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NFL Headlines
November 22
Tampa Tribune
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While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter Sunday's game against New Orleans with a healthy roster, the Saints will be well below full strength. Versatile running back Reggie Bush and starting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis did not make the trip to Tampa because of knee injuries, and the unbeaten Saints are also hurting in the secondary. Starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer (groin) and Tracy Porter (knee) have also been declared out for New Orleans, favored by 11 points in the 1 p.m. matchup at Raymond James Stadium. Fifteen of the last 18 games between these NFC South rivals have been decided by a touchdown or less. Tampa Bay rookie quarterback Josh Freeman will try to keep pace with New Orleans ..."
November 22
Cleveland Plain Dealer
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Former Seahawks and Packers coach Mike Holmgren said Friday on a radio show in Seattle that he hasn't talked to Browns owner Randy Lerner yet, but admitted he'd "absolutely love" to interview for a position with the franchise. "I hope it's true -- someday that we get a chance to talk," he said on his regular Friday appearance on KJR 950 AM's The NFL Show. "Yeah, I have tremendous respect for Mr. Lerner. Their team is struggling just a little bit and I absolutely would love to talk to him about working there." Sports Illustrated's Peter King reported on NBC Saturday that "there's no question Randy wants Mike Holmgren to be that czar.'' He also said he believes Holmgren will return as a ..."
November 22
Houston Chronicle
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Running back Steve Slaton will be back in the starting lineup Monday night when the Texans host the Tenn Titans. Slaton found out today he would start after having a good week of practices. Ryan Moats started the 20-17 loss to Indianapolis on Nov. 8 because Slaton had lost five fumbles."
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Barring an overnight medical miracle that heals Kyle Orton's bum ankle, Chris Simms will be the Broncos' starting quarterback Sunday against the San Diego Chargers with sole possession of the AFC West lead at stake. Simms has practiced all week. Orton has not because of a severely sprained left ankle. Orton has tried hard to get his ankle to heal. But as of Saturday afternoon, it had not recovered enough to play. There is one sliver of hope for Orton — the plan was to give him one more try Sunday morning at Invesco Field."
NBA Headlines
November 22
Washington Times
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Two road games, two dysfunctional performances and another new low for the Washington Wizards. A night after getting run out of the gym by the Oklahoma City Thunder because of a sorry excuse for a defensive showing, the Wizards rode into San Antonio on Saturday and actually did a decent job defending the Spurs. But an ice-cold offense crippled Washington in a 106-84 loss. "This was another one where we couldn't put it all together," Wizards coach Flip Saunders said. "Players were playing tight, players are frustrated, players that aren't playing feel they should be playing. We're very much in a bad situation right now." On Friday, the Wizards (3-9) got a combined 69 points from Antawn ..."
November 22
Yahoo! Sports
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The trade rumors have been swirling with Warriors G Monta Ellis, who recently had a public argument with coach Don Nelson. But Ellis told the San Francisco Chronicle he's committed to the Warriors. "I don't have a problem with Coach and Coach doesn't have a problem with me," Ellis said. "We're just going out there and doing what we have to do to win: come together.""
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Atlanta Hawks point guard Mike Bibby sprained his left ankle with 6:59 remaining in the first quarter against the New Orleans Hornets and will not return to Saturday's game."
November 22
Dallas Morning News
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The Mavericks are 10-3 and tied with Phoenix for the best record in the Western Conference. The best bit of fallout from that was on display after their 104-102 survival test against Sacramento on Friday night. The Mavericks weren't the least bit impressed with themselves after the victory at American Airlines Center. Oh, they're impressed with banking another win. But the way the victories are rolling in isn't making them puff their chests out. "We're all disappointed because we all know we shouldn't be making these games tough on us," Drew Gooden said. "When we get comfortable being up nine or 10 points, we let teams claw back. "We still haven't played a lot of the big teams. And with ..."
MLB Headlines
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Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay does not want to re-sign with Toronto after his contract expires after the 2010 season, according to reports. Team president and CEO Paul Beeston told the New York Post that Halladay does not want to sign an extension and will become a free agent next offseason. "We would like to sign him, he is an original Blue Jay and we have never had a pitcher as good as him," Beeston told the Post. "But he is not inclined to sign with us."
November 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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As far as agent Matt Sosnick is concerned, the Marlins can add Josh Johnson to their list of burgeoning young talents they could not afford to keep long term. Discussions this week between the Marlins and Sosnick on a multi-year contract for the club's No. 1 starter and one of the premier young arms in the game went no where. Johnson wanted four guaranteed years. The Marlins would not budge off three with an option. Sosnick warned the Marlins if they didn't sign his client this offseason, Johnson would elect free agency when eligible after 2011. "No one's getting any kind of a discount now," said Sosnick, who also represents Ricky Nolasco. "This was the last chance for a team to get a ..."
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Cuban pitching phenom Aroldis Chapman has fired the representative who helped him gain free agency, his former agency confirmed Saturday. Edwin Mejia, of Athletes Premier International, had represented Chapman soon after he defected from the Cuban national team in July. Mejia had started negotiations with several major league teams, but Chapman switched to veteran agents Randy and Alan Hendricks, Randy confirmed to ESPN The Magazine on Saturday. The brothers represent such stars as Kendry Morales and Andy Pettitte. It's unclear when Chapman made the switch, first reported by the Florida Spanish newspaper El Nuevo Herald on Friday."
November 22
New York Daily News
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The Mets have a backup option if the Matt Holliday and Jason Bay bidding gets out of hand. The Royals, who are looking to deal outfielder Jose Guillen, identified the Mets as a potential trading partner, although there was no deal considered close, sources said. Guillen, 33, was limited to 81 games last season with Kansas City because of right leg injuries, including with a ligament tear in the knee and hamstring discomfort. He hit .242 with nine homers and 40 RBI in 281 at-bats. The Royals want to acquire an inexpensive outfielder in return for Guillen, and are impressed with Angel Pagan despite his shortcomings. They'd be willing to eat money in a swap: Guillen is owed $12 million in ..."
NHL Headlines
November 22
San Jose Mercury News
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Just a quick update from the morning skate (which turned out to be pretty optional after all): Logan Couture stayed back in San Jose battling the flu and Ryan Vesce is en route from Worcester to take his place in the lineup. The Sharks also announced the Devin Setoguchi has been put on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 15, the date he reinjured his leg. Todd McLellan left things a little fuzzy this morning, though, as to how his lines would shape up tonight. You'd think there was no way he'd break up the Marleau-Thornton-Heatley combination after their combined eight-point performance last night, but the coach hedged, saying he was still sorting it out. Vesce's return does change the ..."
November 22
Vancouver Province
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To borrow from Satchel Paige, the Buffalo Sabres shouldn't look back. Something might be gaining on them. The "something" is the Ottawa Senators, now just one point behind the Northeast Division leaders after handling the Sabres 5-3 at Scotiabank Place on Saturday night. The Senators have won three straight for the first time this season; for the Sabres it's their first three-game losing streak. In the dressing room, the usual joyous mood from having whipped Pittsburgh and Buffalo in consecutive games was tempered by the loss of starting goaltender Pascal Leclaire to a lower-body injury. Leclaire was hurt in the second period when Buffalo's Jochen Hecht fell on him in a goalmouth scramble. ..."
November 22
Vancouver Province
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Vancouver Canucks winger Matt Pettinger cleared waivers Saturday morning without being claimed by another NHL club. It's believed Pettinger will be assigned to the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose."
November 22
San Jose Mercury News
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Art Savage, the first president of the Sharks and a man who played a crucial role in convincing the city of San Jose to upgrade its plans for a sports arena so it could attract an NHL team, died Saturday in Sacramento. He was 58. His son, Jeff, told the Associated Press that Savage collapsed at home and died on the way to the hospital. Savage, who became the majority owner of the Sacramento River Cats after leaving the Sharks in 1996, had been battling lung cancer, though the cause of death was not known. "It was Art's progressive thinking that helped bring the Sharks and major league sports to San Jose," said Greg Jamison, who succeeded Savage as the hockey team's top official. "His ..."