Welcome to Monday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

MONDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Celtics at Bulls, 8 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NFL: Chiefs at Steelers, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI-FM — joined in progress)
College basketball: Youngstown State at Georgia, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: IUPUI at Michigan, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: West Virginia at Gonzaga, 11:59 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Davidson at New Mexico, 2 a.m. Tuesday (ESPN)
College basketball: Houston Baptist at Hawaii, 4 a.m. Tuesday (ESPN)
College basketball: Stony Brook at Rider, 6 a.m. Tuesday (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez are running out of time to turn around the Jets' season. (AP)

♦ Antonio Cromartie is “still confident” about his playoff guarantee despite the Jets’ latest embarrassment, a 28-7 loss to the Seahawks in Seattle that dropped New York to 3-6. Rex Ryan, meanwhile, said he isn’t rethinking his quarterback situation. Despite an anemic offensive performance (the only touchdown came from the defense), the Jets will stick with Mark Sanchez.

Said Ryan: “I believe we can win with Mark, and I believe that we can win with Tim [Tebow], but I’m not going to let you or anyone else convince me otherwise. Because this is how I feel.”

Sanchez (9-for-22 for 124 yards with an interception and a fumble on a sack) did his best to remain upbeat after his worst performance of a bad season. “I know we can do it,” he said. “I have seen our guys do it. It just has to turn, and it starts with me.”

♦ Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was suspended two games by the NBA on Sunday for confronting Spurs radio broadcaster Sean Elliott following Friday night’s game in Sacramento.

Cousins crowed toward his team’s bench after scoring a couple of baskets on Tim Duncan and then drawing a foul on the Spurs legend midway through the fourth quarter. Duncan responded by blocking a Cousins shot and scoring three baskets downs the stretch of a 97-86 Spurs win.

“That’s why some humility is in order,” Elliott said on the air. “You think you’re dominating Tim Duncan, you get it stuffed right back in your face. Timmy doesn’t like to talk trash. But if guys start talking mess to him, he’s going to respond. All that trash talking was premature. I’m not about to let these guys off the hook. Young ballclub should learn from this. Don’t start talking and flapping your gums against one of the greatest players ever. He’s going to make you pay. Tell me who got the best of this exchange.”

Cousins apparently was informed that Elliott was criticizing him, and he decided to argue with Elliott after the postgame show. Cousins also told the media in the locker room that Elliott was “immature” for making his comments.

♦ First-year Washington State football coach Mike Leach took two years off from coaching after his acrimonious departure from Texas Tech, which was due in part to the fiery coach’s alleged mistreatment of a player who was suffering from post-concussion symptoms. It appears that Leach hasn’t softened.

Washington State president Elson Floyd called for an investigation after standout wide receiver Marquess Wilson quit the team and cited abusive behavior by Leach and his staff.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Nov. 12, 1942, which Bruin became the youngest player in NHL history when he took to the ice one month before his 17th birthday for a 3-1 loss in Toronto? Hint: He later coached the B’s.

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Rookie forward DeMarcus Cousins was removed from the Kings’ team plane Saturday night following an altercation with teammate Donte Greene, according to NBA Fanhouse.

Sources told the site that Cousins was furious Greene inbounded the ball to Tyreke Evans instead of him on the final play of Sacramento’s loss to Oklahoma City. Cousins was calling for the ball in the post, but Greene opted to go to Evans, who missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Sources said Cousins and Greene began exchanging words in the locker room and that things escalated on the plane when Cousins accused Greene of being too “scared” to make what he thought was the right play, leading to both sides throwing punches.

Fanhouse notes that Cousins is expected to be suspended for at least one game.