JaMarcus Russell
ALAMEDA, Calif. – Lane Kiffin had a long list when asked what rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell needed to improve on after struggling in the first extensive playing time of his NFL career.
"Where do you start?" the Oakland Raiders coach said Monday. "Ball handling in the run game. Footwork in the passing game. Decision making, timing, accuracy. You name it, it was out there on film yesterday. So he’s got a long ways to go."
Tony Romo
IRVING, Texas – Brad Johnson, start getting loose. The Dallas Cowboys may finally let you throw a pass.
As Tony Romo’s backup, Johnson has been limited to handoffs and kneel-downs in a few games this season. But with the Cowboys having clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC, there’s little reason for Romo to play every down – or to throw every pass – in the regular-season finale Sunday at Washington.
FORMER Yugoslavia defender Miroslav Djukic has been named Serbia’s coach after sealing a two-year contract with the country’s Football Association (FSS).
Djukic, who steered Serbia’s under-21 side to the European championship final in June, officially takes over on January 1. He will also be in charge of the team that qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
He succeeds Spaniard Javier Clemente, who was sacked earlier this month after failing to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.
FORMER England opening batsman Marcus Trescothick admits his dream of returning to Test cricket is being kept in check by his fears about long-term illness.
The Somerset left hander, 32, has not played at the highest level since August 2006 because of a stress-related illness that twice forced him to return home at the start of high-profile overseas tours.
Trescothick made a comeback for his county this year, and appeared to suffer no significant ill-effects, but he will make absolutely sure he is ready to go under the spotlight before he makes himself available to England again.
Former No. 1 UCLA (11-1) is working its way back up the ESPN/USA Today’s men’s basketball poll thanks mostly to the misfortunes of others.
Adrian Peterson
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – The first half of Adrian Peterson’s rookie season was like none that ever came before it.
He broke nearly as many records as he did ankles, racking up yards and highlights at a dizzying and dazzling pace.
Willie Parker
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – The Pittsburgh Steelers officially ended the season of running back Willie Parker Monday, placing him on injured reserve after he broke his right fibula in Thursday night’s win in St. Louis.
Parker suffered the injury on Pittsburgh’s second offensive play. On 1st- and-10 at the St. Louis 13-yard-line, Parker took the carry and went right before being hit by Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon for a one-yard loss. Parker’s leg buckled, and he had to be carted from the sideline into the locker room.
LaDanian Tomlinson
Visions of their 10th win will be dancing in the heads of the San Diego Chargers on tonight, when Norv Turner’s club hosts the division rival Denver Broncos in a Christmas Eve showdown.
The game can be seen live on TSN and TSN HD at 8pm et/5pm pt.
