Niners in position of strength after Smith deal

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Trade of Alex Smith puts 49ers in perfect position to make bold moves in draft, free agency this offseason: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Trade-of-Smith-Makes-49ers-Future-Even-Brighter-193852491.html

Niners played their cards right with Alex Smith

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The way the 49ers marketed Alex Smith to create the most demand -- and return -- was brilliant. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Making-Right-Moves-With-Alex-Smith-193579181.html

Holmgren to Raiders? That would be a smart move

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: News that the Raiders may be courting Mike Holmgren for a front-office position is a sign that Mark Davis was serious about creating a 21st-century organizational structure. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Holmgren-Reports-Show-Raiders-Are-Committed-to-Future-193570621.html

49ers secondary makeover may be severe

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: This offseason, it's possible the 49ers may part with both Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers. If they do, it will be part of a major move to upgrade a secondary that was exposed in the postseason. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Upgrading-Secondary-is-on-49ers-Wish-List-193323691.html

Taiwan Jones may help Raiders with switch

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: For two years, Taiwan Jones has been with the Raiders, but hasn't made much of an impact as a running back. Now, he's switching to cornerback. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Jones-May-Help-Raiders-at-Cornerback-193311611.html

Boston University star Poulin is healthy once more and hopes to take Terriers to Frozen Four

Marie-Philip Poulin, who helped the Canadian women's team win the hockey gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, is healthy again after missing much of last season with an injury. Now the Boston University standout is helping the Terriers make a run at the national championship. My story on Poulin for the Kaz Watch series on the USA Hockey site: http://www.pattykaz.com/news_article/show/232196?referrer_id=718465

Phil Robertson hardly looks the part, but in the 1960s the "Duck Dynasty" star was a starting college QB ... good enough to keep Terry Bradshaw on the bench

Phil Robertson looks a bit like a mountain man who came in from the woods. The patriarch of a Louisiana duck hunting family and a millionaire who developed the best duck call in the nation, Robertson has a big, gray beard, wild hair and wears a bandana and camo clothes. But back in the 1960s at Louisiana Tech, Robertson was a big-armed quarterback good enough to keep Terry Bradshaw on the bench. Eventually, Robertson gave up football to pursue his first love -- hunting -- and leave football to Bradshaw. My story for ESPN.com's Playbook section: http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/18740/how-good-was-phil-robertson-at-football

If Smith steps out, does Tolzien step up for 49ers?

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Scott Tolzien is inexperienced, but the 49ers have said nothing but good things about their No. 3 QB for two years. Now, with Alex Smith apparently on the way out, will Tolzien be the backup for Colin Kaepernick next season? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Smiths-Departure-Would-Provide-Opportunity-for-Tolzien-193051811.html

Raiders have eyes on Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Jarvis Jones led the nation in sacks this season, and the Raiders need pass-rush help. But will his medical history scare Oakland? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/For-Raiders-Georgias-Jones-Might-be-High-Risk-High-Reward-193044291.html

Niners' GM Baalke has faith in Jenkins' future

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: A.J. Jenkins may not have caught a single pass in his rookie season, but at the NFL Combine, 49ers GM Trent Baalke says he still is a believer in Jenkins' talents and work ethic and believes the former Illinois wide receiver can make an impact for the team in 2013. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Baalke-Has-Faith-in-Jenkins-Future-192504081.html

Snowboarder Hannah Teter has come a long way since grabbing a gold medal as a teen in Torino

Hannah Teter at 26 has non-profit groups that raise money for water projects in Africa and hunger around the globe. She's a businesswoman, a model and an advocate for the Special Olympics. But she also knows the foundation for all she's achieved has come through her prowess in the halfpipe, so the snowboarder from Vermont is working on some new tricks as she gears up to make the U.S. Olympic team for Sochi in 2014. My story on Teter for the U.S. Olympic website, TeamUSA.org: http://www.teamusa.org/Road-to-Sochi-2014/Features/2013/February/21/Hannah-Teter-Style-And-Amplitude.aspx

Outlining Niners' biggest needs going into NFL Combine

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The San Francisco braintrust is now in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine, doing its homework for the draft in April. Here's a look at the team's five biggest needs in the draft: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Defensive-line-is-49ers-Biggest-Need-Going-into-Combine-192301441.html

Matt Flynn might be enticing to Raiders' McKenzie

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie was in Green Bay at the same time Matt Flynn was a backup QB. Might the two reconnect in Oakland? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/McKenzies-Connection-to-Flynn-Sparks-Speculation-192292421.html

Ticked-off Texas fan campaigning to give ex-Rangers star Hamilton the silent treatment in 2013

When Josh Hamilton said in an interview that the Rangers don't play in a baseball town, the folks down Texas way got in a huff. Now a 15-year-old high school student has started a campaign through Twitter and Facebook called Silence4Josh, hoping that all fans at the Rangers home opener vs. the Angels this year will be completely silent when Hamilton comes to the plate. My story for ESPN.com's Playbook: http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/18550/rangers-fan-seeks-silence-for-josh-hamilton

Looney may pay delayed dividends for 49ers line in 2013

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Niners will need depth on the offensive line in 2013, but a key addition is already on the roster, 2012 draft pick Joe Looney, who never really got a chance to contribute after an injury suffered at the Senior Bowl. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Looney-May-Pay-Delayed-Dividends-for-Niners-192057701.html

Former Olympic hockey star Angela Ruggiero feels compelled to 'pay it forward' in post-athlete career

Now that her competitive hockey career is over, Harvard grad Angela Ruggiero is putting her talents to use in other avenues to open doors for young women and athletes the same way earlier pioneers did for her. Now president of the Women's Sports Foundation and on the boards of the U.S. and International Olympic Committees, Ruggiero has a busy schedule and a busy agenda. My story on her for the U.S. Olympic website, TeamUSA.org: http://www.teamusa.org/Road-to-Sochi-2014/Features/2013/February/19/Angela-Ruggiero-Paying-It-Forward.aspx

Niners' GM Baalke is man in spotlight this offseason

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Will Trent Baalke repeat his terrific year of 2011, when all he touched was gold? Or will it be a repeat of 2012, when his draft proved disappointing? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Baalke-is-Man-on-the-Spot-This-Offseason-191852831.html

For Raiders, pool of defensive tackles is deep

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Oakland is likely to need defensive tackles in this draft, and there are plenty to choose from. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/For-Raiders-Pool-of-Defensive-Tackles-is-Deep-191838651.html

Cornell's Kyle Dake, a three-time NCAA champion in three different weight classes, has done what no other wrestler ever has done

Kyle Dake is going after his fourth straight NCAA championship in a fourth different weight class, something no one else has ever done. The Cornell senior already has three titles and sticks with a formula that works -- rituals and routines in every aspect of his life. Just don't call them
"superstitions." My story on Dake for ESPN.com's Playbook section: http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/18432/titles-one-of-wrestler-dakes-many-routines

On a team of stars, Megan Bozek of Minnesota is a rock on defense and a talented scorer

The defending national-champion Minnesota women's hockey team is ranked No. 1 and undefeated this season, and boasts All-Americans all over its lineup. One player who often gets overlooked is defenseman Megan Bozek -- who shouldn't be. She might be the best defenseman in the nation. My story on Bozek for the Kaz Watch series for USA Hockey, leading up to the Patty Kazmaier Award in March: http://www.pattykaz.com/news_article/show/227846?referrer_id=714911