Dein erstes Forum » day in bitter cold, and did the same ear

OXFORD, Miss. -- Of the four main players from Mississippis talented 2013 recruiting class, three of them are now millionaires.Then theres safety Tony Conner.Hed likely be in the NFL right now -- along with defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, receiver Laquon Treadwell and offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil -- if it hadnt been for a major knee injury against Alabama last season that caused him to miss more than half of his junior year.Now hes back in Oxford while his former teammates are getting ready to play on Sundays. He insists hes OK with that.On draft night I watched and it was kind of crazy at first, Conner said. But I still salute those guys. God has a reason for everything.Conners recovery from the torn meniscus in his right knee has been tougher than initially expected. The injury happened in the teams win over the Crimson Tide in September, but the hope was he would have surgery and return in about 4-6 weeks.Conner came back for two games in November -- against Arkansas and LSU -- but it was clear he wasnt the same. He was shut down for the rest of the season and had another surgery.Conner said he feels about 90 percent and thats hes progressing each day and will be ready when the 11th-ranked Rebels face No. 4 Florida State on Monday in Orlando, Florida.Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said Conner has handled the career setback as well as possible. The safety grew up about 25 miles from the Ole Miss campus in Batesville, so hes had plenty of family and friends close by to provide support.Hes got a great mom who keeps him grounded and hes just a guy who loves to play the game, Freeze said. I think, really, that Tony would stay at Ole Miss for 10 years if he could because hes just a country boy who loves to be at home. But hell get his opportunity in the NFL.If the 6-foot-0, 225-pound senior is close to his former self this year, the Rebels will receive a huge boost for their defense. The hard-hitter -- who often plays in the hybrid safety/linebacker role that the Rebels use in their 4-2-5 defense -- had 69 tackles as a sophomore in 2014 and led all SEC defensive backs with nine tackles for a loss.But players and coaches said the leadership he provides is at least just as important.Tony is a grown man back there and thats what I love about him, Ole Miss defensive lineman Breeland Speaks said. Hes going to play his heart out every time. Thats what you get with Tony. Any time you have a player like that with talent -- like first-round NFL talent -- you cant go wrong.Freeze said the Rebels mid-season swoon last year -- which included losses to Florida to Memphis -- was in part because the defense was a little lost without Conner.It took us three games last year to figure out how to play without him, Freeze said.Freeze said hed like to limit Conners snaps early in the season, but he might not have that luxury. The Rebels go into the game with several young players at safety following the departure of seniors Mike Hilton and Trae Elston.He is a leader, he understands the game, hes physical, Freeze said. Hes just a football player so I think him at 90 percent makes us a lot better.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP Stan Smith Shoes Ireland .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Cheap Stan Smith Ireland From China . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. 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. http://www.stansmithsaleireland.com/ . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Discount Stan Smith Ireland . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Stan Smith Ireland Store .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears coach John Fox has seen starting NFL quarterbacks come from stranger places than the waiver wire.The production of quarterback Matt Barkley in place of the injured Jay Cutler and Brian Hoyer has Foxs attention with two games to play in a miserable 3-11 season.It hasnt resulted in a lot of wins, but I think hes turned a lot of peoples heads, Fox said.Signed to the Bears practice squad Sept. 5 after being cut by Arizona, Barkley has achieved a passer rating slightly below Cutlers in four starts. He has thrown several key interceptions.Barkley also displayed an ability in several games to rally the team heading into Saturdays final home game at Soldier Field against the Washington Redskins.Id go all the way back to my second year as head coach, Fox said, recalling his time coaching the Carolina Panthers. We signed a guy in free agency, wasnt a big name, was a backup on the New Orleans Saints roster: Jake Delhomme.He came in and took us to within three points of winning a Super Bowl in his first year as a starter. A lot of it is what kind of supporting cast you have and what kind of football team you have, and hopefully well get better in both of those areas.Barkley appreciates the sentiments, but believes he has barely begun to display his potential.I feel like Im capable of a lot more, Barkley said Tuesday at Halas Hall. And the glaring plays of the last couple weeks, the negative glaring plays are eating me up.Barkley threw three interceptions in the first three quarters of Sundays 30-27 loss to Green Bay, and then led the Bears to 17 fourth-quarter points. It matched their most points ever in a fourth quarter.Barkley finished 30 of 43 for 362 yards with two touchdown passes. His yardage total was the most by a Bears quarterback against the Packers.Hes definitely grown in his time as a starter, Fox said. We still have two games left to evaluate that further. I think the young man has responded well and Id like to think he would improve.The Bears are trying to decide a course of action at quarterback for next year.Almost all of Cutlers bonus money has been applied against the teams salary cap already, and such a situation makes the possibility he could be cut or traded, more likely -- although no one with the team hass confirmed it a greater possibility.ddddddddddddHoyer and Barkley have no contracts for next year. Reserve Connor Shaw, who suffered a broken leg in preseason, will be an exclusive rights free agent.Theres always speculation in this league and especially at my position, especially with the way this season has turned out for us, Barkley said. And so, Im not even going to go there, though -- not my job right now.What Barkley is looking closely at is getting his second victory since taking over as starter after Cutlers season-ending shoulder injury.Hoyer had six TD passes and no interceptions in 200 attempts for a 98.0 passer rating, but the Bears had trouble getting into the end zone when he played. Cutler had four TD passes and five interceptions and a passer rating of 78.1.Barkleys rating is 75.2, but in each of the past two games he guided the Bears to their most points this season on Sunday in bitter cold, and did the same earlier in the snow during a 26-6 win over San Francisco. His performance came without top receiver Alshon Jeffery until last week due to suspension.Barkley did not benefit from organized team activities or even preseason with his receivers.So I think a full offseason and whatever thats going to look like next year, where you get just timing down -- you get, obviously, a cohesiveness in the huddle with guys and snap counts and all the calls.Theres a lot of room for growth with this team.Fox is thinking about the future, even if he doesnt want to go into detail.We still have two more opportunities and well evaluate the body of work and move forward from that, Fox said. I dont know how many people would have thought he was going to have the kind of success hes had to this point.Game notes The Bears could have a decision Wednesday on whether to activate CB Kyle Fuller from injured reserve. Fuller underwent knee surgery in August and has not yet returned. ... WR Eddie Royal officially went on injured reserve and the Bears replaced him on the roster by signing running back Bralon Addison. ... OL Cornelius Edison was waived.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '