Drew Brees attended a “paddle out” in Oceanside, Calif., to honor the late Junior Seau. (Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images) An NFL team desperately in need of a positive headline and a feel-good story isn’t getting one from its quarterback.

Contract talks between the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees continue to go nowhere. Now, though, the situation is reaching a new level of concern.

“There's always a back and forth when it comes to these negotiations,” Brees said in an interview with WWL Radio’s Deke Bellavia. “But I know we've reached out on quite a few occasions. And at times, I know I've been frustrated with the lack of response. I would just say there should be a sense of urgency, and yet it seems like there's not.”

Will Rhymes collapses into the arms of Tampa Bay Rays first-base coach George Hendrick Wednesday night. (Chris O'Meara / AP)

In retrospect, perhaps the sound should have been a the first tip-off that this was no ordinary incident in which a batter is struck by a pitch and trots to first base.

The impact of the ball striking the bone in the forearm of Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Will Rhymes sounded like a ball hitting a bat, the “crack” was that distinctive.

Kobe Bryant drives past Serge Ibaka in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

It’s a sight not often seen: Kobe Bryant coming up small in the fourth quarter of a big game.

But, in Game 2 of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Western Conference semifinal series against the Thunder in Oklahoma City, it was Kevin Durant, James Harden and the Oklahoma City defense delivering in the fourth quarter. And, with the game on the line, Bryant wasn’t the go-to guy for the Lakers’ final shot. With the Thunder leading with 18.6 seconds left, Metta World Peace inbounded to Steve Blake, who tried for the game winner at the buzzer with Bryant covered, and missed. Now down 0-2, the Lakers take the series to L.A. knowing they couldn’t keep the Thunder from scoring the last nine points of Game 2.

It’s good to be the Kings. (Jeff Gross - Getty Images) Playoff fever is rampant in Los Angeles this week as both of the city’s NBA teams and it’s hockey team continue their postseason runs.

And while the Lakers and Clippers still dominate headlines, it’s the Los Angeles Kings who are the hottest team in town at the moment. They’ve now won seven straight games while knocking out the top two seeds in the Western Conference. And Thursday night they return to Staples Center looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead on Phoenix and move one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals.

It’s an exciting time in the City of Angels. And it’s high time someone told the local media.

Earlier this week, NBC4 News in Los Angeles featured the Clippers, Lakers and Kings in a spot on their broadcast. Only problem was they used the Sacramento Kings logo. Doh!

Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Farrell restrains Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie as he confronts home plate umpire Bill Miller. (Chris Young - AP) If Brett Lawrie had it all to do over again, he would have chucked his helmet in a different direction, rather than at the home plate umpire.

As for the rest of it, he wouldn’t change a thing.

The Toronto Blue Jays third baseman was suspended for four games and fined an undisclosed amount on Wednesday, one day after a ninth inning tirade directed at umpire Bill Miller. A pair of questionable strike calls triggered a fiery protest from Lawrie, who spiked his helmet on to turf just as he was ejected. The helmet bounced up and struck Miller on the hip.

Lawrie has appealed the decision and can continue playing until his hearing, which will likely take place next week.

“The only thing I would change is maybe not throwing the helmet or any equipment toward the umpire because you can get an unlucky hop and have the kind of mess that’s going on right now,” Lawrie said. He also said he plans to apologize to Miller for the incident.