MLB
– Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reports that Red Sox’ OF Jacoby Ellsbury (right shoulder) has a a dislocation, or partial dislocation, and will miss a minimum of 6 weeks. Ellsbury injured the shoulder when Rays’ INF Reid Brignac landed on top of him at second base during Friday’s game. He was immediately sent to Massachusetts General Hospital for an MRI, but he’s scheduled to undergo more tests to make sure shoulder did not sustain additional damage.
NFL
– The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Eagles and Rams are both “believed to be” interested in trading up to the Browns’ pick at No. 4 overall. The Plain Dealer gives the Browns a “decent chance” of trading out of No. 4. The report comes out of Cleveland, however, so there’s a chance it could be a ploy by the Browns. ”At least three or four” clubs drafting in the top 20 have reportedly phoned Cleveland, with St. Louis and Philadelphia thought to be among them. The Eagles are believed to be targeting Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill, while the Rams could be after LSU CB Morris Claiborne, Alabama RB Trent Richardson, or Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon. One source told Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot that the Chiefs “would probably not trade up” for Tannehill. It’s believed no trade for the No. 4 pick would occur until draft day.
– Broncos’ WR Demaryius Thomas spoke out about the recently-departed Tim Tebow:
“Everything on ESPN was all about Tim. That bothered some players, too, because they would say, ‘Tim Tebow Time.’ I felt like it was a team thing. If it wasn’t for the defense most of the time, there wouldn’t be no supposed ‘Tim Tebow Time.’ ”
“You would have people calling him out saying, ‘Tim, you gotta make that throw. You gotta read the defenses better.’ Players on offense trying to get him better.”
“I ain’t going to say I was sad because the only thing they remember is that pass. You gotta go back and look at the rest of the games. I wasn’t getting no balls and you had to make some of these plays where some players were open and he is not making the throws, but I don’t want to talk bad about Tim. But, hey, I am happy we got Peyton.”
– A source tells the New Orleans Times-Picayune that Saints’ unsigned franchise QB Drew Brees is “very upset” he won’t be able to attend the Saints’ offseason program beginning on Monday. Brees, however, could have avoided this by signing the 1-year tender. “It is very upsetting to him not being there Monday. He wants to be there for his teammates.” The Times-Picayune confirms that contract talks “have been practically nonexistent” between Brees and the Saints over the past few weeks.
– The Redskins have re-signed ILB London Fletcher. Fletcher, 37 in May, remains one of the league’s top run defenders. His 166 tackles led the NFL in 2011, and he’s also forced six fumbles over the past two seasons.
– The Broncos have released CB Andre’ Goodman. Goodman, the team’s starting right corner for the past three seasons, was due a $4.62M base salary entering his age-34 season. Pro Football Focus, however, graded him as an effective run-support corner.
– Titans’ WR Nate Washington (chipped bone in knee) recently underwent surgery and still “expects to be back for organized workouts” after the draft. Washington, 28, recorded career bests in catches (74), yards (1,023), and touchdowns (7) last season while moving into the No. 1 receiver role after WR Kenny Britt’s torn ACL.
NHL
– Check out Predators’ D Shea Weber and F Andrei Kostitsyn mocking Weber’s dirty attack following the finale of Game 1:
NBA
– Magic’ F Dwight Howard (back) will miss at least 10 days.
– Raptors’ F Andrea Bargnani (calf) has been shut down for the remainder of the season. Il Mago will wisely miss the final seven games of the season, while the Raptors play out what was assumed to be a throw-away year from the start. Bargnani played in just 31 games, averaging 19.5 points per game (with just over one 3PMg), along with 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
WWE
– Kevin Nash says he is keeping himself in shape in case WWE officials are in need of his services. Nash tweeted on Friday:
“Waited 7 months after the Rumble,just staying ready if WWE needs a fit,52 year old gray headed 6-10? dude”
Nash teased the possibility of returning to TNA Wrestling last month during an interview with The Sun due to the close proximity of their television tapings and having numerous friends in the organization.
– Madusa, who formerly competed as Alundra Blayze for WWE, continues to target the organization’s female performers through social media. She wrote on Facebook this week:
“OMGOSH….. SO I FORGOT TO ADD… WHILE HAVING A BEER I AM THINKING OF KICKING SOME DESERVING DIVA’S ASS!! lmao..”
TNA
– Hulk Hogan issued a response to Scott Steiner’s multi-day outburst toward him and Eric Bischoff on Twitter. “Big Poppa Pump” believes TNA Wrestling is sinking under their watch and that both have behaved unprofessionally since arriving to the organization.
“If he really believes what he’s saying I feel bad for everyone close to him. His future was much greater than this.”
– Updating a previous item, Rob Van Dam returned to TNA Wrestling programming on Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling after months of inactivity. RVD was added to the Garett Bischoff led team for the Lethal Lockdown match at TNA Lockdown. RVD is now back full time and will be promoted as a top star going forward. Check out the video of his return: