Agent: Jared Allen will pick team this weekend

Jared Allen is considering an offer from the Seahawks. (USATSI)

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

Free agent defensive end Jared Allen will decide on a new team this weekend, according to his agent, Ken Harris.

Harris, who was with Allen and his wife on a second visit to Seattle, said the Vikings All-Pro and his family are still mulling over an offer from the Seahawks and others.

The visit went well and Seattle's interest is real, but Allen is taking his time with what is obviously a huge decision for what will be Allen's final contract.

NFL Hot News

Unlike Louisville's Bridgewater, potential number one pick QB Bortles shines at pro-day



"It looked like it was supposed to look". That's how NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock described potential number one overall pick Blake Bortles' pro-day at the University of Central Florida on Wednesday. "He's potentially a franchise quarterback," Mayock added, saying that Bortles is somewhat "raw and needs some time to reach his full potential".Several NFL teams with top 10 picks and the need for a quarterback were present for Bortles' pro-day. New Tampa Bay head coach Lovie Smith spent some time with Bortles prior to the Pro Day. In addition to the Buccaneers, representatives for Minnesota, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Oakland and Houston (who holds the number one pick) were also present. The Texans new head coach, Bill O'Brien, said, "it was a good workout. He made all the throws, shows good footwork. I was impressed."Bortles threw for 3,581 yards and 25 touchdowns, while completing 67.8 percent of his passes for the Knights in 2013. Central Florida was 12-1 and won the Fiesta Bowl over Baylor, 52-42.



Bortles has probably vaulted ahead of Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the eyes of anyone who was unsure between them before their pro-days. Bridgewater's was less than impressive, Bortles didn't disappoint. If the Texans do opt to select Bortles, A - some people in Texas will be upset that they didn't select Johnny Manziel, and B - He'll inherit the keys to an offense with lots of weapons. Veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson is as good as they come and would be good for any rookie QB's development. He'll have another young wideout to build a potential career-long chemistry with in DeAndre Hopkins and a stud running back in Arian Foster.Regardless of where he ends up, Bortles is probably going to be thrown into the starting job immediately. He'll go through growing pains, no doubt, but he appears to be well-equipped for the NFL. I like the prospect of him in Houston and could see him being a sleeper top 15 fantasy QB in his rookie season, due to the weapons he'd have at his disposal.

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Harden, Rockets have no problem handling Wolves

Basketball Hot News

Jeff Green on criticism of his inconsistency: ‘I don’t give a (expletive). It don’t bother me’

Jeff Green scored 39 points Sunday, making him one of just nine players to score that much multiple times this season.

The other eight – Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Kevin Love, James Harden, Stephen Curry and Blake Griffin – were all All-Stars.

But in the game before his most-recent 39-point outing, Green did something none of those eight did: score single digits. And in the game after his-most recent 39-point outing, Green did something none of those eight did: score single digits.

Nine points last Thursday, 39 Sunday, five Monday.

He played more than 35 minutes in all three games, too, so it’s not a lack of opportunity. This is just who Jeff Green is.

He’s scored 25 points a dozen times this season. And he’s scored single digits another dozen times.

Nobody else with as many 25-point games has so many single-digit games.

No matter how you slice it, Green scores inconsistently.

Just don’t tell him about it.

Green, via Steve Bulpett of BostonHerald.com:

“I’m playing,” Green said. “I mean, that’s all I care about. I’m healthy.

“I can care less about what other people have to say about my performance. You know, everybody’s entitled to their own opinion, so I really don’t pay attention to it. I’m just trying to come into each year being healthy and being able to play this game.”

Just as he can’t shake the expectation of others that such nights should not be a part of his profile. The suggestion has been made that viewers don’t understand how difficult it is to scale the scoring heights.

“Of course,” Green said. “They don’t know, because they haven’t been through it. That’s why I say I can care less what people say. They can talk and say whatever they want to say. You know, I don’t give a (expletive). It don’t bother me.”

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I really see Green’s point of view on this.

He missed the entire 2011-12 season due to a heart condition. Many thought he’d never play again, but he’s played every game this season and last. That’s the most important type of consistency for him.

And those who say they want him to score more consistently really don’t. Few really care how frequently he comes near his 17.0-point-per-game average (a career best, by the way). They just want him to reduce his low-scoring games while maintaining his high-scoring games.

That’s not becoming more consistent. That’s getting way better.

It’s fair to hope Green improves, but don’t conflate that with Green becoming more consistent. Most fans actually want only the former.

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Former Brazil World Cup captain Bellini dies at 83

Hilderaldo Bellini, Brazil's captain when they won their first World Cup in 1958, died on Thursday from complications following a heart attack. He was 83.

VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty ImagesBellini started the practice of lifting trophies over one's head. A statue in Rio de Janeiro now features his pose from the 1958 World Cup.

The Hospital 9 de Julho confirmed Bellini's death in a statement.

The central defender became widely known for being the first captain to raise the World Cup trophy above his head as a symbol of triumph. The gesture became immortalised with a statue of Bellini in front of Maracana Stadium.

He had a heart attack on Tuesday and had been hospitalised since then. Local media said he had also been suffering from Alzheimer's.

Bellini also won the 1962 World Cup and appeared in the 1966 tournament. He played for Brazilian clubs Vasco da Gama, Sao Paulo and Atletico Paranaense.

Soccer Hot News

Solskjaer hails Zaha attitude

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised the attitude of Wilfried Zaha, despite the winger’s lack of regular playing time.

Zaha has made just five Premier League appearances since signing on loan from Manchester United in January, with two of those coming from the bench.

With Cardiff firmly embroiled in the relegation scrap, Solskjaer has decided to leave the 21-year-old out of the starting XI and introduce him in the final stages.

“The boy is ready to play 90 minutes. It is just my decision,” he told Wales Online.

“Wilf came on for the last 20 minutes at Everton and I thought he did enough to win us the game, but we just never got the decision.

“He was fantastic when he came on. But it’s about making sure we get the tactical set up for every game right.

“The boy has been outstanding when it comes to his attitude. He works very hard in training and I have never doubted his abilities.

“He’s a good lad who just wants to play football. He’s never been a problem, he just works hard and wants to be part of the team.

“It’s just that we are in a situation now here when you have to make decisions.”

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Carmelo says he’s ‘on same page’ with Phil Jackson

More Knicks: A renewed hope in New York | Berger: Phil's greatest enemy is within

NEW YORK -- Reacting to Phil Jackson's comments that he's in the future plans and has "another level he can get to," Carmelo Anthony said Wednesday night that he and the new Knicks president are "on the same page."

"I was hoping that I would be part of the future plans," Anthony said before the Knicks played the Pacers. "I never once said that I wanted to leave New York or anything like that. The only thing I said was I'm going to dabble and try the free agency out, that I was going to opt out and become a free agent. ... I'm excited about the opportunity to hopefully work with Phil."

When he was introduced as the Knicks' top basketball decision-maker on Tuesday, Jackson unequivocally threw his support behind Anthony and called him one of the best scorers and isolation players in the game. But the 13-time NBA champion also said he believes that Anthony can raise his game higher.

"I love it," Anthony said. "I don't think that was anything bad that he said. As an individual, over the years I think I've gotten better as a player and I'm playing at a very high level as an individual right now. So for him to come in and say that, we're on the same page. I believe that I can take my game to a whole other level that I haven't even taken it to right now.

"With Phil's expertise, I can rely on him and talk to him and use him as a mentor to try to get to that next level," he said. "I'm not at a stage where I'm sold on this or sold on that. I want to get better. I'm looking to get better, and with that, hopefully we're winning championships. I'm all about enhancing my game. I'm all about that. If Phil can help that, I'm all about that. I spend a lot of time in the offseason trying to enhance my game and trying to get better. So with his expertise, if he can help me out with that, my door is open."

Melo says he's excited to get to work with Phil Jackson. (USATSI)

Jackson visited the Knicks' locker room Wednesday and spoke briefly with the team. It lasted only a couple of minutes; Amar'e Stoudemire characterized it as "just an introduction."

"It was short and quick," Anthony said. "He came in, spoke, shook everybody's hand, said how excited he was about this opportunity and said he wanted us to focus on the game."

On Jackson's championship resume, Anthony said, "That goes without even saying. That gives me a lot of excitement and hope just to be able to have that here with me right now. We all know what his resume stands for, what he's able to do with the game of basketball. He's a genius. He's a basketball guru. He's done it so many times, so many ways in so many different situations. Hoepfully we can make something happen here."

As far as the future, Anthony said, "That's going to handle itself."

The Knicks (28-40) beat the East-leading Pacers 92-86 on Wednesday night for their seventh straight victory as they try to close a five-game gap in the loss column in a push for a playoff spot.

"It's kind of hard for me to even sit here before the game and talk about the Phil Jackson situation when I've got a game to go out there to play and we have 15 or 16 games to make this push into the playoffs," Anthony said. "It's a great situation on one hand, but it's an unfortunate situation on the other hand."

Topics: New York Knicks, NBA

About Ken Berger

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Before joining CBSSports.com, Ken Berger covered the NBA for Newsday. The Long Island, N.Y., native has also worked for the Associated Press and can be seen on SportsNet New York. Catch Ken every Saturday, when he hosts Eye on Basketball from 6-8 p.m. ET on cbssportsradio.com

Basketball Hot News

Jamal Crawford, J.J. Redick return to Clippers’ practices

The Clippers won 11 in a row before a “schedule loss” (second night of a back-to-back at altitude against a rested Denver team). In the last 10 games they have had the best defense in the NBA and have been outscoring teams by 14.8 points per 100 possessions.

And now they are just about to get healthy.

Both Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick returned to the Clippers practice court on Thursday, reports Dan Woike of the Orange County Register (the man with the best shoe collection of any beat writer in the league):

Jamal Crawford and JJ Redick will both practice today, per Doc Rivers.—

Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) March 20, 2014

When they get back it will give the Clippers better shooting, better shot creation and real depth out on the wings. It will give Doc Rivers more line-up/match-up options.

Already buyout additions Danny Granger and Glen Davis are providing a lot more depth, a lot more production off the bench than the Clippers had been getting.

They may be a step behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the West, but it’s not a big step anymore. Not the way the Clippers are defending with Chris Paul back in the lineup. This team has a real shot at making the NBA finals.

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Pro days: Sam questions

A large crowd gathered at Missouri's pro day to watch Michael Sam bench. (Via Twitter)

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

All 32 teams were accounted for at Missouri's pro day in Columbia on Thursday, when pass rusher Michael Sam got his chance at a redo of his disappointing workout at the Scouting Combine last month.

After completing one 40-yard dash in an unofficial 4.73 seconds, Sam was sidelined from his second attempt by a right hamstring strain. He did go on to post a 30-inch vertical, a five-inch improvement from Indianapolis, and gutted his way through linebacker drills.

The 40 time is faster than he posted in Indianapolis (4.91) but leaves many questions unanswered for a player likely being evaluated as a niche pass rusher who would play only a part-time role in the NFL, in addition to special teams. The linebacker drills were the most important of the day for Sam as he attempts to show NFL teams running 3-4 base defenses that he's a potential stand-up pass rusher despite struggling with that transition at the Senior Bowl.

Between the Senior Bowl and the combine, Sam announced he is gay, and he is expected to become the first openly gay male athlete to play in the NFL.

Sam and defensive end Kony Ealy, who had a strong session in Indianapolis highlighted by a three-cone drill result that matched the time of wriggly Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, shared the spotlight Thursday but it was Ealy who most impressed scouts.

Sam was up two pounds -- to 263 -- from his combine weight, where he posted below-average results including a 4.91 40-yard dash, 26 1/2-inch vertical, 9-5 broad jump, 7.8 three-cone and 17 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

He did 19 reps Thursday in the center of a considerable gallery of observers.

The crowd to watch @MikeSamFootball bench at Missouri's pro day pic.twitter.com/OKVTNCLl10

— Joe Barkett (@JoeBarkett) March 20, 2014

Sam is currently projected as a mid- to late-round pick by NFLDraftScout.com, and the No. 183-ranked prospect overall.

Ealy ran in the mid-4.6s on Thursday, a vast improvement over the 4.92 time from the combine. One report had Ealy timed at 4.57 seconds, which would be a personal record.

NFLDraftScout.com's No. 22 overall prospect, he could be in play as early as No. 10 to the Detroit Lions, where head coach Jim Caldwell could form a tag team of edge rushers in Ziggy Ansah and Ealy in the mold of his Colts tandem, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

The Chicago Bears (14) and Dallas Cowboys (16) would also be natural fits for Ealy. NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang projects Ealy to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 20, while fellow analyst Dane Brugler has him going to the Denver Broncos at No. 31 in their current Mock Drafts.

Wide receiver L'Damian Washington verified his sub-4.4 40 projections from NFLDraftScout.com with two sprints under 4.8 seconds.

According to NFL Network, every team aside from the Redskins were represented at the workouts.

As it turns out, 31 of 32 teams made it to Missouri Pro Day. The Redskins are the one that didn't get here.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 20, 2014

Follow Jeff Reynolds on Twitter @ReynoldsJD

NFL Hot News

WR Mario Manningham returns to Giants



Mario Manningham was drafted by the Giants and played for them from 2008-11. He was serviceable if not outstanding during his time in New York. His best numbers came in 2010, when he caught 60 passes for 944 yards and nine touchdowns.But the 2011 postseason -- and more specifically, one unbelievable catch down the sideline late in Super Bowl XLVI -- made Manningham some money. He signed a two-year deal worth more than $7 million less than two months later with the 49ers. However, Manningham's two years with them were largely forgettable and headlined by a devastating knee injury in December 2012 that caused him to miss most of the 2013 season.So, with his contract up again, Manningham is heading back to where he started. The Giants brought Manningham back on a one-year deal Tuesday, according to Pro Football Talk.



I look at this signing similar to the Patriots' inking of Brandon LaFell: A veteran brought in for depth purposes. The Giants' top three WRs are Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle, Jerrel Jernigan. Or at least, that's who the team hopes are their top three, given that the young guys continue to develop. Manningham is a player head coach Tom Coughlin is familiar with, even if Manningham isn't familiar with the Giants' new offense. He'll vie to be New York No. 4 wideout and has microscopic fantasy value.

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Ryan moves on after losing DRC; backs QB Smith

Ryan Ryan has confidence in Geno Smith. (USATSI)

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

Earlier this week, shortly after cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie signed with the Giants, there were reports that Jets coach Rex Ryan "wasn't pleased" with the development -- primarily because his team, which met with DRC, has needs at the position.

On Thursday, Ryan admitted as much.

"You know what's funny? You can use that word (pissed off) -- or disappointed -- any time a guy comes into our building and we'd like to have him on our team, and he doesn't sign with us, yeah, I get upset," Ryan told Eric Allen of Jets.com. "I'm upset with that player. 'How could he not see that this was the place?' And quite honestly, when you bring a player in, it's not just him checking you out, you're checking him out and making sure he's a fit. ...

"It goes back to my college days recruiting. You don't get everybody that you go out for but again, that's a moment thing -- yeah, you're upset over that but [then it's] what do we have next? And that's it."

Ryan was also asked about the reports that the team was meeting with former Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, and what that might mean for Geno Smith's future as the Jets' starter.

"Well, I'll say this," Ryan began, "not just about the young man you mentioned but you take guys with that kind of ability -- guys that can use their legs, guys that are fast and can do all that -- and you take our quarterback, Geno Smith, a guy that ran a 4.5-something out of the combine, the fastest quarterback in the draft last year, and what he did. How he started running for first downs ... touchdowns. That brings a whole different element to when you're trying to stop him.

"This young man's going to be hard to beat out," Ryan continued. "I don't care who comes in here. We want competition at every spot -- I think it's great -- but make no mistake, Geno Smith gonna be hard to beat out. The last four weeks of the season, when most rookies are (on the decline), he's (on the rise). And we all saw it coming. And what's (the) evidence? He's the second-highest quarterback rating in the National Football League. ... Was he using his legs? Was he protecting the football? Was he throwing it with accuracy? Did he really take to Marty's (Mornhenweg) offense and the Jets offense?

"Yeah, he absolutely did. He grew by leaps and bounds. That's what I was so excited about. And the competition -- whoever we bring in -- that is going to be outstanding. But make no mistake, Geno Smith, he's gonna be hard to beat out, I'm just telling you.

Finally, Ryan was asked about Darrelle Revis, the former Jet who is now with the Patriots.

"He's a New England Patriot," Ryan conceded. "And it's as simple as that. He's now the enemy."

NFL Hot News

Packers re-sign RB James Starks



Running back James Starks re-signed with the only team he's known during his four-year NFL career late Monday night. The Packers and Starks agreed to a two-year contract. Backing up Eddie Lacy in 2013, Starks averaged 5.5 yards per on 89 carries and scored a career-high four touchdowns. Financial terms of the deal are currently unknown.



Starks probably wasn't going to find a starting gig elsewhere, so he returns to being one of the better backup RBs in the league. He gets hurt a lot -- he's never played more than 13 games in any season -- but he's a decisive runner and a great complement to Lacy's bullish style. If you draft Lacy this year, don't forget to handcuff him with Starks.

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John Wall prefers old Bullets nickname to Wizards

John Wall would love it if they became the Bullets again. (USATSI)

In the early 1960's, the Chicago Packers were an NBA team that became the Chicago Zephyrs in their second year of existence. Then from 1963 until 1997, this franchise was referred to as the Bullets, no matter where they resided. They were the Baltimore Bullets, the Capital Bullets, and eventually the Washington Bullets. Then to remove such a potentially negative connotation, the franchise became the Wizards for the 1997-98 season and haven't changed since.

John Wall has been a member of the Wizards since 2009, and while he claims to like the Wizards' logo, he apparently wishes the team could go back to the throwback Bullets logo and uniforms.

John Wall on Bullets cap: “The Wizards logo is cool. I like all that, but I wish we could go back to these – I know we're never going back."

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) March 20, 2014

He's probably just being a good employee when he says he likes the Wizards logo and thinks it's cool. Unless he's a really big Harry Potter fan, it's unlikely an adult thinks Wizards is a cool logo. The franchise point guard who just signed a max contract extension for five years and over $80 million could probably try to push for a change, but a move back toward the Bullets seems unlikely.

(H/T - ProBasketballTalk)

Topics: John Wall, Washington Wizards, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Dwyane Wade, taking big-picture view, feeling better as playoffs near

BOSTON – Dwyane Wade receives treatment in so many forms, he loses track of how each device affects his knee.

“If they want to hook me up to a car battery, that’s fine with me,” Wade said. “I’m going to jump on it, maybe in the playoffs.”

If all goes according to plan though, Wade won’t need a jumpstart for the postseason. He’ll be hitting his stride then.

Wade has already missed 17 games this season, but he’s feeling better and better.

“Last year at this time, I was going the opposite the way,” Wade said.

It showed in the playoffs, where Wade’s PER declined to 18.7 from 24.0 in the regular season. It’s typical for players’ production to fall as competition stiffens in the postseason, but that drop of 5.3 was the second-largest of Wade’s career. Only the extreme case of 2006-07 – when Wade missed 30 games, returned to play just five before the playoffs, still led the NBA in PER and then couldn’t stop the Bulls from sweeping Miami in the first round – saw a bigger drop.

Regular season in red. Post season in gold.

To avoid a similar fate this season, Wade has committed to the Heat’s plan that includes specialized workouts – and sitting out games he could otherwise play.

“I wasn’t comfortable with it,” said Wade, who’s already missed four more games than he did last season. “I’m sure it was uncharted waters for them as well. But it was something I felt I needed to do.”

The Heat are just 11-6 without Wade, but they see the end game.

“In order for us to contend and win, at the end of the day, he has to be on his A game,” LeBron said. “…Trying to three-peat, it’s not going to happen in June. It happens from the beginning of the season. We have to prepare every single day.”

For Wade, sometimes that preparation means sitting with what might as well be a car battery attached to his knee.

Is that worth it?

“It’s just about this picture we always call the bigger picture,” Wade said. “Who knows if it’s right or wrong? You’ve just got to make a decision and go with it.”

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