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United manager, Alex Ferguson, said: “Edwin’s professionalism and

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Article Content:
Edwin Van der Sar has extended his contract with Manchester United which will keep him in goal until June 2011.  That means that the Dutch goalkeeper will be with the club well past his 40th birthday.

image: TSN

United manager, Alex Ferguson, said: “Edwin’s professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself has given him the longevity in the game.  That longevity includes such great experience not just at United, but at Juventus, Ajax and on an international level. We are absolutely delighted he is continuing for another year.”

I’m sure Van der Sar is happy to remain with a team, especially since they were so understanding when he needed compassionate leave after his wife Annemarie suffered a brain hemorrhage.

“This is a great club and I was shown a great deal of compassion and support during a difficult time in December and January for which I am extremely grateful,” Van der Sar said. “I am looking forward to winning more trophies with this great team.”

Post from: The Footie

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The injury occurred in a challenge from Ryan Shawcross left the pitch in tears after he saw how badly Ramsey was hurt.   He insists that there was “absolutely no malice in the challenge” and added “I am deeply upset that Aaron has suffered such a bad injury and my thoughts are with him.  I would like to send him my best wishes too for a speedy recovery.”

Watch the video.  Warning, it’s a little nasty.

Post from: The Footie

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Pictures from The Coventry American Flag Football Academy

By Tom Beasley

When you think of American football, it is unlikely that the image of girls running around and bossing the game is one of the first that would come into your head. However, at Coventry American Flag Football Academy, that is exactly what you will see.

Girls are more than welcome on the team and many of the team’s biggest stars are female. Head Coach Andrew Gambrill, 44, said: “Pretty much every national title I have been part of has featured females in a prominent role.” He even went a step further in his praises, saying “my dream is to win a national title with an all girls team”, emphasising how inclusive the sport is.

In fact, young female starlet Hannah Russell-Yarde, 12, recently scooped the Coaches Award at the team’s awards ceremony, showing that there are truly no barriers at the club for success, irrespective of gender. She is a driven young woman and is not fazed at all by playing in the male dominated arena of flag football, saying: “My team mates act fine with having female team players like it doesn’t matter. It’s not an unusual thing.”


The Jets encourage girls to take part in their training sessions as much as possible, sending representatives into schools in order to recruit new players with gender not being an issue at all. Many of the team’s current female players state that these sessions were what got them involved in the club at first. Tina Nguyen, 14, said that “Pete [Pete Evans, club founder] came to Holbrooks when I was in year 6″ and this was what got her into the side.

Even the boys on the team are happy to welcome the opposite sex into the team and see them as useful additions to the club. Seasoned player Tom Basnett, 15, likes the presence of girls, saying: “Girls bring teamwork and a different technique in the sport”.

Shailen Tailor, 16, agrees with this, thinking that “it’s a really good thing to have females on the team”. This shows that Jets are a club which encourages gender diversity and which gives absolutely anyone the right to learn a new sport and make new friends in a fun and healthy environment.

Chris Mepstead, 15, goes even further as he thinks that “having girls on our team gives us a competitive advantage”, showing that he really values the fact that his team allow players to join, irrespective of whether they are male or female.

Coventry Jets are known for being a team that has a much higher quota of female players than almost any other team. For years now, the team has been a haven for girls in sport with them always forming a key part of the club. American flag football is a fantastic way for girls to show that they can be just as sporty as their male counterparts, despite the gender stereotypes that suggest they can’t.

An inspirational voice for girls in the sport is Coventry Jets’ most recent acquisition, Hollie Humphries, 21, who gave some valuable advice to any girl considering getting involved in flag football.

“Give it your best shot. Try, try and try again. It’s all about determination and drive, anything your team mates can do, you can do too. It’s about having fun and pushing yourself to be the best you can be for yourself and your team.”

This shows that Coventry Jets is a club that cares deeply about providing opportunities for young people to get involved in sport and a club that will continue to care for years to come.

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It is not a particularly insightful or controversial statement, and you won’t find that many people who disagree – but it is worth just pointing out to the few remaining doubters – Ndamukong Suh is the best player in this years draft class. Any position, any scenario, any team.

JaMarcus Russell proves that number 1 picks don’t always live up to the hype, but Suh seems to be as sure a thing as there is.

Aligned with his natural speed off the snap, long arms, power, and healthy dose of nastiness, is a willingness to really work at his game. Suh could already be playing in the NFL with a bank balance suitably inflated. However, he chose to stay another year in Nebraska to work on his game, so that he could be a genuine “game changer”.

Coaches have talked about his insatiable desire to try new schemes and his hours in front of the video tape in glowing terms. It appears that the hard work has paid off – below is a list of the notable awards the 300lb 6 foot 4 behemoth has picked up this season –

Outland Trophy (Best lineman)
Chuck Bednarik Award (Nations best defensive player)
Lombardi Award (Top collegiate lineman)
Bronco Nagurski Trophy (Top Defensive Player)
CBS Sportline defensive player of the year.

On top of that he was short-listed for the prestigious Heisman Trophy. A mere nomination may not sound much, but defensive players don’t win the Heisman Trophy. In fact only Charles Woodson (current NFL defensive player of the year) has picked up the award in modern times. Rare company indeed for Suh to keep.

Further proof of Suh’s incredible desire and workrate is the fact he went and worked out at the combine. As the elite college player in his year, Suh is pretty much guaranteed to be the top pick regardless of what he does between now and the draft. However, as he said himself “I have nothing to hide” – he went, did the drills and just underlined his enormous worth to the team lucky enough to draft him.

Currently The St Louis Rams have the first overall pick. That franchise has so many holes that they should just pick the best player. The best player is Suh. However, there has been some talk that their quarterback needs may see Sam Bradford rise to the top of the class. This would be a mistake. There are already enough quarterbacks available who are improvement on what they currently have (Carolina today released Jake Delhomme for example).

By picking Suh, the Rams ensure (injury withstanding) that they will have a dominant person in defence to build around. They should go back to old school football (or current day New York Jets football). Make themselves tough to beat, use the run (in Steven Jackson they have one of the best running backs in the league) and limit the quarterback duties. This formula would see them dominate the clock as well as, eventually winning more than they lose – just ask Rex Ryan.

If Sam Bradford was Peyton Manning I may be saying things differently, and this is no reflection on Bradford who will be a fine player, but overall number 1 pick is a little rich for him.

Almost every mock draft, or analysis I have read has Suh as the number one pick. Experts can be wrong, but in this case I think they are all bang on the money. Suh IS the way to go.

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The NFL free agency starts today and a number of high profile players are on the market.

Future hall of famer’s Julius Peppers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Kevin Mawae are all available to teams in the NFL.

Julius Peppers has finally been able to leave the Carolina Panthers. He’s wanted to leave for a couple of seasons now as he wants to play in a 3-4 defence.

There will be a large market for Peppers so he should have an opportunity wherever he wants to play in 2010. Even at 30, Peppers had 10.5 sacks last season and has 81 in 122 games.

LT is maybe one of the best running backs in NFL history but he’ll find it hard to get a starting job. If LT wants to win a Championship he will have to accept a back up job, which is based around 3rd down situations.

I believe LT has something to offer a team and I just hope his ego doesn’t get in the way. He has to accept that he’s not the player he once was, but he will offer something to most teams in the NFL.

Veteran Pro Bowl offensive lineman Kevin Mawae was told by the Tennessee Titans that they only want to re-sign him as a back up. Mawae may be 39 years old, but he still has enough in his legs to start for another team.

I believe that if an NFL team has a young offensive line then Mawae would add valuable experience. Don’t look past Mawae to play in another Pro Bowl next year.

Free Agency has started, let the money start rolling in.

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Day one of the NFL’s free agency and even the international recession hasn’t stopped teams throwing the cash around.

I’m reminded of a song by James A. Johnston called ‘Here Comes The Money’.

The biggest splash made so far has been in the windy city. The Chicago Bears have agreed terms with Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers.

The former Carolina Panthers star has signed a six-year contract worth .8million, with million guaranteed.

The Bears also reached an agreement with former Minnesota Vikings running back Chester Taylor. Taylor will also have a happy bank manager as he starts counting his .5million contract, which includes million guaranteed.

Elsewhere around the league, the Miami Dolphins have signed linebacker Karlos Dansby. The Arizona Cardinals did try to keep the player who’s fumble recovery and touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in this years play-offs gave the team a 51-45 overtime victory.

Dansby’s deal is worth a maximum of million, with million guaranteed.

The Cardinals have also lost safety Antrel Rolle with the New York Giants picking him up on a five-year, million contract with million guaranteed.

The Baltimore Ravens have signed restricted free agent wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Boldin is the third Cardinals player to leave Arizona where he was scheduled to enter the final year of a deal that would have paid him million in 2010. The new deal has added three years on his existing contract. Boldin’s new contract is worth a maximum of million for the final three years, with million guaranteed.

With Boldin being a restricted free agent the Cardinals did receive a third and fourth round picks in the 2010 draft.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman from the Green Bay Packers.

Kampman struggled to find the quarterback in 2009 after the Packers changed from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defence under co-ordinator Dom Capers.

He recorded only 3.5 sacks before his season was ended in week 11 when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Jaguars fans must have small concerns around Kampman’s knee. However Packers head coach Mike McCarthy had recently stated that Kampman was well ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.

The Packers played well without Kampman and signing him would have just taken up cap room which can now be used elsewhere.

Packers fans did have something to cheer on Friday when the team announced that they had signed veteran offensive tackle Chad Clifton on a three-year, million contract.

Clifton is a 10-year veteran and has started 138 of 143 games for the Packers since they drafted him in the second round in 2000.

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With the NFL combine now over, prospects are rising and falling on every teams’ draft board, but Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy – widely considered the two best players in the draft – both helped their stock after impressive showings.

But if you were looking for the drills and sprints and feats of athleticism to offer some sort of distinction between the two, you were, for the most part, out of luck.

Both stand at 6′ 4″ and tip the scales close to, or just over 300lbs, and both also demonstrated good quickness for their size: McCoy sprinted 40 yards in 4.96 seconds compared to Suh’s 4.98. They seem to be well and truly cut from the same cloth, and certainly you can’t go very far wrong with either player: they are relatively safe picks, and you will be getting a stud defensive tackle one way or the other.

In situations like this, preference either way is often personal. There is a Ndamukong Suh camp, and there is a Gerald McCoy camp, and if you like one you are unlikely to find anything to change your allegiance before the draft.

Yet Suh did seem to come across as the better athlete at the combine, even if only slightly. He jumped five inches higher than McCoy, and managed 32 bench press repetitions compared to McCoy’s 23. And these can speak volumes: any sort of jump measures your explosion and power, and for a defensive lineman, these, as well as strength, are key.

Many McCoy fans can forgive the 23 reps, so captivated are they by his pass-rushing skills. At Oklahoma, he was a relentless force, constantly harassing opposing quarterbacks. Disrupting the passing game is what he does best.

Ironic, then, that his greatest strength could also be why the St. Louis Rams or the Detroit Lions pass on him. If the Rams opt for a quarterback with their first pick, then McCoy could fall out of the top two.

The marauding force racked up 14.5 sacks in college, but Ndamukong Suh tallied 24; and although Suh played for longer, his numbers over the last two seasons are still greater than McCoy’s over the same span.

The question begs to be asked: if Gerald McCoy is a better pass-rusher, then why does Ndamukong Suh have more sacks?

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Will Terrell Owens be a Bengal this season?

The Cincinnati Bengals have this week invited Terrell Owens to Ohio as their quest for a wide receiver with deep-threat potential continues.

Owens will meet with team officials and coaches today after dining with head coach Marvin Lewis last night.

The 36-year-old playmaker, released by the Buffalo Bills after one season with the team, had 55 catches for 829 yards and five touchdowns last year – his lowest touchdown total since 1999. But it was a troubled season for the Bills, with coaching and quarterbacking changes that made it difficult for the offense to gel.

Owens proved towards the end of the season that he still has the ability to astound, even if it was only on a handful of occasions. He blitzed the Titans, the Jaguars, and the Dolphins over a three game span that saw him amass 378 yards – including a nine catch, 197 yard dismantling in Jacksonville.

Despite last seasons’ drop-off, his 43 touchdowns over the last four years will have given Marvin Lewis pause for thought as the two sat down for dinner last night. Also playing on the mind of 2009’s Coach of the Year will be the pleas of Chad Ochocinco, who has been determined to get Owens in orange and black since the end of last season.

It is this determination from Ochocinco that, perhaps, could be a sway those in charge – and the reason why Antonio Bryant, who is also in the mix, might miss out.

For all of Ocho’s antics, he is a dedicated and respected member of the team, and his unswerving loyalty to Owens, coupled with the duo’s long-lasting friendship, might well be the deciding factor in a possible deal.

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