Category: Sports

MLB honors Jackie Robinson with ballpark tributes

NEW YORK (AP) LaTroy Hawkins has heard the stories from his 87-year-old grandfather, about his days of picking cotton in Mississippi, about the times when there were no black players in big league baseball.

And about what it meant when Jackie Robinson broke the game’s color barrier.

”Without Jackie, I wouldn’t be in front of you,” the Los Angeles Angels pitcher told several dozen kids at a Bronx ballfield Sunday. ”Jackie’s role in my life has been tremendous.”

From Dodger Stadium to Fenway Park, there were ceremonies as Major League Baseball honored Robinson and his legacy. Video tributes and on-field celebrations at every ballpark included his family, his former teammates, players from the Negro Leagues, NBA great Bill Russell and members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Players, managers, coaches and umpires all wore No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day to remember the 65th anniversary of the day the future Hall of Famer first took the field with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Markers on each base noted the occasion.

Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, Hawkins and several former players joined Robinson’s daughter, Sharon, at a youth clinic in a park where the old Yankee Stadium stood. Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s wife, and her family were set to take part in a tribute across the street Sunday night before the Angels played the New York Yankees.

Hawkins noted the dwindling percentage of black players in the big leaguers. There were only 8.5 percent on opening day in 2011 – there were twice as many in 1990 when the Richard Lapchick’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports at the University of Central Florida started tracking the number.

Hawkins thanked his granddad for always steering him toward baseball instead of basketball and encouraged parents to do the same. He also said colleges could help by offering four-year baseball scholarships.

”Play the game,” Hawkins said.

Asked whether he thought MLB would ever again achieve a high population of black players, he said: ”Anything’s possible.”

Jackson recalled his days in the minor leagues, where he was not allowed to stay in the same hotels or eat in the same restaurants as his teammates. He said he sometimes spent the night on the couch at the apartments of Rollie Fingers, Joe Rudi, Dave Duncan and others.

”It was a very embarrassing time in your life,” he said.

Jackson paused to ”to remember what it was like, what I went through” and reflected on the likes of Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe, black players who followed Robinson to the Dodgers.

”He represented all of us,” Jackson said. ”I really feel he represented black and white.”

Newcombe and former Los Angeles star Tommy Davis threw out ceremonial first pitches at Dodger Stadium before the game against San Diego.

Hall of Fame Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who had missed five games because of a bad cold, returned to the broadcast booth. Scully, now 84, called Brooklyn games for more than seven years when Robinson played.

”All I want to do is think about the game and Jackie and how grateful I am to be back,” Scully said.

Tweeted current Dodgers star Matt Kemp: ”Thank u Jackie Robinson!!!”

In Boston, former Robinson teammate Ralph Branca threw out the ceremonial ball before Tampa Bay played Boston. The 86-year-old Branca tossed the pitch on one bounce from the front edge of the mound to his son-in-law, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine.

Branca remembered being at Ebbets Field a day before Robinson’s debut.

”I was in the locker room when Jackie walked in. I walked over, shook his hand, ‘Welcome aboard,”’ Branca said.

”I didn’t think about the color of his skin because I lived on a block that was the United Nations of all. It was four black families, about nine families (of) Italian extraction, two Irish, two German, two Jewish. So it was a league of nations on my block. So blacks, I played with them, went in their house, they came into mine. So seeing Jackie meant nothing special or different to me,” he said.

At Safeco Field, Russell bounced his first pitch to Seattle’s Chone Figgins before the Mariners hosted Oakland. At Turner Field, Robinson’s grandson, Jesse Sims, was on the field with Atlanta outfielder Michael Bourn before Milwaukee visited Atlanta. At Citizens Bank Park, Harold Gould and Mahlon Duckett of the Philadelphia Stars from the Negro Leagues were recognized, along with members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

At Kansas City, Cleveland manager Manny Acta said it was a special day.

”It has a lot of meaning to me. Those guys opened the way for everyone else. Jackie and Larry Doby, Frank Robinson was the first African-American manager. And Felipe Alou, Tony Perez. It was tough for those guys, even tougher for guys like us, minorities and foreigners.”

”It wasn’t tough for me,” the Dominican-born Acta said. ”I had it made because of guys like that. Those guys had to break the ice. They did it for us.”

Goodbye, Tebowmania. Hello, Peyton Manning.

After one year of Tim Tebow as the starting quarterback of the Broncos, the team has made a major change, signing Peyton Manning to a contract. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Terms and conditions of the deal have not been announced.

The Broncos were one of the three finalists for the former Colts quarterback, along with the Titans and 49ers. Manning informed the other teams of his decision to sign with Denver on Monday morning.

Manning missed all of the 2011 season after rehabbing from a series of neck surgeries. There had been questions about whether he would be healthy enough to play this season as well, but a series of workouts — including one attended by Broncos executive VP of football operations John Elway last Friday in Durham, N.C. — has shown that Manning is able to throw the ball well.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos will now try and trade Tebow, a first-round pick of the team in 2010.

Buble hits ice with Canucks

Michael Bublé’s NHL experience lasted a grand total of about 15 minutes Tuesday.

Even so, the Burnaby, B.C. native and diehard Vancouver Canucks fan called it the greatest day of his life.

Having signed a one-day contract with the Canucks, Bublé briefly took part in the practice at Rogers Arena, highlighted by a breakaway attempt on Roberto Luongo.

With players tapping their sticks, the world-renowned crooner skated through the gauntlet, took a blocker-side shot, hit the post, and then fell over.

“About a couple inches lower, I would have had it,” Bublé said with a laugh afterward. “I got a smile on my face that won’t be going away anytime soon. Perhaps (I could) be the next Alex Burrows, but it turns out I’m crappy.”

Asked what he would change if he got another opportunity, he said, “I would have faked the shot and gone backhand, try to go upstairs.”

Either way, the 36-year-old left soon after, with a full set of equipment courtesy of the team and a lasting memory.

Bublé, who performed on Saturday Night Live over the weekend, has always been a vocal Canucks fan. The Vancouver Giants co-owner was a guest colour commentator on Team 1040 during a February 2009 game and has previously altered his schedule around for the Canucks, even cancelling a Connecticut show in June to watch Vancouver play in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

In his recently released Christmas album, he altered the lyrics to the song “Santa Baby”, changing it to, “Santa buddy/Fill my stocking with Canucks tix, for kicks/Throw me on the first line/Santa baby.”

As for Tuesday’s arrangement, it was set up in just a few short days by the team. And it had the three-time Grammy Award winner still beaming afterward, even as he took a shot at Canucks naysayers.

“Getting to do that is every fan’s wish,” Bublé said. “I was just talking to my manager Bruce Allen there and just saying, you meet these guys and if you’re a fan of the team and you’re a fan of who these guys are, if the truth is out there than there’s no way that these guys are the most hated team in the NHL because they’re class acts. It’s just those ugly stories that the media keeps telling back East.”

While all the Canucks players got to meet Bublé, it was Cody Hodgson who may have had the most face time with the singer/songwriter as the two were chatting on the ice prior to the practice.

“We just talked about how he saw my grandma on TV at the Leafs game,” said the rookie, who claims he has a lot of Bublé’s albums. “It was cool to meet him and it’s not everyday you get that.”

Same goes for Luongo who didn’t know what to expect with Bublé bearing down on him during practice.

“I was more focused on my play,” the goaltender said. “I didn’t know if I had to charge out at him or what. Fortunately he fell on his own. We obviously respect him for what he does and he’s the same for us.

“I think he was more excited than we were.”

Madonna to perform at Super Bowl halftime show

Madonna is going to do the Super Bowl.

That’s right. The singer-turned-director will perform in the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show on NBC at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Feb. 5, the NFL and NBC announced during Sunday Night Football.

She has partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, Jamie King, and multimedia artists from Moment Factory, to create what is being billed by the NFL and NBC as “a signature performance.”

Madonna joins a superstar list of recent halftime acts that includes The Black Eyed Peas, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2.

Madonna’s directorial project, W.E., a drama based on the romance between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, is out in limited release on Dec. 9. It opens wide in February.

Senators send Fisher to Predators for draft picks
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ñ The Predators have acquired forward Mike Fisher, who will be reunited in Nashville with his wife, country music star Carrie Underwood.
The Ottawa Senators traded Fisher to the Predators on Thursday for a first-round draft pick and a future conditional pick.
Underwood lives in Nashville, and the couple married last summer in Georgia. Fisher, 30, has 24 points this season and had been tied for the Senators’ lead in goals with 14.
“We were seeking a top-six forward, and Mike Fisher was the player we set our sights on,” Nashville general manager David Poile said in a statement. “He plays playoff-style hockey all season long. He plays on the power play, kills penalties, is strong on draws and can match up against any opposing line.”
The deal is costly for Predators.
The club is sending its first-round pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional pick in 2012 ó which would be a third-rounder if the Predators win a playoff series this year. The pick will escalate if the team wins two or more postseason series.
But Nashville is desperate to advance past the opening playoff round after reaching the postseason five times in the past six years.
Nashville currently is five points behind first-place Detroit in the Central. Ottawa is last in the Southeast Division with 42 points.
Fisher, 30, has 28 points in 75 postseason games, which immediately makes him the most experienced in the playoffs on the Predators’ roster. He helped Ottawa go past the first round four out of six playoff appearances, including the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals and the 2003 Eastern Conference finals.
“Mike’s playoff experience will be invaluable to our team and he immediately makes our team stronger and deeper,” Poile said.
The 11-year veteran has 167 goals and 181 assists in 675 regular-season games, all with the Senators. He was a finalist for the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward in 2006, and the 6-foot-1, 208-pound forward had career-highs with 53 points and 25 goals and 10 power-play goals last season.
Predators fans should get to see more of Underwood. The five-time Grammy Award winner won the fourth season of “American Idol.” She has sold more than 13 million albums with 13 No. 1 hits. She is also twice been named the Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, and is a three-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner.

Halftime gig ‘dream come true’ for Black Eyed Peas
DALLAS ñ Even the Black Eyed Peas are protecting their Super Bowl playbook.
“We’re not allowed to give away the set list, but it will be packed with energy ó what the Black Eyed Peas bring,” said band member Fergie at a news conference Thursday.
The band said they are excited and honored to give the halftime performance during Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers.
“We want everybody to have a good time and just dance, party,” will.i.am said about the performance that’s expected to include R&B star Usher and former Guns `N Roses guitarist Slash.
A person familiar with the plans for Sunday’s halftime show told The Associated Press that both musicians were slated to make surprise appearances. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday, because the musicians’ performances were not going to be announced.
“Hopefully we will bring the heat because it’s cold as hell here in Dallas,” said Black Eyed Peas band member Taboo.
The band spoke at a news conference in downtown Dallas on the third consecutive day of subfreezing temperatures during a rare cold spell that greeted the first Super Bowl week in North Texas.
Taboo said the opportunity to provide entertainment for the NFL’s ultimate game is “a dream come true for us as football lovers.”
Fellow band member, Fergie, said it was a “huge honor” to be picked as halftime performer.
“Sunday football is a serious day in our homes,” said Fergie, who is a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins. “Super Bowl Sunday is the day that I can go all out ó cheat ó eat the seven-layer dip, all the Italian food and scream at everybody.”
The six-time Grammy award-winning Black Eyed Peas have sold more than 28 million albums worldwide and are known for songs such as “Boom Boom Pow,” “I Gotta Feeling” and “Imma Be.”
“Some people write songs for radio. Some people write songs for clubs. We like to write songs for life,” will.i.am said, adding that he is proud that many of their energetic songs are featured at sporting events.
At the news conference, band member apl.de.ap showed off his nod to his band playing at the Super Bowl: He had the band’s initials ó BEP ó and XLV ó for the 45th Super Bowl ó shaved into the back of his head.
The band also will bring some technology to the show as will.i.am will be tweeting during the performance.
Keith Urban and Maroon 5 will be performing during the pre-game festivities on Sunday. Christina Aguilera is set to sing the national anthem and Lea Michele of “Glee” will sing “America the Beautiful.”

Alomar and Blyleven elected to Hall of Fame
NEW YORK ñ After a narrow miss last year, Bert Blyleven told voters they finally got it right by sending him into the Hall of Fame along with Roberto Alomar.
And he took the opportunity to talk about baseball’s dark past ó the Steroids Era.
All-Star sluggers Rafael Palmeiro, Jeff Bagwell, Mark McGwire and Juan Gonzalez didn’t come close in Wednesday’s election. No telling if they ever will, either, after Hall voters sent a clear message: The drug cloud isn’t going to cover Cooperstown.
“The writers are saying that this was the Steroids Era, like they have done Mark McGwire,” Blyleven said after finally making it to the Hall on his 14th try. “They’ve kind of made their point.”
Blyleven was chosen on 79.7 percent ó it takes 75 percent approval by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to reach the shrine. The great curveballer won 287 games, threw 60 shutouts and ranks fifth with 3,701 strikeouts. He was down to his next-to-last try on the ballot.
“It’s been 14 years of praying and waiting,” Blyleven said in a conference call. “And thank the baseball writers of America for, I’m going to say, finally getting it right.”
Alomar was picked on 90 percent of the ballots. The 12-time All-Star won a record 10 Gold Gloves at second base, hit .300 and helped the Toronto Blue Jays win titles in 1992-93.
Palmeiro, McGwire, Bagwell and Gonzalez fared poorly, with BBWAA members reluctant to choose bulky hitters who posted big numbers in the 1990s and 2000s.
“Guys cheated,” Blyleven said. “They cheated themselves and their teammates. The game of baseball is to be played clean. I think we went through a Steroid Era and I think it’s up to the writers to decide when and who should go in through that era.”
A lot of them have already decided.
“I will not vote for any player connected with steroid use, because I believe cheaters shouldn’t be rewarded with the sport’s highest honor,” Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle said in an e-mail.
“We are asked to consider character when casting Hall of Fame votes and I don’t believe those who used performance-enhancing substances meet that standard,” she said. “They cheated to get ahead, plain and simple, creating an imbalance in the game and a mess for the voters. They can enjoy the big contracts they earned as a result, but they won’t get my vote.”
Bagwell got 41.7 percent in his first year on the ballot. His career stats are among the best for first basemen since World War II ó .297 batting average, .408 on-base percentage and .540 slugging percentage. He hit 449 home runs, topped 1,500 RBIs and runs and ran the bases hard. He was Rookie of the Year, NL MVP and a Gold Glove winner.
Bagwell never tested positive, there were no public allegations against him and he was adamant that he never used illegal drugs. Still, many voters and fans aren’t sure yet how to assess the huge numbers put up by the game’s top hitters.
“That stuff’s going to happen in this era,” Bagwell said on a conference call. “People are going to have suspicion in the era I played in.”
“People are going to think what they want to think. If they don’t think that anybody was good in this era, then that’s fine. Like I said, I’m one of the first ones to come up in that era. I’m OK with it,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Palmeiro was listed on just 64 of a record 581 ballots (11 percent) in his first try despite lofty career numbers ó he is joined by Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the lone players with more than 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.
But Palmeiro failed a drug test and was suspended by Major League Baseball in 2005. The penalty came a few months after he wagged his finger at members of Congress and told them: “I have never used steroids. Period.”
Former Rep. Tom Davis was the chairman of the House committee that held the March 17, 2005, hearing on steroids in baseball at which Palmeiro made that statement and McGwire refused to “talk about the past.”
“The baseball writers are weighing the steroid thing. It’s still got to play out, but at this point they seem to have factored that it into their decisions,” Davis said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
The other leader of that committee, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., declined to comment through a spokesperson.
“Henry and I did our job. We tried to clean the game up a little bit and tried to help young people who were starting to use that stuff,” Davis said. “The rest of it will be up to history.”
Palmeiro recently reiterated the anabolic steroid that caused his positive test came in a vitamin vial given to him by teammate Miguel Tejada.
McGwire got 19.8 percent, a drop from 23.7 percent last year. This was his fifth time on the ballot, and first since the former home run champion admitted he took steroids and human growth hormone.
Juan Gonzalez, a two-time AL MVP implicated by Jose Canseco in steroids use, received 30 votes, just above the 5 percent threshold for remaining on the ballot next year.
Alomar and Blyleven will be joined by Pat Gillick at the induction ceremonies July 24 in Cooperstown. The longtime executive was picked last month by the Veterans Committee. Gillick helped earn his place with a trade that brought Alomar to Toronto.
Smart, graceful and acrobatic on the field, Alomar also was guilty in one of the game’s most boorish moments. He spit on umpire John Hirschbeck during a dispute in 1996 and was suspended. They later made up and Hirschbeck supported Alomar’s bid for the Hall.
“I regret every bit of it. I apologized many times to John,” he said. “I feel good I’ve had a good relationship with John.”
Said Hirschbeck: “I’m very, very happy for him. It’s overdue.”
“I’m not going to comment on why he didn’t get elected the first time. But I forgave him. Maybe the rest of the world has,” Hirschbeck told The Associated Press by telephone.
Alomar drew 73.7 percent last year in his first try on the ballot. Blyleven had come even closer, missing by just five votes while getting 74.2 percent.
“Robbie was an incredible player. He was a pleasure to watch play the game and I am not saying that because he was my brother. He had all the tools and put them all into play,” former Cleveland teammate Sandy Alomar Jr. said.
Alomar got his first major league hit off Nolan Ryan in 1988. Ryan was the last pure starting pitcher elected to the Hall by the BBWAA in 1999.
Blyleven, now 59, pitched against Alomar and his father, Sandy Alomar.
It was quite a climb for Blyleven, who helped pitch Pittsburgh to the 1979 title and Minnesota to the 1987 crown. Many years ago, he drew barely over 14 percent in the BBWAA voting.
Blyleven’s career stats have gotten a boost in recent years by sabermetricians who have new ways to evaluate baseball numbers.
“I could not be happier if it was my own son,” Twins Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew said. “I played in the first game Bert pitched for the Minnesota Twins in 1970. … I wish it wouldn’t have taken so long but now that he is in, it’s wonderful.”
Barry Larkin and Tim Raines showed gains in this year’s voting. Pete Rose received three write-in votes.
Larkin (62 percent) and Jack Morris (54 percent) could get more consideration next year, when Bernie Williams is the top first-year candidate.
“My words to Jack are, ‘Don’t give up,'” Blyleven said.

NFL playoffs: who needs what to clinch
NEW YORK ñ Three division titles remain undecided heading into the final week of the NFL season: the AFC South, NFC South and NFC West.
Indianapolis wins the AFC South by beating visiting Tennessee on Sunday, or if Jacksonville loses at Houston. Atlanta needed a victory Monday night at home against New Orleans or next Sunday, also at home against Carolina, to take the NFC South. The winner of Sunday’s game in Seattle between the Rams and Seahawks wins the NFC West.
While the AFC wild cards belong to the Jets and either the Ravens or Steelers ó whichever doesn’t take the AFC North ó five teams have shots at NFC wild cards: Atlanta, New Orleans, Green Bay, Tampa Bay and the New York Giants.
So the AFC is not very complicated, with New England the East winner, Kansas City champion of the West, and either Baltimore or Pittsburgh taking the North. The Steelers hold the tiebreaker over the Ravens and are at Cleveland on Sunday. Baltimore hosts Cincinnati.
The Chiefs and the AFC South winner will host a wild-card round playoff game.
Things are more unsettled in the NFC, where Chicago (North) and Philadelphia (East) own division titles. Seattle (6-9) could become the first division winner in NFL history with a losing record if it beats St. Louis (7-8) in their finale, which has been flexed to a Sunday night game.
Should New Orleans win at Atlanta and then beat visiting Tampa Bay, it would take the South and the Falcons would be a wild card.
But the defending Super Bowl champion Saints could fall right out of the picture by losing twice. They would then need either the Packers or Giants to lose their finale: Green Bay hosts archrival Chicago, while New York is at Washington.
The Packers (9-6) have the inside track for a wild card ó win and they are in. The Giants and Bucs must win Sunday to have a shot at a wild card.
No first-round byes have been clinched in the NFC, either. Atlanta gets one with a win Monday night.

Giants dominate Brett Favre-less Vikings 21-3
DETROIT ñ Brett Favre stood on the sidelines for the start of a game for the first time since 1992, rubbing his salt-and-pepper beard in frustration because his body couldn’t take another pounding.
The New York Giants made sure his replacement struggled early and often.
Brandon Jacobs ran for a go-ahead touchdown midway through the second quarter, Eli Manning threw a lead-padding TD just before halftime and Ahmad Bradshaw added a 48-yard run to help the Giants beat Minnesota 21-3 Monday night.
“Seems like I been hurt a lot worse,” Favre said. “I can’t believe something like this hasn’t happened before.”
Favre’s NFL-record streak of 297 straight starts ended because of his banged-up right shoulder and numb hand in a game moved from Minneapolis because the Metrodome roof collapsed under heavy snow early Sunday.
“He was having trouble with the numbness,” Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier said.
Frazier acknowledged that putting the 41-year-old Favre on injured reserve, ending his season and possibly his career, is possible.
“That may be a possibility, but I’m hoping not,” he said.
The Giants sacked Favre replacement Tarvaris Jackson four times, knocking him out of the game late in the third period and again in the final seconds.
New York (9-4) moved back into a first-place tie with Philadelphia in the NFC East. Minnesota, which went to the NFC title game last January, (5-8) was eliminated from the playoff race.
The game was switched from Sunday afternoon when the Giants couldn’t get to Minneapolis because of the severe weather, then was moved to the Detroit Lions’ indoor stadium with a steel roof. The Vikings were technically the home team at Ford Field ó which was adorned with their logo at midfield and “VIKINGS” in the end zones ó but they didn’t have much of an edge.
“The whole thing is bizarre,” Vikings radio analyst Pete Bercich said.
Nothing, though, was more odd than seeing Favre watch a game.
He stood on the sideline, trying to tutor Jackson at times, and sporting a purple knit hat, short-sleeved black shirt with a long-sleeved white shirt underneath, and black warmup pants.
The game drew an announced crowd of 45,910 ó there seemed to be at least 10,000 more people in the 65,000-seat stadium late in the first half ó and some fans made the trek to see Favre.
Even though most got in for free, they left disappointed, especially if they were rooting for the Vikings.
Manning, whose brother, Peyton, now has the longest starting streak for a QB at 205 games, said he was shocked when he found out Favre was inactive.
“You don’t know if this is the end for a guy who has done so much for the NFL,” Manning said.
Whether Favre plays again for Minnesota in his 20th NFL season is uncertain. It appears his third return from a brief retirement will be the end ó and he might not finish out the schedule.
“I am not going to play again if I can’t feel my hand,” Favre said.
New York has won three straight and eight of 10 games, improving its chances for a wild card if it doesn’t finish ahead of the Eagles, who it hosts Sunday.
Minnesota entered the game with a two-game winning streak and flickering hopes of salvaging what has been a miserable season.
Jackson got off to a good start, completing his first two passes for 8 yards each, but didn’t do much to help his team for the rest of the night.
“Very pleased with the way the defense bailed us out after two early turnovers,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.
Jackson wasted an opportunity to show his coaches and teammates he can be counted on to fill in for Favre for a game and perhaps in the future.
He completed just 12 of 22 passes, threw an interception directly to linebacker Keith Bulluck, and fumbled a shotgun snap he was able to recover. Another shotgun snap got away and he recovered it near the goal line, seemingly getting a break from the officials on what appeared to be a safety.
While Jackson didn’t have the benefit of a running game ó Adrian Peterson was held to 26 yards on 14 carries ó Manning relied on a one-two punch that pounded the Vikings all night.
Jacobs ran for a season-high 116 yards and a score and Bradshaw had 103 yards rushing, including the 48-yarder that was his longest run in two years. Bradshaw left in the fourth quarter with a wrist injury.
Manning bounced back from throwing a second interception in the opening minute of the second quarter and was 22 of 37 for 187 yards and a TD, a perfectly threaded pass to Kevin Boss. That put the Giants ahead 14-3 with 3 seconds left in the third quarter.
Hakeem Nicks caught seven passes for 96 yards.
Jackson limped off the field with 16 seconds left in the game, giving rookie Joe Webb another opportunity to take snaps after getting drafted in the sixth round to play wide receiver. Webb, who had played in one game without throwing a pass, completed two of five passes.
NOTES: The Vikings were also missing WR Percy Harvin (migraines) and OG Steve Hutchinson (broken right thumb). … The Vikings had a kickoff return for a score in the third quarter negated by a penalty. … Manning, who was sacked for the first time in six games, became the first Giant to throw for 3,000-plus yards in six straight seasons.