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

Today's Top NFL Rumors


Browns interested in Cutler?

On Monday, a league source advised us that the new regime in Cleveland -- known lovingly in league circles as "ManKok" -- would likely be interested in Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler as an alternative to Derek Anderson and/or Brady Quinn.
profootballtalk.com


Bengals want Coles to replace Housh

T.J. Houshmandzadeh's two little girls forecast the future Friday when they were presented with tiny No. 84 Houshmandzadeh jerseys in Seahawks colors upon their arrival via Paul Allen's sea plane. Their daddy said yes to Seattle on Monday and goodbye to a Bengals team he leaves as the third-most prolific receiver ever. "Nothing is going to change," Houshmandzadeh said Monday. "I'm going to line up with either one guy in front of me or two. I'm going to run the route and I'm going to catch the ball. Just like I've done and more. I guarantee it." What's guaranteed is that the Bengals are looking to replace their most consistent third-down receiver with another veteran and they're waiting for long-time Jet Laveranues Coles to fight through the East Coast snow to reach Cincinnati on Tuesday for a visit. A league source said the Bengals reached out to Coles over the weekend and he couldn't get on a flight Sunday.
bengals.com


Why Redskins dumped Taylor

The Washington Redskins yesterday released former Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor after he declined to participate in the offseason workout program at Redskins Park, team and league sources said, ending a brief and unproductive union that cost the team a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft and a sixth-round pick in 2010. Taylor rejected owner Daniel Snyder's request to have a workout clause added to his contract, which would have resulted in the three-time all-pro receiving a bonus, believed to be $500,000, if he took part in most of the conditioning program scheduled to begin March 16 at the complex. Taylor, who makes his year-round home in Miami, would have made $8 million during the final year of his contract next season, not including a $500,000 roster bonus he was scheduled to receive this week. Snyder's insistence about the proposed new contract language surprised Taylor, sources said, especially considering the Redskins and Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, had agreed both sides would honor the final two years of the deal, without any restructuring, before Taylor was traded from Miami to Washington on the first day of training camp last July.
Washington Post


Williams wants quick Cowboys

Roy Williams wants to know what his future holds immediately, so his agent, Jordan Woy, has asked the Dallas Cowboys to either cut or trade the strong safety by today. The Cowboys have made Williams available for trade but the market has been slow, largely because teams believe the club will eventually release him. Williams is scheduled to count $6.6 million against the 2009 salary cap.
Dallas Morning News


Taylor could return to Dolphins

The Dolphins today have no intention of making overtures to Taylor or his agent. The team is eyebrows-deep in locking up new center Jake Grove to a five-year contract and making sure it has enough salary cap space to conduct other business throughout the offseason. Adding a salary like Taylor's is not in the budget and therefore not in Miami's immediate plans, according to an informed team source. But ... Are the Dolphins absolutely, positively shutting the door on Jason Taylor? Is there zero chance he returns to Miami? Did the JT express leave the station last year, with no chance of ever stopping back again? No. There is indeed a scenario under which the Dolphins would welcome Jason Taylor back. By the way, when I asked about Taylor late Monday, I expected the answer to be a quick and decisive, "No thanks," so we could all move on to the next order of business. But that wasn't the answer I got and these next few facts surprised me. First, the idea that Taylor cannot be welcomed back to the Dolphins because he and football czar Bill Parcells had a falling out last year just prior to his trade to Washington is not correct. Taylor, in fact, has talked and spent time with Parcells a couple of times since the trade. Parcells has nothing against Taylor. Secondly, the Dolphins don't dismiss the idea Taylor still has something substantial left in the tank.
Miami Herald


Chargers shopping Cromartie?

On his way to a team-record 10 interceptions in 2007, Antonio Cromartie supplanted Drayton Florence as the Chargers' starting right cornerback. Now their correlation may be coming full circle. According to league sources, the Chargers plan to put Cromartie on the trading block if they can sign Florence as a free agent. fter Cromartie's Pro Bowl campaign in '07, Florence was allowed to leave via free agency. He signed a six-year, $36 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. But he was released last month and notified the Chargers through his agent he would like to return. The sides are talking now, and a deal could be in place this week. Cromartie suffered a serious slide in production in 2008. He injured his hip in the season opener -- which he later called a fracture -- and had just two interceptions. If he is not traded, 2009 is considered a make-or-break year for him with the Chargers. The departure of Cromartie and arrival of Florence would not necessarily mean Florence would regain his starting job. In fact, it appears more likely Antoine Cason would move into that role.
San Diego Union-Tribune


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Today's Top MLB Rumors


Pedro won't settle for Glavine money

Pedro Martinez wants to pitch in the majors this season, but the three-time Cy Young winner prefers retiring to his fishing boat if the alternative is accepting a Tom Glavine-like contract. Glavine, Martinez's former teammate with the Mets, signed with the Braves for a base salary of $1 million.
New York Daily News


Crosby wants out of Oakland

Oakland's lengthy attempts to land a new shortstop came to fruition Monday when the A's signed free-agent Orlando Cabrera to a one-year, $4 million contract. That leaves incumbent Oakland shortstop Bobby Crosby, the 2004 American League Rookie of the Year, without an everyday position. A team source said that there is little chance Crosby could be traded right now, even if the A's were to pick up most or all of his salary, and that Crosby is expected to be a "super sub." Crosby, who spent much of the offseason working on his hitting with Mark McGwire, told The Chronicle, "I've never played anything except shortstop my whole life. Ever." His agent, Paul Cohen, touched base with the A's on Monday, and Crosby hopes the A's can move him.
San Francisco Chronicle


Peavy still interested in Cubs

The Jake Peavy saga began in November and lasted through most of the off-season, leaving Cubs fans wondering if the Padres ace would be in blue pinstripes by Opening Day. It hasn't happened yet, and there's no indication a Peavy deal ever will be consummated. But there's little doubt he's a wanted man in the Cubs' clubhouse. "Love to have him," Ryan Theriot said. "That's definitely the type of player you want on your team." The Cubs are waiting for the Ricketts family to close its purchase of the team before deciding whether to re-explore the possibility of acquiring Peavy. Talks have not resumed since the last day of the winter meetings. But after throwing three shutout innings against the Cubs in San Diego's 4-2 Cactus League victory Sunday -- Peavy's final tuneup before starting for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic -- he still sounded like a man who'd readily leave paradise for Wrigley Field. "Obviously, Chicago was a team that I did have an interest in playing for, and I respect [general manager] Jim Hendry and the organization," he said. "I respect a lot of the players they have and feel like they have a good bunch, and obviously [it's] a great city. [Those] were reasons I identified the Cubs as a team I wanted to be a part of if I had to move on from San Diego."
Chicago Tribune


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Today's Top NBA Rumors


Is end near for Iverson?

Allen Iverson is in the final season of his contract making $20.8 million. I think he could be another Latrell Sprewell, who just walks away though he could play because he doesn't want to deal with the major pay reduction, or change in role or limited playing opportunity. Most GMs I talked to automatically felt someone would take a shot at Iverson. They pointed to the glamour market teams like Miami or New York, most likely. Maybe a one-year deal in a place like that. Iverson probably has a good chance to get a mid-level exception for a year or two, a salary in the $5 million range.
Bulls.com


Suspended Carmelo defied coach

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony has been suspended by the team for tonight's game at Detroit. The team called it an in-game transgression, which occurred in Sunday's game at Indiana. Multiple sources said coach George Karl tried to take Anthony out of the game in the third quarter, but Anthony refused to come out, disrespecting the coach.
Denver Post


Raptors running Bosh out of Toronto

If any team is devising a strategy to run out your best player, it has to be the Toronto Raptors, who now have Chris Bosh playing the biggest and strongest guys with Jermaine O'Neal traded. So this week Bosh was abused by Al Horford's 21 points and 22 rebounds and got knocked around by Brandon Bass Sunday night as the Raptors fell 15 below .500 in the season's major disappointment. Most around the NBA expect the Raptors to put Bosh up for bid thus summer knowing both the Knicks and Pistons, not likely to land LeBron James, could make their major offers for Bosh in 2010.
bulls.com


Lakers, Hornets eyeing Smith

Unconfirmed reports maintain Joe Smith already has one of those wink-wink deals in place to rejoin the Cavs once he tiptoes across the waiver wire. My sources assert the Lakers and Hornets - prepared to commit past this season to Smith - are giving the Cavs stiff competition.
New York Post


Shaq blasts Bosh as 'RuPaul of big men'

After Shaquille O'Neal scored 45 against Toronto on Friday, Raptors star Chris Bosh said O'Neal had benefited from officials ignoring his three-second lane violations. "I heard what Chris Bosh said, and that's strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men," O'Neal said. "I'm going to do the same thing (in their next meeting) I did before -- make him quit. Make 'em quit and complain. It's what I do." O'Neal is the only NBA player other than Stephon Marbury and Bernard King to record 40-point games with four teams. "I warned these guys he can do that," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
Arizona Republic


DC Comics halts Krypto-Nate shirts

Nate Robinson and his Krypto-Nate alter-ego have become such a phenomenon, DC Comics, the originator of Superman, wants a piece of the action, The Post has learned. Two days after the 5-7 Robinson spectacularly won the Slam-Dunk competition during All-Star weekend, the NBA announced plans to release a green Krypto-Nate T-shirt for sale at the NBA Store and NBA.com. One day later, the NBA scrapped its plan because of intellectual property issues with DC Comics, the originator of the Superman comic books. DC Comics' offices are located on Broadway, near the NBA Store. Robinson's Krypto-Nate scheme - designed to topple a red-caped Dwight Howard and his Superman shtick - was too close to home for DC Comics. Kryptonite is the green emerald crystal found on the fictional planet Krypton that weakens Superman. The NBA is now looking to involve DC Comics in future Krypto-Nate endeavors, according to a league source.
New York Post


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Today's Top NHL Rumors


Sharks eyeing Avs' Smyth

There will be an Avalanche deal or two by Wed. - Jordan Leopold the most likely on the way out, and maybe Marek Svatos, too. But nothing yet. The San Jose Sharks did have two scouts at the game last night, though. A little birdie tells me that Sharks underachieving winger Jonathan Cheechoo could possibly be involved in some kind of deal, and this is where Ryan Smyth's name gets interesting.
Denver Post


Blues getting Pronger back?

With the Blues on a three-game winning streak and three points out of a playoff spot, the suspense is building about any moves the team might make. For the second time in three years, Blues left winger Keith Tkachuk, an unrestricted free agent after the season, is at the center of the talk. And, almost like clockwork at the deadline, there is also speculation that the Blues are interested in reacquiring Anaheim defenseman Chris Pronger. The Blues can expect some heavy interest in Tkachuk, who has 18 goals and 18 assists this season, but if the Blues do trade him, it could signal that they're not confident in their playoff chances.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch


Senators likely to deal Kuba

If the Ottawa Senators and Filip Kuba cannot hammer out a contract extension, the defenseman says he will have no issue waiving his no-trade clause by Wednesday's trade deadline. While Kuba said he's "optimistic" that a new deal can be reached, Senators general manager Bryan Murray did not echo those sentiments. It's looking more and more likely that Kuba will be traded to a contender who needs help on the back end.
Sportsnet.ca


Ducks, Kings won't trade stars

Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said Monday he will keep Scott Niedermayer, captain of the 2007 Stanley Cup championship team, and Kings GM Dean Lombardi said he will keep veteran Sean O'Donnell while trying to re-sign him. Murray also indicated he might not deal prized defenseman Chris Pronger. Lombardi also denied reports he will send team goal-scoring leader Alexander Frolov to Pittsburgh for center Jordan Staal.
Los Angeles Times


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Today's Top MMA Rumors


Jardine-Jackson makes no sense

Saturday night's UFC 96 from Columbus, Ohio, is headlined by the match that in some ways makes no sense. Keith Jardine could come out of the show as having beaten three of the most popular champions in the history of the light heavyweight division, and not only not get a title shot but also not even want one. Jardine is looking to play spoiler and eliminate Quinton Jackson as a title contender for training partner and best friend, current light heavyweight king Rashad Evans. That creates a nice little story to sell the match. But it's a rare example of Ultimate Fighting Championship salvaging a show, and in doing so, sacrificing a bigger pay-per-view main event that's already on the table.
Yahoo! Sports


THQ Launches Official Web Site for UFC 2009 Undisputed

UFC 2009 Undisputed is an explosive fighting game that will detail the action, intensity and attitude of a UFC live event. Players will explore a deep roster of more than 80 top fighters in UFC competition across all five weight classes. In addition, they will enter the Octagon surrounded by the sport’s popular commentators, announcers, referees, trainers, Octagon girls and more. Photorealistic models are at the forefront, as players will view amazing ripple effects across the faces and bodies of their fighters from the impact of devastating punches and kicks.
A brand new fighting game engine designed specifically for next generation systems will deliver innovative, responsive and easy-to-play controls that give unparalleled command of fighters, as players take down opponents with a variety of mixed martial arts disciplines like Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In addition, the game’s Create-A-Fighter system will jumpstart the careers of future champions through character customization, while a robust Career Mode will develop a fighter’s attributes and skill sets while fighting to enter the UFC Hall of Fame. Furthermore, players will be able to enhance their UFC 2009 Undisputed gameplay experience through online support, including downloadable content.
UFC 2009 Undisputed is scheduled for release on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in Spring 2009. More information about UFC 2009 Undisputed can be found at www.ufcundisputed.com and www.thq.com.
MMAPAYOUT.com


Pre-sale Date Announced for UFC 99 Tickets in Germany.

Tickets for UFC 99 are scheduled to go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 13. UFC Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets for the big show prior to them being available for public consumption.
Here is the UFC 99 tickets sales schedule:
UFC Fight Club presale: Monday, March 9
UFC Newsletter presale: Wednesday, March 11
General tickets sale: Friday, March 13
MMAMANIA.com