Kritik und Lob » And it has added a veteran presence to the rotation

The New Orleans Saints have released Keenan Lewis, the cornerback told ESPN on Friday.Although the seven-year veteran was one of the Saints top players in 2013 and 2014, he has been plagued by a hip injury over the past two years that might have become a point of contention. And Lewis said he never meshed with new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen like he did with former DC Rob Ryan, who was fired in November.Lewis base salary of $2.7 million this season is fully guaranteed, so the Saints wont realize any salary-cap savings. But they apparently were ready to move on with a group of young cornerbacks who have shown impressive potential this summer.Its a business. They cant wait on one player. They gotta do whats best for them, and I gotta do whats best for me, said Lewis, who said he still has the utmost respect for head coach Sean Payton and the Saints organization -- but added he didnt feel as comfortable over the past year, especially after Ryan was fired.Im excited. Im not even mad about it. Im happy. Im gonna get a fresh start on life. Im good. Sometimes you need this type of struggle to happen, Lewis said. I finally have the opportunity to be myself and go somewhere else and be comfortable.Lewis, who began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing with his hometown Saints in 2013, said he heard through other people that he wasnt [Allens] guy. Allen rejoined the Saints staff as a senior assistant in January 2015 but was a defensive backs coach for the organization seven years ago when Lewis worked out for the team.He told me face-to-face that I wasnt going to make it, Lewis told ESPNs Josina Anderson. So I always used that as my motivation every time I see him. Like, nobody ever told me that I would never have a chance. ... So then he comes back, and my only message to him was, Man, look, seven years later, Im still standing. Im standing strong. Im playing at the highest level. Im starting and Im competing at the top of the level. So, anything is possible.He took it the wrong way. I think he took it as me being arrogant. Im just [telling him] never doubt a man on what God has planned for them. ... Anybody can accomplish anything if you give them a try. Never doubt a man before giving him a try. I dont know if he took that the wrong way.Lewis also said he thinks the Saints were obviously having problems with my injury situation.The Saints have not commented on Lewis release, but the decision likely was made for chemistry reasons as much as football reasons.Lewis practiced only once during training camp while slowly recovering from a hip injury that limited him to six games and zero starts last year.Lewis said he suffered a minor tear in June and wanted to wait until he was closer to 100 percent healthy, rather than play at 70 percent in the preseason and risk never getting back to full strength. He thinks he can get close to 100 percent by Week 1 of the regular season.Lewis made that clear to the team -- and through a handful of media interviews last week, which probably didnt help his situation.The Saints could have used Lewis this season if healthy. They had one of the worst pass defenses in NFL history last year, setting all-time records for TD passes allowed and highest opponents passer rating.But New Orleans apparently didnt have faith that Lewis could get back to the level he was playing at in 2013 and 2014, when he routinely matched up against No. 1 receivers.The 6-foot-1, 208-pounder had six interceptions and 22 pass defenses from 2013 to 2014. He has seven interceptions and 53 pass defenses in his career.The Saints have supreme confidence in second-year pro Delvin Breaux, who has taken over their No. 1 cornerback role. And they are very high on the potential of second-year pros P.J. Williams and Damian Swann and undrafted rookies DeVante Harris and Ken Crawley.Even Lewis complimented that group, saying, Breauxs gonna be an all-star, and he can lead that group. He added that Harris is gonna be a star and praised the other three.Lewis said the hardest part of his release is leaving his hometown team. He is a passionate New Orleanian who holds several youth camps throughout the area and said he got to live my dream by playing in the Superdome and serving as a role model to the youth in the community.Lewis added, though, that he is eager to come back to the Superdome as an opponent and show the Saints they made a mistake. He said he considers himself at the level of guys like Patrick Peterson and Darrelle Revis when hes healthy.Its a business. Even Peyton Manning was released, and look at the things he accomplished, Lewis said. nfl cheap jerseys from china . 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Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. SAN DIEGO -- Robbie Ray could be getting untracked.The Arizona Diamondbacks certainly hope thats the case.Over his last two starts, the 24-year-old left-hander has allowed one earned run in 12 innings -- a vast improvement over his 6-11 season with a 4.47 earned run average.Hes recently been the pitcher we know he can be, Arizona manager Chip Hale said.Saturday night at Petco Park, Ray will be paired against recycled Padres veteran Clayton Richard in a match of left-handers as the four-game series between the National League Wests two worst teams continues.Richard, 32, will be making his fourth appearance and second start with the Padres since signing for a second tour with the club on Aug. 6 as a free agent. Richard, who previously played with the Padres between 2009 and 2013, is 0-1 with the Padres with a 4.27 ERA over 6 1/3 innings.Richards first start for the Padres came against the New York Mets last Sunday at CitiField. He gave up two runs -- on a pair of solo homers -- over five innings to suffer the loss. He allowed three hits and three walks with three strikeouts.The addition of Richard to a young rotation helps Padres manager Andy Green in several areas.First, it enabled the Padres to go to a six-man rotation at least through next week to assist in limiting the innings of several other young starters. And it has added a veteran presence to the rotation.Clayton has already influenced some of our younger pitchers, said Green. I love the way he handles himself. I think hes a great example not only on the day he pitches but in between starts, the way he prepares. Handling the days in between starts is almost as critical as the way you pitch.ddddddddddddThe Padres are looking to get Christian Friedrich out of the rotation within the next two weeks to limit his innings. They also hope to have Tyson Ross returning in September. Ross, who has not pitched since injuring his shoulder on Opening Day, is scheduled to face live hitters for the second time in a week Saturday. If all goes as planned, Ross will start a rehab assignment next week.I dont think we need to extend him out that far because he might be throwing only three or four innings in several September starts, said Green. But having Ross back and Richard will give us the flexibility to take some innings off some of the other younger starters.Ray, meanwhile, had a 5-12 won-loss record as a rookie in 2015 despite posting the fourth-lowest ERA by a rookie starter in Diamondbacks history. His two-season won-loss record is 11-23.Thats unfortunate and misleading, said Hale of Rays record. Hes pitched better than that. Over the last two seasons, we havent helped him as much as we could have.Ray will be looking for his first road win since June 17 in Philadelphia. He will be making his second career start against the Padres. He suffered the loss on June 26, 2015 at Petco Park despite allowing two runs over six innings.With two wins in the first two games of the series, the Padres have moved two games ahead of the Diamondbacks in the battle to avoid the cellar in the National League West. ' ' '