New England is the only team that can negotiate with Samuel right now, but at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 29, Shavers and partner Jay Bianco can start fielding calls from all 32 teams.

"There's always communication going on with our situation," Shavers said. "We don't eliminate anyone until we've signed a new deal and move to a new city."

Shavers called New England Samuel's "birthplace," and Samuel has said he'd like to remain with the Patriots. But he is also anticipating the chance to hit the open market. It is expected that Samuel's deal will exceed the $28.5 million that Nate Clements got over the first three years he received from San Francisco last year. Clements' deal was announced as eight years, $80 million, but the final year of the deal was already voided, making it a seven-year, $64-million pact.

Monica Yant Kinney: Newlyweds fume after photo firm falters

Alicia Nelson's wedding went off precisely as dreamed. Her strapless taffeta dress had crystal beading that matched a necklace and bracelet borrowed from her Nana. Her mother wore an elegant black gown and her hair in a rare, glamorous up-do. Her father showed off months of dance lessons, leading his little girl to the Louis Armstrong classic "What a Wonderful World." And held next to Alicia's pink-and-green bouquet? Earrings belonging to her grandmother, who died weeks before the wedding. "The photographers," Alicia recalled, "took a lot of time" capturing the magic of her September day to remember. If only she had the pictures. Alicia is among hundreds of newlyweds and brides-to-be fuming at Celebration Studios, a tristate wedding-photography business that went belly-up amid $500,000 in tax liens without delivering contractually obligated memories.

Newark swats pesky Berkeley

If Newark Memorial beats Castro Valley, it will advance to the NCS final for the first time since losing to Berkeley four years ago.

"We had a lot of guys sick this week, so we'll try to get healthy for Castro Valley," Newark coach Craig Ashmore said. "Castro Valley is a good team, they might be better than us." .

Kristi O'Harran

It culminated this summer in a three-month trial featuring more than 100 witnesses, some of whom have since assumed new identities out of fear of retribution for testifying against four members of the Washington Nomads Chapter of the Hells Angels.

Last month former Hells Angel Rodney Rollness of Snohomish was sentenced to life in prison for Walsh's murder. Joshua Binder of North Bend, also a former Hells Angel, pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges for his involvement in the shooting. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Rollness, 46, denied gunning down Walsh. At sentencing, he denounced his trial as a sham choreographed by crooked cops who have been gunning for him for years. He vowed to clear his name on appeal.

A jury found Rollness guilty of a dozen crimes, including a murder in support of racketeering.

Hip-Hop Rumors: The Game's New Mixtape, Kanye Loves Kanye, Tank Gets ...

You remember back in the day, I heard that The Game and his brother Big Fase 100 are back on good terms again. I hope it to be true. Brothers don't need to fight – they are all they got! Anyway, I didn't confirm/deny the rumor, but I heard something that supports it. I heard that The Game and his brother are working out a new mixtape venture that bigs up the West Coast. So, I know Game is in jail right now, but maybe the vocals were dropped before and then Fase will get it mixed and mastered?

We all saw the slick lil' comment Kanye made about Common at the Grammys.