Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Monday, Feb. 16
Feb. 16 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Monday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE NFL free agency primer: Top option, next tier by position Best of luck if you're looking for a quarterback, but there are some playmakers available - should they avoid the franchise tag. (FBN-NEWS/FREEAGENCY/, expect by 1900 GT/2 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Reynolds, 875 words) - - NFL Draft: Williams, Winston lead Top 64 prospects INDIANAPOLIS -- Opinions and analysis of the 2015 NFL Draft class will be under further review this week at the Scouting Combine. Veteran analyst Frank Cooney introduces the top 64 prospects in the draft class, one capsule snapshot at a time. (FBN-DRAFT/, expect by 2015 GMT/3:15 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 10,075 words) - - Bold predictions for the 2015 Scouting Combine Who will blaze the FieldTurf at Lucas Oil Stadium? What prospects should be bracing for face time with teams? We offer bold predictions for the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. (FBN-DRAFT/, expect by 2200 GMT/5 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Rob Rang and Dane Brugler, 950 words) - - Bills host QB McCown With no starter set for next season, the Buffalo Bills hosted quarterback Josh McCown on Monday. (FBN-NEWS-BILLS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Vikings RB McKinnon recovering from back surgery Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon is recovering from offseason back surgery. (FBN-BILLS-VIKINGS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 322 words) - - NFL Roundup The latest moves and news from the NFL. (FBN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Team chemistry lifts Hawks to best in East NEW YORK - From first-half surprise to title contender? The Atlanta Hawks are the best team in the East at 43-11 but among the main storylines for this weekend were Carmelo Anthony's knee and anything LeBron James had to say. (BKN-HAWKS-NEWS/, expect by 2200 GMT/5 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Larry Fleisher, 733 words) - - Bucks, C Sanders in buyout talks The Milwaukee Bucks have begun buyout discussions with Larry Sanders that would make the recently suspended center a free agent. (BKN-BUCKS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 325 words) - - SNL roasts ASG in ratings The NBA All-Star Game lost out to Saturday Night Live's 40th Anniversary Special, which drew huge television numbers. (BKN-NEWS-ALLSTARTVRATINGS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 259 words) - - NBA Roundup The latest moves and news from the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - Today's NBA schedule at a glance No games scheduled. - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL TSX covers all Top 25 games. Top matchups highlighted below. Pitt at Virginia (2) CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Pitt knocked off North Carolina and is gaining some momentum toward March. A win at Virginia (23-1, 11-1) won't be easy to come by, but would put the Panthers in great position for the NCAA tournament. (BKC-VIRGINIA-PITTSBURGH-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 0000 GMT/7 PM ET tipoff, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru, The Sports Xchange, by Brandon Lloyd) - - Kansas (8) at West Virginia (21) MORGANTOWN, W.V. - The Mountaineers try to break a cold snap of three losses in four games and avoid a season sweep at the hands of Kansas. The Jayhawks lead the Big 12 over Iowa State by two games and can move a step closer to their 11th consecutive conference championship. (BKC-WESTVIRGINIA-KANSAS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 0000 GMT/7 PM ET tipoff, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru, The Sports Xchange, by Allan Taylor) - - Top 25 roundup Capsule recaps of all Top 25 games on Monday's schedule. (BKC-NOTEBOOK/, expect ASAP after 0000 GMT/7 PM ET tipoffs end, updates to follow, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - TSX covers all Top 25 games. Slug convention: BKC-VIRGINIA-PITTSBURGH-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU: Pittsburgh at Virginia, 7 p.m. ET Seton Hall at Villanova, 7 p.m. ET Kansas at West Virginia, 9 p.m. ET - - - - GOLF Bubba Watson comfortable in role as champ, dad Bubba Watson said it took him a year to get adjusted to being "that good" but now the two-time Masters champion is stepping out with confidence. (GLF-INSIDETHEROPES/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Tom LaMarre, 675 words) - - Golf notebook: St. Andrews ends gender barrier Golf greats Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies are among seven women who became the first female members of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the club announced. More women will join in the "coming months," the club said last week. (GLF-NOTEBOOK/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Tom LaMarre, 600 words) - - Course Source: Angeles National, Ojai An area that previously was an eyesore in the Big Tujunga Wash alongside Interstate 10 east of Los Angeles now boasts the only Nicklaus Design course in Los Angeles County - Angeles National. Ojai Valley is a short track at just over 6,200 yards but brings challenges for all ability levels. The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa was rated among the top 10 hotel spas in the United States. (GLF-COURSESOURCE/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Tom LaMarre, 800 words) - - Golf glance Capsule previews of the week ahead in professional golf, including the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Palisades, Calif. (GLF-SCHEDULE/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Tom LaMarre, 450 words) - - - - BOXING Mayweather: No Pacquiao deal yet Reports of a deal to put boxing greats Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in the ring are premature, Mayweather said. (FIGHTING-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE TSX covers all NHL games, highlighted matchup below - - Rangers at Islanders UNIONDALE, New York - The New York Islanders, winners of four straight, look to stay unbeaten against their arch rivals this season when they host the New York Rangers at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Isles are 3-0 against the Rangers, having won each game by three goals. (HKN-ISLANDERS-RANGERS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0000 GMT/7 PM ET game ends, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NHL schedule at a glance New York Rangers at New York Islanders, 7 PM ET Carolina at Ottawa, 7:30 PM ET Montreal at Detroit, 7:30 PM ET Edmonton at Winnipeg, 8 PM ET Arizona at Colorado, 9 PM ET Boston at Calgary, 9 PM ET Minnesota at Vancouver, 10 PM ET Tampa Bay at Los Angeles, 10:30 PM ET - - NHL Roundup The latest moves and news from the NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - ALPINE SKIING Kasper counting skiers not medals BEAVER CREEK, Colorado - Sitting on a sun-bathed terrace under a cloudless bluebird sky overlooking the world championship finish area, International Ski Federation chief Gian-Franco Kasper scanned the horizon looking for recreational skiers that never appear. For Kasper the only measure of success is the number skiers on the slopes not medals won. (ALPINE SKIING-WORLDS/KASPER, (FEATURE, PIX), expect by 2000 GMT/3 PM ET, by Steve Keating, 700 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
