Welcome to Friday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Islanders at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Wild at Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (NHL Network)
College hockey: Yale at Cornell, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Celtics at Hawks, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Spurs at Mavericks, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Loyola (Md.) at Manhattan, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Green Bay at Milwaukee, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

The Manti Te'o girlfriend story continues to take twists and turns. (ABC)

♦ On Thursday, the lawyer for the man said to be behind the hoax involving Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o claimed that Ronaiah Tuiasosopo was imitating a woman’s voice during phone conversations with Te’o. However, the New York Post reported Friday morning that the voice was actually Tuiasosopo’s female cousin, Tino Tuiasosopo.

“Tino is the girl that Manti has been talking to all these months,” a Tuiasosopo cousin told the paper.

A Tuiasosopo relative said Ronaiah took the blame because he “is determined to take the rap.”

Te’o released voicemail messages of the woman to ABC’s Katie Couric for his interview that aired Thursday. Said Te’o: “It didn’t sound like a man. It sounded like a woman.”

Said the Tuiasosopo cousin after hearing the tapes: “There is no doubt whatsoever that it’s Tino.”

♦ A report came out Thursday that the Jets were considering trying to trade Darrelle Revis, who can become a free agent after next season. That did not sit well with the standout cornerback.

Tweeted Revis: I’m speechless by far but more importantly I feel more upset for the jet nation for having to go through this!!! I guess will see how this plays out.

Coach Rex Ryan, who once called Revis the greatest player in franchise history, had little to say Thursday.

“You guys know how I feel about Darrelle,” Revis said. “But as [new general manager John Izdik] said, all decisions will be made in the best interest of the football team.”

♦ With John and Jim Harbaugh set to do battle in the Super Bowl, the website Sports on Earth has a list of the top sports siblings of all-time. The Harbaughs barely make the list at No. 10.

The list is headed by hockey’s Sutter brothers, followed by tennis’ Williams sisters and football’s Manning brothers. The only Boston connection is the DiMaggio brothers — Yankees great Dom DiMaggio and his brothers, Red Sox outfielder Dominic and journeyman outfielder Vince, who started out with the Boston Braves.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 25, 1956, which former Red Sox infielder and manager was elected to the Hall of Fame?

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Alex Smith

Alex Smith is baffled by the fact that he lost the starting job as 49ers quarterback to Colin Kaepernick.

Smith, who was NFC Offensive Player of the Week just one month ago, is medically cleared after suffering a concussion Nov. 11 against the Rams, but he won’t be playing for the second Sunday in a row when the 49ers and Rams square off.

Coach Jim Harbaugh has again named Kaepernick the starter this week.

“I feel like the only thing I did to lose my job was get a concussion,” Smith said.

Smith ranks fifth in the NFL with a passer rating of 104.1 and leads the league with a 70.0 completion percentage.

“You kind of state your case with your play and I felt like I’ve done that,” Smith said. “It’s tough. It stings the most just because I really felt there was something special going on here and you sacrifice and invest so much time. I felt like I was playing good football. I have no idea what’s going to happen from here. All I can do now is just prepare and get ready.”

Since replacing Smith, Kaepernick has completed 48-of-74 passes for 680 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, and he’s been sacked six times. He led the 49ers past the Saints and Bears.

Harbaugh says he’ll keep his mind open going forward about whether to use Kaepernick or Smith.

“Alex is a class act all the way,” Harbaugh said. “He’ll prepare as if he is the starter. And that’s what we would expect. And be ready to go in and play and contribute to this football team. We’ve got two quarterbacks that we feel great about as the starting quarterback. Anything’s a possibility. I would assume nothing or rule out anything.”

Welcome to Tuesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
MLB: All-Star Game, 7:30 p.m. (Fox; WEEI)
NBA: Orlando Summer League, Celtics vs. Nets, 5 p.m. (NBA TV)

AROUND THE WEB:

Randy Moss is off to a good start with the 49ers. (AP)

♦ New 49ers receiver Randy Moss has impressed coach Jim Harbaugh so much that Harbaugh has called Moss the team’s “best receiver right now,” according to SiriusXM NFL Radio host Rich Gannon, who recently spoke with the coach.

Gannon, a former NFL quarterback, said he learned that Harbaugh sat down with Moss before the former Patriots receiver signed with the team and the two men talked about expectations.

Said Gannon: “At the end of the meeting, Randy turned to Jim Harbaugh and said, ‘Coach, what do you want me to do, what can I do for you?’ And Jim looked at him and said, ‘For starters, I’d like you to sit in the front row of my meetings.’

“[Harbaugh] said by doing that it’s brought guys like [Michael] Crabtree, who’d hang out in the back, and some of these other young guys, now they’re sitting up front with Randy Moss. They don’t have the hoodies on anymore. They’re alert. They’re paying attention. Randy’s taking notes. Every meeting that coach has had, Randy Moss has been sitting in the front row.

“Randy is trying to do the right thing. Randy is trying to be a leader. He’s trying to set a good example for these young players. It gets back to what the expectations are. Jim Harbaugh doesn’t have a ton of rules, but what the expectations are for Randy. ‘We can get you back to where you were a couple years ago. You can be a huge addition for our offense. You can help us in the vertical passing game. But here’s what you have to do.’

“So far, Randy Moss has bought in.”

♦ The lawyer for Vikings running back Adrian Peterson defended the player, insisting Peterson was the victim rather than the aggressor in a weekend incident at a Houston nightclub where Peterson was detained and charged with resisting arrest.

“He, in fact, was struck at least twice in the face for absolutely no legitimate reason, and when all the evidence is impartially reviewed, it will clearly show Adrian was the victim, not the aggressor,” said Rusty Hardin, who is better known as the lawyer who defended Roger Clemens.

Added Hardin: “He was only in that club for 30 to 40 minutes, was never objectionable to other patrons, and never physically resisted any police officer. Adrian is extremely upset about these false allegations. These charges are totally at odds with the way he has conducted himself throughout his career, and he asks that his fans and the public at large reserve judgment until they hear all the facts.”

♦ U.S. Olympic women’s soccer goalie Hope Solo was given a “public warning” by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for the banned substance canrenone last month. Solo still is eligible to compete in the Summer Games after officials accepted her explanation.

“I took a medication prescribed by my personal doctor for pre-menstrual purposes that I did not know contained a diuretic,” she said in a statement. “Once informed of this fact, I immediately cooperated with USADA and shared with them everything they needed to properly conclude that I made an honest mistake, and that the medication did not enhance my performance in any way.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On July 10, 1992, which Red Sox player tied then-teammate Ellis Burks‘ major league record for grand slams by a rookie when he hit his second of the season in a 6-5 victory over the White Sox?

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Welcome to Thursday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

THURSDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Knicks at Heat, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA: Lakers at Thunder, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: Duke at Florida State, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Murray State at Tennessee State, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Wisconsin at Iowa, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Louisville at Cincinnati, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: St. Mary’s at Portland, 10 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: BYU at Gonzaga, 11 p.m. (ESPN2)
NHL: Canucks at Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (NHL Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

New Angels slugger Albert Pujols does not want to be "The Man" in Anaheim. (AP)

♦ New Angels slugger Albert Pujols is not pleased with the team’s marketing campaign. The club unveiled 20 billboards around Southern California that picture Pujols with the words “El Hombre” — Spanish for “The Man.” Out of respect for Cardinals legend Stan “The Man” Musial, Pujols has said he does not want to use the nickname.

“I haven’t talked to them, but I prefer not to use [El Hombre],” Pujols said Wednesday from spring training in Tempe, Ariz.

“I still have the same respect for him as I had, not just for what he’s done in baseball but for what he did for his country,” Pujols said of Musial, a World War II Navy veteran. “That’s something you have to appreciate.”

The Angels played down the billboards as just one part of their marketing campaign but gave no indication that they plan to alter them.

♦ Jim Harbaugh, in Indianapolis for the NFL combine, put in some work as a manager for the University of Indiana basketball team Wednesday night, setting up and removing chairs during timeouts. The 49ers coach is the brother-in-law of Indiana coach Tom Crean and said, “I wanted to contribute in some way.” Indiana beat North Carolina Central, 75-56.

♦ Former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely V was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend, Yeardley Love, who played on the women’s lacrosse team at the school. Jurors recommended a 25-year prison term for Huguely, 24. Formal sentencing is expected to be held in the summer.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Feb. 23, 1972, the Bruins traded Reggie Leach, Rick Smith and Bob Stewart to the Oakland Seals for Don O’Donoghue and which defenseman?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There are two ways you can go in that situation. You can either start trying harder or you can relax. Today, I decided to relax and that turned out to be the right move.” – Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, on rebounding from allowing two early goals and settling down in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over the Blues

STAT OF THE DAY: 5 – Losing streak for the Celtics after Wednesday’s 119-104 setback vs. the Thunder, tying a streak earlier this season that is the longest of the Big Three era

‘NET RESULTS: Defenders run for cover when Blake Griffin throws down a dunk like this one against the Nuggets.

Wizards big man Javale McGee blatantly goaltends a shot during Wednesday’s loss to the Kings and swats it deep into the stands. He was quickly benched after his latest bizarre play.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Carol Vadnais

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Howard Jones turns 57 Thursday.

Welcome to Monday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Bruins at Capitals, 7 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Wild at Avalanche, 9 p.m. (NBCSN)
College basketball: Michigan at Purdue, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Kentucky at Georgia, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Miami at Georgia Tech, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Jim Harbaugh has a beef with the officials after the Niners lost to the Giants in the NFC championship game. (AP)

♦ With 2:29 remaining in Sunday’s NFC championship game, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled the ball on the New York 21-yard line and it was recovered by the 49ers. However, the officials ruled that Bradshaw’s forward progress had been stopped, so the Giants retained possession. That doesn’t sit well with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who compared the play to the infamous tuck rule call that helped Tom Brady and the Patriots defeat the Raiders in the Snow Bowl 10 years ago.

“In my opinion, that was a fumble,” Harbaugh said Monday. “I’m sure the league will defend it and the officials will defend it. But to me, that play was still going on. There was still struggling by Bradshaw. … I felt like it was analogous with the tuck rule.”

♦ Former Lakers forward Robert Horry offered his take on the Shaquille O’Neal-Kobe Bryant feud, blaming Phil Jackson for inciting the two players.

“I think Phil Jackson started that feud,” Horry told a Russian sports website. “It happened many times that after team practice he would say, “Kobe said this about Shaq, and Shaq said that about Kobe. … We couldn’t believe how could that happen, because just the day before we saw them together, jumping on one another. Phil liked it when there was conflict of some sort.

“I always tell people; if you look at those championships, you’ll see who were the closest players on the team. Normally those are the guys who are the first to hug each other. And when we were winning, it was always Shaq and Kobe who hugged. I think this will answer your question. Later it was blown out of proportion by the media, and both players started doing something that didn’t make sense.”

♦ Real Clear Sports has a list of the 10 most hyped foreign players. Daisuke Matsuzaka is No. 5, and Hideo Nomo, another Japanese pitcher who spent some time with the Red Sox, is No. 9. Yao Ming takes the top spot, ahead of Pele and Hideki Matsui.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 24, 1971, which Bruin was honored in a pregame ceremony before the B’s beat the Canadiens, 4-2, to extend their home winning streak to 15?

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Welcome to Tuesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Bruins at Lightning, 7:30 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Predators at Rangers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Spurs at Heat, 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: Georgetown at DePaul, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Michigan State at Michigan, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Arkansas at Kentucky, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Maryland at Florida State, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Antrel Rolle

♦ The Giants have talked the the talk and walked the walk the past couple of weeks, so there was no reason to expect they would change their brash ways as they prepare to meet the 49ers in the NFC championship game.

“We’re not going to be denied at this point,” safety Antrel Rolle said Monday. “We know what we have as a team. It’s not all about talent, it’s about chemistry, jelling at this point. We have one goal in mind and that’s to win a championship.”

Added Rolle: “In our minds, we can’t be beat.”

Niners coach Jim Harbaugh is known for his cockiness as well, but he was subdued and respectful in a press conference Monday when talking about the Giants. “That’s a formidable opponent,” he said. “That is a worthy opponent. That is a scary opponent. We will have to come with every ounce of our ‘A’ game as well.”

♦ Former Lakers forward Lamar Odom made his return to Los Angeles with the Mavericks on Tuesday night. Odom said he still doesn’t understand why the Lakers shipped him out of town with little warning. “It was impossible for me not to take it personally,” he said.

♦ Real Clear Sports has a list of the top 10 most successful coaching retreads, and there are a number of Boston connections. No. 10 is new Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. No. 9 is Mavericks coach (and former Celtic) Rick Carlisle. No. 8 is Giants boss (and former Boston College coach) Tom Coughlin. No. 3 is Pete Carroll, who shined at USC after being fired by the Patriots and now leads the Seahawks. Recently retired Lakers coach Phil Jackson is No. 1, followed by NHL legend Scotty Bowman.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 17, 1970, future Red Sox standout Fred Lynn was drafted by which team, refusing to sign and instead choosing to play college ball at USC?

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Welcome to Tuesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY TUESDAY:
NHL: Hurricanes at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Lions coach Jim Schwartz (right) pursues 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh after Sunday's game. (AP)

♦ Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz were not fined for their actions at the end of Sunday’s Lions-49ers game. In the Detroit Free Press, Drew Sharp writes that this is another example of the NFL’s double standard, and players should be upset that they face more rigid standards.

“Fortunately, there was no fighting and thus no basis for a fine,” the NFL said Monday in a statement about the incident. “However, both coaches told [NFL executive vice president of football operations] Ray Anderson today that their postgame conduct was wrong and won’t happen again. We believe their response is the correct one and that their postgame conduct going forward will be more appropriate.”

Meanwhile, 49ers offensive tackle Anthony Davis and Lions defensive end Cliff Avril, who had their own confrontation on the field during Sunday’s game, continued their battle on Twitter. Davis started things off by taunting the Lions after San Francisco’s win, and he kept it going after Avril checked in, although Davis later deleted two of his more obnoxious posts.

♦ Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk gave a middle-finger salute after sacking Rams quarterback Sam Bradford Sunday. He apologized after the game and claimed it was “running joke” with his teammates, not meant for the public to see. “I’m stupid,” he said. “I don’t even realize sometimes when I’m out there that anyone’s out there; the TVs or anything.”

However, Packers defensive back Charles Woodson said Monday he’s not aware of any inside joke. “No, I had not heard about it,” Woodson told sports radio show host Jim Rome. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that. From what I heard it was some kind of inside joke but I have no clue. I don’t know who else knew about it either. I guess there were a couple people who knew about it but it caught everybody else off guard. So the joke’s on us I guess.”

♦ With the Cardinals are in the World Series after trailing in the National League wild card race by 10 1/2 games on Aug. 25, Real Clear Sports has compiled a top 10 list of unlikely World Series winners. No. 1 is the 1969 Mets, followed by the 1987 Twins and the 1988 Dodgers. No. 10 is the 2004 Red Sox.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Oct. 18, 1981, the Patriots beat the Houston Oilers, 38-10, for their second and final victory of their league-worst 2-14 season, Against which team did the Pats record their other win? (Hint: It was an AFC West team that finished with a winning record.)

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Welcome to Monday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY MONDAY:
No games scheduled

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ It was a tough day for NFL coaches Sunday. The big news was fired-up 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh instigating a confrontation with Lions coach Jim Schwartz with his obnoxious handshake after San Francisco’s big win.

Schwartz responded by chasing after Harbaugh, causing players to step in and separate the pair.

In Tampa, Saints coach Sean Payton suffered a broken leg and torn knee ligament after a sideline collision during New Orleans’ loss to the Buccaneers.

Here’s one more: Eagles coach Andy Reid is stung by a gut punch from a celebrating LeSean McCoy. At least the Eagles won, beating the Redskins.

♦ Former Knicks forward Charles Oakley is not convinced the current members of the team have what it takes to restore New York to a title-contending level. Oakley said the West Coast style of coach Mike D’Antoni and star Amar’e Stoudemire won’t last in the East. “They’ve got hype,” Oakley said. “But hype don’t win nothing.” Oakley, who was an assistant coach with Bobcats last season, said he wants to help his old team but the Knicks “don’t want nothing to do with me.” He then took a shot at former team president Isiah Thomas. “I don’t understand how he even got a job with management,” Oakley said. “He had nothing to do with the Knicks, then he talked bad about the Knicks. … If I see him, he’d better turn around and go the other way.”

♦ The Associated Press college football poll is celebrating its 75th anniversary this fall. AP sports columnist Jim Litke takes a look at the controversy the poll has stirred up through the years.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Oct. 17, 2004, the Red Sox began their historic comeback against the Yankees with a 6-4 victory in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, highlighted by a run in the ninth off Mariano Rivera to force extra innings. David Ortiz won it in the 12th with a two-run home run off which former Red Sox pitcher?

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Braylon Edwards

Former Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the 49ers Thursday.

Edwards recorded 904 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns in 2010, numbers only eclipsed by his 2007 season with the Browns. In recent seasons, however, Edwards’ football accomplishments have been overshadowed by off-the-field issues.

Edwards plead no contest to aggravated disorderly conduct in Cleveland in January 2010 after allegedly punching a friend of LeBron James. He was sentenced to 18 months probation, which was extended an additional year after Edwards was charged with driving under the influence in Manhattan in September.

Edwards has also been linked to a bar fight earlier this week in Michigan, although so far no charges have been filed.

“He’s hit some potholes,” 49ers coach and fellow Michigan alumnus Jim Harbaugh said. “You don’t want that to spiral any further down. It’s kind of time to start doing all the little things right, that he knows of and he’s capable of. He’s a good guy.”

According to The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, the NFL has sent the 49ers and coach Jim Harbaugh a memo instructing them not to discuss quarterback Alex Smith or any free agent during the lockout period. Harbaugh had spoken freely about Smith in previous press conferences, saying, “I think he’s going to come back to the team.”

However, when Harbaugh was asked about the free agent quarterback last week, he responded, “I’m not answering any questions about Alex Smith. The league has mandated that we do not talk about him. The NFL has mandated that we don’t talk about players who are not under contract.”

Harbaugh is in his first year at the helm in San Francisco.