s next season.Though many in hockey circles -- including Calgary Flames President Brian Burke -- have lobbied for the two leagues to merge, Rylan has bee

They are trying a new concept in Nashville these days -- meaningful NFL games in December.When the Titans host the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Nissan Stadium (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Tennessee will do so as part of a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South. It enters with a 6-6 mark, the same record as the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts, who meet this week.The last time Tennessee had more than a mathematical chance to make the playoffs at this stage of the season was 2011, when it finished 9-7 and missed out on the second wild card. The Titans stumbled to an 18-46 record the past four years, playing for nothing but pride down the stretch.Titans coach Mike Mularkey noticed a different feeling around his team this week as compared to last year, when he served as interim coach after the firing of Ken Whisenhunt at midseason.You can tell by the way we practiced today, the way we practiced Monday, Mularkey said after practice Wednesday. You can tell its a different mindset. Its a much more fun atmosphere and a lot more energy in the building. Its important football. They understand that.So does the team on the other sideline. Denver is practiced in the art of playing big games. After all, it did win the Super Bowl in February, and at 8-4, the Broncos would own the AFCs second wild card if the playoffs started this week.However, Denvers 8-4 record is good for only third place in the AFC West, thanks to the Oakland Raiders best season since 2002 and another good year for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos have little room for error down the stretch with a finishing schedule that includes the New England Patriots, a visit to the Chiefs on Christmas night and a season-ender with the Raiders.Making things more problematic for Denver is the uncertainty at quarterback. Trevor Siemian missed the Broncos 20-10 win in Jacksonville last week due to a foot injury. He was limited at practice this week, leaving rookie Paxton Lynch to take the first-team reps.Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said a decision regarding Siemian might be made on Saturday.I think its me watching him come out of practice today more than anything, Kubiak said after Fridays session. See how he feels tomorrow, soreness, those types of things.Lynchs first NFL win wasnt exactly storybook, as he completed just 12 of 24 passes for 104 yards against a defense no one has compared with the 1985 Bears. But he at least avoided turnovers, which was all the Broncos needed against pick-six machine Blake Bortles.He didnt turn the ball over and didnt put us in bad situations, Denver wide receiver Demaryius Thomas said of Lynch. It was a tough one for him. We put him in a situation where we needed a must-win.Whoever plays under center could have opportunities to make plays downfield against a shaky secondary that made Matt Barkley look like Joe Montana during the fourth quarter of Tennessees 27-21 win in Chicago two weeks ago.The Titans responded by cutting starting cornerback Perrish Cox, who struggled to cover receivers all year. Tennessee could start journeyman Brice McCain or rookie LeShaun Sims opposite mainstay Jason McCourty on Sunday.While McCain is more suited to a nickel back role, can Tennessee trust Sims against the likes of Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders?Hes doing good, Mularkey said of Sims progress on the practice field this week. I think every rep is important for him out here. Were getting a good look by our guys. Ill probably make a decision more towards the end of the week on that.The other storyline that could affect the games texture is if the Titans third-ranked running game can take advantage of an apparent mismatch. For all the good Denver does against the pass, the Broncos were undone at times by a run defense that ranks stunningly low at No. 28.With Tennessee running back DeMarco Murray now healthier than he has been in a while after battling turf toe throughout November, thanks to the teams bye last week, he could be primed for a big game. That would allow the Titans to munch on the clock and perhaps diminish Von Millers opportunities to get after Marcus Mariota.The Broncos are hoping to get a boost for their injury-plagued running game with the signing of Justin Forsett, who enjoyed his best season in 2014 with Baltimore. The Ravens offensive coordinator that year? None other than current Denver coach Gary Kubiak.He played really well in Baltimore with us and knows what hes doing, Kubiak said of Forsett.Nike NFL Jerseys China . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Nike NFL Jerseys Outlet . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. https://www.chinajerseysnfl.us/ . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. NFL Jerseys China . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No.The National Womens Hockey League is slashing its player salaries in half in a drastic cost-cutting measure thats regarded as one of the second-year leagues only chances to continue operating this season.The players have been informed in the interest of keeping the league financially viable that we have to enact salary cuts effective immediately, NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan said during a conference call with reporters Friday.We fell short on some projections and we had to pivot and make a business decision at the end of the day, she said. And the decision was, if we want to exist and we want to save the season, we have to make the appropriate decisions to do so.Without specifying the amount of the cuts, Rylan went public with her announcement a day after she informed team executives and players.A person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that player salaries were cut by 50 percent, which represents as much as $540,000 in savings. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because Rylan declined to disclose any figures.Rylan did say the cuts do not apply to league employees and team employees who are not players.She said team executives will have added responsibilities in an effort to increase ticket sales and attract sponsors. The four-team league has franchises in Boston; New York; Stamford, Connecticut; and Buffalo, New York.Rylan also announced Dunkin Donuts, the NWHLs largest corporate sponsor, is committing an additional $50,000 investment in money that will go directly to paying players.She blamed part of the cash-flow crunch on declining attendance a month into the season.Last year, the NWHL became North Americas first womens hockey league to pay player salaries, which range from $10,000 to $26,000.The cuts represent a major setback for an upstart league Rylan established in what was essentially a startup venture supported by investors and corporate sponsors.Midway through last season, Rylan was so confident the NWHL model would be a success that she entertained questions of expansion.Now, there are questions as to whether the league will be around for a third season.I think we can agree after yesterdays news it would be pretty foolish of me to guarantee anything, Rylan said. But we have every hope andd expectation that the league will be around for many years to come.ddddddddddddNew York Riveters defenseman Ashley Johnston said players were shocked upon being informed of the need for pay cuts.When I first heard the news, I think probably gut-wrenching is the best way to describe it, Johnston said. Its kind of going through the different stages of mourning. Youre sad, youre frustrated, all the things that youd expect.Though a setback, she doesnt foresee players choosing to opt out of their contracts.The easy thing right now would be for everyone to pack up their bags and go home, Johnston said. But Im never one to really think that the easy thing is the right thing to do. Its just going to be figuring out our next steps and where we go as a team, as a league and as a family from here.NWHL players options are also very limited when it comes to continuing to play after college.The Canadian Womens Hockey League is a month into its 10th season and the rosters of its five teams -- including one in Boston -- are mostly set.CWHL players also arent paid salaries but instead earn prize money for winning the regular season and playoff titles. The league has announced plans to begin paying players some sort of a stipend as early as next season.Though many in hockey circles -- including Calgary Flames President Brian Burke -- have lobbied for the two leagues to merge, Rylan has been cool to the proposal in part because the two operate on different business models.On Thursday, Rylan said she has had amicable talks with CWHL officials, but added she has nothing new to report on any merger plans.Rylan said she did not reach her decision to cut salaries lightly.It came after trying everything we could from a business perspective to avoid it, Rylan said. Yes, this is a setback. But sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. And thats what were learning here.---This story has been corrected following a new estimate from a person with direct knowledge of the decision to reflect that the savings are expected to be $540,000, not $440,000, and corrects the spelling of Riveters defensemans name to Johnston, not Johnson. 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