All of us eventually become doddering old fools, even the custodians of sports dynasties. And none of us wants to be told that we're doddering old fools, particularly the custodians of sports dynasties. So Bobby Bowden, in his gentlemanly style, fought and dadgummed his way to a breaking point where he wanted to keep coaching the Florida State football team when few others in Tallahassee or anywhere else shared his wish.

I am pleased to report that this 80-year-old legend, during his deep "soul-searching" of the past few days, realized that he stood only to embarrass one of the voluminous legacies in college sports history if he stubbornly attempted to battle his bosses much longer. They'd either have fired him, which would have been awful, or trotted him out next season as a lame duck on a farewell tour, which may as well have been accompanied by a rocking chair, a bath robe, a glass of milk, a bottle of Metamucil and a forklift that would have transported him from stadium to stadium.

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Matt Harpring said he's not going to retire. But that doesn't mean he hasn't played his last game for the Utah Jazz.

The forward, who might not play this season due to knee and ankle injuries, told FanHouse on Tuesday he expects the Jazz to release a statement later this week or early next week on his status. Harpring said he's been told by Jazz officials and his agent, Richard Howell, not to divulge what the statement will say.

Harpring, though, confirmed he still wants to play. "I'm not retiring,'' said Harpring, 33, who has played 11 NBA seasons, the past seven for Utah.

Cut-N-Go is Fantasy Football FanHouse's weekday roundup of the NFL news with fantasy football impact.

The Cincinnati Bengals could very well dress four healthy running backs this Sunday when the team plays Detroit. Cedric Benson will return from injury to join Larry Johnson, Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard in what looks to be a crowded backfield. Joe Kay of the Associated Press says that Benson will be the starter.

Cedric Benson is expected back as the focal point of the Cincinnati Bengals' new run-based offense, one that's become quite adept at grinding down defenses.

Coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday that Benson will start next weekend against Detroit, but he declined to say how he plans to handle his trio of running backs - four, if third-down specialist Brian Leonard is included. Rookie Bernard Scott has a case of turf toe that could limit his availability.

Historians one day will note the precise hour that the American sports media circus wagon lost its wheel as Tuesday at roughly 3 PM ET.

That's the time when ESPN aired live a press conference about a $164 traffic citation.

That's right: a press conference over a traffic citation went out worldwide on a reputable sports network. And who says you're not getting a bang for your cable/satellite TV buck?

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All the speculation about Danica Patrick's future has both amused and frustrated her, she said Tuesday, a day after confirming she has re-signed a contract to stay in the IZOD IndyCar Series full-time for at least the next two years.

After months of managing rumor and playing coy, Patrick used New York City's Times Square to announce Monday that she signed a two-year deal with an option to remain with what is now Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series. But it's still NASCAR that everyone wants her to talk about.

Despite her new contract, Patrick has left open the door to a possible part-time foray into stock cars for the 2010 season. "I've made no mystery that I'm curious about NASCAR, '' said Patrick, the only woman to have won an IndyCar Series race. "We've been working on this and talking to people since the summer. We are serious about this. ... There's no contract and there's no deal right now, but as I said, if I could do both, I'd like to do that."

It's a baseball podcast. The math is easy, right? BaseCast. Let's rock.

In the wake of an ESPN.com report that Roy Halladay wants his future settled before spring training, it now appears likely that the Toronto ace will be pitching in a different uniform in 2010.

So how does the market shape up for Halladay this winter and what type of contract demands will he have if the Blue Jays move him?

Listen in after the jump as FanHouse's Ed Price and I break down everything Doc, discuss other big names on the trade market like Adrian Gonzalez and talk about the midnight deadline to offer free agents arbitration.

As initially reported by CSNPhilly.com and confirmed by the Associated Press, the Philadelphia 76ers have offered Allen Iverson a one-year contract. So why isn't the deal official? Apparently because Iverson is still mulling over the offer, a non-guaranteed contract worth the pro-rated veteran's minimum, or $1.4 million for a player with his experience.

According to Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News, the team isn't willing to guarantee the entire contract until they're convinced Iverson is fully committed to his return -- Iverson would have until Jan. 10, roughly six weeks from today, to prove himself.

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Everybody took their shots at Dany Heatley this summer -- brave commentators, agenda-filled NHL players and managers (anonymously, of course), wiseguy writers (guilty!). Let's face it: he was an easy target.

Drilling holes in the integrity of an athlete when he's not playing is simple. But when you're a world-class player in midseason form, that's another matter.

The New Jersey Nets fired coach Lawrence Frank on Sunday morning, with the team in the midst of one of the worst starts to a season in NBA history.

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, his team at the top of the Eastern Conference through Monday's action, told the New York Daily News that Frank's firing was undeserved.

"Everybody was hurt. That one, to me, I shake my head," Van Gundy told the newspaper. "Did everybody think they were losing because of coaching? You've got to look at the lineup that he had to put on the floor every night. I thought he was doing a remarkable job; they were in a lot of games.

"That's probably as little talent as I've seen anybody put on the floor for a long time with everybody hurt."

Frank and Jamie McCourt's divorce battle is still in the early rounds, but some small developments last week shed new light on the couple's financial health -- and indicate why it's quite likely that neither spouse will end up controlling the Los Angeles Dodgers. For those handicapping at home, here's some recent information you may have missed on L'Affaire du Chavez Ravine:

The UFC is targeting a welterweight rematch between Josh Koscheck and Paulo Thiago at UFC 109 on Feb. 6. FanHouse learned of the potential fight on Tuesday, but the bout has yet to be made official by the organization.

Thiago defeated Koscheck in a stunning upset at UFC 95 last February via first round TKO in the Brazilian's Octagon debut. Since then, Thiago has gone 1-1 in the UFC, losing to Koscheck's teammate, Jon Fitch, at UFC 100 and beating Jacob Volkmann UFC 106 in November.