SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – There's no questioning how badly San Francisco kicker Billy Cundiff wants another chance in the playoffs after the way last season ended. Cundiff and the Baltimore Ravens stayed home after he missed a potential tying 32-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the AFC championship game and New England went to the Super Bowl last season instead.
While coach Jim Harbaugh has yet to name Cundiff or incumbent David Akers the top guy for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against Green Bay, Cundiff is preparing as if he will play. Cundiff took a field trip Monday to Candlestick Park to practice in the elements off San Francisco Bay and attempted between 30 and 40 field goals and also launched some kickoffs.
RGIII GOES UNDER KNIFE: A person familiar with the situation says Robert Griffin III will have surgery today to repair a torn ligament in his right knee. The person said Griffin has a torn lateral collateral ligament and that the surgery will also determine whether he also has damaged the ACL.
Baylor coach Art Briles confirmed the same details in an interview with USA Today.
A torn LCL would require a rehabilitation period of several months, possibly extending into training camp and the start of next season. A torn ACL is a more severe injury, typically requiring nine to 12 months of recovery. Griffin reinjured the knee in Sunday's playoff loss to Seattle.
McCLAIN ARRESTED, AGAIN: Authorities say Oakland Raiders linebacker and former University of Alabama standout Rolando McClain has bonded out of jail on charges of violating rules on car window tint and trying to lie to police about his identity. Authorities at the Decatur City Jail in Alabama say the 23-year-old McClain was pulled over Tuesday because of the tint violation. When McClain was asked to sign a ticket, police say he provided a false name.
Officials say McClain was taken into custody and posted $1,000 bond.
McClain was sentenced to 180 days in jail on an assault charge for firing a gun next to a man's head in 2011, also in Decatur. He served a two-game suspension this season for conduct detrimental to the Raiders.
CITY BROTHERLY ‘LOVIE’: Sticking with their plan for an exhaustive search to replace Andy Reid, the Philadelphia Eagles added Lovie Smith to their list of candidates. The Eagles will interview Smith for their coaching vacancy on Thursday, making him just the second former head coach to be considered for the job. Smith was fired last Monday after going 81-63 in nine seasons with Chicago.
RYAN FIRED: Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was fired after his injury-depleted unit struggled in a pair of season-ending losses that kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs for a third straight year.
