By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist


Sunday, February 5, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS

Some quarterbacks can be found in the record books. They spend season after season stacking up numbers until it becomes their legacy.

Some quarterbacks you can find in the gossip pages. They date models, they film commercials and they chase celebrity as if it was a trophy.

Eli Manning?

You can find him in the fourth quarter.

The eternal little brother stood in the middle of Lucas Oil Stadium, his fist in the air, the confetti raining down like a waterfall. You have seen Eli like this before, and odds are, you will see him like this again, walking toward another trophy stand, celebrating another championship.

So, Peyton. What do you think of the kid now?

At the end of the day, it was Eli-as-in-elite all over again. Once more, Manning pulled his team out of the fire, and once more, he outdueled Terrific Tom Brady on his way to doing so. Once again, it was Manning, and once again, it was in the fourth quarter because this is who he is and because this is when he thrives.

At this point, should this surprise anyone?

For a long time now, Eli has been the man in charge of turning out the lights for the Giants. This time, too. Manning was pretty good for most of the night, but in the final quarter, he was magnificent, and because of it, the Giants pulled out a 21-17 victory in Super Bowl XLVI.

Did you see Manning in the final moments Sunday night? With 88 yards to go, with 226 seconds left to play, he claimed the game as his own. Manning was so sharp, so patient, that he made you forget about the time and distance. Manning was just out for a Sunday drive, and he could have driven his team to Cincinnati if it had been needed.

"In a game like this, I didn't expect anything else," Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks said. "He was as calm as he always is."

This time, Manning didn't even need a receiver to catch a ball with his helmet the way former teammate David Tyree did four years ago.

He did get a great catch from Mario Manningham, who managed to get both feet inbounds on a 38-yarder to get their final drive going. But the Giants still drove 50 yards after that. Manning hit five of six passes for 74 yards on the drive, and if there was a quibble, it was that he scored too quickly.

There are a lot of ways to measure quarterbacks, including the way one performs in the times when the pressure is mounting and the clock is running and the scoreboard is leaning the wrong way. More and more, this is the way to measure Eli. By the deficits he overcomes and by the champion­ships he collects.

"We've had a bunch of (comebacks) this year," said Manning, who completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards. "When we had an opportunity in the fourth quarter … we had been in those situations before. We knew we had no more time left. We had to go down and score."

This season, only the Packers' Aaron Rodgers had a better quarterback rating in the fourth quarter than Manning's 110.4. Of his 29 regular-season touchdowns, 15 came in the final quarter. Of the Giants' nine regular-season victories, he led them from behind in the final quarter five times (and engineered a winning drive in a tie game another time).

This is not new. In eight seasons, Manning, 31, has led his team from behind 21 times, including twice in the Super Bowl. They won't think of Eli as Peyton's equal in Boston, but he's probably right up there with Bucky Bleeping Dent.

Think of it like this. This was only the fourth time the winning touchdown has been scored in the Super Bowl's final minute. Manning has produced two of those. (San Francisco's Joe Montana did it once, Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger did it once.)

"This is twice now," Giants guard Chris Snee said. "The biggest stage where we've gone down to score a touchdown. It starts with Eli. He was tremendous in that situation. Eli is just so at ease in that situation."

Then there is this:

Two times, Manning has crossed lightsabers with Brady, who will be remembered as one of the top handful of quarterbacks ever to play the position. For much of the night, Brady seemed intent of making a mockery of the New York media that spent much of the past week suggesting he lacked courage. Tom Fraidy? That's silly. Brady missed a couple of throws late, but fear was not his problem.

Eli? He didn't miss anything late.

"I don't need to say anything about Eli," Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said. "Two hundred and twenty eight countries just saw Eli. I don't have to say anything."

For those who have big brothers, there will be plenty to say. This was for those who were pinned down and given chest noogies by an older sibling, for those who have lived in the shadow of their accomplishments, for those whose ears grow numb of hearing how they cannot measure up. This one was for little brothers everywhere.

"He just hung in there," said Archie, Eli's father. "He was patient, and he had to be patient. There wasn't anything easy out there. He plays like a quarterback needs to play."

Calm. Confident. Clutch. Champion. This time, all of the praise fits Eli.

Little Brother. Big winner.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, February 5, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS

Some quarterbacks can be found in the record books. They spend season after season stacking up numbers until it becomes their legacy.

Some quarterbacks you can find in the gossip pages. They date models, they film commercials and they chase celebrity as if it was a trophy.

Eli Manning?

You can find him in the fourth quarter.

The eternal little brother stood in the middle of Lucas Oil Stadium, his fist in the air, the confetti raining down like a waterfall. You have seen Eli like this before, and odds are, you will see him like this again, walking toward another trophy stand, celebrating another championship.

So, Peyton. What do you think of the kid now?

At the end of the day, it was Eli-as-in-elite all over again. Once more, Manning pulled his team out of the fire, and once more, he outdueled Terrific Tom Brady on his way to doing so. Once again, it was Manning, and once again, it was in the fourth quarter because this is who he is and because this is when he thrives.

At this point, should this surprise anyone?

For a long time now, Eli has been the man in charge of turning out the lights for the Giants. This time, too. Manning was pretty good for most of the night, but in the final quarter, he was magnificent, and because of it, the Giants pulled out a 21-17 victory in Super Bowl XLVI.

Did you see Manning in the final moments Sunday night? With 88 yards to go, with 226 seconds left to play, he claimed the game as his own. Manning was so sharp, so patient, that he made you forget about the time and distance. Manning was just out for a Sunday drive, and he could have driven his team to Cincinnati if it had been needed.

"In a game like this, I didn't expect anything else," Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks said. "He was as calm as he always is."

This time, Manning didn't even need a receiver to catch a ball with his helmet the way former teammate David Tyree did four years ago.

He did get a great catch from Mario Manningham, who managed to get both feet inbounds on a 38-yarder to get their final drive going. But the Giants still drove 50 yards after that. Manning hit five of six passes for 74 yards on the drive, and if there was a quibble, it was that he scored too quickly.

There are a lot of ways to measure quarterbacks, including the way one performs in the times when the pressure is mounting and the clock is running and the scoreboard is leaning the wrong way. More and more, this is the way to measure Eli. By the deficits he overcomes and by the champion­ships he collects.

"We've had a bunch of (comebacks) this year," said Manning, who completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards. "When we had an opportunity in the fourth quarter … we had been in those situations before. We knew we had no more time left. We had to go down and score."

This season, only the Packers' Aaron Rodgers had a better quarterback rating in the fourth quarter than Manning's 110.4. Of his 29 regular-season touchdowns, 15 came in the final quarter. Of the Giants' nine regular-season victories, he led them from behind in the final quarter five times (and engineered a winning drive in a tie game another time).

This is not new. In eight seasons, Manning, 31, has led his team from behind 21 times, including twice in the Super Bowl. They won't think of Eli as Peyton's equal in Boston, but he's probably right up there with Bucky Bleeping Dent.

Think of it like this. This was only the fourth time the winning touchdown has been scored in the Super Bowl's final minute. Manning has produced two of those. (San Francisco's Joe Montana did it once, Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger did it once.)

"This is twice now," Giants guard Chris Snee said. "The biggest stage where we've gone down to score a touchdown. It starts with Eli. He was tremendous in that situation. Eli is just so at ease in that situation."

Then there is this:

Two times, Manning has crossed lightsabers with Brady, who will be remembered as one of the top handful of quarterbacks ever to play the position. For much of the night, Brady seemed intent of making a mockery of the New York media that spent much of the past week suggesting he lacked courage. Tom Fraidy? That's silly. Brady missed a couple of throws late, but fear was not his problem.

Eli? He didn't miss anything late.

"I don't need to say anything about Eli," Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said. "Two hundred and twenty eight countries just saw Eli. I don't have to say anything."

For those who have big brothers, there will be plenty to say. This was for those who were pinned down and given chest noogies by an older sibling, for those who have lived in the shadow of their accomplishments, for those whose ears grow numb of hearing how they cannot measure up. This one was for little brothers everywhere.

"He just hung in there," said Archie, Eli's father. "He was patient, and he had to be patient. There wasn't anything easy out there. He plays like a quarterback needs to play."

Calm. Confident. Clutch. Champion. This time, all of the praise fits Eli.

Little Brother. Big winner.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 6, 2012

Former Seminole star cornerback Mario Edwards Sr. was part of some of the school's best defenses, when Florida State was a perennial power in the late 1990s.

He got to watch up close the dynamic one-two punch of All-American defensive ends Peter Boulware and Reinard Wilson, who terrorized quarterbacks before taking their talents to the NFL.

But when Edwards Sr. looks at this year's studded Seminole recruiting class, which includes his son, Mario Jr., a 6-foot-4 290-pound defensive end rated the best in the country, along with five-star tackle Eddie Goldman and four-star end Chris Casher, he sees special potential.

"When I played, we had high-powered defensive linemen," said Edwards Sr., who went on to play for three NFL teams, including the Bucs. "But I would go on record and say that the d-linemen that they have right now, in this recruiting class, they can be just as good if not better."

The Seminoles already have a stout defensive front, ranked sixth nationally in sacks last season and second against the run. They return the entire defensive line rotation, with senior ends Brandon Jenkins and Tank Carradine, and boast last year's recruiting coup, tackle Timmy Jernigan. But coach Jimbo Fisher believes you can never have too much size, and "those guys that put their hand in the dirt change the game." Florida State also netted four-star defensive tackle Justin Shanks and three-star tackle Dalvon Stuckey for the nation's No. 2 class.

"I keep telling you all, that's what separates Southern football from the rest of the country is defensive linemen," Fisher said. "Everyone's got them and they've got more than one, they don't have just two, they have three, four, five, six and they rotate. That's why you very rarely see the offenses from the South lead the country."

The Seminoles biggest signing day prize was Edwards Jr. (Denton, Texas), who grew up going to his father's NFL games and practices. Built like a defensive tackle, Edwards Jr. unique athleticism — his standing backflip is an Internet hit — make him a matchup nightmare. Fisher has said Edwards Jr. can be a dominant player off the edge, comparing him to Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears.

"He's further along technique-wise than anyone else in the country," said recruiting analyst Josh Newberg, from Noles247.com. "Usually when you see kids of his size they just use brute strength to dominate in high school. You don't see someone that has perfected hand technique like Mario."

While Edwards Jr.'s path to Florida State was clear, Goldman, the nation's top-rated defensive tackle, said his decision was very difficult. But the 6-foot-4, 310-pounder out of Washington chose the Seminoles over Alabama and Auburn, and Edwards Jr. helped with his own recruiting pitch.

"I talked to Eddie and (four-star cornerback) Ronald Darby a lot, just telling them, 'We have a chance to get Florida State back to where we used to be,' " Edwards Jr. said.

"It'll be nice," Goldman said. "We can win a national title."

Whether the recruits make an impact as freshmen remains to be seen, but Fisher points out a lot of linemen are used in a rotation, and there's always injuries, or players leaving to the NFL. But if they have to wait their turn, Casher knows a lot about that. Casher, a 6-foot-5, 236-pound Mobile (Ala.) senior who runs a 4.63 40, did not play a down this season. With Casher struggling academically, he and his family made the extreme decision to transfer from Faith Academy to Davidson High, where he could get help qualifying for college, but he had to sit out due to transfer rules. But those who watched Casher at the Under Armour All-American game and practices saw little rust.

"To not play your senior season, throw your pads on and compete against the best players in the country and be a top performer — that's pretty amazing," Newberg said.

For Edwards Jr., the Seminoles are also a sentimental choice, and he plans to wear the same No. 15 his father did. "It's definitely a big honor," Edwards Jr. said. "It's going to be big shoes for me to fill."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Some of the secrecy surrounding Greg Schiano's staff assembly is starting to be peeled away, with a report this morning that University of Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has turned down a chance to run the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense.

Quinn, according to the Gainesville Sun, opted to remain with the Gators, who have all but one defensive starter returning this fall.

The Bucs have not offered any comment on the report or any other development regarding the hiring of assistant coaches.

Quinn has been at Florida for one season. Prior to joining the Gators, Quinn was defensive line coach for the Seahawks. He also has coached defensive lines for the Dolphins, Jets and 49ers.

Quinn is slated to earn a healthy $510,000 at UF this fall. The Bucs have a history of paying assistants less-competitive salaries than many other NFL teams, though it's unclear whether that was a factor here.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 6, 2012

GAINESVILLE — During his national signing day news conference last week, Florida coach Will Muschamp praised the outstanding job linebackers and special teams coach D.J. Durkin had done on the recruiting trail — helping to land some of the Gators' biggest recruits, particularly from out of state.

On Monday, Durkin received some more recognition for his efforts when he was named the Rivals.com Recruiter of the Year.

Durkin was responsible for bringing in seven top-tier prospects, including five Rivals250 prospects. They included: five-star DE Jonathan Bullard of Shelby, N.C.; five-star OT D.J. Humphries of Charlotte Mallard Creek; Venice four-star DT Dante Phillips, and Clemmons (N.C.) West Forsyth three-star DE Alex McCalister.

Durkin, who was hired by former coach Urban Meyer in 2010, then retained by Muschamp, gave a lot of credit to being at Florida for the Gators' recruiting success.

"I am very, very fortunate to be recruiting at a place like Florida because I think the place almost sells itself," Durkin told Rivals. "It is a great academic institution and there is obviously great football tradition here. We play in a great football stadium in the best conference in the world. I think the place really sells itself."

Four other coaches from state schools were recognized among Rivals.com's Top 25 Recruiters of the Year: Derek Lewis (UF); Dameyune Craig and Odell Haggins of Florida State; and George McDonald from Miami.

BEAL, AGAIN: About three weeks ago, much of the talk around the Florida basketball team was about the slump freshman guard Bradley Beal had fallen into. Beal admittedly was struggling with his shot, and his penchant for being too hard on himself was not helping the problem.

Florida coach Billy Donovan said at the time he liked that Beal continued to affect the game in other ways besides his offense, and he expected him to eventually work his way through it. He has.

On Monday, Beal was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the fifth time this season. He averaged 16.5 points, nine rebounds and two assists in wins over South Carolina and Vanderbilt last week, and had his fourth double-double of the season against the Gamecocks (17 points, 11 rebounds) — the most of any Gator this season.

Beal will be making his first start at storied Rupp Arena tonight when No. 8 Florida plays at No. 1 Kentucky, but UK coach John Calipari said Beal is a key player the Wildcats have to be concerned about.

"He's a skilled player who can beat you on the bounce," Calipari said. "He can make shots, a terrific free throw shooter, good passer, but also his the ability to rebound offensively. So he goes and gets balls. Let's just say you stopped them and you are feeling good, and all of a sudden he goes and grabs an offensive rebound and sticks it in and it kind of breaks your rhythm and your stride. So he is doing some good stuff."

BIG REBOUND: It appears the focus to not let past failures linger has paid off for the women's basketball team. After a double-overtime loss Jan. 29 at Arkansas, the Gators went 2-0 last week — earning their first victory at LSU since 1996 — then scoring a season-high in an 84-55 win over Ole Miss on Sunday.

"I think that certainly is a reflection of heightened maturity, learning lessons and understanding the value of each game," Florida coach Amanda Butler said.

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com. Follow her blog at tampabay.com/blogs/gators/.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 6, 2012

TAMPA — Marty St. Louis insists he is not superstitious.

That the Lightning wing likes four pieces of gum in his locker before games; that he has worn the same torn, blue shirt under his jersey for six years; that teammate Vinny Lecavalier said, "You want to do something to him? Take his (stick) tape before a game"

Nope, doesn't mean anything.

"I'm just particular," St. Louis said, grinning. "If something is working, I'm not changing."

That includes a theory it is best not to discuss milestones before they happen, streaks until they run their course and rituals or habits that seem to help the team until they no longer prove useful.

It makes for interviews during which St. Louis and reporters chuckle as the player admits he is not being helpful.

But it also puts into context why St. Louis declined to talk about his 900th game until after it was in the books on Saturday.

And why he answered, "Why talk about it?" when asked about his nine-game points streak, the league's longest current, in which he has six goals, 10 assists.

"You bring that stuff up it brings attention," St. Louis said. "It starts putting pressure on that particular thing. Sometimes you have to just let stuff happen."

•••

St. Louis is playing the best he has all season.

He has 16 goals and 49 points, in 46 games but seven goals and 27 points in his past 19 during which he has played fewer than 20 minutes only four times.

At 36 years, 7 months, the six-time All-Star is getting stronger as the season gets longer.

"It's crunch time and he's Mr. Crunch Time, so he's crunching," coach Guy Boucher said.

St. Louis' hat trick Saturday fueled a 6-3 victory over Florida that was a must-win for a team fighting for its playoff life and which tonight faces the Kings at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Don't think St. Louis didn't let reporters know his pregame, no-talk policy had been vindicated.

•••

St. Louis isn't alone finding comfort being "particular."

Captain Vinny Lecavalier likes two chicken breasts with beans and rice before games, and defenseman Bruno Gervais listens to the band Offspring.

Even Boucher, asked Monday about the team's up-trend goaltending, said, "You can't talk about it." There was no wood on which to knock.

St. Louis said he believed by now he would be past such things, but "I'm still stuck in it."

Especially after granting an interview the day before he was to play his 500th consecutive game Dec. 8 in New York only to be sidelined by facial fractures after he was hit in the face by a puck during the morning skate.

"Don't bring attention to things," St. Louis said. "It's like when a guy is wide open and screaming and tapping his stick (for the puck). You bring attention. You're going to get checked. Just let the play happen."

•••

With the Lightning losers of seven straight games, St. Louis asked long-time team employee Tommy Gilbert to give players "a word of wisdom" before their Jan. 17 game with the Bruins.

Tampa Bay beat the defending Stanley Cup champions to start a five-game winning streak that featured Gilbert addressing the team after each morning skate.

"I just thought Tommy has been around a long time and I don't think he ever has a bad day. And he loves his Lightning," St. Louis said. "I thought I'd do something fun. We had just lost seven. I was trying to bring some enthusiasm and I know Tommy can do that."

St. Louis asked reporters to not write about the locker-room pep talks until the streak ended, which it did with Thursday's overtime loss to the Jets.

"I know you're trying to do your job," St. Louis said. "I'm trying to make you do it a day later."

No, not superstitious at all.

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

By Ben Montgomery, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 6, 2012

Wait a minute. Let's rewind the New York Giants' last possession for the sake of debate. Let's suck Ahmad Bradshaw out of the end zone and return him to the backfield, put 1:04 on the clock, stick the ball on the 6-yard line and correct the score so the New England Patriots still lead 17-15 with a single time out dangling.

Let's suit you with a hoodie and headphones and send you to the Patriots' sideline.

Let's say you know about Win Probability (a simple estimate of who's going to win based on score and other variables, not much different from baseball's ballyhooed sabermetrics), and that some geeks in the booth have been running numbers for you all game. You know that in this position, down by two with barely a minute left, every second the Giants bleed off the clock before attempting a sure-thing field goal to go up by one point decreases your probability of winning.

But if you tell your defense to lie down, tell them even to help the Giants score, you suddenly have a better shot, percentages say, of getting your offense on the field, scoring and kissing the cheerleaders.

What do you do?

Take a dive, let the Giants score and hope your offense can go 80 in less than a minute?

Or tell your defense that it all comes down to the next few plays and you'd better not let them score, not by run or by kick, because the world is watching?

We know what Bill Belichick did. He confirmed it after his Patriots lost.

"Right," he said when asked if his team had let Bradshaw score.

Some loved the move. Headlines on Deadspin and Slate: The Ballsiest Call In Super Bowl History. But that's exactly backward.

Being ordered to let the other team score — even if the numbers suggest it's the right thing to do — goes against a player's ever instinct, especially when it means letting the other team take the lead.

The riskier call would be to forget the percentages. The riskier call would be to let your defense do what it does: try to keep the Giants out of the end zone and pray you get a hand on the ball when they attempt a field goal.

Others felt like the call was a monumental shift in American football, a game that in its purest form has two chief pursuits: to score, and to stop the other team from scoring. Football has rarely been a game where it's better to go backward.

It wasn't the first time a defense has taken a dive. Who remembers The Gator Flop from 1971? That's when Florida's defensemen literally dove to their bellies on the field to let Miami score so Florida's quarterback could set a passing record. In 1998, Green Bay allowed Denver to score from a yard out to get the ball back earlier, but Brett Favre couldn't score on the final chance.

But Sunday's call was an obvious relinquishing of those time-honored principles of unadulterated, belief-based football. And it was on the sport's main stage. If that's okay, to let the other team score, where does it end? If you buy into Win Probability, the smartest play would've been for the Patriots to have given up a touchdown earlier, even as early as the two-minute warning.

What worth is a defense if it lacks the faith that it can force a turnover, or block a kick? What were the chances Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff would miss a kick that sent the Patriots to Super Bowl XLVI?

Belichick's call changes football. Expect to see more, for better or for worse.

Ben Montgomery played defensive back for Division II Arkansas Tech University, which was Gulf South Conference champion in 1999.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 6, 2012

GAINESVILLE — When you're preparing to face the No. 1 team in the nation, on its home court where it boasts the nation's longest home winning streak, it might be easy to get caught up in the hype.

But as No. 8 Florida prepares to play at No. 1 Kentucky Tuesday in a nationally-televised, primetime game, the reality of what's behind that ranking is more of what the Gators are concerned about.

Kentucky is in sole possession of first place in the SEC, has won 15 consecutive games this season, has the nation's leading shot blocker in Anthony Davis (4.8 per game) and hasn't lost at Rupp Arena in three years.

So really, what's No. 1 got to do with it? At least that's the way the Gators are approaching it.

"We don't really view it as playing the No. 1 team; it's just Kentucky," Florida freshman Bradley Beal said. "It's a league game so we're just coming in with the mentality we're just going to play our game, and focus in on what we need to do. And now worry they are the No. 1 team and we're trying to beat the No. 1 team. We're just trying to win a game."

Kentucky also isn't concerned about the ranking.

"I think we've been challenging ourselves really well to make sure that none of that has even been a problem, or a thought in our heads, that we're No. 1," sophomore forward Terrence Jones said. "We're just playing good teams and trying to compete."

Florida coach Billy Donovan said Kentucky has put together such an impressive streak because of the extraordinary talent coach John Calipari has assembled annually since his arrival. And this year is no exception.

"I think John has done an unbelievable job recruiting," Donovan said. "I think since I've been in the league, I don't know if there's been a program that has brought in as much talent as he has the last three years. They can win a lot of different ways. They can win with the game going up and down the floor, they can win grinding it out, they can win with their defense, they can win with their offense, they shoot well from beyond the 3-point line. They have a lot of answers with personnel at every single spot. They really don't have a lot of weaknesses in their team."

The Gators are on a seven-game winning streak, but Florida is 2-4 on the road, and will be trying to win at a place the Gators have earned just three victories in 15 years under Donovan.

"I think it's no pressure on us going into Rupp playing our game," junior guard Kenny Boynton said. "I just think we've got to go there with a winning mindset and everything else will take care of itself. A win would get us a lot of respect, but at the end of the day they are just another SEC team, like a Tennessee or South Carolina. I think if we go out and play like we've been playing lately we've got a great chance at winning."

In some ways, Calipari agrees. His team is still a work in progress, he said, and his biggest job Tuesday may be keeping the Wildcats level-headed.

"First of all, I'm going to talk to them a little bit about let's make sure we're being humble guys, let's understand why we've been winning and let's understand where we have to take this," Calipari said. "The issue that we have is that we're one of the youngest teams in country. … Three freshmen start, one comes off the bench, two sophomores start. Darius Miller is a senior but we're really young. So there's an easy transition from a swagger to arrogance and that's where you get beat."

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com.

Times wires
Monday, February 6, 2012

DENVER — The Rockies acquired veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie from the Orioles on Monday to try to bolster their young rotation.

In exchange, Colorado sent former Rays right-hander Jason Hammel and right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom to Baltimore.

Guthrie, the Orioles' opening day starter three of the past four seasons, had a solid 4.33 ERA in 34 appearances last season but was saddled with an AL-high 17 losses by a Baltimore team that finished 69-93. He has pitched 200 or more innings the past three seasons.

Guthrie, who turns 33 in April, agreed to a one-year, $8.2 million contract with the Rockies, avoiding arbitration.

The acquisition of Guthrie gives the Rockies another experienced arm in their rotation, especially with lefty Jorge De La Rosa still mending after elbow surgery that sidelined him last season.

Hammel, 29, began his pro career in the Rays system and pitched parts of three seasons for Tampa Bay before being traded to Colorado in April 2009. He shuffled between the bullpen and the rotation last season, going 7-13 with a 4.67 ERA in 32 appearances.

Lindstrom, 31, is a former closer who had a career-best 3.00 ERA in 54 innings in his first season in the Mile High City.

RUGGIANO TO HOUSTON: Outfielder Justin Ruggiano, a member of the Rays organization since being acquired from the Dodgers in July 2006, agreed to a minor-league deal with the Astros. Ruggiano, 29, became a free agent after declining an assignment to Triple-A Durham.

CARDINALS: Infielder Alex Cora, 36, agreed to a minor-league contract and will get an $800,000 deal if added to the 40-man roster.

CUBS: Infielder Adrian Cardenas, 24, was claimed off waivers from the Athletics, and infielder Blake DeWitt, 26, was designated for assignment.

MARINERS: Former Rays right-hander Shawn Camp, 36, and left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo, 30, agreed to one-year deals. … Minor-league catcher Christian Carmichael was suspended 50 games for a positive drug test.

NATIONALS: Outfielders Rick Ankiel, 32, and Mark Teahen, 30, agreed to minor-league contracts.

RANGERS: Left-handed reliever Joe Beimel, 34, and first baseman/outfielder Conor Jackson, 29, agreed to minor-league contracts.

Times wires
Monday, February 6, 2012

MADRID — Eddy Merckx wonders if someone is trying to "kill cycling."

The cycling great deplored the decision Monday to strip Alberto Contador of his 2010 Tour de France title and ban him two years for doping.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Contador's claim that his positive test for clenbuterol was caused by eating contaminated meat. The Spaniard, who also won cycling's premier race in 2007 and '09, joined Floyd Landis as the only riders to lose a Tour title.

"It's very bad for cycling. It's bad for everybody. It's like someone wants to kill cycling," Merckx, a five-time Tour de France winner, said at the Tour of Qatar. "I'm very surprised, very surprised. It's bad for the sponsors. It's bad for the Tour (de France). It's bad for cycling."

Contador said he ate tainted beef on a Tour rest day. The top court in international sports called that "unlikely," saying the result was more likely caused by the "ingestion of a contaminated food supplement."

"Cycling always receives a bad name. It's always cycling that's attacked and other sports are never attacked. In other sports they don't go so far," Merckx said.

Contador has been banned from racing until Aug. 6 with all his results since Jan. 25, 2011, erased, including his Giro d'Italia victory in May.

Miguel Indurain, who dominated the Tour from 1991-95, said he was certain Contador would be cleared.

"The longer he waited, the more time passed, and at the end the penalty was the maximum that he could receive," Indurain was quoted as telling Marca TV by the Spanish news agency Europa Press. "Now he has to keep working and stay in shape."

Andy Schleck, who finished 39 seconds behind Contador in the 2010 Tour, is in line to become that year's champion. But the Luxembourg rider said that "will not make me happy."

"I feel sad for Alberto. I always believed in his innocence," Schleck said. "This is just a very sad day for cycling."

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 6, 2012

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 6, 2012

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, February 6, 2012

GAINESVILLE — When you're preparing to face the No. 1 team in the nation, on the court where it boasts the nation's longest home winning streak, it might be easy to get caught up in the hype.

But as No. 8 Florida prepares to play at Kentucky tonight in a nationally televised, primetime game, the reality of what's behind that ranking is what concerns the Gators.

Kentucky is in sole possession of first place in the SEC, has won 15 consecutive games, has the nation's leading shot blocker in Anthony Davis (4.8 per game) and hasn't lost at Rupp Arena in three years.

So really, what's No. 1 got to do with it? At least, that's the way the Gators are approaching it.

"We don't really view it as playing the No. 1 team; it's just Kentucky," Florida freshman Bradley Beal said. "It's a league game so we're just coming in with the mentality we're just going to play our game, and focus in on what we need to do. And not worry they are the No. 1 team and we're trying to beat the No. 1 team. We're just trying to win a game."

Kentucky also isn't concerned about the ranking.

"I think we've been challenging ourselves really well to make sure that none of that has even been a problem, or a thought in our heads, that we're No. 1," sophomore forward Terrence Jones said. "We're just playing good teams and trying to compete."

Florida coach Billy Donovan attributes Kentucky's impressive streak to the extraordinary talent coach John Calipari has assembled annually since his arrival in 2009. This year is no exception.

"I think John has done an unbelievable job recruiting," Donovan said. "I think since I've been in the league, I don't know if there's been a program that has brought in as much talent as he has the last three years.

"They can win a lot of different ways. They can win with the game going up and down the floor, they can win grinding it out, they can win with their defense, they can win with their offense, they shoot well from beyond the 3-point line. They have a lot of answers with personnel at every single spot. They really don't have a lot of weaknesses in their team."

The Gators have won seven straight but are 2-4 on the road. They have three victories at Kentucky in 15 years under Donovan.

"I think it's no pressure on us going into Rupp playing our game," junior guard Kenny Boynton said. "I just think we've got to go there with a winning mind-set and everything else will take care of itself. A win would get us a lot of respect, but at the end of the day they are just another SEC team, like a Tennessee or South Carolina. I think if we go out and play like we've been playing lately we've got a great chance at winning."

In some ways, Calipari agrees. His team is a work in progress, he said, and his biggest job tonight may be keeping the Wildcats level-headed.

"First of all, I'm going to talk to them a little bit about let's make sure we're being humble guys, let's understand why we've been winning and let's understand where we have to take this," Calipari said. "The issue that we have is that we're one of the youngest teams in the country. … Three freshmen start, one comes off the bench, two sophomores start. Darius Miller is a senior but we're really young. So there's an easy transition from a swagger to arrogance and that's where you get beat."

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com.

Times staff, wires
Monday, February 6, 2012

Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn turned down an offer to run the Bucs defense. Quinn interviewed for the job Saturday and Sunday and after mulling over the offer decided to stay in Gainesville. The Gators have all but one starter returning this fall.

The Bucs have not offered any comment on Quinn or any other development regarding the hiring of assistant coaches.

Quinn has been at Florida for one season. Before that he was defensive line coach for the Seahawks. He also has coached for the Dolphins, Jets and 49ers.

Quinn is slated to earn $510,000 at UF this fall.

ESPN reported that Monday's moves by other teams left the Bucs as the only NFL team with a coordinator opening — and they have both offensive and defensive spots vacant.

CHIEFS: Brian Daboll was named offensive coordinator, giving new coach Romeo Crennel a familiar face. Daboll spent last season in the same job in Miami, and the previous two years as Cleveland's offensive coordinator. He worked with Crennel when both were with the Patriots.

BRONCOS: Running back Knowshon Moreno was arrested last week on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, Denver TV station KWGN reported. His Bentley had personalized license plates that read "SAUCED."

RAIDERS: Jason Tarver was hired from nearby Stanford as defensive coordinator. Tarver was co-defensive coordinator with the Cardinal and spent the previous decade on the 49ers staff.

STEELERS: Former Chiefs coach Todd Haley will be named offensive coordinator, according to a report from 610-AM in Kansas City. Haley would replace Bruce Arians, now in the same role with the Colts.

LONDON GAMES: Tickets for the annual regular-season game in London went on sale after the Rams solved an issue regarding their lease. Sales were halted last week because plans to have the Rams host one game per season at Wembley the next three years clashed with the team's lease on Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Times wires
Monday, February 6, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. — Sandwiched between an emotionally charged victory against archrival Kansas and a top 10 showdown with first place on the line, No. 4 Missouri faced a test of its collective focus.

The Tigers got a passing grade — barely.

Marcus Denmon scored 25, Ricardo Ratliffe added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Mizzou (22-2, 9-2) claimed first place in the Big 12 by edging Oklahoma 71-68 on Monday night.

"We understand that this game was just as important as the last one," Denmon said. "Pretty much, we have a veteran group and we just wanted to make sure everybody came out and understood how important this game would be for us to play after a big win like the one at home against Kansas."

Coach Frank Haith required his players to report to a hotel by 2 a.m. after their late-night win over the Jayhawks. Asked whether it was the right move, Denmon and Ricardo Ratliffe looked at each other silently.

Finally, Denmon answered and got a pat on the back from his first-year coach.

"Whether I wanted to go to the hotel or not, I understood," he said. "I understood that it was a good decision by Coach and it seems like it helped us."

NO. 24 LOUISVILLE 80, UCONN 59: Gorgui Dieng returned from a sprained right ankle to score 15 as the host Cardinals (19-5, 7-4 Big East) won their fifth straight game.

ALABAMA: Coach Anthony Grant suspended starting forward Tony Mitchell indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team.

TAMPA: Senior Ashton Graham, a former Gaither standout, was named Sunshine State Conference player of the week.

AP POLL: FSU moved up six spots to No. 15. Louisville and Harvard moved back in at 24th and 25th. Gonzaga and Vanderbilt fell out. Kentucky was No. 1 for a third straight week.

Women

NO. 5 DUKE 96, NO. 22 UNC 56: Tricia Liston scored 16 of her 23 during a 39-12 first-half run that helped the host Blue Devils (19-3, 10-0 ACC) rout the Tar Heels (17-6, 7-3).

NO. 8 MARYLAND 64, NO. 22 GA. TECH 56: Alyssa Thomas had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and the visiting Terrapins (20-3, 7-3 ACC) snapped a four-game winning streak by the Yellow Jackets (17-7, 7-4).

NO. 10 OHIO ST. 72, WISCONSIN 58: Samantha Prahalis scored a career-high 34, and the host Buckeyes (21-2, 8-2 Big Ten) beat the Badgers for the 20th straight time.

AP POLL: Miami moved up to No. 6, matching the best in school history. South Carolina re-entered at No. 24, and St. Bonaventure entered for the first time at No. 25. Baylor remained a unanimous No. 1.

Times wires
Monday, February 6, 2012

golf

lpga ready for fresh start to season

DAYTONA BEACH — A dry board in the office of LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan is filled with black and blue, an appropriate color scheme for a tour that had been taking its lumps the past couple of years.

The colors are used for the schedule — blue ink for those that are a work in progress, black for the done deals.

The board is mostly black these days.

A new LPGA Tour season gets under way this week at Royal Melbourne with the Women's Australian Open, one of four additional tournaments on the 2012 schedule that have helped nudge momentum in a favorable direction.

"It's a blip if we have a nice ramp up and then fall back down," said Whan, who starts his third full year as commissioner. "It took a year to take us from negative momentum to positive momentum, and the next year to turn that positive momentum into success."

He measures success by a 39 percent increase in television viewers in the United States, and by 26 percent overall. While his predecessor, Carolyn Bivens, had a reputation of alienating sponsors with a hard-line approach, the LPGA was able to renew eight of the nine tournament contracts that ended in 2011.

soccer

Bradley 'committed' to coach Egyptian team

Bob Bradley insisted he is "totally committed" to coaching Egypt's national team despite the turmoil in the country after the riot at a game last week that left more than 70 dead.

The federation president who hired Bradley last year and his board were dismissed by the prime minister in the aftermath of Wednesday's rampage.

But Bradley, a former U.S. national team coach, is sure that he will lead Egypt into African Cup of Nations qualifying.

"I'm totally committed," Bradley told broadcaster Al-Jazeera according to an emailed transcript. "When a tragedy like this occurs it's important that people can come together and can be strong, and in my role as coach of the national team I want to do whatever I can in my responsibilities to help with this process."

The deadliest football stadium disaster since 1996 unfolded in the Mediterranean city of Port Said after Al-Masry's league match against Cairo-based Al-Ahly, with fans crushed to death while others were fatally stabbed or suffocated in a stampede.

et cetera

Awards: Novak Djokovic won the top individual honor at the 2012 Laureus Sports Awards, and Barcelona captured the team prize. The top-ranked Djokovic won sportsman of the year at the ceremony in London, one week after the Serbian triumphed at the Australian Open to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three Grand Slam titles in a row. Barcelona was recognized as the best team after a stellar 2011 in which Pep Guardiola's players won the Spanish league and Champions League. Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, winner of the 5,000- and 10,000-meter titles at the world championships last year, took the sportswoman's award.

Times wires

Times wires
Monday, February 6, 2012

Tom Coughlin looks forward to today's ticker-tape parade and a couple of weeks off to reflect on the Giants' second championship in five seasons. Then he will begin preparations for defending the title.

The 65-year-old coach sees no reason to retire now.

"I mean, it's what I do," Coughlin said Monday morning, hours after New York beat the Patriots 21-17 in the Super Bowl. "So the alternative I've never really given it a whole lot of consideration. (Just coach) as long as I can."

Coughlin could be around for a while after his second title as a head coach (he also won a ring as a Giants assistant in 1990). He signed a contract extension in July that runs through next season, but the Giants could revisit that deal after the franchise's fourth Super Bowl win.

"I don't fish, I don't golf," Coughlin said. "My wife keeps telling me, 'You better have something to do, buddy boy. If you think you're going to hang around here, you're crazy.' "

Giants chief executive John Mara said it's safe to say the team wants Coughlin to return.

"He might be 65, but he's got the energy of somebody quite younger than that," he said.

The parade in lower Manhattan is scheduled today.

"If you're any kind of historian, and you do have any recollection of this parade, the 'Parade of Champions' if you will, the 'Canyon of Heroes' — I remember John Mara looking at me and saying, 'You don't want to miss this now," Coughlin said of a talk with Mara in 2008 after their first title win over the Patriots.

After the parade, a rally is scheduled at Met Life Stadium. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is among those expected to attend.

GISELE'S GRIPE: The Patriots say there's no finger-pointing after their loss, even if supermodel Gisele Bundchen won't abide by that code.

QB Tom Brady's wife was caught on camera complaining that dropped passes doomed New England.

Late in the game, usually dependable WR Wes Welker dropped a pass that went off his hands; Aaron Hernandez and Deion Branch also had trouble coming up with catches. Bundchen was caught on video by TheInsider.com responding to a heckler after the game by saying, "My husband cannot … throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time."

Brady was not available for comment Monday. But DB James Ihedigbo says Welker was a big reason the Patriots made the Super Bowl, and he's not to blame for the loss.

"You can't point fingers at anybody. Wes made amazing plays all season," Ihedigbo said.

RATINGS RISE: For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched television show in U.S. history.

The Nielsen Co. said an estimated 111.3 million people watched Sunday night on NBC. That narrowly beat the 111 million who watched Green Bay's win over Pittsburgh last year.

The Patriots' last-second heave that fell incomplete in the end zone had the biggest audience of any play in the game, according to the digital video recorder maker Tivo. Nielsen said 117.7 million people were watching during the last half an hour.

The past three Super Bowls, including the 2010 New Orleans-Indianapolis game, and the series finale of M*A*S*H in 1983 are the only programs to exceed 100 million viewers in U.S. television history.

ODDS AND ENDS: Patriots coach Bill Belichick confirmed that Josh McDaniels will be the offensive coordinator next season. He replaces Bill O'Brien, who was hired to coach Penn State. … Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in Cincinnati and was ordered to pay a $200 fine plus $104 in court costs.

Times wires
Monday, February 6, 2012

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mike Smith stopped 30 shots and Martin Hanzal scored twice Monday night as the Coyotes ended a seven-game losing streak to Detroit with a 3-1 win over the Red Wings.

Boyd Gordon had a short-handed goal in the first period and Hanzal scored on a power play in the second for Phoenix.

Detroit picked up the pressure in the third, but Smith, the former Lightning goaltender, made some difficult saves and Hanzal scored his eighth of the season into an empty net in the closing seconds to give the Coyotes consecutive wins over San Jose and Detroit, two of the Western Conference's best teams.

Johan Franzen scored his 20th goal for the Red Wings, who lost for the third time in 12 games.

Detroit plays its next six games at home, where it has won 17 straight.

This was a night of milestones in a game between teams that met in the playoffs the two previous seasons.

Coyotes left wing Ray Whitney played his 1,200th NHL game, Red Wings right wing Danny Cleary notched No. 800 despite a sore left knee and defenseman Adrian Aucoin played his 200th with the Coyotes.

The round numbers aside, the Coyotes needed to find a way to get points. Phoenix entered 11th in the West, four points out of the last playoff spot. To end a seasonlong six-game homestand, the Coyotes hoped to gain momentum by topping a team against whom they've struggled.

Detroit swept Phoenix out of the playoffs last season and had won the three previous meetings this season, including a shootout Jan. 19 in the desert. Of course, not many teams have beaten the Red Wings this season; they have 72 points, one ahead of the Rangers for best in the NHL.

The Red Wings tried to swarm the Coyotes in the third period, spending large chunks of time in Phoenix's end. Smith came up with some big saves and got a break midway through when he was sprawled on the ice and Pavel Datsyuk missed the net.

Smith also withstood a power play late and had a few more stops before Hanzal sealed it.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Phil Kessel scored twice and Mikhail Grabovski assisted on Toronto's first two goals to lead the surging Maple Leafs past the visiting Oilers 6-3. Edmonton played without coach Tom Renney, who stayed at the team hotel after taking a puck in the head during the morning skate. The cut required stitches and left Renney experiencing headaches. Associate coach Ralph Krueger took over. Toronto has climbed back into playoff position in the East by going 5-0-1 in its past six.

CROSBY UPDATE: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby practiced Monday but said he is no closer to returning from a concussion and neck injury that have sidelined him for most of the season.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: The league fined Avalanche forward Chuck Kobasew for tripping Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis on Saturday. … The Wild signed defenseman Nate Prosser to a two-year contract extension.

First Period—1, Phoenix, Gordon 6, 7:22 (sh). Penalties—White, Det (hooking), 4:58; Hanzal, Pho (tripping), 5:36; Lidstrom, Det (hooking), 18:29.

Second Period—2, Phoenix, Hanzal 7 (Whitney, Vrbata), 6:55 (pp). 3, Detroit, Franzen 20 (Zetterberg, Datsyuk), 17:24 (pp). Penalties—White, Det (tripping), 4:28; Datsyuk, Det (hooking), 6:16; Rozsival, Pho (hooking), 15:04; Klesla, Pho (delay of game), 17:14.

Third Period—4, Phoenix, Hanzal 8 (Whitney), 19:31 (en). Penalties—Doan, Pho (tripping), 14:03. Shots on Goal—Detroit 6-14-11—31. Phoenix 6-8-9—23. Power-play opportunities—Detroit 1 of 4; Phoenix 1 of 4. Goalies—Detroit, MacDonald 0-1-1 (22 shots-20 saves). Phoenix, M.Smith 20-14-7 (31-30). A—12,687 (17,135). T—2:17.

First Period—1, Edmonton, Eberle 23 (Hall, Gagner), :21. 2, Toronto, MacArthur 17 (Grabovski, Kessel), 8:21. 3, Toronto, Gardiner 2 (Grabovski), 13:45. 4, Edmonton, Eberle 24 (Petry, Hall), 17:30. Penalties—None.

Second Period—5, Toronto, Kessel 28 (Lombardi, Connolly), 1:45. 6, Toronto, Bozak 10, 4:15. 7, Edmonton, Petry 2, 13:24. 8, Toronto, Lupul 21 (Phaneuf), 16:54. Penalties—None.

Third Period—9, Toronto, Kessel 29 (Phaneuf, MacArthur), 18:55 (en). Penalties—None. Shots on Goal—Edmonton 16-7-7—30. Toronto 11-11-9—31. Power-play opportunities—Edmonton 0 of 0; Toronto 0 of 0. Goalies—Edmonton, Dubnyk 10-12-1 (30 shots-25 saves). Toronto, Reimer 10-5-4 (30-27). A—19,581 (18,819). T—2:28.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have run into another roadblock in their effort to hire offensive and defensive coordinators to fill coach Greg Schiano's staff.

The Packers have denied the Bucs' request to interview Green Bay tight ends coach Ben McAdoo, NFL.com reports.

That's the second setback we've learned about in as many days. University of Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn on Monday opted to stay at UF after being offered the Bucs' defensive coordinator post. Quinn interviewed in Tampa over the weekend with Schiano and Mark Dominik and was offered the job, the Times confirmed. After some contemplation, he turned down the offer.

McAdoo, meanwhile, won't even get the chance to interview. Teams may deny assistants who remain under contract the chance to interview for jobs below the level of head coach. Oftentimes, organizations will relent if the potential job is a significant promotion, as is the case here. But there is no obligation for teams to do so.

This is the second instance in as many weeks of the Bucs' being rejected in an effort to interview a team's assistant. The Bucs had requested permission to interview Cardinals receivers coach John McNulty last week but were turned down by Arizona.

Given all the setbacks, it's fair to wonder where the Bucs turn next in their effort to fill the coordinator posts. They are behind the curve because of a lengthy coaching search that netted Schiano on Jan. 27. While they are believed to be planning on naming several of Schiano's former Rutgers assistants as position coaches, they appear no closer to a resolution on the two most important hires -- the men who will run the offense and defense.

By Rick Stroud and Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writers
Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the last team to hire a head coach when they chose Rutgers' Greg Schiano and the exhaustive process has slowed their ability to complete a coaching staff.

But it appears Schiano may be getting closer to selecting an offensive coordinator, arguably the most important position on his staff.

According to Alex Marvez on FOXSports.com, Schiano is considering Ron Turner and Bill Lazor for offensive coordinator.

Turner, who spent last season as the Colts' quarterbacks coach, had two stints as the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator and was the head coach at Illinios.

Lazor is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Virginia and has coached QBs with the Redskins and Seahawks.

The Bucs plans for defensive coordinator is unknown, but Tampa Bay was turned down by Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn after interviewing over the weekend. The Bucs have been denied permission to talk to Cardinals receivers coach John McNulty and Packers tight ends coach Ben McAdoo.

It appears Schiano will bring at least four members of his Rutgers coaching staff to Tampa Bay: P.J. Fleck (receivers), Bob Fraser (linebackers), Brian Angelichio (tight ends) and Jeff Haley (defensive backs).

The possible hiring of Turner would be interesting. Former Bucs coach Tony Dungy wanted to hire Turner as offensive coordinator in 1996, but he was already in his first stint with the Bears. But Turner recommended his quarterbacks coach for the Bears at the time -- Mike Shula.

The Packers have denied the Bucs' request to interview Green Bay tight ends coach Ben McAdoo, NFL.com reports.

Quinn on Monday opted to stay at UF after being offered the Bucs' defensive coordinator post. He interviewed in Tampa over the weekend with Schiano and Mark Dominik and was offered the job, the Times confirmed. After some contemplation, he turned down the offer.

McAdoo, meanwhile, won't even get the chance to interview. Teams may deny assistants who remain under contract the chance to interview for jobs below the level of head coach. Oftentimes, organizations will relent if the potential job is a significant promotion, as is the case here. But there is no obligation for teams to do so.