TORONTO -- On the first day of training camp in his new job as a Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach, Steve Spott was trying to put an off-season disagreement
with Phil Kessel behind him.
Jerseys From China Cheap . After the Toronto Star reported Kessel telling Spott he wouldnt follow the teams new plan on how
to break out of its defensive zone -- and Spott relaying that at a coaches
clinic over the summer -- the dispute became one of the hottest topics on the
day players reported for physicals. While Kessel denied such a conversation even
took place, Spott only expressed regret that the star winger had to deal with
questions about the situation. "Its our job as assistant coaches to get to know
what these guys want to do and areas they think we can improve on," Spott said
Thursday at the teams practice facility. "Phil and I talked about a number of
things with regard to power play and where he wants to be. But those are things,
thats my job. "To think we dont have conversations about golf and some simple
things about the power play, thats what were paid to do. At the same time, its a
very light-hearted conversation that I had some fun with in a coaches clinic."
The Star quoted three anonymous minor-league coaches who attended that clinic
and re-told what Spott said. Spott, promoted to join Randy Carlyles staff after
being head coach of the AHLs Toronto Marlies, didnt refute the report. "I think
we had a very general conversation that took place, talking about his drive, and
also talking about different things on the ice, and thats part of my job," he
said. "Get to know these guys, things they like to do on the ice, things that
they think we can improve on, and just getting to know them." Kessel said he
didnt read the article but insisted the conversation in question didnt happen.
"Ive obviously talked to Spotter a couple times, but its not about that," Kessel
said. "Its more about golf and stuff. I dont really talk about hockey in the
summer, to be honest, if you really want to know the truth." Kessel was all
smiles as he talked about the 11-foot, 450-pound shark he and teammate
Tyler Bozak caught while in Florida and appeared to be in a jovial mood at the
beginning of training camp. He laughed off a question about whether he hated his
coach and deferred to Carlyle about whether the reverse was true. When Kessel
got serious about coaching techniques, he said he believed deviating from team
structure was "how you lose games." But he added that he doesnt get any input.
"I have opinions, but I have nothing to do with how this team is run, coached or
any of the systems, no matter what you guys think," Kessel said. General manager
Dave Nonis said the disagreement was "not an issue in the dressing room at all."
Carlyle sought to emphasize Spotts "tongue-in-cheek" tenor but move on from the
entire discussion. Carlyle, however, conceded that Kessel gets coached in a
different way than other players. "I think there is a double-standard in sports
that talented people have to be given a bit more of a rope," Carlyle said.
"Talented people have to have some freedom to take their artistic values and go
paint the picture. He is that type of player. Hes a very talented player."
Kessel, who last season matched a career high with 37 goals to finish fifth in
the NHL in that category, agreed. "I think Randy lets me get away with stuff
that other guys might not get away with," he said. "Obviously I play different
than someone else on the team. I think me and Randy have a pretty good
relationship in that, and we get along real well in that sense." When it comes
to what Carlyle likes to refer to as the "white noise" around the Leafs in
hockey-mad Toronto, Kessel passed up an opportunity to say extra scrutiny
bothered him. In the first season of a US$64-million, eight-year contract, the
26-year-old said theres nowhere hed rather play. For Spott, who previously
coached the OHLs Kitchener Rangers before the Marlies, this was a "Welcome to
the Leafs" moment. "People had asked me earlier what I thought the biggest
adjustment would be going from the head coach of the Toronto Marlies to an
assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs," he said. "I just found that out
real quick."
Cheap Jerseys NFL . Vancouver is 0-2-1 over its last three games and has dropped the first two tests of a five-game
homestand in regulation. The slide has damaged the clubs already fragile playoff
hopes, and the Canucks enter Saturday seven points out of the Western
Conferences last postseason berth with only five games left on their schedule.
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seven-game homestand.Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo received an epidural
injection to relieve pain on the herniated disc in his back, according to a
report by NFL.com. The injection is a standard procedure in treating a herniated
disc and the Cowboys hope to know by Wednesday or Thursday if the shot had a
positive effect. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday the team has "not made
that determination at all" after reports surfaced on Monday saying Romo would
miss the rest of the season with a back injury. "Well evaluate him on a
day-by-day basis and make the best decision for our team," said Garrett.
ESPN.com reported that Romo needs surgery for a herniated disc and will miss the
remainder of the season, including Sundays winner-take-all showdown with the
Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East title and any potential gammes after that.
Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale. In addition, quarterbacks David Carr, John Skelton and Tyler Thigpen are working out for the Cowboys Tuesday as Dallas
is seeking insurance behind backup Kyle Orton. Romo led Dallas to a 24-23
victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday, throwing a touchdown pass to
DeMarco Murray with 1:08 remaining to keep the Cowboys playoff hopes alive after
they trailed by nine points in the fourth quarter. Orton has started 69 NFL
games, but none since 2011 while with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he landed
after the Denver Broncos cut him in favor of Tim Tebow. Orton, 31, has passed
for 14,661 yards with 81 touchdowns and 57 interceptions in nine seasons. "We
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