USC stripped of 2004 BCS title game victory vs. Oklahoma

The Bowl Championship Series stripped Southern California of its 2004 title on Monday, leaving that season without a BCS champion.

The announcement was no surprise. BCS officials had said USC was in danger of having its championship vacated after the Trojans were hit with heavy NCAA sanctions last year for rules violations committed during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

"The BCS alerted us today that their presidents have voted to vacate USC's 2005 BCS championship game victory," USC athletic director Pat Haden said. "This was not an unexpected outcome. We will comply with all requirements mandated by the result of this BCS vote."

The NCAA ruled star tailback Reggie Bush -- later drafted by the New Orleans Saints -- received improper extra benefits during those seasons and was ineligible when he played.

One of Haden's first moves when he took over as AD last year was to give back the school's copy of the Heisman Trophy that Bush won in 2005. Bush later relinquished his own Heisman and the trust in charge of handing out the award announced the '05 winner would be left vacant.

The BCS waited until USC appealed the NCAA sanctions, which included a two-year ban from postseason play and a loss of 30 scholarships over three seasons, to make a decision about its championship. The NCAA denied USC's appeal on May 26.

At that point, it was just a matter of time before the Trojans' 55-19 victory against Oklahoma in the 2005 Orange Bowl was wiped from the record books.

The dominant performance capped a perfect season by USC and left it ranked at the top of both the AP and coaches' polls. Auburn and Utah also finished that season undefeated.

The Trojans will not have to relinquish The Associated Press national championship.

"The BCS arrangement crowns a national champion, and the BCS games are showcase events for postseason football," BCS executive director Bill Hancock said in a statement. "One of the best ways of ensuring that they remain so is for us to foster full compliance with NCAA rules. Accordingly, in keeping with the NCAA's recent action, USC's appearances are being vacated."

The BCS also said the Trojans must vacate their participation in 2006 Rose Bowl. USC lost that game, 41-38, and the national championship to Texas.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Edwards floors foe twice en route to victory in boxing debut

Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards began his boxing career on the plus side, scoring a unanimous if uninspiring victory Friday night in a four-round heavyweight bout in Hinckley, Minn.

Edwards, who has said he'll leave the Vikings if he's an unrestricted free agent when the NFL's labor situation is solved and pursue boxing if he isn't, knocked down T.J. Gibson in the first and fourth rounds en route to the victory before a near-capacity crowd at Grand Casino.

Edwards won on the judges' cards 40-34, 39-35 and 40-34, as several of his Vikings teammates cheered him.

"I've got some things to work on," Edwards told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "But, overall, I think I did well."

Trainer Jeff Warner called Edwards' jab "incredible" and said observers saw "about 70 percent of Ray Edwards. People don't understand a first pro fight, there are so many different emotions. We're done with it, now we move on."

Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley told the Pioneer Press that he was impressed by Edwards' work.

"It's kind of weird seeing a teammate up there," Brinkley said. "But I thought he did really well."

Edwards, who's 6-foot-5 and 258½ pounds, had 36½ pounds and seven inches on Gibson, who also was making his debut. Edwards was happy to win but admitted it was "a little rougher than I expected."

"Every time I tried to get underneath him, I got held down and couldn't do what I wanted to do," Gibson said. "He's going to be a great fighter if he keeps it up."

Edwards put Gibson down in the first round with a left-right combo that sent the smaller man into the ropes. After the second and third rounds brought a lot less action, Edwards almost knocked Gibson through the ropes in the fourth with a left hook.

No Vikings coaches or team officials attended the fight, which was fine by Edwards, who will box again June 24 in Hinckley against a to-be-determined opponent.

"It is what it is," he said. "It's a business, no hard feelings. I still speak to them when I can. Whenever the lockout's over, I'll still have a good relationship with them. They helped me start my career that I dreamed about since I was a little boy."

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Chargers continue to pick up steam with easy victory over host Colts

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning blamed himself for the Colts' mistakes. The Chargers took credit for forcing him into them.

Either way, it was the same lousy result for Indianapolis' suddenly struggling quarterback.

San Diego intercepted him four times, returning two for scores, and handed Indianapolis its worst home loss of the Manning era, 36-14, on Sunday.

"The defense was awesome," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. "Getting two defensive touchdowns was obviously huge, and they played well all night."

Sunday's game fit right into this rivalry's recent trend.

San Diego (6-5) has beaten Manning's Colts five times in six games, including twice in the playoffs. Three years ago, the Chargers picked off Manning six times -- the most in his career. For the first time in Manning's 13 NFL seasons, he has thrown a combined seven interceptions in back-to-back weeks.

Colts fans were so incredulous at the poor play that they headed for the exits with about 10 minutes left.

But the Chargers had plenty of work still to do. The team that ruined Indy's quest for perfection in 2005 and dethroned the defending Super Bowl champs in the 2007 playoffs ended the NFL's longest run of consecutive 12-win seasons at seven. Plus, San Diego climbed over the .500 mark for the first time all season and kept pace in the AFC West race, one game behind Kansas City.

Imagine that.

"At 2-5, a lot of teams would have thrown in the towel," Rivers said. "We've got a group of resilient guys, tough guys that really play together and really believe in one another. We weren't going to let this thing get away from us. Now, we're right here in the hunt."

While the Chargers are primed to make a playoff run, Indy's struggles have raised red flags.

Yes, the Colts (6-5) are still tied with Jacksonville for the AFC South lead, but they've lost three of four and the rash of injuries has taken a major toll on the offense. Manning played again without receiver Austin Collie, without running back Joseph Addai and without starting tight ends Dallas Clark and Brody Eldridge, and it showed.

Coach Jim Caldwell blamed the miscues -- five turnovers in all -- on a combination of factors, including poor pass protection and a nonexistent running game. Indy netted only 24 yards rushing against the Chargers' No. 1 ranked defense.

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And Manning wasn't himself, either. He finished 31 of 48 for 285 with two TDs and the third four-interception game of his career. The last came in San Diego in November 2007.

"San Diego did a good job," Manning said. "Offensively, we didn't do a real good job. I didn't do a real good job. Everybody needs to play better, I need to play better, our execution needs to improve."

Manning is ready to move to the head of the line after this debacle.

After throwing a 5-yard TD pass to Jacob Tamme on the Colts' opening drive and watching San Diego counter with a 28-yard field goal, Manning tried to connect with Reggie Wayne by fitting a pass between three defenders.

Not good.

Kevin Burnett made a leaping catch and sprinted 29 yards to give the Chargers a 10-7 lead.

"Poor decision," Manning said. "That's something I have to avoid. So poor throw, poor decision."

Stephen Cooper picked off Manning again early in the second quarter, setting up a 33-yard field goal that made it 13-7, and Manning got the Colts back into it when he connected with Blair White on a 6-yard TD pass to make it 16-14 with 22 seconds left in the half.

After that, nothing went right for the Colts.

Kaeding opened the second half with a 30-yard field goal, and Eric Weddle picked off Manning and returned it 41 yards for a TD to make it 26-14. Fans booed, thinking Weddle shoved Wayne to the ground before the ball arrived. Wayne and Manning complained to the officials.

"It was a bad call, plain and simple," Caldwell said. "I don't know how to dance around it any other way."

But the Chargers refused to let Manning make one of his patented comebacks.

Mike Tolbert scored on a 3-yard run with 11:26 to go, sealing the victory, and Kaeding added his fifth field goal of the night to close it out. Tolbert carried 26 times for 103 yards with one TD.

Rivers was 19 of 23 for 185 yards with no touchdowns and, unlike Manning, no interceptions.

"I think all of our guys understand now that you've got to protect the ball," coach Norv Turner said. "You've got to be sound in the kicking game and we can't give up big plays on defense."

They gave up nothing Sunday night.

Notes: San Diego WR Vincent Jackson's season debut was a short one. He strained a calf muscle on the Chargers' opening series and did not return. Turner said he did not expect Jackson to miss a lot of time. ... Tolbert also left during the first half with what appeared to be a left hand injury. ... The banged-up Colts took a couple of more hits Sunday. Wayne was shaken up with 2:45 left, and starting cornerback Kelvin Hayden also was hurt in the closing minutes. Both players left walked off the field without help. ... It was Indy's most lopsided home loss since a 31-3 rout by Seattle on Sept. 14, 1997. Indy had won 19 of its last 20 home games, the only loss coming after the Colts pulled their starters against the New York Jets last December.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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White leads Falcons to wild victory over Bengals

ATLANTA -- Roddy White had a spectacular day for the Falcons, catching 11 passes for 201 yards and leading his team to a wild 39-32 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Atlanta (5-2) squandered a 24-3 halftime lead, falling behind when Cincinnati (2-4) took advantage of two turnovers and ripped off 22 consecutive points in the third quarter.

White put the Falcons ahead to stay with his second touchdown, an 11-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. He then made a leaping catch on the two-point conversion to make it 32-25.

After a Cedric Benson fumble, Michael Turner scored on a 3-yard run for a two-touchdown Atlanta lead. Chad Ochocinco gave the Bengals a chance with a late 8-yard TD catch, but the Falcons recovered the onside kick.

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Chiefs grind out victory over Jaguars

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Derrick Johnson returned an interception for a score, and Matt Cassel threw two touchdown passes to Dwayne Bowe, leading the Chiefs to a 42-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

The Chiefs (4-2), with the most productive rushing attack in the NFL coming into the game, ran for 236 yards and three TDs while overcoming several penalties.

Jacksonville quarterback Todd Bouman, who hadn't thrown a touchdown pass in the regular season since 2005, was signed this week after David Garrard sustained a concussion and backup Trent Edwards hurt his thumb during Monday night's loss to the Tennessee Titans. Bouman, 38, hadn't won as a starter since 2001 and was out of football last season.

Still, the Jaguars (3-4) trailed by only one point late in the third quarter before Bouman made a mistake. Under pressure, he stepped up and threw an ill-advised pass to Johnson, who made a juggling interception and ran 15 yards for a touchdown that put Kansas City on top 28-20.

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Freeman completes Bucs' comeback victory

TAMPA, Fla. -- Josh Freeman led another fourth-quarter comeback, throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Cadillac Williams with 10 seconds remaining Sunday to give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers an 18-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

Connor Barth kicked four field goals for the Bucs (4-2), who trailed 17-3 before battling back to surpass their win total for last season.

Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford threw two short touchdown passes, and Steven Jackson became the Rams' all-time leading rusher before things unraveled for St. Louis (3-4). Jackson finished with 110 yards on 22 carries, hiking his career total to 7,324 yards.

Freeman, who's in his second NFL season, has led fourth-quarter rallies in five of seven career victories.

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Lions thump Rams to get first victory of season

DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions moved a step closer toward putting their miserable past behind them, winning for the first time this season and by their largest margin in 15 years.

Stefan Logan's 105-yard kickoff return broke a tie in the second quarter and Detroit rolled to a 44-6 rout of the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

"It feels good to get this one so we can move on," center Dominic Raiola said.

Detroit (1-4) hadn't won since Nov. 22, 2009, when Matthew Stafford threw five touchdown passes against Cleveland after getting briefly knocked out of the game.

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The Lions, who had the NFL's first 0-16 season two years ago, had won just three of their previous 44 games. They had a shot to win three of their first four games -- losing by five, three and two points -- after their 14 losses last season were by at least a TD and several were very lopsided.

"Our players understood how close we were," second-year coach Jim Schwartz said. "But you need validation."

The Lions won by more than a touchdown for the first time since Nov. 4, 2007, when they beat Denver 44-7.

The Rams (2-3) lost standout receiver Mark Clayton with an injured right knee in the first quarter and that limited rookie Sam Bradford's passing options.

Clayton fell to the ground while running a pattern and stayed down until he was carted off the field.

"It doesn't look good," St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo said.

Bradford, coming off his best game, had one of his worst. He was 23 of 45 for 215 yards with two interceptions, one that was batted into the air and caught by Ndamukong Suh and one directly to Alphonso Smith, who returned it for the final score.

"There are going to be a lot of things that we have to find on the film and fix because we have to make sure this never happens again," said Bradford, who was drafted this year No. 1 overall just ahead of Suh. "I don't think I've ever been part of a loss like this."

Playing again in place of last year's No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill threw for 227 yards and connected with Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and Nate Burleson for touchdowns. Hill has started since Stafford separated his right shoulder in Week 1.

"Even though we don't have Matt, we have somebody who can hold down the fort," said Burleson, who was flagged for punting the football into the stands after his TD.

The Lions got off to a good start because a risky move backfired for St. Louis, which started the game with a failed onside kick.

"Maybe the biggest play that gets overlooked was the opening kickoff," Schwartz said.

Logan's return was easy to notice.

He went from the middle of his end zone and raced to the other -- breaking one tackle along the way -- for a 10-3 lead to make his mom and dad, who has kidney failure, two of the happiest people at Ford Field.

"I wanted to do it so bad because my parents were out here and I wanted to show off for my parents," Logan said. "My dad, he's sick so he can't just come up to a game every other week."

At least one kickoff has been returned for a score in the first five weeks of a season for the first time since at least 1950, including AFL games before the 1970 merger, according to STATS.

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Logan's TD tied the longest in franchise history and helped the Lions outscore St. Louis 21-3 in the second quarter.

Steven Jackson did his part for the Rams, running for 114 yards on 25 carries, but he didn't have much help without Clayton on the field. Clayton started the game among NFC leaders in receptions and yards receiving.

"Everyone has seen what he's done for this offense in the first four games, and it is going to be tough to replace him," Bradford said. "We just need someone to step up."

Notes: The Lions beat the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars 44-0 in 1995. ... Rams G Jacob Bell and TE Darcy Johnson had concussions. ... Lions DE Cliff Avril left the game with cramps. ... Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, whose team had a bye, was presented with his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring during a halftime ceremony. ... Lions DE Kyle Vanden Bosch confirmed the team voted Thursday to give the NFL Players Association its backing to decertify the union if there is a labor lockout next year. By disbanding their union, the players could sue the NFL under antitrust laws if there is a work stoppage. A similar move following a 1987 labor impasse led to the 1993 agreement that created free agency.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Redskins move above .500 with OT victory against Packers

LANDOVER, Md. -- For the fourth time in five weeks, the nerves mounted along the Washington Redskins sideline as the game once again came down the final snap. They're finding all sorts of ways to win -- except, that is, by taking a knee.

This time the shouts of exultation had to wait until Graham Gano's 33-yard field goal sailed through the uprights 6:54 into overtime. It gave the Redskins a 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers and an unexpected 3-2 record for a team that won only four games last season.

It's almost too much to take.

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"You wish you could do something different, man," receiver Santana Moss said, shaking his head. "But I'll take 'em. As long as they're Ws out there, I'll take 'em."

Washington has had two games go to overtime and two that ended on passes thrown into the end zone by the opposing team at the end of regulation. This one came after the Redskins were thoroughly dominated for much of the afternoon, the defense allowing 427 yards and the offense allowing Donovan McNabb to get sacked five times. They also overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

But the Redskins have come out on top more often than not, a switch universally attributed in the locker room to new coach Mike Shanahan.

"These are the games," fullback Mike Sellers said, "we didn't win in the past."

And these are the games the Packers (3-2) aren't supposed to lose, not if they're going to keep their Super Bowl aspirations intact. They were coming off a two-point win over Detroit that had no one in the locker room celebrating, and that followed a three-point loss to Chicago in which they had a team-record 18 penalties.

Already banged up coming into the game, Green Bay also had Donald Lee (shoulder), Jermichael Finley (knee), Ryan Pickett (ankle), Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Derrick Martin (knee) leave with injuries. After the game, the Packers revealed Rodgers suffered a concussion.

"It's just one of those seasons, and we've still got to focus in, and we've got to keep clicking. I still think we can be the team that we want to be. It's the 'Year of the Takeover' still," said Finley, using the nickname he has given this season. "It ain't changed just 'cause of one loss."

The Packers moved the ball well early, but couldn't convert their yards into points, leaving them with a tenuous 13-3 lead entering the fourth quarter. A 48-yard touchdown pass from McNabb to a leaping Anthony Armstrong got Washington within three, and Gano tied the game with a 45-yard field goal with 1:07 remaining.

The Packers had time to drive for a winning score in regulation, but Mason Crosby hit the left upright from 53 yards with 1 second left.

In overtime, Rodgers' downfield pass was picked off by a diving and rolling LaRon Landry at the Packers 39-yard line. Two short passes, a holding call on linebacker Brady Poppinga and a pass interference penalty on Charles Woodson moved the ball to the 22, helping Gano get in easy range.

How much did the tide turn? The Redskins punted on seven of their first eight possessions, while the Packers' last seven possessions ended with four punts, two missed field goals and an interception. Green Bay was also hurt by nine penalties for 63 yards.

"We just keep hearing the whispers: 'We can't beat this team.' 'We can't beat that team.' 'We're not playing great.' 'We're not doing this,'" Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "We're just going out there, taking care of business."

McNabb finished 26 for 49 for 357 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Moss caught seven passes for 118 yards. Ryan Torain ran for 40 yards on 16 carries starting for Clinton Portis (out with a groin injury). Landry had a hand in two turnovers, forcing a fumble on Green Bay's first drive before his interception on the Packers' last drive.

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Rodgers completed 27 of 46 passes for 293 yards, surpassing 10,000 yards for his career, and a 5-yard pass to Donald Lee in the first quarter accounted for Green Bay's only touchdown. Brandon Jackson ran for a career-high 115 yards on 10 carries, including a 71-yard first-quarter run that set up the touchdown.

The Packers had one first-half drive end when Lee was stripped from behind after making a catch. Another made it to Washington's 1-yard line early in the second quarter, but three attempts couldn't move the ball that final yard. Rodgers' pass to rookie tight end Andrew Quarless was broken up in the end zone on fourth down.

"I think we all know yards don't mean anything," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's about points."

Notes: Redskins DL Albert Haynesworth was not with the team. He was in Nashville mourning the death of his half brother, who died in a motorcycle accident on Thursday. ... Washington hadn't beaten Green Bay at home since a 38-21 victory at RFK Stadium in 1979.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bradford's growth continues in Rams' victory

ST. LOUIS -- Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, and veteran Steven Jackson became the Rams' second leading rusher as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks 20-3 on Sunday.

Bradford completed 23 of 41 passes with one interception as the Rams (2-2) ended a 10-game losing streak against Seattle and topped their win total from last season.

The Rams' defense sacked Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck four times, had one interception and forced a fumble. St. Louis' special teams bottled up kick returner Leon Washington, who had two touchdowns last week.

Jackson, who passed Marshall Faulk for No. 2 on the Rams' rushing list, was questionable with a groin injury that sidelined him for the second half of last week's win, but he played. He had 70 yards in 22 carries and three catches for 54 yards, including a 49-yarder before Kenneth Darby scored on a 21-yard screen pass.

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Dramatic final drive ends in Falcons victory

ATLANTA -- Matt Bryant kicked a 42-yard field goal with 2 seconds left, lifting the Atlanta Falcons to a 16-14 victory over the winless San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The Falcons (3-1) got a big break to set up the winning points when wide receiver Roddy White forced the 49ers' Nate Clements to fumble away an interception and keep Atlanta's drive alive.

San Francisco (0-4) blew a 14-0 first-quarter lead partly because of two interceptions thrown by Alex Smith.

White caught seven passes for 104 yards -- including four for 60 yards on the winning drive -- but his biggest play was chasing Clements down the left sideline and knocking the ball out as he tackled the cornerback from behind at the Atlanta 7.

Falcons guard Harvey Dahl recovered the ball to preserve the 12-play winning drive. Clements picked off a pass over the middle that was intended for Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez.

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