NFL

Favre asks for simpler playbook
Jets QB Brett Favre is apparently a little overwhelmed. Who knows what kind of complicated diagrams coach Eric Mangini has in there, but Favre says he asked the coach if they could "pare down" how many offensive plays he has to learn. Some of the things confusing him are that a few terms used in Green Bay are also used in the Jets system, but mean totally different things. Look for Favre to have a playbook towel made up that he can wear into the game and consult. (New York Post)

Eagles moving Hunt to fullback?
The Eagles are hurting for a fullback. Starter Jason Davis is apparently not bringing it for them and they could stick undrafted rookie Jed Collins into the slot. Meanwhile, the team has even tried defensive tackle Dan Klecko there and Coach Andy Reid is now reportedly going to give running back Tony Hunt a crack at the job. If all else fails, Coach, you could always just put disgruntled cornerback Lito Sheppard there. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Dolphins moving Ronnie Brown out of town?
Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown's stock is falling fast in Miami. His return from ACL surgery isn't going super-fast and Ricky Williams can apparently blow smoke rings around him so the 26-year-old running back is supposedly on the trading block. The Dolphins seem optimistic that Brown can be unloaded before the first game of the season but it's unclear what any team would give up for him. (Miami Herald)

Philly, Dallas interested in Boldin?
Just in case you thought Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin was settling into the idea of playing in Arizona, Boldin wants your to know that you were wrong. He has reportedly told the team again that he wants to be out of there – pronto! – if he doesn't get the kind of cash teammate Larry Fitzgerald got earlier this year. Poor Anquan. He'll have to find a way to survive on the $2.5 million he's owed this season. Word is that if the Cards put Boldin on the block, which remains doubtful, both Philly and Dallas would be in the hunt for him. (NFL.com)

Cowboys want Miami QB Beck
Second-year quarterback John Beck isn't getting much work in the Dolphins preseason camp so the Cowboys have apparently informed Miami that it wouldn't mind taking him off their hands for a low-round draft pick. Beck and vet QB Josh McCown are both likely to either get released or traded before rosters are completed on August 31. (Miami Herald)

MLB

Braun out again?
Just as the Brewers were gearing up to make a run in the N.L. Central with slugger Ryan Braun leading the charge after being out for a week with lower back tightness, it's looking like he'll be out again for a bit after he seemingly re-injured the back in an at-bat.  The Cubs should send Braun something, don't you think? (MLB.com)

Phils, Red Sox after Reds release
The Reds released catcher David Ross yesterday and the Phils and Red Sox are apparently hot to get him on their bench. The 31-year-old has a .310 on-base percentage over seven big-league seasons and apparently only likes to play baseball in uniforms that have the color red in them. (Philadelphia Daily News)

Reds looking to spend this off-season
With the trading of Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn along with the end of a slew of contracts in Cincinnati, the Reds suddenly have $30 million coming available and GM Walt Jocketty apparently has the go-ahead to not worry about the nation's economic slowdown and spend the moulah. Jocketty is apparently planning to be a real player this off-season in his attempt to rebuild a Big Red Machine. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

NBA

Nowitzki done with int'l play – for now
Germany had a dismal Olympics, only winning one game in the five it played, and team leader Dirk Nowitzki says he's done with the international game "for a couple of years" and will put all of his energy toward winning an NBA championship. While German basketball fans are weeping into their Becks, Mavs owner Mark Cuban has got to have a little smile on his face: He never wanted NBA players to be involved with the Olympics to begin with. (Dallas Morning News)

Dolans aren't going to sell Knicks
It hasn't been a fun few years to be the owners of the Knicks and there had been some recent word that the Cablevision, owned by the Dolan family, was going to sell the Knicks, Rangers, and Madison Square Garden. Well, it's looking like James Dolan, the insane son who runs MSG and the two teams (along with Radio City Music Hall), isn't ready to give up his toys so Knicks fans will continue to have someone around that they absolutely love to hate. (New York Newsday)

Cavaliers want Knicks' Randolph
The Knicks have been trying to get rid of Zach Randolph for some time now and the rumor that Cleveland has some interest won't go away. Seems not only that the Cavs are trying to put together a team LeBron James can win with now so the team has no regrets if it loses him to Europe or another team in 2010, but that the Knicks shouldn't be demanding too much in return. Randolph, unfortunately, is one of the symbols of Isiah Thomas's reign of terror in New York and nobody in the Big Apple wants anything to do with that. (New York Newsday)

76ers could be signing Ratliff today
Theo Ratliff has been around. The 35-year-old has played 13 seasons in the NBA and it's looking like his next one will be in Philadelphia. He apparently had four offers and likes the idea of returning to the City of Brotherly Love for one more go-round to be a backup big man. Word is he'll make $1.4 million. (Philadelphia Daily News)

Wizards looking for player in training camp
Teams generally have all 15 player slots pretty much locked up when training camp gets underway, but the Wizards only have 14 signed right now and will invite a slew of folks to training camp to fill that last hole. They should go ahead and make it a reality show and invite rapper Lil' Romeo and his dad, Master P, to try out. (Washington Post)

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