Welcome to Friday’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.

FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA playoffs: Knicks at Celtics, 7 p.m. (CSNNE, ESPN; WEEI-FM)
NBA playoffs: Pacers at Hawks, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
NBA playoffs: Thunder at Rockets, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA playoffs: Clippers at Grizzlies, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
NHL playoffs: Senators at Canadiens, 7 p.m. (CNBC)
NHL playoffs: Islanders at Penguins, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Wild at Blackhawks, 9:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL playoffs: Sharks at Canucks, 10 p.m. (CNBC)
MLB: Red Sox at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-AM)
MLB: Cardinals at Brewers, 8 p.m. (MLB Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ An Associated Press-GfK poll of more than 1,000 adults conducted in mid-April shows that despite recent attempts to pressure the Redskins to change their name, the majority of Americans do not think the team should be forced to give in to the politically correct movement. Only 11 percent said the name should be changed, with 8 percent unsure and 2 percent not answering.

A national poll in 1992 showed the name had 89 percent support, so this poll indicates a 10 percent drop.

The team made reference to the poll on its website.

“While much of the world has changed over the last three decades, the loyal support for the Washington Redskins remains unwavering,” the website said. “It is also suspected that at least 50 percent of those in dissent are Dallas Cowboys fans.”

Responded Susan Shown Harjo, one of five Native American petitioners who is trying to get the courts to take away the team’s federal trademark protection: “This is a really good example of why you never put racism up to a popular vote, because racism will win every time. It’s not up to the offending class to say what offends the offended.”

♦ Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez met the media Thursday, less than a week after the team drafted West Virginia QB Geno Smith early in the second round, and said he still considers himself the starter and future of the franchise.

“If we’re competing for the job, I’m going to do my very best to compete,” Sanchez said. “I expect to play. That’s just the way I am.”

Sanchez said new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg called him after Smith was selected and told Sanchez to to “go win the job.”

There’s a little fire going and that’s good,” Sanchez said. “I’m cool with that. I think it’s good for everybody.”

Added Sanchez: “It’s an exciting time. I’m thrilled to compete. It will bring out the very best that I have, and that will help the team.”

♦ Major League Baseball handed out fines to umpire Tom Hallion and the Rays players who were involved in a public dispute earlier this week.

Pitchers David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore were fined $1,000 each after tweeting comments questioning Hallion’s integrity. Hallion was fined an undisclosed amount after he called Price a “liar” for saying Hallion swore at him during Sunday’s game.

Price, who had said he only wanted an apology from Hallion, said Thursday he had no more comments on the matter.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 3, 1999, which Red Sox catcher made his first major league hit count, hitting a grand slam in the first inning against the A’s in a game the Sox would lose in the 10th despite have a 7-0 lead after two innings?

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Welcome to Thursday’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.

THURSDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
MLB: Red Sox at Indians, 7:05 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Giants at Brewers, 1:10 p.m. (MLB Network)
MLB: Rangers at Cubs, 2:10 p.m. (WGN)
MLB: Cardinals at Phillies, 7:05 p.m. (MLB Network)
NHL: Devils at Flyers, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NHL: Wild at Sharks, 10:30 p.m. (NHL Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Ray Allen is in Miami now, but his thoughts were with Boston following the Marathon bombing. (AP)

♦ Former Celtics guard Ray Allen no longer is in Boston, but the victims of the Boston Marathon were on his mind Wednesday night before his Heat played the Magic in Miami.

“We have a family friend that was there, that ran the marathon, and she’s in intensive care now because she lost her leg,” Allen said. “A good friend of mine, one of the managers of his restaurant, the 29-year-old that was killed was his manager. And his assistant chef, I don’t know if he said he lost both his legs or one, but he got hit pretty hard and he’s dealing with that now.”

Allen said he would have been somewhere close to the bomb scene had he still been in Boston, cheering on family members.

“We would have been sitting at the finish line, me and my whole family, waiting on my mom and my wife. … They would have been running if we were in Boston,” Allen sad. “So that presented some anxiety when I thought about it.”

♦ Rasheed Wallace won’t come back to haunt (or help) the Celtics in the playoffs as a member of the Knicks. The 38-year-old forward announced his retirement Wednesday after his final unsuccessful comeback bid — a brief appearance in Monday’s game against the Bobcats. Wallace, who returned from a two-year retirement to join the Knicks this season, missed most of the year with injuries — most recently a broken foot that required surgery in February.

“Rasheed has given this team everything he had,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said in a statement. “He is a winner, true professional and leader on and off the court. Due to his injury, he will not be available to play for us during the playoffs. We owe this season’s success to veterans like Rasheed.”

Wallace, who was a member of the 2009-10 Celtics team that lost in Game 7 of the NBA finals, played 21 games for New York.

♦ Last week, Mark Sanchez‘ personal coach, former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia, took some shots at Tim Tebow. “Having Tebow there doesn’t bring anything positive. It just brings distraction,” Sanchez said. “For Mark, the main competition is going to be David Garrard and Greg McElroy.”

On Wednesday, Tebow’s coach, Steve Clarkson, tried to defend Tebow by claiming he was set up to fail. Clarkson also took a swipe at Sanchez, calling him “fragile-minded.”

“I think [Tebow] was purposefully sent to New York,” Clarkson said on a conference call, ignoring Broncos vice president John Elway‘s explanation that Tebow chose New York over Jacksonville. “From the standpoint: You send him to a situation where you have instability with your coach — you don’t know if he’s coming or going. You have a fragile-minded Mark Sanchez at quarterback. You stick Tim Tebow in there and you kill two birds with one stone. So if you’re Denver, you’ve got to be thinking, ‘We send him to New York, we basically kill an opponent and, at the same time, Tim Tebow doesn’t come back to bite us in the proverbial butt, if you will, because he’s not going to make it out of there.’ ”

Clarkson also said the Jets’ limitations on Tebow guaranteed he would not succeed.

“I think in Tim’s case, they walked him into New York and said, ‘We’ve got four plays for you. You execute these four plays and that’s all you’re going to get,’ ” Clarkson said. “Well, when you walk on the field and that’s all you practice, and you don’t get any meaningful reps and you walk into a game and basically the defense is telling your offensive line basically where the ball is going to go, it’s pretty depressing and it doesn’t give you much room for hope. I would hope whoever, wherever he ends up that they give him an opportunity, and I think if they do, they’ll be pleasantly surprised. I think the guy still can play.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On April 18, 1997, the Bruins fired coach Steve Kasper one week after the season ended with the Bruins failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 1967. Who replaced him?

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David Garrard

Veteran quarterback David Garrard, who has not played a regular-season game since 2010 with the Jaguars, is making progress on a  deal with the Jets, according to an ESPN report.

The report quotes a source close to the situation as saying, “Both sides are feeling good about a possible deal,” following Garrard’s impressive workout for the team Thursday.

Garrard, 35, played for the Jaguars from 2002 through 2010, completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 16,003 yards and 89 touchdowns with 54 interceptions in 86 games. He spent last offseason with the Dolphins but injured his knee during training camp.

A New Jersey native, Garrard was a fourth-round pick of the Jaguars out of East Carolina in 2002.

Garrard would enter the Jets’ quarterback competition along with Mark Sanchez, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms. Tim Tebow remains on the roster but is expected to be released.

Welcome to Tuesday’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.

TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Devils at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
NHL: Islanders at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA: Hornets at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: North Carolina at Boston College, 9 p.m. (ESPNU; WEEI-AM)
College basketball: Wisconsin at Ohio State, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: NC State at Virginia, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Vanderbilt at Tennessee, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Kentucky at Mississippi, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Nebraska at Minnesota, 9 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

Ray Lewis

♦ Following the Patriots’ loss to the Ravens in last Sunday’s AFC championship game, Wes Welker‘s wife, Anna Burns Welker, posted a comment on Facebook mocking Ray Lewis for his apparent hypocrisy. Welker noted that Lewis “paid off a family” after being involved in a double murder outside a Super Bowl party in Atlanta in 2000 and has fathered six children with four women.

On Monday, Lewis insisted he has forgiven Burns Welker, who apologized one day after her attack.

“I’ve always been a firm believer of the Good Book, and the Good Book always confirms, even a fool is counted wise until he opens he or she mouth,” Lewis said. “Sometimes people just say silly stuff. And they say it out of emotion.

“Sometimes you need to let the game take care of the game. We lost up there last year, and I didn’t hear one teammate say anything about nobody there because we have respect for that team, that they won it fair and square. So for her to come out and say what she said — listen, I truly forgive her, and I have no hard feelings against her at all, but I believe people just make mistakes and say foolish things sometimes.”

Lewis also acknowledged he has made mistakes in his life, and he appreciates that he has been given an opportunity to win people over.

“I don’t know nobody that’s ever lived a perfect life,” he said. “I have [seen] people that have been through things before. Realistically, most of the time when you find somebody that goes through adversity, you really find out what their true character is. For me, people really now have taken time to find out who I am … and [what] my character is.”

Added Lewis: “For someone who has been through adversity and found his way out and really just showing what my true character is and who I am as a person.”

♦ Days after President Barack Obama said football needs to be safer for parents like him to consider allowing their kids to play, hard-hitting Ravens safety Ed Reed agreed.

“I am with Obama,” Reed said. “I have a son. I am not forcing football on my son. If he wants to play it … I can’t make decisions for him. All I can do is say, ‘Son, I played it so you don’t have to.’ ”

Reed added that football’s medical system needs major improvement.

“We’ve got some leaks in it that need to be worked out,” he said. “Every medical training room should be upgraded; training rooms can be a lot better.

“When you’ve got the president talking about it, you’ve got something.”

Meanwhile, Kristin Cavallari, who is engaged to Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, said she will push their 5-month-old son to a sport other than football when he gets older.

“I will try to steer Cam in a different direction, maybe a sport that isn’t so aggressive,” she said. “Maybe baseball — something where he doesn’t have to get hit.”

♦ The Jets reportedly have had internal discussions about former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the 2007 No. 1 overall pick who struggled to stay focused and in shape and was out of the NFL after the 2009 season. Russell is planning to attempt a comeback after being out of the game the last two seasons.

New general manager John Idzik told New York sports radio station WFAN on Monday that he wants to challenge incumbent Mark Sanchez, whose contract makes him difficult to trade. Idzik recently got a chance to meet Sanchez and let him know where he’s coming from.

“Yeah, I’m comfortable with Mark being a Jet,” Idzik said. “I told him as well, we’re going to add competition. … It’s going to help make Mark and everybody else better.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 29, 1996, the Red Sox sent outfielder Lee Tinsley, reliever Ken Ryan and minor league outfielder Glenn Murray to the Phillies for which pitcher (and two minor leaguers)?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We’re in the White House right now, which is like, ‘Mama, I made it.’ ” – LeBron James, as the Heat visited President Obama to celebrate their 2012 NBA championship

STAT OF THE DAY: 23 – Consecutive penalty kills for the Bruins to open the season

‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): A player for the Russian Professional Basketball League team Unics Kazan makes a pass to his coach on the sideline. The alert coach makes a quick pass to another player.

Magic big man Glen Davis catches Gerald Wallace as the Nets forward goes in for a layup and gives him a lift to the baseline.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Heathcliff Slocumb

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Charlie Wilson, former lead singer of The Gap Band, was born on this day in 1953.

Welcome to Tuesday’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.

TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
College football: Gator Bowl, Mississippi State vs. Northwestern, noon (ESPN2)
College football: Heart of Dallas Bowl, Purdue vs. Oklahoma State, noon (ESPNU)
College football: Capital One Bowl, Georgia vs Nebraska, 1 p.m. (ABC; WEEI-FM)
College football: Outback Bowl, South Carolina vs. Michigan, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
College football: Rose Bowl, Wisconsin vs. Stanford, 5 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI-FM)
College football: Orange Bowl, Northern Illinois vs. Florida State, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Clippers at Nuggets, 9 p.m. (NBATV)
College basketball: UConn at Marquette, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Quarterback Mark Sanchez says he wants to be back with the Jets next season. (AP)

♦ The Jets began their long offseason by firing general manager Mike Tannenbaum on Monday, and more changes to the organization are expected after a disappointing 6-10 season.

However, Mark Sanchez might still be the team’s quarterback, as his contract — he’s owed $8.25 million for 2013 — makes him difficult to move. Sanchez said Monday that he’s eager for another opportunity to prove his worth to New York fans.

“Until I’m told different, I’m a Jet,” Sanchez said. “I don’t see anything different. I just want another crack at this thing. … I had a good talk with Rex [Ryan], and I know we’re destined for greatness here and that we can be successful here, and that’s what I’m focused on.”

Added the QB: “In my opinion, I underachieved and didn’t play the way I’m capable of playing. Unfortunately, that led to some losses and some things like that. So I just have to get better and take some time to get away from the game for a little bit and come back strong for next year.”

Sanchez struggled with turnovers this season. He tied for third worst in the league with 18 interceptions and also lost eight fumbles. His most ignominious moment was the “buttfumble” against the Patriots in the Thanksgiving night blowout.

“There were some great plays, some great throws, and then there were some not-so-good things,” Sanchez said. “And those are things I need to focus on this offseason, try to fix those and put us in a better position to take care of the ball.”

♦ Running back Brandon Jacobs, who was suspended for the 49ers’ final three regular-season games after complaining about his lack of playing time on social media, was waived by the team Monday. By waiting until after the regular season to cut Jacobs, the Niners ensured that no playoff team could sign him for the playoffs.

Jacobs, 30, had five carries for seven yards in just two games for the NFC West champions after coming over from the Giants, where he played seven seasons. He is the fourth-leading rusher in Giants history, with 4,849 yards.

♦ Terrell Owens couldn’t find an NFL team willing to take a chance on him this season, but the six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver apparently has found a way to remain in front of an audience. Owens reportedly will appear in a new reality show on Fox called “Stars in Danger: The High Dive.”

Owens is one of eight celebrities who will receive training from a former Olympic diving medalist and then attempt a series of Olympic-style dives. The show is slated to air on Jan. 9.

Owens previously had his own cable reality show, “The T.O. Show.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 1, 1979, John Y. Brown attended his first game as owner of the Celtics. Which franchise did Brown trade with Irv Levin to acquire the C’s?

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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:
College football: Music City Bowl, NC State vs. Vanderbilt, noon (ESPN)
College football: Sun Bowl, USC vs. Georgia Tech, 2 p.m. (CBS)
College football: Liberty Bowl, Iowa State vs. Tulsa, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College football: Chick-fil-A Bowl, LSU vs. Clemson, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN; WEEI-FM)
College basketball: Dartmouth at Boston College, 2 p.m. (WEEI-AM)
College basketball: Harvard at St. Mary’s, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, noon (ESPN2)
College basketball: Michigan State at Minnesota, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Central Connecticut at Syracuse, 3 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Indiana at Iowa, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: UNC Greensboro at NC State, 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Gonzaga at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: New Mexico at Saint Louis, 7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
College basketball: North Texas at Middle Tennessee, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Rex Ryan's coaching staff faces an uncertain future after the Jets' dismal season ended with Sunday's 28-9 loss to the Bills in Buffalo. (AP)

♦ The Jets plan to fire offensive coordinator Tony Sparano following the team’s dismal offensive performance this season, according to an ESPN report. Sparano was hired last offseason after being fired as head coach of the Dolphins, but the Jets finished 30th in total offense and were unable to produce much from the wildcat package Sparano had success with in Miami.

Of course, part of the offense’s troubles can be traced to the quarterback position, where Mark Sanchez struggled and neither Greg McElroy nor Tim Tebow showed much in limited action. Sanchez returned to his starting role for Sunday’s finale against the Bills due to McElroy’s concussion, and he continued to cough up the ball, turning it over twice (one interception, one fumble) in New York’s 28-9 loss.

“This game was a microcosm right here of everything we’ve done this year,” linebacker Calvin Pace said after the Jets fell to 6-10. “I know those guys [on offense] are trying. It’s one of those things, man, when you’re dealing with professional football and the best of the best, trying isn’t good enough — trying will get everybody fired.”

Said coach Rex Ryan: “The future is going to be addressed at a different time. … Six wins isn’t up to anybody’s expectations, for this team and certainly not mine.”

♦ Outfielder Torii Hunter, who recently left the Angels to sign with the Tigers as a free agent, is getting some attention for a comment he made in a weekend Los Angeles Times story on gay athletes.

Asked how a homosexual teammate would be treated in the locker room, Hunter made it clear he would have an issue.

“For me, as a Christian … I will be uncomfortable because in all my teachings and all my learning, biblically, it’s not right,” he says. “It will be difficult and uncomfortable.”

Added Clippers guard Grant Hill: “It’s still taboo in the locker room.”

♦ Rockets rookie Royce White, who has not played a game this season, refused an assignment to the D-League and made it clear he remains far apart with the team on a plan to deal with his anxiety disorder.

“I do wish to play, but I only intend to do so with the collaboration and recommendation of trained professionals,” White said a statement released Sunday. “The purpose of a doctor’s confirmation is to ensure that health decisions are made in the sole interest of health and not conflicted with business. My only hope is that decision-makers involved realize that doctors are the only logical source to decide action.

“There is an admitted lack of knowledge on behalf of the Rockets and the NBA, it becomes transparent as they choose to forgo the knowledge of trained professionals and make independent decisions for something as complex as mental health without consulting any doctors.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 31, 1978, in the Patriots’ first playoff game in Foxboro, New England lost 31-14 to which team?

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Welcome to Friday’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.

FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Nuggets at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. (NBATV)
College basketball: Providence at Brown, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
College basketball: Baylor at Gonzaga, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Jacksonville at Indiana, 8 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Missouri at UCLA, 10 p.m. (ESPN2)
College football: Independence Bowl, Ohio vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
College football: Russell Athletic Bowl, Rutgers vs Virginia Tech, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College football: Meineke Car Care Bowl, Minnesota vs. Texas Tech, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ A couple of Boston sports antagonists were in the news Thursday, one receiving a suspension and the other escaping punishment on an apparent technicality.

The NBA suspended Heat guard Dwyane Wade one game for his kick to the groin area of Bobcats guard Ramon Sessions during Wednesday night’s game in Charlotte. Wade, who in the past has been accused of dirty play by Celtics guard Rajon Rondo, flailed his left leg upon being fouled, but he continues to insist it was an accident.

Tweeted Wade Thursday: I’m far from being a dirty player, + my intent was never 2 kick Ramon Sessions. I just reacted to the contact that I got from him. More than anything, I think of my boys watchin me be4 retaliating 2ward any player.

Sessions didn’t buy Wade’s explanation, saying after the game: “I thought he did it on purpose.”

Meanwhile, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman tweeted two words Thursday in reference to his appeal of a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy: I won.

Sherman had claimed that there were issues with the collection of his urine sample on Sept. 17 that involved a leaky cup.

“I know what the truth is and anybody else who knows anything knows what the truth is. The truth has been told today,” Sherman told reporters. “People can say what they want, there are always naysayers. I have great teammates and great coaches and great fans and that’s all I care about.”

Sherman — who famously taunted Tom Brady after Seattle’s 24-23 victory over the Patriots on Oct. 14 — received support and criticism following his announcement. Apparently, New England fans touched a nerve, as Sherman later tweeted: Pats fans enjoy ur day .

♦ Tim Tebow once again was bypassed by Jets coach Rex Ryan, as Mark Sanchez was tabbed to start Sunday’s season finale against the Bills when Greg McElroy was ruled out due to post-concussion issues.

“I’m going to start Mark Sanchez,” Ryan said Thursday. “The reason I’m starting Mark is we have two practices and one walk-through to get ready for Buffalo. Mark has had success earlier in the season against Buffalo. He’s very familiar with them. That’s the reason I’m going with Mark.”

McElroy suffered his concussion in Sunday’s 27-17 loss to the Chargers. He was sacked 11 times but did not acknowledge his condition to the coaches until Thursday morning. A “stunned” Ryan then called Sanchez and Tebow together to announce his plans.

“Obviously, Tim’s not happy with that as you’d expect,” Ryan said.

Said Tebow: “I understand. I told coach I definitely understand. Obviously, you’re a competitor, you want to play, but I understood his decision. I just let him know, just like always, I’ll do whatever I can to help the team.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 28, 1963, which Red Sox infielder was named Comeback Player of the Year?

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Welcome to Thursday’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.

THURSDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Thunder at Timberwolves, 7 p.m. (TNT)
NBA: Heat at Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
College basketball: Elon at Duke, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Eastern Michigan at Michigan, 8:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College football: Poinsettia Bowl, BYU vs. San Diego State, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

AROUND THE WEB:

It's been a long season for Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez. (AP)

♦ The Jets appear ready to start over at quarterback. According to the New York Daily News, the team will look to trade Mark Sanchez after the season — although it likely will be difficult to find a team willing to pay Sanchez the $8.25 million he’s owed. Sanchez, in his fourth season in New York after being drafted fifth overall, has been benched in favor of Greg McElroy for Sunday’s game against the Chargers following his disastrous five-turnover performance in this past Sunday’s 14-10 loss to the Titans that ended the Jets’ playoff hopes.

“I’m not going to make excuses,” Sanchez said after Wednesday’s practice. “At the end of the day, no matter what kind of situation that you’re in, the quarterback has the ball and it’s my job to make good decisions with the football regardless of the personnel situation. … I’m not going to go there. Is every interception the quarterback’s fault? Of course not. But they’re attributed to the quarterback. It goes as my stat. You live with that. You own up to your side of the mistakes and you move on.”

The Daily News also reports that Michael Vick, who is expected to be released by the Eagles when the season ends, would be amenable to joining the Jets, and that Rex Ryan has always admired the speedy QB.

“[Ryan] loves him,” a team official told the paper.

Vick lost his starting job in Philadelphia after receiving a concussion this season.

♦ Suspended ESPN “First Take” panelist Rob Parker apologized for racially inflammatory remarks he made last week about Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Parker, himself African-American, questioned whether Griffin was “a brother or a cornball brother” and brought up the fact that the player has a white fiancee and is rumored to be a Republican.

Wrote Parker on Wednesday:

“I blew it and I’m sincerely sorry. I completely understand how the issue of race in sports is a sensitive one and needs to be handled with great care. This past Thursday I failed to do that. I believe the intended topic is a worthy one. Robert’s thoughts about being an African-American quarterback and the impact of his phenomenal success have been discussed in other media outlets, as well as among sports fans, particularly those in the African-American community. The failure was in how I chose to discuss it on First Take, and in doing so, turned a productive conversation into a negative one.”

Added Parker: “I’ve contacted his agent with hopes of apologizing to Robert directly. As I reflect on this and move forward, I will take the time to consider how I can continue to tackle difficult, important topics in a much more thoughtful manner.”

♦ Isiah Thomas, fired by Florida International University in March after going 26-65 in three seasons as coach, will make his debut as an analyst on NBA TV on Friday. Thomas is slated to make several appearances a month and write for NBA.com.

His first appearance comes as a lead-in to the game between the Bulls and Knicks, the last NBA team Thomas worked for.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 20, 1964, the Patriots ended their season with a 24-14 loss to the Bills. Despite failing to score in the game, which Patriots player finished the season with an AFL record 155 points?

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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 Tuesday’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.

TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Celtics at Bulls, 8 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Timberwolves at Heat, 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
College basketball: Winthrop at Ohio State, 7 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Richmond at Kansas, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Michigan State at Bowling Green, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Western Kentucky at VCU, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
College basketball: Miami at Central Florida, 8 p.m. (CBSSN)
College basketball: Stanford at NC State, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Jacksonville State at Nebraska, 9 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

AROUND THE WEB:

♦ The Jets’ hopes of making the playoffs were ended Monday night with a brutal 14-10 road loss to the Titans. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez threw four interceptions but was in position to win the game after a 19-yard punt gave New York the ball at the Tennessee 25 with 47 seconds remaining. However, Sanchez couldn’t handle a low shotgun snap on first down and the Titans recovered the fumble.

ESPN play-by-play caller Mike Tirico summed it up best, saying: “That’s the way this game should end, that’s the way the Jets’ season should end: Ugly, and a loss.”

Said Jets coach Rex Ryan: “Obviously, it’s a devastating loss, out of the playoffs, and it hurts beyond belief. I think the thing that really hurts the most is we’ve got no one to blame but ourselves.”

Sanchez (13-for-28 for 131 yards) had a passer rating of 32.6, lower than Tim Tebow (39.6), who was 0-for-1 and rushed three times for 15 yards. Sanchez turned over the ball on each of his team’s final three possessions.

“It doesn’t feel good hurting your team like that,” Sanchez said. “It’s not a winning formula. It never feels good.”

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who was predicting a playoff berth a month ago, was in no mood to talk after the loss that dropped the Jets to 6-8.

“Guys, no questions,” he told reporters. “I’m going to tell y’all the truth. This [bleep] has got to stop. Just being real.”

♦ A walk-on long snapper for the University of North Alabama was dismissed from the team after he made a racially offensive reference to President Barack Obama on Sunday night.

Referring to Obama’s speech from Newtown, Conn., that caused NBC to cut away from its coverage of the Patriots-49ers game, Bradley Patterson tweeted:

Take that [n-word] off the tv, we wanna watch football!

UNA director of athletics Mark Linder later tweeted that Patterson no longer is a member of the team.

Patterson’s Twitter account was closed shortly after his tweet.

♦ Major League Baseball is attempting to produce hats with padding so that pitchers will be safer. Baseball officials are considering adding a Kevlar lining to help avoid concussions when balls are struck back toward the mound.

“Since we started looking at the concussions a few years ago, we’ve actually been talking about this and looking for products,” MLB medical director Gary Green told The Washington Post. “But unfortunately there has not been any product that can withstand the impact at the major league level. And I think the fact that we’ve had several [incidents] in the last two years has really given us more impetus to see if we can get this developed quicker.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 18, 1986, which Bruins forward recorded his ninth (and final) career hat trick and added two assists in a 6-5 loss to the Hartford Whalers?

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