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:
NBA playoffs: Pacers at Knicks, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA playoffs: Grizzlies at Thunder, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
NHL playoffs: Canadiens at Senators, 7 p.m. (CNBC)
NHL playoffs: Penguins at Islanders, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Canadiens at Senators, 7 p.m. (CNBC)
NHL playoffs: Blackhawks at Wild, 9:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Canucks at Sharks, 10 p.m. (CNBC)
Hockey World Championships: United States vs. Russia, 1 p.m. (NBCSN)
MLB: Twins at Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Tigers at Nationals, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Cardinals at Cubs, 8 p.m. (WGN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Ryan Clark

♦ Steelers safety Ryan Clark, no stranger to Patriots bulletin boards, offered his analysis of the New England offense during an appearance on ESPN’s “NFL Live” Monday and said Tom Brady‘s job got a lot more difficult this offseason.

“I think what’s really underestimated is Wes Welker’s importance to not only the New England Patriots, but Tom Brady,” Clark said. “A lot of what they do is timing. A lot of what they do is option reads, when you’re working inside against that nickel back or against those linebackers. Losing him is huge.

“I know they think Danny Amendola can come in and have the same type of numbers he had with the Rams, but we also have to remember, he’s fragile. He’s not a guy who has completed a whole season, especially playing inside in what can be a physical AFC East. You also think about [Rob] Gronkowski and the injury; that is going to be bigger than anything for the New England Patriots coming in this year. Also Aaron Hernandez.”

Clark also took a shot at Brady, insisting that the veteran QB can be rattled by pressure.

“In 2010, we saw it start with the Jets in the playoffs. When Tom Brady gets pressure and when you’re man-to-man and bumping those guys and making it hard for him to throw, he sees ghosts,” Clark said. “Even when guys aren’t around him, even when he’s not about to be sacked, when his clock goes off in his head that the ball should be out, we’ll see him duck, we’ll see him flinch. When you get Tom Brady doing that, the whole New England Patriots mystique goes away.”

The Patriots host the Steelers on Nov. 3.

♦ Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez returned to the field Monday for the first time since having surgery on his left hip Jan. 16, working out at the team’s minor league complex in Tampa, Fla.

“It feels good to be back out in uniform,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been a rough stretch with the rehab, obviously. It’s small bites at a time.”

Rodriguez said he’s focused on getting back and redeeming himself for the embarrassing finish to last season, when he was benched during the Yankees’ four-game sweep at the hands of the Tigers in the ALCS.

“I have a lot of unfinished business,” Rodriguez said. “I’m really looking forward to getting back on the field close to 100 percent and being who I am.”

As for the latest controversy — A-Rod reportedly had ties to a since-closed clinic in South Florida that allegedly was dispensing performance-enhancing drugs — Rodriguez offered no insight.

“I can only control what I can control,” Rodriguez said. “I’m really focusing on all the great things that have happened in the game. I’m really focused on getting healthy, and just getting back and helping the Yankees win a championship.”

♦ Forbes magazine released its list of America’s most influential athletes, and Tim Tebow ranks No. 1. The free agent quarterback, who has 2.2 million Twitter followers, was judged as influential by 29 percent of poll respondents.

Tebow is followed on the list by swimmer Michael Phelps, sprinter Usain Bolt, injured Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. The second five consists of Saints quarterback Drew Brees, gymnast Gabby Douglas, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, NBA MVP LeBron James and soccer icon David Beckham.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 7, 1997, which Red Sox catcher — who would go on to greater fame as a member of the Athletics’ “Moneyball” team in 2002 — hit his first career home run (along with his second) in an 11-3 rout of the Twins?

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It’s been a rough few weeks for the Celtics. First it was Rajon Rondo going down with a season-ending ACL tear. Then Jared Sullinger was lost for the season with a back issue that will require surgery. Now, Leandro Barbosa appears to have suffered a serious knee injury in Monday night’s loss to the Bobcats that ended Boston’s seven-game winning streak.

Rajon Rondo's knee injury has the Celtics considering their options for the rest of the season. (AP)

Where do the C’s go from here? The team can take one of two paths. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge could stick with the team he has minus Rondo, Sullinger and Barbosa, maybe make a couple of small upgrades before the trade deadline, and hope for an unlikely long playoff run. Some are pushing for Ainge to “blow up” the team, make a significant trade or two (possibly involving career-long Celtic Paul Pierce or the emotional team leader Kevin Garnett) and look toward the organization’s future. This might lead to the team missing out on the postseason for the first time since the 2006-07 season (the year before the C’s acquired Garnett and Ray Allen).

Whatever Ainge, Doc Rivers and the organization decide to do, it seems that these injuries — especially to the All-Star Rondo — are a crushing blow to the team’s already slim chances at a deep playoff run.

This certainly isn’t the only time a Boston team has been bitten bad by the injury bug. With that in mind, here are 10 of the most devastating injuries affecting Boston sports teams in the last 10 years.

10. Patriots, 2005 — Rodney Harrison suffers season-ending knee injury

By 2005, Harrison was a 12-year NFL veteran, slightly old and injury-prone. In a Week 3 matchup vs. the Steelers, the safety tore his ACL, MCL and PCL and was done for the season. To add to that, offensive lineman Matt Light also was lost for the season during the same game. Harrison was the team’s veteran leader in the secondary and his absence was costly. The Patriots lost to the Broncos in the AFC divisional round that postseason.

9. Red Sox, 2010 — Jacoby Ellsbury misses majority of season with multiple issues

Injuries decimated the Red Sox at a historic pace in 2010, as 19 players combined for 24 stints on the disabled list, and many of them were key players on the roster. Ellsbury had three of those 24 stints. In April, Ellsbury was placed on the 15-day DL after colliding with third baseman Adrian Beltre and injuring his ribs. Ellsbury came back at the end of May but re-injured the ribs and went back on the disabled list. Again, Ellsbury rejoined the Red Sox in the beginning of August, but after a week and a half, Ellsbury was done for the season.

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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:
NBA: Lakers at Nets, 7:30 p.m. (NBATV)
College basketball: Boston College at Miami, 7 p.m. (NESN, WEEI-AM)
College basketball: Wake Forest at North Carolina, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Villanova at DePaul, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Purdue at Penn State, 7 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Florida at Arkansas, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Florida State at Georgia Tech, 9 p.m. (NESN)
College basketball: South Carolina at Kentucky, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Ohio State at Michigan, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
NHL: Lightning at Flyers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Former Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis sought out brother-in-law Tom Brady's opinion before joining the Yankees. (AP)

♦ Former Red Sox stalwart Kevin Youkilis, who is married to Tom Brady‘s sister, Julie, revealed that he asked the Patriots quarterback for advice before signing with the Yankees as a free agent in December.

During an interview with the Yankees’ YES Network that is scheduled to air Tuesday, Youkilis said he picked Brady’s brain about playing for a rival.

“I even asked a question about coming to New York: ‘Could you ever be a Jet or a Giant?’ ” Youkilis said. “And he’s like, ‘I don’t know. Luckily I’m not in your shoes.’ And I’m like, ‘Thanks for your advice, buddy!’ ”

Youkilis, who will demonstrate his new batting stance during the program, also talked about what’s like being related to Brady.

“Well, I can say I’m his only brother right now, so that’s a cool thing,” Youkilis said. “We always joke about that: the brother you always wanted, and I’m like, ‘I don’t know if you wanted me as a brother, but you didn’t have a choice in this matter now.’ He’s great. It’s pretty fun.”

♦ Following last week’s story detailing Alex Rodriguez‘ alleged PED use, the Yankees are doing their best to keep the infielder out of the public eye while he rehabilitates after offseason hip surgery. General manager Brian Cashman told the media Monday that he’s not going to reveal where A-Rod is working out.

“I’m not going to say to try and keep away the extra, whatever you want to call it, paparazzi, whatever it is, the stakeout, wherever he is working out,” Cashman said. “That’s the only reason I’m not going to say where he is going to be on a given day.”

Manager Joe Girardi said he’s not worried that the latest controversy will be a major issue for the team.

“I think our club is used to handling distractions,” Girardi said at a team fundraiser in Manhattan. “The city we play in, there’s a lot of news always surrounding our club. A lot of times, it’s a lot of good news. Our club will handle it. A club like ours is going to go through adversity all the time. Going through a season is never easy. Why would this year be any different?”

Meanwhile, a New York Daily News story quotes a source as saying Rodriguez is concerned that his team and Major League Baseball are trying to set him up in an attempt to end his career.

“He’s scared, because he thinks this is so unbelievably false, and he’s wondering who could be behind this,” the source told the paper. “He thinks something could be going on larger than anyone might think.”

♦ The European Union police agency Europol announced Monday that an 18-month review has revealed that organized crime groups fixed or tried to fix hundreds of soccer matches around the world in recent years, including World Cup qualifiers.

Europol did not give details about the games or suspects, citing an ongoing investigation, although it did mention that a Singapore-based crime syndicate was involved in some match-fixing. It said 425 individuals — game officials, team officials, players and criminals — from at least 15 countries were involved in fixing European soccer games dating back to 2008.

“This is a sad day for European football,” Europol director Rob Wainwright said, noting that criminals were operating “on a scale and in a way that threatens the very fabric of the game.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Feb. 5, 1978, 76ers guard Doug Collins gave up his starting spot in the NBA All-Star Game in deference to which Celtic?

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Bernard Pollard

Ravens safety Bernard Pollard, best known in New England for his injury-causing hits over the last five years to Patriots players Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Steven Ridley, said the league’s attempts to make the game safer are likely to lead to its end.

“Thirty years from now, I don’t think it will be in existence,” he told CBSSports.com. “I could be wrong. It’s just my opinion, but I think with the direction things are going — where [NFL rules makers] want to lighten up, and they’re throwing flags and everything else — there’s going to come a point where fans are going to get fed up with it.

“Guys are getting fined, and they’re talking about, ‘Let’s take away the strike zone,’ and, ‘Take the pads off,’ or, ‘Take the helmets off.” It’s going to be a thing where fans aren’t going to want to watch it anymore.”

Added Pollard: “The league is trying to move in the right direction [with player safety], but, at the same time, [coaches] want bigger, stronger and faster year in and year out. And that means you’re going to keep getting big hits and concussions and blown-out knees. The only thing I’m waiting for … and, Lord, I hope it doesn’t happen … is a guy dying on the field. We’ve had everything else happen there except for a death. We understand what we signed up for, and it sucks.

“Like I said, I pray it never happens, but you’ve got guys who are 350 pounds running 4.5 and 4.4s, and these owners and coaches want scout-run blockers and linemen to move walls. At the same time, they tell you, ‘Don’t hit here, and don’t hit there, or we’ll take your money.’ Like I said, I hope I’m wrong, but I just believe one day there’s going to be a death that takes place on the field because of the direction we’re going.”

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Over the final week of 2012, WEEI.com has been counting down the top 10 stories of the year in Boston sports. This entry in the countdown is No. 1: the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the Giants.

Check out our previous entries:
No. 10: NHL lockout
No. 9: Wes Welker’s up-and-down year
No. 8: Bruins’ early playoff elimination
No. 7: Ray Allen’s departure from Celtics
No. 6: Tim Thomas’ political controversy and sabbatical
No. 5: Celtics’ Eastern Conference finals loss to Heat
No. 4: Red Sox’ megatrade with Dodgers
No. 3: Tom Brady’s MVP-caliber season
No. 2: Bobby Valentine’s nightmare season as Red Sox manager

Wes Welker had seven catches for 60 yards in Super Bowl XLVI, but his key fourth-quarter drop got the most attention after the Patriots lost to the Giants. (AP)

It wasn’t a perfect season that was ruined, but the second time that the Giants ended the Patriots’ hopes for a fourth Super Bowl title was equally as heartbreaking.

For the Patriots, hopes were high at the beginning of the postseason. That’s because New England won the AFC East with a 13-3 record. For the Pats, especially after the previous year’s loss in the divisional playoffs to the Jets, it was Super Bowl or bust.

The Giants dealt the Patriots one of their three losses on the season in Week 9. In a game that featured no scoring in the first half, the Giants came out strong after the half and put 10 points on the board in the third quarter while the Patriots were held to just a field goal. Despite two touchdown drives and a field goal in the fourth quarter, Tom Brady and the Patriots couldn’t overcome Eli Manning and the Giants offense, who put up another 14 points for a 24-20 victory. It was the Patriots’ last loss of the regular season.

The Pats trounced the Broncos in the divisional playoffs on a frosty night in Foxboro. Brady threw for 363 yards and six touchdowns, three of which were to Rob Gronkowski.

The Patriots went on to a close win in the AFC championship game against the Ravens. After Brady’s fourth-quarter rushing touchdown put the Pats up 23-20, the defense was able to hold off the Ravens for two drives. The Pats forced the Ravens to place their trust in kicker Billy Cundiff. Luckily for the Pats, Cundiff shanked a 32-yard field goal attempt with 15 seconds on the game clock, ensuring another Patriots Super Bowl appearance.

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Over the final week of 2012, WEEI.com will count down the top 10 stories of the year in Boston sports. This entry in the countdown is No. 3: Tom Brady’s MVP-caliber season.

Check out our previous entries:
No. 10: NHL lockout
No. 9: Wes Welker’s up-and-down year
No. 8: Bruins’ early playoff elimination
No. 7: Ray Allen’s departure from Celtics
No. 6: Tim Thomas’ political controversy and sabbatical
No. 5: Celtics’ Eastern Conference finals loss to Heat
No. 4: Red Sox’ megatrade with Dodgers

Tom Brady

Only four players in NFL history have won at least three MVP awards. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who on Sunday wrapped up a terrific regular season, has a chance to join that group.

Brady threw for 4,827 yards and 34 touchdowns this season while only being intercepted eight times. He led the Patriots to a 12-4 record and the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.

In a 42-14 victory over the Texans on Dec. 10, Brady was hearing “MVP” chants from the Gillette Stadium crowd, and in his weekly appearance on Dennis & Callahan the next day he acknowledged it.

“I heard it. I’m very flattered to even be considered for something like that,” Brady said. “Honestly, the most important thing for me is winning games and enjoying it with my teammates. Everything that I do is dependent on them, on the group of guys that I play with, and the successful years we’ve had with our team has been all about team football. That’s what our team has been built on, and that’s what our team is about.”

Other top candidates for MVP include Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Peterson led the NFL in rushing yards (2,096 — just nine short of the NFL single-season record) and led the Vikings to a 10-6 record and their first playoff berth since 2009. Manning, who already has four MVPs, returned from a year off to pass for 37 touchdowns and lead the Broncos to a 13-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

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Over the final week of 2012, WEEI.com will count down the top 10 stories of the year in Boston sports. Our second entry in the countdown is No. 9: Wes Welker’s up-and-down year.

After a slow start, Wes Welker returned to form as the Patriots' most reliable receiver in 2012. (AP)

For five seasons in New England, Wes Welker seemingly could do no wrong, and it seemed unfathomable that the Patriots would not want to keep him in Foxboro for as long as possible.

Then came the drop in February’s Super Bowl loss — a difficult but catchable pass that went through Welker’s hands late in the fourth quarter. Instead of giving the Patriots a likely game-ending first down, it gave the Giants the opportunity for their game-winning drive. And suddenly Welker’s true value was being questioned by some. It didn’t help that the Patriots played hardball during contract negotiations in the offseason, electing to place the franchise tag on Welker and settle for a one-year contract rather than agree to a long-term deal.

The $9.5 million, one-year deal ensured that Welker would stay with the Patriots through the 2012 season. After that, who knows?

It certainly is possible that Welker could re-sign with the team after the season, but judging by his consistency and continued success, he might demand a larger contract next year, both in terms of money and years. For now, he is enjoying another tremendous season after professing happiness that he and the team were able to agree on a deal that kept him with a perennial Super Bowl contender.

“There are 9.5 million reasons why I wouldn’t miss any regular-season games,” Welker said during a May 14 appearance on Mut & Merloni, dismissing speculation that he would hold out for a long-term contract. “I don’t think there are any sort of hard feelings on my side or their side. I think we’re all looking forward to the 2012 season and hopefully do some big things there.”

Welker did not exactly do “big things” in the first couple of games this season, but he was not solely to blame. In the Patriots’ 34-13 victory over the Titans in Week 1, Welker’s playing time was limited and he had only three receptions for 14 yards while being targeted just five times (including a drop on third-and-8 in the first quarter). Speculation abounded that he was being phased out of the offense, either as punishment for asking for too much money or so fellow receivers such as Julian Edelman could get more of an opportunity.

Week 2 was better for Welker, as he finished with five catches for 95 yards, albeit in a 20-18 loss to the lowly Cardinals. Still, it was not the 10-catch, 100-plus-yard receiving performance New England fans were accustomed to seeing.

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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:
NBA: Celtics at 76ers, 7 p.m. (CSNNE, ESPN; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Lakers at Thunder, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Iowa State at Iowa, 8 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Ndamukong Suh's act might be wearing thin in Detroit. (AP)

♦ Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has made his share of enemies around the league for his dirty play, and now it seems his own team is fed up with his selfish behavior.

The Lions, expected to contend for a playoff berth this season, are 4-8 following Sunday’s 35-33 loss to the Colts, and one anonymous Detroit player told Yahoo! Sports that Suh and others are hurting the team.

“Yeah, we’re loaded,” the player said. “But we have a couple of guys who don’t understand what it takes to win. Just making a couple of plays and thinking that makes you great. … Sometimes you want to just shake some of these guys and say, ‘Don’t you get it?’ ”

Asked who in particular fell into that category, the player said, “Ndamukong would be first.”

Added the player: “He’s focused for 90 percent of the time. But it’s the 10 percent that kills you. … With [Suh], he loses his cool and all of a sudden we’re blowing a play or dealing with some controversy.”

♦ Rex Ryan acknowledged Wednesday the importance of making the right decision on who will start at quarterback for the Jets, but on Thursday he denied that his choice will determine his own fate with the team.

“Obviously we need to win,” Ryan said Thursday. “This is a big decision. [A big factor] in determining wins and losses is the play of your quarterback a lot of times. But no, I don’t feel that my future’s tied in with how we do things [with the quarterback].”

Added Ryan: “Obviously, this is a win business and I know that. As [former Ravens coach] Brian Billick told me the other day, there’s been 111 head coaches that have come and gone over the last 10 years. So it’s probably not the most [secure job]. But the one thing I can [do to] affect the job security is by winning. That’s what everybody wants. It’s what our fans want. It’s what Woody [Johnson] wants. It’s what we all want. Obviously, that’s what I want.”

♦ In a story that’s similar to the Tom Brady incident from last year, Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway acknowledged Thursday that he “went a little far” with his comments that Minnesota fans should starting drinking early so they are ready to go for Sunday’s noontime start against the Bears.

“Hopefully, they’re super-duper drunk,” Greenway said after the Vikings’ loss to the Packers this past Sunday. “So, drink liquor, not beer. … Yeah, I would say morning drinking. Why not? You could pull an all-nighter. Then you’d have the drunk, tired guys who will really be obnoxious.”

During a Thursday interview with “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on Chicago’s ESPN 1000, Greenway toned it down a little.

“Obviously, I could have used some more responsible words,” Greenway said. “I think the people that know me, the beat writers included, know that I said that sort of tongue-in-cheek.

“I just wanted the fans at home to be loud like they always are. I think just trying to drive that point home I probably got a little loose with my words. Obviously I should have been a little more responsible with it. It was said, so what do you do?”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 7, 1978, the Red Sox traded Bill Lee to the Expos for which player?

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Ryan Tannehill

Dolphins center Mike Pouncey is stroking the ego of rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill, calling him “the best rookie quarterback in the NFL right now.”

Pouncey said the Dolphins QB is a leader on the team and has helped the Dolphins to a 4-3 start this season.

Pouncey said he values Tannehill more than Washington rookie Robert Griffin III, who is ranked third in passing efficiency.

“I think he’s better than RGIII,” Pouncey said. “Their games are different. RGIII can throw, but he can also run. Tannehill’s a smart quarterback.”

Pouncey took it a step further, though, when he compared Tannehill to Patriots QB Tom Brady.

“I think he’s going to be one of those elite guys like Tom Brady when it comes said and done,” Pouncey said. “Just his composure. His leadership in the huddle right now is just phenomenal. … I do see Tom, and the way he coordinates and runs his offense is the same as Tannehill does.”

Tannehill has completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 1,454 yards this season. He’s thrown for four touchdowns with six interceptions.

“We were lucky to get that kid at No. 8,” Pouncey said. “He’s playing phenomenal for us right now. … If he keeps it up, he’ll be the franchise quarterback for a long, long time.”

Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel receives attention from the team's medical staff after he was injured during Sunday's 9-6 loss to the Ravens. (AP)

The Chiefs aren’t off to a good start, but the hometown crowd cheering after quarterback Matt Cassel was injured during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Ravens struck a nerve with Chiefs offensive lineman Eric Winston. Reports indicate Cassel might have a concussion and could miss some time.

Chiefs fans have been calling for Cassel to be benched for weeks, and as Cassel was on the ground being attended to by trainers, the fans at Arrowhead Stadium cheered while backup Brady Quinn warmed up.

Winston said he understands the fans’ frustration with the team.

“We are athletes. We are not gladiators. This isn’t the Roman Coliseum,” Winston said. “People pay their hard-earned money to come in here. I believe they can boo, they can cheer, they can do whatever they want. … We’re lucky to play this game. It’s hard economic times, and they still pay the money to go to these.”

However, Winston expressed his disappointment with the fans’ behavior.

“When you cheer somebody getting knocked out, I don’t care who it is, and just so happened to be Matt Cassel, it’s 100 percent sickening,” Winston said. “I’ve been in some rough times on some rough teams, I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life to play football, than at that moment right there.”

Cassel hasn’t performed well this year. He had thrown for 92 yards, was intercepted twice and fumbled twice before the injury Sunday. This year, he’s thrown just five touchdowns while throwing nine interceptions and fumbling four times. The Chiefs are 1-4 after Sunday’s 9-6 loss.

Cassel has played with the Chiefs since 2009, after playing for the Patriots from 2005 through 2008. In 2008, Cassel replaced injured starter Tom Brady for the season.