NFL Conference Picks

We are just two weeks away from the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. It's been settled down to the final four, and each team means business and has one common goal: The Lombardi Trophy.

In the NFC, the Giants accomplished the impossible defeating Green Bay, while Harbaugh's 49ers defeated the Saints on a late touchdown pass to Vernon Davis.

For the AFC, Tom Brady's intimidating Patriots take on the notorious defense of the Baltimore Ravens. As long as injuries don't play a role for the Pats (Brady, Hernandez) and the Ravens (Ed Reed), this game could possibly go down to the wire in the late seconds.

So here are my playoff picks and my Pro Bowl pick for next weekend.

Home Team in Caps......

NINERS (-3) NY Giants......Eli's offense and San Fran's D....great game to watch (NYG 31-23)

PATRIOTS (-6.5) Ravens......the Pats won't run the ball: rely on the pass...Raven's D keeps them in the game (NE 28-26)

NFC (-10) AFC....Rodgers and Brees are available to play QB now ('nuff said).....(NFC 55-38)

Yankees Agree To Terms With Hiroki Kuroda

The Yankees have agreed to a one-year contract with Hiroki Kuroda, pending a physical, tweets Jack Curry of the YES Network (Twitter link). The deal will pay Kuroda between $10-$11MM in 2012.

Mariners, Yankees Swap Pineda For Montero

"The Mariners needed hitting, the Yankees needed pitching. The two teams addressed each other's needs in a blockbuster trade of young stars, as right-handers Michael Pineda and Jose Campos will go to the Bronx in exchange for catcher/DH Jesus Montero and righty Hector Noesi.
Montero was very nearly a Mariner in July 2010, as he headlined a prospect package the Yankees were ready to send to Seattle for Cliff Lee. The M's, however, pulled out of that trade and ended up dealing Lee to the Rangers. Yankees management was reportedly upset that the Mariners pulled out of the deal at the last minute, but whatever hard feelings existed between the two clubs clearly weren't enough to keep them from doing business 18 months later.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com was the first to announce the principles in the trade, with MLB.com's Greg Johns adding Campos and Noesi's involvement. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick first heard of a "significant trade" involving a "young impact hitter" coming to the Mariners earlier today, and Larry Stone of the Seattle Times was the first to cite Pineda and Montero in the deal, as he had heard "rumblings in that direction."