Tagliabue overturns Saints suspensions 

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has overturned the suspensions of four current and former New Orleans Saints players in the league’s bounty investigation of the club.

Pats hammer Texans

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Houston Texans still have the AFC’s top record, but they were put on notice by the New England Patriots Monday night.

Tom Brady threw for 296 yards and four touchdowns as the Pats blasted the Texans 42-14 in Foxborough. Brady’s fourth scoring strike was a 63-yard bomb to Donte Stallworth that put the Patriots ahead 28-0 just over five minutes into the second half.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was 19 of 32 for 232 yards, no touchdowns and an interception as the 11-2 Texans ended a six-game winning streak.

The 10-3 Patriots are on a seven-game winning streak and have won their last 20 December home games.

49ers suspend RB Brandon Jacobs

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have suspended running back Brandon Jacobs for the final three games after a series of posts on social media sites addressing his lack of playing time.

One of those posts during the weekend said he was “on this team rotting away.”

The 30-year-old Jacobs has five carries for 7 yards while playing in only two games with the NFC West-leading Niners.

In other NFL News:

— Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan says Robert Griffin III has a Grade 1 sprain of a ligament in the right knee but might be able to play in next week’s game against the Cleveland Browns. The rookie quarterback was hit at the end of a scramble late in regulation in the Redskins’ 31-28 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens.

— Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler says he expects to play this week against Green Bay. Cutler left Sunday’s loss at Minnesota with a sore neck, but says he got treatment and “unless something drastic happens” he’ll be ready to go. Cutler missed a game last month with a concussion.

— Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy have passed concussion tests and could return to Eagles practice once they’ve been cleared by an independent neurologist. Vick has missed the last four games and McCoy the last three.

— Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe will miss next week’s game at Oakland with a rib injury, and coach Romeo Crennel says it’s possible Kansas City’s leading receiver is done for the season.

— The Jacksonville Jaguars say coach Mike Mularkey has been released from a hospital after a brief stay that included tests, but the team offered few other details. Mularkey showed up at the practice facility a day after his team’s 17-10 loss to the New York Jets and started feeling ill.

— Titans tight end Jared Cook has a torn right rotator cuff and will be placed on injured reserve for the final three games. Cook was hurt in Sunday’s 27-23 loss to Indianapolis.

— The Arizona Cardinals have claimed quarterback Brian Hoyer off waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hoyer was with the Steelers for three weeks while Ben Roethlisberger was injured.

Heat keep division lead…Warriors continue road success

UNDATED (AP) — Dwyane Wade’s shooting percentage for the season sunk to 47% after he went 3-for-13 against the New York Knicks last Thursday. The Miami Heat guard is 20-for-25 in two games since then after scoring 26 points in a 101-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Wade shot a career-best 11-of-13 and helped the Heat hit 58 percent from the field. It came two nights after he scored 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting against New Orleans.

LeBron James had a team-high 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Heat stretched their lead in the NBA’s Southeast Division to 1 1/2 games over the Hawks.

Also in the NBA, Tony Parker had a triple-double of 27 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists as San Antonio outlasted Houston 134-126 in overtime. Gary Neal shot 7-for-10 from three-point range and finished with 29 points to help the Spurs overcome Jeremy Lin’s 38 points.

Dallas earned its 17th straight regular-season home win as O.J. Mayo scored 19 points and Chris Kaman added 18 in a 119-96 rout of Sacramento. The Mavericks took control with a 31-3 run in the first half of their third straight win.

Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge poured in 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead a 92-74 stifling of Toronto. DeMar DeRozan had 20 points for the Raptors, matching the combined total by the Raptors’ other starters.

Golden State was a 104-96 winner at Charlotte behind Stephen Curry’s 27 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. David Lee had 25 points and 11 boards for the Warriors, who are 14-7 after improving to 4-0 on their current seven-game road trip.

Jrue Holiday furnished a team-high 25 points in Philadelphia’s 104-97 triumph over Detroit. Evan Turner had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, who shot 54 percent from the floor.

Ludwick stays put…Tigers agree to deal with C Pena…White Sox get Keppinger

UNDATED (AP) — Reds left fielder Ryan Ludwick is staying in Cincinnati. He’s signed a two-year, $15 million deal that includes a mutual option for the 2015 season. The 34-year-old batted .275 with 26 homers and 80 RBIs in 125 games last season. When first baseman Joey Votto got hurt at midseason, Ludwick emerged as one of the team’s most consistent run producers, helping the Reds win the NL Central for the second time in three years.

Elsewhere around the majors:

— The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year contract with backup catcher Brayan Pena. Pena had a .236 batting average with two homers and 25 RBIs in 68 games last season for the Kansas City Royals.

— The Chicago White Sox say they have agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract with infielder Jeff Keppinger. Keppinger hit a career-high .325 in 115 games with Tampa Bay last season.

— The Pittsburgh Pirates have re-signed free agent reliever Jason Grilli to a two-year contract worth $6.75 million. The 36-year-old Grilli went 1-6 with a 2.91 ERA in 64 games this year, averaging 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

— The Toronto Blue Jays hired Pat Hentgen as their bullpen coach, bringing the Cy Young winner back into the team’s coaching ranks. Hentgen previously served as Toronto’s bullpen coach in 2011. He played 10 seasons in Toronto, winning the Cy Young in 1996.

Western Kentucky, Colorado, UTEP, land new coaches

UNDATED (AP) — Western Kentucky has hired Bobby Petrino as its new football coach.

The former Arkansas coach is replaces Willie Taggart, who left WKU Saturday to become South Florida’s coach.

Petrino had a 34-17 record at Arkansas, but was fired last spring for what the school called a “pattern of misleading” behavior following a motorcycle accident that revealed Petrino was having an extramarital affair.

Elsewhere:

— Mike MacIntyre is leaving San Jose State for a five-year contract to coach the University of Colorado football team. He’s being asked to turn around a program that’s had seven straight losing seasons, including a 1-11 record this year that was the worst in the program’s 123-year history.

— Former UTEP player Sean Kugler is returning to El Paso to become the Miners’ next coach. Kugler is the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He replaces Mike Price, who led the Miners for nine seasons and retired last month.

A pair of South Platte Valley Association rivalries in girls basketball highlight tonight’s prep sports action. The third-ranked St. Pat’s Lady Irish look to build on their big win over Hershey last Saturday as they host Perkins County at the McGahan Activities Center. The Lady Plainsmen are hoping to snap a three-game losing streak. Also in action is Class D1’s fifth-ranked team, the Sutherland Lady Sailors. They hit the road to take on Chase County. In other girls basketball action, the Brady Lady Eagles, ranked ninth in Class D2, look to move their record to 4-0 as they host Southern Valley. Cozad treks south to take on McCook, and Wauneta-Palisade welcomes Dundy County-Stratton. Sandhills/Thedford’s boys and girls play at Arcadia, and Mullen and South Loup play each other – the girls at South Loup, the boys at Mullen.

New England’s thrashing of Houston on Monday night football last night both helped and hurt the Denver Broncos in the AFC playoff race. The Broncos move within one game of the Texans for the top seed in the AFC, but now have to pass two teams to get to the top. The Patriots are tied with the Broncos at 10-3 and have the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to their win over the Broncos in Week 5. Denver’s game at 9-4 Baltimore this Sunday will determine which of those two teams hold a tiebreaker over each other.

The Denver Nuggets play the fourth game on their season-long five game road trip tonight against the Detroit Pistons. It’s their first meeting of the season. The Nuggets are 1-2 on the trip after a six-point loss to the New York Knicks last night. That defeat dropped the Nuggets to a disappointing 10-11 record, though they have played more road games than any other NBA team. The Pistons are 7-16 after a loss in Philadelphia last night. Tip-off at the Palace of Auburn Hills tonight is set for 6:30.

Top AFC teams to meet

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — There’s a good matchup of AFC teams this evening in the Monday Night game. Visiting Houston tops the South Division with 11 wins and 1 defeat while New England leads the East with 9 wins and 3 setbacks. The Patriots have wrapped up their division while the Texans have clinched a spot in the playoffs. Entering the game they top the 9-4 Colts by three games in the loss column.

Coming into play, both the Texans and Patriots have won six straight.

This is the fourth meeting of the teams with New England holding a 2-1 advantage. The last time they met was in January of 2010 with the Texans coming out on top, 34-27.

Should the Patriots win, they will have their tenth straight season of 10 or more wins.

Heat-Hawks set the pace

UNDATED (AP) — The marquee game of the night in the NBA will be played in Miami as the Heat play host to Atlanta. In the NBA’s Southeast Division, Miami stands on top with a record of 13-5, while the Hawks are 12-5. Atlanta is red-hot, having won 9 of its last 10 games. The lone loss came at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Hawks have lost four straight to the Heat, including a 95-89 win in Atlanta last month.

In Charlotte, the Bobcats have a date with the Golden State Warriors. The home squad is having a tough time of things, riding a seven game losing streak. The visiting Warriors have won three in a row.

The remainder of tonight’s schedule has Detroit at Philadelphia, Houston home to the Spurs, Sacramento at Dallas and Portland playing host to Toronto.

Slumping Ravens fire offensive coordinator Cameron

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Cam Cameron has been fired as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, who have lost two straight and are still striving for consistency in the running and passing game.

Cameron ran the team’s offense since the start of the 2008 season, when current coach Jim Harbaugh replaced Brian Billick. Since that time, the Ravens’ attack has repeatedly taken a back seat to the team’s defense.

The move came Monday.

Jim Caldwell, who was hired as quarterbacks coach before the season, will assume Cameron’s duties. Caldwell was head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-11.

Baltimore (9-4) scored seven points after halftime Sunday in a 31-28 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins. Quarterback Joe Flacco passed for only 182 yards, lost a fumble and was intercepted in the third quarter.

AP Source: Colorado lands Mike MacIntyre

DENVER (AP) — A person with knowledge of the negotiations says San Jose State football coach Mike MacIntyre has accepted the head coaching job at the University of Colorado.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the school hadn’t announced the hiring, which ends a two-week search by Colorado that included a rejection by its first choice, Butch Jones.

MacIntyre will be asked to turn around a program that’s had seven straight losing seasons, including a 1-11 record this year that was the worst in the 123-year history of the program.

MacIntyre has done it before. The Spartans (10-2) are heading to the Dec. 27 Military Bowl in Washington, D.C., two years after a 1-12 showing in his first season.

Cowboys play through tragedy…RGIII’s backup rallies Redskins

UNDATED (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys, still grieving the day after learning a teammate had died and another had been charged with intoxication manslaughter, rallied from nine points down in the final minutes to score a 20-19 victory at Cincinnati. Dan Bailey’s 40-yard field goal at the final gun won it.

The Cowboys rallied behind QB Tony Romo, who held his hand over his heart during a moment of silence to honor teammate Jerry Brown before the kickoff.

Brown died in an auto accident early Saturday. Defensive lineman Josh Brent, who was driving, was released from jail in Irving, Texas, on $500,000 bond Sunday.

Romo hit Dez Bryant with a 27-yard TD pass with 6:35 to go. He then completed four passes on the winning drive that led to Bailey’s kick.

In other Week 14 action:

— The Washington Redskins have been accused of being a one-man team, but they showed they are at least a two-quarterback team. Backup QB Kirk Cousins took over when Robert Griffin III went down with a sprained knee and led the Redskins to a 31-28 overtime win over Baltimore. He hooked up with Pierre Garcon for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds to play before running for the two-point conversion that sent the game to OT. An MRI on Griffin’s knee showed no serious ligament damage.

— The New York Giants kept their one-game lead in the NFC East over Washington and Dallas by routing New Orleans 45-27. Eli Manning tossed four TD passes. Rookie David Wilson accounted for three touchdowns with 227 return yards and 100 yards rushing from scrimmage. He ran a kickoff back 97 yards for one TD and ran for two more scores.

— San Diego ruined Ben Roethlisberger’s return to the Steelers lineup, beating Pittsburgh 34-24 at Heinz Field. Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes.

— Cam Newton threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns and ran 72 yards for a third score in the Panthers’ 30-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, who wrapped up the NFC South a week ago and appeared to suffer a letdown.

— Andrew Luck engineered the sixth second-half comeback of his rookie season as the Indianapolis Colts beat the visiting Titans 27-23.

— NFC West-leading San Francisco improved to 9-3-1 by whacking Miami 27-13. Frank Gore ran for 63 yards and went over 1,000 yards rushing for the sixth time in his career.

— Seattle remained a game and a-half back of the Niners by clobbering Arizona 58-0 in the most lopsided shutout in Seahawks history. Marshawn Lynch had three TD runs. The Seahawks defense was magnificent, forcing eight turnovers for the 8-5 Seahawks.

— The Minnesota Vikings handed the Chicago Bears their fourth loss in five games, 21-14. Adrian Peterson ran for 154 yards and two TDs.

— Rookie QB Nick Foles rallied Philadelphia to a 23-21 victory at Tampa Bay, ending an eight-game losing streak that was the Eagles’ longest in 42 years.

— The New York Jets improved to 6-7 and stayed in the AFC wild card hunt by handing Jacksonville its 11th loss in 13 games, 17-10.

— Cleveland routed Kansas City 30-7. Rookie Travis Benjamin returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown for the 5-8 Browns, who’ve won three straight.

— Sam Bradford capped a 14-play, 84-yard drive with a 13-yard TD toss to Brandon Gibson with 48 seconds left and St. Louis held on to beat Buffalo 15-12 in a battle of two teams prepping for 2013. The Rams are on their first three-game win streak since 2006.

— In the Sunday night game at snowy Lambeau Field, Green Bay spotted Detroit an early 14-0 lead and then roared back to beat the Lions 27-20. That’s the 22nd time the Packers have beaten the Lions at home. The 9-4 Packers took over sole possession of first place in the NFC North, one game ahead of Chicago. Those teams meet next Sunday at Soldier Field.

Thunder, Clippers keep streaking…Melo’s back

UNDATED (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 27 points, Kevin Martin added 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 104-93 for their eighth straight win. It’s the 12th straight game in which the Thunder has reached the century mark.

Russell Westbrook added 21 points.

In other NBA action:

— Jamal Crawford led a fourth-quarter rally by the reserves with 16 points and the L.A. Clippers defeated Toronto 102-83 to win their sixth in a row while handing the Raptors their 10th consecutive road loss. The Raptors have just four victories all season. Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 19 points.

— Rookie Andrew Nicholson scored nine of his career-high 19 points in the fourth quarter and the Orlando Magic pulled away to hand the Phoenix Suns their seventh loss in a row, 98-90.

— Brandon Jennings scored 26 points, Monta Ellis had 24 points and the Milwaukee Bucks withstood Brooklyn’s fourth-quarter rally in a 97-88 victory over the Nets.

— Utah beat the L.A. Lakers 117-110 behind 24 points from Paul Millsap. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 34 for the Lakers, who’ve lost seven of their last 11.

Dodgers packing rotation…Royals get Shields from Rays

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin to a $36 million, six-year deal.

Ryu is expected to join a loaded rotation next season. The Dodgers also are trying to sign free-agent right-hander Zack Greinke.

In other Hot Stove League news:

— The Kansas City Royals acquired former All-Star James Shields and fellow right-hander Wade Davis from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Wil Myers and a package of minor league prospects. Shields has won a combined 31 games the past two years for the Rays.

— A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent slugger Mark Reynolds. The 28-year-old Reynolds batted .221 with 23 homers and 69 RBIs in 135 games for Baltimore in 2012.

— The Philadelphia Phillies confirm they have acquired seven-time All-Star infielder Michael Young from the Texas Rangers for two relief pitchers. The deal was announced a day after Young agreed to waive his no-trade clause.

Notre Dame’s Te’o wins Lott award

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o has won the Lott IMPACT Trophy as the collegiate defensive player having the biggest impact on his team.

The linebacker led the Irish in tackles each of the past three seasons, including 103 this year when top-ranked Notre Dame went undefeated in the regular season.

It was the seventh national award for Te’o in a week. He was runner-up to Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M for the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night in New York.