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Daily Jolt, January 14: A-Rod missed chance at 50-game ban

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Tuesday, January 14

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A-Rod missed chance at 50-game ban

Another swing and a miss for Alex Rodriguez? The best deal that [Rodriguez] might have made with Major League Baseball would have happened last spring, before Tony Bosch came in from the cold and agreed to be a witness for Major League Baseball. There were talks about a negotiated plea bargain then, deals put on the table. If Rodriguez had agreed to something last spring, before MLB investigators had all the Biogenesis details from Bosch, Rodriguez might've been able to barter for a suspension for something close to 50 games, or what a first-time offender gets for a first positive PED test. If he had taken responsibility then, owned up and made his best possible deal, then A-Rod probably would've been back on the field late in the 2013 season, with the whole matter behind him. (ESPN)Comment

Harvin's status for NFC title unknown

On Saturday, which will give him another day to recover, Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin, after multiple big hits, was knocked out of their divisional round game with a concussion. For now, it's too early to know whether Harvin will be cleared to play on Sunday against the 49ers. Per a league source, Harvin engaged in baseline testing on Monday, which involves comparing his current cognitive abilities to prior measurements taken at a time when he was not concussed. He'll have to be cleared by an independent neurologist both to practice and then separately to play. At one point, it was essentially presumed that a player who suffers a concussion would miss one game. At some point, the presumption flipped, with players routinely returning from a concussion in a week. (Pro Football Talk)Comment

Spikes' agent says player didn't want IR

A team that attempts to avoid drama may have found itself in the middle of some leading into the AFC title game. Last week's decision by the Patriots to place linebacker Brandon Spikes on injured reserve was not a mutual one, according to Spikes's agent, which contradicts reports that Spikes knew of the team's intent and was OK with the move. A statement issued Monday night by Premier Sports & Entertainment, the company that represents Spikes, took issue with "a few of the erroneous points which have been circulating" regarding the designation. ... The fourth-year pro from Florida also has been dealing with a lingering knee injury, which played a factor in the IR decision. The statement said that Spikes, after getting a second opinion Monday in Los Angeles, won't need surgery at this time. (The Boston Globe)Comment

Must-See Photo

Living legends share the stage as Brazilian icon Pele, right, presents the FIFA Ballon d'Or to emotional Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in Zurich. (Steffen Schmidt/Keystone/AP)

Must-See Video

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands recovers to drop a beautiful cross-court backhand on Maria Sharapova in Day 2 of the Australian Open.

Game To Watch

(14) Kentucky at Arkansas, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN

  1. Kentucky Wildcats
  2. Arkansas Razorbacks

SI Vault: More 1973 Dolphins

This Day in Sports

  • 1943 -- The Montreal Canadiens' Alex Smart became the first NHL player to score a hat trick in his first game.
  • 1973 -- The Miami Dolphins finished off the only perfect season in NFL history, defeating the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII to complete the season 17-0.
  • 1976 -- Media mogul Ted Turner completed his purchase of the Atlanta Braves.
  • 2003 -- Pat Summitt became the first coach in women's college basketball history to record 800 career victories.
  • 2007 -- The Arizona Cardinals named Ken Whisenhunt the team's new head coach.