by FOXSports.com

NFL RUMORS AND NOTES

Patriots NT Vince Wilfork not close to new deal?

Patriots NT Vince Wilfork told the Boston Herald yesterday scuttlebutt suggesting there had been movement toward a new deal was nothing more than a bunch of "bullcrap." No matter. He just marches on, and continues to play the best football of his career. And down the road, his performance should produce a very big pay day, be it with the Patriots or someone else. What's interesting, is that Bill Belichick may have unwittingly tacked on a few more dollars to the bundle by showing potential suitors that Big Vince could also play defensive end in a pinch. He played a majority of snaps there Sunday against Miami, so he's turned into an even more attractive catch. -- Boston Herald

Vick says he's happy to be with Eagles

All things considered, Michael Vick said he doesn't mind being in Philadelphia. "If I had to do it all over, I would sign with Philadelphia," Vick said before the Eagles' practice yesterday at the NovaCare Complex. You have to remember that when the Eagles went through their first spring camp six months ago, Vick was still locked away in a Kansas prison after being convicted on dogfighting charges. Vick indicated during an interview that aired on NBC before Sunday night's game against Dallas that he would have a difficult time returning to the Eagles next season in a reserve role, but he insisted he is not unhappy with his current situation. "I'm happy to be playing football," he said. "This is probably the last time I'm going to address this situation. I'm just happy to be playing football. Like I've said, two months ago, two years ago, I wasn't playing football. I didn't even know if I had a future being in the NFL. I'm just happy to be able to put on a uniform. I'm happy to be standing at this locker. "The only thing I said [during the NBC interview] was that if the situation came about where I had to be the third quarterback I wouldn't like it . . . but, hey, I'd have to deal with it. I just want to have a chance at playing, and that's just me being a competitor. I think that's what our coaches appreciate, and that's the type of person I am and the type of player I am. If that's not the situation, then I have to keep working every day to get better." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

MLB RUMORS AND NOTES

Adrian Gonzalez's agent meeting with Padres about trade plans

Padres GM Jed Hoyer and Adrian Gonzalez's agent, John Boggs, are scheduled to meet soon to discuss the player's future -- which could include anything from a trade, to remaining a Padre through the final two years of his contract, to a rewriting of the current contract. "I don't know what is going to happen," Gonzalez said yesterday. "I'm in a win-win situation" -- meaning he will either go to a contending team that can afford him or remain playing in his hometown. What Gonzalez seems most happy about is that he'll be in Europe for the next month as his future is decided. "I'd rather be away from it," he said. Gonzalez said he is happy with the direction of the Padres, with reservations. "Some steps have been taken," he said. "There are still pieces to be put in place. I'd like to see the moves they make in the offseason, if I'm still around." -- San Diego Union-Tribune

Reds GM denies Joey Votto trade talks

Walt Jocketty told a reporter at the general managers meeting in Chicago that the Reds' payroll is likely to be less for 2010 than it was 2009. That has led to speculation that the Reds are putting veterans on the trading block. "I mentioned that we'd be restricted as far as payroll," Jocketty said. "We've been saying that all along. We won't be active in the free agent market. We have to be creative. "But so little is going on up here as far as trades that people start speculating." Jocketty said he does not have to trade players in order to make budget. "Not yet," he said. There was speculation that Joey Votto could be included in a deal. That's not going to happen."Oh God, no," Jocketty said. But veterans making big money could be moved. -- Cincinnati Enquirer

NBA RUMORS AND NOTES

Don Nelson: Warriors have to trade Stephen Jackson

Coach Don Nelson said before Wednesday's game that the relationship between the Warriors and forward Stephen Jackson is irreconcilable and that his departure is imminent. "At some point," Nelson said, "and I don't know when, we have to (trade him). He asked to be traded, and we'd like to trade him. That's if we can."... In a matter of time, the Warriors could have nothing but expiring contracts to show for Mike Dunleavy, the No."3 overall pick in 2002, and Troy Murphy, the No. 14 overall pick in 2001. That and two years worth of memories. "We had our day in the sun," Nelson said. "We had two good years. That's about all you can say about it. I'd do it again just to have those two good years." -- Oakland Tribune

Knicks may target Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson

If the Knicks find themselves struggling to woo LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who can become free agents next summer, they'll likely turn their attention to the players such as Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson, who are expected to headline the next tier of potential free agents at season's end. Regardless of how much money the Knicks will have to spend, there's no guarantee of landing a superstar given the state of the franchise, and because James grew up in Ohio and Wade appears to be staying put in Miami - on Tuesday Heat owner Micky Arison said he had "every indication" that Wade wants to finish his career where it started. And while Bosh isn't the same caliber of player, he has already and quite infamously laughed at the idea of playing in New York. But luring Johnson may not be that hard of a sell. The Hawks guard, who was at the Garden taking on the Knicks last night, played for Mike D'Antoni early in his career and credits the coach for putting him on the path to success. -- NY Daily News

NASCAR RUMORS AND NOTES

Rick Hendrick humbled by success

People power is more important than horsepower. Rick Hendrick believes that. The 60-year-old multi-millionaire business executive's Chevrolet team has become the NASCAR Sprint Cup series' gold standard. Hendrick is virtually assured of a ninth Cup championship - and possibly an historic fourth in a row with Jimmie Johnson. Most of Hendrick's 6,000 employees - over 500 on his race teams - swear there's no better boss. When Kyle Busch was released to Joe Gibbs Racing two years ago, crew chief Alan Gustafson dismissed reports he might follow. "I'd rather sweep floors for Rick Hendrick than be a crew chief for someone else," he said. Hendrick, who answered questions from The Republic by e-mail because he was traveling internationally, calls that "humbling." "I take so much pride in watching these guys like Alan and Steve (Letarte, Gordon's crew chief), who have come up through the organization, from literally sweeping floors in the shop to being crew chiefs. I think it goes back to putting the right people in place and then providing them with opportunities to be successful and show what they're capable of doing . . . I can't tell you how gratifying that is." -- Arizona Republic

Jeff Gordon: Cup drivers running Nationwide races for extra money

Jeff Gordon asked why Cup drivers run Nationwide races: "Listen, the bottom-line, you want to know why those guys are running Nationwide races? For money. They're wanting extra money. The sponsors are there supporting the car owners to run the series. Those guys are able to make extra money. That's why they run it. Of course, somebody like Kyle, you know, has the opportunity to go win a championship, or Carl, then, hey, why not do that, too? But the Cup drivers that are over there, that's why they're doing it." -- Examiner

ODD NOTES AND STUFF

Falcons' Gonzalez: 'We had clothes on' in ad

If Tony Gonzalez and his wife, October, are wearing clothes in their new PETA ad, they must be threadbare. A day after the AJC broke the news of the two appearing nude in the ad, the Falcons tight end said it's not entirely true. "We had clothes on," Gonzalez said Wednesday. The couple will appear as part of the "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign, according to PETA officials. "We should be protecting animals, not sacrificing their lives for the sake of fashion or luxury," says Tony Gonzalez. "October and I have changed many of our habits in light of the inhumane treatment of animals that occurs not only in the fur industry but also on factory farms." Now in his 13th season in the NFL, Gonzalez, 33, was traded to the Falcons in April. He appears destined for the Hall of Fame, and he credits his vegan diet for his fantastic physique. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CBS' Jim Nantz new woman has champagne taste

The new woman in Jim Nantz's life is Courtney Richards, 29, a vice president at IMG, which represents the CBS sportscaster. Nantz, 50, met her on a book tour last summer -- after his 26-year marriage to Lorrie Nantz had hit the rocks. While Lorrie will get $1 million a year from Jim, Courtney was being subsidized $500 a month by her father five years ago, when she told the Wall Street Journal, "I have champagne taste on a beer budget . . . I love what I do, but the bottom line is that I'm not making enough to pay for myself." Nantz makes $7 million a year. -- NY Post

COLLEGE SPORTS RUMORS AND NOTES

Virginia Tech's Foster expresses interest in opening at Memphis

Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said he would be interested in the head coaching opening at Memphis, but he has not been contacted by anyone from the university and his name has not surfaced in published reports about possible candidates. "That might be a job I might be interested in," Foster said Tuesday night when asked for his take on the opening, adding later, "I think there's a lot of things that are attractive about it." Asked what would be attractive about the program, Foster said: "It's a Conference USA job. You look at teams like Cincinnati, you look at teams like Pittsburgh, you look at teams like Louisville -- those three have recently had success that are in urban kind of settings. Memphis is in that same kind of setting and in a pretty decent area from a recruiting standpoint, when you start looking at the athletes they have in that area." Foster has been at Virginia Tech for the past 23 seasons, 15 as the Hokies' defensive coordinator. He has routinely crafted defenses that rank among the nation's best. In each of the past five seasons, Virginia Tech has ranked in the top 10 in both total defense and scoring defense. -- Washington Post

Gary Pinkel takes blame for Missouri's problems

When it comes to Missouri losing four of its last five games -- including, of all things, to Baylor 40-32 last Saturday -- the resurrected bottom-line reaction of Missouri coach Gary Pinkel leads to such consternation. "I accept that responsibility," Pinkel said in his weekly media conference on Monday afternoon. "I'm responsible for that," Pinkel said later. "Our fans have a better expectation level than what they're seeing," Pinkel said on still another occasion. "They should. That's my job. I deserve to be criticized for it." -- KC Star

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