Six of the most popular articles on SCST. http://www.scsportstalk.com The following is a listing of each Penguins player and his contract status, along with a look at his future with the team. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000264 Of all the people in the Penguins' quiet, sad locker room late last night, one was smiling. At least briefly.

That's because, in the aftermath of a missed chance at the Stanley Cup, Mario Lemieux saw a bigger picture than the 3-2 loss to Detroit that gave the Red Wings the Stanley Cup.

"We've come a long way in a short period of time. It's going to be a great team for many years to come. We've made some sacrifices in the last six, seven years with this franchise, but with the picks that we got and, of course, getting Sidney [Crosby] in the [2005 draft] lottery, it certainly turned this franchise around," said Lemieux, now the owner but then the star of the Penguins' 1991 and '92 Stanley Cup teams. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000262 ESPN The Magazine has conducted a detailed online survey of sports fans across America, and the results tell a fascinating story of how teams treat their fans and what fans think of their teams. Some 60,000 fans went to ESPN.com to answer questions in seven categories about the 122 teams that comprise the four major sports leagues: The NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB.

Fans had to identify their hometown and rate those teams in the various categories. An eighth and most important category was determined by the work of the sports marketing center at the University of Oregon.

Although not scientific in the truest sense, the survey used modern polling techniques from professionals in the field. In other words, the magazine did this about as well as it can be done.

Its take on the three Pittsburgh teams seems pretty much on the mark and goes a long way toward establishing its validity. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000246 Brett Favre finally is speaking for himself: He wants to play but doesn't feel welcome in Green Bay, so he's asking to be released. The quarterback's first substantial comments on his latest retirement decision reversal come in an interview with Fox News on "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren."

"I am guilty of retiring early and there is a reason for that," Favre said, according to an excerpt provided to The Associated Press before last night's broadcast. "And the major issue is 'Why did he retire?,' and 'He asked for a release because he doesn't want to play in Green Bay.' That's not true. And I hope people are hearing this and saying 'OK, that clears it up.'" http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000271 Officially, the Pirates have a trade in place to send Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to some team for some players.

"We have a deal in place, pending medical reviews of all the players," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said last night. "But, until there's clearance, it's a little bit vague."

Officially, it is vague.

Unofficially, it seems clear that the Pirates have traded Nady and Marte to the New York Yankees for four minor leaguers -- including three pitchers. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000277 The Steelers came to contract terms today with their top two draft picks and will have all their picks signed to contracts when they open training camp Sunday in Latrobe.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall, the team's first-round draft choice, came to terms on a five-year deal. Wide receiver Limas Sweed, their second-round choice, agreed to a four-year contract.

Mendenhall will sign for five years at $12.55 million. He will receive bonuses as part of that contract worth $6.83 million. Contract terms for Sweed were not immediately available. http://www.scsportstalk.com/viewarticle.php?id=1000279