YOUKILIS TO SIGN 4-YEAR DEAL WITH SOX ... RYAN IN THE LEAD FOR HC OF THE NYJ

Here's some quick notes on the day's events and also an update on the Jets coaching search.

** The Red Sox are reportedly closing in on signing first baseman Kevin Youkilis to a four-year contract worth over $40 million. Youkilis had a career year last season hitting .312 with 29 home runs and 115 RBI for Boston.

** The Detroit Lions hired Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to be their new head coach. Schwartz signed a four-year deal with the winless Lions. Believe it or not, Schwartz inherits what could quickly become a surprising team next year. The Lions have some great players on offense and should finally get a franchise quarterback with the first pick in the draft.

** Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan has jumped to top of the Jets wish list for a head coach. Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was thought to be the odds on favorite to get the job, but after an unimpressive interview, he has dropped below Ryan. If the Jets still considered Spagnuolo the favorite, then he most likely would have been hired already, as the Giants were eliminated on Sunday. The fact that the Jets are still taking their time most likely means they are willingly to wait for the Ravens' season to conclude to so they hire Ryan. Current offensive coordinator Brain Schottenheimer is also a candidate and I fully believe general manager Mike Tannenbaum would hire him if he could. Tannenbaum wants someone in the head coaching spot that he can completely control, and he would get that with Schottenheimer. But Jets fans would revolt if that happened. (Schottenheimer is part of the problem, not the solution.) Still, and this is some bad news, reportedly Ryan has agreed to keep Schottenheimer as the offensive coordinator if he is hired.

** Southern Cal QB Mark Sanchez announced today that he is entering the NFL Draft.

** Also, in a sign that college basketball is insane, seventh-graders are now officially considered prospects. The old standard was ninth-grade but that is out the window. I don't care what the NCAA says, that's just wrong. Three years from now we'll be talking about some fifth-grader signing with North Carolina or Duke. Watch it happen.

** Finally, vote for the true national champion right now. We've entered the final hours, so make sure to vote.