Angels Get Kazmir From Rays

The Los Angeles Angels, looking to bolster their rotation for the last five weeks of the season and in October, acquired left-hander Scott Kazmir of the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

"This is a surprise. I had heard rumors before, but it's hard to believe that it is now official," Kazmir said after Tampa Bay's 6-2 loss to Detroit. "It's a disappointment because of all the relationships I've built in the organization and the city, but you can't control the business side of the game."

The Angels and Rays had extensive conversations before the trade deadline about Kazmir, who is 8-7 with a 5.92 ERA.

Tampa Bay receives two minor leaguers -- left-hander Alex Torres and infielder Matt Sweeney -- and a player to be named later in the deal.

"We're very excited about the player that we can't name yet, but also about the other two," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "The lefty has a great arm, and Sweeney is one of the best hitters in the minors."

Looking to lock up their third straight division title, the Angels began the night four games ahead of second-place Texas. Tampa Bay was 3½ out in the wild-card race.

"We're not going to make moves just to make moves. We search for opportunities that make sense for us, not only in the short term but in the long term," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said during Friday night's game against Oakland. "We had followed him for the last couple of weeks. Most recently, we had a scout in Toronto who saw Scott pitch, and he obviously threw the ball very well. So we just felt it made sense for us to make the move right now."

Because he was dealt before Aug. 31, Kazmir is eligible for postseason play with Los Angeles.

"I'm going to a quality organization that is in the race every year," said Kazmir, who started Games 1 and 5 of last year's World Series against Philadelphia. "That's something to look forward to, but I don't think it will hit me until I fly out there tomorrow."

The Rays definitely get salary relief in the deal. Tampa Bay is barreling toward a series of tough financial decisions because of its payroll restrictions, and the 25-year-old Kazmir is in the first year of a three-year, $28.5 million deal.

Kazmir, who cleared waivers earlier this month, is making $6 million this year, and will make salaries of $8 million in 2010 and $12 million in 2011.

"It's important because we'll have stability, knowing that we'll have Scott in the fold for this year and two more, plus the option year," Reagins said. "Scott's 25 and still in the prime of his career, so we think he's going to improve."

Tampa Bay may try to replace Kazmir in the rotation with one of its young prospects, such as Wade Davis, who is 10-7 with a 3.26 ERA in Triple-A. The Rays currently stand 3½ games out in the AL wild-card race.

The Angels have dealt with a series of injuries and inconsistency with their rotation this season, as well as the death of Nick Adenhart. The Angels rank 24th in starters' ERA in the majors, at 4.96, yet have a four-game lead in the AL West, largely because they have had an overpowering offense that leads the majors in runs.

Staff ace John Lackey can become a free agent after this season.

"Scott's situation is exclusive of anything we're doing in the future," Reagins said. "The way the pitching market is out there now and the pitchers that are available in the next few years, this made a lot of sense for us -- to be able to get a quality pitcher in the fold right now."

Just before Reagins spoke with reporters, Angels rookie Trevor Bell was lifted from the game after giving up five runs and seven hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Kazmir was selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the New York Mets, then traded to Tampa Bay in 2004 while he was still in the minors for Victor Zambrano.

Kazmir led the AL with 239 strikeouts in 2007 but has been slowed by injuries during his career.

Kazmir is 4-1 with a 4.38 ERA over his last six starts. His previous outing was at Toronto on Wednesday, when he struck out 10 while allowing a run and four hits over six innings in a no-decision.

"I don't know what to say, because he's been pitching well," Rays teammate Carl Crawford said. "It surprises me to see Kaz go, because of everything he's meant to the organization."

Kazmir is the club's career leader in wins, strikeouts, starts and innings pitched.

"It's very easy to say that this trade will hurt our chances, given how Scott has pitched his last few starts," Maddon said. "But we've got guys in the minors that we really like and that we think can help us."

The left-handed Torres, 21, is 13-4 with a 2.75 ERA in the minors this season, while reaching Double-A. Sweeney, a 21-year-old third baseman, is hitting .296 in Class A, with nine homers, 44 RBIs, 26 walks and 37 strikeouts.

"There were players that obviously were moved in this deal that they saw value in and they liked -- and we liked," Reagins said. "We think that we gave up two talented players, and a third to come. So this was not a basic salary dump."

Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Warriors Jackson Wants Trade To Contender

Golden State Warriors forward Stephen Jackson says he has requested a trade and prefers to be dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers or any of the NBA's three teams in Texas.

Jackson

Jackson's wishes are rooted in a desire to play for a team that consistently makes the postseason, he says, something the Warriors have done only once in the past 15 seasons.

"At this point, I'm 31 years old. I have four or five years left," Jackson told Dime Magazine on Friday. "I want to be in a situation where I can continually be in the playoffs and get another ring. So that's where my mind is at now."

Jackson, speaking to the magazine in New York during a promotional event for a shoe line, said the status of his demand is pending.

"It's not about a decision I made," he told Dime Magazine. "It's just things are in the air right now. I really can't get too much into it right now."

When prompted with a question from the event's host about the Warriors' playoff chances, Jackson, who was attending the event with former teammate Al Harrington, told the crowd: "I don't think I'll be a Warrior next year. I'm looking to leave."

Jackson has averaged 15.4 points over nine seasons with the New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and the Warriors.

He scored a career-high 20.7 points per game last season after signing a three-year,
$28 million extension with the Warriors in November.

Jackson said he would be open to returning to the Spurs but would also welcome a trade to the Dallas Mavericks or Houston Rockets.

He also mentioned Harrington's New York Knicks.

"I'm just looking to go somewhere where I can go and win a championship," Jackson said.

Article courtesy of ESPN.com

Is Tom Brady Hurt Again?

LANDOVER, Md. -- Officially, Tom Brady has a "sore shoulder," the result of being crushed to the turf by massive Albert Haynesworth. It caused enough discomfort for him to spend quite a while on the bench flexing and rotating his throwing arm, trying to work out whatever kinks where there.

It could be nothing. It could be something. Actually, anything that involves Tom Brady is always something, especially in a season in which he's trying to come back from a major knee injury.Brady hurt his shoulder in the New England Patriots' 27-24 victory over the Washington Redskins on Friday night. It was late in the first half when he was pressed to the ground by All-Pro defensive tackle Haynesworth after a third down incomplete pass."Anytime someone 350 pounds falls on him, it's going to hurt him," New England right tackle Matt Light said. "You just know it's part of the game, and Tom's been through it before and you know he can take it."Brady went to the bench, where he stretched his arm repeatedly as the half came to a close and again after returning from the locker room after halftime.

Brady did not play in the second half, even though most of the first-team offense returned for the first drive of the third quarter. He then left the sideline and returned to the locker room.In the fourth quarter, the Patriots announced Brady's injury as a sore shoulder, a diagnosis that gave coach Bill Belichick a twitch in both of his shoulders. The Patriots coach was his classic self, displaying the annoyed shrug so familiar when anyone asks him about an injury. Despite the team's announcement, Belichick said Brady had only "some bumps and bruises, just like everybody else who played in the game." He also said that he had not planned for Brady to play any of the second half.Brady did not speak to reporters after the game.

If one assumes Brady is fine, he has to feel good about his performance. He and counterpart Jason Campbell put on a regular season show in preseason, combining for 359 yards, six scoring drives and no interceptions.In the game that traditionally serves as the dress rehearsal for the real stuff that begins in two weeks, Brady went 12 for 19 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Randy Moss had his way with the Redskins secondary, catching six passes for 90 yards and both of Brady's TDs.

Campbell had been feeling the heat after a 4-for-13 start to the preseason, including 1 for 7 last week, with no touchdowns in either game from the first-team offense. On Friday, he played the first half and first drive of the second half, finishing a hot-and-cold 13 for 22 for 209 yards.Asked if he'd answered his critics, Campbell said: "It's never enough. It will be something. Next week it will be that he didn't hit the big ball to Santana (Moss)."He paused for a beat, laughed and said: "Nah, I was just joking.

It really doesn't bother me at all."Campbell went 4 for 4 on the opening drive, then had three straight three-and-outs before another scoring drive that featured a 73-yard completion to tight end Chris Cooley, who kept his balance along the sideline to take the ball inside the 10. Campbell finished the drive with a 4-yard run after a nice move that faked out linebacker Paris Lenon."I was very pleased," coach Jim Zorn said. "He was very much into the game. He was competing hard and doing the things that you want.

We missed on a couple of long ones, but he came back and was running the show."Brady and Campbell played to a 17-17 draw. Then came the backups -- and a trio of interceptions -- before the game was decided by Stephen Gostkowski's 31-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining.New England's Kevin O'Connell, contending for the No. 2 job, was intercepted twice. Washington's Colt Brennan, trying to stay on the roster, was picked off for the third straight game, this one returned 99 yards for a touchdown by Jonathan Wilhite. Brennan helped redeem himself with a 33-yard touchdown pass to rookie Marko Mitchell, who moved closer to securing a roster spot as the No. 5 receiver.

Broncos Marshall Suspended

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, openly unhappy with the Denver Broncos, was suspended by the team through Sept. 5 for what coach Josh McDaniels called "detrimental" conduct.

Marshall, who has brooded since demanding a trade and asking for a new contract, was informed of the suspension by McDaniels on Friday.

"We tried to handle this situation with Brandon as privately and professionally as we could throughout the entire process with he and his agent, Kennard McGuire," McDaniels said at a news conference. "This morning, we made the decision as an organization to go ahead and suspend Brandon and that suspension will last through Sept. 5th. We'll look forward to having him back on Sept. 6th as we begin our preparations for Cincinnati" in the Sept. 13 regular-season opener.

McGuire didn't immediately return a phone call Friday to The Associated Press, and was said to be out of the country until Monday.

McDaniels did not single out a specific episode, but said the suspension resulted from a series of incidents, though some boorish antics during the team's practice Wednesday -- after Marshall had been warned about such conduct that very morning -- seemed to be the final straw for the coach.

"His actions didn't really change after that warning. That leads us to today," McDaniels said.

Marshall went out during pre-practice warm-ups and walked while the rest of the team ran. He punted a ball away instead of handing it to a ball boy, and swatted a pass thrown to him. His actions were caught on video and broadcast by KMGH-TV.

The Broncos already have had discussions with the league regarding Marshall's suspension. They are expected to reassess the situation when the preseason ends Sept. 5.

Marshall said during an ESPN interview Thursday night that he was not trying to force a trade through insubordination, but that frustration got the best of him during a disruptive display at practice this week.

Marshall said some of the video, which included a shot of him sitting on his pads before practice, was taken out of context. But he acknowledged his frustration boiled over and that it was an error in judgment to act as he did, especially when he punted the ball.

"I think everybody knows there's a lot of stuff built up there, and me handling it that way wasn't good," Marshall said.

Marshall said he wasn't trying to force his way out of town -- he asked for a trade this summer after the Broncos declined to rework a contract that will pay him $2.2 million this season.

"I'm not out there trying to be a distraction to the team," Marshall said. "Unfortunately, yesterday I kind of let my frustration get the best of me."

The receiver was held out of practice Thursday, apparently as the organization was formulating its disciplinary response.

"We're trying to handle this in a way that we can discourage this from happening," McDaniels said. "We didn't want to be in this situation. We never wanted it to get to this point. I'm sure they didn't either."

Fellow wide receiver Brandon Stokley said he wasn't surprised the Broncos temporarily banished Marshall.

"Not really, not with his attitude and how he was acting," Stokley said. "Something had to be done. They made the decision. We're moving on, and hopefully in a few weeks, when he's back, he'll be ready to contribute."

Daniel Graham was concerned enough about Marshall's behavior at practice that the tight end said he talked to him about it several times. He said his main concern now is to make sure it doesn't become a distraction to the team.

"We've had a few conversations and Brandon, he's running his own ship," Graham said. "He's doing what he feels is best for him. Now, I'm just making sure, as a leader on this team, that we stay focused."

For all of the tension and disagreement between the receiver and his coach and organization, McDaniels said he hasn't given up on the notion that the sides can work things out.

"I'm not sure necessarily if I think it will or I think it won't [work out]," McDaniels said. "I'm just hopeful that it will, because obviously he's a talented football player that we'd love to have pulling in the same direction as the other 79 guys that go out there and work their tail off.

"Obviously, there's a disagreement about some things. We're trying to make it right, to work through it."

Marshall was held out of the Broncos' preseason game Sunday night at Seattle after admitting he didn't know the playbook and running almost strictly with the scout team last week.

Marshall, who had 206 receptions the past two seasons, is also upset with what he believes was the team's misdiagnosis of a hip injury that required offseason surgery. He pulled a hamstring during the first weekend of training camp and didn't return until a week ago.

In addition, Marshall missed the team's exhibition opener against San Francisco two weeks ago because he was on trial in Atlanta, where he was acquitted of a misdemeanor battery charge. Prosecutors had accused him of beating his then-girlfriend.

Marshall hoped the acquittal would give him leverage for a new deal in Denver or elsewhere. He was angered when the Broncos prohibited teammates from saying they were happy for Marshall about the verdict.

That's when Marshall began spending more time between drills with the scout team and the defensive unit instead of his fellow offensive players.

The run-in with Marshall marks the second clash with a high-profile player since McDaniels, the former New England Patriots offensive coordinator, was hired in January to succeed the fired Mike Shanahan. McDaniels had a falling out with Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler after he learned his new coach had discussed trading him in a foiled attempt to land former New England quarterback Matt Cassell, who is now with Kansas City.

Cutler subsequently forced a trade to the Chicago Bears, who are due in Sunday night, when the Broncos play their first home game under McDaniels.

McDaniels said his issues with Cutler and Marshall were nothing unusual, just part of being an NFL coach.

"We're not unique, we're not unique at all," McDaniels said. "Other coaches, other organizations have challenges in front of them and you deal with them as best you can."

Information from ESPN reporter Ed Werder, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and The Associated Press was used in this report.

Get Your Favre Viking Jersey Now

Brett Favre Minnesota Vikings Jersey

Favre A Viking!

Image by DavidErickson via Flickr

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Brett Favre is coming back for more.

The 39-year-old quarterback turned his back on retirement for the second time in as many years, agreeing Tuesday to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

"I felt I did everything I possibly could do to get where I need to be," Favre said Tuesday. "You're 39, your arm may not feel like it did at 21. But the pieces are in place that you don't have to do that much and I agree with that.

"If they were willing to take that chance, I was, too."

Lackluster Finishes

The memory of the Jets' 1-4 finish with Brett Favre at the helm is fresh, but the truth is, Favre has experienced late-season fades in each of the past four seasons. The numbers below, from ESPN Stats and Information, are for 2005 through 2008.

Category	First 11 games	Last 5 games
Comp pct	64.8	56.1
Pass yards PG	253.8	211.4
TD-Int	75-50	13-34
Passer rating	88.2	59.9

Favre finally decided that he didn't want to live with regrets.

"I don't know how I'll feel a year from now, five years from now, but I didn't want to say what if," he said.

The Vikings will pay Favre $12 million this year and $13 million next season, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The contract does not contain performance bonuses.

Because Favre is a vested veteran, the $12 million is guaranteed for this season if he is on the opening day roster. This also applies to the $13 million 2010 deal. This year, $6 million is guaranteed for skill and injury, meaning that if he is bad during the next few weeks, the Vikings can't get out for less than $6 million.

The 2009 salary payments are deferred: $4 million over the season, $4 million in March and $4 million in 2011.

The Vikings made it official with a news release early Tuesday afternoon.

The first inkling that something was afoot came early Tuesday, when two television stations in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Minneapolis reported that the Vikings had sent a private plane to Hattiesburg to pick up Favre.

Favre and his wife, Deanna, arrived to cheering fans outside the team's practice facility and the quarterback was in a helmet and pads less than 90 minutes later. His red practice jersey was the familiar No. 4, the same number he wore for years with his now-rival Green Bay Packers.

Coach Brad Childress, who greeted the Favres at the airport, had confirmed the planned meeting in an early Tuesday e-mail to The Associated Press. Asked if the plan was to sign Favre, Childress replied: "In a perfect world."

Childress' wish came true shortly afterward, when the Vikings announced the signing.

"This is the weekend Brett decided he wanted to come back. And I'm not sure either side ever closed the door," Favre's agent, Bus Cook, told ESPN's Mortensen.

The day's developments and Favre's arrival were a surreal tableau, with a throng of fans who somehow learned early on of Favre's deal with the Vikings and ran alongside the SUV as it arrived at the Vikings' practice site from the airport, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, with a lone police officer trying to maintain order.

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Trent Dilfer reacts to Brett Favre's return to the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings. Dilfer says it's worked out well for Favre, but he's not sure it will work out well for the Vikings.

ESPN analyst Cris Carter reported that Childress already has told the Vikings that Favre would be starting in Friday night's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I have mixed emotions, but I have always loved to watch him play," Favre's mother, Bonita, told the Sun Herald of Biloxi. "This time, however, I thought he would stay retired and stay home. I guess he could not do it.

"They [Minnesota] seem to have a good team in place, and he liked that. I guess I need to get a Vikings jersey now."

John David Booty, who had been wearing No. 4, was assigned No. 9.

Favre, a longtime star in Green Bay, came out of retirement last season to play for the New York Jets. He retired again, only to then entertain the idea of joining the Vikings. Three weeks ago, Childress said the quarterback would stay retired.

The pronouncement turned out to be premature.

“

I think he's a great quarterback, a great guy, a great leader. Would I like to hit him? Hell, yeah, I'd like to hit him. All these damn practices out here and they didn't let us hit him.

” -- Packers linebacker Nick Barnett

Two television stations were the first to report that Favre was seen boarding a plane Tuesday morning that was headed to Minneapolis.

Sources told Hattiesburg television station WDAM, which initially broke the story, that Favre had said: "We may know something by dinner."

A high-level source first told Minneapolis TV station WCCO that Favre was expected to sign a deal with the Vikings on Tuesday.

Favre said that the injury that required surgery on his biceps tendon and then finding out that he had a tear in his rotator cuff led him to think he shouldn't play anymore.

"I just kept thinking I didn't want to go through what I did last year," he said.

"Between three weeks ago and the phone conversation yesterday [with Childress], I talked to Dr. [James] Andrews and he assured me it wouldn't be an issue. I felt if everyone was going to take that chance, I was to."

Dr. Andrews detected a slight tear in his right rotator cuff in May while performing orthroscopic surgery on the quarterback's passing shoulder.

While Favre is just a borderline top-20 fantasy quarterback (he was 16th in points among QBs in 2008), Adrian Peterson and Bernard Berrian should see boosts in production.

The presence of Favre makes Peterson the consensus No. 1 pick. Berry previously had Peterson ranked No. 2 behind Michael Turner.

Also, Berrian is now a top-20 fantasy receiver. He is currently ranked No. 26 in ESPN.com average draft position.

ESPN.com projections:
• Favre: 3,294 passing yards; 21 TDs; 19 INTs
• Berrian: 73 receptions; 1,150 yards; 7 TDs
• Peterson: 1,701 rushing yards; 11 rushing TDs; 22 receptions; 184 receiving yards; 3 receiving TDs

During practice sessions in Mississippi, Favre said that "the arm has felt, not 100 percent, but pretty good, good enough to make the throws I need to make."

That led him to decide to go for it.

"As friends and family has told me, you never know until you take the chance," he said.

Favre, who holds almost all of the NFL's career passing records, has never been much of a fan of offseason practices, though. Last summer, he ended his retirement with the Packers and forced a trade to the Jets, where he faded down the stretch amid problems with his throwing arm.

But Favre remained in regular communication with the Vikings' coaching staff the past three weeks, and a source told ESPN's Ed Werder that owner Zygi Wilf had to do very little convincing when the two met this week near Favre's home in Hattiesburg.

"He had a lot of aches and pains and they basically needed a commitment from him before he felt he was ready to play,'' a source told Werder. "He wants to be able to do the best he can do and doesn't want to disappoint them.''

Favre has been working out regularly with Oak Grove High School players in Hattiesburg, according to WDAM-TV, and has not missed a practice even after telling the Vikings he would remain retired.

The Vikings finished training camp last week and beat Indianapolis 13-3 in their preseason opener Friday. They got a strong performance from quarterback Sage Rosenfels, who has been competing with Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job since Favre jilted the team July 28.

The fact that the Vikings have a chance to make a deep run in the playoffs factored heavily in Favre's decision.

"I felt from my standpoint that I could offer some experience and leadership, and I have to admit through this whole process after I said no three weeks ago,sometimes I was OK with it, and other times I said. I can really help this team."

The Vikings are expected to challenge for the NFC North title this season, with whoever is behind center.

Rosenfels and Jackson have had some rough moments during practice. Jackson hurt his knee, missed a few workouts and then returned, but he was out of sync last week against the Colts.

Rosenfels did well, but preseason games are tough to evaluate and Indianapolis held out all four starting defensive backs.

On Monday, Jackson, responding to the day's scuttlebutt that Favre was predicted to play in Minnesota this season, said he was not paying attention to any of the talk.

"I pretty much have said [Favre] probably will follow me even when I retire. I'll probably have to hear about it. I'm just trying to take care of my business, and I can't worry about that stuff," Jackson said, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "If I let that stuff get to me, ain't no telling where I'd be right now. I just let it roll off my shoulder and just keep going. Just keep trying to get better."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after practice Tuesday he was not surprised by Favre's return.

"I don't think anybody should be surprised by it," McCarthy said.

Green Bay visits Minnesota on Oct. 5, and the Packers host the Vikings on Nov. 1.

"The bottom line is it's football," Favre said. "Once you step into the huddle, I don't look at the helmets. I look at the faces and the guys will know I'm in it for the right reasons because I still love to play."

Aaron Rodgers, who inherited the starting quarterback position after Favre retired -- then unretired -- said, "I don't have a reaction. It doesn't pertain to me. It has absolutely nothing to do with me. It doesn't change anything. It has nothing to do with the Green Bay Packers."

Packers general manager Ted Thompson also didn't want any part of the Favre situation, which caused a major distraction during the Packers' training camp a year ago and lingered on well after Favre was traded to the Jets.

After dodging a few questions about Favre on Tuesday, Thompson refused to bite on a question about whether it's wise for a team to tie its fortunes to a player with commitment issues so late in training camp.

"You guys just try to get me in trouble," Thompson said, smiling.

Packers linebacker Nick Barnett told the newspaper: "Ater all those years of not being able to hit him, do I want to hit him? Of course I want to hit him. He's an awesome guy. I wish him the best."

Information from ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, ESPN reporter Ed Werder, ESPN analyst Cris Carter and The Associated Press was used in this report.

Report: Blazer's Roy Agrees To Extension

The Portland Trail Blazers have reached an agreement on a five-year contract extension with guard Brandon Roy, a league source told ESPN.com.

The contract will be for the maximum allowed under league rules. Specific numbers won't be available until the NBA salary cap is set next July. This year a starting max contract would be worth $82 million over the course of five years. However, next year the cap is expected to go down between 5 and 10 percent. That means the value of Roy's contract will go down, too.

Roy

"We've reached an agreement in principle," Roy's agent, Bob Myers, told ESPN.com Wednesday night.

Roy is expected to sign the contract and make it official on Thursday, according to sources.

The Blazers have been in an on-again, off-again contract negotiation throughout the month of July. At times, Roy's camp reportedly was frustrated with the Blazers' unwillingness to offer Roy a maximum contract. It appears Roy ultimately got what he wanted.

Roy led the Blazers with 22.6 points and 5.1 assists per game last season, his third in the league. He was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a draft-day trade for Randy Foye in 2006 and went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

The high-scoring guard helped the Blazers go 54-28 last season before losing in the first round of the playoffs. Portland was 21-61 the season before Roy arrived.

Now the Blazers are turning their full attention to extending the player who was drafted four spots ahead of Roy -- LaMarcus Aldridge. A source close to the situation told ESPN.com that Aldridge and the team were "progressing" toward a deal.

Chad Ford is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Giants & Eli Agree To Extension

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Eli Manning has agreed to a new six-year, $97.5 million contract extension with the New York Giants that will make him among the highest-paid players in the NFL with an average salary of roughly $15.3 million, a source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

A person close to the talks who asked not to be identified says Manning is guaranteed $35 million under the deal that will keep him with the Giants through the 2015 season, The Associated Press reported. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not signed and had not been announced.

There is a chance the deal could be signed Wednesday, but both sides wanted to review the contract, the person said.

Tom Condon, Manning's agent, was not immediately available for comment. Giants general manager Jerry Reese was hopeful that Manning's contract would be completed, adding it's always important to get the quarterback signed.

"He is a franchise quarterback," Reese said. "He has done everything we asked him to do. He has come in, taken a lot of flak from you guys [the media] and he just keeps going. He does what we ask him on the field and he does what we ask him to do off the field. He is a good football player."

Manning declined to talk to the media at lunch.

This deal will give Manning an average salary that is roughly $200,000 higher than the one earned by All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders, who agreed to a three-year, $45.3 million contract this year.

Manning's older brother, Peyton, earns an average of $14.17 million annually with the Indianapolis Colts.

Eli Manning led the Giants to a Super Bowl upset of the New England Patriots in February 2008 and was named the MVP of the game. He was in the final year of the contract he signed as the No. 1 overall pick in 2004 and will make $9.4 million under that deal this season.

The two sides have been discussing a contract for months, but they worked out the final details in recent days.

While Manning's contract was to expire at the end of this season, there was little chance the Giants would lose him to free agency. They could have named him a franchise player and Manning has long said he wants to remain with the Giants.

Reese said that a new contract would not put more pressure on Manning.

"He is used to that," Reese said. "He won't get more pressure than he already has in this market. He knows how to handle pressure and he has done it before. I don't expect to see any difference in his attitude and his work ethic. He works hard. He expects a lot from himself. He knows what his role here is with us and we expect him to continue it for a long time."

Manning took over as the Giants' starter midway through his rookie season and he has led New York to the playoffs in each of the past four seasons.

Manning went to the Pro Bowl for the first time after last season, when he passed for 3,238 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also threw only 10 interceptions, 10 fewer than the previous season.

Manning has started the last 71 games for New York, the third-longest streak among active quarterbacks at the end of last season. During that span he also has become the first Giants quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards and at least 20 touchdowns in four consecutive seasons.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Vikings Finally Sign Top Pick Harvin

Associated Press

MANKATO, Minn. -- While many rookies who hold out of training camp fall dangerously behind as their teams practice without them, Percy Harvin took advantage of a luxury that few others enjoy: his friendship with Tim Tebow.

While Harvin's agent Joel Segal negotiated with the Minnesota Vikings, the speedy receiver spent his days on the campus of his alma mater catching passes from Tebow, his Heisman Trophy-winning teammate the past three seasons at Florida.

"He's probably the best thing other than a pro quarterback," Harvin said Sunday, after signing a five-year deal with the Vikings. "Of course he's not a pro quarterback, but I got the best work in I could do without actually being here."

Harvin, the 22nd overall pick, missed the first two days and four practices of training camp, but hopped an early flight from Florida to the Twin Cities to make sure he got there in time for Sunday's practice.

"I don't think anybody was more anxious to get on the field than me today," Harvin said.

Well, maybe there was one.

Coach Brad Childress said that it was important for Harvin to get into camp as soon as possible so he didn't fall too far behind. He'll be asked to play a variety of roles for the Vikings, including wide receiver, running back and return man, so he has plenty of studying to do.

"We're going to challenge him," Childress said. "It's not like we're going to spoon feed him."

While many scouts and draft analysts said Harvin had top-10 talent, he slipped to the Vikings due to concerns about his durability and a failed drug test at the NFL combine.

Childress had some of the same concerns, so he flew to Florida and met personally with Harvin and his family before the draft. The coach came away impressed by his willingness to take responsibility for past mistakes and didn't hesitate to draft Harvin when the Vikings came on the clock.

"It's a dream come true," Harvin said after his first official practice. "For me, there was a lot of bumps that prevented myself from getting to this point. It seemed to be a little farther than it actually was.

"But to actually get here, everything's behind me. I can kind of start over here. I'm just glad to be here and thankful and ready to hit the ground running."

The versatile playmaker is expected to complement Adrian Peterson in Minnesota's ramped-up offense. During minicamps earlier this summer, Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell began experimenting with their new toy. They lined up Harvin at receiver out wide, in the slot, and motioned him into the backfield on reverses and other running plays.

His arrival could also bring a version of the Wildcat offense to Minnesota. Harvin and Peterson in the same backfield would give the Vikings a dynamic element that's been missing since Childress took over in 2006.

Harvin also could bolster the team's mediocre return game. His quickness and ability to change directions in a heartbeat make him ideal for the job.

"Return man. Slot. A little bit in the backfield," Harvin said. "The motions. The screens. I'm looking to be all over."

The Vikings threw him right into the mix on Sunday, giving him some time with the No. 1 offense during a goal-line installation and running reverses, catching passes and fielding kickoffs.

"He's playing big, he's playing fast, making turns like on the drop of a dime," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said, "and he's catching everything."


Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

The old swing demons were back as Woods was spraying his tee shots to the right and, for good measure, missing his irons to the right, too.

Letzig last played with Woods in the final round at the Memorial, where the world No. 1 was at his stratospheric best en route to a tournament-winning 65. This, however, wasn't the same player. Letzig thought he smelled vulnerability.

"I thought, 'Maybe,'" said the 29-year-old from Kansas City. "You could tell he wasn't on his game early and I kinda thought if I could get it going he would be beatable."

Yet after eight holes, Woods with smoke, mirrors and guts was 2 under par for the day while Letzig, who drove it beautifully only to miss birdie putt after birdie putt, made just one mistake — albeit a costly one, a double bogey — and found himself at 2 over par for the day. Far from being in a position to win, he was five shots adrift of Woods' lead.

"He just doesn't make mistakes," said Letzig, "When he does make mistakes he recovers and then makes the birdies on the easy holes that you're supposed to."

"He's just laughing at all of us. He's so good."

Of all his attributes, the one which really separates Tiger Woods from the madding crowd of touring professionals isn't necessarily the ability to launch stupendous shots or make dramatic putts.

It's that he's the ultimate grinder.

No one can make lemonade out of lemons like him. He won for the 69th time on the PGA Tour despite having to yell "Fore right!" for the final 27 holes.

"You see guys turn 65s into 69s but you hardly ever see someone turn a 69 into a 65," Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, told me before the round about his man's third round. It was that third round which gave Woods the lead going into Sunday; that and a silly bogey by Letzig on the last hole Saturday afternoon.

And has anyone ever been more money with the third-round lead?

The only time he failed to convert one was in his rookie year, 1996, at the Quad City Classic. Since then, Woods is a perfect 36-0 in holding the trophy aloft after stepping on the first tee Sunday afternoon with the lead.

Even Letzig knew the score.

"I wasn't really here to win the tournament today," he said, "It was just kind of a battle with myself out there. You try and match him, it ain't gonna happen."

For all the chattering about Woods not being the player he was, consider that he now has four victories in a season — for the 11th time in 14 professional seasons, he's won at least four times — where no other player has more than two. And he's now won 21 of his last 39 starts dating back to the 2006 British Open.

And while some of those triumphs were sown by celestial shot-making and putting, be sure that most of them were won by the grinder within Woods.

And don't think he doesn't know it.

"If you look at most events you play, you don't ever hit the ball great for four straight days," he said after Sunday's victory, "You're always going to have one off day, and even some of my best (tournaments) that I've gone 25 under par I had one off day."

"But off day score-wise can still be a pretty good score. You still kind of don't feel quite right about your game, and you ask, 'How am I going to make the score?' and I did that (Saturday). I wasn't hitting the ball very good on my back nine but somehow I made a score. And today, as I say, I hit some bad shots and somehow made a score, and that's what you have to do."

The other ingredient to the Woods Grind is, as he says, to "miss the ball in correct spots and give yourself the best angles."

"I really understand that," he said.

The only time he diverted from the blueprint was on the par-5 13th, where he tried to slice a 5-wood around a tree on the right of the fairway despite a left-to-right wind and water on the right of the green. His squirter of a shot landed in the middle of the lake, prompting Woods to put his hat over his face and have a few stern words with himself, in private.

"I was a little angry," he said.

But another of his attributes is the ability to turn his emotions off. He composed himself, took a drop, then hit a delicious pitch from 60 yards to inside 3 feet and saved par.

He was never really threatened and strolled home to win by three strokes.

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