Herzlich Willkommen » hard out of the playoffs for the second

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Robbie Gould saw no reason to shop around. The Chicago Bears announced a four-year extension with Gould on Friday, locking in one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history through the 2017 season. A person familiar with the situation said the deal is worth $15 million and includes more than $9 million in guaranteed money. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because financial terms were not announced. ESPN first reported the terms. "At the end of the day I couldnt see myself playing in another jersey," Gould said. "Id just look funny in another colour I think." Gould has converted 86 per cent of his attempts in nine seasons and ranks as the third most accurate kicker in NFL history behind Mike Vanderjagt (86.5 per cent) and Nate Kaeding (86.2 per cent). He has hit 26 of 29 field goals this season, including a franchise record 58-yarder against Cincinnati in the opener. He has 11 game-winning field goals in his career. With 1,021 points, Gould is closing in on Kevin Butlers team record (1,116) "I thought it was important that I remain a Bear," Gould said. "I think it means a lot for my career. I think it means a lot to be able to do some things down the road individually but also I think if Im going to hold a trophy up, I want to hold it up with the Chicago Bears." The deal comes as the NFC North-leading Bears prepare for an all-or-nothing finale against the rival Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Sunday. The winner captures the division title and advances to the playoffs. A tie would also do the job for the Bears (8-7). Gould was one of many Chicago players with expiring contracts, including quarterback Jay Cutler, return specialist Devin Hester and cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings. "Youve got guys that are up that if the deal weve struck gives a little extra money to keep guys around, then Im all for it," he said. "At the end of the day, all I want to do is win a championship. Hopefully we can start by doing it this weekend." The deal was a bit of a surprise considering general manager Phil Emery said at the start of training camp he didnt see the Bears extending any contracts during the season because they were up against the cap. He also wanted the focus to be on the field and not the negotiating table. That announcement did not sit well with Gould, who was critical at the time. But any hurt feelings were soothed. He and Emery were on the same page in one key area, though. "I think we both agreed on what our vision was," Emery said. "And our vision was that together, some day we would hugging one another and had a big smile on our face and holding up that championship trophy. So the extension of Robbie Gould gives that some legs now and into the future and am very happy to announce that." With the season winding down, Emery said there was some money available to extend a contract. "We didnt use all the remaining emergency fund that we had," Emery said. "We were very open the last couple weeks of internally discussing the possibility of signing at least one player if we could find somebody that would fit into that equation. We were not aggressive in terms of our pursuit of those players." Goulds agent, Brian Mackler, contacted the Bears this week, and they reached an agreement over the next few days. There still will be plenty of issues for the Bears to address after the season, given all their expiring contracts and problems on defence, but one task is out of the way. A "negotiation can go as fast as you want it to go," Gould said. "Its all about, can you get on the same page, do they have the same value or number in mind that you have. I think, realistically, it was probably the easiest negotiation Ive ever been a part of. I appreciate the Bears that they think that highly of me to get something done before the end of the season." Note: WR Earl Bennett remained away from the team tending to a family matter in Texas and is questionable for Sundays game. LB Lance Briggs (shoulder), the only other Bears player on the injury report, is listed as probable. Bert Blyleven Jersey . This game was inside. Adrian Peterson was missing. The stage was set for another step toward the playoffs. Jose Berrios Jersey . First reported by FOX Sports Ken Rosenthal, its unknown if the impetus for the deferral proposal came from players or management, but it never left the preliminary stages. https://www.cheaptwins.com/2062t-justin-...rsey-twins.html. The Blue Jackets got goals from Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and R.J. Umberger and Curtis McElhinney posted his first shutout since 2011 in a 4-0 victory on Friday night. Jorge Polanco Twins 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. Taylor Rogers Twins Jersey . Or how his team has defended Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Or just about anything that has happened on the court in the first-round playoff series. Instead, Rivers and his players spent Saturday talking about how they would respond to an audio recording of a man identified as Clippers owner Donald Sterling telling his girlfriend not to bring black people to games. TORONTO – Two months ago, the Maple Leafs management team deemed that Randy Carlyle was the “right person” to continue lead their team, but felt the need for change somewhere in light of another late season spiral. Three assistant coaches were fired that day in early May – in a unique move that saw the head coach remain – replaced Friday by Marlies coach Steve Spott and longtime Predators assistant Peter Horachek in a bid to further alter the atmosphere of a team deemed to be requiring “culture change” by MLSE president Tim Leiweke. “Im not the big culture change kind of guy,” said general manager Dave Nonis, shortly after the announcement of the new two new assistants. “I think you cant flip a switch with two coaches and say that everythings going to be different. I think people bring things to the table that either help you achieve success or dont. These guys theyve shown in the past that they can do that.” Carlyle bellowed long and loudly for change last year, frustrated by his clubs inability to compete to a level he deemed appropriate. Weak foundations – poor defensive play, possession and penalty killing – were propped up by terrific goaltending, a mostly potent power-play and a dominant first line. He saw the flaws early, but ultimately was unable to affect much change as the year lingered on. “6-1 is only a stat,” he said in mid-October after his team won six of its first seven games. “Its a nervous time in the coaches office because of the shot differential and the quality of chances that were giving up.” Employment of personnel didnt help matters, particularly an overreliance on veterans like Jay McClement and an underuse of young players on a fourth line fronted by heavyweight Colton Orr. Somewhere along the way his message didnt stick or perhaps grew stale. In shaking up the assistants who surround Carlyle, management is hoping that will change. “Part of the changes that we are looking to make is in the atmosphere and thats not a knock on the other coaches because they had their strengths for sure,” said Nonis. “But relationships and developing relationships with the players is probably as big an issue now around the league as anything. Players have to want to play for you. I think these guys have had a pretty good track record in that regard.” Leaf players were surprised by the late spring firings of Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon, particularly Farrish whose fate was thought to be tied to Carlyle, his longtime associate. Farrish, who ran the defence and Torontos sixth-ranked power-play, was known as a lighter voice in the room – a stark contrast to the harder-edged Carlyle – capable of brightening the mood in dark times.? Cronin and Gordon, who led the Leafs once hopeful but ultimately disastrous penalty kill, appeared to be sounding boards, often locked into long conversations with players after practice (Gordon on multiple occasions with Phil Kessel). Management deemed that their replacements have previous head coaching experience – Farrish, Cronin and Gordon were all head coaches themselves prior to coming to Toronto – believing that to be valuable in support of Carlyle. Both new hirings will be expected to share in dealings with the media, a considerable change from recent years where assistants under both Carlyle and Ron Wilson were consistently unavailable to press. “I think if youve walked in those shoes before it makes it easier to help,” said Nonis of head coaching experience. It wasnt immediately cleear how duties would be split between Spott and Horachek – one will likely run power-play, the other penalty kill as with most clubs – but Nonis indicated Carlyle playing a “big or bigger role than hes had in the past” in terms of special teams.dddddddddddd. Spott, who did a terrific job guiding the youthful Marlies to within one game of the Calder Cup final, will be relied upon for his experience in guiding Torontos young talent. Management viewed him as a candidate to join the NHL staff from the outset, waiting to make their interest clear until his team was quieted in a Western Conference final loss to the eventual champs from Texas. “It wasnt just veterans carrying the ball,” Nonis said of Spotts success as a first-year American League coach. “He used young players all the time. He put them in different situations. He allowed some of those players to grow despite some mistakes that they were making.” Formerly the bench boss in Kitchener and the Canadian World Jr. team (2013), Spott has coached prospective Leafs like Petter Granberg, Carter Ashton, Stuart Percy, and Peter Holland, not to mention current Leafs such as Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly and David Clarkson, the latter maintaining a close relationship with Spott. The Leafs appear to be trending younger, team president Brendan Shanahan speaking earlier in the week of his desire for “our young players…to have job opportunities”. “We need our young players to have an impact,” Nonis said. “The assistant coaches will have a major role in that.” The Leafs continue to view Spott as a future NHL head coach. Horachek, a native of Stoney Creek, Ontario, spent nine seasons as an assistant to Barry Trotz in Nashville before being fired in 2013. He resurfaced as a head coach with the AHLs San Antonio Rampage the following season before ascending to the top job with the Panthers when Kevin Dineen was let go. The 54-year-old boasts an IHL championship from his days as the lead man in Orlando (Carlyle was the head coach of the IHLs Manitoba Moose at the time). Boasting a mismatched roster in Florida with uneven goaltending last season, Horacheks Panthers had awful special teams – last in both power-play and penalty kill – but decent possession numbers considering the talent. “Hes a firm guy,” Nonis said of Horachek, consulting with longtime Predators general manager David Poile prior to the hiring. “I think hes kind of a no-nonsense coach, but hes very well groomed. Hes got a players background and again a very long and I think impressive coaching background. “When it came down to it he was the guy that really fit the type of coach we needed and we feel that Randy needs as well.” In reconstructing their roster this summer the organization went hard after players with solid leadership and character credentials – Stephane Robidas, Dan Boyle and Josh Gorges among the targets – seemingly concerned by the mix that fell hard out of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. In adding Spott and Horachek, it appears they are trying to do the same with a coaching staff that missed a step a year ago – albeit with the same head man leading the charge. Consistent in managements view of both hires was their ability to build strong relationships with players, communication not known to be a strong suit of an old-school type like Carlyle. Whether that leads to a more consistent and successful product on the ice remains to be seen. ' ' '