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ByJanieMcCauley TheAssociatedPress SANFRANCISCO JakePeavyhad no problem being patient as the San Francisco Giants pursued re-signing Pablo Sandoval and went after Jon Lester. Peavy knew where he wanted to be. Anyway, he needed a bit of downtime to recharge and dis- cuss his options with family af- ter the thrill of winning another championship and to get a feel for his first free agency experi- ence. "I wasn't Jon Lester, let's get this straight," Peavy said good- naturedly Tuesday after finaliz- ing a $24 million, two-year con- tract that came together last week. "I wasn't flying around." Peavy will receive a $4 million signing bonus, $7 million next season and $13 million in 2016. The contract includes a full no- trade provision and award bo- nuses. A 33-year-old right-hander, Peavy helped Boston win the 2013 World Series and was traded to San Francisco on July 26. After beginning 1-9 with Bos- ton, Peavy went 6-4 with a 2.17 ERA in 12 starts for San Fran- cisco. He was 1-2 in four post- season outings as the Giants won their third title in five years. "I just appreciate Jake stick- ing with us during this free- agent process," assistant gen- eral manager Bobby Evans said. "We're thrilled to have him back. We certainly wouldn't have ac- complished what we did in 2014 BASEBALL Peavy,Giantsfinalize $24millioncontract Now 33, right-hander went 6-4 with 2.17 ERA in 12 starts for San Francisco last season JEFFROBERSON—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy has agreed to a $24million, two-year contract to stay with the World Series champion Giants. CHARLIE NEIBERGALL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy appreciates what the Giants have done for both him and his family. By Janie McCauley The Associated Press SANTACLARA For weeks, Frank Gore has been pondering the re- ality he could be playing his fi- nal game with San Francisco on Sunday. He briefly became quiet Tues- day just talking about it, saying he would like nothing more than to return to the 49ers next sea- son, his only team as a pro. Es- pecially after the way this year went, missing the playoffs fol- lowing three straight trips to the NFC championship game and a Super Bowl near miss. "I've been thinking about it these last two weeks very hard," Gore said Tuesday in a short in- terview with The Associated Press. "I'm OK. I was just think- ing about, 'Dang, it really can be.' "But I know the business of it. The organization has been great, they've been great to me. I just want to finish strong in front of my fans. Hopefully we can get a win, and I'll see from there." San Francisco's all-time lead- ing rusher needs 38 yards Sun- day against Arizona for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season and eighth in his 10 NFL sea- sons. The Niners (7-8) need to beat the Cardinals to avoid their first losing season under embattled fourth-year coach Jim Harbaugh. NFL Gore hopes to stay with 49ers next year San Francisco's longtime star running back closing in on 4th straight 1,000-yard season BEN MARGOT — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) said Tuesday that he would like nothing more than to return to the 49ers next season. By Ralph D. Russo AP College Football Writer The only thing left for Marcus Mariota to win at Oregon is the national championship. The Ducks' star quarterback is The Associated Press college foot- ball player of the year, adding yet another honor to his spectacular season. Mariota won the AP vote in the same landslide fashion he won the Heisman Trophy. He received 49 of the 54 votes submitted by the AP Top 25 media panel. Alabama receiver Amari Cooper drew three votes. Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston had one vote each. Mariota is the first Oregon player to win AP player of the year, which was first awarded in 1998, and the eighth quarterback to win it in the last nine years. The junior has also won the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp player of the year, and the Davey O'Brien and Johnny Uni- tas Golden Arm Award, which go to the top quarterbacks in the country. Oregon will face Florida State and last year's Heisman winner and AP player of the year, Win- ston, in the College Football Play- COLLEGE FOOTBALL Oregon's Mariota is AP player of the year Ducks' star quarterback adds yet another honor DAVID ZALUBOWSKI — THE AP FILE Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is The Associated Press college football player of the year. By Josh Dubow The Associated Press ALAMEDA Fifteen years of wasted or traded away first-round draft picks have laid the founda- tion for a dismal decade for the Oakland Raiders. From busts such as JaMarcus Russell to reaches such as Darrius Heyward-Bey, mistakes on draft day led directly to losses on the field as the Raiders have gone 12 straight years without a winning record or playoff berth. General manager Reggie McK- enzie might finally have found a player to help end that slide this year in linebacker Khalil Mack. The fifth overall pick out of Buf- falo has been an impact player right from the start. He is dominating against the run, a relentless pass rusher and an eager learner who is part of the foundation for what the Raid- ers hope will eventually be a re- surgence. "He jumps out on film every week," safety Charles Woodson said. "So to us it's no surprise what he's doing out there. We know the other team, whether it's the quar- terback or whether it's the tackle or tight end trying to take him on, they're feeling him. And that's ev- NFL Mack makes big impact as star rookie with Raiders "The Interview" has been re-gi ed to moviegoers as a limited Christmas Day release, putting back into select theaters the comedy that prompted an international incident with North Korea. SELECT THEATERS Sony's'TheInterview' to have limited release FULLSTORYONPAGEB5 The road to the battlefront plunges straight down the steep face of Mount Sinjar. It is littered with trucks and cars that couldn't get up that incline, abandoned by their owners months ago. ISLAMIC STATE Iraqi Kurds try to free town from extremists FULL STORY ON PAGE B6 A mix of Gulf Coast thunder- storms expected to travel north, predicted snowfall in the Great Lakes and blustery conditions in the nation's mid- section threatened Tuesday to snag holiday travel plans. WINTRY MIX Severe weather could snarl holiday travel FULL STORY ON PAGE B8 Everyone copes with holiday anxiety. It's not just a ques- tion of what to do with the ceramic armadillo Aunt Esther sent. Far more panic-inducing is the search for gi s for people who have everything. COOKING DIY holiday gi s can come from the kitchen FULL STORY ON PAGE B4 MACK PAGE 2 MARIOTA PAGE 2 GORE PAGE 2 PEAVY PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, December 24, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1