Tolkiens Welt » contending for a division championship in Kirby Smarts fi

Buffalo Bills have confirmed that first-round draft pick Shaq Lawson will require shoulder surgery, suggesting he might not be ready until the middle of the regular season. Shaq Lawson exclusive Sky Sports Digital spoke to the Clemson man Coupled with wide receiver Sammy Watkins broken foot, the Bills have had a troubling start to the off-season, and in a draft full of high-calibre defensive linemen, their draft selections have been called into question.The Cowboys signing of Jaylon Smith in the second round, despite the likelihood that he will miss the entire 2016 season and the news that Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick Jalen Ramsey may require micro-fracture surgery are indicative of the gamble franchises must take to kick-start their campaign for a Super Bowl ring. Injuries can break even the most promising of NFL teams, even before the season has started, Sky Sports takes a look at some of the recent examples.Philadelphia Eagles, 2005The previous season was a demonstration of what a powerhouse NFL franchise should look like. Having won the division the past three years, 2004 saw the Eagles continue to dominate and go 13-3, sweeping NFC East division rivals 6-0 in the regular season. The Eagles marched to the Super Bowl, where they were narrowly beaten by the Patriots 24-21. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles looked set for a stellar 2005 Although defensive linemen Derrick Burgess and Corey Simon departed Philadelphia that summer, hopes were still high for the Birdgang.The team started well, winning three of their first four. However, a succession of injuries derailed the team. Of the 10 Pro Bowlers the Eagles had in 2004, five sustained season-ending injuries, including quarterback Donovan McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook and offensive tackle Tra Thomas.Four other players had their season cut short through injury, and both kicker David Akers (another 2004 Pro Bowler) and punter Dirk Johnson spent considerable time on the sidelines.Coupled with the injuries, off-field distractions ripped through the organisation. While Carl Westbrook was holding out for a new contract, Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens caused the Eagles no end of headaches. Terrell Owens caused the Eagles no end of issues From contract disputes to being denied an opportunity to play summer league basketball with the Sacramento Kings, Owens spoke publicly about his poor relationship with the classless Eagles. His public falling-out with quarterback McNabb only exacerbated the situation, and Owens was suspended for four games, and then deactivated for the remaining five.The Eagles finished the season 6-10, losing four of the last five, and finishing bottom of their division. Owens was cut, and the team went back to a double-digit winning season the following year. NFL Draft: Behind the scenes Richard Graves diary from Chicago Indianapolis Colts, 2011The 2011 season was all set for the Colts. After two consecutive AFC South Championships, the franchise was also looking to set the record for the most consecutive playoff appearances (10). Furthermore, if successful, they would be the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Peyton Mannings final season in Indianapolis did not go as expected However, the season spiraled out of control for the Colts before it got going. Having used the franchise tag on Peyton Manning, the quarterback had to have neck surgery before the season started, and sat out the entire season.Turning to back-ups Kerry Collins and then Curtis Painter was disastrous, as the Colts went 2-14, their worst regular season record since 1991. The vice-president, general manager and head coach were all fired and Manning was released.The Colts did win the following years first pick, replacing Manning with Andrew Luck. Three double-digit winning seasons followed, but the promise of the 2011 campaign will always be a what-if story.Dallas Cowboys, 2015 Tony Romos injury problems hindered the Cowboys all season Building a complete team for the push to Super Bowl glory is no mean feat, but in 2015, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett must have thought he was close. With a defence that boasted Tyron Smith, Orlando Scandrick, Randy Gregory and Greg Hardy, and an offensive duo of Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, Dallas appeared ready to compete.The season started brightly, with the Cowboys winning their first two games. However, injuries to quarterback Romo and wide receiver Bryant in Week Two saw the franchise collapse. The team lost the next seven. Romo returned to lead the Cowboys to victory over the Dolphins in Week 11 but suffered another collarbone injury in Week 12 and didnt feature again that season.Inept quarterback options underpinned a disastrous season, with Matt Cassel the only back-up to produce a win in Romos absence. The franchise slumped to a 4-12 finish, the Cowboys worst season since 1989. Draft Pick Six Neil Reynolds on the key stories to emerge from Draft Day New England Patriots, 2015This one sneaks in, not so much for the derailment of the season, but what could have been. The Patriots, in the twilight of their dynasty era, were favourites to retain the Super Bowl and potentially go undefeated.By the middle of November, all was going to plan. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were 10-0 and on the home straight. However, cracks were beginning to show, with injuries all over the field.Nate Solder, Bryan Stork, Jamie Collins and Donta Hightower all missed chunks of the season, as well as offensive weapons Dion Lewis, Julian Edelman and LeGarrette Blount. Julian Edelmans absence, along with a host of other key men, arguably cost New England a place in Super Bowl 50 With the roster thinning as the Patriots edged towards January, the franchise lost four of its remaining six games, including two that went to overtime.The Patriots lost to Denver in the AFC Championship game, the Broncos going on to win Super Bowl 50. It is a fruitless exercise to say whether a full-strength Patriots team would have progressed, but injuries to their blue-chip talent certainly played a part in New Englands Super Bowl push.Hope springs eternal Kurt Warner was a man to benefit from injury, will 2016 open a door for anyone else? However, its not all doom and gloom. Injuries present opportunities for fringe players to get their chance and have acted as springboards for Hall of Fame careers.In 1999, Trent Green was the lynchpin of the St Louis Rams offense. When the quarterback tore knee ligaments during pre-season, the Rams were forced to rely on undrafted free agent Kurt Warner. Warner, who spent time in the Arena League as well as in Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals, led the Rams to Super Bowl victory, their only appearance to date.In 2001, the New England Patriots thought their season was over in Week Two, when Drew Bledsoe suffered concussion and internal injuries following a monster hit by Mo Lewis. In stepped sixth-round pick and future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, who led the franchise to the first of his four Super Bowl rings.Bills fans might hold on to these examples, in the hope that their 16-year wait for playoff football, the longest active drought in the NFL, is almost over. Also See: NFL Video Rookies guide NFL on Sky Sports Pundits Wade Baldwin Blazers Jersey . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Georgios Papagiannis Blazers Jersey . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. https://www.blazerslockerroom.com/Wade-Baldwin-City-Edition-Jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Anthony Tolliver Jersey . Hey!" 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ATHENS, Ga. -- Tennessee works on the play every week in practice, just in case.Throw it up and hope for the best.It couldnt have worked out any better: a Hail Mary that gave the Volunteers their most improbable comeback yet.Jauan Jennings hauled in a 43-yard pass from Joshua Dobbs on the final play, leaving No. 11 Tennessee with a stunning 34-31 victory over No. 25 Georgia after the Bulldogs appeared to win the game on a long TD pass of their own with 10 seconds remaining Saturday.It was a crazy play, stuff you dream about, Dobbs said.In all, the teams combined for three touchdowns in the final 3 minutes.The Vols (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) rallied from a double-digit deficit for the fourth time in five games, but none of the others were like this. Not even close. The SEC East rivals packed a whole games worth of action into a back-and-forth ending, starting with Tennessee going ahead for the first time all afternoon by recovering a Georgia fumble in the end zone with 2:56 to go.Then it was the Bulldogs (3-2, 1-2), going ahead when Jacob Eason tossed a 47-yard touchdown pass to fellow freshman Riley Ridley.With the Sanford Stadium crowd celebrating like their team had won, Tennessee took the kickoff into position to take one shot at the end zone.Dobbs hurled a towering pass that the 6-foot-3 Jennings didnt really have that much trouble bringing down . He leaped above the scrum to make the catch, and then landed on his back as everyone on the Tennessee bench charged the field to celebrate.I just know to go get it, Jennings said.While the Vols whooped it up with their small, orange-clad contingent in a corner of the Sanford Stadium, Georgia straggled off the field in disbelief.Ive never been part of something like that, said Greg Pyke, a senior offensive lineman. We won the game. Then, next thing you know, we lost the game. Its heartbreaking.Georgias early 17-0 lead had been trimmed to 24-21 when Eason dropped back to pass from his own end zone, tried to pull the ball down and was crushed by two Tennessee defenders, Derek Barnett and Cortez McDowell. The ball came loose and Corey Vereen fell on it for a touchdown.That wound up being an afterthought.Eason had another turnover, this one an interception by Malik Foreman, but Georgia used a couple of its timeouts, held defensively and got the ball back aggain.ddddddddddddThis time, the young quarterback came through, quickly driving the Bulldogs past midfield and finding Ridley streaking behind two defenders down the left sideline.But Tennessee still had time, especially after an excessive celebration penalty forced the Bulldogs to kick off from their own 20.Evan Berrys 20-yard return got the Vols in range to throw one up. When Jennings brought it down, Tennessee coach Butch Jones sank to his knees, overcome with emotion, while Vols running back Alvin Kamara sprawled out on his back, seemingly in disbelief.We have the most competitive team in the nation, Dobbs said. Theres no quit in this team.THE TAKEAWAYTennessee: The Vols have gained a commanding position in the SEC East with back-to-back victories over Florida and Georgia, likely to be their two leading challengers in the division race. That not only puts Tennessee ahead in the standings, but provides a tiebreaker edge that could come in handy at the end of the season.Georgia: The Bulldogs have now lost two in a row in the SEC, a huge blow to their hopes of contending for a division championship in Kirby Smarts first season as coach. It will be interesting to see how they bounce back from such a devastating loss.CHUBBS ANKLEGeorgia running back Nick Chubb suited up after spraining his ankle in a 45-14 loss to Ole Miss.He got in the game on the Bulldogs second possession, running for a 3-yard gain while the crowd cheered wildly.That would be his only carry.Sony Michel started and finished with 91 yards on 16 carries, while freshman Brian Herrien ran 15 times for 77 yards.POLL IMPLICATIONSTennessee could move back into the Top 10, while Georgia is sure to tumble out of the rankings for the first time this season when The Associated Press poll comes out Sunday. The Bulldogs barely hung on to the final spot after their big loss at Ole Miss.UP NEXTTennessee: The Vols are facing their third straight game against a ranked opponent, and another tough one on the road, when they travel to College Station to take on No. 9 Texas A&M (5-0). It doesnt get any easier after that, either. No. 1 Alabama visits Neyland Stadium on Oct. 15, finishing off the toughest part of Tennessees schedule. ' ' '