A New Number 56

The only question left in the LaVar Arrington situation is whether he'll have the audacity to ask LT for permission to wear his old number. According to ESPN.com, LaVar Arrington has reached an agreement on a 7 year, $49 million deal with the New York Giants. After a long courtship that sparked wide ranging speculation, it is such a relief that this ordeal is over. This is a tremendous move for the Giants, filling a glaring whole with a superstar talent. Giants doctors thoroughly examined the knees that have kept him off the field, and judging by the contract offer, must feel that he can produce at a high level. He rejoins former teammate Antonio Pierce in the linebacking corps and will be hungry to prove he is the same electric talent that took the league by storm in his first few years.

In the building next door to LaVar's new home, the Rangers open their first playoff series since 1997 against the hosting New Jersey Devils. The Devils come in riding an 11 game winning streak, and essentially the only goalie in the Eastern Conference with any playoff experience. By contrast, the Rangers come limping in to the playoffs with their talented, but injured goalie Henriq Lundqvist. Winning the gold medal in the last Olympics gave Lundqvist some experience, but this is his first taste of the postseason. The Rangers need someone aside from Jaromir Jagr to get it going offensively for them to have any chance in this series. This will be an exciting series, but the Rangers will be punished for losing their chance to wrap up a home ice advantage. The Devils should continue their winning ways and move on to the next round. However, if someone else can step it up for the blueshirts (Petr Prucha perhaps, alliteration not intended) they could continue their surprising season.