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

Today's Top NFL Rumors


Marvin Harrison eyeing Eagles?

After the two sides couldn't agree on a restructured contract, WR Marvin Harrison asked the Colts to release him, a league source said Sunday night. As much as the team would rather not -- and Colts president Bill Polian acknowledged Sunday that it's a tricky situation -- Harrison is a luxury that Indianapolis can no longer afford. Now that Harrison has declined to restructure his contract, the Colts have little choice but to let him and his $13.4 million salary-cap number go. It will mark the end of an illustrious 13-year career in Indianapolis, where Harrison and QB Peyton Manning formed one of the greatest quarterback-receiver tandems in NFL history. Already the speculation about where Harrison will land is beginning. For starters, Harrison is determined to continue playing. A logical landing spot would be the receiver-needy Philadelphia Eagles, where Harrison would be reunited with his former Syracuse teammate, QB Donovan McNabb, while getting to play in the city where he lives.
NFL.com


Beanie a Brown?

Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells is a player the Browns are considering with the No. 5 overall pick, and his solid workout at the NFL Scouting Combine Sunday probably did nothing to dissuade them. Wells, (6-1, 235) didn't run the 40 as fast he had hoped -- a 4.59 -- but several coaches and scouts said that's about what you'd expect for a player his size. What impressed was his 10'-8" in the broad jump -- second-best at any position at the Combine so far. Scouts said he also had a good vertical jump, although results were not immediately available.
Cleveland Plain Dealer


Titans up Haynesworth offer

There's still plenty of work to be done, but at least the Titans and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth are continuing dialogue, just like they said they would. The Titans and Haynesworth's agent, Chad Speck, met here Saturday and one person familiar with the talks described them as "productive." As expected, the Titans upped their four-year, $36 million offer. Haynesworth is looking for an annual average more than the $12.3 million Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is getting from the contract he signed last year. Although Haynesworth is expected to test free agency, the Titans are going to keep trying to re-sign him until the market opens Friday. The fact that both sides are in a positive mood is a good sign. Haynesworth sincerely wants to stay in Nashville, and if the Titans make a good faith effort -- and a good offer -- I still think there's a chance he does.
Tennessean


Cards, Warner far apart on deal

The Cardinals and the agent for Kurt Warner appear to be creeping toward agreement on a new contract, but there remains significant ground to cover before free agency starts on Friday. General Manager Rod Graves and Warner's agent, Mark Bartelstein, spoke several times at the NFL Scouting Combine in the past few days, and it appears the gap between their points of view have narrowed, at least a little. Bartelstein is believed to be asking for a deal that put Warner among the top five highest paid quarterbacks in the league, an average of $12 million to $16 million or so. The Cardinals would like to stay in the $10 million range.
Arizona Republic


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Today's Top NBA Rumors


Celtics hope to sign Moore

The Celtics are hoping to fill their need for a big man by winning the Mikki Moore sweepstakes. Moore's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed the team has offered the center a contract, and said several other teams have done the same thing, although he wouldn't divulge their names. Moore is expected to make his decision today after clearing waivers and becoming an unrestricted free agent. "A lot of teams are very excited about him, so it's a tough decision for Mikki," said Bartelstein.
Boston Globe


Knicks, Marbury to talk before arbitration

With the arbitration hearing between Stephon Marbury and Knicks brass still set for tomorrow in New York to dispute his $400,000 fine, the Knicks' point guard and Donnie Walsh are planning to meet privately, man to man, before the legal battle. According to a person familiar with the situation, the two will go face to face to see if they can work out a buyout settlement and avoid the legal hearing altogether. Marbury has already offered to give back $1 million of his remaining salary and drop his appeal on the $400,000 fine he got for allegedly refusing to play in Detroit. The players' association spent the weekend preparing for the hearing, in which coach Mike D'Antoni will testify. With the trading deadline over, Walsh has no reason to keep Marbury aboard. Marbury will take his $1 million giveback off the table March 1, when he'd no longer be eligible to be on a playoff roster. Marbury has told The Post the Celtics have given him a verbal commitment to sign him as a free agent.
New York Post


Agent: NBA's system broken

The N.B.A.'s system is broken, David Falk says, and fixing it will require radical measures that almost guarantee a standoff in 2011, when the collective bargaining agreement expires. "I think it's going to be very, very extreme," Falk said, "because I think that the times are extreme." How extreme? Falk said he believed Stern, the commissioner, would push for a hard salary cap, shorter contracts, a higher age limit on incoming players, elimination of the midlevel cap exception and an overall reduction in the players' percentage of revenue. And, Falk said, Stern will probably get what he wants. "The owners have the economic wherewithal to shut the thing down for two years, whatever it takes, to get a system that will work long term," he said in an extensive interview to discuss his new book. "The players do not have the economic wherewithal to sit out one year."
New York Times


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Today's Top NHL Rumors


Crosby-Ovechkin feud brewing?

There were plenty of post-game questions this afternoon about the verbal jabbering between the Caps and the Penguins. The spicy chatter continued after the game, with Donald Brashear, for example, saying "we might face them down the road in the playoffs, so we want to put in their minds that they can't beat us." Even better, Sidney Crosby was asked by Washington Post consultant Stephen Ball whether Alex Ovechkin's celebratory antics ever cross the line. "I don't like it personally, but that's him," Crosby said. "And like it or lump it, that's what he does. Some people like it, some people don't. Personally, I don't like it, but you know what, he's a good player." NBC's Pierre McGuire, situated between the benches, suggested on air that some of the Capitals' "lip service" directed toward Crosby in particular was excessive, though he was unable to get more specific, presumably due to FCC regulations. After the game, Crosby was asked about the words thrown in his direction from the Caps; "that's always the case," he said. "You know, it doesn't change from team to team." Crosby was also asked about his second-period shoving match with Ovechkin; "I don't know, I was skating to the bench and he pushed me from behind so I just gave him a shot back," Crosby said. "That's hockey, and he likes to run around these days, so that was it."
Washington Post


Why Flyers won't get Bouwmeester

The Flyers have expressed interest in Jay Bouwmeester, according to several sources, but the level of interest has to be weighed against a team's needs and what can and can't be done in a trade. There was a time when the Flyers were able to go after a guy and get him, no matter what it took. The salary cap changes that, and what they want to do and what they can do are very different things. The Panthers have told all callers that they won't take salary back in a trade, that they want picks and prospects. I Florida refuses to take salary back, the Flyers are out of the mix. If they will take salary back, they will also want picks and a prospect. Scottie Upshall's name has come up in the rumor mill. So has Joffrey Lupul's. Upshall is a restricted free agent at the end of the season and Lupul goes to $4.25 million for the next 4 years.
Philadelphia Inquirer


Stars shopping for defenseman

Dallas co-GMs Les Jackson and Brett Hull want to bring in a rental blueliner for the playoffs. They've already spent $55 million and had to suck up some of bad boy Sean Avery's salary after his antics. Owner Tom Hicks might not want to foot the bill for a move. Who's available: LW Jere Lehtinen.
Toronto Sun


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Today's Top MMA Rumors


White: Corner man greased St-Pierre

UFC president Dana White tells the Canadian Press that while Georges St-Pierre was not trying to cheat, his cornerman Phil Nurse did when applying vaseline on St-Pierre at UFC 94 "St-Pierre vs. Penn 2" on Jan. 31. "I think he absolutely, positively knew that he was rubbing grease on him." White said on Friday during the UFC 95 weigh-ins. "I do. Nobody can tell me different. I watched the tape a million times." White compared the greasing incident to boxer Antonio Margarito's illegal tactic against Miguel Cotto on Jan. 24. Margarito was found before the fight to have inserted hardened gauze pads in his handwraps. Margarito and his trainer were revoked of their licenses. White doesn't think St-Pierre should be punished but has suggested that Nurse should face disciplinary action.
mmafighting.com