The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • C3

www.tennessean.com THE TENNESSEAN Sunday, January 1, 2006 3C CYANMAGYELBLK TennesseanBroadsheet Master TennesseanBroadsheet Master 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 TennesseanBroadsheet Master TennesseanBroadsheet Master 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 3C NFLREVIEW By BERNIE WILSON Associated Press SAN DIEGO Drew Brees hustled out of the locker room with his right arm in a sling. LaDainian Tomlinson said he played the last games with a cracked rib that made it tough to breathe every time he got hit. It was a painful ending to a lost season for the San Diego Chargers, who were roughed up yesterday in a 23-7 loss to the playoff-bound Denver Broncos. Denver safety John Lynch, from San Diego, did a lot of the damage himself, helping knock Brees out of the game with a dislocated shoulder, then forcing Philip Rivers to fumble in the end zone, resulting in a safety. The Broncos (13-3), who had already clinched the AFC West title and a first-round bye, went all-out in the regular-season finale.

my mind, every time you get an opportunity to play in the NFL, you owe it to yourself, to your team and to the people who pay to watch the game, to play Lynch said. Quarterback Jake Plummer got banged around, but led the Broncos to a 14-7 halftime lead before making way for Bradlee Van Pelt. going to mean nothing if we do something in the said Plummer, who was 8-of- 14 for 91 yards. Tatum Bell scored three TDs for Denver, but was held to 52 yards on 17 carries. He needed 131 yards for 1,000.

He and Mike Anderson were trying to become the fourth running back tandem in NFL history to finish with 1,000 yards each. San Diego (9-7), which won the division last year, lost three of its last four games. Tomlinson set two club records in the loss, though. His 6-yard scoring run in the second quarter was his 20th TD of the season, breaking out of a tie with Chuck Muncie, who scored 19 TDs in 1981. He also eclipsed Hall of Famer Lance career mark of 9,721 yards from scrim- mage, pushing his total to 9,755.

Tomlinson scored in the previous four games, matching the longest drought of his five-year career. He gained 92 yards on 19 carries, his fifth consecutive game under 100 yards. He was injured against Oakland on Dec. 4. An MRI last week revealed a cracked rib.

tough when you are playing with ribs that are more than just bruised. But as football players, hard to take us off the Tomlinson said. Broncos stampede by Chargers San Diego native Lynch leads defense AP San LaDainian Tomlinson stiff-arms Sam Brandon during a 28-yard second-quarter run. Broncos 23, Chargers 7 Denver01427-23 San Diego0700-7 Second Quarter Den-Bell 6 run (Elam kick), 11:48. Den-Bell 1 run (Elam kick), 3:24.

SD-Tomlinson 6 run (Kaeding kick), :38. Third Quarter Den-Safety, Olivea tackled in end zone, 5:30. Fourth Quarter Den-Bell 19 run (Elam kick), 4:32. DenSD First downs1715 Total Net Yards241236 Rushes-yards40-15720-91 Passing84145 Punt Returns3-175-42 Kickoff Returns3-534-87 Interceptions Ret.1-480-0 Comp-Att-Int10-22-020-36-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-146-38 Fumbles-Lost1-03-1 Penalties-Yards4-228-70 Time of INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING- Denver, Dayne 13-64, Bell 17-52, Van Pelt 1041. San Diego, Tomlinson 19-92, Turner 1-(minus 1).

PASSING- Denver, Plummer 8-14-0-91, Van Pelt 2-8-0-7. San Diego, Brees 8-14-0-68, Rivers 12-22-1-115. RECEIVING- Denver, K.Johnson 2-27, Lelie 2-19, Adams 2-6, Duke 1-21, S.Alexander 1-11, Smith 1-11, Putzier 1-3. San Diego, Parker 8-87, McCardell 6-51, Gates 3-23, Caldwell 2-18, Tomlinson 1-4. MISSED FIELD GOAL- Denver, Elam 28 (WR) AP Mike Tice is one of several NFL coaches who could be looking for work this offseason.

By KEN MURRAY The Baltimore Sun By noon tomorrow, the Houston Texans likely will have called a select number of candidates to arrange interviews for their newly vacated coaching job. Names may include Gary Kubiak, Jerry Gray, Gregg Williams Mike Martz. With that, the race will be on to rebuild, to find a new leader, an inspired vision or just a better coach. In the NFL, this month promises to be a mad scramble. At least four coaches either have been or will be fired.

As many as eight could be out of work. The Detroit Lions already canned Steve Mariucci. The Texans will dump Dom Capers tomorrow. Martz will surrender his job in St. Louis upon reaching settlement with Rams.

Last year, only three coaches were jettisoned. But in the past six years, a total of 37 coaching changes were made, an average of about six a year. Of those 37, only three were fired and bounced immediately to another team: Marty Schottenheimer (Washing- ton to San Diego) in 2001, Tony Dungy (Tampa Bay to Indianapolis) in 2002 and Mariucci (San Francisco to Detroit) in 2003. This, then, is The Baltimore Sun endangered coach watch, with prospects listed in order of their chance for resurfacing. Martz: be an excellent fit in Houston, where QB David Carr gotten much help on the field or in meeting rooms.

His record of 56-36 including postseason, is the best of any coach about to be deposed. He deserves another shot. Jim Haslett: The New Orleans Saints fire Haslett, but he has been worn down by a skinflint owner and the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina. Speculation is ask out of his contract. He have a problem finding another job if allowed to go.

Mike Sherman: Packers gave him full control in 2000, and his personnel decisions proved his undoing. First-year GM Ted Thompson stripped a contending team to its core and find replacements. Sherman might keep his job, but probably take another one. Mariucci: Went to playoffs four times with the 49ers, and even with the debacle in Detroit is 75-71 overall. But after failing to improve the young players, he needs to take over a veteran team.

May resurface in the right situation. Dick Vermeil: He took the Eagles to the Super Bowl, won one with the Rams, but ran out of time with the Kansas City Chiefs. At 69, after producing six playoff teams in 15 years, time to go. coach his last NFL game today. Mike Tice: He got the Minnesota Vikings job in 2002 because he came cheap and kept it because former owner Red McCombs was cheap.

In their six-game winning streak, they played one team with a winning record. coach his last game today, too. Norv Turner: He produced one playoff team in nine seasons, and his offensive scheme failed both Kerry Collins and Randy Moss with the Oakland Raiders. Unless he survives this season, Turner is done as a head coach. Capers: Coach of expansion teams in Carolina and Houston, he took Panthers to NFC title game in 1996, but come close since.

He has an overall record of 49-80, and he get another chance. Eight men out? Changes in wind for NFL coaches Texans to dump Capers; Martz will depart Rams Dallas Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn was cited for public intoxication late Friday, police said. An off-duty officer caught Glenn urinating behind a fast-food restaurant, Cpl. Jamie Kimbrough said. Glenn was handcuffed but not taken to jail because he was with a sober adult, which is standard procedure, Kimbrough said.

Glenn leads Cowboys receivers with 1,092 yards and seven touchdowns. The Cowboys play their regular-season finale today at home against St. Louis. Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team had no comment. agent, James Gould, immediately return a call seeking comment.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys activated defensive end Vontrell Jamison from the practice squad yesterday. Jamison fills the spot vacated by rookie linebacker Kevin Burnett of Tennessee, who was placed on injured reserve Friday with a torn knee ligament. Look for a win: The hot topic around the Buffalo Bills locker room this past week was the possibility of closing this terribly disappointing season with a two-game winning streak and carrying that momentum into 2006. The Bills are coming off an impressive victory in Cincinnati and now have the chance to finish with a not-so-grotesque record of 6-10 with a win over the even more despondent New York Jets today at the Meadowlands. want to finish the season with a win, not a said quarterback Kelly Holcomb, a former MTSU star who is expected to get the start in place of J.P.

Losman. different when you finish with a win. a lot of positives you can bring from that. When you go out with a loss, losing is losing and it feel Former Bears dies: Harry Clarke, a halfback on the Chicago 1940, and championship teams, has died in Morgantown, W. Va.

He was 89 and had disease. He died yesterday at a nursing home in Morgantown, his son, Scott Clarke, said. This report contains material from The Associated Press and the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle Glenn is cited for public intoxication NFL NOTEBOOK NASHVILLE 1108 8th Ave. South 259-3070 MADISON 701 Myatt Dr. 860-3120 Hours: M-F 8am-6pm Sat.

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