Perfect Pats advance to Super Bowl
[Jan. 20, 2008] FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Perfection comes down to one game now.

Despite a shaky Tom Brady, the New England Patriots were still too much for the banged-up San Diego Chargers in the AFC championship game Sunday, pulling out a 21-12 victory that sent them back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in seven seasons.

Cowboys fall short on last effort as Giants move on to face Packers
[Jan. 14, 2008] IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Peyton Manning has a championship game to be at next weekend after all. He can go watch baby brother Eli guide the New York Giants.

Joe Gibbs resigns as coach of Washington Redskins
[Jan. 9, 2008] ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Joe Gibbs' second NFL retirement was much like his first. It came as a surprise, and it was all about family.

On the one-year anniversary of his grandson's diagnosis with leukemia, and less than a year after one of his sons left town to return to the family NASCAR team, Gibbs resigned Tuesday as coach of the Washington Redskins so that he could devote more time to what he called "the most important thing I'm going to leave on this earth."

Mitchell report points finger at Clemens, Tejada and Pettitte
[Dec. 13, 2007] NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada and Andy Pettitte were among 75 players named in the long-awaited Mitchell report on Thursday, an All-Star roster linked to steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs that put a question mark -- if not an asterisk -- next to some of baseball's biggest moments.

Suspended NFL star Michael Vick sentenced to 23 months in prison
[Dec. 10, 2007] RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for running a "cruel and inhumane" dogfighting ring and lying about it.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have been sentenced up to five years by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Vick, who turned himself in Nov. 19 in anticipation of his sentence, was wearing a black-and-white striped prison suit.

Three suspects in Taylor's death appear in court, denied bail
[Dec. 4, 2007] MIAMI -- Three men charged with murdering Sean Taylor were denied bail Tuesday, a day after thousands of mourners attended the funeral for the Washington Redskins safety.
Charles Wardlow, 18, Jason Mitchell, 19, and Venjah Hunte, 20, all made brief court appearances via a videoconference from Miami-Dade County jail, where they will remain after Judge John Thornton Jr.'s ruling. The three stood silently during the hearing.

Late drive by Brady, Pats make them 12-0
[Dec. 4, 2007] BALTIMORE (AP) -- The New England Patriots weren't kidding that they aren't perfect, no matter what their record through 12 games shows.

They looked mighty vulnerable Monday night, needing a late touchdown drive and some penalties that both sides complained about to beat the Baltimore Ravens 27-24 Monday night.

LSU earns spot opposite Ohio State in BCS title game
[Dec. 3, 2007] Ohio State flopped as the favorite last season, so the Buckeyes plan to enjoy life as the slighted in this season's BCS championship game.

A date with LSU at the Superdome awaits the Buckeyes, who are hoping to find redemption in New Orleans on Jan. 7 after struggling in last season's national title game against Florida.

No Deal Yet, but Angels Introduce Hunter
[Nov. 28, 2007] ANAHEIM, Calif. - Torii Hunter got a news conference from the Los Angeles Angels even before he finalized his contract.

Redskins Safety Taylor Dies Day Sfter Being Shot
[Nov. 28, 2007] ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder's eyes were red. His voice cracked and was barely audible. Next to him sat coach Joe Gibbs, barely more composed.

Thinking Up A College Football Playoff System
[Nov. 28, 2007] A playoff is coming to college football, not eventually but probably sooner than the moneyed-establishment wants to admit.

As part of plea deal, La Russa gets probation, fine, community service
[Nov. 28, 2007] WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence Wednesday, eight months after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol

Police Remain Without Suspect In Taylor's Shooting Death
[Nov. 28, 2007] MIAMI -- Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was shot to death in what police suspect was a random burglary, and there are no indications the player was targeted or knew his assailant.

No. 3 Missouri ends Kansas' perfect season
[Nov. 25, 2007] KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Chase Daniel and his Missouri teammates will have almost no time at all to savor the biggest victory in school history. A tantalizing chance for an even grander prize lies just over the horizon for a team that wasn't even ranked until late September.

No. 2 Ducks lose Dixon, fall to unranked Wildcats
[Nov. 16, 2007] TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Oregon's national title dream has ended.

Quarterback Dennis Dixon's Heisman Trophy campaign also took a heavy blow.

The curse of No. 2 claimed another victim when the second-ranked Ducks lost Dixon to a knee injury and never recovered in a 34-24 upset by Arizona on Thursday night.