The NFL playoffs dont include any game managers or quarterbacks who are still in the hunt solely because theyre surrounded by a great defence or running game.The eight signal callers still chasing the Super Bowl have strong pedigrees.Seven of them have either won a Super Bowl or been picked first in the draft, or both. The eighth, Tony Romo, was the leagues top-rated passer this year.You look at the eight quarterbacks left and every single one of them can carry you through a game, said Sean Salisbury, the former NFL quarterback who is now a radio analyst. Theres no mystery as to why these eight teams are still standing.The Elite Eight:JOE FLACCO, RAVENSThe Stat: During Baltimores current five-game playoff winning streak, including the 2013 Super Bowl, Flacco has thrown for 13 touchdowns and no interceptions.The Stakes: Flacco got huge money (six years, $120 million) after the Super Bowl win, and the stats hes rolling up in the post-season are quickly erasing any doubts about his status as a big-time QB. But he does not always impress in the regular season. Another Super Bowl win this year will solidify him in the upper echelon.The Quote: He really understands being in the playoffs. He plays some of his best football as far as taking care of the ball, making great decisions, throwing some really good throws and really taking control of their offence. —Patriots safety Devin McCourty.TOM BRADY, PATRIOTSThe Stat: No need to dig too deep: five Super Bowl starts; three rings.The Stakes: He doesnt have anything left to prove, though the fact he lost his last two Super Bowls leaves some room for hole-poking. New England hasnt won a Lombardi Trophy since 2005.The Quote: If Brady loses, you can still say, Hey, hes been to five. You can make an excuse for him and pretty much everyone else on this list except for Romo. —Salisbury.CAM NEWTON, PANTHERSThe Stat: He got his first playoff win last week. Has thrown for 3,000 and rushed for 500 yards in all four seasons in the league.The Stakes: Its pretty much a no-lose for Newton, on the road to play the defending champs with a .500 team. Still, every No. 1 pick needs that definitive moment that proves they were worth all the hype. This would be it.The Quote: You have to do a great job staying on top because he can get you and he can get you late in the play. Rhythm, too, which is really the most difficult aspect to defend. —Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.RUSSELL WILSON, SEAHAWKSThe Stat: Well, hes got that Super Bowl ring. His 1,877 yards rushing over his first three seasons give him an element the others dont have.The Stakes: Because he was a third-round draft pick who was not being called on to lead the franchise, Wilson is playing for relative pennies. Hes averaged about $725,000 over his first three seasons. The bill should go up significantly when its time to re-sign — that much more if hes got two titles.The Quote: Hes the reason I hate the eye test. I loved him. He got drafted in the third round, I said, Someones going to get a steal there. I thought he was coming along to be the most poised player in the league last year. —Salisbury.TONY ROMO, COWBOYSThe Stat: The only QB on this list who hasnt been drafted first or won a Super Bowl title, he led the league in completion percentage (69.9), touchdown percentage (7.8) and passer rating (113.2). All this while throwing 435 passes, his fewest as a full-time starter. Thank you DeMarco Murray.The Stakes: The reputation as a gunslinger who is mistake-prone at the worst moments still lives. A run to the conference title game or Super Bowl can tamp down some of that criticism.The Quote: I think his experience obviously helps him. But I think any time youve got a run game, the way theyre running the football — nothing helps the quarterback more than being able to do that. —Packers defensive co-ordinator Dom Capers.AARON RODGERS, PACKERSThe Stat: He has 35 touchdowns and no interceptions in Green Bays 12 wins; three touchdowns and five interceptions in the four losses.The Stakes: There are a lot of people who think he should end up with multiple Super Bowl rings before its all over. If he loses this week, he could get a pass because of the stomped-on calf.The Quote: Usually youve got some guys that can throw the deep but the receivers are either adjusting to it or doing this or that to make the catch. With him, it seems like all his deep balls are right in the basket. —Cowboys safety Barry Church.ANDREW LUCK, COLTSThe Stat: Two playoff victories over his first three seasons — two more than the quarterback he replaced, Peyton Manning, had at that point.The Stakes: The top pick of the 2012 draft is more focused on the here and now than any legacy. But what better way to write the opening chapter than by outplaying Manning to get his first playoff road win?The Quote: Nobody wants (to face) a great quarterback who can run. But Andrew Luck has elite speed, and then, when you try to tackle him, he may run you over, he may sidestep you. —Broncos safety Rahim Moore.PEYTON MANNING, BRONCOSThe Stat: Almost all the key numbers were down from the record-setting effort in 2013, but the more balanced Broncos may have a better chance of winning it all.The Stakes: Hes the only one on the list with a ring who was also picked first. John Elway built the franchise around Manning to win Super Bowls now. Manning is running out of time to add to his one ring.The Quote: Who has the most pressure? I actually think its him, considering the pressure he puts on himself. —Salisbury.___AP Sports Writers Arnie Stapleton in Denver, Genaro Armas in Green Bay, Schuyler Dixon in Dallas, David Ginsburg in Baltimore, Howard Ulman in Foxboro and Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this report.___Follow Eddie Pells on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/epells . scored 18 of his career- high 28 points in the first half, as fifth-ranked Ohio State dominated No. . They were expecting him there all along. The Pacers announced Friday night that George has been cleared "to return to normal basketball activity," a decision made three days after he was concussed in Game 2 of the Indiana-Miami series. . - After sewage backups, toilet overflows and foul smells surfaced the past two years, nothing at the Oakland Coliseum surprises the home team anymore. . -- Kole Calhoun homered and drove in three runs, Albert Pujols also went deep and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 Friday night. . Head coach Randy Carlyle confirmed the news after the Leafs morning skate on Monday. Kozun was hurt during Friday nights home game against the Red Wings and did not make the return trip to Detroit for Saturdays game.PHILADELPHIA -- Despite a poorly timed losing streak, Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle still believes Toronto can turn its season around before its too late. The Leafs dropped a 4-2 decision on Friday to the Philadelphia Flyers, their seventh straight loss, and remain outside of a post-season berth. Carlyle, however, said that his team just needs to clean up the little things and they should be fine with seven games remaining in the regular season. "Theyve proven to us before that they can play the game at a high level," said Carlyle. "If we can tidy up the turnover situation...we got to win more one-on-one battles for the puck. Those are the things at this juncture in the season thats imperative, that we win those battles. And right now were not winning enough." Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk, who scored his 29th goal of the season on Friday, agreed with his coach. "I think our work ethic has been good, we havent quit," said van Riemsdyk. "Weve played hard to the end, sometimes were just not getting the bounces." Vinny Lecavalier, Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds scored for the Flyers, while goaltender Steve Mason stopped 32 shots for the win. David Bolland also scored for the Leafs and Jonathan Bernier made 25 saves in defeat. Lecavalier opened the scoring for Philadelphia 5:35 into the first period as Toronto tried to kill off 1:36 of a 5-on-3 power play. Leafs defenceman Dion Phaneuf was forced to take the face-off after centre Jay McClement was tossed from the draw. After Phaneuf lost the faceoff to Giroux, Lecavalier one timed the puck past Bernier after being set up by defenceman Kimmmo Timonen.dddddddddddd "They score a five-on-three goal, our centre gets kicked out, I dont know if we could have covered it differently," said Carlyle. Van Riemsdyk responded for Toronto just four seconds into the second period, tying the NHL record for the fastest goal to start a period. After centre Tyler Bozak won the draw forward, van Riemsdyk skated ahead and put the puck past Mason to even the score. "Bozie made the play pretty much, he decided he was going to push it ahead," said van Riemsdyk. "He made a great play and I just fired it on net." "It was a big spark," Carlyle said of the goal. "We had a lot of momentum for our hockey club but we just werent able to carry it through." Hartnell killed any Toronto momentum when he gave Philadelphia the lead back at 11:03 of the second after a backhand tip on a shot from Timonen. Giroux made it 3-1 at 4:55 of the third period when he fired a slapper from the circle over Berniers right shoulder. Bolland brought the Leafs within a goal at 6:18. Simmonds, however, put the game out of reach at 12:39. "I look at it as we came here to work, we worked hard," said Carlyle. "Were we smart enough in some areas? No. But we gave ourselves a chance." Toronto is in a four-way tie for the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference, but sit outside a post-season position because of playing more games than any of the other three clubs. One of those teams is the Detroit Red Wings, who the Leafs will face on Saturday. Carlyle knows a win over the Red Wings is as big as it gets. "We have an opportunity tomorrow night, its the biggest game of the year." ' ' '
