301 with 25 homers and 111 RBIs in 2007 and 

In 2006, the Cowboys were 4-1 after Romo took over prior to the month of December. And his statement last week indicates he refuses to even acknowledge it might be a valid problem. You can't solve a problem if you don't first acknowledge it's there.Today Dallas was facing a team completely opposite of itself. A team that knows how to win early in the season, but can also keep it going into December and January.The San Diego Chargers.Since the start of the 2006 season, the Chargers are 27-18 in September, October and November, averaging 27 ppg while allowing 20.7. While not as dominant as the Cowboys, the Chargers' record in December and January makes up for it. Over that same period of time, the Chargers are 19-3 in December in January, averaging 27.9 ppg while allowing 17.6.Today's victory over Dallas was San Diego's 16th straight in the month of December an NFL record.Like the Cowboys, the Chargers can win early on in the season, but unlike the Cowboys, they can win down the stretch as well.It's hard to say whether this is a fixable problem for Romo because it's hard to diagnose why exactly it's happening.

He gets his share of criticism, but it's unarguable that he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league The problem can most likely be fixed. But it won't be as long as Phillips is there trying to deny it exists.The image of Jerry Jones throwing his pen on his table after the Chargers kicked a field goal to extend their lead to 20-10 late in the fourth quarter Sunday said it all. He is definitely not happy.If he wants things to change though, he probably needs to start looking into acquiring a different head coach. At this point, there's no other solution. This article is also featured on Ry-Ry's Northwest Sports Blog. The Colorado Rockies chose not to tender a contract to third baseman Garrett Atkins last night, making him a free agent.Colorado had been trying to trade Atkins since last summer, but found no suitable, or willing, trade partners.Over the past four seasons, the 30-year-old Atkins' OPS has continually declined, from .965, to .853, to .780, and finally to .650.That ultimately led to him being supplanted by third baseman Ian Stewart at midseason.Atkins made just over $7 million last season, and the Rockies weren't wiling to risk an increase in arbitration for a backup third baseman.In 2006, when he was just 26, Atkins took the NL by storm, posting a .329 average (fourth in the NL), a .965 OPS, plus a career-high 29 homers and 120 RBIs. He followed that up by batting .301 with 25 homers and 111 RBIs in 2007, and .286 with 21 homers and 99 RBIs in 2008.Each year, Atkins declined not only in OPS, but also in batting average, home runs, and RBIs.

Seattle would like to re-sign Beltre, and he will surely have other suitors as well.Atkins would be a less expensive alternative, and one who will require a much shorter contract to boot It's likely that Atkins can be had on a one-year deal. He simply needs the opportunity to redeem himself and resurrect his career. One way or the other, it's a good bet that Atkins will have a new team this week.After all, Adrian Beltre had an off year in 2009 too. And there is still a developing market for him, though at a much higher price.. Saturday night the Bruins took the ice at the Islanders butcouldn't quite finish the game the way they had hoped to. Even though the boys came out with a loss they still were able to take one point with them back to Boston. The team had gone 8-2 in there last 10 games so there was someknowledge going around that they were bound to loose at some point. Never the less the Bruins can't be to upset given the fact that they put forth a tough andphysical effortagainst an Islanders team that has given this team trouble all season.looking forward the black and gold take on the Philadelphia Flyers onMonday night in a winter classic preview that should fill the TD Garden to the rafters.