Everything Football

Sean Taylor Inducted in Redskins Ring of Fame

2008-11-30T11:57:00.000-08:00

LANDOVER, Md. - Announced one last time as the "starting free safety" for the Washington Redskins, Sean Taylor was inducted into the team's Ring of Fame before Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

Sean Taylor was inducted by the team, while his father, mother, and ex-girlfriend stood close by eachother on the cold football field under umbrellas. Sean Taylor's name was unveiled near the upper-level part of the FedEx Field. Taylor's Number 21 was painted at midfield where the Redskin's usually have their logo placed.

After the ceremony, the public address announcer said: "Starting at free safety for your Washington Redskins, No. 21, Sean Taylor."

Running back Clinton Portis, Taylor's close friend, then ran onto the field carrying a large burgundy flag with a gold No. 21.

The game was the first following the one-year anniversary of Taylor's death. He was shot in his Florida home last Nov. 26 and died a day later.

NY Giants Burress to Surrender to Police

2008-11-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

LANDOVER, Md. —Giants receiver Plaxico Burress, who accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub on Friday night, is taking steps to surrender himself to police authorities, and my do so as early as Monday, according to his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman.

It was not known if Burress had a permit to carry a concealed weapon, and Brafman did not say, either. Under the league’s personal-conduct policy, violations of local gun laws can result in a player’s suspension.

“We’ll know what steps we are going to take by the end of the day,” Brafman said in a telephone call, shortly before the kickoff in the Giants’ game against Redskins on Sunday.

Burress could face gun charges there is also the possibility of a reckless endangerment charge, which carries a possible seven-year sentence.

Even if Burress' charges are not as stiff as originally reported, the league can still discipline him independently of the law. Commissioner Roger Goodell has been very strict in dealing with off-field issues, and considering this is right in his own backyard he is forced to read about it and hear it every day.

As for the Giants, sources say their initial reaction is to go after some of Burress' money in light of the fact that he was injured in a non-football injury incident.

Sylvester Croom resigns at Mississippi State

2008-11-29T13:59:00.000-08:00

By CHRIS TALBOTT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Sylvester Croom resigned from Mississippi State on Saturday, five years after becoming the Southeastern Conference's first black head football coach.

Croom's decision came less than 24 hours after an embarrassing 45-0 loss to No. 25 Mississippi in the most lopsided Egg Bowl in 37 years. He announced the decision after meeting with athletic director Greg Byrne.

Croom, who took over the team while it was under NCAA sanctions, won 2007 SEC coach of the year honors after leading the Bulldogs to an 8-5 finish and the Liberty Bowl. He signed a contract extension in the offseason that paid him $1.7 million this year.

But he came under immediate pressure from fans after a season-opening loss to Louisiana Tech of the Western Athletic Conference, and the heat only intensified as the offensively inept Bulldogs stumbled to a 4-8 finish.

The coach was 21-38 overall. He did not immediately return a phone message left by The Associated Press. READ STORY

New York Giants Burress Shot

2008-11-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress suffered an accidental gunshot wound Friday night in a club, according to multiple sources.

Details were not immediately known. But according to Fox Sports.com, Burress accidently shot himself in the leg and spent the night in the hospital.

READ MORE

Former Iowa State player Hicks dies

2008-11-28T19:30:00.000-08:00

OMAHA, Neb. - Former Iowa State University football player Stevie Hicks has died after being found under a bridge in downtown Omaha, Neb.

Police say the 25-year-old Hicks was found about 8:30 a.m. Friday on Interstate 480.

Police have released no information about Hicks' death.

Hicks was the Cyclones' top rusher for three consecutive seasons, rolling up more than 2,100 yards in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons combined, despite injuries that limited his playing time.

Information from the Omaha World-Herald: http://www.omaha.com/index.php

Tennessee, Kiffin reach tentative deal

2008-11-28T13:56:00.001-08:00

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee and Lane Kiffin have reached a tentative agreement with the former Oakland Raiders coach to lead the Volunteers, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

A formal announcement was expected early next week, said the person, who requested anonymity because the deal had not been finalized.

Kiffin, 33, replaces Phillip Fulmer, who was forced out after 17 seasons as Vols coach. Fulmer won a national championship in 1998 but had two losing seasons in the last five years, including a 4-7 mark this year.

Tennessee athletic department spokeswoman Tiffany Carpenter declined to comment on Kiffin because Fulmer had not finished his season. Athletic director Mike Hamilton did not return a phone message seeking comment.

The Vols (3-7, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) host Kentucky (6-5, 2-5) on Saturday night in what has been dubbed "Phillip Fulmer appreciation day."

The Knoxville News Sentinel first reported the deal.

Kiffin was the youngest coach in the NFL's modern history when hired to lead the Raiders in January 2007 at age 31.

The son of longtime NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin had a rocky relationship with Oakland owner Al Davis, who fired him Sept. 30 for what he said was insubordination. Kiffin had a 5-15 record with the Raiders.

He's since filed a grievance with the NFL to claim salary he maintains he's owed by the team.

Kiffin spent seven seasons as an assistant at Southern California under coach Pete Carroll, including two as recruiting and offensive coordinator.

He was a backup quarterback at Fresno State, where he began his coaching career as a quarterbacks coach. He also spent two seasons as offensive line coach at Colorado State.

Tennessee announced on Nov. 3 that the 58-year-old Fulmer would not be back next season. He has a 151-52 record as coach.

Fulmer signed a new seven-year contract in the summer which was worth $2.4 million this season. He will receive $6 million as a buyout of the contract, payable over a 48-month period.

Terms of Kiffin's deal were not available.

NFL Week 13 Power Rankings Now Ruled by Giants

2008-11-25T13:56:00.000-08:00

RobertDougherty

The NFL power rankings had had a set order for weeks, at least in the top 2. As long as the Tennessee Titans kept winning, they would stay at number one. The New York Giants, despite winning almost every game as well, would stay at number two. For weeks, these two teams were head and shoulders above all else in power rankings and in pundit's eyes.

Now, with one loss to the New York Jets, the Giants are ranked number one in most power rankings and the Titans are sliding down.

The Titans position as the top team in NFL power rankings was always going to slip if they lost one game. Despite the Titans 10-0 start, they were not talked about as seriously for a Super Bowl title as teams like the Giants. Now that the Jets defeated the Titans, it is the Giants and Jets that are getting all of the Super Bowl buzz now. READ STORY

Brees leads Saints to big win over Packers

2008-11-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Quarterback Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes to lift the New Orleans Saints to a 51-29 rout of the visiting Green Bay Packers on Monday.

Lance Moore caught two of the passes, one for 70 yards, and Pierre Thomas rushed for another two touchdowns.

Deuce McAllister set a franchise record with his 54th career touchdown as the Saints delighted a capacity crowd at the Louisiana Superdome with an impressive offensive performance, blowing open the game with 21 points in the third quarter.

"We spread the ball around pretty good," New Orleans coach Sean Payton told reporters. "We moved the ball well all night, Drew (Brees) was very comfortable out there and we did a lot of good things out there tonight."

The Saints improved to 6-5, keeping their playoff hopes alive despite being last in the NFC South.

"We had to have the win obviously," Payton added. "It was the right time to get the offence going."

Brees was 20-of-26 for 323 yards as New Orleans tied a team record for points scored in a game while getting back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

McAllister received a tumultuous ovation after the touchdown in what may have been his last game in New Orleans. He is appealing against a four-game suspension handed down by the NFL after he tested positive for a banned diuretic.

"We couldn't be happier for him," Payton said of the record- breaking touchdown. "His team mates, all the fans here had a chance to witness that. It was pretty special."

Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and ran for another but was intercepted three times as the Packers (5-6) fell out of a first place tie in the NFC Central with Chicago and Minnesota.

"We didn't slow them down at all tonight," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. "Give credit to the Saints and the play of their quarterback. He was on fire coming into the game and we didn't cool him off any."

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by Ed Osmond)

Alabama remains in top spot, followed by Texas and Oklahoma

2008-11-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

By David Jones

GAINESVILLE - After Saturday's 65-21 win against Texas Tech, Oklahoma coach Bobby Stoops jumped on the campaign trail, even taking an indirect shot at Florida.

"If it's logical for one, it's logical for the other," Stoops said in his post-game news conference. "If you're going to forgive other teams with one loss because they're playing well now, well, we're playing pretty well now too. If it's logical for someone else it's logical for us."

Some pollsters may have paid attention.

While Alabama remained No. 1 in all the polls and the BCS on Sunday, Florida jumped to No. 2 in this week's Associated Press writers poll and Harris Interactive voting. But Oklahoma is No. 2 in the USA Today coaches' poll. The USA Today and Harris polls are two-thirds of the BCS formula along with a combination of the computer rankings. READ STORY

Dolphins' Channing Crowder ejected for fighting

2008-11-23T15:47:00.000-08:00

By Omar Kelly |Sun-Sentinel.com

MIAMI GARDENS - Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder was ejected from Sunday's game against the Patriots because of a fight he had with left tackle Matt Light at the end of Stephen Gostkowski's 30-yard field goal.

The fourth-quarter confrontation started as a shoving match. Crowder pushed at Light's helmet with both his hands and Light responded by snatching Crowder's helmet off his head.

Light, the Patriots starting left tackle, then grabbed Crowder's dreadlocks and repeatedly punched at his head while holding his hair down.

Crowder eventually broke away from the exchange. But by that time players from both teams were exchanging shoves. After a minute or so the referees eventually restored order.

Crowder, who contributed eight tackles, and Light were ejected after a review of the incident. Reggie Torbor replaced Crowder as the inside linebacker who played next to Akin Ayodele.

Both players will likely face fines from the NFL. SEE INTERVIEW HERE

McNabb benched in second half vs. Ravens, starts Kolb at QB

2008-11-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

BALTIMORE(AP) -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was benched after the first half of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens following a miserable performance in which he committed three turnovers and failing to produce any points.

McNabb was 8-for-18 for 59 yards and two interceptions and a fumble -- a miserable 13.2 quarterback rating.

One week earlier, he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble in an overtime tie with Cincinnati.

After that game, the 10-year veteran said he didn't realize an NFL game could end in a tie.

With the Eagles down 10-7 at halftime Sunday, Philadelphia coach Andy Reid turned to Kevin Kolb, a second-round pick who didn't throw a pass as a rookie last year and had attempted nine throws this season.

In fairness to McNabb, he didn't get much support from the running game: The Eagles had 35 yards rushing in the first half, and McNabb had 7 of them.

Courtesy of ESPN.com

EAGLES QB McNabb Benched

2008-11-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

BALTIMORE, MD -- There has been a quarterback change with the Philadelphia Eagles that's sure to send shock waves through the NFL. The Eagles benched Donovan McNabb and started the second half of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with backup quarterback Kevin Kolb. There was no hint of injury from McNabb, as he was standing on the sidelines. He committed three turnovers in the first half and has seven turnovers in his last six quarters. McNabb has been at the center of controversy this week for his poor play and saying after the Eagles' 13-13 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals that he had been unaware NFL games can end in a draw.

The Eagles trailed the Ravens 10-7 at halftime Sunday.

James Walker covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

Brian Westbrook will start for Eagles

2008-11-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

BALTIMORE -- Brian Westbrook, hampered throughout the week by swelling in his ankle and knee, is active and will start today's game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Westbrook did not practice during the week, marking the first time he has done that and still played on Sunday. READ MORE

Oklahoma's message soundly delivered with destruction of Texas Tech

2008-11-23T09:15:00.000-08:00

NORMAN, Okla. -- Sam Bradford jumped around as he took a victory lap at Owen Field, handing out high-fives along the way to a line of adoring fans who had yet another reason to love him.

Bradford has the Oklahoma Sooners surging in the national championship race, raising his own Heisman stock as he goes. And, oh, what a mighty fall it was for Texas Tech. READ STORY

No. 7 PSU rips Mich. St. 49-18, heads to Rose Bowl

2008-11-22T16:59:00.000-08:00

By GENARO C. ARMAS

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Regardless of whether he stays or goes, Joe Paterno has Penn State back atop the Big Ten and headed to the Rose Bowl.

Daryll Clark threw for career-highs of 341 yards and four touchdowns and a stingy defense held Javon Ringer to a season-low 42 yards as the No. 7 Nittany Lions clinched BCS bid with a 49-18 victory against No. 17 Michigan State on Saturday.

Coaching again from the press box because of a sore hip, Paterno surely smiled after Penn State (11-1, 7-1) secured a share of the conference title and the school's first trip to Pasadena since 1995.

Whether it was JoePa's last game at Beaver Stadium remains unclear, as the Hall of Famer doesn't have a contract after this season. Both he and the school president have said Paterno doesn't need one to stay on a job he's had a record 43 seasons.

"Joe Paterno! Joe Paterno!" yelled fans in the stands midway through the fourth quarter as they turned and waved at the coach in the press box.

Paterno hasn't talked about quitting, and he's dropped hints of late that he plans to return in 2009.

It was a memorable day nonetheless in Happy Valley.

The Nittany Lions claimed a share of the Big Ten title with Ohio State, which beat Michigan earlier Saturday.

But Penn State owns the conference's automatic BCS bid by virtue of its 13-6 win over the Buckeyes earlier this year. Some players tried to get defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who's taken the lead role on the sideline with Paterno in the press box, to hold a rose in his mouth in the closing seconds.

Bradley tried stay serious, fighting back a smile, as the players celebrated.

The final home game for Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and 15 other Penn State seniors ended with the school joining Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Nebraska and Ohio State as programs with 800 victories.

Butler caught three TDs in his last home game, and, fittingly, Williams and fellow senior captain Anthony Scirrotto played integral roles in helping Penn State build a 28-0 lead late in the first half.

Under pressure, Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer rushed a pass over the middle. Scirrotto stepped in front for an interception at the Spartans 46, returning it 14 yards.

On the next play, Williams made a leaping catch at the 2 on a pass from Clark with Spartans safety Danny Fortener right on the receiver's back. Williams' momentum carried him into the end zone for a score and Penn State's four-touchdown lead.

The Spartans (9-3, 6-2) went to a hurry-up offense late in the first half to finally break through, and Ringer, third in the nation in rushing coming into the game, plunged in from the 1 with 22 seconds left to cut it to 28-7. It was Ringer's 21st touchdown of the seson, tying him with Jehuu Caulcrick (2007) for most in school history.

But the game was too far out of reach by then.

After struggling in the first half the last three weeks, Penn State's spread HD offense clicked all day, with Clark finishing 16-of-26 passing. Williams had 51 yards receiving on four catches.

Jordan Norwood had a career-high 127 yards on five receptions. All of Butler's receptions were for touchdowns, from four, 59, and a 70-yarder that gave Penn State a 42-7 lead in the third quarter.

The second half was a mere formality before the 109,000-plus fans at Beaver Stadium could officially celebrate Penn State's first conference title since 2005, when the Nittany Lions also shared it with the Buckeyes.

"We are ... Penn State!" roared through the stands in the game's waning minutes.

Ohio State Waits............

2008-11-22T14:03:00.000-08:00

By Jerod Smalley

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a game not expected to be close, it was not. But Ohio State vs. Michigan retained all the intensity befitting the greatest rivalry in the sport, as the Buckeyes made school history.

The Bucks jumped to a two touchdown lead in the first half in a 42-7 rout over the Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. It's an unprecedented 5th straight win for OSU over Michigan. It also ends Michigan's season with a school-record worst 3-9 record.

Beanie Wells recorded his 3rd long touchdown run in as many games against UM. His score set OSU ahead 7-0. The lead grew to 14-0 on a Terrelle Pryor 47 yard touchdown toss to Brian Hartline. READ STORY

Harvard Beats Yale to Win Share of Ivy League Football Title

2008-11-22T13:59:00.001-08:00

By Vince Golle

Nov. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Harvard University defeated Yale University 10-0 to win a share of the Ivy League college football title, its third in the past five years.

Harvard (9-1, 6-1 Ivy League) is co-champion with Brown University (7-3, 6-1), which beat Columbia University 41-10. The Crimson, 13-time winners of the league title, have defeated Yale in seven of their past eight games, including last year’s 37-6 victory.

Gino Gordon opened the scoring at Harvard Stadium in Boston with a 4-yard run at 8:06 in the first quarter. The sophomore running back rushed for 168 yards on 39 carries, while Harvard quarterback Chris Pizzotti ran for 74 yards on 16 attempts. READ STORY

No. 3 Gators swamp Citadel 70-19 in what might have been Tebow's final home

2008-11-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

By MARK LONG |AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) _ If this was Tim Tebow's final game at Florida Field, coach Urban Meyer let him put on a show.

At least for a quarter and a half.

Tebow threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, Chris Rainey ran for 142 yards and a score, and the third-ranked Gators overwhelmed The Citadel 70-19 on Saturday.

Florida (10-1) scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions, racked up 512 yards in the first half alone and became the first Southeastern Conference team to score at least 42 points in six consecutive games. READ STORY

Georgia Tech racks up 472 rushing yards, dampers No. 23 Miami's ACC title hopes

2008-11-20T23:35:00.000-08:00

ATLANTA -- This is the way they draw up the triple option.

Ruining Miami's return to national prominence, Georgia Tech ran for a staggering 472 yards -- the second-most ever allowed by the Hurricanes -- and romped to a 41-23 victory Thursday night that gives the Yellow Jackets a chance to pull out an Atlantic Coast Conference divisional title that no one seems eager to win.

Jonathan Dwyer ran for 128 yards despite playing only one half, two other players came up just short of 100 yards and the Yellow Jackets left No. 23 Miami dazed and confused on a chilly night in Atlanta. READ STORY HERE

Steelers limit Ocho Cinco-less Bengals to 208 yards

2008-11-20T23:29:00.000-08:00

The Steelers honored defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau with a pregame ceremony for his 50 years as an NFL coach and player. His league-best defense found the best possible way to pay tribute to him.The Steelers limited the depleted Bengals to six first downs following an early touchdown drive and found just enough offense themselves amid the snow flurries to control the clock behind Ben Roethlisberger and beat Cincinnati 27-10 on Thursday night. READ STORY

Bengals deactivate Ocho Cinco for game against Steelers

2008-11-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

By James Walker
ESPN.com

PITTSBURGH -- The Cincinnati Bengals have deactivated receiver Chad Ocho Cinco for Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for violation of a team rule.

The Bengals would not elaborate further on why Ocho Cinco was deactivated. The team said there will be no comment until after the game.

The Steelers (7-3) will host the Bengals (1-8-1) at 8:15 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.

READ STORY

Donald Driver's dad beaten by Houston police after dispute

2008-11-20T08:16:00.000-08:00

HOUSTON -- The father of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver was beaten by Houston, Texas, police officers as they arrested him for outstanding traffic warrants, Driver's family members claimed Wednesday.

As they beat him and forced him to swallow something, the officers told Marvin Driver Jr. he was "going to see Jesus," according to relatives and community activist Quanell Evans, who identified himself as Quanell X.

"Mr. Marvin Driver Jr. is now at Hermann Hospital in ICU where he can't even speak," relatives said in a statement. "Doctors say there is some bleeding on his brain from blunt force trauma."

Police said Driver was arrested for outstanding traffic warrants and was found to be "unresponsive" upon his arrival at jail. Paramedics transported him to the hospital, they said. The Houston Police Department said in a written statement it takes the assault allegations "very seriously, and will begin a thorough investigation into the matter." READ STORY

Cowboys CB Adam "Pacman" Jones Reinstated

2008-11-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The NFL is giving Adam "Pacman" Jones another chance.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday the suspended cornerback has been reinstated by league commissioner Roger Goodell, but he must miss two more games -- this Sunday and the following game on Thanksgiving. He'll be back Dec. 7 at Pittsburgh.

He much appreciates the Cowboys and Jerry Jones for standing behind him and encouraging him, and he's grateful to the commissioner," said Worrick Robinson, Adam Jones' Nashville-based attorney.

Jerry Jones would not reveal any conditions the commissioner may have imposed and the league office said it would not have any immediate comment. However, Robinson, said, "He knows what he has to do. It's very clear."

"He's a long way, a long way from having clear sailing," Jerry Jones said. READ MORE HERE

Ex-NFL player wants break on child support

2008-11-19T17:09:00.000-08:00

Former professional football player Travis Henry, who fathered nine children by nine women, returned to DeKalb County Superior Court on Wednesday to try to reduce child support payments for one son.

Henry wants to modify an order to pay $3,000 a month to the boy’s mother, Jameshia Beacham. His lawyer said the amount should be reduced now that Henry is unemployed — and likely out of the National Football League for good. READ MORE HERE

Players taking security measures after murders

2008-11-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

MIAMI (Reuters) - Frightened NFL players are carrying guns and hiring bodyguards as they seek to avoid becoming victims of violent crime which has already claimed the lives of two players.

Seven players told the latest edition of ESPN The Magazine, to be published on Friday, that the murders last year of Washington Redskins Sean Taylor safety and Denver Broncos' defensive back Darrent Williams, had raised the alarm among some of the country's toughest sportsmen. READ MORE HERE

NFL Week 12 Power Rankings Stay the Same on Top

2008-11-18T10:02:00.000-08:00

By Robert Dougherty,

As the NFL reaches mid November, this is a time where the true Super Bowl contenders begin to separate themselves from the pack, particularly in NFL power rankings. But thus far, only the Titans and Giants are doing that job. It is now becoming old hat to rank the Titans and Giants 1-2 in power rankings, as people have been doing for over a month. The chaos comes in the rest of the power rankings, as teams with 6 and 7 wins are still bunched together.

The Titans and Giants stayed on top of the power rankings with different brands of wins, as usual. The Titans had to rally and gut out a win over the Jaguars, with their new found air attack. The Giants thoroughly dominated the Ravens with their running game, as they have done to virtually everyone else.

The Titans are 10-0, with the Giants 9-1 and the Panthers 8-2. However, although the Panthers have the undisputed third best record in the NFL, it is hard to rate them the third best team in power rankings. Jake Delhomme keeps struggling while the Panthers haven't played the tough part of their schedule yet.

Behind those three teams, 12 NFL teams are piled together with 6 or 7 wins. Therefore, rating them in power rankings gets harder to do every week. But teams like the Cowboys, Colts, Steelers and Jets get extra bits of good will with their wins last week.

Nowhere to be found on the top group of NFL power rankings are teams from the NFC North, since three teams are 5-5 and the other, the Lions, may very well go 0-16. The Eagles humiliating tie against the Bengals has now relegated them to the bottom half of NFL rankings as well.

The power rankings may get turned even more upside down as the Titans and Giants face huge tests on Sunday. The Titans face the new AFC East leading Jets, while the Giants travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals and MVP favorite Kurt Warner.

Here are the best efforts to try and rank the best teams aside from the Titans and Giants.

1. Tennessee Titans: 10-0

2. New York Giants: 9-1

3. New York Jets: 7-3

4. Carolina Panthers: 8-2

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-3

6. Indianapolis Colts: 6-4

7. Arizona Cardinals: 7-3

8. Dallas Cowboys: 6-4

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-3

10. New England Patriots: 6-4

Dawson's 56-yard FG the difference for Browns after Lindell's miss

2008-11-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Turns out the Cleveland Browns aren't quitters after all. And they have Phil Dawson to thank for this wild win.

Dawson capped a five field-goal outing by hitting a career-long 56-yarder with 1:39 remaining to secure the Browns' 29-27 win over the reeling Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Cleveland snapped a two-game skid and rallied to avoid wasting a 13-point lead for a third straight time.

The Bills (5-5) had a chance to win with a clutch kick of their own, but Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard attempt with 38 seconds left.

Buffalo has lost four straight and five of six, looking nothing like the team that got off to a 4-0 start. Trent Edwards endured another sloppy performance, tossing three interceptions in Buffalo's first four possessions.

Edwards' 1-yard sneak gave the Bills a 27-26 lead with 2:35 left in the fourth, but Cleveland responded with a six-play, 28-yard drive that stalled on the Bills 39 when Braylon Edwards couldn't hold on to a Brady Quinn pass at the right sideline.

Without hesitation, Browns coach Romeo Crennel sent out Dawson, who calmly got off an easy kick that started toward the right goal post, before curling in to split the uprights.

Quinn earned his first victory in his second career start. The 2007 first-round pick went 14-of-36 for 185 yards.

Backup running back Jerome Harrison scored on an electric 72-yard run on the first play of the fourth to put the Browns up 23-13, and Edwards finished with eight catches for 104 yards.

Courtesy of ESPN.com

Polamalu TD stricken from record; league to look at 'tweaking' replay

2008-11-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

PITTSBURGH -- The first 11-10 game in NFL history shouldn't have ended that way, referee Scott Green said after a last-minute touchdown was errantly taken away from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

The officiating mistake didn't affect the outcome since the Steelers still would have won, but the touchdown would have changed the score to 17-10 -- or, more likely, 18-10, since the teams were lined up for an extra-point try that was never attempted.

On first-and-10 from San Diego's 21 with five seconds remaining, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers threw a short pass to LaDainian Tomlinson over the middle for 3 yards. Tomlinson turned and made a handoff-type lateral to wide receiver Chris Chambers, who attempted to pitch the ball to a teammate only to have safety Troy Polamalu scoop it up and score from the 12.

Both teams left the field on what looked to be a game-ending play but were called back by the officials for the extra-point attempt. At that point, the replay official called for a review.

After watching the play, Green initially announced the ruling on the field was upheld and the touchdown counted. But the officiating crew huddled again before the extra-point attempt and changed the call, deciding that an illegal forward pass should have ended the play.

Green, in a postgame interview with a pool reporter, said that call was errant -- even though his explanation for the confusion was almost as confusing as the play itself.

"We should have let the play go through in the end, yes," Green said. "It was misinterpreted that instead of killing the play, we should have let the play go through."

Green said the confusion occurred because there was a misunderstanding about which lateral was in question.

"The first pass was the one that was illegal, but it only kills the play if it hits the ground," Green said. "That was incorrect to have killed it at that point. The ruling should have let the play go on. That's just the way that it played out. We believe the second pass was legal."

Green was asked why, since the ball didn't hit the ground during any of the tossing, the officials decided after huddling that the play should have ended.

"We didn't kill it on the field," Green said. "After [the] discussion we decided ... there was some confusion over which pass we were talking about and it was decided that it was the second pass that was illegal that did hit the ground and therefore we killed the play there."

However, the officials realized afterward they erred.

"I know," Green said. "The rule was misinterpreted."

In an interview Monday on SportsCenter, Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president of officiating, said the league would look at "tweaking" its replay system, possibly before the playoffs, to allow officials to go back to replay a second time if an error is made. In the current system, officials cannot return to the monitor for a second look at a play if there is confusion about rules interpretation.

That the Steelers preserved their victory "doesn't make us feel any better about the call," Pereira said.

The score made a difference in the wallets of a lot of bettors on the Las Vegas Strip.

"Anyone who had a bet on the Pittsburgh side and thought they had won weren't too happy," said John Avello, director of the race and sports book at the Wynn resort.

Avello said there might have been $10 million bet on the game statewide and many times more than that in illegal bets around the country and in offshore Internet betting sites. There was more money bet on Pittsburgh, he said, especially in parlay bets.

Though the officials later said they made a mistake in calling back the touchdown, the official score remains 11-10, and even if the NFL changes it, Nevada sports books paid off on the final score from Sunday.

Asked about the officiating -- the Steelers drew 115 yards in penalties to the Chargers' 5 -- Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin declined to comment.

"No, I have never seen a game ended with 13-to-1 in penalties [the official tally was 13 against the Steelers, two against the Chargers], but I am not answering questions about the officiating," Tomlin said.

The call affected betting on the game since the Steelers were either a 4½- or five-point favorite and would have covered if the touchdown counted.

"It was weird," Steelers receiver Hines Ward said, " ... but this game is about wins and losses, and we won."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Graham's status for rest of season 'very much in question'

2008-11-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay's Earnest Graham injured his right ankle during a victory over the Minnesota Vikings, and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said the running back's season "could be in jeopardy."

Graham was hurt on his only carry in Sunday's 19-13 win, limping off after landing awkwardly when he was tackled after a 3-yard gain.

"His status for the rest of the season is very much in question right now," Gruden said Monday. "I don't have the exact medical terms, but I will say right now, it doesn't look like he'll play anytime soon."

Warrick Dunn took over as the featured back when Graham left, finishing with 53 yards on 20 carries to move ahead of Ricky Watters for 19th place on the NFL's career rushing list with 10,657 yards. He also had four receptions for 65 yards against the Vikings.

Graham's injury also figures to accelerate Carnell "Cadillac" Williams' comeback from an injury that kept him from playing since tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee in September 2007.

"I am ready to go," Williams told the Tampa Tribune. "I have put in a lot of work. I feel confident. I'm mentally ready and physically ready. I just hate the situation had to come like this with E.G. going down, but that's football. I'll make the best of the opportunity."

The fourth-year pro was moved from the physically unable to perform list to the 53-man roster last week, but he was inactive Sunday.

"Obviously we brought Cadillac up with the understanding he's ready to go," Gruden said. "We're very disappointed for Earnest. He means a lot to us. He's done so much for us here in the last couple of years. He a key reason why we are where we are."

Graham started 10 games in 2007 and rushed for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns in helping the Bucs win the NFC South.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

3 Vikings defensive linemen facing suspensions

2008-11-17T19:26:00.000-08:00

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—As three Minnesota defensive linemen travel to New York this week to meet with the NFL, they could be bringing the Vikings’ playoff fate with them.

Jared Allen, Pat Williams and Kevin Williams all will meet with league officials in hopes of avoiding suspensions that would gut the team’s biggest strength.

The Williams Wall will appear to discuss testing positive for a weight-loss diuretic that is on the list of substances banned by the league. They face four-game suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Allen will be there to talk about a hit on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers two weeks ago that could leave him vulnerable to a suspension because it came two days after he was fined $50,000 for hits on Houston’s Matt Schaub.

Losing three of their biggest—literally and figuratively—stars would be a devastating blow for a team currently tied with Chicago and Green Bay atop the muddled NFC North. Allen leads the team with eight sacks and Kevin Williams is second with seven. All three play a pivotal role in the team’s second-ranked run defense as well.

All three players were unavailable for comment Monday following a 19-13 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Kevin and Pat Williams declined comment after the game against the Bucs. When Allen was asked by reporters what he will discuss with league officials, he replied, “I have no clue. I’ll find out when I get there.”

Coach Brad Childress was asked about the situation Monday.

“I understand the question and I wish I could give you some insight, but those things are going to be between the league and who the league deals with,” he said. “So it’s difficult for me to comment on that.”

On top of it all, starting end Ray Edwards could face a fine for a late hit on Tampa quarterback Jeff Garcia in the second quarter.

Allen has said all season he never intentionally tries to hurt another player.

“We play a violent sport. We know that and we willingly sign up for it,” Allen said earlier this season when talking about the fines being issued by the league. “We don’t ever purposely go out to hurt anybody, ever.

“I know for myself, I have the utmost respect for everybody who plays this sport. But at the same time, it’s like you can’t make rules to tame it down. This is what we do. We’re grown men. We make the decision to do what we do.”

Childress has defended Allen’s hits, saying it can sometimes be impossible for a player running full speed to let up and avoid an opposing player who gets the ball away a split-second sooner.

That was the case against the Packers, when Allen went unblocked and had a free run at Rodgers. Moments after Rodgers released the ball, Allen hit him high and knocked him down, drawing a roughing-the-passer penalty.

When he looked at the tape last week, Childress said it didn’t appear to be a helmet-to-helmet hit.

“It’s like going from a green light to a red light without a yellow light in between,” Childress said. “He’s full-speed, on the gas, and the ball comes out. … Without being a physics major, I don’t think there’s any way that you can stop on a dime.”

Physics aside, that’s exactly what could happen to the Vikings’ quest for their first playoff appearance since 2004 if the NFL holds true to its historically hard-line nature when it comes to suspensions.

The league’s reputation for sticking to its rulings does not bode well for the Vikings.

The issue has been hovering over the team for the last month, ever since reports that Kevin and Pat Williams tested positive. But quarterback Gus Frerotte, the only starter available in the locker room Monday, said he doesn’t think it’s had a negative affect on the team.

“I don’t even worry about it. I don’t even think about it. It doesn’t bother me at all,” Frerotte said. “It has nothing to do with me, so I don’t even worry about it.”

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer

McNabb, others clueless about ties

2008-11-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tie? What tie?

Thanks to Donovan McNabb, players around the league now must know there doesn't have to be a winner or loser in every regular-season game. Yes, there are ties in the NFL. They just don't happen too often.

A day after the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals played a 13-13 tie — the league's first since 2002 — the focus wasn't on how poorly the teams performed on the field. Instead, everyone wanted to know how it's possible some professional football players, especially a 10-year veteran such as McNabb, don't know simple rules about overtimes games.

"I'm sure there are plenty of rules that guys don't understand, but I don't think that has any factor whatsoever to do with the outcome of this game and how they played in the overtime," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Monday. "I think that's absurd. You play to win in that time, whether you think you have another overtime period or you don't. And you play your heart out to win it in that time, and that's how we approached it and that's how the players approached it."

Reid ignored the point. Whether the players' ignorance about the overtime rule affected the outcome is debatable. It's inconceivable and embarrassing that some of them didn't know a game can end in a tie.

"I'll take the responsibility for that," Reid said.

Reid deserves plenty of blame for the Eagles' struggles this season and their inability to beat the lowly Bengals (1-8-1), but coaches shouldn't have to walk up and down the sideline telling players that overtime is do-or-die.

The Eagles (5-4-1) now have played 12 OT games, including one in the playoffs, since McNabb joined the team in 1999. Yet, the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback didn't know ties were possible until his desperation pass fell incomplete at the end of the fifth quarter.

"I've never been a part of a tie. I never even knew that was in the rule book," McNabb said after the game. "It's part of the rules, and we have to go with it. I was looking forward to getting the opportunity to get out there and try to drive to win the game. But unfortunately, with the rules, we settled with a tie."

The overtime rule isn't an obscure one. It was adopted fully by the NFL in 1974 and 17 games have since ended tied. The Eagles have been involved in four of those games.

"I guess we're aware of it now," McNabb said. "In college, there are multiple overtimes, and in high school and Pop Warner. I never knew in the professional ranks it would end that way. I hate to see what would happen in the Super Bowl and in the playoffs."

Uh, they keep playing if it's tied in the playoffs or Super Bowl. But McNabb apparently didn't know that, either.

In his defense, McNabb wasn't the only one oblivious to the rules. Several of his teammates were just as clueless.

"Me and Greg Lewis were discussing it on the sideline, so we asked one of our trainers and he told us it ends in a tie," running back Correll Buckhalter said.

"I found out while we were in OT," rookie wideout DeSean Jackson said.

"I thought we kept playing," linebacker Omar Gaither said.

McNabb was unavailable to reporters on Monday. A spokesman for the QB said McNabb told him he wished he knew the rule and wasn't going to make any excuses for not knowing it.

McNabb's comments took some of the heat off a miserable performance. He tied a career high with three interceptions, lost a fumble and completed fewer than half his passes (28-for-58).

Still, the Eagles remain in the NFC's playoff picture, though they hardly look like a team worthy of playing in January. Philadelphia is a half-game behind Washington, Dallas and Atlanta for the final wild-card spot with games against the Redskins and Cowboys the last two weeks.

The schedule doesn't help. Five of the last six opponents have winning records, with a trip to Baltimore (6-4) up next.

"We're going to get it straight is what we are going to do," Reid said. "We're going to work a little harder, up the concentration level, and make sure we do the right thing. I've seen our offense play well, I've seen our defense play well, and I've seen our special teams play well, and I just want to see them do it all together in one game. And when we do, we've got one heck of a football team."

By ROB MAADDI

Greg Robinson out as Syracuse football coach

2008-11-17T10:13:00.001-08:00

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP)—After Syracuse lost badly at Rutgers a week ago, Orange head coach Greg Robinson figured it was just a matter of time before he was out of a job.

The news came Sunday morning, only hours after a 39-14 home loss to Connecticut dropped his record in three-plus years to 9-36 and 3-25 in the Big East.

“I don’t think it really comes as a surprise to anyone. It doesn’t come as a surprise to me,” Robinson said at a press conference Sunday evening. “I ran out of time. I still see improvement. As always, I’m optimistic, I think with more time I could do better. Obviously, I didn’t get it done. That’s the bottom line. I understand why the decision was made, so I go from there. But I don’t feel badly about how I’m leaving it for the next person at all.

“Quite frankly, if they’d like me to be the next person, so be it,” Robinson said with a smile.”

In his meeting with athletic director Daryl Gross, Robinson told Gross it was important to him to finish the season and Gross readily agreed.

“I wanted to make sure under no uncertain terms he saw me as the head football coach until the season was concluded,” said Robinson, who had another year left on a contract that pays $1.1 million per season. “I’ve seen it become chaotic. This will not be chaotic.”

With road games remaining against Notre Dame and No. 19 Cincinnati, Syracuse (2-8, 1-5) will try to avoid its third 10-loss season under Robinson. The Orange had never reached double-digit losses in a season before Robinson was hired by Gross in January 2005 to replace Paul Pasqualoni.

Robinson began deflecting questions about his future as early as media day in August. As the team struggled through September and October, managing only a win over Northeastern of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), the public discontent and the empty seats in the Carrier Dome only increased.

“Last week we fell out of bowl contention and this week was senior week. We just thought at this point the community could relax,” Gross said, explaining why he waited until Sunday to make a decision. “He’s a guy who wanted to live here the rest of his life. A guy like that you give a chance.”

After Syracuse went 2-10 last season, Gross decided to retain Robinson despite calls for change from both alumni and fans. Gross said he needed to see “tangible improvement” in the program—but that never happened.

Syracuse stayed close to Pittsburgh and West Virginia in its first two Big East games this season but was embarrassed 45-13 at South Florida on Oct. 18, accumulating 9 yards of offense and no first downs in the second half.

A 28-21 victory against Louisville at home on Nov. 1 provided a glimmer of hope, but the Orange have lost their last two games by a combined score of 74-31. Lopsided losses have been commonplace during Robinson’s tenure.

“We talked this year about having all this progress, and we’re not getting the wins,” Gross said. “This is a program that I felt at this time should be moving back toward prominence and competing for conference championships and we’re not there. I think we need to move a little faster.”

Gross said a search was under way but offered no details.

Through all the down times, though, one thing remained constant—Robinson’s players never seemed to give up. Most were despondent at the news.

“It’s hard for myself and my teammates to stomach,” senior tailback Curtis Brinkley said.

“Coach Robinson is the reason why I’m here. He took a shot at me coming out of high school,” said junior Andrew Robinson, the first quarterback Robinson signed and this year’s starter. “He’s taught me how to act in the face of adversity and to be a team leader and a team player. I have a whole lot of respect for him, that’s for sure. We were all pretty quiet after he told us.

“It’s a disappointing day, but we’re not really surprised,” said Andrew Robinson, who was dropped to second string after playing poorly in the season-opening loss at Northwestern. “Like most people, I kind of expected it. We’re not immune to the outside world and the media.”

Robinson was a longtime NFL and college defensive coordinator, but he’d never been a head coach. He was hired to revive a Syracuse program with a long tradition of success that had gone stale.

Under him, though, the Orange struggled as never before. Robinson’s first team went 1-10, the first time since Syracuse began playing football in 1889 that it lost 10 games. There have been few signs of improvement.

The team’s poor performance under Robinson, who has had three offensive coordinators in his four seasons, also has hurt financially. In 21 homes games over Robinson’s first three seasons, more than 260,000 seats were not sold.

Average attendance fell to a 21-year low in 2007, and attendance numbers are again abysmal this season. Only 27,549 turned out for Pittsburgh in September, the smallest Carrier Dome crowd in 22 years, and although Saturday night’s announced attendance was just over 28,000, there were thousands fewer in the stands and virtually nobody remaining in the fourth quarter.

In April, the school newspaper, The Daily Orange, reported that the football team lost money in 2006 for the first time since 1995, when athletic departments were first required to report their finances to the government.

BCS standings stagnant

2008-11-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (AP)—All the national title contenders took care of business and the BCS standings were unchanged at the top Sunday, with Alabama and Texas Tech holding the first two spots and Florida, Texas and Oklahoma poised to move up.

The Crimson Tide ran away from Mississippi State in the second half of a 32-7 victory Saturday that kept Alabama on top of both the USA Today coaches’ poll and the Harris poll. The Tide has a .9787 BCS average.

Texas Tech (.9698) remained second in the polls and first according to the computer ratings during a week off. The Red Raiders head into their fourth straight game against a ranked opponent, this time at Oklahoma, in control of their national title and Big 12 championship hopes.

The Sooners also had the week off, while Florida and Texas both had blowout victories Saturday.

Florida and Alabama will play for the Southeastern Conference title on Dec. 6, and if they can avoid losing before they get there, the game will probably amount to a national semifinal with the winner advancing to play for the national championship.

Southern California, also a big winner Saturday, is still stuck behind the top five and in need of at least a couple upsets to reach the national championship game.

USC also needs help to win the Pac-10 championship and earn a trip to the Rose Bowl. Oregon State, which beat the Trojans in September, can earn a Rose Bowl bid with victories at Arizona and against Oregon.

The Trojans, however, would be a prime candidate to receive an at-large bid to the BCS if they finish the season with victories against Notre Dame and UCLA.

Penn State and Utah can both lock up spots in the Bowl Championship Series on Saturday with victories.

The Nittany Lions can win the Big Ten title and a spot in the Rose Bowl by beating Michigan State in Happy Valley.

Utah would lock up an automatic BCS bid if it can complete its perfect season with a victory against BYU. The Utes, from the Mountain West Conference, are seventh in the BCS standings and need to finish in the top 12 to earn their second BCS appearance since 2004.

Boise State is ninth in the standings and unbeaten. The Broncos can be eligible for an at-large BCS berth if they win out and are Western Athletic Conference champions, but they’ll need Utah to lose to earn an automatic bid to one of the five marquee bowl games for the second time in three seasons.

Also on Sunday, BCS coordinator John Swofford responded to a playoff push by President-elect Barack Obama that was broadcast on CBS’ “60 Minutes.

“First of all I want to congratulate newly elected President Obama and I am glad he has a passion for college football like so many other Americans,” Swofford said in a statement. “For now, our constituencies—and I know he understands constituencies—have settled on the current BCS system, which the majority believe is the best system yet to determine a national champion while also maintaining the college football regular season as the best and most meaningful in sports.”

Swofford added: “We certainly respect the opinions of president-elect Obama and welcome dialogue on what’s best for college football.”

Obama said he will use his influence to create such a system.

“If you’ve got a bunch of teams who play throughout the season, and many of them have one loss or two losses, there’s no clear decisive winner. We should be creating a playoff system,” he told reporter Steve Kroft.

According to Obama’s proposed system, eight teams would play over three rounds to settle the national champion.

“It would add three extra weeks to the season,” he said at the conclusion of a wide-ranging interview. “You could trim back on the regular season. I don’t know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this. So, I’m going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Cowboys Saves Season with win over Redskins

2008-11-16T20:32:00.000-08:00

LANDOVER, Md. -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admitted before Sunday's game that his team needed to beat the Redskins to save its season. And for at least one week, that's exactly what the Cowboys did with a 14-10 victory in front of 90,830 at FedEx Field.

The Redskins couldn't put the game away when they had the chance, in part, because the Cowboys' defense refused to cooperate. DeMarcus Ware's second sack of the game forced Washington to try a 46-yard field goal that fell short.

Before that, cornerback Terence Newman ended a Redskins drive when he broke in front of a short pass to Santana Moss to make an interception. The Cowboys' offense finally delivered by riding the powerful legs of Marion Barber. And quarterback Tony Romo came up with two huge throws early in the fourth quarter. On a third-and-7, he called upon his improvisational skills to shovel a pass to Miles Austin on the run.

On the next play, he found rookie tight end Martellus Bennett for a 25-yard touchdown. The Redskins drove the ball to the Cowboys' 37-yard line, but couldn't convert on third- and fourth-and-4. Newman, who returned after missing five games with a sports hernia, had Moss blanketed on the fourth-down play.

Early in the game, it looked like Clinton Portis' return from a knee injury would inspire the Redskins offense. Portis had five carries for 29 yards on the Redskins' first possession, and fullback Mike Sellers finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown catch.

The hero for the Cowboys, though, was Barber. He completely took over the game in the fourth quarter. And for the first time in over a month, the offensive line took over the line of scrimmage.

Facing a fourth-and-1 deep in Redskins territory, Wade Phillips chose to dial up Barber one more time. It worked, and the Cowboys' playoff hopes received a serious shot in the arm. Both teams are now 6-4, which leaves 5-4-1 Philadelphia in the NFC East cellar.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Steelers beat Chargers in NFL's first 11-10 game

2008-11-16T18:34:00.001-08:00

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The only thing perfect on a snowy, frigid day when the weather and the offenses were equally awful was San Diego's regular-season record in Pittsburgh.

Make it 0-13.

Ben Roethlisberger stayed away from the mistakes that cost the Steelers their previous two home games, Willie Parker ran for 115 yards and Jeff Reed's third field goal won it — a 32-yarder with 11 seconds remaining — as Pittsburgh rallied to beat the Chargers 11-10 on Sunday.

The 11-10 final was the first in NFL history, and it was in jeopardy when Troy Polamalu returned an errant lateral 12 yards for an apparent touchdown on the final play. But it was overturned on replay — called an illegal forward pass — and the 11-10 score was restored.

By ALAN ROBINSON

Eagles, Bengals play to 13-13 tie

2008-11-16T14:44:00.001-08:00

CINCINNATI (AP)—Given the way Donovan McNabb played, the Philadelphia Eagles were lucky to get the tie.

McNabb fumbled and threw three interceptions in regulation, and nearly had another pass picked off in overtime Sunday as the Eagles and Bengals played to a 13-13 tie, the NFL’s first in six years.

Cincinnati’s Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard field goal with 7 seconds left in overtime, falling to the ground as the ball sailed a few inches wide to the right. It was a fitting way to end a game played like the very definition of a tie. Despite all the shanked punts and trick plays, this one went nowhere.

It was the first tied game in the NFL since Nov. 10, 2002, when the Falcons and Steelers finished 34-34 with Michael Vick and Tommy Maddox matching each other pass for pass. In this one, the teams matched each other gaffe for gaffe.

The Eagles (5-4-1) have yet to win a close game this season, going 0-4 with a tie in games decided by less than a touchdown. McNabb had a big hand in this one, matching his career high with three interceptions and setting up 10 of Cincinnati’s points.

He nearly had another, but Johnathan Joseph dropped a potential interception near midfield in overtime. Each team had three chances in the extra 15-minute quarter, but only the Bengals (1-8-1) got close enough to try a field goal.

Considering what went on the previous three hours, no one was surprised when Graham, 6-for-6 this season from 40-49 yards away, sliced it just outside the right upright for the second tie in franchise history. The Bengals played Houston to a 31-31 tie in 1969, their second season.

Philadelphia hadn’t finished with a tie since a 10-10 game against Baltimore in 1997. The Eagles’ defense had eight sacks and compensated for McNabb’s fumble by pulling off a goal-line stand from the 1 in the first quarter. The game soon settled in that pattern—a blitzing defense trying to erase the offense’s mishaps.

It ended up in a draw.

McNabb, who had only five interceptions coming in, went 28-of-58 for 339 yards. He repeatedly missed open receivers in an offense that has come to rely on him almost entirely because it lacks a running game. Brian Westbrook managed only 60 yards, his third straight sub-par game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick went 29-of-44 for 261 yards with a touchdown set up by McNabb’s first interception. He was under heavy pressure all game, forcing the Bengals to punt 11 times, tying their team record.

After Philadelphia’s David Akers tied it at 13 with 5:18 to go in regulation, neither team could put together a drive until the Bengals’ final one, set up by Sav Rocca’s third shanked punt of the game to Cincinnati’s 41. Sheldon Brown’s roughing-the-passer penalty gave the Bengals another huge break and set up Graham’s final kick.

Not even the breaks could break the tie.

Sources: NFL readies hearings for players who tested positive

2008-11-16T13:22:00.001-08:00

The NFL will conduct hearings Monday and Tuesday for the bulk of eight pending cases of players who tested for banned supplements under the league's steroid and performance-enhancement policy, according to sources.

Most of those players face an uphill battle with four-game suspensions looming that could affect the league's divisional races.

Among those cases include Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, as well as the New Orleans Saints' Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Charles Grant, and the Atlanta Falcons' Grady Jackson.

If they are denied their appeal, the players will be suspended for four games. After their hearings, both sides will file briefs and a decision is expected within the next 10-to-14 days.

The Saints' players are basing part of their appeal on allegations that the banned diuretic, Bumetanide, was not listed on the label of StarCaps, a weight-control supplement. Specifically, McAlister is claiming that he had the product cleared three or four years ago by the league's steroid administrator, and therefore recommended it to his teammates, sources said.

However, league sources say such a contention is a baseless argument because players are reminded that even though a product like StarCaps may not list the banned diuretic on its label, they are at risk with any supplement that is not regulated by the FDA.

Even more damaging to the players' cases, sources say that Dr. John Lombardo, the administrator of the steroids and performance enhancement policy, had issued additional warnings in 2007 and 2008 about diuretics and water pills, as well as listing the maker of StarCaps as a company that produces banned substances.

Last week, Jackson filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court in California against the manufacturer of StarCaps. He is seeking restitution for any lost salary and damages for "false advertising and unfair business practices."

Nesbit filed suit in October in federal court in New Jersey. He already served a four-game suspension, but wants to recoup $235,294 in lost salary from the maker of StarCaps.

Chris Mortensen is a senior NFL analyst for ESPN.

Grant’s big day leads Packers over Bears

2008-11-16T13:17:00.000-08:00

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Ryan Grant finally hit his stride for the Green Bay Packers, rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown in a dominant 37-3 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The win boosts the playoff hopes of the Packers (5-5), who came in on a two-game losing streak and trailing the Bears and Minnesota Vikings by one game in the NFC North standings. It also was the Packers’ first victory over the Bears at Lambeau Field since Lovie Smith took over as Chicago’s head coach.

Chicago (5-5) didn’t look much like a division co-leader or playoff contender on either side of the ball Sunday.

Kyle Orton started at quarterback for the Bears after sitting out last Sunday’s game with a sprained right ankle, but was outplayed by Aaron Rodgers.

By CHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writer

Gruden says taking Tennessee job isn't in his future

2008-11-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

If asked, he will not serve. So says Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden about the vacant University of Tennessee head coaching job.

"I've said it from the beginning, this is the only job I've really ever wanted," Gruden said, as quoted by the St. Petersburg Times. "As long as the Glazers will have me, I'll be here. I've got a lot of respect for Tennessee. I grew up down there a little bit. My wife is from there. But this is where I want to be, and I can only make myself that clear."

Gruden has a contract with Tampa Bay that runs through the 2011 season. But he said that even if he wasn't under contract, college football isn't where his heart is.

"I've wanted to be in the NFL my whole life, and this is something I'm really excited to do," Gruden said. "This is where I want to be, and I'll leave it at that."

Sources: Vols check to see if Gruden, Smith interested in open job

2008-11-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

The University of Tennessee is checking to see if there are any NFL volunteers to replace coach Phillip Fulmer.

In a wide-ranging nationwide search, sources say Tennessee has recently gauged the interest of at least two NFL head coaches -- Jon Gruden of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears.

Smith, a former assistant at Tennessee, told a university representative that he had no interest in the job.

It is unknown how Gruden privately responded, but he publicly shot down his interest, despite the fact that he was once a graduate assistant and met his wife Cindy, a former cheerleader, at the school. Additionally, Gruden does own parcels of land in the Knoxville, Tenn., area.

Gruden signed a contract extension with the Bucs after the 2007 season that makes him among the NFL's best-paid coaches. Smtih signed an extension with the Bears after the 2006 season.

Chris Mortensen is a senior NFL analyst for ESPN.

In letter to Davis, Fassel says he wants to coach Raiders

2008-11-16T13:05:00.000-08:00

Jim Fassel has stepped up his campaign to become an NFL head coach again in the most interesting of ways.

A team source tells ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that Fassel recently sent a handwritten letter to Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, expressing his respect and admiration for Davis and his desire to coach the embattled franchise.

Fassel last worked in the league as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens from 2003 until his dismissal midway through the 2006 season. He was head coach of the New York Giants from 1997 until the team fired him after the 2003 season.

Fassel was 60-56-1 in seven seasons with the Giants and led the club to a Super Bowl XXXV appearance against Baltimore. He had two interviews with the Washington Redskins last offseason before owner Daniel Snyder ultimately decided to hire Jim Zorn as his coach.

Lane Kiffin was fired by Davis on Sept. 30 after Oakland starter 1-3, with the job going to offensive line coach Tom Cable on an interim basis. The Raiders are 1-4 under Cable. Kiffin, meanwhile, has filed a grievance against Davis in an attempt to collect the remaining money on his contract.

The upheaval within the coaching staff has yet to abate. Davis, it turns out, stripped offensive coordinator Gregg Knapp of play-calling duties, a source told Mortensen. Cable said last week that he relieved Knapp of his duties before a Week 10 loss to the Carolina Panthers and would remain in that role for the rest of the season.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Pennigton & Dolphins beats Raiders 17-15

2008-11-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

MIAMI (AP)—Once again the Miami Dolphins saved their best for last.

Dan Carpenter nailed a 38-yard field goal with 38 seconds left to cap a 61-yard drive, and the Dolphins earned their fourth consecutive victory Sunday, beating woeful Oakland 17-15.

The Dolphins have been good closers all season, outscoring opponents 59-39 in fourth quarter.

Johnnie Lee Higgins scored on a 93-yard punt return with 4:30 left to give the Raiders their first lead, but Miami shook off the stunning score. Chad Pennington moved the Dolphins downfield in 10 plays, completing a 7-yard pass on fourth-and-5 to Ted Ginn Jr. to keep the drive alive.

With the win, the Dolphins (6-4) set up a showdown at home next Sunday against AFC East rival New England.

John Lynch to announce retirement Monday

2008-11-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—Big-hitting safety John Lynch’s crunching collisions are over.

Lynch has decided to retire, officially ending his career with a news conference Monday in Tampa, Fla.

The 37-year-old was a nine-time Pro Bowler for Denver and Tampa Bay, finishing with 1,277 tackles, 100 pass breakups and 26 interceptions in 224 regular-season games.

He departed Denver on good terms in July after being bumped from his starting role and signed with the Patriots. He was cut two weeks later and has been out of the game since.

“Just everything you’d want in a player,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Friday after hearing about Lynch’s retirement. “He set an example on how to be a pro.”

Lynch made it known that there was a price to pay for coming over the middle — a painful pounding.

“He made a name for himself with (big hits),” said safety Marlon McCree, whose emergence in Denver eventually led to Lynch bolting the Broncos. “That’s the type of player he was.”

Lynch played 11 years in Tampa Bay, winning a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers during the 2002 season. But he struggled with neck injuries in his final season there and eventually needed surgery to remove bone spurs.

The Bucs said goodbye, partly thinking his career was complete.

Lynch landed in Denver before the ‘04 season. He made four more Pro Bowl squads and guided the Broncos into the AFC championship game, losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

“John was one of the most intense players I have ever played with,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “It was an honor and a pleasure to play four years with John Lynch. I learned a lot from him.”

Lynch set the tone for the defense with his jarring hits.

“There was nothing better than for John to get that first big hit early,” Broncos defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. “The whole defense rallied around that. It got everybody hyped up, everybody ready to go.”

Lynch’s decline in playing time began last season as he started to come off the field on passing downs. Still, he played every snap over the last three games, and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen talked him into signing a cut-rate deal in the offseason.

As practices wore on, Lynch became disappointed with the amount of time he was receiving. He asked the team to let him explore other options.

The Broncos did just that, understanding his choice.

“You want them to be happy with how they finish things off,” receiver Brandon Stokley said. “You want what’s best for him. He was a great player, great teammate and somebody the NFL will miss.”

Not receivers, though.

Stokley took a couple of Lynch’s licks while playing for Indianapolis. Lynch’s blows hurt. A lot.

“He was somebody you always knew where he was,” Stokley said. “He brought it every play.”

McCree thanks the likes of Lynch for his pocketbook. He says Lynch, Philadelphia’s Brian Dawkins and others are the reason hard-hitting safeties are well compensated.

“I feel like every safety that plays this game is indebted to him,” McCree said. “The safeties they are drafting now, they’re drafting to model a guy like John Lynch.”

The prototypical safety is someone who seeks out contact—just like Lynch.

He’s made numerous rib-rattling hits, like knocking Colts tight end Dallas Clark silly in the final game of the regular season in ‘04. He drew a hefty fine for that one.

Then again, he’s drawn quite a few fines throughout his playing days.

Lynch has also been featured in his fair share of videos promoting fierce hits. His collisions are the stamp on his career.

“Those big hits—that’s a good thing to be known for,” Ekuban said. “We all looked for him to make that big, big hit early in the game, so we knew we were coming to play.”

Bears' Orton probable for divisional showdown vs. Green Bay

2008-11-16T08:28:00.001-08:00

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Quarterback Kyle Orton was listed as probable for the Chicago Bears' game at Green Bay on Sunday.

Orton sat out a 21-14 loss to Tennessee last week with a sprained right ankle. He was taken from the field on a cart late in the first half of a win over Detroit on Nov. 2.

Orton is enjoying a breakout season with 1,777 yards and 10 touchdowns after beating former starter Rex Grossman in a preseason competition.

If Orton can't go against the Packers, Grossman will likely make his second straight start.

Rams Jackson out vs San Francisco

2008-11-16T08:25:00.000-08:00

ST. LOUIS -- Rams running back Steven Jackson will not play Sunday against the 49ers because Jackson did not practice Friday. By sitting out at San Francisco, he will have missed three of the last four games.

Antonio Pittman and Travis Minor will be the running backs. Pittman, who has been playing through a hamstring injury, has 40 yards on 23 carries in the past two games.

Jackson was hurt while landing awkwardly in the fourth quarter of a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 19. He has 525 yards rushing, a 4.1-yard average and four touchdowns, and is tied for second on the team with 25 catches.

"I really didn't think I would miss a game, let alone two or three," Jackson said. "For it to linger like this, it really begins to make you wonder what's really going on."

The Rams (2-7) haven't changed their diagnosis of a strained thigh. Jackson said doctors have told him two MRI exams have revealed mostly swelling and inflammation.

Pennington probable for Sundays' game vs Raiders

2008-11-16T08:24:00.000-08:00

DAVIE, Fla. -- Quarterback Chad Pennington was added to the Miami Dolphins' injury report because of a sore foot, and he's listed as probable for Sunday's game against Oakland.

The Dolphins didn't elaborate on the injury Sunday or say or when it happened. Pennington ranks sixth in the NFL in passing and has led surprising Miami to a 5-4 record.

If Pennington can't play, rookie Chad Henne would make his first NFL start. He was taken in the second round of the April draft.

The Dolphins signed linebacker Rob Ninkovich off their practice squad and placed guard Matt McChesney on injured reserve.

Williams won't play in Bucs vs Vikings

2008-11-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

Carnell "Cadillac" Williams will not play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, despite being activated from the physically unable to perform list this week.

Williams returned to practice this week from a career-threatening knee injury that's sidelined him more than 13 months.

Williams rushed for 1,178 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie in 2005, but his production has been limited the past two seasons because of injuries. He has not played a game since Week 4 of the 2007 season after undergoing surgery in October.

Information from ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and The Associated Press was used in this report.

C.J. Gable, No. 6 USC make sure there was no second Stanford stunner, beating Cardinal 45-23

2008-11-15T19:24:00.000-08:00

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) _ C.J. Gable made sure there wouldn't be a second Stanford stunner.

Gable returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and ran for another score to help sixth-ranked Southern California overcome an early deficit and avenge last year's shocking loss to the Cardinal with a 45-23 victory Saturday.

Mark Sanchez added two touchdown passes and Stafon Johnson ran for two scores for the Trojans (9-1, 7-1 Pac-10), who had their season ruined a year ago when they lost as a 41-point home favorite, 24-23 to the Cardinal (5-6, 4-4).

The loss still stung 13 months later and there were plenty of reminders in the first sellout in three seasons at the remodeled Stanford Stadium. From the highlights of the game played on the video board during warmups, to the "Greatest Upset Ever" T-shirts worn by many fans in the crowd to the Stanford band spelling out the score of last year's game at halftime, the Cardinal did their best to extend the memory.

Their play on the field early in the game did even more to upset the Trojans. Stanford dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball early in the game before Gable's long kickoff return late in the second quarter tied the game at 17.

The Trojans controlled the game the rest of the way, giving up few more big runs to Toby Gerhart the rest of the way and getting a consistent running attack from Gable, Johnson and Joe McKnight.

There was a bit of gamesmanship in the closing seconds, as Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh sent on Aaron Zagory for a field goal in the closing seconds. USC coach Pete Carroll called a timeout to ice the kicker, so the Cardinal went for it and scored on an 18-yard pass from Alex Loukas to Austin Gunder.

The win helped USC keep pace with Oregon State (7-3, 6-1) in the Pac-10 race and stay in the hunt for a berth in the BCS title game. The Beavers own the tiebreaker in the conference based on a head-to-head win and the Trojans trail five teams in the BCS standings, meaning they still need some help to reach their goals this season.

Stanford has one more chance to achieve its goal of reaching a bowl game for the first time since 2001, needing a win in the Big Game next week at California to become eligible.

Until the second half, it seemed as if the Cardinal had a chance to do that this week. But the Trojans dominated the trenches and the game after halftime. USC ran for 243 yards in the second half, while holding Stanford to just 46. The Trojans have outscored their opponents 171-19 in the second half this season.

Johnson finished with 115 yards rushing, scoring on the go-ahead 7-yard TD run late in the third quarter. Gable's 3-yard run early in the fourth extended the lead and the Trojans put the game away on Sanchez's 50-yard touchdown pass to fullback Stanley Havili. That gave coach Carroll the win in his 100th game at USC.

Sanchez, who watched as an injured John David Booty threw four second-half interceptions last year against the Cardinal, went 11-for-17 for 136 yards and the two scores.

Gerhart finished with 101 yards and a touchdown, giving him 1,033 for the season. He is the first Stanford back to top the 1,000 mark since Tommy Vardell ran for a school-record 1,084 yards in 1991.

Tavita Pritchard engineered the comeback to beat the Trojans last year in his first start. But he couldn't do the same this season, going 9-for-22 for 111 yards and an interception.

Stanford started out fast, getting a 16-yard pass from Pritchard to Delano Howell on the second play. Pritchard then ran 40 yards on a scramble for the longest run of the season against USC. Gerhart capped the 80-yard drive with a 4-yard run, completing the longest touchdown drive of the season against the Trojans.

USC didn't even manage to record a first down until early in the second quarter as Sanchez was sacked twice early. He hit Damian Williams on a 5-yard TD pass to tie the game midway through the second quarter, but Stanford answered with another long drive.

Gerhart broke tackles and stumbled his way for 40 yards down to the 1 to set up Anthony Kimble's 1-yard score, but the Trojans tied it at 17 on Gable's kickoff return. The Trojans had three kickoff returns of at least 50 yards in the game, also getting two from Ronald Johnson.

By JOSH DUBOW |AP Sports Writer

McCoy sets Texas TD record, Longhorns whip Kansas

2008-11-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP)—If the Big 12 South title is ultimately decided on who handed Kansas the most lopsided loss, give Texas Tech the nod. The No. 2 Red Raiders crushed the Jayhawks 63-21 while No. 5 Oklahoma beat them 45-31.

But No. 4 Texas will not apologize for its 35-7 victory on Saturday no matter what the final BCS rankings might show.

“If 35-7 against Kansas on the road isn’t a good enough win for someone, we’ll just go wherever they tell us to go,” said Texas coach Mack Brown.

The Red Raiders, Sooners and Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 Big 12) could wind up in a three-way tie for the South title, which might mean the tiebreaker would be BCS standings. Those, of course, could be influenced by “style” points, including things like how they did against common opponents.

The Longhorns, who got 255 yards passing and two record-breaking touchdowns from Colt McCoy, no doubt were glad to see Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing get sacked all the way back to the 18 in the final minute after Kansas had a first-and-goal from the 2.

“That was our second team,” said starting linebacker Sergio Kindle. “They did a great job.”

The win gave Texas double-digit wins for the eighth year in a row, and McCoy’s two touchdown passes raised his season total to 31, breaking his own school record.

Increasing his mark as a starter to 30-7, the 6-foot-3 junior also tied Vince Young, his immediate predecessor, for the most wins as a Texas quarterback.

Reesing, hounded all day by the Texas pass rush and bedeviled by dropped passes, finally hit Dexton Fields with a 7-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that made it 21-7. But McCoy responded on the next two possessions with touchdown throws of 9 yards to Quan Crosby and 36 yards to Brandon Collins.

“That was big,” McCoy said. “We wanted to score with the wind. I was glad we got the ball with the wind in the third quarter. That really helped us. We wanted to score a lot of points. As many as we could, and we did.”

Kansas (6-5, 3-4) lost for the fourth time in five games and faces a distressing drop-off from the gaudy school-record 12-1 campaign of 2007 that gave hope the Jayhawks could compete in the powerful Big 12. Texas’ rugged defense, dominating the line of scrimmage, held Kansas to its lowest point total in more than three years.

Critics will point to the fact the Jayhawks benefited from a soft 2007 schedule that did not have them play Texas, Oklahoma or Texas Tech, as they did this season.

“I’ll put it to you like this,” said Kansas coach Mark Mangino. “I don’t make the schedule in the conference. And I would like to say we did what we had to do when whatever schedule was handed to us last year. We didn’t have to win 12 games. Yeah, the schedule is more difficult and the challenge is greater. But I’m not going to make any excuses.”

Reesing, the Austin, Texas, native who has smashed most of Kansas’ passing records in less than two seasons as a starter, was 25-for-50 for 258 yards and one touchdown. He had two passes dropped on Kansas’ first drive after Texas made it 21-0, but wound up with his only score of the day after Dezmon Briscoe made the catch of the year for the Jayhawks.

Facing fourth-and-11 from the Texas 32, Kansas sent Briscoe down the left sideline and the 6-foot-3 sophomore turned around, snared the ball with one hand and pressed it to his helmet as he was being slammed to the ground.

Brown, who declined to recruit Reesing out of high school, embraced the Kansas quarterback at the end of the game.

“It was a lot of fun playing against those guys and having a lot of family and friends up,” Reesing said. “You wish you could have had a better performance. But I played as hard as I could and did the best I could.”

The Longhorns scored on their first possession, with McCoy hitting Jordan Shipley for 16 yards to help set up Vondrell McGee’s 14-yard scoring run.

Chris Ogbonnaya made it 21-0 with a 10-yard run after Shipley vaulted over the line for a first down on a fake field goal play.

Texas safety Blake Gideon was taken to a hospital for tests after getting knocked unconscious on a collision with Kansas running back Angus Quigley. The team said tests were negative and he did not have a concussion.

No. 3 Gators swamp Spurrier, Gamecocks 56-6

2008-11-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)—The Ol’ Ball Coach never experienced anything like this.

Not as a player. Not as a coach. Not at Florida. Not at Duke. Not at South Carolina. Not even with the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits or with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins.

Percy Harvin ran for a career-high 167 yards and two touchdowns, Tim Tebow accounted for three scores and No. 3 Florida thrashed 24th-ranked South Carolina 56-6 Saturday, handing Steve Spurrier the worst loss of his playing or coaching career.

“A loss is a loss, whether it’s by one point or 50 points,” said Spurrier, who fell to 81-9 as a player and coach at Florida Field. “Sometimes getting your butt beat real good is better than a one-pointer or two-pointer.”

The Gators won their sixth in a row and kept their national title hopes alive by beating the Gamecocks for the 16th time in the last 17 years. The 50-point drubbing was South Carolina’s worst loss since falling 63-7 to Spurrier’s Gators in 1995.

Not even a few visor tosses would have helped Spurrier in this one.

“We got clobbered,” Spurrier said. “I don’t know what we could have done differently except try to keep things close.”

Florida finished with its most rushing yards (346) since 1989 and became the first team to win six straight SEC games by at least 28 points.

The Gators (9-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) scored three touchdowns in eight plays in the first quarter, capitalizing on three consecutive turnovers by South Carolina (7-4, 4-4), and put the game away when Harvin went 80 yards for a score on the opening play of the third.

Brandon Spikes started the scoring barrage when he intercepted Chris Smelley’s pass—the quarterback was under heavy pressure from linebacker Brandon Hicks—and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown.

“If there was a play of the game, that was it,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said.

Two plays later, Hicks tipped Smelley’s pass in the flat. Ahmad Black picked that one off, and Harvin darted up the middle for a 26-yard score on the next snap.

Smelley finished 13-of-24 for 92 yards. He alternated plays with Stephen Garcia, but neither was effective. Garcia was 6-of-13 for 28 yards with an interception.

The Gamecocks tried a little trickery on the ensuing kickoff, but Dion LeCorn’s lateral across the field went over Chris Hail’s outstretched arms. Florida’s James Smith scooped it up at the 3 and nearly scored. Hail tackled him just shy of the goal line.

Tebow took it from there, scoring his 11th rushing touchdown of the season and putting the Gators ahead 21-0.

Tebow made it 28-0 in the second when he hooked up with Deonte Thompson for a 46-yard score down the sideline. The Heisman Trophy winner finished 13-of-20 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 14 times for 39 yards. He lofted a 5-yard TD pass to Aaron Hernandez on the first play of the fourth, then turned things over to backup John Brantley the rest of the way.

“I can handle a few more of those,” Tebow said.

Tebow didn’t trounce South Carolina’s defense like he did a year ago, when he had 120 yards rushing and a school-record five touchdowns to go along with 304 yards passing and two more scores in the 51-31 victory. He didn’t have to, either.

Harvin did that. Harvin didn’t play in Columbia last year because of migraine headaches, but handed the Gamecocks two games worth of frustration Saturday.

He ran just eight times, but averaged 20.9 yards a carry and surpassed his previous career high (165 yards) set against Michigan in the Capital One Bowl in January.

“If he was a tailback on somebody else’s team, he’d be a 200-yards-a-game guy,” Spurrier said.

Harvin did it against the nation’s third-ranked defense, too. South Carolina led the SEC in total defense, allowing just 256.5 yards a game, and ranked third in scoring defense (15.6 points a game) and second against the run (101.4 yards a game).

The Gamecocks also hadn’t given up more than 24 points in any game, and all three of their losses were by seven points.

Not anymore.

“We heard about that all week. They came out saying they were the best defense,” Hicks said. “We felt like we had something to prove, to show America we’re the best defense no matter who’s in—backups or starters.”

Spurrier and Meyer met at midfield after the beatdown, and Meyer said Spurrier told him, “Good luck. Go on a four-game winning streak.”

Four more wins would probably give the Gators a third national championship, and their second in three years.

“This team is a lot better than the one two years ago,” said Spurrier, whose previous worst loss in Gainesville was a 33-21 setback in 1993 against rival and eventual national champion Florida State. “This team they have now is a lot stronger than that one in my opinion.”

Michigan loses school-record eighth game

2008-11-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)—Michigan has lost eight games for the first time in the storied program’s 129-year history after Northwestern beat the Wolverines 21-14 on Saturday.

C.J. Bacher threw touchdown passes on his first two drives of the second half to lift the Wildcats.

A school-record five of Michigan’s losses have come at home in Rich Rodriguez’s debut season.

College football’s winningest program had already sealed its first losing season since 1967 and snapped a 33-season bowl streak. Now the Wolverines (3-8, 2-5) failed to win consecutive games for the first time since 1962 heading into the finale on the road against rival Ohio State.

Northwestern (8-3, 4-3) has won eight games for the first time since 2000, the last time it beat Michigan. The Wildcats won at the Big House for the first time since 1995, when its coach was a star linebacker.

Michigan led 14-7 midway through the second quarter, then fell behind after Northwestern scored TDs on its opening possessions of the second half.

The Wolverines had two chances late in the game to drive for an overtime-forcing TD, including having the ball at its 42 with 1:46 to go and no timeouts left.

Bacher was 17-of-29 for 198 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. Ross Lane had seven receptions for 77 yards and a TD while Eric Peterman caught five passes for 79 yards and a score. Stephen Simmons had 56 yards rushing and a TD.

Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka was sidelined in the second quarter with a concussion and replaced by Bacher, who started the game.

Michigan’s Nick Sheridan was 8-for-29 for 61 yards and ran for a score. Steven Threet replaced him in the second half, but left the game with an injury late in the fourth quarter after completing 4 of 7 passes for 22 yards and an interception.

Carlos Brown had a season-high 115 yards rushing for the Wolverines.

The announced crowd was 107,856, but Michigan Stadium was mostly empty after subfreezing wind chill, rain, sleet and snow along with poor play led to many fans not returning to their seats after halftime.

The game started off as ugly as the conditions with an interception, a blocked field goal and a muffed punt return in the first 3-plus minutes.

Northwestern took advantage of the mishandled punt return, taking a 7-0 lead on Simmons’ 21-yard run on a third-and-18.

Michigan tied it late in the first quarter on Sheridan’s 3-yard run and went ahead 14-7 early in the second when Michael Williams blocked a punt and Ricky Reyes returned it a few yards for a TD.

Bacher tied the game, throwing a 17-yard pass to Lane on a third-and-goal. Bacher put the Wildcats ahead 21-7 when he connected with a wide-open Peterman, who ran 53 yards untouched.

Threet, who had been sidelined by concussion-related symptoms, entered the game late in the third quarter after Michigan opened the second half with four straight three-and-out possessions.

He threw behind an open receiver in the end zone and Jordan Mabin intercepted it early in the fourth quarter.

Threet was hurt after running for a first down with 4:21 left and was replaced by Sheridan, who converted a fourth down with a run then turned the ball over on downs at the Northwestern 34.

Michigan got the ball back, but Sheridan couldn’t complete a pass.

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

Illinois mistakes lift Ohio State, 30-20

2008-11-15T12:42:00.000-08:00

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP)—Beanie Wells ran for 143 yards and a touchdown and Terrelle Pryor added another 110 yards Saturday in No. 10 Ohio State’s 30-20 win over Illinois.

The victory kept the Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1) in the chase for the Big Ten title. It was also revenge for last year’s 28-21 loss to the Illini, which ended Ohio State’s pursuit of a perfect season.

A flurry of first-half mistakes doomed Illinois (5-6, 3-4), including a blocked punt for a safety and two turnovers.

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams fumbled the ball deep in his own territory, setting up a Pryor touchdown.

No. 7 Penn State pulls way for win over Indiana

2008-11-15T12:39:00.001-08:00

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP)—No. 7 Penn State overcame a sluggish start to move a step closer to the Rose Bowl.

Derrick Williams ran for one score and caught a touchdown pass, Daryll Clark threw for 240 yards and two scores in an uneven outing, and a stifling defense held Indiana to six first downs in the Nittany Lions’ 34-7 victory on a dreary Saturday.

Heavy underdogs coming into Beaver Stadium, Indiana (3-8, 1-6 Big Ten) trailed just 10-7 at halftime in large part because of miscues by Penn State (10-1, 6-1). One drive ended after Clark fumbled at the Indiana 1, while Kevin Kelly missed a 40-yard field goal to foil another effort.

Momentum swung after halftime in favor of the Nittany Lions and Joe Paterno, who once again coached from the press box because of a sore right leg and hip.

Tailback Evan Royster bounced off three Indiana tacklers like a pinball on a 19-yard touchdown run to put Penn State up 17-7. Royster finished with 63 yards on 12 carries.

The defense then pinned Indiana deep on the next drive with a three-and-out. Kelly kicked a 36-yard field goal to extend the lead to 13 with 8:20 left in the third quarter before Clark hit Deon Butler on a slant from 6 yards out to push Penn State ahead 27-7 about five minutes later.

Bundled up in ponchos and slickers under a cold, off-and-on rain, the relatively subdued Penn State faithful could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Marcus Thigpen led Indiana with 72 yards on eight carries, including a 57-yard touchdown run in the first half. Indiana managed just 180 yards of total offense on the day.

The Nittany Lions returned to the win column following the disheartening defeat Nov. 8 at Iowa that crippled the chances of a third national title for Penn State’s Hall of Fame coach.

A Big Ten championship is still well within reach, though Penn State faces a tough obstacle next week at home against No. 15 Michigan State. The Spartans were idle on Saturday.

Indiana had injury problems, missing three starters in the secondary. Hampered throughout the season by sore ankle, quarterback Kellen Lewis struggled under withering Penn State pressure in the second half and finished 9-of-21 passing for just 57 yards and an interception.

Williams had a 39-yard touchdown catch over the middle to give Penn State a 7-0 lead, and he added a 36-yard scoring run on an end-around in the fourth quarter. The senior captain finished with 62 yards on four receptions, and 61 yards rushing on four carries.

Yet the Hoosiers still had designs on an upset after staying close to Penn State through the soggy first half.

Thigpen bounced out from a crowd on a run up the middle and found two blockers around the edge to escort him untouched down the sideline for his long TD run that silenced the crowd and evened the score at 7-7.

But the second half has been a problem all year for the Hoosiers, who came into the game being outscored 163-68 after halftime, and Saturday was no different.

Coming off the worst performance of the season at Iowa, Clark bounced back by going 20-of-36 passing. He softened the Indiana defense by hitting receivers over the middle, but the quarterback also fumbled twice and threw a deep interception into double coverage on a pass intended for Butler.

Butler finished with 56 yards on five catches. He broke the school’s career reception record of 167, previously held by Bobby Engram.

Breaking down Iowa versus Purdue

2008-11-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Iowa offense vs. Purdue's defense

Led by a solid front seven, the Boilermakers' defense is trying to keep things respectable. The D-line has been active and productive, producing 20 of the team's 22 sacks. End Ryan Kerrigan leads the way with 6.0 sacks, which is 49th in the nation among interior linemen. Tackle Mike Dean has racked up 5.5 sacks, with DE Alex Magee following with 3.5. Kerrigan led a stellar defensive effort against Ohio State, sacking quarterback Terrelle Pryor two times.

Linebacker Anthony Heygood trails Illinois linebacker Brit Miller for the Big Ten lead in tackles. Heygood has 102 tackles, 21 more than he had last season, including a season-high 14 in last week's 21-7 loss at Michigan State. He's the first Boiler to top 100 tackles since 2002. He switched to defense midway through his junior season.

The Boilers' defense is a statistical anomaly. It's second-to-last in the Big Ten in total defense, allowing 376.3 yards a game, but it's also held the conference's two highest-ranked teams, No. 7 Penn State and No. 10 Ohio State, to 20 and 16 points, respectively. In its last two games, the Purdue defense has allowed just 600 yards offense. Against Michigan State, Purdue allowed just two TDs. Ohio State generated just 222 yards and 56 plays, that was the Boilers' best defensive effort in 54 games, dating back to a 2004 game against Ball State.

It's had its moments, but Purdue's defense has numbers that are definite red flags. The rush defense is 10th in the Big Ten and 90th nationally at 172.8 yards a game, not a good match-up against the Hawkeyes. Also, the Boilers are allowing 26.9 points a game, ninth in the conference and 88th nationally.

"They're a feisty group. They're tough, veteran upfront, and they have got a lot of veterans upfront in that line and they are playing well," Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said of Brock Spack's defense. "You've heard me say before, you look at Purdue's overall success, everybody thinks about the offense, rightly so, it's been excellent, but their defense has been very consistent and very good all the way through."

For the first time in his young career, Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi overcame turnovers (a fumble and interception led to 10 Penn State points) and punched through with a victory. The punching through was great, but the Hawkeyes can't live on the edge with the turnovers. Turnovers would be the fuel for any of Purdue's ideas of upset today.

Check RB Shonn Greene's fourth quarter touchdown run, a 5-yarder into a mass of humanity on the sideline. He came out of it with either 1) the wind knocked out of him (he bent over) or 2) something with his left wrist, which he seemed to hold after the run. Could be something, could be nothing. After Daniel Murray's kick, he ran out onto the field just like everyone else. He also did interviews afterward and seemed fine.

Last week was a WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos' day. The sophomore caught seven passes for 89 yards and a TD. It was exactly the type of performance the Iowa passing game needed out of a receiver not named Andy Brodell.

Iowa's offensive line left an imprint last week, in good and bad ways. Greene got 117 yards, but the Hawkeyes also gave up three sacks, raising their season total to 23, eighth in the Big Ten.

Advantage: Iowa

Iowa defense vs. Purdue's offense

Three-plus-year starter Curtis Painter, who's missed the last two games with a separated shoulder, could return today. He threw the ball this week and all signs pointed to a return for the third-leading passer in Big Ten history. Painter is in the Big Ten's career top 10 in six categories, including TD passes (60), completions (925) and yards (10,525).

Painter is close to a return, but red-shirt freshman Justin Siller is the likely starter today. Purdue Coach Joe Tiller wants to use both quarterbacks today to give the Hawkeyes' defense a little something to think about. In Siller's first career start, he blistered Michigan for 21 of 34 for 266 yards and three TDs. He also rushed for 77 yards and another score. He's a quarterback who switched to running back and then back to quarterback this fall.

Tiller would favor Painter in two-minute situations, but he also has to be happy with what Siller has shown. He wasn't productive last week in a 21-7 loss to Michigan State, but the entire Purdue offense was in a "Tiller era low" mode. The Boilers finished with just 191 total yards, the fewest in the Tiller era. It was the fourth game this season Purdue scored seven points or fewer. That's the most for a single season for the Boilers under Tiller.

Just as last week, the weather might have an influence on today's game. The forecast called for 30 degrees and possible precipitation.

The Boilers' O-line might be the most beaten-down unit in the Big Ten. Last week, guard Eric Hedstrom (knee) missed his second game and tackle Sean Sester (knee) missed his third. Garret Miller, a starting tackle, is already is out for the season. Reserve guard Justin Pierce injured his groin last week. That left Purdue with pretty much just five linemen against Michigan State.

Despite a public dust-up over criticism of Painter,Running back Kory Sheets remains the Boilers' most consistent performer on offense. He rushed for 93 yards against MSU and became just the sixth back in Purdue history to rush for more than 1,000 (1,017) in a season. He is Purdue's career TD leader with 51. He needs one more TD to tie Purdue's season record of 14.

A massive factor in Iowa's victory over Penn State was the red zone defense. The Hawkeyes held Penn State to two touchdowns on five trips inside Iowa's 20-yard line. In a one-point game, those are the hidden points that make or break a victory. Iowa is second and tied for 24th in the country in red zone defense, allowing points just 75 percent of the time.

Defensive tackle Matt Kroul should go into the record books today with his 48th career start, tying OL Bruce Nelson's record (1999-02). This is the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third-longest by an FBS player. In his career, he has 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Every Hawkeyes starter in the back seven has an interception. With nine Hawkeyes contributing, Iowa's 17 interceptions, third in the country. This is the most for a Hawkeyes team since the 2004 team came away with 17.

"It's a blue collar-type defense, in structure anyway," Tiller said. "You know, they don't try to beat you with x's and o's and try to out scheme you. They are very, very fundamentally sound. And they're very, very physical. They take a lot of pride on being physical. You know, they're back to being that type of an Iowa team. They didn't look quite that way a year ago, but they're back to looking exactly like the old Iowa to us."

Advantage: Iowa

Special teams

Purdue punter Chris Summers is 79th in the nation with a 38.7 average. Purdue's net punting is 118th out of the nation's 119 FBS schools. This means for every punt, Purdue has only netted a total of 30.04 yards. Freshman kicker Carson Wiggs has hit 5 of 8 field goals this season. His first career boot was a 53-yarder at Ohio State. That's tied for the eighth-longest in FBS this year and is the longest by a freshman. Senior wide receiver Desmond Tardy is second in the conference in kick returns with a 28.0 average. The Boilers are also 117th in punt coverage, allowing 16.71 a return.

Maybe the biggest or maybe the oddest story last week was Ferentz and co-special teams coach Lester Erb's choice to go with sophomore kicker Daniel Murray over true freshman Trent Mossbrucker on the 31-yard game winner with 6 seconds left on the clock. Murray, who hadn't attempted a field goal since week 4 at Pittsburgh, jumped in and nailed it. Now, Ferentz is in playing-by-ear mode when it comes to field goals. Mossbrucker never did anything to lose the job, going 13 of 15 before last week. He did miss a 30-yarder at Illinois, a 27-24 loss.

Advantage: Iowa

Coaching

After 12 years at Purdue, Tiller will coach his final road game today. He has an 86-61 overall record at Purdue — the most wins in school history — and a 52-42 mark in Big Ten games. He has guided Purdue to 10 bowl games in 12 seasons, including the Boilers' first Rose Bowl berth since 1967 and two other New Year's Day bowls. But going into his final two games, Tiller is 3-7 and his Boilers have lost six of their last seven games. He's being asked questions about how difficult the season has been and how frustrated he is.

Call it gutsy, crazy or whatever you want, Ferentz's decision to go with Murray over Mossbrucker on the game-winner against Penn State was as stony as it gets. In explaining the decision, Ferentz said you make them and you move on. But . . . "I'm not saying there aren't moments where you beat yourself up a bit, but you can't do that for too long, otherwise you know you're going to have a hard time making decisions, that's how it worked. I've blown my share of calls, that's for sure. Recently and long-term. You do what you do."

Advantage: Iowa

By Marc Morehouse

The Gazette

Portis again doesn’t practice, listed questionable

2008-11-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

Week 11: Locks to win

ASHBURN, Va. (AP)—Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis did not practice again Friday and will be used only “in a limited fashion” if he is able to play Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL’s second-leading rusher was able to watch practice—unlike Wednesday and Thursday, when his sprained left knee kept him away from the field — and was “getting some mental reps in case he has a chance to go,” according to coach Jim Zorn.

Portis sprained the knee in the 23-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers before last week’s bye. He is questionable on the injury report.

“I would use him, if he could go, in a limited fashion,” Zorn said.

Portis’ backup, Ladell Betts, is probable after missing three games with a sprained knee. Betts was limited in practice Friday.

“We’re just trying to get his knee ready,” Zorn said. “It was sore a little bit today because of the work he put in yesterday.”

If neither Portis nor Betts can play, midseason signing and former league MVP Shaun Alexander would make his first Redskins start.

Cornerback Shawn Springs (calf) and Marcus Washington (shoulder) both practiced for the first time this week. Washington is probable and Springs is questionable, although Zorn said he was “more encouraged” about Springs’ chances of playing than about Washington’s chances.

Giants lineman charged with DWI

2008-11-15T08:45:00.001-08:00

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. (AP)—New York Giants offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie was charged with drunken driving after a traffic stop Thursday night.

McKenzie was stopped after he cut through a gas station lot at about 9:30 p.m., said Little Falls police Lt. Salvatore Calafiore. A Breathalyzer test found McKenzie’s blood-alcohol level was above New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08. He was taken to police headquarters and released later that night, Calafiore said.

In a statement issued by the Giants on Friday afternoon after McKenzie had left the stadium, the lineman expressed remorse about the incident.

“I am prepared to deal with the consequences of that situation from both a legal standpoint and as a player in the National Football League,” McKenzie said.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said the team was aware of the arrest and had spoken with McKenzie. He did not address if it would affect McKenzie’s status for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.

“The legal process will take its course, and the league will handle this matter,” Coughlin said. “Nobody will be harder on Kareem than Kareem himself. He is very conscientious and has been a first-class citizen since he arrived here with our organization.”

A New Jersey native, he was drafted out of Penn State in the third round by the New York Jets in 2001 and signed with the Giants as a free agent in 2005.

Jets-Giants in all-Big Apple Super Bowl?

2008-11-15T08:04:00.001-08:00

They don't overreact in New York, do they? The New York Jets finally win a game against the New England Patriots and suddenly the New York Daily News is talking about the possibility of a Jets-New York Giants Super Bowl.

The Daily News asked fans to remember the whirlwind atmosphere created by the subway World Series in 2000.

The Daily News wrote: Now imagine the frenzy if the Giants defend their Super Bowl title against Brett Favre and the Jets this February in Tampa. Because of the teams' New York names and Jersey addresses, the game would be truly regional event — call it the inaugural Turnpike Tournament.

Sound crazy? When Brett Favre finally distinguished himself from Chad Pennington Thursday night in Foxboro, converting one clutch third-down conversion after another in Gang Green's dramatic win, he also converted the possibility of a Jets Super Bowl appearance from faint hope to solid possibility. Eli Manning and the Giants, of course, are dominating the NFC in their own title defense.

The game would be a culmination of nearly five decades of misunderstanding between the franchises and their fan bases. When the Jets began as the lowly New York Titans in the fledgling American Football League in 1960, many players resented the Giants' supposedly elitist attitudes.

Source: New York Daily News

New England's special teams didn't make key plays

2008-11-15T07:55:00.000-08:00

Among the many what-ifs from the New England Patriots' 34-31 overtime loss to the Jets Thursday night was how the game might have had a different outcome if the Patriots had been sounder on special teams in the first half.

The Patriots allowed a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Leon Washington in the second quarter that gave New York a 17-6 lead, and the Jets' first two scores were set up when Washington gave them great field position with returns of 30 and 37 yards. Washington finished with four kickoff returns for 177 yards, a 44.3-yard average (the Jets averaged 31.5 yards overall on six kickoff returns). The Patriots entered the game allowing 23.4 yards per return.

"They made some plays special teams-wise," said Patriots wide receiver Kelley Washington, a member of the kickoff coverage unit. "It's something we have to work on because when the offense is playing like they are and the defense is playing like they were, you can't play like that and just overthrow what the offense and defense [have] done on the field. We can't let them down. That's something where we'll have to look at the film and correct it."

Safety Ray Ventrone, a staple of the coverage unit, was injured on the opening kickoff and had to leave the game. On Leon Washington's return, defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith was on the coverage team.

Source: Boston.com

Pike throws for 250 yards, two scores as Cincinnati takes over first in Big East

2008-11-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)—Seconds after the gun sounded to end No. 22 Cincinnati’s soggy 28-20 win over Louisville on Friday, several Bearcats sprinted to the end zone and grabbed the Keg of Nails, the trophy that had tormented them for years.

This was one keg party coach Brian Kelly had no plans of interrupting. Besides, for the surging Bearcats the good times might just be starting.

“I think we can all say the rivalry is back,” Kelly said. “There was a lot of emotion out on the field in this game.”

Cincinnati dominated the reeling Cardinals in the second half to win the keg for the first time in six years and take another major step toward its first Big East title.

The victory gives Cincinnati (8-2, 4-1) a half-game lead over idle West Virginia and No. 21 Pittsburgh in the conference title race. Cincinnati beat the Mountaineers last week and host the Panthers on Nov. 22.

“The next game is the biggest game,” said Cincinnati cornerback Mike Mickens, who added to his school record with the 14th interception of his career. “Beating Pitt is the next task.”

Dominick Goodman caught nine passes for 134 yards and a touchdown for Cincinnati and John Goebel ran for 77 yards and a score as the Bearcats won the Keg of Nails for the first time since 2002.

“It means a lot for this program to come in here and win the Keg of Nails,” Goodman said. “We’d like to keep it for a long, long time.”

The way the Bearcats are playing these days, they just might.

Quarterback Tony Pike, who took over the starting job earlier this year when senior Dustin Grutza went down with a broken leg, completed 19 of 33 passes in soggy conditions before getting knocked out in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury.

Enter Grutza, who hadn’t played since breaking his right leg during a 52-26 loss to Oklahoma on Sept. 6.

If Grutza felt rusty, he didn’t show it.

Walking onto the field in steady rain, Grutza quickly led the Bearcats on a five-play, 72-yard touchdown drive that gave the Bearcats a 28-20 lead with 6:29 to play.

The key play was a 24-yard pass to Goodman on third-and-5 that moved the ball to the Louisville 43. Goebel did the rest, zipping 37 yards up the left side on the next play before going in from the 6 for the score.

It was more than enough to hold off the mistake-prone Cardinals (5-5, 1-4), who have lost three straight for the first time since 1997.

“We’re not winning football games, and that’s on me,” said Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe.

Hunter Cantwell threw for 204 yards and a touchdown but also was stuffed on a fourth-down sneak at the Louisville 35 with less than 4 minutes to go. The Bearcats couldn’t extend the lead as Jake Rogers missed his third field goal of the game.

No matter, as the Bearcats forced Cantwell into four straight incompletions to beat their rivals for just the second time in 11 tries.

“Coming in I told our team we had to beat Louisville to be Big East champs,” Kelly said. “We had to draw the line somewhere.”

Louisville, hoping to erase a nightmarish loss to Pittsburgh last week, took a 17-14 lead into the half and had a perfect opportunity to take command after linebacker Jon Dempsey recovered a fumble at the Cincinnati 9.

But three plays netted just 3 yards and Louisville settled for a field goal to go up 20-14.

It wasn’t nearly enough.

Goodman gave the Bearcats a 21-20 lead with 6:38 to play in the third quarter on a beautiful 23-yard touchdown grab, laying out parallel to the ground and holding onto the ball as he slid across the wet turf in the end zone.

The score was the 21st receiving touchdown of Goodman’s career, tying the school record held by Jim O’Brien.

Louisville freshman running back Victor Anderson ran for 60 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game in the third quarter after sustaining a helmet-to-helmet hit from Cincinnati defensive lineman Adam Hoppel Goebel.

The Cardinals had their chances, but kept self-destructing behind penalties and questionable playcalling. Louisville was flagged six times for 46 yards, all in the second half. Even worse, most of those wiped out solid gains or ruining scoring opportunities.

The most damaging came after the Cardinals had moved to the Cincinnati 15 with 10 minutes to play. A holding call on first down pushed them back 10 yards. Two runs and a delay of game ended up pushing them back another 3 yards and Ryan Payne’s 45-yard field-goal attempt to take the lead was woefully short.

“We can’t make those types of errors,” Kragthorpe said. “When you do that, it’s tougher to win the football game.”

Grutza and Cincinnati’s defense took over from there, allowing the Bearcats to keep their hopes of a conference title and the school’s first Bowl Championship Series berth alive.

“We haven’t beaten (Pitt),” Goodman said. “So we’ll be hungry for that one too.”

Head to Head - Week 12

Team	Total Yds	Pass Yds	Rush Yds	First Downs	3rdD%	Pen./Yds	Turnovers	Time of Poss.
Cincinnati	405	274	131	17	40.0%	6/42	2	25:47
Louisville	324	204	120	17	25.0%	6/46	2	34:13

Bowden suspends five wide receivers for game against BC

2008-11-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

Florida State has suspended five players for Saturday's homecoming game against Boston College after their involvement in an on-campus brawl earlier this week, coach Bobby Bowden said in a statement released Friday by the university.

"The police report has not been concluded, but from the information that I have gathered, I am suspending five players who were apparently involved in the fray," Bowden said in the statement. "Taiwan Easterling, Bert Reed, Corey Surrency, Cameron Wade and Richard Goodman will all be suspended for the Boston College game."

Maj. James Russell of the Florida State University Police Department said Bowden's decision was based on independent information obtained by the coach and that the department's investigation was going forward, The Associated Press reported.

Police have determined that a female bystander who wasn't involved in the fight, which broke out at the university's student union, was struck in the face by a thrown chair. She was treated and released from a local hospital. Police said the current priority in their ongoing investigation is identifying who threw the chair.

Florida State police were called to a large fight involving Seminoles football players and members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity near the student union at 12:37 p.m. on Wednesday.

Russell said Thursday the fight stemmed from bad blood between some of the athletes and fraternity members. No arrests have been made.

"It just tarnishes what everybody is doing," Florida State President T.K. Wetherell said of the campus fight, according to AP.

Easterling, Reed and Surrency are all receivers who have played integral roles in Florida State's offense this season. The three have combined for 51 catches, 722 yards and eight touchdowns as the Seminoles (7-2, 4-2 ACC Atlantic and tied with Wake Forest) face a crucial test Saturday in their quest to reach the conference championship game.

Wade is a redshirt freshman who has one catch this season, and Goodman is a senior receiver who hasn't started this year.

This is the third time this season Bowden has had to suspend a receiver, as both Reed and Surrency have missed games. Surrency was suspended for the Georgia Tech game for an undisclosed violation of team rules, and Reed was suspended for the game against Virginia Tech for violating the school's academic attendance policy.

Heather Dinich covers college football for ESPN.com

Dan Rooney, son will own 80 percent of Steelers after brothers sell

2008-11-15T07:44:00.000-08:00

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney's four brothers have agreed to sell a controlling stake of the team to him and his son, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

Patrick and Art Rooney Jr. confirmed the deal in a story posted on the paper's Web site Friday night. They and their other two brothers -- Timothy and John -- could get a total of $750 million after debt is taken out, according to the report.

Art Rooney Jr. said the brothers hope to get the deal wrapped up before a board meeting in December. Both sides want to get a deal done by then because they are worried about possible higher taxes once the Obama administration is in office.

"It's a good deal. I'm happy for Dan. I'm happy for the rest of the family. I think young Art, Dan's son, will do a fine job," Patrick Rooney told the paper. "I think we're doing the right thing."

Art Rooney II, Dan's son, is the team president.

Each brother owns 16 percent of the team, adding up to 80 percent, with another Pittsburgh family, the McGinleys, owning 20 percent. Those shares are not being sold. The Rooneys' father, Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr., bought the franchise in 1933 for $2,500.

Several brothers wanted to focus their business efforts on racetracks and other non-football interests. The family owns racetracks in New York and Florida and has added forms of gaming that are inconsistent with NFL gambling policy, but Dan Rooney has no interests in the racing industry.

The Rooney family has owned the team since its inception, except for a brief period in 1941 when Art Rooney Sr. sold the team to Alexis Thompson and bought into the Philadelphia Eagles. Rooney regained control of his hometown Steelers in less than a year.