Red Bluff Daily News

December 04, 2015

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MARCIOJOSESANCHEZ—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs past Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith (21) to score on a 11-yard touchdown run during the first quarter on Nov. 20, 2014, in Oakland. TheAssociatedPress ALAMEDA LataviusMurrayisn'tvery nostalgic. With the Raiders trying to chase down a spot in the playoffs, Oakland's third-year running back would prefer to keep conversations in the here and now. The problem is that Murray's story can't be fully told without a trip down memory lane. Having missed all of his rookie sea- son with a foot injury, the 2013 sixth- round draft pick was languishing on the bench behind Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew on a winless Raiders team in 2014 when the coach- ing staff decided to make a change early during a Week 12 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Murray made his impact felt quickly, scoring on a 90-yard touch- down run that helped propel Oakland to a much-needed win and propelled Murray to a spot among the top run- ning backs in the NFL this year. While the play marked a pivotal juncture in Murray's young career, he's been reluctant to talk about it much this week. Oakland hosts Kan- sas City on Sunday in a key game for both AFC West rivals. "I know what I have to do this year. I know (the Chiefs) aren't wor- ried about it either. I know the history but this is a new year, a new game and both new groups," Murray said Thursday. Murray is second in the AFC — one yard behind Chris Ivory of the New York Jets — and seventh overall with 765 yards. That's already more than any Oakland running back since 2010, which was also the last season the Raiders had a 1,000-yard rusher. Provided he stays healthy, Murray is on pace to finish with more than 1,100 yards, which would make him just the seventh player in franchise history to do so. The Raiders likely will need every bit of it if they are to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Oakland has rushed for 584 yards in its five wins this season and has called 25 running plays or more in all but one of those games. Conversely, the Raiders have been held to 473 NFL Murrayhasfocusonpresent Raiders' featured back unconcerned with last year's Chiefs and victory Sunday: Kansas City Chiefs at Oak- land Raiders, 1:05p.m., TV on CBS. TUNEIN By Graham Dunbar, Eric Tucker and Ronald Blum The Associated Press WASHINGTON As members of FIFA's executive committee pre- pared to vote on reforming soc- cer's scandal-plagued governing body, Swiss government agents swept into a luxury hotel before dawn for a second wave of arrests on corruption charges in the wake of another sweeping indictment by U.S. prosecutors. Five current and former mem- bers of FIFA's ruling executive committee were among 16 addi- tional men charged with bribes and kickbacks in a 92-count in- dictment unsealed Thursday that took down an entire generation of soccer leaders in South Amer- ica, a bedrock of FIFA and World Cup history. "The betrayal of trust set forth here is truly outrageous," U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said. "The scale of corruption al- leged herein is unconscionable." Led away by Swiss federal po- lice at Zurich's Baur au Lac ho- tel were Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay, president of the South American confederation (CON- MEBOL), and Alfredo Hawit of Honduras, head of the North and Central American and Caribbean governing body (CONCACAF). FIFA SOCCER USindicts 16 more in probe of corruption By Larry Lage The Associated Press DETROIT Aaron Rodgers took ad- vantage one last shot to stun the Detroit Lions. Rodgers threw a 61-yard touch- down pass to Richard Rodg- ers with no time left to give the Green Bay Packers a 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions on Thurs- day night. The Packers got the untimed down after Detroit defensive end Devin Taylor was called for grab- bing Aaron Rodgers' facemask on a tackle on what would've been the last play. The Packers (8-4) had lost four of five. The Lions (4-8) had won three straight and blew a chance to sweep the season series for the first time since 1991. Matthew Stafford connected with Calvin Johnson on his sec- ond touchdown pass of the first quarter to help Detroit build a 20-point lead that it couldn't keep. Aaron Rodgers scored on a 17- yard run with 3:04 left, pulling the Packers within two points. Stafford connected with TJ Jones to convert a third-and-12 from the Detroit 18 after Green Bay called its final timeout with 2:54 to go. The Lions needed one NFL Packers beat Lions on final play of game By Janie McCauley The Associated Press SANTA CLARA Ahmad Brooks realizes how much Vic Fangio had to do with the San Fran- cisco 49ers ranking among the NFL's top defenses during his tenure. The defense regularly stood at the top or among the best at stopping the run. The franchise's former defen- sive coordinator will be working on the other side Sunday, one of several familiar faces with the Chicago Bears opposing the Nin- ers (3-8) at Soldier Field as they search for their first road victory following an 0-5 start away from home. "It's been a big adjustment for the team this year not having him here," Brooks said. "I think we've done a pretty good job." Yet Fangio isn't the only one gone from those top 49ers units. Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Justin Smith retired last off- season, while Aldon Smith was released, signed with the Oak- land Raiders and played nine games before being suspended for a year. Chicago defensive backs coach Ed Donatell served as San Francisco's secondary coach. And Bears offensive coordina- tor Adam Gase interviewed for San Francisco's head coaching opening that went to Jim Tom- sula following the departure of Jim Harbaugh after last season. "Vic taught us a lot. He was the coach that I had when I was first here," defensive line- man Mike Purcell said Thurs- day. "It'll be interesting going against him." Fangio took the high road this week when discussing what might have been in the Bay Area, where 49ers CEO Jed York decided to promote Tom- sula from defensive line coach despite no NFL experience as a coordinator. When the season ended, line- backer NaVorro Bowman was rooting for Fangio to stay. Eric Mangini replaced him. "I would like to see Vic Fan- gio here, whether that's as head coach or DC," he said. When asked on a conference call Wednesday with writers covering the Bears whether Fan- gio did enough to be considered for the 49ers head coach posi- tion, he said: "I think so. I don't see why not." Fangio's current group might not be flashy, yet it hasn't mat- tered. The Bears (5-6) are mak- ing big strides on both sides of the ball. San Francisco has struggled on third down, going 0 for 9 on conversions in last week's 19-13 home loss to NFC West-leading Arizona and 2 for 11 the previ- ous week at Seattle. It won't get any easier in a tough environment against a Fangio-led unit. "They're a sound defense. Schematically, they're on it. They don't make a lot of errors. Their guys are in the right spots. NFL FANGIO HAS BEARS' DEFENSE ON A ROLL Ex-49ers defensive coordinator garners appreciation by San Francisco players NAM Y. HUH — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio coordinated a defense in San Francisco that ranked among the league's best the past four years and he's overseeing quite a turnaround in Chicago. TONY AVELAR — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Arizona Cardinals wide receiver J.J. Nelson (right) catches a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jimmie Ward during the second half Sunday in Santa Clara. Sunday: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears, 10a.m., TV on FOX. TUNEIN RAIDERS PAGE 2 49ERS PAGE 2 FIFA PAGE 2 PACKERS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, December 4, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1

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