Bowman's hard work just starting
This was supposed to be the easy part.
The Blackhawks knew they needed to sign the big three sometime this season, and new contracts are likely for Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith sometime in the next few weeks.
Not shocking, not difficult calls to make, and it's all very warm and fuzzy.
But now comes the hard part.
New GM Stan Bowman must find a way to make the budget work for the 2010-11 season, and think about a new deal for Brent Seabrook, who'll be a restricted free agent in the spring of 2011.
Seabrook snuck up on the Hawks, becoming as valuable as any Hawks defenseman in the last eight months.
But this is one of the main reasons Bowman was hired, to fix the mess, and that's going to make the next 10 months very difficult.
Knowing that the Hawks might lose some crucial pieces of the puzzle in the process, the Hawks also need to think about winning a wide-open conference this year.
And that means, above all else, finding a goaltender they believe can help them win the Stanley Cup.
Of course, fitting that salary in before the trade deadline won't be easy since they're already up against the cap.
If Bowman can do that, he'll be a hero.
If he can also somehow move one or two of the bad contracts, that would solve most of the budget problem.
Assuming the three kids get what they deserve, and with a salary cap expected to shrink by a couple million, the Hawks as it stands are going to be about $10 million over the cap next year with a third of the roster still to sign.
Some popular players already under contract will have to go and that's even before they deal with restricted free agents Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Antti Niemi, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jordan Hendry, and UFAs John Madden, Adam Burish and Andrew Ebbett.
So there's some very difficult work to be done. It's all on Bowman to make it work, and find a way to get a goalie in here to get them to the big dance.
In the meantime, some big-name goaltenders and defensemen like Scott Niedermayer might be moved before the trade deadline, and the team with the most creativity is going to snare a player or two who could make the difference.
Will that be the Hawks?
Time will tell, but Bowman wanted this job and now he's got it.
It's not exactly careful what you wish for, but the tough work is only beginning.
The great debate
In case you missed it - and if you're a fantasy owner we're sure you didn't - on orders from Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew stopped short of the end zone Sunday, passing up a certain touchdown.
He took a knee at the 1-yard line with 1:48 left and the Jags trailing the Jets, 22-21. Jacksonville ran the clock all the way down to three ticks and then kicked the game-winning field goal.
Why? Del Rio didn't want to give the ball back to the Jets, even though he turned down an easy 7 with no guarantee they'd make the field goal.
You might argue that the only difference between Del Rio and Bill Belichick today is that it worked for Del Rio.
Or maybe you think they're both nuts.
Brown out
Shame about Dick Jauron getting whacked in Buffalo, but for the love of Lionel Antoine and all that's holy, he lost to Cleveland this year.
Yup, that's the only victory for the Browns and seems destined to be their lone win this season.
Jauron's as decent a guy as you'll ever meet in that business, but the Bills probably should have made the change after that.
Seam stress
Talking to baseball agents the last week or two, you get the feeling that there's going to be a lot of free agents still looking for work come the middle of January.
That will give GMs a month before spring training to find bargains, fill holes and complete their rosters, without having to spend a ton to get what they need.
New math
So lemme get this straight, the NFL fines Chad Ochocinco 20 grand for goofing around, but Tommie Harris gets $7,500 for punching a guy in the face? No wonder they call it the No Fun League.
Top drop
S.F. Chronicle's Scott Ostler: "Wouldn't Terrell Owens be far more attractive as a pass target, and as a newsworthy nut job, if he could actually catch the football?"
Family ties
Dan Daly of the Washington Times: "Frank and Jamie McCourt, whose marriage appears headed for divorce, are both claiming ownership of the Dodgers. So we could be looking at a nasty legal fight, folks - or worse, joint custody of Manny Ramirez."
Best headline
Sportspickle.com: "Lane Kiffin disappointed arrested Vols weren't fast enough to run away from police."
And finally -
ESPN's Steve Young: "After seeing the Bears-49ers and the Browns-Ravens, I might not be able to watch another football game the rest of my life."
brozner@dailyherald.com