Staal Signs Extension

ESPN.com is reporting that Carolina Hurricanes Center, Eric Staal, has signed a long-term contract believed to be worth over 8 million dollars a season for the next 7 years. The 23-year-old Staal ended last season with 38 goals and 44 assists. As the NHL looks to increase its appeal and ratings in non-traditional hockey markets, having a player of Staal's caliber sign long-term to a team like Carolina can only help in what seems like a bright future for the NHL.

Bruins Discuss Possible Outdoor Game at Fenway

Bruin's owner Charlie Jacobs has mentioned the idea of possibly hosting an outdoor game as a part of the NHL's "Winter Classic" series, sometime in the future. Potential locations for the game are Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, and the Boston Common. After the success of the New Year's day game in buffalo this past year, many teams have been interested in hosting an outdoor game. Traditionally a popular sport in cold weather areas, the NHL is increasing their popularity with every outdoor event that they host. The NHL should explore Boston as an opportunity to host an outdoor game given the recent success of cult-like sports franchises like the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.

Saints Lose Colston

The New Orleans Saints will be without star wide receiver Marques Colston for the next 4-6 weeks following thumb surgery Wednesday. It is believed that Colston tore a ligament in the thumb during Sunday's 24-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Colston finished the game with a mere 26 receiving yards on three catches for the day, far from his usual numbers.

This is a big loss to the Saints and Drew Brees in particular who has had a very good chemestry with Colston the past two seasons. Colston had 2,241 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns in his first two seasons as a Saint.

Simms Signs With Titans

The Tennessee Titans have announced the signing of quarterback Chris Simms. Simms, who was in New England for a workout on Monday, will serve as the backup to Kerry Collins this week as the Titans are without regular starter Vince Young following what the team is calling a minor knee sprain.

Simms spent five seasons in Tampa Bay, two as the starter, before being cut back in August.

The Titans issued the following statement following the signing:

"Chris has been a starter in the league and should fit into our system well," said Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt. "He is a smart player who is a student of the game and has the presence in the huddle that you look for in a quarterback."

Chelios Returns for a 25th Season

The Detroit Red Wings have signed 46-year-old Defenseman Chris Chelios to a one-year deal worth $750,000. The 2008-2009 season will be Chelios' 25th NHL season and 9th season with the Red Wings. He is currently the oldest active player in the NHL. Placing things in perspective, Chelios entered his 3rd season in the NHL the year Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby was born.

Merriman Out For Season

Shawne Merriman, linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, will be placed on the IR so he can have a total reconstructive knee surgery, according to a Chargers source. The 24 year old Meriman was going to try to play the season with two torn ligimates in his left knee, after many doctors told him not to do so. He left last Sunday's game after only tallying two tackles.

Brady Who?

Have no fear, the Red Sox are here!

On a day that sunk the hearts of many all across New England with the news that Tom Brady will miss the remainder of the season, the Red Sox sought to put a smile back on the face of sport fans in Boston Monday night.

Jon Lester and Jonathan Papelpon combined for a seven hit shutout as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 to climb withing a half game of the AL East lead.

The Rays, who have lost six of their seven games so far in September have watched their lead in the AL East drop from as much as five and a half games at one point down to a mere half game going into tomorrow night's match-up in Boston. A win for the Sox in that game would put them back in first place for the first time since July 17th.

People have been waiting all season for the Rays to fall off. They are so young and so talented that it has taken much longer than anticipated, but it appears that time has finally come. Injuries to speedster Carl Crawford and rookie of the year favorite Evan Longoria are starting to take their toll. If there is any good news for the Rays coming away from this game it is that Longoria has been activated from the disabled list and could play by the end of the week. It remains to be seen whether or not he will be available in the remaining two games of this series with Boston.

Wagner To Miss Rest Of Season, Most Of 2009

Billy Wagner, closer for the New York Mets, needs shoulder surgery that will end his 2008 season and will cause him to miss most of the 2009 season as well. The Mets said that Wagner has a torn medial collateral ligament in his left elbow and a torn flexor pronator, which is a muscle in the forearm.

Mets GM Omar Minaya was told reporters that "The tear is now big enough that the doctors are recommending so-called Tommy John surgery".

The 37 year old Wagner has been on the DL since August 5th.

The Mets are now more then likely to make a big splash after the season looking for bullpen help, as the 'pen has been a major concern.

Brady Officially Out For Season

Its official, New England Patriot's QB Tom Brady will undergo season ending knee surgery. As of now it appears former backup Matt Cassel will get his chance as a starter, however the addition of a veteran quarterback like Chris Simms or Tim Rattay seems eminent. Another possible scenario could be the addition of recently retired QB Daunte Culpepper. A potential reunion between Moss and Culpepper only makes sense and allows for a chance to both revive the Patriot's season, and revive the struggling Culpepper's career.

QB Shuffle

It is looking more and more likely that the knee injury suffered on Sunday by Patriot's all-pro quarterback is a sever one. It has been reported by numerous sources that Tom Brady has suffered an ACL tear in his left knee. Brady will undergo an MRI at some point on Monday to determine the exact extent of the injury. The key telling point from a Bill Belichick staff, a staff that is generally very tight lipped when it comes to injuries, was the Monday tryouts scheduled for free agent QB's Chris Simms and Tim Rattay, both of whom where cut by their previous teams during training camp.

For the time being Matt Cassel is New England's starting QB. Cassel looked very shaky at times during the preseason but led the Patriots to a 64 yard scoring drive in his first series after replacing Brady on Sunday. The Patriots went on to win the game 17-10. Cassel is no Tom Brady, but then again nobody, other than perhaps Peyton Manning, could fill Brady's shoes.

The Patriots have a news conference scheduled for 3pm Monday where it is expected that they will announce the extent of the injury and perhaps the signing of a veteran backup.