Welcome to Wednesday’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.

WEDNESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Cavaliers at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. (CSNNE: WEEI-FM)
NBA: Nets at Knicks, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Bucks at Grizzlies, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Cornell at Duke, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Mount St. Mary’s at Indiana, 7 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Xavier vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Oregon at UTEP, 8 p.m. (CBSSN)
College basketball: North Carolina at Texas, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Oakland at West Virginia, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Souther Carolina State at Iowa, 9 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Mississippi at Loyola Marymount, 11 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow, here being sacked during his brief appearance in Monday night's loss to the Titans, reportedly is unhappy about his role. (AP)

♦ Greg McElroy was named Jets starter following Mark Sanchez‘ five-turnover performance Monday night, and apparently that’s not sitting well with Tim Tebow. According to a report from the New York Daily News, Tebow will ask to be traded or released after the season if he does not get more of an opportunity in the last two games.

Jets coach Rex Ryan said Sanchez respected the coach’s decision to bench him, but Ryan has not publicly addressed the Tebow situation.

“I want to put Greg out there,” Ryan said Tuesday. “I’m going to put Greg out there. In my opinion, that’s what’s best for our team.”

Meanwhile, a Jets fan who sent Sanchez death threats on Twitter following the team’s Monday night loss to the Titans told the New York Daily News that he wasn’t serious and doesn’t understand why people are angry about his behavior.

The man, who identified himself as 25-year-old Bravee Grandcu, said he lost $700 when Sanchez fumbled away the Jets’ chances at winning, and he claims Sanchez did it on purpose, so he tweeted:

KILL YO SELF TONIGHT! OR IMMA DO IT FOR YOU WEDNESDAY AT PRACTICE, and, DON’T COME TO PRACTICE WEDNESDAY I PROMISE YOU BULLETS EVERYWHERE. He also tweeted a picture of himself wearing a Jets hat with the message, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOUR KILLER!!

Grandcu told the Daily News that he doesn’t own a gun and was never going to be violent.

“I don’t know why everyone’s making such a big deal about the death threats,” he said. “I guess it’s just because he’s Mark Sanchez and he’s famous.”

♦ The bond for Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent, who faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter in the death of teammate Jerry Brown, was reduced from $500,000 to $100,000 on Tuesday. Brent also was ordered to wear an electronic monitor.

Brent appeared on the Cowboys sideline for Sunday’s game against the Steelers, but he will not be allowed back on the field this season, according to an ESPN report. Team owner Jerry Jones said he didn’t know about Brent’s appearance until he saw him on television. The team and the league reportedly agreed that Brent would not return.

♦ Albert Elias, a 41-year-old agent who founded Elias Sports Management and represents eight current NFL players, reportedly died while on a skiing trip.

Free agent safety Chris Harris confirmed the news on Twitter, as did a number of fellow agents.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 19, 2001, the Red Sox traded catcher Scott Hatteberg to the Rockies for a player they did not tender a contract to, making him a free agent. Two years later, they signed the same player to a one-year deal and he played for the Sox’ 2004 World Series championship team. Who is he?

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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:
NFL: Texans at Patriots, 8:30 p.m. (WCVB, ESPN; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Pistons at 76ers, 7 p.m. (NBA TV)

AROUND THE WEB:

The Jovan Belcher tragedy in Kansas City apparently was a wakeup call for at least a few NFL players, leading to them turning in their guns to team security.

♦ At least seven NFL players have surrendered their guns to team personnel in the wake of last week’s murder-suicide in Kansas City, according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King.

King, who revealed the information on NBC’s “Football Night in America” pregame show Sunday night, reported that one player turned in multiple weapons, saying that he didn’t trust himself with the guns.

Following last week’s incident involving Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, it’s been speculated that about 70 percent of NFL players own at least one gun, with many owning more than one.

♦ The Cowboys managed to win Sunday, posting a 20-19 road victory over the Bengals one day after the death of linebacker Jerry Brown and the arrest of defensive lineman Josh Brent on charges of intoxication manslaughter (Brent was released on bond Sunday afternoon).

“It’s a hard, hard situation we’re in,” quarterback Tony Romo said. “There’s no playbook for this sort of thing in life.”

Added defensive end Marcus Spears: “This was a step in the healing process for us. But we haven’t dealt with a lot yet — remembering Jerry and keeping his memory alive, dealing with Josh and supporting him in whatever way we can. That’s still to come.”

Meanwhile, according to a report from Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan, injured Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff had a “volcanic” argument with team owner Jerry Jones last week.

Ratliff, who signed a five-year, $40 million extension last year, had just 25 tackles and 10 quarterback pressures this season before sitting out the last three games. He’s missed seven games in all this year with join, ankle and foot problems.

Jones, a familiar figure in the locker room after games, reportedly approached Ratliff after last Sunday’s victory over the Eagles and said, “We need you.” Ratliff’s response was an angry one.

“They’re both passionate men and great men and they want to win, that’s all it is,” a source told the station. “But they were in each other’s faces. People had to intervene.”

♦ Spurs guard Stephen Jackson was fined $25,000 by the NBA and apologized for his threatening tweet toward Thunder center Serge Ibaka. Jackson sent his message after Ibaka tangled with Jackson’s friend and former teammate, Lakers forward Metta World Peace, on Friday night.

Wrote Jackson: Somebody tell serb Abaka. He aint bout dis life. Next time he run up on me im goin in his mouth. That’s a promise. He doin 2 much.

After the NBA and the Spurs condemned Jackson’s comments, Jackson sent out a much more well-written apology:

Tweeted Jackson: I apologize to Serge Ibaka, the NBA, and to all my fans for the comments I made. It was unprofessional and childish. I’m not a thug just a man who speaks his mind. It was not appropriate. I do apologize. Only a man can admit when he’s wrong.

Jackson and the former Ron Artest were teammates with the Pacers in 2004, when they both took part in the infamous brawl in the stands in Detroit that led to long suspensions.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 10, 1980, the Red Sox sent the left side of their infield — shortstop Rick Burleson and third baseman Butch Hobson — to the Angels for which three players?

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