Sports News

The Tennessee Titans, the team that seemingly blew its Super Bowl dreams with a dreadful 0-6 start, will play a game that matters Friday night.

And it won't just matter for the San Diego Chargers.

Tennessee is among six AFC teams tied at 7-7 and mathematically alive in the playoff chase, just one game behind the last wild-card berth. The Titans already have made NFL history by clawing back to .500 after that 0-6 start. According to STATS, no NFL team has ever finished at .500 or better after starting 0-6.

The NFL granted the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals 48-hour extensions to sell tickets to their respective Sunday home games in an attempt to avoid local television blackouts.The Browns, who will play the Oakland Raiders, haven't been blacked out since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999. A Browns spokesman said the league has given the team until 1 p.m. ET Saturday to sell the remaining tickets or the game will not be shown within a 75-mile radius of Cleveland.

The Bengals, who will play the Kansas City Chiefs, also have until 1 p.m. ET Saturday to sell their remaining tickets. If they do, it would be their 52nd consecutive sellout.

The league typically gives teams an extra 24 hours to sell tickets and avoid a blackout, but it extended that for the Browns and Bengals because of the Christmas holiday.

The Browns (3-11) haven't had a blackout since the final game of 1995, their last before former owner Art Modell moved his franchise to Baltimore. Previously, the Browns combined with local stations to buy remaining tickets and distributed them to charities and area businesses.

The Indianapolis Colts placed wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez on injured reserve Thursday, ending his season after he failed to return from a knee injury that he sustained during the opener.

Gonzalez sprained ligaments in his right knee during the Sept. 13 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and later had arthroscopic surgery on the knee, delaying his return. Gonzalez practiced Monday but sat out Wednesday, prompting Thursday's announcement.

"Anthony has been diligent in the rehabilitation of his knee, but it has not progressed to the point that it will allow him to return to the field this season," Colts president Bill Polian said in a statement released by the team. "We look forward to his healthy return next season."

Gonzalez was the Colts' first-round draft pick in 2007 and was expected to fill in for franchise receiving leader Marvin Harrison, who was released in an offseason cost-cutting move. Gonzalez has 94 receptions for 1,240 yards and seven touchdowns in his NFL career.

Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams is doubtful for Sunday's game against the New York Giants after missing his third straight practice with a sprained left ankle.

Reserve running back Tyrell Sutton is also doubtful after sitting out Friday with a calf injury.

Williams was injured in the first quarter of last Sunday's win over Minnesota and didn't return. Jonathan Stewart replaced him and rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Stewart is questionable with a sore left Achilles' tendon, but practiced Friday.

Quarterback Matt Moore (shoulder) and cornerback Richard Marshall (ankle) are also questionable. Both practiced Friday in a workout that took place on the Bank of America Stadium concourse because of heavy rain.

Brian Westbrook could be a decoy, part-time player or third-down specialist.

All that matters is he'll be back on the field.

Westbrook completed a full week of practice and is expected to play for the Philadelphia Eagles against Denver on Sunday after missing five weeks with a concussion."We'll see how his numbers go and how he feels," coach Andy Reid said Friday. "I'll stay in communication with him throughout the game. He'll have a chance to play. He's done well this week."

While Westbrook is set to return, the Eagles could be without quarterback Michael Vick because he has a quadriceps contusion. Vick, who runs a handful of plays each game, didn't practice this week and is questionable.

"We're still working with him to see if he can't come around," Reid said. "He still has quite a bit of soreness."

Rookie halfback LeSean McCoy and fullback Leonard Weaver have filled in capably for Westbrook, so the Eagles don't have to rely on the former All-Pro to carry the load.

"There are certain things we're going to do with him in the run game, the pass game and we'll see how he does," Reid said. "We're not expecting him to play every play, the whole game."

The NFC East-leading Eagles (10-4) host the Broncos (8-6) in a game with strong playoff implications. Philadelphia has already clinched a playoff spot, but has a chance to earn a first-round bye. Denver has a one-game lead over six teams for a wild-card spot in the AFC. The game also marks the return of Brian Dawkins to Philadelphia.

Westbrook may want to stay away from Dawkins, one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the NFL. Westbrook sustained his second concussion in three weeks against San Diego on Nov. 15. His first career concussion came against Washington on Oct. 26. Westbrook sat out two games before returning prematurely against the Chargers.

Overall, Westbrook has played in just six games this season. He has just 225 yards rushing and 156 yards receiving, and the Eagles are only 3-3 when Westbrook has played.

"He's fresh," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "When we were at Washington, he was motoring. He was at a high level there. We'll see. I would expect him to play at a high level. He's ready to go. He has continued to prepare like he was playing in each game. I think he's ready to play."

Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor says the team might find itself in Los Angeles and jokingly said he was putting in a bid for a job.

Taylor, who played with the Jaguars from 1998 until being released after the 2008 season, challenged Jacksonville fans during a conference call Wednesday by saying the team probably would be better off moving."Sometimes the truth hurts," said Taylor, who will have his first crack at his old team when his New England Patriots host the Jaguars on Sunday. "It can be played either way in that the fans want the team to stay there, they have to show that they want the team to stay there."

Taylor said the NFL has made it clear that a team eventually will be in Los Angeles, and he believes the Jaguars might be the choice because of their attendance problems.

"I don't know what's going to be a decision maker or breaker, but you look at average attendance and whatever have you at the end of the day, they're going to find a team to take out there," Taylor said. "I don't want to offend anyone. Never do, but you've got to be realistic."

Taylor fully practiced Wednesday for the first time since being sidelined by an ankle injury that required surgery. Taylor has missed 10 games, but he appears ready to return against the Jaguars.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Taylor always has been one to speak his mind.

"Fred has always been a great interview because he speaks straight from the heart and he's not trying to be politically correct," Del Rio said. "That's what he feels, and it's entertaining reading."

Mame Biram Diouf will finally make his Manchester United debut next month after being granted a work permit.

Sir Alex Ferguson signed the 22-year-old striker from Molde in the summer before allowing him to return to the Norwegian club on loan.

With 16 goals in 29 matches for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former club this season, Diouf certainly offers Ferguson an option in attack where goals have been hard to come by of late, reports the Daily Express.

Diouf is unavailable for the FA Cup third-round tie with Leeds at Old Trafford on January 3, but Ferguson feels he has a promising future ahead of him.

“If you’re talking about value then you can look at our young boy Diouf,” he said recently.

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is wanted by at least three English County teams for next season''s Friends Provident Twenty/20 competition.

A deal is expected to be finalised in the second week of January for the in demand Twenty/20 captain of Pakistan, who was one of Pakistan''s key performers as they lifted the Twenty/20 World Cup earlier this year, reports the web site pakpassion. net.

Former England opener Geoff Boycott recently described Afridi, 29 as the best one-day all rounder in the world.

Afridi is looking to take part in the whole of the Friends Provident Trophy, which is due to be played in June and July of next year. However the Asia Cup schedule is yet to be finalised and this may mean that Afridi is only available for part of the Twenty/20competition in England.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has been selected as the Premier League''s Player of the Decade, by facts and figures'' wizards Opta.

Opta, who studied every Premier League game since January 2000, declared that Lampard has played in more most games, most wins to his name, second-most number of assists and the fourth-highest goal scoring record.

Lampard pips Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher by five games to most appearances with a total of 346 - 210 of which have been wins, The Sun reported.

He comes second to Manchester United Ryan Giggs with 76 assists and bagged 100 goals, finishing fourth behind top scorer Thierry Henry, who scored 169 times for Arsenal.

When talking about the results, A. S. Roma manager Claudio Ranieri, who signed Lampard from West Ham for 11 million pounds in June 2001, said: “This news fills me with a great satisfaction and pride becauseFrank Lampard is totally unique.”

“He is a complete player and so professional. It doesn''t surprise me that he is the best statistically, ahead of other players you might consider to be even bigger stars. I''ll tell you something. In my viewFrank Lampard is a genuine ''Pallone d''oro'' - which means he should be a European Footballer of the Year. He really is that good,” he added.

Australian batsmen have said that they expect the
Pakistan team to put up good fight in the three-Test series starting on
Boxing Day.

Though Pakistan has not played a Test here in last five years and
without a series win in the game''s traditional form since beating West
Indies in late 2006, Australian middle-order batsman Mike Hussey
believes that the team is tough enough to be a threat to the Ricky
Ponting-led team.

“I think it''s going to be a really tough series. They''ve got a lot of
match-winners, and a lot of very dangerous players, particularly
bowlers. I think they''ve got an outstanding team, their attack is
going to be very challenging for all our batsmen,” The Sydney Morning
Herald quoted Hussey, as saying.

Opener Simon Katich said that Australia''s bowlers would also have to
toil hard to breakthrough a top order anchored by captain Mohammad
Yousuf and youngter like Umar Akmal, who made a century on debut in New
Zealand last month.

“They''ve got some exciting young players, both batsmen and bowlers.
Having had a look at the footage, we expect it to be a tough challenge,
particularly from a batting point of view,” Katich said.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said: “As we''ve seen in the tour
game [against Tasmania], they''ve got some batters in form and a pretty
strong bowling attack. It''s always exciting, Boxing Day, but playing
against Pakistan makes it even more so because they''re so
unpredictable.”

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf has confirmed reports about calling his predecessor Younis Khan and asking him to join the national squad for the forthcoming one-day series against Australia.

“Yes, I did call up Younis because we have always been good friends and we have played a lot of cricket together. I would definitely like to see Younis back in the team as soon as possible because he is a very experienced batsman and the team is missing him,” The Dawn quoted Yousuf, as saying.

Yousuf also rebuffed reports about him having altercations with Younis, and said it is hard to replace the former captain as he has loads of experience at the highest level.

“I am happy that he was very positive about resuming playing international cricket again,” he said.

Chief Selector, Iqbal Qasim, however, has made it clear that there are few chances of Younis returning back to the national side for the three-match Test series against the Kangaroos, but added that he could be included inthe team for the limited over series.

“He can definitely make the one-day squad. We have no doubt about his class and fitness but we need to give him some time to get over his poor form and start scoring runs again,” Qasim said.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has alerted his top-order batsman to watch out for rookie Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Aamer, following reports that the young gun poses a reverse swing danger.

Ponting said that Aamer, who has modelled himself on Pakistani legend Wasim Akram, can bowl at speeds approaching 150 km/h and may be able to reverse-swing the ball both ways in the air, The Courier Mail reported.

The left-arm bowler is a highly thought of young prospect, making his international debut at the age of just 17 in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 where he played in every match, helping Pakistan win the tournament

According to reports, to deal with the menace, Australian coach Tim Nielsen has also acquired footage of Aamer in action from three Tests in New Zealand to uncovering tips on facing him.

The Aussies are also believed to have got Pakistan''s tour match against Tasmania, and studying it with absolute precision.

After his successful T20 World Cup campaign, Aamir was chosen in the test squad for the series in Sri Lanka, where he was chosen alongside fellow pace-men Umar Gul and Abdur Rauf, and ahead of more experienced Sohail Tanvir.

At an age when many young Australian cricketers are still years off playing Sheffield Shield cricket, Aamer has already played six Tests, including Pakistan''s tour of New Zealand.

Arsenals Andrei ArshaviArsene Wenger's third-placed side are currently six points adrift of leaders Chelsea with a game in hand, and sit two points behind Manchester United.
After recording impressive victories over Liverpool and Hull in their last three matches, Arsenal look to have recovered from a dispiriting 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea that saw them widely written off as also-rans.
Related ArticlesArsenal v Aston Villa: match previewPhil Brown upset by FA chargePremier League tableUsmanov calls on Kroenke to make intentions clearEmile Heskey groin injury 'short-term'Heskey: Villa must stay groundedYet the visit of Aston Villa on Sunday will test their ability to compete with the best as Martin O'Neill's side, unbeaten in eight matches, look capable of fulfiling their aspirations of a top-four finish.
Villa have already beaten United, Liverpool and Chelsea this season, so a victory over Wenger's men would complete a cleansweep against the so-called 'big four'.
With so much at stake against Villa, Wenger will depend on Arshavin to maintain his terrific form.
The Russian said: "We have had some chances to be very close to the top but we have not taken them so I am a little disappointed.
"Now if we win games in hand we are still in the race, but at the same time we cannot lose more points."
On recent form Villa will make the journey to London confident of repeating last season's 2-0 triumph at the Emirates.
O'Neill said: "To go to Manchester United and win, then travel to Sunderland last midweek and win there, and then beat Stoke at home on Saturday was great because we've gone in with the same team and subs each time.
"I have really good faith in the players. The players want to play for a start.
"Imagine asking James Milner if he wants to rest up for Arsenal, he wouldn't have it. The same would apply to Ashley Young or any of the players.
"But we have one or two fresh players around and this programme between now and the end of the calendar year, never mind the games we go into immediately in January, is definitely something to look at.
"It is a big period for us and I am quite sure we will utilise the players in that period."n- If we win games in hand we are still in the race

Veteran Giggs has lamented the state of modern football
Ryan Giggs does not feel Mark Hughes' treatment at Manchester City should come as a surprise to any prospective manager.
In the wake of Hughes' exit from Eastlands, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce suggested the dismissal, coming in the wake of a 4-3 victory over the Black Cats and 17 matches into a Premier League season that has seen City suffer just two defeats, could put young coaches off entering the management game.
It is not a problem Giggs has to deal with, having just signed another one-year contract at Manchester United that will see him complete two decades at Old Trafford.
But, while he feels for Hughes, a team-mate for both United and Wales, Giggs is not convinced Bruce's theory will prove to be correct.
'It is the football world we live in. There is not much patience around now. Managers know that going into a job after a few bad results, the press and the fans will get on to them.
'You don't have as much time as you did 10 or 15 years ago. That is difficult when you are trying to build a team
'But all managers find themselves in that situation now. Sparky did a relatively good job at City but he is no different.'
Manchester City's sacking of Mark Hughes was unacceptable, blasts United boss Sir Alex FergusonVIDEO: Sir Alex Ferguson slams 'unacceptable' Manchester City over sacking of Mark HughesMANCHESTER CITY FC

STEVE Bruce is demanding 100 per cent effort from his Sunderland players as they attempt to rise from an alarming slump.
Everton visit the Stadium of Light tomorrow, with Bruce well aware Arsenal are the only side the Black Cats have beaten in their last nine Barclays Premier League games.
He suggests nothing over than full commitment will be acceptable, and recognises teams will pick off Sunderland if they detect any signs of weakness.
Bruce was given some encouragement by last week's performance away to Manchester City, where Sunderland lost 4-3.
He explained: "The Premier League is unforgiving and if you just make individual errors, you come two, three, four, five per cent off your maximum, you get punished by any team, and we have learnt a harsh lesson.
"We have put ourselves under a bit of pressure - everybody is under pressure in the Premier League, that's what it is - and we have got to get back to the way we were three, four, five weeks ago, and there were signs last week.
"If we do that against Everton and get a win under our belts, that may kick-start us on again."

The season is over for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been placed on injured reserve ahead of what the team calls minor right knee surgery.

Coach Jim Schwartz says the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft was to have undergone the surgery after the end of the season. But Stafford was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after a physical exam indicated he wouldn't be ready to play in the Jan. 3 season finale against Chicago.

Third-year quarterback Drew Stanton will make his first NFL start Sunday against the 49ers in San Francisco.

Stafford injured his non-throwing shoulder in Detroit's 38-37 victory over Cleveland on Nov. 22. He aggravated the injury in a Dec. 6 loss at Cincinnati, but Schwartz says Stafford won't need surgery on the shoulder.

The Arizona Cardinals blew a 17-point lead to the lowly Detroit Lions and needed to make a pressure-packed play in the closing minutes to avoid an embarrassing defeat.

Kurt Warner threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin with 1:54 left, lifting Arizona to a 31-24 win over Detroit on Sunday.

"A win's a win," Warner said. "We are one step closer to our goal." Arizona (9-5) took the final step later in the day, clinching the NFC West when San Francisco lost at Philadelphia. The Cardinals have won consecutive division titles for the first time since 1974-75.

"We're not happy with how we played," Larry Fitzgerald said. "We know we need to improve, but the opportunity to win double digits, I don't know the last time a Cardinals team was able to do that.

It wasn't in Fitzgerald's lifetime.

The Cardinals haven't won 10 games since 1976.

The Lions (2-12) had the ball with 1:46 left with a chance to come back, but gained just seven yards, and lost their fourth straight game.

Detroit coach Jim Schwartz wasn't encouraged that his team competed more than it did in a 48-3 loss last week at Baltimore.

"We could've jogged out to the field today and it would've been a better effort," Schwartz said.

Arizona led 17-0 at halftime, then let the Lions make it 17-all in the third quarter and 24-all with 3:48 left.


Scoreboard
Final 1 2 3 4 T
Arizona (9-5-0) « 7 10 0 14 31
Detroit (2-12-0) 0 0 17 7 24
Game Leaders
Cardinals Lions
Pass: K. Warner (23-37, 233) D. Stanton (10-19, 72)
Rush: B. Wells (17-110) M. Morris (17-126)
Rec: A. Boldin (6-72) C. Johnson (3-35)

Drew Stanton will start on Sunday for the Lions as they take on the San Francisco 49ers.

The move was only half expected after the near comeback on Sunday afternoon.

The team and the fans seemed to rally more around the former Spartan than they did around the aging Culpepper. Stanton is not a better quarterback than Culpepper is, but if the team wants to play there is no reason to sit him down.

This move makes plenty of sense for a number of reasons.

First, Culpepper is a lame duck who will be out of a job after Jan. 3. The Lions will not resign him and it is possible that no team in the NFL will sign him, especially not with the intent of making him a starter. He has lost the arm strength, he has sat too much to be sharp on the field, and his legs are not what they used to be.

Second, we need to see if Stanton can be a viable backup, at least for next season. The Lions would rather have a guy behind their savior that has at least had some experience in the NFL. Yes, it is only one game, but the team needs to know if Stanton can become the guy to fall back on in case anything happens to Stafford.

Drew Stanton does not improve the Lions' odds of winning against San Francisco on Sunday, but he does provide a better outlook for the team's future. Every team needs a backup quarterback and the Lions need to know if they have theirs or not.

As for how well Stanton will play on Sunday, I think he will throw three interceptions, complete less than 40 percent of his pass attempts, and the Lions will have to rely on the running game in order to stay in the game.

It won't be pretty, but it would be the same, if not worse if Culpepper were starting.