ekansekans's blog: "df"

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Former Oakland coach Bill Callahan has denied allegations made by two of his former players that he "sabotaged" the Raiders in their Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay 10 years ago. Former Raiders receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice both said in recent interviews they believe Callahan undermined his own team in the Super Bowl in 2003 because of his close friendship with Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden by altering the game plan less than two days before Oaklands 48-21 loss. "While I fully understand a competitive professional football players disappointment when a games outcome doesnt go his teams way, I am shocked, saddened and outraged by Tim Browns allegations and Jerry Rices support of those allegations made through various media outlets over the last 24 hours," Callahan said Tuesday in a statement. "To leave no doubt, I categorically and unequivocally deny the sum and substance of their allegations." The hubbub over a game played a decade ago began Monday when Brown said on Sirius XM Radio that he believed Callahan altered the game plan because of his close ties to Gruden, the former Raiders coach who hired Callahan, and because Callahan hated the Raiders. "We all called it sabotage, because Callahan and Gruden was good friends, and Callahan had a big problem with the Raiders, hated the Raiders, and only came because Gruden made him come," Brown said. While many of Browns teammates, including quarterback Rich Gannon, came to Callahans defence on radio and Twitter on Tuesday, Rice sided with Brown that Callahans decision to shift the game plan from a run-oriented attack to a pass-heavy offence after a week of practice was done to hurt the team. "I was very surprised that he waited till the last second and I think a lot of the players they were surprised also so in a way maybe because he didnt like the Raiders he decided Hey look maybe we should sabotage just a little bit and let Jon Gruden go out and win this one," Rice told ESPN. Both Rice and Brown also said the decision to alter the plan less than two days before the game might have contributed to starting centre Barret Robbins leaving the team that Friday night to go party in Tijuana. Robbins missed a team meeting and walkthrough and was suspended for the game. He was hospitalized and diagnosed as bipolar. Former Raiders offensive lineman Frank Middleton said in a phone interview that he didnt believe Callahans change in game plan contributed to Robbins problems or that Callahan purposely lost the game even if there were bad feelings between the coach and players. "Callahan hated us," Middleton said. "He didnt want to see a lot of us succeed because of who we were. I do believe Callahan had bad feelings against us. But to say he threw the game, I cant say that." Middleton acknowledged that the plan the team used in the game was different than what was practiced but said he didnt know if that was because Robbins had left the team and the Raiders were forced to use backup centre Adam Treu. The Raiders threw a then club-record 619 passes in the 2002 season but originally planned to run the ball more in the Super Bowl to take advantage of Tampa Bays undersized defensive front. But Oakland fell behind early in the game and had 49 pass plays and a season-low 11 runs. Gannon threw five interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns, in the lopsided loss. Callahan, currently the offensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys, said he tried to win the game and suggestions to the contrary were "ludicrous and defamatory." "Any suggestion that I would undermine the integrity of the sport that I love and dedicated my life to, or dishonour the commitment I made to our players, coaches and fans is flat out wrong," he said. "I think it would be in the best interests of all, including the game America loves, that these allegations be retracted immediately." Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys China . -- Joonas Nattinen scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period as the Hamilton Bulldogs edged the Hershey Bears 3-2 on Saturday in the American Hockey League. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys . -- Joe Mauers first grand slam of the year helped the Minnesota Twins finish off a successful Saturday. http://hipstervancouver.com/ . I got flooded with trade scenarios and opinions, so that is touched on in this weeks Tweet Bag, along with some talk about perceived sleights by the referees.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Eliminating major mistakes was the top priority for Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden. The big plays, presumably, will come in time. Weeden showed improvement in his second preseason game, avoiding some of the trouble he found last week as the Cleveland Browns beat the Green Bay Packers 35-10 at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. Weeden said hes making progress. "I think so," Weeden said. "Youve got to keep in mind last week was my first-ever start in the NFL and its just like a true freshman going into college and its an even bigger jump coming up here. I didnt get down on myself about the way things went last week and I just want to go out and get better and I did that." Aaron Rodgers looked sharp in limited action, but backup quarterback Graham Harrell was shaky for the Packers. Packers coach Mike McCarthy wasnt thrilled with an 0-2 start in the preseason -- especially as he watched his team turn over the ball. "Its something that needs to stop," McCarthy said. "Theres no excuse for that." Weeden, a first-round pick out of Oklahoma State who already has been chosen the Browns starter, played the first half and was 12 of 20 for 118 yards. Browns coach Pat Shurmur said the Packers defensive pressure was a good test for Weeden after he faced mostly a four-man rush against Detroit. "Today we played against a lot of pressure. So those are two different feels of the way the game goes, and I think Brandon got a chance to go through that." Browns kicker Phil Dawson hit three field goals, including a pair from 50-plus yards. Dawson missed a 56-yarder just before halftime for Cleveland (No. 30 in the AP Pro32). Rodgers threw a 20-yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson on his first series for the Packers (No. 1). The reigning NFL MVP stayed in for two more series, completing 6 of 11 passes for 59 yards. He also had a 21-yard scramble and took a hard hit on another rushing attempt. Rodgers said he was happy with the protection he got from the offensive line, which welcomed back left tackle Marshall Newhouse this week after an extended absence because of a concussion. But with the Packers short-handed at running back, Rodgers didnt like seeing he and Harrell as the teams leading rushers. "We need to run the ball a little bit better," Rodgers said. Harrell took over early in the second quarter and struggled, completing 12 of 24 passes for 100 yards with two interceptions..dddddddddddd. Harrell, the Packers No. 3 quarterback last year, is trying to prove he can become Rodgers primary backup after Matt Flynn signed with Seattle in the off-season. "Weve got a lot of confidence in Graham," Rodgers said. "Were not worried about him." He threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by safety David Sims in the third quarter, although a receiver fell down on the play as Harrell threw the ball under pressure. With Sims touchdown, the Browns led 23-7. Harrells other interception was on a desperation attempt at the end of the first half, and Rodgers referred to both interceptions as "hard luck." "For one reason or another, just couldnt finish drives," Harrell said. "Its unfortunate. Weve got to be more consistent and finish drives when we have the opportunities to. I think thats kind of how it went." Former Packers running back Brandon Jackson added a 1-yard touchdown in the third period, putting the Browns up 30-7. Harrell then was called for intentional grounding in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, a safety that put the Browns up 32-7. The Packers have been beset by injuries early in the preseason. Already having potentially lost inside linebacker Desmond Bishop for the season because of a hamstring injury, they ruled 18 players out for Thursdays game. That included Greg Jennings, still recovering from a concussion sustained in an Aug. 3 scrimmage. The Packers new-look defence got off to a strong start when Charles Woodson stripped the ball from running back Montario Hardesty on the first play from scrimmage. Casey Hayward recovered to give the ball back to the Packers on the Cleveland 23-yard line. As expected, Woodson saw time at safety, moving to cover the slot receiver on passing downs. Rodgers overthrew Nelson on the Packers first play. But he found Nelson on a similar route two plays later, as Nelson leaped over cornerback Joe Haden and hauled down the ball. Notes: Late in the second quarter, Weeden took a big shot from cornerback Brandian Ross, who came in unblocked on a blitz. Weeden got up slowly but stayed in. ... Cedric Benson didnt play after joining the Packers earlier in the week. ... McCarthy was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when he threw a replay challenge flag after a turnover. McCarthy said the call was correct, but seemed to be hoping for better communication with the replacement referee crew. ' ' '