Midnight Man

The Royals have reached agreement with free-agent outfielder Alex Rios on a one-year, $11 million contract. Rios, 33, is a .278 career hitter with 165 home runs in 11 big league seasons with Toronto, the White Sox and Texas. He batted .280 for the Rangers last season, but produced only four home runs and 54 RBIs in 131 games. Rios will fill the right-field void in Kansas City created by the departure of Norichika Aoki to free agency. He joins Kendrys Morales who agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal last week, as the second free-agent hitter to sign with the Royals this month. Get Your Very Own Royals Baseball: just click here

Yankees signed third baseman Chase Headley to a four-year deal. The deal is worth $52 million. Headley also had reportedly been pursued by the Giants, who have a void to fill at third base. Headley, who was traded to the Yankees by the Padres prior to the trade deadline last season, hit a combined .243 last season with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs. Following the trade to New York, he hit .262 with six home runs and 17 RBIs after hitting just .229 in 77 games with San Diego. The signing leaves the Yankees with questions as what to do with Rodriguez, who will be returning from a one year suspension for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract. General manager Brian Cashman said at last month's GM meetings that A-Rod will have to win a job. "If I signed a Chase Headley, he would be the starting third baseman," Cashman said then. "[Rodriguez] is going to compete for at-bats and for a position. The position would be third, and obviously DH, and that's it. Maybe some time at first base. He may be eventually the everyday third baseman, he may be the everyday DH; I just don't know." The move gives some infield flexibility to the Yankees, as Headley can also play first base. But it certainly looks like for the first time in two decades, the soon-to-be 40-year-old Rodriguez, who has not played a full season since 2007 because of the suspension, leg operations and operations on both hips, will be coming to spring training without a job. He is under contract until 2017 and is owed a minimum of $61 million, a number that could swell by another $30 million, in $6 million increments, every time he reaches a contractual home run milestone. "That has nothing to do with devaluing Alex or disrespecting Alex or anything of that nature," Cashman said at the GM meetings in November. "It's just a fair assessment of the unknown. You can't quantify the unknown right now until you get him out there on a consistent basis to see if he can actually remain on the field, stay healthy, be productive and be that middle-of-the-lineup threat and force that we've all come to see for years gone by." Headley, who played the previous six seasons for the Padres, had a breakout year in 2012, hitting 31 home runs and leading the National League with 115 RBIs -- big numbers considering Petco Park's dimensions and the lineup around him. He added a Gold Glove Award and finished a deserving fifth in the NL MVP voting. Headley, who will turn 31 in May, was paid $10.525 million in 2014. In eight seasons, he has hit .265 with 93 home runs and 418 RBIs. Get Your Very Own Yankees Baseball: just click here

Hawkins said he should not have to apologize for wearing a T-shirt that asked for justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford. "A call for justice shouldn't offend or disrespect anybody," Hawkins said. "A call for justice shouldn't warrant an apology." Hawkins wore the T-shirt during pregame introductions of the Browns' 30-0 loss to the Bengals. On the front it read: "Justice for Tamir Rice - John Crawford." On the back it read: "The Real Battle of Ohio." Rice was a 12-year-old boy killed by Cleveland police in November as he was carrying an air gun in a public park; the coroner ruled Rice's death a homicide. Crawford was shot and killed in a Wal-Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio, in August as he carried an air gun he found in the store. The head of the Cleveland Police Union called Hawkins' action "pathetic" and asked for an apology. Hawkins addressed the media without notes for 6 minutes and 11 seconds. He spoke without taking questions, out of consideration, he said, for the "predicament" that the Browns were in. He spoke directly, and as he talked about his 2-year-old son Austin, he spoke emotionally. "As you all know," Hawkins said, "and it's well documented, I have a 2-year-old little boy. That little boy is my entire world. The No. 1 reason for me wearing the T-shirt was the thought of what happened to Tamir Rice happening to my little Austin scares the living hell out of me." As he spoke, Hawkins' voice broke more and more. "And my heart was broken for the parents of Tamir Rice and John Crawford, knowing they had to live that nightmare of a reality," he said. "So like I said, I made the conscious decision to wear the T-shirt. I felt like my heart was in the right place. I'm at peace with it. And those who disagree with me, this is America. That's the point. Everyone has the right to their First Amendment rights." Hawkins began by saying justice is "a right that every American should have, and also justice should be the goal for every American." "Ultimately," he said, "it means fair treatment." He stressed his T-shirt was not directed at every police officer. "I utterly respect and appreciate every police office that protects and serves all of us with honesty, integrity and acts the right way," he said. "And I don't think those kind of officers should be offended by what I did." He said his stance was against "wrong individuals doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons to innocent people" and those who should be offended by his shirt are those who "would assume the worst in me without knowing anything about me for reasons I can't control."

WARRIORS over PELICANS 128 to 122 BULLS over HEAT 93 to 75 WIZARDS over JAZZ 93 to 84 LAKERS over TIMBERWOLVES 100 to 94 THUNDER over SUNS 112 to 88 RAPTORS over KNICKS 95 to 90 SPURS over NUGGETS 99 to 91

WARRIORS over MAVERICKS 105 to 98 NETS over HORNETS 114 to 87 TRAIL BLAZERS over PACERS 95 to 85 MAGIC over HAWKS 100 to 99 BUCKS over CLIPPERS 111 to 106 GRIZZLIES over 76ERS 120 to 115 ROCKETS over NUGGETS 108 to 96 PISTONS over KINGS 95 to 90

Trevathan's star-crossed season is over after he suffered a dislocated left kneecap in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win. Trevathan has suffered two separate fractures in the same leg already this season. As a result of the previous injuries, Sunday's game was just Trevathan's third of the season. "This game is tough, Danny has had a rough season with his knee issues,'' said Broncos head coach John Fox Monday.”Sometimes setbacks are set-ups for better things to come, that will be his mindset as he gets ready for surgery and pretty strenuous rehab to come back. We feel like he'll do a great job.'' Marshall suffered a left foot sprain in the second quarter of the game and left Qualcomm Stadium with a walking boot on the injured foot. Marshall is the team's leading tackler and has been the every down linebacker since Trevathan suffered his first leg fracture, at the top of his tibia, in training camp. After Marshall and Trevathan left the game, it was Davis who stayed in the lineup as an every-down linebacker, playing in all of the personnel groupings to close out the game. The Broncos spent most of the remainder of the game, after Trevathan's injury, in their specialty packages as the Chargers were in a pass-first mode. When the Broncos were in some of their six defensive back looks, Davis was the only linebacker in the formation. "I just wanted to bring something to the team any way I could,'' Davis said. “I like to stay in my playbook a lot, I got a lot of help from my coaches trying to get me ready, trying to get me prepared.'' Get Your Very Own Broncos Cowhide Wallet: just click here

CARDINALS over RAMS 12 to 6

PENGUINS over FLAMES 3 to 1 CANADIENS over KINGS 6 to 2 PANTHERS over RED WINGS 3 to 2 DUCKS over OILERS 4 to 2

BULLS over TRAIL BLAZERS 115 to 106 WIZZARDS over CLIPPERS 104 to 96 HAWKS over MAGIC 87 to 81 KNICKS over CELTICS 101 to 95 NETS over 76ERS 88 to 70 RAPTORS over PACERS 106 to 94 GRIZZLIES over HORNETS 113 to 107 THUNDER over TIMBERWOLVES 111 to 92 PELICANS over CAVALIERS 119 to 114 PISTONS over SUNS 105 to 103 HEAT over JAZZ 100 to 95 LAKERS over SPURS 112 to 110

THUNDER over CAVALIERS 103 to 94 ROCKETS over KINGS 113 to 109

The Denver Broncos placed Montee Ball on injured reserve, ending a disappointing season for the once-heralded running back. The Broncos needed to create roster space in order to activate linebacker Danny Trevathan from injured reserve/designated to return, prompting the team to place Ball on season-ending IR. Ball has not played since aggravating a groin injury in a loss to the Rams. He originally suffered the injury against the Cardinals. Ball, who entered the season as Denver's top running back, appeared in just five games this year, rushing for 172 yards and one touchdown on 55 carries. C.J. Anderson recently has emerged as a productive lead back for the Broncos, rushing for 393 yards and four touchdowns in Denver's last three games. Juwan Thompson and Ronnie Hillman, who has been sidelined with a foot injury but hopes to return by Week 17, also have provided depth at the position for the Broncos. A second-round draft pick in 2013, Ball also missed two preseason games after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in August. The Broncos also placed safety Quinton Carter on season-ending IR with a knee injury and signed tight end Dominique Jones to their practice squad.

All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson’s appeal of a league suspension for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy has been denied. Peterson's appeal was heard by former NFL executive Harold Henderson last week in Washington, D.C. Henderson was appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell as arbitrator to hear the sides' cases and issue a ruling. In upholding the NFL’s initial ruling, Henderson concluded that Peterson "has not demonstrated that the process and procedures surrounding his discipline were not fair and consistent." He wrote: "He was afforded all the protections and rights to which he is entitled, and I find no basis to vacate or reduce the discipline." Peterson said in a phone interview, "I feel like they're handling the situation absolutely wrong," he said. "I think I've been made an example out of. It kind of baffles me how -- I have nothing but love for Ray Rice, I'm happy he has the chance to play. But it's like, how did Ray Rice get reinstated before me, a team has a chance to pick him up, but I don't have the opportunity to come back until April. When has that happened in any other case in the NFL, ever?" Peterson said he has considered retiring. He also said he will appeal the decision in federal court. "I don't really know," he said when asked whether he thought the decision to pursue legal action would delay his reinstatement. "That's something I have to sit back and talk to my team about. I haven't talked to anyone today. To this point, any type of process with the NFL is not the way to go. It's a business; the outcome is going to be in their favor no matter what. Did they appoint Harold Henderson to Ray Rice's case? No. They knew the situation and the facts about that case and what was going to come out. They clearly wanted to get an arbitrator that would rule in their favor." According to a person with direct knowledge of the situation, a lawsuit will be filed against the NFL on Peterson's behalf in federal court in Minnesota as early as Monday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the lawsuit had not yet been filed. "The NFLPA expected this outcome, given the hearing officer's relationship and financial ties to the NFL," the union's statement read. "The decision itself ignores the facts, the evidence and the collective bargaining agreement. This decision also represents the NFL's repeated failure to adhere to due process and confirms its inconsistent treatment of players. Our union is considering immediate legal remedies." Peterson, the 2012 NFL MVP, hasn't played for the Minnesota Vikings since Week 1 after he was charged with child abuse in Texas. He was placed on paid leave while the legal process played out, and he pleaded no contest Nov. 4 to misdemeanor reckless assault for injuring his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch. He avoided jail time by reaching the plea deal. On Nov. 18, Peterson was suspended without pay by Goodell for at least the rest of the season. He will remain suspended and won't be considered for reinstatement before April 15, though he will get to keep the money accrued while on the exempt list. However, Peterson will not serve a three-game suspension at the start of the 2015 season as was initially reported. Rather, he will be charged three additional game checks on this season's salary for a total of six games. Peterson will have the choice of paying the salary back now, or having his wages garnished in 2015 if he plays. The docked game checks are based on this year's salary of $11.75 million and amount to $4.15 million, game payments are based on 17 weeks, not 16 games. "The facts in this appeal are uncontested," Henderson wrote. "The player entered a plea which effectively admitted guilt to a criminal charge of child abuse after inflicting serious injuries to his four-year old son in the course of administering discipline. No direct evidence of the beating was entered in the record here, but numerous court documents, investigative reports, photographs and news reports, all accepted into evidence without objection, make it clear that Mr. Peterson's conduct was egregious and aggravated as those terms are used in the Policy, and merits substantial discipline. "His public comments do not reflect remorse or appreciation for the seriousness of his actions and their impact on his family, community, fans and the NFL, although at the close of the hearing he said he has learned from his mistake, he regrets that it happened and it will never happen again. I reject the argument that placement in Commissioner Exempt status is discipline." At the crux of the NFLPA's argument for reinstatement was what NFL executive vice president for football operations Troy Vincent told Peterson last month when the dispute was at its height. Vincent told Peterson he would receive a two-game ban if he attended a hearing on Nov. 14 with Goodell. Peterson declined to meet that day with Goodell, citing uncertainty about the NFL's intent to question him. Goodell then announced on Nov. 18 that Peterson would be suspended for the six games that remained for the Vikings at the time and not be considered for reinstatement until April. A recording and a transcript of what Vincent told Peterson was presented by the NFLPA to Henderson, who oversaw a hearing on Dec. 2. Peterson attended that and listened via telephone as the hearing continued Dec. 4, when Vincent was questioned.

Scott Strapp, the former front man of the alternative rock band Creed, may have made some disturbing comments that might be the result of a psychotic episode. Stapp's wife Jaclyn Stapp called 911 to tell authorities that Stapp claimed to be a CIA agent and was on a mission to kill President Barack Obama. Stapp's sister-in-law was also on the call and told the police that Stapp had been shirtless and riding a bicycle around the neighborhood with a backpack full of hundreds of printed-out CIA documents that Stapp had found online. "He thinks he's part of the CIA," Jaclyn says on the 911 call. "He thinks they're trying to kill him and he has a bunch of paperwork in his backpack that says he's a CIA agent and he was supposed to assassinate Obama." Stapp's wife and sister-in-law pleaded with authorities to place Stapp in psychiatric hold, but police determined Stapp did not show enough troubling behavior to be taken to a psych ward. The Secret Service said, "We are aware [of the incident] and we'll take appropriate action”. The bizarre behavior comes a few weeks after Stapp posted a video on Facebook saying that he was completely penniless and homeless, and accused his record label and others of stealing money from him. Jaclyn recently filed for divorce from Stapp, claiming the ex-rocker was delusional from abusing drugs, and was awarded sole custody of their three children on Friday. Get Creed's Greatest Hits Now: just click here

CBS is taking another stab at expanding its popular Criminal Minds franchise. The network is developing a new spin-off series that will first air as an episode of Criminal Minds in February. If ordered to series, it would become the second planted spin-off from Criminal Minds. The first, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior aired in 2011 but was canceled after a single season. Criminal Minds executive producer Erica Messer will write the episode and executive producer with Mark Gordon and Nick Pepper. The episode, and subsequent series, will focus on a division of the FBI that helps Americans in trouble abroad. No casting is attached yet to the project. Planted spin-offs are a popular way to film a series pilot while utilizing the episodic budget of the series from which it is spawned. Suspect Behavior starred Forest Whitaker, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Kelly, Beau Garrett, Matt Ryan and Kirsten Vangsness, who did double duty with the mother Criminal Minds ship. Criminal Minds is currently in its tenth season; Messer has been with the show since it began. Her credits also include Charmed, The OC and Alias. ABC Studios, CBS Television Studios and The Mark Gordon Company are behind the show and the potential new spin-off. Get Criminal Minds Now: just click here

BLACKHAWKS over BRUINS 3 to 2 SABRES over FLAMES 4 to 3 FLYERS over DEVILS 4 to 1 BLUE JACKETS over CAPITALS 3 to 2 KINGS over SENATORS 5 to 3 LIGHTNING over HURRICANES 2 to 1 BLUES over ISLANDERS 6 to 3 PREDATORS over COYOTES 5 to 1 AVALANCHE over JETS 4 to 3 SHARKS over WILD 2 to 1

Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy has been cleared by doctors. McCoy had suffered an aggravated nerve in his neck in Sunday's 24-0 loss to St. Louis and couldn't finish the game. But he practiced all week and took every first-team snap Friday. Coach Jay Gruden called Friday's visit to a neck specialist a formality, as he said McCoy had not shown any reason to suggest he wouldn't play. Gruden said the team wanted McCoy to see the doctor one more time "to make sure we're 100 percent sure there's no risk of him doing damage to his neck." The team wanted to know McCoy could withstand punishment during the game. In practice this week, McCoy showed no ill effects on the field when throwing the ball or running. McCoy's neck was injured against the Rams on a Robert Quinn sack, but he stayed in for five more plays over two series. Robert Griffin III replaced him at the two-minute warning. If McCoy had been unable to play Sunday, Griffin would have gotten the start. Instead, McCoy will make his third straight start and fourth of the season. Gruden said that McCoy remains the best option for Washington (3-10). "His decision-making is the best right now because he's been in the NFL the longest," Gruden said. "His ability to see coverage, get the ball out, probably sets him ahead of the other guys by a little bit. That's really the No. 1 reason. He still has the mobility, obviously. He's a tough guy. He's a good leader, and players respond to him."

Fox News reporter Dominic Di-Natale has been found dead of an apparent suicide, he was 43. Di-Natale's body was found Wednesday in Jefferson County, Co., where Di-Natle owned property, after a friend reached out to officials about Di-Natale’s state of mind. According to Fox News, the international correspondent had been struggling with undisclosed health issues. "We were extremely saddened to learn of Dominic's passing and send our deepest condolences to his family and friends," said a statement from a Fox News spokesperson. "He was an esteemed journalist and an integral part of our news coverage throughout the Middle East." Since joining Fox News in 2007, Di-Natale covered some of the most major news stories, including the death of Osama Bin Laden and the Ferguson protests. Most recently, he had been freelancing for the network in Los Angeles until he resigned on Nov. 30.

Bill Cosby is being sued for defamation, as another former supermodel has come forward saying he abused her. Supermodel Beverly Johnson says Cosby attempted to assault her after she auditioned to be an extra on The Cosby Show in the 1980s. "I needed a big break badly and appearing on The Cosby Show seemed like an excellent way of getting Hollywood's attention," she writes. "Cosby asked what I wanted from my career going forward. He seemed genuinely interested in guiding me to the next level. I was on cloud nine." Johnson says Cosby invited her to his brownstone to rehearse lines and offered her an espresso that he had prepared in his personal machine. "I knew by the second sip of the drink Cosby had given me that I'd been drugged, and drugged good," she writes, adding that she immediately began yelling at the comedian. "I recall his seething anger at my tirade and then him grabbing me by my left arm hard and yanking all 110 pounds of me down a bunch of stairs as my high heels clicked and clacked on every step. I feared my neck was going to break with the force he was using to pull me down those stairs." Johnson says she remembers Cosby shoving her into a taxi, and that she woke up in her own bed the next day with no memory of how she got home. According to Johnson, she decided to confront Cosby about the incident and called his house a few days later, but backed off after his wife answered and said it was too late for them to take calls. She eventually decided to let the issue drop. "In the end, just like the other women, I had too much to lose to go after Bill Cosby," she writes. "I had a career that would no doubt take a huge hit if I went public with my story and I certainly couldn't afford that after my costly divorce and ongoing court fees." At the same time, another of Cosby's alleged victims, Tamara Green, is suing the actor for defamation. A lawyer for Tamara Green says Cosby's flat denials of her claims that he drugged and raped her in the 1970s in effect mean he has "publicly branded Plaintiff Green a liar." Read about The Life And Times Of Bill Cosby: just click here

Angelea Preston, who competed on Cycle 14 of the reality show before returning and winning Cycle 17, has filed a lawsuit against Tyra Banks. Preston alleges in her suit that she never received her grand prize because she was disqualified for previously having been an escort. She is suing for breach of oral agreement, breach of written contract, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress, the latter because she claims the show withheld medical treatment for at least 10 minutes when she had an anxiety attack to make for better TV. Additionally, Preston is suing for failure to pay minimum wage, failure to pay overtime wages, failure to provide meal and rest breaks and unfair business practices, citing working conditions for the show's contestants. She is suing for damages on all eight accounts and says she believes she is owed at least $3 million. The CW issued the following statement in response to Preston's suit: "As noted during the broadcast of the America's Next Top Model finale in 2011, information about Angelea was learned after production wrapped on that cycle that led to her disqualification from the competition. We are confident that her lawsuit has no merit."

Actor Dimitri Diatchenko was recently arrested and charged with allegedly killing and eating his ex-girlfriend's pet rabbit and threatening to do the same to her. Diatchenko, 46, faces one felony count of cruelty to an animal with the use of a knife and another felony count for allegedly making criminal threats, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a statement to the site Thursday. He is due to be arraigned on Dec. 30. In the famous 1987 film, Glenn Close's character breaks into the home of Michael Douglas character and kills his daughter's pet rabbit and boils it on the stove after he ends their extramarital affair. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office's statement, Diatchenko and his ex continued to live together for some time after the end of their relationship. When she said they shouldn't live together anymore, the actor then killed, skinned, cooked and ate half of her rabbit on Dec. 7 when she was not home. He then sent her pictures of each of the various acts. When she returned, he allegedly threatened to do the same to her. Diatchenko was taken into custody that afternoon and released almost 24 hours later after posting a $50,000 bond. If convicted, he faces a possible maximum sentence of four years and eight months in jail. Diatchenko played a Russian gangster on two Season 4 episodes of Sons of Anarchyand portrayed a character named Dimitri Romanov on Bones earlier this year. His other credits include 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Burn Notice, and Perception as well as films like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Get Smart. Watch Sons of Anarchy Now: just click here

Amy Schumer will host the 2015 MTV Movie Awards in April. "Wickedly funny and sharply insightful, Amy Schumer is perhaps the most ascendant talent in comedy today and she's on the brink of an epic year," MTV President Stephen Friedman said in a statement. "We are thrilled to work with Amy to create an unpredictable and hilarious showcase for Hollywood's biggest blockbusters and brightest stars in what promises to be the most combustible Movie Awards ever. I am honored to be hosting the awards. I will carry the audience with me like a teen mom #breaktheinternet #breakmywater." Season 3 of Inside Amy Schumer will premiere on Comedy Central in April. In July, Schumer's comedy Trainwreck, which she wrote, developed and stars in, will hit theaters. The 2015 MTV Movie Awards will air live on Sunday, April 12 at 9/8c. Do you think Schumer is a good choice to host?

BLACKHAWKS over DEVILS 3 to 2 BLUE JACKETS over FLYERS 3 to 2 SABRES over KINGS 1 to 0 MAPLE LEAFS over FLAMES 4 to 1 CANADIENS over CANUCKS 3 to 1 CAPITALS over LIGHTNING 5 to 3 WILD over ISLANDERS 5 to 4 JETS over STARS 5 to 2 PREDATORS over AVALANCHE 3 to 0 SHARKS over OILERS 5 to 2

PACKERS over FALCONS 43 to 37

HORNETS over CELTICS 96 to 87 CLIPPERS over PACERS 103 to 96 WIZARDS over MAGIC 91 to 89 HAWKS over 76ERS 95 to 79 BULLS over NETS 105 to 80 TIMBERWOLVES over TRAIL BLAZERS 90 to 82 MAVERICKS over PELICANS 112 to 107 SPURS over KNICKS 109 to 95 WARRIORS over ROCKETS 105 to 93 NUGGETS over HEAT 102 to 82

CAVALIERS over RAPTORS 105 to 101 TRAIL BLAZERS over PISTONS 98 to 86 GRIZZLIES over MAVERICKS 114 to 105 PELICANS over KNICKS 104 to 93 THUNDER over BUCKS 114 to 101 HEAT over SUNS 103 to 97 JAZZ over SPURS 100 to 96 LAKERS over KINGS 98 to 95