Top Sports headlines Stories from the AP

• Roethlisberger takes blame for Steelers collapse Dec. 26, 2012, 3:51 p.m. PST

  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks at his passing statistics, and they're not all that bad. His passer rating is up from his career average, as well as his average passing yards per game. The completion rate is where it has been over the course of an eight-year ...

• Red Sox get All-Star closer Hanrahan from Pirates Dec. 26, 2012, 3:40 p.m. PST

  BOSTON (AP) — If Joel Hanrahan can do for the Boston Red Sox what he did against them, they should be very happy with their new closer. In the first of his two All-Star seasons, the right-hander posted back-to-back saves for the Pittsburgh Pirates with perfect ninth innings against the Red ...

• Jaguars have 1 game remaining before changes ensue Dec. 26, 2012, 3:17 p.m. PST

  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have one week of stability remaining. Changes are coming. Players know it. Coaches sense it. Everyone inside the building awaits inevitable moves that could make last season's roster turnover seem like minor tweaks. In a league in which winning is all that matters ...

• SMU good fit for Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown Dec. 26, 2012, 2:59 p.m. PST

  DALLAS (AP) — Larry Brown was a young assistant on coach Dean Smith's staff at North Carolina in the mid-1960s when he turned down his first head coaching offer. At the time, Brown didn't think he was ready. But Smith asked him where he'd like to coach one ...

• SMU good fit for Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown Dec. 26, 2012, 2:58 p.m. PST

  DALLAS (AP) — Larry Brown turned down his first head coaching offer while a young assistant on coach Dean Smith's staff at North Carolina in the mid-1960s. When Smith asked him where he wanted to coach one day, Brown mentioned schools like Stanford, Northwestern, Princeton and Vanderbilt. Brown explained those ...

• Former Bears player running for Romeoville mayor Dec. 26, 2012, 2:54 p.m. PST

  ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Steve McMichael has filed petitions to run for mayor in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville. McMichael was a fan favorite as a member of the 1986 Super Bowl-winning Bears. McMichael co-owns Mongo McMichael's sports bar in the southwestern Chicago suburb. The ...

• Heat assign Pittman to D-League's Sioux Falls Dec. 26, 2012, 2:48 p.m. PST

  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says the team has assigned center Dexter Pittman to the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA's Development League. Spoelstra says the move will give the second-year player from Texas more time to develop. Pittman has played in only four games ...

• Cardinals turn to Hoyer to start at QB in finale Dec. 26, 2012, 2:47 p.m. PST

  TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals will give Brian Hoyer his first NFL start, less than three weeks after the team claimed him off waivers from Pittsburgh. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Wednesday the former Michigan State quarterback and New England backup will start in the season finale Sunday at San ...

• Brady finds a positive in recent struggles Dec. 26, 2012, 2:46 p.m. PST

  FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Brady found something encouraging in his toughest stretch of the season. He knows he and his New England Patriots can come back from a huge deficit. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player had his three lowest passer ratings of the season in his past four games ...

• Bengals better on defense heading into playoffs Dec. 26, 2012, 2:46 p.m. PST

  CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals think they're a better team — especially on defense — heading into the playoffs for the second season in a row. They finished 9-7 last season, earned a wild card and lost at Houston 31-10 in the first round. A 13-10 win in Pittsburgh on Sunday clinched ...

• Ravens' offensive line shaping up nicely Dec. 26, 2012, 2:44 p.m. PST

  OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens can only hope the performance they received from their offensive line last weekend is an indication of what lies ahead for a unit that relies on an unexpected mixture of experience and youth. Baltimore amassed a season-high 533 yards Sunday in a 33-14 ...

• Denver rolls, keeps top spot in AP Pro32 rankings Dec. 26, 2012, 2:41 p.m. PST

  NEW YORK (AP) — Peyton Manning and his Broncos are closing in on the playoffs as the top team in the AP Pro32 NFL power rankings. Denver strengthened its grip on the top spot Wednesday following its 10th win in a row, receiving nine first-place votes and 381 points in balloting ...

• Bush might play final game for Dolphins on Sunday Dec. 26, 2012, 2:38 p.m. PST

  DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — With an underwhelming offense that needs upgrades to become playoff-worthy, the Miami Dolphins this winter could be eager to reach a deal with a 1,000-yard rusher who can also catch passes and score from anywhere on the field. Or perhaps they'll deem Reggie Bush too ...

• Browns ink QB Johnson; Weeden, McCoy miss practice Dec. 26, 2012, 2:35 p.m. PST

  BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Browns are down to their last game and a third-string quarterback. With major change looming, they're ending another losing season in disarray. With both quarterbacks Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy missing practice Wednesday with right shoulder injuries, Thad Lewis took first-team snaps during Cleveland's ...

• Wild Oats XI leads Sydney to Hobart race Dec. 26, 2012, 2:29 p.m. PST

  SYDNEY (AP) — Favorite Wild Oats XI opened up a lead of 15 nautical miles over fellow super maxi and defending champion Ragamuffin Loyal on Thursday morning in the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race. After 19 hours of racing, Wild Oats XI, a five-time line honors winner and race record ...

• Mariners officially announce Raul Ibanez deal Dec. 26, 2012, 2:29 p.m. PST

  SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners officially announced their $2.75 million, one-year deal with outfielder Raul Ibanez on Wednesday, returning the veteran to where he began his major league career in 1996. Seattle confirmed an agreement with Ibanez over the weekend but needed to clear a roster spot before making ...

• Coughlin wants to see NY Giants play with pride Dec. 26, 2012, 2:26 p.m. PST

  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — In some ways Tom Coughlin has come full cycle with the New York Giants. Coughlin spoke of restoring Giants pride when he took over an underachieving team in 2004. His message Wednesday heading into what might be the final week of a suddenly very disappointing ...

• Vick eager for another start Dec. 26, 2012, 2:25 p.m. PST

  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Michael Vick has another chance to show his teammates and the rest of the league he's still a pretty good quarterback. Vick will start Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles (4-11) close out their season against the New York Giants (8-7). It's fitting Vick will play possibly ...

• Chiefs missing Charles, 2 others due to illness Dec. 26, 2012, 2:21 p.m. PST

  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An illness running through the Kansas City Chiefs the past few weeks kept running back Jamaal Charles, linebacker Tamba Hali and left tackle Donald Stephenson out of practice Wednesday. Coach Romeo Crennel said that Hali and Stephenson were sent home soon after arriving at the team ...

• Broncos stay bland but focused Dec. 26, 2012, 2:19 p.m. PST

  ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — They are 16-point favorites against a team tied for the worst record in the league. With each and every victory over the span of a 10-game winning streak, their once-narrow path to the Super Bowl has grown wide as an eight-lane highway. But think you'll catch ...

• Canadiens' Gorges holds outdoor game with fans Dec. 26, 2012, 2:17 p.m. PST

  MONTREAL (AP) — With the NHL lockout grinding through its fourth month, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges looked to an unusual source to find his next hockey game: Twitter. The 28-year-old Gorges extended an open invitation to his followers on the social network to join him at a Montreal rink Wednesday ...

• Huskers' Biggs cited on suspicion of DUI in Omaha Dec. 26, 2012, 2:14 p.m. PST

  OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska men's basketball player Deverell Biggs has been cited on suspicion of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident in Omaha last weekend. According to a police report, Biggs backed his Chevrolet Suburban into a Bellevue man's vehicle about 1:35 ...

• Broncos to finish season in style Dec. 26, 2012, 2:11 p.m. PST

  The difference Peyton Manning has made in Denver actually is measurable. Try from 8-8, which the Broncos were a year ago in winning the AFC West, to 12-3. Try losing their final three games of 2011 and sneaking into the back door of the playoffs to winning their last 11 ...

• Saratoga Snacks wins Big A's Alex Robb Stakes Dec. 26, 2012, 2:03 p.m. PST

  NEW YORK (AP) — Saratoga Snacks, owned by former NFL coach Bill Parcells, won the $73,500 Alex Robb Stakes for New York breds on Wednesday at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old improved to 5 for 7 with his first stakes victory, leading all the way to beat Socialsaul by one length. The ...

• Peterson ready to help Vikings chase playoff berth Dec. 26, 2012, 1:56 p.m. PST

  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — It's all right there for Adrian Peterson now. One more game in his remarkable comeback season, and the only thing that remains on the line is everything. A win against the rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday would put his Minnesota Vikings into the playoffs ...