——————(Football)————————–
AFC-Championship Game…New England-L-Denver (20-18)…Broncos defense stifles Tom Brady in wild come-from-behind effort…Aqib Talib deflects 2-point conversion pass turned into interception to preserve win….Peyton Manning 2-TD passes to TE-Owen Daniel….Denver ‘Orange Crush’ defense 4-sacks-3-picks, 15-hits and 19-pressures on Brady….Held Patriots to (2-15) on 3rd downs…also made 2-4th down stops at Denver 14-and-17 to keep Brady out of the end zone….Brady threw 56-passes for (310Y)…Peyton Manning (176P) was sacked 3-times.
NFC-Championship Game…Arizona-L-Carolina (49-15)….Panthers score 3-times-in 8-and half minute span in opening quarter…Took (17-0) lead…buried Cardinals…Carson Palmer threw 4-interceptions and fumbled twice……Panthers defense had 7-takeaways in all…Luke Kuechly took a pic-six back for a score…Patrick Peterson with a costly punt fumble opened up flood gates….Cam Newton wound up with (382APY) and threw 86-TD pass to Corey Brown..Palmer and WR-Larry Fitzgerald in tears at postgame press conference..
Chargers…NFL reports that owner Dean Spanos is working to compleete a conditional deal with Stan Kroenke-Rams….would then take the deal to Mayor Kevin Faulconer and ask San Diego to match the deal…..Spanos wants to contribute less money in San Diego and wants Faulconer to bypass a public vote….No indication if he is willing to forego Downtown idea-that could take 5-years to complete and instead go forward Mission Valley.
Carson…Mayor Albert Robles criticizes Dean Spanos for treatment of City Negotiating team after hiring of Bob Iger-Disney..Refused to include Carson in any meetings after hiring.
Rams…Stan Kroenke reportedly offering Chargers a bonus package to get deal done…includes a waiver on any cost-overruns in Stadium construction for Chargers…an 18% cut of revenue from any non-NFL event in the stadium…25% piece of Naming Rights and Signage revenue in Stadium…and 100% receipt of all Chargers game-day revenue.
NFL-LA…Rams home schedule at Coliseum includes games vs Carolina-Seahaws-Arizona…Rex Ryan-Buffalo…Eli Manning-Giants.
NFL…Signs contract extension to keep Draft Combine in Indianapolis thru 2020 season…LA Stadium proposal was to host Combine in 2020.
Raiders…Sources say Oakland Stadium Authority will open lease negotiations with Raiders on Monday to discuss a 1-year extension for 2016-season….Raiders have right to talk to San Diego if Chargers leave….Raiders have 2nd option for LA if Chargers elect to stay in San Diego.
(Coaching)
49ers…Chip Kelly fires 11-assistants including Eric Mangini-Def Coor.
49ers..Hire-Pat Flaherty-OL-Giants..Curt Modkins-Off Coor-Det..Derius Swinton-ST-Bears…Hardy Nickerson-LB-ex-Tampa Bay.
Giants..Hire Mike Solari-OL-ex-Green Bay…Bill McGovern-LB-Boston College
Browns..Hire Robert Nunn-DL-ex Giants
Miami…Hire Danny Barrett-RB coach-former head coach in CFL
Vikings..Hire Pat Shurmur as offensive consultant
Packers..Hire-Brian Angeichio-TE-Tampa….Ben Sirmens-RB coach-Rams
Houston..Hire Anthony Weaver-DL…Fire Paul Pasqualoni-DL coach
Saints..Hire Peter Guinta-DL-ex-Giants
Titans..Hire Russ Grimm-OL..ex Steelers-Cardinals assistant.
Bears..Hire Dave Ragone-QB-ex-Redskins
Lions..Hire David Walker-RB-ex Colts
Lions..Fire Cedric Saunders-Director FB Ops
Jaguars..Hire Monte Kiffin-Def Consultant-longtime NFL coordinator
Chargers..Hire Chris Harris-DB assistant-ex Bears.
(NFL)
Seattle…GM-John Schnieder-says RB-Marshawn Lynch may retire-injuries.
Arizona..Larry Fitzgerald-NFL fine (23,000) blindside box.
Patriots..Danny Amendola-NFL fine (23,000) hit on defenseless player.
Chiefs..Dez Moses-fined (17,000) hit on QB
Raiders..Former DE-Anthony Smith sentenced to life in prison for murdering 3-men in drug deals gone back to LA.
Dallas..QB-Tony Romo-CT scan on Monday determine needs plate surgery on collarbone that has been broken 3X.
Colts..LB-Sio Moore-arrested doing 105mph on Indians highway
Tampa Bay..ex-NFL-WR-Jabar Gaffney arrested on 5-drug charges
(College)
Penn State…Pennsylvania Judge throws out Perjury-Obstruction justice-coverup charges against former President Grahame Spanier..AD-Tim Curley..VP-Security for coverup in Jerry Sandusky youth sex scandal.
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————————-(Baseball)———————–
Padres….Take gamble-DFA-slugging young OF-Rymer Liriano-to get him off the 40-man roster….out of options….Liriano hit (.292) last year at El Paso….has to get thru waivers to remain in Padres organization….could be claimed.
(Rosters)
NYMets…Re-sign FA-OF-Yoenis Cespedes (3Y-75M)…can opt out after 1st year…
Mariners..Sign FA-OF-1B-Gabby Sanchez-ex Pirates
Giants..Sign FA-C-George Kottaros-ex Red Sox.
Tampa Bay..Sign FA-OF-Jaff Dacker-ex Pirates-Padres
Marlins..Sign FA-P-JoJo Reyes-ex Braves
Royals..Sign FA-P-Peter Moylan-ex Braves-Dodgers.
Cardinals..Sign FA-OF-Carlos Pegura-ex Royals.
Rockies..Sell C-Willin Rosario to Korean League.
(Injuries)
Texas..OF-Josh Hamilton-more knee problems-receives cortisone injection.
Phillies..P-Matt Harrison-setback in rehab-with back-will miss start spring training.
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—————–(Basketball)————————
Cleveland…Cavaliers under enormous criticism for firing Coach Dave Blatt (30-11) record…led Cavs to NBA finals last year…in first place this season
Cavaliers..name former guard Tyronn Lue to replace Blatt who was (83-40)
NBA…League office to rule whether Luke Walton-Warriors…Dave Blatt-Cleveland can coach in All Star game…Walton is interim coach…Blatt just fired.
Golden State…Steve Kerr returns to Warriors bench as head coach after weekend games…recovering from back surgery.
Brooklyn…..Nets may have interest in talking to Blatt about vacant head job.
New York Knicks…fire multiple sales staff employees for scalping tickets to Knicks-Rangers home games at Garden.
Clippers-Houston…Trade-LA deals F-Josh Smith to Rockets.
Golden State-San Antonio…Monday Night matchup…Warriors (40-4)…(20-0) at home…Spurs (35-6) on season…C-Tim Duncan to be held out with knee soreness.
Clippers-L-Toronto (112-94)….Raptors hit 12-3’s….LA won 12-of-15..Sunday
Lakers-L-Portland….LA trailed by 27-points in lst half….LA falls to (9-37) with Saturday loss.
(College)
Aztecs-W-Utah State…Trey Kell-Jeremy Hensley combined (33P)…SDSU scored 12-in row early in 2nd half…State (14-6) on season.
USD-L-Loyola Marymount…Toreros fall to (6-13)…scored 1-basket in 7-and-half minute stretch start 2nd half…scored 1-basket final 3-and-half minutes.
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—————-(Hockey)——————
Kings-W-San Jose (3-2)..Vinny Lecavalier scores 4th goal in a week since trade from Flyers……LA (30-14-3)…Sunday
Ducks-W-Red Wings…Ryan Kesler-Corey Perry goals…Anaheim (21-18-7)
Columbus..coach John Tortorello breaks 2-ribs-ran into one of players during practice.
St Louis..Mourn passing Ric Wilson longtime defenseman (53Y).
Gulls-L-Texas Stars….G-Manny Legace comes up with 26-saves…Snap 2-game San Diego win streak…Gulls play just 1-game in next 12-days-great chance get team healthy..
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——————–(General)————————-
Australian Open…Novak Djokovic survives 100-unenforced errors to move into quarterfinals with win over Matt Simon…Roger Federer…John Isner…Serena Williams…Maria Sharapova all win to move on to final 16..
PGA-LaQuinta..Jason Duffner wins on 2nd playoff hole to claim 1M-prize….made two big shots out of bunkers late in day to scramble into playoff after leading for 3-days….Phil Mickelson impressive 3rd place finish with new swing coach as tour heads to Torrey Pines and Farmers Insurance Open.
Abu Dahbi Classic…Ricky Fowler posts come from behind win to earn title..
Bill Johnson…US Alpine team loses veteran Olympic gold medalist…passes away at age 55-brain damage and injuries suffered in practice accident years ago…star of Sarajevo Winter Olympics…. injuries and personal problems ended career.
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