08:03 AM ET 11.10 | The midway point of the season is a nice time to extrapolate, take stock and, in this case, pass judgment. Sporting News' network of correspondents asked 111 players from 31 teams everything you want to know about what has happened -- and will happen -- in NFL 2011. As always in our midseason poll, players were not allowed to name their team, teammates or head coach for any of their answers. Who is the most overrated player? Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow-22. Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo-21. New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez-9. Detroit Lions DT Ndamukong Suh-6. Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson-5. New England Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco-5. New England Patriots QB Tom Brady-3.

Sporting News

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08:19 AM ET 11.10 | Arte Moreno has granted Jerry Dipoto complete power in Anaheim, and now it's a matter of how he wields it. [Dipoto] says not to count out the franchise as a player in the free-agent sweepstakes for Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. "Don't assume that we have no interest in Fielder or Pujols," Dipoto said in an interview with ESPN.com. ... "We don't want to lock the door. We are a high-revenue team and I'm a big believer in acquiring impact players. However, they are not our greatest need and are not priority number one on our list." Dipoto, who took over the job on Oct. 29 after replacing Tony Reagins, said the team's top offseason priority is strengthening the bullpen, especially in terms of right-handed arms.

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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08:11 AM ET 11.10 | David Stern said Wednesday he has stopped the clock ticking on the NBA season. [Stern's] 5 p.m. ultimatum last night passed with the NBA and Players Association again embroiled in a heated, last-ditch, 12-hour negotiation that lasted until 1 a.m. this morning. Though they could not get to a handshake agreement, the sides will return to the table today at noon in one last stab before Stern lays down the hammer. ... If a deal is reached [Thursday], there is possibility of a 76-game season. The Post has reported if a deal was hatched by last weekend, a 78-game season still was possible. Sources said the number of games would have to be an even number.

New York Post

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08:33 AM ET 11.10 | Only a few days removed from calling out Jordin Tootoo, Ryan Getzlaf has in turn been called out by Tootoo's head coach. In defending Tootoo, Coach Barry Trotz took a slight shot at Anaheim and how the Ducks play, as well as how Getzlaf called out Tootoo. "They have some guys who aren't exactly lily-white, some of their tough guys," Trotz said. "You watch them behind the play when the ref's not looking, they do a lot of (stuff). That's just whining to me. Go on the ice, play and if you have a problem with someone, take care of it. Don't go through the paper. That's all." Anyway, so this should be a fun one [Thursday] ... as it always is with these two teams.

The Tennessean

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08:27 AM ET 11.10 | Ron Patterson's words were likely music to Tom Crean's ears. "The Movement" is officially one season from playing basketball at Indiana. Broad Ripple High School's [Patterson], one of the five members of IU's Class of 2012 who signed letters of intent Wednesday, coined that phrase for his Twitter account last year. It describes a class now ranked No. 2 in the nation by rivals.com and scout.com that IU fans expect to revitalize the program. "We're going to Indiana to hang banners," Patterson said. It was a sentiment shared by his future teammates throughout the day. Hanner Perea, the 6-8 power forward from La Porte La Lumiere, was the first to sign at around 9:30 a.m. Perea is the highest ranked player in the class.

Indianapolis Star

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11:10 AM ET 10.30 | Nick Diaz will now face the man he was originally supposed to meet at last night's event, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, at the UFC's Super Bowl event in February of 2012. "This is what I wanted since the beginning," said St-Pierre. "Let's do what was supposed to be done originally. I've always wanted this fight -- now I want it even more. I can't wait for Superbowl weekend." UFC President Dana White noted at last night's post-fight press conference that the champion "flipped out" after Diaz's comments, and plans to deliver "the worst beating you've ever seen on him."

Fightline

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09:59 AM ET 11.05 | Australia's Adam Scott stood by his caddy Steve Williams in Shanghai on Saturday as golf sought a quick resolution to the controversy surrounding the New Zealander's racist remark about Tiger Woods. At the Annual Caddy Awards dinner in China on Friday, Williams went on stage to receive the prize for the season's best celebration after Scott's Bridgestone Invitational win in August and made an extremely derogatory comment about his former employer. The remark was made to a private audience which included members of the media and threatened to overshadow the HSBC Champions, the final World Golf Championship (WGC) event of the season.

Toronto Sun

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11:13 AM ET 10.30 | Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle got into a heated verbal exchange in the garage Saturday at Martinsville Speedway following a run-in on the track during Sprint Cup Series practice. At one point during the practice session, Biffle ran into the back of Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet near the start/finish line. Harvick did not like it, and slammed into Biffle's No. 16 Ford. The two drivers stopped at the exit of Turn 2, then headed for the garage. Biffle, after exiting his car, walked to Harvick's stall to confront him.

Charlotte Observer

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08:18 AM ET 11.10 | Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli has insisted he is not "crazy" and finds it annoying that his off-field antics achieve far greater media coverage than performances on the pitch. "The Premier League has taught me to run a lot," said Balotelli. "To go for the ball and when I lose it to press to recover it. Now I have more playing time and this gives me more confidence. (Italy coach Cesare) Prandelli and (Manchester City manager Roberto) Mancini have helped me a lot, giving me the necessary calmness to play, something I didn't have previously."

Daily Telegraph

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