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Joe Paterno's complicated legacy

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, January 22, 2012

He was a good man. Mostly.

He led a good life. Largely.

He became the face of his college, the conscience of his sport, and he stood for the right things. Mainly.

For so many years, for so many games, he was the most admired man in college football. And then he was not. For Joe Paterno, controversy waited until his final days, and then it seized his reputation and would not turn it loose.

Some legacies are complicated. Paterno's will be that way. Do you remember the good of the man? Or do you remember how he turned his head to one of the ugliest controversies imaginable? Will you remember the character he showed, or will you remember the judgment he lacked?

Perhaps, will you remember both?

Paterno, the longtime Penn State coach, died Sunday morning at 85, and a bit of college football passed along with him. Even now, even after all of the scandal, even though most of us agree that Paterno could have done more, should have done more to stop the alleged child abuse by former assistant Jerry Sandusky, the first reaction was sadness. Paterno spent a lot more time being a good guy than a bad one, after all. Somehow, that seems worth remembering.

For a very long time, Paterno was the best thing about college football. He didn't break rules, and he didn't buy players, and he always brought a degree of honor to the stadium with him. When Paterno suggested that college football needed him rather than turn the sport over to then-coaches Barry Switzer or Jackie Sherrill, most of us agreed with him.

No, Paterno wasn't the saint that many of his supporters suggested, not even in the good old days. For the best of men, coaching college football is not a saintly profession. Paterno was an autocrat, and he was a competitive son of a gun, and to tell the truth, he could be a grumpy old cuss. There were times he could be overzealous in his defense of players who broke rules. A few years ago, when the talk began to surface that maybe it was time for another coach, Paterno wasn't having any of it. Step aside? Ha! He was more likely to step on the necks of anyone who would dare bring it up.

Still, Paterno was better than most. He was Joe Pa, and he ran Penn State, and the image of both of them was sparkling clean. In a sport where coaches work overtime to find a shortcut, legal or not, Paterno was a cut above. This small man with the large glasses was proof that a coach could win without wading into the muck.

In some ways, it might have been kinder if Paterno had died a year ago, before all of the outrage, before the charges against his former aide Sandusky, before he was fired over the telephone, before people started being so angry at the sound of his name.

This was Paterno, after all. This was someone who had relished his image as a man who did more in the name of right than was required. And when it came out that Paterno knew and that he did very little while children allegedly continued to suffer, Paterno became a villain himself. The reaction was so shrill, the outrage so evident, that to many, it became the defining moment of Paterno.

And so we wrestle with how Paterno should be remembered. It seems unfair to remember only the Paterno of his final moments, and it seems incomplete only to remember the championship seasons.

I'll say this. As wrong as I thought Paterno was for not pursuing the alleged wrongdoing, as flawed as he was for not trying to learn more, to do more, to protect more, I have never seen this as Paterno choosing his image over justice. That sounds too simple to me, too right vs. wrong. I think it was a complicated moment in a complicated life, and Paterno made the wrong decision. That doesn't forgive anything.

Then again, who knows? There will always be questions about Paterno. What did he know and when? What did he do, and what should he have done? When did he first know he was sick, and when did it get so bad? Even at the end, when Paterno did his final interview with the Washington Post's Sally Jenkins, there were a lot of questions that went unanswered.

At the end of it, how are we to remember Paterno? For the championships? For the great moments of a good man? Or for the ugliness of the final chapter?

Me? I'll remember the good of the man, and I'll regret that, at the end, he wasn't a little bit better.

At the end of an imperfect life, what other choice is there?


A closer look at the past four quarterbacks under coach Chip Kelly

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Times staff
Sunday, January 22, 2012

Kelly's QBs

Chip Kelly's biggest project will be helping Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman return to the form he showed in 2010. How Kelly's past four college quarterbacks fared:

Ricky Santos, New Hampshire

2004: 3,272 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions

2005: 3,797 yards, 39 touchdowns, nine interceptions

2006: 3,125 yards, 29 touchdowns, seven interceptions *

* Won Walter Payton Award as best offensive player in I-AA

Dennis Dixon, Oregon

2007: 2,136 yards, 20 interceptions, four interceptions

Jeremiah Masoli, Oregon

2008: 1,744 yards, 13 touchdowns, five interceptions

2009: 2,147 yards, 15 touchdowns, six interceptions

Darron Thomas, Oregon

2010: 2,881 yards, 30 touchdowns, nine interceptions

2011: 2,761 yards, 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions

Oregon coach Chip Kelly finalizing deal to become Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach

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Rick Stroud, Times staff writer
Sunday, January 22, 2012

Oregon football coach Chip Kelly is finalizing a deal to become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed Sunday night.

Kelly met with the Bucs earlier this past week and both sides are hopeful an agreement can be reached within the next 24-48 hours.

Kelly has been Oregon's head coach for three years, winning the conference title in all three, reaching three straight BCS games. Three weeks ago, the Ducks won their first Rose Bowl game in 95 years.

Kelly would make the jump to the NFL if a financial agreement can be reached, a source told KGW in Porland, Oregon Sunday night.

Dominik has no plans to travel to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Monday in anticipation of an agreement with Kelly. As of Sunday night, there were many details to work out before a deal is finalized, the Times confirmed.

The secret meeting between with Kelly, Bucs general manager Mark Dominik and members of the Glazer family which owns the team came during an exhaustive search in which they interviewed eight known candidates with a wide array of experience in the NFL, from former head coaches to offensive coordinators and position coaches.

Kelly, 48, is the first known candidate that the Bucs have interviewed from the college ranks. Known as an offensive innovator, the Bucs are hopeful he could bring some of his up tempo schemes to the NFL.

After firing coach Raheem Morris Jan. 3 following 10-straight losses that resulted in a 4-12 record, a priority for the Bucs was to identify coaches who could help quarterback Josh Freeman get back on track.

Freeman threw 22 interceptions and only 16 touchdowns last season, one year after leading the Bucs to a 10-6 record with 25 TDs and only six INTs.

Kelly joined the Ducks as offensive coordinator in 2007 and his spread attack was an immediate success at Oregon. In his first season, the Ducks lead the Pac-10 in scoring with 38.15 points per game and total offense with 467.54 yards per game while setting school records for both categories. In 2008, the Ducks topped that mark with 41.9 point per game and 484.8 yards.

In 2009, when Ducks coach Mike Belloti was promoted to athletic director, Kelly was named Oregon's head coach. A year later, Kelly led the Ducks to a 12-0 record and No. 2 ranking, earning a right to play Auburn in the BCS national championship game. The Ducks lost 22-19 on a last second field goal.

While Sunday's news of the Bucs' effort to finalize an agreement came as a surprise, it's typical of the stealth negotiations and big-name coaches the Glazers attempt to hire.

In 1996, they offered the Bucs head coaching job to Jimmie Johnson and Steve Spurrier before hiring Tony Dungy, whose son, Eric, is a receiver at Oregon.

In 2001, they had secretly reached an agreement with Bill Parcells two weeks before Dungy had a chance to coach the Bucs in a wildcard playoff game Tampa Bay lost to Philadelphia.

When Parcells later balked at the deal, the Glazers embarked on a 36-day search that resulted in the Bucs trading two first-round and two second-round picks and $8 million to the Oakland Raiders for coach Jon Gruden.

After firing Morris, co-chairman Joel Glazer promised a "thorough and wide" search and began by interviewing former NFL head coaches, a list that included former Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman, former Vikings coach Brad Childress and former Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer. Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips cancelled an interview with Tampa Bay prior to an AFC Divisional playoff game against Baltimore.

The Bucs also interviewed Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, quarterbacks coach Jerry Clements and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Jeff Chudzinski.

If an agreement could be reached, Kelly would become the first head coach hired from the college ranks by the Bucs since Ray Perkins left Alabama in 1987.



Introducing Kelly

Born: Nov. 25, 1963, in Manchester, N.H.

Education: Graduated from New Hampshire in 1990 with a degree in physical education)

Tenure as Oregon coach: Year Rec. Pac-12 Bowl

2009 10-3 First Lost Rose

2010 12-1 First Lost BCS title

2011 12-2 First * Won Rose

* First in North division, won title game

Oregon coach Chip Kelly finalizing deal to become Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, January 22, 2012

TAMPA — Less than two weeks ago, Tony Dungy went on record saying he believed Oregon's Chip Kelly would make a great NFL coach. Although not rooting for that outcome, the former Bucs and Colts coach should know because his son Eric plays receiver for the Ducks.

Maybe the Bucs were listening.

Kelly is finalizing a deal to become the Bucs coach, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed Sunday night.

Kelly, 48, met with the Bucs last week, and both sides hope an agreement can be reached within 24-48 hours.

Kelly has been Oregon's coach for three years, winning the conference title in all three and reaching three BCS games. On Jan. 1, the Ducks won their first Rose Bowl in 95 years.

Kelly would make the jump from college to the NFL if a financial agreement can be reached, Portland's KGW-TV reported Sunday night.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said he has no plans to travel to Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala., today in antici­pation of an agreement with Kelly. As of Sunday night, there were many details to work out, the Times confirmed.

The secret meeting between Kelly, Dominik and members of the Glazer family, which owns the team, came during an exhaustive search in which they interviewed eight known candidates with a wide array of experience in the NFL, from former head coaches to offensive coordinators and position coaches.

Kelly is the first known candidate the Bucs interviewed from the college ranks. Known as an offensive innovator, the Bucs hope he could bring some of his up-tempo schemes to the NFL.

Dungy said recently he believed Kelly would make an excellent NFL coach.

"I've watched him practice at the University of Oregon," Dungy told ProFootballTalk.com. "Chip knows how to motivate people. He thinks outside the box. People say, 'Well, he's got a gimmick offense.' He wouldn't do that in the NFL. He wouldn't necessarily run a spread and do what Denver is doing. He does know how to attack defenses. He knows how to motivate people.

"I think playing at a fast pace, offensively and defensively, using a lot of people, keeping a lot of people, keeping everybody involved in the game, those are the things players like. And I think it would translate over to the NFL. I'm hoping he doesn't go because my son has three more years there. But if you watch them practice and see how they play, he's a phenomenal coach."

After firing coach Raheem Morris on Jan. 2 following 10 consecutive losses that resulted in a 4-12 record, a priority for the Bucs was identifying coaches who could help quarterback Josh Freeman get back on track.

Freeman threw 22 interceptions and 16 touchdowns this season, one year after leading the Bucs to a 10-6 record with 25 TDs and six interceptions.

Kelly joined the Ducks as offensive coordinator in 2007, and his spread attack was an immediate success. In his first season, the Ducks led the Pac-10 with 38.2 points per game and 467.5 yards per game while setting school records for both. In 2008, the Ducks topped both with 41.9 points and 484.8 yards. Helping lead the way for Oregon that season with a then-school-record 17 rushing touchdowns was LeGarrette Blount, the Bucs' current starting running back.

In 2009, when Ducks coach Mike Bellotti was promoted to athletic director, Kelly took over.

A year later, Kelly led the Ducks to a 12-0 record and No. 2 ranking, earning the right to play Auburn in the BCS national championship game. The Ducks lost 22-19 on a last-second field goal.

"Auburn had 10 guys drafted, including two guys in the top seven," Dungy said. "Oregon had one guy in the fourth round of the draft last year, and they were able to play toe to toe with Auburn. I think that's what Coach Kelly does."

Sunday's news continued the Glazers' pattern of stealth efforts to hire big-name coaches. In 1996, they offered the job to Jimmy Johnson and Steve Spurrier before hiring Dungy.

In 2001, they secretly reached an agreement with Bill Parcells two weeks before what turned out to be Dungy's final game, a playoff loss to the Eagles.

When Parcells later balked at the deal, the Glazers embarked on a 36-day search that resulted in the Bucs trading two first-round picks and two second-round picks and $8 million to the Raiders for Jon Gruden.

After firing Morris, co-chairman Joel Glazer promised a "thorough and wide,' search and began by interviewing former Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman, former Vikings coach Brad Childress and former Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer. Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips canceled an interview with Tampa Bay prior to the AFC division playoff game against Baltimore.

The Bucs also interviewed Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin (hired by the Dolphins), Packers quarterbacks coach Jerry Clements and Panthers offensive coordinator Jeff Chudzinski.

If an agreement could be reached, Kelly would become the first coach hired by the Bucs from the college ranks since Ray Perkins left Alabama in 1987. Their first coach, John McKay, was hired from Southern Cal.

Shooting from the lip

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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Best coverage

ESPN takes a lot of criticism from sports fans for a variety of reasons, but there's no doubt that it is the destination station whenever there is breaking sports news. Case in point: ESPN's Sunday coverage of the death of Penn State coaching legend Joe Paterno. ESPN's coverage was comprehensive and compelling, informative and engrossing. For several hours Sunday morning, SportsCenter ignored all other stories in sports and concentrated solely on the Paterno story. And yet the broadcast never grew boring or monotonous. The network reeled in one guest after another, from former Penn State players to coaches to analysts, all offering unique perspectives on Paterno's life and career. Anchors Bob Ley, Rece Davis and Lindsay Czarniak were impeccable in shaping the story with their interviews, which were powerful and emotional. ESPN walked the fine line of celebrating Paterno's storied career while not ignoring the controversial final chapter of his life. In the end, folks likely fall into one of three groups when it comes to Paterno. There are those who have nothing but the utmost respect for Paterno's impact on and off the football field. There are those who will only remember Paterno for the scandal that cost him his job and tarnished his reputation. And then there are the rest, which fall somewhere in the middle. No matter which group you're in, if you watched ESPN's coverage, you really had no right to complain. ESPN practiced fair journalism and told the whole story. As a television viewer, what more could you want?

Best line

Here's a great story from Bob Raissman of New York's Daily News. A listener called into Bruce Murray's radio on Sirius XM Radio last week and tried to argue that Trent Dilfer, top, was a better quarterback than Dan Marino, bottom, because Dilfer won a Super Bowl and Marino did not.

Later, Dilfer was a guest on Murray's show. When told that a caller claimed Dilfer was better than Marino, Dilfer said, "That caller is an idiot."

Worst guest

No. Please tell me I didn't see CBS NFL Today pregame host James Brown "interviewing" the E-Trade talking baby Sunday.

Shame on you, CBS! All season, I've been heaping praise on the NFL Today. I've bragged about how the show cut out all the horseplay and silliness. I've passed along kudos for dumping the juvenile behavior, unnecessary laughter and annoying horseplay in favor of good, solid football talk. And then you go out and interview a fake person? Really? A season's worth of smart decisions and commendable television nearly ruined for the sake of a 30-second bit that wasn't only not funny, but felt like a shameless plug. Ugh!

Best analyst

It feels like ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke calls two games a night and about 20 games a week. You can hear her calling men's and women's college basketball, as well as NBA games.

Sure, she knows the game of basketball, but her analysis goes way beyond describing pick-and-rolls and zone defenses. She talks expertly about the players and teams of the games she calls; clear evidence that the amount of homework she puts in must be enormous. Proof of that was listening to her call Saturday's Syracuse-Notre Dame game. There were times when it felt like she was so knowledgeable that she was the hometown analyst — for both teams.

If I was named president of my own sports network, Burke would be one of my first hires.

Biggest beef

I don't like it when those who help call the games are the ones to present trophies to the winners of the NFL's conference championship games. It just seems like a line is being crossed because the announcers tend to get a little too chummy with the players, coaches and owners. That's not a criticism, necessarily, of the broadcasters. They are thrown into the middle of a celebration, and it's almost impossible for them to look objective.

Worst idea

Last week, Rangers and former Lightning coach John Tortorella, left, took some heat for acting a bit rude to NBC's Brian Engblom during an in-game interview from the bench. Which leads to this point: Let's end this in-game interview junk. If these interviews ever offered any insight at all, I'd be all for them. But the coaches rarely say anything of interest. In the end, it feels like the only reason the networks interview the coaches during the game is just to prove they can. And that's not a good enough reason to distract a coach.

Three things that popped into my head

1. As if this NFL season could get any worse for the good folks of Indianapolis. Not only did their beloved Colts nearly go winless and have the worst record in the league, now they have to suffer the indignity of the Patriots coming to town for the Super Bowl.

2. After watching Steven Tyler screech his way through the Star-Spangled Banner before Sunday's AFC Championship Game, I'd be ticked off if I auditioned for American Idol and didn't make it to Hollywood because Tyler didn't think I was good enough.

3. USF is now 5-2 in the Big East, which is tied for third and ahead of UConn, Notre Dame, Louisville and Pitt. It also means the Bulls should be getting way more than 3,000 people for home games.

Worst reaction

True, Syracuse was undefeated and No. 1 in the country, but isn't Notre Dame basketball a little too established for its fans to rush the court as they did Saturday when the Irish beat a Syracuse team missing one of its better players? You're bigger than that, aren't you, Notre Dame? After all, this is the same program that snapped UCLA's 88-game win streak in 1974. You got to rush the court that day. Rushing the court for any other game feels pointless. Actually, the most impressive victory of the weekend wasn't Notre Dame beating Syracuse, but Florida State going on the road and beating Duke.

Three things I liked on television this weekend

1. Nice job by Tampa Bay's own Shaun King on NBC Sports Network's coverage of Saturday night's NFLPA Collegiate All-Star Game. The 1010-AM radio host and former Bucs quarterback shows great poise on TV. It would be wise for NBC Sports Network to give him regular work.

2. The Big Ten Network's coverage Saturday night of the Joe Paterno situation was unexpectedly impressive. This was early in the story when there weren't many details other than Paterno being in "serious" condition. Still, the Big Ten Network shined.

3. Sunday's Manchester United-Arsenal game on Fox, believed to be the first English Premier League match on U.S. major network television, was good, although I wasn't crazy that CNN host and Arsenal fan Piers Morgan was involved. It made it feel a bit gimmicky, but it didn't ruin the broadcast.

tom jones' two cents

Tampa Bay Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

Winner drains birdie at 18 as sun fades

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Times wires
Sunday, January 22, 2012

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Mark Wilson's last day at the Humana Challenge started before sunrise and ended after sunset. In between, he finished his third round, got his kids ready for day care at his in-laws' house, then held off several hard-charging contenders amid the final round's growing dark and desert chill.

Yep, Wilson certainly earned the trophy he promptly broke.

Wilson made a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Humana Challenge on Sunday, beating Robert Garrigus, John Mallinger and Johnson Wagner by two strokes in a dramatic dusk finish to the wind-delayed tournament.

Moments after Garrigus barely missed a 35-foot eagle putt that would have given him the lead, Wilson coolly made his birdie try in the disappearing light before celebrating his fifth career PGA Tour victory with a surprisingly fragile trophy from the erstwhile Bob Hope Classic.

"Robert and I, going back and forth, we really enjoyed that," Wilson said. "It just came down to 18, and I didn't want to give him a chance to make that putt to tie me. … That's what we play for. You want somebody to win it, not necessarily to lose it."

Wilson led by three strokes in the morning after finishing the final three holes of his third round at La Quinta Country Club, which got the most damage from Saturday's ferocious wind. He lost the lead on the Palmer Private course but played bogey-free over the final 15 holes.

Every other competitor dropped back, including Garrigus, who fell out of the lead when he missed a 5½-foot par putt on the 17th. "We really couldn't see much," he said. "I could barely pick up the flag on 18. … I wish I could have read that putt a little better."

Wilson closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 24-under 260, taking the $1,008,000 winner's share of the $5.6 million purse.

Champions: Dan Forsman, 53, won the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship for his third senior title, closing with a 3-under 69 for a two-stroke victory over Jay Don Blake in Hawaii. Forsman finished at 15-under 201 while Blake shot 67. John Cook shot 68 to tie for third with Michael Allen at 12 under.

New England Patriots edge Baltimore Ravens 23-20 in AFC title game

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Times wires
Sunday, January 22, 2012

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady got plenty of help in leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl for the fifth time.

Primarily from Billy Cundiff.

The Ravens kicker shanked a 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds left as the Patriots escaped with a 23-20 win in Sunday's AFC title game.

"Well, I (stunk) pretty bad, but our defense saved us," said Brady, who threw for 239 yards with two interceptions and, for the first time in 36 games, no touchdowns. "But I'm proud of this team, my teammates."

One teammate was cornerback, Sterling Moore, an undrafted rookie out of SMU who was cut once by the Patriots this season. He was playing because Kyle Arrington, whose seven interceptions tied for the league lead, left in the second quarter with an eye injury.

Brady's 1-yard touchdown dive on fourth down with 11:29 left put the Patriots up 23-20.

But Baltimore had it second and 1 at the New England 14 with 27 seconds left. Joe Flacco sent a pass to Lee Evans in the end zone. Evans had the ball in his hands before Moore knocked it out.

"I don't know how to put it into words," Evans said. "It's the most disappointing part of all of this that I feel personally that I let everybody down. It hit me right where you would want to be hit. It was a great pass by Joe and a play not completed by me. Nobody else can take the fault."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he believed the play should have been reviewed to determine if Evans had control of the ball long enough to be a touchdown. But because coaches can't ask for a review during the last two minutes of a half, he was powerless.

"I thought they would look at it," he said. "I have not talked to anybody, didn't get a chance to. So I don't know what the explanation is."

On the next play, Moore knocked away a pass intended for tight end Dennis Pitta.

So in came Cundiff, an All-Pro in 2010 who made field goals of 48 and 44 yards a week earlier and was 10-of-12 between 30 and 39 yards during the regular season. But he sent the kick wide left.

"It's a kick I've kicked probably a thousand times in my career," Cundiff said. "The timing was just a little off. I'm disappointed. I let my teammates down."

His teammates didn't agree.

"Not one play won or lost this game," linebacker Ray Lewis said. "There's no 'Oh, Billy's the fault. Billy missed the (kick).' There's no freaking 'Billy missed the kick.' It happened. Move on."

Overall, the Patriots defense, ranked 31st during the regular season, shined. Ray Rice, the league's total yards leader, was limited to 78 (67 rushing).

"We stepped up," Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. "Being in this situation is a great moment. You have to cherish this moment."

Brady will.

"It's a pretty mentally tough team," said Brady, whose fifth trip to the Super Bowl equals John Elway's achievement with Denver. "There's really some resiliency. We've shown that all season. Even in the … three games we lost, we fought until the end. We're always going to fight to the end. It's great to be a part of a team like this."

Ginn's absence costly for 49ers, who botch two returns

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Times wires
Sunday, January 22, 2012

The absence of injured WR/kick returner Ted Ginn was more costly than the 49ers ever could have realized.

Ginn missed Sunday's NFC title game in San Francisco with an injured right knee sustained last week against New Orleans and did not practice all week. He normally starts at receiver and returns kicks and punts. Kyle Williams took his place on returns and the Giants recovered his two fumbles, the second one setting up the winning field goal in overtime.

Saying bye: Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will not return, ESPN.com reported. His contract expires after this season. There reportedly is tension between him and QB Joe Flacco, who was upset over last year's firing of quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn.

Ochocinco out: Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco was inactive for Sunday's AFC title game. The team did not disclose a reason. Last week, he tweeted his father died, and two Boston media outlets reported he flew to Fort Lauderdale on Friday for the funeral. Also inactive for New England was rookie RB Stevan Ridley, who fumbled against Denver last week.

Injury: Patriots CB Kyle Arrington left in the second quarter with an eye injury. The team did not disclose details.

Around the league

Colts: Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, brother of former Bucs coach Jon Gruden, turned down an offer to interview for the coaching vacancy, CBS reported. Earlier this month, he declined to interview for the Jaguars' job and signed a three-year extension.

Raiders: Packers assistant head coach Winston Moss interviewed for the coaching vacancy last week, ESPN.com reported.

Walter Payton Award: Ravens C Matt Birk, Chargers QB Philip Rivers and Bears CB Charles Tillman were named finalists for the award for players who combine community service with strong play. The winner will be named Feb. 4. G Davin Joseph was the Bucs' nominee.


Breaking down Super Bowl XLVI, New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, January 22, 2012

Super Bowl XLVI

When: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

TV/radio: Ch. 8; 1010-AM

AFC champ: Patriots (15-3)

Coach: Bill Belichick (139-53, 16-5 playoffs)

Rankings: Offense — 428.0 yards (2nd). Defense — 411.1 yards (31st). Points scored — 32.1 (3rd). Points allowed — 21.4 (15th).

NFC champ: Giants (12-7)

Coach: Tom Coughlin (74-54, 7-3 playoffs)

Rankings: Offense — 385.1 yards (8th). Defense — 376.4 yards (27th). Points scored — 24.6 (9th). Points allowed — 25.0 (25th).

Line: Patriots by 31/2, 551/2

Three story lines

1. The rematch

Two teams that gave us one of the most thrilling Super Bowls (XLII), meet again.

2. Tom Brady

He attempts to join Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl wins.

3. Family affair

Eli Manning, left, states his case as the best playoff quarterback in his family — no small feat.

Three matchups to watch

1. Patriots tight ends vs. Giants linebackers

Given how 49ers tight end Vernon Davis had his way Sunday in the NFC title game, how, exactly, are the Giants going to stop Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski?

2. Patriots DT Vince Wilfork vs. Giants offensive line

Eli Manning was sacked six times Sunday against the 49ers, and Wilfork, left, proved unstoppable against the Ravens.

3. Giants WR Victor Cruz vs. Patriots secondary

Arguably the season's biggest surprise star, the Giants wouldn't be here without him.

Past Super Bowls

Patriots (3-3): XX — Lost to Bears 46-10. XXXI — Lost to Packers 35-21. XXXVI — Beat Rams 20-17. XXXVIII — Beat Panthers 32-29. XXXIX — Beat Eagles 24-21. XLII — Lost to Giants 17-14

Giants (3-1): XXI — Beat Broncos 39-20. XXV — Beat Bills 20-19. XXXV — Lost to Ravens 34-7. XLII — Beat Patriots 17-14

New York Giants beat San Francisco 49ers in NFC title game, follow familiar route to Super Bowl

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By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, January 22, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO

And here they come again, that familiar glint in their eye, that same old swagger to their step.

The New York Giants are back in the Super Bowl, as improbable as it sounds. Once again, they have come from nowhere. Once again, the Patriots are the opponent. Once again, no one should suggest as much to the Giants, a team that does not know when a season is over.

The Giants, team turnaround, slopped around in the muck Sunday night in the NFC title game, hanging around until the 49ers self-destructed. More than anything, that is what the Giants do. They hang around, and they bide their time, and before you know it, they have both hands around the season.

This time, New York knocked stubborn San Francisco out of the playoffs, winning 20-17 in overtime. For the second time in five years, a Giants team that no one saw coming has found its way to the Super Bowl.

How do you figure this? The Giants spent the first 13 weeks of this season demonstrating that, really, they weren't anything special. They were 7-7 in December, which often means a team is as close to firing a coach as it is to embracing one on the sideline following the NFC Champion­ship Game.

At that point, who saw anything hopeful about the Giants' season? They had a four-game losing streak, and they gave up 117 points over a three-game span, and they were swept by the Redskins, and of the seven games they won, five were by four points or less. They were dazed, and they were one blow from being counted out.

Somehow, however, the Giants managed to turn their season around in the middle of their free fall. After beating the Jets in Game 15, the Giants seemed to regain their rhythm, and overnight, they became a real team again.

"We've faced five straight elimination games, and somehow, we've scratched and found a way," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

Does that sound familiar? It should. In 2007, the Giants wobbled into the playoffs as nobody special, just a team filling out the bracket, just another bunch of guys with a question mark for a quarterback. And then the Giants got hot, and they ended up knocking perfection out of the reach of the Patriots.

This might be Coughlin's finest quality. Somehow, he has been able to convince his team that it can ride out the turbulence, that the bad times will not last forever.

Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, this team can win another one.,

It would help, of course, if the Patriots could act as if they had never seen a punt up close before, the way the 49ers did. For a very long time, the name "Kyle Williams" will be considered swear words around San Francisco, not to be spoken out loud, especially by children.

It was early in the fourth quarter, for instance, and the 49ers led 14-10 when the Giants punted to Williams, who was only returning punts because of the absence of Ted Ginn. Williams not only failed to field the ball, he allowed it to carom off of his knee, like a soccer player trying to redirect a teammate's kick. The Giants recovered, and quarterback Eli Manning hit Mario Manningham for the go-ahead touchdown.

Then, in overtime, it was Williams again, completing a perfectly lousy evening. This time, he caught the punt, but he lost it when the Giants' Jacquian Williams tugged on his right arm. That set up the winning field goal and ended a fairly magical run by the 49ers, too.

For much of the night, it looked as if San Francisco might be taking one more step and have a chance to become the fourth team in NFL history to go from a losing season to a Super Bowl champion. The first three of those had quarterbacks named Joe Montana, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner. This one had the beleaguered Alex Smith, and it had no offseason for him to learn from a brand-new coach.

Except for two touchdown passes to Vernon Davis, however, Smith didn't accomplish a lot. Maybe that was the rain, and maybe that was the pressure of the Giants. But the 49ers converted only one of their 13 third downs and never had the look of an offense that was dangerous enough.

The Giants, too, struggled on offense. But Manning kept throwing, and he kept taking hits, and once again, he found a way. No one should question Manning any longer. Consider this: Of the Giants' first seven wins this season, five featured fourth-quarter comebacks by Manning.

This will go down as one of those, too. With the weather screaming run, Manning threw. With the pass rush daring Manning to keep getting up, he threw. He passed 58 times, and he was knocked down 20, and still, he kept getting up.

Now, Manning gets another shot at the Patriots, at Belichick, at Brady.

This time, perfection is not the question.

Just excellence.

Tynes boots Giants past 49ers 20-17 to reach Super Bowl against Patriots

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Times wires
Sunday, January 22, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — Lawrence Tynes booted the Giants into the Super Bowl again.

Tynes kicked a winning 31-yard field goal in sudden-death overtime and New York beat the 49ers 20-17 in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday night to reach its second Super Bowl in five seasons.

Eli Manning and the Giants (12-7) will face the Patriots in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Indianapolis, just as they did when they won it in 2008. New England opens as a 3 1/2-point favorite.

Tynes also kicked the winning field goal in overtime at Green Bay in the 2008 NFC title game that put the Giants in that Super Bowl.

"It's my second NFC Championship Game, my second game-winner," Tynes said. "It's amazing. I had dreams about this last night. It was from 42, not 31, but I was so nervous today before the game just anticipating this kind of game. I'm usually pretty cool, but there was something about tonight where I knew I was going to have to make a kick. Hats off to Eli, offense, defense. Great win."

Manning went 32-for-58 for 316 yards and two touchdowns in his record fifth road playoff win, New York's fifth in a row overall and fifth out of six.

So Manning gets another shot to show the world he belongs in the same breath as Tom Brady.

When the teams met in that 2008 Super Bowl, the Giants ended the Patriots' bid for a perfect season.

Sunday, in another tight one in this decades-old postseason rivalry, both the Giants and 49ers defenses made key stops before New York capitalized on a costly mistake by San Francisco.

Devin Thomas put the Giants in position for Tynes. He recovered his second fumble of the game after Jacquian Williams stripped the ball from fill-in return man Kyle Williams.

Williams, returning kicks in place of the injured Ted Ginn Jr., muffed a punt early in the fourth quarter to set up a go-ahead touchdown for New York and then was stripped in overtime to give the Giants the ball at the 24.

After three runs and a kneeldown, Tynes kicked the winner, and Williams slowly made a dejected walk back to the locker room.

Williams, the son of White Sox general manager Ken Williams, did not look smooth fielding punts after doing it just twice in the regular season.

He made a dangerous, sliding catch on one return and called a fair catch on another with room to run. He then made his first big miscue after San Francisco forced a punt in the fourth quarter while protecting a 14-10 lead.

Steve Weatherford hit a short, bouncing punt that Williams came up to try to field. He backed away at the last minute, but the ball glanced off his right knee and was recovered by Thomas at the San Francisco 29. The play was originally not ruled a fumble but was overturned by instant replay.

Six plays later, Manning threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham, who beat backup cornerback Tramaine Brock on third and 15.

Williams later returned the kickoff 40 yards to help set up David Akers' tying field goal late in regulation that tied it at 17.

Lawrence Tynes boots New York Giants past San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in overtime to reach Super Bowl against New England Patriots

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Times wires
Sunday, January 22, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants have their Super Bowl formula down pat: in overtime, on the road — and Lawrence Tynes' foot.

Tynes made a 31-yard field goal 7:54 into overtime, sending the Giants to the Super Bowl with a 20-17 victory over the 49ers in Sunday's NFC title game.

In New York's last appearance in the NFC title game, January 2008, Tynes made a field goal in overtime at Green Bay.

"It's amazing," Tynes said. "I had dreams about this last night. It was from 42, not 31. But I was so nervous (Sunday) before the game just anticipating this kind of game.

"I'm usually pretty cool, but there was something about (Sunday) where I knew I was going to have to make a kick."

Eli Manning went 32-for-58 for 316 yards and two touchdowns in his record fifth road playoff win and New York's fifth consecutive playoff win.

Victor Cruz caught 10 passes (eight in the first half) for 142 yards for New York.

"It's just been a tremendous effort by all of us," Cruz said. "We understand that any one of us can get hot at any moment. As long as we're all on the same page and just playing together, we've got a great group of guys."

A week after catching the winning touchdown against the Saints, tight end Vernon Davis caught touchdown passes of 73 and 28 yards and wound up with three catches for 112 yards for the 49ers, who went from 6-10 a year ago to ending an eight-year playoff drought.

"It will be a tough one," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. "It will take a while to get over."

Devin Thomas put the Giants in position for Tynes. He recovered his second fumble of the game after Jacquian Williams stripped the ball from punt returner Kyle Williams.

Williams, returning kicks in place of the injured Ted Ginn, muffed a punt early in the fourth to set up a go-ahead touchdown for New York, then was stripped in overtime to give the Giants the ball at the 24.

"It was one of those situations where I caught the ball, tried to head upfield, tried to make a play and it ended up for the worse," Williams said.

"You hate to be the last guy that had the ball, to give it away in that fashion and to lose a game of this magnitude. It is what it is. We're going to move forward as a team. Everyone has come to pat me on the back and the shoulder to say it's not me."

After three runs and a kneel-down, Tynes kicked the winner.

"I told him we're all in this together," 49ers All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis said. "I believe in him. If I had a do-over, he'd still be my guy back there. He's a tremendous athlete."

The 49ers converted just one of 13 third downs, the only conversion coming on the final play of regulation, leaving plenty of blame to go to players besides Williams.

"We all know him," said quarterback Alex Smith, who was 12-of-26 for 196 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

"We know how committed he is to winning. It's not on him. I look at the 1-for-13 on third downs. I know he's going to feel bad, but he's still part of our team. We didn't lose the game there. We lost it across the board offensively. We just couldn't get it done."

Malkin, Penguins extend streaks

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Times wires
Monday, January 23, 2012

PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin can't really explain what's going on with the Penguins. He'd rather just enjoy the ride.

Malkin pounded home a rebound 1:31 into overtime to lift the Penguins to their sixth straight win, a 4-3 triumph over the Capitals on Sunday.

"I have great confidence now, you know?" Malkin said. "You win six games, I think everyone has great confidence now. … And having fun."

Malkin has scored in six straight games, matching the longest streak in the league this season. He added two assists to push his league-leading point total to 58.

Game highlights: Tyler Seguin scored the decisive goal in a shootout as the Bruins beat the host Flyers 6-5. … Jonas Hiller made 43 saves and the host Ducks beat the Avalanche 3-2 for their sixth straight win.

at Penguins20114
Capitals02103

First Period1, Pittsburgh, Letang 5, 4:51 (pp). 2, Pittsburgh, Neal 25 (Malkin), 5:52. PenaltiesWideman, Was (cross-checking), 4:43; Semin, Was (tripping), 15:45; Tangradi, Pit (high-sticking), 19:48.

Second Period3, Washington, Laich 9 (Wideman, Ovechkin), 11:02. 4, Washington, Semin 12 (Perreault, Ovechkin), 14:38. PenaltiesMichalek, Pit (elbowing), 8:36; Orpik, Pit (holding), 9:04; Brouwer, Was (cross-checking), 9:23; Brouwer, Was, major (fighting), 16:58; Hendricks, Was (tripping), 16:58; Kennedy, Pit, major (fighting), 16:58; Knuble, Was (holding), 18:07; Chimera, Was (cross-checking), 20:00; Martin, Pit (slashing), 20:00.

Third Period5, Washington, Ovechkin 20 (Semin, Perreault), 1:08. 6, Pittsburgh, Neal 26 (Malkin, Orpik), 7:06. PenaltiesNeal, Pit (tripping), 10:00.

Overtime7, Pittsburgh, Malkin 26 (Martin, Neal), 1:31. PenaltiesNone. Shots on GoalWas. 4-10-6-0—20. Pit. 9-5-12-1—27. Power-play opportunitiesWas. 0 of 4; Pit. 1 of 5. GoaliesWas., Neuvirth 6-7-3 (27 shots-23 saves). Pit., Fleury 25-12-2 (20-17). A18,565 (18,387). T2:32.

Bruins30206
at Flyers13105
Bruins win shootout 2-1

First Period1, Boston, Bergeron 15 (Marchand, Seguin), :50. 2, Phi., Talbot 11 (Timonen, Bryzgalov), 2:05. 3, Boston, Seguin 18 (Bergeron, Pouliot), 9:01 (pp). 4, Boston, Lucic 17 (Krejci, McQuaid), 12:30. PenaltiesLucic, Bos, major (fighting), 1:24; Sestito, Phi, major (fighting), 1:24; Couturier, Phi (slashing), 4:13; Phi. bench, served by Hartnell (too many men), 5:31; Krejci, Bos (roughing), 6:40; Talbot, Phi (roughing), 6:40; Voracek, Phi (tripping), 8:05; Kelly, Bos, served by Seguin, minor-major (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting), 9:37; Schenn, Phi, major (fighting), 9:37; Bryzgalov, Phi, served by Simmonds (roughing), 12:43; Chara, Bos (delay of game), 14:05.

Second Period5, Phi., Hartnell 23 (Giroux, Timonen), 3:23 (pp). 6, Phi., Hartnell 24 (Giroux), 7:25. 7, Phi., Hartnell 25 (Giroux, Simmonds), 19:13 (pp). PenaltiesHorton, Bos (interference), 2:53; Lucic, Bos (roughing), 2:53; Bourdon, Phi (roughing), 2:53; Thornton, Bos, major (fighting), 7:28; Shelley, Phi, major (fighting), 7:28; Seguin, Bos (high-sticking), 15:06; Lucic, Bos (interference), 18:25.

Third Period8, Boston, Krejci 11 (Peverley, Lucic), 1:19. 9, Boston, Campbell 6 (Paille, McQuaid), 4:59. 10, Phi., Talbot 12 (Carle, Couturier), 10:38 (pp). PenaltiesThornton, Bos, served by Seguin (roughing, interference), 9:11; Hartnell, Phi (charging), 9:11; Boychuk, Bos (tripping), 12:45; Kelly, Bos (holding), 16:53.

OvertimeNone. PenaltiesTimonen, Phi (holding), 3:20.

ShootoutBoston 2 (Krejci G, Seguin G), Phi. 1 (Read NG, Giroux G, Simmonds NG). Shots on GoalBoston 15-6-11-5—37. Phi. 10-15-10-3—38. Power-play opportunitiesBoston 1 of 5; Phi. 3 of 8. GoaliesBoston, Thomas 20-9-0 (38 shots-33 saves). Phi., Bryzgalov 18-10-4 (37-32). A19,851 (19,537). T2:55.

at Ducks1023
Avalanche0022

First Period1, Anaheim, Ryan 18, 2:49 (sh). PenaltiesGetzlaf, Ana (hooking), 1:35; Anaheim bench, served by Selanne (too many men), 6:54.

Second PeriodNone. PenaltiesHejda, Col (hooking), 10:48; O'Brien, Col (delay of game), 19:30.

Third Period2, Ana., Getzlaf 8 (Selanne, Visnovsky), :20 (pp). 3, Ana., Ryan 19 (Getzlaf), 3:56. 4, Colorado, O'Reilly 14 (Landeskog), 14:51. 5, Col., Hejduk 12 (Landeskog, Stastny), 16:28 (pp). PenaltiesMcLeod, Col, major (fighting), 11:00; Bell, Ana, major (fighting), 11:00; Parros, Ana (roughing), 11:00; Jones, Col (hooking), 14:06; Getzlaf, Ana (hooking), 14:46. Shots on GoalCol. 15-13-17—45. Ana. 2-8-8—18. Power-play opportunitiesCol. 1 of 4; Ana. 1 of 3. GoaliesCol., Giguere 12-7-1 (18 shots-15 saves). Anaheim, Hiller 15-17-7 (45-43). A14,004. T2:24.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers nearing deal with Oregon coach Chip Kelly

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 23, 2012

TAMPA — Less than two weeks ago, Tony Dungy went on record saying he believed Oregon's Chip Kelly would make a great NFL coach. Although not rooting for that outcome, the former Bucs and Colts coach should know because his son Eric plays receiver for the Ducks.

Maybe the Bucs were listening.

Kelly is finalizing a deal to become the Bucs coach, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed Sunday night.

Kelly, 48, met with the Bucs last week, and both sides hope an agreement can be reached within 24-48 hours.

Kelly has been Oregon's coach for three years, winning the conference title in all three and reaching three BCS games. On Jan. 1, the Ducks won their first Rose Bowl in 95 years.

Kelly would make the jump from college to the NFL if a financial agreement can be reached, Portland's KGW-TV reported Sunday night.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said he has no plans to travel to Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala., today in antici­pation of an agreement with Kelly. As of Sunday night, there were many details to work out, the Times confirmed.

The secret meeting between Kelly, Dominik and members of the Glazer family, which owns the team, came during an exhaustive search in which they interviewed eight known candidates with a wide array of experience in the NFL, from former head coaches to offensive coordinators and position coaches.

Kelly is the first known candidate the Bucs interviewed from the college ranks. Known as an offensive innovator, the Bucs hope he could bring some of his up-tempo schemes to the NFL.

Dungy said recently he believed Kelly would make an excellent NFL coach.

"I've watched him practice at the University of Oregon," Dungy told ProFootballTalk.com. "Chip knows how to motivate people. He thinks outside the box. People say, 'Well, he's got a gimmick offense.' He wouldn't do that in the NFL. He wouldn't necessarily run a spread and do what Denver is doing. He does know how to attack defenses. He knows how to motivate people.

"I think playing at a fast pace, offensively and defensively, using a lot of people, keeping a lot of people, keeping everybody involved in the game, those are the things players like. And I think it would translate over to the NFL. I'm hoping he doesn't go because my son has three more years there. But if you watch them practice and see how they play, he's a phenomenal coach."

After firing coach Raheem Morris on Jan. 2 following 10 consecutive losses that resulted in a 4-12 record, a priority for the Bucs was identifying coaches who could help quarterback Josh Freeman get back on track.

Freeman threw 22 interceptions and 16 touchdowns this season, one year after leading the Bucs to a 10-6 record with 25 TDs and six interceptions.

Kelly joined the Ducks as offensive coordinator in 2007, and his spread attack was an immediate success. In his first season, the Ducks led the Pac-10 with 38.2 points per game and 467.5 yards per game while setting school records for both. In 2008, the Ducks topped both with 41.9 points and 484.8 yards. Helping lead the way for Oregon that season with a then-school-record 17 rushing touchdowns was LeGarrette Blount, the Bucs' current starting running back.

In 2009, when Ducks coach Mike Bellotti was promoted to athletic director, Kelly took over.

A year later, Kelly led the Ducks to a 12-0 record and No. 2 ranking, earning the right to play Auburn in the BCS national championship game. The Ducks lost 22-19 on a last-second field goal.

"Auburn had 10 guys drafted, including two guys in the top seven," Dungy said. "Oregon had one guy in the fourth round of the draft last year, and they were able to play toe to toe with Auburn. I think that's what Coach Kelly does."

Sunday's news continued the Glazers' pattern of stealth efforts to hire big-name coaches. In 1996, they offered the job to Jimmy Johnson and Steve Spurrier before hiring Dungy.

In 2001, they secretly reached an agreement with Bill Parcells two weeks before what turned out to be Dungy's final game, a playoff loss to the Eagles.

When Parcells later balked at the deal, the Glazers embarked on a 36-day search that resulted in the Bucs trading two first-round picks and two second-round picks and $8 million to the Raiders for Jon Gruden.

After firing Morris, co-chairman Joel Glazer promised a "thorough and wide,' search and began by interviewing former Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman, former Vikings coach Brad Childress and former Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer. Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips canceled an interview with Tampa Bay prior to the AFC division playoff game against Baltimore.

The Bucs also interviewed Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin (hired by the Dolphins), Packers quarterbacks coach Jerry Clements and Panthers offensive coordinator Jeff Chudzinski.

If an agreement could be reached, Kelly would become the first coach hired by the Bucs from the college ranks since Ray Perkins left Alabama in 1987. Their first coach, John McKay, was hired from Southern Cal.

Kelly tells Bucs his 'heart is with college football,' stays at Oregon

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 23, 2012

Oregon coach Chip Kelly told the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early Monday morning 'his heart is with college football,' and he is remaining with the Ducks.

"His heart is with college football and Oregon and he's no longer being considered,'' Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said Monday.

Kelly and the Bucs were in the process of finalizing a deal late Sunday with the goal of him becoming Tampa Bay's head coach by today or Tuesday.

But negotiations with college coaches are always tricky, and with national signing day less than two weeks away, Kelly quickly ended talks once he decided to remain at Oregon where he has led the Ducks to three straight BCS games.

The situation is strikingly familiar to the Bucs coaching search in 1996 when then Florida coach Steve Spurrier came close to taking the job before deciding to remain with the Gators. The Bucs wound up hiring Tony Dungy, whose son, Eric, is now a receiver for Kelly at Oregon.

Kelly secretly met last week with Dominik and several members of the Glazer family which owns the Bucs. Sunday night, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed a report by KGW in Portland, Oregon, that Kelly was attempting to finalize an agreement. According to multiple reports, Kelly had cancelled a recruiting trip to Sacremento.

Dominik postponed his plans to travel to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Monday and the Bucs were hopeful their thorough search for a new head coach was coming to a close with Kelly.

But once news broke of talks late Sunday, and with national signing day looming Feb. 1, Kelly reversed course and told the Bucs he was remaining at Oregon.

Financial terms were not the issue in Kelly's decision to remain at Oregon. Kelly signed a six-year extension with the Ducks in 2010 worth $20.5-million, an average of just over $3.4-million per season, making him the PAC-10's second highest-paid coach behind USC's Lane Kiffin

The Bucs will resume their head coaching search immediately and have no shortage of candidates. Since firing Raheem Morris Jan. 2, Dominik and the Glazers have interviewed at least eight known candidates, a list that includes Kelly, former Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman, former Vikings coach Brad Childress and former Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer. Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips cancelled an interview with Tampa Bay prior to an AFC Divisional playoff game against Baltimore. The Bucs also interviewed Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, quarterbacks coach Jerry Clements and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.

Philbin had a second interview scheduled with the Bucs before he was hired Friday as the Miami Dolphins' head coach.

After Kelly's change of heart, the Bucs could choose from that list of candidates and call them back for a second interview or continue their search. Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell may also be on the Bucs' radar and teams can interview coaches from the the staffs of Super Bowl teams this week.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers to talk to Mike Sherman again after Chip Kelly turns them down

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 23, 2012

TAMPA — Oregon coach Chip Kelly is known for his fast-paced offense, but his call for a reverse surprised the Bucs just before sunrise Monday.

After agreeing to most of the components of an agreement to coach Tampa Bay, Kelly had a change of heart and decided to remain with the Ducks.

The Chip-Flop, as it is being called in Oregon, did not halt the Bucs search for a head coach.

By Monday afternoon, former Green Bay Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman became the first candidate to be called for a second interview with the Bucs this week.

Sherman, 57, has an offensive background and is considered to be a candidate with the Miami Dolphins as an offensive coordinator under new coach Joe Philbin.

Sherman went 57-39 and won three NFL North titles in six seasons with the Packers. He was fired in 2005 after a 4-12 record, the Packers' first losing season since 1991.

He was 25-25 in four seasons at Texas A&M, with two bowl appearances, and helped transform quarterback Ryan Tannehill from receiver to quarterback. The Bucs hope to find a coach who can help quarterback Josh Freeman get back on track after he threw 16 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions this season.

General manager Mark Dominik remained in Tampa on Monday to contact candidates rather than attending the Senior Bowl workouts in Mobile, Ala.

The Bucs are scheduling second interviews and selecting finalists from a list that includes former Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, former Vikings coach Brad Childress, former Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements and Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.

"We clearly are serious about finding the right coach," Dominik said in a text to the Tampa Bay Times.

The Bucs were hopeful Kelly would be that coach.

He had cancelled a recruiting trip to Sacramento, Calif., and Oregon officials reportedly believed he had agreed to a deal to jump to the NFL and coach the Bucs, less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 national signing day.

But around 5 a.m. Monday, he informed the Bucs he was staying at Oregon.

"His heart is with college football and Oregon and he's no longer being considered," Dominik said.

In three seasons under Kelly, the Ducks have reached three BCS games, losing to Auburn on a last-season field goal in the 2010 national championship game.

"I am flattered by the interest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' organization," Kelly said in a statement. "I enjoyed meeting with the Glazer family and General Manager Mark Dominik but after numerous discussions, I concluded that I have some unfinished business to complete at the University of Oregon."

The situation is strikingly familiar to the Bucs coaching search in 1996 when then-Florida coach Steve Spurrier came close to taking the job but remained with the Gators. The Bucs wound up hiring Tony Dungy, whose son, Eric, is now a receiver for Kelly at Oregon.

Kelly secretly met last week with Dominik and several members of the Glazer family which owns the Bucs. Sunday night, the Times confirmed a report by KGW in Portland, Ore., that Kelly was trying to finalize a deal.

Compensation was not a factor in Kelly's decision to remain in Oregon. He signed a six-year agreement with Oregon worth $20.5 million in 2010, an average of just over $3.4 million per season, making him the Pac-10's second highest-paid coach behind USC's Lane Kiffin.

MILLARD HIRED: The Titans hired Keith Millard, a co-defensive line coach with Tampa Bay last season, to coach their pass rush.

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com. View his blog at tampabay.com/blogs/bucs.

Tight end Sean Price could become one of top recruits in USF Bulls history

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By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 23, 2012

Sean Price has caught passes from a quarterback committed to Florida State.

He has sprinted alongside receivers headed to Florida and blocked linebackers pledged to Alabama and LSU.

Price, too, could be headed to one of the college football bluebloods. But the Under Armour All-American wants to blaze his own trail to USF, where the tight end from Citra North Marion could become one of the top recruits in Bulls history.

"I'm not really worried about what everyone else is doing," Price said after an Under Armour practice at the ESPN Wide World of Sports this month.

"I'm worried about myself. I'm here for me and not anyone else. If I go to USF, I'm trying to build my own legacy and pick them up, pick USF up to the top ranks."

That's a big if. Price planned to visit Oklahoma and Georgia this month. But if he signs with the Bulls on Feb. 1, he'd be one of USF's biggest recruiting coups.

Rivals calls the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Price the country's No. 158 prospect — 19 spots behind fellow USF commitment D'Vario Montgomery (Winter Park).

Since 2006, only two USF signees had a higher national ranking: Hillsborough High's Terrence Mitchell (No. 89, class of 2010) and Armwood's Ryne Giddins (No. 61, class of 2009). The Bulls have landed only 15 four-star prospects since Rivals began its rankings in 2002.

North Marion coaches knew Price could become an elite player early. He started at the perennial power in ninth grade and helped the Colts advance to the region final.

"You saw things you expect out of seniors when he was a freshman ..." Colts coach Craig Damon said. "We just knew he had it."

So did USF. Price said the Bulls began recruiting him in ninth grade — even though he thought his future would be on the court. Basketball, not football, was his first love, and he spent summers playing travel basketball on the AAU circuit, missing out on valuable time in the weight room.

"I always wanted to be a basketball player until I realized post players in college are about 7 feet, and I'm only 6-3," Price said. "I'm not going to make it."

But he could make it in football.

His height was undersized for the hardwood but ideal for a receiver. The leaping ability he honed fighting for rebounds helped him sky for passes. The soft hands he showed in the post enabled him to snag post patterns.

"He has those big mitten hands, so catching the ball is no problem for him," said wide receiver Latroy Pittman, Price's high school teammate and a Florida commitment.

After his sophomore year, Price dropped basketball to devote himself and his offseasons to football. He bulked up from a 210-pound receiver prospect to a tight end with 20 more pounds of muscle.

"Once he got to 235, everybody started calling," Damon said.

Offers for Rivals' No. 5 tight end came from Alabama, Florida, Miami and others, but Price liked USF's early interest in him and the atmosphere on campus and in the locker room.

"That's where I need to be for four years," Price said.

Price flashed his speed and strength during his senior season. On a team with two other elite recruits — Pittman and USF target RB Jamie Gilmore — Price was tied for the team lead with 25 catches and led the Colts with 530 yards.

He had six touchdown catches and finished with 3.5 sacks, including a pivotal second-half takedown in a close loss to Pasco in the Class 5A region semifinals.

Price said he thinks he can take that versatility to USF as an H-back who can block, run out of the backfield or open up the middle of the field.

"They said that's the piece they've been missing," Price said. "Well, I'm there."

Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@tampabay.com.

Florida Gators get two more oral commitments

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 23, 2012

The Florida Gators' list of oral commitments for the 2012 football recruiting class increased to 20 today with the addition of DE Alex McCalister.

McCalister, 6 feet 7, 212 pounds, from Clemmons N.C., orally committed Monday. He was part of a group that made official visits during the weekend. His decision came down to Florida, Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

On Sunday, DE Bryan Cox of Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas committed to the Gators. Cox, son of a former Dolphins linebacker with the same name, is considered a three-star recruit by recruiting services, while McCalister is listed as a four- and three-star recruit by different services.

National signing day is Feb. 1.

Florida Gators' Leon Orr receives deferred prosecution for marijuana-related charges

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 23, 2012

Florida Gators defensive tackle Leon Orr has settled his legal issues stemming from an arrest on marijuana-related charges earlier this month.

According to Alachua County Court records, Orr, who has no prior criminal record, agreed to deferred prosecution in the case. As part of the agreement, Orr will pay $50 for the cost of prosecution of the case and either a $150 fine or 12 1/2 hours of community service.

According to the University Police Department, UPD officers discovered marijuana in Orr's dorm room, along with a glass pipe and rolling papers on Jan. 10. Orr was given a notice to appear for possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanor charges.

Orr, a former Gulf standout, is a redshirt freshman who played in all 13 games this past season, registering 10 tackles.

Dana Tyrell adds another injury to Tampa Bay Lightning total

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 23, 2012

BRANDON — Forgive Lightning coach Guy Boucher if he believes unnatural forces are gathering against his team.

That's what happens when nine players are out because of injuries.

"The hockey gods," Boucher said, "are whipping us left and right."

The latest casualty is right wing Dana Tyrell, who left Monday's practice at the Ice Sports Forum early with what is believed a knee problem.

Add the loss of left wing Ryan Malone, out with an upper-body injury sustained during Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Coyotes, and the team was down to 11 forwards and six defensemen before wing Mike Angelidis and defenseman Evan Oberg were called up from AHL Norfolk.

"I can't even tell you which one is upper body, lower body, the back of the body, the top of the head, we've got them all," Boucher said of all the injuries. "To me, it's just a blur right now."

To say Tampa Bay is looking forward to the healing powers of the Wednesday-Sunday All-Star break is an understatement.

In fact, Boucher said he expects Malone and forwards Ryan Shannon (knee) and Tom Pyatt (leg) to be ready to go when the team reunites on Monday.

He also said defenseman Victor Hedman (concussion) is skating hard daily and doing full off-ice workouts.

First though, the Lightning has to get through tonight's game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum with the Blue Jackets; a game Tampa Bay will play with as many as five players brought up in the past few weeks from the minors.

It is a critical contest.

If the Lightning, no matter how much of a long shot, is to mount any kind of playoff run, it cannot lose to teams such as Columbus, last in the West.

A victory would increase Tampa Bay's winning streak to a season-best four and be a nice post-break launching point.

"It's not all of a sudden the game of the year," Boucher said. "But if we can manage (tonight's) game and have something positive come out of it, it would make everybody feel that we've accomplished something."

The Lightning was in a similar situation at the end of December, when it won three straight and believed it had turned a corner. But then came a seven-game losing streak center Steven Stamkos said was "more than humbling.

"I think we've corrected some things in our game that we obviously didn't like," Stamkos said of the team's long-standing malady of slow starts.

And despite "dealing with a lot of adversity right now, injury-wise, we're finding a way," he added. "By no means are we on the way to the Stanley Cup final, but we've got a good thing going right now."

Boucher wants so desperately to keep it going and stomp the injury bug, he joked about a sacrifice to the hockey gods.

"If we could do that, I'd sacrifice a lot," he said.

Seriously, though, "It's the most injuries we've had since I've been here, by far, and it's very taxing," Boucher said. "We've answered with a lot of character, lately. We want to show that we want to survive."

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

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