Bucs King's rule grows more benevolent [Times photo: Kevin White] Bucs QB is winning respect by becoming less critical and more composed in the huddle. Wunsch, Wolf parry Spat between Bucs OT, Packers GM rooted in Wunsch quote. An overeager offense kills Lynch return TAMPA -- The special teams didn't have a great day against the Packers on Sunday, but coach Tony Dungy said Joe Marciano's crew wasn't entirely responsible for the penalty that negated John Lynch's 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Monday night football
Broncos nip Raiders
Jason Elam's field goal as time runs out gives Denver its second win over Oakland.

College football
'Canes return favor, pass FSU
Miami jumps to No.2, Florida State falls to 3 and Florida rises to 4 as BCS shake-up continues.

One-sided Tally
There's no need for a recount, Gator fans. Steve Spurrier is 0-4-1 at Doak Campbell Stadium.

UF to Spurrier: 4 more years
Gators give their coach a contract extension through 2006 for $2.1-million a season.

Seminoles' Chaney out for season
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State running back Jeff Chaney is out for the season with a torn ACL and a torn MCL in his right knee an MRI exam revealed Monday. The senior is expected to have reconstructive knee surgery within the next few weeks.

B-CC's pick of the class
Sophomore free safety Rashean Mathis shares the Division I lead with 11 interceptions, but it's his coach's mark -- and a win over FAMU -- that he has a bead on.

Bulls hope to put embarrassment behind for finale
TAMPA -- As South Florida opened its final week of practice for the season, coach Jim Leavitt still was smarting from the 45-9 loss to Middle Tennessee State, the worst in school history.

Baseball
Pedro is perfect again in Cy voting
The Red Sox right-hander wins unanimously for second year in a row.

Lightning/NHL
These two adore each other
Vinny Lecavalier loves returning to Montreal, and the locals are his biggest fans.

Bulletin board gets material
MONTREAL -- Canadiens defenseman Patrice Brisebois caused a stir in the Lightning locker room Monday.

Offense, heritage are Hall highlights
TORONTO -- Denis Savard has a suggestion to improve play in the NHL -- make the rinks smaller. He believes that would bring more goals, with shooters on top of goalies and more shots flying at the net.

Edmonton wins big in best-ice voting
Did you know ice that is too hard can mess up an NHL game?

NFL
Around the AFC
BENGALS: They are assured of their 10th straight season without a winning record. ... Quarterback Akili Smith has gone five straight games without 100 yards passing and six games without a touchdown pass.

Around the NFC
BEARS: They have been outscored 246-140 this season, 79-29 in the fourth quarter.

Hobbling Favre expects to be ready Sunday
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Packers' Brett Favre insists he will play Sunday despite a sprained foot that had threatened to end his streak of 135 starts, an NFL record for quarterbacks.

Comebacks put strut in Eagles
Thanks. For nothing.

Outdoors
Captain's Corner
A lack of cold fronts has water temperatures holding in the mid-70s, slowing the gag grouper's march into shallower water. We have been finding a decent number of keeper-size fish in 55-80 feet of water holding on small 1-3 foot ledges.

Motorsports
Labonte got past his crash
HOMESTEAD -- It wasn't just the consistency or the wins.

Et cetera
TV takes a look at Bulls' saga
TAMPA -- HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel is producing a segment on the racial discrimination controversy surrounding the South Florida women's basketball team.

Sports digest
Slay to get his gold on live TV

Preps
Coaches prove building a winner isn't an easy job
AFA's Mike Jalazo, East Bay's Brian Thornton and CCC's John Davis all have turned losing football teams into winners.

Wharton's wait about to end
After four years of struggling to get on track, the Wildcats will run in their first state meet Saturday.

Class of the county
LINDSEY MOFFENBIER -- East Bay girls cross country: Won the Class 3A, Region cross country meet in Winter Haven on Nov. 11. The Indians' distance runner completed the 3 miles in 18 minutes, 15 seconds to earn a trip to states even though her team did not qualify.