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WASHINGTON -- The Washington Redskins opened free agency not with the familiar Dan Snyder splash but instead with a few notewor

in Quasselecke 02.01.2020 10:32
von jokergreen0220 • 1.730 Beiträge

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Redskins opened free agency not with the familiar Dan Snyder splash but instead with a few noteworthy ripples, keeping a couple of key players while adding an offensive lineman, a special teams standout and a No. Saquan Hampton Jersey . 2 receiver. No Jairus Byrd or Aqib Talib landing via the teams owner private plane within hours of the official start of the NFLs annual open market. While there still could a blockbuster to come, the brain trust of general manager Bruce Allen and new coach Jay Gruden began by spreading the salary cap money around to plug as many holes as possible after a 3-13 season. Inside linebacker Perry Riley and receiver Santana Moss were re-signed with just hours to go before they were set to become free agents. Receiver Andre Roberts, guard Shawn Lauvao and linebacker Adam Hayward agreed to terms and are expected to sign their deals once theyve completed their physicals, according to people familiar with their deals who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contracts had not yet been signed. Cornerback Corey Graham and defensive end Antonio Smith were scheduled for visits to Redskins Park. Riley was the Redskins leading tackler from last season, and his return gives Washington a measure of stability in the heart of the defence. With longtime captain London Fletcher planning to retire, the Redskins faced the daunting task of replacing both inside linebackers in their 3-4 scheme had Riley signed elsewhere. Rileys deal is worth about $13 million over three years, including approximately $4.25 million in guaranteed money, according to a person familiar with the contract who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Redskins did not publicly release the financial details. A 2010 fourth-round pick who has started 40 consecutive games, Riley became the third Redskins defensive player to re-sign rather than test unrestricted free agency. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall and defensive lineman Chris Baker also have new deals, and outside linebacker Brian Orakpo is all but certain to return after receiving the franchise player tag last week. Gruden also opted to retain defensive co-ordinator Jim Haslett. Also coming back is Moss, who turns 35 in June and signed a one-year deal. He had 42 catches for 452 yards in 2013 as the teams No. 3 receiver and has accepted without complaint his reduced role over the last two seasons. He recently passed 10,000 yards receiving for his career, and 2014 will be his 10th season with the Redskins. While Moss will be back as the No. 3 wideout and Pierre Garcon as No. 1, Roberts is set to fill the No. 2 role being vacated by Joshua Morgan, who is now a free agent. Roberts, who has played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, had 43 receptions for 471 yards and two touchdowns last year. His best season was 2011, when he had 64 catches for 759 yards and five touchdowns. A person familiar with Roberts deal said it has a base value of $16 million over four years with $8 million guaranteed, including a $4 million signing bonus, and that the deal could be worth up to $17.35 million with incentives. The person said Roberts is scheduled to take his physical Wednesday and then sign his deal. The person spoke to the AP because the terms of the deal had not been announced. Lauvao represents the first move in Grudens plan to upgrade an offensive line in charge of protecting franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III. A third-round draft pick in 2010, he has played four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, mostly at right guard. Chris Chester has been the Redskins right guard for three seasons, and Lauvaos arrival could lead to a shuffling of a unit that allowed 43 sacks last year. Lauvaos deal is worth $17 million over four years, according to ESPN. The Redskins kick and coverage units were among the worst in recent NFL history last year, so Hayward was a natural target after his work on special teams over seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He agreed to a three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal, and he is expected to sign Wednesday. Graham and Smith will have to be courted in person before they agree to a deal, with both set to visit the Redskins practice facility. Graham, who has played the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, could compete with second-year player David Amerson for the starting cornerback position opposite Hall. Smith, who had five of his 41 1/2 career sacks last year with the Houston Texans, would fill another need. While theyve been one of the NFLs most active free agency teams in 15 years under Snyder, the Redskins were quiet the last two seasons because of a $36 million salary cap penalty imposed by the NFL for the way the contracts were restructured during the 2010 uncapped year. Now they have money, but they have lots to do. Even if they sign Graham and Smith, they would still need a pair of starting safeties, a linebacker to replace Fletcher and probably a right tackle. Wil Lutz Jersey . -- Jerome Verrier scored once and set up two more as the Drummondville Voltigeurs downed the visiting Chicoutimi Sagueneens 5-1 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. TreQuan Smith Jersey . Summers has seen scant playing time with the Coyotes since being selected 29th overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, having played in 47 career NHL games. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/custom-craig-robertson-jersey-large-2552e.html . This time, it was Eric Chavezs turn. Stuck in a rut since coming off the disabled list, Chavez hit the first pitch he saw in the ninth inning for a run-scoring single, sending the Diamondbacks to another walk-off victory, 4-3 over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.SOCHI, Russia – When the Canadian management team, headed by executive director Steve Yzerman, gathered in recent months to evaluate the crop of players that would be selected to play for Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics two central attributes emerged above all else. There was the requisite hockey sense demanded from the countrys very best and of equal importance, if not more so, was the ability to burn up and down the ice, the latter of significant consequence on the generally unfamiliar international ice surface. "I think we have a really good mix of players here that bring a lot of elements," said Doug Armstrong, the Blues GM and a member of Team Canadas management team, "but the one element they all have is skating ability." Its likely why someone like 34-year-old Joe Thornton – a member of the gold medal winning squad in 2010 and top point producer again this season, but certainly not the fleetest of foot – was not named to the team this time around, replaced by explosive types such as Matt Duchene and Jamie Benn. In fact, the Canadian roster in Vancouver featured a number of players who were probably never be described as quick – Jarome Iginla, Brendan Morrow, Dany Heatley, Eric Staal – but could get around just fine, at that point in their respective careers, on the NHL-sized ice. "I think you see some players that can play on the North American ice [that are] not quite as fleet of foot, but the space they have to get to they can get to quicker and hold it longer. From the corners to the front of the net the distance isnt as great. I think its a different style," Armstrong said. "A bigger man can have success maybe in the North American game thats a little harder to have here." Absent is a single player on this roster who cant get up and down the ice effectively. Quickly adjusting to the larger international ice surface – 15 additional feet wide – will be among the greater challenges facing the Canadians as they look to become the first back-to-back gold medal winning squad in the NHL era of the Olympics. All of which explains why swiftness on skates – not to mention the ability to move the puck with equal speed and precision – was such a fundamental asset in the selection process. Canada managed to win its first gold in 50 years on the Olympic size ice in Salt Lake City, but fell badly short four years later in Torino – they finished a distant seventh. Though other gold medal hopefuls face a similar challenge – with the vast majority of talent migrating to Russia from the NHL – the Canadians (and Americans certainly) will be required to climb a somewhat higher hill, having only played on the 200 by 100 foot surface sparingly. "Theres no question," said head coach Mike Babcock, "when youve grown up your whole life playing on one surface youre probably pretty comfortable with that surface. I know we are in North America. So theres a little adjustment, well get it worked out." One adjustment Babcock will seek is shorter shift lenngths: from the NHL standard of 45 seconds down to 40 seconds with more space to cover and ground potentially to protect. Deuce McAllister Jersey. He and the coaching staff, which includes big ice expert and former Swiss National Team coach Ralph Krueger, will also stress the need to attack inside on the offensive end, rather than linger on the perimeter as an opponent would prefer. "As much wider [as] the rink is you still want to play an up and down, north and south game and I think its the strength of our team to be able to play at a high speed, high tempo, all four lines," said John Tavares, who played on the bigger ice in Switzerland during the last lockout. "I think thats where were going to be at our best." Other immediate challenges facing Canada (and just about every country) include the required role alterations demanded of NHL stars and energy-sapping jet lag, an adjustment most countries will face in some way or another. "We can talk about the size of the ice surface," said Yzerman, "but I think its adjusting to playing a lesser role. Youve got forwards that are used to playing 21-22 minutes a game that are going to play 10 and 11 and defencemen that are used to playing 27 playing 18. Thats a huge adjustment for them all." Stars and scoring champs are fighting for even the slightest bit of ice-time. Martin St. Louis was the oldest Art Ross winner in NHL history last season (he was 37) and has kept the Lightning afloat save the injured Steven Stamkos again this season, but he finds himself grinding amongst 14 forwards for an opportunity. He and Duchene, a fellow first-timer were on the outside of the forward lines on the opening day of practice at Bolshoy Ice Dome. "When I talked to St. Louis in Tampa I told him he was one of 14 forwards and that he has to grab his piece," said Babcock. "Thats what weve told everyone; theyve got to find a way to grab their piece." Babcock was flipping through lineups and line combinations from the triumphant experience in Vancouver alongside assistant coach Claude Julien and came to a very simple conclusion: things can change in a hurry. Mike Richards for instance, rose from the 14th forward to a key member of an effective trio which included Jonathan Toews and Rick Nash. "Its a competitive environment and we expect our guys to compete for their ice-time," Babcock said. The Canadian head coach got creative in his attempts to quell the effects of jet lag. Players were given a special package for the plane ride over to Sochi, a kit that included eye covers, ear plugs, melatonin, vitamins, and compression socks to reduce the possibility of swelling in the feet. They were also told to sleep no longer than four hours (some did anyway) and stay up until midnight if possible. All to curtail the effects of the drastic change in time zones. "Keep the players up," Babcock said of his goals for a practice that begin at 8pm local time. "We thought if we got some exercise at this time of night we had a better chance of staying up til midnight." ' ' '

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