Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is among those to have extended their condolences to the family of Malcolm Glazer following the American businessman’s death.

REIGNING Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers nearly dug themselves out of a huge hole, but finally saw their NFL playoff hopes buried in a 30-28 loss to Atlanta at the weekend.

RICKY WILLIAMS carried a franchise-record 42 times for 153 yards and a touchdown and Miami used an overwhelming defensive performance to post a 17-7 victory over AFC East rivals Buffalo in the NFL on Sunday night.

TAMPA Bay broke the bank to get coach Jon Gruden from Oakland last year, and next Sunday Gruden will lead the Buccaneers in their first Super Bowl — against a Raiders team he himself shaped.

BRAD JOHNSON threw two second-half touchdown passes and Tampa Bay defenders intercepted Brett Favre four times as the Buccaneers beat Green Bay 21-7 in a showdown of American football’s most successful teams.