Griffin reportedly facing knee surgery
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III will undergo surgery soon to repair a torn ligament in his right knee, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Citing a person familiar with Griffin's condition, the newspaper said the rookie signal-caller has a torn lateral collateral ligament and will go under the knife in a matter of days.
The newspaper said doctors will also seek to determine if the rookie signal-caller's anterior cruciate ligament was torn as well.
The Heisman Trophy winner suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday's NFC wild card round playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was removed from the game after being helped off the field.
The Post earlier reported magnetic scans performed Monday indicated Griffin had sustained partially torn knee ligaments.
The rehabilitation time from surgery on lateral collateral ligaments can take as long as eight to 12 months, University of Maryland doctor James Dreese told the newspaper.
Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan didn't specify the extent of Griffin's injury during a press conference Monday, saying only he was set to be examined Tuesday by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Florida.
Police interview Nets' Blatche in assault
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Philadelphia police said Tuesday they have interviewed Brooklyn Nets forward Andray Blatche about an alleged sexual assault at the team's hotel.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told The New York Times a woman claims she was sexually assaulted in a hotel suite where Blatche was present early Tuesday, but added he is not being accused of any wrongdoing.
"From all accounts, he was not personally involved in any kind of assault or anything like that," Ramsey told the newspaper. "He was there but he was not involved."
The Nets issued a statement indicating they were aware of the police interview but otherwise didn't comment.
Ramsey said Blatche and two other men were with three women in a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel. One of the women present, whom police described as very intoxicated, claimed she was sexually assaulted by the one of the men and was taken to a hospital to be examined for signs of rape.
Neither of the other men were members of the Nets' traveling party, the Times reported.
Blatche, 26, is averaging 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game over 34 contests for the Nets this season.
Knicks' Anthony talks of Garnett spat
GREENBURGH, N.Y., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- New York Knicks center Carmelo Anthony said Tuesday he doesn't expect to be suspended following a post-game meltdown aimed at Boston's Kevin Garnett.
Anthony screamed at Garnett as both teams were heading to their Madison Square Garden locker rooms following the Celtics' 102-96 win over the Knicks Monday.
Television footage from Comcast SportsNet New England later showed Anthony waiting outside the Celtics' team bus, apparently in an effort to confront Garnett.
Several police officers and team officials surrounded the superstar center, preventing him from moving toward the bus.
Anthony told reporters Tuesday he just wanted to "talk to KG" and didn't do anything to be suspended, adding he was angered by "trash talk" of a personal nature allegedly hurled at him by Garnett during the contest.
"It's something you just don't say to men, another man," Anthony told the New York Daily News. "I feel like we crossed the line.
"My mindset and motive of going back there to see him at the locker room and seeing him at the bus, I wanted to have a one-on-one conversation with him and talk about it like two grown men," he said.
Cowboys fire defensive coach Rob Ryan
IRVING, Texas, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been fired following a disappointing season, the team announced Tuesday.
Cowboys head Coach Jason Garrett said Ryan was dismissed after the Dallas defense misfired down the stretch of the 2012 campaign as the Cowboys finished their last six games 3-3 and missed the playoffs.
"I want to express my appreciation to Rob for all of his efforts and contributions to the Cowboys over the past two years," Garrett said in a statement. "At this time, the decision has been made to move forward in a different direction philosophically on defense.
"I have an immense amount of respect for Rob as a person and as a football coach and I wish him and his family the very best."
Ryan's squad allowed 25 points per game this past season, ninth-most in the league, and finished 19th in total defense, Fox Sports said.
Ryan has also served a defensive coordinator for Cleveland and Oakland and was linebackers coach for New England during his 12-year NFL career.
