Giants' Bradshaw called his shot on TD run

Giants' Bradshaw called his shot on TD run

The New York Giants were clinging to a 24-21 lead midway through the fourth quarter, with their playoff hopes and their coach's future hanging in the balance when Ahmad Bradshaw called his shot according to the Newsday.

When quarterback Eli Manning called the running play with the Giants at their own 12 yard line in the fourth quarter, Bradshaw told his teammates: ""I'm going to take it to the house and end this game," Bradshaw told his teammates.''

"Good. Let's see you do it," Manning told him.

He did it.

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Brown could make final home appearance for Patriots
Bill Belichick has�come up with classic finales for a number of New England Patriots —�Doug Flutie (the drop kick through the goal posts?) and Vinny Testaverde (giving him the chance to throw a touchdown pass in his record-setting 20th straight season in last year's finale at Tennessee). So, one had to wonder if Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a gadget play installed for veteran receiver Troy Brown, who, if activated, might be making his final Gillette Stadium appearance tomorrow against the Dolphins.

If there was anything in the works, Brown remained mum yesterday when reporters surrounded him at his locker to talk to the veteran who has played all 15 of his NFL seasons with the Patriots according to the Boston Globe. Brown came off the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list Nov. 27 and has been inactive since.

"As for him? Does he desire scoring a touchdown, perhaps? "A win would be great," he said. "That would make Christmas pretty good."

A Giant profit: Fans selling tickets to Pats game
The chance to watch the Giants try to mar the Patriots perfect season isn't drawing many Big Blue fans to the stadium this Saturday.

Jets need a little bit of everything to bounce back in 2008
With almost $28 million in salary-cap room, seven draft picks (including a possible top-five choice) and a couple of bargaining chips for the trade market (Chad Pennington and Jonathan Vilma), the New York Jets should be able to return to respectability the New York Daily News reported.

The early word is that Mike Tannenbaum, known as a frugal spender, is prepared�to�be a big player in free agency. Don't be surprised if the Jets' wish list includes Baltimore Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs, Tennessee Titans DT Albert Haynesworth and Chicago Bears WR Bernard Berrian.

This could be a make-or-break offseason for "Tangini." Their to-do list is daunting.

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New 49ers stadium project gets infusion of federal cash
With a key vote upcoming at the Santa Clara City Council on whether to help build a new stadium for the 49ers, San Francisco city officials say a new infusion of federal cash is giving a big lift to their alternative plans to keep the team playing in the city at a new stadium at the Hunters Point shipyard.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle,�a federal appropriations bill headed to President Bush to fund the U.S. military for the fiscal year starting next Oct. 1 contains $82 million for Navy cleanup of the polluted former naval shipyard at Hunters Point — a $20 million increase over what the government has committed annually over the past several years, according to Michael Cohen, who is Mayor Gavin Newsom's manager on the project.

Keeping on schedule is vital to the Newsom administration because the 49ers have said they need to be in a new stadium by the 2012 season — and the need to meet that deadline is one reason that the team has given for trying to strike a stadium deal with Santa Clara on city land used as parking lots for Great America amusement park.

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49ers late-season heroics follows an old script

Nancy Gay, columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, noted the stirring play by the San Francisco 49ers in December has been seen before.

Gay wrote: "If you've paid careful attention to the 49ers during the three-year Mike Nolan era, you'll notice the season-ending pattern hasn't changed. Late December brings about soul-stirring victories, figurative Band-Aids that help patch the mental wounds inflicted by too many early and midseason disappointments.

"On Sunday, the 49ers surprised the bookies and a lot of folks by knocking off the playoff-bound Buccaneers 21-19 at Candlestick. For the record, Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden yanked his offensive starters, most specifically quarterback Jeff Garcia, late in the first half. To Gruden, this was little more than an exhibition game his team had to survive while the playoffs beckon.''

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Titans' Haynesworth doesn't practice, should play
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and center Kevin Mawae sat out a short practice Wednesday with six other Titans.

Huizenga willing to sell 49 percent of Dolphins
Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga remains in serious discussions with New York real estate developer Steve Ross, and Huizenga has told people he prefers to sell 49 percent of the team, three officials close to the situation said this week according to the Miami Herald.

Part of a possible deal would give Ross the right to purchase majority interest within several years.

Huizenga likes the idea of someone coming in as a minority owner first, with the understanding that person would eventually buy out Huizenga's interest. Dolphin Stadium also would be included in the deal.

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Russell to make first career start in Raiders' finale
Rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell will get the first start of his career when the Raiders conclude the season against the Chargers on Sunday.

Smith could make first NFL start for Ravens

With Kyle Boller feeling lingering effects from a concussion, Troy Smith could make his first NFL start Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens play the Seahawks in Seattle according to the Baltimore Sun.

Boller did not practice Wednesday and was sent home after meetings because he is still experiencing headaches and sensitivity to light.

Smith, last season's Heisman Trophy winner, took all the snaps with the starting offense for the first time this season.

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