Als' Popp interviews for Carolina GM post

Enlarge Image

Max Faulkner /Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT archives Rob Ryan was fired after two years as the defensive co-ordinator in Dallas. (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A person familiar with the situation says the Carolina Panthers interviewed New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross and Montreal Alouettes general manager Jim Popp on Tuesday for their vacant GM position.

Carolina will also interview Giants senior pro personnel analyst David Gettleman, Tennessee Titans vice-president of player personnel Lake Dawson and Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton this week.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Panthers have not made the interviews public.

The 39-year-old Ross is in high demand in NFL circles after the Giants' success in recent seasons, while Popp's teams have won four Grey Cup titles in 19 seasons. The Panthers are looking to replace GM Marty Hurney, who was fired after a 1-5 start this season.

Surgery for RG3 today

WASHINGTON -- A person familiar with the situation says Robert Griffin III will have surgery today to repair a torn ligament in his right knee.

The person said Griffin has a torn lateral collateral ligament and that the surgery will also determine whether he also has damaged the ACL.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Redskins have not announced the latest details of Griffin's injury.

Baylor coach Art Briles confirmed the same details in an interview with USA Today.

A torn LCL would require a rehabilitation period of several months, possibly extending into training camp and the start of next season. A torn ACL is a more severe injury, typically requiring nine to 12 months of recovery.

Griffin reinjured the knee in Sunday's playoff loss to Seattle.

Cowboys fire Ryan

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas defensive co-ordinator Rob Ryan has been fired after his injury-depleted unit struggled in a pair of season-ending losses that kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs for a third straight year.

Ryan was let go Tuesday, a day after running backs coach Skip Peete was fired. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett announced the move in a release.

Ryan spent two seasons with the Cowboys after he was fired two years into the same job in Cleveland. Dallas missed the playoffs both years with Ryan.

The Cowboys finished with four starters on injured reserve. A fifth starter, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, was limited to six games by ankle and groin injuries.

Johnson wins Tour opener

KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Dustin Johnson ended a windy week with a wild ride Tuesday that carried him to the first win of the PGA Tour season.

Despite hitting two drives into native areas that cost him three shots, Johnson never lost the lead at Kapalua. He closed with a 5-under 68 for a four-shot victory in the Tournament of Champions, though it was up for grabs with five holes remaining.

Stricker came within a fraction of an inch of tying for the lead until his birdie putt peeled away from the cup on the 13th hole, which Johnson chopped up for a double bogey. With only a one-shot lead, Johnson pitched in from 50 feet in front of the 14th green to restore his three-shot lead, and Stricker never challenged him after that.

And so, the tournament that didn't start until the fourth day because of a powerful wind finally ended with a guy who overpowered the Plantation Course.

Johnson, who finished at 16-under 203, won for the sixth straight season. Only Phil Mickelson with nine straight years has a longer active streak of most consecutive seasons with a PGA Tour victory.

-- from the news services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 9, 2013 C4