Florida Sentinel Bulletin

How he fits: Re-signing Talib, the team’s top corner, was considered a key factor in the Patriots’ title hopes for next season. He made the most of his opportunity with New England after he was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay on Nov. 1. He brought stability and shutdown ability to a struggling Patriots secondary. Talib has the size (6-1, 205) and skills to match up against top receivers—and that’s exactly what he’ll be asked to do in 2013.

His ability to match up one-on-one takes pressure off the rest of the secondary and allows the team to be more aggressive in blitz packages.

The New England Patriots have let go of wide receiver Brandon Lloyd after the veteran played just one season with the franchise.

The Patriots announced the news through their official website. Lloyd joined New England last offseason when the team signed him to a three-year deal worth $12 million. He finished his 2012 campaign with 74 catches for 911 yards and four touchdowns.

The Boston Globe’s Greg A. Bedard believes that the Patriots are still in the running to keep Lloyd for next season: The 31-year-old has been a journeyman throughout his career, and the Pats were his sixth team. He found a significant amount of success while playing for Josh McDaniels, with his best season coming in 2010.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent the No. 7 pick in last April’s draft on safety Mark Barron.

Wednesday, they found him some help in the secondary, agreeing to a five-year deal with former 49er Dashon Goldson. The Buccaneers headed into free agency with upwards of $30 million available under the cap, coupled with a need to improve on a pass defense that was worst in the league last season.

Goldson certainly should help with the latter — and it was that extra cash that helped pry him away from San Francisco. Goldson reportedly received a five-year deal worth $41.25 million, $22 million of which will be guaranteed. For the Bucs, with all that money to spend, Goldson’s contract may not cause too much stress. However, that $8.25 million per-year average is the third-highest number for any safety in the league.

Can Goldson live up to that contract?

While Goldson, who will turn 29 in mid-September, picked off 14 passes over the past four season in San Francisco, he struggled down the stretch in coverage — particularly in the NFC title game against Atlanta.

Tampa Bay will need him to be much better than that to free up Barron. And it’s worth pointing out that Tampa Bay’s cornerbacks remain a relative weak spot, increasing the pressure on Goldson deep.

That said, Goldson often did yeoman’s work for the 49ers, both before and during 2012. He absolutely upgrades Tampa Bay’s defense.

With their 96-92 defeat to Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers lost more than just a costly game in their desperate attempt to salvage a postseason berth.

They also lost the one player capable of not just leading them to the playoffs, but also causing havoc when they get there. Lakers star Kobe Bryant’s night came to a disappointing end. He missed a potential game-tying jumper on the baseline, then landed awkwardly on the right foot of Atlanta Hawks guard Dahntay Jones. Bryant crumbled to the floor, remained there for several seconds, then hobbled over to the L.A. bench with the help of a trainer.

The initial diagnosis brought with it the possible end of the Lakers’ semi-magical run.

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has remained steadfast in his decision to come back from ACL surgery at full strength. Although Rose has practiced with the team for more than a month, he could be less than 100 percent because of a hamstring issue.

Rose told ESPN’s Doris Burk his hamstrings have been “on fire” following workouts. The desire to be able to dunk off his left knee remains another prerequisite Rose has yet to reach, despite reports he received medical clearance from the Chicago Bulls.

Coach Tom Thibodeau said the Bulls plan to worry about the players they have available as Rose focuses on rehab.

PHOENIX— The Arizona Cardinals have released running back Beanie Wells after four injury-plagued seasons.

A first-round pick in 2009, Wells showed flashes of the brilliance he had at Ohio State, but has only played one full season — his rookie year.

Wells eclipsed 1,000 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2011, but was limited to eight games last season due to a turf toe injury. Last season, he ran for 234 yards and eight touchdowns as part of what was the worst offense in the NFL. The move leaves the team thin at running back, with even more injury-plagued Ryan Williams the main returner.

Williams missed all of his rookie 2011 season and most of last season with injuries.

MIAMI — It’s not a LeBron James winning streak. It’s a Miami Heat winning streak.

If there was any confusion on that point, the reigning NBA champions might have cleared that up Sunday night. Mario Chalmers scored 26 points, Chris Bosh added 24 and the Heat won their 18th straight game, easily topping the Indiana Pacers 105-91 – even with James scoring only a season-low 13, yet clearly helping control play with seven assists and six rebounds.

The streak ties the seventh longest in NBA history, and is the league’s best since the Boston Celtics won 19 straight in November and December 2008. Ray Allen added 11 for Miami (47-14), which now has a victory over every NBA team this season.

The Heat had been 0-2 against the Pacers.

NEW YORK — Amare Stoudemire needs surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss six weeks, a stunning blow to the New York Knicks as they chase the Atlantic Division title.

Stoudemire, who had been playing well off the bench, will have the procedure to remove tissue within the week, the Knicks said Saturday before their game against the Utah Jazz. Stoudemire missed the first 30 games after having the same surgery, called a debridement, on his left knee during the preseason. He returned on New Year’s Day and has averaged 14.2 points in 29 games as a reserve.

The Knicks were also without Carmelo Anthony, sitting out his third straight game with a sore and stiff right knee. But the Stoudemire news was a surprise, since there was no indication there had been any problem with his surgically repaired knees until Saturday morning.

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals released Adrian Wilson on Friday, bringing an end to the hard-hitting, five-time Pro Bowl strong safety’s 12 seasons with the team.

Wilson, who had been the longest-tenured player on the team, took a pay cut to stay with the Cardinals before last season. But he knew as it was winding down that it would be his final one in the desert, especially when Rashad Johnson took a big chunk of his playing time.

Wilson, one of six NFL players with 25 interceptions and 25 sacks, made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and every year from 2008 through 2011. He had 27 interceptions and 25 1/2 sacks, including eight in 2005, which were the most ever by a defensive back.

The 33-year-old safety played in 181 games with Arizona, fifth-most in team history, and was a team captain five times, including last season. Friday’s move clears about $3 million in salary cap space.