Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • B6

6 DAILY PRESS Wednesday, December 19, 2012 REDSKINS NOTES Jets sack Sanchez, will start McElroy Suddenly, depth an issue up front DAVID RICHARDUSA TODAY SPORTS PHOTO Redskins left guard Kory Lichtensteiger, right, had to play center toward the end of Sunday's game because of injuries. Redskins at Eagles When: 1 p.m. Sunday TV: Fox Tribune news services With his team mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, Jets coach Rex Ryan announced Tuesday that Greg McElroy will start at quarterback against the Chargers on Sunday. Ryan made the move one day after a four-interception, one-fumble performance by Mark Sanchez in a 14-10 loss to the Titans. Ryan declined to get into his specific reasons for naming McElroy the starter over Tim Tebow.

"I based it on a gut feeling or whatever," he said. "Everything it comes down to is, I believe it's the best decision for our team. That's the only factor that goes into these decisions." Ryan broke the news to Sanchez after Monday's loss and didn't decide on a replacement until Tuesday. He didn't say who would be the No. 2 quarterback.

Sanchez has a league-high 24 turnovers this season, including 17 interceptions. His 87 turnovers since 2009 are second-most in the NFL, one behind Eli Manning's 88. The New York Daily News, citing sources, reported Tebow will request to be traded or released after the season. More Belcher details: Nearly two months before killing his girlfriend and then himself, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher texted another girlfriend that he "would shoot" Ka-sandra Perkins "if she didn't leave him alone," according to police reports obtained by the Kansas City Star. The other woman thought Belcher was joking at the time.

On Dec. the 25-year-old murdered Perkins. He then drove to Arrowhead Stadium, where he shot himself. Before committing the act, he was met by head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli, and he thanked them for all they'd done for him. When police arrived, he shot himself behind a car, as Crennel pleaded, 'You're taking the easy way out," the newspaper said.

No sidelines for Brent: Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent will no longer be allowed on the Cowboys' sideline, team and league sources told ESPN.com. Brent, who is on the reservenon-football injury list after being charged with intoxication manslaughter in the crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown two weeks ago, was on the sideline for Sunday's game against the Steelers, unbeknownst to the Cowboys and NFL officials. Extra points: The Browns hired Alec Scheiner as the franchise's president He has spent the last eight years in various jobs with the Cowboys, including senior vice president and general counsel the last five years. With an average 4.0 U.S. rating and 6.4 million viewers for its expanded 13-game schedule this season, the NFL Network announced its best audience since it began airing regular-season games in 2006.

It jumped 11 percent in the ratings over 201L The NFL Players Association and ESPN announced a multiyear agreement for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl to be televised live on ESPN2. This year's game will take place on Jan. 19 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Bears placed RB Michael Bush on season-ending injured reserve with injured ribs and re-signed Kahlil Bell. Eagles RB LeSean McCoy (concussion) has been cleared to return to game action.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (clavicle), WR Mal-com Floyd (ankle) and OT Reggie WeDs (ankle and toe) all landed on IR Injuries to starting right tackle, center stir concern on unit considered a strength By Mike Jones The Washington Post WASHINGTON After 15 weeks of stability and health along the offensive fine, the Washington Redskins face the possibility of having to replace two starters as they prepare for one of their most important games in years, Sunday's contest in Philadelphia. To complicate injuries sustained by two starters Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, the NFL announced that one of the team's top backup linemen, Jordan Black, has been suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. The announcement came Monday. Coach Mike Shanahan said right tackle Tyler Polumbus, who sustained a concussion in the first half of Sunday's 38-21 victory over the Browns, will continue to be monitored throughout the week. The coach declined to provide an update on the health of center Will Montgomery, who has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Montgomery sustained the injury late in Sunday's game and did not return after he was checked on the sideline by medical staff. Shortly after Shanahan's Monday afternoon news conference, the team issued a statement from the NFL that Black, who played the entire second half Sunday in place of Polumbus, has been suspended for four games. Taken together, the news put one of the team's most stable units in a suddenly precarious situation as the Redskins try to win their final two games and capture the NFC East title for the first time since 1999. The Redskins closed out the game with Kory Lichtensteiger (usually the starting left guard) at center and backup Maurice Hurt at left guard. Shanahan said, 'We'll talk about Will more on Wednesday," but added that the team is well-prepared at center with Lichtensteiger, right guard Chris Chester and rookies Josh LeRibeus and Adam Gettis able to play that position if Montgomery can't.

The options at right tackle aren't so plentiful. Polumbus had started all 14 games after Jammal Brown was lost for the season with recurring hip injuries. Polumbus could play Sunday if he shows no lingering symptoms and passes tests throughout the week. (Teammates Robert Griffin III, Al-drick Robinson and Josh Wilson all suffered concussions during games earlier this year but recovered in time to play the following week.) If Polumbus is unable to play, the Redskins must decide whether to go with Hurt, a second-year pro who started eight games at left guard last season and has had time at tackle in practices, or rookie Tom Compton, who spent the first 13 weeks of the season on the practice squad before he was promoted to the 53-man roster two weeks ago. Asked about his level of concern regarding the line, Shanahan expressed confidence in the healthy players on the roster.

"We've got a litde more depth," Shanahan said, referring to improvements over last season, when injuries along the line helped trigger a six-game losing streak that followed a promising 3-1 start "We've got a few guys that are draft choices that have been working extremely hard and understand our offense, and if put in if they need to play I think they'll do an excellent job." Entering the season, the health of the offensive line, and its ability to protect Griffin, ranked among the Redskins' biggest concerns. In addition to Brown's injury, Williams injured his foot in the preseason opener and missed time, and Lichtensteiger, who was returning from tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee in 201L had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee and didn't play a preseason game. Chester also missed time during the preseason with an ankle injury. At one point during training camp, Griffin lined up behind a line that featured only one projected starter: Montgomery. Once the season began, however, all but Brown made it back into the lineup.

The Redskins have one of the NFL's best offenses this season. They are fourth in total yards, first in rushing and fifth in points. The line has led rookie running back Alfred Morris to L322 yards rushing third-most in the NFL and helped him set franchise rookie rushing records. Even without the second running threat offered by Griffin on Sunday, the line fared well against Cleveland. After struggling early, the unit regrouped and played better from the final possession of the first quarter to the end of the game.

Williams has played through knee, ankle and thigh injuries and has remained effective. Until now, however, the rest of his linemates had avoided serious injuries. The Redskins won't know until later this week just how battered the unit will be Sunday. But Lichtensteiger, who had spoken to Montgomery and Polumbus, said he is optimistic that disaster can be averted. "I don't think we're necessarily going to have to shuffle everything around," he said.

Even if Montgomery and Polumbus can't play, Lichtensteiger said he shares Shanahan's optimism about the team's overall depth. "It's not like these combinations of people have never played together," he said. "We do get practice reps together. Those second-team guys cycle in to give guys breathers. Everybody does a pretty good job in practice, and I think we all know what we're doing." FOUR CORNERS A SPORTS DEBATE Who'll be the Jets' starting QB in 2013? TITANS 14, JETS 10 Playoff hopes dashed for N.Y.

A retread like Vick Smith or perhaps Vick Aaron Wilson Baltimore Sun It's time for the Jets to put Mark Sanchez out of his misery: Cut him, bench him or trade him. Sanchez's erratic play can't be tolerated Keith Groller Morning Call The Jets' 2013 opening-day quarterback is not on the current roster, and maybe the guy who will make the decision isn't on board yet, either. HARRISON MCCLARYREUTERS PHOTO A New York Jets fan wearing a paper bag with the name and jersey number of quarterback Mark Sanchez watches the second half of Monday night's game. anymore, and Tim Tebow and Greg McElroy aren't the answer. Regardless of whether Rex Ryan and Mike Tannen-baum return, Sanchez shouldn't.

If the Jets want to upgrade at quarterback, it won't be easy. Alex Smith or Matt Flynn aren't bad choices via trades but would be tough to pull off. That's why the Jets will wind up with a retread like Michael Vick once the Eagles discard him. Vick turns 33 before next season and is a flawed quarterback, but it's better than sticking with Sanchez. awilsontribune.com is, it's just emotional." Tim Tebow played his first full series of the year during the second quarter, rushing twice for 13 yards, getting sacked for 2 yards and throwing an incomplete pass on third-and-16.

After that, he took just one more snap for the remainder of the game. Sanchez finished the night with a 32.6 passer rating, but Ryan said he wasn't ready to name a starter for Sunday's home game against the San Diego Chargers. TITANS 14, JETS 10 Rex Ryan's steadfast support of Mark Sanchez could be his undoing. Both careers have hit the iceberg. It's likely that Sanchez has taken his last snap as a Jet.

Only ABC has had more prime-time disasters than Sanchez this fall and while Ryan may return, his leash got tighter with every turnover Monday night Tim Tebow probably is gone as well and Greg McElroy remains unproven. That means next year's starter is wearing another NFL uniform. Alex Smith is the favorite, but Michael Vick has performed a Meadowlands miracle once before. kgrollertribune.com I flTF MONDAY N.Y. Jets 0-10 0-14 Anybody but Sanchez Could be Sanchez again Tennessee By Bucky Dent The Sports Xchange NASHVILLE, Tenn.

-Victory went to the team making the next-to-last mistake Monday night. After Tennessee's Brett Kern shanked a 19-yard punt out of bounds at the Titans' 25-yard fine with 47 seconds left, giving the New York Jets a final chance to win, quarterback Mark Sanchez gave the ball right back with his fifth turnover of the game. Sanchez's fumbled snap, recovered by Titans linebacker Zach Brown with 43 seconds remaining, preserved a 14-10 Tennessee victory that eliminated the Jets from AFC playoff contention. After time expired, Sanchez, who tossed four interceptions and completed only 13 of 28 passes for 131 yards, walked off the LP Field turf with a glassy-eyed look on his face. "Extremely disappointing to say the least," said Jets coach Rex Ryan, whose team fell to 6-8.

"The last play was as bad as it gets." Sanchez couldn't hang on to a low shotgun snap from center Nick Mangold, and running back Bilal Powell accidentally booted the ball out of Sanchez's reach before Brown pounced on it to end the sloppy contest. Brown earlier recorded two sacks. Tennessee (5-9) won for just the second time in seven games despite com- mitting 14 penalties for 111 yards and punting 10 times. The Titans did just enough on offense to earn their second prime-time win of the year. Jake Locker's 13 -yard touchdown run with 20 seconds left in the third quarter was the game-winning score.

On the seven-play, 64-yard drive, Locker connected on passes of 2L 12 and 13 yards to Michael Preston, Nate Washington and Kendall Wright, respectively. More important, Locker avoided turnovers after giving the ball away nine times in the previous three games all losses. He finished 13-for-22 for 149 yards Monday. "That was one of our keys coming in winning the turnover battle," Locker said. "We missed a few plays, but they have a really good defense.

We stayed away from turnovers." Chris Johnson, who finished with 122 yards on 21 carries and had a 94-yard touchdown run, paid tribute to the shooting victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, writing their names on his shoes. He said that he plans to auction the shoes and donate the proceeds to charity. "When you have kids and see a story like that, you're kind of heartbroken," he said. "We are just fortunate to play this game. I don't care who you Sam Farmer Los Angeles Times It could be Mark Sanchez starting next season's opener for the Jets, if only because of the financial handcuffs involved.

The Jets owe him $8.25 million next Dan Pompei Chicago Tribune The opening-day starting quarterback for the Jets in 2013 might be Michael Vick. It might be Matt Moore. It might be Geno Smith. It might is First quarter 69,143 4:17. Second quarter Ten: Johnson 94 run (Bironas kick), 8:53.

Third quarter NYJ: Cumberland 17 pass from Sanchez (Folk kick), 3:19. Ten: Locker 13 run (Bironas kick), :20. TEAM STATS NYJ TEN First downs 20 12 Total net yards 253 294 Rushes-yds 30-146 30-167 Passing 107 127 Sacked-yds lost 4-24 4-22 Comp-att-int 13-29-4 13-22-0 Punts Punt returns 1-7 2-3 Kickoff returns 2-52 3-75 Interceptions ret. 0-0 4-55 Penalties-yards 4-23 14-111 Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0 Time of poss. 30:16 29:44 Rushing: NYJ, Greene 13-68, McKnight 4-29, Powell 6-28, Tebow 3-15, Sanchez 4-6.

Ten, Johnson 21-122, Locker 7-43, Johnson 2-2. Passing: NYJ, Sanchez 13-28-4-131, Tebow 0- 1- 0-0. Ten, Locker 13-22-0-149. Receiving: NYJ, Cumberland 4-53, Edwards 3-47, Powell 2-15, Greene 2-1, Kerley 1-11, Reuland 1-4. Ten, Washington 4-62, Wright 3-31, Preston 2-31, Stevens 2-16, Britt 1-7, Johnson 1-2.

Punt returns: NYJ, Kerley 1-7. Ten, Reynaud 2- 3. Kickoff returns: NYJ, McKnight 2-52. Ten, Reynaud 3-75. Tackles-assists-sacks: NYJ, Bell 5-1-1, DeVito 5-3-0, Pace 4-1-1, Harris 3- 4-0, Scott 3-1-0, Landry 2-2-0, Mclntyre 2-2-1, Po'uha 2-0-0, Wilson 2-0-0, Copies 1-2-1, Cromartie 1-0-0, Lankster 1-0-0, Smith 1-0-0, Wilkerson 1-4-0.

Ten, Shaw 7-1-0, Brown 6-1-2, Griffin 5-1-0, Ayers 4-1-1, Babineaux 4-1-0, McCourty 3-2-0, Verner 2-2-0, Wimbley 2-1-0, Casey 1-1-0, Marks 1-2-0, Morgan 1-3-1, Sensabaugh 1-1-0. Interceptions: Ten, McCourty 2-29, Griffin 2-26. Missed FG: Ten, Bironas 46 (BK) season, no matter where he winds up. But that surely would cause a revolt among Jets fans. Tebow's gone.

Alex Smith could be an interesting option, because he'll be looking to get out of San Francisco. Another interesting scenario would be the Seahawks dealing Matt Flynn, then acquiring Sanchez to back up Russell Wilson. Or what if the Jets reach for USC quarterback Matt Barldey in the draft? Sanchez might have some words of advice for Barldey when handing off the baton namely, "Look out behind you!" sfarmertribune.com be Matt Barldey. We can't say for certain. But what we can say for certain is their opening-day starting quarterback won't be Mark Sanchez.

Changes are coming for the Jets, and one of those changes is going to be at quarterback. It is likely the Jets will have either a new general manager or head coach, or both, and the new man or men will want a new quarterback. The Jets can't sell Sanchez to their fans anymore. So the Jets will be in the quarterback market this offseason. Whether by free agency, trade or the draft, they will find one.

dpompeitribune.com.