miaowang123: ... Portland plays home games against San Jose

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NEW YORK -- Washington Redskins safety Brandon Meriweathers two-game suspension from the NFL for multiple helmet-to-helmet hits was cut in half Wednesday on appeal. Lorenzo Cain Jersey . Two days after Meriweather was told he would miss time for repeated violations of player safety rules, hearing officer Ted Cottrell reduced the punishment to one game. Cottrell was jointly appointed by the league and the players union. Meriweathers suspension by NFL vice-president of football operations Merton Hanks came for repeated hits to the head and neck area of defenceless players, including two in Washingtons 45-41 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Meriweather was flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit when tackling receiver Alshon Jeffery on a 28-yard completion with about two minutes left in the third quarter. He also was penalized for a helmet-first hit on Brandon Marshall in the end zone on an incomplete pass with a little more than four minutes remaining in the game. "All of these officials, if theyre going to make a mistake, they want to protect the player, so if its anywhere close to being a helmet-to-helmet, they are throwing a 15-yard flag, and thats what theyre being told to do. If you get anywhere around that head, youve got a chance to hurt your football team," Washington coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday in Ashburn, Va. "Were constantly emphasizing it, but its tough in the heat of battle for these guys. Youre very competitive. You want to get after them. Then all of a sudden, a guy might duck at the last second, and all of a sudden you have helmet-to-helmet, and they dont even look at intent." In Week 2, Meriweather was fined $42,000 for a helmet-first hit on Green Bay running back Eddie Lacy, forcing Lacy out of the game with a concussion. Later that same day, another helmet-first hit gave Meriweather himself a concussion, knocking him out of the game. Meriweather will lose about $70,000 in salary when he sits out Sundays game at the Denver Broncos. He is not allowed to participate in any football activities with the team during the suspension. "Its unfortunate that the league felt like it needed to suspend him," Redskins linebacker London Fletcher said. "If a receiver sees you and he ducks, sometimes youre going to hit the guy, and the intent was to not even hit the guy, so thats the tough position defenders are in. ... A lot of times you cant avoid the situation." The suspension could leave the Redskins without their two starting safeties when they face Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Strong safety Reed Doughty got a concussion when the Bears attempted an onside kick in the fourth quarter. Meriweather said after last weekends game that he thought both hits against the Bears were legal. He said hes tried to change his game to suit the NFLs tackling rules. "I wasnt trying to be dirty. I wasnt trying to hurt nobody," he said. "I didnt lead with my -- didnt launch with my -- head. I used my shoulder like they told me to do." Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson said Wednesday: "You just got to adjust. I feel like he is. Hes trying to be a better player. But sometimes its hard to lose that reputation in the end." Lorenzo Cain Brewers Jersey .com Tours Nova Scotia Open. The 27-year-old Sloan, a former Texas-El Paso player from Calgary matched first-round leader Rodriguez at 10-under 132 on Ashburn Golf Clubs New Course. Orlando Arcia Brewers Jersey . This time, it was Eric Chavezs turn. Stuck in a rut since coming off the disabled list, Chavez hit the first pitch he saw in the ninth inning for a run-scoring single, sending the Diamondbacks to another walk-off victory, 4-3 over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.VANCOUVER - Despite not having scored in almost three months, Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson has kept Sebastian Fernandez in the starting lineup.That faith was repaid on Saturday.Fernandez scored twice in the first half a€” his first goals since July 5 a€” as Vancouver cruised to a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas.The 24-year-old Uruguyan stands just five foot seven, but headed home his first in the 14th minute before cooly slotting home a second four minutes later.Terrific performance by the kid. It really was, said Robinson. He was a threat all game. His little movement patterns and his positional sense in getting into areas and causing problems for them was evident throughout the game.With the win, Vancouver (10-8-13) maintained its one-point lead over Portland in the race for the final playoff spot in Major League Soccers Western Conference after the Timbers downed the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 later Saturday. Both the Whitecaps and Timbers have three regular-season games remaining.Fernandez hadnt scored in 14 games, including 12 starts, coming into Saturday, but Robinson said his play overall has been strong.His work ethics fantastic, said Robinson. Hes technically a very, very talented footballer and hes got ability. When he gets in the final third he makes things happen.Fernandezs only blemish on the night was a late yellow card that will force him to sit out Vancouvers critical game Friday on the road against the Seattle Sounders.I think it was a very good win for us, said Fernandez. This is a great group, a great team. We must keep going.Mauro Rosales played his best game for Vancouver since coming over in a trade with Chivas USA, picking up assists on both of Fernandezs strikes.Were very lucky to have him, Robinson said of the 33-year-old Argentine. He was excellent. His technical ability is second to none and he had a massive influence on the game today.Vancouver improved to 3-2-1 over its last six, while Dallas remains fourth in the West, five points up on the Whitecaps and one back of Real Salt Lake with one more game played.I thought we did really well, said Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted, who picked up his 10th shutout of the season. First half we got our goals. Seba played fantastic and scored two great goals and the second half was great defending. Overall a good performance.Vancouvers three remaining games include that tough road matchup Friday against Seattle, which made Saturdays home date at B.C Place Stadium even more important.Fernandezs first goal came off a Rosales cross before the veteran midfielder made a great pass to set up the second.It is important for us for the strikers and the guys who play up front to get goals, to get confidence, said Rosales. This is what we need for the last push.Dallas (14-11-6) triedd to fight back in the 33rd minute when striker Blaz Perez a€” who came in with three goals in two games against Vancouver this season a€” was ruled offside after getting behind the Whitecaps defence and beating Ousted. Robin Yount Brewers Jersey. The visitors a€” now 4-4-0 over their last eight a€” had another opportunity to cut the lead in the 38th, but Vancouver midfielder Matias Laba made a goal-saving tackle on Dallas striker David Texeira right in front of Ousted off a break.Vancouver tied Dallas 2-2 at home on July 27 before dropping a 2-1 decision in Texas on Sept. 13, but Saturday seemed like it was always going to be belong to the Whitecaps.We went there three, four weeks ago and we took it on the chin, said Robinson, whose team won back-to-back games for the first time since May. We lost 2-1 in a game where we probably could have got something. Today was our day, but theyre a very good team.Robinson went with the same starting lineup for the third straight game after last weekends 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Real Salt Lake, and Ousteds goal wasnt really challenged much after halftime.Dallas had given Vancouver fits on set pieces in the earlier meetings, but that wasnt the case Saturday as the backline of Jordan Harvey, Andy OBrien, Kendall Waston and Steven Beitashour defended well in front of the steady Ousted.Credit to the back four in the second half especially, said Robinson. They defended properly and showed a lot of character out there. The game was won in the first half, but for me, the game was managed fantastically well in the second half.Tempers flared on both sides a bit towards the end of the match, which could make for a good battle in the playoffs a€” a likely scenario if the Whitecaps manage to edge out Portland for the final post-season spot in the West.I think if these two teams meet its going to be a brawl, to say it lightly, said Ousted. You just see that people get into every tackle.Notes: The Whitecaps announced Friday that out-of-favour striker Omar Salgado will join Mexican side Tigres UANL on a 12-day trial beginning Monday. The 21-year-old was the first pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, but has made just 29 league appearances a€” including 12 starts a€” during his time with Vancouver. Salgado had been absent from practice in recent weeks, leading to speculation his time with the club could be coming to an end. ... Vancouvers remaining regular-season games after the trip to Seattle are at San Jose on Oct. 18 and home to the Colorado Rapids on Oct. 25. ... Portland plays home games against San Jose on Wednesday and Real Salt Lake on Oct. 17 before closing things out on the road against Dallas on Oct. 25. ... Dallas next game is Oct. 12 at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy. ... Saturdays attendance was 20,183. Wholesale Jerseys Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Camo China NFL JerseysWholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys ' ' '