Post by jenny123 on Jan 22, 2014 22:16:30 GMT -5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The season is over for Jamaal Charles. The All-Pro running back will go on injured reserve after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, a person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press, leaving the winless Kansas City Chiefs without one of their best offensive players. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Chiefs do not disclose injury details. Charles, the NFLs second leading rusher last season, sustained the injury after taking an awkward step finishing off a run in the first quarter of Sundays 48-3 loss to the Detroit Lions. Charles had an MRI exam Monday that revealed the extent of the injury, and coach Todd Haley said he would join tight end Tony Moeaki and Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry on injured reserve. Moeaki tore his left ACL in Kansas Citys pre-season finale against the Green Bay Packers, while Berry tore his left ACL in a 41-7 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills. "Injuries are part of the game," Haley said. "Sometimes through preparation, sometimes just through freak happenings, and weve seen a little of each." The Chiefs are off to one of the worst starts in NFL history, getting outscored 89-10 by a pair of teams that combined to win 10 games last season. The miserable start has caused talk radio shows to light up with calls for Haley and general manager Scott Pioli to be fired, even though the franchise is coming off a surprising 10-6 season in which it won the AFC West title. The Kansas City offence has turned the ball over nine times and is averaging 240 yards per game, 30th of 32 teams in the NFL. The defence has been just as bad, allowing nearly 390 yards and a point total exactly four touchdowns more than the leagues second-worst defence. Haley vowed that the Chiefs would keep working to turn things around, but that wont be easy after losing arguably three of their five best players to season-ending injuries. "You hate to see any of your teammates, whether its Jamaal, Eric Berry, Tony Moeaki, any one of those guys go down, because were not just teammates, were friends," running back Thomas Jones said. "You hate to see a guy that works as hard as Jamaal go down like that." Charles struggled along with the rest of the Chiefs in their opener against Buffalo, gaining 56 yards on 10 carries. But he appeared to be finding his stride on Kansas Citys opening drive against the Lions, taking his first carry around left end for 24 yards. He got another carry three plays later, this time headed toward the right, and took an awkward step out of bounds after a three-yard gain before colliding with the Lions mascot. Charles immediately grabbed at his left knee and rolled around on the ground before the training staff finally reached him. He was loaded onto a cart and taken to the locker-room, and the team initially said his return was doubtful -- even though it was clear that he was seriously injured. How serious wasnt revealed until Monday. "Its unfortunate, you know, directly for Jamaal because I know Jamaal had high hopes and was excited and worked very hard to be ready to take this to the next level, and now he wont be able to do that," Haley said. "I know hes hurting pretty good inside. Thats first and foremost where my feelings go. But as far as our team, we must step up as a team and move forward." Thats easy to say, tougher to do. Charles was coming off a breakout season in which he gained 1,467 yards, second only to the Texans Arian Foster, and averaged nearly 6 1/2 yards per carry. Charles also caught 45 passes for 468 yards while earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl. The only silver lining is that the Chiefs have more depth in the backfield than they have at tight end and safety, the two other positions where theyve sustained devastating injuries. Jones has plenty of experience carrying a heavy load, and ran for 896 yards and six TDs last season while logging more carries than Charles. Second-year pro Dexter McCluster also has shown a spark at running back after moving over from slot receiver during the pre-season. "We have very capable, proven guys in the backfield," Chiefs wide receiver Jerheme Urban said. "Coach talks about it all the time, and if you go in any other NFL locker-room, theyre going to talk about it was well: Somebody goes down, somebody else has to step up." But what if three players go down, all of them bright young stars? "Thats the nature of the beast, thats the nature of the game," veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "Injuries happen. Things happen on the field thats unfortunate. Its a setback for you, but were all professionals. Someone has to step up. We have to be that much closer." Peyton Manning Jersey Super Bowl . The Blue Jays lost 6-4. "You never want to miss any starts," said Johnson. "How bad the team, how bad were going right now, that was one of the things but Ive had pretty much everybody come up and tell me to be smart to make sure to be smart. Terrance Knighton Jersey Super Bowl .725 million on Thursday. "Peter is a young and talented forward who is a former first-round draft choice," said Panthers general manager Dale Tallon. www.broncosgearsnflshop.com/Denver-Broncos_Nate-Irving-Jersey-Super-Bowl-Xlviii/ . This year could be very different. After a surprise 23-18 victory over France on Sunday, the Azzurri go looking for a second straight win when they visit Murrayfield to play beleaguered Scotland on Saturday. Mike Adams Jersey Super Bowl . The Manchester giants dipped into their reserves for a second game in three days and produced disjointed displays that were rescued by second-half winners. Edin Dzekos 66th-minute goal maintained Citys record of scoring in every home game in more than three years -- a run of 60 matches -- and lifted the team two points above Arsenal, which plays Newcastle on Sunday. Britton Colquitt Jersey Super Bowl .ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen and NFL Editors Ben Fisher and Mitch Ward discuss three hot fantasy football topics.VANCOUVER -- By signing French striker Eric Hassli as the clubs first designated player Friday, the Vancouver Whitecaps added a much needed scoring threat for their first Major League Soccer season. Hassli has spent the last 3 1/2 seasons with FC Zurich of the Swiss Super League. At six-foot-four he brings size and experience which Vancouver will need in its inaugural MLS campaign. "Hes a proven goal scorer," said Tom Soehn, Vancouvers director of soccer operations. "Hes a big guy and can score in many different ways, whether it be his feet or his head. "Hes a presence in the box. Hes a guy that has very good technical abilities. He makes players around him better." The Whitecaps have managed few goals against MLS teams while playing exhibition matches. Midfielder-forward Atiba Harris, who Vancouver claimed from FC Dallas in the expansion draft in November, has been the teams only experienced attacker. Hassli scored 36 goals in 115 competitive matches for FC Zurich. The 29-year-old had 21 goals and 10 assists in 34 appearances when the club won the Swiss Super League title in 2008-09 season. The native of Sarreguemines, France, has five goals in 18 appearances this season, including four goals in his last three games. The Whitecaps had said they were in no hurry to sign a designated player but the timing was right to bring Hassli into the fold. "Weve been actively in the market for forwards," Soehn said. "I think with every player you go through a checklist of availability, the qualities he brings, how that will fit into MLS. "It has to be a good fit for us but it also has to be a good fit for the player. In this case we really felt we were able to check all those off. He was a guy we felt would make us better." The Whitecaps have several veterans on defence. Coach Teitur Thordarson said Hassli fills a gap up front. "It was important for us to bring in an experienced striker," Thordarson said in a release. "Strikers are a top priority for clubs around the world, and therefore difficult to secure. &"Eric is big, strong, and will give us a physical presence all over the pitch.dddddddddddd." Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi likes experience Hassli brings. "Hes a player who will make an immediate impact and will make us a better team," Lenarduzzi said in a release. Hassli still must receive an international transfer certificate, work permit and pass a physical. Soehn expects to have Hassli in the lineup for Vancouvers opening match on March 19 against Toronto FC at Empire Field. Being a designated player means MLS will pay the first US$335,000 of Hasslis salary, which counts against the clubs US$2.67-million salary cap. The Whitecaps will be on the hook for the rest. Soehn wouldnt say how much Hassli is being paid in total. MLS teams can have up to three designated players on their roster. The Whitecaps now have three players under contract who played in the Swiss Super League. Hassli was a roommate with Vancouver defender Alain Rochat at FC Zurich, while midfielder Davide Chiumiento played for FC Lucerne. "Its not like we have been targeting that area specifically," said Soehn. "Its the timing and the contract situation and how the situations aligned. "It doesnt mean we are not exploring other markets." Hassli has also spent time with Englands Southampton, French clubs Valenciennes and FC Metz, as well as Swiss sides FC St. Gallen, Servette FC and Neuchatel Xamax FC. The Whitecaps named defender Jay DeMerit, the teams first MLS signing, as captain last week. With the season-opener approaching, Soehn said the team isnt done signing players. "Were still looking for another striker," he said. "We want someone to compliment what we have. "We are still looking for the right piece to the puzzle. We want to make sure, like we did with Eric, we get the right guy." Soehn said MLS is becoming an attractive option for many European players. "There is a real excitement to it," he said. "The league is growing. "They want to be part of something special." ' ' '