Offer Sheet

Speedy free agent Phil Kessel has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to negotiate any longer with the Bruins, his Toronto-based agent informing the Boston front office in recent days that the right winger’s priority is to sign an offer sheet with one of the 29 other teams. All of which doesn’t necessarily mean that Kessel’s days in the Hub are finished. The Bruins still reserve the right to match any offer sheet Kessel signs, and if they match, they are prohibited from trading him only for the first year of his new deal.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer signed his restricted free agent tender in the past day, a league source confirmed. Hoyer will make $1.92 million this season. A team would have needed to surrender a second-round pick if it signed Hoyer to an offer sheet. There wasn't much of a market at that level, and the Patriots think too much of Hoyer to part with a pick, say, around the fifth round. This is a pretty good deal for Hoyer when you consider that if he was drafted in 2009 -- he was undrafted out of Michigan State -- he would be making the minimum this season.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer signed his restricted free agent tender in the past day, a league source confirmed. Hoyer will make $1.92 million this season. A team would have needed to surrender a second-round pick if it signed Hoyer to an offer sheet. There wasn't much of a market at that level, and the Patriots think too much of Hoyer to part with a pick, say, around the fifth round. This is a pretty good deal for Hoyer when you consider that if he was drafted in 2009 -- he was undrafted out of Michigan State -- he would be making the minimum this season.

FOXBOROUGH — It’s just a guess, but based on the wildly differing claims in regards to Logan Mankins’s contract situation, things will not end well between the left guard and the Patriots. To start, Mankins yesterday declared his desire to be traded. “At this point, I’m pretty frustrated, from everything that’s happened and the way negotiations have gone,’’ he told ESPN Boston. “I want to be traded. I don’t need to be here anymore.’’ Because of the rules in this uncapped year in the NFL, players with four and five years experience are restricted free agents.

Never again will Shaquille O'Neal wear gold and purple. And if that isn't stunning enough, consider the idea of Kobe Bryant clad in red. "We have no idea whether Kobe will come back," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak acknowledged after completing the trade that sent O'Neal to Miami. "We're hopeful that he'll re-sign, but we don't even know that. " Another chapter in the disassembling of that so-called dynasty was completed yesterday, the NBA office giving final approval to the deal sending O'Neal to the Miami Heat for forwards Lamar Odom and Brian Grant , guard ...

After a midseason practice at Ristuccia Arena last season, Phil Kessel was getting ready to leave the rink when he bumped into coach Claude Julien. “Phil, weight room’s that way,’’ cracked Julien with a smile, pointing to the workout facility. “Yeah,’’ Kessel responded with a laugh, then continued on his way to the parking lot. And now Kessel’s gone for good, the recipient of a $27 million payday ($5.4 million annually for five years). On Friday, the Bruins traded the 21-year-old to Toronto for first- and second-round picks in 2010 and a first-rounder...

The Patriots' aggressive free agent shopping continued last night and into today, with Dolphins receiver Wes Welker arriving in town to meet with team officials. Meanwhile, as Welker gets ready to walk through the door, veteran linebacker and special teams standout Don Davis walked out, filing his retirement papers with the NFL. The 34-year-old Davis, who played the last four seasons with the Patriots, was one of the team's 13 unrestricted free agents this offseason. "It was a decision that had been coming on, and one that I decided was best for me and my family," said Davis,...

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell apologized yesterday to Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson and Clemson's Gaines Adams for the release of information from confidential interviews at the league's combine in February. Johnson and Adams, expected to be among five players drafted early today, visited league headquarters in New York yesterday. They are in town as part of a predraft media tour and the trip to the NFL offices is part of that itinerary. Goodell told both he was sorry for the breach of confidentiality.

Chris Duhon is coming to compete for the New York Knicks' starting point guard job. Nobody is saying yet if that competition will be against Stephon Marbury . Duhon signed a two-year deal worth more than $11 million, choosing the Knicks over the Orlando Magic because of an opportunity to play in new coach Mike D'Antoni's system. "He gives guards a lot of freedom to be themselves, to express themselves," Duhon said. Duhon spent his first four years with the Chicago Bulls, averaging a career-low 5.8 points last season.

FOXBOROUGH -- Day 1 of training camp means football season has begun. But not for everyone. What has been long considered a given is now official: Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour is a holdout. Seymour's agent Eugene Parker said his client, who has two years remaining on a six-year, $14.3 million contract he signed after the Patriots drafted him in the first round in 2001, would love to be in camp. "I know he would really love to get this resolved," Parker said yesterday afternoon.

The New York Jets reached an agreement in principle late last night with the San Diego Chargers to acquire cornerback Antonio Cromartie . The Jets confirmed the deal, but didn’t release specifics - although it is believed to include a draft pick in 2011 going to the Chargers. Cromartie was an All-Pro in 2007 and will team with Darrelle Revis in the Jets’ secondary, making them possibly the best cornerback tandem in the NFL. Cromartie replaces Lito Sheppard , who was released earlier in the day after one disappointing season with the Jets.

After a midseason practice at Ristuccia Arena last season, Phil Kessel was getting ready to leave the rink when he bumped into coach Claude Julien. “Phil, weight room’s that way,’’ cracked Julien with a smile, pointing to the workout facility. “Yeah,’’ Kessel responded with a laugh, then continued on his way to the parking lot. And now Kessel’s gone for good, the recipient of a $27 million payday ($5.4 million annually for five years). On Friday, the Bruins traded the 21-year-old to Toronto for first- and second-round picks in 2010 and a first-rounder...

Speedy free agent Phil Kessel has made it clear that he doesn’t intend to negotiate any longer with the Bruins, his Toronto-based agent informing the Boston front office in recent days that the right winger’s priority is to sign an offer sheet with one of the 29 other teams. All of which doesn’t necessarily mean that Kessel’s days in the Hub are finished. The Bruins still reserve the right to match any offer sheet Kessel signs, and if they match, they are prohibited from trading him only for the first year of his new deal.

Chris Duhon is coming to compete for the New York Knicks' starting point guard job. Nobody is saying yet if that competition will be against Stephon Marbury . Duhon signed a two-year deal worth more than $11 million, choosing the Knicks over the Orlando Magic because of an opportunity to play in new coach Mike D'Antoni's system. "He gives guards a lot of freedom to be themselves, to express themselves," Duhon said. Duhon spent his first four years with the Chicago Bulls, averaging a career-low 5.8 points last season.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell apologized yesterday to Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson and Clemson's Gaines Adams for the release of information from confidential interviews at the league's combine in February. Johnson and Adams, expected to be among five players drafted early today, visited league headquarters in New York yesterday. They are in town as part of a predraft media tour and the trip to the NFL offices is part of that itinerary. Goodell told both he was sorry for the breach of confidentiality.

The Patriots' aggressive free agent shopping continued last night and into today, with Dolphins receiver Wes Welker arriving in town to meet with team officials. Meanwhile, as Welker gets ready to walk through the door, veteran linebacker and special teams standout Don Davis walked out, filing his retirement papers with the NFL. The 34-year-old Davis, who played the last four seasons with the Patriots, was one of the team's 13 unrestricted free agents this offseason. "It was a decision that had been coming on, and one that I decided was best for me and my family," said Davis, who played in...

FOXBOROUGH — It’s just a guess, but based on the wildly differing claims in regards to Logan Mankins’s contract situation, things will not end well between the left guard and the Patriots. To start, Mankins yesterday declared his desire to be traded. “At this point, I’m pretty frustrated, from everything that’s happened and the way negotiations have gone,’’ he told ESPN Boston. “I want to be traded. I don’t need to be here anymore.’’ Because of the rules in this uncapped year in the NFL, players with four and five years experience are restricted free agents.

The New York Jets reached an agreement in principle late last night with the San Diego Chargers to acquire cornerback Antonio Cromartie . The Jets confirmed the deal, but didn’t release specifics - although it is believed to include a draft pick in 2011 going to the Chargers. Cromartie was an All-Pro in 2007 and will team with Darrelle Revis in the Jets’ secondary, making them possibly the best cornerback tandem in the NFL. Cromartie replaces Lito Sheppard , who was released earlier in the day after one disappointing season with the...

FOXBOROUGH -- Day 1 of training camp means football season has begun. But not for everyone. What has been long considered a given is now official: Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour is a holdout. Seymour's agent Eugene Parker said his client, who has two years remaining on a six-year, $14.3 million contract he signed after the Patriots drafted him in the first round in 2001, would love to be in camp. "I know he would really love to get this resolved," Parker said yesterday afternoon.

Never again will Shaquille O'Neal wear gold and purple. And if that isn't stunning enough, consider the idea of Kobe Bryant clad in red. "We have no idea whether Kobe will come back," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak acknowledged after completing the trade that sent O'Neal to Miami. "We're hopeful that he'll re-sign, but we don't even know that. " Another chapter in the disassembling of that so-called dynasty was completed yesterday, the NBA office giving final approval to the deal sending O'Neal to the Miami Heat for forwards Lamar Odom and Brian Grant ,...