Forum-Regeln » venth goal to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead.It proves our re

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots released veteran tight ends Jake Ballard and Daniel Fells in the first batch of final cuts. Now comes the really hard part. The Patriots released 10 players on Friday and must reduce their roster by 12 more to get down to the NFL regular-season limit of 53 by Saturday. Tim Tebow could be in jeopardy despite a decent performance in the Patriots 28-20 win over the New York Giants in the exhibition finale Thursday. The third-string quarterback completed 6 of 11 passes for 91 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also was sacked four times but got poor protection on some of them. "Its not just one game (that matters)," coach Bill Belichick said Friday about the player evaluation process, "although every game is important. But the body of work, the camp, the rate of improvement, the ability to do the things that players are going to be asked to do at their respective positions (also matters)." Belichick spoke before the cuts were announced and gave no indication of which players he might let go. The cuts of Ballard and Fells indicate that Rob Gronkowski could be ready to play sooner than expected after missing all four exhibition games following back surgery. Hes one of three tight ends still on the roster. Tebow is one of three quarterbacks, playing behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett. Asked after Thursdays game if he felt that performance improved his chances of making the team, Tebow said, "Im not sure. I dont make those decisions." That decision will depend on whether Belichick feels it would help the Patriots more to have greater depth at another position than by carrying a third quarterback, something hes done just once in the past four seasons. "I dont think its good planning or good insurance for your team to go light at a position and then have no idea where your depth at that position is going to be," he said. "It may be on the roster. It may not be on the roster. But, at least, you want to have some idea where youre headed if you need it." That depth could come from players on the practice squad, the physically unable to perform list or free agents who arent on any team, Belichick said. "I think whenever you put a roster together you look at it and say, OK, were a little heavy here and were a little light here, relative to where your team has been in the past, or maybe relative to what the norm is around the league," he said. "But you do it because you feel you have a higher quality player at a certain position, or you just lack the overall depth at another position. "Thats going to happen somewhere on your roster every year." The Patriots released three other veterans -- defensive end Marcus Benard, wide receiver Johnathan Haggerty and linebacker Mike Rivera -- first-year offensive lineman Luke Patterson and four rookie free agents -- fullback Ben Bartholomew, defensive linemen Gilbert Pena and Scott Vallone and offensive lineman Matt Stankiewitch. The Patriots hoped Ballard could contribute this year when they claimed him off waivers from the Giants in 2012. Belichick knew the knee injury he sustained in the Super Bowl that year, a 21-17 win over the Patriots, would keep him out all last season. But Ballard didnt seem at full strength this summer and didnt catch any passes in exhibition games. Fells played 13 games last season after signing as a free agent from Denver and caught four passes. He had five receptions this preseason. Gronkowski is on the physically unable to perform list and, if he stays there, would have to miss the first six regular-season games. But hes been working out on the field in shorts and a T-shirt and could be ready early in the season. The other tight ends are rookie free agent Zach Sudfeld and Michael Hoomanawanui. The Patriots cut Aaron Hernandez on June 26 after he was arrested. Later that day, he was charged with murder. One decision involves the punter, where Zoltan Mesko had three solid seasons. But free-agent rookie Ryan Allen has had a good camp. "Its been competitive all the way through from the spring to training camp into the games," Belichick said. "We have to talk about that one." Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Fiorentina levelled on aggregate in the 14th minute when Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez headed back a long ball from David Pizarro and Pasqual smashed home an angled volley. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . "It was awesome," he said. Coming off an ugly three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees, Toronto found itself in a deep hole early after the Reds put an eight spot up on starter Liam Hendriks (six runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched) and Todd Redmond in the second. http://www.hockeyhurricanes.com/rod-brin...-hockey-jersey/. At least 90 players who had college eligibility remaining are expected to enter the draft, shattering last years record number of 73. "Its a humongous number, so the first reaction is it makes you step back a little bit," said NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. Justin Faulk Jersey . According to the Red Wings Twitter feed, Zetterberg plans to practice with the team on Thursday and is aiming for a second round comeback.SAN JOSE, Calif. - Ryan Miller withstood an early barrage and last-second flurry to carry Vancouver to a big win in San Jose.Miller made 34 saves and was on the right side of a replay review that determined a potential tying goal for the Sharks came an instant too late, giving the Canucks a 3-2 win Thursday night to open their California swing.I got fortunate that we ran out of time to play and it worked out in our favour, Miller said.With the goalie pulled, San Jose pushed furiously for a tying goal and appeared to get it when Tommy Wingels pass deflected off a defenceman and right to Joe Thornton by the side of the net. Thorntons shot hit off Millers blocker and trickled over the goal line, sending the crowd into a tizzy.But a replay review showed the puck crossed the goal line just after the clock expired, giving the Canucks the win.I was hopeful, because I heard the horn when I knew the puck was over there, Miller said. I just didnt know how close.Radim Vrbata, Alex Edler and Nick Bonino scored for the Canucks, who now head to Southern California for weekend games against Los Angeles and Anaheim.Vancouver won just two of 14 games last season against the three California teams, playing a big role in the Canucks missing the playoffs in their first season in the new Pacific Division.James Sheppard and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks, who controlled the play but still lost in their final game before a grueling trip of seven road games in 11 days. Antti Niemi made 16 saves.It was frustrating at times, forward Joe Pavelski said. You get one at the end and just run out of time. We had our chances and we just didnt execute. We didnt finish on them.Miller was tested early with San Jose getting four scoring chances in the opening minutes. He then stood tall again late, making a good save on Couture shortly before Thorntons final shot.The puck went in, it jusst happened a little late, Thornton said.dddddddddddd. We threw everything at them but couldnt get it in. It was so close, I couldnt tell. If only we have another half-second wed be all right. We feel like we let this one get away from us.The Canucks fell behind 2-1 midway through the second when Couture capped a pretty passing sequence on the power play with his team-leading seventh goal.Vancouver then scored twice in a span of less than 5 minutes to take the lead into the third. The equalizer came when Edler beat Niemi with a shot from the top of the circle for a power-play goal.The Canucks then took advantage of a break that came when Tomas Hertl broke his stick attempting a one-timer. That turnover keyed a rush by Alexandre Burrows, who carried the puck into the offensive zone before finding Bonino.Bonino skated around the stickless Hertl and beat Niemi for his team-leading seventh goal to give the Canucks a 3-2 lead.It proves our resiliency, Bonino said. We come in and play probably two of our worst periods of the year but we had Millsy back there shutting the door and keeping us in the game.The Sharks scored first for the 10th time in 14 games this season when the newly formed third line struck midway through the first period. Tyler Kennedy, making his season debut after being sidelined by an upper-body injury in training camp, kept the puck in near the blue line and fed Hertl, who found Sheppard for the goal.But San Jose gave that lead back when Thornton couldnt keep a puck in the offensive zone along the boards. That led to a 2-on-1 break and Vrbata beat Niemi with 7.7 seconds to play.NOTES: Burrows returned from a three-game suspension for a hit to the head of Montreal D Alexei Emelin. ... Canucks F Zack Kassian was scratched with a lower-body injury. ... Rookie F Chris Tierney was sent back to the minors to make room for Kennedy. ' ' '