged just 123.5 passing yards per game both ranked last in the NFL.

There's no question a lot more work needs to be done if Tebow is going to be a consistent starting quarterback in the NFL, but he possesses the passion and motivation to do so. Jacksonville, Miami and Cleveland have already been linked to Tebow's future, but only time will tell where exactly the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner will land next.

It was just two months ago Elway stated in his season wrap-up new conference, "Tim is the starting quarterback going into training camp."

He also added, "He made great strides. He has earned the right to be the starter going into training camp next year."

Those statements have since gone by the waist side with the inevitable addition of Manning.

With Manning's arrival to Denver, 'Tebow

Time' is all but over.

Considering the Broncos finished 8-8 a year ago, winning the AFC West Division title and came within a victory of playing in the AFC title game, Manning makes Denver a Super Bowl contender. In his last season playing for the Colts, he led them to a 10-6 record and their ninth straight playoff berth.

Without Manning, Indianapolis finished an NFL-worst 2-14, proving his value to the franchise once and for all, even if it wasn't in question.

A man that once resurrected a horseshoe is putting on a different pair in 2012.

Flynning High

Flynn will now be able to spread his
wings in Seattle.

Strike two for the Miami Dolphins.

Already having been turned down by Peyton Manning, Miami lost out on the Matt Flynn sweepstakes Sunday, watching him sign a three-year, $26 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

It has been reported the deal is made up of $10 million guaranteed.

Flynn's decision to sign with Seattle does come as a surprise considering his connection to the Dolphins newly hired head coach. In January, Joe Philbin was named the tenth head coach in franchise history after nearly a decade long stay at Lambeau Field, including the last five as the team's offensive coordinator.

The 26-year-old quarterback was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2008, serving as Aaron Rodgers' backup and studying under Philbin since.

However, it appears his tie to Seattle's general manager John Schneider goes deeper than his relationship with Philbin. Schneider was a member of the Green Bay front office when Flynn was drafted out of Louisiana State University.

Schneider left the Packers to become the Seahawks GM prior to the start of the 2010 season and now taking Flynn with him. It just took him two years.

Flynn caught the eyes of many on two different occasions.

With Rodgers recovering from a concussion, Flynn nearly lead Green Bay to an improbable victory over the New England Patriots on Dec. 19, 2010. Flynn completed 24-of-37 passes, throwing for 251, three touchdowns and an interception. He came within five points of ending the Patriots', at the time, impressive 15-game regular season home winning streak -- a streak that was snapped at 20 this past season by the New York Giants on Nov. 6.

In Week 17 this year, with the No. 1 seed in the NFC all wrapped up, head coach Mike McCarthy decided to rest Rodgers for the postseason and give Flynn only his second career NFL start and last as a Packer.

Facing the Detroit Lions, Flynn battled Matthew Stafford in a high-scoring affair that each of them throw five touchdowns. In fact, Flynn threw a career-high six, broke Lynn Dickey's single-game franchise record with 480 passing yards and more importantly won the game, 45-41.

Stafford's 520 yards made him only the fourth quarterback in history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season, finishing with 5,038.

Flynn will now battle six-year veteran Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job.

Jackson spent his first five seasons as a Minnesota Viking, constantly fighting for playing time before signing a two-year deal with Seattle prior to the start of last season.

Since it was Jackson's first year as a full-time starter, he set career highs in numerous offensive categories, including interceptions (13), touchdowns (14), games (15), yards per game (206.1), completions (271), attempts (450) and yards (3,091).

He also looked to shed his label as a runner and make himself a passer.

In 2007, at the time, Jackson played in a career-high 12 games and carried the ball 54 times for 260 yards and three scores compared to this season when he ran the ball just 40 times.

These two guys are ready to compete.

Hasselbeck led Seattle to some-
where they had never been.

If Flynn becomes the franchise's next successful quarterback, he won't be the first coming from Green Bay as a backup.

Matt Hasselbeck, who spent this past season as manning the huddle for the Tennessee Titans, was Brett Favre's backup for the first two years of his career before being traded to the Seahawks in 2001. Hasselbeck spent a decade in Seattle, including leading the franchise to their first Super Bowl appearance in which they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-10.

The Seahawks are hoping for more of the same and now Flynning high.

Unexpected Homecoming

Pettitte's intimidating glare is returning
to the Bronx.

Andy Pettitte is doing something he vowed he would never do.

After more than a year away from the game and announcing his retirement, Pettitte signed a 1-year, $2.5 million contract to return to the New York Yankees on Friday. It is a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League spring training.

In a move that shocked us all, Pettitte called his return "embarrassing". But nonetheless, New York is welcoming him home.

Pettitte first got the itch to pitch again when general manager Brian Cashman called him in December, offering him a deal worth about $10 million. However, Pettitte wasn't ready to commit and Cashman went out and acquired two right-handers, trading for Michael Pineda and signing Hiroki Kuroda.

But when the left-hander came to camp as a special instructor this spring, he made it be know he wanted to play.

Pettitte's return to the Yankees could add a second lefty to the staff, along with ace C.C. Sabathia. He is expected to be battling for the fifth spot in rotation with right-handers Phil Hughes and Freddy Garica. If the three-time All-Star makes the team he will probably not be ready until mid-May, leaving manager Joe Girardi with a difficult, but yet somewhat easy decision.

Who wouldn't take a chance on a player like Pettitte with his resume.

Over his 16-year career, Pettitte has totaled 240 wins, 203 in which came in pinstripes, trailing only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing for the most in Yankee history. The other 37 came as a member of his hometown Houston Astros.

He is second on the Yankees all-time list in games started (396) and strikeouts (1,823).

Pettitte won 20-plus games twice in his career and logged 200 or more innings ten times, including four out of the last six years.

His 16 consecutive seasons of a winning percentage of .500 or better are tied with Lefty Grove for third all-time. Hall of Famer Pete Alexander (19) and Greg Maddux (17) are first and second, respectively. Pettitte's 148 victories from 2000-09 are the most during that decade.

But it's his postseason accomplishments that speak volumes.

Pitching in eight different Fall Classic's, Pettitte's 13 games started in the World Series are second in baseball history to Ford's unbelievable 22. However, his 19 career postseason wins are the most all-time, helping him become a five-time World Series champion.

In 2009, Pettitte's most recent title, he became the first pitcher in postseason history to win all three series-clinching games as a starter, not to mention the fact Pettitte was the winning pitcher when the Yankees clinched the AL East Division title that same season.

He was also the 2001 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player when New York took down the record-setting Seattle Mariners in five games.

The question is now, how will Pettitte's body respond three months shy of his 40th birthday?

In his most recent season of work, Pettitte had one of his best seasons, compiling an 11-3 record with a 3.28 earned run average and making his first All-Star team in nine years. However, he missed two months that season with a groin injury.

Possessing one of the best pickoffs move in history, Pettitte has caught 99 base runners sleeping in his career, the most all-time. Steve Carlton's 144 would be the Major League record, but it wasn't made an official stat until 1974, ten years into his illustrious playing career.

Pettitte is back, and will trying to pick hitters off his time around.

Fishing In Houston

Fisher's Game 3 performance in the 2010
NBA Finals will forever live in Laker
lore.

In with the new, out with the old.

Not long after trading for Ramon Sessions, the Los Angeles Lakers and general manager Mitch Kupchak sent longtime point guard Derek Fisher to the Houston Rockets in exchange for center Jordan Hill. Houston also receives the first-round pick Los Angeles acquired when they sent reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Lamar Odom, to the Dallas Mavericks last December.

Sessions, 25, whose only started four games this season with the drafting and emergence of Kyrie Irving, was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers for forwards Luke Walton and Jason Kopono along with the team's 2012 first-round pick.

And while Sessions gives the Lakers the athleticism and quickness they have been searching for since nearly completed a deal to obtain Chris Paul moving forward, Fisher's veteran experience and leadership will be missed, especially come playoff time.

It's no secret Los Angeles' point guard combination of Fisher and Steve Blake were among the worst in the league production-wise.

Aside from Blake never adapting to the triangle offense last year and averaging 5.5 point per game this season, Fisher has struggled to play outside of basically the only offense he has known. The 37-year-old is averaging just 5.9 PPG, his lowest total since the 1998-99 season when he posted the same number.

Fisher has averaged 8.7 PPG throughout his 16-year playing career, 13 in which have come in the purple and gold.

He had played in all 43 of the Lakers games this season, logging 25.6 minutes per contest. But it has been Fisher's defense, or lack their of, that really was a cause for a concern.

Fisher's inability to guard elite point guards like Paul, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, etc. continued to stick out like a sore thumb. And while Sessions is anything, but an elite defender, his speed and playmaking ability add something Los Angeles needed desperately, especially if they are to compete with the Okalahoma City's and Miami's of the world.

But even with the team looking forward, Fisher's character, dedication and contributions will not soon be forgotten.

After missing most of the regular season with a foot injury, Fisher's postseason pedigree started in the 2001 playoffs, when he nailed numerous clutch, three-point baskets. He thrilled us all with his 0.4 shot against the San Antonino Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Seimfinals.

How about in Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals, when Fisher hit two, crucial three-point baskets, one tying the game with 4.6 left in regulation, sending the game into overtime. The other came in that extra period, again in the closing minute, but this time giving Los Angeles the lead and for good.

In Game 3 of the Finals the following year against the hated Boston Celtics, in the TD Garden with the series tied at a game piece, Fisher rose above the rest.

After teammate Kobe Bryant started the fourth quarter, in an extremely close game, 0-for-4, Fisher took the keys to the Spalding Bryant had been driving for so many years along side him and drove it home. Fisher dominated the paint, finishing with 16 points.

Postgame, Fisher was emotional to say the least saying, "I love this game. Uh, I love this team. I love this guy (referring to Bryant). I love what I do and uh, nothing means more to me than helping my team win."

And he would do just that in Game 7.

With his team trailing by as many as 13 in the third quarter and Bryant, again not on his game, Fisher found the stomach once again to hit a game-tying three with 6:13 left in the season to bring Los Angeles all the way back and help them win their second consecutive NBA title, 16th overall and his fifth.

It was Bryant's rare, but unbreakable trust he had with Fisher that allowed him to shine on the game's biggest stage. A trust that Bryant might never exude to another player.

Fisher's career averages in the postseason exceed the totals he put up in the regular season, including rebounds (2.4), points (8.9), minutes (28.0), three-point (.402) and field goal percentage (.427).

Most recently, in his final game as a Laker, Fisher knocked down a go-ahead, 20-foot jumper in overtime against the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday, sealing Los Angeles' ninth road win of the season.

It's not as if the Lakers haven't been without Fisher before. He signed with the Golden State Warriors prior to the start of 2004-05 season and playing in Utah for a year before coming back to Staples for one last championship run.

Bryant's trust in Fisher was unlike
any other.

It is believed the Rockets will buyout Fisher's contract, making him a free agent. However, if you think a return to the Lakers this season is waiting in the wings just like when center Zydrunas Ilgauskas returned to the Cavaliers after being traded during the 2009-10 season, think again.

According to the new CBA, if a player is traded and then bought out they can re-sign with a their former employer in July.

Speaking of the CBA, Fisher was elected as the Player's Association President in 2006 and played a pivotal role in ending the 166-day NBA lockout.

Throughout his career, Fisher was a consummate professional and epitome of class. I speak for everyone when I say, thanks for everything you've done, Fish.

New York Heat

Mega Millions

Johnson's size and raw athleticism make
him the NFL's best wide receiver.

The Motor City was rocking Wednesday.

The Detroit Lions announced they have signed wideout Calvin Johnson to length and hefty contract extension.

With one year remaining on his rookie contract that he signed in 2007, Johnson inked a seven-year extension, giving him an eight-year deal worth $132 million -- $60 million guaranteed -- and making him the highest paid wide receiver in NFL history.

Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald held the previous record after he agreed to a an eight-year contract last year that could pay him up to $120 million.

If there was ever a player worth the money he received, Johnson is that player.

Since being drafted out of Georgia Tech with the No. 2 overall pick in the '07 NFL Draft, Johnson has been among the best receivers in the game.

Nicknamed by former teammate Roy Williams, 'Megatron', Johnson has caught 366 passes in his brief five-year career, complied 5,812 yards and 49 touchdowns. He just completed his best NFL season, which saw him total 1,000-plus yards for the second consecutive season and the third time in four years. In 2009, Johnson narrowly missed the 1,000-yard plateau by 16, finishing with 984.

This season Johnson made his second straight Pro Bowl and only First All-Pro team thus far. He became only the third receiver in history to catch at least 95 passes, accumulate 1,600 yards and 15 TDs, joining Jerry Rice and Randy Moss.

He had 96 reception for a league-leading 1,681 yards and 16 TDs. He also led the NFL in yards per game with 105.1, not to mention his 17.5 yard per catch were a career-high.

The 26-year-old Johnson also rushed for 11 yards last season, giving him 1,692 yards from scrimmage -- fourth in the NFL.

Following his rookie year, Johnson has totaled 5,116 yards and 45 TDs, making only the sixth receiver in history to accumulate more than 5,000 yards and 45 TDs in a four-year span, join in Rice, Moss, Lance Alworth, Marvin Harrison, and Terrell Owens.

In his five years as a Lion, with many more to come, Johnson has been through the darkness, but has seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

Johnson's second year in the league, the Lions became the first team in history to go winless in a 16-game regular season. However, this past year, Johnson and Co. made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, finishing second in the tough NFC North at 10-6.

Both Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who became the fourth player in history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season, anchored the team.

Detroit wouldn't last long, losing to the New Orleans Saints on Wild Card Weekend, 45-28. But there's no question Johnson was the best player on the field.

In his playoff debut, Johnson had 12 receptions for 211 yards and two scores.

It could be a sign of many things to come, at least for the next eight years.

Tampa Bay Jacked Up

Jackson is leaving the California sun for the
beaches of Florida.

Vincent Jackson charged his way out of San Diego as fast as he could.

In the first day of NFL free agency and an abundance of transactions making headlines, Jackson was one of them, signing a five-year, $55.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It has been reported the contract contains $26 million guaranteed -- the same amount Jackson will be paid over the first two years of the deal, receiving the remaining $36 million over the final three years. The 6-foot-5 Jackson is coming off one of his best seasons.

A year after playing in a career-low five games due to a nearly season-long holdout, Jackson was smacked with the franchise tag, but showed his worth, catching 60 passes for San Diego in 2011, accumulating for 1,106 yards and tying a career-high with nine touchdowns.

It was the third time in his career he had totaled more than 1,000 yards in a season -- all coming in the last four years.

However, Jackson's best season came in 2009 when he was selected to his only Pro Bowl. That season the former Northern Colorado standout, along with his nine touchdowns, set career-highs in receptions (68), yards per game (77.8) and yards (1,167). Oddly enough that was the last time the Chargers made the postseason.

Since being drafted in the second-round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Jackson has played in 91 games for San Diego, caught over 270 passes -- 272 to be exact -- totaled 4,754 yards and 37 TDs.

But now with Jackson's departure, it leaves the Chargers with numerous holes at the wide receiver position.

If you take away Jackson's 60 receptions last season, quarterback Phillip Rivers only completed 88 of his 366 completions to a wide receiver. The other 218 came from a running back, fullback, or tight end. Rivers also threw 27 TDs. Again taking away Jackson's total from a year ago, only eight of those 27 went to a wideout -- five of them coming from Malcom Floyd.

The search now begins for Jackson's replacement.

Count Him In

Moss is coming out of retirement and
making his return to the NFL.

He's back.

Randy Moss, who abruptly retired last August, has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers following his workout with the team on Monday.

It was just hours after he had been catching passes from head coach Jim Harbaugh, that Moss decided San Francisco would become his fifth career NFL team. The 49ers became only the second team to host a tryout for Moss after he announced on his 35th birthday (Feb. 13), that he would in fact be making a return to football.

Last Tuesday, Moss showcased his talent for the New Orleans Saints, but was not offered a contract. However, multiple team sources reported he "looked like the old Randy", leaving us to believe the Niners saw the same thing.

Our last memory of Moss is a horrific 2010 season in which he started as a New England Patriot and ended as a Tennessee Titan with a return to the Minnesota Vikings sandwiched in between.

He finished the year with career-lows in games started (11), yards per game (24.6), receptions (28) and yards (393). But it was his eight games as a Titan that caused many to believe the freak show we all use to marvel had left the theater, catching just six passes and not scoring a touchdown.

Although, it wouldn't be the first time Moss has risen from the ashes.

After two dismal seasons as a member of the Oakland Raiders in which he caught 102 passes for 11 TDs, including one season with a career-low three, Moss was traded to the Patriots on Draft Day 2007 for a fourth-round pick.

In his first season with New England, Moss was a key contributor of a Patriot team that went undefeated until they lost in Super Bowl XLII, catching a league-leading and NFL-record 23 TDs. Moss also led the NFL in touchdowns in 1998 (17), 2000 (15), 2003 (17) and 2009 (13).

And now joins a team that needs him desperately.

San Francisco possessed one of the worst receiving corps in the league last year. They cut Braylon Edwards. Josh Morgan, who played in just five games after breaking his leg, and Ted Ginn Jr. are both free agents and not expected to return.

Michael Crabtree has been inconsistent and yet to emerge as the star he was at Texas Tech since being drafted with No. 10 pick in the 2009 draft.

The Niners ended an eight-year absence from the postseason after finishing the year with a 13-3 record and their 18th NFC West Division title. But after escaping against the Saints, San Francisco lost in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, 20-17.

In that lost, Crabtree was the only wide receiver to catch one of quarterback Alex Smith's 12 completions. Tight end's Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker combined by five more, while running back Frank Gore led the team with six receptions.

Speaking of Smith, San Francisco is in the process of trying to re-sign their still-unproven quarterback - a process that should become easier with the signing of Moss.

Along with his six Pro Bowl selections, Moss has been a member on four All-Pro teams. His 954 receptions and 14,858 yards are ninth and fifth all-time, respectively. Moss' 153 TDs catches are tied for second all-time with Terrell Owens, and trails only Jerry Rice's 197. Twenty-nine of those 153 scores totaled at least 50 yards, also trailing only Rice's 36.

It looks like Moss will be chasing Rice's records in the uniform he help make famous.

Let the Madness Begin

Wounded Wolf

Skinning Them Alive

RG3 might just find himself a
seat in the Oval Office.

The Washington Redskins are ready to find their next franchise quarterback.

They may have completed that search on Friday.

According to FoxSports.com, the Redskins have agreed in principle to send three first-round draft picks and another second-round pick to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for the No. 2 overall in April's upcoming NFL Draft.

However, nothing is official as the league's new year doesn't start until Tuesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET, meaning the deal still needs to be signed off and processed by the league office.

Washington is expected to select either Stanford's Andrew Luck or Baylor's Robert Griffin III. Basically taking whomever the Indianapolis Colts choose not to add with the No. 1 pick.

All signs point to the Colts drafting Luck, leaving the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner for the taking.

Griffin had a fantastic collegiate career at Baylor, but impressed many with his athletic ability and raw talent at the combine. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder ran a 4.41 40-yard dash, which is the fastest time for a quarterback since Michael Vick ran a 4.25 in 2001.

If in fact Washington does select Griffin, he will try and follow in the footsteps of another African-American Redskin quarterback.

In 1987, Doug Williams was responsible for leading the Skins to their second of three Super Bowl titles. Becoming the first African-American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, Williams was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

He routed the John Elway-led Denver Broncos, throwing a Super Bowl record four touchdowns passes in a single quarter, winning Super Bowl XXII, 42-10.

As for the Rams, they are one of the few teams in the NFL that believe they have their quarterback of the future after drafting Sam Bradford out of Oklahoma with the No. 1 overall pick in 2010. St. Louis and newly hired head coach, Jeff Fisher, are focused on winning and giving Bradford some offensive firepower and Oklahoma State's wide receiver Justin Blackmon could be just that.

The Rams last made the postseason in 2004 while Washington saw action in the 2007 playoffs. Both are hoping this deal can bring them back to the promise land.

'RG3' looks to be heading to our nation's capital and might just launch his own presidential campaign.

Season Preview: Comeback Player of the Year

Health and productivity continue to be the keys to success in a grueling 162 game regular season. Many found themselves battling both a year ago, but will look to bounce back in 2012 and return to form.

American League Comeback Player of the Year: Alex Rodriguez, NYY

The New York Yankee third baseman was plagued by injuries much of 2011, playing in a career-low 99 games since becoming a full-time starter. After dealing with a major hip procedure prior to the start of the 2009 season, Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this past July, causing him to miss 38 straight games.

Rodriguez hopes to reclaim the
magic of 2009.

Upon his return on Aug. 21, Rodriguez suffered a sprained left thumb fielding a ground ball off the bat of Minnesota's Joe Mauer. The injury effected the way he swung the bat the rest of the season, batting .191 with just three home runs and ten runs batted in.

Not to mention his forgettable American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers.

Rodriguez hit .111 in the series, recording two hits in his 18 at-bats. He struck out six times, including ending the Yankees postseason for the second straight year with a punch-out.

The now 36-year-old slugger batted .276 last season, driving 16 out of the ballpark and 62 runs overall, ending Major League record of 13 consecutive seasons with 30 HRs and 100 RBIs. His 172 total bases, .461 slugging percentage and .823 on-base plus slugging were all career-lows with a minimum of 150 plate appearances.

After famously opting out during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, Rodriguez re-signed with the Yankees not long after, signing the a record 10-year $275 million contract.

Since that time, Rodriguez's numbers doesn't warrant him as the highest paid player in the game. He has averaged 124 games, 27 HRs and 97 RBIs a season. And while those are may be career-years for many other players throughout Major League Baseball, they are far removed from Rodriguez's '07 and third AL Most Valuable Player Award campaign.

That year Rodriguez led the majors with a record 54 HRs for a Yankee right-handed hitter, 156 RBIs and 143 runs scored.

All signs point to an aging and declining third baseman, but don't write Rodriguez off yet.

He took Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's advice in the offseason, seeking knee treatment in Germany. Bryant has found his second wind in his unbelievable 16-year career, leading the NBA in scoring.

Expect the same on the diamond from Rodriguez.

Notable Considerations: Carl Crawford, BOS & Kendrys Morales, LAA
In his first year as a member of the Boston Red Sox, Crawford was one of the team's biggest disappointments. Fresh off his 2010 season, that saw him win his first career Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, the former Tampa Bay Ray left fielder signed a seven-year $142 million contract in the offseason.

Crawford struggled to get a acclimated to his new surroundings, batting just .155 in the season's first month. He missed some time with a left hamstring injury, but finished the year with a .255 batting average and just 18 stolen bases.

It should be noted Crawford averaged 45 stolen bases during his nine years with Tampa Bay, leading the AL four different times.

However, despite Crawford undergoing offseason wrist surgery and expected to miss Opening Day after a recent setback, the 30-year-old's second year in Boston should be much better.

As for Morales, he hasn't seen big league action in nearly two years after breaking his leg in a celebration at home plate following his walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners on May 29, 2010. Unlike Crawford, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are aiming towards Morales' return on Opening Day.

The Cuban defector will take most of his swings as the team's designated hitter with the signing of Albert Pujols and emergence of Mark Trumbo. If healthy those two players hold the key to Morales' future success, adding protection for the switch-hitter.

Others: Adam Dunn, CHW

National League Comeback Player of the Year: Jason Heyward, ATL
Heyward opened his career with a bang, homering in his first career at-bat on Opening Day 2010. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after batting .277 with 18 HRs and 72 RBIs and was drawing comparisons as the left-handed version of Hank Aaron.

The 22-year-old become only the second player in Major League to homer in his first career at-bat on Opening Day and then follow it up with a home run in his first at-bat the next Opening Day, joining former New York Mets infielder Kazuo Matsui.

Heyward looks to continue his
promising career in 2012.

Matsui also homered in his first at-bat on two straight Opening Days from 2004-05.

However, Heyward couldn't avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and with that came a nagging injury.

Heyward played in only 128 games last year, batting a dismal .227 with 14 HRs and just 42 RBIs. His on-base percentage dropped from .393 in his rookie season to .319.

And while a shoulder injury hampered him most of the year, Heyward's step backwards could been attributed to a lack of confidence. The smooth swinging right fielder struggled in Atlanta's '10 division series matchup with the San Francisco Giants.

He batted just .125, and those struggles could have carried over into his second year in the majors.

Sandwiched in between Dan Uggla and '11 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Freddie Freeman, Heyward has the protection he needs to succeed. Who knows, maybe we'll see a third straight Opening Day home run.

Notable Considerations: Buster Posey, SF & Jayson Werth, WAS
Posey was the one that came in a stole Heyward's '10 NL Rookie of the Year Award after batting .305, commanding an electric pitching staff and leading the Giants to an improbable NL West Division title. The San Francisco backstop would eventually help the Giants win their first World Series title since moving west.

Posey's sophomore season was cut short after a home plate collision that torn ligaments in his ankle and caused him to miss the team's final 117 games.

Prior to the injury, Posey was hitting .284 with four HRs and 21 RBIs.

And while his presence in the lineup was missed, the pitching staff missed him dearly. With his ankle processing nicely and on track to start the season with the club, Posey will return as the game's best young catcher.

In the nation's capital, Werth is coming off his first season with a new club. He shocked everyone when he signed a mega seven-year $126 million contract with the Nationals last offseason, but quickly learned what he left behind was pretty special.

Werth batted .232 for Washington, adding 20 HRs and 58 RBIs - numbers that didn't follow the ones he put up in bandbox in Philadelphia.

An All-Star and World Series champion with the Phillies, Werth played four years under Charlie Manuel, averaging 23 HRs and 75 RBIs per year. He hit .282 as a Phillie, now raising the question, was he a product of a great lineup and hitter friendly ballpark?

I don't think so.

Werth showed he can still run, stealing 19 bases after swiping just 13 the year before. He stole a career-high 20 bases in back-to-backs seasons (2008, '09) for the Phillies.

Washington continues to be one of the more spacious fields in the majors, but with the injection of youth and optimism heading into the season, Werth could actually prove his worth.

Others: Johan Santana, NYM & Adam Wainwright, STL

Marino's Replacement?

Manning just finished his second-year in
the NFL when Marino decided to retire.

Peyton Manning is a free agent and the Miami Dolphins should do anything and everything to sign him.

It was 12 years ago Miami's Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino struggled to walk away from the game he loved, retiring following the 1999 NFL season. The franchise hasn't been the same since.

Trying to find and replace a franchise quarterback may be two of the hardest things to do in sports, but replacing an icon, that's a different animal. Just ask the Dolphins. Since Marino's departure, the organization has placed 18 different quarterbacks under center only to eventually watch them fail.

Few had their day in the Florida sun, but none of them were able to sustain long-term success.

Sixteen of those 18 quarterbacks started a game or games for the Dolphins over the last 12 seasons, including Jay Fielder (59), Chad Henne (31), Chad Pennington (20), Gus Frerotte (15), Matt Moore (12) Joey Harrington (11), A.J. Feeley (8), Cleo Lemon (8), Ray Lucas (6), Trent Green (5), Brian Griese (5), John Beck (4), Daunte Culpepper (4), Sage Rosenfels (2), Damon Huard (1) and Tyler Thigpen (1).

And while Pat White and J.P. Losman never started as a Dolphin they both played in multiple games for the team.

White, who was a quarterback at West Virgina, played in 13 games for Miami in 2009. He mainly ran out of the Wildcat offense - never completing a pass in his five career attempts. Most recently, former Buffalo Bills starter, J.P. Losman appeared in two games for the Dolphins this past season, completing six of his ten passes, but didn't throw a touchdown nor an interception.

Those 18 quarterbacks have played in 192 games over that span, throwing 209 TDs and 206 INTs.

In Marino's first 192 games he had already won an NFL Most Valuable Player Award, played in a Super Bowl, threw 358 TDs and just 200 INTs. His combined record in those games was an excellent 119-73, while the most recent Miami quarterbacks are 92-100.

Throughout his 17-year career, Marino made ten playoff appearances. Since, Miami has made a total of three with their last coming in 2008.

However, this Dolphin team is close to returning and could be a Manning away from doing so.

If Manning were to make South Florida his next permanet home, he would inherit some already dangerous offensive weapons.

In his first year with Miami, running back Reggie Bush rushed for 1,000 yards (1,086) for the first time in his career and set a career-high in attempts with 216. But that didn't take away from the dynamic versatility he showcased at the University of Southern California and with the New Orleans Saints.

Bush caught 43 passes out of the backfield and scored a total of seven touchdowns in 2011.

As for the receiving corp, Anthony Fasano is no Rob Gronkowski, but is one of the most sure-handed tight ends in the game today, catching 32 passes a year ago and 164 since being drafted out of Notre Dame in 2006.

The Colts' Dallas Clark was Manning favorite target his last four seasons in Indianapolis, maybe Fasano will be his next.

Wideouts Davone Bess and Brandon Marshall continue to be one of the deadliest receiver combinations in the NFL, but with Manning they might be the best. We saw how be elevated the games of both Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez in Indy, why not them.

Bess' explosiveness make him a downfield threat every time he is lined up. He had 51 receptions for the Dolphins and added 3 TDs while Marshall caught 81 passes - six coming for a score. It was Marshall's fifth straight season with 80-plus catches.

Those four players combined for 207 of the team's 280 completions last season, scoring 21 TDs while in the process.

As for the defense, something Manning really never had in Indianapolis, Miami possess a pretty good one. Led by veteran Karlos Dansby and the hungry pass rusher Cameron Wake, the Dolphins have a mix of talented veterans and injection of youth.

However, defensive tackle Paul Soliai is a free agent and is unlikely to return. Playing in all 16 games last year, Soliai had 27 tackles, but did not record a sack or force a fumble, making his eventual exit easier to handle. His replacement might be found on draft day.

South Carolina's defensive end Melvin Ingram seems to be a favorite of most to land in Miami with the No. 8 pick, but the Dolphins should take Riley Reiff. Reiff is the second best offensive tackle in the draft behind USC's Matt Kalil, but nonetheless he is an All-American.

He could fill the Dolphin's need a right tackle, adding to a developing, but formable offensive line. Despite allowing the third most sacks in the league last year with 52, Miami's line is led by two former first-rounders.

Left tackle Jake Long and center Mike Pouncey, who is the identical brother of Pittsburgh's Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, should be the future protectors of Manning.

However, Manning has only taken snaps from one center the last 12 years of his career. That being free agent Jeff Saturday. The five-time Pro Bowler has hinted at retirement, but what if somehow Manning can lure him down South to join forces one last time.

A campaign for Manning to join the Dolphins
started before he was even released.

Miami could shift Pouncey to guard and present one of the best offensive lines in football to protect an aging, but more importantly recovering quarterback.

The Dolphins have $10.2 million of salary cap to work with after not franchising any of their players thus far, but might need to resurrect some contacts if there are to pull this signing off. Although, Manning has said numerous times it's not about the money and unlikely most athletes, I believe him.

Joe Philbin is the team's newest head coach. They've had eight since Don Shula retired. So, new coach, why not a new quarterback?

The fans have already spoken launching a website and posting a billboard to promote it. The billboard consists of Manning in a Dolphins uniform that says, "Manning To Miami.com", trying to have him to take his talents to South Beach.

There will only be one Marino, but Manning will do just fine.

No Longer Their Man

Manning's ability to manage a game from
the line of scrimmage was unlike any-
body's in league history.

A 35-year-old colt is leaving his herd, but not by choice.

It was just last July, the Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Peyton Manning to a five-year $90 million contract extension, that seemingly put the final touches on a career that would end with a horseshoe on his helmet.

But how quickly things can change.

According to multiple team sources, the Colts will release Manning rather than give him the $28 million bonus he is due on March 8 and pick up the final four years remaining on his contract, making Manning a free agent for the first time in his career.

An official announcement is expected to be made on Wednesday in a joint press conference with owner Jim Irsay and Manning, ending his 14-year run in Indiana.

The decision does not come as a surprise after Manning missed the entire 2011 season, undergoing his third neck surgery in the last 19 months - fourth overall. It was the first time in Manning's career he missed a game, playing in 208 consecutive regular season games - 227 including the postseason.

That is the second most to Brett Favre's 321 overall.

As for the the team, the Colts took a giant gallop backwards without Manning, finishing the season 2-14. It was their worst finish since 1991, when they went 1-15. But if it meant anything, it showed how valuable Manning has been to the franchise since being selected with the No. 1 pick in 1998.

Since moving to Indianapolis in 1984 and prior to Manning's arrival, the Colts held a .395 winning percentage in the regular season, a division title, won two playoff games and have no Super Bowl appearances.

Compare that to the game's Manning actually played in.

Indianapolis has won .678 percent of their regular season games with Manning under center, captured eight division titles, accumulated nine playoff wins and played in two Super Bowls.

Drafted out of Tennessee, Manning threw a rookie record 26 touchdowns, starting what would eventually become an NFL record for the most consecutive seasons with 25-plus TD passes (13). But with that instant success came a lot of growing pains. He was also intercepted 28 times that season - the only year he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns.

Manning would lose his first three playoff starts before finally defeating the Denver Broncos in an AFC Wild Card matchup on Jan. 4, 2004, 41-10. He completed 22 of his 26 passes that day, throwing for 377 yards and five TDs.

But then came the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots.

Manning and Co. would lose to the Patriots in consecutive AFC Championship games by a combined score of 44-17. However, both of those games were played in the snowy confines of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

A trip back to the then-RCA Dome would make all the difference.

After an early round exit against the Pittsburgh Steelers the following year, the Colts returned to the AFC Championship Game in Jan. 2007, hosting it for the first time in franchise history.

Their opponent. New England.

This time Manning would finally get the monkey off his back, overcoming a 21-6 halftime deficit and rallying Indianapolis past the Patriots. He outscored Brady 22-13 in the second half in the team's 38-34 victory and their first AFC Championship title since 1970.

The win would ultimately lead to Manning's his first and only Super Bowl title thus far, defeating the Chicago Bears in a sloppy and rainy game in South Florida, 29-17.

He was named Super Bowl XLI's Most Valuable Player.

It wouldn't be until 2009 that Manning would don the Super Sunday stage yet again. This time it came with agony, losing to the New Orleans Saints, 31-17 after starting the season a perfect 14-0 before then-head coach Jim Caldwell decided to pack it in for the final two games, planning to rest his starters for the postseason - a plan that obviously backfired.

If in fact Manning is releases Wednesday then Jan. 8, 2010 would have been his last as a Colt. It was the team's most recent playoff game and defeat, when they fell to the New York Jets, 17-16. In the game, Manning threw for 225 yards and a touchdown.

He leaves Indianapolis with a 9-10 record overall in the postseason, but holds all the franchise's passing records, including career wins (141), touchdowns (399), completions (4,682), attempts (7,210) and yards (54,828).

Throughout his career as a Colt, Manning defined preparation and hard work, even developing the signature no-huddle offense back in 2001.

Manning's best season came in 2004, when he threw for 4,557 yards, a then-record 49 TDs and only 10 INTs. But 2010 wasn't bad either after setting career-highs in completions (480), attempts (679) and yards (4,700).

The 11-time Pro Bowler has been named the AP NFL MVP a record four times in his career (2003, '04, '08 and '09).

He was the fastest quarterback in league history to complete 4,000 passes and throw for 50,000 yards. Manning guided Indianapolis to the postseason 11 times in 14 years, including seven AFC South titles over an eight-year span.

Manning resurrected a franchise in need, and will now pass the torch to someone else to do the same.

With this decision the Colts are almost assured to take either Stanford's Andrew Luck or Baylor's Robert Griffin III with the first overall pick in April's upcoming draft. It's a decision the Colts faced with Manning and Ryan leaf in '98.

That time Indianapolis chose right with Manning being arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, while Leaf threw more interceptions (36) than games played (25).

Instead of writing chapter three in the Joe Montana, Steve Young, Favre and Aaron Rodgers saga, Irsay opted for youth.

This is just one of the many moves and changes the 52-year-old owner decided to make this offseason. He has fired Caldwell, vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian and now is apparently ready to release the franchise's greatest player all within two months, living by his words "the horseshoe always comes first".

Free agency begins March 13, but if and when Manning is released he can sign with a team immediately, reminding us this is a business and everyone, including Manning, is expendable.

Fostering Him For The Long Haul

Raj-ON

Wonderless Wilt

Tek Takes Final Bow

Varitek wore the 'C' on his chest with
pride and dignity, just how like he
played the game.

Nearly two weeks after watching an emotional Tim Wakefield say goodbye, the Boston Red Sox bid another franchise legend farewell.

Longtime Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement Thursday in front of a abundance of former teammates, coaches and media members at a press conference held at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

Varitek was emotional to say the least, but who wouldn't be after a fantastic 14-year playing career.

The 39-year-old played his college ball at Georgia Tech, where he set numerous team records that still stand today, including games played (253), runs (261), hits (351) and doubles (82). Following his colligate career, Varitek was drafted in the first-round by the Seattle Mariners in 1994.

But his time in the Emerald City was short lived.

On July 31, 1997, Varitek, along with right-hander Derek Lowe, was shipped to Boston at the non-waiver Trade Deadline in exchange for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb in one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history.

This time it was the Red Sox giving away a a veteran reliever for a rising prospect, or in this case prospects, that became one of the franchise's all-time greats.

It was just seven years earlier Boston made the mistake of trading a young Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen. Bagwell went on to hit 449 career homes runs and become the franchise's foundation for a decade and a half.

Throughout his career, Varitek played in 1,546 games for the Red Sox -- 1,488 came as a catcher, setting the team record for the most games caught, shattering Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk's record of 990.

Varitek threw out 301 would-be base-stealers in his career, ranking him fourth on the active list. Ivan Rodriguez, who is an owner of 13 Gold Gloves, is the active leader with an astonishing 661. However, before his retirement, Varitek was the active leader in stolen bases allowed, surrendering 992. In 2009, Varitek gave up 108 stolen bases, allowing 100 for only third time in his career and led the American League, including a game in which he saw his future teammate, Carl Crawford, tie a Major League record, swiping six bags in a game.

As for his bat, Varitek help transcend his position as a switch-hitting catcher, hitting .256 with 193 HRs and driving in 757 runs.

The three-time All-Star's best all around season came in 2005 when he hit .281, adding 22 HRs, 70 RBIs and winning his only Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

But Varitek's career was more than just about his numbers as he was the epitome of a gamer, leader and captain.

'Tek', as his teammates call him, is one of the greatest game callers in baseball history. He called a Major League record four no-hitters, catching Hideo Nomo (April 4, 2001), Lowe (April 27, 2002), Clay Buchholz (Sept. 1, 2007) and Jon Lester (May 19, 2008).

He stood put to New York Yankees and third baseman Alex Rodriguez, famously shoving his glove into Rodriguez's face that escalated into a bench clearing brawl and paved the way for Boston's improbable 2004 postseason run, exercising their playoff demons and ending an 86-year curse.

Varitek was on the field for both of Boston's most recent World Series championships ('04 and 2007) despite owning a .237 career postseason average. However, all three of the ALCS' Varitek played in against the Yankees, he delivered.

In the playoffs, he hit .279 against New York and five of his 11 postseason HRs came at their expense. Those 11 HRs are a playoff record for a catcher and his 63 career games in October are a franchise record. Varitek never hit a World Series home run, but won all eight Fall Classic games he played in.

When he came to the plate in the first inning of the series-clinching Game 4 of the '04 World Series against St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jason Marquis, it was the first time in baseball history that two Little League World Series participants faced off against one another on baseball's biggest stage.

It could have been Varitek's shove to the
face of Rodriguez that turned the Red
Sox fortune around.

In December 2006, Varitek was named only the third captain in team history, joining Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice. Over the years, he proved he was worthy of that honor, playing with grit, through injuries that only the training staff knew of and being the ultimate team player.

He showed his already irreplaceable value to the pitching staff this season, especially for Josh Beckett. A year after Beckett went 6-6 and posted a career-worst 5.78 earned run average with Varitek only catching six of 21 starts, 2011 was far different.

Varitek caught 29 of Beckett's 30 starts this past season and watched the right-hander flourish. The former Florida Marlin went 13-7 and with a minimum of 20 starts, set career-lows in ERA (2.89) and WHIP (1.03).

Just like Wakefield, his presence will be missed on and off the field.

He was also a member of the 2006 United States World Baseball Classic team, hitting a grand slam against Team Canada.

Varitek and New York's also recently retired, Jorge Posada, were the Fisk and Thurman Munson of this generation and now leave the game and the only franchise's they've ever known and love behind, but legacies that will last far beyond our lifetime.