Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says Alabama used some tape trickery on field goals and extra points last weekend and is asking the Southeastern Conference if what he saw on video is legal.
Spurrier said Tuesday it looked like the Crimson Tide holder put a small piece of white tape on the ground to spot PATs and field goals, then quickly put the tape in his pocket after the kick.
Spurrier says it’s the first time he has ever seen a team do that. SEC spokesman Charles Bloom says the league is looking into Spurrier’s claims.
Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin hit both extra points and field goals of 25 and 35 yards Saturday. He missed a 49-yarder.
Alabama officials say its coaches have been reminded of the rule on placekicks.
NFL
CHARLOTTE ó The Carolina Panthers have waived defensive tackle Antwon Burton, creating a roster spot for newly acquired defensive tackle Tank Tyler.
– WASHINGTON ó Washington Redskins Coach Jim Zorn said Tuesday he would almost certainly return to Jason Campbell as the starting quarterback for Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the first game in which Zorn will relinquish his play-calling duties to offensive consultant Sherman Lewis.
– PHILADELPHIA ó The Philadelphia Eagles acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon from the St. Louis Ramsfor rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick in 2010.
– CHICAGO ó The Chicago Bears and quarterback Jay Cutler have agreed on a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2013 season.
NBA
CHARLOTTE ó D.J. Augustin scored 15 points, rookie Gerald Henderson was nearly perfect from the field and Charlotte beat the Milwaukee Bucks 94-87 on Tuesday night in Tyson Chandler’s preseason debut with the Bobcats.
Charlotte (2-5) snapped a four-game losing streak despite getting little from Chandler, who had four points and two rebounds in 16 minutes in his first game following offseason ankle surgery.
Henderson, the 12th pick in the draft, added 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting and Boris Diaw had 10 points in 30 minutes in his longest stint since returning from a sprained ankle.
COLLEGE HOOPS
BRISTOL, Conn. ó ESPN will broadcast more than 1,000 college basketball games over its multiple platforms this season.
The first telecasts will be opening-round games of the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer on ESPNU on Nov. 9: Florida International at North Carolina; Albany at Syracuse; and Murray State at California.
For the ninth straight year ESPN will show the NCAA tournament’s opening-round game from Dayton, Ohio.
NHL
PITTSBURGH ó Matt Cooke had a goal and an assist, four other Pittsburgh players scored, and the Penguins earned their sixth straight win by beating the St. Louis Blues 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Kris Letang had two assists, and Tyler Kennedy, Evgeni Malkin, Ruslan Fedotenko and Alex Goligoski had goals
Canadiens 2, Thrashers 1, SOMONTREAL ó Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta scored in the shootout, and Montreal snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Atlanta.
Gionta, who scored late in the first period, sealed the win with a backhander past Ondrej Pavelec on Montreal’s third attempt of the shootout.