If you missed some of these links earlier in the week, they might prove to be a good way to ease the clock toward quitting time.

The week's best polls ...
1. How should the NBA address flopping?
2. Could you keep awake in the Clemens trial?
3. Are the Lakers already done in their series?
4. Should Wes Welker have signed a tender?
5. Are the Heat losing control against the Pacers?
6. Should Ed Reed walk away from the game?

The week's best rankers ...
1. Which are the smartest football schools?
2. Which is the best team in baseball?
3. Which is the best team in the WNBA?

The week's best quizzes ...
1. Can you name the last 10 NBA Rookies of the Year?

The injury to Miami's Chris Bosh really seemed to hurt the Heat during the early parts of their series against the Indiana Pacers. Does that make Miami vulnerable for an upset? That question was prevalent in our NBA chats this week and we asked our experts to weigh in. For all of our other chats, check out our chat archive page.

Alex (Anaheim)

Can Indiana pull this off, or was that just a miserable night for Miami?

Chad Ford, NBA Insider

Indiana is much better than people are giving them credit for. They have a more complete team. But when the top 3 players all play for the Heat ... I understand why folks struggled to see how they would compete. With Bosh not on the floor, the Pacers have a great shot of taking them out and representing the East in the Finals.. Full transcript

Markus (Indianapolis, IN)

What do the Pacers need to do to pull off the upset?

Michael Wallace, ESPN NBA blogger

I think the Pacers need to attack from the perimeter. Danny Granger made a great point after Game 1 when he said Indiana needed to tweak it's offense in order to make Wade and LeBron work as hard defensively as they have to on offense, now that Bosh is likely out. That means Granger and Paul George have to be more difficult to defend than they were in Game 1. Full transcript

D. Brown (ATL)

Does the Bosh injury guarantee that he will be traded if the Heat don't beat the Pacers?

John Hollinger, NBA Insider

Half the people in my questions want to trade Bosh for some reason. Um, wouldn't a Heat loss guarantee the opposite: that it proves how valuable Bosh is to this team? Full transcript

At first, Ed Reed said that he wasn't 100 percent committed to playing next season. Now he's changing it up, stating that his goal is to play this season and possibly beyond. Reed has had injury issues since around 2009 or so, but has still played at a high level ever since. He is one of the best safeties in the NFL, but how much longer will that be true?

How many more years does Ed Reed have as an elite safety?

•  
  9%
  None
•  
  43%
  One
•  
  48%
  Two or more

(Total votes: 3,717)

What would be the best move for Ed Reed?

•  
  62%
  Keep playing
•  
  38%
  Retire

(Total votes: 39,134)

Who would be more of a loss to the Ravens if both were unable to play?

•  
  54%
  Ed Reed
•  
  46%
  Terrell Suggs

(Total votes: 3,562)

On Friday, "First Take" discussed the amount of blame LeBron James deserves for the Heat's Game 3 loss against the Pacers. Much of the fault seems to lie at the feet of Dwyane Wade, who scored only five points in the contest, but whenever the Heat lose, it's inevitable that LeBron will draw some fire. Skip Bayless thinks LeBron deserves the majority of the blame, but Stephen A. Smith gives him only about 20 percent. What's your take?

Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall won't face charges due to an incident in a nightclub in New York. Will Marshall be a distraction for the Bears?

• markvacc1i: "If you have a track record of acting a fool in the past, then it is expected you will act a fool in the present and future."
• cutlermartz: "Marshall put up 1200 yards in Miami. MIAMI! Not only do defenses have to worry about him, but they also have to worry about Jeffery, Bennet in the slot who catches everything, and Hesters speed. Bringing in Marshall will make every other WR better"
• White Sox South Side: "Mom always said.....'Nothing good ever happens after midnight.'"
• tebowski666: "Future headline. "'Ticking time Bomb catches 4 TD's in win over Pack.'"
• goonerdp: "Now the trade for Marshall for just two 3rd round picks is looking liking a brilliant steal even more."
• drunkbull19: "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Da Bears will be the 2nd best offense (behind the Pack) in the NFC North this year."



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Nothing seems to go according to script for the Heat in the playoffs. If you believe LeBron James' prediction in their infamous introductory press conference, they should be well on their way to their second title by now. Instead, they're teetering on the brink of falling in a deep hole in their series against the Pacers. It's gotten so bad that the normally unflappable Dwyane Wade is scoring in the single digits and arguing with his coach. Whatever's wrong with Wade and the Heat, they'll have to turn it around quickly.

What do you expect out of Dwyane Wade for the rest of the Heat-Pacers series?

•  
  52%
  He'll turn it around
•  
  48%
  He'll continue to struggle

(Total votes: 72,733)

Was Dwyane Wade's heated exchange with Erik Spoelstra a big deal?

•  
  53%
  Yes
•  
  47%
  No

(Total votes: 91,017)

Which Pacers starter is most responsible for their 2-1 series lead over the Heat?

•  
  6%
  Paul George
•  
  19%
  Danny Granger
•  
  61%
  Roy Hibbert
•  
  6%
  George Hill
•  
  9%
  David West

(Total votes: 76,060)

If the Heat lose to the Pacers, what should they do in the offseason?

•  
  10%
  Trade Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh
•  
  24%
  Trade Dwyane Wade only
•  
  21%
  Trade Chris Bosh only
•  
  44%
  Don't trade either

(Total votes: 11,407)

Welcome to SportsNation! On Friday, ESPN's sports business analyst Andrew Brandt stops by to chat about the NFL offseason.

Brandt, who has over 25 years of experience in professional football, both from the management and player representation side, runs NationalFootballPost.com, where he gives fans an insider's view on the business of football. His Twitter is: @ADBrandt.

He is also a lecturer at the Wharton School of Business, teaching Sports Law, Sports Business and Negotiations. He has written for Forbes, the Huffington Post and Sports Business Journal, while also appearing across all ESPN TV, radio and online platforms. In his time in the football business, Brandt as served as a player representative, a World League GM and a VP with the Packers.

Send your questions now and join Brandt Friday at 3 p.m. ET!

More Andrew Brandt: Chats | Search | @ADBrandt

Go to chat »

Wes Welker seemed pretty thrilled after signing a franchise tender, but things may have gotten slightly worse for the Patriots receiver in his negotiations with the team. Welker said that negotiations haven't been going well and that the Patriots' latest offer was actually less than the two-year, $16 million guaranteed deal he was reportedly offered at the end of last season. Did he give up his leverage by signing the tender?

What should Wes Welker have done?

•  
  61%
  Signed his franchise tender
•  
  39%
  Held out

(Total votes: 49,883)

Should the Patriots sign Wes Welker to a long-term deal?

•  
  75%
  Yes
•  
  25%
  No

(Total votes: 5,222)

What do you make of Wes Welker's $9.5 million franchise tender?

•  
  29%
  He's overpaid
•  
  56%
  He's appropriately paid
•  
  15%
  He's underpaid

(Total votes: 67,853)

Where has the majority of Wes Welker's NFL success come from?

•  
  42%
  His own talent and efforts
•  
  58%
  The Patriots' system

(Total votes: 5,029)

John Tortorella's news conference Wednesday night featured few questions and fewer answers. Do you find this entertaining or cringe-inducing?

• DrMcTigue: "Tortorella has absolutely no class. He whines about the zebras win or lose, and when things don't go his way he takes his ball and goes home like a spoiled child."
• Mad City Mike: "Part of your job as an NHL coach is to PARTICIPATE in press conferences. The fact that the league and even your own team is allowing this childish behavior boggles my mind."
• goredsox107: "Am I the only one that loves this? It's refreshing to not have to deal with the usual press conference, and it's not like it's hurting the Rangers or creating controversies or anything. It's literally just an uncomfortably silent room for some media members before/after each game. Also it's hilarious."
• gus johnson: "It truly is an insult to all of the coaches past and present who have, according to the job title, acted reasonable with the media, even when they didn't want to."
• OneDaySale: "as a Rangers fan, I love the guy. He gets the absolute most out of his team; he has them in great shape; he is tough, but tough on everyone (see Gaborik)."
• sykotackler31894: "Personally, seeing Torts completely blow off the media makes my indescribably happy."

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