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2B Daily News – Wednesday, January 18, 2012 No-name secondary turns to 49ers gold Raiders to interview Mornhinweg for job ALAMEDA (AP) — Reggie McKenzie's short list of candidates to fill the Oakland Raiders' vacant head coaching job has grown by another name. The Raiders' new general manager has been given per- mission to interview Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordina- tor Marty Mornhinweg for the job, a person with knowledge of the request said on condition of anonymity because the team was not publicizing candidates. NFL Network first reported Mornhinweg's candidacy. McKenzie officially began his job with the Raiders last Tuesday and immediately fired coach Hue Jackson, who went 8-8 in his only season on the job. At the time, McKen- zie said he had a ''short list'' of potential candidates to fill the opening. He has already interviewed former Miami interim coach Todd Bowles and been given permission to interview Den- ver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and defensive coor- dinator Dennis Allen, and New Orleans offensive coordina- tor Pete Carmichael Jr. McKenzie, who had been director of football operations in Green Bay before taking over the Raiders, is also believed to be interested in interviewing some of his former col- leagues on the Packers. Linebackers coach Winston Moss, who played four seasons with the Raiders, has expressed interest in the job. Other potential candidates in Green Bay include offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, defensive coordinator Dom Capers, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements and secondary coach Darren Perry. Capers and Mornhinweg are the only people on that list MCT Photo Donte Whitner celebrates a fumble recovery during the 49ers playoff win against New Orleans. of problems picking off passes. Not anymore. SANTA CLARA (AP) — The change in the San Francisco 49ers' atti- tude this season might be most evident when the defensive backs gather in a team meeting room each week to watch the highlight video from the pre- vious game. Secondary coach Ed Donatell counts and compares the number of ''domination hits'' in a fierce and friendly competition among players. The challenge is for each to deliver at least one crushing — but legal — blow on an opponent every game. ''We're not really trying to hurt peo- ple,'' safety Donte Whitner said. ''But when we play physical, people get hurt.'' The hard-hitting, ball-hawking sec- ondary has created its share of impos- ing images for San Francisco (14-3) this season, part of a defense that has carried the franchise back to the NFC championship game for the first time in 14 years to face the New York Giants (11-7) on Sunday at Candlestick Park. Whitner and fellow safety Dashon Goldson were a last-minute pairing in training camp. Goldson seemed certain he wouldn't return after Whitner signed as a free agent from the Buffalo Bills, even tweeting goodbye to 49ers fans only to have the franchise re-sign him days later. The same might've been said for cornerbacks Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown. San Francisco cut high-priced cornerback Nate Clements — who received an $80 million, eight-year contract in March 2007 but never met expectations — just before training camp in favor of a duo that had its share General manager Trent Baalke's decisions in the secondary have turned into 49ers gold, building the back-end of a defense that led the NFL with 38 takeaways — including a half-dozen interceptions each for Rogers and Goldson — with a physical foursome that is drawing comparisons to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens of recent years. ''They really bring a tone-setting physicality to their tackling,'' 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. Take last week for instance. Setting the stage for a collision- filled 36-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints, Goldson walked out for the team's first practice wearing his game-day eye black. Whitner put in his mouthpiece for the full-padded prac- tice — rare for NFL teams this late in the season — and warned his team- mates about what to expect. ''I told them, 'Get out of my way, because I'm going to hit everything that's moving,''' Whitner said. He delivered on his promise. In a moment already glorified by fans among the great 49ers playoff per- formances, Whitner lowered his hel- met into Pierre Thomas just short of the goal line on the Saints' first series. The collision instantly turned the running back's arms limp, knocking the ball loose — and Thomas out for the game — for the first of five Saints turnovers. ''When the game comes down to it, and it's on the line, we have stepped up and made those plays, whether it's fumbles, tipped balls we've got or got an interception at a key moment of the game,'' said Rogers, who spent his first six seasons in Washington. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants ace Tim Lincecum asked for $21.5 million in salary arbitration Tuesday and was offered $17 million by the club. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner's request neared the record amount sought in arbitra- tion. Houston pitcher Roger Clemens asked for $22 mil- lion in 2005. San Francisco's offer was the highest in arbitra- tion history, topping the $14.25 million the New York Yankees proposed for shortstop Derek Jeter in 2001. ''I'm overall optimistic that we'll find common ground without a hearing room,'' Bobby Evans, Giants vice president of baseball operations, said before seeing Lincecum's filing numbers. ''It's a process that begins long before today in terms of conversations about possi- ble deals that work for both sides. That process has con- tinued in a mutual fashion. At this point we haven't reached a conclusion.'' Also Tuesday, the Giants and slugger Pablo Sandoval agreed on a $17.15 million, three-year contract. The 25- year-old third baseman became an All-Star last sea- son after losing nearly 40 pounds during a rigorous offseason regimen. He bat- ted .315 with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs in 2011. Lincecum, the winning pitcher in the Game 5 World Series clincher at Texas in 2010, earned $13.1 million last season when he com- pleted a two-year deal worth $23.2 million. San Francisco's front office would like to lock up the 27-year-old Lincecum and fellow starter Matt Cain with long-term deals. Lincecum seems set on keeping his options open in the near future on a shorter contract. ''We know we'll at least have a one-year deal,'' Evans said. ''I can't really predict where it will end up. In this process your two par- ties are always filing to try to come to a midpoint. The negotiation is really about the midpoint.'' With Lincecum earning a hefty contract, Evans joked, ''I usually leave off the final three zeroes because it's easier to calcu- late.'' These new Niners call those ''dom- ination hits.'' The term is best described as pum- meling a receiver into the ground or forcing a fumble — or sometimes both — if not completely knocking the receiver out. Whitner's wallop brought back memories of Hall of Famer Ron- nie Lott, a four-time Super Bowl cham- pion in San Francisco and the source of so many scintillating shots. All of it is part of the secondary's goal to build upon its new identity. ''It puts fear in offenses. They have to look twice before going across the middle,'' Brown said. ''Coach Donatell harps that every week, 'Put a domina- tion hit on film once a week or once a game or anytime you can.''' San Francisco's surprising sec- ondary has held its own against some of the NFL's elite this season, beating Drew Brees, Michael Vick and Eli Manning, among others. With Man- ning and the Giants fresh off a stunning upset at Green Bay, the Niners aren't about to overlook anybody now that they're just one win from the Super Bowl. Or become passive. ''If you put our film on all year long, you'll see wide receivers getting hit, you'll see running backs getting hit, you'll see guys leaving the game early,'' Whitner said. ''We don't pride ourselves on hurting anybody, but it's just being physical. If you be physical with guys, sometimes they're not going to make it 60 minutes in a football game. We pride ourselves on being the most physical team on the football field. That's what Pittsburgh's been doing for so long, that's what Balti- more's been doing for so long. ''Now it's our turn.'' Giants ace Lincecum asks for $21.5 million If the past is any indica- tion, the sides will do their best to reach agreement before spring training and before an arbitration hear- ing. In February 2010, Lince- cum agreed to a $23 mil- lion, two-year contract ahead of the scheduled hearing. He had been set at that time to ask for $13 mil- lion. That last contract was quite a raise for the under- sized, hard-throwing pitcher his teammates call ''Fran- chise'' and ''Freak'' after he earned $650,000 in 2009. ''We're looking at differ- ent player contracts that give us an idea where we think Tim should be,'' Evans said. ''There is not ever a player that's exactly like the one you have. Ulti- mately there is only one guy that looks just like him.'' Lincecum — the 10th overall draft pick out of Washington in 2006 — has been an All-Star in each of the past four seasons. He went 13-14 with a 2.74 ERA last year for his first losing record. The Giants scored no runs while he was in the game in seven of 33 starts, had one run six times and two runs five times, according to STATS LLC. Also Tuesday, the Giants reached one-year agree- ments to avoid arbitration with outfielders Melky Cabrera and Nate Schier- holtz and reliever Santiago Casilla. Cabrera agreed to a $6 million deal. San Francisco, which sold out every game in 2011 but missed the playoffs, will have a payroll of around $130 million. ''Obviously the revenue that has been generated by our ownership and the sup- port of our fans here makes the payroll level we have possible,'' Evans said. ''We don't take that for granted. We know that with that kind of payroll comes responsi- bility and expectation.'' NFL Wild-card Playoffs Denver 29, Pittsburgh 23, OT Houston 31, Cincinnati 10 New Orleans 45, Detroit 28 New York Giants 24, Atlanta 2 Divisional Playoffs San Francisco 36, New Orleans 32 Baltimore 20, Houston 13 New England 45, Denver 10 N.Y. Giants 37, Green Bay 20 Conference Championships Sunday's games N.Y. Giants at San Francisco, 3:30 p.m. Baltimore at New England, Noon with previous NFL head coaching experience. Mornhinweg spent two years with the Detroit Lions, putting together a 5- 27 record before being fired after the 2002 season. He has spent the past nine seasons as an offensive assistant with the Eagles, including the past six as offensive coordinator. Philadelphia was fifth in the league in scoring (25.1 points per game) and third in total yardage (372.7 per game) during his tenure. Mornhinweg has ties to the Bay Area, having gone to high school in San Jose and having spent four seasons as an assistant for the San Francisco 49ers. LEE (Continued from page 1B) seemed like 15. The Cavs looked tired, mentally and physically, from their cross-country trip. Cleveland played at Charlotte on Monday and dropped to 0-3 this season in back-to-back games. Irving made two free throws to get the Cavs to 96-93, but Ellis hit a free throw, and after Irving missed a jumper, Lee's bucket made it 99-93 and Cleveland never got clos- er. In the final minute, Ellis was playing defense on the left side when he was nailed by Varejao's arm and dropped to the floor. As he was being attended by Golden State's trainers, Robinson had a few words for Vare- jao, who tried to explain it was an accident. The Warriors were again without guard Stephen Curry, who missed his seventh straight game with a sprained right NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division Clippers Lakers WL Pct GB 7 3 .700 .5 10 5 .667 — WARRIORS 58 .385 4 Phoenix KINGS 4 9 .308 5 410 .286 5.5 Southwest Division WL Pct GB San Antonio 9 5 .643 — Dallas Memphis Houston 8 6 .571 1 6 6 .500 2 7 7 .500 2 New Orleans 3 10 .231 5.5 Northwest Division WL Pct GB Oklahoma City 12 2 .857 — Utah Denver Portland Minnesota 8 4 .667 3 9 5 .643 3 8 5 .615 3.5 5 8 .385 6.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Philadelphia 10 3 .769 — New York Boston Toronto Orlando Atlanta Miami WL Pct GB 6 7 .462 4 4 8 .333 5.5 4 10 .286 6.5 New Jersey 3 11 .214 7.5 Southeast Division WL Pct GB 10 3 .769 — 10 4 .714 .5 9 4 .692 1 3 12 .200 8 Charlotte Washington 1 12 .077 9 Central Division Chicago Indiana Cleveland WL Pct GB 13 3 .813 — 9 3 .750 2 6 7 .462 5.5 Milwaukee 4 9 .308 7.5 Detroit 3 11 .214 9 —————————————————— Tuesday's results Golden State 105, Cleveland 95 Chicago 118, Phoenix 97 Denver 105, Milwaukee 95 Houston 97, Detroit 80 Miami 120, San Antonio 98 Orlando 96, Charlotte 89 L.A. Clippers at Utah, late Today's games Golden State at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. Indiana at Sacramento, 7 p.m. Denver at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Oklahoma City at Washington, 4 p.m. San Antonio at Orlando, 4 p.m. Phoenix at New York, 4:30 p.m. Toronto at Boston, 4:30 p.m. Detroit at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Memphis at New Orleans, 5 p.m. Portland at Atlanta, 5 p.m. Dallas at L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m. Thursday's games New Orleans at Houston, 5 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Miami, 5 p.m. Dallas at Utah, 7:30 p.m. ankle. Golden State is 3-4 without its third-leading scorer. Jamison scored 10 points in the first six min- utes of the third quarter, helping the Cavs over- come a seven-point deficit and take a 70-65 lead. But Cleveland couldn't keep it going and the Warriors battled back, getting three straight baskets from Rush to pull even at 74-74. With the Cavs fighting to find their bearings back at home, the Warriors went on a 15-1 run in the first half to take a 52-40 lead. Notes: Golden State coach Mark Jackson said Curry's ankle has improved and the guard is moving toward a return to the floor. ''He's getting closer,'' Jackson said. ''But we want to be smart. We want him for the long haul.'' ... The Cavs were without starting G Antho- ny Parker, lower back. NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division WL OT Pts GF GA SHARKS 25 12 5 55 123 99 Kings 22 15 9 53 102 103 Dallas 24 19 1 49 120 126 Phoenix 21 18 7 49 120 119 Ducks 15 22 7 37 113 138 Central Division WL OT Pts GF GA St. Louis 27 12 6 60 116 94 Chicago 27 13 6 60 150 133 Detroit 29 15 1 59 146 103 Nashville 26 16 4 56 125 123 Columbus 13 27 5 31 110 149 Northwest Division WL OT Pts GF GA Vancouver 28 15 3 59 149 114 Minnesota 22 17 7 51 106 118 Colorado 24 21 2 50 120 134 Calgary 21 20 5 47 111 131 Edmonton 17 24 4 38 116 131 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL OT Pts GF GA N.Y.Rangers 29 11 4 62 125 90 Philadelphia27 13 4 58 149 129 New Jersey 26 17 2 54 126 126 Pittsburgh 24 17 4 52 136 117 N.Y. Islanders17 21 6 40 106 134 Northeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Boston 29 13 1 59 156 88 Ottawa 26 16 6 58 149 150 Toronto 22 18 5 49 139 140 Buffalo 19 21 5 43 112 134 Montreal 17 20 8 42 116 123 Southeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Florida 21 14 9 51 112 123 Washington 24 18 2 50 125 127 Winnipeg 21 20 5 47 116 133 Tampa Bay 18 23 4 40 126 159 Carolina 16 24 8 40 124 156 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. —————————————————— Tuesday's results Calgary at San Jose, late Columbus 4, Edmonton 2 New Jersey 5, Winnipeg 1 N.Y. Islanders 3, Washington 0 N.Y. Rangers 3, Nashville 0 Ottawa 3, Toronto 2 Philadelphia 5, Minnesota 1 Pittsburgh 2, Carolina 1, SO Tampa Bay 5, Boston 3 Detroit at Dallas, late Los Angeles at Vancouver, late Today's games Buffalo at Chicago, 4:30 p.m. Washington at Montreal, 4:30 p.m. Florida at Colorado, 6:30 p.m. Phoenix at Anaheim, 7 p.m. Thursday's games Ottawa at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. Boston at New Jersey, 4 p.m. Minnesota at Toronto, 4 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, 4 p.m. Nashville at Columbus, 4 p.m. Edmonton at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Buffalo at Winnipeg, 5:30 p.m. Detroit at Phoenix, 6 p.m. Calgary at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.