AUSTIN, Texas -- Lance Armstrong said he will answer questions "directly, honestly and candidly" during an interview with Oprah Winfrey next week. He will also apologize and make a limited confession to using performance-enhancing drugs, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Armstrong has spent more than a decade denying that he doped to win the Tour de France seven times. Without saying whether he would confess or apologize during the taping, Armstrong told The Associated Press in a text message early Saturday, "I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly, honestly and candidly. That's all I can say."
A confession would be a stunning reversal for Armstrong after years of public statements, interviews and court battles from Austin to Europe in which he denied doping and zealously protected his reputation.
Armstrong was stripped of his titles and banned from the sport for life last year after the U.S. Anti-Doping agency issued a detailed report accusing him of leading a sophisticated and brazen drug program on his U.S. Postal Service teams that included steroids, blood boosters and a range of performance-enhancing drugs.
Armstrong's interview with Winfrey is not expected to go into great detail about specific allegations levied in the more than 1,000-page USADA report. But Armstrong will make a general confession and apologize, according to the person, who requested anonymity because there was no authorization to speak publicly. Several outlets had also reported that Armstrong was considering a confession.
Armstrong hasn't responded to the USADA report or being stripped of his Tour de France titles. But shortly afterward, he tweeted a picture of himself on a couch at home with all seven of the yellow leader's jerseys on display in a room at his home in Austin. He also agreed to be interviewed there, in what the Oprah Winfrey Network announced would be a "no-holds barred" session. That's scheduled to be taped Monday and broadcast Thursday night.
"His reputation is in crisis," said crisis management expert Mike Paul, president of New York-based, MGP & Associates PR. "Most people don't trust what comes out of his mouth. He has to be truly repentant and humble."
He also has to be careful.
Armstrong is facing legal challenges on several fronts, including a federal whistle-blower lawsuit brought by former teammate Floyd Landis, who himself was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title, accusing him of defrauding the U.S. Postal Service. The U.S. Justice Department has yet to announce whether it will join the case.
• Football
Cowher staying in studio: Bill Cowher insists he's staying in the studio and not returning to the sideline.
Cowher says Saturday on CBS' "The NFL Today" that he has no plans to coach in the NFL, a few days after telling Newsday that he probably would come back at some point. The 55-year-old Cowher is an analyst for CBS who coached the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1992-2006. He won a Super Bowl after the 2005 season.
Cowher says he plans "on being with one team, and that is this team here at CBS. I know we are going to the Super Bowl."
He told Newsday on Tuesday that returning to coaching after a long layoff is motivation for him to come back, but hadn't been contacted by any teams looking for a new coach.
No problem with RGIII's injury: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he doesn't have a problem with the way the Washington Redskins medical staff handled Robert Griffin III's knee injury.
Nevertheless, he's anticipating changes in the way injuries not affecting the head are evaluated on the sideline.
Goodell was in Denver for Saturday's Ravens-Broncos playoff game.
Griffin had reconstructive ACL surgery Wednesday after reinjuring his right knee in last Sunday's playoff loss to Seattle. He also strained a ligament in the knee last month against Baltimore.
That raised questions whether Redskins coach Mike Shanahan should have let Griffin in either game after it was clear the quarterback was hurt.
Goodell said it was a "medical decision" and noted Griffin had no problem with it, either.
• Elsewhere
Reimold signs deal: Despite missing most of last season, outfielder Nolan Reimold more than doubled his salary when he agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
The 29-year-old hit .313 with five home runs and 10 RBIs last year, when he didn't play after April 30 because of a herniated disk in his neck. He made $490,500.
Reimold's agreement, announced Friday, avoided salary arbitration. Baltimore has eight players still eligible to file Tuesday: catcher Matt Wieters; right-handers Tommy Hunter, Jason Hammel, Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day; left-handers Brian Matusz and Troy Patton; and infielder Chris Davis. In addition to his salary, Reimold would get $50,000 if he's an All-Star and $50,000 if he wins a Silver Slugger Award.
Burke didn't see firing coming: Brian Burke wishes the Toronto Maple Leafs had won more games -- and he'd seen his firing coming.
At a press conference three days after he was let go as president and general manager, Burke said Saturday he was surprised the release came just as the NHL resolved its lockout.
Burke was fired after four years in Toronto and no playoff appearances.
He wished his successor Dave Nonis, coach Randy Carlye and captain Dion Phaneuf good luck in the shortened-season that begins on Jan. 19. He also thanked former and current owners, staff and players.
Breaks own record: Florida Gulf Coast sank 22 shots from 3-point range Saturday to break its own single-game Division I women's record in a 97-60 victory over East Tennessee State.
Betsy Adams, who finished with 25 points in just 14 minutes, made 7 in 12 attempts, but she got plenty of help from her teammates as the Eagles (12-5, 5-0 Atlantic Sun Conference) took 43 long-range attempts, making 51.2 percent.
Florida Gulf Coast, which had been averaging 8 3-pointers in 27.8 attempts per game this season, made 21 3-pointers in 51 attempts last season in a 106-27 victory over Webber International on Nov. 28, 2011. That tied the record set by New Mexico State in 49 attempts during a 94-62 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Feb. 23, 2002.
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