Talkin ’bout San Marino

Source: International Herald Tribune ()

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.: The Patriots set an NFL record with their 15th win. Tom Brady and Randy Moss edged closer to two more marks.

And New England still has one game left to reach an even more amazing goal: the first team to finish a regular season undefeated in 35 years.

Brady threw three touchdown passes, two to Moss, and the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 28-7 on Sunday to improve to 15-0, the best start in league history. The old mark: Miami's 14-0 in 1972 when the season lasted just 14 games.

Today's disjointed Dolphins (1-14) couldn't protect the record of their dominant predecessors.

If the Patriots beat the New York Giants at the Meadowlands next Saturday night, then go unbeaten in the postseason to finish 19-0, they'll join the Dolphins as the only teams to post a perfect record from opening day until the clock in the championship game runs out.

Brady has 48 touchdown passes, one shy of Peyton Manning's NFL record of 49 set in 2004 and tied with Dan Marino's production in 1984.

Moss reached 21 touchdown receptions, one less than Jerry Rice's mark of 22 set in 12 games in 1987, a strike year.

The Patriots tied their NFL record of 18 consecutive regular-season wins set in 2003-04. They also broke the league mark of 70 touchdowns in one season by the 1984 Dolphins, reaching 71.

Jaguars 49, Raiders 11

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Fred Taylor's 62-yard touchdown run on Jacksonville's opening play set the tone for a rout that propelled the Jaguars into the playoffs.

Taylor finished with 111 yards as the Jaguars (11-4) won for the sixth time in seven games and clinched the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs.

So much for a letdown after last week's big win at Pittsburgh. So much for a Pro Bowl hangover. And so much for having to worry winning at nemesis Houston in the season finale.

In fact, Jacksonville could use next week to rest …

Source: Philadelphia Daily News ()

Records aren't important to the New England Patriots - not yet anyway.
Not finishing the season at 16-0. Not becoming the highest-scoring team in NFL history. And not Tom Brady and Randy Moss setting individual marks.
All those are still within reach, but after becoming the first team to go 15-0 in the regular season with a 28-7 win over visiting Miami yesterday, it will mean more if the Patriots score more points than the New York Giants next Saturday night.
"When you look back at the end of your career, you'll be excited about individual records," Brady said. "But winning's more important and I think that's really what everyone's concerned about."
Brady threw three touchdown passes, two to Moss, and the Patriots moved to the best start in league history. The old mark: Miami's 14-0 in 1972 when the season lasted just 14 games.
Today's disjointed Dolphins (1-14) couldn't protect the record of their dominant predecessors.
"We wanted to win for them," defensive end Jason Taylor said. "But I wanted to win today, for the guys in this room."
If the Patriots beat the Giants, then go unbeaten in the postseason to finish 19-0, they'll join the Dolphins as the only teams to post a perfect record from opening day until the clock in the championship game runs out.
The Patriots need just six points to break Minnesota's single-season record of 556 set in 1998.
Brady (18-for-33, 215 yards) is one shy of Peyton Manning's NFL record of 49 touchdown passes set in 2004 and tied with Dan Marino's production in 1984. Moss needs one touchdown reception to tie Jerry Rice's mark of 22 set in 12 games in 1987, a strike year.
"Randy, everyone knows he's a great player whether he gets the record or not," Brady said.
The Patriots tied NFL record of 18 consecutive regular-season wins set in 2003-04. They also broke the league mark …

Source: Allentown Morning Call ()

NFL Roundup

Bears rout Packers; ‘Boys get homefield

From Call wire services

December 24, 2007

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Brian Urlacher returned an interception for a touchdown for the first time in his career, Adrian Peterson ran for 102 yards, and the host Chicago Bears beat the Packers 35-7 on a frigid Sunday afternoon. The loss wiped out the Packers’ shot at home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Packers needed to win this game, beat Detroit next week and have Dallas lose to Washington to capture the No. 1 seed. Instead, it goes to the Cowboys, with Green Bay locked in at No. 2.

Green May’s Brett Favre passed for just 9 yards in the first half and 153 overall, giving him 4,058 this season and putting him over the 4,000-yard mark for the fifth time.

He was 17-for-32 and threw two interceptions. Alex Brown picked him off on the first possession of the third quarter, setting up a touchdown that made it 21-7, and Urlacher ran one back 85 yards early in the fourth.

Patriots 28 Dolphins 7: At Foxborough, Mass., the Patriots set an NFL record with their 15th win. Tom Brady and Randy Moss edged closer to two more marks.

And New England still has one game left to reach an even more amazing goal: the first team to finish a regular season undefeated in 35 years.

Brady threw three touchdown passes, two to Moss, and the Patriots beat the Dolphins to improve to 15-0, the start in league history. The old mark: Miami’s 14-0 in 1972 when the season lasted just …

Source: PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung) ()

1950 _ Cleveland’s Otto Graham throws four touchdown passes, despite icy footing in Municipal Stadium, and Lou Groza kicks a 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds left to give the Browns a 30-28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and the NFL title in their first year in the league.
1961 _ George Blanda’s 35-yard touchdown pass

to Billy Cannon gives the Houston Oilers a 10-3 victory over the San Diego Chargers for their second AFL title.
1997 _ In one of the biggest upsets in college basketball, Division II American-Puerto defeats the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks 64-59 in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.
2000 _ Marshall Faulk breaks Emmitt Smith’s NFL record for touchdowns by scoring three times to give him 26 for the St. Louis Rams. Faulk’s three touchdowns and 220 yards fueled a 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Emmitt Smith scored 25 times for Dallas in 1995.
2000 _ Baltimore sets an NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game schedule. The Ravens allow 165 points, easily breaking the mark of 187 set by the 1986 Chicago Bears.
2003 _ Steven Jackson ties a bowl game record with five touchdowns, and Oregon State’s defense overwhelms mistake-plagued New Mexico in a 55-14 win at the Las Vegas Bowl.
2005 _ Seattle’s Shaun Alexander rushes for 139 yards and scores three touchdowns _ two rushing, one receiving _ to tie Priest Holmes’ single-season NFL record of 27 touchdowns in a 28-13 win over Indianapolis.

2006 _ Colt Brennan sets the NCAA single-season record for touchdown passes at 58, throwing five in the second half to lead Hawaii to a 41-24 victory over Arizona State in the Hawaii Bowl. Brennan, 33-of-42 for 559 yards, breaks the previous mark of 54 set by Houston’s David Klingler in 1990.
2006 _ Atlanta’s Michael Vick becomes the first NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Needing only 10 yards to the mark, he gains 17 on his first carry on the Falcons’ opening possession. Morten Andersen’s …

Source: Globe and Mail ()

No one expected the Cleveland Browns to be 9-5 and in playoff position with two games remaining after last season’s 4-12 finish. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also 4-12 in 2006, was not supposed to win the NFC South.
And no one expected Brett Favre, at 38, to play like he was 28 and lead his young Green Bay Packers to a 12-2 record.
But for every pleasant surprise, there are disappointments.
Start with the Baltimore Ravens, 13-3 in 2006, 4-10 in 2007, and losers of eight in a row, the most recent to the previously winless Miami Dolphins.

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The Ravens knew they were playing badly heading to Miami last week. "It’s a must-win because if we go down there and lose … it could get really ugly around here," defensive back Corey Ivy said.
It’s ugly.
In no particular order, the NFL’s most disappointing teams:
Baltimore Ravens (4-10). Blame age. Blame injuries. Most of all blame the lack of a healthy and capable quarterback finally catching up to the Ravens. Head coach Brian Billick has a vote of confidence from owner Steve Bisciotti. After all, Billick coached the Ravens (without a of note) to a Super Bowl win after the 2000 season and to 13-3 last season. …

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription) ()

In a press conference a few hours after Nick Saban left to coach the University of Alabama, Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga asked the media for their input on what the Dolphins should do next.

In the same vein, let us just say this: If there’s any way to get out of the contract you just signed Bill Parcells to on Thursday afternoon to take over as director of football operations, do it and do it fast. You were finally headed in the right direction, and you panicked.

According to sources, Huizenga had been eyeing 2010 as his going-out party. His dream scenario was to have his Dolphins play in Super Bowl XLIV in the stadium he owns, and then he would be finished with the NFL.

The first step was hiring the general manager (Randy Mueller) and coach (Cam Cameron) Huizenga thought could get him there. Then he would sell a minority stake in the team, which would become the majority share after 2010, as Huizenga got his estate planning in order.

But when his team got off to a 0-13 start to this season, Huizenga saw dreams slipping away. So he went out and got the one man - Parcells - capable of delivering him a Super Bowl berth in two years.

But it won’t happen. Never has for Huizenga. If he should have learned anything since purchasing the team in 1994, it’s when he swings for the fences, Huizenga strikes out - hard.

He pushed out Don Shula for Jimmy Johnson, and his players had more arrests than post-season victories. Then Huizenga hired Dave Wannstedt and gave him personnel control, even though Wannstedt had already ruined one franchise - the Chicago Bears. Huizenga got Dan Marino to become vice-president of football operations - for a whole three weeks - before Marino thought better. And then there was Saban, who initially didn’t want to come but relented when Huizenga pressured him and offered $4 million per season.

After Saban fiasco, it appeared that Huizenga finally got it. He realized what made him so successful …

Source: NFL - ESPN ()

Bill Parcells Named Dolphins VP of Football Operations

Bill Parcells signed a four-year contract with the Miami Dolphins to become the team’s executive vice president of football operations, according to a Dolphins source.Parcells faxed the contract to the team. The Dolphins are expected to make a formal announcement Thursday afternoon.Parcells will finish his duties as an ESPN analyst this week, appearing on ESPN Radio Primetime Friday at 7 p.m. ET. His final work for the network will be as part of Monday night’s Denver-San Diego coverage. The move was swift and somewhat surprising. Parcells was on the
cusp of accepting a job to rebuild the Atlanta Falcons, then
rebuked them Wednesday afternoon — having apparently struck a deal
with Miami.
So, for the second time in less than a week, an off-field story
is dominating the conversation at Miami’s training complex.

Bill Parcells’ Coaching Record

Bill Parcells says he won’t coach for the Dolphins, but he’s been a winner wherever he’s been. Parcells is 172-130-1 in his NFL career as a head coach, with an 11-8 record in the playoffs and two Super Bowl wins.

Year
Team
Record
Playoffs

1983
Giants
3-12-1
None

1984
Giants
9-7
1-1

1985
Giants
10-6
1-1

1986
Giants
14-2
3-0 *

1987
Giants
6-9
None

1988
Giants
10-6
None

1989
Giants
12-4
0-1

1990
Giants
13-3
3-0 *

1993
Patriots
5-11
None

1994
Patriots
10-6
0-1

1995
Patriots
6-10
None

1996
Patriots
11-5
2-1

1997
Jets
9-7
None

1998
Jets
12-4
1-1

1999
Jets
8-8
None

2003
Cowboys
10-6
0-1

2004
Cowboys
6-10
None

2005
Cowboys
9-7
None

2006
Cowboys
9-7
0-1

* = Won Super Bowl

The first revelation came last Friday: Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga had been in
talks about selling the team for
about $1.1 billion, although it seems that deal has since unraveled
and there’s no immediate plans to sell even a portion the
franchise. And now this: Parcells, who previously coached the Giants,
Patriots, Jets and Cowboys, is …

Source: Inquirer.net ()

MANILA, Philippines –As lifestyle icon Ernest Santiago lies in a chapel at Santuario de San Antonio in Makati City, a full-scale drama surrounding his death continues to unfold.

It’s a plot whose twists and turns and cast of characters Santiago himself, who was known for theatrical flourish, would have found riveting.

Tuesday night, on the second day of the wake for Santiago who was found dead early Sunday morning in his Pagsanjan home, the Santuario chapel was astir with news that police were coming to arrest two suspects who were right there at the wake. This followed reports that Santiago’s gardener, Zosimo Ragasa, had been arrested earlier that day, had confessed to the crime and had implicated Santiago’s two longtime associates.

Closed-door meeting
Anticipating the police’s arrival, some of Santiago’s friends and colleagues, who are among Manila’s movers and shakers, stayed way into the night. At a private room in the chapel, Santiago’s closest friends and kin held a closed-door meeting. They were the ones who have been making preparations for Santiago’s wake and funeral arrangements.

In the group were advertising/PR executive Roberto Caballero, Santiago’s close friend from the ’70s, socialites Baby Girl Fricke and Malou Ocampo, retail executive Ramon San Agustin, Ed Sy, and Santiago’s younger sister Nene Santiago Herrera, his only sibling left in the country.

They were meeting with Santiago’s assistants, Alex Mosende and Anjo Luces, in the presence of lawyers Freddie Villamor and Paul Alcudia. Acting on behalf of Santiago’s family, Caballero sought the counsel of Villamor and Alcudia for Mosende and Luces, who, the group knew as early as then, would be tagged as suspects.

Longtime associate
Mosende had been Santiago’s friend for more than 20 years and had been working for Santiago in many of his landscaping projects. had been working for Santiago for the past six years, most recently in the Kilib Sanctuary …

Source: Sports Network ()

Bengals Were Saturday Night Dead

By Tony Moss, NFL Editor

(Sports Network) - The offense of the San Francisco 49ers was desperately ill,
until the Cincinnati Bengals came to town on Saturday night with an antidote.

The 49ers entered the primetime tilt ranked last in the league in total
offense (235.5 yards per game), passing offense (150 yards per game), and
scoring offense (13.2 points per game). The team had lost nine of its last 10,
and had averaged a grand total of 9.7 points per game in those defeats.

Yet Cincinnati had no answer for Niners running back Frank Gore, who carried
29 times for a season-high 138 yards in a 20-13 upset win for San Francisco.

And, the Bengals couldn’t force any mistakes out of formerly anonymous
quarterback Shaun Hill, who completed 21-of-28 passes for 197 yards and a
touchdown. Wideout Darrell Jackson, whose first season as a 49er had never
produced a week with as many as six catches or 70 yards, went off to the tune
of eight grabs for 86 yards against Cincinnati.

The San Francisco offense held a nearly 12-minute time of possession
advantage.

Meanwhile, Carson Palmer and the Jekyll-and-Hyde Bengals offense couldn’t get
untracked against a team that had given up more than 26 points per game over
the past two months, with Cincinnati managing only half that total on
Saturday.

Palmer threw for 251 yards and a touchdown but could not lead TD drives on two
key fourth-quarter possessions - one ending with a field goal, another with a
turnover on downs.

A Bengals running game that had played such a role in last week’s win over St.
Louis did not set the tone this time, with three running backs combining for
17 carries and 60 yards on Saturday.

All of the above blended together sent Marvin Lewis’ squad to 5-9,
the franchise’s first losing season since Dick LeBeau’s final team finished
2-14 in 2002.

“It is …

Source: International Herald Tribune ()

Patriots 20, Jets 10

Host New England clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs even though Tom Brady failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season. Laurence Maroney ran for 104 yards, just the fourth time this season a New England rusher surpassed 100.

On New York's second offensive play, Richard Seymour slammed Kellen Clemens to the ground in the Jets' end zone, forcing a bad throw and an interception that Eugene Wilson returned 5 yards for a touchdown. Clemens didn't return.

Coach Bill Belichick and Jets coach Eric Mangini, his former friend and protege who turned him in for using a sideline videocamera in violation of NFL rules after the season opener, had a pleasant exchange at game's end.

Belichick smiled all the way from the sideline until he reached Mangini and appeared to say, “Great game, awesome,” as they shook hands. Then Belichick walked away, pumping his first twice over his head.

The NFL fined Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 and took away their first-round draft choice next year for the illegal taping.

Buccaneers 37, Falcons 3

At Tampa, Fla., Micheal Spurlock ran back a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, the first in the franchise's 32 seasons, and Tampa Bay won the NFC South for the second time in three seasons. The Bucs (9-5) improved to 5-0 in the division after going 0-6 against NFC South rivals a year ago.

It's the fifth straight season the team winning the NFC South finished last the previous season.

Ronde Barber returned an interception 29 yards for a TD and Earnest Graham scored a touchdown rushing in a team-record sixth consecutive game.

The loss was the fifth in a row for Atlanta (3-11). It capped a tumultuous week that began with suspended star quarterback Michael Vick being sentenced to 23 months in prison for role in a dogfighting ring, a lopsided loss to New Orleans and the abrupt resignation of …