NFL-SCHEDULE
Jags hold off Titans to improve to 3-12
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) β In a matchup of two of the NFL’s worst teams, Jacksonville rallied from an early deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans 21-13. The victory moves the Jaguars to 3-12, while the Titans lost their ninth in a row to fall to 2-13.
Jordan Todman ripped off a 62-yard TD run to help the Jaguars win for the second time in the last four weeks.
The silver lining for Tennessee was that it moved a step closer to securing the No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL draft — which could be Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota (mar-ee-OH’-tah), the dual-threat Oregon quarterback.
NFL-49ERS-HARBAUGH
Harbaugh mum on Michigan reports
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) β 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is declining to respond to reports that he is weighing an offer from Michigan to become the new football coach at his alma mater.
Harbaugh has one season remaining on the $25 million, five-year contract he signed in January 2011. Several media outlets, including ESPN and the NFL Network, have reported Harbaugh has a six-year offer on the table from the Wolverines.
San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke said this week that a decision on Harbaugh’s future would come after the season. The 7-7 Niners have been eliminated from playoff contention.
NFL-BEARS
Cutler benched
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) β Jay Cutler has been benched as quarterback of the Chicago after only managing a 5-9 record this season. Coach Marc Trestman says Jimmy Clausen will start Sunday’s game against the Lions at Soldier Field. Cutler leads the league in interceptions with 18 and turnovers with 24.
NFL-PANTHERS
Coach says Newton may play Sunday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera says barring any physical setbacks, Cam Newton will “probably” start Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Newton was in a vehicular accident last week and suffered two fractures in his lower back.
Rivera says Newton is “on target” to start.
NFL-REDSKINS NAME-FCC
FCC: Redskins name not obscene
WASHINGTON (AP) β The Federal Communications Commission has dismissed a petition that called for one of the Washington Redskins’ flagship radio stations not to have its license renewed. The petition claimed repeated use of the word “Redskins” violates rules against indecent content.
But the FCC said that the law defines profanity as sexual or excretory in nature β meanings that don’t relate to the name of the football team.
Many Native American and other groups consider “Redskins” to be a racial slur and have demanded that owner Dan Snyder change the name. Snyder has vowed to keep it, despite mounting pressure over the past two years.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Blue Jackets’ streak ends at seven…Penguins blank Avs
UNDATED (AP) β Eric Fehr scored 42 seconds into overtime to lead Washington to a 5-4 victory over Columbus. That ends the Blue Jackets’ seven-game winning streak and extends the Capitals’ point streak to seven games.
Joel Ward, Jason Chimera (chih-MAYR’-uh), Karl Alzner and Troy Brouwer also scored for the Capitals, who are 5-0-2 in their last seven games.
In other hockey:
β Blake Comeau (KOH’-moh) scored with 2:36 left in overtime to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Colorado Avalanche 1-0. Marc-Andre Fleury (marhk-ahn-dray FLOOR’-ee) stopped 29 shots, registering his sixth shutout of the season.
β Justin Faulk had a goal and an assist, and the Eastern Conference-worst Carolina Hurricanes broke a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over Toronto.
β Dave Bolland scored the winning goal in the shootout to lead the Florida Panthers to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
__ Anaheim nipped Montreal 2-1. Matt Beleskey scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period for the Ducks, who improved to 12-4-2 on the road.
__ The defending Stanley Cup champion L.A. Kings erased a three-goal deficit and beat St. Louis 6-4. Jake Muzzin scored the tiebreaking power-play goal with 11:02 to play.
__ Matt Tennyson and Barclay Goodrow scored within 34 seconds of each other midway through the third period to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 4-3 victory over Edmonton.
NBA-SCHEDULE
The Butler does it for Bulls
UNDATED (AP) β Jimmy Butler scored a career-high 35 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks 103-97 in a game that was missing All-Stars Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony.
Playing without Rose, who sat out with an illness, the Bulls got another strong game from Butler. He was 11 of 21 from the floor with four 3-pointers, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
The Knicks were led by Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 23 points and five 3-pointers. The Knicks have lost 13 of 14. Anthony sat out with a sore left knee.
In other NBA action:
β Anthony Davis had 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 99-90 win over Houston.
__ Golden State outscored Oklahoma City 114-109. Stephen (STEH’-fihn) Curry led all scorers with 34 for the Warriors. Russell Westbrook had 33 for the Thunder.
__ Milwaukee edged Sacramento 108-107. Brandon Knight led the Bucks with 20 points.
NBA-CELTICS-MAVERICKS TRADE
Mavs get Rondo from Celtics
BOSTON (AP) β A person with knowledge of the deal says the Boston Celtics have agreed to trade four-time all-star point guard Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Celtics will get Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright, Jameer Nelson and two draft picks, said the person who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the trade is not official yet.
The deal gives Dallas a pass-first point guard and gives long-time Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki (noh-VIHT’-skee) a chance at another title. The Mavericks also get forward Dwight Powell in the deal while giving up a first-round pick in 2015 and a second-rounder the next season.
T25-SCHEDULE
Cavaliers pass first test after exams…Duke also 10-0
UNDATED (AP) β An 11-day layoff for exams didn’t bother the sixth-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, who cruised to a 70-54 victory over Cleveland State to improve to 10-0. That’s the Cavaliers’ best start since the 2000-01 season.
Trey Lewis had 18 to lead Virginia. Justin Anderson scored 14 of his 16 in the second half. Cleveland State scored just four points in the first 13 1/2 minutes against the Cavaliers’ top-ranked scoring defense and No. 3-rated field goal percentage defense.
In the only other AP Top-25 game of the night, second-ranked Duke trimmed defending national champion UConn 66-56. The Blue Devils are 10-0. Freshman point guard Tyus Jones scored 21 points to lead the Blue Devils.
MLB-HOT STOVE LEAGUE
AP sources: All-Star catcher Norris traded to Padres…Kempt to Padres deal official
AKLAND, Calif. (AP) β Two people with knowledge of the deal say the Oakland Athletics have traded All-Star catcher Derek Norris and minor league right-hander Seth Streich to the San Diego Padres for righties Jesse Hahn and R.J. Alvarez along with an international signing bonus slot. The 25-year-old Norris batted .270 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 127 games for the Athletics.
In other baseball news:
β The Padres have finalized a five-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers that sends slugger Matt Kemp and $32 million to San Diego in exchange for catcher Yasmani Grandal. San Diego also gets catcher Tim Federowicz. The Dodgers also receive right-handed pitchers Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin. The teams agreed to the deal last week but didn’t finalize it until Thursday.
β Former Atlanta right-hander Kris Medlen has agreed to an $8.5 million, two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals after missing last season while he recovered from a second Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old Medlen went 14-12 with a 3.11 ERA in 2013, his only full season as a starter, and went 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his last five starts. His first Tommy John surgery was in 2011.
