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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman believes he can be even better

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, September 9, 2011

TAMPA — Long ago, back when he was a youngster, the big kid with the big arm was a mystery. In those days, he might as well have worn a question mark on his jersey.

This was before Josh Freeman became the face of his team. This was before he turned doubts into cheers and question marks into exclamation points. This was before he became Josh Franchise, the keeper of the hope.

This was, oh, last August. Back in the old days, no one in Tampa Bay knew quite what to expect of Freeman.

Now they do. They expect everything.

Why does coach Raheem Morris believe his Bucs can win the NFC South? Because of Freeman. Why does general manager Mark Dominik think the improvement has come so quickly? Because of Freeman. How can the Bucs survive with such a young defense? Because of Freeman, the biggest man in the locker room.

"He carries the ball for all of us," is the way quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt puts it.

Already, Freeman is every answer for the Bucs, and he is the primary reason to believe. He has one full season as a starter under his belt, and already, he has demonstrated that he can throw, he can run and he can lead. The Bucs have never had a quarterback like him.

Now all Freeman has to do is do it again.

This is how you measure greatness; not with a single impressive season, but with a string of them. A player stacks seasons until they become ordinary, until such seasons define him.

In other words, is Freeman ready for Step 2?

He came so far so fast, and now what? For the Bucs, no question is more important. Last year, he upped his touchdown passes to 25 and whittled his interceptions to six. He improved his rating by 24 points (from 59.8 to 95.9). He took his team from three wins to 10. He brought his team from behind to win five times. He was so good that there are those who question whether it is possible to duplicate it.

Freeman shrugs when you mention other people's expectations. His arm is just getting started, and his legs are still those of a colt. But there is an old soul in Freeman. He understands that NFL quarterbacks are not allowed to back up unless it is into the pocket.

"The Tom Bradys, the Peyton Mannings do it year in and year out," Freeman said. "Every season has its own trials, but the elite quarterbacks find a way."

Interesting word, elite. How many fourth-quarter comebacks does a quarterback need before he earns the designation? Freeman has seven among his 13 victories over the last year and a half? How good does his touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio have to be? Last year, Freeman had a dizzying 25-6 ratio. How many seasons, how many plays, how many big moments?

"I'm not there," he said. "You're never there. Never. You look at guys like Manning and Brady. Everyone around the world considers them to be elite quarterbacks. But I guarantee you they still think they have work to do at that level to continue to be as successful as they have been."

For the Bucs, it is as simple as this: If they are going to be good this year, they need for Freeman to be good. It is hard to imagine one without the other. The result is that there is probably not a 23-year-old player in the NFL facing more responsibility, and more pressure, than Freeman.

So does Freeman expect himself to be a better quarterback this year than last?

"Yeah," he says. "I do."

Freeman will tell you his decisions can be better, his game management can be sharper, his passes can be more accurate.

"I just want to get better as a player," he said. "I want to find out where my ceiling is. My whole life, it's been about potential. 'Here's a guy who is going to be better down the road.' I just want to push that and take it to another level."

When you think about it, why shouldn't Freeman be better? This time last year, Freeman was coming off a rookie season in which he threw 18 interceptions in nine starts, and his thumb was broken, and his receivers were rookies, and LeGarrette Blount was still unpacking after being claimed from Tennessee.

This year, Freeman is the acknowledged leader of the most promising offense the Bucs have had in, well, ever. And if you are wondering, the pressure isn't exactly crushing him.

"There is always pressure," he said, shrugging. "It's the National Football League. But I wouldn't say there is any added pressure. I'm a competitive guy. I want to put the best thing I can out on the field. I want to win every game. That's where my mind-set is.

"We expect to get better. Our team's mentality is that we're not worried about what people are predicting us to do. We're not letting anyone else tell us who we are or what we'll do. We look at ourselves as good players, and we expect to win. It's about winning. It's about getting to the playoffs. It's about making runs toward the championship and, eventually, winning it."

Along the way, of course, there will be some plays that need to be made, some deficits to overcome. Freeman knows that, too. When he talks about playing in the fourth quarter, his face brightens.

"It was ingrained in me from Day 1," Freeman said. "Play as well as you can for the first 3 to 3½ quarters, and if it comes down to it, you have to find a way to be the hero in the end. When it gets down to that moment of truth, you have to pull something from inside of you and get it done."

Sometimes, that means winning when your team is behind by four with three minutes to play.

"There is no feeling like winning one of those games," he said. "I love it. That's when I'm in my comfort zone. My mentality is, 'Okay, they've got the lead. They've basically won the game. Now go take it from them.' "

There are questions, of course. Given his profession, given his position, there always are. Can he repeat his success? Can he duplicate his numbers? Most of all, can he keep his team on the right side of the scoreboard?

Answer: For the Bucs' sake, he had better.

After all, that's what elite quarterbacks do.

Take your choice

Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman didn't have a lot of long plays during the preseason. But why worry? There are a lot of teams that would love to have Freeman, whose record over two seasons is 13-12. Take a glance at some of today's starters with how many seasons they have been in the league and their record:

PlayerTeamSeasonsRecord

Jason CampbellRaiders627-37

Kerry CollinsColts1681-96

Andy DaltonBengals00-0

Ryan FitzpatrickBills612-23-1

Rex GrossmanRedskins820-14

Matt HasselbeckTitans1269-62

Chad HenneDolphins313-14

Tarvaris JacksonSeahawks510-10

Kevin KolbCardinals43-4

Luke McCownJaguars71-6

Colt McCoyBrowns12-6

Cam NewtonPanthers00-0

Kyle OrtonBroncos632-29

Alex Smith49ers619-31


Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope they have put together a great defensive line for years to come

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 9, 2011

TAMPA

Gerald McCoy likes to have fun. This includes dressing up in oddball costumes. The defensive tackle has gone to an Oklahoma-Texas Tech men's basketball game as Cupid — with wings attached. In February, he made an entrance to a women's basketball game against Baylor dressed as Boomer, his alma mater's mascot. But last season, after signing a five-year, $63.42 million ($35 million guaranteed) contract with the Bucs as the No. 3 overall pick of the draft then going eight games without a sack, McCoy didn't feel like wigging out. "Things didn't go the way they should've been going for me to be dressing out," McCoy, 25, said. "When you just make jokes, people don't take well to jokes. So I didn't want to come in here with a clown 'fro, big nose and face painted with zero sacks in Week 8." As McCoy knows, the lack of a pass rush in Tampa Bay is no laughing matter. Over the past five years, it seems every Buccaneer has been sent in pursuit of the opposing quarterback except Bryan and Joel Glazer.

Not only did the Bucs finish tied for 30th in the league with 26 sacks last season, they haven't had a player reach double digits since Simeon Rice's 14 in 2005.

McCoy finished with three before missing the final month of the season with a torn left biceps. Meanwhile, the Lions' Ndamukong Suh, who was drafted one spot ahead of him, led all rookies with 10 sacks and was named All-Pro and defensive rookie of the year.

Thirty-two picks after drafting McCoy, the Bucs doubled down at defensive tackle with Brian Price, a second-round pick from UCLA who played in only five games before fracturing his pelvis. This year, they did the same at defensive end, taking Iowa's Adrian Clayborn 20th overall and Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers 31 picks later.

That's a pair of No. 1s, a pair of No. 2s and $50.62 million (potentially $80.83 million) for what the Bucs hope will develop into the Purple People Eaters, Fearsome Foursome, Steel Curtain or New York Sack Exchange

The last such high-stakes gamble came when the Glazers traded a pair of No. 1s, a pair of No. 2s and $8 million to the Raiders in 2002 for coach Jon Gruden, who won a Super Bowl in his first season.

"It is a big investment. That's why the importance will be put on them," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "You should see McCoy show up this year in a big way as a leader and a productive football player; disruptive. It's a big year for Brian Price coming back and starting to get back on the field and get healthy. Clayborn is already out there, so he has a chance to prove himself right now and make that immediate impact. And Bowers is the guy … working into that role.

"If those guys can go out and play consistently like they have throughout the preseason, I think you'll have what you want."

But the investment didn't stop there. In the offseason, the Bucs hired two defensive line coaches, Keith Millard, the 1989 Defensive Player of the Year for the Vikings whose 18 sacks that season remain the record for tackles, and Arizona State assistant Grady Stretz, who will direct the run defense.

Millard, who would work himself into a violent rage during the week before games and manufacture hatred for an opponent, has instilled that distaste in his players.

"You're going against the biggest guys on the field. You've got to stop the run, and you've got to stop the pass," Millard said. "So you've got to bring a type of mentality that no matter what happens in front of me, that guy is not going to stop me. Period.

"Because they haven't proven themselves at this point, because they are young, they're all on a mission. They all want to be great, and they're working on all the little things, staying late after practice, working hard during practice. They're in the film room all the time by themselves and with me. The fact that we've got first- and second-rounders up and down the line, you've got the skill set and the athleticism."

That hasn't always been the case.

Since 2005, 53 players have recorded a sack for the Bucs. But the most in one season is Stylez White's eight in 2007.

Though only in his second year, McCoy is the leader of the line and, along with Clayborn, the only ones guaranteed to start in today's season opener against the Lions.

Price, recovering from surgery to reattach his hamstrings to his pelvis, will play on some pass rush downs and replace Frank Okam or Roy Miller at nose tackle. Michael Bennett will start at left defensive end, but it's likely only a matter of time before Bowers, who led Division I-A with 16 sacks for Clemson last season, takes over.

"(Clayborn and Bowers) didn't bring problems," McCoy said. "They brought more of the kind of fun we wanted to have; work ethic. They're willing to get extra reps and get slammed or get beat up just to be better. That's what you need if you're going to have a good D-line."

Each lineman has a chip on his shoulder pads. McCoy is trying to atone for a slow start as a rookie. Price, who might be limited at first to nickel rushing downs, wants to prove he can fight through his injury and get into football shape.

"I walk into this building. I don't care about pain. I just want to play football," Price said. "I just block the pain out; got to play with a tenacious attitude. You're on that field. There's no asterisk next to your name. There's no, 'Oh, he had surgery, so we're going to take it easy on him.' No, they're trying to beat me out there."

Bowers was considered among the top talents available in the draft before undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

"Definitely, by far, I think I am the guy with the log on his shoulder for the circumstances of the past few months," Bowers said. "I'm out to prove a point. It's scary what we could be potentially if we put in the hard work and get after it."

Clayborn, who did not have a sack during the preseason, will immediately help the Bucs' run defense by setting the edge and being strong on the point of attack.

"I call him the boy dog; the alpha male kind of attitude where he just takes over the room," Morris said. "Almost a little bit of silence and almost a nasty demeanor or attitude. He looks at you in a sarcastic way. I kind of like that."

McCoy will have to undress a few quarterbacks before he can dress up as his alter egos. But there might be fun in the sun again on the defensive line in Tampa Bay.

"I love to have fun, and this season, we're going to have fun," McCoy said. "So ya'll strap in. Get ready. Let's do this."

5 years$63.42 million
$35 million guaranteed


4 years$3.85 million
$3.85 million guaranteed


4 years$8.21 million
$8.21 million guaranteed


4 years$5.35 million
$3.56 million guaranteed

College football preview: No. 22 USF vs. Ball State, 7 p.m. Saturday, BHSN, 970-AM

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 9, 2011

WATCH OUT FOR …

Ball State was 10-for-14 on third downs last week. In its season-opening 23-20 win, USF held Notre Dame to 5-of-14 (while going 2-of-14).

The Bulls are ranked for the first time since November 2009 but face a Ball State team that upset Indiana 27-20 in last week's opener in another NFL stadium (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis). The Cardinals' Keith Wenning went 23-for-29 for 172 yards and two TDs, and freshman Jahwan Edwards rushed for 84 yards. But that win was just Ball State's second against a team from a BCS conference (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC). USF will pay tribute to Lee Roy Selmon, left, who died Sunday. Expect more of USF's freshmen, including receivers Andre Davis and Ruben Gonzalez, to make their debuts.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer



No. 22 USF vs. Ball State, 7 p.m., BHSN, 970-AM

For Weis, sideline is just fine

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Times staff, wires
Friday, September 9, 2011

It's important! Next question.

Orson Charles, far left, literally gulped as the question was asked. It was a difficult question that plenty of other Georgia players were getting: Did they believe they were playing for their coach's job? "There's a lot of talk, like you said, that Coach (Mark) Richt is on the hot seat," the tight end and former Plant High star said. "I really hate hearing about that. But we've just got to go out there and just compete." After Richt, near left, went 6-7 in 2010, his job status was a big subject for the offseason. And the topic moved quicker to the front burner after Georgia's performance in a 35-21 loss to No. 5 Boise State in Atlanta to open the season last week. The loss itself wasn't shameful. But the Bulldogs looked overmatched despite an offseason overhaul of their locker room and strength and conditioning program, and an infusion of talent. As a result of the loss, Georgia fell from No. 19 to unranked in the Associated Press poll. And during his weekly news conference, Richt found himself asked about the importance of today's game against No. 12 South Carolina for his and the program's future. "I view it as a very important game," Richt said, leaving his answer to those eight words. Later, another reporter asked if this was a "must-win" game for him. "Didn't I just say it's a really important game?" Richt said. "But do you think it's a must-win," said the reporter from the State newspaper in Columbia, S.C. "I think it's a really important game," Richt said. "Do you want to ask me again? Because you can, and I'll give you the same answer."

Little Sisters of the Poor to get its day in the sun

For at least a half-century, "Little Sisters of the Poor" has been used as a euphemism in college sports to describe a weak opponent. The euphemism's roots can be traced to an emphatic victory by Sen. Robert Taft of Ohio in his 1950 re-election, which the mayor of Cleveland compared to the "Notre Dame football team beating the Little Sisters of the Poor."

As the expression evolved into the vernacular of sports, many failed to realize the Little Sisters of the Poor is, in fact, a religious order founded in France in 1839. After years of being considered the epitome of athletic ineptitude, the Little Sisters finally get a chance to take the field today.

Before Ohio State's game against Toledo, the Buckeyes plan to recognize two Little Sisters from a Toledo suburb. The occasion stems from a remark by Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee, above, who last year criticized Boise State and Texas Christian, proclaiming, "We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor." The statement resulted in Gee being vilified, especially after TCU beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl and finished undefeated and No. 2 in the final polls.

"It was a dumb statement," said Gee, who vowed to eat crow at Antoine's, a restaurant in New Orleans. "It really was."

By the numbers

18

Freshmen who played last week for Texas against Rice

32

Married players on the roster for BYU, which plays Texas this week

$75,000

Approximate net profit on beer sales for West Virginia at last week's home season opener vs. Marshall; the school's board of governors voted in June to allow beer sales at home until midway through the third quarter

21,811

Bottles of beer sold during the West Virginia game, about 3,000 more than the next-highest beverage, water

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Florida coach Will Muschamp's announcement last week that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis would call games from the sideline instead of the coaches box generated a lot of conversation about the pros and cons of sideline work. Weis and quarterback John Brantley said things worked out great for both of them in the opener against Florida Atlantic. But Weis, a former Notre Dame coach, couldn't help taking a dig at himself this week when asked if he liked having the chance to coach from the sideline and focus on the offense instead of the entire team. "If you're asking me did I like getting fired from Notre Dame as the head coach? No," Weis said, followed by a hearty laugh. "(But) as an offensive coordinator, that's what I've always done. When I'm on the field, you can sit there and just have a conversation and go over things, and it's just kind of settling for (the players). As a matter of fact, when they first come off the field, I don't talk to them. Whether it was good or bad, I don't talk to them. If it was good, I let the players all celebrate together so that I'm not looking for the kudos. And if it's bad … you know the camera is there looking to see what you're going to say. That's not the time. Let (the players) get to the bench. Let them go ahead and sit down. Then you come over and say, 'Okay, what were you thinking?' And there might be an adjective or two in there."

Rafael Nadal routs Andy Roddick to advance to U.S. Open semifinals

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Times wires
Friday, September 9, 2011

NEW YORK — Andy Roddick's legs felt fatigued.

The crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium was hushed.

And defending champ Rafael Nadal was at his court-covering, groundstroke-whipping, serve-stopping best.

Overwhelming Roddick from the start, Nadal compiled a stunning 22-0 edge in forehand winners, broke six times and never left the outcome of their match in doubt, winning 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 Friday to reach the semifinals at the U.S. Open for the fourth consecutive year.

"The beginning of the match was really important," Nadal said. "Andy had a really tough match (Thursday vs. David Ferrer). Probably, he was tired. Sorry for him."

What was it like for 2003 U.S. Open champion Roddick to be out there, his own game faltering and Nadal's as good as it gets?

"It's a bad feeling. It's almost worse than competing," said Roddick, who was the last American man remaining in the Open. "You feel helpless."

Nadal took the first four games in 18 minutes. He then reeled off 16 of the last 17 points — including 12 in a row — to close the second set.

"It was quick. Obviously, it was a combination of things that probably weren't going to work out (Friday)," said Roddick, who had trouble pushing off on serves and forehands and was massaged by a trainer during a medical timeout in the third set.

Seeking his 11th Grand Slam title, Nadal has yet to drop a set heading into today's semifinal against No. 4 Andy Murray, who beat No. 28 John Isner 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2).

"It will be a very tough match for me," second-seeded Nadal said, "and hopefully for him, too."

Nadal has won 12 of 16 matchups against Murray, including eliminating him in the semifinals of the French Open on clay and Wimbledon on grass this year. Now it's hardcourt.

"It's a good surface for me to play him on," said Murray, who played 1½ hours longer than Nadal did Friday. "It's a close, close matchup."

Murray weathered 17 aces from the 6-foot-9 Isner but did break twice in a row bridging the first two sets.

Isner was playing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal and acknowledged that jitters affected him at the outset.

"I wasn't swinging out like I felt like I should have early on in the match. I was just guiding the ball," said Isner, a Tampa resident. "That was a little bit of nerves. It just took awhile to free up."

The exits by Roddick and Isner — with first lady Michelle Obama in the stands — mean this will be the 32nd Grand Slam tournament in a row without a male champion from the United States, extending the country's longest drought, which dates to Roddick's 2003 triumph in New York.

Today's other men's semifinal was set up Thursday: No. 1 Novak Djoko­vic against No. 3 Roger Federer. And for the second time in the past three major tournaments, the final foursome is filled by the top men ranked Nos. 1-4 — something that hadn't happened at the U.S. Open since 1992.

Women's semifinals: Serena Williams, seeded 28th, faces top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in tonight's featured match, and No. 9 Samantha Stosur, a Tampa resident, takes on 92nd-ranked Angelique Kerber. Stosur is trying to reach her second Grand Slam final.

Feeling at home, Lewis ties for lead

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Times wires
Friday, September 9, 2011

ROGERS, Ark. — Stacy Lewis turned the 18th green at Pinnacle Country Club into a spot for University of Arkansas fans.

The former All-American at Arkansas, in nearby Fayetteville, made a 5-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th to close at 5-under 66 and tie Yani Tseng for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour's Northwest Arkansas Championship.

When the putt dropped, the Arkansas fans responded with "Woo Pig Sooie!" a chant usually heard at Razorback games.

"Normally toward the end of the day, we get crowds sort of dwindling a little bit," Lewis said. "So everybody hung around, and it was — I mean, I don't know, you can't get the smile off my face."

Tseng, the defending champion, eagled the 18th with a downhill 6-foot putt.

Seminole's Brittany Lincicome (71) was tied for 38th, Tampa's Cindy LaCrosse (72) was tied for 53rd, and Tampa resident Kristy McPherson (74) was tied for 95th.

European: Stephen Dodd of Wales shot 6 under through 13 holes of the second round to stand at 8 under before darkness forced 78 players to abandon their rounds at the KLM Open in Hilversum, Netherlands. India's Shiv Kapur shot 3-under 67 to take the clubhouse lead at 7-under 133, and Rory McIlroy (65) closed at 5 under.

Coach Raheem Morris says lessons of Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Lee Roy Selmon's life evident at funeral

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 9, 2011

TAMPA — Most who follow the Bucs knew of Lee Roy Selmon's exploits on the field, but there are many who didn't know Selmon the man.

Coach Raheem Morris said some of Selmon's characteristics were made much clearer to him and his players when they attended the Hall of Famer's funeral Friday in Lutz. Morris was born the same year Selmon was drafted No. 1 by the Bucs, 1976.

Dewey Selmon's eulogy of his brother younger helped enlighten the 20-somethings that dot the Bucs' young roster, and it did the same for their coach.

"It was a great experience for me to learn who he was personally," Morris said. "We know his accomplishments on the football field, and we know his accomplishments as the USF athletics director in helping to start that program. We know all the things he's done throughout the community … but to get the in-depth story from the people closest to him, that speech by Dewey Selmon was unbelievable. He got everybody's attention."

TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS: Morris has consistently preached to his team that it should handle business and not leave things in the hands of officials or anyone else, as was the case when the Bucs played the Lions last year.

TE Kellen Winslow had a touchdown negated because of a pass interference call that NFL officials later said was incorrect. The Bucs went on to lose in overtime and missed the playoffs by one victory. "You don't want to ever leave it in the officials' hands or anybody else's hands," Morris said. "We're not going to … cry about anything. Our job is to go out and play the game and play it to the best of our ability."

INJURY REPORT: CB Myron Lewis (ankle) will not play Sunday against Detroit, Morris said. G Ted Larsen (ankle) is probable and LB Dekoda Watson (hamstring) is questionable.

USF Bulls to honor Lee Roy Selmon

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Times staff
Friday, September 9, 2011

.Fast facts

Tributes to Selmon

USF plans to honor former athletic director Lee Roy Selmon, who died Sunday, beginning tonight and throughout the season:

• The football team will wear a No. 63 decal on its helmets for every game.

• All 19 USF teams will wear the initials LRS on uniforms throughout the school year.

• The university has created a No. 63 flag that the football team and spirit squads will carry onto the field for all games.

• No. 63 will be painted on the field in two locations for tonight's football game against Ball State.

• About 40,000 No. 63/Lee Roy Selmon decals will be distributed to fans tonight.

• Tonight's souvenir program will feature Selmon on the cover and in a special insert.

• Tonight's game will have a moment of silence and a video tribute.

• USF, the Bucs and Tampa Sports Authority have designated a space at Raymond James Stadium for a temporary memorial. People wishing to leave tributes can place flowers, cards or remembrances on the tree-shaded mound in the middle of the mass transit dropoff turnaround on Dale Mabry Highway.


Tenuous grip on Chase chafes at contenders

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Friday, September 9, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. — When Michael McDowell pulled in front of Tony Stewart during practice Friday at Richmond International Raceway, it ruined Stewart's mock qualifying run.

Maybe his mood, too.

The two-time NASCAR champion, who later qualified 22nd for tonight's Sprint Cup race, had words with McDowell before heading to his team debrief. In between was a media session, and the temperamental Stewart was a little testy about his prospects for making the Chase for the Championship.

"The pressure is all the media standing here; we're doing the same thing we always do every week," Stewart snapped.

For a guy trying to downplay being under pressure, Stewart sure seemed stressed.

But that's expected heading into tonight's race, the final chance for drivers to lock down the last three remaining spots in the 12-driver field. Under a new wild-card format, NASCAR's final two Chase berths go to drivers outside the top 10 who have the most wins.

Stewart is 10th in points, and should he finish 18th or higher tonight, he'll be just fine.

But Brad Keselowski is closing quickly, and should Stewart fall outside the top 10, he might miss the Chase for the second time since its inception in 2004. The only other time Stewart failed to qualify for the Chase was 2006.

Stewart wasn't the only one on edge.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is ninth in points and needs to only finish 20th tonight to clinch a Chase spot. But he has not run well for almost three months and has not made the Chase since 2008.

"Whatever happens is going to happen. That is just what you are going to have to live with at the end of the night," said Earnhardt, who qualified 27th. " … My main concern is for us to be more competitive as a team. It is really frustrating to make the Chase and then not be as competitive as you want to be during those races."

Across the garage, the one driver really under the gun seemed rather relaxed.

Denny Hamlin is 12th in points and holds the second wild-card slot (Keselowski owns the first with three wins and has clinched no worse than a wild card). Hamlin has one victory this season — but he is the two-time defending race winner and Richmond is his favorite track.

"Winning is everything, and we come here with the mind-set that we need to win, so we want to do that," Hamlin said. "These last two years we won this race going into the Chase, it really gave us a lot of good momentum … and it seemed like we had two good Chases in a row because of that."

Hamlin most likely would only lose his spot if Keselowski remains 11th in points and if a lurker (AJ Allmendinger? Greg Biffle? Clint Bowyer?) wins tonight and passes Hamlin in points. The only other realistic spoilers are Paul Menard (20th in points) and Marcos Ambrose (21st), who each own a win and could sneak in as a wild card with an upset tonight.

"I think it's probably easier on us than it is for the guys that have certain scenarios that have to happen for them to make it," Hamlin said. "Really, I'm racing this race as if it's just a normal season race like I have the last few years — no different."

REUTIMANN ON POLE: David Reutimann of Zephyrhills qualified first for tonight's race with a lap 127.383 mph around the 0.75-mile oval. Jamie McMurray (127.334) lines up second.

Kyle Busch wins again

Kyle Busch took the lead from Carl Edwards during pit stops with just more than 30 laps to go Friday night at Richmond to win his eighth Nationwide series race this season.

Busch's victory in the College Savings 250 was his 51st in the series, extending his record.

Ricky Stenhouse finished third and padded his points lead over Elliott Sadler to 16 with seven races remaining.

Danica Patrick, making her eighth start of the season, was 18th and clipped pole-sitter Brad Keselowski, sending him into the wall.

Tampa's Aric Almirola finished seventh.

Trouble with turns gone, greyhound becomes a winner at Derby Lane

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By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 9, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Early in his career, Jw Titleist treated the first turn at Derby Lane like the proverbial yellow flashing traffic light. He proceeded with extra caution.

Now the Capabal kennel standout is a different greyhound, one that leads the meet in wins. "He's got a little more nerve (on the turn)," kennel owner Henry Parker said. "He was backing out, shying out a little early on. That's the difference between good dogs and mediocre dogs."

Parker said it has been "a nice surprise" to see Jw Titleist emerge into one of Derby Lane's top 550-yard sprinters. Jw Titleist didn't win at Grade A until his 32nd start. Even that victory was a surprise; he rallied from last place and paid a career-high $32.40 as the longest shot in the race.

Since overcoming the first-turn woes, Jw Titleist has won consistently at the highest level. He has wins in 16 of his past 35 Grade A starts, raising his career win total to 34 from 134 races. He is expected to be entered in the $50,000 Fall Sprint, which runs from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1.

"He's running the turn so good now, especially when he's outside and rushes," Parker said. "When he hits the stretch, he'll come and get you. The key thing is we've stayed away from injuries. You need one of those dogs that run two times a week and runs hard."

The 75-pound male has been a cash cow for owners John Bladen of Oklahoma and Walter Wasik of Texas. Since April 9, Jw Titleist has made 36 starts without back-to-back, out-of-the-money finishes. He has 17 wins and eight seconds in that span. Purse money is paid to the first four dogs in each race.

Jw Titleist leads the meet with 11 victories, three more than Venus Espinosa (Patriot kennel).

Trained by Belinda Parker, Jw Titleist clocked a career-best time of 30.29 seconds at 550 yards July 20. It is the meet's second-fastest time behind the 30.28 by Flying Coal City (McAllister).

Jw Titleist is a versatile performer with half his victories coming from off the pace. He is a half-brother of kennelmate Aerial Battle, a former Derby Lane win champion who returned Tuesday from a sprained hock and registered his 64th career victory. Both greyhounds are out of Abita Cruzin, who raced in the $140,000 Mardi Gras Challenge in 2007 at Hallandale Beach. Jw Titleist's sire is stakes winner Dave The Dog, Southland Park's 2005 greyhound of the year and win leader at West Memphis, Ark.

"Titleist got his talent from his mom," Parker said. "He's come into his own."

HORSES: Former Tampa Bay Downs leading trainer Kirk Ziadie has been reinstated at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens. Ziadie, 43, had been banned for two years for incidents involving positive drug tests to horses and late payments to vendors, BloodHorse.com reported. Ziadie won the Oldsmar title in 2005-06 with 34 wins.

Tampa Bay Rays' John Jaso stars at plate and behind it.

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 9, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays manager Joe Maddon said he made his mind up a couple of days ago that C John Jaso would start Friday, even if C Jose Lobaton believed his left knee was good enough to go.

Jaso made Maddon's move pay off, playing a huge role in the Rays' 7-2 victory over the Red Sox. He hit a three-run homer in the second inning to start the scoring, threw out 2B Dustin Pedroia on a momentum-swinging strikeout, then knocked RHP John Lackey out of the game after hitting him in the left calf on a line drive in the third.

Jaso added a double and a run scored in the sixth.

"He's not going to be able to sleep (Friday)," Maddon quipped.

Jaso, who tied his season high with three RBIs, said his homer came on a 3 and 1 fastball. Maddon said his liner off Lackey may have been the hardest ball he hit all game. "That ball I definitely squared up, right off the barrel," Jaso said. "I feel (Lackey's) pain."

Jaso got Pedroia at second in the second on a one-hop throw, which included a great pick by SS Reid Brignac. It came after a Wade Davis strikeout of David Ortiz.

STEPPING UP: RHP Jeremy Hellickson will have a tough time topping his last outing, a complete-game victory Sunday. But Hellickson enters tonight's start against the Red Sox feeling good about one of his key improvements this season. The rookie has been throwing more quality strikes early in the count. "I think I'm pretty efficient once I get ahead of guys," he said, "and I've been locating my fastball a little better as the year wore on."

MEDICAL MATTERS: Maddon said Lobaton, who tweaked his left knee Tuesday, was available to play, and the catcher said he hoped to be in the lineup tonight. Lobaton said that after talking with the training staff, they decided to have him catch a bullpen session Friday to further test the knee. "I want to play at 100 percent, not 90 percent," Lobaton said. "If they say I can play, I can play."

NO WORRIES: OF Sam Fuld initially took leftfield as the Rays came out for the ninth, with OF Desmond Jennings in center, because Maddon thought CF B.J. Upton had cramped up. But after Upton insisted he was fine, he came out of the dugout and took his spot in center.

LINING UP: Maddon said he batted Upton second because he thought he looked comfortable there earlier in the week while DH Johnny Damon was out of the lineup. Damon batted fifth to put him in more RBI situations.

HOT CORNER: The Rays might not see Red Sox INF Kevin Youkilis this series. Youkilis returned to Boston on Friday to get an MRI exam on his right hip. Manager Terry Francona said Youkilis has bursitis and was given an injection. If Youkilis feels good today, he could fly here, but if not, he will wait for the team to return from its trip. Said Francona: "We need him."

MINOR MATTERS: Triple-A Durham lost 5-2 to Indians affiliate Columbus and was swept out of the best-of-five International League playoffs. Maddon said one or two players will be called up right away and maybe a few more (and maybe then top prospect LHP Matt Moore) after that. … Class A Bowling Green fell 5-1 to Fort Wayne (Padres) and was swept from the best-of-three Midwest League playoffs.

HAVING A BALL: The Rays wives and All Children's Hospital have partnered for tonight's inaugural Mystery Ball and Silent Auction, with each $30 donation allowing a donor to choose one mystery ball, which is autographed by a current major-leaguer or coach. A total of 600 balls will be sold at Gates 1 and 5. The silent auction will be in the Whitney Bank Club through the end of the seventh inning.

miscellany: Former Red Sox OF Bernie Carbo will sign autographs from 5:15 to 7 tonight at the Ted Williams Museum near the team shop ($10 per item). Tampa author Mark Stang will be signing his Red Sox Review.

Football: Northeast 14, Anclote 6

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Nathan Cowan, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 9, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — In a game that was as sloppy as the field and the weather, Northeast outlasted Anclote 14-6 Friday night.

Neither team gained more than 100 yards of total offense as the wet and muddy conditions wreaked havoc.

"We knew the offense was going to be sloppy," Vikings coach Mike Jalazo said. "Our speed was eliminated."

Both teams turned the ball over early. The Vikings muffed a punt while Anclote threw an interception.

Northeast finally found some offense late in the first half, mounting a nine-play, 79-yard drive for the first score. Auggie Sanchez caught a tipped 4-yard pass from Ryan Davis to cap the drive. Demetrious Brooks kicked the extra point to make the score 7-0.

"That drive before halftime was a thing of beauty," Jalazo said.

The Vikings capitalized on a snap over the Anclote punter's head for their next score. On third and goal from the 14, Davis slipped free from the defense and ran the ball in.

Anclote showed signs of life in the fourth quarter when Brevet Killett found Tymere Carter for a 37-yard touchdown to make the score 14-6.

"We put him in to get a spark," Sharks coach Matt Wicks said. "That was his first varsity pass."

Orioles 2, Blue Jays 0

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Times wires
Friday, September 9, 2011

Orioles 2, Blue Jays 0

TORONTO — Jeremy Guthrie pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and Vladimir Guerrero and Nick Markakis each drove in a run for the Orioles, who won their third straight. The major-league leader with 17 losses, Guthrie walked three and struck out five. Jim Johnson pitched around a leadoff walk in the ninth for his fourth save. Jays slugger Jose Bautista slammed his bat into the padded railing at the top of the dugout steps after striking out swinging to begin the seventh.

Marlins 13, Pirates 4

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Times wires
Friday, September 9, 2011

Marlins 13, Pirates 4

PITTSBURGH — Omar Infante homered twice, Logan Morrison added a two-run shot during a nine-run third, and the Marlins pounded out 22 hits.

Tampa Bay Rays news and notes: Joe Maddon meets Blue Man Group; David Price delivers Starbucks to a fan on Harbour Island

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 9, 2011

Rays vs. Red Sox

When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers:

RAYS: RH Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 2.90)

RED Sox: RH Kyle Weiland (0-1, 6.75)

Watch for …

Jeremy the kid: Hellickson is coming off one of the best performances of his career, a complete-game victory over the Orioles in which he allowed one run. He is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in two starts against Boston this season.

Stepping in: Weiland is making a spot start, his first since July 19, having last pitched Tuesday in Toronto, throwing two scoreless innings of relief. The rookie has never faced the Rays. At Triple-A Pawtucket, he was 8-10 with a 3.54 ERA.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Weiland

Has never faced

Red Sox vs. Hellickson

Jacoby Ellsbury 1-for-5

Dustin Pedroia 2-for-5

Carl Crawford 2-for-6

On deck

Sunday: vs. Red Sox, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (14-10, 2.77); Red Sox — Jon Lester (15-6, 2.93)

Monday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (9-7, 4.07); Orioles — Zach Britton (9-9, 4.33)

Tuesday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (12-12, 3.40); Orioles — Alfredo Simon (4-8, 4.83)

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Feeling Blue

Rays manager Joe Maddon had guests for his pregame media session as the Blue Man Group made an appearance at the Trop. They left a blue mark on the nose of Maddon, right, and senior adviser Don Zimmer. "I'm feeling kind of blue today," Maddon joked. The Blue Man Group used a rip cord to "throw" the ceremonial first pitch.

Tweet treat

When a fan (daniellegiudice) tweeted at LHP David Price (@davidprice14) earlier in the day, asking if he'd bring her Starbucks (since she worked on Harbour Island, where he lives), the All-Star obliged, surprising her with an iced caramel macchiato.


Football: Wesley Chapel 26, St. Petersburg Catholic 14

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Chad Wise, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 9, 2011

WESLEY CHAPEL — Wesley Chapel defeated St. Petersburg Catholic 26-14 Friday night in a game that frustrated both teams' run attacks.

Wesley Chapel opened the game with a failed onside kick, but was able to keep the Barons off the scoreboard on an extended opening drive that saw St. Petersburg Catholic gain three first downs.

The Barons opened scoring with a 30-yard fumble recovery, which was longer than all but one offensive play all game.

Stifled by a stingy Wesley Chapel defense, the Barons (0-2) ran for a total of 3 yards on 30 rushes. Quarterback Jack Sheehan was sacked five times for 26 yards.

Wesley Chapel (2-0) had trouble on the ground as well, but succeeded with a few big passing plays and strong defense.

The Wildcats gained just 57 yards rushing with a 1-yard touchdown by Devin Piper. Sasha Mentor impressed with his 80-yard touchdown from Keegan Tanner, who went 8-for-19 for 213 yards and another touchdown.

The game changer was a fake punt pass by kicker Ty Tanner to Robert Jota for a 51-yard touchdown that put the Wildcats up by two touchdowns early in the second half.

Burress knocks former coach, QB

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Times wires
Friday, September 9, 2011

NEW YORK — Plaxico Burress is critical of Giants coach Tom Coughlin, quarterback Eli Manning and fans for the way they reacted when he went to prison on a gun charge in an interview for the October issue of Men's Journal.

The receiver, now with the Jets, also praised his new coach, Rex Ryan, and Bucs coach Raheem Morris.

Burress told the magazine a few weeks before he signed with the Jets in July that he wished Coughlin had shown some concern when they met after Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg in November 2008. He saw the Giants coach on TV talking about it, "and the first words out his mouth was 'sad and disappointing.' "

"I'm like, forget support. How about some concern?" Burress said. "I did just have a bullet in my leg. And then I sat in his office, and he pushed back his chair and goes, 'I'm glad you didn't kill anybody!' Man, we're paid too much to be treated like kids."

He also told the magazine, out next week, that Coughlin is "not a real positive coach."

"You look around the league, the Raheem Morrises and Rex Ryans — when their player makes a mistake, they take 'em to the side and say, 'We'll get 'em next time,' " Burress said. "But Coughlin's on the sideline going crazy, man."

Coughlin said Friday he wasn't aware of Burress' comments. "I am really not all that concerned," he said. "I am really not interested in it, either."

Burress said he was disappointed Manning never visited him or tried to communicate with him while he served his 20-month prison sentence.

"I was always his biggest supporter, even days he wasn't on, 'cause I could sense he didn't have thick skin," Burress said.

MANNING SURGERY: Peyton Manning's doctors said his third neck surgery in 19 months went "very well, without complication" and that the prognosis for the Colts quarterback is good. Thursday's surgery was performed at Marina Del Rey Hospital in California.

FINES: The league fined Giants running back Brandon Jacobs $20,000 and Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson $10,000 for their confrontation in a preseason game.

COWBOYS: Nose tackle Jay Ratliff, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, agreed to a five-year contract extension through the 2017 season.

Giants: Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck said he might play Sunday against the Redskins. A day after expressing concerns about a lingering neck injury, Tuck practiced and was listed as questionable, giving him about a 50-50 chance.

JAGUARS: The team sold enough tickets to avoid a TV blackout for Sunday against Tennessee. About 1,400 non-premium tickets remained.

RAVENS: The league suspended offensive line coach Andy Moeller for two games and fined him $47,000 for violating its personal conduct policy. Moeller, 47, was found guilty of driving while impaired last spring.

SAINTS: Receiver Marques Colston could miss about four weeks with a broken collarbone suffered Thursday at Green Bay, the Associated Press reported.

Late Thursday

GREEN BAY, Wis. — If Thursday's opener was a referendum on the importance of player-led team workouts during the lockout, the results are in after the Packers opened with a wild 42-34 victory over the Saints: The sessions New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees led over the summer weren't enough against the reigning champions, and the Packers' decision not to gather as a team didn't seem to hurt.

"That was a good start for us," Packers QB Aaron Rodgers joked after passing for three scores, all in the first quarter, and 312 total yards. "But I've just got to ask myself, 'What would have happened if we had had offseason workouts?' Could we have started any faster and scored more points tonight?"

After allowing 477 total yards, the Packers' defense made a goal-line stand on the final play, stuffing Saints rookie Mark Ingram.

Football: Tampa Catholic 39, Zephyrhills 13

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David Rice, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 9, 2011

TAMPA — Injury-plagued Tampa Catholic battered Zephyr­hills on Friday night with an impressive display of offensive firepower in a 39-13 victory.

Four Crusaders found the end zone, allowing their ailing defense a double-digit lead throughout much of the game. Coach Bob Henriquez was impressed with how his defense rose to the occasion.

"We're missing five or six starters from our defense, but I thought the kids really stepped up and fought hard tonight," Henriquez said. "We had to mix and match a lot of our defensive packages. Our offense putting 39 points on the board obviously gave us a lift, too."

After Jordan Rich-Rogers dominated the first half with two touchdown runs, the Crusaders went into halftime up 26-0. The start of the second half saw Zephyrhills get its footing with successive touchdowns after Antione Carr ran for one and blocked a punt that resulted in the other.

Just as it looked like the Bulldogs were back in the game, quarterback Jamal Roberts fumbled on route to a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. It was the third of the game for Zephyr­hills and resulted in Tampa Catholic going 80 yards in seven plays on the ensuing drive.

Brewer riles Cardinals

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Times wires
Friday, September 9, 2011

ST. LOUIS — 1B Albert Pujols had no comment about a derogatory tweet that Brewers OF Nyjer Morgan posted after getting ejected from a game against the Cardinals. Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter said he wasn't totally blameless in the incident but added that Morgan's reaction was over the top.

"I don't want to say anything," Pujols said Friday before playing the Braves. He also reiterated that he wouldn't discuss a contract extension yet. "Talk to me after the season but not right now," he said.

Morgan, whose handle is TheRealTPlush, referred to Pujols as Alberta and criticized Pujols for running to the mound and making sure Morgan's confrontation with Carpenter didn't escalate Wednesday.

"Alberta couldn't see Plush if she had her gloves on!!" Morgan tweeted, and added, "Wat was she thinking running afta Plush!!! She nver been n tha ring!!!" Earlier he reveled in the Brewers' big lead in the NL Central, tweeting, "Where still n 1st and I hope those crying birds injoy watching tha Crew in tha Playoffs!!! Aaaaahhhhh!!!"

"I'm aware of him," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "The less you talk about him, the better off you are."

Morgan yelled at Carpenter and pulled his tobacco out of his mouth and flung it toward the mound after striking out. Carpenter yelled a few choice words.

"I say one thing to him and he turns around and he makes it a bench-clearing brawl," Carpenter said.

Slip of the knife: Giants LH reliever Jeremy Affeldt is out for the season after cutting his right hand while using a knife to separate frozen burger patties during Thursday's off day. He needed surgery and suffered nerve damage in his pinkie. "I should have used hot water," Affeldt said. "If I used a butter knife, nothing would have happened."

Blue Jays: OF Melvin Garcia of the Gulf Coast League Jays in Dunedin was suspended 50 games for violating the minor-league drug policy. He tested positive for an amphetamine. The suspension will be effective at the start of next season.

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg, who returned from elbow-ligament replacement surgery this week, will pitch at least three more times this season, said manager Davey Johnson, who added that he will vary the pitcher's rest between four and five days. His next outing is set for Sunday against Houston on four days' rest.

Rangers: OF Josh Hamilton was scratched from the lineup to be with his wife, Katie, for the birth of their fourth daughter. Stella Faith Hamilton was born about 30 minutes before the game.

Red Sox: RHP Clay Buchholz (lower back) has begun a throwing program. RHP Josh Beckett (sprained right ankle) this week, is also throwing and making progress. LHP Erik Bedard was examined in Boston and has a strained back muscle.

Twins: Triple-A Rochester manager Tom Nieto and hitting coach Floyd Rayford were fired.

Dunedin out: Dunedin (Blue Jays) was ousted Thursday from the Florida State League playoffs, falling 4-3 at Daytona (Cubs).

Tigers 8, Twins 4

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Times wires
Friday, September 9, 2011

Tigers 8, Twins 4

DETROIT — Alex Avila hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Ramon Santiago added a two-run shot in the fourth as the Tigers rallied for their seventh straight victory. Brad Penny allowed four runs in the top of the first but settled down after that as Detroit, which has won 17 of 21, was able to slug its way back from the deficit.

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