ekansekans's blog: "df"

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons are making contingency plans in case defensive end John Abraham is unable to play at full capacity in Sundays NFC title game against San Francisco. Abraham, the NFLs active sacks leader, missed practice Wednesday with a sprained left ankle. The same injury forced him to leave last weeks win over Seattle in the second quarter. Abraham was initially hurt in the regular season finale loss to Tampa Bay, limping off the field with the help of trainers. Coach Mike Smith says that he expects Abraham, a 13th-year veteran, to start against the 49ers. Regardless of Abrahams status, the Falcons are giving reserve ends Cliff Matthews, Jonathan Massaquoi and Lawrence Sidbury more snaps in practice. Kroy Biermann is listed on the depth chart as starting end opposite Abraham. Wholesale Jerseys Cheap .Y. -- NL MVPs Marty Marion and Bucky Walters, and former New York Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert are among 10 candidates on the ballot for the baseball Hall of Fames pre-integration era committee. Wholesale Jerseys China .ca! Kerry, Love the column.  Had a couple questions from the Battle of Ontario game on Tuesday night between Toronto and Ottawa. Phaneuf and Spezza had some words and on the next shift, Foligno clipped Phaneuf, drawing only a two-minute penalty (as a side note, I see no difference between this check and the Marchand hit last week. http://www.wholesalechinajerseysmall.com/ . On Friday, coach Chuck Pagano said Reitz was out with a concussion. Everyone else, Pagano said, would play or was probable or questionable. HAMILTON, Ont. -- George Cortez paid the price Tuesday for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats disappointing season as the CFL team has relieved him of his duties as head coach and director of football operations. The firing came just over a month after the Ticats wrapped up a disappointing 6-12 season. "After a thorough evaluation of our organization and our goals moving forward, we have determined that a change in direction is needed," team president Scott Mitchell said in a release. "We want to thank coach Cortez for his contributions to the Tiger-Cats and wish him well in his future endeavours. "We will immediately begin the search for our new general manager and head coach." Cortez said he was surprised by the news, but seemed to be taking his dismissal well when he talked to reporters Tuesday. "Thats the way things go," he said. "We didnt win enough games, and ultimately thats what youre judged on." When asked if he would have done anything differently over his tenure in Hamilton, he relied dryly: "I would have won more games." "I think we had a good plan of how we did things," he added. "It was pretty much based on places Id been in the past and how wed done things successfully in the past, so I dont do a lot of second-guessing. Once you make a decision you move forward." Cortez said he would like to return to coaching next year, possibly as an offensive co-ordinator. He said he hasnt ruled out a return to the CFLs head coaching ranks, but noted that as of right now job vacancies are hard to come by. "I know obviously theres going to be a job in Ottawa in a year or two, but aas of right now theres no jobs out there," he said.dddddddddddd The Ticats also announced that Bob OBillovich, the teams vice-president of football operations, has been offered a position within the organization as a consultant to the president and the football operations staff. "Bob has done a very good job of bringing competitive football back to Hamilton and we look forward to working with him for many years to come," said Mitchell. OBillovich served as vice-president of football operations this year after spending four seasons as general manager. Cortez, who also handled offensive co-ordinator duties, was named the 21st head coach in Ticats history last January after spending the previous two seasons as a quarterbacks coach with the NFLs Buffalo Bills. He has won four Grey Cup rings and has three decades of coaching experience in the CFL, NFL and NCAA. OBillovich has also held several head coach and front-office positions over his long CFL career. Cortez had three years remaining on his contract. The news came down just over a week after defensive co-ordinator Casey Creehan left the Tiger-Cats for the same position in Winnipeg. Hamilton is now without a head coach, general manager, offensive co-ordinator or defensive co-ordinator. It is shaping up to be a busy off-season for the Tiger-Cats, who will play their home games next year at the University of Guelph. A new 24,000-seat field is being built on the site of Ivor Wynne Stadium, the teams home for the past 84 years. Hamilton finished tied with Winnipeg at the bottom of the East Division standings with 12 points. The Tiger-Cats havent won a Grey Cup since 1999. ' ' '