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

Today's Top NFL Rumors


Redskins' top three free-agent targets

The Washington Redskins plan to pursue Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth if he becomes a free agent tomorrow -- though it appears their salary cap situation might prevent them from signing the Pro Bowl performer -- and hope to reach a contract agreement with cornerback DeAngelo Hall before the market opens, NFL sources said yesterday. The Redskins also have significant interest in Dallas defensive end Chris Canty, according to league sources, who would be a far less expensive alternative to Haynesworth, and are seeking upgrades along the offensive line, though likely only by pursuing second-tier free agents.
Washington Post


Ravens unsure of signing Lewis

General manager Ozzie Newsome said the Ravens are continuing negotiations with Ray Lewis but he doesn't know whether the team can re-sign the Pro Bowl linebacker before the start of free agency tomorrow. It is believed Lewis, an original Raven who was drafted in the first round in 1996 along with offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, wants to test the free-agent market to gauge his worth. This would mark the first time in his 13-year career that he would become a free agent. The Jets, who are expected to show interest in Lewis and Bart Scott, freed up $6million in salarycap room when they released wide receiver Laveranues Coles yesterday.
Baltimore Sun


Texans in market for quarterback

Once the Texans trade quarterback Sage Rosenfels to Minnesota for a fourth-round draft choice Friday, they will have to find a replacement. In a perfect world, Matt Schaub will stay healthy and start -- and finish -- 16 games. Based on what we've seen of Schaub in his first two seasons, the odds of that happening are miniscule because he has been out of the lineup four times -- three because of injuries and one because of illness. Candidates to replace Rosenfels may be Detroit's Dan Orlovsky, Chicago's Rex Grossman, Cincinnati's Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia and Denver's Patrick Ramsey. A personal favorite would be Tennessee's Chris Simms. If the Texans signed him, he could be reunited with his best friend from the University of Texas, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Then we could write some more about the matching tattoos they got in Austin. Simms, though, is expected to re-sign with the Titans. Too bad.
Houston Chronicle


Brooks shaken by Bucs releases

In a sweeping move designed to give their younger players a chance to play, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday released five veterans including linebacker Derrick Brooks. Brooks, reached by telephone, clearly was shaken by the news. "Right now, like all of you guys, I'm just trying to get a feel for it all, trying to come to grips with it," Brooks told the Tampa Tribune. "I don't even know what to think. I'll speak to all of you guys (Thursday)." He struggled near the end of last season but that was after a hamstring strain slowed him and limited his ability to play at the level he had become accustomed to.
Tampa Tribune


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Today's Top MLB Rumors


Three teams interested in Pedro

Free-agent pitcher Pedro Martinez is staying busy. The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw a simulated game on Tuesday in the Dominican Republic and is on track to start for the country's World Baseball Classic squad in the team's first exhibition game on March 3, according to the Dominican newspaper Hoy. According to the report, Martinez's velocity ranged from 88-92 mph in the 43-pitch outing at Baseball City, a sports complex near Boca Chica. The Dodgers, Pirates and Indians are interested in signing Martinez, but the right-hander has not received an official offer, according to the newspaper.
MLB.com


Dodgers make Manny new offer

The Los Angeles Dodgers made another offer to Manny Ramirez on Wednesday, SI.com confirmed. The Dodgers' latest offer is like their original offer in that it's for $45 million over two years, but the new twist is that Ramirez could opt out after one year. Ramirez would be paid $25 million in 2009 and $20 million next season if he exercises his player option. This proposal may be more enticing for Ramirez because it would give him the ability to become a free agent next winter while allowing him the option of staying two years. It is believed the opt-out was added at Ramirez's reqest. There's another upgrade to this offer, as well. In the Dodgers' original $45 million proposal, he was to be paid $15 million the first year and $22.5 million the second year, with a team option for $22.5 million with a $7.5 million buyout for the third year. Ramirez was initially thought to be seeking a four- or five-year deal, starting at $25 million per season. Ramirez rejected a one-year, $25 million proposal from Los Angeles three weeks ago. The team also offered him salary arbitration in December, but Ramirez turned that down, too.
SI.com


Joba may start Yankee Stadium opener

Joe Girardi hasn't announced his rotation for the season yet, but since Chien-Ming Wang, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain are following ace CC Sabathia to start the spring, it's safe to assume Girardi will open the season that way. That means Burnett, who cost the Yankees $82.5 million, is the No. 3 starter and lines up Chamberlain to open the new Yankee Stadium on April 16. "I talked to him and he said he would take the ball any time," Joe Girardi said of Burnett. Since Chamberlain would work on April 11, he would be in line to start April 16 against the Indians at the Stadium.
New York Post


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Today's Top NBA Rumors


Hamilton unhappy coming off Pistons bench

Rip Hamilton is trying to be the good soldier. He became the sixth man -- although he opposed it -- because he was told it would help the team. But after the Pistons fell to 4-12 with him coming off the bench after Wednesday night's 90-87 loss to the Hornets, he let everyone know that he doesn't think it's working. "The way we've been starting, is the way (Pistons coach Michael Curry) wants it," said Hamilton, who scored 24 points. "I've said I'm happy to come off the bench as long as we're winning. But we're losing. "Something's got to give. I'm all for doing whatever it takes for the team, but coming off the bench with us not winning, something's got to change." And Wednesday night's performance favored his argument. Allen Iverson, who likely would go to the bench if Hamilton were to return to the starting lineup, left with a stiff back 8 minutes into Wednesday's game and didn't return.
Detroit Free Press


Suns approached Heat about Shaq trade

Some post NBA trade deadline nuggets: Before the Shawn Marion trade, Phoenix approached the Heat about the idea of dealing Shaquille O'Neal back to Miami, according to an official directly involved. (The Suns considered moving Shaq because of his $20 million 2009-10 salary.) The Suns discussed taking back what they traded for Shaq -- Shawn Marion (who could have been rerouted by Phoenix to another team) and Marcus Banks. Miami had no interest in reacquiring Shaq. ... The Heat spoke with Portland about Jerryd Bayless and Channing Frye, but the Blazers wanted more than Marion.
Miami Herald


Coaches question Celtics signing Marbury

Sources confirmed yesterday that Stephon Marbury is headed to the Celtics, not that there has been any doubt. And though Doc Rivers still can't talk about him, he did admit he's gotten calls from coaches who think the Celts are crazy to bring the guard on board. Rivers also has received some positive messages, but that didn't stop the media from asking him why the defending champs would want to add a player with such a troubled past. "Because," Rivers said, "we want to be defending champs again next year." The coach let it be known that it won't take three strikes for any new acquisition to be called out. "It's about our locker room," Rivers said. "It always has been and it always will be. If I don't think our locker room's right, it'll get right."
Boston Herald


Suns eyeing Joe Smith

The Suns must add a player to their roster, and March 1 is the deadline for players to be bought out by their current team, sign with another and be eligible for postseason play. General Manager Steve Kerr would not comment on specifics, but said the Suns hope to sign a veteran. If they can't find help there, they'll find it in the developmental league. Oklahoma City's 6-foot-10 Joe Smith is the most likely target of the Suns and other playoff hopefuls now that Boston signed Mikki Moore, who was released by Sacramento.
Arizona Republic


Moore turned down five teams

Less than two years after nobody wanted to play for the Celtics, Mikki Moore turned down Phoenix, New Orleans, Dallas, Utah and Denver to sign with them for a pro-rated portion of the veteran minimum. The 7-footer found trying to repeat with the Celts an attractive proposition. "That, plus my role on this team and a better opportunity, and plus that ring," Moore said after his first workout with the club yesterday. "I'm turning 34 this year (on Nov. 4), so it doesn't come around too much."
Boston Herald


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Today's Top NHL Rumors


Panthers scouting Flyers talent?

Florida Panthers general manager Jacques Martin was in attendance for Wednesday night's game between the Flyers and Kings, which either means the Flyers are very interested in Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, or the Flyers are very interested in Jay Bouwmeester. For the record, Martin said he was in Philadelphia Wednesday night because his Panthers had the night off between games in Boston on Tuesday and New York tonight. What's curious is the fact Martin plans on returning to the Wachovia Center Friday night to see the Flyers play Montreal. Sure sounds like a boss taking inventory before making his next purchase.
Camden Courier-Post


What Leafs want for Kaberle

When Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke claims he must be "blown away" by any offer in order to deal Tomas Kaberle, we now know just how high that asking price will be. In Burke's opinion, any package for Kaberle would have to include, at the very least: 1. A first-round draft pick. 2. A guy who could step in and play for our team right now. 3. A (highly regarded) prospect. Said Burke yesterday: "It would have to be a package like I paid to Edmonton for Chris Pronger." As the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks at the time, Burke paid a hefty price to land Pronger back on July 3, 2006.
Toronto Sun


Wild negotiating with Backstrom

Goaltender Niklas Backstrom planned to speak with his agent Wednesday night to get an update on his current contract situation with the Wild. Backstrom said negotiations are being conducted between the Wild and his agent, Don Baizley. In the last year of his contract, Backstrom can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. If he isn't signed by Wednesday's trade deadline, he's a candidate to be traded because the Wild would risk losing him this summer for no compensation.
Minneapolis Star Tribune


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Today's Top MMA Rumors


Jardine not interested in Evans bout

From MMA Fan House: MDS: Would your friendship with Rashad Evans prevent you from fighting him for the title? Keith Jardine: Absolutely. MDS: Well, let's say you beat Rampage, and then, just talking hypotheticals, maybe you beat the Chuck Liddell-Shogun Rua winner, and Rashad goes on a run, maybe he beats Lyoto Machida and keeps defending his title a couple more times after that, you win a few more fights, and you two establish yourselves as the top two light heavyweights, and Dana White, Joe Silva and Lorenzo Fertitta all sit you down and say they want you to fight Rashad for the title. You'd tell them no? Jardine: You know, a lot of things would have to happen for that to take place. That's a great problem to have. I hope that happens. We'll see what happens then. That'd be a great problem to have.
mmanews.com