The Atlanta Falcons were within one game of the Super Bowl in 2012. [url=http://www.cheapairmax2018.us/]Blue Air Max Shop[/url] . In 2013, the team fell well short of lofty expectations with a disappointing 4-12 record. This season, the Falcons will look to prove their first losing season under coach

The Atlanta Falcons were within one game of the Super Bowl in 2012. Blue Air Max Shop . In 2013, the team fell well short of lofty expectations with a disappointing 4-12 record. This season, the Falcons will look to prove their first losing season under coach Mike Smith was simply an anomaly and reach the playoffs for the fourth time in the past six years. A key to the Falcons struggles last season were the injuries to wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones. White entered the season playing with an injured ankle and proceeded to post his lowest marks in both receptions and receiving yards since 2006, while appearing in 13 games. Jones, one of the best young receivers in the league, was off to a strong start in 2013 - 41 catches for 580 yards - before being sidelined for the season after five games with a foot injury. Now, White and Jones have set high expectations on themselves for the year ahead, setting a goal of 1,500 receiving yards each - which would be an NFL record for a receiving duo. "Were just putting it out there," Jones said in training camp. "I always tell people, every year, I never put goals on myself, because I dont want to limit myself. What I set out to do, Im going to do it, but I dont want to limit myself, because I dont know what Im capable of doing, so I dont want to put an exact number on me. Were just putting that number out there, because we possibly can do that, just because of all the rule changes and everything else." The "rule changes" Jones cited is the leagues initiative to cut down on defensive backs using their hands against wide receivers through an increase in defensive holding and illegal contact penalties. However, Jones main focus when it comes to reaching history with White should be on staying healthy. In three NFL seasons, Jones has played in all 16 of the Falcons regular season games once. Jones career-high in yards is 1,198, while Whites is 1,389. The Falcons premier duo will face less competition for the ball this season, though. Tight end Tony Gonzales, who caught 80 or more passes in each of the past three seasons, retired in the offseason and his replacement - whether it be sophomore Levine Toilolo or veteran Bear Pascoe - has never caught more than 12 passes in a season. The Falcons receiving corps is filled out with slot receiver Harry Douglas, who led the group in catches and yards in 2013, and free agent acquisition Devin Hester. If quarterback Matt Ryans two top targets can stay healthy this season, it wont guarantee 1,500 yards for White and Jones, but it may be key in the Falcons regaining their Super Bowl contender form. Notes: Rookie on Display: After starting left tackle Sam Baker was lost for the season with a knee injury in the preseason, the Falcons made the decision to start their first-round pick, Jake Matthews, at the position. Matthews opened training camp as the starter at right tackle, but will face added pressure protecting the Falcons franchise quarterbacks blindside. Adding Up Front: The Falcons rushing defence ranked second-worst in the league last season, allowing an average of 135.8 yards on the ground per game. In an effort to improve on that mark, the Falcons signed defensive lineman Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson in free agency and drafted RaShede Hageman in the second round of the draft. The team will also benefit from the return of defensive end Kroy Biermann, who missed all but two games last season. Cheap Air Max Outlet .ca. Hi Kerry, Welcome back! Im sure you heard Peter Forsbergs comments last week regarding Canadian referees in the gold medal game. Seems to me that he was questioning the integrity and impartiality. Wholesale Black Air Max Store .com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to play spoiler as the Los Angeles Kings will try to match their longest winning streak in over four years in Thursdays battle at Staples Center. http://www.cheapairmax2018.us/ . Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No. ORLANDO, Fla. -- Another baseball tradition is about to largely disappear: a manager, with a crazed look in his eyes, charging the field and getting into a face-to-face shouting match with an umpire. Instead, most calls on the field next season will be subject to video review by umpires in New York, Major League Baseball took the first vote in a two-step process Thursday, unanimously approving funding for expanded instant replay in 2014. They plan to approve the new rules when they meet Jan. 16 in Paradise Valley, Ariz., after agreements with the unions for umpires and players. "We made a gigantic move today," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "This is quite historic." Selig long opposed replay and watched from afar as it was first used by the NFL in 1986, the NHL in 1991, the NBA in 2002 and Wimbledon in 2006. Even the Little League World Series put replay in place for 2008. MLB allowed it starting August 2008 but in a limited manner: to determine whether potential home runs were fair or cleared fences. Now, virtually every decision likely will be subject to review, except balls and strikes, checked swings and some foul tips. "Tag plays, out/safe at first, fair/foul past the bags, those are all going to be included," said Rob Manfred, MLBs chief operating officer. So no more blown calls, like Don Denkingers at first base that turned Game 6 of the 1985 World Series or Jim Joyces bad decision at first base that cost Detroits Armando Galarraga a perfect game in 2010. "We want to get more plays right, the ones that matter," Manfred said. Manfred said when a manager wants to challenge a call, he will notify an umpire, triggering a review in New York by what are likely to be present or retired big league umps. A headset would be brought to the crew chief, who would be notified of the decision. There will be a maximum of two challenges per manager in each game -- "it could be less," Manfred said -- and if the challenge is upheld it would not be counted against the managers limit. If a manager is out of challenges, umpires probably will be allowed request a review on their own. "Getting more plays right can only enhance the game," St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. Manfred appeared to indicate that the video being reviewed in New York could be show to fans in stadiums or possibly on television broadcasts. "I think you can expect that there will be as part of this package expanded use of in-stadium video boards," he said. Selig has emphasized that he doesnt want replay to slow games, whose increased length in recent decades has been targeted for criticism. &"The current thinking is that if a manager comes out and argues, once he argues, he cant challenge that play," Manfred said. Air Max 90 Sale Red. "One way to control the timing of challenges is to use the natural flow of the game, that is the next pitch cuts off your right to challenge." But MLB doesnt want managers to tell players to stall to give team employees time to review video on their own and instruct the dugout whether to use a challenge. In tests last week at the Arizona Fall League, most reviews averaged 1 minute, 40 seconds. Former manager Tony La Russa, now an MLB special adviser, said managers will have to "rely on their integrity" and not cause delays. "This is an historic opportunity," he said. "Were going to monitor it. If somebody plays around with it, theyre going to get called on the carpet." Manfred said the initial rules likely wont be the final ones. "The system will see some continuing evolution until we get to a point of stability, similar to what you saw in the NFL," he said. In other news from the meeting: --Ray Davis was unanimously approved to succeed Nolan Ryan as controlling owner of the Texas Rangers. --MLB withdrew its proposal for a new bidding system with Japan, making it uncertain whether prized pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will be on the market this off-season. --Selig said while he is pleased Toronto and the New York Mets will play spring training games in Montreal, there should not be expectations of a permanent return to that city. "We dont have any clubs moving and we certainly dont have any expansion plans." --Following accusations of harassment in the Miami Dolphins locker room, Selig said he isnt worried about a similar issue in MLB clubhouses. "Im proud of our players. Im proud of the way that theyve acted, and I dont have any concerns on that subject." --Home plate collisions are not yet a big topic from his point of view: "They dont seem to be overly concerned about it at this point, but we have had ongoing discussion." --He is annoyed about the length of games. The average for nine-inning games was 2:59 this year, an increase of three minutes from 2012, and it was 3:17 in the post-season, up six minutes. "The length of some of the games all year but particularly in the playoffs and the World Series was -- I didnt like it. I was unhappy about it. ... There are things we can do and there are things we will do -- were going to have to do." --While MLB wants the Tampa Bay Rays to get a new ballpark, negotiations by the club to get out of its lease at Tropicana Field is a team matter for now. ' ' '