ekansekans's blog: "df"

Sergei Kostitsyn has signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Nashville Predators, avoiding arbitration. Julio Jones Camo Jersey . The 25-year-old winger recorded 17 goals and 43 points in 75 games for the Predators last season. In 10 post-season games, Kostitsyn notched a goal and an assist in 10 games. The former seventh-round draft pick has spent the past two seasons in Nashville after he was traded from the Montreal Canadiens. In 307 NHL games, Kostitsyn has 64 goals and 161 assists. Matt Ryan Limited Jersey . He was 52. The Russian Hockey Federation said Krutov died Wednesday. It did not give a cause of death, but the ITAR-Tass news agency said he had been taken to a hospital several days earlier for stomach bleeding. Justin Blalock Jersey . The slumping Flames were officially eliminated from the post-season race Saturday as they dropped a 3-2 decision in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks. http://www.thefalconsfans.com/mike-peterson-jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills officially placed running back Fred Jackson on injured reserve Tuesday and promoted defensive tackle Jay Ross to the 53-man roster. Julio Jones Black Jersey . -- The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with Olympic silver medallist Jeff Demps, who played running back at Florida but was not drafted by an NFL team because he said he wanted to focus on his track career. Tony Gonzalez Authentic Jersey . Former United defender Wes Brown headed a first-half own-goal, but Fergusons 1,409th game was more notable for his clubs announcement that it had renamed Old Traffords north stand after him than for anything the players managed on the field.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady threw for a team-record 517 yards in the New England Patriots opener last year. When they begin this season on Sunday at Tennessee, the offence will have several different starters from that 38-24 win over Miami. But it still has Brady. And Josh McDaniels, who has returned to the offensive co-ordinators job he held from 2006-08, sees improvement in his star quarterback. "I think Tom has gotten better every year," McDaniels said Tuesday. "Its a great example for our younger players to see how he goes about trying to prepare for this opening game. I see a guy thats determined, thats working extremely hard, that wants to play his best football, and hes trying to do everything that he can to make sure that happens this year." Brady was pretty good last season. He threw for 5,235 yards, second most in NFL history. His 39 touchdown passes were fourth in the NFL. He led the Patriots to a 13-3 record and the Super Bowl, where they lost to the New York Giants 21-17 on a last-minute touchdown. This season, they have Brandon Lloyd, the deep threat they lacked. Second-year running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen should play bigger roles now that BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who lacked their elusiveness, has left for Cincinnati. And the tight-end tandem of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez already is the best in the league after just two seasons. But the offensive line is a question mark. Left tackle Matt Light retired and his replacement, Nate Solder, has been inconsistent. Right guard Brian Waters hasnt reported after an outstanding season with the Patriots, and coach Bill Belichick has repeatedly declined to update his status. "Im just talking about the guys that are here," he said. The Patriots loaded up on free agent wide receivers in the off-season when they signed Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Donte Stallworth and Anthony Gonzalez. All but Lloyd have been released. Deion Branch, who started all 18 games he played last season -- including three in the post-season -- also was cut. That leaves Lloyd and Wes Welker as the only proven receivers, although Hernandez sometimes lines up in that spot. "We havee plenty of players that can make a contribution on offence," McDaniels said. Tony Gonzalez Youth Jersey. "Hopefully, every skill player that plays in the game has an opportunity to make some plays for us, whether that be in the backfield or tight end or at the receivers position. "Weve played with a lot of different variations, a lot of different numbers at certain positions over the course of time and the guys weve got now, we feel good about and are excited to use them on Sunday." Greg Salas could be one of them. The second-year wide receiver was acquired for an undisclosed future draft choice on Saturday from the St. Louis Rams, where he played while McDaniels was the offensive co-ordinator. "Greg played a lot (of) inside (receiver) in college, but that doesnt mean that he cant play multiple positions," McDaniels said. "For the most part, we ask all of our skill players to learn multiple roles and I dont think that will be any different for Greg." The Titans allowed the eighth fewest points in the NFL and went 9-7 last season but missed a wild-card playoff berth on a tiebreaker. In this preseason, they gave up the fewest points in the AFC, 16.8 per game, and led the league with eight interceptions after managing just 13 all last season. They added free agent Kamerion Wimbley to help a pass rush that had only 28 sacks last year, the second fewest in the NFL. They still have second-year middle linebacker Colin McCarthy, a good pass defender, and safety Michael Griffin, who was designated a franchise player. "Theyve got some really good players at all three levels of their defence," McDaniels said. Griffin, entering his sixth season, is a key to the secondary. "Hes smart. He anticipates things well, route combinations and things like that," Belichick said. "Sometimes hes back. Sometimes hes close to the line. Hell do both and has done both from either (safety) spot. You never know exactly where hes going to be." It will be Bradys job to figure that out. "He studies and prepares so well for each team," McDaniels said, "and puts in so much hard work and does a great job of demonstrating how to get ready for each game." ' ' '