Today's Top Sports Rumors......

Today's Top NBA Rumors

Surgeon: Amare's eye may need more work

Retinal surgeon Dr. Pravin Dugel first saw Suns star Amare Stoudemire on Thursday night on a referral from team ophthalmologist Jay Schwartz, who examined Stoudemire's right eye that afternoon. Dugel said Stoudemire's vision was disturbed as badly as 20/50 and he had blood in his eye. It was clear he had a "very large" retinal detachment on the nasal side. The ragged tears indicated they were caused by trauma. Stoudemire was struck near his eye Wednesday while fouling Al Thornton but that was not a sole cause. The largest detachments were at the top of his eye and would have worsened in days, Dugel said. The eye must heal itself and could require more surgery and vision correction. The eight-week prognosis for a return to physical activity is loose, considering his job.
Arizona Republic

Bosh denies Bulls rumor

A report this week that Chicago was Chris Bosh's most-favored destination when he becomes a free agent was denied with a simple one-word answer from a source close to the Raptors' franchise player yesterday: "No." Bosh himself laughed it off. He's heard it before. As the hype around the 2010 free-agent period builds Bosh has now been linked to New York, Cleveland, Miami, Detroit and Chicago, though none of the reports have been verified.
The Globe and Mail

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Today's Top NFL Rumors

Door open for Plaxico's return?

At the end of the 2004 season, Plaxico Burress didn't find as many suitors or as much money as he wanted on the free-agent market. The next season, with plenty to prove, Burress tied a career-high in touchdowns and came within two catches of his best output for receptions. Two years ago, when he turned 30 and realized he wasn't going to play forever, Burress showed up early (for him) to the Giants' offseason workouts, started taking better care of his body and played through ankle, knee and shoulder injuries on the way to the Super Bowl. This year, after shooting a hole in his leg, Burress is down again and needs to prove himself once more. The motivation to get back up, according to his coach, is apparently back. "I know one aspect of it and Plaxico's been always solid about that. I know he has talked to (wide receivers coach) Mike Sullivan about it -- 'If I only can get back on the field, I want to be the kind of player that I can be,'" Tom Coughlin said Friday during his annual press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine. There are still a lot of things that must fall into place before that happens: Burress has to avoid jail time on charges of illegal possession of a firearm. He must dodge a lengthy suspension by the NFL. And his requests for a trade, which were made last week via an e-mail from his agent to the entire league, have to be withdrawn if he wants to remain a happy member of the Giants.
Newark Star-Ledger

Browns interested in Giants RB

Browns coach Eric Mangini conceded that Giants free-agent running back Derrick Ward is a player on his radar screen. "Yeah, he's a guy that we'd look at it. I can tell you we're looking at all the free agents," Mangini said.
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Boldin gives Cardinals deadline

For the past couple days, I heard receiver Anquan Boldin's willingness to re-sign with the team came with an expiration date. Boldin told XTRA-910's Mike Jurecki today that the deadline is Tuesday. By then, Boldin wants a serious offer from Cardinals. If he doesn't get one, he wants to be traded. That's part of the message Rosenhaus' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, gave to GM Rod Graves in a meeting on Thursday.
Arizona Republic

Agent: Warner to play in '09

The Bears could have their final shot at Kurt Warner, as unlikely as that scenario is. That's if the two-time MVP makes it to free agency, which opens next Friday. Warner definitely will return to football in 2009, his agent Mark Bartelstein told the Sun-Times. Expectations are that Warner will return to the Cardinals, who according to the Arizona Republic already have made an offer to him.
Chicago Sun Times

Teams that might take Vick

What team will take on Michael Vick? The first idea that comes to mind would be teams with strong leadership at the top and that have a role for him, maybe outside of being a full-time quarterback. The Dolphins, with their "wildcat" formation and their development of the old single-wing formation make some sense. Bill Parcells can handle the media attention and help Vick get his career moving once again. So teams that have a role and a willingness to take a chance are at the top of the list. Dallas can expand its offense and make him a part of a form of "wildcat" and use him to help make some big plays. The key here is to understand that this Michael Vick will be humbled, he will be willing to play any role and willing to do whatever it takes to get back playing the sport he loves. So don't think in terms of a starting quarterback job; think in terms of coming in and helping a team and having someone in ownership or the head coach or GM chair who can help shield the media attention and allow Vick get back to football. I think St. Louis, which is in need of playmakers and knows what he can do because its GM, Billy Devanney, was with Vick in Atlanta and knows the player and the person, could be a landing spot. Tampa might make some sense, but from what I'm hearing, the Bucs are committed to drafting a quarterback and finally putting a face on their franchise. That doesn't bode well for Vick. Minnesota might make some sense, but it would have to have a specific plan on offense. Vick proved one thing in Atlanta, that he's not a west coast quarterback. The Raiders make some sense. They love speed, and Tom Cable knows Vick from his days in Atlanta. He could be a good change-of-pace quarterback and specialty player with JaMarcus Russell. Buffalo is at a crossroads at quarterback. The Bills need Trent Edwards to stay healthy and be the Trent Edwards of the first four weeks of the season. They have an owner who's not afraid to take chances and is willing to do what it takes to win. The 49ers, as mentioned above, seem to have no interest in Vick because of his off-the-field issues, which is easy to understand. But if the 49ers think they're going to win with Shawn Hill for the long term, they're mistaken.
National Football Post

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Today's Top MLB Rumors

Where will Hudson play in LA?

The Dodgers are on the verge of another bargain-bin addition, agreeing on a one-year deal with three-time Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson on Friday, according to baseball sources. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was pending because Hudson had to take a physical. Terms of the deal weren't immediately available, but MLB.com reported that it was worth $3.4 million and had incentive clauses that could raise its total value to $8 million. What this means for the 23-year-old Blake DeWitt remains unclear. If the Dodgers fail to re-sign Manny Ramirez, they could move third baseman Casey Blake to left field and DeWitt to third. If Ramirez returns, DeWitt probably will play off the bench or, more likely, be sent to triple-A Albuquerque.
Los Angeles Times

Why Red Sox are unpopular in Japan

When Junichi Tazawa walks around the baseball fields here, there is no giant pack of Japanese reporters, as there was in 2007 when Daisuke Matsuzaka's every move was chronicled. Perhaps that's because Tazawa has yet to garner the same intense national pride and fan base. He has yet to do anything, really. Except maybe drive a small wedge between the Red Sox and their newly discovered talent pool in Japan. With the signing of Takashi Saito this offseason, the Sox have four Japanese pitchers on their 40-man roster, including Tazawa. He is the youngest and most controversial, given that he eschewed the national draft in Japan to sign with an amateur league before coming to the Sox this winter.
Boston Globe

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Today's Top NHL Rumors

Coyotes to deal Jokinen & Morris?

Though he has never appeared in a playoff game in an NHL career that began in 1997-98, it's expected Phoenix Coyotes center Olli Jokinen will be dealt. And look for the Coyotes to try to peddle defenseman Derek Morris, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Morris wants a multi-year pact, but the Coyotes are offering one year.
Toronto Sun

Red Wings looking for goalie help?

Earlier this week, Detroit GM Ken Holland said he would not be "looking outside the organization" for goaltending help. But with the struggling Chris Osgood staying home for a mental break and the recall of Jimmy Howard, stay tuned to whether Holland changes his mind.
Toronto Sun

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Today's Top College Rumors......

Why Pitt RB may drop in draft

LeSean McCoy is feeling sick, and it has nothing to do with his decision to leave Pitt with two years of eligibility remaining. To be sure, he felt bad enough when he publicly declared in November that he intended to return for his junior season with the Panthers, then changed his mind five weeks later. But maybe not as bad as he felt yesterday, or since Monday, for that matter. "Not very good timing," McCoy said. The illness caused McCoy to lose 10 pounds -- he weighed in at 198 at the combine -- and likely will prevent him from taking part in the 225-pound bench-press drill because he feels so weak. But he said he wants to compete in all the other drills when the running backs work out with the quarterbacks and wide receivers tomorrow at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Texas Tech fudged Crabtree's height

I thought he'd be taller. Michael Crabtree was supposed to be 6 feet 3 after all. That's what Texas Tech listed him at. He measured 6-1. Well, 6-1.25 if you want to get technical about it, and 215 pounds worth of a well-rounded athlete. He wasn't an overly verbose interview, which might be a bad thing if interview skills had anything at all to do with the outcome of a football game. He certainly looked the part of a playmaker even if he's not quite as tall as expected.
Seattle Times

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Today's Top Rumors in Boxing/MMA

De La Hoya seriously considering retirement

Boxer Oscar De La Hoya is strongly considering retirement, but isn't ready to pull the trigger on his career just yet. "I'm still confused," De La Hoya said Friday in a lengthy telephone interview from his home in San Juan, Puerto Rico. "I'm torn between saying, 'It's over. 'Bye. I don't have it anymore,' and knowing if I'll be able to live with that. It's a tough decision, not easy at all." De La Hoya, 36, is less than three months removed from his one-sided Dec. 6 loss to Manny Pacquiao, when his corner called off the fight after the Filipino star battered the "Golden Boy" for eight rounds. In the seconds after the fight ended, De La Hoya found his former trainer, Freddie Roach, who directed Pacquiao's victory and had characterized De La Hoya as being too old. "You were right, Freddie," De La Hoya told Roach. "I don't have it anymore." De La Hoya revealed Friday that dramatic moment was followed by two others -- in the dressing room, where his wife, Millie, held him close and told him, "Honey, that's it," and at the hospital where his Golden Boy Promotions business partner and close friend Richard Schaefer urged him to take "no more punishment."
Los Angeles Times

Franklin vs Silva set for UFC 99

Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (24-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and former PRIDE title-holder Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1 MMA, 2-4 UFC) have agreed to meet at UFC 99, an event that takes place June 13 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. A source close to one of the competitors told MMAjunkie.com the fight has been agreed upon, but not signed, and both competitors are open to doing it at a catch-weight between 185 and 205 pounds.The source also said the Franklin-Silva fight is expected to take the night's co-main event slot, possibly under a headline bout between UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn and top contender Kenny Florian.

Silva signed with the UFC in 2007 after a long and successful run in PRIDE. Returning to the UFC for the first time since a UFC 25 loss to Tito Ortiz in 2000, Silva faced Chuck Liddell at UFC 79 in late 2007. He suffered a unanimous-decision loss, but Silva rebounded for a dominating 36-second knockout of Keith Jardine five months later. Silva most recently fought at UFC 92 in December, where he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Quinton Jackson.After the fight, Silva said he was planning to drop to the middleweight division, a weight class Franklin recently left. Franklin returns to competition for the first time since a UFC 93 main-event loss to Dan Henderson. Henderson won a split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28) over Franklin, who was competing for the second time since he moved from middleweight to light heavyweight last year. The move came after two losses to current 185-pound champ Anderson Silva. Franklin suffered a deep eye poke in the final minute of the Henderson fight and was diagnosed with a severely scratched cornea. As we reported last week, he underwent surgery to remove scar tissue that had accumulated near the injured area of his right eye and near the area where the eyelid meets the cheek. He's expected to be fully healed well in time for the June event.

UFC 99 marks the UFC's first-ever trip to Germany. While the UFC has yet to announce the event or any match-ups for the fight card, MMAjunkie.com first reported earlier this week that UFC lightweight Spencer Fisher (22-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has agreed to meet Caol Uno (27-11-4 MMA, 3-3-1 UFC), who returns to the UFC for the first time in nearly nine years, at the June event. Marcus Davis is also expected to be part of UFC 99. But despite reports putting Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic on the card, the Croatian fighter is still in negotiations with multiple organizations, including the UFC.