ding two stints with the AFLs Orlando Predators. In 2010, after Haslett left for the Redskin | Forum

NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball is investigating him, the Yankees are angry with him and Alex Rodriguez is miffed. Petr Mrazek Jersey . A-Rods strained relationship with his team hit another low on Thursday when he kept pushing to be activated from the disabled list and New York kept pushing back. He wound up having a lawyer join in when the sides discussed how to rehabilitate his slightly injured leg. Already a target of Major League Baseballs drug investigation, the third baseman angered the Yankees when he obtained a second medical opinion on his strained left quadriceps this week without informing the team in writing, a step required by the sports collective bargaining agreement. The Yankees intend to discipline him, most likely with a fine. "Do you trust the Yankees?" Rodriguez was asked Thursday during an interview on WFAN radio. A-Rods answer was telling. "Um. You know, Id rather not get into that," he responded. "Im just frustrated that Im not on the field tomorrow." Sidelined since hip surgery in January, Rodriguez issued a statement saying he wanted to be activated for Fridays homestand opener against Tampa Bay. But that wasnt in the Yankees plans. "We agreed that a protocol would be followed that is necessary when you return somebody from a quad injury," general manager Brian Cashman said during a conference call with the teams beat writers. "That protocol will include further treatment, which hell continue tomorrow with some light conditioning, and then expand to more functional work from the 27th through the 31st. Our hope, as well as Alexs hope, without any setbacks or new complaints, that would put him in a situation to have either a simulated game or a rehab game on Aug. 1." A-Rod went public with his disenchantment. "Obviously Im very, very disappointed," he said. "I know I can help my team. Obviously, Im frustrated but I agreed to this five-day plan, and on we go." He repeatedly said he told the Yankees he was ready to return. "Tomorrow night would be the perfect night to come back and get in the lineup," he said. Whether he gets back on a big league field any time soon or ever plays for the Yankees again remains to be seen. MLB has been investigating Rodriguez as part of its probe of the closed Biogenesis clinic in Florida accused in media reports of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. A suspension appears likely, but Rodriguez could ask the players association to contest a drug penalty -- making it possible he might not have to serve any time until next year. He is among the dozen or so players under investigation by MLB; he has said in the past that he used PEDs from 2001-03 while with Texas but maintained he has not used them since. The Yankees intend to discipline A-Rod for seeking a second medical opinion without their permission, a person familiar with the teams deliberations said. The exact penalty had not been determined, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no statements were authorized. A fine appeared to be the most likely option. Meantime, Rodriguezs return from hip surgery has created more drama than most players experience in their entire careers. Seemingly days away from rejoining the Yankees, Rodriguez injured a leg last weekend and was sent to New York for an MRI on Sunday. Team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad diagnosed a grade 1 strain, the least severe level. Dr. Michael Gross, the orthopedic director of The Sports Medicine Institute at Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center, was retained by Rodriguez and said on WFAN on Wednesday that he examined an MRI and could not detect an injury. Gross, who never examined Rodriguez personally, was reprimanded this year by New Jerseys board of medical examiners over steroid prescriptions, fined $30,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in costs. Rodriguez was re-examined Thursday by Dr. Daniel Murphy, the Yankees orthopedic surgeon in Tampa, Fla., who confirmed Ahmads diagnosis. Cashman said Murphy determined there was "clearly some improvement." Yankees President Randy Levine and Cashman got on a 15-minute conference call with Tim Lentych, the head athletic trainer at the player development complex in Tampa; Rodriguez; and Jordan Siev, co-head of the U.S. commercial litigation group at Reed Smith, a law firm used by A-Rod pal Jay-Z. "Just want to make sure that everything is documented properly," Rodriguez said. Rodriguezs statement infuriated Yankees management, which already had told him it determines his return schedule. "I think the Yanks and I crossed signals," the three-time AL MVP said in the statement issued by spokesman Ron Berkowitz. "I dont want any more mix-ups. Im excited and ready to play and help this team win a championship. I feel great and Im ready and want to be in the lineup Friday night. Enough doctors, lets play." Rodriguez, who turns 38 Saturday, earns $153,005 each day during the season, and while he remains on the disabled list much of the money is covered by insurance. Rodriguez has hit .200 (8 for 40) with two homers and eight RBIs in 13 minor league games. About a week before he began the injury rehab assignment on July 2, Rodriguez tweeted that the surgeon who operated on his hip "gave me the best news - the green light to play games again!" Cashman memorably responded: "Alex should just shut the ... up." Rodriguez said hed like to rehab with the major league team, as captain Derek Jeter is doing as he comes back from a quadriceps injury. But the Yankees seem to regard A-Rod as toxic. "Obviously, Im an employee," he said. "I have to follow my bosses." Jimmy Howard Red Wings Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Brendan Shanahan Red Wings Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http:///...cchio-hockey-jersey/ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont.ASHBURN, Va. -- The face was different, the words familiar. Like Mike Shanahan and nearly every recent Washington Redskins coach, Jay Gruden is anxious to declare an end to franchises days of dysfunction. "I dont know what happened last year," Gruden said. "I know that interviewing with Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen and everybody here that the passion for excellence is there. All they want to do is win, and theyre going to provide me with every avenue to win." Gruden was introduced Thursday as the man charged with ending the perpetual state of turmoil the team has endured under owner Snyder and recently under general manager Allen. Gruden was a given a five-year contact for his first NFL head coaching gig, taking over a 3-13 team that has finished last in the NFC East in five of the last six seasons. "We HAVE to get it right," said Allen, who led the search and interviewed six candidates. "We need to get the franchise back on track in a winning direction. ... We were looking for a new leader, somebody who can inspire our football team. We knew it was more than just X and Os, it was about finding the right person to build a team chemistry that we needed." Gruden is Snyders eighth coach in 16 seasons as an NFL owner. Unlike Shanahan, who was fired last week, Gruden will not have final say over all football matters. Hell report to Allen, who has taken charge of assembling the roster and other personnel decisions. Snyder attended the news conference but did not speak to reporters. The 46-year-old Gruden has spent the last three seasons as the offensive co-ordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, where his skill in helping to develop Andy Dalton will no doubt be of use when he takes on the task of grooming another young franchise quarterback, Robert Griffin III. Gruden praised the talents of Griffin and spoke of the need to build a "genuine" trust with the quarterback, who regressed this season after winning the APs Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2012. Griffin returned from major knee surgery to start 13 games, but he publicly disagreed with some of Shanahans decisions, struggled as a drop-back passer and was benched for the final three weeks. Asked to confirm that Griffin will be the starter, Gruden chuckled and said: "I dont see him as a backup." "I see every trait that a quarterback has to have to be successful, I see Robert having all of those," Gruden said. "So why wouldnt you want to coach a guy like that? ... Im going to let him know that Im a trustworthy guy. Hes also got to understand that I expect a lot from the starting quarterback. I expect him to come in and prepare and work hard, and I expectt him to take the blame on some throws. Ted Lindsay Red Wings Jersey. I expect him to be a great leader." Griffin limited his comments to a quick post on his Facebook page: "Excited about the hiring of Coach Jay Gruden. Cant wait to get to work with him & the guys!" Gruden said he will call the plays himself and that he has yet to decide which members of Shanahans staff to retain. It seems a safe bet, however, that some combination of defensive co-ordinator Jim Haslett, defensive backs coach Raheem Morris and tight ends coach Sean McVay has a good chance of sticking around, based on the trios previous relationship with the new coach. Gruden also said hes a fan of the 3-4 defence that Haslett has used the last four years. "I know theres a lot of coaches here who can coach," Gruden said. Gruden has been largely overshadowed by his more famous brother, Jon Gruden, who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is now an analyst on "Monday Night Football." But Jay Gruden has been a name on the rise based on his success with Dalton and the Bengals offence. Jay Gruden interviewed for multiple head coaching openings last year and had drawn interest from at least three other teams seeking to fill a head coaching vacancy this year. He interviewed with the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday. The Redskins had to wait until the Bengals played their first-round playoff game before Gruden could be courted. It took a bad day from Gruden and Dalton -- scoring only 10 points in a home loss to the San Diego Chargers -- to make Gruden free to be hired this week. "I told him it worked out well that Cincinnati lost," Allen said. "He still doesnt understand that." Gruden said his ties within the Washington organization played a "big role" in his decision. He was an assistant coach with Tampa Bay from 2002-08, where he worked at various times with Allen, Morris and McVay. Gruden also coached under Haslett with the UFLs Florida Tuskers in 2009. Theres no question Gruden has paid his dues. He was a quarterback in the long-defunct World League of American Football, then went to the Arena Football League and began a playing and coaching career that was so successful it landed him in the AFL Hall of Fame in 1999. Hes been a head coach both the AFL and UFL, including two stints with the AFLs Orlando Predators. In 2010, after Haslett left for the Redskins, Gruden was head coach and general manager of the Tuskers and led them to the UFL championship game. "Theres a lot of work to do," Gruden said. "When youre 3-13, theres not one particular player or reason, theres a lot of reasons and theres a lot of things that need to be fixed." Wholesale Jerseys China ' ' '