Truth & Rumors: Dec. 15, 2004

MLB

Baseball's Hot Stove is heating up with a flurry of rumors and gossip. To keep you up-to-date, we've created a special edition of Hot Stove Truth & Rumors.

NFL

Deion Sanders didn't hold back when asked about Eli Manning and the inept Giants' offense. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images • Pete McEntegart: The 10 Spot -- Wed., Dec. 15 • Truth & Rumors: Beltran to influence Clemens • John Rolfe: Jim Abbott for Hall of Fame • Mark Bechtel: Clay Aiken takes Idiot honors • Chris Mannix: Pedro shows true colors • More Blogs: Scheft | Chen | Ballard | Whitaker Click here for Today's Sign of the Apocalypse, Game to Watch, Leading Off gallery and much more!

Deion Sanders added his take to some recent suspicions raised about the Giants: the offensive game plan is easily recognizable and the players' spirit has been broken. "I mean, the play-calling, the offense is so predictable," he said. "Guys are getting battered every day. They're getting fined for wearing a hat to practice, you know. It's just horrible over there, the atmosphere. And you could feel it on the field. It was almost like you're playing against a team that couldn't wait until the season was over."
--Newark Star-Ledger

The 49ers might not have to make a decision on firing Dennis Erickson, because the embattled head coach might be leaving on his own. Erickson met for two hours Tuesday night with University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat and athletic director Pete Boone at a Santa Clara hotel.
--San Francisco Chronicle

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has no interest in coaching the Browns or in the NFL. "It would be a dream job if you were interested in it,'' Tressel said. "Ohio State was a dream job as a college coach and it's still my dream job.''
--Akron Beacon Journal

If you thought wholesale changes were on the way for the Texans, you're going to be disappointed. There apparently won't be a single significant change on the coaching staff or in the front office. Don't expect any flashy free-agent signings, either. "We're not one player away," GM Charley Casserly said. "We have to keep making good, steady progress."
--Houston Chronicle

Texans secondary coach Jon Hoke has emerged as an early candidate to fill the head coaching vacancy at the University of Pittsburgh.
--Houston Chronicle

The Cowboys' quarterback picture seems as muddled as it was the day Troy Aikman retired. The free-agent quarterback carousel has only two names worth mentioning -- San Diego's Drew Brees and Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck -- but teams do not let quarterbacks reach the open market... That would seem to eliminate any chance of the Cowboys' snagging Brad Johnson, Brian Griese or Jon Kitna, any of whom could be available through a trade or free agency.
--Dallas Morning News

In the months before the season, Dwight Smith's hopes for a new contract were dashed when the Bucs couldn't work out a deal. But the fourth-year pro's intentions are clear: He's looking forward to free agency and wants to be a cornerback.
--St. Petersburg Times

New Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis is believed to be interested in Jets DB coach Corwin Brown for his staff. Chances are, Brown will stay put.
--New York Daily News

The discussions are getting a little heated between the Lions front office and head coach Steve Mariucci and his staff. The situation hasn't gotten out of hand and there is still strong communication, but there is also some strong disagreement. President Matt Millen has been unhappy with the offensive strategy and playcalling and also believes the Lions should be playing some of the younger players. Despite the authority to order some changes, Millen refuses because he believes -- and rightly so -- that it would completely undermine the head coach's authority. One area where Millen offers resistance is in Mariucci's desire to play backup quarterback Mike McMahon over starter Joey Harrington. Mariucci's lack of faith in Harrington -- and his eagerness to see what McMahon can do -- is the worst-kept secret in the organization.
--Michigan Booth Newspapers

The Vikings might ask coach Mike Tice to delay activation of his 2005 option-year clause, team president Gary Woods said Tuesday, but no final decisions have been made.
--Minneapolis Star Tribune

NBA

Sixers GM Billy King said he had a 30-minute conversation yesterday with Dr. Charles Tucker, the agent for Robinson, who remains on the injured list. "Nothing is imminent, but we had a good, productive talk," King said.
--Philadelphia Daily News

Get ready to be bombarded by Jamal Crawford trade rumors. Today marks the first day that, under NBA rules, recently signed free agents such as the Knicks Crawford can be traded.
--Newsday

Toronto management is said to be getting antsy about trading Vince Carter, which could be beneficial to the Knicks.
--New York Daily News

Eddie Jones is becoming increasingly difficult to move, unless Toronto and Miami agree to the Jones-Jalen Rose deal (which has been discussed).
--Miami Herald

After Karl Malone last week eliminated the Lakers as a destination, the Spurs and Heat were believed to be the leaders to land the 14-time All-Star. Heat GM Randy Pfund reiterated the team's interest in Malone but declined to discuss whether there have been recent developments.
--Miami Herald

Denver can acquire a player who makes $1.6 million or less without giving up more than a draft pick, something they normally would not be free to do since they are over the salary cap. GM Kiki Vandeweghe listed no names, but Charlotte's Jason Kapono, Golden State's Calbert Cheaney, Miami's Wesley Person and Phoenix's Casey Jacobson are among guards whose salaries could fit into the temporarily available slot. The Nuggets had conversations with Cheaney and had talked to the Suns about Jacobson during the offseason.
--Denver Post

If the Sonics don't lock up GM Rick Sund soon, they'll probably find themselves in competition for his services with several teams.
--Seattle Times

The proposed trade that would send Smush Parker and a future second-round draft pick to the Bulls for guard Frank Williams is on hold until at least Dec. 30. According to the NBA collective bargaining agreement, teams cannot trade a new contract for 90 days, or until Dec. 15, whichever is later. Parker, who was signed at the beginning of training camp, cannot be traded until Dec. 30. In the meantime, there is still a chance that Chicago could pull out. Teams have been making offers for Bulls center Eddy Curry. It is possible that the Bulls, if they get an offer they like, would have to use Williams' contract ($980,000) to help make the salaries match up.
--Detroit News

There's no doubt the Bulls still are looking to trade one or both of Curry and Tyson Chandler . Both sides, really, don't care much for one another and wouldn't seem to mind to be away from the other. But Curry and Chandler are becoming productive players. The problem is Curry has huge talent and doesn't seem to care that much. Chandler cares deeply, but has miserable basketball skills. Put together, they would be better than Shaquille O'Neal. Traded away, the Bulls better get something worthwhile.
--Chicago Tribune

NHL

After the NHL and the Players Association rejected each other's proposals, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said, ''The union has finally admitted our numbers are accurate, otherwise there's no way they'd offer a 24 percent rollback on player salaries.''
--Canadian Press

Players Association Director Bob Goodenow replied, ''It was simply a number to reset the dial for everyone and with the new tools, the significant systemic changes ... was a basis for which the league and clubs to properly manage themselves and avoid the problems they had in the past. But it was not at all an acknowledgement or validation like they said it was. Their projections, I would suggest, are wildly unreliable, using an assortment of made up numbers from a wide variety of time periods. I can tell you these projections are completely useless and phony.They rejected our proposal without really engaging in any negotiations. In short, the league took what they liked from our proposal, made major changes and slapped a salary cap on top of it.''
--Canadian Press

Former Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek is being sued for $496,000 US for the lease of his now-closed clothing store at a suburban Detroit shopping center.
--Associated Press

Soccer

Milan's Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko, named Monday as European Footballer of the Year, is the top transfer target for Chelsea, who tried getting him last summer. Shevchenko's agent, Oscar Damiano, was dismissive. "I know that they [Chelsea] may be interested but there is no chance even if they make a ridiculous offer," Damiano said. He pointed out that Shevchenko had signed a contract until 2009, after Chelsea's first bid, and added "they would have no chance on his personal terms alone. He is one of the best five players in the world and is paid as such. There are always a lot of rumors but they can forget it. If Chelsea don't understand that, it is their problem."
--The Independent (UK)

Chelsea and West Ham have been charged by the English Football Association following alleged incidents of missile-throwing by fans during their Carling Cup match at Chelsea in October. Chelsea goalscorer Mateja Kezman was forced to leave the field for treatment to a head injury caused by a missile, believed to be a coin, which appeared to have been thrown from a section of West Ham fans. Police in riot gear were also confronted by a section of visiting fans 10 minutes after the final whistle and, with some Chelsea fans also becoming involved, it took a further 15 minutes for order to be restored.
--The Guardian (UK)

A disciplinary case has been opened by the Spanish Football Association on national team coach Luis Aragones a mere two months after he called France striker Thierry Henry a "black shit". The investigation, which is expected to take between two and three months to complete, will look at whether Aragones' statements breached article 101.j of the RFEF rules regarding "conduct contrary to good order in sport". If found guilty, Aragones could be fined up to £21,000 and have his coaching license suspended.
--The Guardian (UK)

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