A-League: Adelaide United boost top-two hopes

GettyImagesMarcelo Carrusca celebrates after scoring the only goal against Wellington Phoenix.

Adelaide United boosted their hopes of a top-two finish in the A-League after scraping past Wellington Phoenix 1-0.

• Mariners tighten grip on second

Marcelo Carrusca scored from the spot after 58 minutes to lift Adelaide two points behind Central Coast Mariners in the battle for an automatic final series place.

Perth Glory continue to prop up the table but moved level on points with Melbourne Heart thanks to a late 2-1 victory over Newcastle Jets.

The hosts trailed to a 63rd-minute strike from Adam Taggart, but goals in the final six minutes from Nebojsa Marinkovic and Chris Harold secured a sixth win of the season for the Glory.

Soccer Hot News

No re-vote on Qatar World Cup, says FIFA medical chief

FIFA medical chief Michel D’Hooghe says there will be no re-vote on the host nation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in Qatar.

D’Hooghe was one of the FIFA executive committee members who participated in voting for the host nation of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, and refutes claims of corruption made in The Daily Telegraph last month.

The newspaper claimed to have seen evidence suggesting that former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and his family were paid almost $2million by a firm controlled by a former Qatari football official,

However, D’Hooghe insists that he was not aware of any illegal activity taking place during the voting process.

“Absolutely not. I had no feeling anything was going on then and I still have no feeling that there was corruption during this vote,” he told the Evening Standard. “The voting took place in absolute religious silence, like a conclave to elect the Pope.

“Everybody had to give in his mobile on entering the room. I have done so many elections. There was not much difference with the earlier ones.”

The decision to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar has caused considerable controversy, particularly in view of the nation’s searing summer heat, which could cause the tournament to be rescheduled.

But Belgian D’Hooghe feels there is an element of “sour grapes” in the response of the British press, with England having lost out to Russia in their bid to host in 2018, and stressed that FIFA’s decision is final.

“There will be absolutely no re-vote,” he added. “Some in the English press want that. But it’s not the English press that decide.

“For the British press, whatever we do is never enough. And the feeling in FIFA is that all this British criticism is partly sour grapes.

“In football you win and you lose. If England feel they have not had a World Cup since 1966, then Belgium has never had the World Cup.

“England must not complain. They just had the Olympics (in 2012) and organised it fantastically.”

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Heat down Raptors, lead East for first time all season

Basketball Hot News

Kevin Garnett plans return to Nets lineup early next week

The Brooklyn Nets have been an amazing 12-4 since they lost Kevin Garnett to back spasms, they solidified themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff standings in his absence.

However Brooklyn’s defense has started to falter of late and the Nets will not last long in the postseason without KG.

So it’s a good thing they are getting him back soon, likely early next week.

First came this report from Barbara Marker at Newsday.

Garnett, who has been suffering from back spasms, missed his 16th straight game Sunday night. He hopes to return Saturday against Philadelphia, April 8 at Miami or April 9 at Orlando.

Then her Newsday colleague Rod Boone tweeted this.

#Nets say Andrei Kirilenko is targeting a return midweek and Kevin Garnett is targeting one of #Nets games in Florida next week.—

Rod Boone (@rodboone) March 30, 2014

This is good news for Brooklyn, a team that has seen it’s defense falter some lately and needs its defensive quarterback back.

The Nets are currently the five seed and likely will either get Chicago (the current four seed) or Toronto (the three seed but with a tougher schedule down the stretch than Chicago) in the first round. Either of those would be pretty even series, but with Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko the Nets may well be favorites. This is a team that found its identity going small and since then has won a lot of games and could well advance to the second round of the playoffs if healthy.

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Mike Zimmer: ‘Some flags that come up’ with Manziel

At least one NFL coach doesn't seem impressed with Johnny Manziel. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro Days | Top free agents

It seems that either Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is adamant that Johnny Manziel isn't the right quarterback for when his team picks No. 8 overall in May's draft, or he's sending up one helluva smokescreen.

Though Manziel was praised by just about everybody following his pro day performance last week, Zimmer didn't seem nearly as impressed, calling the workout a "sideshow."

On Monday, Zimmer expanded on his thoughts about Manziel, saying there were red flags that arose during conversations between the former Texas A&M star and the organization.

“We asked him all kinds of questions. ...There are some flags that come up,” Zimmer told 104.9 The Horn in Austin, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “All of the things that happened out in Los Angeles, the commercials and all that stuff; the position of quarterback in the NFL is such an important position and the reason these guys need to be a totally football-minded guy is the pressure of the position and being the face of an NFL team and doing everything right. That's the thing you want to know about him. Will he be into work early every single day? Will be the last to leave? Will he be the guy that is working the hardest to get better?

The Vikings had dinner and a private workout with Manziel the day after his pro day was covered by more than 100 media members and observed by President George H.W. Bush, his First Lady and their dog.

Minnesota certainly could use a franchise quarterback, particularly since nobody on last season's roster (Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel, and Josh Freeman) appears to fit that description.

Either way, Zimmer and the Vikings could have a difficult decision to make if Manziel still is available at No. 8 -- for the record, four of the five CBSSports.com mock drafters predict Manziel will be taken with either No. 4 or No. 5 picks).

“I guess the thing you have to figure out is, is this just another part of the things that happened a couple of years ago after he won the Heisman Trophy or is he just a different person as far as wanting the limelight or just wanting to prove that he can do things the right way,” Zimmer said. “I guess it maybe brings a few questions marks in. Is he going to conform to typically what the NFL is or what everyone else has done before him including what the great players in the game have done before him, or is he going to try to be the celebrity man guy that he was maybe a year-and-a-half ago?”

NFL Hot News

RB Martin expects clearance next week for Bucs



NFL.com's Michael Wesseling has reported that Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin is expecting to gain medical clearance next week, and should be ready to resume football-related activities when the team starts mini-camp on April 22nd. "It's been too long since I've been in the game," Martin said, via Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger. "I can't wait to get back on the field."Expectations were high for Martin in 2013, after rushing for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns during his rookie season in 2012. He was injured six games into the year and placed on Injured Reserve with a torn labrum in his left shoulder in Week 8.



Good news... he's looking like he'll be healthy for the start of the 2014 campaign, and new head coach Lovie Smith has already said that he's going to be their main running back. Bad news... the new offensive staff has also said that they will utilize a more balanced running attack than what the previous regime did under Greg Schiano. So, even if he is their "main running back", the odds of him getting over 300 carries and tallying over 1,400 yards as he did in his rookie season are slim-to-none.Fantasy take... A torn labrum is a rare injury for a running back, so you have to assume it was a freak thing. If Martin is healthy, even if he shares carries, is still a solid RB1. The 49 catches for 472 yards in his rookie year makes him a top 10 fantasy RB in PPR leagues. There's a reason he was drafted in the top 5 picks of most 2013 fantasy drafts. He's a stud.

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Knicks beat Jazz, remain game back of final playoff spot

Basketball Hot News

Kevin Garnett plans return to Nets lineup early next week

The Brooklyn Nets have been an amazing 12-4 since they lost Kevin Garnett to back spasms, they solidified themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff standings in his absence.

However Brooklyn’s defense has started to falter of late and the Nets will not last long in the postseason without KG.

So it’s a good thing they are getting him back soon, likely early next week.

First came this report from Barbara Marker at Newsday.

Garnett, who has been suffering from back spasms, missed his 16th straight game Sunday night. He hopes to return Saturday against Philadelphia, April 8 at Miami or April 9 at Orlando.

Then her Newsday colleague Rod Boone tweeted this.

#Nets say Andrei Kirilenko is targeting a return midweek and Kevin Garnett is targeting one of #Nets games in Florida next week.—

Rod Boone (@rodboone) March 30, 2014

This is good news for Brooklyn, a team that has seen it’s defense falter some lately and needs its defensive quarterback back.

The Nets are currently the five seed and likely will either get Chicago (the current four seed) or Toronto (the three seed but with a tougher schedule down the stretch than Chicago) in the first round. Either of those would be pretty even series, but with Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko the Nets may well be favorites. This is a team that found its identity going small and since then has won a lot of games and could well advance to the second round of the playoffs if healthy.

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Safety Ryan Clark, Redskins agree to one-year deal

Ryan Clark is making a return to Washington. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro days | Top free agents

After eight seasons in Pittsburgh, Ryan Clark is headed back to Washington. The former Steelers safety has agreed to terms on on a one-year deal with the Redskins, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora has reported.

Clark spent two seasons with the Redskins in 2004 and 2005 before signing with Steelers in 2006. Clark said in mid-March that the Redskins decision to let him go is one of the things that motivated him during his eight years in Pittsburgh.

"The Redskins allowing me to walk and signing Adam Archuleta, it let me know, this is how these people see me and this is how they perceive me," Clark told the Washington Post. "And no matter what, my play on the field was kind of fueled by that."

Although he's only agreed to a one-year deal with Washington, Clark that he'd like to play longer than that, "I want to play two more years for sure," he said. "If three is possible, I'd think about it and contemplate it. But I really do want to play two more years."

The 12-year veteran might have lost a slight step over the past few years, but he has been durable. The 34-year-old has started at least 15 games in each of the past five seasons, including 2013 when he started all 16 regular season games for the Steelers.

At least one Redskins fan thinks the addition of Clark was a good move by the team.

Skins did a good thing signing @Realrclark25 #HTTR

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 31, 2014

NFL Hot News

Eagles release WR DeSean Jackson; gang connections reported as one reason for his release



DeSean Jackson is a 27-year-old wide receiver, one of the best in the NFL. And as of Friday morning, one without a job.Eagles head coach Chip Kelly informed Jackson via a phone call that he was being released by the team. His actual release this morning followed a report from NJ.com citing sources close to Jackson and within the Eagles' organization that the move was made because of Jackson's bad attitude, poor work ethic, missing team meetings and, most seriously, Jackson's association with Los Angeles street-gang members who have been connected to homicides.Jackson then released a statement later on Friday, first thanking the Eagles' organization for the time he spent there. Jackson then denied the allegations of gang connections."I would like to address the misleading and unfounded reports that my release has anything to do with any affiliation that has been speculated surrounding the company I keep off of the field," Jackson said. "I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang. I am not a gang member, and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible."I work very hard on and off the field and I am a good person with good values. I am proud of the accomplishments that I have made both on and off the field. I have worked tirelessly to give back to my community and have a positive impact on those in need. It is unfortunate that I now have to defend myself and my intentions. These reports are irresponsible and just not true. I look forward to working hard for my new team."And there is a growing list of teams lining up to become Jackson's new one. Various reports have stated that the Seahawks, 49ers, Jets, Panthers, and the Chiefs, the team headed by Jackson's former coach, Andy Reid, are all interested. And that might be only a partial list.Jackson posted the best numbers of his career in 2013. He caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine scores. Jackson used his speed to register 16 plays of 20 yards or more, third-most in the league.



This is a story that is going to move and change probably long after Jackson signs with another team. Obviously, a bunch of owners want to get their hands on an explosive, productive, No. 1 wide receiver in the prime of his career ... who hasn't been directly tied to any crimes. If you're talented enough -- and Jackson certainly is -- the NFL has a way of overlooking guilt by association as long as the player isn't actually guilty of something. And right now, Jackson is clean for as much as we knowBut, despite Jackson's denials, there has to be something big here. Assuming that Kelly and the Eagles' brass aren't vindictive jerks, they had to have massive reason(s) for cutting a player of this caliber in his prime. No trade, they don't get anything in return for him; the Eagles just wanted to get rid of DeSean Jackson straight away. And that has some of his teammates rather pleased. Eagles center Jason Kelce tweeted Friday: "We just made an extremely unpopular decision, but I couldn't be more excited and happy with where this organization is going."If Jackson's now-former teammates and Kelly just wanted to see him go because he was a malcontent who missed meetings, disrespected authority and didn't work hard, I think they are making a mistake. Those attributes, as annoying as they might be, can be tolerated when Jackson puts up Pro Bowl numbers as he did last season and as he has a history of doing.I think the Eagles' decision is influenced by something we don't know about yet, something darker. It's hard for me to believe that a bad attitude is really at the center of all of this. Aaron Hernandez's name has appeared today across social media as a cautionary tale for why the Eagles made this move; they didn't want their own Aaron Hernandez-like story to occur on their watch. There are even reports that the Eagles didn't trade Jackson because they didn't want to lay his off-field problems on some other team and benefit. They didn't want a guilty conscience. So what do they know? How bad is it really with DeSean Jackson? I think every skeleton he's got in his closet will find the light of day now.As we wait for all of this to play out, let's get to the fantasy impact. Jackson will probably be signed soon. And the Eagles move forward with Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper as their top two wideouts. Both players see their fantasy value bumped up significantly. For me, I think Maclin, as the better player and likely Philly's "new" No. 1 wideout, gains the most. But I would also expect the Eagles to draft a receiver relatively early next month. I don't doubt that Kelly's offense will still be hard to stop, but they now really need Maclin to stay healthy. He has high-end WR2 upside. I still see Cooper as more of a WR3. Meanwhile, even if Maclin and Cooper reach their athletic ceilings, you have to downgrade Nick Foles just a little bit based on this news.

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Report: Titans unlikely to pick up option on Locker

This could be Jake Locker's last season with the Titans. (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Pro days | Top free agents

It was something of a surprise when Ken Whisenhunt passed on the Lions job to become the Titans coach, mostly because Detroit seemed much closer to a playoff team than Tennessee. More to the point: Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush have the makings for an explosive offense while Jake Locker, Kendall Wright and Shonn Greene do not.

But Whisenhunt has replaced Mike Munchak in Tennessee, which means he's tied his wagon to Locker, the 2011 first-round pick who has struggled with injury and inconsistency during much of his brief career. Turns out, this could be a one-year arrangement; according to the Tennessean's Jim Wyatt, the Titans aren't likely to pick up the option year on Locker's rookie contract, and that means that, barring a miraculous 2014 season, he could be a free agent next March.

Behind Locker on the depth chart: Charlie Whitehurst, who was Philip Rivers' backup in San Diego last season (where Whisenhunt happened to be the offensive coordinator), Tyler Wilson and Rusty Smith. Not exactly a depth chart that screams experience or NFL competence.

While none of the mock drafts reflect it, maybe the Titans should be in the quarterback business with their No. 11 pick. There are myriad other needs, for sure -- the latest CBSSports.com mock drafts have Tennessee taking outside linebacker Anthony Barr, wideout Mike Evans and cornerback Justin Gilbert -- but without a legit franchise quarterback, not much else matters.

But the Titans might not be in love with the Big 3 -- Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater -- in which case they could focus on finding a quarterback in the later rounds. Wyatt suggests taking a fourth or fifth-round flyer on Georgia's Aaron Murray, and if he's not there "draft someone else." Wyatt adds: "The Titans can afford some patience as Locker tries to entrench himself."

Put another way: The Titans don't trust Locker enough to pick up his option now, but if he plays well in 2014, they'll consider giving him a new contract. It doesn't speak to the organization's confidence in the former first-rounder, but Locker has shown little in three seasons. After watching the Jets overpay Mark Sanchez a few years ago (not to mention the Titans do the same with Chris Johnson, who could be released any day now), patience is the best course of action.

Still, we remain confused as to why Whisenhunt didn't take the Detroit gig. Maybe that decision says more about Stafford than Locker.

NFL Hot News

Eagles release WR DeSean Jackson; gang connections reported as one reason for his release



DeSean Jackson is a 27-year-old wide receiver, one of the best in the NFL. And as of Friday morning, one without a job.Eagles head coach Chip Kelly informed Jackson via a phone call that he was being released by the team. His actual release this morning followed a report from NJ.com citing sources close to Jackson and within the Eagles' organization that the move was made because of Jackson's bad attitude, poor work ethic, missing team meetings and, most seriously, Jackson's association with Los Angeles street-gang members who have been connected to homicides.Jackson then released a statement later on Friday, first thanking the Eagles' organization for the time he spent there. Jackson then denied the allegations of gang connections."I would like to address the misleading and unfounded reports that my release has anything to do with any affiliation that has been speculated surrounding the company I keep off of the field," Jackson said. "I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang. I am not a gang member, and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible."I work very hard on and off the field and I am a good person with good values. I am proud of the accomplishments that I have made both on and off the field. I have worked tirelessly to give back to my community and have a positive impact on those in need. It is unfortunate that I now have to defend myself and my intentions. These reports are irresponsible and just not true. I look forward to working hard for my new team."And there is a growing list of teams lining up to become Jackson's new one. Various reports have stated that the Seahawks, 49ers, Jets, Panthers, and the Chiefs, the team headed by Jackson's former coach, Andy Reid, are all interested. And that might be only a partial list.Jackson posted the best numbers of his career in 2013. He caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine scores. Jackson used his speed to register 16 plays of 20 yards or more, third-most in the league.



This is a story that is going to move and change probably long after Jackson signs with another team. Obviously, a bunch of owners want to get their hands on an explosive, productive, No. 1 wide receiver in the prime of his career ... who hasn't been directly tied to any crimes. If you're talented enough -- and Jackson certainly is -- the NFL has a way of overlooking guilt by association as long as the player isn't actually guilty of something. And right now, Jackson is clean for as much as we knowBut, despite Jackson's denials, there has to be something big here. Assuming that Kelly and the Eagles' brass aren't vindictive jerks, they had to have massive reason(s) for cutting a player of this caliber in his prime. No trade, they don't get anything in return for him; the Eagles just wanted to get rid of DeSean Jackson straight away. And that has some of his teammates rather pleased. Eagles center Jason Kelce tweeted Friday: "We just made an extremely unpopular decision, but I couldn't be more excited and happy with where this organization is going."If Jackson's now-former teammates and Kelly just wanted to see him go because he was a malcontent who missed meetings, disrespected authority and didn't work hard, I think they are making a mistake. Those attributes, as annoying as they might be, can be tolerated when Jackson puts up Pro Bowl numbers as he did last season and as he has a history of doing.I think the Eagles' decision is influenced by something we don't know about yet, something darker. It's hard for me to believe that a bad attitude is really at the center of all of this. Aaron Hernandez's name has appeared today across social media as a cautionary tale for why the Eagles made this move; they didn't want their own Aaron Hernandez-like story to occur on their watch. There are even reports that the Eagles didn't trade Jackson because they didn't want to lay his off-field problems on some other team and benefit. They didn't want a guilty conscience. So what do they know? How bad is it really with DeSean Jackson? I think every skeleton he's got in his closet will find the light of day now.As we wait for all of this to play out, let's get to the fantasy impact. Jackson will probably be signed soon. And the Eagles move forward with Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper as their top two wideouts. Both players see their fantasy value bumped up significantly. For me, I think Maclin, as the better player and likely Philly's "new" No. 1 wideout, gains the most. But I would also expect the Eagles to draft a receiver relatively early next month. I don't doubt that Kelly's offense will still be hard to stop, but they now really need Maclin to stay healthy. He has high-end WR2 upside. I still see Cooper as more of a WR3. Meanwhile, even if Maclin and Cooper reach their athletic ceilings, you have to downgrade Nick Foles just a little bit based on this news.

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Collison helps Blake-less Clippers take down Wolves

Basketball Hot News

Roy Hibbert on Pacers’ locker room: ‘Some selfish dudes in here’

Every single team in the NBA has a player who believes he doesn’t get enough shots because his teammates hog the ball. You usually don’t hear about it, because those players know complaining publicly will harm the team. Only when is the grievance is so strong do players speak up.

But not getting shots isn’t the only way those players reach that level of unhappiness. Winning cures all ills, and when teams lose, players are less likely to suppress their complaints.

Take the Pacers, who’ve lost four of five and nine of 15.

Roy Hibbert, via David Aldridge of NBA.com:

“Some selfish dudes in here,” Roy Hibbert muttered Friday night, after getting eight shots in the Pacers’ loss to the Wizards. “Some selfish dudes. I’m tired of talking about it. We’ve been talking about it for a month.”

“We play hard, but we’ve got to move the ball,” Hibbert said. “Is it obvious, or what? I don’t know whatever our assist ratio, or whatever it is, is in the league, but it probably isn’t up there. I’m really trying hard not to spaz out right now, but I don’t know. We’ve been talking about it for a month. I’m not handling the rock. I don’t know. I’ve made suggestions before and we do it for, like, one game, and then we revert back to what we are. I don’t know. I’m not the one to answer that question. It directly affects me and the bigs. We’re just out there and it makes us look bad.”

Whom is Hibbert talking about?

Let’s narrow the suspects to Indiana’s other four starters – George Hill, Lance Stephenson, Paul George and David West. Hibbert has played 61 percent of his minutes with all four at once and at least 79 percent with each individually.

I think we can eliminate West, a power forward. After all, Hibbert said the selfishness adversely affects the bigs.

For a baseline, here’s how each team’s starting point guards, shooting guards and small forwards rank in assists per shot:

This measure seems to excuse Stephenson, who ranks fourth among starting shooting guards in assists per shot.

What about Paul George? He leads the Pacers in shots by a wide margin, but he’s assisted Hibbert more this season than anyone else this season. Hibbert also recently gave George permission to freelance. Hibbert, via Candace Bucker of IndyStar (hat tip: Jared Wade of 8 Points, 9 Seconds):

“We’ve fallen in love with the jump shot for a while,” Hibbert said. “People feel like they have it going and they want to do it themselves sometimes. That’s just how it works. I feel like two guys that I have 100 percent trust in doing that is Paul and David. I feel like they should have carte blanche on whatever they want to do in terms of attacking the paint and (put) the ball’s in their hands because they’ve earned my respect.”

That leaves George Hill, who ranks lower than Stephenson and George among starters at his position in assists per shot. Hibbert has not, to my knowledge, publically endorsed Hill not passing, either. Also Hill has assisted Hibbert just 30 times this season – few than George (45), Stephenson (43) and even West (42) have. But Hill has also taken the fewer shots than any other Indiana starter.

In the Pacers’ offense, Hill takes a smaller role than a typical point guard. He doesn’t dominate the ball, so his ability to hijack the offense is limited.

And that’s the rub. Roles vary across the league, and it’s difficult to say from the outside who is supposed to pass to Hibbert more – or at least whom he thinks should.

Hibbert knows, and Frank Vogel knows. And the purportedly selfish player(s) probably know.

As much as it’s important the solve the issue, it’s more important they reach a place where Hibbert isn’t so unhappy that he’s complaining publicly.

It’s probably a chicken-or-the-egg argument whether better offensive balance would make the Pacers win or vice versa. Either way, they need one or the other to happen soon before this in-fighting worsens.

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