If it is the brutality of the ECBs decision to punish Durham that strikes first, it is the inconsistency that follows close behind.Oh, yes. There is some logic in the ECBs stance. A financial punishment would clearly have been inappropriate and this action - relegation and a heavy points deductions for next season - certainly sends out a strong deterrent.Against what though, is unclear. Against building a ground in an out-of-town location more than 20 years ago? Against bidding for international games in an over-crowded market place? Against slipping into debt? If so, the ECB needs to be relegating a few other teams.The only difference between Durham and Glamorgan is that, at Durham, the creditors - notably the local council - declined to waive the debt. In Cardiff, they allowed the taxpayer to pick up the bill. Warwickshire owe Birmingham City Council around ￡20m and have already benefited from a repayment holiday.So, if the ECB is to be consistent, shouldnt Glamorgan, who were stripped of a Test in 2012 and obliged to swap a fixture in 2013 after struggling to pay staging agreements for Sri Lanka Test in 2011, be treated in the same manner?And what is the difference between Durham and Hampshire? Or, indeed, Yorkshire? Hampshire, the beneficiaries of this action, have been bailed out to the tune of ￡10m or more by Rod Bransgrove, while Yorkshire are indebted to Colin Graves. The club owes - and continues to pay interest upon - trusts set-up by Graves totalling ￡24m. All were insolvent. The difference is that Hampshire and Yorkshire found benefactors; Durham found judgement. The ECB, with reserves of ￡70m and more, could have taken a more sympathetic approach.Such was Yorkshires plight that, in interviews with ESPNcricinfo, Graves referred to Yorkshire as bankrupt and 48 hours from being written off. So we can only presume that Durham are not being punished for financial mismanagement but for failing to find a sugar daddy to bail them out.Did Durham have to be punished at all? Might the ECB not have reflected that it was, at least in part, complicit in Durhams descent into debt? Might it not have concluded that, having encouraged Durham to build an international venue - a condition of being granted first-class status in 1992 - and then given them a May Test against Sri Lanka starting on a Friday, it had contributed to the difficulties the club has faced?Might it not have reflected that, by encouraging the counties to bid against one another to host international games, things were always going to end this way?And might the ECB not even have reflected that it, like the banks that offered 120% mortgages before the economic crash, had extended credit to Durham far beyond the reasonable? The ECB now admits it has been working on this rescue package for the best part of a year. In that case, why was the Test against Sri Lanka allowed to take place in Chester-le-Street? Why were Hampshire or Nottinghamshire not incentivised to take on that game?This episode is every bit as much the ECBs fault as it is Durhams. It is an inevitable product of the system.Besides, who does this decision punish? Does it punish the officials at Durham who, years ago, embarked on a course that always threatened to end this way? Hardly. Some are dead, some have moved on or retired and one of them (Gordon Hollins, once commercial director at Durham) is now chief operating officer of the professional game at the ECB.Does it punish the investors who involved themselves in the club when they thought hosting international cricket was a lucrative business or the officials at the ECB who created this system and extended the clubs line of credit? Of course not.No, this is a decision that punishes the players and the supporters. Innocent victims of decisions over which they had no control.It wont help them, either. At least one of the players - Keaton Jennings, who recently signed a new deal with the club - is understood to have a clause in their contract allowing them to leave if they are relegated. Those supporters who enjoyed Durhams run to T20 Finals Day this year may conclude there is little point attending in 2017; the points deduction is too much of a handicap. And you can bet that the next club in need of financial assistance will call Wonga before it calls the ECB. The governing body needs to take a more benevolent approach than this.The shame is that, as a cricket club, Durham has excelled. Yes, as a business they have failed and as a business they need to change. But no cricket team had been in the top division for as long (11 years) before today. Only a couple of weeks ago, Ben Stokes, keen to play when he could easily have rested, bowled his side to a crucial victory over Surrey in a thrilling passage of play that seemed to have avoided relegation. To snatch that away devalues so much that went before.Might the ECB have taken such a hard line to make a point? Might it have taken this opportunity to remind the counties of their precarious finances and of the need to embrace a new T20 competition? You would hope not.There are lessons to learn from Durham. We can see (as we can from Hampshire) that out-of-town cricket grounds do not work. And we can see (as we can see from Hampshire and as we will see from Northants) that private ownership (Durham, like Hampshire, is not a members club) brings more problems than it solves. Sympathy for privately owned clubs is limited; if they dont share their profits with the wider game, why would the wider game want to share their losses? Nor will it be forgotten that, a few years ago, Durham breached the salary cap. They are not blameless.Most of all, though, we can see that the arms race by which international games were allocated for a decade or more did not work. And we can see that producing players for England is not sufficiently rewarded. A club that has uncovered such gems as Mark Wood and Stokes should not be begging for help from its governing body. It should be cherished and nurtured.At some clubs, this setback would spark an exodus. But at Durham? There has long been a sense of unity about Durham that other clubs have admired and envied. And it has long been said in county circles that it is hard to drag their players away from the north-east. Maybe the examples of Scott Borthwick and Mark Stoneman show that times have changed. Or maybe this is just the event to redouble their determination and renew their sprit. If Stokes and Wood are ever made available to them in 2017, some Division Two batsmen will find themselves unwitting victims of this episode.There is not much appetite around the first-class counties for punishment of Durham. There is an acceptance that their days as a Test-hosting ground are over (for the foreseeable future, anyway) and an acceptance that they required some intervention. But punishment? No. That comes from the ECB, which has somehow tarnished one of the most wonderful finishes to the county season for years into a squabble about finances and legal action. The reverse alchemists have done it again.Well-governed sport is defined by events on the pitch. Increasingly in English cricket, we see decisions made in committee rooms transcending events on the field. It reflects poorly on the sport and, most of all, poorly on the administrators. Cheap Vans Shoes Shop . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Vans Shoes China .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. http://www.vansoutletstore.com/ . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Wholesale Vans Shoes Online . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Vans Shoes Outlet USA .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. NFL Nation reporters assess the biggest injuries across the league for Week 9.NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC WestAFC EASTBuffalo BillsRex Ryan said Monday that he is hopeful running back LeSean McCoy can return to practice this week and play in Monday nights game in Seattle. The first indication about McCoys availability will come Thursday, when the Bills return to practice. If McCoys hamstring isnt healthy enough for him to practice Thursday, or especially Friday and Saturday, odds are against his playing against the Seahawks with a bye week looming. -- Mike RodakMiami DolphinsThe Dolphins are pretty healthy coming off the bye week, but questions remain with starting tight end Jordan Cameron, who suffered a concussion against the Browns in Week 3 and hasnt returned to the practice field. Cameron has missed four consecutive games and might sit again Sunday against the Jets. You must wonder at this point if Cameron will be able to recover from his serious head injury this season. -- James WalkerNew England PatriotsThe Patriots are about as healthy as they can hope to be as they enter their bye weekend, with coach Bill Belichick giving the players Thursday-Sunday off. While the bye will benefit all players in terms of rest, tight end Martellus Bennett (ankle) is near the top of the list of those who have been playing through injury. Bennetts pass-catching production has tailed off the past two games, and perhaps the ankle is one reason for that. -- Mike ReissNew York JetsTwo injury concerns for Sunday against the Dolphins: center?Nick Mangold (ankle) and cornerback?Buster Skrine (knee). Neither played last week. Mangold is out of his walking boot, but he isnt running yet. The Jets will need him against Ndamukong Suh & Co. Skrine did some running on the side, but he still isnt practicing. The secondary depth would take a hit without him. -- Rich CiminiAFC NORTHBaltimore RavensWide receiver?Steve Smiths status is in doubt after he didnt practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury. If he cant practice Thursday, its difficult to believe hell play Sunday against the Steelers. Smith has missed the past two games, and hell need a couple days of running routes to get acclimated. Mike Wallace has stepped up in Smiths absence, with 217 yards receiving the past two games. -- Jamison HensleyCincinnati BengalsWill the Bengals bring running back?Cedric Peerman or cornerback?William Jackson III?back from injured reserve? Thats about the only question they have at the midpoint of the season, and coach Marvin Lewis said only that they would make a decision down the road. With tight end?Tyler Eifert back in the fold, the Bengals have no major injuries to worry about. -- Katherine TerrellCleveland BrownsThe Browns should have wide receiver Corey Coleman back Sunday against Dallas. Coleman was cleared and deemed fully recovered from his broken hand and was back at practice running routes and catching passes. The most recent game Coleman played was Sept. 18 against Baltimore, and he had 104 yards receiving with two touchdowns. -- Pat McManamonPittsburgh SteelersQuarterback Ben Roethlisberger (torn left meniscus) is taking positive steps toward playing Sunday at Baltimore. He got first-team reps during Wednesdays practice and is throwing with precision, teammates say. He looked like himself. In a sense, its still probably a pain thing, guard Ramon Foster said. Big Ben said hes managing knee swelling this week. Also, defensive end Cam Heyward (hamstring) plans to return after two weeks away. -- Jeremy FowlerAFC SOUTHHouston TexansThe Texans are banged up heading into their bye week. Running back Lamar Miller, who injured his shoulder in Week 7 against the Broncos, said he was playing through a lot of pain in Sundays victory over the Lions. Miller said every time he got hit, he had to leave the game for a few plays, and he said he hopes the nearly two weeks off for the bye will help him be ready to play Nov. 13 in Jacksonville. -- Sarah BarshopIndianapolis ColtsTake your pick on the biggest injury?for the Colts: wide receiver?T.Y. Hilton (hamstring), safety?Mike Adams (groin), cornerback?Vontae Davis (concussion), tackle?Jack Mewhort (triceps) or guard?Joe Reitz (concussion). Its Davis because the Colts need him this weekend against quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. Instead of not throwing in Davis direction as much, Rodgers might not have to worry about facing the back-to-back Pro Bowler. -- Mike WellsJacksonville JaguarsTight end Julius Thomas is battling an ankle injury, which kept him out of Wednesdays practice. Its an injury he and the Jaguars are going to have to manage the rest of the season because theyve already had their bye week. Thomas likely will take it easy on Wednesdays and Thursdays so he can play every Sunday. -- Mike DiRoccoTennessee TitansTitans running back DeMarco Murray was limited in practice Wednesday with the toe injury he suffered last Thursday against Jacksonville. Coach Mike Mularkey said the team will be careful with him, but he said he wouldnt expect [Murray] to miss Sundays game against the Chargers. Left guard Quinton Spain remains out with the knee injury he suffered against Indianapolis two games ago, though Mularkey has indicated a return is possible this week. -- Paul KuharskyAFC WESTDenver BroncosWhen youre set to play the quarterback who leads the league in pass attempts, is coming off a 500-yard game and has 17 touchdown passes with just three interceptions, youd like cornerback Aqib Talib to be on the field. Talib, who missed this past Sundays game against the Chargers with a low-back injury, did not practice Wednesday as the Broncos prepare to face Derek Carr and the 6-2 Raiders on Sunday in Oakland. Bradley Roby is a more than capable replacement for Talib in the starting lineup, but the Broncos are at their best in coverage when Talib, who leads the team in interceptions with three, is in the lineup and Roby is in the specialty packages. Talib is a question mark, but the Broncos hope he can practice at least some before the week is out. -- Jeff LegwoldKansas City ChiefsThe passing game worked better last week against the Colts, when Nick Foles was the quarterback, as opposed to Alex Smith. Theres no reason that shouldnt continue against the Jaguars. A loss that could be more detrimental to the Chiefs would be running back Spencer Ware, who has a concussion. The Chiefs have yet to rule him for Sundays game, but he would be difficult to replace. Hes averaging 5.0 yards per carry, more than three-quarters of a yard ahead of backup Charcandrick West. Ware also leads the Chiefs with an 18.4 yards per catch average. -- Adam TeicherOakland RaidersCornerback Sean Smith, who suffered an injury to his left shoulder on the second play of the game in Tampa Bay and did not return to the game, was nowhere to be found as the Raiders took the practice field Wednesday. Nor did coach Jack Del Rio, who is notoriously tight-lipped on injuries, have much of an update, as he essentially told reporters to keep an eye on the daily injury report. It seems unlikely that Smith would play Sunday, which means?D.J. Hayden, who played on the outside in base defense and in the slot in nickel, and TJ Carrie, who played on the outside in nickel, would again have to pick up the slack. Thats just fine with them. Me and D.J., we had a blast, Carrie said this week of the increased workload against the Buccaneers. -- Paul GutierrezSan Diego ChargersThe two biggest injuries for the Chargers this week are wide receiver?Travis Benjamin and tight end?Hunter Henry. Benjamin confirmed that he has been diagnosed with a grade-2 PCL right knee sprain that will not require surgery. He did not practice Wednesday for the Chargers, as he tries to rest the injury but is hopeful to play Sunday against the Titans. Henrys also dealing with a knee issue, but like Benjamin, he is hopeful to play Sunday. -- Eric D. WilliamsNFC EASTDallas CowboysThe Cowboys will be without starting safety Barry Church (forearm) and cornerback Morris Claiborne (groin) for the next month, but they seem to be in position to withstand the losses. J.J. Wilcox was a full-time starter in 2014 and 15. Orlando Scandrick has been a starting-type player essentially since his rookie season in 2008. Last week, Scandrick made it through his first game in a month because of hamstring strains and believes he is back to form. Wilcox has played well in a limited role but has had coverage and tackling issues in the past. The Cowboys have been able to withstand injuries this season. These will test them, but having experienced players waiting in the wings is always helpful. -- Todd ArrcherNew York GiantsThe Giants are the healthiest theyve been since the start of the season.dddddddddddd All 53 players on the active roster practiced Wednesday. All eyes, however, will still be on star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. He has been dealing with a hip/oblique injury that limited him greatly the most recent time the Giants played. Fortunately, a week of rest did him well, and hes feeling better. He is expected to be near 100 percent. But Beckham still needs to be monitored because the injury didnt respond well to practice two weeks ago, and he almost didnt play against the Rams. -- Jordan RaananPhiladelphia EaglesThe Eagles offensive line could be down another starter, as guard Allen Barbre sustained a hamstring injury against the Cowboys and was labeled week-to-week by coach Doug Pederson, which to this point has been code that the player will miss some time. Veteran Stefen Wisniewski is likely to fill his spot. Defensive tackle?Bennie Logan (groin) returned to practice in a limited capacity after missing the past couple games with a groin injury. A key figure on the interior, Logan will be monitored leading up to Sunday. -- Tim McManusWashington RedskinsThe Redskins are on their bye week, but they have some injuries worth watching for the following week. Running back?Matt Jones will continue treatment on his knee and see if he can practice next week after missing the game against Cincinnati. Even if healthy, he might lose some carries to Rob Kelley. Wide receiver?DeSean Jacksons body is banged up; his shoulder and hamstring were bothering him in addition to head issues. He has been dealing with multiple issues all season, so the week off comes at a good time. Safety?Will Blackmon underwent surgery on his thumb, but the Redskins have some hope that hell be able to play against Minnesota after the bye. -- John KeimNFC NORTHChicago BearsThe bye comes at a good time for the Bears. Chicago plans to use the extra time to freshen up several key players, including right guard Kyle Long (triceps), left guard Josh Sitton (ankle), wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe), nose tackle Eddie Goldman (ankle) and cornerback Deiondre Hall (ankle). Most are expected to return following the week off, when the Bears travel to Tampa Bay on Nov. 13. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsThe Lions are almost back to full health, with only linebacker DeAndre Levy and right tackle?Riley Reiff sitting out Wednesdays practice. Pay attention to cornerback?Darius Slay on the injury report this week. The Lions have been cautious with their players returning from injury, so dont feel great about his status until you see him listed on the report as fully working out. Otherwise, Detroit is in decent shape. The Lions even had tight end?Brandon Pettigrew (knee) and linebacker Jon Bostic (foot) working out on the side Wednesday, so their returns from PUP and IR could be coming too. -- Michael RothsteinGreen Bay PackersRandall Cobb wouldnt make any guarantees that he will return from the hamstring injury that kept him out of Sundays loss at Atlanta, but the Packers receiver believes it was the right call for the long haul. Youve got to look at the big picture, Cobb said Wednesday. Nine games in a row coming up. We dont really have a bye, we dont have much time [off], its going to go straight into the playoffs. We have to make sure that were looking big-picture. Cobb returned to practice on a limited basis, and coach Mike McCarthy said he would be evaluated Thursday. It was the same thing for outside linebacker Clay Matthews, who also missed last week because of a hamstring injury. -- Rob DemovskyMinnesota VikingsRunning back?Jerick McKinnon did not practice Wednesday, but he said in the locker room that he expected hed return Sunday against the Lions. The Vikings could certainly use McKinnon, after posting just 57 rushing yards Monday in Chicago. McKinnon, who leads the team with 217 rushing yards this season, could also play a bigger role as a receiver if interim offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur implements some changes to the Vikings attack. -- Ben GoesslingNFC SOUTHAtlanta FalconsThe Falcons ruled running back Tevin Coleman?out for the second consecutive week as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain. The question now is how long will Coleman be sidelined? Coach Dan Quinn said Coleman has the strength back in the hamstring, but the Falcons want to make sure he has the full explosion that makes him so dynamic. Sure, Devonta Freeman can shoulder the load, but the big-play ability of Coleman, with his team-leading six touchdowns, is something the Falcons want back in the lineup sooner than later. -- Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersOutside linebacker Shaq Thompson (sprained knee) did not practice or even show up for practice Wednesday, so he looks doubtful for Sundays game at Los Angeles. Pro Bowl enter Ryan Kalil (sprained shoulder) was not in pads and did not practice, so his status is questionable at best. Gino Gradkowski, who replaced Kalil in the first half of Sundays win against Arizona, took the first-team snaps. Left tackle Michael Oher (concussion) made an appearance at practice for the first time in five weeks but didnt participate. He appears at least a week away. -- David NewtonNew Orleans SaintsThings are finally looking up on the Saints injury report. No. 1 cornerback Delvin Breaux and first-round pick?Sheldon Rankins, a defensive tackle, both appear on track to return from broken legs this week, which should provide a huge boost to an improving defense. Left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) and safety Kenny Vaccaro (knee) both missed practice Wednesday -- but both were able to play through the injuries Sunday. -- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs have already ruled running back?Jacquizz Rodgers (foot) and defensive tackle?Clinton McDonald (hamstring) out for Thursday nights game against the Falcons. The two biggest question marks are wide receiver Russell Shepard (hip) and defensive end Will Gholston. In the absence of Vincent Jackson, Shepard has caught two touchdown passes the past two weeks, but hes officially listed as doubtful on the team injury report. Gholston has a biceps injury, and his right arm was heavily bandaged during practice Tuesday, in which he was trying to work on his pass rush moves with defensive line coach Jay Hayes but wasnt using the arm much. -- Jenna LaineNFC WESTArizona CardinalsTheres a plethora of injuries Cardinals will be keeping an eye on during the bye week, including wide receiver?Larry Fitzgeralds ankle sprain, cornerback?Patrick Petersons back and safety?Tyrann Mathieus shoulder. Coach Bruce Arians gave the team the week off from practice with hopes that theyd get healthy. -- Josh WeinfussLos Angeles RamsThe Rams are relatively healthy as they follow their bye with a Week 9 matchup at home against the Panthers. The only players nursing significant injuries are No. 1 cornerback?Trumaine Johnson, who sprained his right ankle in Week 5, and one of their starting defensive tackles, Michael Brockers, who has been dealing with ailments in his hip and thigh the past five weeks. Both have been practicing lightly, and both will probably be a game-time decision, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday. -- Alden GonzalezSan Francisco 49ersRunning back Carlos Hyde said soon after suffering a shoulder injury against Buffalo that he would miss a game, rest during the bye and return this week against the Saints. That apparently remains the plan, as Hyde began the practice week Tuesday in a blue, no-contact jersey. Hyde is still the focal point of the Niners offense, and his six rushing scores are among the most in the NFL. Getting him back would be a big lift for the 49ers, who have lost six in a row. -- Nick WagonerSeattle SeahawksThe question that continues to hang over the Seahawks season is: When will Russell Wilson be healthy? Wilson appears to be over the right high-ankle sprain he suffered in Week 1. The next two items to check off the list are the sprained MCL in his left knee and the strained right pectoral. Coach Pete Carroll said the pectoral injury will not linger into Monday nights matchup with the Bills. The offense has looked different with an injured Wilson. He hasnt been a factor in the run game and has been forced to get rid of the ball quickly, leading to fewer explosive plays. Hes getting better, Carroll said. Im really fired up about that, and were going to keep progressing as he is able and do what we can to get back to the kind of mix that we like. I know its coming, so Im pretty optimistic about it. -- Sheil Kapadia Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '