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NFL Headlines
November 19
Newark Star-Ledger
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More encouraging news on the Brandon Jacobs front, this time from Jacobs' mouth. After a practice in which he was bouncing around on the field, running sprints and playfully throwing punches during individual drills, Jacobs said his knee injury is "a little nagging thing that is just there, but I don't think it will hold me out." He also said he doesn't have any pain or feel restricted, unlike he did the last time he had the same injury, presumed to be his MCL sprain against Dallas last season. But, of course, how his knee feels tomorrow will be an important checkpoint. Jacobs also said he was limited in practice today only because the coaches and trainers wanted him to take it slow. ..."
November 19
Dallas Morning News
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On Monday, Jason Witten said his fractured rib was sore. On Tuesday, the Pro Bowl tight end said he was feeling a little better. "The thing is, I need to avoid those direct blows," said Witten, who took a painkilling injection before Sunday's game at Washington. Redskins safety LaRon Landry hit Witten on the sideline after an 11-yard catch, but Witten said he did not believe teams will target his ribs. Witten has two catches in the two games since suffering the injury against Tampa Bay on Oct. 26. "A lot of times things happen so fast I don't know they have a chance to say, 'Let's go for his ribs,' " Witten said. "But I feel a lot better about going through a game after playing in the ..."
November 19
Cleveland Plain Dealer
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Browns tight end Kellen Winslow will undergo an MRI on his right shoulder after injuring it during Monday's 29-27 victory over the Buffalo Bills. It's not the same separated shoulder that bothered him most of last season, the one he decided not to have surgically repaired in the off-season. "We're checking him out," said coach Romeo Crennel. "We'll see if he's going to be able to do much this week." Winslow suffered the injury after a fine 16-yard sideline catch that led to Phil Dawson's 56-yard game-winning field goal. He was tackled by linebacker Paul Posluszny and came up wincing. But he continued to play and had one more ball thrown wide of him on the drive. Winslow, who caught ..."
November 19
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
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Dallas Cowboys rookie running back/kick returner Felix Jones returned to practice today. Jones, who suffered a hamstring injury in the second half of the Arizona game on Oct. 12, might return to the lineup this week against San Francisco. Jones' big-play capabilities will be a welcomed sight for the Cowboys. Before his injury, he had rushed for 266 yards with three touchdowns and averaged 27.1 yards on kickoff returns with one score. He had a 98-yard kickoff return against Philadelphia in Week 2. Meanwhile, wide receiver Terrell Owens was not at the team's meeting and walk-through this morning because he is sick, according to a source. Owens didn't practice this afternoon. ..."
NBA Headlines
November 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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As if the Hawks' could sustain another key injury with Josh Smith potentially out for up to a month with a high ankle sprain, Al Horford limped to the locker room with a sprained right ankle with 5:12 to play in the first quarter Tuesday night. Horford never returned, staying in the locker room to soak his ankle in ice. He walked out of the locker room on his own after the game and said he would begin treatment Wednesday morning with the hope of playing against the Wizards. Smith suffered a high ankle sprain in the first quarter of a Nov. 7 home victory over Toronto and began walking without crutches Friday. There has been no date set for his return. The prospect of playing without both ..."
November 19
The Deseret News
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The Jazz could be without two of their point guards when the play host tonight to the Milwaukee Bucks.Usual starter Deron Williams said he will sit yet again because of the sprained left ankle he sustained one month and one day ago, during an Oct. 18 preseason game at Chicago."It still hurts," Williams said after the Jazz's shootaround this morning.Veteran reserve point Brevin Knight, who has finishing for the Jazz while Williams has been out, is listed as "doubtful" for tonight due to a groin strain sustained in Monday's win over Phoenix.Knight said the groin wasn't any worse today, but added, "it just hasn't gotten better," and lateral movement continues to be a problem.He said he'll ..."
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Jose Calderon knew the answer even before he stepped on the court last night for the pre-game warmup: He wasn't ready. "He just didn't think he could do the things he needed to do," head coach Sam Mitchell said of his starting point guard who has been working through a strained hamstring. So, the Raps again turned to Will Solomon, with Calderon getting at least one more night of rest. Whether he plays tonight against Miami will be a game-time decision. But the Raptors weren't the only team dealing with injury woes here in Orlando. The Magic were forced to scratch Mickael Pietrus, their prized off-season acquisition. Pietrus, who has shown a knack for coming up with the big shot early in ..."
November 19
Bergen Record
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Last week, Danilo Gallinari said all the back specialists he'd seen recommended four to six weeks of rest for the bulging disk that's bothered him since the summer. Then Tuesday, he saw another specialist in Boston who recommended six-to-eight weeks. "Got to be patient," said the rookie forward, picked sixth overall in June's draft. Gallinari said he expects to see at least one more specialist, when the Knicks are in Los Angeles next month. So far no one has recommended surgery. Tuesday's news means he won't return until 2009 at the earliest."
MLB Headlines
November 19
Boston Herald
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The Red Sox have confirmed that they’ve traded Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals for right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez. The deal was first announced by radio station WHB-810 in Kansas City. Ramirez appeared in 71 games last season, going 3-2. He pitched 71 2/3 innings and had a 2.64 ERA. Ramirez had three different appearances against the Red Sox and allowed no runs in three innings of work, while striking out three. Ramirez is 27 years old and is from the Dominican Republic. This was Ramirez’ third season in the majors. Prior to last season, he played for the Colorado Rockies and appeared in just 22 games in 2007, when he split the season between the Rockies and their Triple A ..."
November 19
Seattle Times
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Don Wakamatsu was introduced as the Mariners' new manager today at Safeco Field. Wakamatsu, 45, served as the Oakland Athletics bench coach last season. Before that, he was a coach for the Texas Rangers from 2003 to 2007. The announcement was made by Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, who said he started with a list of 35 candidates before narrowing it to a list of seven to interview. Zduriencik said it was important to bring in a manager "who would not only see the immediate, but the big picture, of this organization." Zduriencik also said it was important that he have a good relationship with the new manger, and that the manager understand the player-development side of the ..."
November 19
Boston Herald
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For most of his baseball life, Dustin Pedroia has heard the doubts. He’s heard he’s too small, too slow or that his swing is too long, and that, one way or another, he just doesn’t measure up. But now, he might be too good for his own good. Yesterday, Pedroia became the first Red Sox player since Mo Vaughn to be named the American League’s Most Valuable Player, this after the second baseman already earned a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. At the very least, will success make it more difficult to play with the trademark chip on his shoulder? After all, it’s hard to tell yourself that no one believes in you when you’re staring at a shelf full of trophies. So, will success ruin Dustin ..."
November 19
Chicago Tribune
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Ryan Dempster didn't have to think too hard when he decided to return to the Cubs instead of testing his worth on the open market. A Wrigleyville resident who rides his bike to the ballpark on occasion, Dempster has learned to love the city, the neighborhood, the ballpark and almost everything that goes with being a Cub. And if $52 million over four years is considered a "hometown discount," Dempster is happy to accept it. "Given as close as we've been the last two years, I thought 'This is where I want to be,' " Dempster said after Tuesday's signing. "I enjoy playing there so much. Was there more money on the open market? I'm sure there probably was. Who knows if there would have been ..."
NHL Headlines
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Mats Sundin appears to be aiming for a mid-December comeback, with as many as 11 teams – including the Maple Leafs – interested in his services. "Mats is currently training daily with the intention to return," Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry said. "He may still decide not to play, however, if his training regimen doesn't produce the results he expects." The former Leaf captain is working out in Los Angeles, doing mostly strength and aerobic training. Barry says Sundin will likely start skating before the end of November, making a mid-December return "a reasonable guesstimate.""
November 19
Ottawa Citizen
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Now you can add injury to insult for the Ottawa Senators, losers of their past five games. While the club will have a better idea of the severity of the knee injuries to forwards Mike Fisher and Chris Neil this morning, neither is expected to be in the lineup for tomorrow night's game against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Place. "We would hope to have them back (tomorrow), but that's probably not realistic," coach Craig Hartsburg said following a team meeting late yesterday morning. "Until the doctor sees them, there's no sense really talking about (the extent of the damage)." Fisher hurt his right knee during Monday's 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers and needed to be ..."
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Predators captain Jason Arnott, carried off the ice on a backboard during Monday's game against the Sharks, returned to practice today. Arnott was injured in the closing seconds of the first period at Sommet Center. San Jose's Joe Pavelski hit Arnott from behind as the center was charging toward the goal to receive a pass during a Nashville power play. The blow sent Arnott over the back of goalie Brian Boucher and head first into the back of the goal. The force threw the goal off its moorings, and left Arnott lying face down on the ice. He was strapped to a backboard and taken immediately to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. After the game, Predators Coach Barry Trotz said Arnott had ..."
November 19
Rocky Mountain News
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Joe Sakic skated with his Avalanche teammates on Wednesday but will not play against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at the Pepsi Center. Wednesday was the first time Sakic has skated since he left the Nashville game Nov. 8 after skating a little more than 7 minutes. "This time around, we want to make sure it's 100 percent," Sakic said. The Avs captain will make the team's trip to Los Angeles (Saturday) and Anaheim (Monday) and expects to play in one of those games."