SAN FRANCISCO Mike Singletary put his stamp on his coaching debut for the San Francisco 49ers, benching turnover-prone quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan in the second quarter and then sending volatile tight end Vernon Davis to the locker room in the fourth quarter Sunday.
“I told him that he would do a better job for us right now taking a shower and coming back and watching the game than going out on the field,” Singletary said after the 34-13 loss to Seattle. “Simple as that.”
The confrontation with Davis started after Davis was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty for slapping a Seahawks defender's head after a tackle in the third quarter.
Davis tried to avoid his coach as he ran to the sideline but Singletary gave him an earful before sending him to the bench. Singletary said he was upset by what he considered a nonchalant attitude by Davis, who did not seem to understand why his coach was angry.
Singletary later walked over to talk to Davis on the bench, yelling at the former No.6 overall pick. Then with 10 minutes, 41 seconds left in the game, Singletary went back to Davis and told him to go to the locker room.
“I'd rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we have to do something else rather than play with 11 when I know that person is not sold out to be a part of this team,” Singletary said. “Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners.”
Davis was unavailable for comment after the game. Davis wanted to talk to his coach, but Singletary advised against it.
“I told him he did not want to talk to me,” Singletary said. “I assured him, ‘You do not want to talk to me right now.'”
Short stuff
Cleveland has gone three games without a turnover.
The Steelers had won their previous nine home games against NFC teams, before losing 21-14 against the Giants.
LaDainian Tomlinson's 105 yards rushing against the Saints was only his second 100-yard effort in 12 games, and the 47th of his career.
Cleveland defensive tackle Shaun Rogers had nine tackles, a sack and a blocked a field goal against Jacksonville.
The Jets celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Super Bowl team with a halftime ceremony that included 36 former players, including Joe Namath.
Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware didn't have a sack, ending his streak at an NFL record-tying 10 straight games.
All of Jacksonville's games have been decided by seven points or less.
Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard has thrown 150 passes without an interception.
Eagles coach Andy Reid won his 100th game.
Dunta Robinson (South Carolina) set a Texans record with his 12th career interception.
Washington's Clinton Portis ran for 126 yards in Detroit, joining O.J. Simpson as the only players with at least 120 yards rushing in five straight games on two different occasions.
Receiver Roy Williams, whom Dallas acquired from Detroit for a package of draft picks, including the Cowboys' first-rounder in 2009, has two catches for 10 yards in two games.
The Browns have won three in a row in Jacksonville, but trail the all-time series 8-3.
After Dallas' 13-9 win against Tampa Bay, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave coach Wade Phillips a game ball.
The Chargers were penalized 14 times for 134 yards. They also had a touchdown called back by a penalty and a potential 73-yard touchdown pass went through the hands of Vincent Jackson on their opening drive of the second half.
With six catches, Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez moved into 11th place on the career list with 853 receptions.
New England's Randy Moss had 102 receiving yards, his 58th game with at least 100. He trails Jerry Rice (76) and Marvin Harrison (59) on the career list.
A pregame tailgate party outside Wembley Stadium in London featured New Orleans-based jazz bands and a Mardi Gras parade.
Miami linebacker Joey Porter's 101/2 sacks this season tie his career high.
In Detroit's seven losses, six quarterbacks have had a career-high passer rating against them. Washington's Jason Campbell had a career-high 127.4 rating Sunday.
Miami ran the Wildcat (single-wing) formation seven times and gained 34 yards.
Dallas' 10 first-half points are the most against Tampa Bay this season. It also was the first time this season the Bucs trailed at halftime.
Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs recorded his 50th sack.
The Rams played for the first time in Gillette Stadium, which opened in 2002. The Patriots are 24-4 against first-time visitors there.
The Eagles won their 500th game, counting postseason.
Dallas quarterback Brad Johnson's touchdown pass (his 166th) moved him into 51st place on the career list, notable because of who he passed: Former Cowboy Troy Aikman.
Using a variety of blitzes by defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, the Ravens limited the Raiders to 35 yards in building a 19-0 halftime lead. The 29-10 win was particularly sweet for Ryan because his twin brother, Rob, is Oakland's defensive coordinator. They are the sons of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan. “Just another victory over my brother,” Rex said.
Quotable
“That's his job.”
I know he's a little old, but he still can play.”
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