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2B – Daily News – Friday, January 15, 2010 NFL 2009 All-Pro Team OFFENSE Quarterback—Peyton Manning, Indianapo- lis. Running Backs—Chris Johnson, Ten- nessee; Adrian Peterson, Minnesota. Fullback—Leonard Weaver, Philadelphia. Tight End—Dallas Clark, Indianapolis. Wide Receivers—Andre Johnson, Houston; Wes Welker, New England. Tackles—Ryan Clady, Denver; Joe Thomas, Cleveland. Guards—Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota; Jahri Evans, New Orleans. Center—Nick Mangold, New York Jets. Placekicker—Nate Kaeding, San Diego. Kick Returner—Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland. DEFENSE Ends—Jared Allen, Minnesota; Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis. Tackles—Jay Ratliff, Dallas; Kevin Williams, Minnesota. Outside Linebackers—Elvis Dumervil, Den- ver; DeMarcus Ware, Dallas. Inside Linebacker—Patrick Willis, San Francisco; Ray Lewis, Baltimore. Cornerbacks—Charles Woodson, Green Bay; Darrelle Revis, New York Jets. Safeties—Darren Sharper, New Orleans; Adrian Wilson, Arizona. Punter—Shane Lechler, Oakland. SECOND TEAM OFFENSE Quarterback—Drew Brees, New Orleans. Running Backs—Ray Rice, Baltimore; Steven Jackson, St. Louis. Fullback—Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore. Tight End—Antonio Gates, San Diego. Wide Receivers—Reggie Wayne, Indi- anapolis; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona. Tackles—Michael Roos, Tennessee; Jake Lond, Miami. Guards—Logan Mankins, New England; Kris Dielman, San Diego. Center —Andre Gurode, Dallas. Placekicker—David Akers, Philadelphia. Kick Returner—DeSean Jackson, Philadel- phia. DEFENSE Ends—Trent Cole, Philadelphia; Julius Pep- pers, Carolina. Tackles—Darnell Dockett, Arizona; Haloti Ngata, Baltimore. Outside Linebackers—Brian Cushing, Houston; LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh. Inside Linebackers—David Harris, New York Jets; Jon Beason, Carolina. Cornerbacks—Nnamdi Asomugha, Oak- land; Asante Samuel, Philadelphia, and Leon Hall, Cincinnati (tie). Safeties—Brian Dawkins, Denver; Ed Reed, Baltimore, and Nick Collins, Green Bay (tie). Punter—Andy Lee, San Francisco, and Donnie Jones, St. Louis (tie). NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division W L Pct GB Lakers 30 9 .769 — Phoenix 24 15 .615 6 Clippers 17 20 .459 12 KINGS 15 22 .405 14 WARRIORS 11 26 .297 18 Southwest Division W L Pct GB Dallas 25 13 .658 — San Antonio 24 13 .649 .5 Houston 22 17 .564 3.5 New Orleans 20 17 .541 4.5 Memphis 19 18 .514 5.5 Northwest Division W L Pct GB Denver 25 14 .641 — Portland 24 16 .600 1.5 Okla. City 21 17 .553 3.5 Utah 21 17 .553 3.5 Minnesota 8 32 .200 17.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Boston 27 11 .711 — Toronto 19 20 .487 8.5 New York 16 22 .421 11 Philadelphia 12 26 .316 15 New Jersey 3 35 .079 24 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Orlando 26 13 .667 — Atlanta 25 13 .658 .5 Miami 19 18 .514 6 Charlotte 17 19 .472 7.5 Washington 12 25 .324 13 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 30 10 .750 — Chicago 17 20 .459 11.5 Milwaukee 15 21 .417 13 Indiana 13 25 .342 16 Detroit 12 25 .324 16.5 ——— Thursday's results Chicago 96, Boston 83 Cleveland at Utah, late Today's games Sacramento at Philadelphia, 4 p.m., CSNCA Milwaukee at Golden State, 7:30 p.m., CSNBA San Antonio at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Indiana at New Jersey, 5 p.m. Minnesota at Memphis, 5 p.m. New Orleans at Detroit, 5 p.m. Phoenix at Atlanta, 5 p.m., ESPN Toronto at New York, 5 p.m. Washington at Chicago, 5 p.m. Miami at Houston, 5:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m. Orlando at Portland, 7:30 p.m., ESPN Wednesday's late results Miami 115, Golden State 102 Portland 120, Milwaukee 108 NCAA Thursday's Top 25 games No. 9 Tennessee 81, Auburn 55 No. 11 Georgetown 85, Seton Hall 73 No. 17 Gonzaga at St. Mary's, late Today's Top 25 games No games scheduled NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division W L OT Pts GF GA SHARKS 30 10 7 67 152 119 Phoenix 27 16 5 59 125 118 Kings 25 18 3 53 135 130 Ducks 21 19 7 49 133 146 Dallas 19 17 11 49 134 152 Central Division W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 31 11 4 66 152 102 Nashville 28 16 3 59 136 132 Detroit 24 16 6 54 118 117 St. Louis 20 19 7 47 120 131 Columbus 18 22 9 45 125 161 Northwest Division W L OT Pts GF GA Calgary 26 15 6 58 126 114 Colorado 26 15 6 58 138 134 Vancouver 27 18 2 56 149 117 Minnesota 24 21 3 51 131 140 Edmonton 16 25 5 37 126 155 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L OT Pts GF GA New Jersey 32 12 1 65 130 98 Pittsburgh 30 18 1 61 155 133 Rangers 22 18 7 51 120 125 Philadelphia 23 20 3 49 140 132 Islanders 20 19 8 48 124 144 Northeast Division W L OT Pts GF GA Buffalo 29 11 5 63 125 103 Boston 22 16 7 51 117 111 Montreal 23 21 4 50 124 129 Ottawa 23 21 4 50 129 147 Toronto 16 23 9 41 129 164 Southeast Division W L OT Pts GF GA Washington 28 12 6 62 171 132 Atlanta 20 19 7 47 144 152 Florida 19 20 8 46 135 147 Tampa Bay 18 18 10 46 120 139 Carolina 14 25 7 35 115 157 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Today's games Boston at San Jose, late Buffalo 2, Atlanta 1, OT Chicago 3, Columbus 0 Detroit 3, Carolina 1 Florida 3, Tampa Bay 2 Montreal 5, Dallas 3 Ottawa 2, N.Y. Rangers 0 Phoenix 4, New Jersey 3 Pittsburgh 3, Edmonton 2 St. Louis 1, Minnesota 0 Toronto 4, Philadelphia 0 Anaheim at Los Angeles, late Today's games Toronto at Washington, 4 p.m. Nashville at Calgary, 6 p.m. Wednesday's late result Anaheim 4, Boston 3 DEALS National Football League CAROLINA—Fired special teams coach Danny Crossman. CLEVELAND—Fired senior director-pro per- sonnel Steve Sabo, pro personnel director Keith O'Quinn, associate director of college and pro personnel Jim Jauch and assistant director-pro personnel James Kirkland. JACKSONVILLE—Signed DL Walter Curry. KANSAS CITY—Named Romeo Crennel defensive coordinator. NEW ENGLAND—Announced the resigna- tion of defensive coordinator Dean Pees. N.Y. GIANTS—Named Perry Fewell defen- sive coordinator. PHILADELPHIA—Fired special teams coach Ted Daisher. Named Bobby April spe- cial teams coordinator. PITTSBURGH—NamedSean Kugler offen- sive line coach. WASHINGTON—Named Bobby Turner assistant head coach and running backs coach. Signed OL Kory Lichtensteiger to a futures contract. National Basketball Association SAN ANTONIO—Assigned G Malik Hairston to Austin (NBADL). National Hockey League CHICAGO—Signed senior vice president of business operations Jay Blunk to a contract extension. OTTAWA—Recalled G Mike Brodeur from Binghamton (AHL). TAMPA BAY—Assigned RW Martins Kar- sums to HC MVD Balashikha (KHL). Recalled G Dustin Tokarski from Norfolk (AHL). Major League Baseball American League BOSTON—Agreed to terms with LHP Hideki Okajima on a one-year contract. CHICAGO—Agreed to terms with RHP Greg Aquino, RHP Daniel Cabrera, LHP Erick Threets, INF Freddie Bynum and OF Jason Botts on minor-league contracts. DETROIT—Agreed to terms with RHP Enrique Gonzalez, RHP Ruddy Lugo, RHP Josh Rainwater, LHP pitchers Phil Dumatrait, LHP Ryan Ketchner, LHP Macay McBride, LHP Sam Narron, LHP Jason Waddell, C Andy Bouchie, C Robinzon Diaz, C Mike Rabelo, C Max St. Pierre, IF Kory Casto, IF Santo De Leon, IF Cesar Nicolas, IF Jason Stokes and OF Ryan Patterson on minor league contracts. National League SAN FRANCISCO—Designated RHP Merkin Valdez for assignment. ATLANTA—Agreed to terms with OF Melky Cabrera on a one-year contract. COLORADO—Agreed to terms with INF Clint Barmes and RHP Taylor Buchholz on one-year contracts. MILWAUKEE—Signed OF Norris Hopper to a minor-league contract. Major League Soccer MLS—Named Nelson Rodriguez executive vice president of competition, technical and game operations. Announced executive vice president of player relations and competition Todd Durbin will also oversee the signing of all player contracts, manage League labor rela- tion and oversee an expanded youth devel- opment initiative. NEW YORK—Acquired D Chris Albright from New England for a 2010 second- and third- round pick in the MLS SuperDraft. College AKRON—Named Curt Mallory defensive coordinator. CENTRAL FLORIDA—Named John Skladany linebackers coach and special teams assistant. DARTMOUTH—Promoted Mark Graupe to interim basketball coach. MARSHALL—Named Frank Piraino strength and conditioning coach for football. TEXAS TECH—Announced interim head coach-defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill, inside receivers coach Lincoln Riley, running backs coach Clay McGuire, cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell and special teams coor- dinator Eric Russell will not return to the foot- ball program. Announced the retirement of safeties coach Carlos Mainord. Announced wide receivers coach Dennis Simmon will work with the athletic department. UTEP—Fired defensive coordinator Osia Lewis, defensive line coach DeChon Burns and assistant Jim Clark. Named Andre Pat- terson defensive coordinator. Scoreboard Scoreboard NFL Playoffs: At a glance ARIZONA (11-6) at NEW ORLEANS (13-3) Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Fox OPENING LINE — Saints by 6 1/2 SERIES RECORD — Cardinals lead 13-12 LAST MEETING — Saints beat Car- dinals 31-24, Dec. 16, 2007 LAST WEEK — Cardinals beat Packers 51-45 in wild-card round; Saints had bye CARDI- NALS OFFENSE — OVER- ALL (14), RUSH (28), PASS (12) CARDINALS DEFENSE — OVERALL (20), RUSH (17), PASS (23) SAINTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (1), RUSH (6), PASS (4) SAINTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (25), RUSH (21), PASS (26) STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Arizona set postseason franchise records with 51 points, 531 total yards and 375 yards passing last weekend vs. Packers. ... Coach Ken Whisenhunt is 4-1 in playoffs. ... Arizona QB Kurt Warner is 9-3 in postseason. ... Warner's 104.6 playoff passer rating is second in NFL history behind Bart Starr (104.8). Warner has averaged 312.3 yards passing in playoff games, highest average in league history among quarterbacks with at least five postseason appearances. ... WR Early Doucet is from Louisiana, played at LSU and had best game of NFL career last week with 77 yards and two TDs vs. Packers. ... WR Steve Breaston had career-high 125 yards on seven catches and TD last week. ... Saints are No. 1 seed for first time in franchise history. ... Saints are 2-6 all- time in playoffs. ... New Orleans led NFL with 510 points in regular season, ninth most in single season in NFL history. ... Saints averaged league-leading 403.8 yards per game and 31.9 points per game. ... Saints QB Drew Brees' 70.6 com- pletion percentage during regular season was NFL record. ... Brees led NFL with career-high and franchise-record 109.6 passer rating. ... Brees has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in all four of his seasons with New Orleans. ... Saints had five players selected for Pro Bowl: Brees, G Jahri Evans, T Jon Stinchcomb, S Darren Sharper and LB Jonathan Vilma. ... RB Reggie Bush has 225 yards from scrimmage and two TDs in two career playoff games, both in 2006 season. DALLAS (12-5) at MINNESOTA (12-4) Sunday 10 a.m., Fox OPENING LINE — Vikings by 3 SERIES RECORD — Cowboys lead 14-12 LAST MEETING — Cowboys beat Vikings 24-14, Oct. 21, 2007 LAST WEEK — Cow- boys beat Eagles 34-14 in wild-card round; Vikings had bye COW- BOYS OFFENSE — OVERALL (2), RUSH (7), PASS (6) COW- BOYS DEFENSE — OVERALL (9), RUSH (4), PASS (20) VIKINGS OFFENSE — OVER- ALL (5), RUSH (13), PASS (8) VIKINGS DEFENSE — OVER- ALL (6), RUSH (2), PASS (19) STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — This is seventh time Cowboys and Vikings will face each other in playoffs, fourth time in Minnesota. ... Vikings won last postseason meeting, 27-10 in first round 10 years ago. ... Most notable win for Cowboys was after 1975 season, when Roger Staubach's self-proclaimed ''Hail Mary'' pass to Drew Pearson — decried by Vikings fans as a push off — lift- ed Dallas to victory. ... Vikings won five straight in series between playoff loss after 1996 season and 2007 regular-sea- son meeting. ... Cowboys, having ended 13-year stretch with- out a win in playoffs with last week's whipping of Philadel- phia, have won four straight games while allowing total of 31 points in that span. ... QB Tony Romo has 19-8 career record on road. He's 1-2 overall in his career in the postseason; this will be his second playoff road game. ... Cowboys RB Mari- on Barber grew up in the Twin Cities and played at Metrodome for University of Minnesota. He's been bothered by left knee injury, limiting his action lately. ... Romo grew up in Wisconsin, a fan of Vikings QB Brett Favre when he played for Packers. ... Favre will make his 23rd start in a play- off game. ... Vikings went 8-0 at home in regular season. BALTIMORE (10-7) at INDIANAPOLIS (14-2) Saturday 5:15 p.m., CBS OPENING LINE — Colts by 6 1/2 SERIES RECORD — Colts lead 8-2 LAST MEET- ING — Colts beat Ravens 17- 15, Nov. 22, 2009 LAST WEEK — Ravens beat Patriots 33-14; Colts had bye RAVENS OFFENSE — OVERALL (13), RUSH (5), PASS (18) RAVENS DEFENSE — OVERALL (3), RUSH (5), PASS (8T) COLTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (9), RUSH (32), PASS (2) COLTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (18), RUSH (24), PASS (14) STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Colts have seven straight wins in series, including 15-6 victory in only other playoff meeting in 2006. ... Ravens and Colts have combined for 15 playoff appearances since 2000, each team owns one Super Bowl win, and Ray Lewis and Peyton Manning were both voted Super Bowl MVPs. ... Baltimore has won six road playoff games since 2000, matching 1970s Dallas Cowboys' league record for most in a decade. ... Ravens had 3,000-yard passer (Joe Flacco), 1,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice) and 1,000-yard receiver (Derrick Mason) for first time in franchise history. ... Baltimore tied franchise record with 391 points this season. ... Ravens have allowed average of 12.0 points in 12 playoff games this decade, lowest of any team with at least five postseason games. ... Baltimore has not allowed 100-yard rusher in any of franchise's 12 playoff games. ... Ravens led AFC in turnover margin at plus-10 dur- ing regular season. ... ... Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs did not play in previous game against Colts. ... Four-time MVP Manning is 7-8 in playoffs. Last player to win MVP and Super Bowl in same season was Kurt Warner with St. Louis in 1999. ... Indy is 0-3 after earning first-round playoff bye and has not won postseason game since beating Chicago in Super Bowl following 2006 season. ... 2-year-old Lucas Oil Stadium will be hosting first playoff game. ... Colts DE Robert Mathis has six sacks, forced four fumbles and recov- ered two fumbles in six career games vs. Ravens. ... Indy's Matt Stover is one of four kickers with more than 2,000 career points. NY JETS (10-7) at SAN DIEGO (13-3) Sunday, 1:40 p.m., CBS OPENING LINE — Charg- ers by 9 SERIES RECORD — Chargers lead 19-12-1 LAST MEETING — Chargers beat Jets 48-29, Sept. 22, 2008 LAST WEEK — Jets beat Bengals 24- 14 in wild-card round; Chargers had bye JETS OFFENSE — OVERALL (20), RUSH (1), PASS (31) JETS DEFENSE — OVERALL (1), RUSH (8), PASS (1) CHARGERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (10), RUSH (31), PASS (5) CHARGERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (16), RUSH (20), PASS (11) STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Chargers have won 11 straight games, tied for fifth-longest winning streak to enter playoffs since AFL-NFL merger in 1970. ... Jets have both NFL's top-ranked rushing offense and overall defense. ... Jets won only previous playoff matchup between teams, 20- 17 in overtime in wild-card round after 2004 season in San Diego. Chargers rallied to force OT, then watched as rookie Nate Kaeding pushed 40-yard field goal attempt wide right. Jets then won it on Doug Brien's 28-yard field goal. ... Jets rookie head coach Rex Ryan interviewed with Chargers in February 2007 for head coaching job that went to Norv Turn- er after Bolts fired Marty Schottenheimer. ... Schotten- heimer's son, Brian, is Jets offensive coordinator. ... New York's Mark Sanchez became fourth rookie QB to win play- off game since 1970, joining Shaun King (1999), Ben Roeth- lisberger (2004) and Joe Flacco (2008). ... Marquee matchup is expected to be Chargers WR Vincent Jackson against Jets All-Pro CB Darrelle Revis. Jackson is 6-foot-5 and caught 79 passes for 1,157 yards. Revis, who is 6 inches shorter, has become league's premier cover cornerback. Revis had six interceptions during regular season and intercepted Carson Palmer in last weekend's win against Cincinnati. WASHINGTON (AP) — Gilbert Arenas has a court date and an apparent plea deal is in place, signaling a possible quick resolution to at least one side of a guns-in-the-locker- room confrontation that stained the NBA and jeopardized the career of the three-time All-Star. Arenas was charged Thursday with felony gun posses- sion — one count of carrying a pistol without a license — a crime that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The charges were filed in D.C. Superior Court in an ''infor- mation,'' a document that indicates a plea bargain has been reached. The charge came directly from prosecutors and not in the form of an indictment — even though a grand jury has been investigating — and Arenas was listed on the docket for a court appearance Friday afternoon. Arenas has acknowledged storing four unloaded guns in his locker at the Verizon Center, saying he wanted to keep them away from his young children and didn't know it was a violation of the city's strict gun laws. He says he took them out of the locker Dec. 21 in a ''misguided effort to play a joke'' on a teammate. The criminal charge came on the same day that the team- mate, Javaris Crittenton, had his northern Virginia apartment searched by police looking for a silver- or chrome-colored semiautomatic handgun with a black handle. The search warrant indicated police were investigating crimes that include brandishing a weapon. No evidence was seized, according to court documents, and Crittenton has not been charged. Two league officials have said a spat between Arenas and Crittenton began Dec. 19 while players were playing cards and gambling on the team plane during a flight home from a West Coast road trip. Their dispute became heated when the team reconvened for practice two days later. There have been conflicting published accounts as to whether Crittenton had a gun and whether he drew it on Arenas. Arenas' lawyer, Crittenton's lawyer and the NBA had no immediate comment on the criminal charge. Crittenton has previously said he did nothing wrong, and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said his client was there during the apartment search. Even if Arenas avoids a jail sentence, the outcome of the legal process will have profound implications on his future in the NBA and specifically with the Wizards. Possession of a gun at an NBA arena is a violation of the league's collec- tive bargaining agreement, and last week commissioner David Stern suspended Arenas indefinitely without pay pending the outcome of the investigation. Stern was particularly upset that Arenas repeatedly joked about the matter with reporters and on Twitter and even pan- tomimed shooting teammates in a pregame huddle before a game at Philadelphia. Arenas attempted, in public at least, to use a ''goof ball'' defense, saying he meant no harm and never takes anything seriously. Stern, however, said that Are- nas was ''not currently fit to take the court'' and that the 28- year-old player's conduct will ''ultimately result in a sub- stantial suspension, and perhaps worse.'' In addition, the Wizards could attempt to invoke the morals clause found in standard NBA contracts and void the remainder of his six-year, $111 million deal. Arenas charged with felony gun possession doesn't have a three-game winning streak this season. ''I don't think about the All-Star (vote),'' Ellis said. ''If it happens, it happens. If it don't, I'll continue to do what I can to help turn this organization around and help our team win.'' There's no denying Ellis is a game-changer. His 37-point performance in a 103-99 victory over the Celtics on Dec. 28 was his third straight game with 30 or more points. ''He basically had his way with us tonight,'' Boston guard Ray Allen said afterward. Ellis converted two free throws with 2.3 seconds left and rallied his team back from an early 18-point deficit in that win — and that's just one example of his late-game heroics. ''He's just tough. He's a heck of a scorer, he's athletic as heck,'' Rivers said. ''I think a lot of people think he's a shooter. He's more of a scorer in my opinion. He slashes and beats you to the basket. He does make the 3. He's a bona fide scorer.'' It's clear everybody around the Warriors has finally moved past Ellis' tumultuous season a year ago and is thankful to have his steady production now. ''He's really being a true leader now, especially when we need points,'' center Andris Biedrins said. ''He's willing to take the responsi- bility and take the tough shots. He's just being more aggressive. He knows when we need a bucket and he can (take over). He's that good.'' (Continued from page 1B) ELLIS