Plauderecke » Ballard traced his decision to the severe

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- 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. Cheap Air Jordan 3 Retro Yellow .com) - The New York Islanders will try to solve their issues against Central Division opponents when they visit the Minnesota Wild for Tuesdays battle at Xcel Energy Center. Cheap Air Jordan 3 Retro Orange . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line. http://www.cheapjordanretro3.com/cheap-a...n-3-retro-pink/. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the search, confirmed reports by several media outlets. The interview took place in Southern California on Monday. Cheap Air Jordan 3 Retro Red .J. Hardy to avoid a three-game sweep after blowing a big early lead. Odour had a leadoff single in the seventh and scored the tiebreaking run with the help of two errors by Hardy as the Rangers went on to beat the Orioles 8-6 on Thursday night. Air Jordan 3 Retro Black Cement . Cellino was ordered by a judge to pay a 600,000 euro ($800,000) fine for evading import taxes on a yacht he purchased in the United States and brought to Italy, the ANSA news agency reported.MANCHESTER, England -- Sonny Bill Williams can fill the gaping hole in his impressive sporting resume on Saturday by leading New Zealand to a repeat triumph over great rival Australia in the Rugby League World Cup final. Since 2009, Williams has flitted between rugby union, boxing and league -- and success has followed him everywhere. He is New Zealands top heavyweight boxer after winning all six of his fights, captured World Cup and Super Rugby titles in the 15-man code and this year claimed the NRL title with Sydney Roosters at the end of his first season back in league. And after being voted as rugby leagues International Player of the Year for the first time on Wednesday, Williams said winning rugby leagues biggest prize three days later "would definitely top everything off." "To come away and enjoy time over here with the brothers and put that Kiwi jersey on, for myself I have actually fallen back in love with rugby league this year," said Williams, who is bidding to become the first player to win World Cups in both rugby codes. Even with Williams on board, New Zealand heads into the game at Old Trafford, the home of England football giant Manchester United, as the underdog. Australia has not been beaten in its last six meetings with New Zealand and has cruised into the showpiece match, conceding just two points and scoring 210 in its last four games since beating co-host England in the tournaments curtain-raiser. New Zealand, meanwhile, was seriously roughed up by England in an epic semifinal at Wembley Stadium but still came through after scoring a converted try with barely 20 seconds left to win 20-18. "Twelve rounds?" said Williams, the part-time boxer. "It certainly was like that." The Australians have bristled at suggestions they will be undercooked going into a match they have waited five years for -- since losing 34-20 to the Kiwis in Brisbane in the 2008 fiinal.dddddddddddd. "Weve played Fiji twice, they are a big physical side and when its all said and done they finished the fourth best team in the tournament," said Australia coach Tim Sheens, referring to his teams 64-0 win over the Islanders in the semifinal. "The score line just doesnt indicate how much ice was on the guys after the game, I can tell you. "What I was very happy about was that we kept the pedal down for 80 minutes. We didnt drop off, and havent in the tournament. Preparing for the final, we wanted to play the 80 minutes and we have done the whole month. I am hoping that intensity prepares us well for what will be the most intense game of the tournament." Like Williams, Australias star players wont be short of motivation, either. Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater, who appears to have overcome a knee injury sustained in the quarterfinal win over the United States, all turned 30 this year and are unlikely to be around for the next World Cup in 2017. This may represent their last chance to get their hands on the World Cup, a feat they havent achieved amid stellar careers in the NRL and with Queensland. "For us, its an opportunity to win a World Cup -- we dont look at it as a last opportunity," Australia captain Cameron Smith said. "And we dont see it as a chance to make up for what happened in 2008. Nothing will ever make up for that. "When our career comes to an end, we arent going to look back and judge it off one match, one result. Wed like to think weve done a fair few things in our career over multiple matches that people can look back on." Australia is looking to win the trophy for a record-extending 10th time in 14 World Cups. "Obviously we are the reigning world champions but in the past four years they havent lost too many games," Williams said. "Australia definitely set the standards." 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 ' ' '