According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, the deal between Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox is a 1 year deal worth $8 million and incentives can bring the deal up to $10 million.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting that Schilling’s deal contains a weight clause.

Curt Schilling’s new 1-year, $8 million deal with the Red Sox (which is pending results of a physical) will include $2 million worth of incentives if he meets weight requirements. The team hopes to insure that Schilling will be fit when he comes to spring training, a source close to the negotiations said moments ago.

Schilling can earn an additional $3 million in performance bonues, making his total incentive package at a possible $5 million. According to the Associated Press, the performance bonuses are based on innings pitched.

If you remember back towards spring training when Schilling decided he was going to pitch again in 2008, he would take the same deal he had this past season, 1 year at $13 million. The Red Sox decided to wait until the end of the season to decide what to do.

From the looks of everything, if all the incentives are met, Schilling could make $13 million for the season. The weight clause is very interesting to say the least.

Well I think we’ve all heard about the Curt Schilling near deal by now and as you would expect that’s what encompasses most of the headlines from the Boston area papers. Theo Epstein says that re-signing Mikey Lowell is a top priority which bodes well for the Red Sox and their fans. Hopefully, they can get this deal worked out. Epstein is also fielding calls about Coco Crisp, whom the Red Sox are likely to move with the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury.

And to let you know, the Red Sox have definitely invaded Japan with their latest World Series victory.

For that day, Sankei Sports looked like something straight out of “Red Sox Nation.” Because Matsuzaka and Okajima emerged as key ingredients in their success, the number of fans in Japan walking around with Sox caps has increased to unprecedented levels.

By the end of the season, it wasn’t unusual to see fans wearing David Ortiz and Manny Ramírez jerseys, not just those of Matsuzaka and Okajima.

As you can see, the entire Red Sox team is big in Red Sox Nation: Japan. So while you’re checking out all the headlines from the Boston area media, be sure to read about the Invasion of Japan by the Boston Red Sox. Be sure to vote today as well.

This fall, Japan became a Red Sox nation [Boston Globe]

Lowell on Sox GM’s to-do list [Boston Herald]

Schilling is likely to rejoin Red Sox [Pro Jo]

Schilling, Sox Making Progress? [Hartford Courant]

Sox may find Japan market handy again [Boston Globe]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Providence Journal, and Hartford Courant websites.

The NFL announced on Monday afternoon that the New England Patriots game in Buffalo against the Bills on November 18^th has been moved from a 1 p.m. kickoff to an 8:15 p.m. kickoff. The moved also bumps the game from the CBS TV schedule and gives it to NBC who owns the rights to the prime time Sunday evening games.

This will mark a stretch of three consecutive weeks in which the Patriots will play in prime time. They will play the Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Sunday November 25^th and the Baltimore Ravens on the road on Monday December 3^rd.

The game between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks, which was supposed to the Sunday prime time game on November 18^th, has been moved to a 4:15 p.m. kickoff and will be shown on the FOX network.

Per the NFL TV contract this is the first week of flex scheduling which allows NBC, the network with the prime time Sunday game, the chance to change the previously scheduled match up for a potentially better game. It also allows FOX and CBS, the non-prime time networks, the chance to protect a number of games each week from the flex scheduling and it only allows teams to be flexed into prime time once a season.

Here is head coach Bill Belichick’s weekly appearance on WEEI’s “The Big Show”. The people interviewing the coach are Glenn Ordway, Pete Sheppard and former NFL players Fred Smerlas and Steve DeOssie. DeOssie was a linebacker under Belichick with the New York Giants.

The Patriots are expected to remove wide receiver Troy Brown from the PUP list making him eligible to practice with the team. They have three weeks to activate him, place him on IR for the season or release him. If they activate him someone from the 53-man roster will have to be cut.

Wide receiver Chad Jackson and cornerback Eddie Jackson have been practicing for three weeks and either need to be activated this week or placed on the IR ending their season.

In case you were wondering why Tom Brady was yelling at an official on the final plays of the game Sunday in Indianapolis here is the story. Colts linebacker Gary Brackett was trying to simulate the offensive cadence in order to draw the team offsides. Brady was upset because the officials could hear him and didn’t throw a flag. This is the same offense that rankled Baltimore head coach iBrian Billick in Week 2 when the Jets attempted it against the Ravens. See the Colts aren’t so lily white and legal themselves.

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From the Boston Herald:

Sources indicated that Curt Schilling and the Red Sox were close to striking a deal which would bring the pitcher back to the defending world champions for one more season.

Schilling, when reached by phone last night, said that things “gathered momentum and if they continued to progress like they did (yesterday) something could potentially get done.”

The deal is believed to be incentive-laden and, according to sources, might be simply contingent on a final physical. Schilling had initially been looking for a $13 million extension before last season.

This is the right move for the Red Sox. To me he certainly proved that he can still pitch after he fine tuned everything. Adding him into the mix of starting pitchers for next season especially with the uncertainty of Tim Wakefield’s shoulder with the slightly torn labrum will only make this team better.

The rotation for next season is taking shape and looks like this: Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. The signing may open up some questions about who between Buchholz and Lester will join the rotation. The Red Sox may decide to start one of them in the minors but who knows. It’s only November.

The Yankees lose Pettitte, the Red Sox re-sign Schilling. Boy oh boy, how the times are changing.

It’s been a rough offseason for the New York Yankees. Joe Torre turns down their extension, Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract and Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada filed for free agency. They did hire Joe Girardi as their manager but tonight the news got a 1000 times worse.

Andy Pettitte has decided to turn down his $16 million option and now is uncertain of what he wants to do next season. His agent Randy Hendricks issued this statement.

“I have spoken with Brian Cashman, who has reiterated what Hank Steinbrenner said about the Yankees wanting to give Andy all the time he needs to decide about next season. Accordingly, we are declining to exercise the option for 2008 and Andy will declare free agency in order to free up a roster spot for the Yankees.

“If Andy decides to play, I am confident we can reach an agreement with the Yankees within 24 hours. The only options, as Andy has stated, are the Yankees or retirement. He appreciates the Yankees’ willingness to give him the time he feels he needs. I do not expect him to make a decision for quite some time.”

The only good thing about this is the fact that Pettitte said he will only pitch for the Yankees. The Yankees projected rotation looks a little something like this: Chien-Mien Wang, Mike Mussina, Joba Chamberlain, Phillip Hughes, and Ian Kennedy. Not exactly a threatening rotation to say the least.

But WOW!! I honestly thought that he would return to the Yankees but hey I am not going to shed a tear, I am a Red Sox fan after all.

Arizona Wildcats head coach Lute Olsen has left the ‘Zona program for unspecified reasons. He says they are not related to any health problems.

“For the past 25 years, I have always given 110 percent to the team and this job. In light of this personal matter, I feel it is in the best interest of the team and the University of Arizona to take a leave of absence.”

“I want reassure everyone that this isn’t a health scare, but rather a personal matter that needs my undivided attention.”

Until Olsen returns, his top assistant Kevin O’Neill will take the helm. O’Neill has head coaching experience from his days at Marquette, Tennessee and Northwestern.

The winner of the NCAA play-in game, traditionally held the Tuesday before the start of the NCAA Tournament, will cash in this year and in coming years. Last year, the winner received $177,000. This year it’s expected that the winner will get close to $190,000. The NCAA also said that they might move the date to announce those two teams to an undetermined day and time before the Selection Show.

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The GM meetings kicked off this morning down in Orlando, FL, and the biggest topic of discussion will be Alex Rodriguez. For the Red Sox, it will be working with Mike Lowell and his agent on a new contract. Terry Francona is down there as well and he should hopefully get his contract extension that will put him up there with the top-paid managers in the game. He deserves it. Another decision the Red Sox face over the next week is whether or not to re-sign Curt Schilling. There is one signing I do hope the Red Sox make and it’s not a big one but the right one. With Eric Hinske a free agent and not likely to return to the Sox, Theo should try and sign Bobby Kielty if he’s willing to be the fourth outfielder here. He did a great job in his brief stint and proved he can hit left handers. So while Theo and company are in the warmth of Florida, check out these headlines from the Boston Globe and Boston Herald. I left the links up for the other papers even though I am not linking to them so you can check out past headlines. Re-sign LOWELL Theo!!!!

A lot on Theo’s plate [Boston Globe]

Sowing seeds of blockbuster deals [Boston Herald]

Gaps prompt GMs to shop [Boston Globe]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Providence Journal, and Hartford Courant websites.

There were several reports earlier this year and even into the beginning of the season about teams contacting former Patriots running back Corey Dillon about playing for them.

Well it seems that after Patriots running back Sammy Morris went down with a chest injury in the Dallas game, Dillon started to work out with a trainer near his California home in case the Patriots were to call. Over the last few weeks several of Dillon’s former New England teammates have called him encouraging him to come out of retirement.

“When Sammy Morris went down, the phone calls from his teammates intensified,” said Steve Feldman, Dillon’s agent. “I think he felt a real twinge towards his teammates. We’ve had calls all season from teams and the only team he would even consider coming back for was the Patriots.”

Feldman added that Dillon would not be looking to play beyond this season and is just looking to assist his teammates in a time of need.

For now the interest seems to just be on Dillon’s side but I wouldn’t be surprised with this week being the Patriots bye week if he heard from the New England staff about a potential return. Dillon makes a lot of sense in that he knows the system, what’s expected of the players, Laurence Maroney loves him and he was well liked by his teammates despite having a reputation as a troublemaker during his time with the Cincinnati Bengals.

When Dillon retired after 10 seasons he ranked 14th all-time on the NFL’s rushing list. In 2004, his first season in New England, he ran for a career high 1,635 yards and won his only Super Bowl ring.

Somehow I missed this on Sunday morning, probably because it was a 5 page story and I only read the first two pages (Yes I know, lesson learned) from the Boston Globe.

If Alex Rodriguez could handpick the team he plays for, Boston might well be No. 1 on his list. According to a source who has talked to Rodriguez recently, he’d love to play for the Sox because he thinks they can win multiple championships. Meanwhile, agent Scott Boras has been pleasantly surprised with the early interest in Rodriguez. “Several teams have expressed an interest and there have been a couple of surprise teams I never expected to hear from,” he said. Boras would not reveal any names (one of the surprise teams is thought to be the Marlins). Asked whether A-Rod would be OK shifting to shortstop, Boras said, “I haven’t really discussed that with Alex yet. I will if there’s a need to.” Whither the Yankees? “That’s something I will keep between Brian Cashman and myself,” Boras said. “I’m not making any more comments about the Yankees.”

I wonder if Alex regrets that trade to the Red Sox not working out. I can’t say I do because we still have Manny. All I can say about this is PLEASE GOD NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

With the Patriots sitting at 9-0 and having just beaten the consensus second best team in the NFL is there anyone who can beat them?  Is a perfect 16-0 regular season out of the question?  They have next week off for the bye and then they come back for the final seven games of the year. Three on the road and four at “The Razor.”  So take a look, make a vote and let us know.

Your choices are:

• at Buffalo
• vs Philadelphia
• at Baltimore
• vs Pittsburgh
• vs NY Jets
• vs Miami
• at NY Giants
• no one, they’ll go unbeaten

You can vote in the new Sox & Dawgs poll,it’s in the left hand column.