DieBruderschaft.com

OXON HILL, Md. -- Tony Gwynns death from oral cancer was a turning point in baseballs culture that long tolerated smokeless tobacco.Baseballs new labor contract, agreed to last week, bans chew among players with no current major league service time. The Hall of Famers death at age 54 two years ago shook up many in the industry.What happened to Tony Gwynn, you dont want that to happen again, Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. said Monday at the winter meetings.Gwynn, a longtime San Diego star, and Ripken, who spent his entire career with Baltimore, were close friends and were inducted into the Hall together in 2007 after their first-ballot elections.A lot of people, probably including myself, stood back and said, well, life is what it is. Its not illegal. People make choices all the time, Ripken said. But once you see what can happen and how fast it can happen, I think it does make you think about it differently.Several cities have banned smokeless tobacco in big league ballparks, and the new labor agreement allows players to be fined for violations. Current big leaguers are grandfathered against the change.Its about time. Ive never chewed, never dipped or anything like, Atlanta All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman said. A lot of kids look up to us. If they were to see us on TV with a big chew, dip in our mouths, they could go do that.For the last five seasons, big league players were prohibited from carrying tobacco products, including tins and packages, onto the field when fans were in the ballpark.To the extent that the world has changed, we respectfully had the conversations that we did in acknowledgment of those changes whole also appreciating that ... a lot of players are making the decisions on their own to quit, union head Tony Clark said.Ripken, who never chewed, has seen a shift in his youth programs.Kids are watching really closely, he said. When we see sunflower seeds as a problem in our complexes, were happy with that. Geronimo Allison Super Bowl Jersey . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Super Bowl Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. http://www.packersonlineteamstore.com/randall-cobb-youth-jersey.html . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Packers Super Bowl Jerseys . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Jason Spriggs Super Bowl Jersey . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rex Ryan didnt wait long before turning his attention directly from his teams first win towards Buffalos next opponent.Hey, you know, I can sit back and say I dont care who plays quarterback because I know (Tom) Brady aint, Ryan said Monday, looking ahead at Sundays road game against the New England Patriots.I dont care who plays quarterback. (Former Patriot) Steve Grogan can play quarterback. If (Bill) Belichicks playing quarterback, were coming after him. I promise you that.And asked on a conference call with the Buffalo media what he thinks of Ryans antics regarding him, Belichick said, Were really focused on Buffalos football team and their coaching staff and what were going to have to play against and prepare for on Sunday.If you havent been keeping up with the Patriots, you dont know Brady is serving his four-game Deflategate suspension. Jimmy Garoppolo took over as the starter and was almost six quarters into that new role when he hurt his right shoulder. Enter rookie Jacoby Brissett, who finished the second game of the season and then won his starting debut in Week 3, a shutout against the Houston Texans. But Brissett hurt his thumb in the game.Garoppolo and Brissett both played well, and the Patriots have gone 3-0 heading into this game against the 1-2 Bills.While all this was going on, slot receiver Julian Edelman, a quarterback in college, was the emergency guy -- and was seen as the starter this week if neither young player could make it.But Garoppolo and Brissett were back at practice Tuesday. Both were listed as having limited participation on Wednesdays injury report.As far as facing the possibility of Edelman playing, Ryan said, I know how difficult it is to defend against a running quarterback. We have to be ready in case Edelman is at quarterback, right? I have a funny feeling he isnt going to be Brady back there.Garoppolo and Brissett might not be Brady, either. But clever game plans by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels made it seems like Brady, who returns for Game 5 at Cleveland, wasnt even missing.I think the process weve gone through is really the same, McDaniels said Monday. I know the variables change, but I dont think anybody here ever considers anything adversity.Last week against the Houston Texans, McDaniels took some of the pressure off Brissett by ccalling an option (13 yards) and a bootleg (a 27-yard touchdown run) for the rookie.dddddddddddd The Patriots also called three handoffs to Edelman and a tight end reverse by Martellus Bennett.The Bills lost to the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets before, with new offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, surprising the Cardinals 33-18.I think the Arizona game really highlights how good they are, how tough its going to be and how much work we have ahead of us, said Belichick.Ryan and his defensive coordinator brother, Rob, changed up their defense, bringing more pressure on Carson Palmer than they had brought on Ryan Fitzpatrick the previous game. It worked well -- and you have to think theyll bring it again this week.The Patriots have won 28 of the last 32 games against the Bills and are 72-21 against other AFC East teams in the regular season since 2001. Buffalo has won only once at Gillette Stadium, and that was the final game of the 2014 regular season, with the Patriots resting players for the playoffs.LeGarrette Blount has been dynamic running the ball for the Patriots, who have also had to survive with a rebuilt offensive line. On the other side of the ball, theyve been without Chandler Jones (traded), Rob Ninkovich (suspended, one more game) and Donta Hightower (knee). Hightower was listed as having limited participation Wednesday.Blount has run for 298 yards and four touchdowns (at least one in each game), turning in the teams first back-to-back 100-yard games since 2012.The Patriots, lit up for almost 400 yards over the last three quarters by Ryan Tannehill, was near perfect against Houston, and the special teams produced two fumbles that led to touchdowns.New England has seven takeaways in the last two games.Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor, dangerous with his legs, is 47 of 77 for 527 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions but also ripped off a 49-yard run and another for 20 and a touchdown last week. LeSean McCoy has run for 227 yards and three touchdowns.Wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who missed the Arizona game with a foot injury, was still not back at practice Wednesday. But the Bills might get massive left tackle Cordy Glenn back. He was limited Wednesday. ' ' '