Times wires
Friday, March 23, 2012

ATLANTA — Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 24 and Kentucky shook off a quiet night by freshman star Anthony Davis, pulling away from Indiana in a showdown of storied programs for a 102-90 victory Friday in a South Region semifinal.

Davis wasn't a huge factor after picking up two early fouls, but the top-seeded Wildcats (35-2) had five other players in double figures.

Christian Watford had 27 points to lead the Hoosiers (27-9), whose comeback season ended two wins shy of the Final Four. Indiana, which won a total of 28 games the previous three seasons, has regained its usual place among the college basketball blue bloods.

But Big Blue is moving on to its third straight region final. Kentucky will face Baylor on Sunday for a trip to the Final Four.

Kentucky got revenge for a regular-season loss at Indiana.

Baylor never trails, holds off Xavier

ATLANTA — Baylor's Quincy Acy scored the first basket of the game and the Bears were off and running.

The 6-foot-7 senior had a double double and the Bears never trailed as they advanced to their second region final in three years with a 75-70 victory over Xavier on Friday night.

Acy had 20 points and 15 rebounds. He made two free throws with 31 seconds remaining after Xavier got within six.

Baylor coach Scott Drew said it never gets old watching Acy play.

"Baylor fans have been blessed, the nation's been blessed, and he is a better person than a player," Drew said.

Baylor, wearing bright neon-green uniforms, led by 18 less than eight minutes into the game.

Xavier never quit, cutting the lead to 71-68 with 22 seconds left.

Pierre Jackson had 16 and Perry Jones III had 14 for the Bears (30-7).

Tu Holloway led Xavier with 22 points.

"I'm very disappointed; this is the furthest I've gotten, the Sweet 16," said Holloway, a senior. "I told the guys in the locker room I'm really happy. After everything we've been through this season, everyone counted us out. People said we weren't going to make the tournament, and we made it here."

Xavier was hurt by poor shooting, especially 3-pointers. The Musketeers were 0-for-11 on 3 before Justin Martin ended the drought with two minutes remaining. He added a 3 40 seconds later, and Holloway made a 3 with 22 seconds left.

Baylor's Brady Heslip made four consecutive free throws in the final 17 seconds.

Heslip, coming off a career-high 27 points on nine 3-pointers against Colorado, had one against Xavier and finished with 11 points.

Baylor also won three NCAA Tournament games in 2010 before losing to eventual national champion Duke.

Xavier (23-13) couldn't advance after making the round of 16 for the fourth time in five years.

Kenny Frease had 18 points and Mark Lyons had 16 for the Musketeers.

With Xavier stretching its defense and Baylor working the clock, Jackson sank a 3-pointer with 2:50 left to give the Bears their biggest lead of the second half at 65-54. After a missed free throw by Lyons, Acy's basket pushed the lead to 13 — too much for the Musketeers to overcome.

Homer and Janet Drew, the parents of Scott Drew, attended their first game this season. Each had battled cancer, with Janet Drew just having finished radiation and chemotherapy for bladder cancer.

"She's battled a lot and gone through a lot and probably shouldn't have come down," Scott Drew said, "but my mom's the tough one in the family. She was worn out from getting here.

"I think if we'd have lost and she had to drive back (today), she'd have really hated me."

Times wires
Friday, March 23, 2012

ST. LOUIS — From his seat on the North Carolina bench, Kendall Marshall watched the Tar Heels struggle without him during their 73-65 overtime victory against Ohio on Friday night, and he watched UNC's offense falter against the Bobcats' difficult, intrusive defense.

UNC coach Roy Williams didn't think it would be easy without Marshall, who six days ago sustained a broken bone in his right wrist. And it wasn't easy for the top seed, which with the victory against No. 13 Ohio advanced to the region final Sunday.

Still, after what was perhaps UNC's most grinding, hard-fought victory of the season, Marshall had a wide smile along with a crisp suit in the locker room.

"We still found a way to adjust, which was huge," said Marshall, who declined to discuss his status for Sunday. "I'm so proud of my team that they found a way to win. We've fought through extreme circumstances."

The Tar Heels (32-5) nearly didn't make it to the final. Reggie Bullock, UNC's sophomore guard, made a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left in regulation to put the Heels ahead 63-61. Ohio's Walter Offutt, who played a big role in defeating USF on Sunday, tied it with a layup with 25 seconds to play, and he was fouled on the play.

Offutt missed the free throw, which gave UNC a chance to win in regulation. But Harrison Barnes, who struggled through 3 of 16 shooting, lost possession on his way to the basket, and the Bobcats (29-8) missed a shot from near midcourt as the buzzer sounded.

"One free throw away," Offutt said. "As a leader on this team, I take responsibility that I've got to hit that free throw. … It just feels terrible to kind of let my team down in that sort of way."

Bullock, who finished with 17 points, began OT with a 3-pointer, and the Heels never trailed.

"Awful proud of our guys for the way that they fought," Ohio coach John Groce said. "But as I told them in the locker room, there's nothing I can say to them at this point that's going to take away the sting of getting beat in that one. They've got a lot of pride, and they believed all year that we could compete and beat anybody that we played. That was no different heading into (Friday's) game."

The Bobcats' defense flustered and frustrated UNC throughout. With freshman Stilman White and senior Justin Watts sharing point guard duties in place of Marshall, the Tar Heels committed a season-high 24 turnovers.

Ohio, one of the nation's best teams at generating steals, had 13 against UNC.

"They just do a great job of getting into the passing lanes," said Barnes, who finished with 12 points. "I can't necessarily say one specific person, but, I mean, everybody. They're out there denying."

UNC held a significant size advantage but struggled to work the ball into the interior. When they did, though, the Tar Heels often had success.

Senior forward Tyler Zeller led UNC with 20 points and a career-high 22 rebounds, and he became the first player since former Wake Forest standout Tim Duncan to have at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game. The Heels outscored Ohio 28-20 in the paint and 14-4 off of second-chance points.

But the Bobcats, led by 26 points from Offutt, took advantage of turnovers and outscored UNC 26-11 in points off of turnovers.

The final minutes of regulation were tense and hectic, and overall the score was tied six times, the same number of times the lead changed.

White, in his first collegiate start, finished with six assists and no turnovers.

"I was ready for it," he said. "I felt calm. I was at peace."

"Probably the ugliest win I've ever been a part of," Bullock said. "But we won the game, and hopefully we'll do better on Sunday."

Times wires
Friday, March 23, 2012

ORLANDO — Even when he was winning with regularity, Tiger Woods rarely made it look this easy at Bay Hill.

He putted for birdie on every hole.

His longest putt for par was on the 18th, when his birdie try caught the right edge of the cup and left him about 3 feet coming back.

If the game looked familiar, so did his position Friday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Woods ran off four straight birdies early in his round, then made back-to-back birdies late in the afternoon for 7-under 65, giving him a share of the lead with Charlie Wi. It was the first time in 30 months on the PGA Tour that Woods has been atop the leaderboard going into the weekend.

"It was a solid round of golf," Woods said. "I felt like I actually hit it better (Thursday) than I did (Friday). I've made more putts (Friday), for sure. I felt great over the putter. My speed was good. I left a couple putts dead short, right in the center of the hole. Actually, it really could have been a really low round. A lot of positives (Friday)."

Wi, the 54-hole leader at Pebble Beach this year, rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on his last hole for 68 to join Woods at 10-under 134.

Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion, had an eagle-par-birdie finish for 63, and Jason Dufner extended his solid play on the tour's Florida swing with 69. They were one shot behind at 135.

Wi, who shared the 18-hole lead with Dufner, birdied four of his last six holes to catch up to Woods. From the right rough on the ninth hole, he hammered out a shot to 25 feet below the cup for one last birdie.

Wi and Woods grew up in Southern California and have known each other since their junior days, though Wi is four years older.

"Tiger is the man, and it's going to be fun (today)," Wi said.

Lincicome aces No. 6, is six off LPGA lead

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Top-ranked Yani Tseng shot 4-under 68 and Seminole's Brittany Lincicome knocked in a hole-in-one on No. 6 in the second round of the Kia Classic.

Tseng, tied for the first-round lead of the LPGA Tour event after 67, had a 9-under 135 total for a two-stroke lead over Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak (66).

Lincicome shot 73 and was six back of Tseng. She said on Twitter the hole-in-one was her second on the tour and her fourth overall. "Very fun. 170 yard 5 iron into the wind," she said.

Tseng holed out from a greenside bunker for birdie on the par-4 10th, then chipped in for another birdie from just in front of the green on the par-4 13th. She also birdied the par-4 18th.

"I think that's the first time I chipped in from a bunker as a professional," Tseng said. "I was really happy about that."

She had three consecutive birdies starting at No. 3 but bogeyed Nos. 7 and 8.

Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 77 and 79.

Champions: Tom Pernice Jr., had a terrific start in soggy conditions at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic in Saucier, Miss. Pernice was 7 under through 12 holes before play was suspended because of darkness. Only a handful of players completed their rounds because the start of the tournament was delayed more than four hours after more than 9 inches of rain fell on Fallen Oak in 36 hours.

Hed goes right

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

PUNTA GORDA — Saying Rays minor-league pitcher Matt Bush is a "danger to the community" and a "flight risk," Charlotte County circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson set Bush's bond at $1.015 million Saturday morning for the seven charges he faces for his involvement in a DUI hit-and-run accident.

Bush's arraignment is scheduled for May 21.

Bush's attorney, Russell Kirshy, said the Rays were making arrangements for a three-day hospital stay and subsequent stint in a Tampa Bay area rehab facility as an alternative for the 26-year-old, but that will have to wait as Bush remains in a Charlotte County jail.

"He understands that his career is potentially in jeopardy," Kirshy told the court. "And his life is potentially in jeopardy."

Bush, who has a history of alcohol problems, appeared on closed circuit TV from jail but didn't speak in the hearing. Kirshy argued for a much smaller bond, saying the San Diego native qualifies as "indigent," with a $78,000 minor-league salary and just $2,000 in the bank.

However, prosecutor Richard Simpson pointed out Bush's previous arrests, as well as the fact that the victim, 72-year-old Tony Tufano, is in the intensive care unit at a Fort Myers hospital with serious injuries as a result of the accident.

Bush was arrested Thursday night in North Port after fleeing the scene of an accident in which police say the Dodge SUV he was driving hit Tufano's motorcycle, with a rear tire running over Tufano's head. Bush, who was driving with a suspended license and had a blood alcohol percentage of .180, more than twice the level at which Florida considers a driver impaired, told police he didn't remember seeing — or hitting — a motorcycle.

"My heart goes out to (Tufano's family), I know that Mr. Bush's heart goes out to them," Kirshy said. "Anybody who knows Matt knows that he's one of the most sweetest, most soft-spoken people you'll ever meet, and that's exactly the way he was. He was very subdued, very worried, very introspective."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com

By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — For all of Saturday's surprises and the long list of changes to the IndyCar series, Will Power remains the man to beat in St. Petersburg.

The Team Penske driver's No. 12 Dallara-Chevrolet set a series track record to clinch his third consecutive pole for today's season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Power's time of 1 minute, 1.3721 seconds (105.585 mph) broke the record he set when he won the pole two years ago (1:01.6025).

"It's a good start," Power said. "It's only the beginning of the weekend."

And it was the one constant in a surprising Saturday.

Honda had been the series' only engine supplier since 2006, and its engines powered six of the eight quickest machines in Saturday morning's practice. But only one Honda driver — rookie Simon Pagenaud — made it to the Fast Six qualifying finals. And barring an appeal, his No. 77 Schmidt-Hamilton Motorsports machine will start 16th after a 10-spot penalty for an unauthorized engine change Friday.

The Honda stable's biggest absence in the Fast Six was Chip Ganassi Racing, the IndyCar juggernaut with four consecutive series championships. Ganassi hadn't been shut out of the Fast Six since the Grand Prix of Long Beach in April.

Defending race and series champion Dario Franchitti had the 10th-best qualifying time (1:01.9570), more than half a second slower than his rival, Power. Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon was seventh-quickest. Only Dan Wheldon (2005) and Graham Rahal (2008) have won here while starting outside the top five.

"We still have some tricks up our sleeve," said Franchitti, the three-time defending series champion.

Instead, Chevy took the top five spots and had seven of the nine quickest qualifying times. Power's Penske teammate, Ryan Briscoe will start second followed by the Andretti Autosport duo of Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe.

Penske's Helio Castroneves qualified fifth.

"What's been impressive with this Chevy team, every session there's an improvement," Hinchcliffe said. "Every session they're plugging into that car, and they are finding gains."

Power and Penske are still trying to gain on rival Ganassi. Power, who earned his 25th pole in major open-wheel racing Saturday, has run well here in the past. He won the Grand Prix in 2010 and finished second last year. But with consecutive series runnerup finishes to Franchitti, he hasn't been able to convert those strong starts into an elusive championship.

Team owner Roger Penske said that if Power's team can limit costly makes, the 31-year-old Australian should be in this year's title hunt.

"The number of road races there are this year should play into our hand," Penske said.

And it starts today on the streets of St. Petersburg.

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

Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

By Jim Tomlin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG

Let's get this out of the way quickly: Danica Patrick isn't here. • She's not in IndyCar, not racing in today's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. • NASCAR analyst Darrell Waltrip recently anointed her "the face of NASCAR" before she ever turned a lap in Sprint Cup, so it goes without saying and without dispute that she had been the face of IndyCar for seven years. • So, can one person replace that kind of marketability, that kind of media attention? • Perhaps a better question: Should it be up to one person to be the face of IndyCar? • "I think anyone would like that role. That means success, right? Or does it?" said driver Will Power, no doubt recalling that Patrick won just once in 115 IndyCar starts. "Yeah. I'll take good results over that sort of thing." • Banking on someone who isn't winning can be tricky — Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s long winless streak has hurt NASCAR's ratings. • "In your overall long-term strategy, you have to say, may the cream rises to the top," IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said Saturday. "… We can't invest millions of dollars trying to make someone that isn't there. They have to be a winner in order for you to make a star. My job is to take the very best drivers in the world and give them the opportunity to showcase their skills."

One IndyCar driver Bernard mentions most prominently is Dario Franchitti. And certainly the Scotsman seems to have it all in terms of appeal — he is a four-time series champion including the past three years, he has a vibrant personality, and even possesses a dash of glamor with his marriage to Ashley Judd.

Franchitti said he's not that concerned with that level of fame and that without results, "the rest of it is just noise."

Still, he said, "I've always been of the opinion in any kind of racing, any kind of sport really, the attention should go to the winners," Franchitti said. "I've seen that happen more and more the last couple of years."

Graham Rahal, who won in St. Petersburg in 2008 to become the youngest winner in IndyCar history, said many drivers can stand to benefit.

"In the past you have one person that gets all the focus, a person that really isn't among the best drivers in the series," Rahal said. "Nor is it a person really among the best personalities. … And I respect Danica tremendously, my dad is the one who gave her a start (Bobby Rahal signed her to Rahal-Letterman in 2005). For many years she was like a sister to me. But at the same time you've got guys here the likes of (Ryan) Hunter-Reay, or the likes of Power. Guys that have a ton of personality that have been around a while. They deserve their shot."

Scott Dixon, the all-time victory leader under IndyCar sanction with 27, sees a downside to having one person as the focus.

"I think it's almost unsafe to do that because if that one person leaves it takes maybe a majority with them," he said. "It's probably better to share the love, creating maybe four, five, six (big stars). Which NASCAR, I think, do a very good job. They reach different demographics with each person."

One person in IndyCar who has mastered crossing demographics is Helio Castroneves. He has won three Indianapolis 500s but says he earned far more fans by appearing on, and winning, Dancing With The Stars.

"It's a no-brainer," said Castroneves, who won his third Indy 500 in 2009. "Certainly with Dancing With The Stars, when you have 25 million people watching Monday and Tuesday, it's very difficult for you to beat that. It was a win-win situation."

Hunter-Reay, Patrick's former teammate with Andretti Autosport, said making that kind of connection with fans outside the car is crucial.

"Linking the fan to the driver, that's the human aspect," Hunter-Reay said. "The fans love the cars, love the performance. But what's really cool about auto racing is that there's actually a human being in there driving. The fans want to be behind the drivers whether they dislike one driver and really like another. That's what professional sports is all about."

He also said a little bad blood isn't bad for business.

"I think we need some real heated rivalries rather than just Twitter jabs," Hunter-Reay said.

Franchitti said those rivalries are more hidden at times.

"We've done a good job of separating it. And I think sometimes to our detriment as a series," Franchitti said. "People have said, "Oh, they can't be serious, because these guys are hanging around going to dinner.' "

James Hinchcliffe, the newest driver at Andretti Autosport, also inherits the GoDaddy.com sponsorship. He says there's no point being upset over the attention lavished on his sponsor's "other" driver, now in NASCAR.

"It's the nature of the beast," Hinchcliffe said. "This is the business we're in. ... We all know how it works. If you don't like it, buy a tennis racket."

It's worth noting that women have been voted the series' most popular driver nine times since 2001. Sarah Fisher won the award three straight years when she started in the series. And if the cheers Simona de Silvestro received last year at the Indy 500 are any indication — many undoubtedly in recognition for her comeback from a wreck earlier in May that burned her hands — she could receive a big bump in popularity. She's now one of two women in the series full-time along with rookie Katherine Legge.

"For me the important thing is that people like what I'm doing on the racetrack," de Silvestro said. "I have quite a lot of people that are supporting me; at Indy it was unbelievable, all the fans cheering me on. I'm not trying to replace anybody, I'm just trying to do my job and do it the best that I can."

The Swiss driver is also part of a diverse, global contingent including Tony Kanaan and fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, a longtime Formula One star.

In the end, Power said there is no shortage of options if any displaced fans seek a new IndyCar rooting interest.

"I think it's good in a way. It puts the focus on everyone else, and it puts the focus on actual competition," he said. "There's some pretty interesting personalities in the series — Hinchcliffe, he's a sort of an outgoing sort of dude, I think good for the series. We've got (Rubens) Barrichello coming in. There's just a lot of good drivers. … You need 10 Danicas, not just one person to sort of hold the series up."

By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — As the IndyCar series moves on in its first race without Danica Patrick, some of the spotlight will fall on the man who inherited her neon green car and GoDaddy.com sponsorship.

"Big heels to fill," James Hinchcliffe said.

And the comical, 25-year-old Canadian gets to step into Patrick's stilettos and No. 27 Andretti Autosport Chevrolet.

Hinchcliffe was the Rookie of the Year last season with seven top-10 finishes. But when Newman/Haas Racing folded in the offseason, he was without a ride — until team owner Michael Andretti offered Hinchcliffe what he calls "one of the most prized rides in IndyCar."

Now, after a turbulent offseason, Hinchcliffe must handle the off-track expectations that come with replacing Patrick.

"I think that's where the pressure is with that car," Andretti teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay said.

Hinchcliffe has the colorful personality to carry the load.

He dubs himself the mayor of Hinchtown, his online, "6G, gluten-free" community full of wacky features and videos. He impersonates fellow drivers Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves, and he dubbed his team with Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti "the three stooges."

"It's sort of just who I am," Hinchcliffe said. "I guess the difference is when the visor goes down, that changes."

He said he doesn't expect to replace Patrick's role in the series, but he's not shying away from it, either. He's started a campaign called "Hinch for the homepage" to replace Patrick's photo on GoDaddy.com. And, as the season unfolds, Hinchcliffe said he'll appear in plenty of commercials, too.

"I know I will be fully dressed in them," Hinchcliffe said. "That's probably a good start for everybody."

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

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, March 24, 2012

The smell is almost gone. The sun is nearly visible. Soon, the buzzards may disperse.

Ah, isn't progress grand?

When you remind yourself that the Bucs haven't won a football game in 160 days, things are going along swimmingly. At a time of year when the franchise usually hibernates, Tampa Bay is spending money and making good choices, and in general, the buzz is surprisingly good.

But, um, what about the defense?

All in all, we seem to love the signing of Vincent Jackson, and we seem to like very much the signing of Carl Nicks, and we mostly feel okay about the signing of Eric Wright. At this point no one really knows if new coach Greg Schiano is going to be a success, but he at least has enough presence to restore order in the locker room, which is a start.

Then again, there is the defense.

Let's go this far. If there was such a thing as winning an offseason, the Bucs would have a rare lead in that pursuit. Certainly they have closed the gap with the recently woodshedded Saints, and they are probably closer to the Falcons, who have lost both coordinators in the offseason.

Still, there is a lot of work to be done.

And did I mention the defense?

Frankly, this is not as much a criticism of what the Bucs have done as a reminder of how dreadful they were last season. I imagine when Schiano watched the tapes for the first time, he thought it was the scariest horror movie ever. The Amityville Chainsaw Exorcism, or something like that. Even a hardened coach would have to watch it through his fingers.

Just to refresh, the Bucs gave up more points than any team in the league last year, and more yards, and more runs of 20 yards or more. They were last in sacks and 29th in opposing quarterback rating, and every time the opponent ran the ball, it gained 5 yards.

(This column will now pause so the reader may scream at the memory of it. Thank you.)

I know, I know. Teams aren't rebuilt in a day (or even a month), and the shopping isn't over, and you have to figure the Bucs, too, remember how many ballcarriers they chased across a goal line last year. Eventually you have to figure reinforcements are coming. Don't you?

After all, the Bucs play in the NFC South, which means they get two games against Drew Brees and two against Matt Ryan and two against Cam Newton. Think of it like this: In their past four games against division opponents last year, the Bucs surrendered 158 points.

Just wondering: Did the Bucs even need a punt returner in those games?

Better question: Did they even have a linebacker?

The point is that there is a limit on just how much better you can feel about the Bucs until they do a lot more work on the defense. Schiano, a defensive coach by nature, has to know this. So does Butch Davis, his defensive consultant. So does Bill Sheridan, his defensive coordinator. I'm sure they also know this: It's easier to find linebackers and safeties in March than it is in October.

Now that the Bucs have found their wallets, why haven't they added more help for the defense?

Perhaps it is this: Every year, there are two phases of free agency. One is for the high-impact, high-priced guys. Two is for the guys who think they are the high-impact, high-priced guys but really aren't. At this point, the NFL is pretty much done with the first phase. Now the Bucs have to wait for reality to hit everyone else.

Take, for instance, Falcons free agent linebacker Curtis Lofton, who had been speculated as a Bucs target for weeks before signing a five-year deal late Saturday with the Saints. Turns out the only thing with a more inflated price than gas per gallon is linebacker per pound. Lofton would have been an upgrade but not all the way to Patrick Willis territory. He was not blank-check worthy.

As far as safety, why, I'm in favor it. Help has to be out there. Let's face it: A good speed bump would be an improvement.

How else is the Bucs defense going to get better? One, the effort will be better because, let's face it, it can't get worse. Two, injured players have a chance to heal. Three, the Bucs have a chance to address the defense in the draft.

Funny, but most of the Internet chat seems to be about whether the Bucs should pick Trent Richardson (a more complete back for a team that is going to be run-heavy) or Morris Claiborne (a top-flight cover corner). You can make an argument either way. That's what being bad is. You can make an argument for a lot of positions.

This much is true: The Bucs seem to be a more viable franchise now than when the season ended. Pretty much that's what a team is supposed to work on in the offseason, isn't it?

Next, though, the Bucs need to repair the defense.

Until they can stop someone, it won't really feel like starting over.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

At this time a year ago, when NFL owners convened for their annual meeting, the usual agenda of rule changes and bylaw amendments were overshadowed by colossal issues such as revenue sharing, an antitrust lawsuit and myriad other labor matters.

But Monday-Wednesday at a beachfront resort in Palm Beach, they will gather with the knowledge they have a decade of labor peace ahead.

But there will be, as usual, a hot-button topic.

After last week's unprecedented discipline of the Saints for their organized bounty system — including coach Sean Payton suspended for a season, general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely — commissioner Roger Goodell and league officials have embarked to make certain teams understand this must never happen again.

In a memo distributed last week, Goodell wrote, "Let me be clear. There is no place in the NFL for deliberately seeking to injure another player let alone offering a reward for doing so. … Programs of this kind have no place in our game, and we are determined that bounties will no longer be a part of the NFL."

This week, that point will continue to be driven home to the owners, coaches and front office executives, all of who attend the meetings.

Already, the league has instructed each owner to meet with his coach and certify, in writing, that no bounty system or pay-for-performance arrangement is in place.

It's all connected to the league's ongoing effort to promote player safety through the harsh penalties handed down and other initiatives.

"We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game," Goodell said.

As always, rule changes will be discussed at the meetings, too, many reflecting the safety efforts.

One proposal, submitted by the Steelers, would make horse-collar penalties applicable to quarterbacks who are in the pocket. Currently, that is a lone exception to the rule.

"(Horse-collar tackles are) still too much a part of our game and has too much of a high risk of injury," said Falcons president Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee. "It is something we definitely want to see out of our game."

The committee also reflected on last year's move of kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35, severely limiting return opportunities but greatly reducing injuries on one of the game's more dangerous plays.

"That was a rule change that was made for one reason only, and that was player safety," McKay said. "In looking at the results of it … it achieved its objective.

"The average (drive) start line went down, and we were really concerned with how that would affect offense. But player safety overrode that concern. We found that concussions and injuries were definitely down as a result; as much as 40 percent on concussions."

Among other proposals:

• All replays be reviewed by the booth and not the referee to speed up the game.

• Expand the postseason overtime rules — guaranteeing both teams a possession except when the receiving team scores a touchdown — to the regular season.

• Making all turnovers automatic replay reviews as required for scoring plays.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com.

By Jim Tomlin, Times staff writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

Color IndyCar teams' tire choices red and black

Each car in today's race gets six sets of primary tires and three sets of alternate tires, known as "reds" because of their red sidewalls. The primary tires are black tires.

The blacks are more durable but not quite as fast, especially in the first couple of laps. The reds are faster and have more grip but don't last as long, and once they wear they lose performance quickly. Both types of Firestone tires have all-new specifications this season.

All cars must use at least one set of each tire type for at least two green flag laps in the race. After Saturday's qualifying, teams had to declare which type of tire they would start today's race with. These rules apply on all street and road courses in IndyCar.

And if it rains? The red/black rule goes out the window and the cars will use grooved tires, which help the cars get through the water, rather than the grooveless "slicks" normally used. This is unlikely to come into play today as weather.com calls for only a 20-30 percent chance of rain.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

TAMPA — There is no longer a flat earth view of running backs in the NFL.

The Bucs have only two on their roster, LeGarrette Blount and Mossis Madu, perhaps hinting they will address the position in the draft. But in a passing league, the position continues to be devalued.

Michael Bush, formerly of the Raiders, entered free agency as the top running back available. But he received only a four-year, $14 million contract to back up or share duties with Matt Forte in Chicago. Mike Tolbert, formerly of the Chargers, signed a four-year deal worth only about $2.1 million per season with Carolina and could play fullback.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano says he wants his offense to be physical, run the ball and use play-action to take shots downfield. But the most celebrated free agent the Bucs have signed is WR Vincent Jackson. He will help the running game by stretching the field, and ex-Saints G Carl Nicks also will help.

At some point, the Bucs have to add a running back. Alabama's Trent Richardson is possible with the No. 5 overall pick. But if the Bucs go the free agent route, they won't break the bank.

SWEET 16: It would have been more shocking if CB Ronde Barber decided not to return for a 16th season.

Not only was Barber the most consistent player on defense last season, the Bucs don't have an abundance of quality defensive backs even with the signing of CB Eric Wright.

With his felony assault trial set to begin April 16, the status of CB Aqib Talib remains unknown. The team is committed to drafting a cornerback. But who knows in what round that will happen?

Barber will have great opportunities whenever he decides to retire. But he always has said he never had a Plan B. And if it comes down to it, Wright is versatile.

"In my history, I have played left corner, right corner. I have played the nickel back," Wright said. "I've played all three positions in one game before. I think in watching film, (the Bucs) saw that and knew that I have the ability to play any spot that they need me to."

HOMECOMING: Nothing is finer than to be a 49er for QB Josh Johnson.

The former Bucs backup grew up in Oakland, Calif., but he was a 49ers fan even though he was only 8 when they won their last Super Bowl behind QB Steve Young.

So given the opportunity to play for his adopted team and reunite with coach Jim Harbaugh, for whom he played at the University of San Diego, Johnson didn't hesitate to sign a two-year contract.

"It's home," Johnson said Friday. "That's the obvious thing. That's one of the things I know for sure; my development will continue out here under Coach Harbaugh.

"I know how he's going to push me and know the hard work and what's expected."

Another possibility for Johnson was the Redskins, where he would have been reunited with former Bucs coach Raheem Morris and GM Bruce Allen.

"When you look at it from top to bottom with the 49ers, there's so many people on the offensive staff that I've already played under, it was a natural fit," Johnson said.

Johnson, 25, likely will have to compete with second-year pro Colin Kaepernick for the No. 2 spot behind Alex Smith, who re-signed for three years after a brief flirtation with the Dolphins.

San Francisco traded up nine spots in the second round to select Kaepernick last year. But as a team with high expectations, it might not believe he's ready for the No. 2 spot.

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

A recent article in the Hockey News stated Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman made a "management blunder" signing goaltender Dwayne Roloson last summer and letting Mike Smith leave via free agency.

And Smith — with a 33-18-9 record, 2.36 goals-against average and .925 save percentage with the Coyotes entering Saturday — certainly has Tampa Bay fans thinking what might have been.

But a blunder? Too harsh.

Rather, it was a confluence of circumstances that pushed Yzerman into what at the time seemed a good decision that ultimately produced a bad result.

First, no one predicted Roloson's game would drop off as it has, especially after he played so well last season. Yes, he is 42 and needed a one-game breather near the end of last season's playoffs, but Tampa Bay without him would not have gone as far.

Second, Smith was bad enough at times last season that he briefly was demoted to AHL Norfolk. And the Lightning did offer him a contract, though you can bet it was for less than the $4 million the Coyotes committed. Keep in mind Mathieu Garon got $2.6 million for two years to be a backup.

Plus, Smith wanted to be a No. 1, something the Coyotes immediately offered.

Finally, the idea Smith would have recreated his Phoenix numbers for Tampa Bay is not a given. There are too many variables.

Knowing the competitor in Smith, his motivation to tweak the Lightning is probably through the roof, an impulse he would not have had with Tampa Bay. He is getting more defensive help, too.

Smith also found a mentor/kindred spirit in Coyotes goaltenders coach Sean Burke, whom Smith credits with helping him, above all else, get the mental part of his game in order.

"He's just such a calming influence," Smith told Yahoo Sports.

The bottom line is that a blunder is a mistake made through stupidity. Yzerman and the Lightning were done in by circumstance.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

A recent article in the Hockey News stated Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman made a "management blunder" signing goaltender Dwayne Roloson last summer and letting Mike Smith leave via free agency.

And Smith — with a 33-18-9 record, 2.36 goals-against average and .925 save percentage with the Coyotes entering Saturday — certainly has Tampa Bay fans thinking what might have been.

But a blunder? Too harsh.

Rather, it was a confluence of circumstances that pushed Yzerman into what at the time seemed a good decision that ultimately produced a bad result.

First, no one predicted Roloson's game would drop off as it has, especially after he played so well last season. Yes, he is 42 and needed a one-game breather near the end of last season's playoffs, but Tampa Bay without him would not have gone as far.

Second, Smith was bad enough at times last season that he briefly was demoted to AHL Norfolk. And the Lightning did offer him a contract, though you can bet it was for less than the $4 million the Coyotes committed. Keep in mind Mathieu Garon got $2.6 million for two years to be a backup.

Plus, Smith wanted to be a No. 1, something the Coyotes immediately offered.

Finally, the idea Smith would have recreated his Phoenix numbers for Tampa Bay is not a given. There are too many variables.

Knowing the competitor in Smith, his motivation to tweak the Lightning is probably through the roof, an impulse he would not have had with Tampa Bay. He is getting more defensive help, too.

Smith also found a mentor/kindred spirit in Coyotes goaltenders coach Sean Burke, whom Smith credits with helping him, above all else, get the mental part of his game in order.

"He's just such a calming influence," Smith told Yahoo Sports.

The bottom line is that a blunder is a mistake made through stupidity. Yzerman and the Lightning were done in by circumstance.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

TAMPA — This is a story about teammates having each others' backs.

After Dwayne Roloson's brilliant 34-save, 3-2 shootout victory Thursday over the Oilers, Lightning players gave the goaltender a standing ovation as he entered the locker room.

"A great gesture," Roloson said Saturday.

It has been a difficult season for Roloson, 42, who lost his No. 1 job, is 9-14-2, and has a 3.70 goals-against average and .882 save percentage that are worst in the league for goalies with more than 30 games.

So, when Roloson was named the game's first star after beating Edmonton, his first win since Feb. 16, his teammates decided to do something special.

Every first star gets a round of applause, but players agreed Roloson's reception was more heartfelt.

"We were just happy for him because he's been working so hard," left wing Ryan Malone said. "It's nice to have him get in there and feel good about himself. He's handled himself well, and it rubs off on everybody."

"The guys in the locker room are classy guys and very respectful," Roloson said. "It's a close-knit team."

By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — As IndyCar officials work on next year's schedule, team owner Roger Penske said he favors keeping the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as the series' opener.

"Coming to Florida this time of year, it's a good place to be," the Team Penske owner said. "The whole city has embraced what's going on. To me, that's good."

Penske, whose drivers are Helio Castroneves, Will Power and Ryan Briscoe, said he likes where the series is because of a 26-car field, new engine competition and new cars. But he said he thinks IndyCar can grow by adding more races to North America's major markets while keeping certain races in regular spots on the schedule.

"People want to go to St. Pete in March and see an IndyCar race, like you go to Sebring, like you go to Le Mans," Penske said.

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard praised the city but said he doesn't want to commit to St. Petersburg as the long-term season opener.

"I love St. Pete," Bernard said. "I think that wherever St. Pete is, it'll be successful. I don't want to box myself in and say that it should be the first event."

Bernard said 90 percent of his attention has been focused on adding new North American markets next year. IndyCar has had serious talks with Houston, but an announcement isn't imminent, Bernard said. Phoenix, which held IndyCar races from 1996-2005, is another possibility.

Starting last: Sebastien Bourdais ran off the track in Turn 8 during the first qualifying segment and did minor damage to his No. 7 Lotus Dragon Racing machine.

The native Frenchman, who has moved back to St. Petersburg, where he lived when he won four consecutive Champ Car titles from 2004-07, starts today's race last among 26 entries.

"(Saturday) morning we felt very strong, very happy with the car, and we put reds (alternate tires) on and it just disappeared," Bourdais said.

It has been a tough week for Bourdais, who waited until this week to get a Lotus engine in his car.

"It's been a huge effort for the last month and a half," Bourdais said. "We can only be pretty happy to be there."

The other Lotus machines struggled, too. The highest Lotus-powered qualifier was the No. 98 of Alex Tagliani, who starts 17th and was 1.3 seconds behind Power's pole time. Penske said he hopes the engine issues are resolved "here pretty quick," at least before the Indianapolis 500.

"We've always said that Lotus is the little engine that's trying," Bernard said. "They're trying to compete with two gorillas in this sport."

Qualifying wrecks: Katherine Legge's No. 6 Dallara-Lotus ended its qualifying run when she ran into the Turn 8 tires and damaged the left half of her front wing. She starts 25th.

Castroneves said communication problems with his team made him unable to hear where he stood during his second qualifying session. The 2006 and 2007 Grand Prix winner said he pushed his No. 3 Chevy too hard and hit the wall in Turn 9. His team quickly replaced the rear suspension, helping Castroneves qualify fifth.

Etc.: Rookie Josef Newgarden was eighth-quickest during Saturday's practice but couldn't keep up in qualifying. He starts 19th. … IndyCar newcomer and former Formula One star Rubens Barrichello finished outside the top 12 and didn't advance to the second round of qualifying. His No. 8 KV Racing Technology Dallara-Chevrolet starts 14th. … Graham Rahal, the 2008 Grand Prix winner, on qualifying 11th as part of Chip Ganassi's teams: "We're pretty frustrated, or at least I am."

Times staff writer Jim Tomlin contributed to this report. Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@tampabay.com.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

PHOENIX — Outplayed for 32 minutes.

That was how Louisville coach Rick Pitino described his team's performance in Saturday's game against Florida with a trip to the Final Four on the line. But it was those final eight agonizing minutes highlighted by a serious offensive dry spell that will haunt the Gators for some time to come.

Florida was outscored 18-3 in the final 8:16, allowing No. 4 seed Louisville to rally for a 72-68 victory over the No. 7 seed Gators in the NCAA Tournament West Region Final at US Airways Center.

It was the second straight season the Gators held a double-digit lead in the second half of an Elite Eight game but couldn't hold on.

"We felt like the whole game we had control of the game and we were so close, we just let it get away from us," senior guard Erving Walker said. "You know what, it was a one-possession game and we had the lead. We just felt like we had control, we'd get a big stop like we usually do. It just didn't go our way this time."

The Gators scored just eight points in the final 10 minutes of the game.

"I knew at this time in the season against the teams you're playing against, you know teams are going to make a run at you," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "That's going to happen. And they made a great run, and I give them a lot of credit."

After trailing the entire second half, Louisville took its first lead 69-68 on a jumper by freshman forward Chane Behanan with 1:06 remaining. Despite being saddled with four fouls, Behanan scored nine of Louisville's final 18 down the stretch.

Florida freshman Bradley Beal forced Russ Smith into a turnover with 19 seconds remaining and the Gators down by one, but Beal was called for traveling after he stole the pass and attempted to get out of traffic.

"I just had bad footing, said Beal, who had 14 points and seven rebounds. "I traveled. I traveled. But he may have bumped me, but whatever, I still had to be strong with the ball and be more careful in those situations."

Louisville hit 3 of 4 free throws in the final 16.7 to seal the win. Both Beal and junior guard Kenny Boynton had missed 3-pointers in the final 11 seconds, and Walker's 3 with two seconds remaining was short.

Florida led 41-33 at halftime after shooting a phenomenal 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from 3-point range and 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the field. But credit Cardinals coach Rick Pitino for going to a switching man-to-man defense.

"I went in at halftime and I tore up the 16-page stat sheet and I said, 'Guys, I'm sorry we're not prepared. We don't have much time, but we have to play man. We've got to press them because it's not working,' " Pitino said.

That new strategy stymied the Gators.

Even with Louisville starters Peyton Siva, Behanan and center Gorgui Dieng in foul trouble, the Cardinals kept coming. Louisville forced 14 turnovers that led to 15 points (UF forced six) and its bench outscored Florida's 22-5. The Gators didn't score a single point off turnovers, and they missed all nine of their 3-pointers in the second half.

"I think both teams battled and fought," Donovan said. "It was a hard-fought game."

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

Special to the Times
Saturday, March 24, 2012

Second in a series of guest columns IndyCar driver Graham Rahal will file this weekend during the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg:

Our adventure at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg started off well enough. Our lap times in Friday's practice sessions were promising, but we encountered some trouble with the red tires during qualifying Saturday and ended up 11th on the starting grid for Sunday's race.

Honestly, we expected better, but we still have high hopes.

In the second practice session Friday, the No. 38 Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda had the fourth-fastest lap, so we were enthused about our chances to make it into the Firestone Fast Six during Saturday's qualifying.

But the trick with the new Dallara chassis is the red — or softer compound — tire. Usually that's the quicker compound, but for some reason we really struggled with it today. The cars didn't take to the red tires very well. The same thing happened to my teammates, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Charlie Kimball. It was frustrating, without a doubt. There's a lot of work to be done.

It all made for a trying day, but we're still positive about our chances in Sunday's race. We had such high hopes about qualifying. When you're so quick in testing and you don't qualify among the top six, it hurts. There's work to be done, but I'm confident that we can turn this into something good.

It's tough for us to start 11th because of a couple of things, one of which is simply the fact that we're around people that are farther back on the grid and possibilities exist for trouble. Generally, the people we can drive with and trust start close to the front.

The other issue is the difficulty in passing. As with all street courses, passing is at a premium. At St. Pete, it's even more difficult than other courses. While we can pass people here, it's not an easy task by any means. There are a couple of spots on the course that are good for making a move on another car, but the opportunities don't come too often.

It's been a good, exciting, fun week here in St. Pete. Everybody is excited to be here and get the season going. Everyone is eager for Sunday's race. It's a shame that we have to start farther back than we expected, but we're making the best of it. I'm looking for the Service Central car to move forward Sunday.

We've got work to do, but we can do it.

Graham Rahal, 23, won the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2008. He will drive the No. 38 Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing Honda/Dallara this weekend. The son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, he resides in New Albany, Ohio.

By Seth Leto, Times Correspondent
Saturday, March 24, 2012

What's hot: Above-average temperatures have helped produce some of the best fishing of the year. Scaled sardines have invaded inshore flats, and predator fish are gorging themselves on vast schools of baitfish. Taking time to catch bait will be worth it. Look for flips on the surface of the water or flashes deep in the water column. Once the bait is located, anchor and start chumming.

Trout: Action has been consistently good all winter. And with the arrival of bait, you can't miss. Trout can be enticed into eating by chumming. Anchor the boat just within casting distance of the school and toss out handfuls. Next, try casting free-lined baits and baits rigged with a float into the school. Determine which combination works best, and go with it.

Redfish: They are eating most live baits offered. Large schools can be found around oyster bars, docks and shallow flats adjacent to deep flats on the higher tides. Be quiet, or they will shut down.

Snook: Spring is one of the best times of year to get a good bite. They have been staged on grass flats around river mouths and residential canals. A mild winter has snook in full feeding mode. Scaled sardines are like candy for them. They also will eat most live baits.

Seth Leto charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at capt.seth@yahoo.com and (727) 385-0382.

By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 24, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — On Saturday, Wally Osinga debuted in his hometown race, finishing 24th overall and 10th in the National Class in Saturday's USF2000 developmental series.

But the goals Osinga had were not related to wins and losses. For him, racing was inextricably tied to pain and loss last week.

On March 18, Dea Wiseley, one of Osinga's closest friends, died in a boating accident while racing in an exhibition regatta in Lake Dora. Osinga, 62, spoke at the funeral on Thursday.

"It was a horrible accident," Osinga said. "It's been a real tough week."

Osinga, a Seminole resident, and Wiseley met 43 years ago at a gas station. Wiseley owned a hydroplane and needed a mechanic for his boat. Osinga, who worked at the gas station, offered to help.

They became powerboat partners, racing in local events, including a regatta at Lake Maggiore. They decided to get out of the sport in 1988.

"We were becoming way too serious about it at the time," Osinga said. "It's always supposed to be something we did for fun."

But Osinga couldn't give up racing. He switched from boats to cars 10 years ago. Last week, he raced in his class at Sebring. He was home Sunday when he found out Wiseley had died.

"It was something that was completely unexpected and tough for me," Osinga said. "But I know (Dea) is with me this weekend."

Hot start for home team: The St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing took the top two spots in the first of two USF2000 series races this weekend.

Spencer Pigot, who took the pole in Friday's qualifying, won Saturday's race, beating teammate Matthew Brabham.

Pigot led throughout the 21-lap race. Brabham, though, stayed close behind and closed the gap midway through the race after a full-course caution when Scott Hargrove hit the wall in Turn 10.

Brabham was within striking distance at the restart but was never able to pull ahead of Pigot, who got his second win this year.

"It was a difficult race in the beginning and toward the end," Pigot said. "The middle section was pretty good. I was able to get through the traffic cleanly and stretch the gap a little bit to Matt (Brabham). After the yellow, we were close but I was able to hold him off for the win so I am happy about that. It's my second win of the year and I'm looking forward to (today) and trying to do it again."

Brabham and Pigot are the top two in the Championship Class driver standings after strong performances at Sebring last week. Brabham won the opening round while Pigot won the second race. Both have helped Cape Motorsports hold a commanding lead in the team standings.

Cape Motorsports also did well in the National Class with New Port Richey resident RC Enerson winning after passing Henrik Furuseth on Lap 8. Enerson finished ninth overall among the 43-car field.

"I had a really hard time chasing down Henrik," Enerson said. "He made a really good run on me at the start and then I basically had to catch, catch, catch. He is a good driver and I had to work to try to catch him. He got stuck behind lapped traffic and I was able to get around both going into Turn 4 and opened a gap for as long as I could. When the yellow came out, I managed to keep him behind and had to open up the gap until the checkered."

Shannon McIntosh, who lives in St. Petersburg, finished 11th in Saturday's race.

Exclusive company: Tristan Vautier, who took Saturday's Indy Lights race, became the 10th driver to win his debut in the series and sixth to win his debut in St. Petersburg. He joins an impressive list that includes Marco Andretti, Raphael Matos, Junior Strous, J.K. Vernay and Josef Newgarden.

Vautier, who won from the pole, handled three restarts and beat Esteban Guerrieri by 1.0391 seconds.

"Pole was a big advantage," Vautier said. "I just tried to hold Esteban for the first laps and take care of my tires."

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@tampabay.com or (727) 445-4169.

Times wires
Saturday, March 24, 2012

NEW YORK — Cornerback Antonio Cromartie says new teammate Tim Tebow can help the Jets, days after saying the team didn't need him.

"He's a guy that brings a different atmosphere to the locker room and the huddle," Cromartie told the New York Daily News on Friday. "We were missing that last year — a guy that can take control and do the things that we need to."

Tebow officially became a Jet at 4 p.m. Saturday after a glitch delayed the deal for a third time since Wednesday afternoon, when the Broncos traded the former Florida quarterback to New York.

Cromartie said Tuesday on Twitter: "We don't need Tebow. We sell out every home game let him go to Jacksonville Tampa or Miami." On Wednesday he tweeted: "Y bring Tebow in when we need to bring in more Weapons for @Mark_Sanchez let's build the team around him."

The former Florida State standout told the paper he had no regrets about his tweets: "People took it as me dissing Tebow. I never dissed Tebow. I just said we don't need him on our team because Mark (Sanchez) is our quarterback. I would never degrade an NFL player because he's in the NFL for a reason. Tebow's proven over the past couple years why he's in the NFL. … He's been a winner all his life.

"We are going to back our quarterback no matter what goes on. Mark is our No. 1 quarterback. Tebow's coming in as the No. 2 guy that can push Mark to his full potential. … He's a guy that can bring a spark in different packages. It's a win-win situation for us."

Meanwhile, the first Tebow billboard went up in New York on Saturday. Jockey, the underwear and sleepwear manufacturer, placed a digital billboard outside the Lincoln Tunnel on the New Jersey side bearing a picture of Tebow with the words, "We support Tebow & New York." Jockey said the billboard "plants a stake in the ground that New York is now officially Tebow country."

Bengals: Former Colts defensive end Jamaal Anderson and former Patriots defensive tackle Pat Sims signed with the team.

Bills: Running back Tashard Choice re-signed after being a late-season pickup last year.