Dein erstes Forum » g up after three successful seasons together

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The "Honey Badger" is about to get his first NFL start. Arizona coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday that rookie Tyrann Mathieu will start at free safety in place of injured Rashad Johnson when the Cardinals play the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. Mathieu has been a sensation in training camp as he looks to make a comeback after being booted from the LSU team for marijuana use and sitting out football altogether last season. In his NFL debut in Arizonas 17-0 victory at Green Bay last week, Mathieu had a 12-yard sack, a tackle for loss, a pass defended, two special teams tackles and a 24-yard punt return. Johnson has a mild ankle and knee sprain, injuries that occurred when he broke up a pass late in practice on Monday. "Well be cautious with him," Arians said. "Hes having such a great camp." Mathieu said is among those who has "shown me the ropes" about playing safety and he wishes him a speedy recovery. When Johnson returns, Mathieu still figures prominently in Arizonas defence in the nickel and dime packages. Hes just making too many plays, knocking balls loose and picking off passes, in practice to not have him on the field. Arians has noted that the entire Cardinals squad has taken Mathieu under its wing. The coach called the 5-foot-9 player "a lovable kid" who has been "making plays all over the field." Mathieu, a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2011, was kicked off LSUs team before the start of last season for failed drug tests. His image and presumably his NFL future took another hit a few weeks later when he and three former teammates were arrested on marijuana charges after police officers found 10 bags of pot and drug paraphernalia in his Baton Rouge apartment. When he appeared at his introductory news conference with the Cardinals, Mathieu said he wanted to abandon his nickname of "Honey Badger" because of all the problems associated with his time at LSU. But hes found that fans still love it, shouting it out to him at practice. Now Mathieu is starting in the second preseason game after missing an entire season of football. "I couldnt fathom it," he said. "It probably was a longshot, but Im just putting in hard work, man, and I guess everythings starting to come together for me." Mathieu said his teammates are telling him to just do his job. "For the most part everybodys just telling me to play my role (and) everythings going to come to me," he said. "Dont get caught up in the media and all the hype thats going on right now, just go out there and keep doing what youre doing." When Arizona drafted Mathieu in the third round, it was considered a big risk for the team. From the start, he said, the Cardinals fans showed their support. Asked what theyve said to him, Mathieu said, "Good luck, I hope you stay clean, I hope you stay healthy, I hope you come here and make plays like you did at LSU." That support has only grown through the first few weeks of training camp, not only locally but around the country. "I think a lot of people kind of jumped back on the bandwagon, so to say," he said, "on twitter, everywhere, everybodys starting to root for me again, which is definitely encouraging." Tyson Chandler Jersey . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Josh Howard Jersey . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. https://www.cheapmavericks.com/ . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Jason Terry Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Tim Hardaway Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. BASEBALLOXON HILL, Md. -- The reloading Boston Red Sox pulled off the biggest deal yet at the winter meetings, acquiring ace pitcher Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox for a package of four prospects.Sale joins an already talented rotation with the AL East champions, now pitching alongside 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, former winner David Price and knuckleballer Steven Wright.The 27-year-old lefty has been an All-Star in each of the last five seasons, finishing high in Cy Young voting every time. To get him, Boston traded four minor leaguers: high-priced third baseman Yoan Moncada, considered by many the top young talent in baseball, along with pitchers Michael Kopech and Victor Diaz, and outfielder Luis Basabe.Sale was 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA and 233 strikeouts this year, a season after he led the majors by fanning 274. He also comes with this benefit: a team-favorable contract that calls for a $12 million salary next year and includes club options for 2018 at $12.5 million and 2019 at $15 million.A few hours earlier, Boston got setup man Tyler Thornburg from the Milwaukee Brewers for a package that included infielder Travis Shaw, minor league infielder Mauricio Dubon, minor league right-hander Josh Pennington and a player to be named or $100.The 28-year-old Thornburg will become Bostons eighth-inning guy, setting up closer Craig Kimbrel. Thornburg was 8-5 with 13 saves and a 2.15 ERA in 67 games for the Brewers last season, striking out 90 in 67 innings.NEW YORK -- Derek Jeters No. 2 is being retired, the last of the New York Yankees single digits.The Yankees said the number will be retired on May 14 before a Mothers Day game against Houston, and a plaque in Jeters honor will be unveiled in Monument Park during the ceremony.Jeters number is the 21st retired by the team. He won five World Series titles and was a 14-time All-Star during a 20-season career that ended in 2014. The shortstop ranks sixth in major league history with 3,465 career hits.OXON HILL, Md. -- Claire Smith became the first woman to win the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing and will be honored during the Hall of Fames induction weekend next July in Cooperstown, New York.The 62-year-old Smith covered the New York Yankees for the Hartford Courant for five years starting in 1983 and was a columnist for The New York Times from 1991-98 and The Philadelphia Inquirer from 1998-2007. She currently is ESPNs news editor of remote productions.COLLEGE FOOTBALLBaylor hired Matt Rhule as head coach after his highly successful run at Temple, hoping he can rebuild the Big 12 Conference program hit hard by scandal and suddenly struggling on the field.Rhule becomes the full-time replacement for two-time Big 12 champion coach Art Briles, who was dismissed after a scathing report over the universitys handling of sexual assault complaints, including some against football players. Rhule will be introduced on the Waco campus Wednesday.Former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe had been out of coaching two years when he put his retirement on hold in May to serve as Baylors acting head coach this season. The Bears are 6-6 and headed to the Cactus Bowl despite a six-game losiing streak.ddddddddddddThe 41-year-old Rhule is a former Penn State linebacker who has a monumental task ahead of him in putting together a coaching staff and a recruiting class at Baylor. With a monthlong quiet period in recruiting starting Saturday, Baylor has only one firm verbal commitment.PRO FOOTBALLEDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Mike Zimmer was back at practice with the Minnesota Vikings, not quite a week after surgery to repair a detached retina.Zimmer wore a white patch that was taped over his right eye as he roamed the indoor field and instructed players as usual. The 60-year-old coach had to miss the game against Dallas last week because of the emergency operation, one of multiple procedures hes had over the last six weeks. The Vikings announced that Zimmer is expected to travel with the team for Sundays game at Jacksonville.HARVEY, La. -- The man who fatally shot ex-NFL player Joe McKnight was arrested and jailed on a charge of manslaughter.Jail records show 54-year-old Ronald Gasser was arrested late Monday.Gasser was released last week without charges pending further investigation of McKnights death. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said Thursdays shooting was the result of an apparent road-rage incident. When deputies arrived, the sheriff said Gasser handed them his gun and confessed to killing McKnight.TENNISNovak Djokovic and coach Boris Becker are splitting up after three successful seasons together.Djokovic posted a statement on Facebook, saying the duo jointly decided to end our cooperation. He has won six of his 12 career Grand Slam singles titles while working with Becker. Djokovic also was the runner-up at three other Grand Slam tournaments during his time with Becker, meaning the Serb made it to the finals at nine of the 12 majors during their partnership.SOCCERNEW YORK -- David Villa earned Major League Soccers Most Valuable Player award after scoring 23 goals for New York City in his second season with the team. Villa received the award, named after Landon Donovan, from MLS Commissioner Don Garber.FRISCO, Texas -- FC Dallas signed MLS defender of the year Matt Hedges to a four-year contract.GOLFThomas Bjorn was appointed captain of Europes 2018 Ryder Cup team, a reward for his long and successful association with the event as a player and vice-captain as well as his commitment to the European Tour.The 45-year-old Dane became the first Scandinavian to lead the European team, which will look to regain the cup at Le Golf National in Paris in 2018 after its 17-11 loss to the United States at Hazeltine in October.BOXINGCANASTOTA, N.Y. -- Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and three-division champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico highlight a list of nine people selected for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.Also to be inducted June 11 in Canastota, New York are: super flyweight champion Johnny Tapia; Australian trainer Johnny Lewis; judge Jerry Roth; journalist-broadcaster Steve Farhood; broadcaster Barry Tompkins; and posthumous honorees Eddie Booker and ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Sr. ' ' '