Kritik und Lob » Sports championship game on Saturda

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano saw nothing unusual during Sundays game.The field conditions at Lucas Oil Stadium were ideal and the two teams competed hard and were generally clean.So one day after three players and what looked like a fourth left the field with apparent concussions, Pagano provided a simple answer as to what happened: Its an unfortunate part of the game.The speed of this game is what it is, Pagano said. These guys are flying around at a high rate of speed. These are big, strong, athletic guys flying around out there.Others believe theres more to it.Following the game, Andy Reid downplayed the notion that the field had any role in the injuries, even though starting quarterback Alex Smith appeared to get injured a second time when his head slammed into the ground. Smith did not return and reporters were told he was out with a concussion, something Reid confirmed during his postgame news conference.On Monday, Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder clarified what happened, explaining Smith passed the concussion test twice and never actually was diagnosed with a concussion. Still, Reid was asked again about whether the playing surface at Indianapolis (3-5) could have had anything to do with the head injuries.Indys retractable roof stadium is 8 years old and there have been few complaints about the FieldTurf Classic surface that was installed when the stadium opened. Last September, Sports Illustrated ranked the field No. 13 in the league and described the surface as popular because it was designed for softness and durability and reduced the splash of rubber pellets.Stadium director Mike Fox said the NFL requires fields to be tested before each game and Lucas Oil generally grades out on the softer, or safer, end of the spectrum.Even though we are on our original turf, our numbers are well within the requirements of the league and are consistently among the best in the NFL, Fox said Monday. We test our turf every week before the game, as required by the NFL.This isnt the first time Kansas City has had a problem in Indy .On their last trip to Lucas Oil Stadium, a playoff game in January 2014, the Chiefs lost two key players with head injuries -- running back Jamaal Charles and cornerback Brandon Flowers -- and blew a 28-point lead.We havent had a lot of luck on that turf, Reid said. Jamaal had his situation, Flowers had the same situation. Im not sure what the record shows of it.Still, Reid believes Sundays injuries were more a result of bad luck and big hits, some that may have gone over the line in an already dangerous game.Smith, for instance, left on the games opening possession after appearing to take a helmet-to-helmet hit from linebacker Edwin Jackson as he slid to a stop. No penalty was called, to the dismay of the Chiefs. Doctors, Reid said, then cleared Smith to return when they determined a cut ear affected his equilibrium.Two quarters later, Smith departed again, this time when Clayton Geathers appeared to jam the head of the sliding quarterback into the turf. Again, no penalty.But Smith was hardly alone.Kansas City running back Spencer Ware did not play in the second half, Colts cornerback Vontae Davis left after apparently taking a shot in the end zone from a teammate, and Indianapolis right tackle Joe Reitz departed in the second half -- all three with concussions.Pretty good game, guys were slammed around a little bit, Reid said afterward.But rather than looking for explanations, both coaches seemed more concerned with getting back to work and making sure all these guys come back healthy.Its unfortunate, Pagano said. You dont ever want to see anybody get hurt on either team.Game notesPagano acknowledged left guard Jack Mewhort (triceps) had a setback during practice last Wednesday and thats why Mewhort was inactive against Kansas City. He wouldnt say whether Mewhort could return this week. ... Asked about the retirement of Andre Johnson, who played for the Colts last season and attended the University of Miami when Pagano was an assistant there, Pagano said he had an unbelievable career.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFLJoe Dahl Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Tre Lamar Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. http://www.wholesalelionsjerseys.com/?tag=youth-darius-kilgo-jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Isaac Nauta Jersey . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Jesse James Jersey .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage.LAS VEGAS -- TCU passed its first test of the season on Friday night -- with impressive bench play and taking advantage of UNLVs sloppy offense.Desmond Bane scored 15 points and reserve Vladimir Brodzainsky had 14 to lead TCU past UNLV 63-59 in the Sports Global Classic on Friday night.We got through it and got it done, TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. Were excited about it. In a game like that, we didnt shoot it (well) and make free throws, but we took care of the ball.Kenrich Williams had 18 rebounds for TCU (5-0), which plays Washington in the championship game on Saturday night. The Horned Frogs bench outscored UNLVs 34-2 as the Rebels turned the ball over 19 times to TCUs 13.We got some steals, but we didnt finish (some) in the transitions, Dixon said. But were putting it together. It is progress. But its a road win in November and you get many of those in November.Jalen Poyser led the Rebels (3-2) with 19 points, while Dwayne Morgan added 13 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.Obviously, (turnovers were) the tell-tale stat for us, UNLV coach Marvin Menzies said. A lot of them, we threw right at them. TCU did a good job being physical. We play tomorrow night again. When you lose, you got to take it up a notch. Theres not a lot of time to do it.With TCU leading 62-59, Jaylen Fisher sealed it for the Horned Frogs as he hit 1 of 2 free throws with eight seconds left.In the first half, UNLV opened with an 11-2 run before TCU earned its first lead at 20-19.ddddddddddddThe Horned Frog eventually led 30-27 at intermission, thanks to 12 Rebels first-half turnovers. UNLV hung around after making five 3-pointers in the half, while TCU was 3 of 14.Brodziansky had 11 points in the half on 4 of 5 shooting for the Horned Frogs.After four lead changes early in the second half, the Horned Frogs took the lead for good at 38-36. TCU extended its advantage to seven on two occasions, the last at 50-43 with 8:22 remaining. The Rebels answered with two consecutive 3-pointers, the last with 7:19 to go, but never got closer.FIRST REAL TESTSTCU: This was the Horned Frogs first road test after having an easier time against smaller-school conferences in their previous games all at home.UNLV: This is the first Power 5 conference team that the Rebels faced this year. After the conclusion of the Sports Global Classic, UNLV hits the road for two games.SERIES MEETINGThis was the first time since 2012 that the two former Mountain West Conference rivals met. The Rebels lead the all-time series 17-5. The Horned Frogs led for the Big 12 in 2012.UP NEXTTCU: The Horned Frogs play Washington at UNLV in the Global Sports championshiSports championship game on Saturdaall Jerseys[/url] Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '