Another Cowboys Christmas, against sinking Arizona

Cowboys-Cardinals lose their glitter
GLENDALE, Ariz., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals will meet in the NFL's less-than-attractive holiday present Saturday, and the important action will take place Sunday. Neither Dallas (5-9) nor Arizona (4-10) reached expectations this season -- especially the Cowboys -- but they will be the only pro football teams on display Christmas Day. The Cowboys have a 4-2 record under interim Coach Jason Garrett, who took over after Wade Phillips was fired in the second week of No...

NFL Fines 16 Players For Illegal Hits
NEW YORK (AP) — Sixteen players, eight in each conference, were fined Friday by the NFL for illegal hits, including Atlanta Defensive End Kroy Biermann and Cincinnati Linebacker Dhani Jones, each docked $15,000. Biermann got the biggest fine for helmet-to-helmet contact on Seattle Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. Jones was fined for the same infraction against Browns Quarterback Colt McCoy. Overall, seven players were fined for roughing the passer and three for flagrant fouls on defenseless...

McNabb's agent slams coordinator
Published: Dec. 24, 2010 at 1:57 PM The agent for benched Washington Redskins Quarterback Donovan McNabb said offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has been undermining his client. UPI/Kevin Dietsch WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- The agent for benched Washington Redskins Quarterback Donovan McNabb said offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has been undermining his client. Fletcher Smith III said McNabb, who was benched for the team's final three games of the season, had "tension" with Shanahan after t...

Porter, Stephens-Howling inactive against Cowboys
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals are without starting outside Linebacker Joey Porter and kick returner LaRod Stephens-Howlings for Saturday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Porter has been sidelined with a triceps injury from last Sunday’s loss at Carolina. Stephens-Howling, a rookie who also plays on the kickoff and punt teams and sees some action at running back, has been nursing a Hamstring Injury. Dallas wide receiver Roy Williams had been listed as ques...

Win & Theyre In The Playoffs
NEW YORK (AP) — There it is, within grasp, for half a dozen NFL teams: That coveted Playoff berth. The chore is simple for five of them. If the defending champion New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, New York Jets or Baltimore Ravens win, they are in. The Kansas City Chiefs need a victory and a loss by the San Diego Chargers to capture the AFC West division. The Chiefs host the Tennessee Titans, while the Chargers are at the Cincinnati Bengals, and many expect that rac...

Fletcher Smith, Donovan McNabb's Agent, Fires Back At Mike & Kyle Shanahan
ASHBURN, Va. — Donovan McNabb's agent says the "tension" between the Quarterback and Washington coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is due to McNabb's suggestions for improving the Redskins' offense. Fletcher Smith said in a statement Thursday that the Shanahans have made comments that go beyond disrespectful and that were "unprecedented for a six-time Pro Bowl Quarterback such as Donovan." McNabb, who has declined requests for comment this week, was benched befor...

Redskins Kyle Shanahan responds to McNabbs agent
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington’s Kyle Shanahan took his turn at the microphone on Friday, challenging comments made by Donovan McNabb’s agent. Not that he provided clarity to the ongoing saga. If anything, the situation got more confusing. The Redskins offensive coordinator said Fletcher Smith’s comments were “disturbing,” so he spoke “face-to-face, man-to-man” with McNabb Thursday night at Redskins Park. He said the 12-year Veteran told him that t...

Body Found In Arizona Not Missing Dancer
(NewsCore) - A body found in rural Arizona is not that of Deborah Flores-Narvaez, the Las Vegas dancer who disappeared two weeks ago, a source in the Clark County Coroner's Office told NewsCore Friday. "We've ruled that out," said the person, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. "I can't say anymore, but we did determine it was not the dancer." Hikers stumbled upon the woman's body on Kingman Watch Road on the Arizona side of Lake Mead around 11:30am...

Christmas Eve Football Thread
Because nothing says Christmas like watching the Dallas Cowboys jump ugly on the Arizona (formerly St. Louis) Cardinals. CDR M sends his regards, and by regards I mean Christmasy cheerleaders. Cowboys. Colts. Patriots. I hope you all have a great Christmas, and remember to tip your Bail Bondsman. ...

Patriots Win Over Bills Would End AFC East Race
NEW YORK (AP) — For the New England Patriots, facing a team that lost its first eight games of the season shouldn’t be much of a challenge. After all, New England has only lost twice all season. But the Patriots’ praise of the Buffalo Bills is more than just the lip service they usually pay to opponents whose record is much worse than their own. That’s because the Bills are 4-2 in their past six games and would be 5-1 if Steve Johnson hadn’t dropped what would have ...

16 players fined by NFL
NEW YORK (AP) — Sixteen players, eight in each conference, have been fined by the NFL for illegal hits, including Atlanta Defensive End Kroy Biermann and Cincinnati Linebacker Dhani Jones, each docked $15,000 Friday. Biermann gets the biggest fine for helmet-to-helmet contact on Seattle Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. Jones is docked for the same infraction against Browns Quarterback Colt McCoy. Overall, seven players have been fined for roughing the passer and three for flagrant fouls on ...

Burned Body May be Missing Vegas Dancer
(FOXNews.com) - A body found in rural Arizona may be that of Deborah Flores-Narvaez, the Las Vegas dancer who disappeared two weeks ago, police said Friday. The Las Vegas Metro Police have taken over the investigation and Clark County, Nev., Coroner Mike Murphy will perform an Autopsy, Turner said. The reportedly pregnant Flores-Narvaez, 31, was last seen at about 7 pm Dec. 12 before she planned to meet ex-boyfriend Jason "Blu" Griffith. Her sister said Thursday that Griffith has been uncooperat...

Jets Sanchez probable, expected to play vs. Bears
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected to start New York’s game at Chicago on Sunday after being limited during the week with a sore Right Shoulder. Coach Rex Ryan says Friday that Sanchez “looked really good” at practice, showing a lot more zip on his passes than he did the previous two days. Sanchez is listed on the injury report as probable, and Ryan says his second-year Quarterback will be under center with the Jets (10-4) needing a win ov...

Jets' Sanchez Expected to Start vs. Bears
Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected to start New York's game at Chicago on Sunday after being limited during the week with a sore Right Shoulder. Coach Rex Ryan says Friday that Sanchez "looked really good" at practice, showing a lot more zip on his passes than he did the previous two days. Sanchez is listed on the injury report as probable, and Ryan says his second-year Quarterback will be under center with the Jets (10-4) needing a win over the Bears (10-4) to secure a Playoff ...

Playoff spots up for grabs
There it is, within grasp, for a half-dozen teams: that coveted Playoff berth. The chore is simple for five of them. If the Saints, Eagles, Giants, Jets or Ravens win, they are in. Doesn’t matter what anybody else does; no help required. Kansas City needs a victory and a loss by San Diego to capture the AFC West. The Chiefs host Tennessee, while the Chargers are at Cincinnati, and many expect that race to come down to the season finales. “What you work and play all year for is to pla...

Another Messy Exit: Ex-Knicks Coach Brown Out In Charlotte
NEW YORK (AP) — After a miserable start to the season in which he took shots at his players and himself, Larry Brown is out as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats in another messy exit in his well-traveled career. Former Charlotte Hornets coach Paul Silas, who has been out of the league since 2005, will direct the team for the rest of the season on an interim basis. Owner Michael Jordan announced Brown’s departure in a news release Wednesday, a day after the Bobcats were outscored 31-12 i...

Vick Would Pick Vick For MVP
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Vick’s MVP pick? That would be Michael Vick. Asked after practice Friday who he would select if he had a vote, the Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback said, “You put me on the spot.” Vick and Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady are widely considered the top two Candidates for the award, which has been won or shared by a Quarterback 17 of the last 23 years. Brady leads the NFL with a 109.9 passer rating. In his last nine games, he’s thrown 21 touch...

Magic overcome 3rd-quarter deficit to beat Celtics on Christmas Day
The Orlando Magic gave made this Christmas a merry one for their fans. The Magic overcame a 12-point, third-quarter Deficit and Dwight Howard's foul trouble and defeated the Boston Celtics 86-78 Saturday afternoon before an announced crowd of 19,013 at Amway Center. The Magic received 21 points from power forward Brandon Bass, who tied the game 77-77 by making a 14-foot jumper with 1:56 left in the game. Jameer Nelson followed by hitting a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 1:19 remaining ...

NBA: Orlando 86, Boston 78
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Jameer Nelson canned a 3-point shot with 1:19 left in Regulation to put Orlando ahead Saturday and the Magic broke Boston's 14-game win streak, 86-78. Nelson's clutch trey put the Magic in front 80-77 and he followed that up with four clutch free throws down the stretch, helping Orlando shatter the Celtics' 14-game Winning Streak in a Christmas Day matchup. Nelson scored 12 points in the contest while Brandon Bass led the Magic with 21 points and nine rebounds. He...

On-base activities, Dec. 23
Top of the Rock Collocated Club, 366-6166 Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-midnight, New Year’s Eve party, $15/person; ends Dec. 31, Air Force Clubs membership drive;Wed., 7:30 p.m., karaoke; Fri., 4 p.m., TGIF night. Bamboo Willies, 653-9814 Fri., 5:30-7:30 p.m., family fun; 7-10 p.m., karaoke on the beach; Sun., 5-8 p.m., Willie’s Beachside jazz. Youth Center Mon.-Fri., 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., music lessons for homeschoolers; weekdays after school and Sat., piano lesson opening, $60/month for four 30-mi...

On-base activities
Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-midnight, New Year’s Eve party, $15/person; ends Dec. 31, Air Force Clubs membership drive;Wed., 7:30 p.m., karaoke; Fri., 4 p.m., TGIF night. Fri., 5:30-7:30 p.m., family fun; 7-10 p.m., karaoke on the beach; Sun., 5-8 p.m., Willie’s Beachside jazz. Mon.-Fri., 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., music lessons for homeschoolers; weekdays after school and Sat., piano lesson opening, $60/month for four 30-minute lessons, Dale Garcia, 366-3490/91. Andersen Pool recreational open; swimmin...

Giants Blog: Giants-Packers Preview
Packers vs. Giants Second chances. They are not guaranteed, so they need to be utilized whenever they arrive. Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Quarterback Eli Manning were right in trying to turn the page the day after last Sunday’s devastating collapse against Philadelphia. Sure, the Eagles made like an iceberg and busted a hole in the bottom of the Giants’ ship, but this doesn’t mean it has to sink like the Titanic. The Giants have a golden opportunity, thanks to their hard-earn...

Packers Rodgers Expected To Start Against Giants
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Rodgers returned to practice for the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday. With the Playoffs still a realistic possibility, he’s expected to start Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. And while Rodgers acknowledges he’ll be careful about sliding instead of taking a direct hit when he scrambles in the future, he says coming back from his second Concussion this season won’t fundamentally change the way he plays. “I have zero doubts taking t...

Patriots Brady Tops Final Fan Vote For Pro Bowl
NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Brady has overtaken Michael Vick to lead all players in the final fan voting for the Pro Bowl. The New England Patriots Quarterback had nearly 1.9 million votes when balloting ended Monday. The NFL said Wednesday that Vick topped the NFC with more than 1.5 million. Almost 100 million votes were cast online and via Mobile Phones. Fans account for one-third of the selection process. Players and coaches vote Wednesday and Thursday. The 43-man rosters will be announced next...

Sanchez Expected To Start Sunday Against Chicago
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected to start New York’s game at Chicago on Sunday after being limited during the week with a sore right shoulder. Coach Rex Ryan says Friday that Sanchez “looked really good” at practice, showing a lot more zip on his passes than he did the previous two days. Sanchez is listed on the injury report as probable, and Ryan says his second-year Quarterback will be under center with the Jets (10-4) needing a win o...