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NFL Rumors
November 19
Arizona Republic
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Edgerrin James wants out of Arizona, but the Cardinals aren't ready to let him go just yet. Through his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, James asked the Cardinals to release him two weeks ago, and the team refused. James was benched three games ago in favor of rookie Tim Hightower and didn't play at all in St. Louis, his first game as a reserve. In the past two games, he carried the ball three times for 5 yards. "Edge is not looking to create a distraction or impact team chemistry," Rosenhaus said. "But this is a difficult situation for him. It's a very confusing decision, not just to not be starting but to not be contributing. He's in the prime of his career and he wants to contribute." The hope, ..."
November 19
East Valley Tribune
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'Edge' wants out. That's the story from profootballtalk.com, which reported that Cardinals running back Edgerrin James asked for his release but the team declined. Neither James' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, nor Cardinals general manager Rod Graves returned calls to the Tribune. As a playoff-bound team, the Cardinals have little incentive to release James. They view him as insurance for new starter Tim Hightower or the rising J.J. Arrington, who has become more prominent than James in recent games. From James' perspective, he believes he still has something left to offer and is cognizant of his place in history (and his seemingly fading chances to make the Hall of Fame). He came into this season ..."
November 19
Contra Costa Times
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Former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel said Tuesday that he hasn't spoken with Raiders managing general partner Al Davis in recent days and that his name being linked to the Raiders coaching job is pure speculation. "No, we haven't had any conversations," Fassel said in an interview on SIRIUS NFL Radio, "and the thing is, some of the things got blown out of proportion." ESPN reported Sunday that Fassel sent a letter to Davis expressing his desire to replace current Raiders coach Tom Cable next season. Raiders senior executive John Herrera said Tuesday that Davis is focused on the current season and hasn't solicited candidates to replace Cable. Davis fired Lane Kiffin on Sept. 30 and ..."
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Brandon Jacobs wants to be practicing today. He wants to play on Sunday. And when the NFL's free agency period begins this winter, he wants to still be a Giant. "I'll be at my house relaxing," he said of tentative plans for Feb. 27, 2009, the day players can hit the open market. "Hopefully I'm taken care of by then. I don't want it to get to [that day]. It's going to be a tough time in my household if it comes and I don't have a contract." Jacobs is one of the big names with expiring contracts at the conclusion of this season. Before this season started, running back Michael Turner signed a six-year, $34.5-million deal with the Falcons - after spending most of his career as a backup in San ..."
NBA Rumors
November 19
Dallas Morning News
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Jerry Stackhouse and his agent are exploring options for a possible departure from the Dallas Mavericks, the result of a turbulent first month of the season in which his playing time and level of performance have dropped dramatically. Stackhouse did not demand a trade Monday after practice, but he calmly detailed his situation and said that he feels there is plenty of good basketball left in him, too much to be a bit player. He speculated that the end of his Mavericks tenure might be coming soon and that the organization's decision to bring along young players has left him with an uncertain future, given that he will probably be a free agent next summer. "Sometimes, that cycle comes," ..."
November 19
Cleveland Plain Dealer
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More than 30 reporters carrying notepads, microphones and cameras crowded around LeBron James in the tiny visiting locker room at the Izod Center. They did not beat around the bush. They wanted to know about James' plans if he opts to become a free agent after the 2009-10 season. "I'm not thinking about making a change at this point, I'm just trying to focus on the team I have here and the relationship I have with the Cavs," he said. Though he reiterated he is happy in Cleveland, he did provide some insight into what might go into his decision in 2010. "When I decide to make the decision, it's going to basically put me in a position where I feel like I can win multiple championships," ..."
November 19
Bergen Record
columnist Ian O'Connor
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LeBron James does not need his money guy, Warren Buffett, to tell him a good businessman never shuts a door 20 months before it needs to be closed. So while he was busy dropping 31 points on the Nets on Tuesday night, James did not clap and make their wildest ambitions vanish like a cloud of white powder from his otherworldly hands. In fact, James never said never about leaving Cleveland in the summer of 2010, a time when the Nets could join the Knicks and 15 other teams in the greatest free agent chase the NBA has ever seen. Asked if he would make his choice - stay or go - based not on salary or endorsements, but on where he might win the most titles, James said, "Yeah, absolutely. "When ..."
November 19
Charlotte Observer
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The Charlotte Bobcats plan to sign former Cleveland Cavaliers center Dwayne Jones to fill one of the roster spots they opened Wednesday, the Observer has learned. Jones could be in practice as soon as Thursday, after the Bobcats cut forward Andre Brown and Linton Johnson Wednesday. Neither had a guaranteed contract and neither was active for the Bobcats' last four games. While those moves would leave the Bobcats one short of the maximum 15 players under contract, general manager Rod Higgins and coach Larry Brown said nothing was imminent on the trade front. "We weren't playing these guys,'' Larry Brown said of the forwards waived Wednesday. "Sure, we're looking to see if there's anything ..."
MLB Rumors
November 19
Kansas City Star
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The search by the Chicago Cubs for a left-handed bat is targeting Royals outfielder Mark Teahen as a possible solution. That search figures to intensify in coming days in the wake of Tuesday's announcement by the Cubs that free-agent pitcher Ryan Dempster has agreed to a four-year deal for $52 million. Keeping Dempster - or finding a suitable replacement - was the Cubs' top offseason priority. Finding a left-handed bat, which manager Lou Piniella recently cited as the club's top offensive need, could come next. The Cubs remain interested in free-agent outfielder Raul Ibañez but are also searching for lower-cost alternatives. Industry analysts predict Ibañez is likely to command a ..."
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The Yankees still are preparing a formal offer for righthanded pitcher A.J. Burnett, a club official said yesterday, but the Red Sox have become serious competitors to land him. The Red Sox's pursuit of Burnett complicates the Yankees' plans. A source close to Burnett said that a half-dozen teams are in contention for his services: the Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Braves, Phillies and Orioles. The Red Sox, the source said, have significantly increased their involvement in the pitcher in the past 36 hours and are now "fully engaged." The Blue Jays already have offered a four-year, $54-million deal to retain Burnett, according to the Toronto Star. The Yankees' offer is expected to top the ..."
November 19
New York Daily News
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The Yankees and Red Sox won't meet again on the field until April, but the two American League East rivals are preparing to square off for the services of at least one major free agent in the coming weeks. According to an industry source, Boston plans to be a major player for A.J. Burnett, one of the pitchers the Yankees are targeting along with CC Sabathia to bolster their starting rotation. Derek Lowe, another arm coveted by the Bombers, is also on Boston's radar. The Red Sox are not planning to make an offer to Sabathia, who already has a six-year, $140million offer on the table from the Yankees. But Burnett, who turns 32 in January, will certainly receive serious attention from ..."
November 19
Newark Star-Ledger
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Following up on this earlier post , it appears there's another National League California team planning to make a big offer to CC Sabathia. According to a person familiar with the talks, the San Francisco Giants have been in touch with Sabathia's agent and are planning an offer in excess of the six years, $100 million Milwaukee has offered, though not as high as the Yankees' stratospheric six-year, $140 million offer. The Giants "want to show him they're going to be very aggressive," according to this person. They're hoping last week's signing of lefty setup reliever Jeremy Affeldt (two years, $8 million) shows Sabathia they're interested in building a winner, and they've told him they're ..."
NHL Rumors
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Mats Sundin appears to be aiming for a mid-December comeback, with as many as 11 teams – including the Maple Leafs – interested in his services. "Mats is currently training daily with the intention to return," Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry said. "He may still decide not to play, however, if his training regimen doesn't produce the results he expects." The former Leaf captain is working out in Los Angeles, doing mostly strength and aerobic training. Barry says Sundin will likely start skating before the end of November, making a mid-December return "a reasonable guesstimate.""
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There is, according to a source, "nothing imminent" as the Maple Leafs pursue Brian Burke as the club's next general manager. That doesn't mean it won't get done as everyone expects, it's just moving slowly because of the significance of the position and the dollars involved. Richard Peddie, CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, refused to discuss the machinations of a potential deal or even acknowledge that the club wants to sign Burke. "No comments on candidates and process," said Peddie. Burke has also met with former Leafs captain Mats Sundin. The pair met shortly after Sundin went to Los Angeles with his fiancée. At the time, Burke was still general manager of the Anaheim Ducks."
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The big question in Philadelphia these days -- besides "Wit Whiz or without?" -- is: When is Brendan Shanahan going to sign? The Flyers waived defenseman Lasse Kukkonen last week in what appeared to be a cap-clearing move to give them enough space to sign the veteran winger to a one-year deal worth $1-$1.5 million. But as of Sunday night, the Flyers hadn't heard back from Shanahan about accepting the deal. The (South Jersey) Courier-Post reported in its Flyers blog last night that it would make the most sense for Shanny to sign now, as the Flyers are in the midst of a four-day layoff, which would give him plenty of practice time to get acclaimated to their system. Either way, I can't help ..."
November 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Penguins general manager Ray Shero isn't saying if the team is near a contract extension for center Jordan Staal. However, Shero said Tuesday before the Penguins faced the Minnesota Wild at Mellon Arena that he is not opposed to a short-term contract extension for Staal, who can become a restricted free agent this summer. "It could be a short-term deal, absolutely," Shero said. "I'm open to a lot of different things." Over the past two years, Shero has signed centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Ryan Whitney to long-term extensions. Each of those deals purchased at least a year of those players' unrestricted free-agent eligibility. Shero said if a player prefers a ..."