ghes in the rotation, makes his first sta | Forum

ORCHARD PARK, N. Theoren Fleury Jersey .Y. -- Bills centre Eric Wood was not at all surprised hearing team president Russ Brandon raise concerns whether Buffalo loses a competitive edge playing annual home games in Toronto. Brandon first questioned the benefits of the "Bills In Toronto" series during a meeting with Wood and fellow team captains about a month ago. "He knew that a lot of players have expressed some harsh feelings toward Toronto," Wood said Wednesday. "And he basically told us as captains that he was going to do whatever it takes around here to win. And thats something he wanted to address." Brandon went public with his concerns during his weekly show on Buffalos WGR-AM earlier in the day. While noting the Bills games north of the border have boosted the small-market franchises revenues, Brandon added that they havent paid off in wins. Following a 34-31 overtime loss to Atlanta on Sunday, Buffalo dropped to 1-5 in Toronto since the series was established in 2008. "It has been a challenged market there, and certainly has not translated into enough wins for us there," Brandon said. "Nothing comes above winning. When I took over the reins on Jan. 1, I said that was the No. 1 focus, and that will be the No. 1 focus. Thats one of the reasons that this will be reviewed in a grand manner." Brandon stopped short of saying the Bills would consider or be allowed to opt out of the four remaining years of the deal, which they renewed in January with Toronto-based Rogers Communications. "Im going to look at everything. Ill just leave it at that," Brandon said, before being asked a second time whether the Bills can opt out. "My focus in this organization is simple, to put ourselves in the position to win championships and sustain success. Period. Nothing comes above that." Wood has been among several players who have criticized the series. He called the games in Toronto "a joke" last year following a 50-17 loss to Seattle. Last week, receiver Stevie Johnson questioned whether the warm-weather Falcons "fixed" the schedule in getting to play indoors at the domed Rogers Centre, and avoid the wintry conditions -- and traditionally more raucous environment -- at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The loss put a big dent in the Bills chances of staying in the AFC playoff race. At 4-8, Buffalo plays three of its final four on the road, beginning with a trip to Tampa Bay (3-9) on Sunday. Buffalo is in jeopardy of extending the NFLs longest active post-season drought to 14 seasons. And the Bills will go a ninth straight year without a winning record. The Bills are 0-4 at Toronto during December. Their lone win came on Oct. 30, 2011, when they defeated Washington 23-0. Rogers officials declined to comment on Brandons statements. So did NFL vice-president Christopher Parsons, who heads the leagues international offices. The Bills made the decision to play games in Toronto, about a 2-hour drive from Buffalo, in a bid to expand their fan base and generate additional revenue from Canadas largest city and financial capital. A lack of home-team support and poor attendance remain issues since the series started. The announced crowd of 38,969 on Sunday was by far the smallest of the series, and well short of the stadiums NFL capacity of 46,470, not including suites. Rogers did announce the first four regular-season games had been sellouts before later acknowledging the totals included thousands of free tickets. The games also attract a larger than usual contingent of visiting team supporters. Several Atlanta players were pleasantly surprised to see a notable number of fans wearing Falcons jerseys in the stands on Sunday. "The crazy part is we had a lot of support here," Falcons safety William Moore said. "It didnt feel like we were in Canada." The series has generated revenue and lured more southern Ontario fans back to Buffalo. The Bills estimate Canadians now make up about 15 per cent of their season ticket base. That rivals the number of season ticket holders the Bills get from nearby Rochester. As part of the initial five-year deal, Rogers agreed to pay $78 million to essentially lease eight Bills home games: five regular season and three preseason. The final preseason game was eventually dropped because of scheduling difficulties. In exchange, the Bills earned more than double what they usually generated from hosting games in Buffalo. The value of the most recent deal has not been revealed. Craig Conroy Jersey . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Matt Stajan Flames Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.hockeyflamesfanshop.com/Al-MacInnis-Jersey/ . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. NEW YORK -- Two nights in a row, the Red Sox have pulled off the final rally at Yankee Stadium. Mike Napoli hit a tying grand slam in the seventh, Shane Victorino had a go-ahead homer one inning later and Boston beat the New York Yankees 12-8 on Friday night for its fourth straight victory. Will Middlebrooks went deep for the third straight day and the Red Sox erased a five-run deficit in another wild game between these longtime rivals. One night earlier, the Yankees took an 8-7 lead with a six-run seventh -- only to lose 9-8 in 10 innings on Victorinos tiebreaking single. "We never feel like were out of it," Boston manager John Farrell said. New York has lost consecutive games when scoring at least eight runs for the first time since September 1949, according to STATS. The last time it happened with both games at home was 1911 against Cleveland. Napoli also doubled, singled and walked twice in a perfect night at the plate. He scored three times, one night after sparking Bostons ninth-inning comeback with a two-out single off closer Mariano Rivera. The Red Sox, who began the day with a 6 1/2-game lead in the AL East over Tampa Bay, have slowed New Yorks wild-card charge by winning the first two in a four-game set to improve to 9-5 against New York this year. They have scored 41 runs in their past three games and won 11 of 13 overall. "We dont give up, we dont give in," Middlebrooks said. "It doesnt matter what the scoreboard says. Were going to come out, were going to fight, were going to grind it out." Alfonso Soriano homered and Brett Gardner hit a two-run triple for the Yankees, but Phil Hughes and their depleted bullpen failed to preserve an 8-3 lead for Andy Pettitte. New York went hitless after the fifth inning -- and there was more bad news after the game. Boone Logan came out with tightness in the back of his elbow, one batter after serving up Napolis slam. The left-hander will have an MRI on Saturday. Top setup man David Robertson is expected to be sidelined five or six days with tendinitis in the back of his right shoulder. Not to mention, Rivera was unavailable after pitching three straight days. "Weve been dealing with this all year long," manager Joe Girardi said. "So its a chance for other guys to step up, and theyre going to get an opportunity." Victorino connected for a two-run shot off Preston Claiborne (0-2) in the eighth. Joba Chamberlain walked in a run later in the inning, and Stephen Drew made it 12-8 with an RBI single. Brandon Workman (5-2) threw 1 1-3 hitless innings and Koji Uehara pitched a perfect ninth, running his scoreless streak to 27 innings over 24 games. He has retired 27 consecutive batters. "That would be a perfect game," Farrell said. "Lets get the champagne then," Middlebrooks chimed in. The game lasted exactly 4 hours, one night after the teamms played 10 innings in 4:32. Johnny Gaudreau Flames Jersey. Fired up all night, the 41-year-old Pettitte was pulled after six innings and 100 pitches. He struck out eight, but the bullpen betrayed him again. In his previous outing, Pettitte was ahead 3-0 after 93 pitches when Baltimore chased him in a seven-run seventh inning. This time, Boston scored five runs in the seventh off Hughes and Logan. Short in the bullpen after using seven relievers Thursday night, Girardi called on Hughes to begin the seventh -- his first relief appearance since 2011. After going 4-13 with a 4.86 ERA in 26 starts this season, Hughes was demoted to the bullpen this week. "Its different, for sure. But youve got to find a way to adjust and, obviously at this time of the year, youve got to adjust pretty quickly," Hughes said. He gave up two singles and a nine-pitch walk to pinch-hitter Mike Carp after getting ahead 0-2. Dustin Pedroia drove in a run with an infield single, and Hughes walked off to boos from the crowd of 44,117. Logan struck out David Ortiz and went to a full count on Napoli before he lofted a high fly toward the short porch in right. Ichiro Suzuki made a desperate leap, but the ball bounced off the ledge just behind the fence and caromed up into the crowd for Napolis sixth career slam and third this season. He hit one off Hughes at Yankee Stadium on June 1. "Just got enough," Napoli said. He raised his fist as he rounded first and received hearty high-fives when he returned to the dugout. Daniel Nava then whistled a single past Logans ear, and the reliever left with a sore arm. Red Sox starter Felix Doubront was all over the place, throwing only 46 of his 88 pitches for strikes in 3 2-3 innings. He gave up three hits -- two triples and a homer. Four of the six hitters he walked scored. Derek Jeter walked in the first inning and Soriano followed with his 30th home run of the season, 13 for New York. He has 43 RBIs in 39 games since the Yankees reacquired him from the Chicago Cubs on July 26. Middlebrooks, batting ninth, homered leading off the fifth to give him eight RBIs in his last four games. But the Yankees made it 8-3 in the fifth on RBI singles by Vernon Wells and Mark Reynolds. NOTES: Linda Pizzuti, the wife of Red Sox owner John Henry, tweeted a photo of the birthday cake -- with a Yankees logo -- that she said the Yankees made for Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino as they celebrated at the ballpark. ... Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury sat out with a sore right foot. ... C Jarrod Saltalamacchia missed his fourth consecutive game with a sore back. Saltalamacchia worked out during early batting practice and its a "real possibility" he could be in the lineup Saturday, Farrell said. ... LHP David Huff, tabbed to replace Hughes in the rotation, makes his first start for the Yankees on Saturday against RHP John Lackey (8-12, 3.22 ERA). Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '