The Kansas City Chiefs have kicked off training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, and as things get underway in earnest, the first pick of the 2013NFL draft is now in the fold.

As Tom Pelissero of USA Todayreports, the Chiefs have agreed to terms with first-round pick Eric Fisher on a four-year contract. According to a source, the deal is believed to be for $22 million, all of which is guaranteed. The contract also contains an option for a fifth year.

There was a holdup with the deal as a result of "offset language," which protects a team financially against having to pay the full amount of a guaranteed deal if a player is waived and then signs with another club. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports, the Chiefs won on that front, but not without making a concession of their own:

In fact, Mike Florio of Pro Football talk reports that nearly half of that $22 million will be paid within five days, and $14.5 million will have been paid by next year.

More important than who won what financially, though, is this little fact pointed out by Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star:

For a team that won all of two games last year, having the entire offensive line healthy and in camp is no small feat, especially given how big a part Fisher is set to play on that line.

Fisher wasted no time in getting into camp once terms were set.

Fisher told Reid Ferrin of the Chiefs' website that's largely because he's been chomping at the bit to get after it.

I’m real excited to be here. Just had to get that contract done but, I’m really looking forward getting to training camp here, joining the team and glad we could get to an agreement and get it done.

Offensive line coach Andy Heck is also very eager to get Fisher on the practice field according to Ferrin.

He was my favorite offensive lineman in this draft. He’s a guy that I felt could help this football team. We’ve added a tremendous offensive lineman, a guy that I think can excel in this league, play at a high level and we’re adding him to a solid group and that’s just going to make us better as a football team. I’m very pleased that we were able to add a football player as good as he is.

The 6'7", 306-pound Fisher, who rocketed up draft boards after a dominant week at the Senior Bowl and strong combine showing, has drawn comparisons to Joe Staley of the San Francisco 49ers. The NFL Network's Mike Mayock has already labeled him a future Pro Bowler at left tackle.

However, with Branden Albert still with the Chiefs (at least for 2013), Fisher's NFL career will begin at right tackle, where he'll have a season to acclimate to the NFL game before switching to quarterback Alex Smith's blind side.

Given that the Chiefs ranked 19th in run blocking and 27th in pass protection last year, according to Football Outsiders, Smith and new head coach Andy Reidcan use all the help they can get up front. Now, Fisher can get down to the business of learning the NFL game.

With some pundits tabbing the Chiefs for marked improvement in Reid's first year, it's vital that the team avoid significant injuries and major distractions in camp.

There may not be a whole lot that can be done about the former. However, by getting this deal for Fisher done now, the Chiefs have done a good job of dodging the latter and setting up Smith with a pair of good young edge protectors for the upcoming campaign.

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Some superheroes are born with their super powers, like Superman. Other heroes gain their powers after being transformed by some substance, like the Hulk or Spiderman. Adrian Peterson wants everyone to know that his superhuman ability to quickly heal falls in the former camp.

According to the star runner, some people have speculated that he may have used HGH to aid in his insanely fast recovery from a torn ACL in 2011 before rushing for 2,097 yards and 13 total touchdowns last season on his way to earning the league's MVP award.

Not only does he want to set the record straight, he wants to do so by seeing HGH testing implemented in the NFL.

From Kevin Seifert of ESPN:

It would appear the NFL and NFLPA are closer to implementing an HGH testing program, having agreed to a population study on Monday, according to Brian McIntyre of Shutdown Corner, so Peterson may soon enough get his wish.

It's not a surprise that some folks have speculated that Peterson may have aided his recovery process with HGH. At this point in the sporting landscape, anytime a player does something unexpected, whispers of steroid use will soon follow.

Look no further than Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles, who has already hit 37 home runs with 97 RBI this season. Never mind that he hit 33 dingers last year—speculation has already surfaced that he may be juicing.

But Peterson has always been a freak, and his recovery never seemed outside the realm of his possibility. As football players go, he's always been Wolverine, or at least he has Wolverine's healing power.

So Peterson says bring on the testing, bub.

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Nearly 10 years after trading away Alfonso Soriano, the New York Yankeeshave officially reacquired him to bolster their ailing lineup, tweets ESPN.com's Jim Bowden:

Although his right-handed power bat should provide much-needed protection for superstar Robinson Cano, it's arriving too late to salvage the season.

Here are Soriano's offensive stats dating back to 2010:

Year	BA/OBP/SLG	HR	K%
2010	.258/.322/.496	24	22.4%
2011	.244/.289/.469	26	22.2%
2012	.262/.322/.499	32	24.9%
2013	.254/.287/.467	17	23.2%
2010-2013 averages	.255/.307/.485	25	23.3%

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Hafner has only three extra-base hits in the entire month of July.

Across the board, the 37-year-old appears to be a significant upgrade over New York's other potential No. 4 hitters. An anemic combination of Travis Hafner, Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells have collectively slashed .218/.293/.337 with 11 home runs and a 27.2 strikeout percentage when occupying the cleanup spot.

On the other hand, Soriano comes with plenty of undesirable attributes.

Contrary to recent prolific Yankees' offenses, the 2013 edition is reluctant to take pitches and tire out opposing starters. Soriano will only aggravate that problem.So far this season, he's seeing only 3.65 pitches per plate appearance and swinging at the first offering 35 percent of the time compared to the league averages of 3.77 and 28 percent, respectively.

The former All-Star's defensive limitations also make this a strange fit. The Yankees are most desperate for offense at third base and behind the plate, but Soriano hasn't played anywhere except left field over the past six seasons. With outfielder Curtis Granderson progressing toward a return to the Bronx, according to the New York Daily News, it's going to be difficult for manager JoeGirardi to play all his best bats at the same time.

Above all, this team faces an imposing uphill battle to qualify for the postseason.

Entering Friday, the Boston Red Sox lead New York by six-and-a-half games atop the AL East, and MLB Network's Peter Gammons reports that the Red Sox havescouts "everywhere" as they prepare to bid on available starting pitchers.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a six-game cushion over the Yankees and no apparent weaknesses. Sure, the Baltimore Orioles are within reach for the second AL Wild Card, but their surplus of remaining home games and relatively young roster provide obvious advantages down the stretch.

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Good move, Cashman, but you needed to make a bigger splash.

General manager Brian Cashmandid well to grab Soriano, a reputable power source and clubhouse presence who's under contract through 2014.

This move, on its own, doesn't quite have the potential to save the Yankees from a frustrating fate this summer. We'll soon find out whether or not Cashman has more surprises in store as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

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Madison Square Garden has played host to some of the greatest moments in sports and entertainment history ever since the venue opened in 1879. It has endured a few moves since then, and it appears as though another one is in order in 10 years' time.

Would moving damage Madison Square Garden's mystique?

Yes, all of the history will be lost if MSG has to relocateNo, the Garden will be special no matter where it isSUBMIT VOTE vote to see results

According to Charles V. Bagli of The New York Times, the New York City Council decided by a vote of 47 to 1 that MSG's operating permit would be extended for just 10 years. That means the powers that be will either have to relocate the Garden or reapply within a decade.   

The main reason behind the New York City Council's desire to move MSG relates to Penn Station. There have been plans to renovate and expand Penn Station for quite some time, but Madison Square Garden has been viewed as a major obstacle in doing so.

Forcing MSG to relocate should set the wheels in motion when it comes to modernizing Penn Station. From Christine C. Quinn, City Council speaker (via Bagli):

This is the first step in finding a new home for Madison Square Garden and building a new Penn Station that is as great as New York and suitable for the 21st century. This is an opportunity to re-imagine and redevelop Penn Station as a world-class transportation destination.

Not only would moving be inconvenient for MSG controller and New York Knicks owner James Dolan, but it would also put the recent Garden renovations to waste, as ESPN's J.A. Adande points out.

To be specific, a $968 million overhaul of the facility is scheduled to be completed by the fall. According to Bagli, Dolan's company didn't even acknowledge the 10-year timetable in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.

Madison Square Garden has operated at its current site for generations, and has been proud to bring New Yorkers some of the greatest and most iconic moments in sports and entertainment. We now look forward to the reopening of the arena in the fall of 2013.

Moving is old hat for Madison Square Garden as the current building at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza is MSG's fourth different location. It officially opened in 1968, and it has served as the stage for a bevy of incredible events. The Knicks and New York Rangers have won championships, countless prize fights have occurred there, and even three editions of WWE's WrestleMania have rocked the Garden.

Despite all of that history and worldwide acclaim, Madison Square Garden will have to pack up and move yet again if the New York City Council ultimately gets its way.

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