The Sports Monitor

Who's the best wide receiver in the NFL? Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Jennings and Andre Johnson come to mind. Mike Wallace? He's not in that company yet. If a Sacramento Bee report is correct, Wallace wants to be paid more than Fitzgerald. We're talking more than the eight-year, $120 million deal Fitz signed last year. That's some serious cash. It good be good news for the Steelers keeping Wallace in 2012. It's bad news when he's an unrestricted free agent.

Congratulations to the Pitt basketball team on a 20-win season after beating Butler 68-62 in overtime. My question as they enter the best-of-three College Basketball Invitational championship series next week against Washington State: If they win the CBI, will they hang a banner? And what would that banner say, "We're No. 101"?

Thud. That was the hammer coming down on the New Orleans Saints for their bounty program. Coach Sean Payton was suspended for a year, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely, general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games, and the team will lose a second-round pick in 2012 and 2013. That's what happens when commissioner Roger Goodell stresses player safety and Bountygate breaks out. The Saints got what they deserved. Goodell needed to send a message. I'm sure the rest of the league heard. I just can't help but think this won't put an end to it. The players will be much more secretive in the future.

Hines Ward is a class act. Today, he'll be known as a Pittsburgh Steeler for life after announcing his retirement. Hopefully, he'll be known as a Hall of Famer several years down the road.

I look at the Denver Broncos' pursuit of Peyton Manning and I see an intricate storyline. It's almost like AMC's "The Killing," where multiple plots are weaved together. If you missed "The Killing" or are boycotting the show because of its Season 1 ending, try a more popular example, "Seinfeld," where two plots meet at the end. First, there's Manning's search for a new home after the Indianapolis Colts decided to go in a different direction. While there are plenty of people hailing the Broncos as Super Bowl contenders with Manning as quarterback, let's not crown them -- or Manning -- just yet. Manning missed the entire season with multiple neck surgeries. He's also 36. Those are two big strikes against him. He'll also be without All-Pro receivers like Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne. Manning's top running back, Willis McGahee, will hit an over-the-hill-for-a-running-back 31 during the 2012 season. And will th...

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Sidney's back. That's great news for Penguins fans. The hottest team in the NHL (9-game winning streak) gets the best player on the planet back -- with apologies to Evgeni Malkin, the likely MVP. There's only one question I have going into Thursday's return of Crosby against the first-place Rangers. Will he finish the season? My fear is he's the next Eric Lindros, someone who will be forced to retire because of concussions. However, I'm not sold on Crosby being the next Lindros. My hope is the neck injury was more of a cause of his latest setback than anything else. If that's the case, and he just happened to be an athlete who had a concussion, the Penguins will be fine. With the playoffs near and the intensity higher than it was when Crosby made his brief return earlier in the season, I think we'll find out soon enough.

There are many ways to pick an NCAA tournament champion. Some might pick their alma mater, others could go for a long-time favorite team while some could pull a name out of a hat. Me? I have a pretty good formula going. It's called Bracket Racket. The success is uncanny. Here's how we go from 68 to 1: First things first, first-round games are a joke: Seriously, the NCAA wants us to think the eight teams playing "first-round" games have a chance while 60 others get a bye into the second round? Missouri Valley State, Western Kentucky, BYU, Iona, Lamar, Vermont, Cal and South Florida all are eliminated. It's not sweet being a 16: Don't be a hero, scratch off the No. 16 seeds remaining. Capital losses : Teams that go by capital letters are outta here: VCU, UNLV, WVU (go home, Mountaineers). Wrong statement : I hate to break it to you, but schools with state in its name won't win it all this year. That means Iowa State, Wichita State, New Mexico...

Everyone knew the Pitt basketball team wasn't good enough to get invited to the NCAA tournament with a 17-16 record. It didn't seem to be a stretch for it to end up playing in the NIT tournament. It turns out the Panthers weren't good enough for the NIT. Instead, Pitt will host Wofford (19-13) in the CBI tournament Wednesday at the Petersen Events Center. I'm sure we'll hear all the good reasons why playing in the College Basketball Invitation is a good thing. It'll probably be along the lines of a young team will continue to develop, it'll give the seniors a chance to extend there careers a little more, and other happy thoughts. I'm not buying it.   Pitt should have stated Sunday it would not accept any postseason invitations and spared itself of the embarrassment of being snubbed by the NIT. The only thing worse would be a loss to Wofford. Don't think it can''t happen.

What do you think: Will the Pitt college basketball team get an invitation to the NIT tournament or the CBI tournament Sunday night after the NCAA bids are handed out? Maybe they should just pass after a 17-16 season.

Robert Griffin III a Redskin? Mark Sanchez an extension by the Jets? Peyton Manning could be a Bronco? Crazy stuff. The biggest, boldest move was the deal reported by FoxSports.com, where the Redskins will trade up to get the Rams' No. 2 pick. The deal, everyone is assuming, was made to get RG3, the Heisman Trophy winning QB from Baylor. It's quite a move, which could set up the Redskins or doom it. It also allows the Rams to beef up their roster. They'll get two future first-round picks and a second-round pick from the Redskins. The move I don't like is the three-year extension of Sanchez by the Jets. Sanchez has been overrated and overhyped by the New York media. Clearly Manning wasn't interested in the Jets or this move wouldn't have taken place. I'm still not sure what to make of Manning's visit to the Broncos. I don't think Tim Tebow is the answer for Denver, but I don't think Manning makes them an instant Super Bowl favorite.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price will miss a couple of days because he was toweling off too vigorously. Here's the story: http://ow.ly/9z009

Who says baseball players aren't tough? Newly acquired Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett broke the orbital bone when a bunt bounced off his face. He'll miss up to three months. When Steelers linebacker James Harrison suffered the same injury, he missed four games. You decide.