Die Sonnbichlers » tough game to swallow

NEW YORK -- NFL owners likely will consider expanding the playoffs by two teams, beginning in 2015, when they hold their spring meetings in Orlando next week, but a vote on the subject is uncertain. A groundswell for raising the number of playoff qualifiers to seven in each conference figures to get plenty of support from the 32 owners. Most notably, Arizonas Bill Bidwill, who saw his Cardinals go 10-6 and not get in, while Green Bay (8-7-1) qualified by winning the NFC North. The current format of four division winners and two wild-card teams has existed since 2002, when Houston joined the league as an expansion team, bringing the membership to 32. "There will be a report on the potential of expanded playoffs," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday. "We dont know if there will be any vote at this meeting." Also on the agenda will be alterations to extra points, changing who oversees video replay reviews, and further clamping down on the use of racial slurs by players during games. A change in the playoff structure would be needed if 14 teams qualify, with the top seed in each conference still getting a first-round bye. The next six teams would play in what is now the wild-card round, with the second seed facing No. 7, the third seed taking on No. 6 and the fourth and fifth seeds playing each other. But the NFLs influential competition committee is not presenting a proposal to the owners. One reason the league is looking at more playoff teams is a stalemate in talks with the players union about expanding the regular season from 16 games. Another is the added revenue stream two more post-season games would provide, with those matches up for bidding among the current network partners -- Fox, NBC, ESPN and CBS, which just grabbed an eight-week Thursday night package -- and potential new broadcasters such as Turner Sports. Scheduling of the extra wild-card games also would be dicey, although Monday night would seem logical for one of them. Of course, adding two more playoff teams enhances the chances for teams with .500 or losing records to get in. Commissioner Roger Goodell has suggested a change to the one-point kick on extra points might be needed because they have become so automatic. New England has proposed moving the line of scrimmage to the 25 for a one-point try, but leaving it at the 2-yard line for a 2-point conversion. "There are a lot of different views in respect to the extra point," said Falcons President Rich McKay, co-chairman of the competition committee. "There were 1,267 tried and 1,262 made (in 2013), and so there is that thought with the extra point maybe we need to add little more skill, and one of the ways to do it might be the way New England proposed." But its a long shot that anything will be done next week, except perhaps experimenting with longer kicks for one week of the preseason. The Patriots also proposed extending the height of the goal posts 5 feet to make it easier to determine whether a kick is good. New England also suggested allowing coaches challenges on everything except scoring plays, which are automatically reviewed. Replay as an officiating tool always is in the news, and owners are expected to discuss having the NFLs director of officiating, Dean Blandino and his staff at the league offices be involved in some review decisions. The league saw several inexplicable replay decisions made by referees last season, although McKay and Rams coach Jeff Fisher, the committees other co-chairman, praised the overall quality of officiating. As for the use of racial slurs and verbal abuse, there already are rules on the books to deal with the issue. But an emphasis on stronger discipline will be discussed by the owners, and McKay noted that taunting fouls went up significantly from 2012 to 2013. "We are going beyond the field of play, we are going to the workplace," Fisher said of trying to eliminate such language. "This is going to be a very significant point of emphasis." DaeSean Hamilton Broncos Jersey . -- Jonathan Vilmas season is over and his future on the football field is in doubt. Case Keenum Jersey .C. - Nick Merkley and Damon Severson each had a goal and two assists as the Kelowna Rockets downed the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds 6-3 on Saturday in Western Hockey League playoff action. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Broncos-Isaac-Yiadom-Jersey/ . Zimmermann became the National Leagues first 16-game winner, pitching seven solid innings to lead the Washington Nationals past the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Wednesday night. Case Keenum Broncos Jersey . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. Custom Denver Broncos Jerseys . Among the six changes: Drivers are now eligible if they have competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR or turned 55 in the calendar year before nominating day. Previously, drivers were not eligible until they had been retired for three years, so drivers can continue to compete and still reach the hall.VANCOUVER -- Even after going down to 10 men with the score tied 1-1, the Vancouver Whitecaps kept pressing for a winner that looked inevitable. Then one of Major League Soccers most ruthless goal poachers made the most of his only real chance of the night. Erick Torres headed home the winner off a pinpoint cross from Marky Delgado in the 81st minute Saturday as Chivas USA downed the frustrated Whitecaps 3-1. Second-half substitutes Nigel-Reo Coker and Darren Mattocks both had great chances to give Vancouver the lead after Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey was sent off in the 69th minute, but neither man could find the range, leaving the door open for Torres winner. The 21-year-old Mexican has now scored in five straight games for Chivas (6-7-5), which picked up its fourth straight victory and is unbeaten in six. "The boys a good player. Torres, make no doubt about it," said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. "We had three defenders in the box. It was a super cross but we cant give him opportunities because hell take them and thats what he did." Vancouver did a good job containing Torres until that critical moment, which made the end result even more maddening. "He spins off one time and makes a good header and scores the goal that kills us a little bit," said Ousted. "Im disappointed conceding that kind of goal." Despite being down a man, the Whitecaps had great chances to grab a winner of their own before that goal, but Reo-Coker missed a sitter in the 74th minute before Mattocks failed to connect moments later in front of Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. "Another day that could have gone in," Reo-Coker said of his opportunity that flashed just wide. "Obviously it didnt go in today and thats that. We still had some other chances but this is going to be a tough game to swallow. "I think we have to be proud of how we played and performed. Even after going down to 10 men we probably had the two best chances in the whole game." Torres, meanwhile, now has 13 goals on the season for a Chivas team that has scored just 20 times. Agustin Pelletieri and Leandro Barrera had the other goals for the visitors, while Carlyle Mitchell scored his first in MLS for Vancouver (6-4-7). "Disappointed. Gutted is another word," said Ousted. "I said before the game we shouldnt take this lightly. I dont think we did but we didnt get the result." Vancouver led 1-0 at half-time but allowed a free header off a corner to Pelletieri two minutes after the break before things went from bad to worse when Harvey was sent off by referee Armando Villarreal in the 69th minute for his two-footed challenge on Chivas midfielder Oswaldo Minda. Harvey had already left the locker-room by the time it was opened to the media. "I think we started slow at the start of the second half," said Robinson. "That was probably tthe disappointing thing from the game because I didnt feel under any threat really in the first half.ddddddddddddThe 10 minutes after halftime is big in any game and they got the goal and got the bit between their teeth." Vancouver will be disappointed with the dropped points at B.C. Place Stadium after a strong showing in last weeks 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders. "Ive said all along youve got to win at home and pick up points on the road," said Robinson. "I just said to them in there we just need to try and win an extra away game now." After Torres nosed his team in front, Vancouver had one last gasp in stoppage time, but Villarreal gave a free kick to Chivas after Pedro Morales poked a shot past Kennedy that the keeper had a hand on just in front of the goal-line. Barrera then scored on a rush with the last kick of the game after the Whitecaps sent Ousted forward on a corner. "It was a very tough game," said Chivas head coach Wilmer Cabrera. "Difficult team, quick, with young players with quick transition. "We didnt lose our composure. For the second half we tried to adjust a few movements -- try to move the ball a little bit wider, try to move the ball a little bit quicker." Things started brightly for Vancouver on the night, with Mitchells header from six yards out in the 27th minute marking not only a personal milestone, but also the Whitecaps first goal off a corner in 2014. Robinson had talked about wanting a quick start, like the one the Whitecaps got against Seattle seven days earlier, but Vancouver couldnt get anything going until about 10 minutes into Saturdays match. Once the Whitecaps got their legs moving in midfield they started to boss the game, but were unable to find that final pass, which would eventually cost them. "I wont fault any of my players today because they performed what I asked, they did everything I asked," said Robinson. "Obviously we came out on a bad result." Notes: Saturday was the first of three games in eight days for Vancouver, which visits Toronto FC on Wednesday before travelling to Utah to take on Real Salt Lake on July 19. ... Mitchell has found a home in Vancouvers starting lineup in recent weeks with the injuries to captain Jay DeMerit and Andy OBrien in the heart of the Whitecaps defence. The 26-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago -- who started his fourth game of the season -- has been with Vancouver since 2011, but was making just his 24th MLS appearance for the club on Saturday. DeMerit is still out with an ankle injury, while OBrien has a hip problem. ... The teams played to a 1-1 draw on March 16, with Torres and Kekuta Manneh trading goals. ... Vancouver and Chivas meet for the third and final time on Aug. 16 in Carson, Calif. ... Chivas next game is July 20 at D.C. United. ... The Whitecaps next home game is July 27 against FC Dallas. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '