Bears’ Mike Martz aiming for ASU job?
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 08:05am EST
Bears Mike Martz aiming for ASU job?
Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz worked at Arizona State University from 1983 to 1991 as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach as well as the offensive coordinator before taking his first NFL job with the Los Angeles Rams in 1992 as the quarterbacks coach. The word from the Arizona Republic is that Martz is interested in returning to the university, this time as the head coach.
ASUs current head coach, Dennis Erickson, will be sent packing after five seasons, and Martzs contract ends with the Bears at seasons end, having turned down an extension offered by the Bears this offseason, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The 60-year-old Martz has had his work cut out for him this year with the 7-4 Bears after losing starting quarterback Jay Cutler(notes) for a chunk of the season and now relying on third-year QB Caleb Hainie, who went undrafted out of Colorado State in 2009. Martz served as the head coach to the St. Louis Rams from 2000-2005, earning a record of 53-32 and an NFC championship along the way.
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Texans also put in a call to QB David Garrard
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 07:36am EST
Texans also put in a call to QB David Garrard
The Houston Texans signed veteran Jake Delhomme(notes) Tuesday to be the backup to rookie T.J. Yates(notes) after starters Matt Schaub(notes) and Matt Leinart(notes) both went down for the rest of the season with injuries.
Another quarterback that got a call from the team is David Garrard(notes), who was unceremoniously sliced from the roster of the Jacksonville Jaguars after nine seasons of work there. Unfortunately for him, he is still recovering from back surgery and cant play just yet.
"You know every quarterback thats gone down? Pretty much every team has called," Garrard told SiriusXM NFL Radio Tuesday, according to ProFootballTalk. "They had me on flights ready to come out [saying,] ‘Well, can he rehab here. Every last one of them. And Ive had to say ‘no every time. I dont even know if this is a record of how many quarterbacks have gone down in one season but for me to be sitting out here and not to be able to play? Ive never not been able to play but theres nothing I can do. Im good right now at getting in and out of chairs and helping my wife around the house but running around, throwing, and getting hit? Im just not in that position at this time."
Garrard went on to say that hes a few weeks away from being able to pass a physical, which pretty much means hes a non-factor this season.
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Nets looking to trade Brook Lopez for Dwight Howard?
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 07:12am EST
Nets looking to trade Brook Lopez for Dwight Howard?
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard(notes) can opt to become a free agent next summer and the general consensus is that hell do just that. In case the Magic want to unload Howard now and move on to the next stage in their history, the New Jersey Nets are ready to offer center Brook Lopez(notes) and two first-round picks for him, according to ESPN.
The Nets make a move to Brooklyn before the 2012-13 season gets underway and the team would like to do it with the kind of star power point guard Deron Williams(notes) and Howard bring, the site notes. Williams can opt out of his contract at the close of this season, but the Nets are hoping that adding someone like Howard would entice him to stick around.
To help make the deal, sources tell ESPN that the Nets would even "take back the contract of Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu(notes), who has three seasons left on his contract worth just under $35 million."
The Los Angeles Lakers are also interested in trading for Howard, the site notes.
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Seahawks WR Sidney Rice sitting out Thursday’s game
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 06:56am EST
Seahawks WR Sidney Rice sitting out Thursdays game
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice(notes) suffered his second head injury in three games Sunday and "isnt going to make it back for Thursdays game" against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the Seattle Times.
"We have to take care of him," said head coach Pete Carroll, the Times reports. "Theres not a helmet that he could put on his head that he could play with this weekend."
Rice, of course, was signed this offseason to team up with the teams big receiving surprise of 2010: Mike Williams. As the Washington Post points out, the pair have been a disappointment, with a combined three touchdowns and 46 catches this season.
"Rice came up woozy after making a diving attempt for a pass across the middle in Sundays 23-17 loss" to the Washington Redskins, the Post notes. Neither Williams nor Rice had a catch in the game.
The Times has it that Rices replacement will be Ben Obomanu(notes), who has 28 receptions for 295 yards and two touchdowns this season.
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Free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson to make decision next week?
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 06:30am EST
Free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson to make decision next week?
The top free-agent starting pitcher in the market, lefty C.J. Wilson(notes), was wooed by the Miami Marlins on Monday with a fancy lunch and a tour of the teams new facilities given by team owner Jeffrey Loria, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Wilsons agent, Bob Garber, told the paper that his client will "probably" make a decision next week when baseballs annual winter meetings roll around in Dallas.
However, the Marlins face stiff competition for Wilsons services in the Los Angeles Angels since Wilson grew up in Southern California. He met with the Angels last week and SI.com reports that he asked the team for a contract worth $100 million.
The Post notes that "Garber also has met with the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees" and that Wilson "has not ruled out returning" the American League champion Texas Rangers.
The 31-year-old Wilson has gone 41-35 in his career with a 3.60 ERA. In the last two seasons, his only ones as a starter, hes 31-15 with a 3.14 ERA in 67 starts.
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Reds’ Brandon Phillips getting close to extension?
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 06:10am EST
Reds Brandon Phillips getting close to extension?
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips(notes) tweeted Tuesday night that he had just spoken to his agent and "it feels good to know that were moving in the right direction to make me a #Red4Life."
However, according to Reds GM Walt Jocketty, the deal isnt imminent. "I think its still a ways to go," Jocketty said, MLB.com reports. "Were still hopeful to get something done. Were glad he feels that way."
The Reds exercised a $12 million option in late October to keep Phillips for 2012 but the hope, from it appears both sides, is to keep him around for a lot longer than that. The 30-year-old snagged his first Silver Slugger award this past season while batting .300 with 18 home runs and 82 RBIs. He also earned his third Gold Glove.
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Tigers interested in Martin Prado and Maicer Izturis?
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 05:55am EST
Tigers interested in Martin Prado and Maicer Izturis?
The Detroit Tigers are looking to make some deals this offseason and have Atlanta Braves third baseman Martin Prado(notes) at the top of their list, according to Fox Sports.
Right behind Prado, though, is Los Angeles Angels infielder Maicer Izturis(notes), sources tell Fox, to help fill the crucial holes for Detroit: second base, third base and the leadoff spot.
The 31-year-old, switch-hitting Izturis "has filled all of those roles over an eight-year career," Fox notes, but this season marked the first time in his career he played more than 120 games in a major-league season. Fox notes, though, that the Tigers have Ryan Raburn(notes), Brandon Inge(notes) and Don Kelly(notes) to share time with Izturis if he cant play every game.
Next year is the final year of Izturis deal and hes scheduled to make $3.8 million, the site notes. Last year, he hit .276 with 35 doubles and five homers in 122 games.
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Nene looking to sign with a contender
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 05:50am EST
Nene looking to sign with a contender
Nene has spent his entire nine-year NBA career playing for the Denver Nuggets, is married to a Colorado native, and plans to retire to the Centennial State when he eventually stops playing pro ball, but none of that is going to help him stick with the team, according to Yahoo! Sports Marc J. Spears.
"I learned last season that this was a business," Nene told Spears. "No matter how nice you are to people, no matter how nice people are to you, this is a business. I did my best for the team and they waited and waited to extend me. I was like, ‘Oh, OK, all these years playing good, doing your best and they still test you. Thats not about family, love and somebody liking you. Its a business."
According to Spears, before the lockout occurred this summer, the Nuggets offered the 6-11 Brazilian a four-year, $50 million contract extension, which he would have taken during the season but "felt disrespected because the Nuggets waited so long."
So hes opting to be a free agent and wants to sign with a team that is likely to contend for a title, Spears notes. And there should be plenty of folks interested in signing the man who averaged 14.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and one blocked shot per game last season.
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Celtics trying to snag Chris Paul by dealing Rajon Rondo?
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 05:44am EST
Celtics trying to snag Chris Paul by dealing Rajon Rondo?
The word on Tuesday was that the Boston Celtics werent shopping 25-year-old point guard Rajon Rondo(notes) but just listening to offers for him. Things have apparently changed.
Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Celtics GM Danny Ainge is "aggressively" pursuing deals for Rondo and the Indiana Pacers "have emerged as an intriguing suitor" for him.
A preliminary framework for a deal has been discussed, Wojnarowski reports, but a third team needs to be involved in order to make it happen. Sources tell Wojnarowski that the "Celtics are likely trying to gather the necessary pieces to make a bid for Ainges ultimate target: New Orleans point guard Chris Paul(notes)."
Rondos name has come up in discussions across the past few trade deadlines and NBA drafts, and the Boston front office has long been divided over Rondo, Wojnarowski reports.
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Canadiens’ Andrei Markov returning Wednesday?
November 30, 2011
Wed Nov 30 05:39am EST
Canadiens Andrei Markov returning Wednesday?
When the Montreal Canadiens take the ice against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night, there may be a fella in the lineup who hasnt been there for more than year.
Defenseman Andrei Markov(notes) slammed into Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal(notes) in early November of 2010, re-injured his right knee, and then had surgery on it on Dec. 8, the Montreal Gazette reports. Now he has traveled with the team to California and might be in the lineup Wednesday night, the paper notes.
"I dont know if Wednesday will be the day," head coach Jacques Martin said, according to the Gazette, "but were getting closer."
Markov rejoined his teammates at practices last week. "Were able to have some good, intense practices this week," Martin said, the Gazette reports. "Markov can get into some grunt work — competing in 1-on-1s, 2-on-2s. Were going in the right direction."
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