Sunday News and Notes

Sunday, January 7, 2006

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NFL

NY Jets-Patriots

Connecticut Sports

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that safety Rodney Harrison is out of Sunday’s Jets-Patriots playoff game. Harrison, 34, who returned to the lineup Dec. 24 against the Jaguars after missing six games with a broken shoulder blade, sustained ligament damage to his right knee in the second quarter of a 40-23 win over the Titans Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.

Newsday

The Jets trudged through the season, overcoming bad losses to the Browns and Bills, earning emotional wins over the Patriots and Dolphins, and now head into the playoffs. Finally, this team gets some respect.But then comes the nine-point spread from Vegas, even though the two Jets-Patriots games this season were decided by an average of five points, one of them a Jets win, and five of the last eight meetings were decided by a touchdown or less. Following closely behind are the statistical analyses, pointing out that the Jets are ranked 25^th in overall offense, 20^th in overall defense and 24^th in rushing defense.

Giants-Eagles

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Jeremy Shockey’s swollen left ankle has improved considerably and there is a good chance the Pro Bowl tight end will play for the New York Giants on Sunday in the NFC wild card game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Shockey had a team-high 66 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns.

Gainesville Sun

A funk that lasted into late November saw Philadelphia drop five of six to fall below .500, but more importantly, the team lost star quarterback Donovan McNabb to a season-ending knee injury. Garcia, though, went on to lead the Eagles to four consecutive victories - he barely played in Week 17 while Philadelphia won a fifth straight - and a 10-6 record to win the NFC East.

CFB

Ohio-Southern Miss

Associated Press

Ohio Bobcats into their first bowl game since 1968, facing Southern Miss in the GMAC Bowl Sunday night. The Golden Eagles are playing in a bowl game for the fifth consecutive year and ninth time in 10 years.  The Bobcats lost 31-10 to Central Michigan in the Mid American Conference championship game to end a seven-game winning streak. Likewise, Southern Miss fell in the Conference USA title game, 34-20 to Houston.  Ohio turned to McRae and the ground attack after a 2-3 start, and he wound up earning first-team All-MAC honors with 1,215 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Bobcats are averaging 211 yards rushing in the past eight games, failing to reach that number only in the league title game.

CBB

Michigan State-Indiana

WLIX

Tom Izzo announced Saturday that Freshman guard Raymar Morgan has been cleared to play for Michigan State on Sunday afternoon in Bloomington. Morgan has missed the last 5 weeks with a stress reaction in his shin. He will not start and it’s not clear how much he will play. With Morgan and Maurice Joseph back the Spartans back court depth is finally improving.

Syracuse-Marquette

Press Notes

The Orange men’s basketball team (11-4, 0-1) will play its second straight game against a ranked opponent on Sunday, Jan. 7 when it visits #15/21 Marquette (13-3, 0-1) for an 8:00 EST tip off at the Bradley Center. Sunday’s game marks the second road game for the Orange and the third away from the Carrier DomeDue to various injuries and the departure of freshman Mike Jones, the Orange used just seven players against #10 Pittsburgh in the conference opener on Jan. 4. Despite limited bodies, Coach Boeheim’s squad gave the Panthers all they could handle, leading the entire first half before Pittsburgh pulled away in the final minutes of the second period for a 74-66 triumph.