Inland Waterways » his team and I want to win."

TAMPA, Fla. - A late-season loss already knocked Green Bay off-stride, and the hungry Packers know they cant afford to stumble again against the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Its important to focus on what youre trying to accomplish each and every week as a football team, and always see the big picture. This is a game we have to win, coach Mike McCarty said, looking ahead to Sundays opportunity to get back on track. Tampa Bays dropped four straight, owns the NFCs worst record and is in line for landing the top pick in next springs NFL draft.The Packers (10-4) insist theres no way theyll be caught looking past the Bucs (2-12) after losing on the road at Buffalo a week ago, with Aaron Rodgers throwing for 185 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.Were looking for this to be a tough game, McCarthy said. And were taking a playoff approach because this is the time of year where you have to shift gears and make sure the awareness and urgency is heightened in your preparation and trusting the process leading up to the performance.Green Bays 21-13 loss to the Bills not only cost the Packers sole possession of first place in the NFC North, but it dealt a blow to the teams pursuit of home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.Despite the setback, they still control their fate in the division race. Beat Tampa Bay and close out the regular season with a win at home against Detroit, theyll finish first regardless of what the Lions do. A loss to the Bucs, combined with a Detroit win at struggling Chicago, and the Lions clinch the title.I think well be pretty focused after last week, receiver Jordy Nelson said. We know that going on the road is very hard no matter how many wins a team has. ... No matter who it is, you want to start playing our best football this late in the year, and we need to start getting into a rhythm through these last two games, hopefully into the playoffs.Tampa Bay will finish with a losing record for the fifth time in six years and miss the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. If the season had ended after last Sundays 19-17 loss at Carolina, the Bucs would own the No. 1 overall pick in the draft for the first time since selecting Vinny Testaverde in 1987.Nearly 30 years later, the Bucs are still looking for a franchise quarterback. Coach Lovie Smith surely will feel pressure to pursue one if the pick winds up in his hands.For now, though, Smith is sticking with his hand-picked choice for his first season guiding the Bucs, 35-year-old Josh McCown. The career backup is coming off his best pro season in Chicago, where he filled in for injured Jay Cutler in 2013.The 12th-year pro has fizzled with Tampa Bay, losing eight of nine starts and missing five games because of injury. Hes the NFCs lowest-rated passer, and ahead overall of only the Jaguars Blake Bortles and Jets Geno Smith.Even though the Bucs have little to play for, and second-year quarterback Mike Glennon started 13 games as a rookie a year ago, Smith is standing by McCown, whos thrown for 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.I think Josh gives us the best opportunity (to win). Thats not necessarily a knock against Mike. ... Quarterback just isnt a position where youre going to play a lot of guys. Kind of simple as that, Smith said.Some things to keep in mind when the Packers try to rebound from only their second loss in the past 11 games, and the struggling Bucs try to play spoilers:ADVANTAGE PACKERS?: This is the first sellout of the season at Raymond James Stadium, though the stands are expected to be filled mostly with Packers fan. The Bucs 0-6 at home this year.RJS hasnt been kind to Green Bay. The Packers have lost seven of eight games there since RJS opened in 1998. Rodgers threw for two TDs, but was also intercepted three times in a 10-point loss on their last visit in 2009.FAMALIAR FOE: Packers LB Julius Peppers played much of his career in the NFC South, so the Bucs are plenty familiar with him from his days with the Carolina Panthers. In 16 career games against the Bucs, Peppers has 15 1-2 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception he returned for a TD.BIG TARGET: Mike Evans, Tampa Bays 6-foot-5 rookie receiver, has nine TD catches in the past seven games. Hes tied the franchise record for receiving TDs in a season with 11 overall.RESILIENT, STRONG FINISHERS: The Packers are 3-0 following a loss this season. They are 24-12 in the month of December under McCarthy, whos in his ninth season.MEASURING STICK: Since Tampa Bays bye in Week 7, the Bucs have made strides on defence, ranking in the top 10 in yards allowed per game. The Packers have scored an NFC-high 436 points, Rodgers has the leagues highest QB rating and has thrown for 35 TDs vs. five interceptions.It will be a good barometer for us of just how much weve improved, said Bucs defensive co-ordinator Leslie Frazier.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Miami Dolphins Jerseys Outlet . Ryan Getzlaf certainly got them started in the second. Getzlaf scored the first two goals in the second, and Teemu Selanne scored the go-ahead goal late in the period as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 Thursday night. Stitched Miami Dolphins Jerseys . -- Josh MacDonalds second goal of the game kept his team alive as the Peterborough Petes edged the host Kingston Frontencas 6-5 in overtime on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. http://www.cheapdolphins.com/76v-cheap-custom-jersey-dolphins.html . They know how difficult it is to beat the San Antonio Spurs. George scored 28 points and Indiana defeated San Antonio 111-100 on Saturday night, snapping an 11-game skid against the Spurs. Miami Dolphins Christian Wilkins Jersey . They were expecting him there all along. The Pacers announced Friday night that George has been cleared "to return to normal basketball activity," a decision made three days after he was concussed in Game 2 of the Indiana-Miami series. Miami Dolphins Michael Deiter Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil.The Vancouver Canucks have named former captain Trevor Linden as the teams new president of hockey operations and alternate governor. “Today is a real honour," Linden said. "I came to Vancouver 26 years ago and I have never left. I love this city. It is my home and the Canucks have always been part of my family." "Im passionate about the Canucks and I want to win – just like the Canucks fans do," he added. "I believe Im ready for this challenge. Im passionate about this team and I want to win." Francesco Aquilini, chairman of Canucks Sports and Entertainment offered glowing praise of the captain-turned-president. "We believe in Trevors leadership abilities," he said. "His 20 years of NHL experience including seven as team captain, his role as NHLPA President, community leader and businessman offers a very special skill set; one that will positively shape the direction of this club in the future." Speaking on the succession plan for replacing Mike Gillis, who was dismissed as general manager on Tuesday, Linden said that he has a multitude of options to explore and has already begun looking. "Thats a process that I have to thoroughly evaluate," Linden said when asked about the GM search. "We will do a general manager search from both within and outside our organization." With only three games remaining in the regular season, the Canucks announced that Gillis was fired after the team was officially eliminated from postseason contention. The Canucks were also eliminated in the first round in each of the last two seasons after falling one win short of a Stanley Cup in 2011. "I have a profile of a general manager that I would like," Linden said Wednesday. "Now its about putting a candidate list together. Thats a critical path." He would add that he will operate with "full autonomy" as Canucks president and will make all decisions on hockey operations. Linden also expressed his intention to have a new general manager in place by the 2014 NHL Draft, scheduled for June 27-28 in Philadelphia. Under first-year head coach John Tortorella, they sit 11th in the Western Conference. And as for Tortorellas future with the Canucks, Linden said theres no hurry to decide. "Any sort of coachinng decision will be made in due time, after a thorough evaluation," he said at Wednesdays introductory news conference.dddddddddddd Aquilini elaborated on the need for a new man at the top of the Canucks hockey department. "We came from within one game of winning a Stanley Cup [in 2011], and it was time for a change," he said. Aquilini added that he would not stop short of pointing the finger at his recently-dismissed GM and his current coach. ""Mike (Gillis) hired Tortorella and Im responsible for that and thats why we have a change in direction today," he explained. Linden would not offer up any theories as to what led to the Canucks failure to make the playoffs this season, but pointed to the timing of the decision as beneficial to getting answers. Linden said hed use this coming week to talk to coaches and players and conduct a "thorough review" of the season. "Ill reserve comment until I have more detail," Linden concluded. Gillis came to the organization in April of 2008, taking over for the fired Dave Nonis. He turned a club which had missed out on the postseason in two of the previous three seasons and built them back up into a contender, snagging five straight playoff berths, five Northwest Division titles and two straight Presidents Trophies (2011, 2012). "On behalf of my entire family, I would like to sincerely thank Mike Gillis for his hard work and the many contributions he made on and off the ice during his tenure," said Aquilini in a statement on Tuesday. "The Vancouver Canucks had success under Mikes leadership, and we nearly reached our ultimate goal; but I believe we have reached a point where a change in leadership and new voice is needed. "I also want to thank our fans for their support for the Vancouver Canucks through a difficult and frustrating season," continued Aquilini. "We havent met their expectations or ours. We are committed to bringing the Stanley Cup to Vancouver for our fans and we will continue to do everything possible to reach that goal." Linden played 16 seasons with the Canucks and is the franchise leader in games played. As team captain from 1991 to 1997, he helped lead the Canucks to their second-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup final in 1994. 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