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Titans after Haynesworth?
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans are in discussions about a trade of disgruntled defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The people spoke to the AP on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential.
Washington signed Haynesworth to a $100 million contract in 2009 as a free agent, and the tackle accepted a $21 million bonus in April. It’s been a nonstop battle of wills between Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and the ex-Tennessee star since then.
The Titans declined to comment, and the Redskins did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But Titans coach Jeff Fisher was asked about the team’s interest Tuesday night during his weekly radio show on WGFX-FM 104.5 The Zone, and he said Haynesworth is under contract with the Redskins. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
UT cannot ‘Duck’ explosive Oregon offense
KNOXVILLE (AP) — If there’s a more explosive offense in the country than Oregon’s, Tennessee coach Derek Dooley hasn’t found it.
He’s well aware that the Volunteers’ defense is in for a true test when the No. 11 Ducks come to town on Saturday.
“Nobody ever stops Oregon,” Dooley said Monday. “You’ve just got to slow them down and try to be sound fundamentally and try to get some breaks here and there, and you’ve got to play well on offense.” Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Starting off right top task for Titans
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Titans receiver Nate Washington insists all thoughts of last year’s 0-6 start are in the past. Fullback Ahmard Hall holds the memory of that stretch as strong motivation to win immediately.
One thing all the Titans agree on is that a fast start is a must — beginning with Sunday’s opener against the Oakland Raiders.
Hall said Monday the Titans cannot afford to dig an early hole as they did in 2009 if they want to compete in the AFC South against the Indianapolis Colts or Houston Texans.
“We have to start fast. You can’t start slow in this league and think you’re going to pick it up at the end of the season. Championship teams, they finish. They finish strong,” Hall said. “You have to start fast and be right neck and neck with those guys.” Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Grand Yadier fly propels Redbirds
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Yadier Molina simply wanted a sacrifice fly.
Instead, Molina’s grand slam capped a six-run eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals overcame Corey Hart’s two homers to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6 on Monday.
The Cardinals had taken a 4-2 lead in the eighth, and Molina came up with the bases loaded and one out.
“All the way through that at-bat I was thinking flyball,” he said. “You never want to hit a ground ball there, never. I was just trying to hit a flyball to get that man in.”
Molina sent a 1-2 pitch from Todd Coffey into the left-field stands for his sixth homer of the year to give the Cardinals an 8-2 lead.
St. Louis needed that big inning as Milwaukee scored four times in the final two innings, and had Prince Fielder at the plate as the tying run with two outs in the ninth. Ryan Franklin got him to ground out to end the game.
“We got touched up a little bit at the end, but we got the outs — everybody got the outs — when we needed it,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. Read More ...
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Angry Albert calls out Rasmus
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A season that is slipping away for the St. Louis Cardinals has turned personal, with star slugger Albert Pujols criticizing young outfielder Colby Rasmus.
Rasmus has admitted he wasn’t always happy while playing for the Cardinals as a rookie last year and this season. The 24-year-old center fielder is denying reports, however, that he asked in July to be traded.
Pujols says Rasmus, whose 19 homers are third on the team behind Pujols and Matt Holliday, needs to spend more time in the majors before he starts complaining. The three-time NL MVP said Sunday that if Rasmus wants to play somewhere else, the Cardinals should accommodate him. Read More ...
By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer |
Hokies must tip cap to Boise State
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — For the gatecrashers in blue, this was the Respect Bowl. A mini-national championship game, if you will, because they certainly weren’t going to be playing in the real one in January if they didn’t win this one on Labor Day.
So it’s little wonder Kellen Moore confessed to being a little nervous when he trotted onto the field with Boise State trailing by four with 1:47 to play Monday night. The Broncos aren’t used to trailing anyone, and they’re certainly not used to having to resort to their two-minute offense to win a game.
Moore passed the test with time to spare, hitting Austin Pettis for a 13-yard touchdown with 1:09 remaining to give No. 3 Boise State a 33-30 win over No. 10 Virginia Tech. Like it or not, the Broncos look as if they’re here to stay when it comes to the BCS title hunt; they’ll most certainly be favored in every game on their schedule from here on out.
“You should gain a little respect,” Moore said, “beating Virginia Tech out here.” Read More ...
By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer |
Alabama will roll on minus star DE, Ingram
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — No. 1 Alabama will face 19th-ranked Penn State without defensive end Marcell Dareus, and coach Nick Saban isn’t betting on Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram making it back either.
Saban said Monday that Alabama won’t appeal Dareus’s two-game NCAA suspension for improper agent benefits.
“We researched it, and we didn’t feel there was any precedent to appeal it,” he said. “I wish it was less, but when you look at the facts, you have to say is there any other case that would say he got an unfair punishment? ... We didn’t feel like there was a precedent for appeal.”
Saban had said after the suspension was announced two days before the opener against San Jose State that Alabama would seek to get it cut to one game, allowing Dareus to play against the Nittany Lions.
Dareus, the defensive MVP of the national championship game, was also ordered to pay $1,787 dollars to a charity of his choice before regaining eligibility. He was ruled ineligible for receiving preferential treatment and agent benefits, including airfare, lodging, meals and transportation during a pair of Miami trips. Read More ...
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer |
Cubbie rooftop recession due to economy, bad baseball
CHICAGO (AP) — The crowded rooftop bleachers overlooking Wrigley Field have stood as proof that no matter how bad the Chicago Cubs played, the ballpark was simply not big enough to hold everyone who wanted to see them play.
Until now. Between a national recession and a local team that is just plain depressing, the rooftop bleachers — as synonymous with Wrigley as the ivy-covered walls they tower above — are showing signs that there are limits to what fans are willing to do and pay to see a game.
“Last year, the business was weak on our rooftop and this year is not as good as last year,” said Beth Murphy, whose late husband’s decision decades ago to cart a lawn chair, a cooler of beer and a barbecue onto his roof to watch a game has made him kind of a founding father of rooftop owners. “With the economy, on top of the Cubs performance, (it) has been tough.”
Just how tough things have become is as obvious as the empty seats that dot the privately-owned rooftops, something that had been a rarity over the past few years when the number of rooftop businesses climbed by a third to 16 and the capacity of all of them nearly doubled to 3,000. Read More ...
By DON BABWIN, Associated Press Writer |
No worries for Vols vs. UTM
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Derek Dooley was worried about nerves — both his and his players’ — heading into his first game as Tennessee coach. Turns out there was nothing to fret about.
“It was funny because (quarterback Matt Simms) said, ‘I was more nervous before my first junior college game than I was here.’ Then I said, ‘I was more nervous my first Louisiana Tech game.’ That’s called experience, I guess.”
The young, mostly inexperienced Vols got some much-needed experience with a 50-0 win over UT Martin on Saturday night, their first shutout since a 48-0 victory over Vanderbilt in 2003.
Sure it was against Tennessee’s first FCS opponent since facing The Citadel in 1983, but it gave the Vols a chance to play 12 true freshmen and most of their two-deep depth chart a week before facing No. 11 Oregon, who beat New Mexico 72-0 in its own season opener.
“(The Vols) played the way I expected them to play because we’d been practicing that way ... but we start big-boy ball next week,” Dooley said. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
UT diet has no other cupcakes
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee got a confidence-building win in a game where the Volunteers clearly were the bigger, faster and stronger team — a 50-0 victory over UT Martin.
Things are about to get a little tougher.
The Volunteers host No. 11 Oregon, who handily won 72-0 over New Mexico in its season opener. After that comes No. 4 Florida, who struggled in a 34-12 win over Miami (Ohio), but has beat Tennessee five consecutive seasons. Trips to LSU and Georgia are looming in early October.
“The team we’re playing beat a team by about 70,” Dooley said after Saturday night’s season-opening win. “Yeah, so, how’s that for confidence? ... We start big-boy ball next week.” Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Gutsy Jacksonville State call forces Ole Miss to eat (Crow)e
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — On the final crazy play of a crazy game, Jacksonville State running back Calvin Middleton found himself in the middle of a mass of bodies as quarterback Coty Blanchard lofted a 2-point conversion pass toward the end zone.
Somehow, through the arms and legs, Middleton came down with the football as the Gamecocks celebrated a stunning 49-48 victory over Mississippi in double overtime.
“The coaches called a shovel pass,” Middleton said. “I don’t even know if (Blanchard) saw me, but I knew if I could catch it I was deep enough in the end zone to score.
“This means everything.” Read More ...
By The Associated Press |
Steady Stewart ascent culminates with dominance under Atlanta lights
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — One more race to go until the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, and all of a sudden Tony Stewart looks like a serious contender.
Only it’s not that sudden.
Stewart has been steadily improving over the past couple of months, consistently running in the top 10 and seeming to find a little bit more speed every week.
He figured it was just a matter of time before he finally got back to Victory Lane.
That breakthrough came Sunday night, when Stewart claimed his first win of the season with a dominating performance at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Read More ...
By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer |
Mixed Skyhawk bag will test special Vols
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee’s new special teams coach, Eric Russell, really doesn’t know what to expect from UT Martin this weekend. For a special teams unit that’s worked hard to improve after struggling in recent years, the uncertainty will be a good test.
“What is it going to be, and how will your kids line up and react to something that they have not seen?” Russell said. “That’s where the fundamentals and the rules of their assignments hopefully come into play. Unfortunately, there’s one way will find out on Saturday if we got the right things taught.”
UTM has a new special teams coach of their own in Ryan Nielsen, who doesn’t have a background in the discipline. That means there’s no tape to study up on his strategies. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Winner Kiffin frowns at USC
HONOLULU (AP) — Southern California was all smiles, except for coach Lane Kiffin.
Matt Barkley and Ronald Johnson had record nights, connecting on three touchdowns to make Kiffin a winner in his Trojans’ coaching debut.
No. 14 USC beat Hawaii 49-36 on Thursday night to start the post-Pete Carroll era.
Barkley had 257 yards passing and tied a school record with five TD passes while Johnson matched a USC mark with his three TD catches.
Johnson also returned a punt 89 yards for another score in USC’s first game after being hit hard with sanctions by the NCAA that includes a postseason ban this season. Read More ...
By JAYMES SONG, AP Sports Writer |
Titans to test starters, those on fringe
NASHVILLE. (AP) — Drew Brees will be watching from the sideline for the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
Vince Young? He may play into the third quarter for the Tennessee Titans.
Welcome to the NFL’s final preseason game where timing is everything, and the clock already has started ticking toward the Saints’ regular season opener on Sept. 9.
That’s why New Orleans coach Sean Payton will be protecting his key starters by keeping them off the field tonight when the Saints (2-1) wrap up the preseason against the Titans.
“In our case, the very first game being the following Thursday, there’s not additional time if you get a player nicked,” Payton said. “So we’re going to be pretty smart about how we approach it because we play seven days later in a game that means something.”
That’s exactly what Titans coach Jeff Fisher expects. He went through the same timing a year ago when Tennessee concluded the preseason on a Thursday night and opened the NFL’s regular season a week later at Pittsburgh. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Cardinal slide continues as Astros bring out brooms
HOUSTON (AP) — Even their opponents are surprised by the St. Louis Cardinals’ slide.
Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer and the Houston Astros completed a sweep of St. Louis with a 5-2 victory Wednesday, handing the slumping Cardinals their fifth straight defeat.
“Their backs are against the wall, not ours, and it didn’t look like they wanted to come out and beat us,” Blum said. “It’s really surprising. For whatever reason, we got to them at their weakest point.
“I don’t know if they were just laid back because they were coming in to play us.”
The fading Cardinals, who have lost 13 of 16, began the day seven games behind first-place Cincinnati in the NL Central. The Reds were scheduled to host Milwaukee later. Read More ...
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Tide Heisman guy out of opener
Mark Ingram’s run for a second Heisman Trophy has been put on hold, and possibly even derailed, before the Alabama tailback had a chance to gain a single yard.
Ingram will miss No. 1 Alabama’s opener against San Jose State after injuring his left knee late in practice Monday, coach Nick Saban said Tuesday.
Saban said in a statement the star tailback had an arthroscopic procedure and should make a full recovery in a “relatively short time.”
“Mark will definitely be out for this week’s game against San Jose State and we will manage this on a week to week basis beyond this week,” Saban said. Read More ...
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer |
Masoli a no-go as Ole Miss QB
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The NCAA has denied Mississippi quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s request for a waiver that would allow him to play immediately, meaning the former Oregon standout won’t be eligible until 2011.
Mississippi officials announced Tuesday plans to appeal the ruling, with a response expected in less than one week.
“I’m just shocked and disappointed,” Masoli said. “I’ve done everything I can to follow the rules.”
Mississippi athletic director Pete Boone said the decision was “subjective” and expected a successful appeal.
“There is no question in my mind Jeremiah is in the right place,” Mississippi coach Houston Nutt said. “We’re in the people-helping business. I want to plead with that subcommittee. He’s done nothing but what he’s supposed to do.”
Masoli transferred to Mississippi after being kicked off Oregon’s team after two run-ins with police. Read More ...
By DAVID BRANDT, AP Sports Writer |
Volunteer focal point is finally season opener, UTM
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee has gotten plenty of attention in the past eight months for off-the-field news.
The Volunteers are hoping to prove that none of it will keep them from being successful on the field.
“We know how hard we worked this summer, so I think it’s going to be a good time for us to get out there and show everybody how hard we’ve been working and how dedicated we are to Tennessee,” senior defensive end Chris Walker said.
The Vols have been eagerly awaiting Saturday’s season opener against UT Martin because it means the fans’ focus will be back on football.
All the talk surrounding the Volunteers from January through August has been about former coach Lane Kiffin’s hasty departure from Tennessee — the Vols’ second coaching change in as many seasons — and the July bar brawl that led to one player’s dismissal and two others’ suspensions. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Un(Happ)y Cardinals fall behind more
HOUSTON (AP) — J.A. Happ was determined to pitch better on Monday night than he did in his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Houston lefty certainly accomplished his goal.
Happ threw a two-hitter and rookie Brett Wallace had a career-high three hits and drove in a run to help the Astros beat the struggling Cardinals 3-0.
It was a complete turnaround from his last meeting with the Cardinals, when he allowed a career-high seven earned runs in just one-plus innings. Read More ...
By KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer |
Not guilty still line of indicted Clemens
WASHINGTON (AP) — Roger Clemens put his right hand on the lectern, leaned down toward the microphone and made what might be the most important pitch of his life: “Not guilty, your honor.”
Those words, uttered Monday in a strong, confident voice by the seven-time Cy Young Award winner sporting a black blazer and blond highlights in his hair, marked the official beginning of a court case that could taint baseball even further and land the “Rocket” in jail.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton presided over an arraignment hearing that lasted less than 14 minutes in the ceremonial courtroom at the federal courthouse, across the street from the Capitol. Read More ...
By EDDIE PELLS, AP National Writer |
Stymied Titans defend better
NASHVILLE (AP) — Vince Young was sacked four times in two quarters, All-Pro running back Chris Johnson found himself stymied and left tackle Michael Roos banged his right knee in an ugly preseason loss.
At least the Tennessee Titans can console themselves with how well the defense played.
A unit so woeful in 2009 giving up an average of 25.1 points per game was the only bright spot in the Titans’ 15-7 loss at Carolina on Saturday night. Top draft pick Derrick Morgan finally made his NFL debut, and the Titans kept a Carolina squad looking for its first touchdown this preseason out of the end zone despite the Panthers’ first team playing three quarters. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Bad gets worse for Cardinals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Losing teams are bringing out the worst in the St. Louis Cardinals at a most inopportune time.
Adam Wainwright struggled for five innings and the Cardinals lost again, falling to Washington 4-2 Sunday and dropping five games behind Cincinnati in the NL Central.
The Cardinals are 2-5 — against last-place teams Pittsburgh and Washington — on their 10-game road trip. In August, St. Louis is 5-10 against teams with records under .500.
“I’m not saying (Washington is) a bad team because they’re a dangerous team, but teams with sub-.500 records, we played terrible against all year,” Wainwright said. “We just did it again today and in this series, too. When we hit, we don’t pitch. When we pitch, we don’t hit. Sometimes, we do both and the other team just beats us.” Read More ...
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Tallest Tide order is for Hightower
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Dont’a Hightower has a long to-do list for Alabama’s fall camp: Change positions, replace a Butkus Award winner, return from a serious knee injury and take charge of the national champions’ defense.
That’s enough to stress anyone out.
Instead, the Crimson Tide linebacker from Lewisburg seems to be settling nicely into Rolando McClain’s spot in the middle as the primary playcaller on a defense that has undergone quite a transformation.
“It’s kind of a tough thing trying to replace Rolando, because he was such a great player and he knew the defense so perfectly,” he said. “It’s been a tough journey, but I feel so comfortable in it now, I feel like I’ve played mike since I’ve been here. I’m so comfortable making all the checks and making all the calls and audibles.” Read More ...
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer |
Winner Kuchar, Tiger elated
PARAMUS, N.J. (AP) — Matt Kuchar and Tiger Woods are happy about where they’re going, even if the itinerary is entirely different.
Kuchar won The Barclays with a sensational shot out of the rough to beat Martin Laird with a birdie in a playoff. The victory assures he will be at East Lake in Atlanta — which the Georgia Tech grad considers a home course — to play the Tour Championship for the first time.
Woods tied for 12th and gets to go to Boston for the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
A small step for one, a giant leap for another. Read More ...
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer |
’Bama mentor Saban a positive publicity multi-(task)master
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Nick Saban is all about efficiency, even when it comes to capitalizing on the positive publicity from a national championship season.
Instead of hunkering down and writing a book like he did at LSU, the Alabama coach allowed cameras into his professional inner sanctum for a one-hour behind-the-scenes ESPN special filmed early in fall camp. Now, a documentary on the 2009 season is set to appear in theaters near you — well, if you live in certain cities in a four-state area.
For Saban, it’s free publicity with minimal time siphoned from the other parts of his job. Like coaching and generally running a team.
That’s what he was doing last Tuesday evening during the Birmingham premiere of the documentary “Nick Saban: Gamechanger,” though his family and athletic director Mal Moore attended. Read More ...
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer |
Japanese aces unseat Americans
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — The Little League aces from Japan ended the United States’ five-year reign as World Series champions.
The team from Tokyo limited Waipahu, Hawaii, to four singles, and got a homer and three RBI from Konan Tomori to take the Little League World Series title with a 4-1 victory Sunday.
For the first time since 2003, a team from Japan is flying home with the championship banner.
Hawaii, which had scored 29 runs over its previous three games, came up short at the plate against Tokyo.
Hawaii’s only run came on an error off a sacrifice bunt in the fourth, but reliever Ichiro Ogasawara worked out of a second-and-third jam with a strikeout and a weak bouncer. Read More ...
By GENARO C. ARMAS, AP Sports Writer |
Vol hoops sked out
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee will travel to Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Charlotte and host Southern California and Memphis in addition to its Southeastern Conference lineup as part of its 2010-11 schedule.
The Volunteers are also hosting Belmont, Arkansas State and Missouri State in the southern regional of the NIT Season Tip-Off and will have a chance to travel to Madison Square Garden in New York if they win their two regional games.
Other nonconference opponents for the Vols include Chattanooga, Middle Tennessee, Oak-land, Tennessee-Martin and College of Charleston.
The Vols host Memphis on Jan. 5.
As part of their SEC schedule, the Vols will host an ESPN GameDay doubleheader with the Lady Vols against Vanderbilt’s men’s and women’s teams on Jan 15.
They will close their regular season March 6 at home against SEC East rival Kentucky.
The Vols are coming off their first-ever NCAA Tournament regional semifinal appearance. Read More ...
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UK to fight road wars
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A New Year’s Eve showdown with rival Louisville and a trip to Hawaii highlight Kentucky’s 2010-11 basketball schedule.
Kentucky’s balanced schedule includes only 15 regular season home games at Rupp Arena, starting with the season-opener against East Tennessee State on Nov. 12. The Wildcats then head west for the Maui Invitational Nov. 22-24 before playing at North Carolina on Dec. 4.
Kentucky will take on Notre Dame at Freedom Hall on Dec. 8 then return to Louisville on Dec. 31 to play the Cardinals.
The Wildcats will begin defense of their Southeastern Conference title at Georgia on Jan. 8 and wrap up the regular season at Tennessee on March 6.
The Southeastern Con-ference tournament is slated to begin at March 10 in Atlanta.
It is to finish up on March 13 at the Georgia Dome.
Coach John Calipari said the schedule will prepare his young team for the NCAA Tournament. Read More ...
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Pujols timing is bad for 400
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was hardly ideal timing for a 400th home run. For Albert Pujols, it happened in the fourth inning of a 13-inning loss to a last-place team — and in a game in which he twisted his ankle trying to climb a rolled-up tarp.
The St. Louis Cardinals slugger led off the fourth against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night by sending an 0-1 fastball from starter Jordan Zimmermann into the right-center seats, becoming the 47th major leaguer to reach the milestone.
At 30 years, 222 days, Pujols became the third-youngest player to hit 400 homers. Alex Rodriguez hit No. 400 at 29 years, 316 days, and Ken Griffey Jr. reached the benchmark at 30 years, 141 days. Read More ...
By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer |
Titans play nice with Arizona
NASHVILLE (AP) — Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt and Titans coach Jeff Fisher may have hit on the way to eliminate brawls when opposing NFL teams practice together in the preseason.
Just play the game first, then practice instead of the other way around.
The teams practiced together Wednesday afternoon less than 48 hours after the Titans beat Arizona 24-10 on Monday night. Both coaches talked before practice about not expecting any fights or crushing hits. With players on both teams practicing with some tired legs, no one went brawling.
They wrapped up after about 95 minutes with Titans and Cardinals shaking hands and going their separate ways.
“We were just curious about how it was going to be, and it turns out it was fantastic,” Whisenhunt said. “Good work against a good team. I think we got a lot out of it. I told our team at the end we got better today. That’s really all you can ask for ... We’re very excited and grateful to coach Fisher and the Titans’ organization for letting us work with them today.” Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Vol DB worries subside
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee doesn’t have Eric Berry anymore.
The Volunteers do have redshirt freshman cornerback Eric Gordon, and he’s ready to prove he’s just as aggressive as the two-time All-American safety.
“Honestly, I’m trying to take their heads off every play. On the field, you’ve got to be pretty mean. You’ve got to be aggressive. I love it. That’s my style,” Gordon said.
Gordon and fellow defensive backs Janzen Jackson, Art Evans and Henry County product Marsalis Teague may not be as celebrated as Berry, who’s now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Slipping St. Louis set back by Bucs
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Daniel McCutchen pitched six shutout innings for his third victory as a major league starter, Neil Walker tripled with the bases loaded and the Pittsburgh Pirates dealt the St. Louis Cardinals another damaging loss by winning 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Dropping their fourth consecutive series against a losing-record team, the Cardinals fell 31⁄2 games behind Cincinnati in the NL Central. St. Louis also remained a game back in the NL wild card race.
The Pirates, on pace to lose more than 100 games, had lost 13 of 15 before beating St. Louis on successive nights. Walker, a rookie batting .325 since July 17, also drove in three runs as Pittsburgh won 4-3 on Tuesday.
Walker’s triple in the third came after Jake Westbrook (1-2) got into trouble by hitting Chris Snyder with a pitch and Andrew McCutchen beat out an infield single. Jose Tabata, another rookie, made it 4-0 an inning later with an RBI single, his sixth hit of the three-game series. Read More ...
By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer |
NFL owners buy into 18 game talk
ATLANTA (AP) — NFL owners are eager to increase the regular season from 16 to 18 games.
The players aren’t so sure.
During a five-hour meeting at a posh hotel in downtown Atlanta, the push to add two more games to the regular season picked up steam Wednesday — at least among those who sign the checks.
“I think it’s a win-win all around,” said Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots.
The owners also unanimously approved Stan Kroenke’s proposal to purchase majority ownership of the St. Louis Rams, assuming he turns over control of two other teams he owns — the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche — to his son.
Kroenke owns 40 percent of the downtrodden Rams and exercised his right to purchase the rest of the team from the Rosenbloom family for a reported $750 million.
“Obviously, all of us know and respect Stan,” commissioner Roger Goodell said. “He’s been a terrific owner in the NFL and we’re confident he will continue to be a great owner.” Read More ...
By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer |
Elin insists she never clubbed party animal Tiger
WINDERMERE, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods’ ex-wife Elin Nordegren said she has “been through hell” since her husband’s infidelity surfaced but she never hit him, according to an interview released this morning.
Nordegren told People magazine she and Woods tried for months to reconcile the relationship.
In the end, a marriage “without trust and love” wasn’t good for anyone, she said.
On Thanksgiving night outside their Florida home, Woods drove his SUV over a fire hydrant and into a tree, setting off shocking revelations that sports’ biggest star had been cheating on his wife through multiple affairs.
The couple officially divorced Monday.
Nordegren told People that she never hit Woods on the night of the car crash.
“There was never any violence inside or outside our home,” she said. “The speculation that I would have used a golf club to hit him is just truly ridiculous.” Read More ...
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Bowden claims he was forced from Seminole teepee
NEW YORK (AP) — Bobby Bowden did not want to retire.
“Fired might be a little too strong,” the former Florida State coach said Tuesday in an interview with The Associated Press. “Pushed out ain’t bad. I was pushed out, no doubt about it. I didn’t want but one more year. Gosh, I’m 80.”
Bowden retired — at least technically — after Florida State went 7-6 last season, the third time in the last five seasons the Seminoles barely broke .500.
The coach doesn’t act bitter, but he wants to make sure the record is set straight.
“I didn’t want them to spread the story that I voluntarily, happily resigned,” said Bowden, who was in New York to begin a promotional tour for his new book, “Called to Coach.” Read More ...
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer |
Seasoned Simms is likely Vol QB
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Matt Simms’ experience managing an offense appears to be giving him the edge in Tennessee’s quarterback competition.
With one week of the Volunteers’ fall camp left, the junior who spent a year at Louisville and another at a junior college, is poised to become the team’s starter over freshman Tyler Bray when Tennessee begins preparing for the season opener against UT Martin next week.
“It’s the ability to process the situation, get the play, spit it out, distribute it to 10 people, line them up, get the motion and then here comes the play. It’s a whole-managing-the-offense deal,” Dooley said of what distinguished Simms from Bray.
Both players have displayed strong arms, completing long touchdown passes. In the team’s first two fall scrimmages, Simms combined to go 20-for-43 for 315 yards, and Bray was 27-for-50 for 399 yards. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
UT film development is sharpened practice
Tennessee rallied from a tough film session to produce one of its best practices of the fall on Monday.
“We had a great practice today,” head coach Derek Dooley said. “There was good spirit, good energy, guys were making plays and we had a good tempo. So it was a real good way to come back after a scrimmage and w\ got after it pretty good. We made some progress today.”
Dooley said review of Saturday’s situational scrimmage pretty much mirrored what he saw the first time.
“It was pretty consistent with the initial reaction. Our youth and inexperience really shows in critical situations. The whole scrimmage was a critical situation and, consequently, the whole scrimmage was not as good as it needed to be, especially on offense. The defense did a really good job.” Read More ...
By UT Sports Information |
Divorced Tiger to share cubs with Elin
Divorced. Single dad. Golf game still to be determined.
And so, after nine months of turmoil over his extramarital affairs, now begins the next chapter in the life and times of Tiger Woods.
In a hearing that lasted no more than 10 minutes in a Florida judge’s chambers, Woods and his Swedish-born wife officially divorced Monday.
“We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future,” Woods and Elin Nordegren said in a joint statement released by their lawyers.
The divorce was granted shortly after 2 p.m. in Bay County Circuit Court in Panama City, Fla., about 375 miles from their Isleworth home outside Orlando, where Woods drove his SUV over a fire hydrant and into a tree on Thanksgiving night.
That set off shocking revelations that sports’ biggest star had been cheating on his wife through multiple affairs.
Woods’ life and golf game have been in disarray ever since. Read More ...
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer |
Stitched-up Eli ready to return
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is back and ready to go.
Manning returned to practice Monday and left no doubt that he intends to play Saturday’s next-to-last preseason game against the Ravens in Baltimore.
“I’m feeling great,” Manning said. “Ready, excited about getting out to practice today and getting back into the action.”
Manning was held out of the Giants’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday because the team was concerned that a gash on the left side of his forehead would reopen if he was hit or that it would be irritated or infected by wearing his helmet.
The 12 stitches that were needed to close the wound were removed Friday, four days after the quarterback was cut in a game against the Jets.
“It’s no fun sitting out, sitting out practice last week,” Manning said. “At least it was a short week and I didn’t miss too much. I like being out there for the games. It is preseason and I was trying to be smart and make sure I get everything healed now where you have a little time.” Read More ...
By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer |
Bruceton 49er Willis fast to welcome Viking Favre back to NFL
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brett Favre fell backward onto the turf after a crushing sack from Bruceton native Patrick Willis, a play eerily similar to the hit he took from blitzing Kansas City linebacker Corey Mays in his first preseason game of 2009.
“I think the one last year was a little cleaner. That’s not to say that one was a lot of fun,” Favre said.
No wonder the 40-year-old quarterback was admittedly stiff after all of four plays and one series in his highly anticipated first game back with the Minnesota Vikings, a 15-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in a nationally televised preseason game that was the only NFL show of the night.
“We scripted that,” Vikings coach Brad Childress joked of Favre taking another blow.
Favre completed a 13-yard pass to Adrian Peterson on his first play from scrimmage but was sacked by Willis two plays later and the Vikings wound up punting. Favre took the field just four days after his first training camp practice of the year. He decided to return for a 20th season. Read More ...
By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer |
Giants cut down by Redbird rookie
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jaime Garcia piled up the outs so fast, the St. Louis Cardinals had to let the rookie finish.
The 24-year-old left-hander threw a three-hitter for his first career shutout, and first outing longer than seven innings, in a 9-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
The Cardinals have been babying Garcia along after he pitched only 372⁄3 innings last season in the minors coming off elbow reconstruction surgery. Learning from experience, Garcia said he didn’t peek at the scoreboard to check his pitch count.
“I’m doing a lot better at that, not thinking about things like that,” Garcia said. “That gets you out of the game. Just focus on the next pitch you’re going to make and that’s it.”
Garcia’s the first Cardinals rookie to throw a shutout since Bud Smith’s no-hitter at San Diego on Sept. 3, 2001, and the first to do it at home since Jose Jimenez on July 5, 1999, against Arizona. Read More ...
By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer |
Cubbie skipper Piniella says bye
CHICAGO (AP) — Baseball has been the fabric of Lou Piniella’s life. For 48 years, first as a player and then a manager, his passion for the game was undeniable. You could usually see it on his face.
Piniella was an aggressive, sharp-eyed hitting outfielder and an often fiery, sometimes raging, manager who’d cooled his act for the most part as manager of the Chicago Cubs over the past three-plus seasons.
When his ailing mother needed his attention, though, Piniella decided it was time to leave sooner than he’d expected and go home to Florida to take care of her.
And after his final game at Wrigley Field on Sunday, his emotions ran over in his postgame news conference. Saying goodbye was difficult. Read More ...
By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer |
Champ Alabama starting at the top
NEW YORK (AP) — Alabama will start this season where it ended last season.
The Crimson Tide is on top.
Coach Nick Saban has the Tide rolling the way Bear Bryant did in his day, first in The Associated Press preseason poll for the first time since 1978.
Alabama received 54 of 60 first-place votes from the media panel and 1,491 points to easily outdistance second-ranked Ohio State in the Top 25 released Saturday.
The Buckeyes, who have been ranked no lower than 11th in the last eight preseason polls, received three first-place votes.
Boise State is third, its best preseason ranking, following another undefeated season. Underdogs no more, the Broncos even received one first-place vote. Read More ...
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer |
Vol backup plan still sketchy
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee coach Derek Dooley is comfortable with most of his first-team players after the Volunteers’ final fall scrimmage.
It’s the backups he’s worried about.
The Vols spent Saturday working on specific situations, like running out the clock or needing to win late in the game, and those situations exposed the team’s young and inexperienced players.
“We need a ton of work at this stuff,” Dooley said. “The players that had experience were calm and played well, and the ones that didn’t (have experience) and are new and the freshmen really struggled.”
Two seasons of coaching turnovers prompted the departure of several would-be sophomores and juniors who would be filling the backup roles. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Busch brings out broom at Bristol to complete first-ever triple
BRISTOL (AP) — As Kyle Busch crossed the finish line for a three-race sweep, his crew quickly credited the driver for his role in the record-setting moment.
“We are in the presence of greatness,” a team member said over the radio.
Indeed, they were.
Busch completed an unprecedented sweep of three national races in one week, completing the trifecta with a victory in the Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He hoisted a broom in Victory Lane, where he made his third visit in four days.
“I’ve been trying to do this since I got to NASCAR,” said Busch, who has tried for a three-race sweep five times in his career.
“I love Bristol and I love winning. And to do it for the first time ever in NASCAR, to sweep the weekend, man, that’s pretty awesome.” Read More ...
By JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer |
Vol strength guru already (sweat)ing
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee strength and conditioning coach Bennie Wylie is hard to miss. He’s the 34-year-old dressed in sweats while running and lifting with the Volunteers in the steamy Knoxville summer heat.
His behind-the-scenes role has been twofold since coach Derek Dooley took over at Tennessee.
Wylie was tasked with getting the Vols back in shape over the summer while helping them bond after the turmoil of a second coaching turnover in as many years during a time when the other coaches had no access to the players.
According to the Vols, he’s succeeded at both tasks.
“We’ve gotten closer as a team just by the way we work,” senior defensive end Chris Walker said.
Wylie added a few extra running drills to the team’s workouts. He took a page out of basketball coach Bruce Pearl’s book and had the Vols do sprints up Neyland Stadium’s Gate 10 ramp all the way from street level to the upper deck of the 102,455-seat stadium. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Tide newbie Hill ineligible
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama freshman linebacker Alfy Hill has been ruled an academic nonqualifier and replaced on the Crimson Tide’s roster.
Alabama compliance director Mike Ward said Thursday that the NCAA’s eligibility clearinghouse didn’t accept certain classes taken by Hill as core courses for certification.
Hill had been on the Crimson Tide’s 105-man roster for preseason camp but got the ruling before the start of fall semester.
“I think there’s a little bit of a new emphasis on any kind of correspondence courses guys take,” coach Nick Saban said. “There’s just a new standard. For whatever reasons, and I don’t know all the details, a few of his courses were not accepted after they were reviewed. That put him as a nonqualifier.” Read More ...
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer |
Toppled Cards puzzling to most
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals are scuffling, so it’s a perfect time to face another contending team in the National League.
The Cardinals dropped four straight games against also-rans Chicago and Milwaukee for their first four-game losing streak at home since June 2009, leaving them three games behind NL Central-leading Cincinnati. And they swept the Reds a little over a week ago.
St. Louis is 10-5 against Cincinnati, and 15-18 against the Brewers, Cubs and Astros, mediocre teams in the top-heavy Central.
Even 17-game winner Adam Wainwright was dragged down during the home slide, pitching seven solid innings in a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday that dropped the right-hander to 11-1 at Busch Stadium this season.
“I think baseball is such a unique and funny game,” Wainwright said. “Some years you play great against good teams and bad against the bad teams. Read More ...
By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer |
Cards jammed by Hoff at end
ST. LOUIS (AP) — No shutout for Randy Wolf. No save for John Axford. And neither seemed to mind when Trevor Hoffman finished this one.
Hoffman struck out Brendan Ryan with the bases loaded for his 598th save and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the slumping St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Wednesday, handing 17-game winner Adam Wainwright his first home loss of the season.
Hoffman, baseball’s career saves leader, has two saves this month as the Brewers’ backup option behind Axford. Prior to that, his last save was on May 7.
“I was excited for that right away,” Axford said after a couple of fielding miscues led to him being pulled with two down. “I came in upset and right away I let it go.
“Hoffy’s out there and we’re cheering him on.” Read More ...
By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer |
Squeezing Cincy adds to cushion
PHOENIX (AP) — Dusty Baker rarely uses the squeeze bunt, let alone trying it with a 40-year-old on third base with one out in the ninth inning.
But Jim Edmonds showed some hustle scoring from third base on pinch-hitter Chris Heisey’s perfectly executed bunt that scored the go-ahead run as the Cincinnati Reds rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-7 on Wednesday night.
Heisey dropped his bunt down the third base line and beat the throw to first base. He eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Paul Janish, and the Reds, trailing 7-3 in the top of the eighth, struck for eight runs in the eighth and ninth in front of the smallest crowd in Diamondbacks history. Read More ...
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Braves bulk up with D-Lee deal
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves bulked up for the playoff race Wednesday, acquiring first baseman Derrek Lee from the Chicago Cubs.
The Braves sent three minor league pitchers to the Cubs, none of them considered top-level prospects.
Atlanta already had Troy Glaus at first base but, in an unexpected move, the team announced he’ll go on the 15-day disabled list. General manager Frank Wren wants Glaus to rest his legs for a week, then head to Triple-A Gwinnett to get in some work at his former position, third base.
Presumably, the Braves envision a lineup late in the season — and the playoffs — that could include both Lee and Glaus, though All-Star Martin Prado is still expected to get most of the work at third base in place of injured Chipper Jones.
As for Lee, he just wants another shot at the World Series. Read More ...
By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer |
Titan RB punch not as costly
NASHVILLE (AP) — This punch won’t be so costly for LeGarrette Blount.
The rookie running back capped off a feisty night practice for the Tennessee Titans with a short punch to the helmet of defensive end Eric Bakhtiari a few moments after having his own helmet ripped off for the second time in as many plays.
Blount had just returned to the Titans on Wednesday night after being excused since Sunday for personal reasons. He was carrying the ball in a drill near the goal line when his helmet came off, and he kept his feet moving toward the end zone.
The play ended with some pushing and shoving, then Blount threw a right into Bakhtiari’s facemask. Blount quickly talked to coach Jeff Fisher before leaving the field. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Vikings betting on Favre again
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Even Brett Favre was amazed by what he did last season as a 40-year-old quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
In his 19th season, Favre threw for 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns while setting career bests for completion rate (68.4), quarterback rating (107.2) and fewest interceptions (seven).
Remarkable numbers at any age.
“Never in my wildest dreams when we sat here last year would I have thought I would’ve played the way I did,” Favre said Wednesday after rejoining the Vikings. “I mean, look at 18 years previous. I never played that good.”
So Brett, can you do it again? Read More ...
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer |
Caddie says he and Tiger still linked
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealander Steve Williams doesn’t believe his job as Tiger Woods’ caddie is under any threat, despite media speculation about their 11-year association and concern over the champion golfer’s form.
Published in The Messenger 8.18.10 Read More ...
AP |
Immortal Giant Thomson passes
By BEN WALKER
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — We’ve heard the frenzied call forever, echoing through baseball lore.
“The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!”
Published in The Messenger 8.18.10 Read More ...
AP |
Cards need more than just Albert
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols seems to be hitting home runs off everybody these days, so Dave Bush had no reason to feel bad about serving up a long ball to the three-time NL MVP. The important thing was getting everyone else out.
Published in The Messenger 8.18.10 Read More ...
AP |
New UK ‘guard’ does job up north
WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) — John Wall may have departed for the riches of the NBA, but a pair of young guards appear ready to try and fill the void for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Freshmen Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb each scored 25 points and junior Darius Miller added 24 for Kentucky in a 104-75 win over the University of Windsor on Tuesday — the finale of a three-day, three-game exhibition trip to Canada for the Wildcats.
Published in The Messenger 8.18.10 Read More ...
AP |
Usual Favre drama follows similar script
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Brett Favre’s latest summer of indecision finally appears to be over.
Favre arrived in Minnesota on Tuesday and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in a Vikings helmet and red quarterback’s jersey when the team takes the field for practice on Wednesday.
Published in The Messenger 8.18.10 Read More ...
AP |
’11 Vols want out of Tar Heel trip
By BETH RUCKER
AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee wants to eliminate a trip to North Carolina from its 2011 football schedule, even if it means paying a $750,000 buyout of a contract with the Tar Heels.
Published in The Messenger 8.18.10 Read More ...
AP |
Dooley memo: DL top priority
By BETH RUCKER
AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee coach Derek Dooley is looking for some tackles and ends to fill vacancies on his defensive line. But he’s finding the guys competing for the jobs aren’t very distinguishable from one another.
Published in The Messenger 8.18.10 Read More ...
AP |
Rocked Card Lohse still in good graces
ST. LOUIS (AP) — After getting smacked around in his comeback start, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse left Busch Stadium not knowing what was next.
The rough outing did nothing to wreck his standing with the Cardinals, who need the right-hander to get back in stride for the stretch drive.
“He did some good things and had some problems and stuff,” manager Tony La Russa said after Lohse was touched for seven runs in three innings in Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Cubs. “We’re confident in him, that’s why he got the ball.”
Lohse is 1-5 with an unsightly 6.79 ERA following his first outing since undergoing forearm surgery in late May.
He was a 15-game winner in 2008, and the Cardinals, who felt they were so short in pitching that they parted with outfielder Ryan Ludwick to acquire starter Jake Westbrook at the trade deadline, are hopeful he can regain that form.
The first time out, there was one positive sign. After failing to retire any of the five batters he faced in the six-run fourth, Lohse didn’t trudge off the mound holding his arm in pain. Read More ...
By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer |
Vol duo deemed ineligible
KNOXVILLE (AP) — The NCAA has informed Tennessee that defensive tackle John Brown and athlete Marcques Dixon are academically ineligible to play this season. Read More ...
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Braves clutch again
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves struggled for eight innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
They came through in their last at-bat — again.
Atlanta trailed by two after the Dodgers scored two unearned runs in the eighth, but the Braves recovered with three runs in the ninth inning Monday night for their 20th final at-bat victory of the season, the most in the majors.
Melky Cabrera’s bases-loaded, two-run single off Octavio Dotel capped the three-run rally that lifted the Braves to a 4-3 win over the Dodgers.
“We don’t give up,” said Alex Gonzalez, who had a single to start the winning rally. “We’ve got a good offense. All those guys took great at-bats.” Read More ...
By CHARLES ODUM, AP Sports Writer |
Cut by Eli results in gash
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Quarterback Eli Manning changed a play near the goal line without telling anyone on the New York Giants offense and paid a price.
Manning was knocked out of the Giants’ preseason game with the New York Jets on Monday night after suffering a three-inch gash to the left side of his temple that required 12 stitches to close.
The Giants say Manning showed no signs of a concussion and was sent home by the Giants’ medical staff.
His status for Saturday’s night preseason game in New Jersey against the Pittsburgh Steelers is uncertain.
“I feel fine. I feel normal,” Manning said in a statement released by the team. “The play was my fault. We had a run play with an option to throw a fade that I thought I might try, but Brandon (Jacobs) was coming right up the middle. Sometimes you make a mistake and you get hit in the head. It’s preseason, you learn from it.” Read More ...
By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer |
Tiger misses cut, could be wildcard
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Tiger Woods remained No. 1 in the world ranking Monday, though not even close to that on two lists — the Ryder Cup and FedEx Cup — that mean much more these days.
Woods failed to qualify for the Ryder Cup for the first time — he had led the standings every other time since 1997 — and now must rely on U.S. captain Corey Pavin spending one of four wild-card picks on him.
In a hotel conference room Monday, Pavin sat at the head table between two poster boards, each showing the final standings for the eight American qualifiers. Woods’ name was nowhere to be found between Phil Mickelson at No. 1 and Matt Kuchar at No. 8.
Pavin would only say that Woods is “high on my list” and will be a “big consideration” when he announces his selections Sept. 7.
“I’m looking at him in essence like any other player. He isn’t ... but he is,” Pavin said. “I’m certainly not going to disrespect other players by considering him different from other players. I have to look at the way he’s playing, the way he played, and I have to look at his body of work as well. If anyone can turn it around quickly, it’s him.” Read More ...
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer |
Ref ‘holds’ apology for awhile, says sorry to Titan CJ
NASHVILLE (AP) — A few months late, Tennessee fullback Ahmard Hall says referee Ed Hochuli apologized to him for the holding call on Jan. 3 at Seattle that wiped out a 62-yard gain by Chris Johnson.
The running back still became only the sixth man in NFL history to reach 2,000 yards, finishing with 2,006.
But that 62-yard run in the fourth quarter of the regular season finale would have put the All Pro close enough the Titans would have kept handing him the ball to chase Eric Dickerson’s NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards.
Hall said Monday that Hochuli apologized to both himself, Johnson and the entire team during the referee’s four days spent working the Titans’ training camp between Aug. 4 and 7.
The fullback first told The Tennessean about the apology before the Titans’ preseason opening 20-18 loss Saturday night.
The fullback said it was good to get closure on the whole situation. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Dooley homework involved UT past
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Derek Dooley did a little Big Orange homework of his own before teaching the Tennessee Volunteers the Xs and Os of his playbook.
He met with former Tennessee coaches and players to talk about the team’s traditions, history and what it will take to get the Vols back to being a national powerhouse. The people he has met say he’s the right person to help rebuild the program but has a tough road ahead of him. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Victorious Harvick in Chase
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — He already had horsepower, handling and the points lead. Now Kevin Harvick has a win this season at a track other than Talladega or Daytona.
Harvick passed Denny Hamlin with 11 laps to go Sunday, then held on to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup series race at Michigan International Speedway.
It’s yet another sign that Richard Childress Racing is back after a disappointing 2009, and Harvick is the championship favorite with only three more races left before the Chase.
“Everybody was embarrassed last year, and we’ve really been running pretty well since probably the last six or eight weeks of last year,” said Harvick, who formally clinched a spot in the Chase. “It didn’t just happen today.” Read More ...
By CHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writer |
Fisher not set to count out resilient Titan Stafon Johnson
NASHVILLE (AP) — Rookie Stafon Johnson has a game ball from his NFL debut. He also has had his dislocated right ankle repaired, and Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher isn’t ready to call the running back’s season over just yet.
Johnson tweeted Sunday he was fresh out of surgery.
This is the running back whose senior season at Southern California was ended in September when a barbell crushed his neck and larynx, leaving him to learn how to talk again and trying to play his way into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He promised before surgery he’ll be back better than before. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Ex-wife alleges Wright had dope
MEMPHIS (AP) — The ex-wife of slain former NBA player Lorenzen Wright told police she saw him leave her home carrying money and a box of drugs the night he disappeared, according to court documents obtained Wednesday.
Sherra Wright said her ex-husband left her home at 10:30 p.m. on July 18 with the drugs, returned a short time later, then left again with an unspecified amount of money, said an affidavit for a search warrant by Memphis police Sgt. W.D. Merritt.
Before he left, Sherra Wright said she overheard her ex-husband on the telephone telling someone that he was going to “flip something for $110,000,” the document said.
Sherra Wright said Lorenzen Wright left her home in a car with a person she said she could not identify.
Hours later, police dispatchers received a 911 call from Wright’s cell phone and heard noises like gunshots before the call was dropped. Read More ...
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Pavin denies Tiger a lock
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — In an argument as acrimonious as any Ryder Cup match, a Golf Channel reporter pointed his finger at Corey Pavin’s chest and accused the U.S. captain of lying about comments that Tiger Woods will be picked for the team.
Jim Gray approached Pavin after a news conference Wednesday, and they stood no more than a foot apart, facing off as if they were in the middle of a boxing ring. Pavin’s wife, Lisa, pulled out her mobile phone and recorded the conversation.
Pavin said Gray called him “a liar” and said, “You’re going down.” Read More ...
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer |
Ex-Titan Bulluck eyes ‘Giant’ task
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Keith Bulluck is in a new position with the New York Giants, and it has nothing to do with playing middle linebacker.
In many ways, the 11-year NFL veteran is starting over. He has moved from the Tennessee Titans to the Giants and is coming off major knee surgery.
That’s not the biggest adjustment for the 33-year-old player. Bulluck is playing with the Giants’ second-team defense, watching third-year pro Jonathan Goff take snaps with the regulars.
While that all could change before the regular season begins against Carolina on Sept. 12, Bulluck has work to do.
Bulluck is still building his body seven months after surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. To be honest, there are times he appears to be a step slow. Read More ...
By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer |
Peyton studying as much as ever
ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) — Howard Mudd spent five decades playing or coaching in the NFL.
He’s never been around a student such as Peyton Manning.
From the moment Indy’s franchise quarterback walked into Anderson University’s gym in 1998, Mudd could tell this guy was going to be different. The No. 1 pick went right to work studying the playbook, the protections, anything to give him an edge. He poured over film, took meticulous notes and met with teammates regularly to discuss ideas. Heck, he wouldn’t even talk Tennessee football because he was too busy learning the NFL game.
Manning’s thirst for knowledge never could be quenched in his rookie season, and 12 years, one Super Bowl ring and four MVP awards later, it still hasn’t.
“His preparation has never wavered,” said Mudd, the recently retired Colts offensive line coach. “Every single year, his intensity, his preparation is exactly the same — or greater. To me, that is his brilliance.”
Mudd understands what it takes to be successful at football’s highest-profile job.
After coaching with six different teams and working with quarterbacks ranging from Hall of Famers Dan Fouts and Warren Moon to quality starters such as Bernie Kosar and even busts such as Rick Mirer, Mudd knows some win with their physical skills, others with their brains. Read More ...
By MICHAEL MAROT, AP Sports Writer |
Rebel flag could cost Ole Miss
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Confederate symbol on the Mississippi flag could hurt the state’s bid to host the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament starting in 2012 because some people find the emblem offensive, a top conference official said Tuesday.
“It would not be a 100 percent deal breaker on any kind of bid that Jackson may submit. However, it would be something we would have to consider in evaluating all the bids,” Craig Mattox, the SEC assistant commissioner for championships, told The Associated Press.
South Carolina has encountered a similar problem for the past decade because of the NAACP’s boycott over a Confederate flag on the statehouse grounds. Shortly after the boycott started on Jan. 1, 2000, the NCAA executive committee decided it wouldn’t award predetermined championships like basketball regionals to South Carolina. Read More ...
By EMILY WAGSTER, Associated Press Writer |
Offensive Vols make big splash
Tauren Poole set an immediate tone for Tennessee’s offense on Tuesday, bursting through the line for a 49-yard run that certainly caught the attention of his head coach if not the entire team.
“If there’s one lesson coming out of this first scrimmage, it’s if you’re not mentally ready to play you’re going to get your tail whipped,” Derek Dooley said after the Vols worked for 90 minutes inside Neyland Stadium. “I thought the offense was mentally ready to play and the defense wasn’t. And the offense kept the pressure on — running the ball, play-action, making some big third-down plays.”
Matt Simms started at quarterback and completed 9-of-21 passes for 80 yards and a three-yard touchdown to Luke Stocker. Freshman Tyler Bray added 11-of-22 completions for 153 yards and a tipped-TD pass of 49 yards later in the afternoon to Denarius Moore. Read More ...
By UT Sports Information |
Veteran Edmonds wearing ‘Red’ again
CINCINNATI (AP) — The National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds got Jim Edmonds from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade for Chris Dickerson on Monday, strengthening their outfield for a playoff run.
The deal gives the Reds a proven outfielder as they try to fend off St. Louis and reach the playoffs for the first time since 1995. The Reds led the Cardinals by two games heading into their three-game showdown in Cincinnati starting Monday night.
Edmonds was in the starting lineup in center field, batting fifth against Chris Carpenter. Manager Dusty Baker envisions a part-time role for the 40-year-old outfielder, who seemed invigorated by the chance to be part of another playoff chase.
Milwaukee was third in the division at the time of the trade, 11 games out. The Reds are in a two-team race with St. Louis, which was Edmonds’ team from 2000-07. Read More ...
By JOE KAY, AP Sports Writer |
Skip HR is grand to Cards
CINCINNATI (AP) — Skip Schumaker watched the ball fly as he headed for first base, unsure whether it had enough to create a little personal history.
Just enough.
Schumaker hit his first career grand slam during the St. Louis Cardinals’ biggest inning of the season Monday night, providing Chris Carpenter with more than enough runs on that one swing to beat the Cincinnati Reds for the ninth time in a row.
The 7-3 win got the Cardinals off to an impressive start in their showdown for first place. St. Louis moved within one game of the Reds, who have been atop the division for the past week.
“It’s a good start,” Schumaker said. Read More ...
By JOE KAY, AP Sports Writer |
Patient Poole is now Vol RB
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tauren Poole seriously considered leaving Tennessee after a 2009 season that found him as low as fourth on the Volunteers’ running back depth chart.
He had dazzled his teammates and fans during last season’s spring and fall camps with his speed and knack for evading tackles. As a sophomore he knew he didn’t have much of a chance at unseating senior leader Montario Hardesty as the starter but was still surprised to find himself behind freshmen Bryce Brown and David Oku.
“I performed well in the offseason last year. Every time. It was unfortunate that I didn’t get that shot, but it made me the person that I am today,” Poole said.
Poole’s patience has paid off, and now the Toccoa, Ga., native is poised to become a starter under new coach Derek Dooley.
His stats aren’t indicative of someone who’s a surefire starter.
He gained 86 yards on 22 carries as a freshman in 2008. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Titans going deep within secondary
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Titans’ cornerbacks Jason McCourty and Ryan Mouton are back, having survived their rookie trial by touchdowns.
Injuries forced the first-year players to start together in just their sixth NFL game last season — a 59-0 rout at New England last October as the Titans stumbled to an 0-6 start.
The Titans are taking no chances this year making sure there’s plenty of depth in the secondary to go with three starters who were Pro Bowlers in 2008. They signed former No. 1 draft pick Tye Hill, kept Rod Hood and drafted Alterraun Verner out of UCLA in the fourth round to find someone to start opposite Cortland Finnegan. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Masoli to make most of last shot
New Mississippi quarterback Jeremiah Masoli knows this is his last chance.
Masoli met with reporters Monday for the first time since joining the Rebels late last week and made clear he understands the remainder of his college career hangs on his ability to stay out of trouble.
“I was just happy to have that opportunity and to get this chance, and thankful to Ole Miss, the athletics director and the chancellor for giving me my last chance,” Masoli told reporters during media day. “I understand that and I’m determined to do everything with it.” Read More ...
By CHRIS TALBOTT, Associated Press Writer |
Last stop is HOF for Rice, Emmitt
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith can stop the chase now.
Linked as the NFL’s leading receiver and rusher, two of the greatest players football has seen entered the Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Both admitted their destinies are fulfilled.
“This is finally it,” Rice said. “There are no more routes to run, no more touchdowns to score, no more records to set. That young boy from Mississippi has finally stopped running.
“Let me stand here and catch my breath.”
An hour later, Smith tried to hold back his tears as he reflected on his unequaled career. Read More ...
By BARRY WILNER, AP Football Writer |
New leaders starting to speak up for Titans
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans look, and sound, dramatically different this training camp.
Linebacker Keith Bulluck is keeping practices lively with the New York Giants, and end Kyle Vanden Bosch is sprinting full-speed at quarterbacks in Detroit. Center Kevin Mawae, the veteran who kept the offensive line loose, is keeping busy waiting for his telephone to ring.
The loss of that trio of vocal veterans has left a leadership void, and coach Jeff Fisher has heard a lot of questions about who his new leaders are. Remember, this franchise opened 0-6 last season yet finished 8-8 — the first NFL team ever to finish at .500 after such a winless start.
“I don’t have any reservations whatsoever about the lack of or concerns about it,” Fisher said. “We’ve got a good locker room. We have young players emerging at each of the positions. This team has had a great foundation laid here over the years and the decades.” Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
NCAA taking a look at Vols
KNOXVILLE (AP) — The NCAA has interviewed several current and former Tennessee coaches and recruits regarding an investigation into possible recruiting violations, people with knowledge of the probe have told The Associated Press.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
ESPN reported Friday that Tennessee expects to receive a letter of inquiry soon about possible violations under former coach Lane Kiffin and his staff.
After practice at Southern California on Friday, Kiffin restated his opinion that the investigation won’t find any wrongdoing. The coach also said the NCAA investigators will be in Los Angeles at some point this fall to interview assistant coaches who followed Kiffin from Knoxville to Los Angeles earlier this year. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Haynesworth finally passes test
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — After passing the Washington Redskins’ conditioning test, Albert Haynesworth was in no shape to practice.
Haynesworth finally conquered the 300-yard shuttle runs Saturday morning and was allowed to put on the pads for the first time at training camp, ending a will-he-or-won’t-he spectacle that lasted a week and a half, made him the butt of jokes nationwide and overshadowed everything else at Redskins Park.
Coach Mike Shanahan had said Haynesworth could not practice until passing the test, and the showdown was seen as a statement of a new coach’s uncompromising authority that wouldn’t bend even for a two-time All-Pro with a $100 million contract.
“He probably doesn’t like me very much right now,” Shanahan said, “but I’m not here to be liked. I’m here to get him to play, and hopefully he’ll play at a very high level.”
Merely passing the test took enough of a toll to keep Haynesworth from getting through a full practice. After doing some defense drills — blocking sleds, recovering fumbles, etc. — he had a huge wrap put on his persistently sore left knee midway through the session and became a spectator again during the offense-vs.-defense team drills. Read More ...
By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer |
Montoya ruckus is celebration
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — It’s all quiet now in Juan Pablo Montoya’s corner at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. No shouting or cursing. A near-perfect race has the No. 42 team feeling pretty darn good for a change.
The hard-driving Colombian erased 113 races of futility on Sunday, winning a long duel with Marcos Ambrose and the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International.
“It’s nice,” Montoya said after his second Cup win — the other coming on the road course at Sonoma in 2007. “We executed right. We did what we had to all day and we really ran smart. The last few weeks have been really frustrating for the whole team because we’ve been so close to victory and it seemed to keep slipping away.” Read More ...
By JOHN KEKIS, AP Sports Writer |
Titan CB Finnegan to battle best
NASHVILLE (AP) — Moving from right to left sounds simple enough, unless you’re an NFL cornerback switching sides of the field.
Welcome to Cortland Finnegan’s world.
Both Finnegan and the Titans want the option of matching the right cornerback up against an opponent’s best receiver — no matter where the wideout lines up.
So everything becomes opposite for Finnegan on the left side of the field.
He has to change how he breaks on receivers, which hand he sticks out to gauge where his man is and even how much space he leaves between them.
The challenge: Learning it so well the moves become instinct rather than thought. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Confused Titan Britt not OKed for ‘drive’
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Titans receiver Kenny Britt said Thursday confusion over a misplaced driver’s license led to his being ticketed for driving without a license and being late for curfew during training camp.
Britt said he lost his license and went to the Department of Safety in Tennessee for a new one when he was told New Jersey had placed a hold on his license. Needing identification to board a plane, Britt was issued a photo I.D.
“I asked the lady if I found my license would it be OK to drive. She said OK. I found my old license. I also had a paper from New Jersey to release my license, but I never went back to motor vehicles. The lady said I was OK with the license in my hand,” Britt said after practice. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Pitino extorter deemed as guilty
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky woman was convicted Thursday of demanding millions of dollars from Rick Pitino to keep secret their one-night stand in a restaurant, then claiming the Louisville basketball coach raped her after he reported the extortion.
Karen Cunagin Sypher, 50, of Louisville, was found guilty of three counts of extortion, two counts of lying to the FBI and one count of retaliating against a witness. She stared at the ceiling as the verdict was read, while one of her sons wept openly.
The case involved a 2003 sexual encounter between Pitino and Sypher, a former model at car shows, at a table inside a restaurant closed for the night. Pitino testified she came on to him and the sex was consensual. After she was charged, Sypher told police it was rape but Pitino was never charged. Read More ...
By BRETT BARROUQUERE and WILL GRAVES, Associated Press Writers |
Shaq gets green from Celtics
BOSTON (AP) — Shaquille O’Neal has changed The Big Three of the Boston Celtics into a Very Big Four.
The 7-foot-1, 325-pound center in the twilight of a brilliant career is coming to the Eastern Conference champions, hoping to add to his four NBA titles.
O’Neal signed a two-year contract worth about $3 million on Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said on condition of anonymity because no details were released.
So this is where Shaq’s colorful career will end after 20 seasons if he completes his contract with the Celtics.
One of the NBA’s most charismatic players will finish with a legendary franchise on the parquet floor beneath 17 championship banners and the retired numbers of Bill Russell, Larry Bird, John Havlicek and other NBA greats. Read More ...
By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer |
USC inner battles costly
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California cornerback T.J. Bryant had surgery on his left cheekbone Thursday after getting into a fight with teammate Stanley Havili last week.
New USC head coach Lane Kiffin said Bryant will be out for at least three weeks, decreasing his chances of winning a starting job. The Trojans haven’t decided whether Havili will face disciplinary action.
“It’s something we’re not excited about right now, but we’re looking into it,” Kiffin said of the scuffle, which happened last Friday during the players’ final conditioning workout before the official start of training camp. Read More ...
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer |
Tide is top team in initial polling
TYSONS CORNER, Va. (AP) — Defending national champion Alabama is No. 1 atop the USA Today preseason coaches’ poll.
Boise State will begin the season ranked No. 5. The Broncos, like Alabama, finished last season 14-0. They beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Crimson Tide got 55 of 59 possible first place votes. The other four went to Ohio State, which is No. 2 in the newspaper’s ranking.
Florida is third, followed by Texas, which lost to Alabama in the BCS title game in January. Read More ...
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Vols do ‘splits’ in practice
KNOXVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Volunteers won’t don pads during practice for a few days. Their coaches are still planning on getting as much out of them as possible in the mean time.
For the first three practices, veterans and newcomers are reporting separately. The split squads give coach Derek Dooley and his staff a chance to give players more individual attention and drill them a little harder with extra repetitions.
“The tempos are quicker, and there’s not a lot of breaks in between,” Dooley said Wednesday. “I think once they get used to it they’ll see the value in it, but it’s a little different because you have half the squad gone so it’s ones, it’s twos, it’s ones, it’s twos.”
Sophomore linebacker Greg King and sophomore defensive tackle Marlon Walls joined the veterans for their first practice on Wednesday afternoon after returning from a monthlong suspension. King and Walls were suspended following a July 9 bar brawl that left an off-duty police officer severely injured and another bar patron bruised. Read More ...
By BETH RUCKER, AP Sports Writer |
Titans camp under lights
NASHVILLE (AP) — Jeff Fisher already had practice scheduled for under the lights. The Tennessee Titans coach’s timing couldn’t have been much better.
The temperature in Nashville hit 101 degrees, and the field hit more than 120 degrees when gauged Wednesday afternoon. By the time the Titans hit the field at night, it had cooled off to a balmy 98.
The Titans worked in full pads for the first time in training camp. They also had the help from NFL officials, including referee Ed Hochuli. The officials will be with the Titans through Saturday as they learn the league’s rule changes. Read More ...
By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer |
Moore ’Bama AD for the long haul
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama athletic director Mal Moore is reaping rewards from the success of Alabama’s football program and recent facilities upgrades.
The University of Alabama system board of trustees’ compensation committee voted Wednesday to extend Moore’s contract through June 30, 2014, and give him a six-figure raise.
The football team is coming off its first national title since 1992 and Bryant-Denny Stadium will seat 101,821 this season after its latest round of expansion. Read More ...
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer |
Tide to carry on while NCAA digs
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s Nick Saban didn’t have anything new on the NCAA investigation of Marcell Dareus, though his star defensive end will practice with the rest of the team when fall camp begins today.
The Crimson Tide coach said Wednesday that the probe into whether Dareus violated rules with a spring trip to Miami’s South Beach is in the hands of the NCAA.
Saban made it clear he expects Dareus to keep his focus on the field even while his status for the Sept. 4 opener with San Jose State remains in limbo. Read More ...
By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer |
Flip-flopping Favre may play
MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Brett Favre’s flip-flopping is at full throttle, the surest sign yet that training camp is under way in Minnesota.
Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, said Wednesday that the veteran quarterback plans to return to the team if he is healthy. The 40-year-old Favre is still rehabbing his surgically repaired left ankle that he injured in the NFC title game loss at New Orleans.
“I know it’s a decision that he wrestles with,” Bevell said after a morning practice as Favre was throwing the ball around with high school students in Mississippi. “He’s a great player. He’s a great competitor. He mulls things over. He’s an emotional guy. So he thinks things through long and hard and takes his time with his decision. So I’m not surprised that things started to come out. We just have to wait and see.” Read More ...
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer |
A-Rod finally gets HR No. 600
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez needed exactly three years — not a day more or less — to jump from 500 home runs to 600.
Reaching 700 may take a while longer. And 800 — well, too early to think about.
“So much of it depends on health,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s probably maybe going to get more days off.”
A-Rod became the youngest member of the 600-home run club on Wednesday, at 35 years, 8 days joining an exclusive but expanding group that includes Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630) and Sammy Sosa (609). The next youngest was Ruth at 36 years, 196 days, in 1931, though he did it in 183 fewer games.
Among active players, Jim Thome (577) is second, followed by Manny Ramirez (554), Chipper Jones (435), Vladimir Guerrero (428), Jason Giambi (412) and Andruw Jones (403). Only Albert Pujols, with 393 at a relatively young 301⁄2, is likely to have a chance to reach 700 along with Rodriguez. Read More ...
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer |
No test for sore Haynesworth
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Albert Haynesworth’s sore knee has kept him from taking the Washington Redskins conditioning test for the third straight day.
The Haynesworth soap opera entered its second week today when the two-time All-Pro defensive lineman again didn’t attempt the test he needs to pass in order to practice with the team. Read More ...
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Goodell talks shop on Madden bus
ABOARD THE MADDEN CRUISER (AP) — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is a man with plenty on his mind, of course.
Leaning back with legs crossed while sitting in a green paisley bench aboard the 45-foot-long bus owned by John Madden, Goodell addressed a variety of the topics facing his league during an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press: Read More ...
By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Sports Writer |
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