By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer


Saturday, January 7, 2012

MONTREAL — The NHL's plan for dramatic realignment will not be implemented next season because the players association opposed the changes.

But Lightning C Dominic Moore, the team's union representative, believes the issue will eventually be resolved. The sides need to work through the players' concerns about travel and the playoff format, he said.

The plan the union rejected by a Friday league deadline would have had the league go from six divisions to four conferences, two with eight teams and two with seven, with four from each making the playoffs. Tampa Bay would have been in a conference with Florida, Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo, Boston and Ottawa.

"For Tampa and Florida, it'd be tough to convince those teams that their travel is going to be much easier," Moore said.

Moore knew the league had discussed more efficient road trips, but he said the players wanted to see the data, such as mock schedules, before agreeing to the plan the Board of Governors had approved.

"I think there's solutions out there. It's not going to be a big problem," Moore said. "It's just a matter of … going through these issues and analyzing some of the information that we can come up with."

STEPPING IN: Pierre-Cedric Labrie said he was so excited to get recalled from AHL Norfolk on Friday, "my body got nervous and shaked for 10-15 minutes. … I couldn't believe it."

Labrie, a 6-foot-2, 218-pound checking forward, made his NHL debut Saturday against the Canadiens and played 3:41. Labrie, 25, brings much-needed size and physicality, coach Guy Boucher said.

"He's a huge boy that hits extremely hard. He can drop the gloves, too," Boucher said. "He's a pretty smart player and (does) the simple things, and driving the net. I think he's going to bring something we have very little of."

Labrie said his parents and about 10 friends made the eight-hour drive from his hometown, Baie-Comeau, Quebec, to watch him play. His first call Friday was to his dad, who had to adjust his schedule.

"I was like, 'Are you going to be busy tomorrow?' " Labrie said. "He said, 'Yeah I'm really busy tomorrow.' I said, 'You better get some time off, because I'm going to play in Montreal.' He's like, 'No way!' "

DOUBLE TAKE: D Brendan Mikkelson, acquired by the Lightning for C Blair Jones, said he thought he was getting called up to play for the Flames when he got a phone call from a Calgary executive Friday. Mikkelson, with AHL Abbotsford, was heading to the morning skate. "I was surprised," he said. "(The executive) said, 'I think this could be a good move for you in the long run.' I'm like, 'Wait a minute. I've been recalled a lot of times. That doesn't sound like a recall.' "

MISCELLANY: RW Ryan Malone, who missed two games with a lower-body injury, returned. Wings Adam Hall and J.T. Wyman (both upper body) were scratched.

Times wires
Saturday, January 7, 2012

HOUSTON — Andre Johnson hugged his coach at the end of Houston's first playoff game, a decade in the making.

"This is something not just for me but for the whole organization," the receiver said. "It's special for me because I said on the day I was drafted here (in 2003) that I wanted to be a part of that."

Johnson, the face of the 10-year-old franchise, caught a 40-yard touchdown pass that helped Houston beat Cincinnati 31-10 in Saturday's AFC wild-card game at Reliant Stadium.

"It's a very special feeling," he said. "That's probably the most I've smiled in a long time."

Johnson had plenty of help, including from rookies J.J. Watt and T.J. Yates.

"I'm just very proud of all the guys and the job they did," coach Gary Kubiak said.

Houston used six draft picks on defense in April. The first was Watt, an end, at No. 11 overall. He started all 16 regular-season games and led the team with 13 tackles for loss. But he hadn't picked off a pass until Saturday.

With the score tied at 10 in the final minute of the first half, Watt measured his jump when Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton dropped back and snatched the ball. He then sprinted 29 yards to the end zone.

"I was really just trying to put my hands up and get in the way of the passing lane," said Watt, who said he works on plays such as that during practices. "I realized I had the ball, so I just ran to the end zone trying not to fall down."

Houston's defense, ranked No. 1 for most of the season and which finished second, had its best game in several weeks, with four sacks and four turnovers. "We got back to our type of football," Kubiak said.

Up 17-10 late in the third, Yates, a fifth-round pick pressed into action after injuries to quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, caught a break when safety Chris Crocker dropped an interception. ("It was a touchdown if I would have caught it," Crocker said.) Three plays later, Yates hit Johnson, who had broken free from cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, for a touchdown.

Dalton threw interceptions on the Bengals' next two series. Then Arian Foster, who ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns, scored on a 42-yarder to keep Cincinnati winless in its three playoff appearances since its last victory in January 1991.

Said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis: "I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to put us in position to win the football game and get us over the hump."

Times wires
Saturday, January 7, 2012

HOUSTON — Andy Dalton rolled his eyes and shook his head. The Bengals rookie QB couldn't believe the play J.J. Watt made that turned Saturday's game around for the Texans.

The 6-foot-5 defensive end fought off a blocker, leaped in front of Dalton's pass and returned it 29 yards for a score. It gave Houston the lead just before halftime, and the Texans never looked back in a 31-10 win in the AFC wild-card game.

"He jumped up and made a play," said Dalton, who had thrown just one interception over his past six games. "It was a great job on his part."

It was the first interception of the season for the rookie Watt.

"It changed the momentum of the game," Houston LB Brian Cushing said.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY: Chris Crocker sat at his locker after the game with a stunned look. He was numb. The Bengals' nine-year safety could do nothing but look back and think about what could have been.

With Houston leading 17-10 and 2:39 left in the third, Crocker had a chance to even the score for the Bengals. He read the route of TE Owen Daniels perfectly, sized up QB T.J. Yates' throw and broke for the ball in the air near midfield.

But instead of a 17-17 game, Crocker dropped the ball. Three plays later Yates and Andre Johnson connected for a 40-yard touchdown that increased Houston's lead to 24-10.

"I catch that ball and it's a tie ball game," Crocker said. "I can't explain how bad I feel because that's a touchdown. I just dropped it. It hit me right in the hands."

"That was a misread by me, and he did a good job of jumping the route," Yates said. "I got lucky that he dropped it. It was a poor decision by me, but we did a good job of coming right back, moving the ball down the field and Andre doing a good job of getting in the end zone for us."

Good skid: The Texans rallied past the Bengals on Dec. 11 in Cincinnati to clinch their playoff berth. But they lost their next three to finish the regular season. Johnson said the losing streak proved beneficial. "Everybody was riding high. The city was going crazy. We were in the playoffs for the first time," he said. "Over those last three weeks, that brought us back down to reality and let us know what we needed to do."

legend: Bum Phillips, who coached the Houston Oilers from 1975-80 and led them to three playoff berths, led the Texans out of their tunnel before the game. Phillips, 88, the father of Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, wore his trademark cowboy hat, a black shirt and blue jeans and tipped his hat to the fans.

Miscellany: Jeff Garcia, signed Dec. 7 by the Texans to be the third-string quarterback, was inactive. … Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, watched the game from a suite with commissioner Roger Goodell.

STEELERS-BRONCOS: As expected, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (sprained left ankle) is set to start today. That's rare good news for a team hit by injuries that have sidelined RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee) and All-Pro C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle). Also its top tackler, S Ryan Clark, is sitting out as a precaution because of a blood disorder. The Broncos also have issues. Their best run blocker, RG Chris Kuper, broke his left leg last week and will be replaced by Russ Hochstein and maybe Ryan Harris, who was re-signed Tuesday. Austin Sylvester could get his first NFL action with FB Spencer Larsen (knee) doubtful. And S Brian Dawkins is out with a neck injury that might end his 16-year career.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

TEXANS 31, BENGALS 10: J.J. Watt returned the first of Andy Dalton's three interceptions for a touchdown as the host Texans won in their playoff debut. T.J. Yates threw a touchdown to Andre Johnson, and Arian Foster sealed it with a 42-yard touchdown run to set up next week's trip to Baltimore. 4C

SAINTS 45, LIONS 28: As expected in the first playoff game with two 5,000-yard quarterbacks, Detroit and host New Orleans engaged in a shootout. Drew Brees and the Saints, with more playoff experience, came out on top over Matthew Stafford to set up next week's trip to San Francisco. 4C

Times wires
Saturday, January 7, 2012

NEW ORLEANS — For three quarters, the Lions performed like playoff veterans.

They led Drew Brees and the Saints at halftime. They were still right in the game heading to the fourth quarter.

But Brees and New Orleans blew it open in the fourth, turning Detroit's postseason return into a one-and-done affair with a 45-28 NFC wild-card playoff victory that was much closer most of a raucous Saturday night at the Superdome.

Despite the loss, the Lions gave themselves plenty of reasons for optimism after their first playoff appearance since 1999, though they'll have to wait even longer for their first postseason win in more than two decades.

After their first 10-win season since 1995, the Lions have a bright future. WR Calvin Johnson, QB Matthew Stafford and DT Ndamukong Suh are 26 or younger and under contract through at least 2012.

Defense, especially when opposing teams drops back to pass, is likely to be the next area of focus in a rebuilding effort that already took the Lions from an 0-16 debacle three seasons ago to a wild-card berth.

In the regular-season finale, Detroit surrendered 480 yards and six touchdowns to Green Bay backup QB Matt Flynn, who set franchise records while filling in for Aaron Rodgers. The Packers won 45-41, leaving the Lions with a tougher playoff pairing against New Orleans instead of the Giants.

The big drive: New Orleans showed guts and got a little good fortune on a decisive 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter. The Saints ran Darren Sproles around left end on fourth and 2 at the Lions 40 and gained 3 yards. Soon after, Brees' pass as he was clobbered by Nick Fairley went right through the hands of DB Aaron Berry.

Berry would regret that drop two plays later as Sproles bolted 17 yards to make it 31-21.

Injury break: Lions CB Chris Houston hurt his shoulder while tackling FB Jed Collins during the first quarter but returned late in the half.

ODD ROLE FOR NEW YORK: The Giants are only four years removed from a Super Bowl victory, but they have nothing on the Falcons in terms of postseason experience.

The Giants will be the novices today when they host the Falcons in a wild-card game at MetLife Stadium.

New York returns to the postseason after a two-year absence that put coach Tom Coughlin's job in jeopardy, while the Falcons appear in the playoffs for the second straight year and third time in four seasons.

The Falcons' experience might not mean much, considering QB Matt Ryan has failed to lead them to a win in the postseason. Atlanta was the No. 1 seed last year but was blown out at home by the eventual Super Bowl champion Packers.

"Yeah, it's about time we won," Falcons WR Roddy White said. "This is our third time in the playoffs in four years. It's about time we get a W. We've been lacking in that case, and everyone wants to win really, really bad. We want to get that first win out of the way and after that you just take them one by one."

The Giants enter with momentum, having won three of their last four.

Times wires
Saturday, January 7, 2012

NEW ORLEANS — The Saints keep pouring on the points, rolling up the wins and rewriting the record books.

Drew Brees threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns as New Orleans pulled away in the second half for a 45-28 wild-card victory Saturday over Detroit.

New Orleans broke the postseason mark for total yards with 626, surpassing the record set 49 years ago. The teams combined for 1,083 yards, tying the playoff record set by Buffalo and Miami on Dec. 30, 1995.

Brees completed 33 of 43 passes while throwing for the most yards in a regulation playoff game. (The Browns' Bernie Kosar threw for 489 yards in a 23-20 overtime victory over the Jets on Jan. 3, 1987.)

"He's definitely playing at an extremely high level right now," said Saints receiver Marques Colston, who overcame an early fumble with seven catches for 120 yards. "It's the way the guy prepares. He really just tries to get better on a daily basis, and that's what you see on the field."

As usual, the quarterback had plenty of help from an offense that set an NFL record for yards from scrimmage this season (7,474).

"We just focus on winning. We're not focused on yards and records," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "I'm serious."

Matthew Stafford threw for 380 yards and three TDs for the Lions, who simply could not keep pace in their first playoff appearance since the 1999 season. They have lost seven straight postseason games.

"It's a learning experience for the whole team. We'll get better. We'll be back," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "Obviously it hurts right now."

All-Pro receiver Calvin Johnson had 12 receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns for Detroit, but the Saints defense responded in the fourth quarter with two interceptions by Jabari Greer.

The Lions became only the second visiting team all season to lead at halftime in the Superdome, where the Saints went 8-0 during the regular season.

"So going into halftime at a deficit, we just realized, 'Listen, just bear down, one play at a time, one drive at a time,' " Brees said. "And I think we scored on every drive in the second half. I guess that's what you hope for."

Scoring on every second-half drive? Not quite.

Brees took a knee on the final one to run out the clock.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, January 8, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — For the second time in three years, the New Year's Invitational at St. Petersburg Country Club needed extra holes. In fact, it needed six, most in the tournament's 86-year history, before Garland Green outlasted Stephan Jaeger to win the championship Sunday.

The final day started with Jaeger ahead of Green by a shot and Jim Liu by two. When Jaeger, a senior at Tennessee-Chattanooga, birdied the 15th hole, he had a two-shot lead over Liu and four over Green.

But Green birdied the next two holes to get within a shot of Jaeger and Liu. Green then hit the par 5 18th hole in two shots and birdied while Liu and Jaeger both parred to set up a three-way playoff.

"I stood up there and hit the shot of my life," Green said of his second shot on 18 from just over 200 yards. "I just cozied (the putt) down there for birdie and got into the playoff."

Green and Jaeger parred the first hole while Liu bogied and was eliminated. On the par-4 15th, Jaeger's tee shot landed under a tree and his second shot sailed over the green.

Green's approach shot was 20 feet from the hole, Jaeger's chip shot about 15 feet short. Green two-putted for par.

"You just have to be patient," said Green, a Virginia Tech grad who plans to play on the E-Golf pro tour in North Carolina. "You just have to keep putting yourself in position and eventually it will come."

By Ric Liles, Times Correspondent
Sunday, January 8, 2012

Warmer weather awaits: It appears we will have a stretch of warmer weather over the next week. Last week's frigid temperatures and windy conditions were worse on anglers than fish. Water temperatures dropped dramatically at night but warmed during the day so fish were not in danger. It also helped that the lowest tides of the day coincided with the lowest temperatures, because the fish were already forced into the deeper water. The tides were low enough to get heat transfer from the sun onto the sand bottom of the flats and the black mud bottom of backwaters, which warms fish as the tide rises. My point is that it is not all doom and gloom when we get cold weather.

Trout update: This week look for the trout bite to get back to where it was before the front. We were having some great trout catches, but they occurred during closed season. The trout caught during the inclement weather have been smaller on average and much less aggressive. The season is now open and under new laws will stay open year-round. We have been using live shrimp under a float but have gone to soft plastics on a ⅛-ounce or quarter-ounce jig head. The best color pattern has been something natural and not exotic. Most trips that targeted trout also resulted in a flounder or two. Sheepshead is also on the brink of a fantastic bite.

Ric Liles can be reached at (813) 601-2900, via email at CaptainRic@msn.com, or at ReelSimpleFishing.com.

Times wires
Sunday, January 8, 2012

Joe Paterno is "fighting like crazy" against lung cancer, but he remains eager to someday give his version of the events that led to his firing at Penn State, said Jay Paterno, the former coach's son, in an interview with ESPN.

"He's doing well because of the fact he's in great spirits," Jay Paterno said. "Anytime you have this kind of fight on your hands, you have to have a fighting spirit, which Joe has always had. And he's fighting like crazy. But it takes some, takes some energy out of him like it does anybody else."

He added: "He's very anxious to get out there soon and start to tell his side of the story and start to express — get all the facts out. What that timetable is I don't know exactly. But he definitely is champing at the bit."

Jay Paterno said his father wants the Penn State faithful to back new coach Bill O'Brien, who was hired Saturday.

"I don't think anybody knows really what the guy that follows Joe Paterno is going to face," Jay Paterno said. "Nobody knows that. You're not replacing Joe Paterno. You've become the head coach at Penn State. And the most important thing is that you don't try and live up to something instead of — of a person. You try and just carry on the goals and the values and the things that have always been a part of this program, and I think that's the only challenge you have to worry about."

Joe Paterno's cancer diagnosis became public Nov. 18, nine days after he was fired by the school in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal that has resulted in more than 50 counts of child molestation against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

More Penn State: O'Brien received a standing ovation during a break in the basketball game between No. 12 Indiana and Penn State. He was scheduled to have his first team meeting late Sunday before returning to the Patriots, where he is the offensive coordinator for the remainder of the NFL playoffs. O'Brien is keeping Larry Johnson from Paterno's staff and reportedly has hired Titans assistant Charles London as running backs coach.

TrojanS RB to Irish: Running back Amir Carlisle has been granted his release from Southern Cal and will transfer to Notre Dame, the South BendTribune reported. Carlisle's father, Duane, was the conditioning coach of the 49ers but has taken a job as director of sports performance at Purdue.

UCF: Cornerback Josh Robinson, a two-time first-team All-Conference USA selection, said he will forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft.

Georgia: Redshirt sophomore cornerback Jordan Love will transfer but no destination was revealed, multiple media outlets reported.

Late bowl game: The GoDaddy.com Bowl between Arkansas State and Northern Illinois was not over at press time. Visit sports.tampabay.com for the result.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, January 8, 2012

NEW ORLEANS

Nice little league, the Big Ten. Big stadiums and bronzed pigs and old oaken buckets. Back in the days of black and white televisions, they won a title or two.

Swell alliance, the ACC. Nice towns and cool fight songs and plenty of boolah-boolah. Long ago, they used to win football championships, too.

Fun place, the Pac-12. Good mascots and fine history and the Stanford band. Once, the football teams were all the rage.

Villagers, all of them.

The SEC? Now, that's a football conference. Here, they maraud. Here, they pillage. Here, they collect trophies. To suggest the SEC is just another football conference is like saying the Huns were a social club and the Mongols were a civic organization. Here, there are empires competing against dynasties.

And here we are again, with another team about to visit another jewelry store to order another batch of rings. The best league in the history of college football is about to win another championship. It will be LSU or it will be Alabama, and everyone else can just grind their teeth at the thought of it.

For six straight seasons, it has been this way. Other leagues have athletes, too, and other teams buy shoulder pads and other players find their way to the NFL. At championship time, however, the SEC rules college football.

Oh, and this just in: The SEC is favored to win next year's championship, too.

"I think it's amazing," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said. "You can put it up with Joe DiMaggio and Cal Ripken and all the other records that will never be broken."

How does one league, no matter how fierce, win a title for six years in a row? How does it line up four different teams to take on all comers?

Start with this: In the SEC, football matters more. Oh, don't get me wrong. On Saturdays in the fall, football matters at a lot of places. Southern Cal. Ohio State. Texas. And on and on.

In the college towns of the SEC, however, college football matters most in February, and in May, and in July. Coaches are rich, famous men. Stadiums are resort destinations. And high school athletes are so plentiful that the top schools don't recruit; they harvest.

"High school football is so great in the SEC states," said Kirby Smart, Alabama's defensive coordinator. "Coaches are paid more, so the more you pay the coaches, the better quality players you get, the better quality programs you get.

"A lot of places don't do spring practices. By the time (safety) Mark Barron and (defensive lineman) Josh Chapman are seniors in high school, they've had four spring practices. That's almost like an extra season.

"I think it's just more advanced. Everyone talks about the defensive line, and there is obviously a difference. But there are other skilled players. In the South, if you're a really good athlete, you might be a corner. That's not necessarily true everywhere else. They're wideouts."

Still, six in a row?

By four different teams?

This is unprecedented. No league has ever had a run such as this one.

"To have four teams, a third of your membership, win titles is phenomenal," Slive said.

The last time a non-SEC team won a title was when Texas of the Big 12 won after the 2005 season. The last time a Pac-10 team won a title, and didn't have it taken away for breaking the rules, was when Southern Cal split the vote with LSU after the 2003 season. The Big Ten hasn't won since Ohio State after the 2002 season, and the Big East hasn't won since former member Miami won after the 2001 season, and the ACC hasn't won since FSU's win after the 1999 season.

How good is the SEC? Consider Arkansas, which beat everyone on its schedule besides LSU and Alabama this season. In another conference, the Razorbacks might be arguing they deserve to be in this game. In the SEC, they had no chance.

How good is the SEC? The last time another conference had even two different teams win back-to-back titles was when Minnesota and Ohio State did it in the late 1940s.

More than anything, it is the depth of contenders that sets the SEC apart. Since 1980, six different teams have won a championship. Who else can say that? There are four coaches currently in the league (Les Miles, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier and Gene Chizik) who have won champion­ships. Who else can say that?

You want numbers? Tonight's game will be the 14th BSC title game. The SEC will have won eight of them. Using the current rankings, the SEC has had 31 top-10 teams over that span. During the first 13 years of the BCS, the SEC has had 90 first-round draft picks (expect that number to grow by seven or eight in April), including 35 in the top 10 and six overall No. 1 picks. Three of the last five Heisman winners, and three of the last five No. 1 draft picks, have come from the SEC.

And so it goes, year by year, trophy by trophy.

Some day, another team from another league will win a title. Some day, there will be a player special enough to lead his team. Some day, perhaps the SEC won't win.

Right now, in a world where the SEC is king, it's just hard to imagine it.

Times wires
Sunday, January 8, 2012

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Being embarrassed in the playoffs is becoming a habit for the Falcons, and they're wondering what they can do to break it.

After Sunday's 24-2 loss to the Giants, Atlanta is 0-3 in the postseason under coach Mike Smith.

"We can't lose like this in the playoffs," DE John Abraham, said. "We should have been able to do something different. We played well in the beginning, but it kind of got away from us in the end. … They just came out ready to play, more ready than us, and did a good job."

The setback came a year after Atlanta went in as the top seed and was routed at home 48-21 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Packers.

"You get what you earn in this league," Smith said. "We earned a 10-6 record in the regular season (in 2011), we were 0-1 in the playoffs. We did not play our best game, and we are going to, starting (today), do everything in our power to rectify the 10-6 record from the regular season and the 0-1 record in the postseason."

ROLLING THE DICE: New York was aided greatly by Atlanta's penchant for gambling on fourth downs and failing. Twice the Giants stymied the Falcons on fourth and 1 as QB Matt Ryan's sneaks went nowhere. The defense also stopped RB Michael Turner on third and inches late in the third.

"It's less than a yard, less than half of a yard. It's a play we go through all the time," Smith said. "I felt it was the right play both times, but we didn't execute."

INJURIES: Giants CB Aaron Ross and backup RB D.J. Ware were both knocked out with concussions. Ross was hurt in a collision with Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul early in the third quarter. Coach Tom Coughlin sounded optimistic, saying Ross "counted fingers for me." Ware was also hurt in the third, but it wasn't clear how.

ROAD WOES: After beating Detroit 45-28, the Saints travel to the No. 2 seed 49ers for their game on Saturday. And of New Orleans' three road losses this season, two were on natural grass, the surface it will play on at Candlestick Park, where the 49ers went 7-1. The Saints are winless in four road playoff games in their history.

Times staff
Sunday, January 8, 2012

Hunt for a Bucs head coach: Day 6

Top of the list

1. Mike Sherman: Former Packers and Texas A&M coach, 57, could be hired within a week, according to NFL.com.

2. Wade Phillips: Texans defensive coordinator, 64, was head coach of Cowboys, Broncos, Bills and Saints (interim). Scheduled to interview Friday in Houston.

3. Brad Childress: Former Vikings coach, 55, is scheduled to interview with Bucs today.

4. Jerry Gray: Titans defensive coordinator interviewed in Houston last week. Has never been a head coach.

Our take

• The Bucs are going from a "youngry" coach in Raheem Morris to the senior discount. It's clear with the candidates who have emerged that the Bucs want a veteran who can put the franchise back on the tracks.

On the radar

1. Marty Schottenheimer: The 68-year-old was coach and GM of UFL's Virginia Destroyers. Hasn't coached in NFL since 2006.

2. Mike Zimmer: Bengals defensive coordinator, 55, is expected to interview this week.

What's new

• It's apparent the Bucs are focused on hiring an experienced former NFL coach. And by experienced, we mean 55 and older. ESPN reported first that the Bucs would interview Brad Childress today and had interest in Wade Phillips, Mike Zimmer and — ahem — Marty (not Brian) Schottenheimer, who turns 69 in September. The Dolphins pulled out of the Jeff Fisher sweepstakes, leaving him to wrap up details with the Rams.

Rick Stroud, Times staff writer

Times staff
Sunday, January 8, 2012

Hunt for a Bucs head coach: Day 7

Top of the list

1. Mike Sherman: Former Packers and Texas A&M coach

2. Wade Phillips: Texans defensive coordinator, former head coach of Cowboys, Broncos, Bills and Saints (interim).

3. Brad Childress: Former Vikings coach

4. Marty Schottenheimer: Former Browns, Chiefs and Chargers coach.

On the radar

1. Jerry Gray: Titans defensive coordinator

2. Mike Zimmer: Bengals defensive coordinator

What's new

• Bucs reportedly interviewed Childress on Monday, for coaching job (not offensive coordinator, as some speculated).

• Bucs are expected to interview Marty Schottenheimer today and Wade Phillips on Friday.

• Dolphins backup plan, should Jeff Fisher choose the Rams, is said to include Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and Cincinnati's Zimmer.

• Jaguars reportedly will interview Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy after Denver's playoff run.

Our take

• Speculation continues to center around Sherman, but Phillips and Schottenheimer are interesting. There's speculation Schottenheimer could deliver his son, Jets offensive coordinator Brian, to serve the same role with the Bucs.

Rick Stroud, Times staff writer

Times staff
Sunday, January 8, 2012

Hunt for a Bucs head coach: Day 8

Top of the list

1. Mike Sherman: Former Packers and Texas A&M coach

2. Marty Schottenheimer: Former Browns, Chiefs and Chargers coach

3. Wade Phillips: Texans defensive coordinator, former head coach of Cowboys, Broncos, Bills and Saints (interim)

4. Brad Childress: Former Vikings coach

On the radar

1. Jerry Gray: Titans defensive coordinator

2. Mike Zimmer: Bengals defensive coordinator

What's new

• Bucs interviewed Schottenheimer, 68, on Tuesday.

• Texans coach Gary Kubiak says Phillips' interview with Bucs on Friday won't be a playoff distraction.

• The Florida Times-Union reported that the Jaguars will choose Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey as head coach.

• More competition for the Bucs: Raiders fire head coach Hue Jackson after one season. Former Buccaneer and current Packers assistant Winston Moss might be a candidate in Oakland.

• Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden says he's happy and will not interview for head coaching positions.

Our take

• Expect Schottenheimer to impress Bucs with his presentation, experience and ability to earn players' respect.

Rick Stroud, Times staff writer

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, January 8, 2012

Hunt for a Bucs head coach: Day 9

Top of the list

1. Mike Sherman: Former Packers and Texas A&M coach

2. Marty Schottenheimer: Former Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers coach

3. Wade Phillips: Texans defensive coordinator, former coach of Cowboys, Broncos, Bills and Saints (interim)

4. Brad Childress: Former Vikings coach

On the radar

1. Mike Zimmer: Bengals defensive coordinator

2. Jerry Gray: Titans defensive coordinator

What's new

• Brian Schottenheimer, out as Jets offensive coordinator, says he's not interested in joining his father, Marty, should he become Bucs coach.

• Jaguars officially name Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey as coach.

• Raiders to interview former Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles, ESPN.com reports.

• Rams and Dolphins are still waiting for a decision from ex-Titans coach Jeff Fisher while making backup plans. Rams are expected to interview Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer and Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Dolphins interviewed Zimmer on Tuesday.

Our take

The Bucs' search isn't necessarily close to being over. They could start eliminating candidates soon but are likely to add others, including assistants from playoff teams that lose this weekend.

Rick Stroud, Times staff writer

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, January 8, 2012

TAMPA — It became apparent Sunday that the Bucs plan to interview the hottest NFL head coaching candidates of the year.

That is, if the year were 2006.

Though vowing to keep an open mind, the Bucs seemed to be zeroing in on four of the league's veteran ex-head coaches, each age 55 or older.

Former Vikings head coach Brad Childress, 55, will interview with the Bucs today. The Glazer family, which owns the team, also plans to meet with former Cowboys head coach and current Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, 64, in Houston on Friday.

According to multiple reports, 68-year-old Marty Schottenheimer, who last coached in the league in 2006, is also on the Bucs' radar, along with Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, 55.

The Bucs interviewed former Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman in Texas on Wednesday.

In fact, the only known candidate the Bucs have already interviewed with no previous head coaching experience is Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, 49, who would satisfy the Rooney Rule requirements that a minority be interviewed.

A week after firing 35-year-old Raheem Morris after three seasons, it's beginning to look like the Bucs are focusing on a gray-haired former NFL head coach.

The Texans have granted permission for the Bucs to interview Phillips, who just returned to the sideline after missing two weeks for kidney and gallbladder surgery. The Texans play at Baltimore in a division playoff game next Sunday. That's why Phillips' interview will take place Friday in Houston.

"I'm gratified somebody noticed," Phillips told the Houston Chronicle. "I don't want to leave Houston, but I'd like a chance to be a head coach again."

In his first season with the Texans, Phillips took them from 30th in the NFL in total defense to second (281 yards per game). The Texans have set a single-season record for sacks (41) and rank 10th in takeaways (26).

Phillips is 82-61 as head coach of the Broncos, Bills and Cowboys and interim coach of the Falcons and Saints. He believes that success should give him another shot as a head coach.

"If you look at my record and you look at all the people they're talking about now, and my record is better than most everyone they're talking about, as a head coach,'' he said.

A Phillips hire could mean changes on defensive personnel. He runs a 3-4 defensive alignment while the Bucs have players for a Tampa 2, 4-2 scheme.

Childress, 55, coached the Vikings from 2006-10, winning two NFC North titles. His overall record was 39-35 before he was fired after a 3-7 start in 2010.

An offensive play-caller, Childress had trouble developing quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and was responsible for luring quarterback Brett Favre out of retirement twice.

In 2009, the Vikings went 12-4 and reached the NFC title game, losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Saints. NFL.com reported that Childress may be interviewing for offensive coordinator and speculated that Sherman will be hired by the Bucs.

Zimmer was ranked as the No. 2 defensive coordinator in the league by Pro Football Weekly. Since coming to the Bengals four years ago, the defense has ranked 12th (2008), fourth (2009), 15th (2010), and seventh (2011).

Schottenheimer led the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League to a 3-1 record in a shortened season as head coach and general manager. He last coached in the NFL in 2006, getting fired by the Chargers after a 14-2 regular season and second-round playoff loss. Schottenheimer's career record is 200-126-1.

Times wires
Sunday, January 8, 2012

MIAMI — With Jeff Fisher reportedly all but certain to take the Rams' coaching job, the Dolphins are planning interviews with other coaches, some of whom the Bucs are interested in.

One of those candidates is Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who has a good relationship with Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland from their time together in Dallas.

Miami, which was optimistic after Fisher visited Tuesday, was no longer optimistic Sunday.

Fisher visited Rams headquarters Sunday and was expected to meet with quarterback Sam Bradford. The Rams apparently are appealing because of Bradford and the second overall pick in April's draft. The Dolphins will draft eighth or ninth.

The Dolphins also plan to speak with Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, a Bucs target.

The Dolphins have interviewed interim coach Todd Bowles, Fisher, Bears special-teams coach Dave Toub and Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. Philbin reportedly made a good impression.

Patriots: The team officially announced that Josh McDaniels, 35, will return as an offensive assistant and will help gameplan for the Broncos, then become coordinator after the season.

Times wires
Sunday, January 8, 2012

NEW ORLEANS — Coaches Les Miles and Nick Saban are finished with their awkward grip-and-grin photos with each other and the crystal trophy.

Tonight, it's time to get down to business: LSU vs. Alabama, Part II. The BCS championship.

The teams had met two months ago in Tuscaloosa, Ala., a so-called "Game of the Century" that sent both teams to the training room the next day and left fans around the country feeling a bit cheated by a defensive struggle in a college game now dominated by point-a-minute offenses.

Neither team made it to the end zone in that first meeting, even with the benefit of extra time. LSU won a battle of field goals, 9-6 in overtime.

Everyone expects more scoring in the rematch, but there's no way it's turning into a back-and-forth shootout.

"I'd expect it to be big-boy football," LSU's Miles said Sunday.

LSU (13-0) has already put up a body of work that clearly establishes it as the nation's best team. In addition to that Nov. 5 win at Alabama, the Tigers have victories over two other major bowl champions, Rose Bowl winner Oregon and Orange Bowl champ West Virginia. In all, they've knocked off eight teams that were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, with only three of those games in Baton Rouge.

"The only team I've told them not to schedule is the Green Bay Packers," Miles quipped.

Alabama (11-1) didn't even make the SEC title game, but the Crimson Tide managed to sneak back into the national title race when Oklahoma State lost late in the season. Perhaps sensing just how fortuitous Alabama was to get a do-over, Saban wants his players to seize the moment.

"I would like for them to focus on the opportunity, not the pressure part," he said, "so that they really are zeroed into the mental practice and the things that when they go out there and play, they're going to be confident in doing their job the way they need to do it to have success."

Alabama likely would have won the first meeting with LSU if not for the performance by its two kickers. Cade Foster botched three field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder in overtime. Jeremy Shelley failed to convert a 49-yarder, far beyond his normal range.

The Alabama offense hopes to make it a little easier on them this time. "We've got to get them closer. We've got to get them kicking extra points. We can't be going for three points every time," Tide lineman William Vlachos said.

Getting close to the end zone against LSU is not easy. The Tigers have two All-America cornerbacks in Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu and Morris Claiborne. The Tigers have allowed the second-fewest points (10.5) and are no lower than sixth in the other three major rankings.

But the Crimson Tide defense led the nation in every major category, allowing just 8.8 points a game.

The first meeting marked a turning point for LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson. He began his senior year with a four-game suspension for his involvement in a bar fight but took over when Jarrett Lee threw a pair of interceptions against the Tide. Jefferson guided the Tigers to their biggest victory and started the final four games.

Miles veered away from a question about whether one more win would stamp LSU as one of the best teams in history.

Jefferson had no such qualms: "If we do win this game, I think we will go down as the greatest team."

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, January 8, 2012

Lightning coach Guy Boucher said his team's motto before Christmas was simple:

"Survive," he said.

Boucher knew Tampa Bay faced a considerable challenge in the season's first half. It had 24 of its first 40 games on the road, where his injury-depleted team can get exposed by not having the last line change. When play stops and both teams make line changes, the home team can wait to see what players the opponent sends out before creating a more favorable matchup for it.

"That's where home ice advantage is," Boucher said. "It's not about the stands, not about the types of ice you're going to encounter, or the boards. It's really about the last change."

Whether the Lightning (17-20-3) has survived is up for debate. It is in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, nine points out of the final postseason spot. But with Tampa Bay returning home to play nine of its next 12 games at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where it is 11-5 this season, it has an opportunity to make up ground, starting Tuesday against the Canucks.

"We've got to get back (home) and get the wins back," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "That's all we can do."

Tampa Bay is also much better with the man advantage at home — 12-of-55, 21.8 percent — than on the road, where it is a league-worst 7-of-83 for 8.4 percent, including 1-for-34 in its past 10 road games.

Center Steven Stamkos knows his team needs to get on a big winning streak. The Lightning hasn't won four in a row all season. It lost all three games in last week's road trip after taking three straight at home.

"Our backs are against the wall," Stamkos said. "There's so many teams ahead of us right now that we need to put a streak together.

"This is where teams start to separate themselves from a playoff team to not a playoff team. These are the games that you need to win. If you don't win these games, there's no race, there's nothing to play for at the end of the year. You're already out of it."

Considering the Lightning reached the East final last season — and took the eventual Stanley Cup champion Bruins to seven games — this is not the spot its fans likely envisioned for it at this point. Players acknowledge it's partly their doing by not performing to expectations.

"I think this year, we probably felt a little entitled with the success," Marty St. Louis said. "We forgot the process, 'Earn it every day.' We just remember the end result last year and forget how you get there.

"There were some tough times throughout (last) season, and we bounced back, and we battled, and we fought through it. I think the expectation rises as you go within one game of the Stanley Cup (final), collectively and individually. And last year we had no expectations.

"We've just got to hang in there, and obviously our schedule gets easier for us a little in the second half."

Home, sweet home

The Lightning has fared much better at home this season than on the road. Nine of its next 12 games are at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Road Home

6-15-3 Record 11-5

2.125 Avg. goals per game 3.5

3.70 Avg. goals allowed 2.81

8.4 Power play pct. 21.8

81.9Penalty kill pct. 76.1

Times wires
Sunday, January 8, 2012

Running

Brazilians Duel in stretch at Disney marathon

LAKE BUENA VISTA — Brazil's Fredison Costa staved off countryman and seven-time champ Adriano Bastos to win his second consecutive Walt Disney World Marathon on Sunday.

Costa, 34, and Bastos, 33, ran shoulder-to-shoulder until there were about 2 miles to go in the 26.2-mile race through Disney's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Holly­wood Studios parks.

Costa moved in front to stay and finished in 2:19:01, just 14 seconds ahead of Bastos, who had won six Disney marathons in a row before Costa won last year.

"I think a victory is a victory and they are always very special,'' Costa said through an interpreter.

Renee High, 30, of Virginia Beach, Va., won the women's title in 2:48:33, just ahead of Boston's Emily Kroshus (2:53:11), 28, and St. Petersburg's Christa Stephens (2:55:10), 27.

Tampa's Terri Rejimbal, 43, won the women's Masters Division (3:09:33)

Soccer

Man United ousts Man City in FA Cup

Manchester United held off Manchester City, ousting the defending champ from the FA Cup with a 3-2 third-round win. City had routed United 6-1 in England's Premier League this season and beaten Man U in last season's FA Cup semifinals. Wayne Rooney headed in two goals and Danny Welbeck struck on a volley in the first half. City set up a tense finish with two goals despite Vincent Kompany's ejection in the 12th minute for fouling Nani.

Tennis

Lendl-backed Murray rolls

Andy Murray warmed up for the Australian Open with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over third-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Brisbane International final. Aiming to break a drought for British men at the majors dating to 1936, Murray recently hired eight-time Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl as coach. "Hopefully it'll bring more success in the future," Murray, ranked No. 4, said of his new team. He has lost the past two Open finals and is 0-3 in major finals.

Chennai Open: Milos Raonic beat top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) in a serve-dominated final in India. Raonic won all 48 of his service games during the week to become the first player to win a tournament without dropping serve since Roger Federer at a 2008 grasscourt tournament in Halle.

Et cetera

Baseball: The family of the late Roy Disney, nephew of Walt Disney, has formed a partnership with investment banker Stanley Gold to purchase the Dodgers, the Los Angeles Times reported. Gold is perhaps best known for joining Roy Disney in a public push for the ouster of Michael Eisner as chief executive of the Walt Disney Co. The newspaper said the team would be owned by the family, not by the Walt Disney Co., which owned the then-Anaheim Angels from 1996 to 2003. … Second baseman Howie Kendrick, 28, and the Angels agreed to a four-year deal, pending a physical, thought to be worth $33.5 million, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Speed skating: Lana Gehring won five of six races over three days to claim the U.S. short-track national championship in Kearns, Utah. Simon Cho won the 1,000-meter race to lock up the men's overall title.

Times wires