Rob Ninkovich and Chris Long become fast friends with Patriots
The sport cheap NFL jerseys of football can create fast friendships, and New England Patriots defensive ends Rob Ninkovich and Chris Long are one close-to-home example of how it can be nice for players when it happens.
Ninkovich, 32, has been with the Patriots since 2009. Long, 31, signed with the team on March 18 after eight seasons with the Rams.
They didn't know each other beforehand, but they've since been spending quality time together.
"When he signed, cheap jerseys I reached out to cheap jerseys free shipping him and said, 'Hey man, welcome.' Since then, we've kind of hit it off. Cheap NFL Jerseys Enjoy 60% Discount With Free Shipping He's a great guy," Ninkovich said Thursday at the team's offseason program. "It's fun when you can learn from other guys, other pros, and he's been doing it a long time as well."
In the past five seasons, Ninkovich has totaled 6.5, 8, 8, 8 and 6.5 sacks, respectively. cheap jerseys from China In the same span, Long has 13, 11.5, 8.5, 1 and 3 sacks as he battled injuries the last two years.
Ninkovich, who is still beaming at becoming a father for the second time (his son was born May 2), said the two have a natural connection based on where they are at this point in their careers, the position they play, and their cheap NFL jerseys from China desire to get after the quarterback. He smiled when describing both of them as "high-motor guys."
"Chris is a great guy," he added. "He's excited to be here and to really jump into the Patriots' way. I know the previous location was tough for him and I just said, 'Hey man, come here, get to work, and start winning football games.'"
Broncos QB Mark Sanchez has thumb surgery
Denver Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez recently underwent surgery on his left thumb and is expected to miss the beginning of offseason training activities, which begin May 24. Wholesale NFL Jerseys
Sanchez initially injured the thumb while working in the weight room on Thursday and underwent the surgery Saturday in Vail, Colo. The team described the injury as a torn ligament in the thumb of his non-throwing hand. Baltimore Ravens Jerseys
With Sanchez expected to miss seven to 10 days, second-year pro Trevor Siemian and first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch will be taking the snaps at the start of OTAs.
The Broncos acquired Sanchez for a conditional seventh-round pick in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in March. cheap NFL Jerseys
Sanchez, a Southern California product, played his first four seasons for the Jets before becoming a backup the last two for the Eagles. He is 37-35 as a starter and is currently the front-runner to replace Peyton Manning, who retired after winning the Super Bowl. Wholesale Baltimore Ravens Jerseys
World Rugby approves Jarryd Hayne's switch to 7s from NFL
Former San Francisco 49ers running back Jarryd Hayne is eligible to play for the Fiji sevens rugby team at the Olympics and as early as the world series event this weekend in London, World Rugby said Monday. cheap NFL Jerseys
Hayne, who played eight times with one start for the 49ers as a rookie last season, announced Sunday that he was quitting the NFL.
The 28-year-old former rugby league star said he was joining Fiji in hopes of making its squad for the Rio de Janeiro Games. Hayne qualifies for Fiji through his Fijian father and has played international rugby league for the Pacific nation.
However, questions have been raised over his eligibility because he has not recently been part of a registered drug-testing program. Richard Ings, a former head of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency, expressed doubts Monday that Hayne would be able to make an immediate transition to rugby because the NFL was not compliant with World Anti-Doping Agency testing requirements. Wholesale Tennessee Titans Jerseys
Ings said World Rugby requires a player to be in a registered drug-testing pool for six months before he becomes eligible to play in sanctioned tournaments.
"If Jarryd Hayne had been playing in a WADA-compliant sport, he would have grounds to reduce the six months," Ings said. "But NFL is PED [performance-enhancing drugs] badlands. No chance."
Ings said rugby's six-month return to competition rule "is standard across most sports for athletes returning to international competition -- and necessary."
"The rule equally applies to reinstatement or to new players. Sensibly, it must, or any NFL player could bulk up and play."
In a statement on Monday, World Rugby said the six-months rule does not apply to a player "if they are being selected for international competition for the first time."
"This position is entirely consistent with World Rugby's approach to other crossover athletes, including other ex-NFL athletes coming into rugby." Tennessee Titans Jerseys
The statement, which did not mention that Hayne previously played rugby league at the international level, appeared to be referring to New England Patriots player Nate Ebner, who played for the United States in the Singapore Sevens in March. Still contracted to the Patriots, he received their permission to chase his Olympic dream.
"Hayne would be eligible for the London round of the world rugby sevens series, subject to all other regulatory and registration matters being met," World Rugby said.
Hayne was due to join Fiji's 14-man sevens squad on Monday in London. Coach Ben Ryan said he would use the days ahead of the London tournament, the last of 10 stops in the series, to pare the squad to 12 men for the London event and the Olympic Games.
Fiji leads the world series and will likely go to Rio as the gold-medal favorite.
Ryan hailed Hayne's decision to switch codes but said he received no guarantees of selection. Wholesale NFL Jerseys
"I have no promises he is going to make the 12, but we will see how he goes," Ryan said. "He will then come into the Fijian camp for the Olympic period. It is a huge challenge for Jarryd, but if he gets into the squad, it is only going to be on form because he is a blinding rugby player."
