ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Wimbledon champion Andy Murray lost his comeback match from a three-month injury layoff in the opening round of the Mubadala Championship on Thursday. Park Joo-ho Dortmund Jersey . Murray lost 7-5, 6-3 to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 72 minutes. Tsonga will meet Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the exhibition event on Friday, while Rafael Nadal will take on Spanish compatriot David Ferrer in the other semi. Ferrer, who last week dumped his longtime coach Javier Piles, beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 7-5, 6-1. Murray, who hadnt played since Davis Cup in mid-September because of a back complaint, kept pace with Tsonga until 5-5. Even to that point, Murrays rustiness was obvious with accumulating unforced errors. After Tsonga broke Murray for the first time, he stayed in charge. "I was feeling fine with my body and the knee, and this win over someone like Murray is going to give me great confidence as I start the new season," Tsonga said. Murray, who will take on Wawrinka for fifth place on Friday, said: "The court was very quick and needed quick reaction. Tsonga was definitely sharper." Nuri Sahin Dortmund Jersey . So they rushed to re-sign the first baseman who general manager Ben Cherington described Friday as "a unique player." The World Series champions finalized a $32 million, two-year agreement Thursday with the slugging former catcher who turned into a surprisingly good defender. Christian Pulisic Dortmund Jersey . 1. Lions WR Calvin Johnson (6 REC, 101 YDS, 1 TD, 10 targets) leads receivers with 1,299 yards and 12 touchdowns, though his 118.1 receiving yards per game ranks second behind Clevelands Josh Gordon. Gordon (10 REC, 261 YDS, 2 TD, 15 targets) is emerging as a superstar, putting up huge numbers even with Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden at quarterback. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- For a guy who loves to talk on the field, New Englands Aqib Talib sure has been quiet lately. The Patriots cornerback injured his hip in the Patriots win against New Orleans on Oct. 13 and missed the next three games. He hadnt spoken after practice until Thursday, when he said hes eager to return to the field Monday night for New Englands game against the Carolina Panthers. "Im practicing good," Talib said, with a wide grin. "Day to day. Trying to get back." Fresh off the Patriots bye last week, Talib was a limited participant in Thursdays practice. Thats the same designation hes had for a while, and he said watching his teammates play without him was "the worst thing in the world." Coach Bill Belichick was more candid than usual when asked about the player who leads the team with four interceptions and whos been solely responsible for shutting down some of the leagues elite pass catchers. "Hes continued to progress. Well keep doing, as they can tolerate it, do more and evaluate how they do at a little bit higher level," Belichick said. "Then if that goes well, then ramp it up and see where we are as we go through the week." New Englands secondary withstood the absence of its top playmaker, going 2-1 during the stretch. The Patriots (7-2) could benefit from his return against the Panthers (6-3), who have won five straight games and scored 30 or more points in five of their past seven. "Unbelievable player, happy to have him on the field with us," said defensive end Rob Ninkovich. "I think the guys that stepped in when he was gone, they did a great job, but having him back is just going to help us as far as have more depth and keep guys rolling." Should Talib return for New Englands only Monday night game this season, he likely will be matched up with one of the most successful receivers of the past decade in Steve Smith. Talib, who spent his first fouur-plus seasons playing in the NFC South with Tampa Bay, is familiar with the flashy veteran. Marco Reus Dortmund Jersey. "He brings it every Sunday or Monday or whenever the game is," Talib said. "I think if youre competitive like that, youre going to be pretty successful." Smith has tallied more than 800 receptions and 11,000 yards in his career, and has a team-high 42 catches for 450 yards and three touchdowns this season. Talib knows exactly what to expect from Smith -- his best effort and a lot of chatter. "Youve got a lot of guys who do a lot of talking to (the media), and we get out there and they dont say too much on the field," Talib said. "But Steve is definitely one of those guys, hes going to do it on the field." Not unlike Talib. "Yeah," he said with a smile, "I say a couple words." Shadowing the oppositions top threat is becoming commonplace for Talib. Julio Jones was near the top of the league in every major category when Talib held him to a season-low six catches. He caught just three of his first 10 for 22 yards. The following week, Talibs talents helped limit Cincinnatis A.J. Green to five catches for 61 yards. Green now leads the league in yards and ranks second in receptions. And still to come was his premier performance, spearheading an effort to shut down New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham, who tops all receivers with 10 touchdowns but was held without a catch against New England for the first time in a span of 46 games. Belichick went so far as to compare Talib to former Patriots cornerback Ty Law. "Maybe Ty would be similar in that he was a good corner and you could put him on a lot of players and not maybe feel like you need to give him a lot of help," he said. "I think Talib is a guy that we have a lot of confidence in and probably would treat his matchups a little bit differently than weve treated some other ones in the past." Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
AKRON, Ohio -- For a chance to see LeBron James, Rodneka Price drove seven hours and stood in line for another six. Kelly Olynyk Celtics Jersey . "I might cry when I see him," she said. James is being welcomed back Friday night by the city where he first bounced a basketball. The NBA superstar is being celebrated with an event expected to draw more than 25,000 people to InfoCision Stadium. James grew up in Akron and has maintained a strong connection with his hometown. James recently re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers after four years in Miami. To show its appreciation, Akron is throwing James a homecoming party to coincide with an annual "Wheels for Education" event hosted by his familys foundation. Fans began lining up at 11 a.m. to get a prime seat to see James, the four-time league MVP who hopes to end a 50-year championship drought in Cleveland. Melissa Rumner and her son, Nick, were first in a long line which wrapped around the stadium on the University of Akrons campus. "We had to be here to welcome him back," Rumner said as 10-year-old Nick stood by wearing one of the white No. 23 jerseys James popularized during his seven seasons with the Cavs. "Were so happy to have him back." Nick was confident James would return to Cleveland. "I knew he was coming back," said the red-head, who was counting down the minutes before the gates opened. Price packed up a car of six people and drove to Ohio for the first time so she could help welcome back James. She said his announcement that he was returning to his home to try and win Cleveland its first championship since 1964 touched her. "It all makes sense," she said, wearing a "Return Of The King" T-shirt. "He made a promise and hes going to stick to it." Swingman Dennis Johnson Jersey . Among the six changes: Drivers are now eligible if they have competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR or turned 55 in the calendar year before nominating day. Previously, drivers were not eligible until they had been retired for three years, so drivers can continue to compete and still reach the hall. Bob Cousy Celtics Jersey . Tokarski, a somewhat controversial choice -- with his 10 games of NHL experience and all -- to replace an injured Carey Price in Game Two had a night to remember, turning back a Rangers team that was dominating play from the get-go, outshooting the Canadiens 14-4 in the first period and 37-25 overall.NEW YORK -- Two losses in Miami didnt faze Paul Pierce, nor did 16 quick points by LeBron James. The post-season, Pierce said repeatedly, is no time to panic. And the Heat, apparently, are nothing to fear. "Were not scared of them," Pierce said. Joe Johnson scored 19 points, Andray Blatche had career playoff highs of 15 points and 10 rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets handed the Heat their first loss this post-season, 104-90 on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Pierce scored 14 points, Deron Williams and Kevin Garnett bounced back from awful offensive efforts, and the Nets withstood James 16-point first quarter and held him to two baskets over the final three quarters. "Tonight was the type of urgency were going to need for the rest of the series," Pierce said. Brooklyn, which swept Miami in the regular season, can tie the series with a victory at home Monday night in Game 4. "I think this is a must-win coming up Monday," Garnett said. "If we want to give ourselves any type of room ... any type of chance, I think that weve definitely got to take care of home." James scored 28 points for the Heat, who hadnt even faced a fourth-quarter deficit in these playoffs before having their eight-game winning streak in the post-season snapped. It was their first loss since Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The two-time defending champions were having an easy path to another finals, winning their last four games by double digits. But the Nets shook off the Heats sizzling start, then held them to 33 points over the middle two quarters to take control. "Ive been part of a lot of series and understand that the series is never won in two games or in three games," James said. "And you move onto the next one and you learn from the previous one how you can get better." Mirza Teletovic and Shaun Livingston each scored 12 points for the Nets in their first home post-season victory ever against the Heat. Teletovic made four of Brooklyns 15 3-pointers. Williams, 0 for 9 iin Game 2, shot just 3 for 11 but finished with nine points and 11 assists. Red Auerbach Jersey. Garnett, just 2 for 10 for four total points in Miami, shot 5 of 6 for 10 points and seven rebounds. Dwyane Wade scored 20 points and James grabbed eight rebounds, but his night fell well short of what it could have been after his ferocious first quarter. He made a free throw to bring Miami to 59-56 in the third quarter, but Teletovic made a 3-pointer, followed by baskets by Blatche, Johnson and Livingston to make it 68-56. Teletovic made two more 3s and Williams knocked down another before the end of the quarter, which ended with the Nets ahead 77-63. Teletovic opened the fourth with another 3, and Alan Anderson hit a pair later in the period while also getting in a skirmish with Ray Allen that led to double technical fouls. The Nets held Allen to two baskets after he hurt them in both games in Miami. The Nets shot 53 per cent from the field, 60 per cent from behind the arc, and outrebounded the Heat 43-27. Brooklyn outscored Miami 53-41 in the second half, making 20 of 33 shots. "To sum it up, they outplayed us. They outplayed us, particularly in that whole second half," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Williams ended his slump with the games first basket, but Miami made eight of its first 11 shots, including one by James while Pierce was trying to wrap him up and was called for a flagrant foul. James was 6 of 7 in the period, and the Nets were lucky to be down only 30-29 when Livingston threw in a 36-footer just before the buzzer. James then took just one shot in the second, a missed 3-pointer, and the Nets pulled ahead late in the period and took a 51-49 lead into halftime. Notes: The Nets improved to just 2-10 in the post-season against the Heat, who swept them in the 2005 first round and beat them in five games in the 2006 Eastern Conference semifinals. ... Rapper Busta Rhymes, from Brooklyn, announced the Nets starting lineup. Beyonce, Jay-Z, Jerry Seinfeld, Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudekis were among the other entertainers in the crowd. Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
Slim pickings is an overstatement for the fantasy football waiver wire this late into the season, but there were two key free agents that could have pushed your team through the first round of the playoffs, and are still available in a small majority of leagues this week. Alex Sandro Brazil Jersey . Jonathan Stewart was a big part of the Carolina Panthers rout over the New Orleans Saints, rushing for 155 yards and a touchdown, and finishing sixth amongst all running backs in Week 14. Stewart has looked strong all year for the Panthers but only now got a full workload with DeAngelo Williams sitting out due to a broken finger. Check the injury reports on Williams before starting Stewart however, because if both backs are healthy Carolina will likely return to the ineffective time share. Andre Williams was in a similar situation in New York, filling in for a less than 100% Rashad Jennings for the Giants. Williams has put up some big weeks filling in for Jennings but Week 14 was his biggest, rushing for 131 yards and a touchdown, and finishing eighth among running backs with a 20-point day. If Jennings is still hobbled next week, Williams has proven he can fill in and put up a big day. Hulk Jersey . -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. Walace Jersey . Speaking on Leafs Lunch with Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan on Thursday, Bernier said it was "very hard" at times being entrenched behind Jonathan Quick and is now excited at the prospect of getting an opportunity to compete with Reimer for the top spot with the Leafs.MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact has agreed to terms with Argentine attacking midfielder Ignacio Piatti to become a designated player. Piatti, 29, is to join the team in August after playing for Argentine side San Lorenzo de Almagro in the Copa Libertadores. He will be Montreals second DP after striker Marco Di Vaio, who is expected to retire at the end of the season. He replaces midfielder Hernan Bernardello, a DP who left this week to join Cruz Azul in Mexico. "Were excited," said Impact sporting director Nick De Santis, who has been working on landing Piatti for more than a year. "When you go after a player in the prime of his career, who helped his team win a championship and lead them to the semifinals in the Copa Libertadores, for us it exciting. Renato Augusto Brazil Jersey. " DeSantis said it was a long-term deal but declined to reveal Piattis salary or how many years the contract covers. "His strengths are his ability to score important goals, his hunger to score goals, his ability to put defences on their heels, his ability to strike the ball with the right foot or the left," said De Santis. "He gets in a good attacking positions inside the 18-yard box, and hes a two-way player." The five-foot-11 Paitti scored 30 goals in more than 160 Argentine first division matches. He has played for five clubs in Argentina as well as with St-Etienne in France in 2006 and Lecce in Italy from 2010 to 2012. Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips answers several questions each week. Jason Witten Cowboys Jersey . This week, topics cover the Blue Jays sudden success, Anthony Goses role with the Blue Jays, keeping confidence in tough times and scouts who keep the MLB alive. 1) Why are the Toronto Blue Jays winning so much of late when they scuffled last season with virtually the same roster? Is it purely the return to health of key players (Reyes, Bautista, Janssen)? Is it John Gibbons assigning personal catchers, managing the pen, managing team attitude? How do you explain the difference? Or is this just a short blip for a team that will eventually crash back to earth? So will the real Blue Jays please stand up? What are we to believe? Are the Jays the team that terribly disappointed us last year or are they this years surprising first place club? How is it possible that effectively the same team could have been so bad last year yet so good this year? All very legitimate questions for sure. There are clearly three major differences from 2013 to 2014. Firstly, the offense is hitting on all cylinders. The Jays are leading the AL in runs scored so far this season. They have the most home runs and the best OPS. They are slugging the ball like the team they were constructed to be. Clearly health is a major factor the turnaround from last year to this year as well. A healthy Jose Reyes at the top of the lineup establishes the offences as aggressive. His speed provides more fastball for the hitters behind him in the lineup and they are capitalizing on those opportunities. Jose Batisista looks like the same guy from 2010-11 who hit for average and power and was a run producer. He is showing no ill effects of past injuries. Edwin Encarnacion has literally been Mickey Mantle in the month of May as he tied Mantles AL record for most homers in a month with 16. Melky Cabrera is slugging like the Melky Cabrera who used steroids in the past. Oops did I say that out loud? I dont think he is using again. It was just a joke. The second major turnaround from last year to this year is in starting pitching. In 2013, the Jays starters ranked 14th in the league with a 4.81 ERA. They struggled, often leaving the club in an early hole which was nearly impossible to dig out of, as it affected the quality of the at bats that the hitters delivered. This season the Jays starters are ranked fifth in the AL with a 3.83 ERA. They are almost a whole run per game better. This is a huge difference. The starters have a win-loss record of 26-13 where as they only won 46 games all season a year ago. This is proving that with such a vaunted offense, if the starters can keep it close, the Jays have a chance to win. The third major improvement for the Jays has been their defence. They have committed the second fewest errors in the AL so far this season. A year ago, they committed the fourth-most errors. This means that the pitching staff doesnt have to get nearly as many extra outs. One thing to beware of is the schedule. The Jays are 32-23 so far. But they have only played 13 games against teams with a record over .500. In those games they are 7-6. I believe Toronto can sustain their success because they have a winning formula: Good starting pitching with a solid defence and a powerful offence. They have some vulnerability in the rotation as Mark Buehrle just cant continue at this pace and the back end has been a bit inconsistent. They really need to add another starter. The bullpen hasnt been nearly as consistent as a year ago which means they may need to address that at some point as well. They certainly have some flaws but quite honestly, so does everyone else in the AL East. They can win this division! 2) Anthony Gose has thrived in centre field with the Toronto Blue Jays since Colby Rasmus went down with injury. With the team in first place and riding a hot streak, whats the best way to get him in the lineup when Rasmus returns? Or does Gose just go back to the bench (or the minors) and wait for his next chance? It is time to figure out what Anthony Gose can become. The Jays need to figure out if he is part of the problem or solution by the seasons end. Goses speed can energize a team when they are struggling to score. He could bolster his teammates on day games after night games when everyone else feels a bit sluggish. He has a chance to be a valuable asset. Melky Cabrera and Colby Rasmus are both free agents at the end of the year. The Jays need to know if they have a low-cost alternative for one of their outfield spots for next year. The only way to figure that out is to let the young man play at the major league level and get some at bats. Colby Rasmus gives up too many at bats. He loses focus or concentration and strikes out far too much. Yes, Rasmus has more power than Gose but Goses speed adds an element to the Jays offence that can be tough for the opposition to deal with. I think Colby Rasmus needs competition. He needs to fight and produce for playing time. There is a way to manage the outfield with Rasmus and Gose splitting time in CF and giving occasional days off to Cabrera and Batista. John Gibbons can keep everyone hungry and everyone sharp. When I was Mets general manager I made a trade with the Dodgers for Roger Cedeno, a speedy outfielder, who had not proven himself at the major league level. I was able to keep him in the majors and paired him up with Rickey Henderson. Hendersons knowledge and experience rubbed off on Cedeno and we developed a player with discipline at the plate and blazing speed on the bases. Gose needs to be in Jose Reyes hip pocket and learn as much as possible. The Jays need to win now and develop for the future as well. 3) Earlier in the week, Jeff Samardzija finally picked up his first win of the season. He had gone 16 starts without a win, despite having one of the lowest ERAs in the majors this season. You were an executive with the Mets when Anthony Young lost 27 straight decisions (both as a starter and as a reliever) in the early 90s, despite being a decent pitcher. How does the team best manage a players psyche when they go through stretches like this? And how much of that kind of mental health massaging actually goes on in the Big Leagues? So many of todays young baseball executives are administrators. They have a mathematical or statistical background. They are number crunchers. Paul Depodesta, who was Billy Beanes assistant in Oakland (the Jonah Hill character in Moneyball) and later the GM for the Los Angeles Dodgers once said that if he couldnt quantify something about a player then it didnt matter. But what he missed was that it is people who play the game not robots. The way a player feels affects how he plays. I have a psychology degree. It doesnt give me the ability to read peoples minds but it certainly added to my understanding of what makes people tick. Plus as a player, my mind is what held me back from being a big leaguer. I experienced how the mental part of the game can impact a players performance. I could run. I was strong. I had a good arm. I made myself into a more than adequate defender. I was a good teammate. But I was a "try-er." When things went wrong I pushed harder and worked more. I took extra batting practice almost every day of my professional career. I told myself, "No one will ever out-work me. If I dont get to the big leagues it wont be because I didnt put enough effort in to it." I realize now that I tried too hard. I worked too much. If I took nine good swings in batting practice but a bad one on my 10th swing I held on to the bad swing. I beat myself up over it. If I struck out I didnt feel the pain of one strike out, I carried the weight of the fifty before it as well. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around. Players with the most confidence ever and least confidence never can reach the major leagues, but the players with the right balance of confidence, humility, concentration, intensity, etc. are the ones who best sustain success. I am living a life of recovery now and one of the tools of the program is the Serenity Prayer. It reads like this: God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;the Courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference. One of the toughest lessons for players to accept is that they dont control the outcome of everything in the game. They can only control what they can control. You would be shocked by the fine line that baseball players walk between confidence and complete and utter fear of failure, even among the very best players. I asked New York Mets star third baseman David Wright in spring training if he ever thought when he signed to play ball out of high school if he would have this kind of career. He said he didnt and then added that he questions himself all of the time if he can still do it. When he has a bad day he battles those (voices) that make him wonder if he might not be good anymore. If he has those thoughts, I clearly had no chance with the way I thought. When players struggle like Anthony Young and Jeff Jeff Samardzija they can feel helpless and hopeless. They wonder what they can possibly do differently. They start to feel like they need to be perfect. Striving for perfection is dangerous. When a pitcher isnt getting run support he feels like he needs to miss bats and pitch a shutout. When pitchers try too hard they often compound their problems. The same for batters. It is not a matter of trying harder to perform better in baseball. It takes concentration and intensity. Unfortunately, "trying" to generate intensity often leads to tension. Tension leads to overthinking and over trying which leads to more struggles. It is a vicious circle that can start all over again. The key to overcoming struggles is to maintain ones composure and confidence. Players truly need to understand that they dont have to be perfect. Remember, this is a game where hitters fail 70% of the time and are deemed extremely successful. Coping with failure is the attribute that separates the men from the boys in the major leagues. It was my downfall. Failure devoured me. I actually felt physical pain when I was struggling. I obsessed about it, it ate me up. Remarkably, Anthony Young and Jeff Samardzija had the ability to not get paralyzed by their failure because within the failure they were able to see some success. They learned that a loss didnt mean they were a loser. They didnt let their performance or their job become their identity. The ability to own their role in the result and not take on the entire responsibility of the result was critical. My experience is that when people share their personal struggles around failure it helps the person going through a tough time. That is what sponsors do in recovery and coaches do in baseball. I am still so amazed by athletes that can cope with failure. I know the challenge it can be. I still have to battle the negative thoughts that come with failure. I am better at it than I have ever been mainly because I have given myself a lot of practice. In recovery we talk about "Progress not perfection." It works in baseball too. 4) Next week baseball will hold the First-Year Player Draft. Eligible high school and college kids in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico can be drafted in the forty rounds (plus compensation picks) of the draft. Once drafted the kids will negotiate a contract with the selecting team and when they sign they will enter the minor league system for their organization and start to work their way to the majors. Many fans show up at major league games and have no idea about where the players come from. Baseball develops its own players. It is one of the things that distinguishes it from football and basketball. The NFL and NBA are satisfied in letting the NCAA develop their players. Fans dont understand the investment that baseball makes to acquire and develop its talent. Each organization in baseball spends about $15-$20 million on their minor leagues and scouting department. Those departments are the research and development areas of the operations. The money to pay for that comes directly off of the bottom line of the revenues generated by the major league team. Teams reinvest in themselves every year. If a team calls up four rookies in a season then they are effectively spending about $5 million per player per year. That is a significant investment. The men and women that make up the minor league and scouting departments are the lifeline of every organization. They are the foundation upon which the organization is built. Without them there would be no need for a business operations department, accounting department, ticket department or marketing department. There would be no stadiums or ground crews if not for the people who choose and develop the players. For the most part this is a group of no-name faceless baseball lifers who love the game and are committed to their respective organization. They have a keen eye for talent and a knack for getting to know what kids are made of. They rarely get recognition beyond that which they give themselves at a banquet at the Baseball Winter Meetings. Each year a scout or two is recognized for long and meritorious service. As we approach the draft give some thought and thanksgiving for those who have committed their lives to your baseball enjoyment. They love the game like you do and their only hope is that they can pick players who will make you happy. They never get the attention they deserve. I hope one or two read this. Matt Cassel Cowboys Jersey .Y. -- First, Ryan Miller. Bob Lilly Cowboys Jersey . Jones took a beating, the worst one of his record reign, in a bout against Alexander Gustafsson that knocked the light heavyweight champion on the canvas for the first time in his career and put his belt in jeopardy.Edmonton’s goaltending has turned around, a sudden reversal of fortune for Kuemper, a productive Matt Cooke and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES Ben Scrivens – 29-save shutout against Montreal. After a miserable start to the season, during which he stopped 80% of the shots he faced in his first three appearances, Scrivens has recovered nicely, with a .945 save percentage in the past five games, the last four of which are Oilers wins. Mats Zuccarello – Scored a goal and two assists, and had the best possession stats (16 shot attempts for, 8 against) for the Rangers in their 5-4 win over Minnesota. Derick Brassard – Also had a goal and two assists, to ignite the Rangers’ third-period comeback. With Derek Stepan injured, the Rangers needed Brassard to step up and he has, with four goals and seven points, with strong possession (55.3% of even-strength shot attempts) in nine games, playing a career-high 17:29 per game for the Blueshirts. ZEROES Darcy Kuemper – Through his first five starts of the season, the Wild goaltender had allowed a toal of four goals against and, after two shutout periods against the Rangers, it was looking like more of the same was in store, but then Kuemper surrendered five goals on 12 shots in the third period as Minnesota coughed up a 3-0 lead to eventually lose 5-4. Questionable Rangers Hits – Both Rangers LW Chris Kreider and D John Moore were ejected from the game for delivering questionable hits. Kreider caught Wild D Jonas Brodin with a shove from behind approaching the end boards behind the Wild net and Moore laid out Wild C Erik Haula with a high and late hit after Haula had directed a shot towards the Rangers net. Kreider appears to be off the hook, while Moore is facing a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety. SHORT SHIFTS With a goal and an assist against the Rangers, Wild LW Matt Cooke now has five points in seven games, while playing only 10:58 per game. According to Puckalytics, Among players to play at least 50 minutes at 5-on-5, Cooke ranks 13th in points/60 minutes with 4.07…The player who ranks first, Rick Nash, had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, giving him nine goals in nine games (and 6.22 PTS/60) this season…Canadiens RW Brendan Gallagher generated 10 shot attempts ( 4 SOG) and had an impressive possession game (20 shot attempts for, 7 against, 74.1%)…Montreal’s top possessiion player was D Nathan Beaulieu (15 for, 5 against, 75. Randy White Cowboys Jersey. 0%)…Wild RW Jason Pominville had 10 shot attempts (5 SOG)…Edmonton’s line of Boyd Gordon, Matt Hendricks and Jesse Joensuu started every one of their shifts in the defensive zone. In Gordon’s case, that was 11 defensive zone starts, with none in the offensive and neutral zones. They also spent most of their night remaining in the defensive zone, as all three had fewer than 15% of the shot attempts when they were on the ice at even strength LINEUP NEED TO KNOW With Nikita Nikitin out, Brad Hunt was inserted into the Oilers’ lineup. Hunt played 18:26, though had some possession problems (6 shot attempts for, 13 against, 31.6%) against Montreal. Once Moore was ejected, Rangers D Kevin Klein played a season-high 23:19, putting up a goal and an assist. FANTASY FOCUS It’s a busy night on the ice, with a dozen games. Here are a handful of players that you may want to consider for your roster: Dennis Wideman – The Flames’ defenceman has scored goals in four straight games and has played more than 23 minutes in three of the past four games. Damien Brunner – Scratched early in the season, the Devils’ winger has three points in his last three games and has played more than 17 minutes in three of his four games since he was inserted into the lineup. With Martin Havlat and Mike Cammalleri out, there is room for Brunner to play in a scoring role with New Jersey. Nikita Kucherov – As injuries pile up among Tampa Bay’s forwards, Kucherov is taking advantage of an increased role, with four points in the past two games, the first two games this season in which Kucherov has played at least 14 minutes. Dany Heatley – The veteran power forward is expected to make his Ducks debut tonight in Chicago, in the plum spot on left wing with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Nick Bonino – There were questions about whether Bonino would be able to handle the second-line centre role in Vancouver, but he’s off to a fine start, with seven points in eight games and all of his points have come at even strength, another positive considering that he scored 20 power play points of his career-high 49 total points last season. Much of the data included comes from www.war-on-ice.com, www.puckalytics.com, www.hockeystats.ca and www.naturalstattrick.com Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
Toronto Argonauts general manager Jim Barker and Hamilton Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young were each fined by the CFL on Wednesday for their actions last week. Kiko Casilla Jersey . Barker was fined $2,500 for violating the leagues sideline policy by positioning himself on the goal line directly behind an official, and attempting to communicate with that official during Saturdays game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He will also not be permitted on the sidelines during play for the remainder the regular season and playoffs. I made a mistake and I accept the fine and the subsequent sanction as determined by the CFL office, Barker said in a statement. It was not my intention to be outside of the player box as per the CFL sideline policy. In fact, I was making my way to the designated area and I was waiting for the series end. My actions were in no way pre-meditated and I did not intend to communicate with the official. Young has been fined $10,000 for his public comments criticizing CFL officiating after the Tiger-Cats loss to the Argonauts. Denis Cheryshev Jersey .C. -- Lucy Li made two double bogeys, a triple bogey and finished her historic round at the U. James Rodriguez Jersey . 1 player in the world. So Duval gutted it out Thursday at the Byron Nelson Championship despite the pain from a muscle issue in his right elbow, a day after his stepson had to drive him because he couldnt even use that arm.Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Brian Hoyer threw two interceptions for the first time this season, but his two second-half touchdown passes helped the Cleveland Browns edge the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 22-17. Hoyer passed for a season-high 300 yards on 21-of-34 efficiency for Cleveland (5-3), which entered November above .500 for the first time since 2007. Terrance West and Taylor Gabriel each had a touchdown grab. Hoyer, who beat out first-round draft pick Johnny Manziel for the starting quarterback position during training camp, improved to 8-3 as a starter in his career. Keylor Navas Jersey. Mike Glennon went 17-for-33 for 260 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Bucs (1-7), who have lost four straight games. Three of those losses came by five points or less. Mike Evans racked up seven catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns and Bobby Rainey gained 121 yards from scrimmage in defeat.Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Gary Cahill Chelsea Jersey UK .ca. Hi Kerry, Always a pleasure; really enjoy your column. Keep up the good work. In the Bruins/Panthers game Tuesday with less than 10 seconds to play, Tim Thomas - clearly frustrated - took a swipe at Soderberg with his stick. He was assessed a two-minute minor for high sticking. I am curious as to why this was not a match penalty and perhaps even a suspendable action. It seems to me had a skater done a similar action, as blatant as it was, it would be deemed as such. I believe this would fall under Rule 60.4, but am not certain. Can you please comment on this play and explain what the ref/linesman saw (or failed to see), to deem it a mere minor high sticking penalty? Thank you (I was trying to work the word qualm in there somewhere, since I know you like it so much)! Dear Anonymous Friend: I have no qualms in telling you that Tim Thomas deserved a match penalty under Rule 60.4 for the one-handed tomahawk swing with his heavy goalie stick paddle to the neck of Bruins forward Carl Soderberg. Regardless of the score or time in the game, or whether the blow was in retaliation for Thomas being contacted on the shoulder by Soderbergs stick inside the blue paint, a match penalty was warranted based solely on the degree of force and especially the location of the blow with the goal stick to the neck of Soderberg. While no apparent injury resulted to Soderberg this was a very dangerous play that should be addressed by the Player Safety Committee. At the very least, a substantial fine should be levied to Tim Thomas even if that Committee does not deem the stick swing to be worthy of a suspension. It is acknowledged in the rules that a goalkeepers unique equipment is not only designed to provide protection and to stop the puck but that when used in an altercation can do considerable damage to an opponent. For that reason, Rule 51.3 provides that a match penalty must be assessed if, in the judgment of the referee, a goalkeeper uses his blocking glove to punch an opponent in the head or face in an attempt to deliberately injure an opponent. The manner in which Tim Thomas used his heavy goalie stick last night falls well within the spirit and intent of the match penalty rule. The reason the referee most likely assessed only a minor penalty on this stick swing was based on his obstructed view from behind the goal line against the end boards. I continually state this not the best location to view plays in and around the goal crease; as a matter of fact it is often the worst position for a referee to stand! I want you to look at the replay clip again; only this time through the eyes of the referee that made the call from behind the goal line. Tim Thomas swing was very quick and accelerated in real-time but most importantly, the ref, from his position, was looking directly through Brian Campbells back as Thomas stick made contact with Soderberg. Campbell then wrestled Soderberg to the ice so both players were now directly in the referees sight line. There was also a minor log jam of players out in front of the net (especially Tom Gilbert and Chris Kelly) that could have prevented the linesmen and the other referee from seeing the full force of Tim Thomas stick blow to Soderbergs neck. As quickly as it can happen, the full effect of a play can be missed or greatly diminished without the best sightline. I have no qualms admitting it, friend! Thibaut Courtois Jersey UK . For one, he still gets to crank the intensity to the max. "I push pretty angry. I ran pretty angry too though, but I have fun doing it," Lumsden said. Pedro Jersey UK . They have watched it from afar. And now they have seen it for themselves.Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler believes the summer transfer window will be vital for the club. The Reds completed the signing of goalkeeper Loris Karius from German club Mainz on Tuesday, who joins Schalke defender Joel Matip as a new arrival at Anfield.Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has already stated he intends to rebuild the team from the back, and is expected to be busy before the start of the new season. Liverpool missed the chance of Champions League football when they lost to Sevilla in the Europa League final Fowler, who scored 129 league goals for Liverpool, believes the teams failure to clinch a Champions League place will have an impact on what players arrive at Anfield.It a massive thing for every club obviously to buy a few players, and Liverpool will be trying to strengthen their squad, Fowler said. Liverpool completed the signing of Loris Karius on Tuesday Its going to be tough. Bertrand Traore Chelsea Jersey UK. I think getting into the Champions League would have been a little bit better, but it is what it is, we go with what weve got.Hopefully hell sign good players that will help the squad and we can go from strength to strength.Despite the disappointment of missing out on European football next season, Fowler is hopeful a quieter schedule will help Liverpool progress domestically. Joel Matip was Klopps first signing as Liverpool manager Liverpool were in a similar situation in 2013 when Klopps predecessor Brendan Rodgers led his team to second in the Premier League table, the clubs highest finish since 2009.I think under Brendan we finished second, a real good year actually, and obviously that was without the cups, so fingers crossed its more of the same and hopefully that is the case, Fowler added. Also See: Liverpool to play Barca at Wembley Who is Loris Karius? Pre-season vital for Klopp Origi excited by Liverpool futureCheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
Tallahassee, FL (SportsNetwork. http://www.soccerfrancenationalshop.com/Anthony-Martial-France-Jersey/ .com) - Montay Brandon scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half to help Florida State edge No. 23 Miami, 55-54, on Sunday. The Seminoles (12-10, 4-5 ACC) trailed by 11 at the break but gradually chipped away at that deficit in the second half before Kiel Turpins jumper with 1:41 to go accounted for the final margin. Sheldon McClellan led the Hurricanes (14-7, 4-4) with 13 points and Davon Reed added 11. Miami scored its last points of the game with 3:46 to go and missed its last three shots. After struggling for much of the first half, Florida States offense got in gear and hit its last three shots before the break to cut Miamis lead to 36-25. The Seminoles carried that momentum into the second half with four straight makes to pull within 38-34. Brandon scored nine straight points for FSU in its 11-4 run to start the half. Tonye Jekiris jumper with nine minutes to play put the Hurricanes back up six, but they would enter a long dry spell the remainder of the game. FSU scored the next six points to tie the game, getting a three-point play from Jarquez Smith on an emphatic dunk. On their next possession, the Seminoles took their first lead since early in the game on Xavier Rathan-Mayes layup. McClellan responded with a basket to briefly put the Hurricanes back in front, but they did not score again. Miami had a chance to take the lead with the shot clock turned off, but the game ended with a contested McClellan shot after several indecisive seconds of play from the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defense was the difference in the first half. After Robbie Berwicks 3 gave the Seminoles a 13-11 lead 7 1/2 minutes into the game, it would take until the 1:53 mark to hit their next shot from the floor. In the interim, FSU committed six turnovers and allowed the Hurricanes to build a 16- point lead. Game Notes Florida State improves to 42-32 in the all-time series and 28-7 at home ... These teams meet again in Miami on Feb. 25 ... The Seminoles are 6-0 against in-state opponents this season ... This is the first time since 2008-09 FSU has beaten both Miami and Florida ... The Hurricanes were 10-1 when leading at the half and 13-1 when shooting above 40 percent ... Miami takes the court again Tuesday against Louisville while Florida State wraps up a three-game homestand Wednesday against Clemson.http://www.soccerfrancenationalshop.com/Zinedine-Zidane-France-Jersey/ . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday. http://www.soccerfrancenationalshop.com/Blank-France-Jersey/ . Louis Cardinals continued their offensive tear with a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series.AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The first full day at the Masters turned out to be a short one Monday. Augusta National was open for only two hours because of storms, still enough time for a few players to see some of the changes to the golf course -- even though this was supposed to be a year with really no change at all. The ice storm in February that led to the demise of the famous Eisenhower Tree also cost the club countless other trees, giving Augusta a slightly different look. Instead of a forest of Georgia pines, players can see from the 10th fairway all the way across to the 15th fairway. Players couldnt help but notice the number of trees missing from the right side of the narrow, claustrophobic seventh fairway. "You dont feel like youre going down a bowling alley as much," Brandt Snedeker said, his hair wet from wearing a visor in the rain. The club lost thousands of limbs that were damaged from the ice storm, so many that Jimmy Walker said he saw workers up in the trees with chain saws when he came to Augusta a few weeks ago for a practice round. "I havent played here a ton, so I kind of got the feeling you could see down through the golf course a little bit better than you used to be able," Walker said. "I dont know if thats a good thing or a bad thing." Some things never change. The course was starting to burst with colour. The greens already had a tinge of yellow to them. And there was a buzz about the Masters, even without Tiger Woods around for the first time in 20 years because of recent back surgery. Still, nothing stood out quite like the 17th hole. Masters champion Adam Scott always assumed the 440-yard par 4 was a dogleg left because of the 65-foot high loblolly pine that jutted out from the left side about 220 yards from the tee, forcing shots to the right except for the big hitters who could take it over the tree. Mike Weir is not one of the big hitters, so when asked how he found the 17th hole on Monday, the Canadian smiled. "Much friendlier," he said. "I was playing with Jason Day. For him, it doesnt matter. He hits it high and long enough. For me, I had to hit around it. It was probably the toughest drive on the course. Now, its much easier." It was amazing to him to walk up the fairway and see a patch of pine straw where the tree once stood so proud and tall. Weir and several other players assumed that Augusta National would have another pine placed their before the Masters. http://www.soccerfrancenationalshop.com/. Maybe next year. But not this week. The tree was such a treasure -- named after former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a club member who hit into the tree far too often -- that it was taken off site for storage. The club will determine later what do with the trunk and what limbs remain. But what a difference it has made already. "If the tree was there, I would have hit it yesterday," said Patrick Reed, who arrived on the weekend and already got in two practice rounds. "It was cold. It was a little into the wind and I hit it down the left side. I knew exactly where the tree was, and I probably would have caught the top half of that tree and would have been underneath it." "First three times I played this course it was there, and it made that hole really hard." Snedeker played on Sunday with Masters rookie Harris English and said he pulled his tee shot on the 17th. Any other year, he would have hit the tree. "It was perfect," he said. "Its still not an easy tee shot. But its not as hard as it used to be." The rest of the course should be the same as usual. The Masters can set up the course any way it likes -- difficult for scoring, or birdies that make cheers reverberate. It has trended toward excitement over the last several years, such as when Charl Schwartzel won with four straight birdies at the end, or even last year when Scott and Angel Cabrera in the last two groups each made birdie on the 18th to force a playoff. The biggest change is likely to be the guy in a red shirt. Woods won his fourth green jacket in 2005, though he usually kept it interesting, and always kept fans guessing. His back surgery last week means the worlds No. 1 player will be out of golf until the summer, and out of the Masters for the first time in his career. "Without Tiger here, its a different feel," Snedeker said. "Its a different event. He does a great job of bringing energy and bringing fans out that we dont usually get." Those fans had to leave early on Monday. By lunch, the course was closed for good. Masters chairman Billy Payne said they would get a refund in May, and they were guaranteed a chance to get practice round tickets for next year. Woods likely will be back by then. And odds are, there will be more trees. Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with winger Iiro Pakarinen on a two-year entry-level contract. Swingman Hassan Whiteside Jersey . Pakarinen, 22, appeared in 60 games with HIFK Helsinki of Finlands Liiga this season, recording 30 points (20 goals, 10 assists) and 32 penalty minutes. The six-foot-one, 194-pound winger also represented Finland at the 2014 World Hockey Championship, posting three goals, two penalty minutes and a plus eight rating in 10 games, helping his country earn a silver medal. The Suonenjoki, Finland native has represented his country twice at the World Junior Hockey Championship (2010, 2011), registering five points (two goals, three assists) and four penalty minutes in 12 games. Pakarinen was drafted by the Florida Panthers in seventh round (184th overall) in the 2011 NHL draft. Shaquille ONeal Heat Jersey . Kuper, a fifth-round pick in Denvers 2006 draft, started 79 games at guard over eight seasons. He dislocated his left ankle in the last game of the 2011 regular season, and though he started another seven games after that, he never returned to his previous level. Shaquille ONeal Jersey . - Benched Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman said he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and voluntarily entered the NFL substance abuse program more than a year ago after mistakenly taking a medication to treat the condition.Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Dynamo announced Tuesday that Owen Coyle has been appointed as the clubs new head coach. The 48-year-old follows Dominic Kinnear as the second head coach in Dynamo history, bringing extensive experience to Houston as a player and manager in the upper levels of English and Scottish soccer. First and foremost Im thankful for the opportunity to come to the Houston Dynamo, Coyle said. It is nice to be wanted by a fantastic club and I feel we have a great opportunity to put a team on the pitch that is pleasing on the eye and can win games. Ive been watching Houston Dynamo for many yeears and I know the atmosphere of the supporters. Swingman Gerald Green Jersey. The league is thriving and the opportunity to join a big club like the Dynamo is very exciting for me. Coyle helped Burnley gain promotion to Englands Premier League in 2009, the first time the club reached the top tier in 33 years. He also spent time at the helm of Bolton Wanderers where he managed the likes of Tim Ream, Stuart Holden, Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge. As a player, Coyle scored over 200 goals in more than 600 professional appearances, enjoying stints with Botlon, Dumbarton, Motherwell and Airdrieonians. Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
ASHBURN, Va. Authentic Markieff Morris Jersey . -- The Washington Redskins placed a franchise tag on three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Orakpo on Monday, all but ensuring he will remain with the team next season. The Redskins used the non-exclusive tag, worth about $11.5 million for 2014. He remains eligible to become a free agent later this month, but Washington will have the right to match any offer by another team and could receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if he signs elsewhere. The Redskins will continue to work on a long-term deal with the 27-year-old 2009 first-round draft pick, whose play at times has straddled the line between good and elite, therefore making it a challenge to gauge his contract value. He has been most effective as a pass-rusher -- 39 1/2 sacks over five years -- but he has twice torn the pectoral muscle near his left shoulder, leading to questions about his durability. His chances of staying with the Redskins were helped when new coach Jay Gruden retained defensive co-ordinator Jim Haslett, who plans to keep the 3-4 scheme that suits Orakpos talents. The Redskins can offer a generous deal to Orakpo now that their two-year, $36 million NFL-imposed salary-cap penalty has expired. But they have several other impending free agents on defence as well as various holes to fill elsewhere after a 3-13 season. They had previously re-signed cornerback DeAngelo Hall and defensive lineman Chris Baker. The Redskins also agreed to terms with safety Jose Gumbs on Monday for a one-year deal worth $495,000. Gumbs, undrafted out of Monmouth, made his NFL debut with Washington last season, playing in eight games with one interception. Orakpo had 10 sacks and his first career interception last season. He was selected with the No. 13 overall pick. John Wall Jersey . Heather, the first Gaiter to win the award, set a Canadian Inter-university Sport record with 3,132 passing yards in eight league games, an average of 391.5 yards per game. That beat the mark of 3,047 set only one week earlier by Westerns Will Finch, a Hec Crighton finalist. John Wall Wizards Jersey . -- The Washington Redskins coaching staff distanced itself from other coaches Thursday by siding with ownership -- and not the players -- in the NFLs labour dispute.KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. - Maria Sharapova needed nine match points before she finally closed out a win Saturday in the third round of the Sony Open, beating Lucie Safarova 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-2. No. 1-ranked Serena Williams won a marathon, too, taking 2 1/2 hours to eliminate Caroline Garcia 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Mens No. 1 Rafael Nadal began a bid for his first Key Biscayne title by beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-3. Sharapova had two match points in the tiebreaker, and seven more in the final game. The No. 26-seeded Safarova stayed alive with a succession of vital winners. "She kept hitting unbelievable shots," Sharapova said. "One more. One more. I said, How many chances are you going to get?" With the capacity crowd in a frenzy, a long exchange on the final point ended with Safarova pushing a weary forehand into the net. She then shared a hug with Sharapova. The match took three hours and ended at 10 p.m. to conclude an 11-hour day session on the stadium court, with two night-session matches yet to come. "After a match like that, its tough to have only one winner," Sharapova said, "because both players give a lot and both want to win so much." Williams match was a thriller, too. A succession of long rallies left her grunting, stumbling, lunging, squealing, flailing her arms and scolding herself. Despite all the drama and trauma, she moved one round closer to a record seventh Key Biscayne title. Williams is playing in her first tournament after a monthlong layoff, and rustiness might explain her 41 unforced errors, including seven double-faults. And the 20-year-old Garcia kept Williams on her heels with deep groundstrokes and serves that topped out at 117 mph. "I can play a hundred times better," Williams said. &quoot;I really gave myself a tremendous amount of trouble out there. Marcin Gortat Jersey. Granted she played great, but I made so many errors ... 40-something errors. Its not the way to play professional tennis. Maybe amateur." Three-time champion Novak Djokovic was off Saturday but advanced to the fourth round anyway when his next scheduled opponent, Florian Mayer, withdrew because of a groin injury. Djokovics next match will be Tuesday. Stanislas Wawrinka bounced back from his first loss of the year by beating Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. No. 7 Tomas Berdych joined Wawrinka in the third round by beating Stephane Robert 7-6 (5), 6-1. No. 10-seeded John Isner rallied to win an all-American matchup against Donald Young, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4. Isner is back in the top 10 this week for the first time in 18 months. Sam Querrey, Ryan Harrison and Jack Sock lost second-round matches. That left Isner as the lone remaining American in the mens draw, reflecting the state of U.S. tennis. Williams and Garcia engaged in a succession of side-to-side baseline exchanges that had the stadium crowd roaring. But she finished in a hurry, serving out the final game at love with the help of consecutive aces. Reigning Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has predicted that Garcia will someday climb to No. 1, but the Frenchwoman is now 0-3 against Williams. "Its always nice to play against a big player," Garcia said. "You are working and practicing to play this match, because its in this kind of match you can learn more. But next time I prefer to win." Williams is playing for the 14th time at Key Biscayne, an hour from her home in Palm Beach Gardens. She won the event for the first time in 2002 and tied Andre Agassis record of six titles last year. Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Larry Bird Jersey . -- Peyton Manning flew to New York this spring to pay his respects to Derek Jeter and David Letterman, two much-admired superstars in the middle of their long goodbyes. "Im sad to see some of these guys retiring," the Broncos quarterback said at the time. "Im not far behind." Yet retirement really isnt on Mannings radar as he prepares for his 17th NFL season, his third in Denver. Coming off the best two-year stretch of his career, Manning is keeping tacklers, tedium and time itself at bay. At 38, Manning said hell keep playing as long as hes still productive and loves the game. That passion and productivity were on full display last season when he won his fifth MVP award and set single-season records by passing for 55 touchdowns and more than 5,500 yards. There are no signs of his affection or efficiency ebbing anytime soon, either. "You see it in how he prepares every day," centre Manny Ramirez said. "Were here in the off-season and hes still putting the same amount of focus as he does in-season, preparing, trying to get better every day, trying to pick apart the defences." "I still enjoy the work and preparation," said Manning, who lost wide receiver Eric Decker to the Jets but gained coveted free agent Emmanuel Sanders and prized rookie Cody Latimer. That turnover actually helps keep Manning young at heart, coach John Fox suggested. "Theres so much change in the NFL nowadays that I think that keeps the juices flowing, whether thats getting Emmanuel Sanders up to speed or last year, Wes Welker. Anytime you put a new cog in there, thats an adjustment," Fox said. "I think he takes pride in that and he attacks that. He seems to me to be having a great time." Manning would like to play out his contract, which runs through 2016. Yet, while hes not pondering retirement, he said in an interview with The Associated Press that he has certainly contemplated what it will be like. "Sometimes I sort of kick back and I pause and I think what sorts of things would I miss the most if I wasnt playing," Manning said. The answer hits him like one of those teeth-rattling sacks by Robert Mathis. "Being in the huddle," Manning said. "Thats what I missed most when I was injured, Ill say that. I mean, theres no other type of unity or bond that I think any other job can provide. I know there are meetings, there are video conferences. But that huddle, because of where it takes place: its often on the road, in the middle of the field, in front of 80,000 people, its unique." Its what excites him even at an age when many quarterbacks have retired to the broadcast booth or are hitting the links instead of the weights. "When you dont play football anymore, you can broadcast, you can coach, you can be in management, whatever, but you are not allowed to go into the huddle anymore," Manning said. "That huddle is just for players. You can go into the locker room after the game and you can speak to the team, but I think any retired player would probably tell you they miss the huddle." The way Manning has guided the Broncos to a 28-8 record over the last two years belies how far he had fallen when he was forced to sit out the 2011 season in Indianapolis and even had to look in a mirror to relearn his release point after a series of neck surgeries weakened his throwing arm to the point he could hardly grip, much less throw, a football. Mannings reboot has turned into a blessing. "Yeah, although I have to say, some guys might need a year off to whatever, relight to fire, whatever it may be. I didnt need a year off to remind me of how much I love football," Manning said. "But when you have it, it sure does reinforce what you kind of always thought, that I do love it." Working with play-caller Adam Gase and new teammates has revitalized Manning. "Sometimes it, the monotonous routine, the boredom, that pushes guys out, not the physical part of it," Manning said. "And I have been stimulated the past two years working with Adam and working with different teammates, so it does sort of keep the bounce in you, I think." Manning doesnt view himself so much as a 17-year NFL veteran but as Denvers third-year quarterback. "I really feel because its a new team, post-injury, its kind of a new me. Thats how I have to look at it," Manning said. "Im a different player from before I was injured. Im not saying better, worse, whatever, just a different player. And so what I can compare myself most accurately to is my first season here in Denver and kind of how I am physically and how I am with my teammates and with Adam and so its helped to have now two years to build off that baseline." He no longer feels like a visitor in his own locker room. "And I like going into that huddle," Manning said. "I like the guys that I get to work with. I like lifting weights, working with Wes Welker, doing a set of bench press with Jacob Tamme, I like working with the guys that I play with and I still like learning. I like being challenged by Adam every day to be a better football player. There are a lot of things that I still enjoy about it. "And I look forward to driving over here every day. I think as soon as you go, Golly, I do not want to go over there today, thats when youve got to get out." Custom Celtics Jersey . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. Celtics Jersey . The 90-plus minutes of play are about trends and approach.(SportsNetwork.com) - Barry Trotzs highly anticipated return to Music City is on tap Friday as the Nashville Predators welcome their former longtime head coach and his Washington Capitals to Bridgestone Arena. Trotz served 15 seasons as head coach in Nashville, beginning with the franchises inaugural campaign in 1998-99, until parting ways with the club last spring. He amassed 557 wins in 1,196 regular-season games with the Predators, but was let go after Nashville missed the playoffs for a second straight season. Trotz had led Nashville to the postseason in seven of the previous eight campaigns. Im excited, Trotz said in a conference call earlier this week. Im excited to get back home and see some friends, and I get to see my family for a little bit. Its good to get to go back home. Nashvilles decision to part ways with the only head coach it had ever known has proved beneficial for both Trotz and Peter Laviolette, the man who took his place behind the Predators bench. Laviolette was tasked with transitioning the Preds from Trotzs defense-first style to a more up-tempo strategy and to say it has been a success would be an enormous understatement. Nashville, which is tied with Anaheim for the most points in the NHL this season, has gone from an average of 2.61 goals per game in 2013-14 to 3.00 goals per game this season, and it has done so while somehow improving on defense. The Preds were 23rd in the league in team defense (2.84 GPG) in Trotzs last season in Music City and are currently first with only 2.17 goals surrendered per contest. The Preds have yet to lose consecutive games under Laviolette, but Trotzs Capitals have been no slouch either. It took a little longer for Trotz to successfully implement his style of play in D.C., but Alex Ovechkin and his Washington teammates are thriving under the system now. The Caps enter Fridays action third in the Metropolitan Division. They are three points behind the first-place New York Islanders and two in back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for second. The Isles and Pens face each other tonight on Long Island. Washington is 6-0-1 this month and only has suffered one regulation loss over its last 19 trips to the ice, going 14-1-4 during that stretch. The Caps only loss in January came in a 3-2 overtime setback in Philadelphia on Jan. 8, but Trotzs club exacted revenge for that defeat with a 1-0 home win over the Flyers on Wednesday. Walter Brown Jersey. It was Washingtons third straight victory. Braden Holtby recorded his 15th career shutout by stopping all 21 shots sent his way on Wednesday. It was Holtbys fourth shutout of the season in his 20th straight start between the pipes for the Caps. Jason Chimera supplied the necessary offense early in the first period for the Capitals. Holtby expects to get the call tonight and he won his only career outing against the Preds, stopping 34-of-36 shots in a 5-2 home victory on Dec. 7 of last season. Justin Peters will give Holtby a rare rest on Saturday, when Washington visits the Dallas Stars. Nashville, meanwhile, will be without its franchise goaltender for the next few weeks. Pekka Rinne, a candidate for the Hart and Vezina Trophies, is expected to be sidelined with a sprained knee until after the NHLs All-Star festivities, which takes place next weekend in Columbus. Rinne has posted a 29-6-2 record in 37 games this season while sporting a 1.96 goals against average and .931 save percentage. Carter Hutton, who is 0-3-2 with a 2.60 GAA in six games this season, will start tonight with AHL call-up Marek Mazanec serving as the backup. Rinne stopped 20-of-21 shots on Tuesday before exiting Nashvilles eventual 5-1 victory over Vancouver early in the third period. The Finnish netminder was knocked backwards into the end boards in a collision between Vancouvers Chris Higgins and defenseman Anton Volchenkov. Hutton finished the final 17-plus minutes with 10 stops. They came right away, I didnt have much chance to get ready, said Hutton. Thats your job as a backup, always be ready to go out there at any minute of the game. Colin Wilson registered a season high of four points thanks to two goals and two assists to help the Preds rout the visiting Canucks. Craig Smith, Filip Forsberg and Mike Fisher also tallied for Nashville, which has won four in a row and six of its last seven. Nashville, which owns a four-point lead over Chicago for first place in the Central Division, is 17-2-1 as the host this season and is completing a brief two-game homestand tonight. The Caps and Preds have split the last four meetings in this series, but Washington has claimed seven of nine overall. Nashville has taken the past two encounters at Bridgestone Arena. Cheap NFL Jerseysnfl jerseys china ' ' '