Tennessee Sports Digest
Here's a look at how AP's sports coverage is shaping up in Tennessee. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP-Nashville bureau at (615) 373-9988 or apnashville(at)ap.org. Beth Campbell is on the desk. News editor Scott Stroud can be reached at [email protected]. A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. All times are Central.
For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org.
NFL:
TITANS-IGNORED KICKER
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have found a way to fix the NFL's worst field goal unit: Ignore the kicker and just score touchdowns. The Titans went a measly 8 of 18 on field-goal attempts during the regular season, easily the league's worst making only 44.4%. Greg Joseph, their fifth different kicker this season, has yet to even attempt a field goal through his four games with Tennessee, and the Titans haven't made a kick in six games. By Pro Football Writer Teresa M. Walker. SENT: 700 words, photos.
ANDY'S GANG
UNDATED — Of the coaches in the NFL's Final Four, Andy Reid is the outlier. Only Kansas City's coach has been the head man in a Super Bowl. Only Reid is close to having a Hall of Fame-worthy resume. Only Reid has been around for a couple of decades. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 800 words, photo.
PRO PICKS
UNDATED — Pro Picks is surprised. Consider that the NFC title game is a matchup of the conferences's top two seeds. The spread favors host San Francisco (14-3) over Green Bay (also 14-3) by 7 1-2 points. In the AFC, it's the sixth-seeded Titans (11-7) at No. 2 Kansas City (13-4), which would seem to be more of a mismatch. Yet the spread is also 7 1-2. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 670 words, photos.
NFL AT 100-AFC CHAMPIONSHIPS
UNDATED — Tom Brady has been synonymous with the AFC championship for the last two decades. Thirteen times he played for the Lamar Hunt Trophy and nine times he won it, besting MVP Patrick Mahomes in overtime, upending Blake Bortles in a classic comeback, denying Andrew Luck and Philip Rivers trips to the Super Bowl, foiling Ben Roethlisberger twice and Kordell Stewart once, and splitting two games with Joe Flacco. By Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. SENT: 1390 words, photos.
NBA:
CAVALIERS-GRIZZLIES
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies continue a six-game home stand Friday night hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. By Clay Bailey. UPCOMING: Developing from 7 p.m. game; 650 words, photos.
FORMER NBA PLAYER-HUMAN TRAFFICKING
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A grand jury has brought charges in a sex trafficking case against former NBA player and one-time University of Alabama basketball standout Jim Farmer, who was caught up in an undercover law enforcement sting last October. SENT: 240 words, photo.
College Basketball:
SEC THIS WEEK
UNDATED — The Southeastern Conference standings will sort themselves out a bit Saturday with a pair of games featuring the four teams tied for second place behind league leader and defending champion LSU. No. 10 Kentucky visits Arkansas while No. 4 Auburn travels to Florida. SENT: 600 words, photos.
—VANDERBILT-DONATION, from Nashville: The Vanderbilt men’s basketball program has received a $5 million donation from Seattle-based alumnus George B. Huber and his wife Cathy. SENT: 140 words, photo.
NHL:
—PREDATORS-ARVIDSSON FINE, from New York: Nashville Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson has been fined $2,000 by the NHL under the league’s rules regarding diving and embellishment. SENT: 110 words, photo.
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