ESPN.com’s John Clayton reports a source as saying the Bears and the league’s top free agent have finalized a 6-year deal. The proposed contract with the Bears is expected to pay him about $40 million over the first three years.

Peppers, 30, a North Carolina native and the Panthers’ second overall pick from UNC in 2002, will be playing football for a team outside the state for the first time.

Kurt Warner, the 38-year-old quarterback announced his retirement Friday after 12 years after coming from nowhere to lead the lowly St. Louis Rams to two Super Bowls. Warned walked away with a year left on a two-year, $23 million contract, knowing he still had the skills to play at the highest level.

“It’s been an amazing ride,” Warner said. “I don’t think I could have dreamt it would have played out like it has, but I’ve been humbled every day that I woke up the last 12 years and amazed that God would choose to use me to do what he’s given me the opportunity to do.”

Mark McGwire admitted this week that steroids and human growth hormone helped make him a home run king.

“The toughest thing is my wife, my parents, close friends have had no idea that I hid it from them all this time,” he told The Associated Press in an emotional, 20-minute interview. “I knew this day was going to come. I didn’t know when.”

In tears, McGwire apologized and said he used steroids and human growth hormone on and off for a decade, starting before the 1990 season and including the year he broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record in 1998.

“I wish I had never touched steroids,” McGwire said. “It was foolish and it was a mistake.”

The world’s most famous street fighter made his Octagon debut against one-time UFC phenom Houston Alexander. His MMA career was off to a great start as he headlined the first ever U.S. network live MMA broadcast on CBS for EliteXC. But it all came crashing down a year ago on the second CBS EliteXC show when Seth Petruzelli knocked him out in 0:14.

Then he accepted the UFC’s offer to participate in The Ultimate Fighter reality show where he brought the show its biggest season ever. He also lost his only fight on the series to Roy Nelson in the highest rated episode in the show’s history. Despite repeated teases for the remainder of the season, Kimbo declined an opportunity for a second fight on the show.

Tonight he had his third chance to make a legitimate professional MMA fighter out of himself.

Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers are closer to a reunion.

A person with knowledge of the contract talks says the Sixers offered a one-year, non-guaranteed contract to Iverson on Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract talks had not been made public.

Iverson, his agent and business manager met with team president Ed Stefanski, coach Eddie Jordan and two other members of the organization Monday during the first formal meeting between the Sixers and their former MVP.

Iverson announced his retirement last week after an ill-fated stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 10-time All-Star was NBA MVP in 2001 when he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals.

Golf Phenom Tiger Woods has, according to reports, been seriously injured in a car accident near East Lake, Fla.

Quoting a report from the Florida Highway Patrol, several local media outlets have said that Tiger Woods pulled out of his driveway at around 2 in the morning, hit a fire hydrant, and then hit a tree at his neighbor’s property. He was transported to Health Central Hospital in Ocoee in serious condition.

1. New Orleans Saints: 10.7
After a one week intermission, the Saints have reclaimed the top spot with their 38-7 (+16.4 Trench Counter) thrashing of the Buccaneers.

2. Indianapolis Colts: 9.6
Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne and Tom Santi each had 80 or more yards on Sunday.

3. New England Patriots: 9.0
Wes Welker made all the difference, as he caught 15 balls for 192 yards. He is projected to finish the season with 126 receptions.

4. Minnesota Vikings: 7.2
Brett Favre had a near perfect, 22-for-25, four TD, zero interception day.

5. Green Bay Packers: 7.2
With Sunday’s win, the Packers improved to 3-0 when Greg Jennings has over 100 yards receiving.
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Philly beat Chicago Sunday night 24-20 at Soldier Field, covering the spread as 3.5-point road favorites on the NFL betting line. They also won outright as -195The game stayed UNDER its posted total of 46.5.

The win broke a two-game losing streak for Philadelphia, which now trails the first-place Dallas Cowboys by one game in the NFC East. The 6-4 Eagles are also tied with the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants in the race for the two NFC Wild Card spots.

Chicago, on the other hand, has now lost five of its last six games, and at 4-6 trails Philly, the Packers and Giants by two games in the NFC Wild Card race.

The Giants, coming off a huge losing streak, needed an awesome game from star quarterback Eli Manning and overtime to do it, but the Giants were able to just overcome the Atlanta Falcons, 34-31, Sunday afternoon. They got their first win since Oct. 11 thanks to a 384-yard, three-touchdown performance from their quarterback, and a game-winning 36-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes.

Going into Week 9 in the NFL its clear that the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts are the two best teams in the NFL. Both teams from New York, the Giants and the Jets, were overrated by NFL fans after three weeks. Also, the Dallas Cowboy and Philadelphia Eagles are the class of the NFC East.

The other two teams, Eagles and Cowboys are tied at the top of the NFC East and face each other this Sunday, a game that could determine which team heads into the playoffs with a top four seed and which team will be fighting for the wildcard.

The Eagles have been incredible since being upset by the Raiders in Week 6, 13 to 9 as 14 point NFL betting favorites. They’ve covered two spreads in a row including absolutely dominating the Giants 40 to 17 just last Sunday as 1 point home faves.