Dein erstes Forum » . The Royals have few internal optio

If Patriots-Packers — aka Brady vs. Rodgers I — really WAS a Super Bowl preview, as so many suggested, then it will be definitely be worth watching what happens on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona.Green Bays 26-21 victory over visiting New England was a taut, well-played game, featuring just the right amount of defence and a couple of MVP contenders at quarterback who had never faced each other as starters. Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady combined to go 46 of 73 for 613 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.Rodgers extended one particularly remarkable streak: He hasnt thrown an interception at home in two years.His Packers have won four consecutive games and eight of nine to pull even with Arizona and Philadelphia at 9-3 atop the NFC.Theyre good. Theyre really good, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, in what counts as loquaciousness for him.Theres a realistic chance Green Bay could win out, because the rest of its schedule includes Atlanta and Detroit at Lambeau Field, and Buffalo and Tampa Bay on the road.The Patriots, meanwhile, had their seven-game winning streak end, but they also are 9-3, and remain atop the AFC.Very few folks would be surprised if these two teams — and these two QBs — are sharing a field again in two months.In case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the NFL seasons 13th Sunday:HEEEEEERES JOHNNY: Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel got his first chance to play for the Browns since Week 3, scored his first NFL TD on a 10-yard run, and flashed his famous — infamous? — money sign in the end zone.Now what everyone wants to know is whether Johnny Football or the guy he replaced in the fourth quarter of Clevelands 26-10 loss at Buffalo, Brian Hoyer, will start at quarterback next week at home against the Colts.Hoyer, lifted after throwing two interceptions, spoke about the Browns as my team, but its possible Manziel will now get a long look.If that is the case, and my name is called, Manziel said, I definitely will be ready.COUGHLINS UPSET: If ever a two-time Super Bowl champion coach were going to lose his job, this is how. Tom Coughlins tenure with the Giants hit a new low when New York blew a 21-point lead against a bad Jaguars team and lost 25-24.Im upset with everything, Coughlin said after a seventh consecutive loss dropped his club to 3-9. And Im upset with me.COLLAPSING CARDINALS: So much for Arizona running away with the NFC West. And so much for the team being just fine with Drew Stanton at quarterback in place of the injured Carson Palmer.The Cardinals have lost two in a row — this time, 29-18 at Atlanta — and their division lead over Seattle is down to one game.With Palmer done for the season, and receiver Larry Fitzgerald out the past two weeks with a left knee injury, the Cardinals offence has produced a grand total of one touchdown over 2 1/2 games.HANDS UP, DONT SHOOT: Five players from the St. Louis Rams showed solidarity with protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, by standing with hands raised before heading out during pregame introductions against visiting Oakland.Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt came out together first, followed by Jared Cook, Stedman Bailey and Chris Givens. After Tre Mason scored in the fourth quarter, he and Britt raised their hands together.Some witnesses said teenager Michael Brown had his hands up before being fatally shot in Ferguson by police officer Darren Wilson in August. A grand jury decided last week not to indict Wilson.I dont want the people in the community to feel like we turned a blind eye to it, Britt said. What would I like to see happen? Change in America.Across the street from the Rams stadium, about 75 protesters gathered in the second half, with some chanting Hands up, dont shoot!___Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Mark Stone Jersey . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent. Craig Anderson Jersey . Cleveland released the troubled wide receiver on Wednesday, an expected ending after Bess was arrested in January for assaulting a law enforcement officer at an airport and other bizarre behaviour. http://www.authenticsenatorspro.com/Jason-spezza-senators-jersey/ . Algeria led 3-0 at halftime, but withstood a stronger South Korean second half performance to claim its first World Cup win since 1982 and move into second place in Group H with one match left to play. Defeat for South Korea means it must now beat already-qualified Belgium to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stages. Chris Tierney Jersey . Anor had not scored since getting his first two goals of the season vs. Philadelphia on March 22 but struck with laser precision from distance in the 56th and 75th minutes. Montreal (3-10-5) lost its third straight and Impact coach Frank Klopas said it literally was a case of his players not stepping up. Ottawa Senators Jerseys . The Packers, Lions and Bears were a combined 35-15 and as long as Jay Cutler can say healthy, all three could make the playoffs in 2012.SAN DIEGO - The Kansas City Royals and veteran slugger Kendrys Morales agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Thursday.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to Morales passing a physical. Morales is expected to take over at designated hitter for Billy Butler, who left as a free agent and agreed to a $30 million, three-year deal with Oakland.Morales will get $6.5 million next year and $9 million in 2016. The deal includes an $11 million mutual option for 2017 with a $1.5 million buyout. Morales can make an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses in each of the first two seasons based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 375 and $100,000 apiece for 400 and each additional 25 until 550.The agreement highlighted a busy day at baseballs winter meetings for the Royals, who also acquired right-hander Jandel Gustave in a deal with the Red Sox.Boston selected Gustave off Houstons Triple-A roster in the Rule 5 draft.The Royals are still searching for a starting pitcher to replace James Shields, who is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency. Among the names that had been linked to the Royals, Ervin Santana, Justin Masterson and Brandon McCarthy had already agreed to join other teams.The Royals are also in the market for a right fielder after losing Nori Aoki to freee agency, and have had talks with Melky Cabrera, who spent time in Kansas City during the 2011 season.ddddddddddddKansas City could also reunite with Aoki, who played well down the stretch, or go after less-pricy options such as Colby Rasmus. The Royals have few internal options to fill the void, but in a pinch could use Jarrod Dyson as an everyday centerfielder and move Lorenzo Cain to right.As for Morales, the Royals are taking a gamble that last season was an aberration.The 31-year-old designated hitter and first baseman hit just .218 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 98 games with the Twins and Mariners. Those numbers were far below his career average of .271, and a shadow of his best year with the Angels, when he hit .306 with 34 homers in 2009.Just two years ago, though, Morales hit .277 with 23 homers for Seattle.That kind of production would help the Royals absorb the loss of Butler, who did not have his $12.5 million option picked up after one of the worst seasons of his career.Butler still hit .271, but he only had nine homers and 66 RBIs for a team that had a perilous lack of power. His playing time also decreased late in the season as he seemed to fall out of favour with manager Ned Yost, though he was back starting for the Royals run to the World Series.___AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in Kansas City, Mo., contributed to this report. ' ' '