Williams reportedly offered $15K to knock out Brad Johnson

Williams allegedly threw down $15,000 on the table during a team meeting before a 2006 "Monday Night Football" game, telling his Washington Redskins players that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson wasn't going to finish that game.

"Gregg came in and dropped $15,000 on the (table) and said, 'Brad Johnson doesn't finish this game. This is Wednesday and the money will go up later in the week. It could double or triple by the end of the week,' " an anonymous player told WJFK-FM this week. "A couple of guys kinda got excited. (Defensive line coach) Greg Blache said, 'If you get fined, it will be taken care of.' "

Another Redskins player, who also asked to remain anonymous, backed up the claims against Williams, though he couldn't recall specific details about the meeting.

"I can't say for sure it was $15,000, but I definitely remember that happening before that Minnesota game," he said. "And I can't say for sure that those were (Williams') exact words about Brad Johnson, but that was certainly the message.

"I had never heard anything like that before from a coach, but I wasn't shocked because that was (Williams') character, so in your face. His language was always X-rated and our meetings were usually pretty nuts."

According to the player, that wasn't the first time Williams told his team to target a specific player.

"The same thing happened before our playoff game the year before against Seattle," he said. "Gregg wanted us to get (Seahawks MVP running back) Shaun Alexander. Now it happened that (linebacker LaVar Arrington) knocked Shaun out of the game, but he was just playing hard. Unless it's a free shot at the quarterback, you have a really hard time trying to hurt a guy when you're making a play on the ball."

The reports of a Saints-esque bounty system existing in Washington while Williams was the Redskins' defensive coordinator quickly came out after the league first announced its findings. Williams was a Redskins assistant coach from 2004 through 2007, and two unnamed players told The Washington Post that Blache ended the program when he took over for Williams in 2008.

Joe Namath blasts Jets for Tim Tebow trade

It was a move, says Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath, which the New York Jets pulled off to provide salvation for their team. It just so happens to be in the form of tickets and jersey sales and not the blessing of wins and championships.
The Jets' shocking Thursday trade with the Denver Broncos to acquire Tim Tebow not only brings quarterback controversy to New York but also legions of Tebow fans and media scrutiny. The Jets, who haven't won a title since Namath led the team to an upset victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, are clearly making a move to not only enhance their on-the-field product but also make an impact off of it as well. In the same town as the Super Bowl-winning New York Giants, the Jets needed to make this move to recapture the city's attention.

"This goes beyond X's and O's and football. The Jets have a way of maintaining a high profile and this is another way again that they're doing that," Namath told Yahoo! Sports.
The timing of the move is puzzling. Last week, the Jets agreed to terms with former Detroit Lions quarterback Drew Stanton as their backup to Mark Sanchez, who earlier this month signed a five-year contract extension with the team. By inking Sanchez to the $58.25 million deal, the Jets essentially handed the keys of the franchise to the quarterback whom they traded up to take with the fifth pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
Namath, like former Jets players Kris Jenkins, Ray Lucas and Damien Woody, took to social media Wednesday to air his views on the trade. His Twitter and Facebook accounts lit up with fans expressing confusion (and perhaps worse) over the trade. Namath can see a similar scenario playing out in a Jets locker room already fractured by dissension and ego, adding Tebow to the mix won't turn sinners into saints — at least not overnight. There's sure to be confusion there too.
"These guys are expected to be professional, but it doesn't work that way all the time. There's a split there with the players and they're a bit confused — I am too," Namath said.

Now, the Jets have traded to bring in Tebow, 7-4 as a starter last season in leading Denver to the AFC West title - a move that clearly creates a quarterback controversy where none should perhaps exist. Sanchez, while flawed, had led the Jets to consecutive AFC championship games in his first two years in the league and given the size and length of his contract, is a pretty expensive backup should Tebow win the starting position.
"I talk about Sanchez and the other players. You can't help but like Tim Tebow, I'm sure all the guys do, but this is going to be a tremendous amount of distraction for the players," Namath said.
"They're supposed to handle it. But at this stage I'm hoping it will work out positively for the teams, the fans. I know all the fans want to do is win and I'm not sure that is always the bottom-line with how the Jets operate."By Kristian Dyer | Shutdown Corner

Alex Smith meets with Dolphins

MIAMI -- Even in the offseason, the Miami Dolphins' quarterback carousel keeps spinning.

After being spurned by Peyton Manning, the Dolphins had a brief, unproductive courtship with Matt Flynn, then turned their attention Sunday to Alex Smith, the San Francisco 49ers free agent.
Smith left the Miami complex after a 5 1/2-hour meeting. Dolphins officials declined to comment on any details about this visit.
However, the visit could affect the Manning sweepstakes, because the 49ers are among three finalists for the four-time NFL MVP, along with the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans.
The 49ers had been working to re-sign Smith but also went to North Carolina last Tuesday to watch Manning work out at Duke. Smith, the No. 1 overall 2005 draft pick, enjoyed his best season in 2011 under first-year 49ers coach Harbaugh, a former NFL quarterback.
Smith and Manning have the same agent, Tom Condon.
A new starting quarterback would be the Dolphins' 17th since Dan Marino retired following the 1999 season. Winless in postseason since 2000, they made signing Manning their top offseason priority, but he told them Thursday he would sign elsewhere.
They then courted Flynn, the former Green Bay Packers backup who had ties to new Dolphins coach Joe Philbin. Flynn visited Miami on Saturday, then agreed to terms Sunday on a multiyear deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Dolphins planned another QB interview Monday, when they were to host veteran David Garrard, a person familiar with the negotiations said. The person confirmed the visit to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not publicly discussed its plans.
Garrard, a starter for Jacksonville from 2005 to 2010, didn't play last season. He was released five days before the opener by the Jaguars, then underwent back surgery in October.
After all of their shopping, it's possible the Dolphins will stick with incumbent Matt Moore.
"Looks like Miami (is) going with Moore again," former Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson tweeted after Flynn's deal with Seattle was announced.
While Moore played well last year, there are doubts he's a franchise quarterback.
Smith struggled early in his career but threw for 3,150 yards and 17 touchdowns with only five interceptions last season as San Francisco went 13-3 and made the NFC title game after an eight-year playoff drought. He orchestrated six comeback wins, four on the road.
Smith has been weighing a three-year offer from the 49ers. If he instead joins the Dolphins, he would be reunited with running back Reggie Bush. They were teammates at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa, Calif.
He landed at the Fort Lauderdale airport Sunday morning and arrived at the Dolphins complex in a car driven by trainer Kevin O'Neill. Philbin, new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and general manager Jeff Ireland arrived earlier.
Chad Henne, who started 31 games for Miami over the past three seasons, signed Wednesday with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a backup.

The 49ers emerged as a contender for Manning when the news surfaced that he worked out for Harbaugh at Duke. Manning also worked out for the Broncos on Friday at Duke, and for the Titans on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.by steven wine

Peyton Manning Finalizing Denver Deal

Peyton Manning Finalizing Denver Deal

Peyton Manning is coming to Denver. Time to put the Tim Tebow project on ice. Admit it, Denver fans, you kind of love it.
While there's little room to debate that this was quite a coup by the Johns, Elway and Fox now must focus their concerns on developing the best team they can around their new centerpiece. When Elway was around Manning's age, he was doing helicopters in the Super Bowl. But there would be no mid-air acrobatics in Super Bowl XXXII without Rod Smith, Terrell Davis and Ed McCaffrey.
Those guys aren't walking through the door in Denver. So what to make of the cast of characters playing alongside Manning in Colorado this fall?

Demaryius Thomas is a good place to start. The third-year receiver emanated a bright future with his play from midseason on. Everyone by now has seen the game-winning catch-and-run against Pittsburgh many times. There should be plenty more of those for the 24-year-old Thomas, who averaged 17.2 yards per catch last season, particularly with a talent like Manning throwing him the ball.

Wideout Eric Decker, who just turned 25, should benefit greatly from Manning's presence, as well. But how well these guys grasp a new offense is the question. With Decker, that shouldn't be a problem, considering he reportedly posted the highest score on the Wonderlic Test at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine. Bear in mind, all of Denver's skill players had to adjust to a radically different offense on the fly last season. For the most part, they passed that test. Why wouldn't guys like Thomas and Decker be able to respond with a pro's pro like Manning pulling the strings?

Not to mention, Mike McCoy is no slouch. The Broncos' offensive coordinator deserves a lot of credit for getting the production out of running back Willis McGahee last season (1,199 yards). Manning will need the help from a solid ground attack, as his body might not be able to withstand a 16-game schedule in which he's throwing 45 times a game. A solid running game is a veteran quarterback's best friend -- just ask Elway -- and Denver had that in spades last season. Even Tebow (if he's not dealt) could be used to spell Manning in certain packages that call for mobility.

The offensive line might not be gangbusters, but it certainly wasn't the problem for the 8-8 Broncos. Manning's decision-making and quick release will make a decent group look a whole lot prettier in orange and navy.
While offensive firepower is the subject of the day in Denver, Manning's presence should do wonders for the defense, too. The Tebow-led running game of 2011 was capable of burning clock, but building leads ... not so much. Manning surely should put more points on the board than Tebow, and don't expect McCoy to junk the running game just because of the adrenaline Peyton pumps into the air attack. Either way, a secondary that was exploited in New England back in January might have some cushion to play with, while not feeling like every mistake could be a game-changer.

Perhaps more importantly, Manning's presence could spell opportunity for the teeth of the Denver defense: the pass rush. Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller combined for 21 sacks last season. Their opportunities to meet at the quarterback should only jump with the opposition playing catch-up a lot more than it did in 2011. Playing catch-up means passing, and with Dumervil and Miller, that means sacks. One of the huge advantages Manning had for the past decade with the Colts was the tremendous pressure Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis applied on offenses trying to match wits and production with the Colts quarterback. How many franchises have two guys who've combined for more than 180 career sacks?

With smart coaching, a balanced attack and a defense predicated on applying pressure, the Manning-led Broncos must be considered the frontrunners in what was already considered a weak AFC West. Who knows, maybe Elway will get another ring without having to strap the pads on himself.Don McPeak/US Presswire

Blues Defeat Lightning 3-1 to clinch playoff berth

Schwartz, making his NHL debut after signing with the Blues earlier in the week, scored on his first NHL shot during a power play late in the first period. It wound up being the game-winner as the Blues beat Tampa Bay 3-1 on Saturday night to become the first team to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The win also gave the Blues 100 points, five more than the New York Rangers in the race for the top spot in the NHL.

The Blues made the postseason only once in the previous six seasons and started 2011-12 with a 6-7-0 mark before firing coach David Payne on Nov. 6 and giving the job to Ken Hitchcock. Less than five months later, they're already assured of a playoff berth.

"It's the first step," Hitchcock said. "We're proud of that. We're organizationally proud of it. It's the first step of what we want to do. It's been two or three months of really good hockey."

Schwartz, the Blues' top pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut after joining the team on Thursday after his Colorado College season came to a close. He pushed a rebound through traffic and past Dwayne Roloson on a power play in the final minute of the first period to give the Blues a 2-0 lead.

"It was pretty special," Schwartz said. "It's something you dream about. I was happy I could come in and help get the win. Getting the first goal was exciting."

Patrik Berglund opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at the 15-minute mark of the opening period. It was his 17th goal of the season and the fifth shorthanded goal by the Blues this season; the Lightning have allowed 10.

David Perron finished the scoring for the Blues when he blasted the puck past Roloson on a breakaway for his 15th of the season.

"We needed the lead, we got it, and we're tough with a lead," Hitchcock said. "We got a power-play goal, we got a shorty, and we got a 5-on-5 goal, and when you do that on the road that's good stuff."

Jaroslav Halak stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced to earn his 25th win -- and praise from his coach.

"He's good," Hitchcock said. "He needed to be because Tampa Bay had their chances – some very easy ones, too.

"We were really good for two periods. We were really relentless and didn't give up much. We're a tough team when we have the lead and when we check the way we can check. We're grinders and not fun to play against."

The loss put another nail in Tampa Bay's playoff hopes -- not that Lighting coach Guy Boucher thinks the situation changes anything.

"My message to the team was never about the playoffs," Boucher said. "It never has been. The message is "get better every day". Defensively, we're getting better and better. The players have not stopped fighting."

The Lightning had been pointing to this seven-game homestand as the central component in what was hoped to be their playoff push, but after Saturday night the Lightning have dropped three of the first four games.

They barely escaped being shut out by St. Louis for the second time this season, finally getting a goal with 4:11 remaining in regulation when Brendan Mikkelson converted a cross-ice pass from Adam Hall. Mickkelson, a defenseman, was skating as a forward in place of Ryan Shannon, who left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury. It was his first NHL goal and came in the 116th game of his career.

"We hurt ourselves giving up a shorthanded goal on our power play and they scored on their power play," Boucher said. "They get a breakaway and score; we get a breakaway and don't score. They get a 2-on-1 and score; we get a 2-on-1 and don't score. Five-on-five the game is 1-1."

Unfortunately for the Lightning, the game is not always played 5-on-5, and against the Blues their power play was unsuccessful on three attempts, producing just two shots.

"We lost 3-1 to the best team in the League," Boucher said. "With that team, if you start the game behind the eight-ball, it's a tough hill to climb. "

For the Lightning (32-32-7), seven points out of the final playoff slot with 11 games remaining, it's almost an impossible hill to climb now.

"It's tough to fight the reality of our situation," forward Teddy Purcell said. "It's never going to be easy but we're not giving up. It's easy to get down on ourselves and easy to fold the tent in, but you really show who you are when you have some adversity and a really tough hill to climb. Going through this will hopefully make us better in the end."

Ohio State fights off Gonzaga

Jared Sullinger scored 18 points, including two big baskets in the final 3 minutes to lead Ohio State past Gonzaga 73-66 on Saturday and into the round of 16.

DeShaun Thomas also scored 18 for the second-seeded Buckeyes (29-7), while Aaron Craft added 17 points and 10 assists. Ohio State advanced to the East Regional semifinals for the second consecutive year and will play Florida State or Cincinnati in Boston on Thursday.
Gary Bell Jr. led No. 7 seed Gonzaga (26-7) with 18 points, but the Bulldogs were unable to become the third team to knock off a No. 2 seed in less than 24 hours.

Gonzaga erased a 10-point deficit to tie it at 61 on a 3-pointer by Elias Harris with 4:05 remaining, but Sullinger knocked down two pretty hook shots late while the Bulldogs went cold.associated press source

Leigh Shocks Duke!!!

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- It's been a long, historic run for Lehigh.
It got a little longer Friday night.
Lehigh pulled off a monumental upset of national power Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, 75-70, at the Greensboro Coliseum.
C.J. McCollum scored 30 points and the Mountain Hawks converted their last six free throws to become the sixth No. 15 seed to win against a No. 2 seed, and the second in a three-hour span.
"Well, I want to congratulate Lehigh," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "They had the best player on the court tonight in McCollum.
"They were very bold the entire game. They were bold throughout and bold won."
Lehigh (27-7) plays the Notre Dame/Xavier winner Sunday in the round of 32. Duke's season ends at 27-7.
Lehigh led for the majority of the game and fought off several Duke runs, the last a 7-0 spurt to take a 49-47 lead with 8 minutes, 36 seconds left.
Mackey McKnight's 3-pointer from the right wing gave the Mountain Hawks the lead for good 16 seconds later.
And despite a few shaky moments in the closing moments, the Hawks made enough free throws to win their first NCAA Tournament game in five tries.
"Lehigh is a really good team and McCollum is a heck of a player," Krzyzewski added. "He's one of the best players in the country.
"But all of their kids played well."
Gabe Knutson's dunk with 47 seconds left gave Lehigh a 67-59 cushion, but a couple of missed free throws and Austin Rivers' two free throws had Duke down just three with 28 seconds left.
Lehigh, as it had all night, regrouped from adverse moments with the poise of champions.
Jordan Hamilton's dunk off a three-quarter pass from McCollum pushed the lead to five and Knutson rebounded a Duke miss, was fouled and made two free throws to restore a seven-point cushion.
Quinn Cook's trey with one second left ensured Lehigh had to get the ball inbounds one more time against Duke's frantic pressure.
The Hawks did and McCollum was fouled. McCollum, who missed two freebies with 36 seconds left, made both this time to secure the third win by a Patriot League team in the NCAA Tournament. Bucknell won in 2005 and '06.
"Though not in games in the tournament, we've played in some tough environments and we've always just played off the crowd," senior Hamilton said, referring to games earlier this season at Iowa State and Michigan State.
"We appreciate the North Carolina fans supporting us."
By the second half, fans from North Carolina who returned after the Tar Heels' win in the previous game, plus those from Xavier and Notre Dame who were waiting for their teams to play in the nightcap, joined the Lehigh faithful to offset the huge Duke following.
Lehigh used a 15-5 run to take at 47-42 lead with 12:08 left on a McCollum 3-pointer.
"There were numerous defensive strategies against (McCollum)," Krzyzewski said. "We wanted him to be a volume shooter but not foul him.
"(But) we didn't lose the game because of our defense."
Duke, which played without injured forward Ryan Kelly, responded with a 7-0 run. But its offense never sustained anything.
Star guards Austin Rivers and Seth Curry combined to make just six of 23 shots. Rivers managed 19 points. Curry, who was saddled with foul problems throughout, was just 1 of 9 with seven points.
Lehigh led 56-51 as late as the 4:06 mark, but missed two free throws and two 3-pointers that would have extended its lead.
But the Mountain Hawks' defense, which forced 41.4 percent shooting, kept the Blue Devils from putting together a game-changing run.
Lehigh was up 61-54 after a John Adams dunk with 1:51 left. Curry then hit a front-rim 3-pointer to cut the lead to four with 1:33 left.
With the pressure of the game, the moment and Duke's history staring at them, the Mountain Hawks made enough plays late.
"We weren't perfect," Lehigh coach Brett Reed said. "But we played well enough."
Knutson had 15 of his 17 points and all eight rebounds in the second half for the Hawks, who have won nine games in a row.by tom housenick
For Duke, Mason Plumlee had 19 points, including several monster dunks on 9 of 9 shooting.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/16/4344779/no-15-seed-lehigh-shocks-no-2.html#storylink=cpy