Times wires
Sunday, October 7, 2012

49ers set franchise mark of 621 yards

SAN FRANCISCO — Alex Smith threw for a season-high 303 yards and three touchdowns, Frank Gore ran for 106 yards and a TD, and the 49ers amassed a franchise-record 621 yards.

Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis each eclipsed 100 yards receiving to back Smith, who surpassed 300 yards passing for the third time in his career.

San Francisco's previous best was 598 yards in a 34-31 loss to Buffalo on Sept. 13, 1992.

San Francisco is the first team in NFL history with 300 yards passing and 300 yards rushing in a game. "Very cool," Smith said. "When you think of the 49ers, you think of great offense."

Since taking a 21-7 lead against the Patriots last week, Buffalo has been outscored 90-10. The Patriots and 49ers combined for 1,178 yards.

"I have no answers and no excuses," Bills coach Chan Gailey said.

Times wires
Sunday, October 7, 2012

Harvin, Ponder lift streaking Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS — Percy Harvin pounded through the Titans' defense for one touchdown rushing and another receiving, and caught eight passes for 108 yards for the Vikings, who have given up a combined 33 points in winning three straight.

"A couple times (defenders) tell me, 'Slow down, I can't catch up,'" the former UF standout said. "I look at them and laugh and say, 'That's my job.' "

"He's the best player I've ever played with," running back Adrian Peterson said.

Former FSU standout Christian Ponder threw his first two interceptions after 143 attempts without one but finished 25-for-35 for 258 yards and two scores.

Tennessee's Chris Johnson gained 24 yards on 15 carries, trying fruitlessly to find room.

"We are who we are. There's no draft coming up. There's no adding more players and getting new coaches," Titans coach Mike Munchak said.

Times wires
Sunday, October 7, 2012

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The familiar showdown had a new twist: Peyton Manning in a Broncos uniform. It ended as it usually does, with Tom Brady winning the matchup of marquee quarterbacks.

But not before Manning nearly pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback in a career filled with them.

In their 13th meeting, and first since Manning left the Colts this year, Brady directed four scoring marches of at least 80 yards and the Patriots won 31-21 on Sunday. He is 9-4 all time against Manning.

"Nobody I'd rather have than Tom Brady," New England coach Bill Belichick said, "but Manning's a great player."

Manning had led his teams in the fourth quarter to 36 comeback wins. And the Broncos rallied from a 31-7 deficit with about five minutes left in the third quarter on Manning's scoring passes of 2 yards to Eric Decker and 5 yards to Brandon Stokley.

The Patriots lost the ball on Stevan Ridley's fumble on their next possession, and Manning completed a 28-yard pass to Demaryius Thomas to the Patriots 14-yard line. But two plays later, Denver's comeback hopes faded when Willis McGahee fumbled and Jermaine Cunningham recovered at the 11 with 3:42 left.

"We can build on that" ability to whittle a big deficit, Manning said. "I do think that will help us win a game at some point."

Brady downplayed his meeting with Manning.

"It's Patriots-Broncos," he said. "It was a great team win. We got some turnovers from our defense and I thought offensively capitalized at times. There were a few lulls in there, which I wish we had executed a little bit better, but for the most part it's a good day."

Brady completed 23 of 31 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown, and ran for a touchdown, operating much of the game out of a no-huddle offense.

"It's not new," Denver coach John Fox said. "They've been doing this for a long, long time. They just have a good group of guys together doing it. … Our guy (Manning) did an outstanding job as well."

Manning was 31-of-44 for 345 yards and three touchdowns but lost a fumble on a third-quarter sack. That led to Ridley's 8-yard run that made it 31-7. Ridley led the Patriots with a career-high 151 yards rushing. They totaled 251 yards on the ground.

"It's awesome," Ridley said. "It takes a lot of pressure off Brady. And that's our leader."

The Patriots set a franchise record with 35 first downs.

"This is not a team you want to fall behind to," Manning said. "We are working on things and building things. It doesn't happen right away."

Times wires
Sunday, October 7, 2012

LANDOVER, Md. — Robert Griffin III isn't the type of quarterback to run out of bounds, and Sean Weatherspoon knew it. The Falcons linebacker kept up the pursuit and went for the tackle. His upper body rammed into the helmet of the rookie who doesn't shy from contact.

Griffin was down and done. A mild concussion, according to Redskins coach Mike Shanahan. On a day in which the Falcons' usually powerful offense was a bit out of synch, the defense had made a play that changed the game.

Matt Ryan went on to lead three scoring drives in the fourth quarter Sunday, scraping together enough points for a 24-17 win that gave the Falcons their first 5-0 start in franchise history.

"I felt like he was still turning upfield, so I was just trying to make a play," Weatherspoon said. "Most quarterbacks would probably slide out of bounds or run out of bounds, but he's a tough guy."

The clean hit turned third and goal from the 3 to fourth and goal from the 5 during the third quarter. The Redskins kicked a field goal for a 10-7 lead, and Griffin's replacement, rookie Kirk Cousins, made one big play in his NFL debut, a 77-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss that put Washington in front one more time early in the fourth quarter.

But, otherwise, the post-Griffin section of the game belonged to the Falcons. Julio Jones got both feet inbounds on an 18-yard TD catch just beyond the pylon. Former Buc Matt Bryant stayed perfect on the year with a 53-yard field goal. Michael Turner ran 13 yards for the go-ahead score with 2:46 left. Cousins was intercepted twice in the last two minutes.

The Falcons, mistakes and all, are the only unbeaten in the NFC.

"I don't know why you want to ask me any questions," Atlanta receiver Roddy White joked as he stood at his locker. "We stunk it up in early in the game."

The Falcons didn't score until the final minute of the first half, but Ryan kept throwing. He was 34-for-52 for 345 yards with two touchdowns and one interception — a screen picked off by linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and run back 28 yards for the game's first score. Ryan also fumbled away a snap, Atlanta's first lost fumble of the season.

Ryan guided Atlanta to his 18th career winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime. That is the most by a QB in his first five seasons in the Super Bowl era.

Tony Gonzalez caught 13 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. His 99th career TD tied Don Hutson for eighth all time.

Griffin didn't have a designed run play Sunday. He was hurt while scrambling because he couldn't find an open receiver.

Team spokesman Tony Wyllie said Griffin was examined by an independent neurologist before being sent home from the stadium and will be evaluated today.

"When he wasn't really sure what the score was, what quarter it was, we knew he had a mild concussion," Shanahan said.

About three hours after the game, Griffin tweeted: "I'm ok and I think after all the testing I will play next week."

Times wires
Sunday, October 7, 2012

Around the league

brees MARK: 48 STRAIGHT GAMES with TD pass

NEW ORLEANS — Saints QB Drew Brees, above, threw a touchdown pass for the 48th straight game Sunday night, breaking the NFL mark set by Johnny Unitas a half-century ago.

The record-setting touchdown was a 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson in a victory over the Chargers.

After the completion, Brees raced to the end zone to greet Henderson, who wears the same No. 19 that Unitas wore for the Baltimore Colts.

The rest of New Orleans' offense swarmed around Brees in celebration.

Unitas set the record between 1956 and 1960, and no one had come within 10 games until Brees began to close in late last season. The Patriots' Tom Brady has the third-longest streak, extending his to 37 games Sunday in a victory over Denver.

"Johnny Unitas stands for everything great about this game,'' Brees said. "It's a team record, not an individual record.''

Coach Sean Payton, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and GM Mickey Loomis — all suspended in the NFL's bounty investigation — were permitted by the league, at Brees' request, to attend the game.

Unitas' son, Joe, attended.

Marques Colston had three TD catches to set the Saints record of 52, surpassing Joe Horn's mark of 50.

Quinn to start at QB against Bucs?

To the cheers of Chiefs fans, Brady Quinn replaced struggling QB Matt Cassel during a loss to the Ravens and appears likely to start against the Bucs on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Cassel threw for 92 yards, was intercepted twice and had two lost fumbles before leaving in the fourth quarter with what the Chiefs described as a head injury. "We just want to play a sound football game where we're not dropping the ball as much," said Quinn, who was 3-of-3 for 32 yards passing on his only series. Fans had a banner flown by a plane asking for Cassel to be benched and for GM Scott Pioli to be fired.

browns: Middle LB D'Qwell Jackson , a former Seminole standout, left in the second quarter with a concussion and did not return. Also, CB Joe Haden, a former Gator standout, served the final game of a four-game suspension.

steelers: Coach Mike Tomlin said it was too early to know if LB Lamarr Woodley (strained right hamstring) and S Troy Polamalu (reaggravated strained right calf) would be available Thursday against the Titans.

vikings: S Harrison Smith was ejected during the second quarter after pushing an official as Smith tried to get closer to jaw at Titans players. Smith said he made a mistake and apologized.

Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, October 7, 2012

Times wires

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees and the Saints rallied for their first victory, beating the Chargers 31-24 Sunday night.

Brees had an early 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson and had three scoring strikes to Marques Colston. The pass to Henderson eclipsed the mark of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass set by Johnny Unitas from 1956-60.

After Brees set the record, the jubilant Superdome crowd roared and then howled an elongated, "Dreeeeeeew!"

Philip Rivers passed for 354 yards and two touchdowns to former Saint Robert Meachem, but the quarterback had two costly turnovers in the fourth quarter.

The first was Roman Harper's interception and 41-yard return on a pass tipped by fellow safety Malcolm Jenkins. That set up the Saints' final score on Garrett Hartley's 25-yard field goal.

San Diego had a chance to tie in the final minute but penalties moved the Chargers back, then defensive end Martez Wilson stripped Rivers and recovered the fumble to seal the victory.

"We finally put together a great team effort for all four quarters. I can't say enough for the guys in our locker room," Brees said. "We have been through a lot together. Hopefully this will lead to more wins.

"It is special for our team, special they could be a part of this record.''

Colston finished with nine catches for 131 yards, while Henderson had eight catches for 123 yards.

Colston's second touchdown late in the third eclipsed a franchise mark set by Joe Horn in 2006 and pulled the Saints within a field goal shortly after the Chargers appeared to have gone ahead 31-14 on Demorrio Williams' interception return for a touchdown. But Williams' TD was nullified as fellow linebacker Melvin Ingram was called for a late hit on Brees' chin, which drew a roughing-the-passer flag and extended what eventually was an 87-yard scoring drive.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended Saints personnel in the bounty controversy, chimed in on social media to offer congratulations to Brees.

On his Twitter page, Goodell wrote: "Congrats to (at)drewbrees & his teammates on breaking Unitas' record. Amazing accomplishment by great QB & leader. We're proud of you, Drew."

Saints cornerback Jabari Greer left in the second quarter with what team officials said was a hip injury and did not return.

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

Steelers teach Eagles life lesson

PITTSBURGH — Backed up at their 20-yard line, their slow start to the season in danger of turning into a legitimate free fall, the Steelers did what they always seem to do when things get tight.

They relaxed.

Ben Roethlisberger converted two third downs during a patient 64-yard drive over the final 6:33 and Shaun Suisham made a 34-yard field goal as time expired.

"We had the ball last," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. "Such is life."

Philadelphia appeared on the verge of its third one-point win when Michael Vick passed to tight end Brent Celek for a 2-yard score midway through the fourth.

Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for 20 yards. A 15-yard screen pass to running back Rashard Mendenhall — back from right knee surgery — moved Pittsburgh into Eagles territory.

Two plays later Roethlisberger found Emmanuel Sanders for 8 yards, and five straight runs put the Steelers within Suisham's range. They avoided their first 1-3 start under Tomlin.

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

BALTIMORE — CC Sabathia, Russell Martin and the Yankees crashed a party that was 15 years in the making.

Martin led off the ninth inning with a tiebreaking home run off Jim Johnson, Sabathia turned in a sparkling pitching performance and the Yankees beat the Orioles 7-2 Sunday in the opener of their AL Division Series.

Sabathia allowed two runs and eight hits in 8 2/3 innings to help the Yankees take the edge off the Orioles' first home playoff game since 1997. The left-hander went 0-2 in three starts against Baltimore during the regular season, but in this one he returned to form and improved his lifetime record against the Orioles to 17-4.

"Fastball command was good, worked off that," Sabathia said. "Throwing the ball pretty good getting the corners. Tried to stay out there and make some pitches."

Sabathia is 6-1 with the Yankees in the postseason, 4-0 in the division series.

With the score 2-all, Martin drove a 2-and-0 pitch from Johnson into the leftfield seats. It was the first of four straight hits off Johnson, who led the majors with 51 saves. Raul Ibanez and Derek Jeter followed with singles, Ichiro Suzuki drove in a run with a swinging bunt and one out later, Robinson Cano hit a two-run double.

In his seven prior appearances against New York, Johnson allowed one run in seven innings and had three saves. Nick Swisher capped the five-run ninth with a sacrifice fly off Tommy Hunter.

"It's tough. It's just tough going, period," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Jimmy has been great for us all year and will be again. Tonight just wasn't his night."

Game 2 is tonight.

The start of the game was delayed by rain for 2 hours, 26 minutes, and that did nothing to lessen the enthusiasm of the 47,841 fans who endured 14 straight losing season while waiting for the Orioles to play a postseason game at Camden Yards.

For eight innings, the sellout crowd was treated to tense duel that typified the competition between two division foes that split 18 games during the regular season and finished two games apart in the standings.

Orioles starter Jason Hammel allowed two runs, four hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.

New York missed an excellent chance to take the lead in the seventh. After Troy Patton walked Martin and Ibanez, Darren O'Day entered and Jeter dropped down a two-strike sacrifice bunt. With the infield drawn in, Suzuki hit a sharp grounder to second baseman Robert Andino, who threw home. Matt Wieters grabbed the ball on the short hop and tagged out Martin. O'Day then struck out Alex Rodriguez.

Sabathia retired the first six batters he faced without allowing a ball out of the infield, then ran into trouble in the third. Chris Davis led off with a single, Lew Ford singled and both runners moved up on a bunt before Nate McLouth bounced a two-run single into rightfield for a 2-1 lead.

New York promptly tied it in the fourth when Mark Teixeira ripped a liner off the rightfield scoreboard to drive in a run.

Today's matchup 2012 Team 2012 Vs. Opp.

Team Pitcher Time W-L ERA Rec. W-L IP ERA

New York Pettitte (L) 8:05 5-4 2.87 8-4 - -

Baltimore Chen (L) p.m. 12-11 4.02 19-13 1-2 24.0 5.25

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — Bronson Arroyo, the former Hernando High star, retired his first 14 batters and delivered a gem a day after 19-game winner Johnny Cueto went down with a back injury, and the Reds beat the Giants 9-0 on Sunday night to head home with a 2-0 NL Division Series lead.

A pair of Ryans provided the big hits. Ryan Ludwick homered leading off the second inning for his first career playoff clout, and Ryan Hanigan hit a two-run single in the fourth and a late RBI single. Jay Bruce added a two-run double and Joey Votto had three hits.

The shaggy-haired Arroyo, the right-hander with that high leg kick slightly resembling the familiar motion of Giants Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, went untouched before Brandon Belt's two-out single to the gap in right-center with two out in the fifth. San Francisco didn't get another hit until Pablo Sandoval lined a double off the rightfield arcade with two outs in the ninth.

The 35-year-old Arroyo worked ahead and had four straight strikeouts during one stretch to baffle the Giants.

Arroyo's seven innings marked his longest postseason outing in five starts and 13 appearances.

Arroyo thoroughly outpitched Madison Bumgarner to beat the Giants for the first time since 2008. He had gone 0-2 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts since, getting two no-decisions facing San Francisco this season.

Former San Francisco skipper Dusty Baker came into his old stomping grounds and left with two commanding victories 10 years after managing the Giants within six outs of a World Series title.

Typical of the Giants night, Hunter Pence grounded out to shortstop to end the game after San Francisco put two runners on base.

It's the worst shutout loss in Giants postseason history. San Francisco had been shut out only six times during the regular season, tied for second-fewest in the NL.

Bumgarner, who mastered the postseason as a 21-year-old pitcher in 2010, did not find the same kind of success.

One night after ace Matt Cain was knocked around, Bumgarner gave up the solo home run to Ludwick and allowed three more runs before leaving in the fifth. Just like that, San Francisco's hopes of making another push deep into the playoffs are in serious jeopardy. Ryan Vogelsong earned the starting nod for Game 3 in Cincinnati.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 8, 2012

GAINESVILLE — It took Florida 13 games to earn seven victories last season, and five games into the 2012 season the Gators already have five wins. Now comes the hard part.

Now that No. 4 Florida has transformed into a better team, it is in the enviable position of learning how to deal with all that comes with being back in the national spotlight. The freshmen and sophomores have no idea what that kind of prosperity is like.

With a win Saturday night at Vanderbilt, Florida would return home with a 5-0 SEC record to host nemesis South Carolina on Oct. 20.

How will the Gators handle the sudden success?

"We'll find out Saturday night," coach Will Muschamp said. "Our guys have worked hard. I don't see a whole lot of difference in how they approached each day, each game all year. But it's a long season."

The last time the Gators were ranked this high, sophomore QB Jeff Driskel was at Hagerty High in Oviedo. His confidence in this team is unwavering.

"I think we'll be fine," he said. "Like we've been saying all along, we have a more mature team this year. We're not going to be satisfied. We know that there's corrections to be made and improvements to be made. We're going to handle this week like any other week."

NO PUSHOVER: For the record, the Gators remember that last year's game against Vandy (2-3, 1-2) was decided by just five points. And they know the Commodores opened this season with a close 17-13 loss to South Carolina. Vandy is coming off a win at Missouri with a chance to knock off a top-five opponent, and coach James Franklin said his team can use what it learned from last year's 26-21 loss to the Gators.

"Last year against Florida, I didn't think we played with the confidence we usually do in the first half, but we were able to come back in the second half and (we) played well," he said. "We want to build on what we've done this year and our second half from last year."

JENKINS probable: After fighting back from a broken thumb sustained in the second game, junior LB Jelani Jenkins is listed as probable. Jenkins, who played Saturday for the first time since Sept. 15, injured his hamstring late in the first half.

FORMER STARS CALLING: Among the many congratulatory texts and calls Driskel has received as the Gators' success grows are those from former Gators who have been in his shoes.

Former Heisman Trophy QB Danny Wuerffel, part of the 1996 national title team, has reached out to Driskel, as has 2006 national championship winner Chris Leak.

"I've talked to a few of them and they've just said to keep it going," Driskel said. "It's just general stuff, just keep the team rolling and don't look back. You've got to focus on the teams ahead."

WAITING GAME: CBS Sports will use its six-day option for its broadcast of the Oct. 20 SEC game, so it will be early next week before the Florida-South Carolina start time is announced. The network has rights to an SEC game at 3:30 p.m., and will choose from South Carolina at Florida, Alabama at Tennessee or LSU at Texas A&M following this week's games. ESPN will televise the two games not selected by CBS Sports at noon and in its primetime slot between 7 and 7:45 p.m. Undefeated No. 3 South Carolina will play Saturday at No. 9 LSU.

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

By Jay Mastry, Times Correspondent
Monday, October 8, 2012

What's hot: Getting in on the shallow water grouper bite as the season winds down before the closure at month's end, we caught gags up to 12 pounds on Saturday. We even had a couple of keeper reds in only 47 feet, 10 miles south and west of the Pass-a-Grille sea buoy. Cut slivers of fresh minnows and a strong outgoing tide expanded our chum slick and resulted in as many mackerel as we cared to catch. We used fly-lined whitebait on light spin tackle, a foot and a half length of No. 2 wire leader (29-pound test) and a 1- or 2-ought hook did the trick.

What else: Along with grouper and mackerel we caught a couple dozen mangrove snapper while bouncing the bottom with 20-pound test, 2-ounce egg sinkers and a length of 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. The fish preferred medium whitebait, the friskier the better. We started the grouper with dead stuff. Frozen sardines worked well. Some bigger ones opted for chunks of ladyfish. Once we offered live stuff, that's all they wanted. Pinfish, grunts and extra-large white minnows all got whacked.

What's up: There's kingfish, but it's hit or miss. Soon, cold fronts will drop the water temperature and we'll see more activity. It's no surprise with water temps in the mid 80s tarpon are being jumped by anglers who are mackerel and kingfishing along gulf beaches.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

CINCINNATI — Homer Bailey played catch in the sun-splashed outfield at Great American Ball Park, his usual routine the day before a start. Nothing different at all, as far as the Texan let on.

"You guys," he said afterward, "it's just another game."

Not likely. Reds fans know the pitcher has a chance to exorcise a lot of bad postseason history — or add to it — with his next start.

Less than two weeks after he pitched the 15th no-hitter in the history of baseball's first professional franchise, Bailey, 26, has a chance to add another career moment. He can complete a National League Division Series sweep of the Giants tonight.

Up 2-0, the Reds need one victory to advance, with as many as three chances left at home. It'll be a breakthrough if they get it.

Despite a storied history, Cincinnati hasn't won a home playoff game in 17 years. The Big Red Machine won back-to-back World Series in 1975-76. The 1990 Nasty Boys team swept Oakland to win another.

Since then, there has been little more than heartbreak. They were swept by Atlanta in the 1995 NL Championship Series under manager Davey Johnson. They lost a one-game playoff for the NL wild card to the Mets in 1999 at Riverfront Stadium. They got swept by the Phillies in the first round two years ago.

Maybe it's finally their time.

"I had this one kid give me a sweatshirt that said, 'The Year of the 12,' " said manager Dusty Baker, who wears the uniform number. "He gave it to me in spring training. I believe in that. I'm only going to see one '12 while I'm living. It's a special year. I just feel that it's our year."

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. — Don Larsen has the perfect way to pay for his grandchildren to finish college.

The former Yankees pitcher, 82, will auction off the pinstriped uniform he wore 56 years ago Monday when he threw the only perfect game in the World Series.

"I've been thinking about it for a bit," Larsen said. "I'm not getting any younger and I don't know how much longer I'll be around. I want to make sure they can both go to college, which isn't cheap these days.

"So, I figured it was the right time."

One of Larsen's grandkids is in college and the other is a high school freshman.

On the anniversary of Larsen's greatest day as a pitcher, Steiner Sports Memorabilia announced it will auction off the famed uniform. Larsen was joined at the news conference by his catcher, Yogi Berra, at the Hall of Famer's museum and learning center at Montclair State University.

Larsen, who has kept the jersey in a closet in Idaho, was asked if he could fathom that his uniform would draw more in an auction than he made in his career as a major-leaguer.

"It wouldn't take much," Larsen said. "Because I didn't make much."

A Babe Ruth jersey went for $4.4 million last year, so Steiner anticipates such a historic relic to draw at least seven figures.

"I had only worn it three times, but we were entitled to keep it," Larsen said. "I kept in my closet and it was in great condition."

There was only one downside. Larsen's hat fell off when Berra jumped into his arms. It was never recovered.

"I was told it was picked up by some guy in New Jersey, then supposedly donated to the (Baseball) Hall of Fame," Larsen said. "Every picture I have of the day, my hat is gone."

Francona's fresh start

CLEVELAND — Terry Francona could have waited to manage somewhere else. At some point, a more talented team in a major market with a massive payroll would make him an offer.

But if he was going back, there was only one team for him. And when the Indians called, Francona was on his way.

"I knew it was right for me," he said.

Francona, who led the Red Sox to two World Series titles, was introduced as manager of the Indians, who crashed in the second half after contending for four months. It's a family reunion of sorts for Francona, who has ties with the Indians going back more than 50 years.

His father, Tito, played six seasons in Cleveland, and Francona spent a year working as an assistant in the Indians' front office after he was fired by the Phillies.

Francona signed a four-year deal. He hopes to stay longer.

"I don't want to be a rental manager," he said. "I didn't want to come in worried. I want to be part of the solution. I want to stick around. I didn't come here to go to pasture."

BRAVES: C Brian McCann plans to have an MRI exam on the frayed labrum and cyst in his right shoulder and could have surgery that would require a four- to five-month rehab.

DODGERS: C A.J. Ellis had arthroscopic left knee surgery and should be ready at the start of spring training in February.

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

OAKLAND, Calif. — Ideally, Jim Leyland would have everybody hug it out and play ball.

Just as Detroit's Justin Verlander and Oakland's Coco Crisp did on the field for Monday's workout day ahead of Game 3 in the AL Division Series. The Tigers lead 2-0 and are one win from advancing to a second straight AL Championship Series.

Leyland insisted reliever Al Alburquerque meant no ill will toward the Athletics when he fielded Yoenis Cespedes' ninth-inning comebacker Sunday and quickly kissed the ball before throwing to first. Yet the manager disagreed with the display.

"Everybody always says I'm from the old school, so I'd have probably hugged it first," Leyland joked. "I don't think it was the right thing to do. I will sit here today and I will not try to defend it. I will say that I can assure everybody, including the Oakland A's, Al Alburquerque did nothing intentionally to offend the Oakland A's."

As upstart Oakland returned home, that controversial smooch was still plenty talked about in both clubhouses.

Alburquerque said he did speak to his teammates, and that they knew his gesture was "within the emotion of the game."

"I respect Cespedes and I didn't do it out of disrespect," the pitcher said. "I was just excited to get the out."

Still, that didn't mean the Tigers weren't surprised by it.

"I said, 'Did I see what I just saw?' " catcher Gerald Laird said.

Cespedes was eager to get to his baseball work Monday, saying: "That's his problem. It doesn't bother me. It was his turn to win. Someday it will be my turn."

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 8, 2012

TAMPA — Even as tight ends play expanded roles in offenses around the NFL, Bucs tight ends have had, at best, a secondary role in the passing game.

Just 11 of QB Josh Freeman's 65 completions through four games have gone to tight ends, nine to veteran Dallas Clark.

But that won't necessarily continue, coach Greg Schiano said. Recognizing Clark's ability as a sure-handed safety valve, Schiano said consistent involvement from the position will come — at the appropriate time.

"I think Dallas has had a big impact on our organization (off the field)," Schiano said. "On the field, I'm sure he'd like some more touches. Hopefully that'll happen.

"You can make it happen, but at what cost? You need to run the offense, and as we start exposing other areas, Dallas won't get as much attention. So, I think it kind of feeds off one another."

A former All-Pro, Clark, 32, has 436 receptions in his career but has battled a litany of injuries the past two seasons. This season, he looks healthy and has converted a couple of key first downs despite limited touches.

As the Bucs work to eliminate kinks from their new offense, roles will become better defined. Clark will be patient.

"Whatever (coaches) want to do, that's what we need to be ready for," he said. "A lot of it is what defenses present. You never want to force things. Obviously, you have to find out what the defense is going to give you and then find ways to attack it. That's always the first priority."

Second-year TE Luke Stocker is being counted on to support the running game as a blocker, and also has a touchdown catch, last month at Dallas. Rookie Danny Noble and new acquisition Nate Byham round out the tight ends on the active roster. Look for Byham to also have a role as a blocker.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Coming off their bye week, the Bucs on Monday got a jump on preparing for the Chiefs, a process that in other weeks would begin Wednesday.

Kansas City QB Matt Cassel suffered a head injury Sunday and Brady Quinn is likely to start against Tampa Bay, but the Bucs didn't seem concerned with who would be under center.

"They pride (themselves) on running the rock," CB Aqib Talib said. "The quarterback doesn't do anything but turn around and hand the ball off in that situation. As long as we knock that run out, we should be all right."

The Chiefs rank second in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging 180.8 yards a game.

GETTING THERE: CB Anthony Gaitor returned to practice, putting him closer to a return from a hamstring strain that has kept him out of all four regular-season games.

Gaitor might not play Sunday, but it's a step in the right direction after weeks of sitting.

"I'm getting there," Gaitor said Monday. "It's the first day. We're lucky we have an extra day this week. So I'll come in (today), get some more treatment, go out and run a little bit more and then take it from there.

"My main focus was to get healthy. There's no sense in me rushing. If I'm not healthy, I can't help the team. And with the position I play, I have to turn and run and have quick movements. That injury is nothing to play with."

Gaitor's impending return might prompt a mild shakeup in the secondary. CB Myron Lewis has been inactive for two of the first four games. The Bucs have seven cornerbacks, including Eric Wright, who returned to practice after missing last week with a head injury.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 8, 2012

TAMPA — The Bucs spent the bye week losing more ground in the bottom-heavy NFC South, where three of the division's four teams have one win apiece.

So as Greg Schiano's club begins the second quarter of the season, the big question is: Does 1-3 Tampa Bay have any chance of catching the Falcons, who fattened their lead to 3 ½ games with a win at Washington to go 5-0 for the first time in franchise history?

The answer is an emphatic maybe.

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rooting for Washington this weekend," Schiano said Monday. "You know, we can't handle what (the Falcons) do. We can only handle what we do, and heck, if we had done a little better job handling it, we wouldn't even be talking about this. We can't do anything about the past, but we can do something about Sunday and that's where all my focus is right now."

That's when the Bucs host the Chiefs (1-4), who fell 9-6 to the Ravens on Sunday. Starting quarterback Matt Cassel suffered a concussion and Kansas City is preparing backup Brady Quinn to start.

After three consecutive losses to NFC East teams — the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins — by a combined 15 points, Schiano and his coaching staff spent the week reviewing everything from the previous four games.

"We evaluated a lot of things and if your evaluations are correct and your adjustments are correct, then it will help," Schiano said. "Without a doubt, giving some of the guys a rest — from July 26 until last Thursday, they had been going pretty hard, so it was good to get them a rest. Now we've got 12 straight weeks, 12 one-game seasons in a row."

Among the discoveries: Schiano is considering a change at right guard. After a knee injury ended Pro Bowl pick Davin Joseph's season, Ted Larsen has started all four games with mixed results. The Bucs are 20th in rushing offense, averaging 91 yards a game. Rookie running back Doug Martin has struggled at 3.5 yards a carry and a long run of 17 yards.

"We're moving a few guys through there,'' Schiano said. "We'll probably evaluate that some (today, when the players are off), and try to kind of lock into something. Maybe one or two guys at right guard, that's been the position that's been up in the air."

Larsen, Jamon Meredith and Cody Wallace are candidates. Schiano hoped to give tackle Jeremy Trueblood, who lost his starting job to Demar Dotson, a shot at right guard. But Trueblood had a stomach virus Monday and was unable to practice.

The Bucs also used the bye week to streamline the volume of plays heaped on the offense and quarterback Josh Freeman. Schiano also said running back LeGarrette Blount has practiced better and could have an expanded role in the final 12 games.

"We're 1-3, we could be better, we could be worse, but we are what we are," Schiano said. "We're getting better, it just hasn't been enough so far."

At this point, the Bucs are not conceding anything.

"Last year, we were 4-2, and after the bye week, everything came to an end," defensive end Michael Bennett said, referring to 10 straight losses to finish 2011. "This is a long season. That's the NFL. You can be a good team or a bad team at this point of the year. We're trying to be on top at the end of the season. It can change in a heartbeat."

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

OLYMPICS

BOLT STICKING TO SAME EVENTS FOR RIO GAMES

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Usain Bolt will aim for a three-peat of Olympic sprint titles in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, rather than trying a new event.

Bolt became the first man to defend both sprint titles at the London Olympics, and there was speculation he could switch to the long jump or 400 for 2016.

"I don't want to try any different events at Rio, because at Rio I will just defend my titles to show the world that there is a possibility that I can do it again," Bolt said.

Bolt won the 100 and 200 and helped Jamaica win the 4x100 relays at Beijing and London.

SOCCER

Two top scorers miss U.S. roster

Jozy Altidore was dropped from the U.S. roster for two critical World Cup qualifiers after disappointing coach Jurgen Klinsmann in games and practice over the last year. Altidore is tied for the lead in the Dutch league with eight goals for AZ Alkmaar. San Jose's Chris Wondolowski, who leads MLS with 25 goals, was also left out. The Americans play Friday at Antigua and Barbuda and Oct. 16 vs. Guatemala in Kansas City, Kan.

AUTOS

Neff stays close

Mike Neff kept his Funny Car title hopes alive with a victory at the rain-delayed NHRA Nationals in Mohnton, Pa. Neff beat Johnny Gray with a run of 4.030 seconds at 317.94 mph to get within 54 points of Jack Beckman with two events left. Khalild alBalooshi earned his first Top Fuel victory and V. Gaines (Pro Stock) also won; the Pro Stock Motorcycle final between Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec was rained out and will run Oct. 25 in Las Vegas.

ET CETERA

PRO BASKETBALL: Fox Sports Florida will carry all but one of the Magic's 82 games, the Orlando Sentinel reported. ESPN will air the Dec. 14 game against Golden State. … In the WNBA, Shavonte Zellous hit a jumper with 0.5 seconds left to lift host Indiana past Connecticut 78-76 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final. The deciding game is Thursday in Connecticut.

GOLF: Former U.S. Open champion and longtime television analyst Ken Venturi, 81, was selected for the World Golf Hall of Fame in the Lifetime Achievement category. He'll be inducted May 6 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine.

TENNIS: Top seed and Tampa resident Sam Stosur beat Erika Sema 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Japan Open in Osaka. … No. 10 seed Marin Cilic and American Sam Querrey advanced at the Shanghai Masters.

Times wires

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

CINCINNATI — LHP Barry Zito will start Game 4 for the Giants if they extend their NL Division Series against the Reds.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum? He's staying in the bullpen.

San Francisco flew in from the West Coast on Monday trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five series. Manager Bruce Bochy wanted to see how the first two games played out before deciding his Game 4 starter. The Reds won 5-2 and 9-0, with Lincecum pitching two innings in relief Sunday night.

Bochy chose Zito because of his strong finish to the season. The left-hander won his last five starts and seven straight decisions. The Giants won the past 11 games that he started.

"He's been really on top of his game, and I think he's earned this," Bochy said. "We all do. I'm glad to be able to tell Barry that he's getting the start. When you win your last 11 games that a pitcher starts, it's a pretty good thing."

It was a touchy decision for the Giants. Lincecum had been their ace for the previous four years but lost a career-high 15 games this season, had a 5.18 ERA and tied his career high with 17 wild pitches.

A'S PICK ANDERSON: LHP Brett Anderson, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 19 because of an oblique injury, is set to start for Oakland in Game 3 of the ALDS tonight.

Anderson, who came back this season from reconstructive elbow surgery, had a 2.57 ERA in six starts this season before he strained his right oblique muscle.

"It wasn't ideal getting hurt again," Anderson said. "But I feel good, and the postseason, who knows when we're going to get back here."

CARDS PITCHER HURT: Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia left Monday's start after two innings when he appeared to aggravate the strained shoulder that put him on the DL for two months this season. Manager Mike Matheny said Garcia was sent for an MRI exam.

CUETO'S STATUS: The Reds are unsure whether RHP Johnny Cueto will be available if there's a Game 4. He started the series opener but left in the first inning with back spasms. If he's unavailable, the Reds could start RHP Mat Latos, who relieved Cueto on Saturday night.

LEYLAND LIKELY TO RETURN: Tigers manager Jim Leyland has been telling people in recent days that he does not plan to retire after the postseason, CBSSports.com reported. Detroit has reached the playoffs three times in Leyland's seven seasons after failing to advance for 18 years.

Times wires
Monday, October 8, 2012

Aaron Murray, Georgia's starting quarterback, was told his father Denny had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer on the same weekend that the former Plant High star dealt with vandalism of his home in the wake of the Bulldogs' 35-7 loss to South Carolina on Saturday.

According to reports, Denny Murray was scheduled to have surgery Monday in Tampa.

The senior tweeted, "Probably the worst 12 hours of my life but I know my family will push through." He later tweeted, "yep what a great thing to come home to for us," when asked about his house. After Georgia's loss, linebacker Christian Robinson tweeted that he came home to find the house he shares with Murray was egged and toilet papered.

ARKANSAS: Coach John L. Smith appears to have structured the bulk of his $850,000 salary to be paid after the likely end of his bankruptcy proceedings. Smith, hired to a 10-month contract in April, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in September.

BYU: Freshman quarterback Taysom Hill will have surgery on his left knee (lateral collateral injury) and is out for the season.

GEORGIA TECH: Al Groh was fired as defensive coordinator two days after a 47-31 to No. 16 Clemson. The Yellow Jackets have allowed at least 40 points in each game in a three-game skid, a first in school history.

KENTUCKY: Freshman quarterback Patrick Towles (high right ankle sprain) will miss Saturday's game at Arkansas.

MISSOURI: Quarterback Corbin Berstresser will start for James Franklin (sprained left knee) Saturday against No. 1 Alabama. It's not clear if Franklin will return in time for a Nov. 3 game at Florida.

OREGON STATE: Quarterback Sean Mannion (left knee) is out indefinitely after being hurt Saturday against Washington State. Backup Cody Vaz will start for the No. 10 Beavers against BYU this weekend.

TEMPLE: Defensive tackle Kamal Johnson won't practice or play after being arraigned on charges stemming from an alleged assault Sept. 27 on his girlfriend, also a Temple student. The junior, 20, was arraigned Saturday on charges including kidnapping, false imprisonment, simple assault, and endangering the welfare of another person. He didn't play in Saturday's win over USF.

BASKETBALL: LIU-Brooklyn's top star and three teammates arrested in a campus brawl had their suspensions lifted and were put on school probation. Those arrested include forward Julian Boyd, the Northeast Conference player of the year last year, and Jamal Olaswere, Troy Joseph and C.J. Garner.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Monday, October 8, 2012

Know how bad the NHL lockout mess is? They're now having meetings to figure out when they're going to have meetings.

The NHL and the players' union talked over the weekend just so they could agree to meet formally later this week. Hey, no hurry, fellas. Take your time. After all, the season was only supposed to start this week. What's a few more days when the lockout is already on Day 24 with no end in sight?

The league is cancelling games, players are flocking to Europe and fans sit here wondering whether to be angry at the billionaire owners or millionaire players. Actually, the NHL should hope fans are angry. At some point, especially south of the Canadian border, anger will turn to apathy.

A few questions to consider while we're not watching the NHL.

What's the lockout about?

Answer: Who cares? Honestly, does it even matter?

The gist, of course, is how to divide up a big ol' pile of money. There are a few other issues — length of contracts, free agency, revenue sharing and that sort of thing. But, basically, it comes down to how to slice the pie. The owners are offering the players a little less than half the revenues. The players want a little more than half.

Here's the thing: I have a feeling both sides know exactly where that magic number is, the percentage that it will take to unlock the doors and get the players back on the ice. Instead of rolling up their sleeves, ordering a bunch of pizzas and Red Bull and not getting up from the negotiating table until this thing is hammered out, the owners and players insist on playing this arrogant game of chicken.

And who suffers? Regular folks. The NHL office has gone to a four-day work week and employees — a bunch of 9-to-5 office workers making a tiny fraction of what owners and players pull in — are taking 20 percent pay cuts. The St. Louis Blues laid off nearly 20 staffers, and those lucky enough to keep their jobs are taking pay cuts. Look for other NHL teams to do the same if the lockout continues to drag on.

Don't you find that offensive? Don't you find it sickening that the people who take tickets, serve popcorn and clean sticky aisles in order to buy food will miss paychecks because a bunch of knuckleheads can't figure out how to divvy up $3.3 billion? Doesn't it seem like a publicity stunt that the NHL was crying poor and slashing office paychecks even before the first regular-season game was wiped out?

And what's even more disgusting is the total lack of urgency to get this deal done, as if both sides are content to not have hockey until Thanksgiving, Christmas or later.

That leads us to the next question …

When will this thing be solved?

Here's a better question: Why hasn't this been solved already? The NHL and NHLPA only had seven years to iron this out. If you believe the owners, Donald Fehr took over the players' union then refused to answer calls from the league for more than a year.

Meantime, the owners and commissioner Gary Bettman, who is now overseeing the third lockout in 18 years, severely underestimated just how upset the players are, and that shows a total lack of respect for the players.

So …

Who's to blame?

It's always easy to side with the athletes in these labor disputes. We know the players. Fans root for them, put their posters on their walls and their bobbleheads on their desks. No fan has the name of the owner on the back of his jersey.

And in this case, it's easy to see the players' point. They took a 24 percent cut before negotiations even started back in 2005. They accepted a salary cap. They lost a year in salary and a year off their contracts because the whole season was wiped out.

The owners pretty much crushed the players the last time around and now, suddenly, that owner-friendly deal is no longer good enough for the owners even though a bunch of them keep signing players to 13-year, $100 million deals.

Sometimes you get the feeling that this dispute isn't between the owners and players but between owners and other owners.

Which brings us to …

How is this going to end?

The guess is we will have hockey at some point this season. Maybe as early as Thanksgiving and no later than the Winter Classic outdoor game on Jan. 1.

You just keep telling yourself that there's no way these guys will let this last. Then again, this is a league that lost half the 1994-95 season and the entire 2004-05 season. There's no pressure to get a deal done because everyone in charge counts on hockey fans forgiving and forgetting once an agreement is reached, and they are probably right.

Fans like to talk tough and threaten boycotts and swear they'll never watch another game, but they can't help themselves. When hockey returns, so will the fans. And I'm not blaming them. NHL hockey is a wonderful sport. That's why we love it so much.

I'm not sure those who run it feel the same way.