1.   As Belfour did last season, Hull turned down more money from another team, according to his agent, Mike Barnett.

2.   As much as anybody, Oates appreciates the brilliant glovework shown by the Rangers last season.

3.   Be sure to pull on the needles to see if it is fresh enough to last the season.

4.   But, as they were last season, those are problems that can be lived with.

5.   Embree could help shore up a Braves bullpen that, aside from closer Mark Wohlers, has been a nagging concern dating back to last season.

6.   Every team got much better with this draft, and the days when one team would dominate, as the Comets did last season, are probably over.

7.   Except that Mathis is an incumbent starter after beating out Smith for a starting job last season.

8.   He went to the Chicago for two years before coming here last season.

9.   It should benefit senior quarterback Damian Allen, an option-type quarterback who struggled at times last season in the passing attack under Dowhower.

10.   Only Cleveland, Green Bay and New England reportedly spent more money than the Cowboys last season.