BEAT NEWS: 24/7 in-depth player and team news from local beat writers in all major North American newspapers.
TEAM RUMORS: Read the hottest team, player and general sport rumors from every newspaper source around the web. See your breaking rumors here first.
LOCAL COLUMNISTS: A daily collection of columns from newspaper sources who publish the best and worst of your favorite teams and players.
INSIDE EDGE: Your one stop for all fantasy news on sleepers, hot players and waiver wire additions. The ultimate collection of expert strategies to help win your league.
NFL Rumors
November 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
"
Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown will undergo surgery Friday morning to repair a Lisfranc fracture to his right foot, according Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland. Brown stayed in Charlotte to have Dr. Bob Anderson, a renowned foot expert based in the city, work on the injury he suffered last Sunday in the team's 25-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's uncertain how long the recovery time will be, but Donald Thomas, the Dolphins starting right guard, suffered a similar injury and began training four months later. Brown, who has rushed for 677 yards and scored six touchdowns this season, was played on the injured reserve, which means he won't be eligible to return this ..."
November 20
Colorado Springs Gazette
"
Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton was a no-show at practice for the second straight day. Orton was not present for the portion of practice that is open to the media. Orton has a sprained left ankle, and has one more chance to practice this week. The Broncos have a practice on Friday, which is their final practice before Sunday's game. Usually Friday's practice is the lightest of the week. Most players don't play if they haven't practiced during the week, but McDaniels said he has no set rule on whether someone can play after not practicing. The Broncos are not giving up hope that Orton can play Sunday. The winner of the Broncos-Chargers game will be in sole possession of first place in ..."
November 20
Washington Post
"
Coach Jim Zorn stopped short of ruling Clinton Portis out for Sunday's game at Dallas, but he said the Redskins' star running back is "very doubtful" to play. "But I don't want to count him out," Zorn said Wednesday after practice. Portis wasn't present at practice and is at risk of missing his second game since suffering a concussion - the second of his career -- on Nov. 8 in Atlanta. Zorn said Portis worked out early Wednesday morning -- to get "a little sweat going," Zorn said -- and Portis experienced some blurriness. Portis attended the weekly team meeting but left Redskins Park to visit a Washington doctor and missed the running backs' position meeting. Zorn laid out a timeline that ..."
November 20
Cincinnati Enquirer
"
Running back Cedric Benson did not practice for a second straight day and is unlikely to play Sunday at Oakland. That means Larry Johnson's timetable to be somewhat comfortable with the playbook is accelerated. "It's a new offense and they have to get comfortable with trusting me to step in there," said Johnson, who celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday. "The plays are the same handing off and right now the exchange has been pretty good between Carson (Palmer) and myself.""
NBA Rumors
November 20
New York Times
"
The Knicks' pursuit of Allen Iverson is dead. In an abrupt reversal, Knicks officials decided late Thursday not to offer Iverson a contract, putting an end to their brief flirtation, according to a person close to the deliberations. Although team officials were highly intrigued by Iverson, a four-time scoring champion, they finally decided that he posed too great a risk because of his long history of problems on and off the court. Team officials spent three days weighing the potential merits and pitfalls of signing Iverson, and alternately talked themselves into and then out of making the move. On Tuesday the team president, Donnie Walsh, called it unlikely. Two days later he seemed open ..."
November 20
New York Post
"
Allen Iverson became a free man again last night, clearing waivers and clearing the way for him to join the Knicks in time for next week's West Coast trip vs. the Lakers, Kings and Nuggets. Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni were planning on interviewing Iverson first as final confirmation of their desire to make this massive move that changes the entire face of this season's club. There's a possibility of Iverson coming to New York for a sit-down meeting — the primary reason for the delay. Walsh and D'Antoni said an official signing may not come until after the weekend. Walsh, who met with his scouts yesterday, is expected to offer Iverson a one-year, $1.3M deal unless the ..."
"
The New York Knicks' pursuit of free agent Allen Iverson has gone from longshot to even money in 48 hours, with several league sources indicating they believed Iverson would agree to a deal with the Knicks no later than the weekend -- and one source with knowledge of the negotiations indicating an agreement between the team and the nine-time All-Star was a near certainty. The 34-year-old Iverson officially cleared waivers Thursday evening after agreeing to a termination of his contract with the Memphis Grizzlies after just three regular-season games. Iverson had requested a leave of absence from the Grizzlies on Nov. 10 after telling the team he had to deal with an urgent family matter. ..."
November 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Bucks center Andrew Bogut will miss the next two to four weeks with a left leg strain and contusion, the team announced Thursday afternoon. Bogut missed practice on Thursday and underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam. He was injured late in the fourth quarter of the Bucks' 99-85 victory over New Jersey on Wednesday night. The 7-foot center was examined by Bucks team doctor Michael Gordon, and the MRI exam revealed the injury. Bogut was off to a great start this season, averaging 16.1 points and 9.2 rebounds in 33.6 minutes per game. He had scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds when he left the game on Wednesday after banging his lower leg in a collision with another player."
MLB Rumors
November 20
Chicago Sun-Times
"
The Cubs took two key steps in shaping their 2010 bullpen Thursday, even as they continue to work and wait on their bigger offseason tasks of trading Milton Bradley and acquiring another outfielder. After agreeing to a two-year contract extension worth at least $7 million with free-agent lefty reliever John Grabow, the Cubs traded arbitration-eligible right-hander Aaron Heilman to the Arizona Diamondbacks for two prospects. Heilman, who made $1.62million in 2009, was one of 10 Cubs eligible for arbitration this winter and was considered expendable given the team's relative bullpen depth. ''We obviously for years liked Aaron, in his Mets days,'' said general manager Jim Hendry, who acquired ..."
"
The talks have been going on all season. But suddenly, as of midnight, things are different. Now it's not only the Red Sox who can discuss contract numbers with free agent left fielder Jason Bay - every team can. The Sox have been conversing with Bay about a new contract for the better part of a year, with the talks twice ending abruptly - once in spring training and once after the All-Star break. There has been no agreement between the sides, and last night the deadline for the Sox' negotiating exclusivity came and went. So Bay becomes a true free agent, able to be wooed by any team out there. Several clubs have expressed interest in him in what is a down market for upper-level talent."
"
The Marlins have extended an offer to Ross Gload, their top left-handed hitter off the bench last season when he led the majors in pinch hits. The offer is thought to be similar to the one received last year by Wes Helms, who agreed to a two-year deal for $1.9 million. Gload said toward he end of the season that he would prefer to remain with the Marlins, especially if he could work out a deal early in the free agency process, thus relieving him of any uncertainty.The Marlins' exclusive negotiating window with Gload closes at midnight Friday, at which point any team can start discussing financial terms with the free agent. The Marlins, as expected, declined to pick up a $2.6 million club ..."
November 20
Washington Post
"
Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' prized pitching phenom, twisted his left knee while shagging flies during batting practice before the Phoenix Desert Dogs' regular season finale in the Arizona Fall League on Thursday, and has been scratched from Saturday's scheduled start in the AFL championship game, the team said in a news release Thursday night. According to the release, the injury is not considered serious, and an MRI exam taken shortly after the incident showed only "inflammation." Still, Strasburg is scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Friday to be examined by orthopedist Lewis Yocum. Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo did not immediately return voice and text messages seeking ..."
NHL Rumors
November 20
Boston Herald
"
Bruins center Marc Savard will soon sign a lengthy and lucrative contract extension that will keep him in Boston well into the next decade, according to a team source, but the club isn't quite ready to let him return from his broken foot just yet. The 32-year-old center, whose offensive skills were sorely missed over the past few weeks, is close to a new deal. With a few final issues to be ironed out, the extension could be announced within days. Although the team earlier dangled a three-year deal paying $6.5 million per year, Savard apparently will choose a longer term at less average money - seven years worth $39 million ($5.7 million per) according to a report from Canada's RDS. Savard ..."
November 20
Chicago Tribune
"
With Marian Hossa's debut with the Blackhawks looming, coach Joel Quenneville is formulating plans on how to utilize the high-scoring winger. Hossa participated in the Hawks' morning skate before Thursday night's game against the Flames and is on track to play during the Hawks' six-game trip, most likely Wednesday against the Sharks in San Jose. "There are going to be a lot of options for a coach to have," Quenneville said. "He's going to get a lot of ice time. We're looking forward to him being useful in a lot of ways.""
"
Doesn't look like captain Adam Foote is going to be in the lineup tomorrow night against the Canucks, but John Liles and T.J. Galiardi have both been pronounced "available" to play. Number 52 didn't practice today here, still bothered by an apparent jaw injury. It's possible Avs rookie Ryan Wilson won't play either. It's possible the NHL could suspend him for his hit on Edmonton captain Ethan Moreau last night, which knocked him out of the game with a likely concussion and kept him out of Oilers practice today."
"
When Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson drilled Edmonton Oilers captain Ethan Moreau with a big hit to the head Wednesday, it touched off approximately the 10,000th debate on the "head shots" topic this NHL season. The issue continues to dominate much of the chatter regarding any proposed rules changes, with league general managers saying they may propose new guidelines to be voted upon at the next board of governors meeting. Proponents of stiffer penalties and/or new guidelines for hits to the head point to the kind that Wilson laid on Moreau, saying they represent a heightened danger level given the acknowledged bigger, faster players of today. Others, such as former player, GM and current ..."