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Messagepar **yyys123** » 10 Déc 2019, 07:05

ANDERSON, Ind. - Colts running back Vick Ballard spent 10 months working his way back from a serious injury. Now he has to do it again. On Saturday, coach Chuck Pagano confirmed Indianapolis worst fear — that Ballard tore his left Achilles tendon and will need season-ending surgery. "Its heartbreaking for me, man. Vicks a brother to me," running back Ahmad Bradshaw said. "I was taking pride in helping him out a whole lot and trying to improve both our games and helping each other, him and Trent (Richardson) also. Its just heartbreaking for me to see that happen and all I can do is just help him fight through this." Its the second straight year Ballard sustained a freak injury in practice without being touched. Last September, he tore the ACL in his right knee while making a cut in practice and missed the final 15 games. After undergoing surgery and spending all those countless hours strengthening his right leg, Ballard was finally cleared to practice at the start of training camp. He made it through morning walkthroughs Thursday and Friday and a light workout in helmets and shorts Thursday afternoon before he was injured on another innocuous-looking play — falling down as he tried to catch a pass without a defender in the vicinity. When Ballard got up, he struggled to put weight on his leg, was eventually helped to a golf cart and driven into the locker room. Friday nights MRI confirmed the initial diagnosis and the Colts worst fears. "We feel awful for Vick. Hes been a warrior for us, going down with the knee a year ago, non-contact injury," Pagano said. "Same thing this year, the way he fought, battled, rehabbed, and trained to get back, its very, very unfortunate. Injuries do occur. Its a part of the game, its an ugly part of the game." Team owner Jim Irsay attended Fridays practice and provided the first indication the injury was serious when he called Ballard a young player who could come back and still have a solid NFL career. A few hours later, Ballard used his Twitter account to inform fans that he was going "back in the shop" and that one day he would have a great story to tell. Ballard was one of five key offensive players the Colts were hoping would return to form after missing more than half of last season. The list also included tight end Dwayne Allen, Bradshaw, starting guard Donald Thomas and perennial Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne. All five had been practicing this week. The Colts thought Ballard and Bradshaw, who had neck surgery last October, and Richardsons expected improvement in his second season may finally give Indy the powerful ground game they want. Ballard rushed for a team-high 814 yards as a rookie in 2012 and 63 yards in last seasons opener before the knee injury. But his absence creates a big hole in those plans, just as the Colts started practicing in pads. Bradshaw took his first hits Saturday afternoon and survived unscathed. Richardson missed Fridays afternoon practice and sat out again Saturday for "precautionary" reasons with what Pagano described as a soft tissue injury. Fullback Stanley Havili is on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. That leaves only five other running backs on Indys roster — Chris Rainey and Daniel "Boom" Herron, who were signed during last years injury-filled season, undrafted rookies Zurlon Tipton and Cameron White and Mario Harvey, who has been moved from linebacker to fullback. Pagano said he and general manager Ryan Grigson are still deciding whether to sign another running back, but acknowledged that Ballards absence gives a chance to someone else. "Were not just going to hand it to Ahmad 50 times today and let him get blown up, too," Pagano said. "So its a great opportunity for those (other five) guys." For Ballard, its another year of grueling rehab. "I talked to him yesterday after practice and hes in good spirits," Bradshaw said "I think he just feels bad that its two years in a row. He loves football, his passion for football is there. Like I said, hes just heartbroken right now." Cheap Air Max 95 Wholesale . -- At the beginning of training camp, Andrew Bogut set a goal to play all 82 regular-season games and regain his place among the NBAs best centres. Fake Yeezy 700 Cheap . But Paul Osbaldiston, Hamiltons assistant special teams and kicking coach, said the team still relished the championship game workout. http://www.fakejordancheap.com/wholesale-vapormax-china.html . Sundays game against the Colorado Rapids at B.C. Place Stadium has important implications in determining Major League Soccers playoff picture and will also mark the final game in the career of veteran South Korean defender Young-Pyo Lee. Air Max 270 China . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. Air Max 95 Outlet . -- The Minnesota Vikings have signed Jerome Simpson, the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver recently convicted on a felony drug charge.TORONTO - Back in the summer months, when Randy Carlyle and his coaching staff were playing around with the organizational depth chart, envisioning line combinations and such, they had almost no expectation that Trevor Smith would contribute to the level he has in recent weeks. "Wed all have said What are you crazy?" said Carlyle, following a 3-2 overtime win against Dallas, one that snapped a season-long five game losing streak. Smith chipped in with his seventh point in the past nine games, redirecting the overtime winner beyond Kari Lehtonen while securing the Leafs some optimism and a much-needed two points on a night when Jonathan Berniers brilliance was required once more. A lifelong Maple Leafs fan - he was born in Ottawa before spending time in Vancouver and later Thornhill, Ontario - Smith was inked to a one-year deal worth the veterans minimum on the first day of free agency last summer. His contribution as a depth centre, in light of injuries to Dave Bolland and Tyler Bozak, has proven significant. "...you have to take your hat off to the player," Carlyle said of Smith, who was named the Toronto Marlies captain prior to the start of the AHL regular season. "Hes earned every opportunity, hes earned everything hes got and when people do that they should be recognized for their contribution." Plugged onto the fourth line during his first stint with the Leafs earlier in the fall, Smith was recalled from the Marlies once more in mid-November at the very height of the teams troubles down the middle. The James van Riemsdyk experiment was over, Peter Holland had been acquired from Anaheim and Smith, playing with the Marlies in Cleveland on a Thursday night, had been dropped off in Buffalo to play against the Sabres and help provide a spark offensively. But rather than employing the 28-year-old, who had 20 goals in each of his past two AHL seasons, in a depth role, Carlyle had little choice but to use him with skilled players in an offensive role. An undrafted free agent - he had played in 24 NHL games prior to this season - Smith made quick work of the opportunity, scoring twice and adding three assists in three games before ending the Leafs losing skid on Thursday night. Considering the ongoing struggles of the club to generate offence beyond a core group of forwards, his contribution was of unexpected and much-needed value. Questioned on whether he expected to contribute in such a manner, Smith replied with a large grin and confident response. "I knew I could," he said of scoring four goals in 18 games. "Im not sure anybody else did." Five Points 1. An Expectation of Brilliance Bernier turned aside 48 of 50 Dallas shots on a night in which the Stars directed 95 shots to the net compared to just 45 for the Leafs. "Im not that impressed anymore because hes done this night in and night out," said Nazem Kadri of Bernier. "Its almost expected of him now. Hes been a great contributor to this team. Even throughout those tough stretches when they had us pinned in our end our goalie needs to make a couple big saves for us to get the win and thats exactly what happened." Leaf goaltenders have been the busiest in the NHL this season - facing more than 36 shots per game - withstanding a nightly assault with vigor until recent weeks when the load appeared too much to bear. Bernier had dropped five of his past six starts, including a loss to Montreal on Saturday. "I guess thats our style right now," said Bernier, who has faced 137 shots in his past three starts. "We find ways to win hockey games with 20 shots on net. A point is a point and thats our mindset." Bernier stopped all 25 shots in the first two frames before yielding a pair during the Stars 17-shot onslaught in the third. "You need certain individuals on your team to step up," said Carlyle. "Bernier and James Reimer have stepped up all season for us. Theres been a couple games where people have criticized them for goals, [but] that wasnt the coaching staff because the work that theyve put in, the body of work that theyve given us, its pretty hard to point any finger in their direction thats for sure." "Our goaltenders have been spectacular throughout the whole year and we know that when push comes to shove theyre going to make a big save for us," said Kadri. "Its our turn to start giving back a little bit." Bernier and Reimer own an equal .931 save percentage this season. 2. Tough Times for Kadri Playing with a heavy heart, Nazem Kadri scored twice in his return to the lineup on Thursday night. Kadri, who missed Tuesdays game against San Jose, is mourning the loss of his grandfather. The 23-year-old said his grandfather played a prominent role in his upbringing and described his recent health troubles as a source of ongoing worriment. "It was always just in the back of my head, something that I always had to deal with it after the games, just always constantly checking up on him," said Kadri prior the victory against Dallas. "It was something that was hard for me to go through. It was the first time Id gone through something like this before. I know its going to make me stronger in the end, Ive just got to get through it and use these games and this game of hockey as my release." Stepping into the top line void left by the injured Bozak, Kadri buried a feed from van Riemsdyk in the opening moments of the second period before addding his second of the game and ninth this season on a power-play redirection in the third.dddddddddddd "I wanted to have a big game for him," said Kadri. "I know hes watching me tonight." "Nazzies had a tough couple days and we understand that with the loss of his grandfather," Carlyle said. "Emotionally I think that hes pretty drained and I dont think he really looked himself around the rink the past couple days. "Hopefully we can be some solace to him in his time of mourning. Usually when you go to work and you get back into the swing of things in life it helps you move on…Theres going to be more tough days for Nazzie." 3. Skid Snapped It was by no means a pretty victory, but it was two points the Leafs needed amid an increasingly concerning skid which included just two regulation victories in 14 games. The Stars were the better team for most of the night, more than doubling the shot total of the home side. They spent shift upon shift in the Toronto zone, turned aside countless times by Bernier. A third period surge was capped by Shawn Horcoffs game-tying goal with less than three minutes to go in regulation. "By no means, [do] we think were out of the woods, but it feels good to win a hockey game," said Carlyle. "Im happy we won because there seems to be a lot of pressure on our group. Hopefully this helps flush some of the things that are going on out there that we can feel a little bit of room to breathe." "We had to break it," said Smith of the losing streak. "We havent been playing well. I dont think we put together 60 minutes at all tonight, but with Bernier playing on his head for us he gave us a chance to win and thats all we can ask." 4. Injury and Opportunity Just as Cody Franson returned from a two-game absence Thursday did the Leafs lose two more bodies to injury. Tyler Bozak, having already missed 12 games this season due to a hamstring issue, was placed on injured reserve with an oblique strain. He will be out an "extended" period, according to Carlyle. Colton Orr additionally was placed on IR with an elbow injury. "Its very frustrating and disappointing that were going through the rash of injuries that we are now, but its really not time to talk about the injured players, its the time to talk about the players that we have in our lineup," said Carlyle, shortly after announcing news of the injuries. "Theres opportunities made available. Our expectations for the group that we have available to us is where our focus should be, not on the people that are not in the lineup." No player has made more of his opportunity in the face of injuries than Smith. "Did we ever think that Trevor Smith was going to be the guy that he has been for our hockey club this year? Thats a positive," said Carlyle. "Now we have an opportunity for Peter Holland to step in our lineup and play possibly a more offensive role. Nazem Kadri now has an opportunity to play with Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk. The way we have to shift it is the focus has to go on the players that are playing, not the players that arent playing." The Leafs are up to 80 man games missed to injury, nearing the 91 they totaled in 48 games last season. But as Carlyle made sure to note after the game, every team in the league is dealing with injuries, some more so than the Leafs. "Theres 15 teams that have lost more man games than we have so quit feeling sorry ourselves," he said. "Lets move on. Lets focus on the players that we have [and] the job that we have to do. Hopefully this [win] helps us do that." 5. Lupuls Return Drawing Near Sidelined the past five games with a groin injury, Joffrey Lupul appears to nearing a return, possibly even for Saturdays game in Ottawa. "Its too hard to say right now," said Lupul of a return against the Senators. "I dont want to rule anything out quite yet, but certainly theres some improvements that need to be made first." Lupul has yet to participate in a full practice with the Leafs, but believes hed require just one such practice before rejoining the lineup. The 30-year-old has missed seven games this season, two of those due to a foot injury last month. "I feel like Im getting closer, but at this point I cant risk re-aggravating [the injury] or anything," he said. "I dont think thats in the best interest of me or the team. "Id like to think were moving in the right direction." Stats-Pack 137 - Shots faced by Jonathan Bernier in his past three starts. 36.6 - Average shots against for the Leafs this season, most in the NHL. 25:30 - Ice-time for Jake Gardiner, leading the Leafs against Dallas. 26 - Times the Leafs have been outshot in 29 games this season. 2-3-2 - Record for Bernier in his past seven starts. 7- Points for Trevor Smith in the past nine games. 4:02 - Ice-time for Jerry DAmigo, who made his NHL debut on Thursday night. 6 - Consecutive games the Leafs have allowed at least one power-play goal. 5 - Consecutive games with a point for Phil Kessel. Kessel had two assists against the Stars, totaling six points during the recent streak. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-2Season: 25.3% PK: 3-4Season: 78.4% Quote of the Night "I know hes watching me tonight." -Nazem Kadri, speaking about his grandfather, who passed away earlier this week. Up Next The Leafs visit the Senators on Saturday. ' ' '