Gutierrez returns after cancer battle

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Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez will return to action in an under-21 game after recovering from testicular cancer.


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London - Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez will return to action in an under-21 game after recovering from testicular cancer, the Premier League club said.


Gutierrez had an operation in his native Argentina in September to remove his left testicle after the discovery of a tumour and received chemotherapy treatment.


The 31-year-old will feature as an over-age player for Newcastle in an under-21 Cup fixture against West Ham United, the north-east club said on their website (www.nufc.co.uk).


Gutierrez, who has scored 10 goals in 177 league appearances for Newcastle since joining the club in 2008, last made a first-team appearance on loan at Norwich City in April. – Reuters






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Wits will try to catch Chiefs

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Wits captain Thulani Hlatshwayo is keeping the faith as he believes the pace-setting Kaizer Chiefs can be caught next year.


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Pretoria – Despite trailing log leaders Kaizer Chiefs by 15 points, Wits captain Thulani Hlatshwayo is keeping the faith as he believed the pace-setters could be caught next year.


“For us we need to take each game at a time and try to catch Chiefs because we believe fatigue will catch up with them and we hope we will be there to take advantage,” Hlatshwayo said.


“I think Chiefs have done well so far they have been unbeaten and they even beat us. What we have to do is focus on ourselves.”


In their final match of the year, Gavin Hunt's men were held to a goalless draw by perennial rivals the University of Pretoria at the Tuks Stadium on Sunday afternoon.


The match brought to a conclusion a first-half of the season that was characterised by inconsistencies in performances from title challengers Wits.


The university challengers go into the Christmas break with a record of nine wins, five losses and four draws.


Both on 31 points, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wits lead the chasing pack in second and third position on the log.


The Bafana Bafana international defender said a change in mind-set was needed if they were to usurp Chiefs to the finishing line in 2015.


“Our aim was to end the year second on the table but we will accept the third position. Next year we need to work even harder and carry on from where we left-off.


“We will be working hard during the break to ensure that we come back strong next year.”


This season has been a season like no-other for AmaTuks in the Premiership – with the team holding on for dear life above the relegation zone.


To make matters worse the club saw coach Steve Barker abruptly abandon ship to join AmaZulu in the middle of the campaign.


In their quest to thrive in the league, new coach Sammy Troughton said next year they would throw caution to the wind.


“It's been tough. There is one team at the top running way with the league. We have to show more bravery. We have to try to win as many games as possible,” Troughton said.


With four wins, seven draws and six losses AmaTuks have ensured that they end the year in position 12.


However there was some discomfort in their position as with 19


points, AmaTuks are only two points adrift of Platinum Stars in the relegation zone.


Although AmaTuks have been able to hold their own against top opposition, it was the unfancied teams that were hard to overcome.


“Our problem has been against the lower teams. Among the top sides that we have played it's only Chiefs that have beaten us.


“We have to beat the teams that are in and around the bottom half of the table.”


It was contrasting objectives for the university clubs as Wits vowed to chase Chiefs down for the title while AmaTuks aim to keep afloat from relegation. – Sapa






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LVG frustrated after draw

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Louis Van Gaal admitted that Manchester United had to win the game against Aston Villa to maintain their improbable title dream.


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Louis Van Gaal admitted afterwards that this was a game Manchester United had to win to maintain their improbable title dream. But the luck they had been enjoying over six successive victories ran out.


This was another incomplete performance characterised by pedestrian build-up play. United controlled possession and had a significant territorial advantage. But aside from a period at the start of the second half, they never exerted the craft or drive needed to break down the Aston Villa defence. Ron Vlaar was back to his best and Jores Okore and Ciaran Clark impressed — even when Villa were inexplicably reduced to 10 men with Gabriel Agbonlahor’s red card 25 minutes from time.


United’s clinical finishing has outweighed brittle defending of late, but neither were evident here. Despite the presence of Radamel Falcao, Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney, sparks failed to fly.


Given the ground United have to make up on Chelsea, a draw away to Villa is, as Van Gaal admitted, ‘two points dropped’ even after falling behind to Christian Benteke’s opening goal of real quality.


Falcao scored with a powerful header on his return to the side but his overall influence must improve. For long periods the Colombian struggled to impose himself.


Rooney, who had a good game, vocalised United’s disappointment. ‘We were pushing them and we had good possession but just couldn’t get a breakthrough,’ he said.


‘We’re paying the price for that now. We should have got three points, so we’re a bit disappointed and frustrated.’


From a player who had previously talked up United’s title challenge, the overall sentiment was clear.


Michael Carrick’s deployment in a three-man defence may have run its course. Darren Fletcher played in midfield due to the injury and illness of Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini respectively.


But the Scot could not provide the creative thrust of Carrick, who switched to midfield at half time as Tyler Blackett replaced Fletcher.


Van Gaal explained: ‘We kept the ball much better but we didn’t create so much because we were not looking to the forwards. That’s why I changed Darren Fletcher with Michael Carrick at half time, because I know he’s more a of a passer to the forwards.


‘But it was not good enough to get the victory here. We were not creative enough in the second half; we didn’t keep the ball as well as in the first half but we had more aggression. So that was the plus, I think.


‘Okay, we have a draw and that’s why I’m a little frustrated because we could have won this game, we didn’t and we are responsible.’


Asked if United could win the title, Van Gaal said: ‘No, because you have seen that you have to win these matches and we didn’t win. But there is still a long time to go.


‘When you want to be a part of the title race you have to win these games.’


Carrick predicted that Falcao is set to start showing his worth. ‘He’s scored so many goals over the years and you always feels when he gets that chance he will score. After being out for a bit that’s him back and hopefully he can go on a bit of a streak for us.’


ASTON VILLA (3-5-2): Guzan 7; Okore 7, Vlaar 7, Clark 7; Lowton 6, Sanchez 6, Delph 7, Weimann 6 (N’Zogbia 80), Cissokho 6 (Bacuna 80); Benteke 7.5, Agbonlahor 6.5. Subs not used: Given, Herd, Robinson, Grealish, Calder.


Booked: Guzan. Sent off: Agbonlahor.


Scorer: Benteke 18.


MANCHESTER UNITED (3-5-2): De Gea 7; Jones 6.5, Carrick 7, Evans 6; Valencia 6 (Wilson 74, 5), Fletcher 5 (Blackett 46, 6.5), Rooney 7, Mata 5.5, Young 6.5; Van Persie 6 (Di Maria 62, 6), Falcao 6.5. Subs not used: Da Silva, Januzaj, Lindegaard, McNair.


Booked: Blackett.


Scorer: Falcao 53.


Man of the match: Christian Benteke.


Referee: Lee Mason 4. – Daily Mail






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I don’t need to rotate squad - Jose

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Despite the abundance of world-class talent at his disposal, Jose Mourinho has resisted the temptation to fiddle with his starting line-up too much this season.


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What’s Jose Mourinho’s secret to keeping his fringe players happy?


Despite the abundance of world-class talent at his disposal, Mourinho has resisted the temptation to fiddle with his starting line-up too much this season.


This is obviously working, with just one defeat in all competitions since the start of the season.


But why is it that, unlike other clubs, you don’t hear a peep out of those players who are not regularly in Chelsea’s starting XI?


Filipe Luis, a £16million signing from Atletico Madrid who won La Liga and finished runner-up in the Champions League last season, has started three Premier League games.


Goalkeeper Petr Cech, one of the major figures in Chelsea’s modern era, has made just one league start following Thibaut Courtois’ arrival at the club.


John Mikel Obi, another multiple medal winner at Stamford Bridge, is not playing and there are more high-profile stars who will be warming the bench this Christmas.


Yet, there have been virtually no declarations of frustration or unhappiness under Mourinho, whose side travel to Stoke tonight.


Mourinho said: ‘It’s not difficult for me to leave players out. Everybody has to be ready to sacrifice for the team, to give everything for the team, not to be selfish.


‘This is the way I want a team to be. Mikel, for example, it was the first time he played against Newcastle and he was our best player.


‘How can he be our best player if he didn’t play in three months? Because he was working every day at the top level.


‘Are the players sad, frustrated, not happy? Maybe, but professional. There is no secret. Players need to be patient. I don’t have a secret.


‘The reality is that, to be professional and work at a high level, you don’t need to be happy. Mark Schwarzer hasn’t played a second but if he has to play tomorrow he would be ready.’


The silence from his players is even more incredible given Mourinho does not offer those who have been left out any explanation why.


‘I just put the team up. Do I explain it? No,’ said the Portuguese. ‘It’s my decision. Players may not be happy or not agree with the decision, but they know my decision is not to favour somebody or to punish somebody.


‘It’s what I think is best for the team at a certain moment. I don’t give explanations to players unless they ask me for one.


‘If they ask me to explain, no problem. If they ask, I’ll explain. I had one who asked, knocking on my door asking why someone else was playing instead of him. I said he was playing better, closed door, goodbye.’


Stoke manager Mark Hughes, a Chelsea player in the pre-Mourinho era, says his old club have the strength in depth to win an unprecedented quadruple of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Capital One Cup.


‘It wouldn’t surprise me,’ he said. ‘It’s a big ask — a lot of things have to go your way (but) they are strong enough. You just sense their belief.


‘Some very good teams will try and stand in the way but they have a chance — a better chance than most teams.’ – Daily Mail






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Liverpool on track for top four

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers felt his players demonstrated the character necessary to revitalise their challenge for a top-four Premier League finish in their last-gasp 2-2 draw with Arsenal.


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Liverpool – Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers felt his players demonstrated the character necessary to revitalise their challenge for a top-four Premier League finish in their last-gasp 2-2 draw with Arsenal.


After Philippe Coutinho's opener was swiftly cancelled out by Mathieu Debuchy in first-half stoppage time at Anfield on Sunday, Olivier Giroud struck in the 64th minute to set Arsenal up for an opportunistic victory.


But having earlier required treatment for a head wound inflicted by Giroud that left him with a bandaged head and led to nine minutes of injury time, Martin Skrtel claimed an equaliser with an emphatic 97th-minute header in front of the Kop.


The point was the least Liverpool deserved after restricting Arsenal to a 36 percent share of possession Ä their worst performance in that domain since passing statistics began to be compiled in 2003.


And although Liverpool trail leaders Chelsea by 17 points and lie nine points adrift of the Champions League places, Rodgers is convinced that last season's runners-up are on the right track.


Asked if Liverpool could sustain a challenge for a top-four finish, he told reporters: “Yes, absolutely.


“It was always going to be a big challenge. Of course we've got to make up points over the next part of the season, but we have shown this is a group that can go on a run of games (wins).


“In the second half of last season we went on a run of 11 games and if we can put a run of games together, that can very quickly move you up.


“The most important thing is the confidence and the ability in the team. You bring (injured striker Daniel) Sturridge back in January, then you get back to being that team we have been in the last few years.


“There's a bit of work to do, but at least we're moving in the right direction again, which is what we want.”


Rodgers was pleased with the “intensity” and “arrogance with the ball” Liverpool showed, but he was less complimentary about his side's defending.


Citing the build-up to Debuchy's goal, when the hosts were beaten in the air three times after Alexis Sanchez curled a free-kick into the box, he said: “A lot of the goals we give away are poor goals.


“I didn't think it should have been a free-kick. I think Sanchez has dived once he realised he wasn't getting the ball, and the referee fell for it.


“But when it comes in, we lose three one-v-one headers in the box. We have to be better at that. That's not about organisation. That's about winning the duel.”


Rodgers said he had “no complaints” about the injury-time dismissal of substitute Fabio Borini, who collected yellow cards for dissent and a high boot against Santi Cazorla.


He also paid tribute to Slovakian centre-back Skrtel, who stayed on to score the winner despite having been left with an ugly gash on the back of his head after Giroud unintentionally caught him with his studs.


“He's a real warrior, Martin,” said the Northern Irishman, whose side registered 27 attempts on goal. “He showed great character and determination to stay on.”


Arsenal had been destroyed 5-1 on their previous visit to Anfield in February, when they conceded four times in the first 20


minutes, and beaten manager Arsene Wenger suggested the memory had played on his players' minds.


Asked to explain a sluggish first-half display, Wenger cited “tactical and psychological reasons” and explained: “Maybe (there were) bad memories from last year. Some players were not at their best. I think we played with the handbrake too much in the first half.”


He added: “Overall it's a fair result, but it's also a frustrating result for us because they came back at a moment in the game when we had plenty of defenders on the pitch.


“Today (Sunday) was frustrating because they came back to 2-2. But overall it's not the most frustrating day of the season.” – Sapa-AFP






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News sport : Marshawn Lynch shakes off illness, sickens Cardinals with amazing run

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Marshawn Lynch spent the first quarter of Sunday night's game vomiting into a Gatorade bucket and scarfing down Skittles, according to various reports. Whatever he did, it worked well enough to inspire him to one of the greatest runs of the year.


The game was already well in hand when Lynch ripped off this 79-yard beauty, a masterpiece that included speed, strength, stamina, will, and a good old-fashioned, flying-backward ... well, let's call it an "equipment adjustment."



The run marked Lynch's longest-ever run from scrimmage, and firmly sealed a 35-6 victory over Arizona that put Seattle on a Super Bowl trajectory. Lynch finished with 110 yards and two touchdowns, and whatever strife exists between him and the rest of the Seahawks seemed far, far away.


After the game, buoyed by the victory and basking in the glow of a fine day's work, Lynch was friendly, forthcoming, and thoughtful. Ha! Just kidding. He was as distant as ever, and he's only a few games away from repeating reporters' questions back at them word-for-word like an 11-year-old just trying to tick you off:



That plus the crotch grab is certainly going to keep Lynch unpopular with the type that expects a certain level of behavior out of pro athletes. But as far as Seattle and its fans are concerned, Lynch could sing nursery rhymes in the locker room and conduct self-colonoscopies on the field, just so long as he's tearing off nights like this.


____

Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.



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News sport : Ryan Lindley was awful and the Cardinals are in a lot of trouble

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Look, we're sure Ryan Lindley is a nice fellow, and his friends and family surely love him. But man oh man, was he awful on Sunday night against Seattle. And Lindley's troubles bode ill for Arizona's suddenly flimsy hopes to get out of the NFC.


Lindley, the Cardinals' third-string quarterback, was pressed into service after injuries to Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton. Facing Seattle's vicious Legion of Boom defense, Lindley came in with low expectations. Sadly, he didn't even meet those, getting pasted 35-6 and throwing a whole new load of concern onto the shoulders of Arizona fans.


There simply was nowhere for Lindley to go, and even when he had chances, he couldn't capitalize on them. He was 18 of 44 for 216 yards, and he took one sack and threw an interception. He wasn't the sole reason Arizona lost; a wave-as-they-go-by secondary didn't help. But Lindley remains the owner of a dubious NFL record: most passes without a career touchdown, now up to 225.


Lindley's rough game paled even more in comparison to the gem crafted by Seattle QB Russell Wilson. Late in the game, NBC ran the following graphic:



Stanton could be back for Week 17; he practiced lightly this week after injuring his knee in Week 15. And to be fair, nobody this side of Tom Brady could have handled the Seahawks defense as it played Sunday. Still, the loss may have cost Arizona the NFC's top seed and a first-round bye. Seattle closes out the regular season against St. Louis, while Arizona finishes against San Francisco. Anything other than a Seattle loss and Arizona win or tie gives Seattle the division and a possible first-round bye.


Arizona has been one of the season's great stories; head coach Bruce Arians is deserving of Coach of the Year, and the team's victories through injury adversity have been impressive in every regard.


____

Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.



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News sport : Harbaugh, 49ers to part ways right after season: report

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Jim Harbaugh's departure from the 49ers has been such a rumored fait accompli for so many weeks that it's tough to remember that, in fact, it hasn't already happened and that Harbaugh is still the coach of the San Francisco 49ers. But according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, you can now measure Harbaugh's tenure on your fingers.


Glazer has reported that the 49ers will cut Harbaugh loose within 24 to 48 hours after San Francisco's season ends. And since the 49ers aren't making the playoffs, that end will come next Sunday at home against Arizona.


Harbaugh had been an unqualified success his first three years at San Francisco, taking the team to three straight NFC Championships and one Super Bowl. But the team has fallen apart this year, going 7-8 through 15 games and flailing at every aspect of the game.


For his part, Harbaugh will bounce from the 49ers right into a highly lucrative job of his choosing. Reports have persisted that Michigan has offered a contract in the neighborhood of $50 million for Harbaugh to return to the college ranks, and Chicago is also interested as well, per Glazer. Wherever he ends up, apparently, he can go ahead and start packing.


____

Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.



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News sport : Giants, Rams engage in large yet meaningless fighting

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Of all the games on Sunday, only one had absolutely no playoff ramifications whatsoever: the New York Giants versus the St. Louis Rams. The very definition of a play-out-the-sched game, this one naturally descended into madness.


There was plenty of chippiness from both teams throughout the game; even the Giants kicker got in on the act with an unnecessary roughness penalty. But what tore the roof off the joint was a late tackle; St. Louis' Alec Ogletree threw New York's Odell Beckham Jr. out of bounds in a way that Beckham didn't much care for.


That set off a melee that wouldn't have looked out of place at a NASCAR race. In the end, three players, New York's Damontre Moore and Preston Parker, and St. Louis' William Hayes, got an early exit. The Giants would go on to run away with the ultimately meaningless game. So maybe that's the best excuse of all for letting off some steam. Not like these guys are going to knock themselves out of the playoffs or anything.


____

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News sport : Several struck by lightning after Tampa game

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Several fans in the parking lot at Raymond James Stadium following the Buccaneers-Packers game have been struck by lightning and taken to area hospitals, according to multiple reports.


The storm rolled in just as the game ended, and clearly many fans were caught without shelter:



Electrical storms and large crowds are always a potent, threatening mix. Two years ago, one fan was killed and nine more were injured when lightning struck the crowd just after a NASCAR race in Pocono, Pennsylvania.


Yahoo Sports is investigating the story and will update when more details are available.



____

Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.



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News sport : Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says Joe Philbin will return in 2015

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Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has been hot on Jim Harbaugh's trail in the past, but it appears you can kill off any more talk of Ross chasing the head coach this coming offseason.


According to Palm Beach Post's Andrew Abramson, Ross has said that embattled head coach Joe Philbin will return in 2015.




The Dolphins won in dramatic fashion on a final-minute blocked punt on Sunday, and a Week 17 win could give them a 9-7 record, which would be Philbin's first winning season with the team.


Will this appease Dolphins fans eager for a playoff appearance? Likely not. But it would be hard to argue with an owner supporting a coach who has made progress with a .500 team when a six- or seven-win team will be making the playoffs a week from now.


- - - - - - -


Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : Giants kicker penalized for kicking ... to the face

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Look, being a kicker has to be a tough gig. The risk-reward ratio is more of a chasm for kickers than any other player. And yet they're still disrespected by pretty much everyone, from coaches to teammates to media to fans. So you can understand why a kicker might want to prove that, hey, he can be just as tough as anybody out there on the field.


Giants kicker Josh Brown decided to get in on a scrum, and being a kicker, he wasn't having a whole lot of impact on the pile. But the Rams' Cody Davis violated every rule of the stable by approaching a kickin' type from the back, and Brown made him pay. The result? A 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, which might just be the first time a kicker has earned that particular flag.


____

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News sport : Joe Flacco's unbelievably bad day might cost Ravens a playoff spot

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Joe Flacco was outplayed by Case Keenum. Heck, Houston Texans running back Arian Foster was a more effective passer than Flacco on Sunday.


As a result, the Baltimore Ravens have lost control of whether they make the playoffs.


Flacco started off an impossibly terrible 4-of-22 with three interceptions on Sunday in a 25-13 loss against the Houston Texans, against a team that probably has just one Pro Bowl player on defense (yeah, but J.J. Watt isn’t the NFL MVP, gotcha). Flacco was absolutely, positively miserable. The Ravens trailed 16-0 at the half and the way the offense was playing, there was little realistic hope at a comeback win. Had the Ravens won, they could have clinched a playoff spot with another win next week. That control is gone. Now they need help in Week 17 to get in.


The Ravens’ AFC north rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, clinched a playoff spot with their win against the Chiefs.


Flacco rallied a bit after completing four of his first 22 passes to make his numbers look a little better, but the game was long gone by then. He finished 21-of-50 for 195 yards. Keenum, signed off the Rams’ practice squad this week because the Texans’ top three quarterbacks are hurt, wasn’t great but at least he didn’t blow the game. Foster threw a touchdown pass on a trick play, which is more than Flacco did before the game was completely out of hand. There's a regular debate about if Flacco belongs in that hard-to-define “elite” class of quarterbacks, but it’s hard to argue you’re elite if you throw 18 incompletions in 22 tries while blowing a game to wreck your team’s clear path to the playoffs.


The good news for the Ravens is they finish the season against the Cleveland Browns, as they’ll be favored in that one. But they need help now to get in. They also need Flacco to play better than he did on Sunday, when he couldn’t have been much worse.


- - - - - - -


Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : Boise State's Jay Ajayi declares for NFL draft

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Boise State running back Jay Ajayi announced Sunday that he's heading to the NFL draft after the Fiesta Bowl.


Ajayi has been one of the best running backs in college football this season. He has 1,689 rushing yards and 536 receiving yards and 29 total touchdowns. A junior, he had one more year of eligibility left.


Per the Idaho Statesman, Ajayi said he made the decision eight days ago, but waited until Sunday to tell his teammates. He didn't get feedback from the NFL draft advisory panel.



Because he's a running back coming off a prolific season, it's not a surprising decision that Ajayi is leaving. Nor is it a bad decision. Much like Melvin Gordon's decision to leave Wisconsin, Ajayi needs to maximize his value when he can.


Gordon is likely to be the first running back off the board in the spring and Ajayi should follow shortly after him though it sems unlikely that he'll be drafted as high as Doug Martin was in 2012 when he was drafted 31st overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.



Boise State plays Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.


For more Boise State news, visit Blue-Turf.com.


- - - - - - -


Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : Lions' Raiola stomps on Bear's ankle

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No way around it: this was a dirty play.


Lions center Dominic Raiola finished up a play in Sunday's Bears-Lions game by stomping on the outstretched ankle of Chicago defensive tackle Ego Ferguson. No doubt about it; he saw the ankle and stomped down hard.


This isn't the first time this season Raiola has stirred up trouble. Earlier this year, he charged at the knees of several New England Patriots defenders on a victory-formation play. This was much, much worse.



Raiola got hit with a $10,000 fine for the New England incident. Expect the NFL to come down a lot harder this time around.


____

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