As things begin to wrap up in Florida and Arizona there have been quite a few moves in the last two days concerning various closers. And most of it was not good.

The Blue Jays announced that B.J. Ryan will begin the season on the DL. This is no surprise as he has barely pitched this spring. They hope to have him back mid-April at best. But given his history, it could be much later than that. Jeremy Accardo will pitch the ninth for the Jays. He led Toronto with 30 saves last year.

Brad Lidge will also begin the year on the DL. The Phillies had hoped he would secure a very shaky bullpen. That may be in peril now. He is expected to return April 5 but keep in mind that last year he was not able to hold his job with the Astros. Tom Gordon will take over the closer role in Philly. While the veteran was shaky last season and is also coming off of injury, he has pitched well in the spring.

Lou Piniella has finally decided on Kerry Wood to close games for the Cubs. He had been in competition with Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry this spring. While Wood may certainly be a great pitcher, he is no stranger to the DL. Don't be surprised to see both Marmol and Howry pitch a few games in the ninth inning this year. 

The Twins extended the contract of their stud closer Joe Nathan. The contract is reported to be worth $47 million over four years. While he may be deserving of the deal, many are wondering why the Twins didn't use some of that money to keep Johann Santana.

On a former-closer, current-starter note, John Smoltz may be heading for the DL to start the season. However, he may be able to pitch as early as April 6.  Still anytime a 40-year old pitcher starts missing games with a sore shoulder it is a sign that the end may be near.

Everyone was counting on Chad Johnson missing the Bengals' voluntary workouts on Monday, but the fact that fellow wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh joined him came as a bit of a surprise.

Johnson continues to state his case to anyone that will listen that "he wants to be a winner" and that he "wants to play on a team that has chance to make the playoffs", but in reality Ocho Cinco and his agent Drew Rosenhaus want to get to paid.

The fact that T.J. is taking Chad's side with this is not surprising, after all the two have been playing together for many years, but it is still extremely disappointing. There attitude is dragging down this team and if if continues to fester something is going to need to be addressed.

Lewis did address Johnson's absence in general with the club, but players said Lewis didn't talk about Johnson specifically.

"I've talked to Chad a few times," Lewis told the team's website. "My conversations with Chad this year have been no different than they were a year ago.

"What I addressed is the fact in the NFL a lot of different situations occur throughout the season and the offseason and don't have a bearing on one particular player. Guys have different things they're dealing with whether it be free agency, impending free agency, restricted free agency, whatever it may be. Different variables that occur. Whatever occurs, this is professional football and you've got to deal with it in your way."

ESPN's John Clayton is reporting that troubled Titans' CB Pacman Jones, who sat out all of last season after being suspended by commissioner Roger Goodell for his off-the-field behavior, could be reinstated before next month's NFL draft.

Tennessee is doing their best to put together a trade to get him out of town. 

The Dallas Morning News indicates that the Cowboys are one of the more serious suitors, but the Saints might make even more sense.

Even if New Orleans may not be the right kind of "environment" for someone trying to kick the nasty habit of visiting a certain type of club.

New Orleans does have a need at corner, for one. Two, the Saints probably feel like they're close enough to a title that a move like this could put them over the top, which has been a pretty underrated factor in all these talks. Three, they have a ton of financial flexibility, which is a minor thing here, since Pacman should come cheap. And finally, the team has strong leadership both in the coaching offices and the locker room.