January 2010
Published on: 10th January, 2010
New York Jets defeat Cincinnati Bengals in AFC wild-card playoff game |
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Another Jets rookie, Shonn Greene, plays a huge role in New York’s playoff victory.
CINCINNATI — One playoff game into his career, Mark Sanchez is giving a pretty good off-Broadway performance.
So are the rest of the New York Jets, who are no longer an overlooked team after dismantling the AFC North champions twice within a week.
Any more doubters?
With their rookie quarterback playing mistake-free, the Jets turned their surprising playoff appearance into a long-running production Saturday. Sanchez threw a touchdown pass, and the NFL’s top running game took it from there, setting up a 24-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
"It’s pretty special," Sanchez said. "It’s got nothing to do with me."
Actually, the Jets’ first playoff win since 2004 had everything to do with him.
Playing in single-digit wind chills against a defense that tried its best to put the game in his hands, Sanchez went 12 of 15 for 182 yards and a stratospheric passer rating of 139.4.
Mark Sanchez does what the Jets’ coaches ask, and the result is a playoff win.
Considered the Jets’ weakest link heading into the playoffs, he became their focal point, getting his first playoff win ahead of Carson Palmer, his boyhood idol.
"He had the eye of the tiger today and he was ready to get out there and throw it around," coach Rex Ryan said. "I see him getting better and better each day on the practice field. What a job he’s done. I think he’s tired of hearing he’s the weak link on this football team."
He wasn’t the only rookie making plays under pressure for New York (10-7). Third-round pick Shonn Greene ran for 135 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown, leading a running game that churned out 171 yards for a rare back-to-back sweep of the Bengals (10-7).
Cedric Benson ran for a Bengals-record 169 yards in a playoff game, but Cincinnati managed little else. Its streak without a playoff win reached 19 years and counting.
The Jets?
"They might have a chance to make a move," said Palmer, who was off-target and under pressure most of the game. "Their defense is that good."
Take Palmer’s word for that.
Cincinnati went to the Meadowlands six days earlier and got turned into road kill. The Jets ran for 257 yards, and the Bengals managed a total of 72 yards, with Chad Ochocinco getting shut out. Little changed the second time around — Ochocinco had two catches for 28 yards in the rematch.
"This was a great team effort," said Ryan, who won in his playoff debut as a head coach. "We’re a good football team. If people don’t believe that, they soon will."
No one should count the Jets out now, not the way their coach did two weeks ago. Ryan thought the Jets were out of contention following a 10-7 loss to the Falcons that was set up by Sanchez’s three interceptions. Then, everything lined up in their favor.
The Colts pulled their starters a week later, allowing the Jets to rally for a win, while four other playoff contenders lost. Then, the Bengals showed up at the Meadowlands and lost 37-0 with little at stake.
Ryan’s father, Buddy, was the defensive line coach for the ‘69 Jets, who won the Super Bowl title that Broadway Joe Namath had guaranteed. These Jets came into the playoffs as an off-Broadway show, lacking a star quarterback who could deliver a win.
Until Saturday.
Sanchez looked like a playoff pro, joining Shaun King, Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger as rookie quarterbacks to win postseason starts. At times, Sanchez found himself on the sideline soaking it all in.
"It just blows your mind," he said. "It’s unbelievable. I hope I have this feeling next week."
Bengals QB Carson Palmer was sacked three times by the Jets’ top-ranked defense.
Sanchez was by far the lowest-ranked passer in the playoffs, throwing 20 interceptions in his rookie season — second-most in the league. The Bengals wanted to put the game in his hands. Playing without a glove on his passing hand in an 8-degree wind chill, the kid from Southern California handled it without a bobble.
Afterward, the team presented a game ball to owner Woody Johnson, whose daughter, Casey, was found dead in her Los Angeles home on Monday. Johnson’s eyes were red as he left the locker room.
The Jets also had a scare at the outset when punter Steve Weatherford was ruled out because of dizziness and an elevated heartbeat. Kicker Jay Feely punted for the first time in his NFL career, averaging 31 yards on seven kicks. He also made 20-yard field goal with 5:47 to go that put Cincinnati too far behind.
"I was so happy that I was kicking a field goal (then) instead of punting," Feely said. "That was great."
The Jets pulled ahead 14-7 by halftime with two big plays off Sanchez’s hand. He faked a handoff and made a perfect pitchout to Greene, who needed only one block to find open space for a 39-yard touchdown run, the longest of his career.
In the second quarter, Sanchez caught the Bengals off-guard. He rolled to his right and found tight end Dustin Keller running uncovered beyond the secondary. The throw was perfect, and Keller kept his balance for the last 15 yards while safety Chinedum Ndukwe vainly tried to knock him out of bounds.
At halftime, Sanchez was 7 of 10 for 94 yards with a passer rating of 132.9. It could have been even better — Braylon Edwards let a pass slip through his hands in the end zone.
Sanchez led an eight-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in Thomas Jones’ 9-yard run for a 21-7 lead late in the third quarter. Benson broke a 47-yard touchdown run — the longest in Bengals playoff history — that got Cincinnati within a touchdown, but Sanchez and Greene turned it on again.
The game ended with a little more Jets serendipity. Shayne Graham, the Bengals’ franchise-tagged player, missed two field goals in the second half, including a 28-yarder with 3:49 to go that essentially sealed it.
NOTES: Greene was the third rookie since 2000 to rush for 100 yards in a playoff game. … Feely had one punt in college and didn’t punt in high school. … Bengals LB Rashad Jeanty broke his left leg on the opening kickoff. … Bengals WRs Laveranues Coles (thumb) and Andre Caldwell (ankle) suffered injuries in the second quarter, but returned in the second half. … Palmer said he’ll have surgery on his left (non-throwing) thumb, which he injured in the fifth game of the season. He wore a removable brace for the rest of the season.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Published on: 10th January, 2010
Cardinals must be wary of 'extraordinary' Woodson |
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The Green Bay Packers pounded the Arizona Cardinals in August when it mattered not. They pounded them again last week when it mattered only a little. Now the teams will meet for a third time at Arizona in a game that matters a whole lot.
The winner of today’s playoff game will advance to the next round and keep its Super Bowl dream alive. The Cardinals know what they have to do to be that team.
"We have to play better than we played in the previous two games," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt understated to reporters this past week.
Here are five story lines to follow in the final game of this wild-card weekend:
Arizona’s walking wounded
Three Cardinals starters are questionable after injuries in last week’s game. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin (high left ankle sprain, left knee sprain), cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (bruised left kneecap) and free safety Antrel Rolle (bruised thigh) all missed parts, or all, of practice this week. In addition, defensive end Calais Campbell has a broken thumb and is wearing a cast.
Losing Boldin would be a blow to Arizona’s passing attack. Without him, Steve Breaston would be the starter opposite Larry Fitzgerald and Early Doucet would step in as the No. 3 man.
"You don’t replace guys like that," quarterback Kurt Warner told reporters.
"You just can’t plug somebody else in and get the same productivity, the same leadership and the same competitiveness."
Third down, Packers
Trying to stop Green Bay from moving the chains and keeping drives alive will be a challenge for Arizona. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers led the NFL in third-down passing this season. His statistics were eye-popping: 67.5 completion percentage, 14 touchdowns and no interceptions.
"I don’t like throwing interceptions, and I don’t like not converting third downs," Rodgers said. "It’s a heightened sense of focus and something we work on in practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday."
Watch out for Woodson
Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson is 33 and in his 12th season, but he has played lights out. He is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year after tying for the league lead in interceptions (nine), including one he returned 45 yards for a touchdown in last week’s game.
Woodson just doesn’t line up and cover wide receivers. In Green Bay’s 3-4 defense, he’ll blitz from the slot, play the role of "rover" in the middle, and sometimes play safety.
"I think Charles is extraordinary," Packers coach Mike McCarthy told Arizona reporters during a conference call. "He has really given (coordinator) Dom Capers and our defensive staff a lot of flexibility as far as the way we can use him."
Covering Fitzgerald
Although Fitzgerald will be the biggest playmaker on the field, don’t expect him to be matched up against Woodson the whole game. When Woodson moves inside to the slot, the challenge of covering Fitzgerald will fall to cornerback Tramon Williams, who became a starter when Al Harris suffered a season-ending injury, or Jarrett Bush, who replaced Williams as the nickel back.
Bush has allowed several pass plays of 20 or more yards. He often appears to be in good coverage position but struggles to make a play on the ball.
Warner’s blind side
When Mike Gandy suffered a season-ending injury last month, Jeremy Bridges became the Cardinals’ left tackle. He played well against Vikings end Jared Allen in Week 13. Now he faces another pass-rushing threat in Packers rookie outside linebacker Clay Matthews (10 sacks).
The Cardinals can give Bridges occasional help with a tight end or a running back chipping Matthews, but with all of the spread formations they use, Bridges will be matched up one-on-one against Matthews often.
This story appears in Jan. 10’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
Published on: 9th January, 2010
Going pro: Carroll's move to Seattle spurs questions |
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Pete Carroll has reportedly agreed to terms to become the new coach of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and leave the monster of a program he built at USC. Sporting News’ Matt Hayes addresses three burning questions the move raises:
1. Can he succeed? No. His 33-31 regular-season record (1-2 in the postseason) with the Jets and Patriots in the 1990s is much more the norm than exception in the coach-eating league. The NFL is set up for parity; the Pac-10 was set up for USC to dominate.
2. Will USC disappear? No. But the program won’t be nearly as dominant without Carroll’s dynamic personality wooing elite recruits. That unique campus and those magnificent facilities (that’s sarcasm) weren’t landing recruits.
3. Who’s best suited for the USC job? If one NFL washout works, why not another? Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, a USC alum, is treading water in Jacksonville. A defense-first, charismatic coach — haven’t we seen this before?
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
This story will appear in the January 10 edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Published on: 9th January, 2010
Washburn rejects Twins' one-year offer |
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Sporting News staff reports
Talks between the Twins and free-agent lefthander Jarrod Washburn have stalled, according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The newspaper reported Washburn recently turned down a one-year, $5 million offer from the team.
Washburn slumped badly (7.33 ERA in seven starts) after being traded from Seattle to Detroit late last season, but a knee injury was at least partially to blame. He had knee surgery following the season.
The Brewers also have expressed interest in signing Washburn.
Published on: 9th January, 2010
Mets have their eye on John Smoltz |
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Sporting News staff reports
The Mets are considering adding free-agent P John Smoltz to their rotation, according to the New York Daily News.
A source told the newspaper that the 42-year-old righthander is "in the pool" of pitchers the team is interested in signing.
Smoltz went 2-5 with an 8.32 ERA in eight starts for the Red Sox last season before being released. He found new life after signing with the Cardinals, however, posting a 4.26 ERA in seven starts. He struck out 40 in 38 innings with St. Louis.
The Daily News listed free-agent starters Joel Pineiro, Doug Davis and Jon Garland as other possibilities for the Mets. Meanwhile, talks between the team and free-agent catcher Bengie Molina remain stalled.
Published on: 9th January, 2010
What Pete Carroll must do to succeed in the NFL |
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USC coach Pete Carroll is on the verge of leaving college to take over the Seattle Seahawks. Here are five challenges Carroll will face if he takes the leap back to the NFL:
Pete Carroll won’t be able to win many games on talent alone in Seattle.
1. Win without talent stacked in his favor. Carroll was a master college recruiter, and in most games his USC teams had the superior roster. That will not be the case in the NFL, especially now with Seattle. The Seahawks are 9-23 over the past two seasons for a reason. This is not a good team. Their roster needs a serious makeover, and Carroll will not be able to fix it by landing a bunch of stud recruits and plugging them into the lineup.
2. Make the right personnel moves. Though he will have a general manager, Carroll reportedly wants final say over personnel. Be careful what you wish for. It is difficult to juggle the dual roles of coaching and compiling a roster. Salary cap concerns, contracts, free agency and preparing for the draft are issues Carroll did not have to worry about at USC. A key for Carroll will be having the correct people around him, competent people he can trust to help him build a winning organization. There are conflicting reports as to how much personnel control Seahawks owner Paul Allen is willing to give Carroll. But no matter how Carroll’s input into personnel is defined, his plate will be full, and he must be careful not to spread himself too thin.
3. Deal with NFL players. Coaching veteran NFL players is a different dynamic than coaching teenagers. Carroll has ample NFL coaching experience, both as an assistant and as a head coach with the Jets (1994) and the Patriots (1997-99). But that was more than a decade ago. Will Carroll enjoy dealing with pros as much as he enjoyed dealing with his players at USC? Will he be able to motivate players as successfully? Will he be able to manage all the egos in an NFL locker room — both his players’ and his own?
Seahawks defensive end Lawrence Jackson, who played for Carroll at USC, said the coach has the experience to make a smooth transition. "We’re dealing with a coach who has a track record of success," Jackson said on Sporting News Radio. "His philosophy worked obviously at USC. I think he would have to go back to his experience in the NFL, recount the things he felt he did wrong and the things he felt he did right. Use the experience he got at USC in dealing with players who have gone on to the league and have been successful. I think that he’s smart enough to be able to adjust on the fly."
4. Handle losses. It was rare for Carroll’s USC teams to lose more than twice a year. If Carroll comes to Seattle, he might lose two games by Week 3. Carroll knows that — he had a 33-31 record with the Jets and Patriots — but the sick feeling that comes with losing is something coaches never get used to. Coaching at a dominant college program insulated Carroll from having to deal with defeat on a regular basis. That could change quickly in Seattle.
5. Assemble an effective coaching staff. This is critical for any football coach, and it would be an immediate priority for Carroll. He reportedly is trying to persuade USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates to join him with the Seahawks, although Bates has a chance to become the Bears’ new offensive coordinator. The coaching carousel is well under way, and Carroll must move quickly to lure the assistants he wants and needs.
After suffering through a 4-12 season, Seahawks players should be welcome to change. Wide receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh was sorry to see Jim Mora get fired, but hoped Carroll’s USC success would transfer to the Seahawks. "If it is Pete Carroll, I talked to (Bengals quarterback) Carson (Palmer) for about an hour," Houshmandzadeh told Todd Wright on Sporting News Radio. "He had nothing but good things to say. I’ll be excited about it."
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Published on: 9th January, 2010
Giambi remains open to rejoining Rockies |
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Sporting News staff reports
Unable to garner much interest from an AL team looking for a DH, free-agent first baseman Jason Giambi told the Denver Post that he remains open to the idea of re-signing with the Rockies.
Giambi hit .292 with two homers and 11 RBIs after joining the Rockies last August. He would be only a reserve in Colorado.
According to the newspaper, the Rockies also are interested in free agent infielders Fernando Tatis and Robb Quinlan for their bench.
Published on: 9th January, 2010
Pirates pursuing Dotel, cooling on Ankiel |
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Sporting News staff reports
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the Pirates have focused their attention on free-agent reliever Octavio Dotel. At the same time, they might be backing away from free-agent outfielder Rick Ankiel.
According to the newspaper, the Pirates already have made an offer to Dotel, who would serve as the team’s closer. The only other remaining free agents with closing experience are Jose Valverde and Kevin Gregg. The Pirates have a ninth-inning void to fill after allowing Matt Capps to become a free agent. He signed with the Washington Nationals this week.
As for Ankiel, Pittsburgh won’t guarantee him a starting job, something Ankiel’s agent, Scott Boras, is demanding in contract talks. The Post-Gazette listed free-agent outfielders Xavier Nady, Ryan Church and Rocco Baldelli as other possible targets for the Pirates.
Published on: 9th January, 2010
The Vladimir Guerrero watch continues in Texas |
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Sporting News staff reports
Vladimir Guerrero eventually could sign with the Rangers, though the Fort Worth Star-Telegram continues to report that the team has yet to make an official offer to the free-agent outfielder/DH.
SI.com and the Rangers’ Web site reported Friday that the team had offered Guerrero a one-year contract. Texas would pay Guerrero $5 million plus incentives, according to SI.com.
Earlier reports indicated Guerrero, 34, is seeking a two-year contract. Last year he completed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Injuries limited Guerrero to 100 games last year, and he posted career lows in batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.334) and slugging percentage (.460).
Published on: 9th January, 2010
Jets have momentum, but Bengals have Palmer |
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First-round playoff games are hard enough to predict without complications like the rematch factor coming off a Week 17 meeting. Throw in the fact the New York Jets earned their playoff berth by defeating two teams — the Cincinnati Bengals, their opponent today in the NFL’s wild-card opener at Cincinnati, and the Indianapolis Colts — that already had clinched playoff berths and decided to rest key starters and logical forecasting become almost impossible.
After celebrating a victory to make a playoffs, the Jets go hunting Bengals again.
Asked earlier this week if his team has an edge in their rematch with the Bengals, based on their 37-0 victory in the regular-season finale at Giants Stadium, Jets coach Rex Ryan shrugged and said, "I don’t know. Nobody’s been through this. … I guess you’d have to ask them or somebody a lot smarter than me. I can’t figure it out."
Ryan was not being totally serious. After all, this is the same guy who also said he thought the Jets should be favored to win it all. But just how unusual has this week been?
"We did all our preparation for the Bengals last week," Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. "So you feel like you are way ahead. But at the same time, you know this is a playoff game. So you have to go back and hit that film harder and try to find something new."
In a rematch in which much is uncertain, these three things are known:
Carson Palmer has solid numbers, but he wants a better outcome on Saturday.
1. The Jets have the momentum
While the AFC North champion Bengals (10-6) struggled down the stretch, losing three of their past four, the Jets won five of their past six to finish 9-7. However, the Week 16 victory at Indianapolis was tainted by coach Jim Caldwell’s decision to pull several key starters, including quarterback Peyton Manning, with his team leading in the third quarter.
2. The Bengals have the better quarterback
Veteran Carson Palmer has thrown 21 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions while directing a Bengals attack that relies on Cedric Benson, who sat out last week’s loss to the Jets but still rushed for 1,251 yards this season.
Jets rookie Mark Sanchez has been almost the exact opposite, throwing 20 interceptions and 12 touchdown passes. But after throwing 16 interceptions during the team’s 4-6 start, he has thrown only four in his past five starts while guiding an attack that relies on Thomas Jones, who rushed for a career-best 1,402 yards.
3. The Jets have the better defense
Inspired by Ryan and his schematic brilliance, the Jets surrendered a league-low 236 points (14.8 per game). But they could be hampered Saturday by an ankle sprain that could slow inside linebacker and leading tackler David Harris.
The Bengals aren’t far behind, having yielded 291 points (18.2 per game), and they return three starters — linemen Robert Geathers and Domata Peko and safety Chris Crocker — who sat out last week’s loss. That should make them much more competitive after allowing 257 yards rushing to the Jets last week.
This story appears in Jan. 9’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
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