By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, November 13, 2011

TAMPA — Sophomore WR Terrence Mitchell, who has not played since September due to concussion symptoms, might miss the rest of the season and be headed for a medical redshirt, coach Skip Holtz said Sunday.

Mitchell has played in four games, the most allowed by a player to still take a medical redshirt. Holtz said the nature of concussions has him hesitant to put the former Hillsborough High star back until everything is cleared.

"We thought we were making some progress, but it's a two steps forward, one step back," Holtz said. "You probably could clear him, but … we're going to err on the side of caution. Until his (test) numbers are back, we're not going to play him. I would think with where we are at this point, it would be worth looking into a medical year for him."

THIS AND THAT: Admiral Farragut athlete Rayshawn Jenkins, who said Friday he was backing out of his commitment to USF, confirmed Sunday that he is committed to play at Miami next season. … Sixth-year senior WR A.J. Love aggravated a stress fracture in his shin Friday and is limited. … Starting RB Darrell Scott, who didn't play Friday due to concussion symptoms, was cleared to play, Holtz said, but was held out because he hadn't practiced all week.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Talk of the town

Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio.

Worthy of a refund: Some losses are disappointing. Some are ugly. This one was embarrassing. You can live with a team that lacks talent. A lack of passion is inexcusable.

A stopwatch costs $10: They say you can't teach speed. Okay. How about teaching scouts to look for speed? The Bucs run like they've got turn signals on.

Pass happy: Matt Schaub, Drew Brees, Alex Smith and Matt Stafford have had passer ratings of 154.9, 101.4, 127.2 and 118.9 against the Bucs. The NFL has announced it will begin grading on a curve.

Reality check: Josh Freeman said afterward that he feels like he's throwing the ball well. If he really believes that, his standards are not high enough.

Aim high: Last week I told you the Bucs were on pace to give up more yards than any Tampa Bay defense in history. Apparently, they've got even bigger aspirations. The Bucs are allowing 6.39 yards per play. In the past 20 years, the only NFL defense that gave up more was the 2008 Lions at 6.41. Detroit was 0-16 that year.

A list of five

Five signs you're a bad football team.

5. Dallas just asked if you're going to use the rest of your salary cap.

4. Albert Haynesworth named team MVP.

3. Herman Cain got you confused with Tampa's lingerie team.

2. London fans petitioning for the Seahawks in 2012.

1. Tim Tebow is praying for you.

Five biggest disappointments

Mike Williams: Last season he was a sensation. This year, he has been practically nonexistent. After setting a Bucs rookie record with 11 touchdown receptions in 2010, he's on pace for two this season. And he's among the NFL leaders in dropped passes.

LeGarrette Blount: He was a one-dimensional player last season. Now, he's not even doing that. If you can't block and have trouble in the passing game, you need to do better than 10 rushing attempts for 34 yards like Blount had Sunday.

Quincy Black: The Bucs are paying him like he's one of the better linebackers in the league. So far, they are not getting their money's worth.

Aqib Talib: He's still one of the best players the Bucs have on defense, but no one is talking about him as a Pro Bowl talent these days. He's on pace for a career-low two interceptions and has had some noticeable lapses.

Josh Freeman: For months I've defended Freeman because his receivers have been weak and the running game has been worse. But the truth is he has not been very accurate, and he has forced too many passes.

Five super picks

Checking out the best bets for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

1. Packers: Most teams hope for a bye week after Monday Night Football. The Packers hit the jackpot. They get the Bucs.

2. Steelers: Okay, who taught them about the forward pass?

3. 49ers: The NFL is a better place when the 49ers are winning.

4. Texans: AFC teams better worry if Houston gets homefield advantage.

20. Bucs: Need to go 6-1 just to match last season.

Final five words

Thank heaven for the blackout.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Ask those who know about girls high school basketball in Pinellas County, and they will not hesitate when asked who has the best team this season.

Lakewood.

The Spartans have so much talent their bench players could beat most area teams. There is size (6-foot-2 center Shineice Beamon, 6-foot-1 forward Kasey Drayton). There is speed (guards Tianah Alvarado and Maya Madre). There is scoring (shooting guard Jacquette Green). There is rebounding (power forward Clemmeisha Flowers). There is a ball handling transfer from Boca Ciega, Alexis Ungro.

The defending Class 4A state champions are loaded. Everyone knows it. Everyone except coach Necole Tunsil.

"We're not that team,'' Tunsil said. "On paper, it looks good. But as we know, paper crumbles and it burns. It's just paper.''

It is a coach's job to worry about her team, and Tunsil is doing a good job. What bothers her most as the season gets set to tip off is the lack of leadership. Kayla Roberts, the undisputed leader of last year's championship team, graduated.

Tunsil said this year she has a gym full of talented players who let their play speak for them. There is no vocal leader like Roberts, or like Tunsil was when she helped the Spartans win a state title in 1989.

"You want rebounding? We rebound with the best of them,'' Tunsil said. "You want scoring? We can score with the best of them. Layups? Jump shots? Pull up, mid-range jumpers? A point guard who can go left and right no problem? We have it all. But I don't have that floor general. That's unchartered territory for me.

"We don't have a leader, and if we don't find one, we'll just be the best team in the county on paper. That doesn't mean a daggone thing.''

Boca Ciega was the last Pinellas County team to win consecutive state titles, in 1995-96. Anything short of another appearance in the state tournament would be a disappointment for Lakewood.

The Spartans have been bumped up to Class 5A this year and are in a district with Boca Ciega, Gibbs, Dunedin, Bradenton Southeast and Bradenton Bayshore. There will be some new teams for the Spartans to get past, and they know it won't be easy.

"We have to push harder this year,'' Alvarado said. "We have the targets on our backs. We have all the pieces to go back, but everyone has to play their part."

Drayton agreed.

"We won states so everyone is trying to beat us,'' she said. "There's more pressure. You don't want to win it one year and then not get there the next year. That's a big motivator for us.''

Tunsil will spend the next month or so trying to figure her team out. There have been good days at practice, and there have been not so good days. Every day, Tunsil keeps an eagle eye on her team, trying to figure out who will emerge as the leader.

If Tunsil could suit up and play right now, she would. But her eligibility ran out 22 years ago. For now, she'll just wait and see.

"I've told them this many times,'' Tunsil said. "If Necole Tunsil played some minutes, you wouldn't see me asking if we're going to win another championship. We would. But if they do it or not, that's totally up to them. I can't get on the floor anymore.''

Teams to watch While Lakewood is the team to beat, there are other talented schools in the county. Here's our unscientific "other'' seven teams to keep an eye on.

1. St. Petersburg: The Green Devils lose Kamika Idom but gain an outstanding freshman in Deja Swinton, a Northside Christian transfer. May be the closest team to Lakewood.

2. Indian Rocks Christian: The Eagles will start five seniors and appear loaded. Rachel Boyette transferred from Northside Christian, Amber Frounfelter transferred from Seminole and Caroline Shelton moved from Tennessee and is the starting guard. Jessica Logemann, Tori Trader and Kristen Scholl are key returners.

3. Clearwater: The Tornadoes reload. They lost the scoring of Emma Loucks, but Tyra Bolden, Alexandria Alford and Javon McTier should fill the void.

4. Boca Ciega: Tamara Taylor, the Times' Pinellas County player of the year last season, has graduated, but the Pirates still have talent. Destiny Brown and Olivia Hester are key returners.

5. St. Petersburg Catholic: Seven seniors return, including Annie Artise, Brittney Dunbar and Michelle Halapio. SPC is now in a tough district with Indian Rocks, but it's a playoff caliber team.

6. Palm Harbor University: Kristine Fuller, a senior guard, is a top notch player and will make the Hurricanes tough to beat.

7. East Lake: The guard duo of Amber Jennings and Marlyce Meredith will make the Eagles a pain to play.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

NASHVILLE — Gary Waters wanted to test his Cleveland State team right at the start of the season to see how much it would miss Norris Cole.

Turns out, the Vikings are just fine without him.

D'Aundray Brown, who missed last season with a torn tendon in a finger, had 18 points, eight rebounds and seven steals as Cleveland State opened its season by upsetting No. 7 Vanderbilt 71-58 Sunday in a regional game of the Legends Classic.

"Norris Cole was a first-round draft pick, and now all of a sudden he's gone," Waters said. "You can have first-round draft picks, but when he's your point guard and leading everything, that's a whole different world. I wanted to see starting out early how fast we could adjust and make certain things happen. And when you've got four seniors out on the floor, some things happen."

Cleveland State has four seniors back from a team that won the Horizon League. The Vikings hadn't played since an exhibition Wednesday night and looked fresh, while Vanderbilt (1-1) appeared sloppy and slow after opening Friday night with a late tipoff against Oregon.

"I was very impressed with them and very disappointed in us," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said.

NO. 1 UNC 91, N.C. ASHEVILLE 75: Tyler Zeller had 27 points to help the Tar Heels (2-0) overcome early turnovers and fight off the Bulldogs in their new Kimmel Arena.

NO. 9 L'VILLE 68, LAMAR 48: Freshman Chane Behanan had 10 points and 13 rebounds for a second straight double double as the host Cardinals (2-0) overcame the loss of guard Mike Marra to a left knee sprain at the Global Sports Invitational.

NO. 10 PITT 86, RIDER 78: Ashton Gibbs had 24 points and hit the clinching 3 with a minute left, and the host Panthers (2-0) ended the game on a 16-5 run.

NO. 12 BAYLOR 92, JACKSON ST. 59: Freshman Quincy Miller had 17 points to lead the host Bears (2-0) for the second time.

NO. 16 ARIZONA 73, BALL ST. 63: Kyle Fogg had 21 points, Solomon Hill added 16 points and 11 rebounds and the host Wildcats (3-0) pulled away late.

NO. 20 TEXAS A&M 83, SOUTHERN 58: Junior forward Ray Turner had 20 points for the second straight game, and the host Aggies won in coach Billy Kennedy's first game on the sideline since being diagnosed last month with Parkinson's disease. Associate head coach Glynn Cyprien led the team in its opening victory Wednesday.

NO. 21 CINCINNATI 65, ALABAMA ST. 40: Yancy Gates had 15 points and 11 rebounds for his 14th career double double, leading the host Bearcats in their season opener.

NO. 24 CAL 81, GW 54: Allen Crabbe had 21 points and Justin Cobbs scored eight in a 21-0 run to end the first half for the host Golden Bears (2-0) in the first round of the CBE Classic.

Women

USF 60, MINN. 52: Andrell Smith made 4 of 7 3-pointers and scored 18 to lead the Bulls (1-2) in their finale at the Women's Basketball Invitational Tipoff in Daytona Beach. Smith scored 12 Saturday in a 65-61 overtime loss to Arkansas. "I was upset with the games before, and I knew that I had to come ready to play because I wanted to get a win for my teammates, myself and my coaching staff," she said.

ARKANSAS 55, NO. 14 FSU 52: Sarah Watkins hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left to lift the Razorbacks over the Seminoles (2-1) in the Women's Basketball Invitational Tipoff.

NO. 1 BAYLOR 91, CHATTANOOGA 31: Brittney Griner had 19 points for the host Bears (2-0) in the second round of the preseason WNIT.

NO. 2 NOTRE DAME 99, INDIANA ST. 34: Kayla McBride had 16 points to lead six players in double figures for the host Irish (2-0) in the preseason WNIT.

NO. 3 TENN. 89, PEPPERDINE 57: Glory Johnson had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the host Volunteers in their opener. Before the game, Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia, received the Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award. "I appreciate it, and I'm humbled by it," Summitt said.

NO. 4 UCONN 77, HOLY CROSS 37: Bria Hartley had 17 points and Tiffany Hayes 16 as the Huskies won their 84th straight home game in their season opener.

NO. 5 STANFORD 76, GONZAGA 61: Nnemkadi Ogwumike had 33 points and 18 rebounds, and the Cardinal (2-0) won its 64th straight home game.

NO. 9 L'VILLE 73, MISSOURI ST. 64: Cierra Warren shot 8-for-8 and scored 18 for the visiting Cardinals in their opener.

NO. 11 MD. 72, NO. 10 G'TOWN 53: Alyssa Thomas had 19 points and 15 rebounds to lead the host Terps (2-0) over the Hoyas (1-1).

NO. 12 PENN ST. 65, MTSU 49: Zhaque Gray had 15 points, Maggie Lucas added 14 and the Lions (2-0) rallied to win their Lady Lion Classic.

NO. 15 OKLA. 117, SACRAMENTO ST. 55: Aaryn Ellenberg scored 28, and the host Sooners fell two baskets shy of a school record for scoring in their season opener.

NO. 16 RUTGERS 73, CAL 70: Betnijah Laney and Monique Oliver had 18 points each in the host Scarlet Knights' season opener.

NO. 17 PURDUE 75, IUPUI 45: K.K. Houser had 18 points and six steals for the host Boilermakers in their season opener.

NO. 20 UNC 91, S.C. UPSTATE 34: Freshman Brittany Rountree had 15 points for the host Tar Heels (2-0).

NO. 22 UCLA 74, TENN. ST. 52: Rebekah Gardner had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the host Bruins (2-0) in the second round of the preseason WNIT.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

POMONA, Calif. — Del Worsham and Matt Hagan raced to their first NHRA season champion­ships and won Sunday in the season-ending Auto Club Finals.

Worsham took the Top Fuel season crown, and Hagan avenged last season's runnerup performance by taking the Funny Car title. Eddie Krawiec claimed his second Pro Stock Motorcycle championship. Pro Stock champ Jason Line secured his title two weeks ago in Las Vegas.

Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the event at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Longtime Funny Car racer Worsham claimed the Top Fuel championship by edging series challenger Spencer Massey at the finish line in a winner-take-all semifinal round.

Worsham claimed his eighth victory of the season and 33rd of his career by outrunning Tony Schumacher in the final round.

"The semifinal round was the biggest of my 21-year career as far as what was at stake," Worsham said. "It was so close, I didn't know if I had won. When I saw the ESPN cameras coming over to me it was like, wow, I was speechless after that round."

FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton stormed to victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the United Arab Emirates after world champion Sebastian Vettel dropped out on the first lap because of a right rear puncture.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

CINCINNATI — A rookie quarterback, a game on the line. No better time for the Steelers' defense to get back to what it does best.

Grab the ball.

Rashard Mendenhall ran for two touchdowns Sunday, and Pittsburgh intercepted Andy Dalton twice in the fourth quarter, holding on for a 24-17 victory over the upstart Bengals.

Pittsburgh ended Cincinnati's five-game winning streak with a little vintage defense, something missing this season. The Steelers had only two interceptions and two fumble recoveries heading into Sunday, stunningly few turnovers for players who pride themselves on getting the ball.

They got it twice when it mattered most.

"We're a great defense because of the way we play," Steelers safety Ryan Clark said. "Turnovers tend to come in spurts. That's what separates teams from being a great defense."

It all came together in a game the Steelers badly needed to stay in AFC North contention.

Ben Roethlisberger led long, balanced drives as thousands of Steelers fans waved Terrible Towels amid the first sellout crowd of the season at Paul Brown Stadium. Mendenhall's 9-yard run put the Steelers up 24-17 late in the third quarter, leaving it to the defense to finish off the win.

Linebacker Lawrence Timmons picked off a deflected pass, ending a drive at the Pittsburgh 33. Then Steelers cornerback William Gay had the clincher, stepping in front of Jerome Simpson for an interception at the 19-yard line with 2:27 left.

Dalton had two TD passes, giving him 14 — the most by a rookie in his first nine games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

"I felt like we had a really good grasp on what they were doing," said Dalton, who was 15-of-30 for 170 yards and was not sacked. "Even with all the movements and shifts that they were doing, I still thought we had a good feel."

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Thin Broncos stay on plan in victory

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs knew what was coming, even after the Broncos' top two running backs went down injured. Their AFC West rivals were going to run behind Tim Tebow until the Chiefs proved they could stop them.

Then, once, Tebow went to the air.

The former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida hit Eric Decker on a 56-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, helping the Broncos to a humbling — even humiliating — defeat of Kansas City.

"It's just a mind-set. It's a low-risk offense. It's not an indictment on Tim Tebow or whoever our quarterback is," Denver coach John Fox said. "It's just whatever is working for us."

Willis McGahee (hamstring) and Knowshon Moreno (knee) both left in the first quarter. That left journeyman Lance Ball to tote the ball 30 times for 96 yards. Tebow had only two completions for 69 yards and added 44 yards and a score on the ground.

The Chiefs managed only 258 yards of offense.

"(It) doesn't matter how practices go, how things look, you have to do it on Sunday," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Lynch carries Seahawks to upset

SEATTLE — Marshawn Lynch caught a pass a few yards short of a critical Seattle first down late in the game against the Ravens. The only guys between Lynch and the line were linebackers Ray Lewis and Jarret Johnson.

He left Lewis and Johnson grasping at air and all but sealed the Seahawks' surprising victory.

Lynch finished with 109 yards rushing and Seattle's lone touchdown and Steven Hauschka matched a franchise record with five field goals for the Seahawks.

"He made like he was out there in the back yard playing against some of his cousins or something," Seattle quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said of Lynch.

The Ravens have beaten the Steelers twice plus the Jets and the Texans, yet have lost to the Titans, Jaguars and Seahawks.

"We understand that we are going to be a target of a lot of criticism right now," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. "We understand that."

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Jones-Drew owns otherwise dull one

INDIANAPOLIS — Maurice Jones-Drew reverted to his old wrecking-ball style against winless Indianapolis. He wore down the defense and eventually made it pay.

On a day when two of the league's worst offenses sputtered, Jones-Drew kicked things into high gear by rushing for 114 yards and scoring on a late 3-yard TD run to give the Jaguars their first road win of the season.

Jones-Drew has six 100-yard games in 11 tries against Indianapolis and has gained 1,043 of his 6,102 yards against them.

The teams combined for 12 punts, 11 in the first 34 minutes. Jacksonville finished with 18 first downs and 251 yards of offense.

That was all the Jags needed against Indy's stumbling offense.

"We feel like if we can be a balanced offense, we'll be pretty decent, so obviously the running game is a part of that," Jones-Drew said.

The Colts finished with 13 first downs, 212 total yards and their lowest point total since 1997.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Cardinals latest to rally past Eagles

PHILADELPHIA — Arizona might have a quarterback controversy.

John Skelton threw a 5-yard touchdown to Early Doucet with 1:53 left as the Cardinals rallied to beat the Eagles, snapping an 11-game road losing streak.

Michael Vick had another so-so performance and the Eagles squandered a fourth-quarter lead for the fifth time this season.

Starting for the injured Kevin Kolb, Skelton threw three touchdowns. Last week he threw a tying TD to Larry Fitzgerald in the fourth quarter of a 19-13 overtime win against St. Louis.

"I'll have to look at this tape and just see where we are," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We'll worry about that later."

Fitzgerald had two TD catches and made a sensational, over-the-shoulder diving catch to set up the go-ahead score in the fourth.

"It was a team win," Skelton said. "I put us down with a pick-six and late pick, but the defense bailed me out."

The Eagles, much hyped in the preseason, have lost seven of their past eight home games.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Bears get chippy then get picky

CHICAGO — The Bears understand where they were and can appreciate how far they've come.

Charles Tillman and Major Wright returned interceptions for touchdowns early in the third quarter, and Chicago picked off Matthew Stafford four times to beat the Lions in a heated game.

"We're getting better," Brian Urlacher said. "No doubt about that. We're not done yet."

Beating Detroit was a big step.

The four interceptions by Stafford matched his season total; he played with a broken index finger on his right (throwing) hand.

Stafford was also involved in a skirmish that led to an ejection of Chicago's D.J. Moore early in the fourth quarter.

By then, the Bears had locked up their fourth straight win thanks to another punt return for a touchdown by Devin Hester — who had been listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle — and the two interception return scores.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Dolphins finally give home fans 'W'

MIAMI — Reggie Bush scored the clinching touchdown, then happily heaved the ball into the stands, and the cluster of fans scrambling for the souvenir included a man in a Dolphins jersey holding a baby.

The scrum was understandable, with victory keepsakes a rarity lately for Dolphins fans.

Bush scored two TDs and the Dolphins twice intercepted former Florida quarterback Rex Grossman to earn their first home victory in almost exactly a year.

Miami ended a franchise-record seven-game skid at Sun Life Stadium dating to Nov. 14, 2010.

"I see 2-7 now as a hill but not a mountain," coach Tony Sparano said. "That's how our players see it, too."

Washington dropped its fifth straight, the longest skid of Mike Shanahan's head coaching career. The Redskins haven't even led since Oct. 2, when they beat St. Louis.

"It's frustrating being 3-6," said Grossman, who replaced John Beck as Washington's starter. "We're better than that."

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Cowboys, Romo click to rout Bills

ARLINGTON, Texas — Tony Romo is finally healthy and now he has a running game, too. Throw in an opportunistic defense and a kicker who hasn't missed since mid September, and it's clear the Cowboys are headed in the right direction.

Facing the best team he'll see for a month, Romo guided touchdown drives on his first four series, and Terence Newman returned one of his two interceptions for a score as Dallas routed Buffalo.

"We are learning a little bit about who we are and what we can do and what we are capable of doing," said Romo, who put Dallas ahead 21-0 by throwing TDs of 34 yards to Dez Bryant and 58 and 5 yards to Laurent Robinson.

Romo was 23-of-26 (88.5 percent), setting the franchise record for accuracy, and had no interceptions or sacks in his first game without the vest that had protected his now-healed ribs.

Ryan Fitzpatrick had a season-high three interceptions for the Bills.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Titans befuddle Panthers, Newton

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Titans' strategy was simple: put a spy on Cam Newton and try to confuse him. It worked to perfection.

The Titans sacked Newton five times, intercepted him once and took away Carolina's downfield passing. Carolina came in ranked fifth in the league on offense and first in plays of 20-plus yards, but Newton had 209 yards passing against Tennessee and Steve Smith, the NFC's leading receiver, was held to 33 yards.

Chris Johnson ran for a season-high 130 yards and scored a touchdown.

The Titans sacked Newton four times on first down.

"(Newton) holds the ball," defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said. "If a quarterback is going to hold onto the ball like that, we're going to get to him."

Afterward, Newton still seemed confused over what the Titans did, and added he couldn't remember playing a game in which his team didn't score a touchdown.

"Never, ever, ever," Newton said.

Times staff


Sunday, November 13, 2011

. Perhaps it says something about the Bucs defense that DT Albert Haynesworth, on the roster for all of four days, was one of the team's better defensive players Sunday. Haynesworth started at under tackle (alongside NT Brian Price) and created consistent disruption in the Texans' backfield. He finished with five tackles and a blocked extra point.

It's also telling that Haynesworth was a needed voice of reason in the Bucs' huddle. He said that, at one point in the game, he attempted to refocus his young teammates.

"(The mood) might have felt down or whatever," said Haynesworth, 30. "But this is the NFL. You play for 60 minutes, no matter what. I kind of said a little something, and from there on we went on and played. We played hard and tried to finish the game."

Haynesworth learned this is an area in which his new teammates need some work.

"I see the talent we have," he said. "But … we're a young team. Instead of letting a bad play go and wiping it out of your mind and going to play football, we let it pile on. We keep thinking about it, and the result is another bad play.

"Our head coach came in and said blame it on him, but he didn't play a snap of football. We have to take responsibility. We can't let one bad play keep us down."

Haynesworth certainly did not. He struggled from a conditioning standpoint having not played nearly as many snaps in New England, but Haynesworth was a factor throughout. Getting back to the role he played with the Titans three years ago, Haynesworth was charged with penetrating between the guard and tackle and did so consistently. He said his recall from the Titans defense helped him compensate for his lack of knowledge of the Tampa Bay scheme.

"I still believe in myself that I can play football," Haynesworth said. "Regardless of 4-3 or 3-4 (scheme), I think it's the same because it's football. But I think this team here fits me a little more."

Picking off Freeman

. Much has been said about QB Josh Freeman not taking care of the ball as well this season, and interceptions bit the Bucs' franchise quarterback once again Sunday. Freeman, who has 13 interceptions after tossing just six last year, threw three against the Texans' top-ranked defense. One interception bounced off the hands of WR Arrelious Benn, and another one was jarred loose from TE Kellen Winslow. But turnovers continue to be a thorn in Freeman's side. The Texans, who played a lot of man coverage, attributed some of the picks to pressure (sacking Freeman four times). "They came as advertised — a really good defense," Freeman said. "They generated some pass rush and really didn't allow us to get into any offensive rhythm." On Freeman's first interception, he appeared to complete a pass at the right hash to Winslow, but CB Johnathan Joseph knocked the ball loose with a big hit, and it deflected right to LB Brian Cushing. Joseph said they were in soft zone coverage, and he was able to step in. "It came right to me," Cushing said. "Kind of the right place, right time kind of thing."

The Bucs knew they had their hands full trying to slow Texans RBs Arian Foster and Ben Tate. But an unexpected third option came from a familiar face, former Bucs RB Derrick Ward. With the warmer weather in Tampa, and the Texans having built a big second-half lead, coach Gary Kubiak had Ward spell his two stars. Ward racked up 36 yards on 11 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown run in the third. • "We went with the three-headed monster," Ward said. "It felt good to get back out there and score a touchdown against a former team, that's always a plus." • Ward was a large disappointment in Tampa Bay, where he signed a four-year, $17 million free agent deal but was released after one season (409 yards in 2009). Ward said he had no extra motivation or emotion facing the Bucs. • "It's the NFL, you can't really think of it as a motivational thing when you're out there," he said. "I just did my job, was lucky enough to score a touchdown and help my team win." • Ward then smiled, and acknowledged, "But it felt good."

. With the Bucs trailing 6-0 and the Texans driving, the Bucs appeared to have come up with just the right solution. CB Aqib Talib picked off Matt Schaub at the 3-yard line, seemingly preventing the Texans from scoring.

But Houston coach Gary Kubiak challenged the call, arguing that Talib did not have possession of the ball, which was ripped out by WR Derrick Mason but recovered by Talib.

The replay official ruled that Talib did not have control before losing the ball, making the play an incomplete pass. The Texans, facing a fourth down, kicked a field goal on the next play for a 9-0 lead with 4:29 left in the first quarter.

But replays suggested that Talib made a football maneuver after the catch, which is usually the threshold for a catch.

Former NFL head referee Mike Pereira, now a member of the Fox broadcasting crew, disagreed.

During the broadcast he said, "Talib didn't possess the ball long enough to perform an act common to the game. … The ball came out right after his feet hit the ground. (He) didn't maintain control long enough."

. Near the end of the first half, Connor Barth made a career-long 55-yard field goal into the wind, cutting the Texans' lead to 16-3. Barth's previous best was a 54-yarder in 2009 against the Dolphins, and he's now 5-for-9 from 50-plus yards. But the big kick was little solace in the big loss.

"I was just trying to get points on the board when we can," Barth said. "And, like I said, we just did not come out with a win today. I don't really have much to (add) to that."

The kick tied for the third longest in team history, and the longest since Matt Bryant's franchise-best 62-yard field goal on Oct. 22, 2006, against Philadelphia. Michael Husted kicked a 57-yarder against the L.A. Raiders in 1993.

The Bucs defense had one of its worst games of the season, and no two plays were more representative of the unit's performance than the Texans' 80- and 78-yard touchdowns. Both plays were marked by equally poor execution and tackling from the Bucs. The first, an 80-yard bomb from QB Matt Schaub to WR Jacoby Jones, came on the game's first play from scrimmage. The Texans went with a hard play-action, with Schaub running a bootleg to his right. With the entire defense biting on the run fake, Jones was left wide open and safeties Tanard Jackson and Sean Jones out of position. • The two nearly collided when attempting to recover. Jackson overran the receiver, and Sean Jones made a poor effort to bring him down from behind. Once Jacoby Jones turned inside, it was over. • "They got us," Jackson said. "Give credit to them. … We were definitely in position (for the tackle). I have to make that play. I'm the last line of defense. I have to keep that play to a minimum." • Sean Jones, along with CB Aqib Talib, was a culprit on RB Arian Foster's 78-yard play in the second quarter. With his receivers covered downfield, Schaub dumped the ball to Foster in the left flat, a play Foster labeled "routine." • He weaved through a gap, got to the sideline and made Talib miss in the open field. Jones took a poor angle a few yards later and no one else came close. • "I'd say nine times out of 10, I'd make that tackle," Jones said. "But we have to have everybody (getting) to the ball. We can't have one missed tackle and have it become a touchdown. We're all angry right now."

Texans not impressed

. The Bucs were a young team on the rise last season — finishing 10-6 and nearly making the playoffs — while the Texans fell to a disappointing 6-10 with one of the league's worst defenses. It would seem as though after Tampa Bay's 37-9 loss to Houston on Sunday the roles have been reversed.

The Texans (7-3) said they could sense frustration from the Bucs, knowing that Tampa Bay had some discipline issues with penalties that Houston could take advantage of.

"Yeah, they were a 10-win team last year, and you can see they have a lot of young guys," Texans CB Johnathan Joseph said. "And sometimes when you have a lot of young guys, things can go either way. For them, they're struggling a bit right now."

Houston RB Arian Foster believed the Bucs continued to play hard, giving more credit to his team's top-ranked "dominating defense" for the win. But LB Brooks Reed acknowledged he could sense something different in the Bucs' body language.

"We knew they had some issues with penalties that can change the tide of the game," Reed said. "You could tell, even in the beginning of the second half, they were getting frustrated." RB Derrick Ward thought the Texans might have worn down Tampa Bay with their running game. "You could see them, they were making mistakes," Ward said. "They were doing some things that weren't disciplined and sound."

Boo birds

. Considering Sunday was the Bucs' first home game in nearly a month, there was some pregame excitement. But Tampa Bay didn't provide much to cheer about, and fans were quick to boo — even in the first half. G Davin Joseph understood where the crowd was coming from.

"I can't get mad at them," Joseph said. "It's frustrating to watch us, such a talented team, go out and just not put things together to help ourselves. So (booing) is going to happen. But hopefully we'll give them something to cheer about."

Bucs plagued by penalties again

. The Bucs were flagged six times, an improvement from some of their recent performances in that regard. But, once again, most of the penalties were for the sorts of violations that coach Raheem Morris has called "avoidable." And, again, most came at inopportune moments. DE Adrian Clayborn, right, had two offside penalties — on the same series. One was declined , but the second came on third and goal from the Bucs 9. DT Albert Haynesworth was called for offside in the second quarter, while G Jeremy Zuttah was flagged for a false start and for holding on consecutive plays. Even G Davin Joseph, rarely called for penalties, was called for holding. "Something that's really hurting us right now is the penalties," Joseph said. "We can't keep hurting ourselves with those. We're not going to get every single call, but our job is to go out and play solid football."

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

ATLANTA — A disconsolate Mike Smith watched the chip-shot field goal sail through the uprights, then walked slowly across the field, his head down, to shake hands with the other coach.

Smith knew this loss was on him.

John Kasay's 26-yard kick in overtime won it after the Atlanta coach decided to go for it on fourth down deep in his own territory Sunday. The decision backfired horribly and handed the Saints a 26-23 win over Atlanta.

"I know it will be scrutinized all week long," Smith said. "I want everybody to understand I take full responsibility."

New Orleans took control of the NFC South, snapping Atlanta's three-game winning streak. But this one will be long remembered for Smith's gutsy and ill-fated call.

Atlanta rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, tying it on former Buc Matt Bryant's 27-yard field goal on the final play of regulation.

In overtime, Atlanta appeared to pick up a first down on a pass to Mike Cox, but he was ruled just short after referee Terry McAuley looked at the replay. Then, stunningly, Smith decided to go for it on fourth down from his 29.

Michael Turner was stuffed.

"We were going to be aggressive in all that we did," Smith said. "Unfortunately, it did not work out."

The jubilant Saints took over, and four plays later, Kasay won it with his fourth field goal of the game.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton coached the game on crutches in his return to the sideline after a collision with one of his players left him with a broken left leg and severe knee injuries on Oct. 17 against the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium.

"I just felt like this was an important game," said Payton, who coached from the press box the previous few weeks. "That presence is important. I talked to the doctors this morning."

"It was great having him, just his presence," said Brees, who went 30-of-43 for 322 yards and two touchdowns. "He couldn't wait to get back down there. He has his hands in everything."

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Rams top Browns in a (bad) snap

CLEVELAND — When Phil Dawson trotted on the field, the Browns seemed close to victory.

In a snap, they were in despair.

Dawson's 22-yard field goal sailed wide left after a bounced snap from Ryan Pontbriand with 2:13 left, giving the Rams a win. The Browns again failed to score a touchdown at home.

Dawson made four field goals in blustery conditions. But on the last try Pontbriand, considered the NFL's best long snapper, hiked the ball off the right foot of center Alex Mack, who lines up at left guard for kicks.

"It's on me," Pontbriand said. "My fault. It's my job to get the ball back there and it didn't get there."

Steven Jackson, who rushed for 128 yards for St. Louis, joked: "I thought this stuff only happened to the Rams. I didn't think it happened to other teams."

"It hasn't sunk in enough to go through my head yet. I've got a thick head," said first-year Browns coach Pat Shurmur, a former Rams offensive coordinator.

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Basketball

Decision day for NBA players?

The NBA Players Association is scheduled to meet in New York this morning, a session that could lead to the end of the lockout or send it into a bigger tailspin. Representatives from all 30 teams are expected, as are other players, to examine and discuss a summary of the latest collective bargaining proposal.

The league wants a 72-game season to begin Dec. 15. For that to happen, a handshake deal almost certainly would have to be in place this week. Commissioner David Stern says it will take about 30 days to get the season started once a deal is reached.

There are 17 items in the summary, including how teams paying a luxury tax would not be able to acquire free agents in sign-and-trade deals after the 2012-13 season. One of the key points says "there will be no limitations on a player's ability to receive 100 percent guaranteed salary in all seasons of a contract."

Powerboats

Two racers injured at plagued Keys event

Two New Jersey powerboat racers were injured in the final races of the Key West World Championship, where three competitors died last week.

Owner/driver Robert Vesper of Somers Point and throttleman Danny Crank of Hammonton were both taken to a Keys hospital after their 38-foot boat hit into a wave, Super Boat International officials said. Vesper was released with cuts, but Crank was sent to Miami as a precaution to examine a head injury.

Scott Begovich, throttleman for Miss Geico, chose not to race Sunday. "My head is not in the game," said Begovich, a friend of Sarasota's Joey Gratton, 59, who died Saturday in a crash. "You have to be 100 percent mentally sound and clear-headed to pilot a boat at 160 mph."

On Wednesday, Missouri racers Robert M. Morgan, 74, and Jeffrey Tillman, 47, died when their 46-foot boat crashed.

"Today's boats are designed to go faster and are safer, but … the impact speeds are even greater," said Jerry Gilbreath, technical adviser to Lucas Oil, a Superboat Extreme entry.

tennis

Federer wins his first Paris Masters title

Roger Federer, who had never even reached the Paris Masters final, beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) to notch the 69th event title of his career.

"I'm just ecstatic to have played so well this week," said Federer, the former No. 1 who enters the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals in London on a 12-match win streak with his 18th Masters title. "I have had many attempts to win Paris and for some reason I wasn't able to. It's a special victory."

et cetera

Swimming: Michael Phelps won his fifth gold medal at the Minneapolis Grand Prix, winning the 200-meter individual medley in 1:57.58. He had won the 100 and 200 butterfly, the 200 free and 100 backstroke.

Weightlifting: Women's super-heavyweight Zhou Lulu of China set an aggregate world record to win gold at the world championships in Paris. Zhou's snatch plus clean-and-jerk total was 328 kilograms (723.1 pounds), topping the 327 mark set by Tatiana Kashirina in April.

Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, November 13, 2011

SUNRISE — The Flyers took advantage of the sun and rest during their trip to Florida, and it appears to have been time well spent. Danny Briere, Braydon Coburn and Matt Read scored, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 31 saves in the Flyers' 3-2 victory over the Panthers on Sunday night.

Bryzgalov won for the fourth time in five starts. The Flyers lost 2-1 in overtime at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, then took two days off before returning to practice Saturday.

"I thought our guys really competed well, skated well," Flyers coach Pete Laviolette said. "I thought our guys responded well and played a hard-fought game."

Game highlights: Jonathan Toews and Steve Montador each scored twice as the host Blackhawks beat the Oilers 6-3 for their third straight victory. Montador, a defenseman playing his 10th NHL season, had his first two-goal game.

Around the league: Sabres goalie Ryan Miller is out indefinitely with a concussion after he was leveled by Bruins forward Milan Lucic on Saturday when he left the crease. "(Lucic has) 50 pounds on me and he runs me like that?" Miller said. "… That was gutless."

First Period—1, Philadelphia, Briere 5 (Simmonds, van Riemsdyk), 16:10. Penalties—van Riemsdyk, Phi (hooking), 2:04; Skille, Fla (slashing), 5:03; Zolnierczyk, Phi (illegal check to head minor), 7:37; Versteeg, Fla (tripping), 8:21; Rinaldo, Phi (charging), 13:11; Rinaldo, Phi, major (fighting), 15:27; Bradley, Fla, major (fighting), 15:27.

Second Period—2, Philadelphia, Coburn 1 (Voracek, Talbot), 6:50. 3, Florida, Dadonov 1 (Jovanovski), 10:20. Penalties—Matthias, Fla (boarding), 2:26; Hartnell, Phi (goaltender interference), 7:15; Bergenheim, Fla (hooking), 16:44.

Third Period—4, Philadelphia, Read 4 (penalty shot), 4:14 (sh). 5, Florida, Fleischmann 6 (Kopecky, Campbell), 19:52. Penalties—Jagr, Phi (hooking), 1:53; Talbot, Phi, double minor (high-sticking), 3:13; Weiss, Fla, misconduct-game misconduct, 4:14; Bergenheim, Fla (high-sticking), 10:18. Shots on Goal—Philadelphia 8-18-9—35. Florida 10-7-16—33. Power-play opportunities—Philadelphia 0 of 5; Florida 0 of 7. Goalies—Philadelphia, Bryzgalov 7-4-2 (33 shots-31 saves). Florida, Theodore 6-3-2 (35-32). A—15,215 (17,040). T—2:20.

First Period—1, Chicago, J.Toews 8 (Stalberg, Leddy), 4:55. 2, Chicago, Montador 2 (Kane, Sharp), 5:29. 3, Edmonton, Smyth 10 (Eberle, T.Gilbert), 11:41. 4, Chicago, Montador 3 (Leddy, Keith), 16:11 (pp). Penalties—Eberle, Edm (holding), 14:21.

Second Period—5, Chicago, J.Toews 9 (Hossa), :22. 6, Edmonton, Eberle 4, 6:17. 7, Chicago, Keith 2 (Hossa), 7:47. 8, Edmonton, Horcoff 3 (Nugent-Hopkins, Hall), 19:15 (pp). Penalties—Olesz, Chi (holding), 2:28; Eberle, Edm (high-sticking), 4:07; Kane, Chi (high-sticking), 9:23; Smyth, Edm (tripping), 15:01; Stalberg, Chi (broken stick), 18:01.

Third Period—9, Chicago, Carcillo 2 (Kane, Sharp), 18:15 (en). Penalties—Peckham, Edm (holding), 12:17. Shots on Goal—Edmonton 8-8-7—23. Chicago 10-11-14—35. Power-play opportunities—Edmonton 1 of 3; Chicago 1 of 4. Goalies—Edmonton, Khabibulin 7-2-2 (34 shots-29 saves). Chicago, Crawford 8-4-2 (23-20). A—21,110 (19,717). T—2:15.

First Period—1, Minnesota, Brodziak 4 (Powe, Johnson), 6:09. 2, Minnesota, Cullen 7 (Clutterbuck, Prosser), 16:11. 3, Minnesota, Spurgeon 2 (Bouchard, Cullen), 19:31. Penalties—Johnson, Min (tripping), 2:21; Holland, Ana (holding), 9:46.

Second Period—4, Anaheim, Fowler 1 (Beauchemin, Ryan), 2:15. Penalties—M.Koivu, Min (interference), :23; Perry, Ana (tripping), 1:28; Spurgeon, Min (slashing), 9:35; S.Koivu, Ana (elbowing), 9:35; Brodziak, Min (slashing), 9:46; Perry, Ana (goaltender interference), 18:15.

Third Period—5, Anaheim, Fowler 2, 19:11. Penalties—Foster, Ana (interference), 2:45. Shots on Goal—Minnesota 15-8-3—26. Anaheim 7-13-14—34. Power-play opportunities—Minnesota 0 of 4; Anaheim 0 of 3. Goalies—Minnesota, Backstrom 5-4-2 (34 shots-32 saves). Anaheim, Hiller 5-7-3 (15-12), Ellis (0:00 second, 11-11). A—13,803 (17,174). T—2:19.

First Period—1, Vancouver, Rome 3 (Booth, Hodgson), 1:57. Penalties—Eaton, NYI (holding), 17:56.

Second Period—2, Vancouver, H.Sedin 6 (Bieksa), :34. 3, N.Y. Islanders, Moulson 4 (Grabner, Tavares), 15:09. Penalties—Martin, NYI (tripping), 11:42.

Third Period—4, Vancouver, Hodgson 4 (Rome, Higgins), 2:47 (pp). 5, Vancouver, Booth 2 (Rome, Lapierre), 16:59 (en). Penalties—Streit, NYI (delay of game), 1:07. Shots on Goal—N.Y. Islanders 8-4-12—24. Vancouver 14-13-9—36. Power-play opportunities—N.Y. Islanders 0 of 0; Vancouver 1 of 3. Goalies—N.Y. Islanders, Nabokov 1-4-0 (35 shots-32 saves). Vancouver, Luongo 7-5-1 (24-23). A—18,860 (18,810). T—2:12.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer


Sunday, November 13, 2011

WINNIPEG — So much went wrong in the Lightning's 3-0 loss to the Blues on Saturday — and with so much on which to work — a hard practice Sunday seemed a no-brainer.

Instead, coach Guy Boucher gave the players the day off for a little "self-assessment."

"The guys need to reflect by themselves and not be hounded by information from the coach that's going to be redundant," Boucher said, "so, a breather."

It was worth a try since nothing else has shaken Tampa Bay out of its doldrums on the road. The Lightning is 8-6-2 overall but 3-5-2 on the road, and even that does not indicate how poorly it has played.

Tampa Bay has been outscored 17-8 in first periods on the road. Its road power play entered Sunday 22nd in the 30-team league at 11.4 percent. The 35 goals it allowed on the road were tied for 29th. And only five other teams had more shots either miss the net or get blocked on the road than the Lightning's 108.

Granted, only four other teams have played as many as or more than Tampa Bay's 10 road games, but still.

"A head-scratcher," Boucher called it, especially considering Tampa Bay's road wins last season were second most in team history.

"It's a bit annoying to be honest with you," defenseman Eric Brewer said. "We know we have a better team than what we've shown on the road, and we've had a period or two in every game when we've played really well. But as you know, that's not enough to win games."

So, what's going on?

The biggest flaw is slow starts, evinced by the horrid first-period goal differential.

"We're just not pushing the pace of the game the way we should," Brewer said.

"We come out soft," Boucher said. "We don't skate, and when we feel the urgency because we're losing, then all of a sudden we get going."

But within that narrative are all kinds of subtexts.

Sometimes the team simply looks slow, which irks Brewer because "we're not a slow team."

On Saturday, without injured defensemen Mattias Ohlund and Victor Hedman, Lightning blue-liners could not cope with the bigger, stronger Blues. Forwards have not consistently worked hard enough to create offense. Against St. Louis that contributed to a season-low 18 shots in a 3-0 loss.

Overall, the team simply is not as positionally sound or assertive as it is at home, where it is 5-1-0.

"It's a moving target," Brewer said. "One night it's the D and one night it's the forwards. Maybe it's the power play. Maybe it's the penalty kill. We've just found ways to kick ourselves."

"It's in your mind right now," Boucher said. "Our minds are not in the right place. We've got to change our state of mind."

Boucher has tried with team meetings, practices tailored to address specific deficiencies and even making the team's pregame routine more like last season's.

Perhaps a Sunday off before tonight's game with the Jets at the MTS Centre will do the trick.

"We have to be better on the road, give ourselves a chance," Boucher said. "Right now, we don't give ourselves a chance."

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.