Niners close to promoting Baalke to GM role

Niners close to promoting Baalke to GM role: "The San Francisco 49ers do not plan to announce a new general manager Monday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, but all indications continue to point strongly to 49ers vice president of player personnel Trent Baalke being promoted to the role, as reported a week ago."

Playoffs' seeding format under scrutiny again

Playoffs' seeding format under scrutiny again: "Now that the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks have made dubious history and become the NFL's first division champion with a losing record, the debate about how the league seeds its 12-team playoff field is sure to intensify in the coming days, weeks and months."

Report: Taurasi's B sample also tests positive

Report: Taurasi's B sample also tests positive: "ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- A Turkish television report says WNBA star Diana Taurasi's backup doping sample has also tested positive for a banned substance."

Peter King: NFL playoff field, draft order set; coaching carousel begins

Peter King: NFL playoff field, draft order set; coaching carousel begins: "Twelve teams are headed to the playoffs. For the 20 also-rans, it's time to look to the future. Peter King analyzes Week 17's big headlines and gives his first wild-card weekend thoughts."

Stewart Mandel: Jim Harbaugh's future hanging over Orange Bowl, all of football

Stewart Mandel: Jim Harbaugh's future hanging over Orange Bowl, all of football: "What will Jim Harbaugh do? That's the question that hangs over the Orange Bowl, as well as some college and NFL teams, writes Stewart Mandel in the Bowls edition of Overtime."

Browns fire Mangini after 2nd straight 5-11 year

Browns fire Mangini after 2nd straight 5-11 year: "BEREA, Ohio (AP) The Cleveland Browns have fired coach Eric Mangini following a second straight 5-11 season that ended with a humiliating home loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers."

Haynesworth rejoins 'Skins, but future with team uncertain

Haynesworth rejoins 'Skins, but future with team uncertain: "Albert Haynesworth has rejoined the Washington Redskins -- at least for a day."

NFL Commissioner Goodell e-mails fans about labor situation

NFL Commissioner Goodell e-mails fans about labor situation: "NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is telling fans that "if both sides give a little," the league and players "can and will reach an agreement" on a new labor deal."

Source: Coach Cowher and Dolphins not an easy fit

Source: Coach Cowher and Dolphins not an easy fit: "It is unlikely that former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher will end up coaching the Miami Dolphins, according to a source close to Cowher. Of the potential coaching openings at this juncture, the Dolphins represented the only opportunity that made sense for Cowher, according to the source"

Mangini's turbulent tenure with Browns comes to an end

Mangini's turbulent tenure with Browns comes to an end: "The Cleveland Browns fired coach Eric Mangini on Monday following back-to-back 5-11 seasons."

Reid: Eagles' Bradley could return for playoffs, Jean-Gilles 'OK'

Reid: Eagles' Bradley could return for playoffs, Jean-Gilles 'OK': "Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid told reporters Sunday that middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, battling en elbow injury, could be ready to play against the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's wild-card game, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday."

Giants win but miss playoffs

Giants win but miss playoffs: "LANDOVER, Md. (AP) Chants of ``Green Bay won!'' started to spread in the stadium in the game's final minute, taunting a New
York Giants team in no mood to celebrate a victory of its own."

Buccaneers double last season's win total but miss playoffs with Packers win

Buccaneers double last season's win total but miss playoffs with Packers win: "Josh Freeman and the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers can at least take pride in more than doubling last season's win
total and beating the defending champs on their own turf."

Colts win AFC South; Vinatieri's winning FG sets up matchup against Jets

Colts win AFC South; Vinatieri's winning FG sets up matchup against Jets: "Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes, the defense limited Chris Johnson
to 39 yards rushing and the always-clutch Adam Vinatieri booted a 43-yard field
goal as time expired Sunday to give the Colts a 23-20 victory over the
Tennessee Titans."

Bears go in for the kill, but Packers stand strong to gain playoff berth

Bears go in for the kill, but Packers stand strong to gain playoff berth: "Aaron Rodgers' 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Donald Lee gave the Packers the lead in the fourth quarter, and their defense held on to clinch a wild card berth with a 10-3 victory over the division rival Chicago Bears on Sunday."