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MONTREAL -- There was no blow-up this time from Joey Saputo. The owner and president of the Montreal Impact, who has been known to sound off after poor performances, had only praise and encouragement for his players and coaches at a news conference Wednesday, despite their feeble 4-0 loss in New York on the weekend. Saputo had met with the players a day earlier to hand them a passing grade on their performance so far this season. The Impact (9-5-4) are second in Major League Soccers Eastern Conference with two games in hand on first-place Kansas City. "Yeah, Ive blown my top a couple of times (in the past) but I didnt feel at this particular time that it was necessary for me to basically lose it with the players because we (were) in first place, were doing great," said Saputo. The Impact are going through their first rough patch of the season with two draws and two losses in their last four games, which dropped them out of first place. They hope to rebound on Saturday at home against struggling Dallas. "The message was positive," Saputo added. "Despite our recent setbacks, theres no reason to panic. "From the start of the year the goal was to make the playoffs (top five in the conference). Were in excellent position to get there. Every good team goes through difficult moments. I believe in the character and experience of this team to get out of it." He said there will not be major changes, but they will be seeking a player or two to add some depth heading into a busy second half of the MLS calendar. They will also play in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, which begins in August. To make room, the team has loaned little-used midfielders Calum Mallace and Sinisa Ubiparapovic to Minnesota United of the United Soccer Leagues. The Impact will likely seek help on attack and on defence, where the veteran centre back pairing of Alessandro Nesta and Matteo Ferrari has been under fire. The team has conceded 12 goals in its last four games. It hasnt helped that Nelson Rivas, a solid centre back when healthy, has been unable to play this season due to a bad knee. Sporting director Nick De Santis said he still hopes Rivas can recover. The Colombian was at practice Wednesday, but stayed on the sidelines. And he defended 37-year-old Nesta, who plans to retire at the end of the season. Some feel the Italy international has already checked out mentally. De Santis hopes to convince Nesta to stay on a little longer if Montreal gets through the Champions League group stage against the San Jose Earthquakes and CD Heredia of Guatemala. "He feels in his mind this will be his last year but you never know what the circumstances will be," said De Santis. "If were able to keep going, maybe well be able to convince him." Saputo jumped in with: "Ive heard comments that Alessandro has already retired in his mind and his heads not here. This is a player who has played at the top level and won everything and I think the last thing he wants to do is end his career on a down note. And if you ask anyone in the room which guy wants to win the most and bring this club to the next level, it is Alessandro Nesta." Saputo also backs coach Marco Schallibaum and said talks are in progress on a contract extension. The Swiss coach joined the second-year MLS club this season on a one-year deal. The Impact also plan to put a heating system under the pitch at Saputo Stadium to keep the grass snow-free and in shape for playoff games and Champions League matches in the fall. Saputo joked that it was being done so he would no longer have to shovel snow off the field, as he did before a game after a late snowfall in April. If the team goes beyond the CONCACAF group stage, playoff games in March will be indoors at Olympic Stadium. Saputo added that a goal for next season was to raise season ticket sales from 8,000 to more than 10,000. Ticket prices will not be raised next season. And he said season ticket holders will become club members, who will be invited to an annual general meeting and who will be polled regularly on matters affecting the club. The Impact have yet to sell out the stadium this season, but vice-president Richard Legendre said they are moving an average of about 5,000 more tickets per game than at the same stage last season. Their average of about 21,000 ranks third in MLS behind Seattle and Los Angeles. So far, the team has 12 players under contract for next season: goalies Troy Perkins and Evan Bush; defenders Ferrari, Hassoun Camara and Jeb Brovsky; midfielders Patrice Bernier, Felipe Martins, Justin Mapp, Sanna Nyassi and Blake Smith; and forward Andrew Wenger.Pedro Martinez Jersey . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Gary Carter Jersey .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. http://www.metsbaseballauthentic.com/david-wright-mets-jersey/ .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Jason Vargas Jersey . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Brandon Nimmo Mets Jersey . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others.It remains the least favourite part of Jim Barkers job: Telling a player he doesnt fit into the teams plans. But it got even more difficult Saturday when the Toronto Argonauts general manager had to deliver the bad news to defensive tackle Kevin Huntley, a four-year CFL veteran who helped the squad capture the historic 100th Grey Cup title last season. Stay with TSN.ca for all the latest cuts as teams trim their rosters down to the 46-player limit ahead of the regular season. "It was probably the hardest cut Ive had in three years here because I love Kevin," Barker said. "Its the worst part of the job and this is the most difficult day of the year because its always difficult to tell a guy this isnt going to be the place for him. "But there comes a point where you have to make difficult decisions and then you move forward and thats what weve done." Former Argos defensive lineman Ricky Foley, who signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the off-season as a free agent, echoed Barkers sentiment. "I had cutdown day," Foley tweeted. "So many good relationships formed over the yrs and T.C...Blessings & Good Luck 2all the players looking 4new teams." Toronto also released linebacker Bryan Payton, running back Gerald Riggs Jr. and receiver Reggie Williams as teams had until 10 p.m. ET on Saturday to reduce their active rosters to 46 players. Clubs could carry up to nine players on the practice roster. Two notable veterans were among the Calgary Stampeders final 10 cuts: defensive end Stevie Baggs and running back LaMarcus Coker. The 31-year-old Baggs was entering his 12th CFL season with his fifth team and joined the Stampeders last season after being released by the eventual Super Bowl-champion Baltimore Ravens. The six-foot, 190-pound Coker rushed for 380 yards over two seasons with Calgary but averaged an outstanding 8.4 yards per carry. Another notable release was linebacker Clint Kent in Edmonton. The regular season kicks off Thursday night with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers hosting the Montreal Alouettes at new Investors Group Field. The Argos begin their title defence Friday night at Rogers Centre against their arch rivals, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The six-foot-eight, 305-pound Huntley has 26 career sacks, but only had two last year. Still, the 31-year-olds departure was surprising given the Argos opened training camp minus defensive line regulars Ron Flemons (released), Armondo Armstead (New England Patriots, NFL), Foley and Adriano Belli (retired). However, Barker said veteran tackle Khalif Mitchell -- obtained this off-season from B.C. -- rookies Jonathan Williams and Cleyon Laing and newcomer Jermaine Reid (trade with Edmonton) all were impressive. "For two spots we had a lot of players that we liked so thats what it came down to," Barker said. "I still think he (Huntley) can play in this league. "We felt like we had a couple of other guys that augmented what were trying to do better." Riggs, the son of former NFL star running back Gerald Riggs, was entering his second season with Toronto. But the Argos opted to go with Curtis Steele, a five-foot-11, 206-pound rookie from Memphis as the backup to incumbent Chad Kackert, last years Grey Cup MVP. "Curtis is a good, young player that well groom behind Chad," Barker said. "Gerald Riggs had a good pre-season as well, he did everytthing that was asked of him and was very good.dddddddddddd "We just felt to go younger with Curtis. Hes a different kind of back than Gerald and felt that was a better fit for us and we dont have the luxury of keeping three." Barker also said Toronto will start the season with defensive back Brent Vinson and receiver Romby Bryant on the injured list after both were hurt in Thursday nights 24-20 exhibition win over Montreal. Vinson will require surgery for a broken ankle and is expected to miss four months, while Bryant is out indefinitely with six broken ribs. Bryant signed with Toronto this off-season shortly after being granted his release by Calgary. The 33-year-old spent three-plus seasons with the Stampeders, registering 211 catches for 3,028 yards and 22 touchdowns before adding two receptions for 31 yards in the clubs 35-22 Grey Cup loss to the Argos. Over five CFL seasons, the six-foot-one, 191-pound Bryant has 295 career receptions for 4,428 yards and 31 TDs. On a more pleasant note, Barker said all-star cornerback Pat Watkins passed his physical and should begin practising this week. Watkins missed all of training camp dealing with personal matters in Florida. Elsewhere, Winnipeg let 21 players go Saturday just two days after dropping a lopsided 52-0 exhibition decision to Hamilton. Included in the cuts was quarterback Chase Clement, meaning Justin Goltz and newcomer Max Hall will back up veteran starter Buck Pierce. Saskatchewan also released 21 players, including defensive back Eddie Russ, who re-signed with the Riders rather than become a free agent after registering 33 tackles and two interceptions in 2012. Also let go were long-snapper Jordan Matechuk and kicker Brody McKnight, both CFL veterans. Hamilton made a series of moves. Defensive tackle Torrey Davis, offensive lineman Marc Dile and defensive back Terrence Parks were added to the roster while quarterback Chris Amrhein, defensive back Emanuel Davis, receivers Justin Hilton, Simon Le Marquand and Eric McCree, linebacker Nick Rosamonda and defensive linemen Eze Obiora, Donovan Robinson and Matt Singletary -- the son of former NFL star linebacker Mike Singletary -- were all released. Defensive backs Raymond Brown -- who had three interceptions, including one that was returned 115 yards for a TD against Winnipeg -- Erik Harris (who had an interception and fumble recovery versus the Bombers), Harold Mutobola (who scored a TD against Winnipeg) and Arthur Hobbs, linebacker Phillippe Dubuisson-Lebon, offensive linemen Mike Filer and Landon Rice, receivers Lyle Leong and Ouslet Volcy were added to the practice roster. Defensive back Michael Daley has been suspended. The B.C. Lions released receiver Elvis Akpla, defensive tackle Chris Clady, tackle Ben Ossai, linebacker Glenn Love, kicker-punter Steven Shott and safety Bobby Davis and placed offensive lineman Adam Baboulas on the nine-game injured list. Calgary also placed defensive back Adam Berger, linebacker Alvin Bowen, defensive linemen Luis Vasquezand Marvin Booker, running backs Jonathan Williams and Charlie Power, offensive linemen Billy Peach and NaShan Goddard and receiver Yannick Morin-Plante on the practice roster. On Friday, the Montreal Alouettes released 11 players, including quarterback Quinton Porter, who spent his first five CFL seasons in Hamilton before being released and signing a three-year deal with the Als. ' ' '