The Spokesman-Review from Spokane, Washington • 25

Th Spokesman-Review March 23, 2006 Thursday Pag SPORTS Heavy price for watching brother at Super Bowl Man reports to jail late, gets 4lA more years NFL NOTEBOOK Steelers had a good chance of going to In the 256 games during the past regular season, there were 850 false-start calls. To cut that number, the committee is teammate had made a case that they were treated differently than two white men who were not charged as part of a boat party sex scandaL entire time shooting dice during a boat party last fall and rejected offers from lingerie-clad dancers. Culpepper was traded last week ready to recommend that minor flinches by wide receivers be ignored if they have no effect on the play. The committee also is considering recommending to officials that they make sure there was holding on a play before throwing a flag. One such play occurred in the Super BowL Seattle right tackle Sean Locklear was called for holding on a pass completion early in the fourth quarter that would have put the Seahawks at the Pittsburgh 1-yard line, poised to go in for the tying touchdowa Judge agrees with Culpepper A judge agreed that Daunte Culpepper and a former Minnesota Vikings Culpepper and running back Moe Williams are seeking dismissal of misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct The players, both black, argue that prosecutor Steve Tallen passed up a chance to charge two white men, including the captain of one of two boats on the cruise.

At a hearing in Hennepin County District Court, Tallen said he declined to charge the men because the case against them was shaky. "Im allowed to make that decision, and it has nothing to do with the race of these defendants, Tallen said It looks bad though, Judge Kevin Burke responded. Culpepper testified that he spent his to the Miami Dolphins. Rice rules out commish job Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a big football fan, ruled out applying for the job of NFL commissioner after Paul Tagliabue retires. Unfortunately, it came open at the wrong time, Rice said clearly amused when a reporter posed the question "Obviously, Im very busy as secretary of state, and I intend to continue to be secretary of state as long as the president of the United States will have me.

Rice, an avid follower of the Cleveland Browns and pro football in general, has frequently said she aspires to run the league one day. the Super BowL "Even knowing what I know now, I would do it again. It was the greatest game in my life, said Carter, who watched the Steelers beat Seattle from the 50-yard line in Detroit on Feb. 5 and partied with rapper Snoop Dogg after the game. NFL will tweak rules The NFL is satisfied with its officiating but concerned that high-profile errors in the playoffs and Super Bowl left a bad impression.

So beginning next week at league meetings in Orlando, Fla it will tweak a few rules, dealing mostly with player safety, offensive holding and false starts. ASSOCIATED PRESS Now Tank Carter has more time to think about how much he enjoyed that Super Bowl party. Broward Circuit Judge Stanton S. Kaplan increased jail time from six months to five years for the brother of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Tyrone Carter because he failed to report to prison on time for driving with a revoked license. Tank Carter went to the Super Bowl instead and said he had no regrets.

He was to report to a Broward County, prison on Jan. 6, but decided against it when his brother told him the WSU FOOTBALL FORECAST Leinart in Jets plans? BY GLENN KASSES Staff writer Team may trade up in order to grab USC product BRIGHT SPOT Gary Rogers, the favorite to back up Alex Brink this fall at quarterback, continues to show wonderful touch and arm strength on the deep ball. In one-on-one drills Wednesday, he threw two pretty passes -one down each sideline that both looked like big-league efforts. STILL A LITTLE HAZY Its clear that things will need to sort themselves out on the offensive line, even with three starters returning. The center and right guard spots are up for grabs, and Dan Rowlands is working with the first team at center with Andy Roof at his side.

Thats a surprise, as freshman Kenny Alfred was expected to step into the starting center role. The line play will be something to watch closely in scrimmages. two-year project but might be signed economically and used judiciously until hes ready to roll as an NFL signal-caller. Young, a lifelong Texan, also wants to be a Jet as his agent, Mason Adams, recently told The Record, "Hopefully our zip code will change to N.Y, N.Y. Non-QB options: Excellent players who dont line up behind center also abound.

Offensive tackle DBrickashaw Ferguson makes sense on many levels: Hes the best blind-side protector in the draft, he would help the pieces of the Jets line puzzle fall into place and hed be returning to his Long Island roots, at least until the Jets uproot from Long Island to New Jersey. But two defensive players for the defensively oriented Mangini will be attractive here, too. A.J. Hawk could be the versatile weak-side outside LB Mangini needs. DE Mario Williams could be the new Richard Seymour in the Jets realignment to the 3-4 Mangini played with the Patriots.

29th and beyond: If the Jets hold onto this pick that Atlanta got from Denver and dished off to them for Abraham, they could have one big-need player staring them in the face. Ohio State center Nick Mangold has the size and skills to help the Jets and their fans begin to forget that Kevin Mawae is now a Titan. Others who may be available here: running backs such as Minnesotas Laurence Maroney and LSUs Joseph Addai, or linebackers such as Alabamas DeMeco Ryans, if he slips, and Mangolds Buckeyes teammate, Bobby BY RANDY LANGE The Record (Hackensack N.J.) NEW YORK For better or worse, the Jets are now in the post-John Abraham era. And for their next act, they will attempt to turn their fourth overall pick in next months draft and the 29th pick they acquired for trading Abraham to Atlanta on Tuesday, into an impact player or two for new coach Eric Mangini. Recent rumors have had the Jets intent on trading up with New Orleans at No.

2 and selecting Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum admitted hes heard those whispers. I know theres a lot of speculation out there. I cant sit here and comment on any specific situation, Tannenbaum said Wednesday. Well see what opportunities are presented to us. I wont rule anything in or anything out Here are some of those opportunities the Jets will face when outgoing commissioner Paul Tagliabue presides over his final first round April 29.

Trade up: Gang Green followers are divided over whether trading up for Leinart is a good idea. Why give up the extra picks and extra millions when the Jets have so many other needs and could get their franchise QB next year? But post-Abraham, the Jets have $8.33 million in additional salary cap space for a big-ticket item such as the Trojans lefty. What would it take to make the trade? According to a popular draft Cougars senior feels like kitten BY GLENN KASSES Staff writer PULLMAN Tyron Brackenridge is preparing for his third season in a Washington State University uniform, but forgive him if he feels like a fresh-faced recruit all over again. Brackenridge, a senior cor-nerback for the Cougars, spent last season in practice but relegated to the scout team because of academic ineligibility. This spring, hes off the scout team and at least for now -penciled in with the No.

1 defensive unit at an essential position. "Its like Im the new face in the group. But then again. Im not, Brackenridge said, turning his attention to last season. "It was a blessing in disguise.

Last year just helped me understand more of die game, and understand what it takes. It just made me a better person in life. It made me sit back and look at things, what my priorities are. Brackenridge played sparingly for the Cougars in 2004 after transferring in from a junior college, but then watched what would have been his senior season with a solid chance to start slip away because of the academic troubles. Now, Brackenridge explained that hes on track to graduate in December and also more than ready to turn his scout team experiences into on-field production, even if theres work to be done.

I think he realizes that in life you only have so many chances, WSU secondary coach Ken Greene said. "And if you choose not to take advantage of them, youre out I know hes got a long way to go. I know hes mature and hes got a great attitude. He works hard. Hes been on the scout team for a year and I see that hes picked up some bad habits, and thats hard.

Once you pick up bad habits, its tough to get it out of there. But hes got potential. Both starting cornerbacks from last season have graduated and Brackenridge is presumed to be in line for the job along with fellow senior Don Turner. But the Cougars are expecting to get four more cornerbacks in camp this fall freshman Kerry Maddox and junior college transfers Brian Williams, B.T. Walker and Markus Dawes so playing time is no guarantee.

Still, Cougars coaches think that Brackenridges experience from a season spent on the sideline can be an aid in his effort to be on the field in 2006. value chart, it might require the four-hole, more than those two first-roun- Sit tight: The scuttlebutt has ders. The Jets might have to kick been that the Jets want their QB in a third- or fourth-round pick of the future now. If its not Lei-to balance the trade to the Saints nart, they also were clearly ena-liking. mored of Jay Cutler at the Senior But lets say the Jets and Saints Bowl workouts and could take cant agree on a deal, or the Raid- him if Tennessee at No.

3 ers offer a better package to doesnt go there first, move up from No. 7. The Jets still The Jets also are intrigued by have a bounty of draft choices in Vince Young, who would be a Shock lose in Blankenship sweepstakes Stockton grabs former EWU QB Other than being ineligible, he really had a good fall, head coach Bill Doba said. He worked hard and did a nice job as a leader on the scout team. Hes got to play our football now.

Brackenridge has been bothered lately by a minor hamstring injury, but the California native said hes more than happy to be working with Saturdays in mind. Its nice to be back, he said. Now I have something to look forward to." Notes Doba said he "hasnt thought about it when asked if he might name an assistant head coach, a title held by Robin Pflu-grad before he left to take a job at Oregon last month. Freshman Joe Eppelle, an offensive lineman from British Columbia who signed in 2005 but delayed his enrollment until this semester, is out for the spring after foot surgery. He should be ready for the fall.

Jason Stripling is working with the first-team defense at middle linebacker with Greg Trent sidelined. Trent, recovering from an ankle injury, was out of his protective boot Wednesday. For more on the Cougars, check out our free online report by Glenn Kasses at www.spokesmanreview.com blogswsu BY JIM MEEHAN Staff writer For the second time, the Spokane Shock made a run at former Eastern Washington University quarterback Josh Blankenship. For the second time, Blankenship went else- on after we got wind of the trade. Spokane, which had previously traded quarterback J.J.

Raterink to Bossier-Shreveport, then acquired Alex Neist, who was Blankenships backup with Tulsa last season. Neist, a University of Minnesota product, was 12 of 20 for 139 yards and three touchdowns in six games. Neist has joined the Shock and is competing against Brian Zbyd-niewski and Joe Wiser for the starting job, Siegfried said. Zbyd-niewsld played for Siegfried with South Georgia last season. I think hes a tremendous player, Siegfried said of Neist Notes Local products Jake Roberts (University High, Central Washington University) and Orlando Winston (Idaho) have been re leased.

Winston was bothered by a hamstring injury and essentially wasnt able to i. Former Eastern Washington Eagle Brandon Moore has been placed on the refused-to-report list. Siegfried said he spoke with Moore just before training camp, issued the lineman a playbook and hasnt heard from him since. I have no idea what Siegfried said. Kirk Yliniemi (Oregon State) and Jon Koker (San Diego) are competing for place-kicker.

Shock regular-season home games will be televised on KQUP cable channel 24 in Spokane, 16 in Coeur dAlene. Injuries have left the offensivedefensive lines short on depth. Tight enddefensive end Matt Walters (broken arm) is out for a couple of weeks and lineman Brian Devine has been slowed by a knee injury. the Spokane Arena. We did try to get him, said Shock coach Chris Siegfried, explaining that Memphis wanted offensivedefensive lineman Jerome Stevens in return.

"Jeromes a local guy, hes engaged and he has a baby. They mentioned some other players and I said, Let me talk to my coaches and well call you back. We talked and I tried to call them back, but they wouldnt return any of my calls. Siegfried soon learned that Blankenship had been traded to Stockton. The Shock had attempted to sign Blankenship during the off-season, but he opted to sign with Memphis.

"It can be a cutthroat business," Siegfried said. We moved where. Spokane tried to trade for Blankenship earlier this week, but the Memphis Xplorers dealt the former EWU standout to the Stockton Lightning, who will be Spokanes opponent when the two arenafootball2 expansion teams debut next Thursday at Cohen takes spills at World Figure Skating Championships Inland Northwest Boxing Championsmps March 25 26, 2006 University Center E. 10212 9th Ave. Spokane Valley United States womens champion starts well before hitting bad patch Eliminations Sat.

25, 1pm 7pm Championships Finals Each session 10, or all three for 20 Information: Ray Kerwick 928-3037 Daryl VanNote 922-3394 things in my ear to make it like normal. After barely missing the medals stand in the Olympics, Chinas Pang Qing and Tong Jian, ranked third in a nation where pairs are king, soared past countrymen Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao to win the world crown. In a few months, Pang and Tong have gone from nearly splitting up to winning a world title. We had a very serious quarrel and Jian wanted to quit skating, he wanted to retire, Qing said. After the Grand Prix final (where they were sixth) we had a very good communication among us and the federation.

Then we decided to have one month of good, hard training before the Olympics. Olympic silver medalists Zhang and Zhang, best remembered for coming back from her horrific fall in the Turin free skate, were second, followed by Russias Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov. U.S. champions Rena Inoue and John Baldwin rallied from sixth to fourth with a brilliant free program that didnt feature their trademark, a clean throw triple axel. BY BARRY WILNER Associated Press CALGARY, Alberta Looks as if Sasha Cohen might need another gift The U.S.

champion, who said her silver medal in the Turin Olympics felt like a present, had a worse performance in qualifying at the World Figure Skating Championships on Wednesday night After a superb start, she fell twice, stepped out of another jump and wound up third behind Japans Fumie Suguri and American teenager Kimmie Meissner. It was the opposite of her struggles in the free skate in Italy, when she blew her shot for gold with two errors in the opening moments. The rest of her Olympic program was good enough to get second behind Japans Shizuka Arakawa, who is not in Calgary. Definitely, you have to be able to handle pressure and shake off any mistake and I kind of didnt do that tonight, said appointment came early, and she still has the short program Friday and the long on Saturday. Qualifying is worth only one-quarter, she said.

Ill just forget about it and start over Friday. Canadian champion Joannie Rochette thrilled the crowd earlier by winning her qualifying group with an elegant free skate that surpassed her performance at the Olympics. Meissner and Suguri were in a near tie atop the late group, separated by .04. Suguri, the fourth-place finisher in Turin, had the slight edge, mainly because the 16-year-old Meissner struggled on her spins. Thats understandable considering shes barely recovered from a ruptured right ear drum suffered after finishing sixth in Italy.

It was pretty gross, bleeding, she said. I couldnt hear out of it for about a week. (Coach Pam Gregory) always said I have selected hearing I had to stick all these U.S. skater Sasha Cohen falls while attempting to land a jump Wednesday. Cohen, winner of world silver the last two years.

I let that first mistake creep in. I have to be tougher. Cohen has a history of faltering in the free skate at major events. At least this dis i'.