MELBOURNE, Australia - Novak Djokovic began his quest for a fifth Australian Open title with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia in a first-round match Tuesday.Djokovic, who said he had flu symptoms on the weekend, showed no apparent signs of illness in dominating the 116th-ranked Bedene.Djokovic won his first major at the Australian Open in 2008 and then for three years in a row from 2011 to 2013. He was beaten in the quarterfinals last year by eventual champion Stan Warwinka, ending a streak of 14 consecutive semifinal appearances in majors and a 25-match winning streak in Melbourne.Bedene received treatment at the end of the third game of the third set for an apparent right hip injury. Ryan Finley Jersey . Long snapper Patrick Mannelly announced Friday that he is retiring after a 16-year-career with the Bears, a span in which he played in a team record 245 games and snapped the ball 2,282 times. Cheap Bengals Jerseys . Vonn "reopened" the idea of competing in the season-opening World Cup event on Oct. 26-27 in Soelden, Austria after returning to the slopes last month in Portillo, Chile. http://www.cheapbengalsjerseysauthentic....ren-jersey. -- Shanshan Feng was alone in her opinion about the pin positions in the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Cheap Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys . Matt Carkner got back into the Ottawa lineup, and made his presence felt right away by settling his clubs score in a one-sided fight with Rangers forward Brian Boyle. Jonah Williams Jersey .Then came December.Three straight losses, including a crushing 27-24 defeat to Washington (4-11) on Saturday, has the Eagles (9-6) on the brink of playoff elimination.LONDON -- Mohamed Salah scored one goal and played a part in the other two as Chelsea strolled to a 3-0 victory over Stoke to recover from back-to-back losses and reclaim the provisional Premier League lead Saturday. Even though Jose Mourinho downplays Chelseas title prospects, his team remain in the mix with a relatively undemanding run-in, apart from a trip to Liverpool. And its Liverpool that can ensure Chelseas stay at the top this weekend is short-lived by winning Sunday at West Ham. This was a routine victory for Chelsea against a Stoke side that presented little attacking threat, and Salah profited on his first start since joining from Basel in January. Salah was left unmarked when he netted the opener in the 32nd minute, and after the break the Egypt winger won the penalty that Frank Lampard first saw saved before netting the rebound. Salah set up Willian to curl in Chelseas third in the 72nd to wrap up a fifth consecutive home win, with the team scoring 17 unanswered goals during a formidable period at Stamford Bridge. The problems are away, having lost the last two league games on the road to struggling sides Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, and at Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their quarterfinal on Wednesday. "Away we have some matches where we must change our profile ... and adapt to the situation," Mourinho said. "If I go to a wedding, I dont go in jeans," he added. "And if I leave my house to go for a walk in Hyde Park I dont go in a smoking (jacket)." Mourinho accepted that it took at least 15 minutes for his team to "recover self-esteem and confidence." Not that Fernando Torres seemed to have any. The misfiring striker started up front again after being dropped for the 3-1 loss in Paris, but did little to convince Mourinho that he should be part of the team for next season. After two early efforts there was little danger from the player whose career has been in a downward spiral since joining Chellsea in 2011 for 50 million pounds (then $80 million) from Liverpool.dddddddddddd Torres first struck wide, then had a low close-range effort blocked by Asmir Begovic after Stoke defender Marc Wilson inadvertently chested the ball to him. While Torres has just one goal in 2014, Salah now has two since joining Chelsea in January. From a throw-in, Nemanja Matics cutback reached Salah, who was left completely unchallenged by the Stoke defence to power the ball into the net. "We bought a kid from a different habitat, an Egyptian player playing in Switzerland, we knew the kid was going to take time," Mourinho said of the 21-year-old Salah. "You feel it immediately the connection between him and the crowd." Although Branislav Ivanovic had the ball in the net again for Chelsea before halftime, the goal was ruled out for offside. Instead, the lead was extended after the break, with substitute Eden Hazard involved in the two goals. The penalty was won after the Belgium midfielder flicked the ball onto Salah, who was then brought down by Andy Wilkinson. Although Lampards penalty was saved, he reacted quickly to stab the rebound into the net in the 61st. It was his 250th goal in club football, encompassing his time at West Ham and Swansea before joining Chelsea in 2001. Stokes defence was cut through again with ease for the third goal. Hazard brought the ball forward from inside his own half and squared to Salah. Willian then collected the ball and had time to move forward unchallenged before bending the ball into the top corner. "He was so sharp on the ball," Lampard said of Willian. "The goal was the epitomy of what he does better than anyone I think Ive played with." Whether Chelsea players end up with Premier League winners medals this season remains unclear. Now its about hoping Liverpool slips up at West Ham and then overturning the deficit against PSG on Tuesday and advancing to the Champions League semifinals. 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For someone who doesnt understand the game, the idea of the sports most important club competition taking 70 days off during the season would be ridiculous. Yet, that is how long we must now wait for the next games to be played in the Champions League. When we see it again it will look much different and the teams could be playing much different. From a tournament where teams must play six group games to prove they belong in Europes sweet sixteen it evolves into a straight two-legged knock-out competition. Get through six more games and you will be in the final in Lisbon on May 24. It sounds simple but it is far from that. Arsene Wenger will repeatedly tell you that the Champions League is two tournaments in one. And he is correct. The first one is about survival and down to how difficult your group is. Only once the second one begins, can you start to think of playing in a final for the right to lift the European Cup, but to get there teams must jump the hurdles of knock-out football where a teams chances of qualifying can be decided in a moment. Ahead of the draw for the last 16 here is a look at the teams from strongest to weakest. 1. Bayern Munich - The reigning European champions have a great opportunity at becoming the first team to claim the European Cup in back-to-back seasons since the great Milan team of 1989-90. No team has done this under the Champions League format yet Pep Guardiolas team look to have all the pieces in place to buck the trend. A loss in the final match against Manchester City aside (when topping the group was virtually secured) the German side had an excellent group campaign featuring five impressive wins, including a demolition of Manchester City at the Etihad. They will be the team no group runner-up will want to play. 2. Real Madrid - It is hard to believe it has been almost 12 years since Real last made it to the final. Can Carlo Ancelotti do what Jose Mourinho couldnt and give the Spanish giants an elusive 10th European crown? Form in La Liga earlier this season was mixed but in Europe they have been excellent and will be better for the stern tests caused by them in both games against Juventus. Unlike last season, when Borussia Dortmund topped their group, Cristiano Ronaldo and company will avoid the group winners in the last 16. Back-to-back semifinal losses to brilliant German sides in the last two years has halted their challenge but if they can avoid Bayern over two legs this season they will have a great shot at glory. 3. PSG - It is hard to believe that a team who have spent so much money in the last two years remain under the radar but that is the case with Paris Saint-Germain. Quietly, they have gone about putting together a team full of quality and character. It is what served them very well last season, when they were narrowly defeated by Barcelona in the quarter-finals, but if those two teams met today over two legs I would take the French champs. Last season - just their second in this competition since 1994-95 - was all a bit new for PSG but now they seem primed for a real challenge. In Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic they have obvious difference makers but it is in midfield, with Thiago Motta and Blaise Matuidi, where they can take a stranglehold of key games. 4. Barcelona - We have still yet to see how Barcelona can bounce back from the drubbing they took at the hands of Bayern in last years semifinal. A group with Milan, Ajax and Celtic was a reasonable challenge but the Spanish champions were far from their best in those three away games (winning just one) and until they come up against a legitimate contender in this competition we wont be able to know just how much of a threat they are to win this competition. Of course, any team with Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta in it deserves respect, and no one will want to be drawn against them in the last 16 but whether they will bring fear to the three clubs ahead of them depends on the health of Messi. 5. Manchester City - The highest group runner-up on the list will be desperate to avoid the three teams above them on this list as they look to progress in their first-ever Champions League knock out campaign. Manuel Pellegrinis men used the Champions League games as a true showcase (Bayern at home aside) to show the improvements they have made since the Chilean took over from Roberto Mancini. They will want to avoid Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG but the truth is those teams will want to avoid City as well. If the spine of Kompany, Toure and Aguero remains healthy then look out. 6. Atletico Madrid - If people are sleeping on PSG then they are unconscious on Atletico Madrid. Having only played one season of Champions League football in the last 16 campaigns, the seedings were heavily against them but they breezed through Portos group, playing as well on the continent as they did domestically. Into the last 16 as a group winner they are now primed for a serious challenge and do not be surprised if they do what Borussia Dortmund did last season and win the hearts of many by making a serious run at the Cup. 7. Borussia Dortmund - It has been a tale of three Champions League seasons for Jorgen Klopps men. Two years ago they were fancied by many to do damage but finished last in their group. Last season some thought they were still too inexperienced but they topped a group over Real Madrid and then beat the Spanish team again in the semifinals. Now, in year three, expectations are high again and the German side have fallen in between year one and two in terms of consistent performances. They were very impressive in a win at Arsenal before losing to them at home and they were average at Marseille on Wednesday yet a late winner, coupled with an Arsenal loss, hands them the crucial top spot in Group F. 8. Chelsea - Any team in this competition with Jose Mourinho as manager has a chance. Jose is obsessed by the Champions League, just like club owner Roman Abramovich, but he will have to perform some magic to get this current crop of players back to European glory. "We are not amongst the favourites to win," Mourinho admitted this week. Clearly. In a relatively easy group, Chelsea made hard work of qualification, twice losing to Basel when their team was exposed on the counter-attack against a high defensive line. If any group winners need a comfortable last 16 draw to help build confidence and momentum it is Mourinhos men. 9. Arsenal - When the draw was made a Mesut Ozil-less Arsenal (that is an awful thought for their fans, isnt it?) were picked to be eliminated by some. In the end they should have won the group and were minutes away from doing so. Dortmunds dramatic late winner in Marseille, sent Arsenal to second and once again they will be looking at a potential nightmare draw on Monday. In less than five minutes they went from avoiding every team in the top 10 on this list to now looking at getting one of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid. Massive difference. 10. Manchester United - David Moyes may feel his team is amongst the favourites to win the competition but, for me, they are tenth out of the 10 teams who could have a shot at lifting the Cup in Portugal. That makes Uniteds chances an extreme long shot. Against Real Madrid last season they showed they can be organized against a technically superior side and they will have to be at their best defensively in this competition, while finding their superior home form, if they want to make strides past the quarter-finals. At their current state, the Group A winners will likely get a runner-up who they can beat in the last 16 (cannot play Man City) but after that it will get very difficult for the English champions. 11. AC Milan - Milan are far from a good side but what they have is experience. It has been too long since they were described as a super power but it was only two years ago when Pep Guardiola, then manager of Barcelona, admitted he was deeply worried about being drawn against the Italian side in the last 16. That will remain the same this season. Max Allegris team will be underdogs against any last 16 opponent but by February (much like last season) will be playing much better than now and with their defence, and Mario Balotelli, they will be a team few group winners will want to face. 12. Galatasaray - We all know by now how the Turkish champions reached this stage and the goal scored by Wesley Sneijder on a field fit for cows will be told by many for years to come. Not many people expected them to advance ahead of Juventus, in a group also featuring Real Madrid, but a side who takes four points from two games against Juve needs to be respected, no matter what the conditions were. Last year they reached the quarter-finals and that will be their aim this season. Dont expect them to be rolled over. 13. Bayer Leverkusen - Every season a group winner or three is beaten in the last 16 by a runner-up and Leverkusen could easily make a run towards the last eight. They struggled against Manchester United in Group A but played with no fear at Old Trafford early in the campaign and continue to play well in the Bundesliga. If they can keep up their domestic form, and avoid a giant in the draw, they could progress but wont be helped by having to avoid United, one of the weakest group winners. 14. Schalke - The German team progressed through a difficult group with Chelsea and Basel and, much like Bayer Leverkusen, will be thankful not to have to play Bayern Munich (or Dortmund) in the last sixteen. It will still be tough for them to beat any of their potential round 16 opponents. 15. Zenit - The Russians backdoored their way in after a dismal 4-1 loss to Austria Wien on matchday six. Thankfully, Atletico beat Porto to help them through but that proved to be a great result for many of the group winners who will much rather play Zenit over two legs than Porto. Russia in February is not a trip you want to take but if you have to the competition you face there should be fine. 16. Olympiacos - The Greek champions have reached the last 16 for the third time in the last seven seasons and that is a significant achievement in itself. A wonderful home win over Benfica was the difference between the last 16 and a spot in the Europa League this time around and that victory showed how difficult it is to play them in Greece. Kostas Mitroglou has become a household name in Europe and gets another opportunity to show what he can do on Europes biggest stage. With the group winners all looking strong it is tough to see them moving on in the next round but, as Wenger said, a new competition could lead to a number of surprises within the knockout stage. Let us know who you think can win it, your dark horse and who you want your team to draw in the next round. Jayson Tatum Jersey .com) - The NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots intentionally deflated balls during Sundays AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis. Jaylen Brown Jersey . Buffalos defensive co-ordinator had his second interview with Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner on Tuesday night, a person familiar with the Browns plans told The Associated Press. http://www.celticssale.com/kids-shaquill...cs-jersey/. -- Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias says he has stress fractures in both legs and isnt sure when hell be able to play again, leaving the Tigers two weeks to fill his spot for opening day and perhaps a lot longer. Dennis Johnson Jersey .com) - Stanley Johnson had 18 points and No. Gordon Hayward Jersey . Felton was in court as the Manhattan district attorneys office outlined the agreement, which would resolve a gun case that arose amid the breakup of his marriage. Hes expected to admit June 30 to at least one charge, attempted criminal possession of a weapon -- he wont have to come to court to do so -- and get a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service.NEW ORLEANS -- The Eastern Conference finally stopped Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin -- then stopped its losing streak at the NBA All-Star game. Kyrie Irving had 31 points and 14 assists and was voted the games MVP, Carmelo Anthony made an All-Star record eight 3-pointers and scored 30 points, and the East rallied for a 163-155 victory over the West on Sunday night. "Its a great honour," Irving said. "We had a few MVPs. Everyone out here today is an MVP." Durant and Griffin each finished with 38 points, four shy of Wilt Chamberlains All-Star game record. But the East scored the final 10 points to pull out a game it trailed by 18. Irving scored 15 points in the fourth quarter as the East ended a three-game losing streak. LeBron James had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. "The superstars of our league were just telling us to compete on every play," Irving said. "Trying to play as much defence as possible. You know, sticking to our game plan. We had a game plan going in and we executed." Griffin shot 19 of 23, while Durant finished with 10 rebounds and six assists. But the West was shut out after Durants 3-pointer gave it a 155-153 lead with 1:59 left. Indianas Paul George made three free throws, Anthony nailed his final 3-pointer, and James scored to make it 161-155. George closed it out with two more free throws and finished with 18 points. The game that usually doesnt get tight until the final minutes was close throughout the fourth quarter, neither team leading by more than four until the final minute. Chris Paul had 11 points and 13 assists, and first-time All-Star Stephen Curry had 12 points and 11 assists for the West. But the best point guard on the floor was Irving, who shot 14 of 17 and helped the East ring up 87 points in the second half after it surrendered a record 89 in the first. In a colorful tribute to New Orleans, players wore sneakers and socks that ranged from green and blue to orange and purple, making the game look like a Mardi Gras parade. The parade was one of layups and dunks for the West, which scored 44 points in the first quarter and 45 in the second.dddddddddddd. Griffin had 18 points in the first quarter and Durant had 22 at halftime, both two shy of records set by Glen Rice in 1997. And there was plenty of music, the rosters and starting lineups introduced around a concert by Pharrell Williams, who was joined by his own All-Stars in Nelly, Busta Rhymes, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Snoop Dogg. Magic Johnson led a band, too, encouraging the All-Stars to join him in singing "Happy Birthday" after the first quarter to Hall of Famer Bill Russell, the NBAs greatest champion who was celebrating his 80th. The All-Stars played better than they sang. The East finished with 61 per cent shooting, needing all sorts of offence after it simply couldnt defend Durant and Griffin. Durant made 6 3-pointers and easily blew past the 28.8 points he had been averaging in All-Star games, which was an NBA record. Outside of the ugly sleeved jerseys, it was a good look for the NBAs midseason showcase, bouncing back strongly from an even All-Star Saturday night. The new format of the slam dunk contest Saturday wasnt a hit, but every night is a dunk contest when Griffin is involved. The guy who once jumped over a car to win a slam dunk contest had eight slams in the first 11 minutes, the backboard often barely finished shaking from the last one when he threw down the next. The West began to open a gap in the second quarter behind a hometown star and a former one -- Anthony Davis of the Pelicans for former New Orleans guard Paul. Durant made a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left to make it 89-76 at the break, one point better than he and the West had two years ago in Orlando. Durant and Griffin each had 30 points by the end of the third quarter, but the East trimmed what was a West 18-point lead to 126-123 after three. DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors made his first All-Star game appearance, and had eight points in his 15 minutes of playing time for the East. 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1. CanCon In addition to the regular cast of characters - Mike Weir, Graham Delaet, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin - add Cory Renfrews name to the entry list. Renfrew, who is from Victoria but based in Scottsdale in the winter, Monday qualified for the tournament, shooting six under. If theres one member of the Canadian contingent to watch, it may be Delaet. He finished T30 last week at the Humana and a year ago was tied for second at the Waste Management. 2. No Throwing The no-fun guys at the PGA Tour have put a rule in place this week that prohibits players from throwing stuff into the crowd at the infamous 16th hole. In the past, players have thrown hats, footballs, snacks and more into the seats to the delight of the crazed crowd. Last year, Brad Fritsch tossed Ottawa Senators-logoed pucks to the fans. One fan who wasnt paying attention took the puck in the side of the head, but wasnt injured. The rules-makers have also put an end to the caddie races that used to be so much fun (but did lead to an injury). Still, you can expect the usual craziness as players tee off on the hole. 3. Phil Mickelson Lefty comes into the Waste Management off a T24 last week. He also tied for the tournament lead in birdies with 26 but added 11 bogeys to that. This will be his 26th start at this tournament, which hes won on three occasions. If you havent seen Phil yet this year, youll notice a slimmer, sleeker model after a winter of intense workouts. His coach, Butch Harmon, is predicting a big year for Mickelson, who went without a win last year for the first time since 2003. 4. Tiger, Tiger, Tiger Speaking of winless seasons, Tiger went without a victory in 2014, in what was an injury-plagued, shortened campaign. He will make his first start of the year in Phoenix and his first appearance at the tournament since 2001. And hell do so with a full set of choppers. Woods broke a tooth in a scrum with a cameraman while surprising his girlfriend Lindsay Vonn at a ski race. One of the reasons he hasnt been back was due to death threats he received last time here. His team dealt with security issues before he committed this time. Coming into this week, Woods has spent plenty of time with coach Chris Como and part of their focus was on his chipping, which was so glaringly poor last time out at the Hero World Challenge. So what did he do to fix it? We had to basically just hit thousands upon thousands upon thousands of chips and just get it out of there, and now its better. 5. Young Guns Two more notable players will make their 2015 PGA Tour starts. Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth will tee it up for the first time in the USA (Fowler played in the Middle East already) but should expectations be muted? Fowler missed the cut in each of the last two years at this tournament while Spieth is playing here for the first time. Of course Spieths last two starts werent bad - he won in Australia and then lapped the field to win the Hero. Trivial Note: This is the third time that the Super Bowl and the Waste Management Phoenix Open have been held the same weekend in the same city. On both previous occasions, the NFC teams won the big game. Kyle Wilber Jersey . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right. Eddie Vanderdoes Jersey . -- At the beginning of training camp, Andrew Bogut set a goal to play all 82 regular-season games and regain his place among the NBAs best centres. http://www.officialoaklandraidersfootbal....Patterson marked his anniversary by proving his worth — once again.Lou Williams poured in 26 points, and Patterson drained two huge three-pointers late in the fourth quarter, as the Raptors topped the Denver Nuggets 112-107 in overtime Monday. Bo Jackson Jersey . -- Brendan Leipsic had two goals and an assist and Nicolas Petan extended his point streak to 11 games as the Portland Winterhawks slipped past the Red Deer Rebels 5-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Frostee Rucker Jersey . So much so that even a simple foul pop up to the first baseman turned into a run. Houstons four-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Monday night was capped by a bizarre play that started as Crowe fouled out to first baseman Justin Smoak with runners on second and third.Tony Scheffler is retiring from the NFL. Scheffler told The Associated Press on Wednesday he made the choice because he had three concussions over the past four years. He had 258 receptions for 3,207 yards and 22 touchdowns in his eight-year career. The Detroit Lions released Scheffler in October. He later had workouts with Chicago and Kansas City and says therre was "moderate" interest in him as a free agent this off-season.dddddddddddd Denver drafted him in the second round in 2006 out of Western Michigan and traded him four years later to Detroit. Scheffler says his plans include becoming a real estate agent and assistant football coach at the high school in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan. 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PITTSBURGH -- The chip is still there, Lance Moore insists, just as weighty and sharp as ever. Eight years in the NFL and a Super Bowl ring have done little to make the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver forget his modest roots. He can still rattle off the name of the players who beat him out for a job with the Cleveland Browns during his first training camp nearly a decade ago even though he was a long-shot undrafted free agent at the time. Most of them are long gone. Not Moore. Hes still around, still trying to prove himself, still nervous he could find himself out of a job at any minute. "I dont know if I ever really let myself get comfortable," Moore said. Even if Moore spent eight productive seasons helping Drew Brees and Sean Payton turn the New Orleans Saints into one of the NFLs most consistent winners. On a team of undersized and underappreciated talent, the 5-foot-9 Moore found a home. He caught 38 touchdown passes in 101 games with New Orleans, morphing from special teams ace to indispensable red zone target. Until, of course, the math got in the way. A hand injury limited Moore to just 37 receptions and two scores in 2013. Knowing he was owed $3.8 million in 2014, Moore wasnt surprised when the Saints cut him loose this spring. "Thats how it goes in this game," Moore said. "A lot of teams are trying to get younger and cheaper at the same time." Moore turns 31 in August. He understands hes well into the second half of an NFL journey that is already longer than he ever anticipated. Yet there is something about the opportunity with the Steelers that intrigues him. Maybe its because playing slot receiver in Pittsburgh is like discovering the NFLs fountain of youth. Hines Ward was effective well into the final days of his 14-year career before retiring in 2012. He was replaced by Jerricho Cotchery, who scored a remarkable 10 touchdowns for the Steelers in 2013 at age 31. Cotchery turned all those scores into a lucrative contract with Carolina. Enter Moore, who lacks Cotcherys size and Wards tenacious blocking skills but makes up for it with what he describes as "football savvy." "Ive been little for a long time," Moore said. "I am not getting any bigger. I am 30 years old. I am happy in this body. I feel like I have made a lot of plays and will continue to do that." Its exactly what the Steelers had in mind when they signed Moore to a two-year deal in March, an agreement that came with more than a little help from backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who spent four years rooming with Moore when the two played at Toledo. Gradkowski started calling Pittsburgh coaches about Moore the second his good friend was released by New Orleans. It didnt take long for something to get done. Moore wasnt about to sit around and wait for a more lucrative offer than the one that will pay him a total of $3 million if he makes it through the 2015 season. "You look at this franchise, what it stands for and you know theyre about winning," Moore said. "You get a chance to play with somebody like (quarterback) Ben (Roethlisberger) and you dont turn it down." It hasnt taken long for Moore to win over Roethlisberger, who called his newest target "a pro" who hasnt needed much time to pick up the nuances of an offence that is reshaping itself, particularly at wide receiver. Pro Bowler Antonio Brown is the units unquestioned leader, but the departure of Cotchery and Emmanuel Sanders a year after Mike Wallace bolted for Miami has spearheaded a youth movement. The list of players jockeying for position with Moore include second-year players Justin Brown and Markus Wheaton and rookie Martavis Bryant. Moore admits its a little weird being the old guy in meeting rooms. Hes nearly five years Browns senior and will be one of only three players in their 30s among Pittsburghs offensive regulars, joining Roethlisberger and tight end Heath Miller. It could be worse. Moore couldnt be here at all. If this is the beginning of the end, hell take it. Hes close to his boyhood home in Ohio on a team expecting to win after a pair of mediocre 8-8 seasons. His new team expects to play a lot like its new wide receiver: with a chip that likely wont go away anytime soon. "Youve got to keep that," Moore said. "In this league, that can make the difference." Chandler Jones Jersey .J. - Several people have collapsed in an overcrowded New Jersey train station while waiting in long lines to get to the Super Bowl. Kurt Warner Jersey . TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively. http://www.officialarizonacardinalspro.com/Customized/. -- Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que. Christian Kirk Jersey . The 55th-ranked Istomin saved 11 of 14 break points to win in just over two hours, setting up a second round meeting with Australian Marinko Matosevic. It was the Uzbeks third win in three matches against fifth-seeded Kohlschreiber, the 2007 and 2012 tournament winner. Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . The post-season, Pierce said repeatedly, is no time to panic. And the Heat, apparently, are nothing to fear. WASHINGTON -- Ryan Zimmerman came forward to make a head-high running catch on a slicing line drive off the bat of Chase Utley, a routine play that drew a disproportionately grand ovation from the home fans. "Thats almost the awkward part of it," Zimmerman said. "Yeah, I caught the ball. Yeah, like, I can catch a fly ball." He might have been embarrassed by all the fuss, but it was nevertheless a landmark moment in career of the player long considered the face of the Washington Nationals franchise. It was his first putout as an outfielder after more than 1,100 games as a third baseman, part of a good night all around for him and his club Tuesday in a 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Jordan Zimmermann rebounded from a mini-slump to throw eight scoreless innings, Zimmerman hit a pair of doubles and handled his two chances with aplomb in left field, and the Nationals moved back to .500 by taking the opener of the three-game series. "Theres nothing like getting into the first game and getting a couple of balls," Zimmerman said. "And getting a couple of hits helped, too." Zimmermann (4-2) allowed five hits and struck out four, recovering well from four middling starts that had raised his usually impeccable ERA to 4.07. He got all the support he needed when the Nationals scored three in the third inning off David Buchanan (1-2), making his third career start. "May was a pretty rough month for me, and hopefully June has better things to come," Zimmermann said. "I wanted to go nine, but eightll be good enough." Zimmerman went 2 for 4 with one RBI after being reinstated before the game following 44 games on the disabled list with a broken right thumb. Of greater interest was his move to the outfield, a switch necessitated by his throwing problems and the need for a strong hitter to play left field while Bryce Harper recovers from thumb surgery. Zimmerman said he was initially hesitant to try the outfield, but he realized his chronic shoulder problems mean his days as a regular third baseman are numbered. Ever the team player, he said he just wanted to help the club win -- even if theres likely not a Gold Glove in it for him, like the one he won playing third in 2009. &"I feel like Im athletic enough to at least blend in," he said.dddddddddddd "And not cause problems." Like many infielders-turned-outfielders before him, he learned the action isnt as fast and furious when stationed 300 feet from home plate. Playing deeper than a usual left fielder and using a glove borrowed from teammate Jayson Werth, he fielded only the liner from Utley and a shallow flyout by Marlon Byrd in the sixth before being removed for defensive replacement Nate McLouth after seven innings. There was no complaint about the lack of work. "That means our pitchers are doing a good job," Zimmerman said. "I just catch what comes to me." Its Zimmermans bat thats really needed by the Nationals, who slumped at the plate for most of last month and have been hovering around .500 in the NL East. They started hitting better in a weekend series against the Texas Rangers, however, and have scored 26 runs in their last four games. Zimmerman doubled to left in the second and to right in the fifth, and each time a black padded glove was brought to him to wear to protect his thumb as he ran the bases. Werth added a two-run double in the third, Denard Span had three hits, and Ian Desmond and Anthony Rendon homered for the Nationals. The Phillies lost their fourth straight and were shut out for the eighth time this season, failing to get any impetus from a pregame team meeting called by manager Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg addressed focus and fundamentals, but theres only so much the manager could do about Zimmermanns mid-90s fastball and debilitating slider. Philadelphia is 9-18 since May 4. "We werent able to get anything going offensively, got shut down by a good pitcher," Sandberg said. "He kind of set the tone for the game." NOTES: The Phillies optioned RHP Phillippe Aumont to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and recalled RHP Ethan Martin from Lehigh Valley. ... Philadelphia signed RHP Jason Marquis to a minor league contract. He will report to Class-A Clearwater for extended spring training. ... Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez, on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed pitching shoulder, will make a rehab start with Single-A Potomac on Friday. 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Former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III said in a report that the NFL failed to investigate the Ray Rice case properly and that he found no evidence the league received a video of the Ravens running back knocking out his fiancee on a casino elevator.Here are some of the key excerpts from the 96-page report released Thursday following a four-month investigation:— On the NFLs investigation into the case: There was substantial information about the incident that should have put the league on notice of a need to undertake a more thorough investigation to obtain available evidence of precisely what occurred inside the elevator. Had the League done so, it may have uncovered additional information about the incident, possibly including the in-elevator video prior to its public release.— On an Associated Press report that a law enforcement official sent a copy of the in-elevator video to the NFL: We found no evidence that anyone at the NFL had or saw the in-elevator video before it was publicly shown. We also found no evidence that a woman at the NFL acknowledged receipt of that video in a voicemail message on April 9, 2014.— On the steps taken by the NFL to pursue evidence in the case: Our investigation identified a number of investigative steps that the league did not take to acquire additional information about what occurred inside the elevator. League investigators did not contact any of the police officers who investigated the incident, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, or the Revel to attempt to obtain or view the in-elevator video or to obtain other information. No one from the league asked Rice or his lawyer whether they would make available for viewing the in-elevator video they received as part of criminal discovery in early April. And, after the initial contacts with the Ravens in the immediate aftermath of the incident, league investigators did not follow up with the Ravens to determine whether the team had additional information.— On the accuracy of the reports findings: We reach these findings without the benefit of all possible information. The Associated Press and ACPD did not provide certain information we requested. For example, had the Associated Press provided us with a phone number associated with the disposable phone used by the AP source, or the sound of the females voice at the league (for use with voice comparisons), our conclusion might have been different. We made several offers to the Associated Press to receive such information without identifying its source, including an offer to search our telephone data for any portion of the sources disposable cellphone number. Those offers were declined. Similarly, had ACPD provided information about certain officers handling of evidence, we might have reached a different conclusion. We made several requests to ACPD for information, face-to-face interviews, and written responses to our questions. Those requests were declined.— On security chief Jeffery Millers unsuccessful attempt to obtain in-elevator video: Also on February 20, Miller attended a previously scheduled lunch meeting with senior officials from NJSP_officials who had worked with the League in the run up to the Super Bowl at the Meadowlands. Miller recalls that, during a brief discussion of the Rice incident, he told the officials that the league knew there was video from outside the elevator and that he suspected there was video from inside the elevator. Miller recalls asking the officials if they could confirm whether an in-elevator video existed or describe to him what the video showed. There is a dispute about what Miller said at the luncheon, but there is no dispute that Miller did not obtain information as a result of any request made during the luncheon.___Reaction from around the NFL and elsewhere:— NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: We have all learned a great deal in the past months and expect to be judged by how we lead going forward on issues of domestic violence and sexual assault.— New York Giants owner John Mara: This matter has tarnished the reputation of the NFL due to our failure to hand out proper punishments. It has been a wake-up call to all involved and we expect the changes that have been made will lead to improvements in how any similar issues are handled in the future. It is clear to us that Commissioner Goodell was forthright in the statements he made to the owners about this matter, and we have every confidence that Roger Goodell is the right person to lead the league as we move forward.— Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on approval of Goodell: I can understand the criticism. I would hope that certainly something like this report would accentuate the transparency that the commissioner wants and that the owners want. These are complex issues, not just domestic violence but other social issues that we have to have a responsibility to in the NFL. What Im concerned about more than anything are doing things that reduce the numbers of victims and that can impact families and victims way away from the NFL. To me, that could be our greatest role.— Associated Press Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll: We have reviewed the report and stand by our original reporting. The Mueller team did ask us for source material and other newsgathering information, but we declined. Everything that we report and confirm goes into our stories. We do not offer up reporters notes and sources.— Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney on meeting with Goodell about the findings: There was resounding support for Roger ... Theres a very strong confidence in Roger going forward in terms of him being the commissioner of the league.— Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice-president of football operations: All of the off-field events of 2014, including the Mueller investigation and subsequent report, have served to make the NFL better. Because of these events our entire leadership team is more informed and better prepared to address these important conduct issues. We listened, learned and acted. It has been confirmed by both public opinion and intensive scrutiny that playing football is a privilege that does not override the rights of victims of violent crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. The result has been a strengthened personal conduct policy with emphasis on victims and survivors. Custom Titans Jerseys . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Cheap Tennessee Titans Gear .I dont think it comes to mind in this business, in this game, the Philadelphia Flyers forward said. You dont try to lose games. http://www.titanscheap.com/. After the loss, White refused to make good on the bet, instead offering Hoyt tickets to a Bears game. Wholesale Tennessee Titans Jerseys . 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee. Tennessee Titans Jerseys Outlet . -- Canadian freestyle skier Roz Groenewoud isnt letting surgery to both of her knees deter her expectations for the Sochi Olympics. The axe came down on CFL veterans Justin Palardy, Hugh Charles, Jamel Richardson and Martell Mallett on Saturday. All four were released as CFL teams reduced their rosters to 46 players by the league deadline of 10 p.m. ET. The regular season kicks off Thursday with the Toronto Argonauts visiting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Veteran kicker Palardy was among 14 players cut by the expansion Ottawa Redblacks. While his release was surprising, the Edmonton Eskimos provided a shocker by including seven-year veteran Charles name in their final 15 cuts. A knee injury limited nine-year CFL veteran Richardson, 32, to only 18 catches for 197 yards last year, breaking a streak of five straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons with Montreal, which also let veteran linebacker Diamond Ferri go. Mallett, the 09 CFL top rookie with B.C., was released by Calgary. The running back was attempting to resurrect his career after suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon during training camp in 12 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Veteran defensive back Evan McCullough, who earned a Grey Cup ring with Toronto in 12, was among five players released by Hamilton. The Argos were expected to announce their final cuts Sunday. Palardy, a 26-year-old native of Truro, N.S., was looking to kick-start his CFL career with Ottawa but was released along with international kicker Paolo Henriques, leaving American rookie Brett Maher as the clubs only kicker. Howeer, late Saturday night it was reported that Maher had also been released. Maher had a field goal, three converts and single in Ottawas 26-10 exhibition win over the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night, but he didnt exactly receive a ringing endorsement from Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins on Saturday. "Unfortunately nobody lived up to what we felt the acceptable level of performance would be," Desjardins told reporters. "Even in Bretts case, he knows he need to be better. "It doesnt mean hes locked into being our guy either . . . were still having guys to explore and other options to look at and were going to do that. We have time, we have bye week so we have a lot of time to figure this out." The Redblacks dont play their first game until July 3 in Winnipeg. Palardy, a former Saint Marys star, was taken in the fifth round of the 2010 CFL draft by Hamilton and played in five games as a punter before being released. Palardy joined Winnipeg in August 2010 and made 26-of-30 field goals for a club-record 86.7 per cent success ratio. He followed that up by hitting 40-of-52 field goals in 2011. The following season, Palardy was Winnipegs nominee for the CFLs top special-teams player after making 39-of-45 field goals and averaging a career-high 57.3 yards on 70 kickoffs. But after hitting 9-of-12 field goals in 13, Palardy was replaced by Canadian Sando DeAngelis and released by the Bombers on Aug. 27, 2013. He signed with Ottawa on March 6. Palardy punted 12 times against Montreal for a 39.8-yard average. Redbblacks head coach Rick Campbell said cutdown day is tough for all involved.dddddddddddd "This is not a fun day," he said. "Theres a lot of guys that have put in a lot of work to get to this point and to try and make a football team. "To give people bad news, you never want to do it but its a part of the fact of what happens in pro sports." Over his career, Palardy made 114-of-139 field goals (82 per cent) and boasted a 42.1-yard punting average Also released by the Redblacks were national receivers Aaron Hargreaves, Simon LeMarquand and Steven Adu, international defensive back Parker Orms, international linebacker Devin Arrington, national defensive lineman Stephon Miller, international defensive lineman Dimetrio Tyson,, national offensive linemen James Lee, Brendan Dunn and Aaron Wheaton, international receivers Taulib Ikharo and Travon Patterson. The B.C. Lions released seven players. They were: national running back Guillame Bourassa, international defensive back Tony Burnett, international linebacker, Korey Jones, international defensive lineman Dyrell Porcha, international offensive tackle RJ Dill, national kicker/punter Steven Shott and national linebacker Thomas Spoletini. American defensive end Scooter Berry, who was entering his third CFL season, was among 14 players released by Montreal. The six-foot-two, 275-pound Berry had spent time in the NFL with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as Arena Football Leagues Jacksonville Sharks, before joining the Alouettes. "Lost a lot of good teammates today especially my boy (at)Sdot--Berry," Alouttes defensive lineman John Bowman tweeted. "I wish all yall the best. "This is the non fun part about the game." Montreals moves mean international receiver Chad Johnson made its final roster. Johnson, 36, was a longtime NFL star but was out of football for two years before signing with the Alouettes. In addition to Charles, Edmonton released national defensive linemen Michaell Dadzie and Gregory Alexandre, national receiver Anthony Barrett, international defensive linemen Cameron Sheffield, Daniel Ross and RaShon Harris, national cornerback Raye Hartmann, national centre Gord Hinse, international defensive backs Robert Sands and Myron Lewis, international slotback Brandon McRae, national punter-kicker Zackary Medeiros, national linebacker Kyle Norris and national fullback Smith Wright. The Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders released 26 players, including international linebacker Brandon Isaac, who earned a Grey Cup ring with Toronto in 12 and spent last season with Hamilton. Also let go were national receivers Jade Etienne -- selected fourth overall in the 11 draft by Winnipeg -- and Jordan Sisco, a 2010 second-round pick by the Riders, and international defensive lineman Markus White, who suffered a seizure during camp. Winnipeg made its final cuts Friday, releasing 11 players, including former starter Max Hall. 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PARIS -- About the only thing getting between Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard and a berth in the second round of the French Open was the weather. Bouchard overcame a rain interruption of nearly 90 minutes before finishing off a decisive 6-0, 6-2 win over Israels Shahar Peer on Monday. The tournaments 18th seed beat Peer for the second time this season and fourth in her career over 58 minutes of actual playing time. Montreals Bouchard, the 20-year-old former junior Wimbledon champion, arrived to Roland Garros with her highest career WTA ranking. She moved up to 16th after winning her first WTA title on Saturday, beating Karolina Pliskova in the final of the Nuremberg clay court tournament. "Today the court was actually a bit slower because of the conditions," said Bouchard. "I find the courts here are generally like fast clay courts, so I like them. Its fine for me. "Im confident, but Im usually always confident and believe in myself, and know whenever I walk on the court I always believe I can win the match. But Im just trying to take it one week at a time. Last week is last week. I have another tournament this week. Thats all Im focused on." Bouchard had a 3-1 lead in the second set when the weather turned wet. She won the first seven games of the match against Peer, reaching 4-0 in 13 minutes and polishing off the opener in a brisk 27 minutes. Peer finally won the third game of the second set but was never a threat. When the pair returned, Bouchard extended her second-set lead to 4-1 and saved a break point for a 5-2 lead before breaking Peer in the final game to advance on a second match point. Bouchard next plays the winner of a match between Germanys Julia Goerges and Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal. Later Monday, Toronto native Sharon Fichmans match against sixth seed Jelena Jankovic was suspended due to darkness. The match will resume Tuesday with Fichman leading 7-5, 1-5. Fichmans match against Jankovic can be seen to its conclusion live on TSN GO, Tuesday at 6:30am et/3:30am pt. Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil was defeated in his opening match, beaten by 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 by Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili to remain winless at Roland Garros. The 31st-ranked Canadian, whose season has been compromised by back problems, broke in the third set as his opponent served for the match. But Pospisil lost his own serve a game later and went down on a fourth match point from a backhand wide. Pospisil ended with six aces and 27 winners but also committed 55 unforced errors as he lost in the Paris first round for a third straight year. He admitted that he was struggling physically but did not want to go into detail. He said that his problem is "fixable" and that he has plans to play Wimbledon. "Today was not what I wanted. I dont want to talk about the back," he said. "The back is much better now but there are still some demons I have to face. "I wasnt able to focus on the competition today, It a combination of a lot of things -- I didnt recognise myself on the court today, thats the disappoinbting part." Officials began cancelling last matches in late afternoon, with qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., having to wait until Tuesday to play Romanian Sorana Cirstea. TSNs coverage of the French Open continues on Tuesday at 5am et/2am pt on TSN2 and at 10am et/7am pt on TSN. San Francisco 49ers Nick Bosa Jersey . Kripps, of Summerland, B.C., and Edmontons Barnett used a terrific second run to move up two spots, putting the Canadian duo in medal contention with the final two runs set for Monday (11:15 a.m. ET, streaming live at cbc. San Francisco 49ers Deebo Samuel Jersey . Arsene Wenger reportedly wants to convert the player into an attacking force, much like he did with Robin Van Persie. http://www.cheap49ers.com/167a-cheap-jal...49ers.html. Mladenovics quick hands at the net made the difference while Bencics inexperience in doubles showed. "We took a lot of pleasure," Mladenovic told Sport Plus television. "Its extremely difficult to play in such conditions, but our doubles team showed a lot of quality. Stitched San Francisco 49ers Jerseys . "I wouldnt read anything into what happened Saturday at Torrey Pines," Woods said Tuesday after an 18-hole exhibition for past winners of the Dubai Desert Classic. Discount San Francisco 49ers Jerseys . - Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has signed with WME-IMG, saying the sports management powerhouse will help maximize the value of my brand.WASHINGTON -- Rafael Soriano stood with hands on hips as the ball landed beyond the right-field fence. Game-tying homer with two outs in the ninth. Another blown save. Booed off the field. An ERA of 6.98 since the All-Star break. A closer whose job, according to the manager, is now firmly in jeopardy. The Washington Nationals melted down in all sorts of ways Friday night. They blew a five-run lead after the seventh inning, committing three errors along the way in a 9-8, 11-inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. But the biggest concern for a team that appeared to be sailing smoothly toward an NL East title is a closer situation thats suddenly in flux. Soriano has pitched poorly in recent weeks, but the final straw might have been the three-run lead he couldnt hold because of home runs by Carlos Ruiz and Ben Revere. "We need to address it," manager Matt Williams said. "Its not an easy decision, none of them are, but we want to be able to close those games out. Sori understands that; hes been around the block." Williams said he would discuss the matter with Soriano on Saturday, but the manager went on to strongly indicate the right-hander could be given a break from closer duties to sort things out. Williams mentioned Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen and Matt Thornton as possible alternatives. "Soris been struggling a little bit," Williams said, "so well have to look to land him a little softer maybe for a few days and see where were at." Soriano has 31 saves this season, but he has allowed at least one run in seven of his last 12 appearances. He said he plans to study video and talk with pitching coach Steve McCatty on Saturday. "Ive got to figure it out, whats going on right now," Soriano said. "And do it better." Told that Williams might turn to another closer, Soriano said: "What situation he can make, I agree with him because one of the reasons that I like him so far is weve got good communication." The Phillies began their rally with two unearned runs in the eighth, spurred by Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendons booted grounder. The three runs off Soriano in the ninth included the second career homer by Revere, a solo shot that tied the game at 7. Before that inning, Revere had 947 career plate appearances on the road without a homer -- the most among active players. Then came an unearned pair of runs in the 11th off Craig Stammen (4-5), an inning that started wiith a two-base error on Bryce Harper when the left fielder ran smack into centre fielder Denard Span on a routine fly ball by Domonic Brown.dddddddddddd. "He called it, and we bump into each other," Harper said. "Center field has priority, of course, and Ive got to get out of there." Brown later scored on a fielders choice grounder to first by Maikel Franco, who was playing in his second major league game and in the third inning had produced his first major league hit. First baseman Tyler Moore tried to get Brown at home, but the throw was off target. Franco went to second, and Moore was charged with the Nationals third error of the game. Jake Diekman (4-4) pitched one inning for the win. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the 11th for his 34th save, but only after allowing a run off consecutive one-out hits by Rendon, Jayson Werth and Moore. Philadelphia has won 8 of 11, a stretch that includes a three-game sweep of the Nationals last week in Philadelphia. STELLAR STRASBURG: Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg allowed one run and four hits over six innings with five strikeouts and no walks. He has a career-high 189 innings for the season, surpassing his 183 from last year. He received a mound visit in the sixth from McCatty, who was concerned that Strasburg was getting a finger blister in the heat, but the right-hander remained in the game through the end of the inning. TRAINERS ROOM Phillies: LHP Mario Hollands (flexor strain, left elbow) was placed on the 60-day disabled list, but the reliever wont undergo surgery. "Hes on six weeks rest, at least, from baseball," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "Its basically a rest program. So thats good news." Hollands spot on the roster was taken by RHP Sean OSullivan, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Nationals: 1B Adam LaRoche started despite a nagging lower back strain, a sore elbow and the remnants of a stomach bug that had him woozy and barely able to swing a bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, when he had five RBIs after entering the game in the ninth inning of a 14-inning win. He hardly seemed fazed. He hit a two-run homer in the first off Phillies starter Jerome Williams and had a sacrifice fly to give him eight RBIs in two games. UP NEXT Philadelphias A.J. Burnett (7-15, 4.40 ERA) faces Washingtons Tanner Roark (12-9, 2.91) on Saturday in the second game of the three-game series. 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Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he was unsure if running back LeVeon Bell would be available for Saturdays AFC wild card matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Bell suffered a right knee injury in the season-finale against Cincinnati. Tomlin, as he did on Sunday night, said the knee was hyperextended and added that there was no structural damage. There is pain and soreness and discomfort associated with it, said Tomlin on Tuesday. Were going to take it day-by-day. I met with him just moments ago, and he was in the training room on the stationary bike and riding like he was training for the Tour de France. Bell was hurt in the third quarter of the 27-17 victory over the Bengals after taking a helmet to the knee from Cincinnati safety Reggie Nelson. He ran for just 20 yards on eight carries and caught six passes for 80 yards before exiting the contest. Were going to make the right decision, Tomlin added Tuesday. We wont be swayed by circumstance -- the magnitude of the game and so forth. If hes healthy and able to protect himself and can be a positive contributor to our efforts, well play him. If we cant answer yes to all of those questions and then some, we wont. Its just that simple. Bell finished the season as the NFLs second-leading rusher with 1,361 yards. I dont know whether or not hes going to be available for the game, Tomlin continued. We are going to make alternate plans if he doesnt, but well leave the light on for him. The Steelers brought in running back Ben Tate on Tuesday for insurance. Tate spent time with both Cleveland and Minnesota this season. Stephen Anderson Jersey . The third-seeded Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was coming off a semifinal appearance at the French Open. She took the opening set before the unseeded American came back for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. D.J. Reader Jersey . Serves hit by her surgically repaired shoulder often missed the mark, resulting in 12 double-faults. http://www.officialhoustontexansfootball...sey-womens. The league announced Thursday that Tom Higgins is leaving that post effective immediately. Arian Foster Jersey . The 33-year-old defender has spent his entire career at Chelsea, scoring 57 goals in 621 appearances. He regained his regular starting place under Jose Mourinho in the season that ended at the weekend without Chelsea winning a trophy. Braxton Miller Jersey . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday.HOUSTON -- The Seattle Mariners are next-to-last in the American League in scoring. Playing the only team below them gave their offence a boost. Justin Smoak homered to cap an eight-run burst in the seventh inning, leading Hisashi Iwakuma and the Mariners over the Houston Astros 9-8 Saturday night. "We have had a habit of doing it all in one inning," Smoak said. "It was good to get something going there. We got it going, kept it going and were able to hold on there at the end." Given a 2-1 lead, Dallas Keuchel (2-2) left after walking the first three batters of the seventh. Jose Cisneros forced in the run that made it 2-2 when he walked Mike Zunino, and Mchael Saunders followed with a two-run double. Stefen Romero and Robinson Cano added RBI singles, Kyle Seager doubled in run and Smoaks two-run homer off Raul Valdes made it 9-2. The inning was Seattles highest-scoring since getting eight in the second at Texas on May 30, 2012. "A win is a win," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "People say you win ugly. I dont buy that. A win is a win. I told you guys, playing great and losing, you dont get the ice cream. We get ice cream tonight. Thats all that counts." McClendon was ejected in the seventh after the walk that loaded the bases. Catcher Jason Castro went to the mound to talk to Keuchel, and when he began walking back to the plate, McClendon was tossed by plate umpire James Hoye for arguing. "I told him that the manager told the catcher to go talk to the pitcher," McClendon said. "I said he had been out there once. Obviously, he was trying to get more time. That could be construed as a trip to the mound. I said it was in the rule book, and he threw me out." Iwakuma (1-0) made his first appearance after starting the season on the disabled list because of a sprained right middle finger. He allowed four runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings; the Astros stopped his consecutive scoreless innings streak at 25 dating to last year. "Overall, todays game I was able to pitch well," Iwakuma said through a translator. "I was able to command both sides of the plate and that helped with prettty much all my pitches.dddddddddddd" Fernando Rodney escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and finished for his seventh save. Keuchel allowed four runs and four hits with three strikeouts, leaving after walking the bases loaded with no outs in the seventh. "Out of the gate, I didnt really feel too well, but I had some early contact. Some groundball outs kind of got me in a groove," Keuchel said. "It feels like a train hit me in the seventh. Its not like me to walk three guys in a row. I felt like a couple of those pitches were close, but the umpire has the final say." Keuchel took a two-out shutout into the fifth, then gave up an RBI single in the sixth that closed the Mariners to 2-1. "A couple times through the order, he was able to keep us off balance," Zunino said. "We were able to get some good at-bats together and cycle through. Once guys start feeling good, it starts opening up for everyone." Jonathan Villar and Chris Carter each homered in Houstons four-run seventh as the Astros dropped to 10-20. Carter also tripled and Marwin Gonzalez had three hits. Carter hit an RBI triple to the centre-field hill in the eighth and scored on Alex Presleys single, making it 9-8. After Yoervis Medina walked the bases loaded, Rodney induced Jose Altuve to fly out. "Great response," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "Those guys, its a credit to them. They keep plugging away. We talk about it all the time. Regardless of what happens, every at-bat counts. Grind your at-bats out, and today was a prime example of that, and we put ourselves in position to make a huge comeback." NOTES: After hitting the game-winning single Friday night, Astros rookie OF George Springer was given the day off. Springer, called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 16, had started the last 14 games. "Its more of just a breather," Porter said. ... Seattle OF Abraham Almonte, in a 4-for-37 slump in his last 10 games, was out of the lineup. "Thats why hes sitting, because its not working," McClendon said. "Its that simple. Hes not playing because hes not producing." 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The Los Angeles Kings hope to put their road woes behind them when they begin the 2015 calendar year by visiting the Vancouver Canucks in Thursdays battle at Rogers Arena. You can listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1040 Vancouver starting at 5pm pt/8pm et. Vancouver enters this New Years Day battle having posted three wins during a four-game point streak. The lone loss of the stretch came in a 2-1 overtime setback at Anaheim on Sunday, but the Canucks rebounded with Tuesdays 3-1 triumph in San Jose. Bo Horvat, Jannik Hansen and Radim Vrbata all scored for the Canucks, who are tied for second place in the Pacific Division with San Jose and Calgary, one point ahead of Los Angeles. We needed a strong effort tonight, said Hansen. These are extremely valuable points in our division. Ryan Miller made 31 saves to anchor Tuesdays win in San Jose. Miller is 19-7-1 with a 2.50 goals against average in 27 games this season. Miller is 5-2-1 with a 2.59 GAA in his career against the Kings and is expected to draw the start against Quick tonight. Quick owns a career 10-11-1 mark and a 1.81 GAA in 22 lifetime appearances versus the Canucks. The Canucks will be aiming for a bit of revenge tonight after getting slammed in the first of five meetings between these Pacific rivals on Nov. 8 in L.A. The Kings scored four times in the first two periods to chase Miller from the game, while Quick stopped 18-of-19 shots for L.A. in a 5-1 victory. The Kings have won five of the last six encounters in this series overall, but Vancouver is 3-0-1 over the past four meetings at Rogers Arena. The Canucks, who are 9-5-1 as the host in 2014-15, are kicking off a four-game homestand tonight. The Kings, winners of two of the last three Stanley Cup titles, havent looked like champions away from the City of Angels this season, going 4-8-6 as the visiting team. Darryl Sutters club has dropped five straight on the road since a 5-3 win at Ottawa on Dec. 11 and his Kings are 0-1-1 on a three-game trek which ends tonight. The Kings current two-game skid comes on the heels of a 3-0-1 stay at Staples Center, where the club boasts a 14-4-2 record this season. After closing the road trip on Thursday, the Kings will head home for their longest homestand of the season. The seven-game stay in L.A. begins Saturday against Nashville. One night after losing a 2-1 regulation decision in Calgary on Monday, the Kings were handed a 3-2 shootout loss by the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton entered Tuesdays contest on a nine-game losing streak, but the Oilers were able to down the defending champs for just their second win in the last 22 games. The Kings rallied to earn the point at Rexall Place after falling behind 2-0 against lowly Edmonton. Drew Doughty cut the deficit to one shortly after the midway point of the third period and Jake Muzzins power-play tally with 2:25 left sent the game to overtime. However, Edmontons David Perron would score the lone goal of the shootout, beating Jonathan Quick with a backhand shot in the fourth round. Quick stopped 19 shots in defeat for the Kings, who outshot Edmonton 39-21 in the game and 15-1 in the third period alone. We didnt play a good game, said L.A. forward Tyler Toffoli. We started playing when we were down two goals. Canucks Projected Forward Lines Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Vrbata Higgins - Bonino - Hansen Matthias - Richardson - Vey Burrows - Horvat - Dorsett Mike Condon Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings have claimed forward Travis Outlaw off waivers under the NBAs new amnesty provision, filling out the frontcourt with another veteran. Chris Tierney Jersey . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. http://www.authenticsenatorspro.com/Crai...jersey/.ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience. Jean-Gabriel Pageau Jersey . -- Joe Thornton scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:39 left in regulation to help the San Jose Sharks overcome a two-goal deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Thursday night. Daniel Alfredsson Jersey . Kevin Martin and Kevin Love paced the Timberwolves like they do so often. Martin had 27 points with some key baskets down the stretch, Love had his usual double-double, and the Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 112-106 victory Saturday night over the suddenly slipping Dallas Mavericks.WINNIPEG -- An Olympic dream moved a step closer to reality for John Morris Saturday, as he handed his former skip a ticket home. And Kevin Martin said he had no one to blame but himself. Morris and Brad Jacobs will square off in the mens final Sunday at the Olympic trials, while Jennifer Jones and Sherry Middaugh were set to play Saturday evening in the womens final. "Either my first or second one in six, that was the game-breaker," said Martin. "We force them to one there, weve got all the momentum going into seven." Instead, Martin lost 7-5, letting Morris score a deuce in six and another in eight, then losing the hammer in nine when he failed to blank on an open hit. It was a sweet win for Morris, who took over as skip this year on Jim Cotters B.C. rink with the Olympics in his sights. Cotter moved to third, although he still throws fourth rocks. "It feels great, its been a real grind of a year . . . We seem to be playing our best curling right now and Im just real proud of the guys," he said. He gave full marks to Cotter. Martin said he was surprised at the shots Cotter made. As the strategist, Morris watched his former skip all week and put a rock in the one spot in nine where Martin had nosed one earlier in the round robin. Martin, who was trying for his fourth trip to the Olympics, kept his composure but said this will be his last Olympic Trials. A frustrated Marc Kennedy, Martins second, couldnt hide his feelings as he smaashed is broom into shards in the hallway after he left the ice.dddddddddddd Lead Ben Hebert said Martin kept them in the hunt all week (they lost only once to Jacobs). "Kevin was the best player here all week, standing on his head just to keep us in it, thats the reason we were 6-1, and he didnt play good today," he said, adding that he isnt giving up on a return trip to the Olympics, after winning gold with Martin in 2010. "The game should have been over after five or six and we let them off the hook." Morris, who was also part of that 2010 gold-medal team, said they knew they werent favoured to win. "We didnt mind the underdog tag and we knew what we were capable of." As for the future of the team if they dont beat Jacobs Sunday, Cotter said that remains up in the air. "Weve talked about the future and who knows," he said. "Were focusing on this moment here and now and what our game plan is going to be tomorrow. Were just going to go out and try and play our best game." Their best game will be needed against Brier winner Jacobs, who swept the field in the round robin, handing Martin his only loss, to move directly to the final. "We just need to keep doing what weve been doing," said Jacobs, who practised Saturday. "Everyone is throwing the rock great on this team . . . We just need to come out and perform like weve performed all week and let the chips fall where they may." 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Although the deal cannot be made official until the free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 10, Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $18 million extension to remain in Toronto, sources confirm to TSN.NEW YORK -- Joe Girardi is happy to see Jacoby Ellsbury in Yankees pinstripes instead of the uniform of the rival Boston Red Sox. "You are going to make my job a lot easier," the New York manager told his new outfielder. "You no longer are a thorn in my side. You are a flower in our clubhouse, and Im happy to have you." Ellsbury agreed to a $153 million, seven-year contract Dec. 3, and the deal was completed four days later. He was formally introduced Friday at a Yankee Stadium news conference, part of an off-season transformation that has seen New York add Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran while watching Robinson Cano depart. Ellsbury will wear No. 22 with the Yankees, taking over the number of Roger Clemens, another Boston star who moved south to New York. No. 2, Ellsburys uniform with the Red Sox, belongs to Yankees captain Derek Jeter. Ellsbury was No. 23 in college, but thats retired in honour of Don Mattingly. And Ellsbury started his big league career with No. 46, which was worn by Andy Pettitte and isnt being given out any time soon, if at all. "Twenty-two, Ive never worn that number, but 2 is my favourite number, so why not have two of them?" Ellsbury said. A lefty-hitting leadoff man, the 30-year-old led the majors with 52 steals despite a broken foot late this season. He finished with a .298 average, nine homers and 53 RBIs. Ellsbury spent 158 days on the disabled list in 2010 after breaking ribs in a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre. He was on the DL for 90 days in 2012, when he dislocated his right shoulder when sliding into Rays shortstop Reid Brignac while trying to break up a double-play in Bostons home opener. "I play the game hard. I play the game I feel like the right way," Ellsbury said. "It was just two unfortunate things." He didnt go on the DL this year, when he was limited to 134 games by a broken bone in his right foot that he played on throughout the post-season before it completely healed. "I already made my mind up I would play in the post-season no matter how it felt," he said. "There was a risk -- a foul ball off my foot. ... The reward was worth the risk." New York general manager Brian Cashman thinks the injuries were anomalies. "Theres risk always whhen you make those type of commitments, but we signed the player because of the projected reward," Cashman said.dddddddddddd"Hes a unique talent." Ellsburys arrival was linked to the slow negotiations with All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, who left for a $240 million, 10-year deal with Seattle. "We have to start moving now," Cashman remembered telling his bosses. "And to move early, you have to step up and separate yourself from the pack." Ellsburys deal calls for salaries of $21,142,857.15 per season and includes a $21 million team option for 2021 with a $5 million buyout. Ellsbury gets a full no-trade provision and the right to purchase six Legends Suite tickets per year. "Ive seen him get base hits. Ive seen him hit home runs. Ive seen him steal second. Ive seen him steal third," Girardi said. "And I even had the pleasure of watching him steal home off of Andy Pettitte when I was standing right behind him and we were all screaming at Andy. "Ive seen him make great catches that changed the complexion of the scores between the Red Sox and Yankees. And thats why Im so excited to have him in our lineup on a daily basis, because theres so many different ways that he can beat you, whether its with his power, his speed or his glove." After seven seasons with the Red Sox and two World Series titles, Ellsbury took out a full-page ad in Fridays editions of The Boston Globe. "To the fans of New England, teammates and the many friendships made. Thank you!" the ad stated. He wouldnt be surprised if he receives a hostile reception when he returns to Fenway Park next season. "Fans like to boo. Its just kind of fun to boo," he said. But he cherishes his time in Boston. He had dinner Thursday night with former Red Sox teammates Dustin Pedroia and David Ross. "It was seven great years. The fans treated me great," Ellsbury said. "The guys in the clubhouse, those are relationships that Ill have for the rest of my life regardless of what uniform Im in or the uniform theyre in." NOTES: Wells wore 22 at the end of last season. With Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Beltran, Alfonso Soriano and Ichiro Suzuki, there appears no room for Wells on the roster unless there is a trade or injury. 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