Hadnot was the Browns' starting right guard in 2008 and has demonstrated the ability to play any of the three interior offensive line positions. He is a powerful, wide-bodied blocker, but isn't particularly quick or agile. Once beaten, he is slow to recover and his overall agility is just average, but he does show the ability to engulf his opponent at times. Ideally, he is a swing interior backup.

So now the back will head to the Big Apple, even after leaving the Vikings holding onto a purple jersey. Tomlinson would be a good fit for New York, as he could come in and take the spot of the departed Thomas Jones, who was released when free agency started last Friday.

“If the Jets really want Tomlinson, they’ll have to bring it,” Sports Illustrated’s Jim Trotter wrote on his Twitter account. “Vikes really wowed him. Said he could see himself playing there.”

Point well taken. But if the Vikings and Tomlinson were that perfect of a fit, why is he heading to New York to talk to the Jets? Could it be simply to try and get the last dollar? Or does Tomlinson see the Jets as a better fit as they don’t really have a franchise back since Jones is gone?

Whatever it is, L.T. will be in New York to have a discussion, and now it’s a waiting game for the Vikings to see if they did enough to woo him to come to the Twin Cities.

Chad Ochocinco, lovingly called the “fourth largest media market in the country” by Tank Johnson on  Hard Knocks for his Twitter and Ustream pursuits, has done nothing but expand upon his media empire since the season ended.

In addition to a long list of radio spots, parties, and taking a bus full of fans to Miami, the Ocho has starred in a music video and landed a contestant’s role on Dancing with the Stars.  And now, as if  that’s not enough, he’ll be getting his own show on VH1 in July.

No kidding.

VH1 announced that Chad will star in a new 10-episode reality show called The Tournament.  It sounds like The Bachelor with an NCAA Tournament twist, and apparently ends with Chad getting a new girlfried.

Some may say this can’t be good for Chad or the Bengals.  At best, it’s an unneeded distraction for a playoff team and at worst its a sign of a dangerously waning interest in football and winning.

But you really have to give the guy credit. Love him or hate him, Superstar or douchebag, he’s got a goal and he’s chasing it.  Congrats, Chad.  Can’t wait to see your final four.

But what conference has taken a hit like Conference USA did today? None.

While UTEP seems to be at near-lock status, two other teams — Memphis and UAB — were anything but secure. Those two teams were the only ones with at-large hopes of any kind.

So how did they respond to a win-or-likely-go-home scenario? By losing. Both of them.

Let's talk Memphis first, because they needed the win "more," I suppose. The Tigers had a one-point lead on 16-15 Houston with 10 seconds remaining. Now, what makes Houston an interesting case study is the fact it has Aubrey Coleman, who happens to be the leading scorer in Division I, averaging a cool 26 points per. 

Logic seems simple, right? Don't let Coleman get the ball, and certainly don't let him be the one to put the shot up that can beat you. But that's what happened. Coleman got two Tigers defenders to bite, and he dipped under both of them to drop in an eight-foot baby shot that gave the Cougars a 66-65 with 5.1 remaining.

Then Willie Kemp, who had kept Memphis in the game for the majority of the second half, was called for a carry as he raced down the court in an effort to get off a shot before the buzzer. Turnover. Game over. NCAA-tournament-season over. Memphis is going to the NIT, and coach Josh Pastner's (pictured) first year with the team will be considered, by some, to be a failure because of that.

As for UAB, its loss is even more unacceptable. First of all, consider the fact it played its game after Memphis, so it had the knowledge that the Tigers' loss could only be the team's gain if it continued to win. Since Memphis fell against Houston, the Tigers' profile took a hit, and UAB losing to the Tigers twice this season now looks even worse on the resúmé. The Blazers also didn't get a win over UTEP in two tries.

So with Southern Miss on the other bench in the C-USA opener, you'd expect UAB — a program and team known for its hustle and bustle — to come out with some fire underneath it. No such thing. In a pathetic showing, the Golden Eagles held UAB to 44 points and won by 14.

Then again, if you caught any part of the game or the highlights you'd see just how empty the arena in Tulsa was. Hard to be fired up in front of a glorified family reunion, I guess.

Conference USA was looking like a four-bid league in the beginning of January. Then, come mid-February Tulsa had played its way out but Memphis and UAB were still in the picture with UTEP.

And now, in mid-March, it's back to what it's been for the past five years: a one-trick pony.

Only this year, that pony isn't Memphis.

First came this vicious slam on a hapless Matadors defender back in January. Then in the first round of the Big West tournament on Wednesday night, Anderson delivered another freakish display of athleticism, finishing a fastbreak by leaping over 6-foot Vinnie McGhee and unleashing a fierce one-hand jam.

"Guys who say slam dunks are only worth two points are out of it," Fullerton Coach Bob Burton told the Los Angeles Times. "That was a touchdown."

Dunks like those are one of the reasons Fullerton is pushing Anderson as a candidate for the college dunk contest at the end of the season. If he makes it, maybe he should bring a couple Northridge defenders as props. 

Thanks, Ballin' is a Habit

Preview: Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. EST. From a solid write-up on this one from Fear The Fin: "Why have the Predators given the Sharks so much trouble? Well, they fit the bill of the type of team that gives Sharks problems. They have a solid defensive unit, an industrious group of forwards, and a forecheck that disrupts the Sharks ability to move the puck up on the rush." Section 303 points out that "with Martin Erat(notes) leading the Predators in scoring with 41 points, the Predators risk not having a 50 point scorer for only the third time in franchise history."

Preview: Ottawa Senators at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m. EST. All of the "Burning Issues" pundits are digging the revamped Flames and selected them to win this game against the Ottawa Senators. Brian Elliott(notes) gets the call for the Senators, who are two points in back of the Devils (though New Jersey will have three games in hand after tonight).

Check out previews and updated scores for all of today's games (like the ones in progress) on the Y! Sports NHL scores and scheds page.

Evening Reading

• From Reebok on the end of the Sidney Crosby(notes) missing equipment saga:

Last week, Reebok Hockey announced that is was offering a $10,000 reward for any information that directly led to return of Sidney Crosby's "golden" stick.  With Hockey Canada's announcement on Wednesday that the stick had been recovered in a shipment heading to the IIHF Hall of Fame, Reebok Hockey has instead decided to donate $8,700 each to three worthy organizations: The Hockey Canada Foundation, USA Hockey's "Come Play Youth Hockey" program and The Sidney Crosby Foundation. 

Guess Patrice Bergeron(notes) gets a hearty 'atta boy' for find that glove. Sigh.

• Adam Proteau ranks the NHL cities "most deserving" for a Stanley Cup. No. 1? The Buffalo Sabres? No. 30? Miami, which actually doesn't have a team but which sounds sexier than "Sunrise." [THN]

• Jeff Bartl from Blackhawk Up checks in to say he'll be debating  Rob Otto of MLive.com about the Blackhawks' national anthem tradition at 6 a.m. EST on Fox News Channel. Congrats, and do check it out if you're up (or set those DVRs).

• Roberto Luongo's(notes) Olympic gold medal, Ryan Kesler's(notes) silver medal and Sami Salo's(notes) bronze medal will be on display at GM Place this weekend for the Vancouver Canucks' home games. Also, a bottle of the Sedins' tears from after the loss to Slovakia. [Vancouver Sun]

• Jonathan Willis on why Matt Cooke(notes) deserved a suspension for the Marc Savard(notes) hit. [Hockey or Die]

• The Calgary Flames vintage jersey will be the team's third jersey in 2010-11. [Flames]

• Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick(notes) is expected to miss a start due to the birth of his first child. Mazel Tov! [CP]

Puck Buddy Comment of the Day:

From toolboa on the Blackhawks anthem debate:

As a Veteran of the US Marine Corps, nothing...and I mean NOTHING...creates goosebumps for me faster than being a part of the home crowd at the United Center when Jim belts out our National Anthem. I don't take the ear-splitting roar throughout the entire rendition as a sign of disrespect by the fans; on the contrary I see it as one of honor, support, pride, love, and immense respect. Their powerful, emphatic display puts a huge smile on my face and leaves me speechless every time I experience it. The crowd's reaction during the National Anthem at the United Center is many things, but disrespectful isn't one of them.

Thank you, and all, for serving.

Bold Prediction: Florida stuns the Avalanche on the road.