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Mon Dec 23, 2019 3:54 pm
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GLENDALE, Ariz. USA Soccer Pro Shop . -- Arizona Cardinals tight end Jake Ballard announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday. In a statement on Wednesday, Ballard traced his decision to the severe knee injury he sustained playing for the New York Giants in the 2012 Super Bowl. "My body never felt the same," he said. "Having a quality of life after football is very important to me and I have witnessed it taken away from others. I will miss the game tremendously, but I am ready for this next chapter in my life." Ballard was signed by the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Ohio State in 2010. In the Giants 2011 Super Bowl season, he started 13 regular season games, catching 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns. Ballard played in all four of New Yorks post-season games that season, three as a starter. He was signed by New England in 2012, but missed the entire season because of the knee injury. Ballard signed with the Cardinals in November of last year. He appeared in eight games for Arizona, three as a starter. He caught seven passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals. Ballard was in a crowded competition at tight end for Arizona. His retirement leaves the team with free agent signee John Carlson, returnee Rob Housler, rookie second-round draft pick Troy Niklas and Darren Fells, a former college basketball player who spent his rookie season a year ago on the Cardinals practice squad. Keegan Rosenberry Jersey .Y. -- Sore nose and all, Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists to help Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 5-3 on Friday night, snapping the Penguins mini-slump and slowing the Sabres late-season surge. USA Soccer Jerseys China .Y. -- Scott Chandler is returning to Buffalo, where he spent the past three seasons establishing himself as the Bills top pass-catching tight end. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/561j-darlington-nagbe-jersey-usa.html . The Cubs made the moves before Thursdays game against Arizona. They promoted left-hander Zac Rosscup and right-hander Neil Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa and optioned righty Blake Parker to their top minor league team.Iraq has shrugged off the distraction of the Alaa Abdulzehra eligibility drama and been given the all clear for the Asian Cup semifinal on Monday against South Korea, which has its own concerns over the health of key playmaker Son Heung-min.The Bayer Leverkusen creative midfielder missed two group games with illness before returning for South Koreas extra-time quarterfinal win over Uzbekistan.The exertion of the two-hour game after his illness overwhelmed Son, who was carried from field on a stretcher after the final whistle.Whether he can return to his peak on just three days rest to face 2007 champion Iraq in Sydney will be crucial for a South Korea team which has already lost Lee Chung-yong and Koo Ja-Cheol to injuries.Its not an excuse but we are missing two or three big players, coach Uli Stielike said. No other team has had to show such mental strength and sacrifice as our boys.South Korea is yet to concede a goal in four games at the tournament, but even that impressive statistic has failed to impress an impatient supporter base which is demanding the team end the Asian Cup title drought that dates back to 1960.The pressure the national team is under in Korea has given us some mental problems, he said. Now with these injuries, theres even more pressure on us to reach the final.Iraq is on a high after surprisingly eliminating neighbour Iran in a thrilling quarterfinal, which saw Iran — with 10 men — twice equalize in extra time before Iraq won the penalty shootout 7-6.Talismanic striker and captain Younis Mahmoud scored against Iran, and his experience of guiding the lineup to the 2007 Asian Cup title will be vital to building self-belief.We have a young squad and he is our leader, coach Radhi Shenaishil said. Hes the type of player that opponents hate to play against.Iraq received some welcome news, ending days of uncertainty, when the Asian Football Confederation dismissed a protest from Iran about Iraq using Abdulzehra in the quarterfinal.The AFC disciplinary committee held an emergencyy meeting Sunday and gave Iran the opportunity to produce evidence to support its claim that Abdulzehra should have been disqualified for the quarterfinals last Friday due to an alleged doping infraction while he played for Tractor Sazi last year in in the Iranian domestic league. USA Soccer Store. The disciplinary committee heard oral evidence from two (Iran) officials, deliberated the matter based on its merits, and decided that the protest was unfounded, the AFC said in a statement. The protest was, therefore, dismissed.Abdulzehra denied he was subject to any doping sanctions, and Iraqi football federation chief Abdul Khaliq Masood said the midfielders position in the team shouldnt be in dispute.When (Iran) filed the objection we knew our position and the player position is correct, Masood said. Alaa Abdulzehra does not have any punishment from FIFA or the Asian federation. This allegation I think is not correct, because if he have any punishment they should (have) sent us a letter with his international card and mentioned that the player (was) being punished, and the reason for the punishment.Abdulzehra said the Iranians were looking for excuses for their quarterfinal loss.This case should not be raised. Since I started playing football I dont have any issue like this, I never drink anything illegal, and if I need to take any (medication) I always ask the team doctor, he said. The Iranian team should be better than that. If a team cant beat you on the pitch, it should not try to find other excuses.He said the Iranian protest hadnt interfered with Iraqs preparations for the semis.No, we have experience with pressure for long time, but to be honest this issue didnt engage us, he said. The team is concentrating well. The Korean team is different from the Iranian team in the speed, organization, and they have top players, but our ambition is to win this match and repeat what we achieved in 2007 and qualify to the final.___AP Sports Writer John Pye contributed from Melbourne, Australia. ' ' ' |
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