illion hit if they release him in 2016.___AP NFL website: www.pro32

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Eric Wynalda Jersey . -- Another week, another round of Gronk questions. And another few days before it becomes clearer whether the New England Patriots star tight end might make his 2013 debut Sunday. Rob Gronkowski has missed all five games while recovering from off-season surgeries on his left forearm and back. But hes getting closer to playing and that could happen against the unbeaten New Orleans Saints on Sunday, which should help the Patriots struggling offence. A person with knowledge of Gronkowskis health says doctors havent cleared him to play yet and wont know for a few days. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement was made. Gronkowski participated in practice on a limited basis on Wednesday. ProFootballTalk.com reported Tuesday that he is expected to be cleared to play this week and that its likely but not definite that hell play. Gronkowski has been asked about his status on Wednesdays throughout the season. But hes shed little light on when he might return, saying repeatedly hes taking it "day by day." He skipped this weeks media availability Wednesday and was expected to speak Thursday. Quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick also get peppered with questions about when Gronkowski will return but provide little insight. "Whenever that happens, who knows?" Brady said Wednesday. "I feel like Ive kind of talked about it a lot the past five weeks. If he is there, hes there. If hes not, hes not. Were going to try to win anyway." Belichick answered several questions about Gronkowski on Wednesday. His response to three of them: "day to day." And how did he look in practice? "He practiced," Belichick said. The interest in Gronkowski has intensified as Brady and the Patriots offence have been inconsistent. But the team is 4-1, so rushing Gronkowski back hasnt been imperative. And the Patriots are still favourites to win the AFC East even though Miami (3-2) and the New York Jets (3-2) are off to decent starts. That said, the Patriots are 24th in the NFL in scoring after leading the league last year. Brady is 22nd in passer rating after ranking sixth in 2012. So, clearly, Gronkowski, who has 187 catches in his 43 games with the Patriots, would help, especially in the red zone. After all, this season, New England tight ends have five receptions -- total. "When you get down in the red zone, you want to score a touchdown," rookie receiver Kenbrell Thompkins said. "You dont want to score three points. Sometimes when you score three points, it can hurt you and, unfortunately, thats what cost us in the Cincinnati game." The Patriots reached the red zone just once in last Sundays 13-6 loss to the Bengals but settled for a field goal after getting a first down at the 1-yard line. "Whoever is out there, whatever personnel, every play is designed to make positive yards, and a lot of them are designed to score touchdowns," Brady said. "But they dont always do that, so were trying to figure out how to do that and do better than what weve done the first five weeks." The 6-foot-6 Gronkowski could make a huge difference with his strong hands, ability to shield the ball from defenders and skill at reaching for passes with his long arms. The Patriots didnt put him on the physically unable to perform list at the start of the season. That would have required him to miss the first six games and barred him from practice. He hasnt missed a practice since the season began and could be back for the sixth game on Sunday. He was listed as questionable for the past three games after being doubtful for the previous two. The final injury report comes out after Fridays practice. "Hes a beast, man. I cant wait to see him, whenever he gets backs," receiver Aaron Dobson said. "Being out there practicing with him kind of gives you a feel of being out there but in a game ... it could be different." Gronkowski is also a quality safety valve, a player Brady can dump the ball off to when pressured. "Hes got a lot of excitement and brings a lot of energy to the team. Hes a great player," Brady said. "Im just kind of waiting like everyone else. Whenever it is, it is. Were 4-1. Weve won four games without him. If he is not there this week, weve got to try to go 5-1 anyway. "Hopefully, when he does get back out there, we will be more productive." USA Soccer Jerseys 2019 .com) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and four-time Australian Open titlist Roger Federer were among Mondays fourth-round winners at Melbourne Park. Darlington Nagbe Jersey . Salah, who scored against Chelsea in two Champions League group matches this season, is Jose Mourinhos third significant recruit in the January transfer window after Nemanja Matic and Bertrand Traore. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . Pressley missed all of last season with Cincinnati because of a knee injury, but the 5-foot-10, 249-pounder had been expected to fill a need on Clevelands roster.Michael Vick still thinks of himself as a starting quarterback in the NFL.Not only that, the 34-year-old New York Jets backup feels he can still play for at least another two years. Where hell be is the big question.Vick is a free agent after this season, with his one-year deal with the Jets expiring. He hasnt ruled out returning to New York, but he didnt sound all that enthusiastic about the possibility, either.I dont know, I couldnt say right now, Vick said. Id have to talk to my agent and see whats the best situation for me. Obviously, this organization has to do whats best for them. I really cant say right now, but hopefully I have a chance to play somewhere and continue to give that effort.Vick was signed last off-season to be a mentor to Geno Smith and provide the Jets with an experienced backup who was familiar with offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinwegs system. Smith started the season but struggled, and Vick stepped in and played OK in his three starts before the Jets went back to the second-year quarterback to finish the season.He showed flashes of the Vick of old, particularly by making plays with his legs. He is 64 of 121 as a passer for 604 yards and three TDs with two interceptions. Vick is also fourth on the team in rushing with 153 yards on 26 carries despite limited action.I still feel like I can start, Vick said. I still feel like I can play at a high level. I think with the right talent around me and good structure, I feel like I can win some games. I still feel like Ive got a lot left in the tank. I cant say its five years worth, but maybe its a good, solid two.A large reason for the lukewarm feelings regarding the Jets could be the uncertainty around the organization. Coach Rex Ryan and his coaching staff, including Mornhinweg, could all be fired next week, along with general manager John Idzik.I think at the end of the day, my mindset is to just continue to play football, Vick said. I love the game. I want to continue to play until its all out of me.NFL COCOON: Peyton Manning capped his weekly news conference by answering a question about new Colorado State football coach Mike Bobo, a former Georgia quarterback whom he faced in college.They had a lot of great players and Mike was a great leader, great SEC quarterback. We had some great battles, Tennessee and Georgia, Manning said.He added that he got to see him in the fall when he attended the Tennessee-Georgia game during the Broncos bye week.After walking off the podium, Manning wondered aloud why Bobos name had come up, seemingly out of the blue: Is he up for a job or something? Manning wondered.Told hed already been hired at CSU and that it had been in all the papers, Manning replied, Well, I wasnt too eager to read the newspaper Tuesday.Not after throwing four interceptions in a loss at Cincinnati on Monday night.The laser-focused Manning was reminded that the following day was Christmas.Thanks, I knew that, he said with a chuckle as he spun and headed back into the locker room.FRIENDLY COMPETITION: Bengals running back Jeremy Hill leads all NFL rookies in rushing with 1,024 yards. Giants receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., leads all rookies in catches and yards.The former LSU teammates are leading candidates for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Theyre also close friends.We talk to each other every day, Hill said. Really close relationship. We motivate each other. Each time I see him doing big things, it makes me want to elevate my game even more.We just push each other, man. Thats the way its been, especially in college when we were right next to each other. It would be back and forth the whole game.Hilll could be considered the Bengals most valuable player. Nick Lima Jersey. . Receiver A.J. Green has missed three complete games and most of two others because of toe and arm injuries. Running back Giovani Bernard was sidelined for three games with shoulder and hip injuries. Hill has led the offence in their absence, helping the Bengals (10-4-1) clinch a playoff spot as they head into their AFC North title showdown in Pittsburgh on Sunday.You look at how many games we didnt have A.J., hes kind of been a catalyst of where we are, left tackle Andrew Whitworth said of Hill. Its being able to run the football and even when you dont have your top playmaker, you can still get a win. Thats tough to do in this league.DEPARTING IS NOT SWEET: Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin goes into the season finale assured his job is secure. Even so, with his team out of the playoff race, he expects to be in a poor frame of mind Monday.The day that I dont look forward to the most on the calendar is the day that the players leave the building, Philbin said. When I drive home Monday, there is an empty feeling. Im usually in a bad mood when I get home, and my wife is not happy. Its not good.How does his wife handle the situation?She says, Go pick up one of the kids, go do this and go do that, he said. Like a good husband, I do whatever she says.WHOS BACK THERE?: Redskins defensive co-ordinator Jim Haslett has heard his fair share of criticism for the teams play this year, but he received some votes of confidence this week from coach Jay Gruden.The Redskins have 12 players on injured reserve, including DeAngelo Hall, Brian Orakpo, Brandon Meriweather and Trent Murphy — all of whom started on defence this season. Theyve also had to work around significant injuries to Barry Cofield, Stephen Bowen, Keenan Robinson, Tracy Porter and Adam Hayward.When you have a new guy at mike linebacker every other day, or a new guy at left corner every day, and you move a guy from safety to other safety, and a guy from nickel to corner or corner to nickel, it takes its toll, coach Jay Gruden said. It sounds easy, but its not. For these guys to come in here: Now Ive got the vertical hook, now Ive got this, how do I play this in fire zone? Theres a lot of fundamentals, a lot of teaching that goes on, and (defensive backs coach Raheem Morris) and coach Haslett and the rest of the coaches have done a good job as far as getting these guys ready to go, but it has affected us.CHOOSE AN RB: The late-season re-emergence of Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart could make teammate DeAngelo Williams expendable after the season.Stewart is running as well as he has at any point in his six-year NFL career, racking up 437 yards and averaging 5.6 yards per carry over the last four weeks for the Panthers (6-8-1).Meanwhile, Williams has missed nine games this season with various injuries. He turns 32 in April.The Panthers have had lots of money tied up in those two running backs over the last few years, making the prospect of releasing them counterproductive to their salary cap. That changes next off-season for Williams.If the Panthers cut their all-time leading rusher in 2015 they would have to absorb a $2.26 million cap hit, which is more palatable than the $6.6 million cap hit they would have taken had they released him this year, according to Sportrac.com.Meanwhile, the Panthers appear locked into Stewart for at least the next couple of seasons. They would have to take a $13.6 million cap hit if they cut him in 2015 or a $7.3 million hit if they release him in 2016.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '