Dein erstes Forum » Reds back in front for good with his 23rd

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- As the Baltimore Ravens grind through another training camp practice, Joe Flacco drops back gingerly to throw.The quarterback has a metal brace wrapped around his left knee and is the only player on the field in a red jersey. Hes wearing No. 5, but it might as well read: Do Not Touch.Flacco was once considered a Baltimore football equivalent to Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, baseballs Iron Man. Now, however, Flacco is seeking to return from a season-ending injury in November that snapped his run of 137 consecutive starts.It was one of many injuries that contributed heavily to a dismal 5-11 finish for the Ravens -- their first losing season under coach John Harbaugh.In his previous seven years, Harbaugh compiled a 72-40 record, reached the playoffs six times and won a Super Bowl.Then came 2015, when everything went awry.Baltimore placed 20 players on injured reserve, eight of them starters. The downward spiral began on the first day of training camp, when top draft pick Breshad Perriman tore a knee ligament. The speedy wide receiver was supposed to fill the void left by the departure of free agent Torrey Smith, but Perriman never played a minute and remains in recovery mode with the Sept. 11 opener against Buffalo less than a month away.Flacco and running back Justin Forsett (broken arm) are back on the practice field, but neither played in Baltimores preseason opener Thursday night.The wait remains for Perriman, wide receiver Steve Smith (torn Achilles tendon), and linebackers Terrell Suggs (torn Achilles tendon) and Elvis Dumervil (foot). All four are on the physically unable to perform list and have been rarely seen this summer, even on the sidelines.They all want to play, I know that, Harbaugh said this week. Theyre all working really hard to play in the preseason, but were certainly expecting them all back for the opener. Well just have to make some decisions. Terrell Suggs is the closest. He had the injury the soonest. Hes already on me about practice, and Im holding him back right now. Hell be out there soon practicing. How much we play him remains to be seen. The other guys are probably a little longer away than he is -- him being ready -- but well just see where we go.Theres also the matter of tight end Dennis Pitta, who had his season end in 2013 and 2014 with a serious hip injury. Pitta missed all last year and is attempting another comeback, but his bid was stalled by a sprained finger he received during a training camp scuffle.If it isnt one thing, its another.Third-round draft pick Bronson Kaufusi, a promising defensive end, broke his ankle in a low-contact drill and will miss the entire season.Thats a part of the game; its a part of football, Harbaugh said with a shrug. It happens for a reason, in my opinion. You have to look at it that way.At least the Ravens have Flacco, who spent countless hours rehabilitating his knee to be ready for the start of training camp. Baltimore used three starting quarterbacks in his absence last year, none of whom came close to serving as an adequate alternative to the franchise leader in completions, touchdown throws and yards passing.Obviously, last season, what he went through -- what a lot of guys went through -- to have him back and leading this team says a lot about his character, his toughness and why hes one of the best, said safety Eric Weddle, arguably the most significant of Baltimores offseason free agent pickups.Until Smith and Perriman join the mix, its uncertain who Flacco will be targeting on the outside. Newcomer Mike Wallace appears to be the most viable option, but he knows he cant go it alone.I cant wait until they get back, because I just want to see our group in full, Wallace said. I think we can be dangerous.Being healthy would be good enough.I think you always want to play at full strength, Flacco said. But in the NFL, thats not a reality. You go out there, you play your best, and do your best with what youve got.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Omar Vizquel Jersey .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Cheap Indians Jerseys Authentic .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. http://www.cheapindiansjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-carlos-baerga-jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Indians Jerseys . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Cheap Eddie Robinson Jersey .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. SAN FRANCISCO -- With the trade deadline less than a week away, Jay Bruce isnt sure how much longer hell be in Cincinnati.If he does wind up with another team -- Bruce has been the topic of trade speculation -- the veteran outfielder is ending his run with the Reds on a memorable note.Bruce hit a pair of two-run homers to help Anthony DeSclafani remain unbeaten, and Cincinnati beat the San Francisco Giants 7-5 on Monday night.Bruce homered for the third consecutive game as part of a four-run fourth inning. He added his second of the night in the sixth to put the Reds up 6-5 and chase Giants starter Jake Peavy (5-9).It was the third multihomer game this season for the Cincinnati slugger and 20th of his career.Afterward, Bruce acknowledged the trade talk has been tough to handle.I have a family that I have to focus on, Bruce said. Logistically, its much more intricate. I know the skit, I know how it goes. Itll be nice when its passed.Eugenio Suarez also homered and Joey Votto doubled and scored twice for the Reds, who began their road trip with a win following a 6-3 homestand.DeSclafani (6-0) pitched in and out of trouble and gave up two home runs but continued his strong run since missing the first two months of the season with a strained left oblique. The right-hander allowed five runs over five innings, struck out six and walked two.Brandon Belt and Angel Pagan homered for San Francisco. The Giants went into the All-Star break with the best record in baseball but lost for the eighth time in nine games.These ruts are tough things you get into, manager Bruce Bochy said. The long ball is hurting us right now. Theres no getting around that. They have a lot of power in that club.It was a big night for Cincinnati all around.Homer Bailey, who hasnt pitched in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery last season, made his final minor league rehab start and is expected to rejoin the Reds on Tuesday.While Baileys arrival could provide a jolt for the pitching staff, Cincinnatis offense looked just fine against the Giaants.ddddddddddddBruces first home run was reviewed when a fan in the right-field stands appeared to reach into the field of play to catch the ball, but no change was made. Three batters later, Suarez hit another two-run shot.After Belt homered in the fourth and Pagan added a two-run shot in the fifth, Bruce put the Reds back in front for good with his 23rd home run of the season.Hes done a wonderful job of compartmentalizing all the other stuff hes gone through mentally with the trade (talk), Reds manager Bryan Price said. Hes just done a marvelous job of separating the emotional part to the physical part of going out and playing.Suarez doubled and scored on a suicide squeeze by Billy Hamilton in the ninth.Three Cincinnati relievers combined to retire the final 12 batters. Tony Cingrani pitched the ninth for his 11th save.Peavy allowed six runs over five-plus innings.STREAKING AT HOMEThe Giants announced a crowd of 42,147, marking the 455th consecutive sellout at AT&T Park and tying the Cleveland Indians for the second-longest streak in major league history. The Boston Red Sox, with a sellout streak of 794, hold the longest run in the majors.TRAINERS ROOMReds: Bailey threw 98 pitches over 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville. He last pitched in the majors on April 23, 2015. ... RHP Tim Adelman (strained left oblique) will make another rehab start with Louisville on Tuesday.Giants: 2B Joe Panik (concussion) will resume his rehab stint with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday. Bochy indicated that Panik could potentially rejoin the big league club during its current homestand. ... OF Hunter Pence (strained right hamstring) is also rehabbing with Sacramento.UP NEXTReds: Cody Reed (0-4) faces the Giants for the first time in his career Tuesday.Giants: RHP Matt Cain (1-6) tries to snap out of his biggest slump of the season. Cain hasnt made it past the fourth inning since he last won on May 21. ' ' '