Football Capsules: AP source says Ryans stays with Texans
HOUSTON — Star middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans is staying in Houston.
A team official told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that Ryans has agreed to a six-year contract with the Texans. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has yet to make an official announcement.
Ryans was the 2006 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and is the leader of a young Houston team that went 9-7 last season for its first winning record. He was a restricted free agent.
Ryans made the Pro Bowl last season, when he finished with 123 tackles and a sack. He has had at least 110 tackles in each of his four years in the NFL and posted a career-best 155 stops as a rookie.
The deal was first reported by the Houston Chronicle and Houston television station KRIV.
The move will keep together a defense that also includes 2006 top overall pick Mario Williams and 2009 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Cushing. Ryans’ leadership was key in the development of fellow linebacker Cushing, who led the Texans with 133 tackles.
A message was left by the AP seeking comment from Ryans. The 25-year-old Bessemer, Ala., native told The Houston Chronicle the new deal was "unbelievable" and he was "so appreciative."
Though the team hadn’t officially announced the deal, Texans linebacker Zac Diles and left tackle Duane Brown took to Twitter to congratulate Ryans on the contract.
Ryans, a second-round pick from Alabama, has started each game in his career with the Texans and has 7½ sacks, two interceptions and five forced fumbles as a pro.
Bills QB Edwards eager to make most of fresh start
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Upbeat and confident, quarterback Trent Edwards arrived for the start of the Buffalo Bills spring voluntary workout program eager to show he can put last season’s frustrations behind him.
If that means having to compete to reclaim the starting job, that was fine with Edwards on Tuesday.
Addressing reporters for the first time since November, shortly after losing his starting job to Ryan Fitzpatrick, Edwards acknowledged his critics and accepted a share of the blame for the offense’s struggles, which contributed to the Bills’ 6-10 finish.
Edwards also was clear: He sees no reason why he can’t making the most of his second chance under a new coaching staff led by Chan Gailey.
"I’ve always been a confident player regardless if someone doesn’t want me to play or not, if the media doesn’t like me, if the coach doesn’t like me," Edwards said. "There’s obviously doubters out there. It’s my opportunity, it’s my chance to change those into believers. That’s my attitude. That’s not going to waver."
Edwards has plenty of motivation. He’s entering his fourth NFL season, the final year of his contract, and he faces an open competition for the starting job with Fitzpatrick and third-stringer Brian Brohm.
So far. Gailey also intends to add a fourth quarterback to the mix, whether through trade, free agency or in the NFL draft next month.
"To tell you a specific direction and the way we’re going, no, I don’t have an answer today," said Gailey, who took over in January after Dick Jauron was fired. "I know that we’ll have four quarterbacks when we go into camp, and that’s all I know right now."
One potential draft candidate is Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who made a pre-draft visit to the Bills headquarters earlier this week.
Gailey was impressed with Tebow’s personality, but still wasn’t convinced whether the quarterback’s deliberate throwing mechanics are suited for the NFL game.
For Edwards, he’s not going to worry about things he can’t control.
"I wouldn’t expect them to name anyone (as a starter) right now. There’s no reason," Edwards said. "Everyone’s being evaluated at this time in the process. You kind of have to put your best foot forward and hope for the best."
A 2007 third-round draft pick out of Stanford, Edwards has had an up-and-down career in Buffalo since supplanting J.P. Losman as the starter midway through his rookie season.
After going 7-5 in games he had a majority of playing time in 2008, Edwards’ regressed last season. He went 1-4 before sustaining a concussion in a 16-13 overtime win against the New York Jets, a game in which Fitzpatrick rallied the Bills to victory.
Edwards got one more start before losing his job for the rest of the year after a 41-17 loss at Tennessee.
"There were more lows than I wanted. It was very frustrating for me," said Edwards. "Last year at this time, you’re the starter, you put in a lot of work. And then guys get dinged up, coaches get fired, you don’t play the way you want to, you don’t win any games. It’s tough when you put in all that work and you have nothing to show for it."
To be fair, not all of the blame falls on Edwards.
In finishing 30th in total yards and 28th in points scored, the Bills offense was in turmoil two weeks before the season began when coordinator Turk Schonert was abruptly fired. It didn’t help that Jauron stuck with a plan to go with a no-huddle attack despite having an offensive line that opened the season featuring three first-time starters.
Edwards alluded to confusion as being a problem, noting that he was dealing with three coaches who at times were providing conflicting messages.
That shouldn’t be the case with Gailey, who will also serve as the team’s offensive coordinator.
"I’m obviously excited. We needed to make some changes after last season," Edwards said. "I think any time you play in the NFL and you’re coming off a negative season ... and a team still has you under contract and still wants you to play for them, that’s an opportunity for a player to prove themselves and a team to come together like I think we need to."
Notes: Bills S George Wilson recently filmed a music video in Miami with recording star Mary J. Blige. Wilson was selected after a talent scout noticed his photo spread in Essence Magazine. ... Gailey said he’s not had any conversations with RB Marshawn Lynch, who was not present for the voluntary workouts. Gailey said only GM Buddy Nix has spoken with Lynch. ... In a bid to provide a more businesslike atmosphere, Gailey has removed the TV sets from the Bills weightlifting room.
-- John Wawrow
Bills G Wood expects to be ready for training camp
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Eric Wood laughs as he recalls being laid up in a Jacksonville hospital in November, when he and his surgeon repeatedly watched a video posted on YouTube showing how the Buffalo Bills guard broke two bones in his left leg.
"Yeah, I’ve seen it a few times," Wood said Tuesday, explaining how his leg was so swollen that his doctor reviewed the video to ensure Wood also didn’t hurt his ankle. "It’s funny when you go to YouTube to get your medical analysis. But, I guess, that’s our day and age."
Wood might also be something of a medical marvel.
Drafted 28th overall out of Louisville last year, Wood’s walking without a limp and confident his leg will be fully recovered by the start of training camp this summer. That’s great progress for a player who initially feared he might not play again after being hurt during an 18-15 loss at Jacksonville on Nov. 22.
"It’s a long way to go, and there’s going to be a lot of steps I take," said Wood, who started the first 10 games at right guard before being hurt. "But I’m really encouraged with the way it’s progressed especially the last month."
Wood has been off crutches for the past two weeks and is no longer required to wear a protective boot. He’s able to handle stairs and has been cleared for light lower body workouts as he arrived this week for the start of the Bills voluntary offseason conditioning program.
The injury was so gruesome that CBS elected against showing more than one replay of Wood getting hurt while pass-blocking in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
Jaguars defensive tackle Montavious Stanley broke in on the left side and made a diving attempt to tackle quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick near the line of scrimmage. Stanley got only a piece of the quarterback, then landed directly on Wood’s lower leg, bending it sideways.
Wood is already working on rebuilding his upper body strength while taking the rest of his recuperation slowly. Barring setbacks, he doesn’t intend to start running until June.
"It’s just something to overcome. I’m looking forward to coming back," he said. "Everyone wants to say I won’t be back this year and I may never play again. That just fuels my fire to want to prove them wrong and come back full strength."
First-year coach Chan Gailey was impressed to have Wood up and walking this week.
"I can see that he’s encouraged and we’re all encouraged by that as well," Gailey said. "I have no questions about Eric coming back and playing extremely well this year and in years to come."
Wood is tentatively slotted to return to his same position on a line that’s expected to feature some newcomers. The Bills signed free agent veteran Cornell Green, who’s pegged to start at right tackle. Left tackle is a question mark with Demetrius Bell recovering from a knee injury.
-- John Wawrow
Holmes says he never hurt woman in club
ORLANDO, Fla. — Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes denies hurting a woman who says he threw a glass at her in an Orlando nightclub and claims another woman hit her with the cup, according to a police report released Tuesday.
Holmes told an Orlando Police Department officer that the alleged victim, Anshonae Mills, grabbed his wrist, got in his face and called him a racial name after he asked for his seat back in the VIP section of Club Rain earlier this month.
Mills, 21, told a different story in a civil lawsuit she filed last week against 26-year-old Holmes. In the lawsuit, she claimed that the Super Bowl MVP got in her face and then hit her with the glass after she refused to give up her seat.
Mills’ attorneys said at a news conference Tuesday that they hadn’t seen the police report and couldn’t comment on it.
In the nightclub, Holmes told Mills to get up and move, said Jacques Cooper, the woman’s attorney.
"When she refused, Mr. Holmes began to get more belligerent and more aggressive in an attempt to get our client to move from the area, which he claimed was his," Cooper said.
Mills had a quarter-inch abrasion above her right eye but refused medical attention, the police report said.
Holmes denied touching Mills and said another woman threw the glass that hit Mills in the face. After both Mills and Holmes were escorted out of the nightclub, Mills asked the police officer if she could speak to Holmes alone, the police report said.
Holmes agreed to speak with her and they walked several feet away. The police officer saw Mills smiling and rubbing Holmes’ face, according to the police report.
A short time later, Mills told the police officer that she didn’t want to press charges, the police report said. In the lawsuit, Mills claimed Holmes and a police officer intimidated Mills so she wouldn’t press charges.
Orlando Police Department spokeswoman Barbara Jones said the case was closed since Mills declined to prosecute. But an administrative review of the timeliness of the report would be conducted since it was filed Tuesday, three weeks after the incident.
Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement that the team is "disappointed" by the allegations made in the lawsuit. Rooney said he would have no further comment until the team gathers more information.
The lawsuit followed a separate incident involving quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who became the subject of a police investigation after a college student alleged he assaulted her in a Georgia nightclub.
Since 2006, Holmes has been charged with marijuana possession in Pittsburgh, domestic violence in Ohio and disorderly conduct in Florida. The marijuana and domestic violence charges were dropped. The disorderly conduct charge was dropped in exchange for a $250 donation to a police officers trust fund.
-- Mike Schneider
Appeal of former Vikings great Carl Eller rejected
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Former Vikings great Carl Eller has lost an appeal of his conviction stemming from a 2008 arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed the conviction of Eller for assault and refusing to submit to a chemical test. Minneapolis police pulled him over two years ago and he served 60 days in the county workhouse.
The appellate court rejected Eller’s claims of insufficient evidence and errors by the trial court.
Eller was one of the Vikings’ celebrated "Purple People Eaters" in his 15 years with Minnesota from 1964-78. He played in six Pro Bowls and all four of the Vikings’ Super Bowl appearances. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Titans agree to terms with 4-year veteran CB Hill
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with cornerback Tye Hill, a former first-round draft choice.
Hill has started 24 games with five interceptions during a four-year career. Last year he started three games for the Atlanta Falcons.
Hill played three seasons in St. Louis before being traded to Atlanta before the start of the 2009 season. His playing time in both 2007 and 2008 was limited due to injury and he finished both years on injured reserve.
The Titans, looking to add depth at quarterback, also met free agent quarterbacks Patrick Ramsey and Chris Simms.
Eagles re-sign Gocong, Hobbs to 1-year deals
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles have re-signed cornerback Ellis Hobbs and linebacker Chris Gocong to one-year contracts.
Both players were restricted free agents, and each signed his tender offer, the team announced Tuesday.
Hobbs was acquired from New England last year. He played in eight games before a neck injury ended his first season in Philadelphia. Hobbs averaged 24.1 yards on 20 kickoff returns.
Gocong, a third-round pick by the Eagles in 2006, has recorded 203 tackles, four sacks and one forced fumble in 47 regular-season games, including 35 starts.
Vikings sign DE Montgomery
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have signed defensive end Mike Montgomery to a one-year deal.
Montgomery spent the past five seasons with NFC North rival Green Bay. The Packers drafted him out of Texas A&M in the sixth round in 2005.
Montgomery’s best season came in 2008 when he started eight games with 71 tackles and 2½ sacks. But his playing time dropped when the Packers switched to a 3-4 defense under Dom Capers.
In Minnesota, Montgomery will serve as a backup to starting ends Jared Allen and Ray Edwards.
Raiders S Eugene signs free agent tender
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Oakland Raiders safety Hiram Eugene has signed his restricted free agent tender to return to the team next season.
The Raiders posted the move on their Web site Monday. Eugene had signed a waiver to allow him to work out with the team this offseason before signing the contract.
Eugene has been a part-time starter the past three seasons for Oakland. He split time last year at free safety with Michael Huff. Eugene started four games. He finished with 28 solo tackles, one interception and three passes defended.
Kicker Jason Elam to retire Wednesday as a Broncos player
DENVER — Kicker Jason Elam will sign a one-day contract with the Denver Broncos so he can retire with the team he played with for most of his career.
Elam played 15 seasons with Denver from 1993 to 2007 and shares the NFL record with Tom Dempsey for the longest field goal. Elam tied the record with a 63-yard field goal on Oct. 28, 1998.
Elam played two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before being waived Dec. 1.
College
Broyles looks back on integration of Razorbacks
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Flanked by several of the school’s finest black athletes, former Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles recalled the man who broke through one of the university’s biggest racial barriers.
His name was Jon Richardson, and he was the Razorbacks’ first black scholarship football player.
"He was an outstanding running back," said Broyles, who was the football coach when Richardson played at Arkansas from 1970-72. "He and his family certainly, certainly had a lot of decisions to make, but I’ll never forget when they told me he was going to be a Razorback. We were so pleased and so proud."
Broyles was a featured guest at an event celebrating four decades of integration in Razorbacks athletics. He was joined by former Arkansas football player Muskie Harris as the main speakers. Harris played football for the Razorbacks during the 1970s.
Several other former athletes were also on hand, including basketball star Marvin Delph, who led Arkansas to the Final Four in 1978, and football player Leotis Harris.
"I thought it was a good event. I thought coach Broyles did a great job in acknowledging the history and the accomplishment of the African-Americans to the University of Arkansas," Delph said. "I don’t think the event would have been as meaningful had he not been here."
Broyles spent a good deal of time paying respect to Richardson, a Little Rock product who was honored posthumously as part of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2008. Richardson played for the Razorbacks shortly after Jerry LeVias’ success at Southern Methodist helped speed up integration on the football field.
"When SMU signed LeVias ... he became a star, and that opened up the eyes of everybody," Broyles said.
Broyles also took time to praise former basketball coach Nolan Richardson, who was hired when Broyles was athletic director and led Arkansas to the national championship in 1994.
"Nolan was a great asset to us. For 17 years, he was our basketball coach, and every one of them, we’re proud of," Broyles said. "I wanted the best coach. I didn’t care who it was."
Broyles’ comments on Richardson were noteworthy because of the way the coach’s tenure at Arkansas ended. He was fired in 2002 and later lost a discrimination lawsuit against the school.
During that trial, Broyles acknowledged he had used a racial slur at a banquet in 2000. He testified that he was repeating a question by somebody else about the differences of slurs used by blacks and whites.
Harris said he was thrilled Broyles came to speak "because of all the negative things that happened after him and Nolan broke up."
"We were here before Nolan ever came here, and people needed to know that this is how far we have grown, and that’s just one chapter," Harris said after the event. "Nobody died and nobody was hung over it."
Broyles said he was grateful for the invitation.
"I’m 85. When I went to school and when I started coaching and all, there was complete segregation — everything. We’ve changed," he said.
-- Noah Trister
USC opens spring practices under Kiffin
LOS ANGELES — Although Lane Kiffin’s first spring practice at Southern California stretched nearly three hours until dusk, it wasn’t because of the usual exuberance and horseplay in the Trojans’ workouts over the past nine years.
The new coach says his practices will be more work and less fun than the Trojans remember from Pete Carroll’s tenure. That seems to be just fine with his players, who hope a no-nonsense coaching staff can get them back on top of the Pac-10.
"They have the bounce and the juice," linebacker Chris Galippo said. "They do not let one thing fly. They do not put up with a mistake. Not one of these coaches is trying to be your friend, and that’s what we need."
Kiffin was all business both during and after Tuesday’s workout on the campus practice fields where he spent six seasons watching Carroll build the Trojans into the West’s dominant program. His Trojans won’t wear pads until the weekend, but Kiffin already was critiquing their work.
"I like their energy, but we’ve got to practice a little smarter," Kiffin said. "There’s too many guys on the ground, and everybody is trying to be Troy Polamalu. But it’s better to have to slow them down than speed them up."
While Kiffin watched the offense with passing game coordinator John Morton, the defense was overseen by famously energetic coordinator Ed Orgeron and Monte Kiffin, Lane’s father and assistant head coach.
Carroll’s practices were infamously fun-packed free-for-alls, but his former assistant plans to run a tighter ship at USC, emphasizing toughness and discipline. That extends all the way to the sidelines, where visitors won’t be allowed such easy access to practice under new rules announced by the school Tuesday.
While pretty much anybody with an interest in Trojans football could watch a practice in recent years, only preapproved guests who submit requests a full day in advance will be welcome at Kiffin’s practices. Guests aren’t allowed to speak with players, while agents and financial advisers are explicitly banned.
Carroll’s relaxed rein on his wildly successful program is widely thought to be a major reason for its involvement in a series of scandals investigated over the past several years by the NCAA, which is expected to make a ruling on possible sanctions soon.
"I don’t think it’s a whole lot different than what was here before," Kiffin said of the policy. "We just have changed the way we monitor a little bit, and tighten up who’s out here, obviously, for compliance reasons."
Kiffin again insisted he’ll stay away from the incendiary public statements that provided so much drama at his previous head coaching tenures with the Oakland Raiders and the University of Tennessee, which he left after just 14 months to take his dream job at USC.
"My job here is to coach football and recruit players," Kiffin said. "We don’t need to gather attention. We already have a high level of interest from recruits around the country. ... I really want to focus on the toughness and discipline. I think people are going to see that and carry it over onto the field. That’s what we believe in."
Kiffin has declared every starting job open, as most new coaches do. His players are taking him seriously — particularly at quarterback, where sophomore Matt Barkley and veteran Mitch Mustain both intend to earn the starting job after Barkley’s middling debut for the 9-4 Trojans last fall.
"I’m going to take them at their word about what’s going on, play the best I can, and see what happens out there," said Mustain, Arkansas’ starter as a freshman in 2006.
Barkley looked particularly sharp in Tuesday’s workout, zipping passes to receivers including freshman Kyle Prater, one of the nation’s top recruits who stuck with his commitment to the Trojans despite the coaching change. Although hobbled by a strained hamstring, the 6-foot-5 Prater — an early enrollee at USC this year — made at least two dazzling one-handed catches.
Kiffin has had Barkley’s attention since the coach began USC’s recruitment of him when Barkley was a freshman.
"I think they’re awesome," said Barkley, who lost weight in the offseason to improve his mobility. "It’s what I expected. To see them out here all fired up, to hear coach O’s voice, I think the attitude has changed. We’re more disciplined now, and I think it starts with today."
Kiffin will have the Trojans in pads for Saturday’s workout and every practice thereafter except one, building to the spring game on May 1. He has warned his players not to assume anything about last season will continue this year, from their starting jobs to the previous rules under Carroll.
"We haven’t done a whole lot of looking at last year," Galippo said. "There was no holding grudges, no reputations. Whatever you’ve done in the past is forgotten, and this is coach Kiffin’s Trojans team."
-- Greg Beacham
Masoli practices, but won’t play, with the Ducks
Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli took part in the opening day of spring practice at Oregon even though he won’t play a down for the Ducks this fall after his season-long suspension.
Masoli pleaded guilty March 12 to a misdemeanor burglary charge involving a theft at a campus fraternity house in late January. He was suspended by coach Chip Kelly within hours of his court appearance.
Masoli, touted as a possible Heisman candidate in his senior season, is allowed to practice with the team during the suspension and could request a redshirt.
There has been speculation that Masoli will transfer. But he was present Tuesday when the Ducks opened spring workouts — with Nate Costa taking the initial snaps at quarterback.
During the morning workout, Masoli appeared at quarterback and slot receiver.
"He’s just going to practice with us, but he’s really not going to take a lot of reps at quarterback cause he’s not going to play quarterback for us next year. He’s going help out wherever he can help out," Kelly said. "Need somebody to hold the (tackling) dummy, need somebody to run the practice, need somebody to do different things — he understands his role on the team."
Costa missed two seasons because of knee injuries before serving as Masoli’s backup last season. While Masoli was out with a sore knee, Costa made his first career start against UCLA and went 9 of 17 for 82 yards and a touchdown in Oregon’s 24-10 victory.
Costa was supposed to be the Ducks’ starter in 2008, but he sustained a season-ending knee injury in fall camp. Masoli, a junior college transfer who was expected to redshirt as the team’s fifth-string QB, went on to win the starting job during the season.
But Masoli’s senior season with the Ducks was scuttled when he and a former teammate took two computers and guitar from a frat house on Jan. 25. Masoli initially was charged with a felony, but he struck a plea deal that reduced the charge.
He was sentenced to 12 months of probation, 140 hours of community service and restitution.
Masoli threw for 2,147 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 668 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Excused from the opening day of spring practice was sophomore running back LaMichael James, who was suspended from Oregon’s season opener after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge involving a fight with his former girlfriend.
James, who rushed for a Pac-10 freshman record 1,546 yards last season, was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 24 months of probation — on the same day Masoli appeared in court.
James served his sentence on house arrest because of jail overcrowding. He was excused from practice Tuesday for academic reasons, although he did drop by for a few moments to chat with Kelly and some of his teammates.
In less than four months since playing in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State, the Ducks have faced a number of cases of player misconduct. The program was thrown into additional disorder when athletic director and former football coach Mike Bellotti abruptly resigned on March 19 to take an analyst’s job with ESPN.
Kelly tried to put the trouble in perspective, saying it involved only a small percentage of the team.
"Ninety-eight percent of the other kids are doing things the right way and their leadership showed up today right from the start of practice," he said.
Kelly dutifully answered questions about the team’s problems, but brightened up considerably when he was asked about football.
"You’re always excited about spring practice," he said. "It’s fun."
Oregon went 10-3 last season and won the Pac-10 title before losing 26-17 to the Buckeyes in Pasadena.
The Ducks practiced in helmets and jerseys inside the Moshofsky Center on Tuesday.
Oregon plays its annual spring game on May 1 at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks open the 2010 season at home against New Mexico on Sept. 4.
-- Anne M. Peterson
Pitt extends Wannstedt’s contract second time
PITTSBURGH — Pitt football coach Dave Wannstedt signed a two-year contract extension Tuesday that runs through the 2014 season, a deal designed to reassure recruits that the Panthers are running one of the nation’s most stable programs.
The extension was the second signed by the former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins coach since he was hired in December 2004. Pitt has a 19-7 record in the two seasons since Wannstedt signed his initial extension.
"We have always believed that when you have the right person, you should give them the time and support to accomplish all the goals they have for our program," athletic director Steve Pederson said.
The 57-year-old Wannstedt is promising that Pitt will be his last job, and he sought extra years on his contract so he could assure potential recruits he would be on the job throughout their college careers.
"It’s important when those young men and the mothers are sitting there, they want to make sure that their sons are going into a stable situation," Wannstedt said. "They know that I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ve said that from Day 1, and I haven’t wavered from that."
Wannstedt had a 16-19 record in his first three seasons, receiving his first extension hours before Pitt upset then-No. 2 West Virginia 13-9 to end the 2007 season — a victory that made a significant impact on the Panthers’ recruiting.
The Panthers went on to go 9-4 in 2008 and 10-3 last season, when they lost to Cincinnati 45-44 to end the regular season. That last-minute defeat cost them a Big East title and an appearance in a BCS bowl game, but they rebounded to beat North Carolina 19-17 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
The 10-win season was the school’s first since 1981.
"We have a lot of unfinished business," Wannstedt said. "Our staff and our players, we understand that. ... I thought we were very capable of winning a championship last year. From that standpoint, we didn’t, but we were in the game to win one. Now, we have to win one."
With second team All-American running back Dion Lewis returning for his sophomore season, the Panthers are expected to be the Big East favorite in 2010. That doesn’t bother Wannstedt.
"We can’t just continue to knock on that door," he said. "we’ve got to win a championship."
Pederson wouldn’t say if Wannstedt got a pay raise.
"We never talk about the pay of our coaches, but we’ve always tried to compensate our coaches fairly and make sure their (salaries) are competitive," he said.
-- Alan Robinson
UW’s Locker comfortable with decision to stay
SEATTLE — Jake Locker could have been getting ready to perform before NFL scouts as the draft approached.
Instead, Washington’s senior quarterback was on the field at Husky Stadium on Tuesday as the team began spring practice on an unseasonably chilly afternoon.
Coming off a 5-7 record in Steve Sarkisian’s first season at Washington, Locker decided to bypass millions in the NFL for another chance at boosting the Huskies’ resurgence.
Locker says he feels much more comfortable than a year ago when everything was new after Sarkisian’s arrival. He says he keeps an eye on what’s happening with the NFL draft, but is more concerned about getting comfortable with some of the younger players on Washington’s roster.
-- Tim Booth
Wayland Baptist reviving football after 70 years
PLAINVIEW — Wayland Baptist is bringing back a football program dormant since 1941.
The school said further details would be announced at a news conference Wednesday.
Wayland Baptist was known as the Jackrabbits when it last played football the fall before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that sent the U.S. into World War II.
The Baptist school in the Texas Panhandle is best-known for women’s basketball. The Flying Queens won 10 AAU national titles from 1953 to 1975.
Plainview is about 40 miles north of Lubbock.
Fedora dismisses player
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss football coach Larry Fedora says senior offensive lineman Trevor Newsom has been dismissed from the squad for violation of team policy.
Fedora made the announcement Tuesday in a release from the school. The school says Fedora will have no other comment.
Newsom, of Starkville, Miss., played one season for the Golden Eagles and appeared in nine games.
