Beyond the Super Bowl, Ravens safety Ed Reed has a future to think about. [Reed] has all the respect in the world for Bill Belichick, and that sentiment is well-known to be mutual. So could Reed, who is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason, see himself playing for Belichick some day? "Yeah, oh yeah, man, I could definitely play for coach Belichick," Reed responded. "He is a great coach. I'm sure he can help me to expand my football knowledge even more as a player and as a coach, so if I'm ever able to be around him, just like I was at the Pro Bowl, it's huge. It's the reason why I wear my sweater cut off a little bit. ... Most people will tell you around the facility that's how I look. It's just a blessing to even have met, to know coach Belichick." (Boston Herald) Comment

Forgive Stephen Strasburg for looking so forward to spring training. When the right-hander arrives in Viera, Fla., in two weeks for spring training, he will be anticipating the first full season of his young career, all restrictions lifted. Asked about his offseason in a telephone interview Monday night, Strasburg's response was telling: "It's been a month longer than everybody else. I'm [champing] at the bit." Strasburg, 24, went through various stages of coping after he was shut down on Sept. 8 after 159 1/3 innings. ... Four months later, it still lingers -- but less so. "It's still kind of a sore spot, to be honest," he said Monday. "I wish it didn't end up the way it did." (The Washington Post) Comment

Raptors president/general manager Bryan Colangelo may not be done dealing yet. Colangelo made his clearest statement yet that a divorce between he and Andrea Bargnani is closer than ever. ... Bargnani followed up the best season of his career -- albeit an injury-plagued one -- with a disastrous stretch this year, before getting hurt again. It has been obvious for some time that it is time for Bargnani to move on, for his sake and for the Raptors, and Colangelo indicated a move could happen soon, though it is not a certainty. "Andrea is a player that has definitely garnered interest. Unfortunately when he gets hurt that takes him off the market," Colangelo explained after breaking down the [Rudy Gay] trade to reporters. (Toronto Sun) Comment