SPORTS

||| MLB. Mets meet with Santana’s agent

Looking to lock up an ace

||| Johán Santana’s agent and the New York Mets went to work on a contract extension on Wednesday, the biggest step remaining for the team to complete its blockbuster trade with Minnesota. ||| Mets officials met with agent Peter Greenberg in Manhattan, but neither side would divulge many details.   

Mike Fitzpatrick | AP Baseball Writer

The two-time Cy Young Award winner is likely seeking a deal worth more than $120 million over six or seven years. He and the Mets have until 5 p.m. EST today to reach an agreement.
If that happens, as expected, Santana and the other players in the trade would then have to pass physicals for the swap to be finalized.
"Every team in the division became stronger, but now with Santana we’re the favorites again," Mets left fielder Moisés Alou said in the Dominican Republic.
The Mets have a good relationship with Greenberg, who already represents two of their players: All-Star shortstop José Reyes and reserve outfielder Endy Chávez.
New York general manager Omar Minaya declined comment through club spokesman Jay Horwitz. Peter Greenberg didn’t return e-mails seeking comment.

The Mets made a big splash on Tuesday by reaching a tentative agreement to acquire Santana from the Twins for four prospects: speedy outfielder Carlos Gómez, and pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra.
The news energized Mets fans who were still upset about the team’s historic collapse last September, and Minaya was lauded by baseball analysts around the country. Many had thought New York would have to give up more to land the ace left-hander.
"I can’t really comment because it’s not done. All I can say is that the Twins did what they had to do," New York Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said in Tampa, Fla. "I hope it works out well for them. The Mets made a good trade from their end. Hopefully it works out for both teams."

 "Every team in the division became stronger, but now with Santana we’re the favorites again."

Earlier this offseason, the Yankees also pursued Santana. They offered pitcher Phil Hughes and center fielder Melky Cabrera as part of a package, then pulled out of talks during the winter meetings in December.
The World Series champion Boston Red Sox also made a bid for Santana, proposing a deal that would have included outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury or pitcher Jon Lester.
Santana, who turns 29 in March, can become a free agent after this year’s World Series and the Twins don’t have the budget to re-sign him. Minnesota offered him an $80 million, four-year extension this offseason, but he turned it down.
Even without Santana, the Mets already have sold 1.75 million tickets for their final season in Shea Stadium, up 100,000 from this point last year, when they finished at a team-record 3.85 million.

"To have one of those handful that I would call an ace is obviously special to a team that, offensively, we look good on paper," Mets third baseman David Wright said Tuesday. "And our pitching staff is very deep, especially with these young guys, and they’re only going to get better.
So obviously there’s a lot of positive energy, if it’s true, going into spring training."
Now, the Mets just need to finish the deal – something they couldn’t do last season when Philadelphia roared from seven games back with 17 to play, and won the NL East, leaving New York out of the playoffs.
Of course, giving a long-term contract to a pitcher can be risky. Only three have gotten deals worth more than $100 million: Barry Zito (San Francisco), Mike Hampton (Colorado) and Kevin Brown (Los Angeles Dodgers).              

||| NFL. Ending Patriots’ perfection rests with Giants’ D-line

Trying to stop Brady

Tom Canavan | AP Sports Writer

Justin Tuck didn’t need to conduct a survey to figure out who America expects to be the Super Bowl MVP.
"Tom Brady," he said.
If Brady plays well, the New England Patriots are going to cap an undefeated season and certify their claim to being a dynasty.
The biggest obstacle in his way is a band of brothers who form the New York Giants’ defensive line.
There’s Michael Strahan, the NFL’s active sacks leader and the group’s emotional linchpin. Fellow defensive end Osi Umenyiora is the only current Pro Bowler in the group and its rising star. There’s Tuck, the standout hardly anyone knows.

Fred Robbins is the brawn in the middle and Barry Cofield is the smart guy next to him who gives way to Tuck on passing downs.
"We can’t win this game if we don’t play well," Umenyiora said Wednesday before the Giants returned to the practice field. "We will absolutely lose if the defensive line does not play well. There is no question about that.
"We’re facing a quarterback who completes passes and does all these things with people in his face. So can you imagine if no one is around him? It will be absolutely ridiculous."
In the Patriots’ 38-35 win over the Giants on Dec. 29, Brady was sensational, hitting 32 of 42 passes for 356 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Still, New York got to the quarterback who set an NFL single-season record with 50 touchdown passes this season. Brady was sacked once and hit eight times.

His record-setting touchdown on a 65-yard pass to Randy Moss came during a play on which cornerback Sam Madison pulled a stomach muscle and could not cover. "Early in the football game, we got him out of his rhythm," Tuck said. "I think he went in at halftime, made his adjustments and you saw the Tom Brady that everybody is accustomed to seeing. We have to be consistent and continually hit him. If we can continually get pressure up the middle, up in front of him, it gives us opportunity for the defense to be successful."
New England’s offensive line has changed slightly since then. Starting right guard Stephen Neal and right tackle Nick Kaczur will be back after missing the final game of the regular season with injuries. The Patriots are still concerned about the defense that led the NFL with 53 sacks, including 39 by the linemen.
"When we played them, we had a lot of negative yardage plays in the run game," tackle Matt Light said. "They obviously got to Tom more than we’d like and they are very good at what they do.
There is a reason why they are here and in this game."