Sullinger a unanimous preseason All-American

Updated: October 31, 2011, 6:48 PM ET

Jordan Taylor is in a class by himself on The Associated Press' preseason All-America team.

The guard from Wisconsin was the only senior on the team Monday. He was joined by four sophomores, including Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, a unanimous pick of the 65-member national media panel.

Harrison Barnes of North Carolina, Terrence Jones of Kentucky and Jeremy Lamb of Connecticut were the other sophomores.

Super Sophs

It's shaping up as the year of the sophomore in college basketball, as second-year players filled four of five slots on the preseason All-Amerca list, writes Eamonn Brennan. Blog

The 6-foot-1 Taylor averaged 18.1 points and 4.7 assists last season in leading the Badgers to a 25-9 record, third place in the Big Ten and their 13th straight NCAA tournament appearance. He received 51 votes.

"I just hope he doesn't think he has to score 40 a game this year," coach Bo Ryan said. "I think we're going to be in trouble if he does. He doesn't. He wants to be even more consistent. He wants to be more inclusive with his teammates, maybe in transition. There are different things we're looking at in trying to get done with a different-sized team maybe on the floor."

The 6-9 Sullinger was one of the players who decided to pass on the NBA draft. His coach said an impending lockout had nothing to do with him returning.

"He knew what he was going to do from the time he got to Ohio State in the summer," Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said. "When he told me he was coming back, I said, 'Are you sure? Let's talk about this.' I want what's best for our players. He said, 'No, there's no need to do it, I'm coming back.' "

His return has Ohio State at No. 3 in the AP preseason Top 25, behind two schools also featuring the return of a star.

North Carolina was a runaway choice for No. 1 in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today coaches' polls, and Barnes was second to Sullinger in the voting with 63. The Tar Heels' entire front line is back after thinking about entering the draft.

AP Preseason All-America First Team

Ohio State sophomore Jared Sullinger was a unanimous selection for AP's Preseason All-America, as chosen by a national panel of 65 media voters.

Player	School
Jordan Taylor, G	Wisconsin
Jeremy Lamb, G/F	Connecticut
Jared Sullinger, F	Ohio State
Terrence Jones, F	Kentucky
Harrison Barnes, F	North Carolina

The 6-8 Barnes was the first freshman selected to the preseason team, which started before the 1986-87 season. Many felt there was too much pressure on Barnes as the season started, and he did start to play more consistently once conference play began.

"Coming into last year, there was a lot of expectations, but we didn't know what to expect and we didn't know how things went," said Barnes, who averaged 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for an inexperienced North Carolina team. "There wasn't really anybody we could talk to on the team who had been through that. ... I think this year we kind of know what to expect. We're not looking at it as championship or bust. We're looking at it as go out and play the best basketball we can."

Jones, who received 33 votes, also thought about leaving for the NBA but he will be back for the Wildcats, who were No. 2 in the preseason Top 25. The 6-9 forward averaged 15.7 points and 8.8 rebounds last season as Kentucky reached the Final Four.

Lamb asserted himself as the season went on and became a key player in the Huskies' 11-game run to their third national championship. The 6-5 guard, who received 25 votes, averaged 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.

The last unanimous pick to the preseason All-America team was North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough before the 2008-09 season.

Besides Barnes, the other members of last season's preseason team were Jimmer Fredette of BYU, who went on to become national player of the year; JaJuan Johnson of Purdue, a first-team selection; Jacob Pullen of Kansas State, a third-team pick; and Kyle Singler of Duke, an honorable mention.

The other members of the postseason first team were Nolan Smith of Duke and Kemba Walker of Connecticut.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Texans lose Williams for year, but Johnson making progress

After losing to the Silver & Black on Sunday, the Houston Texans sat under a dark cloud with a silver lining on Monday.

OLB Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick of the 2006 draft and the franchise's all-time leader in sacks (53), will miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral (chest) muscle that requires surgery. On the (slightly) brighter side, WR Andre Johnson plans to test his injured hamstring in practice this week even if he's not quite ready to return to action per the Houston Chronicle's John McClain.

"I feel so bad for Mario because he's been such a heck of a player," said coach Gary Kubiak.

"I've never seen him so upbeat about what was going on. And then to lose him on a freak play, it doesn't look like much at all. I'm disappointed for Mario."

Williams, who'd made a seemingly successful transition from defensive end to linebacker in new DC Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense, was hurt Sunday.

Williams had five sacks in this season's first five games. He will be a free agent in 2012, though it's hard to envision the Texans letting him get away via free agency.

Rookie OLB Brooks Reed will probably take Williams' spot in the lineup.

Johnson came up lame in Week 4, and early estimates had him missing 2-3 weeks.

"As of right now, the soreness has went away, his rehab has picked up, so we'll see where he's at each day," said Kubiak.

Houston plays in Baltimore on Sunday.

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Braves trade Lowe to Indians for minor leaguer

Derek Lowe went 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA for the Braves in 2011.

AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- Derek Lowe's durability -- and price tag -- were too much for the Cleveland Indians to resist.

The club acquired the 15-year veteran pitcher from the Atlanta Braves on Monday for a minor leaguer, a low-risk move designed to bolster Cleveland's starting rotation.

The Indians got the 38-year-old Lowe, who has 166 career wins, in exchange for left-hander Chris Jones. As part of the deal, the Indians will only have to pay Lowe $5 million of the $15 million he's scheduled to make in 2012. Lowe signed a four-year $60 million deal as a free agent with Atlanta before the 2009 season.

General manager Chris Antonetti said Lowe immediately assumes a spot in the Indians' starting staff, where he'll join Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Masterson, Josh Tomlin and Fausto Carmona. Before the deal for Lowe was announced, the Indians picked up Carmona's $7 million option for 2012.

"He's a quality pitcher with durability, pitching 180 innings or more every year since 2002," Antonetti said. "The last time he was on the disabled list was 1995. In addition to his durability, there's some leadership potential. His experience will complement a very young rotation. One of our goals was to improve our starting pitching.

"This goes a long way towards that. Stability is important. Also, he can be a positive influence on young starting pitchers with similar skills."

The Indians contended for most of 2011 before injuries and inexperience dropped them from the AL Central race. And while Lowe has some mileage on his right arm, Cleveland believes he has enough left to keep help next season.

Lowe has pitched in both leagues, as a starter and closer. One of just three pitchers in history with more than 160 wins and 80 saves, Lowe went just 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA in 34 starts last season, his third with Atlanta. His 17 losses led the league.

But with right-hander Carlos Carrasco out for the season following Tommy John surgery, the Indians, who traded top prospects Alex White and Drew Pomeranz to Colorado for Jimenez in July, needed another established starter and made finding one an offseason priority -- through trade or free agency.

Atlanta had a surplus of young arms and were looking to move Lowe, a sinkerball pitcher.

Lowe was 0-5 in September for the Braves, and struggled with is mechanics for much of the season. After Atlanta faded down the stretch and missed the postseason, GM Frank Wren said, "It's hard to project him as one of our starters at this point."

However, the Indians have a spot for him and hope he can impact and mentor their young pitchers the way veteran Kevin Millwood did when they signed him in 2005

"We checked with former teammates and believe he can evolve into that type of (mentoring) role," Antonetti said. "He's a guy who loves the game, enjoys talking baseball, likes to help."

The Indians understand there is the risk that a 38-year-old pitcher won't be any better when he turns 39. However, Antonetti is confident Lowe can bounce back from a tough season and he's not concerned about him switching back to the AL after seven seasons in the NL.

"Derek relies a lot upon contact," he said. "He is reliant on his defense, but we are confident that if he pounds the strike zone, gets ground balls and we pick up the ball behind him, he should have a better year."

Lowe is 166-146 with a 3.94 ERA in 356 career starts. In addition to Atlanta, Lowe has pitched with Seattle, Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers since breaking into the majors in 1997. His 334 games started since 2002 is the most in baseball over the 10-season span.

Jones, 23, went 7-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 43 appearances for Kinston (A).

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Buccaneers likely without Blount, McCoy next Sunday

The injuries are piling on top of the insult for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Not only were they blown out 48-3 Sunday by the 49ers, they seem to have lost the services of RB LeGarrette Blount (knee) and DT Gerald McCoy (ankle) for the short term.

Coach Raheem Morris was not optimistic Blount would play Sunday vs. the Saints but deemed him day-to-day. McCoy was deposited into the week-to-week category.

Blount paces the team with 328 rushing yards and three TDs. McCoy, the third overall pick of the 2010 draft, has 11 tackles and one sack.

Both will likely be replaced by committee, though Earnest Graham could get the majority of the work in Blount's stead.

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Big Ben, Steelers too much for Patriots

Roethlisberger passes for 365 yards, two touchdowns

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

Ben Roethlisberger celebrates with Max Starks during the Steelers' victory over the Patriots on Sunday.

By WILL GRAVES

updated 7:41 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2011

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Steelers no longer have a Tom Brady problem. And that may be a problem for the rest of the NFL.

Old, slow and over? Not quite yet.

Ben Roethlisberger picked apart the NFL's worst defense and the Steelers rattled the nearly unflappable Brady in a 25-17 victory on Sunday, putting an end to the two-time MVP's decade of dominance over the defending AFC champions.

Brady came in 6-1 all-time against the Steelers, putting up eye-popping numbers in the process. He never got the chance on a chilly day at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh (6-2) controlled the ball for nearly 39 minutes and never let Brady get into a sustained rhythm.

"It's been all Tom Brady versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and looking back on the past, how he's owned the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I think everybody forgot about our offense a little bit and the things they've been doing out there," Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. "I think they took that a little personal."

Playing efficiently and working almost exclusively on short, safe, underneath routes, Roethlisberger completed 36 of 50 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers won their fourth straight following a 2-2 start.

"We can be as good as we want to be," Roethlisberger said. "When we don't kill ourselves and stop ourselves, we can be pretty dangerous."

Brady passed for two touchdowns but threw for a season-low 198 yards. His attempt to lead the Patriots to an unlikely comeback ended when Pittsburgh's Brett Keisel sacked him, forcing a fumble that Troy Polamalu slapped through the end zone with 8 seconds left to provide the final margin.

"We all have to individually look in the mirror and figure out what we need to get better at," Brady said.

There was no sense of panic among the Patriots, who fell into a tie with Buffalo atop the AFC East. Yet the Steelers did something no team has been able to do this year: keep Brady under wraps.

Pittsburgh sacked him three times, held wide receiver Wes Welker ? on pace for an NFL record for yards receiving in a season ? to 39 yards on six receptions while limiting the Patriots to their fewest points since a 34-14 loss to Cleveland last year.

The Patriots punted four times, missed a field goal in the third quarter that would have drawn them within a touchdown and failed to recover an onside kick with just over 2 minutes remaining.

Not the kind of brisk execution that's been the hallmark of Brady and coach Bill Belichick's highly successful tenure.

"It just wasn't a really good day for us in any phase of the game, in any area," Belichick said. "We just didn't do a good enough job. That's really all there is to say."

Brady and Belichick remain tied with Don Shula and Dan Marino for most wins by a coach/quarterback tandem. Win No. 117 will have to wait at least a week after the Steelers emphatically awoke from an early-season slumber that included one-sided losses to Baltimore and Houston.

Pittsburgh didn't panic after the slow start. And while the Steelers weren't ready to declare they're back, there was a definite sense of vindication on a day that felt more like January than late October, and not just because of the chilly weather.

"It's a huge step," linebacker Lawrence Timmons said. "The New England Patriots have Belichick and Brady. This is a team that contends in the AFC every year and goes to the championship or the Super Bowl. So having this win, in our house, is huge and something to build on."

On both sides of the ball.

Roethlisberger has built a career and won two Super Bowls by chucking it deep with abandon. On Sunday he didn't complete a pass over 26 yards. He didn't have to.

Roethlisberger consistently found Antonio Brown (a career-high nine receptions), Heath Miller (a season-high seven grabs) and speedster Mike Wallace (seven catches) on short and intermediate routes.

The West Coast-style approach worked perfectly.

Pittsburgh's five scoring drives lasted 11, 16, 10, 14 and 11 plays. The Steelers converted 10 of 16 third downs and Shaun Suisham kicked three field goals.

"It's very frustrating," New England nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. "You talk about getting a team in second-and-longs and third-and-longs and taking advantage of those situations. We had them in those situations; we just didn't take advantage of them."

Despite being dominated for long stretches in the first half, the Patriots trailed just 17-10 at the break. Yet the magic Brady has been able to muster repeatedly against the Steelers throughout his career never appeared. On the same field where he won two AFC championships, Brady never really got comfortable.

"We had to beat them today," safety Ryan Clark said. "We're talking about this dominance that New England's had on us. I think we've won more Super Bowls, been to more Super Bowls than they have. It's not about history. We were excited to win today."

Notes: Woodley finished with two sacks to become the first Steeler to get multiple sacks in four consecutive games. ... New England RB Kevin Faulk ran for 32 yards on six carries and caught five passes for 20 yards in his first game of the season. ... Patriots lost for just the second time in their last 11 games coming off a bye and lost in October for just the seventh time since 2003. ... New England TE Rob Gronkowski set a career high with seven catches. ... The Steelers played without offensive captain Hines Ward and defensive captain James Farrior, who missed the game with injuries. ... New England defensive lineman Andre Carter had two sacks for the 11th time in his career.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Eagles right back in NFC East mix

PFT: This was the Philly team NFL onlookers expected to see before the season began. A nearly flawless half and a complete game? Impressive.

Eagles shrug off Cowboys � |� ��Highlights

Michael Vick threw two touchdown passes, LeSean McCoy had a career-best 185 yards rushing and two scores and the Philadelphia Eagles routed the Dallas Cowboys 34-7 Sunday night.

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Texans lose Williams for year, but Johnson making progress

After losing to the Silver & Black on Sunday, the Houston Texans sat under a dark cloud with a silver lining on Monday.

OLB Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick of the 2006 draft and the franchise's all-time leader in sacks (53), will miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral (chest) muscle that requires surgery. On the (slightly) brighter side, WR Andre Johnson plans to test his injured hamstring in practice this week even if he's not quite ready to return to action per the Houston Chronicle's John McClain.

"I feel so bad for Mario because he's been such a heck of a player," said coach Gary Kubiak.

"I've never seen him so upbeat about what was going on. And then to lose him on a freak play, it doesn't look like much at all. I'm disappointed for Mario."

Williams, who'd made a seemingly successful transition from defensive end to linebacker in new DC Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense, was hurt Sunday.

Williams had five sacks in this season's first five games. He will be a free agent in 2012, though it's hard to envision the Texans letting him get away via free agency.

Rookie OLB Brooks Reed will probably take Williams' spot in the lineup.

Johnson came up lame in Week 4, and early estimates had him missing 2-3 weeks.

"As of right now, the soreness has went away, his rehab has picked up, so we'll see where he's at each day," said Kubiak.

Houston plays in Baltimore on Sunday.

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Hundreds of thousands at Cardinals parade, rally

By JIM SALTER

Associated Press

Associated Press Sports

updated 7:53 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2011

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A red sea of fans jammed downtown St. Louis on Sunday to honor the World Series champion Cardinals and send a clear message to Albert Pujols: Please stay.

An official crowd estimate was not immediately available for the parade down the streets of St. Louis and the celebration at Busch Stadium, but city officials expected several hundred thousand, and it was clearly that, if not more. The crowd was so large that people were parking more than two miles away, and interstate highways were jammed near downtown.

Pujols drew loud cheers along the parade route and a long standing ovation at the stadium. When asked on the podium if he'd like to be back for another celebration next season, he smiled sheepishly and said, "Hey, why not?"

Whether that happens remains to be seen. After 11 Hall of Fame seasons as a Cardinal, Pujols is a free agent for the first time and it isn't clear if the mid-market Cardinals will be able or willing to give a long-term contract to a player who turns 32 before next season, despite his career .328 average, 455 homers and status as a team icon.

Pujols' pending free agency and a chilly, breezy and overcast afternoon did nothing to dampen the celebratory spirit. People began staking out the good spots many hours before the parade, climbed trees and leaned out office windows for better views. Nearly everyone was dressed in red except for a few in Rams blue who made the short walk from the Edward Jones Dome after the football game. Even the Rams added to the joy of the day, beating New Orleans 31-21 for their first win after an 0-6 start.

High school marching bands played along the parade route. Vendors sold hot dogs and peanuts. Fathers and mothers hoisted small children on their shoulders to wave at the passing red and white pickup trucks carrying Cardinals past - Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst - and present. The biggest cheers appeared to be for Pujols, Lance Berkman, Yadier Molina, Chris Carpenter and postseason hero David Freese, who was Most Valuable Player in both the NL championship series and the World Series.

Freese, a native of St. Louis County, recalled sitting in a California Burger King in December 2007 when "I got the greatest phone call of my life, that I had been traded to the St. Louis Cardinals."

Manager Tony La Russa led the parade atop a beer wagon pulled by the Budweiser Clydesdales, followed by a truck carrying owner Bill DeWitt Jr. clinging to the World Series trophy.

The parade ended inside Busch Stadium, where a sold-out crowd watched the celebration. In fact, the ballpark rally sold out in 90 minutes after the Cardinals won the clincher.

"This 11th Cardinals world championship will always be remembered as one of baseball's greatest achievements," DeWitt said, noting the Cardinals had to win four elimination games this postseason.

La Russa, too, paid respect to his team for never surrendering, even when 10 1/2 games out wild-card contention on Aug. 25, or when they faced three postseason opponents with superior records - Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Texas.

"What these guys did so many times facing elimination, it's a lesson for all of us," La Russa said. "They never quit."

The celebration was the culmination of a four-day party in St. Louis that began with the stunning win in Game 6, when the Cardinals rallied five times and in two straight innings were within a strike from elimination before Freese won the game 10-9 with a leadoff homer in the 11th.

Friday's 6-2 win in Game 7 set off a frenzied celebration that lasted well into Saturday.

Players appreciated the response from the fans.

"I'll never forget any of this," outfielder Allen Craig, who hit three homers in the World Series, said. "It's been great."

Fans said they were still jubilant about the team's amazing turnaround.

"It just seemed improbable," said Chris Ambrose, 24, of Chesterfield, as he watched the parade. "It's one of the greatest World Series runs of all time."

Jenny Ulrich and her husband, Jeff, of Lonedell, Mo., brought their two young daughters to the parade.

The Cardinals "are just part of what our family does," Ulrich said. Pointing to the girls, "they're the next generation of Cardinals Nation."

Mayor Francis Slay called Sunday's celebration "unbelievable."

"The Cardinals fans are the best in baseball and when the Cardinals win the World Series, there's nothing like it," Slay said.

� 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Cards fans celebrate title

A red sea of fans jammed downtown St. Louis on Sunday to honor the World Series champion Cardinals and send a clear message to Albert Pujols: Please stay.

Rams honor World Series champs

Chris Carpenter, Tony La Russa and the World Series champion Cardinals are drawing huge cheers at the NFL game between the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints.

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Bengals pull away late for 34-12 win over Seattle

/

By TIM BOOTH

updated 8:32 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2011

SEATTLE - The Cincinnati Bengals are using their defense and a couple of rookies on offense to stay in the AFC North race.

Quarterback Andy Dalton threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes, one to fellow rookie A.J. Green, Brandon Tate returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown with 3:22 left and the Bengals won their fourth straight with a 34-12 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Dalton tossed TDs of 14 yards to Jerome Simpson and a beautiful 43-yarder that dropped into the arms of Green in the second quarter to give the Bengals a 17-3 lead.

From there, the Bengals (5-2) leaned on their impressive defense that bent, but managed to keep Seattle out of the end zone until the fourth quarter.

The Bengals are tied with the Ravens for second place in the AFC North, with both teams a half game behind Pittsburgh (6-2).

The Seahawks (2-5) were flustered to the point where running back Marshawn Lynch was barking at coaches on the bench after Seattle was held to a field goal on the final play of the third quarter ? the second time they were stymied inside the 10.

The victory made Marvin Lewis the winningest coach in Bengals history with 65 career wins.

Dalton made mistakes in the second half throwing a pair of interceptions and the Bengals managed only 252 yards of total offense.

That proved to be enough thanks to special teams, defense and plenty of flubs from the struggling Seahawks.

Dalton, whom Seattle passed on in April's draft by using its late first-round pick on right tackle James Carpenter instead of the quarterback out of TCU, was 18 of 29 for 168 yards. Green finished with four catches for 63 yards.

Mike Nugent made two field goals, including a 48-yarder with 4:50 left to give the Bengals a 20-12 lead. The field goal capped a drive where Cincinnati used 4:05 off the clock and forced Seattle to get a touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie.

It was a moot point. Seattle went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and Tate, filling in for Adam Jones who was injured in the first quarter, caught Jon Ryan's punt and sprinted nearly untouched to seal the victory.

It was Cincinnati's first punt return for a score since 2003.

As a capper, Reggie Nelson intercepted Seattle QB Tarvaris Jackson and raced 75 yards for a touchdown with 36 seconds left.

While Cincinnati continued its roll, the Seahawks put together a maddening and confusing day that started when receiver Mike Williams was surprisingly inactive after not being listed on any injury reports all week.

Then came a confusing game of quarterback roulette and never hitting on the right number.

Jackson, who missed last week's loss at Cleveland with a strained pectoral, was listed as the starter, only to see Charlie Whitehurst jog out to start the game under center.

But with Whitehurst ineffective at getting the Seahawks moving, he was pulled early in the second quarter and Jackson went the rest of the way.

Jackson finished 21 of 40 for a career-high 323 yards in just 2� quarters, while Whitehurst was 4 of 7 for 52 yards and was sacked twice in his limited appearance.

Despite all of Seattle's problems, they trailed only 17-12 with 8:55 left after Lynch plowed in on a 2-yard TD run.

It was Seattle's first TD since the fourth quarter of its win over the New York Giants on Oct. 9. The score only accentuated Seattle's time management flub at the end of the first half.

Seattle finally got a little bit clicking offensively before halftime, driving inside the Bengals 5, but Zach Miller was stopped 2 yards short of a first down at the Cincinnati 3.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll used his final timeout and decided to go for it on fourth down, running an inside handoff to Lynch with 14 seconds remaining.

Lynch was tripped up short of the goal line and the ball never got spotted in time for Seattle to spike the ball and run another play.

Jackson screamed at referee Tony Corrente, his voice getting transmitted through the open microphone and Carroll slammed his headset on the turf as he marched on the field demanding an explanation.

Carroll clearly didn't take his own advice from a year ago, when in a win over San Diego a similar circumstance happened and the Seahawks were left watching the first-half clock expire without any points. After that mistake, Carroll said he was "too bold," and would learn from the time management miscue.

Jones made his return for the first time in a year, having not played since the sixth game of last season with a neck injury. He left with a hamstring injury after taking a punt return back 63 yards in the first quarter.

The Bengals also won without starting running back Cedric Benson, who was serving a one-game suspension for violating the NFL's conduct policy. Bernard Scott made his first start since the end of the 2009 season and rushed for 76 yards on 22 carries.

___

Follow Tim Booth on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ByTimBooth

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Lions rough up Tebow, Broncos

The Detroit Lions sacked Tim Tebow seven times and turned his two turnovers into touchdowns as they snapped a two-game skid with a 45-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.

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Ravens rally, avoid embarrassing loss to Cardinals

Rice runs for 3 TDs, Cundiff boots game-winning FG as time expires in 30-27 win

Gail Burton / AP

Ravens running back Ray Rice celebrates one os his three touchdowns in a win against the Cardinals.

By DAVID GINSBURG

updated 6:02 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2011

BALTIMORE - Before launching the biggest comeback victory in the history of the Baltimore Ravens, Joe Flacco first had to withstand the indignity of being booed by his usually supportive hometown fans.

Flacco didn't care for the treatment, although he could appreciate the sentiment. And it didn't prevent him from carrying the Ravens past the Arizona Cardinals 30-27 Sunday.

Billy Cundiff kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired, Ray Rice scored a career-high three touchdowns, and Flacco fueled the comeback with a gritty display of leadership and precise passing.

"You can take a few boos every now and then," Flacco said, "especially when you come back and win the game."

Using a fumble by Flacco and an 82-yard punt return by Patrick Peterson, Arizona scored three touchdowns during a five-minute span of the second quarter to take a 24-3 lead.

That's when many in the sellout crowd of 71,022 voiced their displeasure.

"I don't go to a lot of football games, but I probably would have wanted to boo if I was in the stands, too," Flacco said. "We weren't looking too good. We weren't playing too well."

Baltimore (5-2) answered with a 24-point run and moved in front 27-24 when Rice scored his third touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter.

Arizona (1-6) pulled even with a 45-yard field goal by Jay Feely with 8:55 left, but the Ravens won it with a 37-yard, beat-the-clock drive in the final minute.

After the Cardinals were forced to punt from deep in their own territory, Baltimore took over at the Arizona 44 with 52 seconds left. A 36-yard completion from Flacco to rookie Torrey Smith moved the ball to the 5, setting the stage for Cundiff's game-winner.

The Ravens' previous biggest comeback was from 19 points down against Tennessee in 2006.

"We woke up, plain and simple," said former Arizona star Anquan Boldin, who caught seven passes for 145 yards and was a key contributor in the rally.

Flacco went 31 for 51 for 336 yards, and Rice ran for 63 yards on 18 carries. In a 12-7 loss to Jacksonville on Monday night, the 5-foot-8 running back was limited to 28 yards on eight carries.

Arizona has lost six straight. Four of those defeats have been by four points or fewer.

"It's hard right now. Our guys are very disappointed after today's game because it was an opportunity to do something nobody thought we could do," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "But our guys believe in what we're doing. If you look at what we did the first half, it shows that if we do it the right way, we can be a good football team."

Kevin Kolb threw for 153 yards and a touchdown, and Peterson became the eighth player in Cardinals history to have at least two punt returns for touchdowns in a single season. The last one to do it was Vai Sikahema in 1986.

The Ravens began the second half with an 80-yard drive in which Flacco went 5 for 5, including a 37-yarder to Boldin that set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Rice to make it 24-13.

"I felt like the way we came out at halftime is what turned it around," Baltimore linebacker Jameel McClain.

Late in the third quarter, Boldin caught passes 21, 23, 27 and 9 yards during an 88-yard march that ended with another 1-yard TD run by Rice.

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Lions rough up Tebow, Broncos

The Detroit Lions sacked Tim Tebow seven times and turned his two turnovers into touchdowns as they snapped a two-game skid with a 45-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.

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Stafford, Lions blow out Broncos

DENVER (AP) -- Tim Tebow followed up his Miami miracle with a dud in Denver as the Broncos were blown out by the Detroit Lions 45-10 Sunday.

The Lions (6-2) sacked Tebow seven times and turned his two turnovers into touchdowns as they snapped a two-game skid.

Cornerback Chris Houston had the fourth 100-yard interception return in team history and defensive end Cliff Avril got the sack, the strip and the scoop, rumbling 24 yards into the end zone with the fumbled football as part of Detroit's 45-point run after the Broncos (2-5) had taken a 3-0 lead on their first drive.

Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch celebrated his sack of Tebow by joining the "Tebowing" craze, striking a prayerful pose near a prone second-year quarterback in the first half.

Tebow started the phenomenon that went viral last week by dropping to a knee after his dazzling comeback against the Dolphins, when he brought the Broncos back from a 15-0 deficit in the final three minutes to force overtime, where the team pulled out an 18-15 win.

There was no let-up by the Lions, who relished in their taunts of Tebow, who has been sacked 13 times in his two starts since supplanting Kyle Orton after a 1-4 start.

Tight end Tony Scheffler performed a scaled-down version of the Tebow impersonation after catching a 1-yard TD pass against his former team in the second quarter.

Scheffler, who set up the score with a juggling 28-yard catch at the 2, faked the spike, acted like he was going to kneel and put his right hand on his forehead a la Tebow, then spun around and exchanged the "Mile High Salute" with teammate Calvin Johnson instead.

Matthew Stafford hardly showed any ill effects from a sprained right ankle sustained a week earlier in a loss to Atlanta.

Stafford completed 21 of 30 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns, including a 56-yarder to Johnson, who beat Champ Bailey down the delirious Detroit sideline. Johnson joined Randy Moss as the only wide receivers since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to catch 11 TD passes in his team's first eight games.

Stafford also threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Titus Young , who slipped behind safety Brian Dawkins and cornerback Andre' Goodman. No defender was within 20 yards when he hauled in Stafford's pass to give Detroit a 7-3 lead.

Jason Hanson 's 50-yard field goal made it 10-3 and capped a drive in which Stafford scrambled for 21 yards and was awarded another 15 when hit in the head by Brodrick Bunkley while sliding.

The Broncos started off by mixing up offensive looks, but they ended up pretty vanilla as the game started to get away from them.

After Eric Decker failed to get both feet down on a 21-yard toss into the end zone on Denver's first drive, the Broncos settled for a field goal. Denver gained just 32 yards on its next 22 snaps before trudging into the locker room down 24-3.

Decker's 14-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter ended Detroit's 45-0 run. By then, even most of the fans decked out in No. 15 Tebow jerseys were streaming through the exits.

Thanks to completions in the waning minutes, Tebow finished 18 for 39 for 172 yards. He would have been sacked an eighth time had tackle Chris Clark not held him up long enough to fire off an incompletion while defensive end Willie Young tried to pull him down.

Ndamukong Suh pushed the pocket all afternoon, but had a rather quiet day stats-wise. Suh will spend part of his upcoming bye week meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to get a better understanding why he's been flagged so many times this season.

---

Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

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Phil Jackson: Derrick Rose needs help

Add former Bulls coach Phil Jackson to the list of people who think Derrick Rose needs help in Chicago.

Jackson, who won six titles with the Bulls in the 1990s, went on Waddle and Silvy on ESPN 1000, saying the team overachieved last year and needs some additional pieces.

Chicago was 62-20 last year and lost to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Rose, the No. 1 pick in 2008, took a gigantic leap forward, averaging 25.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds and earned the MVP award in the process.

Jackson says Rose carried too much of the load.

"...They still have to have some steady shooters from the outside to complement the penetration they have, and then (Carlos) Boozer has to have that post-up game that he was brought there to give them," Jackson said, according to USA Today. "They just can't be one-dimensional in that regard. They have to have those complementary pieces to assist Rose in his game.

"He shows himself to be unstoppable, and that's a real tremendous year he had last year," Jackson continued. "And the way (coach Tom Thibodeau) used him magnified that and made him such a difficult player to contest and contend with."

For his part, Rose has said that he doesn't think any additions are necessary.

?We don?t need it right now," he told Hoopshype.com in August. "If we sign somebody that can definitely fit ... But to me I think that we are OK.?

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Brazilian sports minister quits over corruption scandal

By Jeferson Ribeiro

BRASILIA | Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:08pm EDT

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's sports minister resigned on Wednesday over a corruption scandal, reviving concern about President Dilma Rousseff's unstable coalition and the country's lagging preparations for the 2014 soccer World Cup.

Orlando Silva is the sixth minister to step down this year and the fifth to be forced out over ethics breaches that have become a major headache for Rousseff in her first year in office, though the resignations have bolstered her reputation as a no-nonsense manager who is tough on corruption.

The scandals have strained relations within her disparate coalition and helped put the brakes on a legislative agenda that includes vital bills to spur growth in key sectors of Latin America's largest economy, such as mining and oil.

Silva had strenuously denied a stream of allegations against him in the media, including that he arranged up to 40 million reais ($23 million) in kickbacks from government contracts to benefit himself and the Communist Party of Brazil, which is part of Rousseff's government.

"I decided to leave the government so I can defend my honor," Silva told reporters after meeting with Rousseff on Wednesday evening.

Only last Friday, Rousseff said she was backing Silva to continue in his post. But she changed her stance after the Supreme Court decided this week to open an investigation into allegations of corruption at the sports ministry.

The string of resignations this year have so far not harmed Rousseff and has even boosted her standing as she taps into growing middle class anger at endemic corruption in Brazil.

She bounced to a 71 percent approval rating in a September opinion poll, apparently gaining from the perception that she is tough on corruption. Many of the graft allegations date to the previous administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who appointed Silva as sports minister in 2006.

Rafael Cortez, a political analyst at the Tendencias consultancy in Sao Paulo, said Silva's relatively swift resignation was likely a positive for Rousseff and would add to the impression that she was being decisive.

"But I think this has a limit," he added. "At some point it could turn against her if these resignations continue and give the impression she has made bad choices."

WORLD CUP RAMIFICATIONS

Rousseff is expected to allow the Communist Party to nominate a replacement for Silva from its own ranks, even though it has been implicated in many of the corruption allegations in the sports ministry.

The appointment is a crucial one as the country prepares to host the World Cup and Olympic Games two years later -- global events that require massive investment and which Brazil hopes will showcase its emergence as an economic power.

Preparations for the World Cup have faced criticism as the construction of stadiums and transport infrastructure makes slow progress and costs balloon. Silva was the government's point man for coordinating investments and infrastructure upgrades for the two events.

Government sources said the most likely nominee was Senator Aldo Rebelo, a former minister of institutional relations who has been a vocal critic of corruption in Brazilian soccer. However, one minister said Rousseff may appoint a substitute on an interim basis before deciding on a permanent replacement.

Rebelo's appointment could raise tensions over the World Cup organization because he has strongly criticized the head of Brazil's football confederation, Ricardo Teixeira, who is being investigated by federal police over corruption allegations.

Teixeira also leads the Brazilian organizing committee for the 2014 World Cup and is a member of world soccer body FIFA's ruling executive committee.

The allegations against Silva mostly came from a disgruntled contractor arrested in an investigation into allegedly illegal fund-raising by the Communist Party.

Brazil's tenacious media have hounded Silva with new allegations almost daily since accusations were first published by weekly magazine Veja earlier this month.

Silva was accused of personally taking delivery of a bundle of cash in the ministry's garage and of favoring members of the Communist Party in handing out government contracts.

(Additional reporting by Eduardo Simoes in Sao Paulo, Writing by Stuart Grudgings, Editing by Todd Benson and Todd Eastham)

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Oklahoma RB Dominique Whaley breaks ankle

Oklahoma starting running back Dominque Whaley suffered a broken ankle on the first play of the game Saturday against Kansas State.

Whaley was blocking for fellow back Roy Finch when Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown rolled over Whaley?s leg, thus ending his season. ESPN.com confirmed the injury. Whaley?s leg was put in an air cast and he was carted off the field.

He is the Sooners? leading rusher with 627 yards and nine touchdowns.

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Randle has 4 TDs, No. 3 Cowboys beat Baylor 59-24

/

By JEFF LATZKE

updated 8:40 p.m. ET Oct. 29, 2011

STILLWATER, Okla. - When it mattered the most, No. 3 Oklahoma State made every yard seem like the longest yard for Robert Griffin III and Baylor.

Joseph Randle set career-highs by running for 152 yards and four touchdowns, Justin Blackmon matched his career best with 13 catches for 172 yards and two scores and the Cowboys carried a shutout into the fourth quarter of a 59-24 win over the Bears on Saturday.

Brodrick Brown recovered two fumbles, and Daytawion Lowe and Justin Gilbert had interceptions as the Cowboys (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) forced five turnovers and stopped the Bears twice on fourth-and-1.

"I think at that point, you just have to dig deep and just find something inside of you to not let them in the end zone," safety Markelle Martin said. "Let's not make it easy on them."

Far from it.

The Cowboys ran out to a 35-0 halftime advantage that was hardly indicative of how competitive the game was, but Baylor came up with absolutely nothing out of a series of promising drives.

The Bears (4-3, 1-3) were stuffed on fourth-and-1 twice, including on the goal line on their opening drive, and Gilbert picked off one of Griffin's passes in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 5. Aaron Jones also continued his struggles, missing a 48-yard field goal.

The Bears got inside the Oklahoma State 35-yard line on each of their first five drives and then found a way to give the ball back without getting any points.

"Sickening comes to mind because you know how important it is to punch it in in that situation," coach Art Briles said. "It's not like you are going to pitch a shutout game against them but you certainly better match scores when you have opportunities and we didn't."

That's nothing new for the Cowboys.

OSU came into the game ranked 103rd in the nation in yards allowed ? easily the worst of the eight remaining undefeated teams ? but has consistently found ways to get critical stops when needed. The Pokes lead the nation in turnover margin and added to their Bowl Subdivision lead in interceptions by picking off their 16th and 17th of the season.

Glasco Martin also fumbled inside the 1-yard line in the third quarter, setting up Oklahoma State's second 99-yard touchdown drive of the game.

"They didn't want to give anything up," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "We talk to them all the time about fighting right 'til the end."

The Cowboys started a season with eight straight wins for only the second time in school history. The other time was in 1945, when they finished the season 9-0, won the Sugar Bowl and were ranked fifth in the final poll.

"It's a sweet feat," said quarterback Brandon Weeden, who had 274 yards passing and three touchdowns without any interceptions.

"But last year we were talking about winning 11 games and how exciting that was, and we're not there yet. We've still got a lot left on our plate."

Griffin threw for 425 yards to end up 5 shy of his career best set last week. In a matchup of two of the nation's top three offenses, the Bears' second-ranked attack outgained Oklahoma State's third-ranked unit 622-601 but the scoreboard was lopsided the opposite way.

Baylor didn't get into the end zone until the first play of the fourth quarter, when Terrance Ganaway's 18-yard scamper made it 49-10.

"The score is crazy," Ganaway said. "It looks lopsided but ... if we don't have any turnovers and finish in the red zone, it's a whole new ballgame. That's what we have to work on. We have to make sure we're taking care of the ball and playing smart."

To start the game, Griffin drove the Bears 68 yards with relative ease to set up first-and-goal at the 2. Three running plays later, they had only made it to the 1 and Briles decided to give it to Ganaway once more.

"For us, it's just pride right there. There's no space to worry about. It's just you versus that guy in front of you," Martin said.

"So for us, it's that battle that you want every day. You don't have to worry about nothing else, just you and the guy in front of you."

The Cowboys, who've been hearing the increasing noise that they can't win a BCS title with a 100th-ranked defense, won that battle over and over again.

"We wanted to go out and prove that we are a good defense," Martin said. "I think that fire was lit and we all shined and had fun."

Randle, who also scored four total touchdowns last week, ran for TDs from 2, 62 and 7 yards as the Cowboys built up a 35-0 halftime lead. He then followed Brown's 47-yard fumble return by scoring from 7 yards out early in the third quarter.

Blackmon, an All-American last season, returned after missing the second half of last week's game with a head injury to catch TD passes from 2 and 8 yards. Weeden's other scoring pass was an 18-yarder to fullback Kye Staley, who had given up the game entirely after a serious knee injury and got into the end zone for the first time in his comeback.

Terrance Williams caught eight passes for a career-high 154 yards, including a 72-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, and Kendall Wright had 117 yards on 11 receptions as Baylor lost in Stillwater for the 10th straight time and fell to 1-15 against OSU in Big 12 play.

Griffin also scored on a 1-yard run ? finally ending the Bears' short-yardage struggles on their 14th snap inside the 5 and long after it mattered.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Oklahoma RB Dominique Whaley breaks ankle

Oklahoma starting running back Dominque Whaley suffered a broken ankle on the first play of the game Saturday against Kansas State.

Whaley was blocking for fellow back Roy Finch when Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown rolled over Whaley?s leg, thus ending his season. ESPN.com confirmed the injury. Whaley?s leg was put in an air cast and he was carted off the field.

He is the Sooners? leading rusher with 627 yards and nine touchdowns.

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Brazilian sports minister quits over corruption scandal

By Jeferson Ribeiro

BRASILIA | Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:08pm EDT

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's sports minister resigned on Wednesday over a corruption scandal, reviving concern about President Dilma Rousseff's unstable coalition and the country's lagging preparations for the 2014 soccer World Cup.

Orlando Silva is the sixth minister to step down this year and the fifth to be forced out over ethics breaches that have become a major headache for Rousseff in her first year in office, though the resignations have bolstered her reputation as a no-nonsense manager who is tough on corruption.

The scandals have strained relations within her disparate coalition and helped put the brakes on a legislative agenda that includes vital bills to spur growth in key sectors of Latin America's largest economy, such as mining and oil.

Silva had strenuously denied a stream of allegations against him in the media, including that he arranged up to 40 million reais ($23 million) in kickbacks from government contracts to benefit himself and the Communist Party of Brazil, which is part of Rousseff's government.

"I decided to leave the government so I can defend my honor," Silva told reporters after meeting with Rousseff on Wednesday evening.

Only last Friday, Rousseff said she was backing Silva to continue in his post. But she changed her stance after the Supreme Court decided this week to open an investigation into allegations of corruption at the sports ministry.

The string of resignations this year have so far not harmed Rousseff and has even boosted her standing as she taps into growing middle class anger at endemic corruption in Brazil.

She bounced to a 71 percent approval rating in a September opinion poll, apparently gaining from the perception that she is tough on corruption. Many of the graft allegations date to the previous administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who appointed Silva as sports minister in 2006.

Rafael Cortez, a political analyst at the Tendencias consultancy in Sao Paulo, said Silva's relatively swift resignation was likely a positive for Rousseff and would add to the impression that she was being decisive.

"But I think this has a limit," he added. "At some point it could turn against her if these resignations continue and give the impression she has made bad choices."

WORLD CUP RAMIFICATIONS

Rousseff is expected to allow the Communist Party to nominate a replacement for Silva from its own ranks, even though it has been implicated in many of the corruption allegations in the sports ministry.

The appointment is a crucial one as the country prepares to host the World Cup and Olympic Games two years later -- global events that require massive investment and which Brazil hopes will showcase its emergence as an economic power.

Preparations for the World Cup have faced criticism as the construction of stadiums and transport infrastructure makes slow progress and costs balloon. Silva was the government's point man for coordinating investments and infrastructure upgrades for the two events.

Government sources said the most likely nominee was Senator Aldo Rebelo, a former minister of institutional relations who has been a vocal critic of corruption in Brazilian soccer. However, one minister said Rousseff may appoint a substitute on an interim basis before deciding on a permanent replacement.

Rebelo's appointment could raise tensions over the World Cup organization because he has strongly criticized the head of Brazil's football confederation, Ricardo Teixeira, who is being investigated by federal police over corruption allegations.

Teixeira also leads the Brazilian organizing committee for the 2014 World Cup and is a member of world soccer body FIFA's ruling executive committee.

The allegations against Silva mostly came from a disgruntled contractor arrested in an investigation into allegedly illegal fund-raising by the Communist Party.

Brazil's tenacious media have hounded Silva with new allegations almost daily since accusations were first published by weekly magazine Veja earlier this month.

Silva was accused of personally taking delivery of a bundle of cash in the ministry's garage and of favoring members of the Communist Party in handing out government contracts.

(Additional reporting by Eduardo Simoes in Sao Paulo, Writing by Stuart Grudgings, Editing by Todd Benson and Todd Eastham)

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La Russa says Carpenter would be ready for a Game Seven

By Larry Fine

ST. LOUIS | Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:11pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was not singing the blues over Wednesday's World Series postponement as the extra day meant he could likely use ace Chris Carpenter in a Game Seven.

"I was told by Carp that he would be ready to go," La Russa told reporters at Busch Stadium after forecasts for rain forced Major League Baseball to reschedule Game Six for Thursday.

The Texas Rangers will have a say in that as the American League champions can clinch their first Fall Classic with a win on Thursday since they hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven.

Jaime Garcia, 0-2 in the 2011 playoffs with a 3.97 earned run average but coming off seven shutout innings, will take the mound hoping to stave off elimination for the Cardinals while Colby Lewis, 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA, goes for Texas.

"We were supposed to play today, so you want to play," Rangers manager Ron Washington said as his players tossed the ball around in the outfield as a light rain fell.

"But we're not playing, so we came in and we got some work done, and once we finish everything that we wanted to do today, we'll get on the bus and head back to the hotel and come back tomorrow because we will play baseball tomorrow."

The washed out day means a Cardinals Game Six win would extend the series to a deciding Game Seven on Friday, giving Carpenter three days rest before the assignment.

Starting pitchers routinely get four days of rest between starts, but Carpenter showed he can work on short rest during the divisional playoff series against Philadelphia.

Major League Baseball called off Wednesday's game because of predictions of rain through the night.

"Every forecast we've had probably for the last three days is calling for precipitation during the game," said Joe Torre, MLB's executive vice president for baseball operations.

"As long as you have a forecast that we're expecting clear weather tomorrow, and, if necessary, the next day (for a possible Game Seven), I think that was more of a decision maker than anything else."

Major League Baseball made the call to postpone the game mindful of the rain-plagued Game Five of the 2008 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies.

That game was staged in a steady rain that made puddles on the infield and slippery conditions before Commissioner Bud Selig announced the game would be suspended with the score 2-2 in the sixth inning and completed once the weather improved.

The teams had to wait through another drenching day before returning to the stadium two days after the initial start to complete a 4-3 victory that gave Philadelphia the title.

"We conferred with both local and national reports," said Torre. "They were all consistent in saying there was going to be rain during the game. Maybe not enough to stop it, but maybe enough to stop it. And that was enough to make this decision."

The energetic Washington, whose excitement in the dugout has been regularly featured in broadcasts of the game, seemed disappointed.

"At this point when you're able to play, you play," said the Texas manager. "We're not getting antsy, we're not getting ahead of ourselves. We just have to wait. So that's it."

La Russa, who has spent more than a day defending tactical moves and communication gaffes that kept him from using the relief pitcher he wanted in a critical spot in Monday's Game Five loss in Texas, sounded relieved.

"A day off is a day off. I can't do anything wrong," joked the Cardinals skipper. "Could run a stop light or something."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

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Toms defends Couples's Woods pick for Presidents Cup

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE | Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:59pm EDT

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - United States team member David Toms has defended captain Fred Couples's faith in Tiger Woods for next month's Presidents Cup, following a barrage of criticism over the struggling former world number one's selection.

Couples preferred Woods over a number of in-form candidates for one of his two captain's picks, including U.S. PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, despite the 14-times major champion's failure to win a tournament in two years and ongoing form woes as he grapples to master a rebuilt swing.

Internationals captain Greg Norman and team member Geoff Ogilvy, a former U.S. Open champion, have both questioned Couples's pick, with the former adding fuel to the fire by saying he thought Woods incapable of winning another major.

Toms, a 13-time PGA Tour winner, said Woods would be the "best player in the world" if fit and in form.

"So if he's working on his game and he feels healthy, I think he's a great addition to the team," the 44-year-old told reporters in a conference call on Thursday.

"Any time that there's a captain's pick involved, there's going to be a deserving player that gets left off because you can't pick everybody.

"I guess really the only way to do it would just be to take the 12 and just make it -- the top 12 guys make the team, no captain's picks, and that's the easy way out.

"But I think obviously something that Fred thought long and hard about. He's talked to Tiger quite a bit about it, and I still think that Tiger in a match play format is very, very difficult to beat.

"And I'm not sure as an opponent you'd want to play him. So I think it's a great pick."

Woods has been a shadow of his former self since revelations over his marital infidelities at the end of 2009 led to the breakdown of his marriage. His last tournament win came at the Australian Masters in 2009 and his world ranking has since slipped to 55.

But the American has played every Presidents Cup since 1998 and was dominant as the U.S. won the last edition in San Francisco in 2009.

Couples urged Woods to justify his selection by playing himself into form ahead of the November 17-20 tournament in Melbourne, and the 35-year-old obliged by making a rare appearance in the PGA Tour's Fall Series at the Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club, California.

Woods hit three successive scores in the 60s at the tournament, his first after a two-month break following an erratic, injury-hit season, but still finished 10 strokes behind winner Bryce Molder.

The American's Presidents Cup credentials will come into much sharper focus days before the tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, when he headlines the Australian Open in Sydney, where he will clash with Internationals Norman, Ogilvy, Adam Scott and Jason Day.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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Toms defends Couples's Woods pick for Presidents Cup

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE | Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:59pm EDT

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - United States team member David Toms has defended captain Fred Couples's faith in Tiger Woods for next month's Presidents Cup, following a barrage of criticism over the struggling former world number one's selection.

Couples preferred Woods over a number of in-form candidates for one of his two captain's picks, including U.S. PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, despite the 14-times major champion's failure to win a tournament in two years and ongoing form woes as he grapples to master a rebuilt swing.

Internationals captain Greg Norman and team member Geoff Ogilvy, a former U.S. Open champion, have both questioned Couples's pick, with the former adding fuel to the fire by saying he thought Woods incapable of winning another major.

Toms, a 13-time PGA Tour winner, said Woods would be the "best player in the world" if fit and in form.

"So if he's working on his game and he feels healthy, I think he's a great addition to the team," the 44-year-old told reporters in a conference call on Thursday.

"Any time that there's a captain's pick involved, there's going to be a deserving player that gets left off because you can't pick everybody.

"I guess really the only way to do it would just be to take the 12 and just make it -- the top 12 guys make the team, no captain's picks, and that's the easy way out.

"But I think obviously something that Fred thought long and hard about. He's talked to Tiger quite a bit about it, and I still think that Tiger in a match play format is very, very difficult to beat.

"And I'm not sure as an opponent you'd want to play him. So I think it's a great pick."

Woods has been a shadow of his former self since revelations over his marital infidelities at the end of 2009 led to the breakdown of his marriage. His last tournament win came at the Australian Masters in 2009 and his world ranking has since slipped to 55.

But the American has played every Presidents Cup since 1998 and was dominant as the U.S. won the last edition in San Francisco in 2009.

Couples urged Woods to justify his selection by playing himself into form ahead of the November 17-20 tournament in Melbourne, and the 35-year-old obliged by making a rare appearance in the PGA Tour's Fall Series at the Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club, California.

Woods hit three successive scores in the 60s at the tournament, his first after a two-month break following an erratic, injury-hit season, but still finished 10 strokes behind winner Bryce Molder.

The American's Presidents Cup credentials will come into much sharper focus days before the tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, when he headlines the Australian Open in Sydney, where he will clash with Internationals Norman, Ogilvy, Adam Scott and Jason Day.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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