Arizona beats out Tampa for SB 2015

AH, ARIZONA. Just the place for the Super Bowl to thaw out after a frosty foray into North Jersey.

The Super Bowl is heading back to the desert in 2015, 1 year after it will be at the mercy of winter weather in the Meadowlands. The Phoenix area was awarded the 49th Super Bowl by NFL owners yesterday at their fall meetings in Houston, beating the only other candidate - Tampa, Fla.

It will be the third time the Phoenix area has hosted the game, which will be played in Glendale.

Phoenix won on the second ballot, prompting screams of joy from the Arizona committee.

It's difficult to be critical of the choice weatherwise: average temperature in early February in Glendale is about 60 degrees. In East Rutherford, N.J., where the first outdoor Super Bowl in a cold-weather climate will be played in 2014, the average is a slightly chillier 31 degrees.

The NFL also set Feb. 2, 2014, as the date of the Super Bowl in New Jersey; that date will not conflict with the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

"It's historically warmer on Feb. 2," Giants owner John Mara said with a smile.

Also, the NFL announced it will play regular-season games in Britain through 2016. Team owners approved a resolution, with the number of games per year potentially increasing. No venues, dates or teams have been decided, but commissioner Roger Goodell said there could be more than one game there next season.

Teams can volunteer to play at least one regular-season home game per year in Britain for up to five years. Goodell said several teams have expressed interest and there are financial incentives for hosting games overseas. Visiting teams can play abroad only once in 5 years.

Tim Tebow didn't win the Denver Broncos' starting-quarterback job as much as Kyle Orton lost it. Regardless, Tebow has ditched his cap and clipboard and is now the starring attraction in Denver. Coach John Fox made the switch official, announcing Tebow will start against Miami when the 1-4 Broncos return from their bye week.

* The New York Jets have agreed to trade wide receiver Derrick Mason to Houston for an undisclosed draft pick, a source told the Associated Press. Mason, 37, signed with the Jets in August.

* Tampa Bay safety Tanard Jackson is back in the NFL after being suspended more than a year for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

* Jacksonville waived veteran punter Matt Turk 2 days after his 22-yard punt set up Cincinnati's winning touchdown. The Jaguars signed free agent Nick Harris to replace him.

* Chicago waived safety Winston Venable and elevated safety Anthony Walters from the practice squad.

* Cleveland defensive end Marcus Benard was driving "at a high rate of speed" and crossed four lanes before crashing his motorcycle into a guardrail, according to a police report. Benard was thrown an estimated 241 feet after slamming his Can-Am Spyder into the guardrail on Monday after practice. Benard, who broke a hand in the wreck, has been charged with driving under suspension and reckless operation. He is due in court Oct. 18.

* Arizona signed former Eagles safety Sean Considine and released punter Ben Graham. Considine played in four games for Carolina before being released.

* New York Giants defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

* San Diego will place inside linebacker Stephen Cooper on season-ending injured reserve with a biceps injury.

* A proposed local sales tax to pay for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium won't be going to voters. The Vikings had complained that putting the half-cent tax hike before voters would delay the project by 2 years and add at least $110 million to the $1 billion proposal. A Ramsey County panel rejected a countywide vote next year on a proposed sales tax hike to help build a Vikings stadium.