Projekte » welcomed back centre Pavel Datsyuk

IRVING, Texas - Brandon Carr stared away from a small group of reporters, looking a little emotional and unsure how or whether to answer a question he probably knew was coming.Breast cancer awareness month is a big deal in the NFL, putting pink on footballs, coaches, referees and all kinds of equipment worn by players throughout October.This year it arrived almost two months to the day after Kathy Carrs death following a long battle with the disease, during the early days of training camp when the Dallas Cowboys were without their high-priced cornerback while he spent his 59-year-old mothers final days with her.So yes, the leagues tribute means a little more to Carr now. And hes a different person these days, shutting out almost all things that arent football or family. His mom is part of the reason, but so is his teams surprising 3-1 start with the defence exceeding expectations.You just have to continue to try to live a great legacy and continue to motivate and do great things, Carr said. Thats what I took from everything my mom went through was she still was trying to get after it and motivate her grandchildren, kids at school or just whoever she came across. Im going to try to finish out her task.And that means helping the Cowboys, who face the equally surprising 3-1 Houston Texans on Sunday, break an 8-8 rut that has kept them out of the playoffs the past three seasons.The post-season drought is actually four years, or two years before Carr arrived on a $50 million free agent contract to address one of the teams biggest needs.Now hes consistently grading as the best defensive back Dallas has, and clearly seen as an emotional leader as well.Hes got an old soul ... you know, very mature for his age, said defensive end Jeremy Mincey, a free agent who joined the Cowboys this year. Hes a poised leader. Hes like Tony Dungy. Hes got the quiet strength. But hes speaking when it needs to be spoken, and thats what makes him special.Carr has had to put his quiet strength to the test several times in his three seasons with the Cowboys.During Carrs first year in Dallas in 2012, former Kansas City teammate Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend before driving to the team facility and killing himself. Belchers girlfriend was a close friend of Carrs fiancee, who is now his wife.Just a week later, Cowboys practice squad player Jerry Brown died in a car wreck that resulted in an intoxication manslaughter conviction for defensive tackle Josh Brent. Carr attended two memorial services in less than a week.This time around, he was back at practice just a few days after saying his final goodbye to his mom. He wears two bracelets that belonged to her so were skin on skin still.I think about her a lot, Carr said. I still sometimes I feel empty, and I dont know why. What Ive learned in this situation is that youre never alone. My mom always told me, Youre never the first and youre never the last. Thats true in this case. I just lean on people.The Cowboys are 3-1 for the first time since 2008, and the defence kept New Orleans out of the end zone for three quarters just a year after giving up an NFL-record 40 first downs.Carr isnt really interested in film-type talk about a turnaround engineered despite the loss of linebacker Sean Lee to a knee injury, defensive end DeMarcus Ware in a salary cap move and defensive tackle Jason Hatcher in free agency.He sees it as just another year in the system, more players knowing what opposing offences and their teammates are doing, and therefore being in better position to knock down passes or deliver hits that make receivers think twice before the next catch.And maybe the broken record of 8-8 seasons is part of it.You just get tired of the same results, get tired of the same story lines and everything, Carr said. All the disappointments.So Carr doesnt watch TV, doesnt look at the schedule. He swears he didnt know the Cowboys were visiting Super Bowl champion Seattle next week. He doesnt talk to a lot of people who used to be a regular part of his weekly chatter.His dads an exception, of course. The two have spent the past couple of weeks together, and when his dad was about to go home to Michigan earlier this week, Carr gave him the look that said, Nah, you cant leave.In my case, I can smile, Carr said. Its a victory that my mom was a strong fighter, courageous. Stood there in the midst of all the cancer, everything going bad for her, and was still able to experience life and her family. Thats what its all about to me. But this month is pretty big.Its big in paying homage to his mom, and getting the Cowboys closer to that elusive playoff berth.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler Jon Matlack Rangers Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Taylor Hearn Jersey . - The Mavericks built a 12-point lead with 2:50 to play, gave away all but two points of it, and still managed to hang on. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/230...ey-rangers.html. -- The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with reliever Brandon Lyon that includes an invitation to their big league camp for spring training. Will Clark Jersey . Hes just beginning to get similar results. The right-hander struggled after winning the honour in 2008 and 2009, but a retooling of his game has begun to pay off and has the San Francisco Giants thinking about the Lincecum of old. Wholesale Rangers Jerseys . Patty Mills had 20 points, Tim Duncan had 11 points and 13 rebounds in limited action, and San Antonio rolled to a 110-82 victory over Milwaukee that kept the Bucks winless in the new year.DETROIT - Even though the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks are now in different conferences, there is still a lot of energy left in the Original Six rivalry.Johan Franzen and Tomas Tatar both scored during Detroits dominant second period, and the Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 4-1 on Friday night.Franzen scored his fifth goal, with an assist from Henrik Zetterberg, at 4:49 of the second to break a 1-1 tie. Tatar added his fifth 1:10 later when he sent in a rebound of Joakim Anderssons shot.The Blackhawks were outshot 20-8 in the period.I thought that was the best game weve played this season, said Jimmy Howard, who stopped 25 shots for his seventh victory.I think thats one of the biggest rivals we miss playing. Its always fun when you get to play them.These teams meet only twice since Detroit moved to the Eastern Conference before last season, but the atmosphere felt the same as when they were in the same division.A smattering of vocal Blackhawks fans were in the stands but they had little to cheer after Detroit converted a pair of takeaways to take the lead for good.We served up a second pizza, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said of the first two goals his team allowed. The first goal was a tough play and the second goal was a tough play.Patrick Kane had a giveaway to set up Franzens game-winner.Its unforgiveable to make a turnover that bad, he said. Pretty sloppy game. A lot of turnovers, a lot of giveaways.Detroit hadnt played since Sunday and seemed much fresher in the second period.dddddddddddd That was fine with Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.Its always nice to look fast against a good opponent, he said. I thought we did a real good job in the second period to tilt the rink a little bit.I like us to play fast; I like us to play in attack mode.Luke Glendening put Detroit on the board six minutes in when he backhanded a rebound of Drew Millers shot past Corey Crawford, who finished with 32 saves. Kane scored Chicagos lone goal during a power play later in the first.Brendan Smith put the game away with an empty-net goal.The Blackhawks goal came less than a minute after Howard made three point-blank saves to deny Kane. Howard didnt have to work nearly as hard the rest of the night.I was just tracking the puck, Howard said. He got a couple of whacks at it, but I was able to get my glove on it before he got it.The game matched the NHLs two best penalty-killing teams, and Chicago kept its league-best average above 90 per cent after holding the Red Wings without a goal on three power plays.Detroit welcomed back centre Pavel Datsyuk, who had an assist after missing two games because of a sore groin.NOTES: Blackhawks D Johnny Oduya was back after being forced out of Tuesdays win against Tampa Bay when he blocked a shot. ... Red Wings RW Tomas Jurco, a healthy scratch the previous three games, returned to the lineup. ... Chicago forwards Patrick Sharp (knee) and Daniel Carcillo (lower body) sat out. ' ' '