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NHATV.MEYER—BAYAREANEWSGROUP The Washington Nationals' Denard Span (2) makes a catch in deep center field for an out on a ball hit by the San Francisco Giants' Joe Panik in their NLDS game. ByAndrewBaggarly BayAreaNewsGroup SANFRANCISCO Justthreedaysago, Denard Span posted a workout video showing him springing over a series of hurdles. Now he's bouncing along to AT&T Park. The San Francisco Giants ad- dressed their thin outfield, added a premier defender and gave them- selves valuable insurance for oft-in- jured Angel Pagan, agreeing to terms with Span on a three-year, $31 million contract that is pending a physical. As long as the physical goes as ex- pected, the Giants plan to introduce Span at a news conference on Friday. Span, 31, played in just 61 games for the Washington Nationals last year because of surgery to repair an abdominal muscle and then a season- ending procedure to repair a torn left hip labrum. When he was on the field, he was having one of his best offen- sive seasons — .301 average, .365 on- base percentage, five home runs and 11 steals without getting caught. A Tampa native and Scott Boras cli- ent, Span is a left-handed hitter who owns a .287/.352/.395 line over eight seasons with the Twins and Nation- als. The Giants know well what kind of impact Span can make in center field; in August of 2013, he made a spectacular game-saving catch of Hunter Pence's drive to send the Gi- ants to a loss at Nationals Park. "I like it," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said via text of the Span sign- ing. "Always liked Denard." Former Giant Kevin Frandsen, who played with Span in Washing- ton, tweeted: "One hell of a team- mate, center fielder, and lead off guy! Makes plays look routine that aren't." After the Giants spent $220 mil- lion to overhaul their rotation with the signings of Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto, center field defense loomed as one of few remaining weaknesses. By most statistical com- posites, Pagan ranked as the least ef- ficient center fielder in the NL last season. The Giants have expressed confi- dence that Pagan, after undergoing a knee cleanup procedure in Octo- ber, would be productive again as the 34-year-old enters his free-agent walk year. But with Pagan not expected to re-sign, Gregor Blanco also com- ing up on free agency after this sea- BASEBALL Spanagreestoa3-yeardeal Outfielder'scontractwith Giants worth $31 million, pending his physical Staff Report COTTONWOOD The Lady Spar- tans came away with a 2-2 draw Wednesday night against the West Valley Eagles. Both Red Bluff goals came in the first half off the foot of Kay- lynn Gibson, who made four shots on goal during the game. Autumn Poole, Maya Cruz and Ginger Shaffer each had shots on goal. Goaltender Grace Thornton had eight saves on the evening. The Spartans (7-4-2) are sched- uled to face the Foothill Cougars (3-3) at 6 tonight in Palo Cedro. WEST VALLEY 1, RED BLUFF 0 The Spartans boys fell at home to the West Valley Eagles 1-0 Wednes- day night. The Eagles went up on a goal from Kendall Raschein in the first and held on for the shutout. As of 4 p.m. Thursday no stats had been posted for the Spartans. The Spartans (5-5) are sched- uled to host the Foothill Cougars at 6 tonight in Red Bluff. CORNING 2, SUTTER 0 The Car- dinals boys shut out the Sutter Huskies at home Tuesday after- noon 2-0. As of 4 p.m. Thursday no stats had been posted for the game. The Cardinals (7-3-1) are sched- uled to face the Central Valley Fal- SOCCER Spartans play to 2-2 draw with WV Eagles The Associated Press CANTON, OHIO Brett Favre is one step away from entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The quarterback who left the NFL after the 2010 season as the leader in most career passing categories, is among three first- time eligibles to make the list of 15 finalists. Receiver Terrell Ow- ens and guard Alan Faneca, also in their initial year of eligibility, made the cut. The class of 2016 will be de- cided on Feb. 6, the day before the Super Bowl, with inductions scheduled for August. Also making the cut to 15 are Morten Andersen, Steve Atwa- ter, Don Coryell, Terrell Davis, Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene, Mar- vin Harrison, Joe Jacoby, Edger- rin James, John Lynch, Orlando Pace and Kurt Warner. Two senior finalists — players whose careers ended more than 25 years ago — were announced last August: Ken Stabler and Dick Stanfel. A contributor finalist an- nounced in September was Ed- ward DeBartolo Jr., owner of the San Francisco 49ers from 1977- 2000. To be elected, a finalist must PRO FOOTBALL Favre, Owens, Faneca among Hall finalists By Eddie Pells AP National Writer DENVER Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler? Well, the Broncos settled on Manning. Certainly, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak could've justified placing either quarterback in the starting lineup. And if Den- ver loses next Sunday, then cer- tainly, Kubiak's choice will be second-guessed. "I don't think that way," Ku- biak said. "I'm going in real pos- itive." He is hardly the first coach, and Denver is hardly the first team, forced to smooth out an unsettled quarterback situation in the postseason. Here's a look at some of the more memorable decisions: BRADY VS. BLEDSOE In the second game of the 2001 sea- son, Tom Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe when Bledsoe sustained a chest injury. Brady went on to post an 11-3 record as the starter. But after Brady sprained his ankle in the AFC title game against Pittsburgh, Bledsoe, he of the then-record-setting $103 million contract, came off the bench and led the Patriots to the Super Bowl. Coach Bill Belich- ick waited until the following Wednesday (there was no extra week off before the Super Bowl that year) to announce Brady as his starter. "It's something I probably expected, to be honest with you," Bledsoe said. Brady won both his first ring and Su- per Bowl MVP honor with a 20- 17 upset over the St. Louis Rams. JOHNSON VS. FLUTIE Doug Flutie took over for injured Rob Johnson in the fifth game of the 1999 season for Buffalo. He led the Bills to a 10-5 record and a playoff spot heading into the fi- nal game of the regular season, which meant nothing to Buffalo. Coach Wade Phillips (now Den- ver's defensive coordinator) de- cided to give the now-healthy Johnson the start, and the quar- terback responded with a 287- yard performance in a 31-6 vic- tory over the Colts. Surprising almost everyone, Phillips de- cided to go with Johnson for the playoffs. He went 10 for 22 in a 22-16 loss to the Titans, but the remnants of the QB debacle were overshadowed by what's remembered as the Music City Miracle — the lateral from Frank Wycheck to Kevin Dyson for the winning score on the kickoff after Buffalo had taken the lead with 16 seconds left. FLUTIE VS. TOMCZAK Granted, the Bears best QB, Jim Mc- Mahon, was out with an in- jury and Mike Ditka was pick- ing between backups. To this day, though, many Bears from the 1986 team — the team that opened at home against Wash- ington in the NFC playoffs the year after the Super Bowl win — blame Ditka for choosing Flutie, whom the Bears signed in De- cember, over Mike Tomczak for the playoffs. Making only his second NFL start, Flutie went 11 for 31 with two interceptions in a 27-13 loss. YOUNGVS.MONTANA Most foot- ball people view this as the big- gest quarterback controversy of all time, and it did have a play- off element to it, though it cer- tainly was nothing more than a sidelight. Joe Montana already had four Super Bowl rings and had spent 1991 and most of 1992 on the sideline with an elbow in- jury. Montana was healthy for NFL PLAYOFFS QB QUANDARIES NOT A NEW THING Broncos hardly the first NFL franchise to have choice to make for playoff starter MICHAEL DWYER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE New England Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady, right, and former starter Drew Bledsoe line up during team practice at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Mass, in 2002. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE At le , San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (16) looks for a receiver behind protective blocking of le guard John Ayers (68), during the first half of the Super Bowl XIX game against the Miami Dolphins, in Palo Alto in 1985. At right, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young throws downfield during the first quarter of Super Bowl XXIX against the San Diego Chargers, in Miami in 1995. QUANDARIES PAGE 2 SOCCER PAGE 2 GIANTS PAGE 2 FINALISTS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, January 8, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1