In St. Louis, Jeff Gordon writes the Blues' four-year extension for GM Doug Armstrong -- "plus a fifth year at the club's option -- was correctly inevitable." This hockey operation has "never been in better shape." Armstrong has "delivered consistent success," including the franchise's first trip to the Western Conference Finals in 15 years. His regime "hasn't been perfect" but the "successes have far outweighed the failures." Armstrong "revamped the scouting and player development department, which led to the Blues finding more talent past the first round in the NHL Draft." The promotion of coach Mike Yeo and the "hiring of new assistant coaches helped the team hit the reset button with a younger core group" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/28).
SOUR APPLE: The NFL Giants yesterday suspended CB Eli Apple for Week 17 due to detrimental conduct, and in N.Y., Pat Leonard writes "poor leadership" in the organization, from President & CEO John Mara on down, has "created the culture of enabling and a leadership void that allowed Apple to help ruin a season and stain a franchise." Mara, former GM Jerry Reese and former coach Ben McAdoo "combined just the past two years to poorly handle domestic violence, scandals, drafts, signings, benchings and firings, just to name a few of their flaws" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/28).
