The Jacksonville Jaguars have expressed interest in free agent offensive tackle Eric Winston, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus on the Joe Rose Show on 560AM WQAM (h/t @DomWorld_Peace).

Whether this is just Winston's agent drumming up interest or not, he's someone who could help the Jaguars immediately going forward. Winston, 29, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the free agent period and has had minimal activity on the free agent market.

He's a right tackle with lots of experience in a zone blocking scheme. Originally drafted in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft, WInston spent his first six seasons in the NFL on the Houston Texans playing right tackle in their zone blocking scheme. Winston was released in 2012 by the Texans and quickly picked up by the Chiefs.

Since the 2007 season, Winston has started 96 straight games and played all 16 games six seasons in a row.


(bigcatcountry.com)

Per the Miami Herald, the Dolphins' interest in free agent RT Eric Winston has "otherwise waned somewhat."

Beat writer Armando Salguero thinks the Dolphins are only interested in signing Winston if the 29-year-old decides he'll play for Miami "very, very cheaply." After drawing a boatload of perceived interest shortly after his release, Winston's market has gone ice cold. Salguero adds that recently released RT Tyson Clabo could be a possibility for the Fins.


(rotoworld.com)

The Brewers announced Thursday that prior to the game Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Par, an on-field, pre-game ceremony will be held to present Ryan Braun with his 2012 Silver Slugger Award. 

Fans are encouraged to be inside Miller Park for the ceremony, which will begin at approximately 6 p.m. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin will present the award.

In addition, Braun will be presented the 2012 Josh Gibson Legacy Award by Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. The award is given annually to the home run leaders of both the National League and American League. Braun led the NL with 41 home runs last season.


(jsonline.com)

NEW YORK -- The Padres, who had their share of injury-related news in Spring Training, got a big scare during Wednesday's loss to the Mets.

First baseman Yonder Alonso appeared to have hurt his left arm when he came off the bag to make a swipe tag on Collin Cowgill in the fifth inning on what wound up being a throwing error by third baseman Jedd Gyorko.

Alonso immediately clutched his arm.

"Not good," said Padres manager Bud Black. "You think worst-case scenario. It looked like it might be a shoulder issue. But when I went out there, he said it was his elbow."

After working for a few minutes with trainer Paul Navarro, who quickly put Alonso through a handful of strength tests to determine if there was an injury, Alonso's pain started to subside. He ended up staying in the game and was in the starting lineup on Thursday.

"I woke up today and it was good," Alonso said. "I was a little scared for a second. But when Paulie went out and started playing with it, I knew it would be fine."

The Padres are already without third baseman Chase Headley for what will likely be most of April, if not longer, while infielder Logan Forsythe is sidelined indefinitely with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Two other players -- pitcher Casey Kelly and Minor League outfielder Rymer Liriano -- needed reconstructive elbow surgery in Spring Training.

The last thing the Padres needed was another significant injury. That's why Black felt the team dodged a bullet Wednesday.

"Those things don't look good when they happen," Black said.


(mlb.com)

Free agent linebacker Tavares Gooden will visit with the Steelers as their march of meetings continues into April.

The team signed reserve LB Stevenson Sylvester Wednesday, and have hosted multiple draft prospects, seven of whom so far are linebackers.

Gooden, a sixth-year veteran, was originally drafted by the Ravens and played in Baltimore from 2008-10, before moving to the 49ers for the past two years. The likelihood of Gooden signing after the announcement of Sylvester's new contract is low, but it may be someone they keep in mind in the future.

While these moves don't necessarily suggest any kind of priority in free agency or the draft, it's clear they're currently looking hard at the position. Incumbents Lawrence Timmons and Larry Foote are the likely starters for the team, but depth is shallow behind them. Second-year LB Sean Spence is coming off a major knee injury from the preseason in 2012, and it's still unclear how far along he is in rehabilitation.

It's possible, too, the Steelers do look into the draft. Kansas State's Arthur Brown and Georgia's Alec Ogletree are possible inside linebacker prospects the team may look at in the first round, where both players are expected to be drafted.


(behindthesteelcurtain.com)

Veteran Panthers linebacker Jon Beason said today on NFL Network's NFL AM that he knows he has the ability to play outside linebacker after spending nearly his career in Carolina at middle.

Beason has spent almost the entire past two seasons on injured reserve, and last year, he lost his spot at middle linebacker to Defensive Rookie of the Year Luke Kuechly.

But the three-time Pro Bowler said it's less about pride and more about what the team can do as he enters the latter half of his career.

"Going into my seventh year, you think about things like legacy and all of that stuff becomes important to you," Beason said. "But it’s really about winning a ring. When my career is over, I want to win a ring. I’ve done great things, big things but I also know I have the ability to play outside. Watching Luke, watching him mature and make plays and seeing how dynamic he is, I just want to get out there and do the same thing.

"We can be scary good with that front we have, Thomas Davis. We could be the best in the league and that’s the goal, so I want to be a part of the best defense and win championships, starting with one first obviously.”

He said he's "probably ahead of schedule" for his return to the field. He's almost to the point where he can train again, and he believes he'll be ready for training camp come late July.

Beason started at middle linebacker for the first four games of the season but became less effective as the weeks went on. Nagging shoudler and knee injuries forced him to have scopes on both areas during the year and he was placed on injured reserve for a second consecutive season.

"What I learned was to be in the moment," Beason said of the injuries. "If you can appreciate the grind, the training camps, the moments that you do have, the tough times, you can do big things. So for me, everything is just being near-sighted and winning the day.”

Beason also discussed quarterback Cam Newton's body language as he enters his third year as the offensive leader of the team, the decision to keep coach Ron Rivera for a third year and what it's like to play for owner Jerry Richardson.

He said the team must have a higher sense of urgency in training camp if the Panthers want to come out of the gate hot rather than struggle for the first half of the season and win late like they have the past two seasons.

“Guys can’t miss reps in training camp; I haven’t taken a rep in training camp in two years," Beason said. "It can’t take [until] mid-season to hit your stride; you have to have that mentality right away. We’ll do that this year but you have to appreciate training camp for what it is. Go in with a mentality to work every day, get better and hit it running Week One.”


(charlotte.com)

Former Dolphins quarterback Pat White wisely dismissed his concussion lawsuit (actually, he filed two of them) before returning to the NFL, signing with the Redskins.  But maybe he didn’t need to do that.  After all, two other players made comebacks without scrapping their own lawsuits against the league.

A league source advises that former Jaguars, Rams, and Falcons center Brett Romberg, a plaintiff in one of the original concussion lawsuits filed in July 2011, re-signed with the Falcons the following month, after a year out of football.

Cut in early September 2011, Romberg again re-signed with the Falcons later that month, remaining with the team for the balance of the year and appearing in two games.

We’ve also confirmed, as first reported by Nathan Fenno of the Washington Times, that defensive end Patrick Chukwurah signed with the Seahawks last season after filing suit for concussions suffered earlier in his career.

While not binding on the many other former players who have sued, this dynamic supports the notion that plenty of the concussion plaintiffs view the litigation as a lawyer-driven strategy for finagling a little extra money from a former employer, and that many of the players would welcome the chance to make more money playing football despite the brain damage they’ve supposedly sustained.

As Ross Tucker aptly put it earlier today on Twitter, “Pat White situation makes me wonder how many guys on concussion lawsuit would bail if a team offered them contract?”  We know Pat White would, because Pat White did.  Despite allegedly permanent injuries, White was perfectly fine when he had to be.
Even though that’s only one out of 4,000 plaintiffs, it does far more damage to the concussion lawsuits than any permanent harm White ever suffered in the NFL.

Especially since we now know that he actually suffered none.


(profootballweekly.com)

Cleveland Indians RP Chris Perez nailed down the save in the team's regular season opener Tuesday, April 2, but he wasn't as fortunate Wednesday, April 3. He served up a game-tying solo home run to Toronto Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista to blow his first save of the season.

Fantasy Tip: Perez made just five appearances during the spring due to a strained right shoulder, and he was pitching on consecutive days for the first time since last season. Perez should be fine, and he isn't in any danger of losing his job. However, if you're really nervous, it isn't a bad idea to stash away Vinnie Pestano if you can afford the roster space, especially in rotisserie formats.


(kffl.com)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gorkys Hernandez will be remaining in the organization after all. So will Zack Cox and Scott Maine.

After clearing waivers on Wednesday, Hernandez and Maine were outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans, with Cox outrighted to Double-A Jacksonville.

But Miami did lose the services of right-handed reliever Evan Reed, who was claimed by the Tigers.

The Marlins designated all four for assignment on Sunday to free up space on the 40-man roster.

Hernandez, a terrific defensive outfielder, will play center field at New Orleans. The native of Venezuela was acquired last July for Gaby Sanchez.
Maine is a left-handed reliever, and Cox will mix in at third base in Jacksonville.


(flamarlins.com)

TORONTO -- Closers are trained to have a short memory. Whatever happened last night, last month or last season, turn the page and move on.

Indians closer Chris Perez made an exception on Opening Night.

Perez was summoned from the bullpen with the Tribe holding a 4-1 lead against the Blue Jays on Tuesday night. Opening Day starter Justin Masterson had given Cleveland a solid outing to help set up the save situation. On Opening Day against Toronto one year ago, Perez entered with a 4-1 lead following a gem from Masterson, blew the save and watched the Indians lose in 16 innings.

"I was definitely thinking about it," Perez said. "It was the same exact situation -- except the part of the order. It was 4-1 on Opening Day."

Perez opened the ninth inning on Tuesday by inducing back-to-back flyouts off the bats of Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind. After Toronto catcher J.P. Arencibia connected for a two-out double, Perez struck out Colby Rasmus to seal the win and collect the save.

In last April's Opening Day loss, Perez labored through 31 pitches. He was admittedly over-cautious after dealing with an oblique issue during Spring Training and gave up three runs on three hits with two walks in two-thirds of an inning.

What was the difference this time around?

"I just gave people my best stuff," Perez said. "I felt like last year I was a little tentative, trying to get that first strike, and they came out swinging last year. That kind of put me in a defensive mode. This year, I was able to pour in strike one and I felt good. Last year, I was a little -- not worried -- but questioning that injury.

"I didn't know if I was 100 percent game ready with adrenaline and all that stuff. This year, I knew I was ready. No worries."

Perez's drama-free ninth inning followed perfect innings from setup man Joe Smith and Vinnie Pestano in the seventh and eighth.

"That's what we do," Perez said. "That's how it lines up. Seven, eight, nine. Smitty, Vinnie and me. That's our formula going back to last year."


(mlb.com)

The Miami Dolphins are not interested in giving free-agent OT Eric Winston (Chiefs) the long-term deal is he looking for this offseason. The team is also not interested in giving Winston $5 million per season.



(kffl.com)

The Baltimore Ravens never wanted to keep Ed Reed. That was obvious from the outside when we saw the contract proposals which were offered to the veteran safety. Now someone closer to the situation writes that the Ravens only "made it appear" they were bidding to keep him.

"Ravens coach John Harbaugh wanted Reed back as much as he wants a root canal," Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun wrote in a column published Monday.

The Ravens didn't completely back out of the mix for Reed out of respect, but their offers showed that they truly didn't value him. The Houston Texans were willing to pay more money, and they got him easily.

Reed, of course, wasn't the Ravens' only veteran to leave this offseason. Preston notes that offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie remains a free agent, but it appears his chances of returning to the Ravens are slim. There doesn't look to be a lot of interest from the Ravens in bringing back McKinnie.

It's been an offseason of change in Baltimore, but most of the players the Ravens lost either were part-time starters like Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe or veterans that the Ravens simply didn't want to keep, like Reed and McKinnie.


(nfl.com)

The day after what would have been Sean Taylor’s 30th birthday, a new trial date was set in Miami for the man who allegedly shot him to death in November 2007.

After a number of postponements, Eric Rivera Jr., 22, will stand trial Aug. 12, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy said Tuesday (via the Associated Press).

The Washington Redskins’ safety, who grew up and lived in the Miami area, died Nov. 27, 2007, the day after he was shot during what is believed to have been a robbery at his Miami-area home. Taylor was recovering from a knee injury at his Palmetto Bay home and was not with the team.

Three other men, who are, like Rivera, from the Fort Myers area, have entered not-guilty pleas and are being tried separately. A fifth man, Venjah Hunte, previously pleaded guilty to murder and burglary charges in 2008. He is expected to testify against the other men. In a letter to Nathan Fenno of the Washington Times earlier this year, he wrote:

“To begin, I would like to send my deepest apology to the family of Sean Taylor. I know an apology won’t bring him back, but I hope one day they could find it in their hearts to forgive me. …

“My thought or intentions weren’t to hurt him or noone [sic] else, let alone murder, it was something I thought would never happen. Even though I didn’t pull the trigger I still have to take responsibility for my actions. Period.”

Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, like many Redskins fans, paused to remember Taylor on Monday. “Happy Birthday Sean Taylor…,” RGIII tweeted, “1 of the Greatest Redskins I never got the chance to meet in this life but will in the next.”


(washingtonpost.com)

The New York Giants drafted wide receiver Sinorice Moss in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft with the hope that his blazing speed would allow him to develop into a dominant slot receiver. To make a long story short, Moss' career was marred by a slew on injuries that never allowed him to emerge as a consistently productive member of the roster. Moss did play in 13 games in 2007, the year that Big Blue shocked the world and took home a Lombardi Trophy. However, after suffering from a sports hernia prior to the 2010 season, Moss was placed on the injured reserve and subsequently released after receiving an injury settlement.

Moss attempted to continue his football career elsewhere, namely with the Philadelphia Eagles and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. Neither opportunity yielded a job opportunity, as Moss has been out of football for the last several months. With Moss' football career likely in his rearview mirror, he's began focusing his time on establishing an acting career.

In 2006, before the NFL became a realistic career path, Moss made his acting debut as an extra on "General Hospital". He took a break to focus on football over the next several years, until appearing as Daniel in a short drama entitled "This Time," which documented a soldiers' attempt to win back his wife after returning from war. Moss is also credited as an executive producer on the film.

Lastly, Moss played a small role in a 2012 film entitled "The Last Fall," which ironically enough, chronicles a professional football player's attempt to move on in life after his time in the NFL is prematurely cut short.

Obviously, Sinorice Moss is not the next Tom Cruise or Tyler Perry. However, it's encouraging to know that he's found a small niche in his life to help him stay active without playing professional football. For every Hakeem Nicks or Victor Cruz who makes it big time in the NFL, there are several other players who, for one reason or another, wash out of the league. Moss was unfortunately one of those players, but his ability to shift his focus elsewhere in life is a lesson that many of former athletes can learn from.

After playing football for one's entire life, it's understandably difficult to cope with washing out of the professional ranks at a young age. Many players do so without a college degree, without a viable support system, without another source of income and no idea how to adjust their standard of living to reflect their new, and likely significantly reduced salary. Nobody knows how Sinorice Moss has personally with being out of the league, but he seems to have found a new passion in life to apply himself to. That's more than most other former NFL athletes can say for themselves.


(giants101.com)

Chris Perez pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Tuesday in the Indians 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Perez dealt with shoulder issues this spring, so his availability and effectiveness Tuesday were both good signs for owners of the 27-year-old closer. Despite some questions about his place in the organization, the right-hander saved 39 games last season for the Tribe and was given the first opportunity of 2013. He seems to have a decent amount of job security at this point.


(rotoworld.com)

Milwaukee Brewers OF Ryan Braun went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Tuesday, April 2, against the Colorado Rockies.

Fantasy Tip: Braun was 1-for-2 against Rockies SP Jorge De La Rosa, bumping his career numbers to 8-for-11 with two homers and three doubles. File that away if you play daily fantasy games for the next time the Brewers face the Rockies and De La Rosa.


(kffl.com)

(The Chirp) -- During Spring Training last year, we asked individual Cardinal players if they had any hobbies or special skills that made them unique.  The most 'unique' answer came from center fielder Jon Jay.

Jay told us that he collects sneakers.  Now, at the time that didn't really register.  I mean I have sneakers, but why would I collect them?  I failed to understand just how un-hip I was, as I was unaware of the subculture that exists pertaining too sneaker collecting.

Yes, I've heard the stories of kids paying hundreds of dollars for Air Jordan's and even crimes being committed in the name of possessing another persons shoe, but again, Jay collecting sneakers, simply did not register.

Now I get it.

Perusing the web is always interesting, especially when you stumble on to something that you didn't even know existed.  There is a website called solecollector.com and on it right now is a featured interview with the Cardinals lead off hitter.

In the interview we learn how Jay first got into this most unique of hobbies.  According to Jon, "I think I always liked sneakers since I was little. I can remember back in elementary school my best friend and I always had the "Deions" or Jordans that came out, or whatever the hot shoe was at the time. I remember getting the "Rod Woodsons" (Nike Air Bowl Trainer). The list goes on. We were always into shoes, we always liked them, you know?

Now I know.

Hopefully when the Cardinals return home, Jay will allow us to show you more of his collection.  Till then, enjoy his feature interview courtesy of solecollector.com


(ksdk.com)

When safety Ed Reed left the Ravens to sign with the Texans, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh talked about how much he appreciated what Reed had done for the team. But Harbaugh may have been quietly thinking, “Good riddance.”

According to a new report out of Baltimore, the talk that the Ravens and Texans were in a bidding war for Reed was wrong, and in reality the Ravens were happy to see Reed go. Specifically, Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun writes, “Ravens coach John Harbaugh wanted Reed back as much as he wants a root canal.”

At the time that Reed left, Harbaugh said, “Ed has had a major impact on our organization and our community. He is a great player and a great friend. We will always be thankful for what we accomplished together.” Harbaugh did not, however, specifically say that he wanted Reed to stay.

If Preston’s report is correct, and Harbaugh did want Reed out, it may have stemmed from the near “mutiny” that was reported by Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports during the 2012 season. Reed and Bernard Pollard reportedly led the mutiny, complaining about Harbaugh’s practices and his general treatment of players.

That mutiny may have been a factor in Pollard’s release, although Pollard takes issue with that idea.

Harbaugh will surely never say publicly that he wanted Reed gone. But he probably isn’t losing any sleep about losing a player who complained about the way the coach ran practice.


(profootballtalk.com)

Yonder Alonso's sixth-inning home run against the Mets on opening day went to deep right field -- where six of his nine 2012 home runs landed. 

Why is this a big deal? Because Alonso, who will turn 26 next week, now has a tasty target in San Diego, with the Padres moving the right field fences in almost 20 feet. Granted, this home run was hit in Queens, but it may just signal an overall philosophical shift for 2013 -- hit the home runs to right, without the fear of those fences at PETCO forcing adjustments back in San Diego. Additionally, Alonso may have been due to turn some of his 39 doubles last year into some home runs, just through a natural progression of his career. 

A former top prospect who showed decent power potential in the minors, Alonso is owned in just 65 percent of leagues. I could see that going to about 75 percent by the end of the week. 


(cbssports.com)

PHOENIX -- Turns out Scott Sizemore isn't the only A's second baseman ailing these days.

MLB.com learned Tuesday that Jemile Weeks is also dealing with an injury -- a bruised bone in his right shoulder he suffered while getting tangled up at second base on a double-play attempt in Friday's game against the Giants. He hasn't played since being injured.

Weeks, manager Bob Melvin said, is day to day and close to returning to game action.

The young second baseman was enjoying a productive spring before the injury, collecting hits in six of his first 11 at-bats -- including a home run -- for a .545 average, to go along with five RBIs in just four games.

Sizemore, meanwhile, could return to the lineup as soon as Thursday after being hit by a pitch in the left hand on Sunday. He took grounders on Monday and hit in the cage Tuesday morning, both signs of progression.

The two infielders are the top candidates to open the regular season as the starting second baseman.


(mlb.com)

University of Miami cornerback Brandon McGee has private workouts with the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears and the New York Jets, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

McGee has also drawn heavy interest from the New England Patriots, Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings.

The 5-foot-11, 193-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. He bench pressed 225 pounds 14 times with a 33 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 9-11 broad jump, a 4.18 20-yard shuttle and a 6.71 three-cone drill.

At his campus Pro Day workout, he improved his vertical leap to 34 inches.

McGee played in the East-West Shrine all-star game.

As a senior, he started every game and intercepted two passes with 54 tackles and four tackles for losses.


(scout.com)

Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts and Michael Floyd comprise a solid top three. LaRon Byrd and Kerry Taylor are the only other receivers on the roster. First-year coach Bruce Arians has said receiver is one position he doesn't worry about. Floyd's continued development after an encouraging finish to the 2012 season will be important. The former coaching staff envisioned moving Roberts to the slot, with Fitzgerald and Floyd on the perimeter. That could still happen. Arians also plans to move Fitzgerald around the formation the way he moved Reggie Wayne in Indianapolis last season. Drafting a receiver for depth would make sense, but there's no need to chase one early. The Cardinals released veteran Early Doucet, who struggled with drops last season.


(espn.com)

Free agent RT Eric Winston's player rep confirms he's been in contact with the Dolphins.

"I have talked to the Dolphins, and that is a fluid situation," Winston's rep said. "I don’t really know what direction that’s going to go yet. There are a number of teams interested in Eric. I don’t think a deal is imminent." As a released player, Winston is already free to sign with any team, but it sounds like his agent is planning to slow play the market. Winston will only end up in Miami if the Dolphins are convinced a new deal with Jake Long isn't possible.


(rotoworld.com)

Bears receiver/return specialist Devin Hester periodically has created the impression that he may not be returning to the Bears in 2013.  According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Hester strongly suggested on Tuesday that he’ll be back.

Hester said on his verified Instagram account that he is a “bear 4 life.”

It’s unclear whether Hester means that literally or figuratively.  The full message, complete with the term “Beardown” and multiple exclamation points, implies that Hester will be back.

The bigger question is whether the reference to being a “bear 4 life” at a time when Hester is entering the final year of his contract means that Hester has signed a new contract with the Bears.

Indeed, it’s hard to be a “bear 4 life” if the contract applies to only one more season.


(profootballtalk.com)

After dumping Jared Gaither on Wednesday, the San Diego Chargers are paper thin along the offensive line. Help might be on the way.

A team source told Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego that the team still has interest in free agent Eric Winston, the former Kansas City Chiefs right tackle who was released earlier this month.

Winston visited the Chargers three weeks ago and has been linked to the Miami Dolphins, but the "door remains open" in San Diego, according to the source. Winston, who started 16 games with the Chiefs last season, would loom as a right-side replacement for tackle Jeromey Clary. Gaither's fill-in figures to come in the 2013 NFL Draft, possibly with the Chargers' No. 11 pick.

Winston has taken his time in free agency. His agent said this week he would "really like" to play for the Dolphins after almost signing with the team last offseason. And another report on Thursday said the Philadelphia Eagles -- one of the first teams to show interest in Winston -- recently checked back in with his agent.

ProFootballFocus ranked Winston as the ninth-best right tackle in 2012, and he won't be out of work for long.


(nfl.com)

The Denver Post expects the Broncos to draft a running back in the first three rounds.

The Post even suggests they could take one with the 28th overall pick. (It'd presumably be Alabama's Eddie Lacy.) Regardless, the writing is on the wall for Willis McGahee in Denver. Owed a $2.5 million non-guaranteed base salary, 31-year-old McGahee figures to be released before or just after April's draft.


(rotoworld.com)

Eric Winston is one of the best offensive tackles available in free agency, but that doesn’t mean he has teams beating down his door with big-money offers.

In fact, Winston acknowledged on NFL AM that he’s one of the many players finding this offseason a bit frustrating.

“I’m just kind of looking for the right fit right now, so hopefully that presents itself sooner than later,” Winston said. “I’m eager to get to a team and start the offseason process, but it’s been a weird market. It’s been a weird year for everybody, I think, in free agency. So now it’s just a matter of trying to find the right fit and find a home.”

Winston said there is some mutual interest with the Dolphins, but he didn’t seem to think anything is imminent in Miami. Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News reported that the Eagles have some interest, and Winston has visited the Chargers, but it doesn’t sound like any team is planning to offer anything close to the contract he signed with Kansas City a year ago.

Winston is one of the many free agents finding this offseason that enormous contracts just aren’t on the table.


(profootballtalk.com)

DeQuan Jones started at shooting guard for the Magic on Wednesday and had 13 points, two rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks on 6-of-9 shooting.

NEW ORLEANS —    Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade found himself conflicted while watching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He won't face a similar challenge in the Elite Eight.

Thursday night, while preparing for Friday's game against the New Orleans Hornets, Wade watched his alma mater Marquette defeat the University of Miami, a team he had otherwise thrown his support behind this past season.

However, with Indiana losing to Syracuse to set up a Saturday Syracuse-Marquette game in the East Regional final, it won't create a case of mixed allegiances, with Indiana coached by Tom Crean, who coached Wade at Marquette.

"It was an unbelievable season by the Miami Hurricanes, really helping bringing more attention to Miami basketball with the great season they had," Wade said. "Obviously, I'm excited for Marquette to finally get over the hump, going to the Sweet 16 three years in a row and finally getting over that hump. And the performance that they put on was pretty impressive. I'm looking forward to the next challenge."

Wade, though, did take time to tease teammate James Jones, a University of Miami graduate.

Asked what his rooting choice would have been had Indiana advanced to play Marquette, Wade said, "You know what? I wouldn't have had one. I was in a win-win situation if that would have happened. When Indiana got that draw against Syracuse, I knew it was going to be a tough one, but I would have been in a win-win situation."


(sun-sentinel.com)

After allowing four runs in his last outing, Indians closer Chris Perez settled down and got back on track in Saturday's spring training finale against the Reds.

Perez entered the game in the sixth inning and gave up a leadoff single Tanner Rahier. But he retired the next three batters. The right-hander finished spring with a 7.20 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP in five appearances.


(cbssports.com)

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Prior to Tuesday’s Spring Training game, the St. Louis Cardinals placed third baseman David Freese (lower back strain) on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.

Infielder Ryan Jackson has been recalled from the AAA Memphis roster.

Freese had appeared in 12 spring games, batting .267 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. According to a release by the team, Jackson was optioned off the Major League roster on March 17. He had appeared in 17 Grapefruit League games prior to that move. Freeman made two spring appearances, the most recent on Sunday, March 24.


(cbs.local.com)

JUPITER, Fla. -- Center fielder Jon Jay picked up a new hobby over the offseason, a hobby that he said could have a payoff on the conditioning side.

A lifelong Miami resident, Jay tried his hand at paddleboarding, a water sport in which a rider lies on a board and uses his or her arms to maneuver through waves. Jay bought two paddleboards, he said, and made regular visits to the Atlantic Ocean to experiment with them.

But what began merely as a form of active entertainment became a workout tool for the Cardinals outfielder.

"It's a great core workout, so it allowed me to work out and have a good time at the same time," Jay said. "Even before I left to come to camp, instead of being so much in the weight room, I tried to do more paddleboarding. It worked out well. I knew I would be in the weight room a lot when I got here, and so that broke the workouts up and still provided good core work."


(mlb.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Catcher Jason Hagerty is no stranger to first base, though when he arrived in Peoria last month for the start of Spring Training, he wasn't thinking about the position at all.

But with five other catchers in big league camp -- Austin Hedges, Nick Hundley, Yasmani Grandal, Eddy Rodriguez and John Baker -- the Padres asked Hagerty to take some reps at first base in practice.

Also, with James Darnell nursing a sore right oblique, the Padres were down to Yonder Alonso, Jesus Guzman and Kyle Blanks at first base. Hagerty has given them some depth there.

That has led to playing time at first base in Cactus League games, where the ball has already found him on several occasions.

"It's been fun," Hagerty said.

Hagerty said he played first base some in college at the University of Miami (2007-09) before the Padres drafted him in the fifth round in 2009. In fact, his time at first base in college came in his last season as former Hurricane Grandal got most of the time behind the plate.

Hagerty played eight games at first base that summer for short-season Eugene, five games at Class A Fort Wayne in 2010 and 10 games at first base in two Minor League stops the following season.

But Hagerty didn't catch a single game last season with Double-A San Antonio.

"It's a little bit different, because I haven't done it much," Hagerty said. "But I've been getting reps there in practice, so once you get the feeling back, it's a lot easier."

Despite the abundance of playing time at first base, Hagerty, who has a .273/.377/.442 line over his first four seasons, hasn't given up on his true position.

"Catching is still what I love to do," Hagerty said. "But whatever way I can get up [to the big leagues], I'll do it."


(padres.com)

PHOENIX—Jemile Weeks refuses to point fingers or make excuses. The face responsible for his sub-par sophomore season is the one he sees in the mirror every morning.

The second baseman is now trying to regain his starting role with the Oakland Athletics. There are plenty of candidates in the infield.

Scott Sizemore returns after tearing his left knee last spring and missing the year. Jed Lowrie was obtained in a trade with the Houston Astros and the A's signed Japanese veteran Hiroyuki Nakajimi.

There also are veteran backups Adam Rosales and Eric Sogard.

Weeks, who led off for the A's in Saturday's spring opener at the Milwaukee Brewers, embraces the competition.

"It's my job to show them I'm no different than I have been in the past," Weeks said. "There is a sense of having to prove it to people if they doubt."

He was Oakland's first-round pick in 2008, reached the majors ahead of schedule and hit .303 in 97 games as a rookie in 2011.

There was no reason to think he would backpedal. But last Aug. 21, when he was hitting .220 with two homers and 20 RBIs, he was sent to Triple-A Sacramento.

That prompted A's GM Billy Beane to make some moves during the offseason that has produced some stiff competition this spring.

"You put guys into situations to see what they can do," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "You take into consideration a guy who has a track record but guys know they're in competition."

For Weeks, it's a matter of returning to what made him successful in the first place: working hard every day year around.

His older brother, Milwaukee Brewers infielder Rickie Weeks, is also convinced Jemile will return to prominence.

"He's an All-Star second baseman," the elder Weeks said. "I know that for a fact."

After his sensational rookie season, in which he led all major league rookies in batting average and triples, he got of his routine, perhaps resting on his laurels just enough to offset the things he accomplished the previous season.

"Everybody goes through streaks like this," Weeks said. "I came into last season feeling good and then I got out of my routine."

He wasn't going to blame the sophomore jinx, how pitchers adjusted to him or anybody affiliated with the Athletics. He took full responsibility.

"Sure pitchers threw me differently but I have to go back to getting out of my routine," Weeks said. "Those were the same pitchers I faced as when I broke in. It was my results which were different. You realize this game is not easy and you have to keep working hard to be good. There's really no other substitute for that."

The A's really don't know what to expect out of Sizemore and Lowrie, who has also been plagued by injuries during his big league career. Nakajimi is making the adjustment to American baseball.

"I have to applaud Billy for what he did this offseason," Melvin said. "It's a nice problem to have. What it allows us to do is withstand injuries, or give guys days off over the course of a season."

Lowrie, who has yet to play a full season in the majors, is as healthy as he's been and also looking forward to the season. He says playing shortstop "is why I am here. I feel good. I haven't played since last year but I feel healthy."

Lowrie, who turns 29 in April, played in a career-high 97 games with the Houston Astros. He missed two months because of thumb and ankle injuries.
"That's why you put in the time to rehab," Lowrie said. "You know there is baseball down the road."

It's also the reason Weeks has himself back on track and looking forward.


(mercurynews.com)