Bills rearrange coaching staff, announce switch from 3-4 defense

The Buffalo Bills reshaped their coaching staff Monday by adding Andrew Dees and Eric Thatcher, and reassigning Bob Bicknell, Bob Sanders and Adrian White.

Dees becomes the team’s assistant offensive line coach, and Thatcher will serve as the new defensive quality control coach. They both will make their NFL coaching debut with Buffalo.

Bicknell will coach receivers after coaching tight ends this past season, and White will be the assistant defensive backs coach after serving as the defensive quality control coach since 2008.

Sanders will take over as linebackers coach after coaching just the outside linebackers.

The Bills only need a tight ends coach to complete the staff.

Meanwhile, coach Chan Gailey said Monday that Buffalo’s defense will switch from a 3-4 scheme to predominantly a four-man front.

Posted in News NFL | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pats’ Slater hopes to heed dad’s advice on playing in Super Bowl

Patriots receiver Matt Slater knows better than to take a Super Bowl trip for granted.

His father, Jackie Slater, was an offensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams who played in the Super Bowl after the 1979 season. The Rams lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jackie Slater never went back to a Super Bowl in a Hall of Fame career that lasted until 1995.

“I think that was one of the biggest things that he kind of missed on his career is he never won a world championship,” Matt Slater said. “I knew how much that meant to him because he was a huge team guy.”

Dad already has offered son some advice about handling the pressure in the week leading up to the game.

“He told me just to do everything I can to prepare myself for the game on Sunday so that I can live with no regrets,” the fourth-year player from UCLA said. “And realizing that this opportunity is not guaranteed to me in my career again, so just to do everything I can to take advantage of the opportunity and maximize it so, at the end of the day, I have no regrets at all.”

Matt Slater wasn’t around when his father played in the Super Bowl — he was born in 1985 — but Jackie’s vivid memories have connected Matt to the experience.

“Even to this day, he talks about the game, and he can almost call off every play to you and just remember the ebb and flow of the game,” Matt Slater said. “It meant a lot to him. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for him, but it’s definitely a memory he has and will have as long as he lives.”

Posted in News NFL | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gamers thrilled to greet Drake whatsoever-Star Game

Because the world’s finest hockey players congregated inside their locker rooms at Scotiabank Devote Ottawa on Sunday, the finest star attending may have been without skates.

Ornamented by his security detail, platinum-selling artist Drake visited the players, eliciting a fantastic response from numerous players, lots of whom asked for the fashionable-hop star to pose together for photographs throughout the initial intermission in the 2012 Tim Horton’s NHL All-Star Game.

“This is an excellent shot,” Drake mentioned after showing up for just about any photo while using Sedin twins. “I would like that particular for your house.”

In the evening full of stars, the Toronto-born Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, did his share of shining. After meeting the rapper inside the first intermission, the majority of the All-Star players offer the ice and clicked on photos utilizing their phones since the star completed his hit single “Mind lines” through the second-intermission.

“In my opinion I used to be the very first ones to carry on the ice great. I’m a huge Drake fan, I like his music. I’m a large stylish-hop guy. It absolutely was great being that close and watching him,” mentioned Keith Yandle in the Phoenix Coyotes. “I truly asked for him to sign a stick. He mentioned it absolutely was the initial hockey stick he’s signed. It absolutely was pretty awesome.”

For your players attending, Drake’s performance will be a welcome change of pace in contrast for the regular season. For players familiar with speaking about strategy utilizing their training staff between periods, it absolutely was nice to take a position the intermission experiencing a performance in the platinum-selling artist.

“We don’t have plenty of time throughout the summer season to relish shows,” Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang mentioned. “To offer the chance to see it survive the ice was pretty awesome.”

But Drake made an appearance much like taken while using NHL stars simply because they were with him. He asked for Penguins center Evgeni Malkin for just about any stick and spent more hours while using three Toronto players represented at the sport, calling it “an recognition” as Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf approached him.

For that Canadian players getting involved in the sport, the rapper’s visit even provided ample boasting rights.

“It’s good … another factor that Canada can brag about,” mentioned Yandle. “All the males inside the locker room can brag about how precisely they have the most effective rapper now. They’re taking around the world.In .

Posted in News NHL | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ousted coach Jackson declines he wanted total charge of Raiders

Hue Jackson is not avoiding the conditions that brought to his dismissal as coach from the Concord Raiders.

By doing this — maybe it’s a type of damage control or just the very fact he’s had time for you to reflect — Jackson readily confesses he might have done things in a different way.

New gm Reggie McKenzie quickly removed Jackson the moment he is at position to do this, ending the very first-time mind coach’s run in energy Tuesday. McKenzie stated your decision was exclusively his, and that he wanted “his guy” in starting point his tenure.

Jackson likely assisted seal their own fate by speaking freely in a season-ending news conference about getting with additional control in 2012. Following legendary owner Al Davis’ dying in October, it had been Jackson who had treatments for football choices. The scene put into the perception that Jackson was energy hungry, claims he emphatically refused to Yahoo! Sports.

“If only I possibly could go back and say it in a different way so people could really know very well what I had been saying,Inch Jackson told National football league Network on Wednesday. “I wasn’t saying which i desired to take total charge of everything. I believe whenever you work with the Raiders, I believe you realize that Al Davis is first of all. You’re employed for him.

“And So I did not obtain the chance to place everyone which i wanted on my small staff, or run they or even the situation that are responsible for football procedures the way in which I think fit. I required the task, and that i understood the parameters from the job, and that i recognized that. I believe in the finish, that which was being released of me was the emotion of the lengthy season.”

Jackson had everything at risk. Victory within the finale might have because of the Raiders their first winning season since 2002. Additionally, it might have place the Raiders within the 2010 nfl playoffs as AFC West champions.

Rather, they wound up with neither — as well as an 8-8 record.

Jackson described he normally showers after talking with they within the locker room. Rather, following a loss towards the North Park Battery chargers, he went straight to speak with the media. Transporting the feelings from the defeat, Jackson now wishes he may go back.

“This is a lesson learned from me,” Jackson accepted. “I want to stay lower first and extremely consider what you are saying. But things i stated is exactly what I felt. Not too I had been saying I needed to operate everything I simply desired to have the ability to seem like I understood there is some changes to become made, and that i desired to have the ability to make sure they are. I had been attempting to voice that.”

Jackson stated he does not fault the Raiders for “feeling how they feel.” But knowing he will not have the opportunity to do things the way in which he wanted is much more hard for Jackson to conquer.

Posted in News NFL | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Langenbrunner, Halak lead Blues past Coyotes

The St. Louis Blues have been so great playing under Ken Hitchcock it required a while for that team to possess adversity smack it square within the mouth.

But following a humbling 3- loss at Detroit on New Year’s Eve that saw the Blues ensure their first three-game winless skid, the time had come to actually observe how this team would respond under some pressure.

The Blues, who have been -2-1 within the last three, returned to doing a bit of fo whatever they did best throughout their success: being difficult on the forecheck, driving the internet and putting pucks on goal.

The end result was an optimistic one, because they got an objective as well as an assist from Jamie Langenbrunner inside a 4-1 victory from the Phoenix Coyotes at Scottrade Focus on Tuesday evening.

T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund obtained goals while David Perron and Alex Pietrangelo had a set of assists for that Blues (22-12-5), who enhanced to 17– around the season when scoring a few goals in a game title and tied the Detroit Red-colored Wings for many home wins (15). Jaroslav Halak stopped 34 shots — a season-best — and it has not lost in regulation in eight straight begins, going 5–3 for the reason that stretch.

After losing two times to Detroit (the Blues lost 3-2 on 12 ,. 27 by which they coughed up a couple- lead) and also at home against Nashville Friday and on the other hand in Detroit Saturday, the Blues were hit having a dose of reality: teams weren’t likely to drive them as you that was not one of the Western Conference’s elite. The time had come to return to the horn and break the rules individuals attempts the opposition was ramping facing them.

“I believe whenever you are playing individuals top teams … Detroit, Chicago, San Jose, Vancouver, you need everyone, especially we,Inch stated Langenbrunner. “We does not possess a celebrity that may carry us and that we can just rely on these to score two goals a evening. We have got to put into practice committee. That work well for all of us. We’ve got from it a bit. We were not playing as five-guy models on and on one to another and putting pressure on teams. Whenever you avoid that against Detroit, they are will make you have to pay for this.

“I believe we learned something about our composure in individuals games. It will likely be tight and it will not be simple. It isn’t going to visit the right path. We have reached learn to fight using that. That’s a part of growing and improving. That’s hopefully something we study from.Inch

Hitchcock stated his team, the very first time since he’s been here, lost not just some focus nevertheless its confidence too. The time had come to obtain that back.

“We lost some confidence against Detroit,” Hitchcock stated. “Whenever you play that well and also you lose, you lose some confidence. I believe returning tonight and becoming victory is really a large step for all of us.Inch

The Coyotes (19-17-4), who started a stretch of games by which eight of 10 are on the highway, got an objective from Radim Vrbata and fell to at least one-4-one in their last six games. Mike Cruz, who had been triggered Tuesday from hurt reserve due to a groin injuries, stopped 27 shots in the go back to the selection.

“It certainly is nice to obtain back, but it is not the end result i was searching for,” Cruz stated. “We’ve got out-taken part tonight. We have got to figure out ways to win hockey games.”

Added coach Dork Tippett, whose team is -2- from the Blues this year: “We required to put more will and commitment into the overall game. They won much more from the one-on-one battles than we did. Our execution was slow and poor.”

The Blues arrived on the scene with zip, as well as their top line set a dark tone. Stewart gave them single- lead as he found a rebound within the slot of the David Backes one-timer and beat Cruz 4:43 into the overall game.

Langenbrunner expected a Barret Jackman point shot past Cruz with four minutes left in the first one to allow it to be 2-, however the Blues had an opportunity to allow it to be 3- when David Backes travelled past Ray Whitney and also got a shorthanded breakaway attempt. Cruz closed the pads with 1:40 left and Phoenix sold around the energy have fun with Vrbata nipping one past Halak just 29 seconds later to really make it 2-1. Essentially, it had been a 2-goal swing that got the Coyotes in the overall game rather than a 3- hole.

The Blues ongoing their hard forecheck, getting pucks towards the internet in addition to driving it in to the second period, and Oshie restored their two-goal lead having a energy play goal of their own.

“You need to obtain that check-first attitude,” Stewart stated. “We arrived on the scene the very first four, five changes in the overall game and that we certainly required your body for them, established our forecheck early. When we are going to achieve that, we are likely to control the puck.

“It is a lot simpler to experience when you are the aggressor.”

Oshie drove the internet and set themself in position to obtain Pietrangelo’s blast and backhand it past Cruz 4:28 in to the period for any 3-1 Blues lead.

“Phoenix includes a good defense and that i thought we’ve got into them just a little within the second period, got the momentum,” Hitchcock stated. “The 3rd goal was huge.”

The Blues got a little conservative within the third period safeguarding a 2-goal lead but got a clear-netter from Berglund with 37.9 seconds left. They enhanced to 17-1-1 when leading after two periods.

“We’d lots of good gamers today. We’d lots of good play,” Hitchcock stated. “We did several things that people desired to do, and that we remained by using it. Phoenix is like us. They strive, they fight, they compete and that i thought the way you performed for 2-and-a-half periods really was seem. In the goalkeeper out, we taken part in a pretty higher level and that we were forced to achieve that.Inch

Posted in News NHL | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Condit: Nick Diaz a much better match-up for me personally than St. Pierre

Your decision through the Ufc to place him inside a fight with Nick Diaz the coming year means Condit reaches face the catalyst for any chain of occasions that affected the majority of the organization’s top welterweights. But not one of them experienced just as much uncertainty as Condit, who within the last three several weeks has seen the identity of his next opponent range from BJ Penn to champion Georges St. Pierre to Josh Koscheck and today to Diaz.

“Let me state that I am surprised, but after everything that’s happened within the last handful of several weeks, nothing really surprises me any longer,” Condit states.

He could not considerably more happy using the latest move. Condit was planning to manage Koscheck on February. 4, but rather he’ll undertake Diaz to have an interim belt, because St. Pierre experienced another knee injuries.

“There is no doubt about accepting your dream,Inch Condit states. “It had been automatic. … I needed your dream with Diaz for any very long time. It is a legendary fight within the making due to our styles. The truth that it’s to have an interim belt is simply icing around the cake.”

Fighting Diaz could produce more exciting action for Condit than the usual St. Pierre bout.

“It’s certainly a much better stylistic match-up for me personally than George or Koscheck,” Condit states. “Diaz is really a guy that loves to stand and trade punches. That’s something which I enjoy do, however , haven’t had an opportunity to do during my recent fights because men were, typically, attempting to take me lower.”

USA TODAY spoke to Condit late Wednesday, hrs after UFC introduced he’d be shifting to some fight with Diaz. Excerpts in the conversation:balklänningar

Q: Before we spoken, you had been changing Niaz against GSP. Now you are changing GSP against Diaz. Exactly what does because you keep being tossed in against champions say by what UFC thinks about you?

Condit: I believe Dana and also the UFC brass think I deserve a title shot. I’d certainly accept them.

When have you first learn about this latest change?

I learned about it last evening. Let me state that I am surprised, but after everything that’s happened within the last handful of several weeks, nothing really surprises me any longer.

How frustrating could it be to help keep bouncing from opponent to opponent?

It’s certainly triggered some frustration. However I think I have done an excellent job of just type of moving by using it and taking it as being it comes down and extremely just concentrating on training, concentrating on being the very best fighter I’m able to be, regardless of who installed me in against.

How costly will it get if you need to keep getting in new training partners as competitors change?

Well, you realize, the positive thing about training at (Greg) Jackson’s, there’s men from around the globe which come there by themselves. They all are variations, various different skills: wrestling men,Kick Boxing men from literally everywhere, around the globe.

I am sure for other men it’s a pretty large cost, but fortunately, I’ve the posh of getting individuals men inside my disposal.

How hard could it be to remain motivated whenever you they keep switching competitors you?

For me personally, its easy whatsoever. I’ve got a singular purpose. It’s to win my next fight, maybe it’s a title shot, maybe it’s a no. 1 contender place. I am as motivated as I have have you been. This really is time, I am during my prime. This really is my moment to create my mark and prove that i’m among the best martial artists on the planet.

Describe Nick being an opponent.

Nick is extremely, very tough. She has an excellent skillset. He’s tough as nails. The man’s such as the Terminator — regardless of what you hit him with, he just keeps coming forward.

But stylistically, it’s certainly a much better stylistic match-up for me personally than George or Koscheck. Diaz is really a guy that loves to stand and trade punches. That’s something which I enjoy do, however , haven’t had an opportunity to do during my recent fights because men were, typically, attempting to take me lower.

The two of you have wide skillsets. Where’s your benefit?

I believe I’ve more tools if this involves the striking aspect. I am a more dynamic kickboxer. She has great boxing and unorthodox style that actually works very well for him, however i seem like I’ve got a much more tools. I believe that’s truly the primary difference — I’ve more weapons inside my disposal.

Exactly what do you mean whenever you say more weapons?

Diaz, typically, I’d say, 90% of his strikes are punches. I love to change things up, throw kicks, knees, elbows. I’ve got a handier striking game.

How foreseeable is Nick like a fighter?

He’s pretty foreseeable meaning he does exactly the same factor: Comes forward, throws plenty of punches he isn’t afraid to consider a punch whatsoever.

I love his striking style. He mixes up. He throws great combinations. He keeps men speculating. The best men within the sport haven’t yet determine that puzzle.

Considering the fact that it’s really no secret by what he loves to do, why have people thought it was so difficult to prevent him from doing the work?

I suppose a mix of the amount of punches he brings the truth that he takes punches and merely appears just to walk through them with no problem and that he has incredible endurance. He’s an endurance athlete.

For example, BJ Penn, within the first round of the fight, hit him with many different great shots, very hard shots, but wound up gassing out and succumbing to Diaz’s onslaught within the second and third models.

Besides he press your body together with his pace and constantly coming forward, but he type of certainly he tests you psychologically, since you hit the man together with your toughest shot also it does not even do anything whatsoever to him.

How can you avoid being frustrated if you have somebody that can continue moving to you?

You need to be physically and psychologically prepared for your. Possess the endurance and become within the type of shape that it takes to carry on to throw shots, and become psychologically ready to hit with him your very best stuff and him just continue to come. Understanding that you just need to ensure that it stays on him and you are most likely not likely to stop him with one shot.

It will be considered a fight of wills and I am going to need to be as psychologically ready for this fight as physically.

The final person to knock him to stop him was Jeremy Jackson…

That isn’t true. KJ Noons stopped him too.balklänningar online

Yeah, but which was on cuts. I am speaking about essentially obtaining a knockout-type stoppage.

He stopped him on cuts while he beat the (garbage) from him, guess what happens I am talking about? Just saying.

Ok, point taken. What I am asking is, what’ s the chance that you’ll knock him unconscious?

Whether I knock him unconscious or finish him one other way, I am very confident. I have finished the majority of my competitors.

Nick Diaz, he’s another type of guy, however i think his style is tailor-designed for me. I feel better about the best. I tend not to make forecasts, however i like my odds.

How carefully did Nick’s fight with Penn track your anticipation?

The very first round was type of the way i expected your dream to visit, because BJ has tight, crisper punches and that he includes a more technical boxing game. I was expecting BJ to outbox him, that they did within the first round. Anybody that saw your dream, BJ did very well within the first round.

I’m not sure if he gassed or exactly what the deal was, but he wound up going for a pretty severe beating within the (last) two models.

So area of the fight went the way in which I figured it might go.

Nick loves to find good reasons to dislike his competitors. He even reached GSP, who’s ordinarily a pretty calm guy. How can keep Nick from getting beneath your skin?

I have fought against trash talkers previously. Nick, I’m not sure the man, he does not meany almost anything to me one of the ways or even the other. I respect him like a fighter. Unless of course you are somebody who I worry about, it’s pretty challenging under my skin.

Contrary, it’ll add fuel towards the fire. He jogs my memory of many of the men I was raised with within Albuquerque. It’s nothing which i haven’t seen before.

This fight is going to be to have an interim belt. The amount of an issue was that in helping you achieve accept your dream?

There is no doubt about accepting your dream. It had been automatic. My manager did not even need to request me.

I needed your dream with Diaz for any very long time. It is a legendary fight within the making due to our styles. The truth that it’s to have an interim belt is simply icing around the cake.

Nick appears to possess a difficult time saying your surname immediately after the Penn fight, stored saying “Conduit.” Does that bother you whatsoever?

No, it does not bother me. Honestly, I have heard that since i have would be a kind. My father, my uncle and my grandfather are electrical engineers it is a construction term, type of. It is something I have heard since i have would be a kid. It does not bother me I do not care.

He’ll pronounce my title immediately after I beat him, though.

Posted in mma | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Sophomore Nurideen Lindsey to transfer from St. John’s

Sophomore guard Nurideen Lindsey, among seven gamers within the St. John’s rotation this year, intends to transfer in the finish from the semester.balklänningar

Red-colored Storm coach Steve Lavin made the announcement Thursday, saying it had been a mutually agreed-upon decision.

Lindsey, a local of Philadelphia, stated his mother’s health continues to be “up and lower because of some past encounters.”

Lindsey was third on St. John’s (4-5) in scoring by having an 11.8 average and brought the Red-colored Storm in assists at 2.9 per game. He recorded a near triple-double against UMBC on November. 13 with 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

St. John’s began the growing season with one coming back player and six beginners, including Lindsey. Lavin, in the second season at St. John’s, has skipped four games because he is constantly on the get over cancer of the prostate surgery. He’s not stated when he’ll return.bröllopsklänning

Posted in NBA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Titans extend Sabean, Bochy through 2013

Although the Giants’ course has transformed over time, the males in the helm haven’t. And, through a minimum of the long run, they will not.

The team’s hierarchy saw into it that gm John Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy will keep their durability, announcing Tuesday that both received contract extensions through 2013 with club choices for 2014.

Sabean, approaching his 16th season at his publish, and Bochy, that has handled back to back since 1995, would be the longest-tenured people at their particular positions within the Major Leagues. Titans leader and recently crowned ceo Ray Baer described their status simply:

“I strongly think that John and Bruce are the most useful at their crafts in the overall game,” Baer stated.

Other current GMs have put together more winning teams than Sabean, that has built five postseason qualifiers (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2010). A number of active managers have sampled triumph more consistently than Bochy, whose teams have completely finished 1,360-1,376, including 409-401 through the Titans since 2007.

But Baer established that the efforts of Sabean and Bochy transcend tha harsh truth — though professional sports is really a bottom-line industry.

“Everyone knows we are in business with ‘up’ cycles,” Baer stated. “You need to see that and check out how lengthy-term performance plays out. You appear at what assets you’ve. John has overseen the operation through a variety of conditions.”

Getting an awful team that finished 68-94 in 1996, Sabean built a team that won the nation’s League West the next season in the first twelve month as GM. That marked the very first of 4 postseason looks in seven years for that Titans. Supervisory a restored focus on scouting and player development while Bay Area slouched through four losing seasons consecutively (2005-08), Sabean progressively enhanced the Titans, whose streak of three winning seasons includes this years World Series title.

Under Sabean, the Giants’ lengthy-term performance that Baer pointed out has developed. Formerly brought by slugger Craig Bonds and accompanied by decent pitching, Bay Area metamorphosed right into a unit that’s almost totally just a few pitching. Throughout the Bonds era, Sabean frequently snapped up free agents to fill player personnel needs. However the World Series those who win had 10 homegrown gamers around the postseason roster, including all beginning pitchers.

“We are proud and grateful,” stated Sabean, 55. “We do not go ahead and take extension gently. Baseball’s a difficult game to achieve.Inch

Bochy is one kind of six managers to influence a minimum of two different National League teams in to the World Series. He’s also among four Titans managers to win the autumn Classic, together with John McGraw (1905, 1921-22), Bill Terry (1933) and Leo Durocher (1954).

“I am just thrilled to continue being area of the Giant family and anticipate the mission of getting another championship to Bay Area,Inch stated Bochy, 56.

Although the club choices on the 2012 contracts for Sabean and Bochy were worked out following the Titans won the Series, some experts asked why the two received an extended contract extension. Baer, who formally been successful Bill Neukom as Boss on November. 17, suggested for September that Sabean and Bochy would receive additional employment.

Still, Baer was requested Tuesday why Sabean and Bochy did not receive two-year contracts. Baer reported precedent, mentioning that offering extensions prior to the contract’s final year was the team’s recent “format.” Added Baer, “Both sides were confident with it.”

Baer stated the extended stints loved by Sabean and Bochy reflect area of the franchise’s character.

“It’s kind of our hallmark,” stated Baer, themself part of the Giants’ front office since December 1992. “We love to to think about it this way, not only with this professionals and our manager, but type of through the organization. We have had many people who’ve offered the business long-term. Different organizations have different imprints. I believe our key imprints is the fact that we are stable, we now have continuity, as well as for our fans to determine might realize that and realize that transmits an essential message.”

Posted in MLB | Leave a comment

Taiwan’s Tseng retains British Open title

She won by four shots from American Brittany Lang, who closed with a 67.

It was a second major of the season, and a fifth overall, for the 22-year-old Taiwanese following her 10-shot win in the LPGA Championship last month. She is the youngest woman to win five majors.

Germany’s Caroline Masson, the two-shot overnight leader, crumbled to a 78 and finished in a tie for fifth place on nine under par.

Tseng started the final round two shots behind Masson but took the lead by the time she had made her second birdie of the day with a four at the long sixth.

She was four ahead with seven to play and only made a slight stumble with bogeys at the 12th, where she hit her approach through the green, and at the short 13th when she unluckily hit the pin with her tee shot and ricocheted into a terrible spot overhanging a bunker.

But with no one else mounting a charge, she regained control with birdies at the long 14th and 17th and a five-foot putt for birdie at the 18th secured first prize.

“It is a great honor to win the British Open again,” said Tseng. “There is so much history attached to this course. I felt more comfortable this year because I learning all the time. My mental game is so much better.”

Masson stumbled to the turn in 39 and never looked at ease. But she did birdie the final two holes to rescue a 78 and finished in a tie with the 2009 champion, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew (72).

Posted in Girl | Leave a comment

Bucs set to play Bears in London

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Chicago Bears at London’s Wembley Stadium in October if the NFL season isn’t altered by a labour dispute.

With the league and its locked-out players still mired in negotiations over a new labour agreement, the NFL on Monday announced its plans for what it hopes will be the fifth regular-season game played in the British capital. However, if the labour talks are not resolved by Aug. 1, the game will be played in Tampa instead, the league said.

The Bucs are set to return to London for the second time in three years, having lost to the New England Patriots at Wembley in 2009. For the Bears, the game on Oct. 23 will mark the 25th anniversary of having played a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys at the stadium in 1986.

“We are honoured to be selected to participate in the NFL International Series for a second time,” Buccaneers co-chairman Bryan Glazer said in a statement. “We are looking forward to promoting Tampa Bay’s emerging young team on the world stage.”

It is the fifth year in a row that the NFL stages a regular-season game in London as the league tries to win over new fans and increase its marketing appeal overseas.

“Our past four games in London have demonstrated the tremendous passion for NFL football that exists in the UK,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the statement. “We hope by staging another extraordinary game at Wembley that we can continue to grow our existing fan base and attract even more new fans.”

The NFL said it will release the full 2011 schedule on Tuesday.

In last year’s London game, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 24-16.

Posted in good | Leave a comment