Offseason

"The Fat Boys are back. . . " So began the rap song of the same name, performed by that rotund 1980s trio. Last season, Eagles coaches criticized the conditioning of rookie quarterback Donovan McNabb and 1998 first-round pick Tra Thomas, a talented left tackle. Had they continued their offseason habits of a year ago, the classic tune could have served as a theme for their return to Philadelphia. The duo took steps to preclude that possibility. After spending the last month keeping in shape in specialized programs, both began the Birds' offseason program yesterday.

Money might not ever buy Leon Hess a Super Bowl. But it did buy the New York Jets owner gobs and gobs of offseason publicity. The Jets' $65 million late-winter/early-spring free-agent shopping spree kept them on the back pages of the New York tabloids and buried the stories on the Big Apple's other professional football team, the Giants. "Every time I picked up the paper or turned on the TV during the offseason, the Jets were having a news conference," Giants quarterback Dave Brown said.

Maybe Eagles coach Ray Rhodes was trying to light a raging fire under one Bernard Williams last weekend. Williams, the Eagles' starting left offensive tackle, was shopped around the NFL on draft day like a blue-light special. "It unnerved me a little bit, but it's all in the business," Williams said. "One of the things about football is that during the offseason, people make business moves and try to get other people and stuff like that. But I'm still in Philly and I'm happy about that and I'll just try to put that talk behind me and just go out and play.

Chicago Cubs righthander Kerry Wood was hospitalized for precautionary testing yesterday after the NL Rookie of the Year missed his third straight day of spring-training workouts because of a lingering illness. "The reason for putting him in is to get some blood cultures and see if we can pin down exactly what the cause is and just be careful and stay ahead of it," Cubs team physician Dr. John Marquardt said. Wood, 21, struck out 20 batters in just his fifth major league start last year.

The Phillies' 1997 season just got a little less interesting. Jim Eisenreich, easily the team's most popular player, will sign a free-agent contract with the Florida Marlins today. Sources said that the Phillies offered Eisenreich, who turns 38 next April, a two-year contract worth $2.4 million. He made $1.2 million in 1996. After batting .361 in 113 games, however, he opted for a deal that is believed to guarantee him a total of $3 million for 1997 and 1998. Eisenreich declined to comment last night.

The New York Mets have suspended contract talks with All-Star catcher Mike Piazza until the end of the season. The announcement came one day after The Record, of Hackensack, N.J., reported that Piazza "hates" Shea Stadium and the treatment he has received from New York fans and the media, and plans to leave the Mets regardless of their attempts to re-sign him. "It's something that has snowballed the last week or so, particularly over the...

Chicago-area newspapers were full of stories yesterday about the impending departure of injured linebacker Otis Wilson from the Bears. The overriding assumption is that Wilson might very well find a home in Philadelphia with his old coach, Buddy Ryan. While you can't scratch the assumption, the tone in Ryan's voice yesterday indicated that a Wilson-to-the-Eagles scenario is not nearly a cinch to take place. "I wouldn't get too excited about it if I were you," Ryan said. "He's getting up there in age. He must be 32 (he will be in September)

Kirk Reynolds made just the kind of offensive gaffe he'd preached to the 49ers players about avoiding. San Francisco's well-liked public relations director is suddenly on his way out of the organization after producing a controversial in-house video meant to prepare players for dealing with the media. It showed them exactly what not to do, all right. The 15-minute film leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle features racist jokes, lesbian soft-porn and topless blondes - and even a scene of Reynolds impersonating San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in the mayor's office.

The Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez on a new contract that will pay him $154 million over 7 years from 2012 through 2018. The team announced the deal at a news conference yesterday afternoon. The terms were confirmed to the Associated Press by a person familiar with the deal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement. The Red Sox acquired Gonzalez from the San Diego Padres in the offseason. The parameters of the deal were discussed at the time, but by waiting until after the season started the Red Sox saved luxury tax money.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports has an interesting twist on what the Mets should do with MVP candidate Jose Reyes - rent him out, then re-sign him. "If Reyes really is intent on re-signing with the Mets this offseason, he'd encourage them to deal him," Passan wrote. "Get some more talent to put around him and David Wright. A Reyes rental would pull at least three good pieces. That's three more than the Mets have now, and as long as they stay among the bottom half of records, they wouldn't even lose their first-round pick for signing him. " Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik said he will not trade ace Felix Hernandez, a 16-game losing streak notwithstanding.