Super Bowl MVP Branch to Return to New England

By Justin Worsley

Just a week after the New England Patriots traded wide receiver Randy Moss back to his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, the Patriots have now reacquired Deion Branch from the Seattle Seahawks.

In a trade announced Monday, the Patriots will give Seattle a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for Branch, who has been with Seattle since 2006.

In Branch's last game in New England, he helped the Patriots win their second consecutive Super Bowl. Branch, 31, finished the game with 11 catches for 133 yards, helping him earn the MVP award for Super Bowl XXXIX.

Branch went to his third consecutive Super Bowl during the 2006 season, his first in Seattle, however, the Seahawks fell to the Pittsurgh Steelers. Branch had 725 receiving yards in four touchdowns during his first season in Seattle, however, his production has consistently dropped since then. This season, Branch has caught 13 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.

New England is hoping Branch could help bring back the magic he had with quarterback Tom Brady early in his career. During his final season in New England, Branch caught 78 passes for 998 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs.

Injuries took their toll on Branch, preventing him from ever playing a full season in Seattle. Branch was inactive in 17 of 68 games in Seattle.

New England holds two fourth-round draft picks in the upcoming draft. It is unclear which pick they have agreed to trade, their pick or the pick the team acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos which sent running back Laurence Maroney out of town. New England has two picks in the each of the first four rounds of the next April's draft.

Three Players Removed From Tar Heels Football Team

By Justin Worsley

North Carolina has announced that three players have been ruled ineligible this season following a scandal in which the players received improper benefits from agents.

Defensive lineman Marvin Austin has been kicked off the team while defensive lineman Robert Quinn and wide receiver Greg Little have been declared "permanently ineligible" by the NCAA.

All three players were expected to have a major impact on the team as the Tar Heels battled for the ACC title. Instead, North Carolina has been forced to play without them. None of the three players have played in a game this season.

The punishment handed down to these three players is not the end, either. North Carolina is also being investigated for academic violations. In the season opener against LSU, the Tar Heels had to keep 13 players out of the game.

According to the NCAA, Quinn and Little lied in three separate interviews with the NCAA about their meetings with agents. Both players were given jewelery and travel accommodations. Austin has allegedly received double the benefits of what Quinn and Little received.

The Associated Press has reported that athletic director Dick Baddour will not appeal the ruling.

Quinn and Austin were both top-ranked players for their position this season. Instead of being able to solidify their status, they may now lose out on the opportunity to be drafted early, potential costing both players millions of dollars.

Austin reportedly received between $10,000 and $13,000 in benefits.

Berkman's Bat Puts Yankees in 2-0 Lead

By Justin Worsley

Lance Berkman had two RBIs and Andy Pettitte pitched seven quality innings as the New York Yankees got the best of Carl Pavano and the Minnesota Twins to take a 2-0 Divisional Series lead.

Berkman broke a 1-1 tie with a solo home run in the fifth inning, the seventh postseason homer in his career.

In the seventh inning, Berkman made Pavano regret walking catcher Jorge Posada by launching a double that went over center fielder Denard Span's head.

Pettitte allowed five hits and two earned runs through seven innings. The veteran pitcher threw 88 pitches, striking out four while walking one.

Minnesota got an early lead when rookie third baseman Danny Valencia hit a sacrifice fly to bring in left fielder Delmon Young in the second inning.

The Yankees fought back two innings later, however, after Curtis Granderson hit a double, Alex Rodriguez brought him home on a sacrifice fly.

Orlando Hudson forced another tie for Minnesota when he ended Pettitte's streak of 12 consecutive retired batters, blasting a 73 MPH changeup to left-center.

Twins manager Rod Gardenhire was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing over a called ball with umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. The pitch by Pavano would have struck out Berkman, who instead hit the go-ahead double.

Pavano was pulled from the game two batters later, giving up 10 hits and four earned runs in six innings. The former Yankee also struck out three while walking one.

The final nail in the coffin for Minnesota came in the ninth inning when Granderson took advantage of a stolen base by Bret Gardner. Granderson hit a soft single to center field, bringing in Garderner. For the game, Granderson went three-for-five with an RBI and a run.

The Yankees have been nothing but dominant against the Twins in the last few postseasons. New York is seven-for-21 with runners in scoring position against the Twins dating back to last season.

New York is now in position to sweep Minnesota on Saturday when Phil Hughes (18-8, 4.19 ERA this season) starts the Yankees home opener in the postseason against Brian Duengsing (10-3, 2.62.)

Cardinals Pick Up Pujols Option

By Justin Worsley

The St. Louis Cardinals have exercised their $16 million option on first baseman Albert Pujols, keeping the face of their franchise for another season while they work a new deal.

Pujols, 30, has won the last two National League MVP awards. This season, Pujols led the NL with 118 RBIs and 42 home runs. He also tied Matt Holliday for the team's best batting average, hitting .312 in 159 games.

Pujols also led the NL in home runs last season, blasting 47 balls out of the park. He is the first player since Ted Williams to lead the league in home runs for consecutive. Williams acheived his feat in the 1941-42 seasons.

Along with being one of the best hitters in baseball, Pujols is also dominant on the field. In 2006, Pujols won the Gold Glove award. Pujols is also a five-time Silver Slugger award winner.

Along with making his ninth All-Star team, Pujols also hit his 400th home run this season. The right-handed batter made just under $15 million this season.

Packers LB Barnett Done for Year

By Justin Worsley

Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett is out for the season after suffering a wrist injury in a win over the Detroit Lions.

Barnett, 29, is seeking a second opinion before opting for surgery. The injury he suffered is similar to the dislocated wrist division rival Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears had last season.

Through four games, Barnett recorded 24 tackles, including 19 solo ones.

Barnett is just the latest casualty for the Packers. Starting running back Ryan Grant injured his ankle during the Packers season opening victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rookie safety Morgan Burnett tore his ACL during a loss to the Bears.

This is the second time in the last three years that Barnett has suffered a season-ending injury. In 2008, Barnett tore a ligament in his knee, missing the final seven games of the year.

Halladay Makes History in Postseason Debut

By Justin Worsley

Apparently, Roy Halladay wasn't nervous in his postseason debut. Instead, he created history.

Roy Halladay threw the second no hitter in MLB postseason history during the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The only other no hitter occurred in 1956 when New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen threw a perfect game in the World Series.

For Halladay, it was his second no hitter of the season. In May, Halladay pitched a perfect game against the Florida Marlins.

The Phillies ace almost pitched another perfect game, however, he walked right fielder Jay Bruce in the fifth inning.

Philadelphia jumped all over starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, who gave up four earned runs off of four hits and two walks in 1.2 innings.

Shane Victorino hit a double in the first inning and then stole third base with second baseman Chase Utley at bat. Utley hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Victorino.

Volquez got ahead early in the second inning, causing right fielder Jayson Werth to ground out and left fielder Raul Ibanez to pop out, but the Phillies rallied and scored three runs. With a man on first and second, Halladay hit a RBI single down left field. Volquez then walked shortstop Jimmy ROllins to load the bases. Victorino then hit a two RBI single down center field which put an early end to Volquez's day.

Travis Wood replaced Volquez and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing only one hit and a walk.

Down 0-1 in the series, Cincinnati will now have to face the Phillies second ace, Roy Oswalt (7-1, 1.74 ERA since joining the Phillies in July) on Friday night at Philadelphia. Bronson Arroyo (17-10, 3.88) will take the mound for the Reds.

Moss Returns to Minnesota

By Justin Worsley

The New England Patriots have traded wide receiver Randy Moss back to the Minnesota Vikings.

New England will receive a third-round pick in the 2011 draft out of the deal. When the Patriots traded with Oakland for Moss in 2007, they gave up a fourth-round draft pick.

Moss, who is in the final year of his contract, began his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 1998. If New England decided to let Moss walk in free agency, they would receive a third-round compensatory pick in the 2012 draft.

According to ESPN.com's Adam Schefter, Moss, 33, requested a trade from New England after the team's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. After the game, Moss stated that he felt that he felt unappreciated and that if New England opted until the season's end to work a new deal that it would be a "smack in the face."

So far this season, Moss has caught nine passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns. In Monday night's blowout win against the Miami Dolphins, however, Moss did not catch a pass for the first time in 51 games as a Patriot.

Minnesota has been desperately looking for a top wide receiver since Sidney Rice went down with a hip injury before the season starter. Rice is expected to miss the first half of the year. Minnesota was also in talk with the San Diego Chargers earlier this season about acquiring disgruntled receiver Vincent Jackson.

Moss, a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro has been courted by Vikings quarterback Brett Favre before. When the Oakland Raiders were shopping Moss in 2007, Favre, the with the Green Bay Packers, asked the organization to pursue a trade for him saying that "There is no one in this league who puts fear in people more than Randy Moss."

Moss is on the verge of a milestone season where he could catch his 1000th pass, his 15,000th receiving yard and his 160th touchdown.