If the Patriots choose to keep him, they will be charged $14.65 million, as the franchise tag grants a player the average of the top five salaries in the NFL at his position.

Depending on the rehab schedule of Tom Brady, the Pats could also opt to trade Cassel and not have some $29 million committed to one position on the team.

Cassel completed 63.4% of his passes and threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 picks while leading the team to 11 wins.

Maine wanted $3 million and the Mets were offering $2.2 million. So, some genius figured out that $2.6 million was in the middle, and probably got paid for providing that information. Maine can also earn an additional $25,000 if he pitches 200+ innings. Wow, thanks for adding that in there, Omar.

Maine was 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts and 140 innings in 2008, but missed the last five weeks due to a shoulder injury. He was up and down during the season, but overall is a bargain at $2.6 million.

Pedro Feliciano is the last player the Mets have facing arbitration. He made $1.04 million last year and would like to get $1.95 million.

T.O.’s best friends and publicists, Monique Jackson and Kita Williams, will help Terrell try to get his crap together. They will act as “matchmakers and therapists” for him.

Would anyone want that job? Didn’t think so. And you can call this show stupid all you like, you know we’ll all be watching.

“In October, AIG told Manchester United that it is not renewing its sponsorship,” the company told Reuters.

One the world’s largest insurers, AIG had to accept $85 billion from the United States government to avoid bankruptcy. That number soon ballooned to $152 billion.

So now, the company is trying to cut costs and ending their sponsorship of one of the world’s most popular sports teams is one way to do it.

Some might argue that taking an executive retreat to the tune of $443,000 shortly after the bailout isn’t a frugal way to do business, but that’s neither here nor there.

The replacement for AIG? It could be India-based real estate and financial services giant Sahara.

“The process for the 2010 season has already started,” Man. U. spokesman Philip Townsend said. “Sahara is one of a number of companies who have expressed an interest.”

The sources told Mort that he signed a four-year deal and that an announcement will come later on Monday. Ryan will be introduced at a press conference on Wednesday, according to the sources.

Apparently, Ryan’s deal is almost identical to the four-year $11.5 million deal that Steve Spagnuolo signed in St. Louis last week.

Ryan is the son of former Eagles and Cardinals head coach Buddy Ryan. He has a brother Rob who also coaches in the NFL.

OFFENSE

Quarterback
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, 28; Drew Brees, New Orleans, 10; Philip Rivers, San Diego, 9; Chad Pennington, Miami, 2; Kurt Warner, Arizona, 1.

y-Running Backs
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, 45; Michael Turner, Atlanta, 40; DeAngelo Williams, Carolina, 13; Clinton Portis, Washington, 1.

Fullback
Le’Ron McClain, Baltimore, 38; Madison Hedgecock, NY Giants, 5; Mike Sellers, Washington, 4; Tony Richardson, NY Jets, 2; Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta, 1.

Tight End
Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City, 33; Jason Witten, Dallas, 14; Dallas Clark, Indianapolis, 2; Antonio Gates, San Diego, 1.

Wide Receivers
Andre Johnson, Houston, 45; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona, 21; Steve Smith, Carolina, 16; Wes Welker, New England, 6; Anquan Boldin, Arizona, 5; Roddy White, Atlanta, 4; Brandon Marshall, Denver, 1; Randy Moss, New England, 1; Calvin Johnson, Detroit, 1.

Tackles
Jordan Gross, Carolina, 34; Michael Roos, Tennessee, 32; Ryan Clady, Denver, 14; David Stewart, Tennessee, 3; Walter Jones, Seattle, 3; Jason Peters, Buffalo, 3; David Diehl, NY Giants, 3; Joe Thomas, Cleveland, 3; Chris Samuels, Washington, 2; Jon Runyan, Philadelphia, 1; Levi Brown, Arizona, 1; Ryan Harris, Denver, 1.

Guards
Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota, 40; Chris Snee, NY Giants, 32; Kris Dielman, San Diego, 10; Alan Faneca, NY Jets, 7; Logan Mankins, New England, 4; Leonard Davis, Dallas, 2; Travelle Wharton, Carolina, 2; Harvey Dahl, Atlanta, 1; Ben Grubbs, Baltimore, 1; Justin Smiley, Miami, 1.

Center
Kevin Mawae, Tennessee, 25; Shaun O’Hara, NY Giants, 18; Nick Mangold, NY Jets, 3; Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis, 2; Casey Wiegmann, Denver, 1; Todd McClure, Atlanta, 1.

Placekicker
Stephen Gostkowski, New England, 28; John Carney, NY Giants, 13; Rob Bironas, Tennessee, 3; Jason Hanson, Detroit, 3; Phil Dawson, Cleveland, 2; Jason Elam, Atlanta, 1.

Kick Returner
Leon Washington, NY Jets, 19; Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay, 16; Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo, 4; Josh Cribbs, Cleveland, 4; Darren Sproles, San Diego, 2½; Johnnie Lee Higgins, Oakland, 1½; Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo, 1; Justin Miller, Oakland, 1; Reggie Bush, New Orleans, 1.

DEFENSE

Ends
Justin Tuck, NY Giants, 26; Jared Allen, Minnesota, 21; Julius Peppers, Carolina, 20; John Abraham, Atlanta, 17; Mario Williams, Houston, 8; Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis, 4; Aaron Smith, Pittsburgh, 2; DeMarcus Ware, Dallas, 1; Trent Cole, Philadelphia, 1.

Tackles
Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee, 49; Kevin Williams, Minnesota, 25; Kris Jenkins, NY Jets, 11; Haloti Ngata, Baltimore, 6; Jay Ratliff, Dallas, 3; Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh, 2; Shaun Rogers, Cleveland, 2; Pat Williams, Minnesota, 1; Fred Robbins, NY Giants, 1.

Outside Linebackers
DaMarcus Ware, Dallas, 45; James Harrison, Pittsburgh, 38; Joey Porter, Miami, 13; Terrell Suggs, Baltimore, 2; LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh 1; Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay, 1.

y-Inside Linebacker
Ray Lewis, Baltimore, 39; Jon Beason, Carolina, 18; Patrick Willis, San Francisco, 17; James Farrior, Pittsburgh, 12; London Fletcher, Washington, 8; Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay, 1; James Harrison, Pittsburgh, 1; Stewart Bradley, Philadelphia, 1; Bart Scott, Baltimore, 1; Jerod Mayo, New England, 1.

Cornerbacks
Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland, 32; Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee, 31; Charles Woodson, Green Bay, 17; Antoine Winfield, Minnesota, 10; Asante Samuel, New England, 3; Darrelle Revis, NY Jets, 2; Champ Bailey, Denver, 1; Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay, 1; Corey Webster, NY Giants 1; Will Allen, Miami, 1; Terence Newman, Dallas, 1.

Safeties
Ed Reed, Baltimore, 50; Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh, 46; Adrian Wilson, Arizona, 2; Quintin Mikell, Philadelphia, 1; Nick Collins, Green Bay, 1.

Punter
Shane Lechler, Oakland, 25; Donnie Jones, St. Louis, 10; Jeff Feagles, NY Giants, 6; Sam Koch, Baltimore, 5; Mike Scifres, San Diego, 3; Brad Maynard, Chicago, 1.

Richard Chambers, 45, plead guilty on Thursday to charges of misleading police and perjury, when he told investigators that the last person he saw with the doctor was a man that looked like then NFL QB Boomer Esiason.

The case is still unsolved, but Dr. Timothy Stryker was found liable in civil court in 2006 and ordered to pay $15 million to Goudey’s family.

Boomer Esiason can finally relax.

This was one of Guilfoil’s day job stories.

MLB sources have told Foxsports.com’s Ken Rosenthal that the Boston Red Sox are nearing a deal with long-time Atlanta Brave pitcher John Smoltz. It’s a one-year deal for a reported $5.5 million for the 41-year old pitcher.

The deal is also packed with incentives that would potentially push the deal to $10 million for the year, sources said.

Smoltz, who is coming off shoulder surgery, would give the Red Sox six starting pitchers. He would join Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Brad Penny. Smoltz has been a closer in the past, but the Red Sox already have Jonathan Papelbon, so there is no need for him there.

Smoltz has been with the Braves since 1987.

UPDATE: ESPN says it’s now final.

Mangini was shown the door in New York after his Jets stumbled from an 8-3 record to a 9-7 finish and missed the playoffs. It’s a stunning move considering Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum still has a job. It was Tannenbaum who traded for Brett Favre and spent all that money on Calvin Pace, Alan Faneca, Damien Woody and Kris Jenkins, while trading away Jonathan Vilma and Jon Abraham. Yeah, that’s Mangini’s fault.

B.C. warned Jagodzinski that if he interviewed for the head coaching vacancy of the N.Y. Jets that they would fire him. Apparently, they weren’t kidding.

“Jeff and I were really divided on the future of this program,” said B.C.’s athletic director Gene DeFilippo. “I just thought I hired a coach that I thought was going to be here a long time and I thought Jeff was that guy. I am looking for someone who can give a commitment of at least four or five years, for the length of the contract.”

He said that there will be an interim coach assigned until he can find a long-term replacement.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Pro Bowl will return to Hawaii, although it’s doubtful that it will be on a regular basis as it has been since 1980.

Moving the Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl is great for people who already feel that it’s taken too seriously. Many Pro Bowl players are “injured” the week after the Super Bowl and unable to play. As it is, many players love the honor, but hate playing in the actual game.

Playing the Pro Bowl a week prior to the big game will almost ensure that players who will be participating in the Super Bowl will play in a meaningless game. It’s one thing to play for that elusive championship trophy, it’s quite another to risk your entire career in a worthless game the week before. Who wouldn’t want to play in the Pro Bowl at that point?

Yep, the NY Post reports that Sabathia will sign with the Bronx Bombers in a seven-year deal that is worth approximately $160 million.

Sabathia made the decision after three days in a row of face-to-face meetings with Yankees GM Brian Cashman. I’m not sure what needed to be discussed for that long considering that no one was in the price range of the Yankees.

“These are difficult and painful steps,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a staff memo, “but they are necessary in the current economic environment.”

“I would like to be able to report that we are immune to the troubles around us, but we are not,” Goodell added.

The cuts will come at the NFL’s New York City-based headquarters, at NFL Films, and at the production facilities in Los Angeles, where NFL.com and NFL Network are located.

My idea would be to apply a little socialism to the NFL and scale back the salaries of first-round busts like JaMarcus Russell, Alex Smith and Vince Young. Pay them what they are actually worth and use the millions upon millions of dollars they get from that and give it to the poor girl who just lost her job answering phones at NFL Films. Then it would be a Merry Christmas indeed.

The report provides new insight into the sadistic and vicious happenings at 1915 Moonlight Rd., where Vick operated the kennel along with his friends Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.

According to the report, “Vick, Peace and Phillips thought it was funny to watch the pit bull dogs belonging to Bad Newz Kennels injure or kill the other dogs.”

The report states that in mid-April of 2007, Vick, Peace and Phillips hung approximately three dogs who did poorly in a “rolling session,” which lets you know if a dog is ready to be in combat. According to the report, the three men hung the dogs “by placing a nylon cord over a 2 X 4 that was nailed to two trees located next to the big shed. They also drowned approximately three dogs by putting the dogs’ heads in a five gallon bucket of water.”

I would love to know why there is even speculation that this man could receive the pleasure and privilege of playing in the National Football League again. Please, someone tell me, and don’t give me this “everyone gets a second chance” crap.

He funded and ran an illegal dog-fighting operation. I’m no PETA person, but that is reprehensible. He killed dogs that couldn’t fight and derived extreme pleasure in watching dogs get injured and/or killed. This isn’t a “mistake.” This isn’t something you say “sorry” for. You say you are sorry when you bump into someone, not when you exhibit a pattern of behavior like this.

He did all these things, and on top of it, he lied to Roger Goodell’s face about it. Michael Vick should never set foot on an NFL football field again. Period.

Is he sorry? Of course he is. He’s sorry he thoroughly pissed away the high life. He didn’t all of a sudden see why torturing animals is despicable. You don’t really believe that, do you? He’ll say and do all the right things to try to get his life back, but in the end, he’ll always be the same scum bag.

Oh, and in a few days, he’s going to plead guilty to two more charges relating to dog fighting on the state level, but won’t do any more time due to the terms of his plea deal. Explain that one to me.

This means the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls, plus the BCS Championship Game, will be televised in prime…blah blah blah…who the F cares?

I read the article about five times and I still haven’t found the sentences that read, “starting in the 2009-10, college football season the NCAA will have a playoff system consisting of the top-eight ranked teams to determine the National Championship. Four newly formed bowls have been named. The Super Awesome Bowl will be featuring the number one and number eight ranked teams. The It’s Finally Here Bowl will be featuring the number two and number seven ranked teams in the nation. The There Will Finally Be No Arguments About Who Is Number One Bowl will play the number three ranked team against the number six ranked team. And finally, the If You Oppose This Playoff Format You Are An Idiot Bowl will host the number four and number five ranked teams.

Don’t give me the argument that the number nine team is left out of this tournament. Nobody cares about Boise State.

After round one we have four teams left, which leaves us three more games that can be played in the Fiesta Bowl, the Orange Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. These three bowls will alternate every year in hosting the National Championship game. It’s that easy.

I’m sorry I left out the Rose Bowl, but Vince Young’s and Matt Leinart’s performances in the NFL have completely ruined my perception of the 2006 game in Pasadena.

This new playoff system would be the best tournament in sports and would trump March Madness.

Say what you want about the Jets, they are still boring to watch. They added a slew of talent (what do Mangini and Tannenbaum care, if they don’t go all in, they are out of here anyway. Screw the salary cap) in the offseason including, Calvin Pace, Damien Woody, Alan Faneca, Kris Jenkins and…and…who am I forgetting? I feel like I’m forgetting someone. Anyway, considering the cost of their new additions, you’d think they’d be better than 5-3. Imagine if they didn’t blow it against the Raiders two weeks ago.

While the Jets are technically “atop” the division, they still haven’t been as good as they should be.

Grade: B-

New England Patriots:

Everyone left the Patriots for dead after Tom Brady’s knee was turned into clam chowder in week one. Matt Cassel isn’t a great QB, but the team has found ways to win. Maybe they are on to something with their six-running-back theory. The Patriots have hung tough in what has become a muddy division, and they may actually make the playoffs. With the lack of juggernauts in the NFL, they have just as good a chance as making the playoffs as anyone else.

Grade: B

Buffalo Bills (5-3):

What happened to the Bills the last two weeks? After jumping out to a 5-1 record, they took a big steamer when facing division opponents. The Bills are largely to blame for the thick, heavy slop that is the AFC East. I’d be concerned about their running game at this point, as Marshawn Lynch hasn’t had much room to run. And now, stud safety Donte Witner will be lost for at least a week, but maybe a little more with a separated shoulder. The Bills lost more than just the game on Sunday. Ouch.

The Bills are young and will need to get their stuff together. The division is awfully winnable.

Grade: B+

Miami Dolphins (4-4):

4-4?! This is a team that won a single game last year because a veteran kicker with an accurate leg missed a field goal. The Dolphins were brutal last season. So I give new head coach Tony Sparano and Co. credit for getting to four wins after just eight games. And, get this, they have inspired a league-wide trend: The Wildcat formation! That’s right, the direct snap to the running back has been sweeping across the NFL. Good stuff.

It appears that the culture is changing in Miami and that they are no longer an easy win.

Grade: A

AFC North:

-Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2):

The Steelers are a very tough team despite having a shaky offensive line. Big Ben’s shoulder should be fine provided that he doesn’t continue to get mauled. And the defense…wow. They are just downright nasty.

This has to be considered and elite team in the NFL, probably the third best.

Grade: A

Baltimore Ravens (5-3):

The Ravens entered the season with a banged up running back, a rookie head coach, a rookie quarterback and a questionable offensive line. Has it mattered? Not really. Joe Flacco has exceeded expectations so far and has done a great job for a rookie. The Ravens are riding a three-game win streak and are right in the thick of the playoff race. Do I think they will make the playoffs? No. But so what, they are doing a great job considering their expectations for this year.

Grade: A-

Cleveland Browns (3-5):

The Browns were 10-6 last year and looked poised to take the jump to the next level. This just in: they haven’t. They have benched QB Derek Anderson in favor of Brady Quinn. Kellen Winslow has been banged up (surprise), and Braylon Edwards can’t catch a cold. 3-5 is terrible and all the good will from last year has evaporated. Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage should dust off the resumes.

Grade: D+

Cincinnati Bengals (1-8):

Wow. What a big sack of garbage the Bengals are. Carson Palmer might be done for the year. The defense is putrid. The team is a collection of bad apples. They have no idea how to win. What else?

Grade: F

AFC South:

Tennessee Titans (8-0):

Who saw this coming? The Titans can and will run all over you. Chris Johnson and Lendale White will eat your children. VY is out with a broken skirt, K-Coll is the QB, they can’t throw, and it doesn’t matter. They will run all over you. And how about that defense? DT Albert Haynesworth just might be the best defensive player in all of football. I’ll go so far as to say he is. When do you see a DT get moved around so much? He plays tackle, end and even drops into coverage. He cannot be blocked. Not even Chuck Norris or Cole Hamels could block him.

This is arguably the best team in the NFL.

Grade: A

Indianapolis Colts (4-4):

Injured QB’s don’t play well and Peyton Manning’s offseason knee surgery is clearly an issue. However, the banged up offensive line isn’t helping. Neither is the fact that Joseph Addai has been hurt and sucking. Bob Sanders returned to action this week and it’s a different defense when he’s in there. His absence absolutely kills this team. They are a 4-4 team and have played like a 4-4 team. Not what we expected from the Colts.

Grade: C-

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5):

What a disappointment the Jags have been. In their defense, the interior of their offensive line has been a mess. They lost their two starting guards for the season and C Brad Meester has been hurt all year. To a team that loves the run the ball, this is almost certain death. Losing to the Bengals this past week was a disgrace.

Grade: D

Houston Texans (3-5):

What do we think of the Texans? They were terrible early on, then have been good as of late. Then they lost their starting QB for the next month to a knee injury. Rookie RB Steve Slaton has been phenomenal (kudos to those who grabbed him late in fantasy leagues) and WR Andre Johnson has shown why he is a top-three NFL receiver. It hasn’t really translated to a bunch of wins, but they are showing some promise.

Grade: C+

AFC West:

Denver Broncos (4-4):

What a mess this team is. Early on this year their offense was dynamite. Cutler threw the ball to Brandon Marshall and rookie Eddie Royal whenever he wanted to. They were on fire. But, they benefited from two games (the San Diego game in particular) with bad calls and you could easily make the case that this team should be 2-6. And now? This team is awful. The defense can’t stop anyone and the offense cooled off considerably. Good thing they are in the AFC West.

Grade: C

San Diego Chargers (3-5):

3-5?! This is an outrage. This is a team that almost beat the big, bad Patriots on the road in the AFC Championship game last year without their top running back and All-Pro tight end. Philip Rivers was playing without an ACL for crying out loud. To come out 3-5 is just awful. Very disappointing when you consider how good they were supposed to be.

Grade: D-

Oakland Raiders (2-6):

The Raiders won two games? Wow, congrats to them because they are just a miserable, miserable team. JaMarcus Russell looks like a bust. They’ve already fired their coach (and did so in a very awkward and clumsy manner) and look like they could be the worst team in the league (no offense to the Lions).

Grade: F+

Kansas City Chiefs (1-7):

Speaking of bad teams, the 2008 Chiefs have less talent than Sarah Palin in a debate about fruit flies. Yeah, it’s that bad. The team has no quarterback. Their star running back has numerous assault charges against him and keeps getting suspended. The Chiefs are terrible. We knew they’d be terrible. They didn’t disappoint. Although I will say that I think they are better than the Raiders.

Grade: D-

The Associated Press reports that Rodriguez, 62, was sentenced to five years in prison and credited for the four he has already served since he was arrested in 2004.

Prosecutors say Rodriguez, a Yankees fan, was watching a playoff game on television in Boston. The Red Sox won 6-4 and the group started teasing the New York fan. He then pulled out a gun and shot three of them, killing one.

The outburst was apparently alcohol-fueled, and Rodriguez says he has no memory of the incident.

Chamberlain was arrested early Saturday morning in Lincoln, Nebraska for allegedly driving under the influence, speeding and having an open container of booze in his car.

Brilliant.

But, it’s not just the lack of judgement as far as whether or not he thought he was ok to drive. When is it a smart move to have an open container in the car?

This is just flat-out stupid.

The tickets for this year’s big game were released at $800 and $1,000, up from last year’s $700 and $900.

Nope, this is worse. And it’s hockey!

The women’s ice hockey team from Slovakia skated with the Bulgarian women’s ice hockey team over the weekend in a 2010 Olympic qualifier. I don’t think Bulgaria is going to make the Olympics. Call it a hunch, but when you lose in any sport 82-0, you probably have to rethink whether or not you should even be playing said sport.

That’s right, the Bulgarians lost a hockey game…82-0.

I’ll say it again: 82-0.

What I want to know is what is going through everyone’s head (thanks, Michelle Tafoya) at 31-0? ‘Maybe we should cancel this game?’ ‘Maybe we should stay in the locker room after the first period and sneak out the back?’

The game was 7-0 after five minutes, 19-0 after 10 minutes, and 31-0 after only one period. The Bulgarians were down 77-0 with three minutes to go, when they put in their backup goalie. She proceeded to give up five more goals in 1:25.

12 players had hat tricks and Maria Herichova netted 18 goals herself.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around how it’s physically possible to score this many goals in a given time frame. Didn’t some pucks accidentally hit the goalie? I guess not.

I think my favorite part is that the decision to pull the starting goalie came after 77 goals were scored.

Nothing makes me happier than sports, sports coverage and Sundays in the fall. I grew up in a family who talked sports, played sports and understood sports. I followed their lead. So welcome- officially and with no silly games- to my blog, Girl in the Huddle (GITH.)

It is here where you will get to read my rants, raves, complaints, applauds and everything in between. The boys in red, blue and silver are the loves of my life. Since ‘93 when Bledsoe was drafted and I was in the second grade, I have been the ultimate fan. The Sox come in a close second followed by the Bruins. Growing up in Vermont I played ice hockey for many years and one time I took on shot on Bruins’ goaltender Tim Thomas at a UVM event. The Celtics have a spot in my heart too, I suppose, but it’s only a small green dot on a otherwise blue and red organ.

So here I am. Comments are welcome and are only better for furthering the discussion. I’m never wrong, as my family and friends would be happy to tell everyone, but I love a good debate. Plus, it’s way better to debate on a nice forum like this than at a bar where I can’t clearly articulate my thoughts. Trust me, my thoughts are way better in writing.

Welcome to GITH!

P.S. I love Drew Bledsoe. Always have, always will.

“We don’t comment on speculated player moves,” Cincinnati team spokesman Jack Brennan said. “We only comment when something is done.”

Henry missed half of last season due to a suspension that related to general ass clownery with the law. He was arrested again on March 31st on charges of assault and criminal damage. Despite the fact that those charges were dropped, the NFL suspended him for the first four games of the season this year.

The Bengals released him because it was his fifth arrest in three years.

This offseason, the head coach and a team executive were holding the NaCl title belt when it came to Henry.

“There is a responsibility to be a NFL player,” Lewis said. “It’s a privilege, not a right.”

President Mike Brown (not of the United States, of the Bengals), “We don’t want that kind of behavior.”

Well apparently, “that kind of behavior” ain’t all that bad.

With Chad Johnson banged up (but claiming he’ll be ready for week 1) and WR Andre Caldwell on crutches with a sprained foot, Henry’s behavior just got a whole lot more tolerable.

In fact, she was kicked out of a fantasy football league at some point for insider info.

“My daughter, who’s a doctor in Salt Lake City, she captained one of the fantasy teams and then was thrown out of the league because of ‘inside information.’ But I will say, she was clean,” Holmgren said. “It was the appearance.

“She did not phone me about it. And she was very upset about it. But she knows football, as all my girls do.”

Hugh Bachman, coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic volleyball team and his wife, Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon, a former Olympic athlete, spoke out in an open letter about the death of Elisabeth’s father and injuries of her mother who were attacked Saturday at a tourist attraction in Beijing.

The attack killed Todd Bachman and critically injured his wife Barbara, both 62. Barbara was recently upgraded from critical to serious but stable at a Beijing hospital.

“We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of assistance and generosity that we have received and hope to convey our appreciation to everyone who has supported us and kept us in their thoughts and prayers,” the letter reads. It goes on to individually thank family, friends, Olympians, officials and President Bush for their support through the weekend.

“This letter cannot do justice in acknowledging the love and support we’ve felt,” they wrote. “We have been lifted up by the outpouring of support and love we’ve received from around the world.”

The 28 Bachman’s home and garden stores in Minnesota, of which Todd Bachman was chairman and CEO, are displaying posters and memorials for their fallen leader.

Packers GM Ted Thompson has declined to comment as has NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.

Bevell is a former Packers assistant and friend of Favre. If found guilty, the Vikings would be fined and docked a draft pick.

UPDATE: A league source has told PFT that the Packers believe they have the goods on the Vikings. There are rumors out there that the Packers could have cell phone records that would show communication between the Vikings and Favre. Stay tuned, this one just keeps getting weirder.

“This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” said Ed Snider, Comcast-Spectacor’s chairman. “The Spectrum is my baby. It’s one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me, but after a lot of thinking and discussions, we all feel it is in our best interest to close the Spectrum at the conclusion of the upcoming 2008-09 Philadelphia Phantoms and Kixx seasons.”

This will officially end any remnants of Philadelphia sports wins. The 76ers called the Spectrum home in 1983 when they won the NBA title, as did the Flyers who last won a championship in 1975. Veterans Stadium was busted to pieces a few years ago to erase what was left of the Phillies’ house from their 1980 World Series. And the Eagles…well, we know the deal there.

“We’re in a playoff race, and I have to be there to help my team,” Myers said. “This isn’t a question of what I want to do. It’s what I have to do. . . . Obviously, I need to get my head in the right spot.

“I wasn’t prepared to become a starter because my heart and my mind-set were still in the bullpen. That’s my fault.”

Myers’ problems are all mental, which is frustrating for Philadelphia fans. He has a blazing fastball augmented by a devastating 12-6 curveball that is beautiful to watch when he’s focused. But if he gives up a home run at any point in the game, just get him out of there, he’s mental toast.

The Phillies have several options to choose from in replacing Myers in the rotation, none of which are thrilling. The could go with Chad Durbin from their bullpen or pick from a group from their farm system: triple-A lefthanders J.A. Happ or Brian Mazone or double-A righthander Carlos Carrasco.

If the Phillies, who have been dreadful as of late going 3-7 in their last 10, can hold on to first place and get Myers right, it will be like a trade deadline deal to bolster pitching and help them into the playoffs.

At that point, they can act like just making the playoffs is the endgame and thoroughly go in the tank.

“I put myself at risk,” Anthony told Denver Judge Claudia Jordan.

In related news, the Denver Nuggets have suspended him for the first two games of the 2008-2009 season. At least we are lucky enough to have him represent our country in the Olympics this year.

Wolf: “Defensive back Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, recently signed by the Cowboys. Here’s a guy suspended all of 2007 following a shooting in a Vegas night club.”

Imus: “Well, stuff happens. You’re in a night club, for God’s sake. What do you think’s gonna happen in a night club? People are drinking, they’re doing drugs. There are women there, and people have guns. So, there, go ahead.”

Wolf: “He’s also been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005.”

Imus: “What color is he?”

Wolf: “He’s African-American.”

Imus: “Well, there you go. Now we know.”

What in the hell is he thinking? How is this not blatantly racist? This guy is lucky to have a job after they made so much noise about his comments regarding the Rutgers women’s basketball team. Wait until they get a hold of this one. Just wait. I don’t even see where he was trying to make a joke.

Last year, a league-record 71,217 fans showed up at Ralph Wilson Stadium to watch the Sabres beat the Penguins 2-1 in a snowy outdoor contest.

Chicago’s Soldier Field and New York’s Yankee Stadium have also been named as possible hosts, although last week Commissioner Gary Bettman all but ruled out the latter.

“The policy on club fines is being applied going forward (prospectively), not retroactively,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in a Tuesday email to Marvez. “The plan is that the club to be fined will be the club to which the player belonged at the time of the arrest or violation. But it only applies to arrests or violations occurring after June 1.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell is cracking down even more now in an effort to flush the league’s turd toilet.

“When you look at any particular window, it might not look like there’s been significant progress,” Goodell said at the NFL’s spring meeting in Atlanta. “But I think there’s a greater recognition of the issue. … I recognize there have been incidents in recent weeks that concern me. That’s one of the reasons we raised the [punishment] again. We will continue to address this issue. It is still a priority for us.

“As I said last year: This is not going to get resolved simply by issuing a new personal conduct policy. It’s going to be a continuing reinforcement of the message. You’re expected to act a particular way if you’re going to be involved with the NFL — period.”

Now, if he could just do more about coaches and teams that cheat.

Ramirez is a stud, batting .336 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs this year.

It is not being reported, but it is assumed that Isiah Thomas will not be allowed to speak to, touch, be in the same building as, write to, or contact Mike D’Antoni from now until ever.

-Jason Taylor, DE, Dolphins: Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga even came out and said he wanted to do Taylor a favor and move him to a team that has a chance to actually win a Super Bowl. So what happened? Ummm…you wanted a first-round pick for a 33-year old player. C’mon, Wayne.

-Jammal Brown, T, Saints: Brown’s name came up late in the Draft trade discussions. He was rumored to be part of a deal for the Eagles Lito Sheppard. He was also rumored to dangled in an attempt to jump up in the top five of the Draft. We think, in the end, the Saints weren’t dead set on moving him. Something could still happen, but it’s less likely now.

-Lito Sheppard, CB, Eagles: It’s been well-known for some time now that the Eagles want to move this guy. So why hasn’t anything happened? Most likely, the Eagles have over-valued him. He’s missed 14 games over the last three seasons, he played hurt last year and he wants more money. Again, something might still happen (and most likely will at some point), but the Eagles need to chill out on their asking price. Reuben Frank of Phillyburbs.com does a great job of detailing how they got to this point.

-Chad Johnson, WR, Bengals: He’s said publicly that he won’t play for the Bengals. The Bengals said, ‘fine, then sit.’ Cincinnati supposedly turned down two first-round picks (two first-round picks?!) for his services. We think the Bengals are just stupid and stubborn. Based on their aggregate record over the past 18 or so years, we’re probably right.

-Roy Williams, WR, Lions: See: Bengals. Williams is a free agent after this season. They could possibly tag him, but it’s clear he won’t be in Detroit much longer. Matt Millen…what can you say? Why get something for him while your team isn’t that good when you could just let him walk and get nothing? Oh, and your team still won’t be any good.

-Anquan Boldin, WR, Cardinals: Wow, this is really a pattern here. Maybe they think they can work out a deal with Anquan to make him happy. Currently, he isn’t. He wants to be paid closer to Larry Fitzgerald type of money and we don’t know that we can blame him. The Cardinals aren’t the smartest franchise, so it’s no surprise that they weren’t able to parlay Boldin into help on the defense. They will be tying up an awful lot of money in the WR position should they re-do his deal. Last we checked, WR’s don’t win Super Bowls.

Jeremy Shockey, TE, Giants: This one confused us. Surely, Shockey would have been a Saint by the end of Day 1. Shockey has come off like even more of a punk during his time on the injured list (which is tough to do) and it’s time for him to go. Eli Manning was even better without him and whatever he brings to the table on the field, he subtracts just as much (if not more) off of it. Obviously, the Giants weren’t bowled over by any deals and probably aren’t as convinced as the rest of us that he has to go.

The 6′5″ All-American quarterback felt that Oregon was too far away and that Penn State was too rural. He liked Michigan, but in the end decided that Ohio State would give him a better opportunity to make it to the NFL.

“It was just the right fit,” Pryor told Rivals.com. “The coaches, the comfort level, the players and the signing class they had. I am very comfortable with all of it, and I became friendly with the other recruits throughout the process.

According to a blog on the Orlando Sentinel’s website, there are quiet rumors within the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization that Cadillac Williams’ career is over. Williams tore a patellar tendon last season on October 1st in a win over Carolina. The Bucs recently signed Warrick Dunn, and will have Earnest Graham and Michael Bennett returning.

According to Profootballtalk.com and Mlive.com, Kevin Jones was told this morning by the Detroit Lions that his services would no longer be required. A former first-round pick, Jones has been battling foot problems the past few years. Considering who the other running backs are on the roster (Tatum Bell, Aveion Cason, Brian Calhoun), Detroit must have been awfully down on Jones.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says that Joel Segal, the agent for free-agent wideout Bryant Johnson, told him that he expects Johnson to sign with a team soon. He didn’t name names, but the Cardinals, who draft Johnson in the first round in 2003, are not one of those teams.

More Dwayne Robertson trade talks emerge. Robertson doesn’t fit the Jets’ 3-4 scheme (just like LB Jonathon Vilma, who was shipped to New Orleans) and will count $11 million against their cap this year. Denver will have to check out Robertson’s knee first, which some say is a bone-on-bone condition. But if that’s the case, consider it a done deal. Mike Shanahan never met a retread on the defensive line that he didn’t like.

This isn’t surprising, but expect Shaun Alexander to get cut soon by the Seahawks. There were rumors that he would turn into a bum after he got his big deal following the 2005 season, and injuries and ineffectiveness have proven that to be true. Alexander looks like he is running on the beach. With the addition of Julius Jones, he’ll be out the door sooner rather than later.

The 49ers have released Trent Dilfer. Dilfer would make a nice backup somewhere, but his starting days are long gone. Did they ever begin? He won a Super Bowl, so maybe so. Then again, I don’t know many Super Bowl winners that get replaced the following year by Elvis Grbac.

ESPN.com “Hashmarks” writer Matt Mosley says he knows “for a fact” that the Rams love Ohio State LB/DE tweener Vernon Gholston, but not enough to take him with the second overall pick. Perhaps a trade down from the two slot? Only if a team loves Boston College QB Matt Ryan and feels the Falcons will nab him at #3. And with Joey Harrington, Chris Redman and D.J. Shockley as the only QB’s on the roster, that’s a very big possibility.

You can always find more sports in our Off The Record blog.

Before joining the Steelers family, Cope was a widely read freelancer for Sports Illustrated reporting on such iconic figures as Howard Cosell and Roberto Clemente. He later moved onto to television at the request of a station manager, before being hired by a franchise that had not yet seen much success in a nearly 50-year history.

Cope along with a certain fair haired quarterback from Louisana Tech made their respective debuts with the Steelers on September 20, 1970, and it took only two seasons before the once pride less team became arguably the greatest dynasty in professional football history.

During this time Cope developed a relationship with the fans of Pittsburgh that rivaled none, delighting fans with his “yinzer” accent and quirky catchphrases that only he could get away with using. His countless “yoi’s” and “double yoi’s” as well as his classic music video will live on throughout the history of the Steelers as the turning point. A turning point from a baseball town to a football town, it was a turning point that gave the city and fans an identity.

“I guess sometimes in the football business we all take ourselves too seriously and Myron never let anybody do that, so he had that knack for sort of reminding us of what business we were in,” Art Rooney once said of the 5′4″ broadcasting icon.

His contributions also ranged to five books, none entirely about the Steelers, the prevalence of the term “the Immaculate Reception” and most of all his creation of the “Terrible Towel.” The towel was original and has not been done better in more than 30 years, but the truly significant fact about this favorite dish rag is that in 1996, Cope donated his ownership of the trademarks to the Allegheny Valley School. Over $1 million has been raised to support this institution caring for over 900 physically and mentally disabled children.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made, but expect nothing short of a remembrance rivaling the man who hired him, Art Rooney. Steeler nation will genuinely mourn grieve after this loss and reminisce as this is the end of an era. In Pittsburgh his passing will be taken as a loss of royalty because when it comes to the Steel City, Myron Cope is as close as you can come to being a king.