Ben Maller's rumors and notes
by FOXSports.com
NFL RUMORS AND NOTES
Bears eye Cards QB Kurt Warner?
From a marketing standpoint, Chicago would be an ideal spot for Kurt Warner to position himself for life after football, especially if he's interested in broadcasting. But from a football standpoint, Warner or any other quarterback might need a psychological exam if he chose the Bears over a Cardinals team with a Pro Bowl tandem of wide receivers. Still, money can be persuasive even to the most philanthropic of quarterbacks. So if the Cardinals allow Warner to enter free agency and a bidding war ensues in March, the Bears truly have to consider putting themselves in the middle of it. -- Chicago Tribune
Pats Scott Pioli talks with Chiefs
Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli met with Chiefs owner Clark Hunt yesterday to interview for Kansas City's general manager job. It's unclear where the two met, though sources said it was not in Kansas City. The interview was Pioli's second in as many weeks, coming on the heels of a meeting with Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner in New York. Pioli is considered the hottest general manager on the market, thanks to the three Super Bowl titles he helped orchestrate with the Patriots. He might decide to stay in New England, but there are reasons to go to Kansas City, where fans held signs proclaiming, "We want Pioli," during the team's final home game. The roster is loaded with young, cheap players, the team projects to be $30 million under the salary cap, and renovations on Arrowhead Stadium are scheduled to be completed by 2010, giving the team what will amount to a new home. -- Boston Herald
MLB RUMORS AND NOTES
Mannywood could stay in LA?
Manny Ramirez still doesn't have a new offer from the Dodgers, but General Manager Ned Colletti said he and Scott Boras, the player's agent, are still talking. They have been since Friday. "We still have differences on what we think, but we're still talking," Colletti said. -- LA Times
Braves Smoltz to Fenway?
John Smoltz remains the Red Sox top target, essentially filling the role of Bartolo Colon last season as a veteran coming off an arm injury who could provide quality innings by May or June. Smoltz has been on vacation, but the 1996 NL Cy Young Award winner is expected to narrow his choices in the next week to 10 days. The Sox have been told they are still among the contenders, but many in the game question whether Smoltz will end a 21-year association with the Atlanta Braves. -- Boston Herald
NBA RUMORS AND NOTES
Knicks Eddy Curry to pacific northwest?
One team that may go after Eddy Curry, now that the Knick center appears ready to resume playing, is the Blazers. Portland president Kevin Pritchard, who's been after David Lee for years, quietly scouted a Knick preseason game. "They'll do anything for a big man," a league source said. Obviously, Curry is trade bait because his contract runs past 2010. His removal could allow the Knicks to sign two players to maximum contracts that summer. -- NY Post
Nellie Ball safe in Bay Area
Despite the dismal start and consecutives losses to the two worst teams in the NBA this week, Warriors President Robert Rowell reiterated Monday that coach Don Nelson's job in not in jeopardy. "No, I've not given it an ounce of thought," Rowell said before the game at Utah. "Nellie's a great coach. I think he's done his job as a coach. I think Nellie has done everything he's done his last 30 years in the business. ... -- SF Chronicle
NASCAR RUMORS AND NOTES
Speculation grows over Allmendinger's next ride
AJ Allmendinger, who was in town the last three days for the Grand-Am Rolex Series sportscar test, said as of Monday, he had no ride for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. With Speed Weeks at Daytona International Speedway rapidly approaching, the 27-year-old driver said the tension is mounting to get a deal. "I hate it," Allmendinger said. "I'd like to be signed up and focusing on the 500 and the rest of the season. Unfortunately, the reality right now is where the economy is, well, it's just everybody is feeling it. "I'm not the only jobless person in NASCAR. It's a tough time. It's the wrong time for me to be jobless because the economy is so bad, and there aren't as many teams around. It is what it is. We've got some people we are talking to and we'll see if that's going to happen." -- Daytona Beach News-Journal
Testing needs to return to Daytona in 2010
In this economy, it is hard to argue with NASCAR's moratorium on testing at tracks that play host to Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Truck and East and West series events. But hopefully this is just a one-year ban. Teams really do need to be able to test their cars on the tires they race on and at the tracks they compete on in order to produce a quality show. Teams that are struggling need the series-wide tests NASCAR has conducted in the past if they want to get competitive again. Teams will never stop testing. They might save some money from NASCAR's 2009 testing ban, but they will still go to tracks that are not part of the restrictions. So while Daytona will be void of Cup cars testing on it this month, NASCAR certainly needs to be there a year from now testing again. -- Scene Daily
ODD NOTES AND STUFF
Jessica Simpson Appears in "Wives of Cowboys" Family Cookbook
She's not engaged to Tony Romo (yet), but Jessica Simpson is officially a part of the Dallas Cowboys family. She appears in the 2008 Cowboys Family Cookbook, presented by "the wives of the Dallas Cowboys" ($25, www.happyhillfarm.org). On page 127, Simpson (who is not photographed) and Romo share their favorite family recipes for a "banana breakfast fruit smoothies" and "no-fat broccoli and cherry tomatoes" The two also show off their funny sides in the book's biographical section, with Simpson listing her occupation as "hairdresser" and Romo stating that he's a "fence builder." -- Us Magazine
Donna Karan hits on Yanks A-Rod
While Madonna entertains herself with Brazilian boy toy Jesus Luz, she's apparently willing to share her other man, Alex Rodriguez, with her kabbalah friends. A-Rod flew into Parrot Cay to ring in the New Year with Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Bruce Willis and Donna Karan . While on the island, a spy says the slugger got "very close to [Karan] who only had eyes for him and followed him around all night on New Year's Eve." But apparently Rodriguez is "still hung up on Madonna" and refused Karan's advances. -- NY Post
COLLEGE SPORTS RUMORS AND NOTES
Ken Norton could land USC DC job?
Who replaces Nick Holt will be the next question for USC. Secondary coach Rocky Seto is the logical choice because he has the most experience in preparing game plans and was recently promoted to assistant head coach of the defense when he turned down the Washington defensive coordinator's position. However, Carroll has always been enamored with rewarding linebackers coach Ken Norton despite his lack of experience compared to Seto. Another reason to promote Norton would be to send a signal across town to UCLA, where Norton discussed the idea of eventually becoming defensive coordinator with Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel a year ago. -- LA Daily News
Ball State QB Nate Davis could go to NFL
Ball State QB Nate Davis announced after the Mid-American Conference championship game last month that he would return for his senior season. The reality is he hasn't made up his mind. He will decide after the NFL's draft advisory committee grades his draft prospects. "I've thought about it on and off," Davis said of this possibly being his final college game. "The biggest thing is, I have to do what's best for my family. That's what it comes down to. "The money is a big factor, of course." That is what ultimately will tip the scales in Davis' decision. -- Muncie Star Press
Ben Maller can be heard weeknights on "The Third Shift on Fox" via the vast Fox Sports Radio Network. The show is broadcast live Monday-Friday from 2am till 6am (est). Check your local radio listenings for the FSR affiliate in your town, listen to XM Satellite Radio Channel No. 142 or via live streaming audio online at FoxSports.com/Radio. Say hi to Ben at myspace.com/benmaller. Interact with Ben's fans and talk sports on Ben Maller's forum Questions, comments and news tips can be sent to Ben via e mail at BigBen@FSR247..com or Ben@BenMaller.com.
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