South

As the Bears approach the close of the 2010 season, many players are reflected on changes in the past year. Key off-season free agent acquisition Julius Peppers has been an anchor of one of the toughest defenses in the league, but the lucrative contract-signing came one critical mistake for the North Carolina native who was forced to leave his favorite barbecue restaurants behind in the Carolinas.

It turns out that NY Jets strength coach Sal Alosi wasn't trying to injure anyone on the Miami Dolphins when he tripped Nolan Carroll. He was actually filming a commercial for Buffalo Wild Wings.

After a Blackhawks victory against the Stars last week, former Hawks starting goalie Cristobal Huet sent current goalie Marty Turco a text message sarcastically congratulating him on a victory with backup Goalie Corey Crawford in the net.

After signing their lucrative off-season contracts this week, new Chicago acquisitions Carlos Pena of the Cubs and Adam Dunn of the White Sox have come together on a friendly wager to celebrate their new city.

The 2010-2011 campaign has been a rough one so far for Marty Turco, the Blackhawks goalie and main free agent acquisition coming into this season. Turco, a seven-year starter for the Dallas Stars and former All-Star, was deemed the starting goalie immediately upon his signing, but has seen significantly diminished playing time recently. Corey Crawford, a guy most Hawks fans have no idea started a few games last year, has been the man between the pipes for five of the Hawk’s previous six games.

The Cubs made their first noteworthy signing Tuesday night by inking Rays free agent 1B Carlos Pena to a one-year, $10 million deal. However, GM Jim Hendry quickly regretted the deal after being reminded Pena's .196 batting average last year was terrible.

Many fans are railing on the Cubs for spending $10 million on a one-year contract for .196-hitting Carlos Pena, but the acquisition raises the team batting average five points from last season.