I, shoot, from a personal standpoint have been through so much

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Packers will get a head start out West to prepare for the NFC title game against the Seattle Seahawks.Green Bay plans to leave for Seattle on Friday, one day ahead of when the team would usually fly out for Sunday road games.This is no ordinary road game. The winner goes to the Super Bowl.Coach Mike McCarthy is hoping this trip to CenturyLink Field has a different outcome than the previous one in September — a 36-16 loss in the league opener to the Seahawks.You learn from past experiences, McCarthy said Monday. We evaluate every schedule, every practice. Were always looking to try to get better.Just like quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whom McCarthy said felt well a day after the 26-21 win over Dallas that clinched the Packers first trip to the NFC championship game since their most recent run to the Super Bowl title after the 2010 season.Dealing with a lingering left calf injury, Rodgers once again proved Sunday that hes better than most healthy quarterbacks in the league even if hes less than 100 per cent. He finished 24 of 35 for 316 yards and three touchdowns.Rodgers said the calf felt better as the game progressed. A practice plan for Rodgers will be determined on Wednesday.I think he feels better at this time this week than he did last week, McCarthy said.For as good as Rodgers was against the Cowboys with limited mobility, the Packers may need him to be even better against Seattles rugged defence on the road.Rodgers was 23 of 33 for 189 yards with a touchdown and interception in the opener against Seattle. Back then, the Packers offence was still trying to find its rhythm. Eddie Lacy got knocked out of that game with a concussion.Things have changed dramatically. The offensive line has played well all season. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are one of the top receiving tandems in the league, and Lacy has gotten stronger in December and January.And now, rookies Davante Adams and Richard Rodgers have proven they can produce in the post-season after good games against Dallas. Fullback John Kuhn and tight end Andrew Quarless have also emerged late in the season to help diversify the attack.You know, this team from Week 1 has grown a lot, so were definitely looking forward to it, said Quarless, who had four catches for 31 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys. Just to see the growth and resilience of this team throughout the post-season is a positive.The tweaks that McCarthy made to the training schedule and conditioning program have also paid off. Not counting Rodgers lingering injury, the Packers for the most part havent been hit by long-term or season-ending injuries to key players that seemed to slow them down in recent years.The move to fly out on Friday fits the pattern of McCarthy trying new things to give his team an edge. The practice schedule will be normal otherwise, given that Friday is usually a day off the field. The team will then run through a practice on Saturday in Washington.Just the fact that were trying to get better at everything were doing, McCarthy said.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Air Max 90 China Wholesale . Edwin Encarnacion carried the torch for two days at Fenway Park this week; Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista have had their moments; lately Anthony Gose has contributed. Cheap Air Max 90 Mens . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Keeping The Captain? Brian Giontas agent Steve Bartlett told La Presse on Tuesday that the Montreal Canadiens want to keep their captain - an unrestricted free agent on July 1 - in the fold, while sources tell the paper that the two sides will start talks this week. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outlet-air-max-90-black-cheap-303.html . But the young forward is more than willing to shed a little blood if thats what it takes to make the team this season. "It caught me pretty good, dazed me for that shift, but I didnt want to be off the ice for too long," he said after practice, his lip still bleeding a little despite the plastic stitches holding it together. Fake Air Max 90 For Sale . - Their offence is underperforming. Wholesale Air Max 90 White . Ghoulam has put pen to paper on a four and a half year deal, tying him to Napoli until 2018. The 22-year-old Algeria international, who played for France at Under 21 level, has made 87 league appearances in four seasons at Saint-Etienne.SAN DIEGO -- Nick Hardwicks 11th NFL season ended after only 15 plays. His career might be over, too, after the San Diego Chargers put the veteran centre on injured reserve Wednesday with a recurring neck stinger. "For me, personally, with all the time Ive had with him, what makes it so sad for me is that he may not ever put a helmet on again," said quarterback Philip Rivers, who came into the league with Hardwick in 2004. Rivers knows that decision is down the road. But Hardwick is 33 and in the final year of his contract. He contemplated retiring in the off-season before deciding to come back. Hardwick will be replaced by Rich Ohrnberger, whos in his sixth NFL season and second with the Chargers. "I was so sorry to hear it," said Ohrnberger, who will make his sixth career start Sunday when the Chargers (0-1) play their home opener against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks (1-0). "He talked to me last night about it. While Im excited for the opportunity, I would love to have him out there and be playing with him. Its a tough loss for the room, its a tough loss for the team. But thats football. Weve got to move forward." By comparison, Hardwick had been the starter since his rookie season of 2004. Hardwick started all 136 games he has played in, including the last 67 straight. Ohrnberger stepped in for Hardwick after he was hurt Monday night in an 18-17 loss at Arizona. Ohrnberger also replaced Hardwick early in a wild-card playoff victory at Cincinnati in January. "Its the next-man up philosophy," Ohrnberger said. "What a boon to have a successful season learning from a guy like Nick. Ive relied on him this past year and all through the off-season and Ill be using him as a source of advice this year, too." "Were all upset," Ohrnberger said. "We wish it would have worked out differently.dddddddddddd Thats football. Its a great game. Its the people you fall in love with. You have guys like that show up and take over a program for a long time and become an important part of the community and the driving force of a team. This season is over, unfortunately." Hardwick came out of Monday nights game with what was announced as an ankle injury. "We had to make a decision yesterday. He had the ankle injury during the game and then he informed us of the stinger after the game was over and we came off the field," coach Mike McCoy said. "When I came in the locker room thats when I found that out. Were looking at the best interests of him and moving forward." Rivers said it was tough losing Hardwick so early. "Were just starting the season, youre so fired up, and obviously he and I, shoot, from a personal standpoint have been through so much, and were looking forward to a heck of a year. Its always tough getting that news, about any of your teammates, but especially him because of how close we worked together and, shoot, how many games weve been out there together. "I even told Rich, You know now how I feel about Nick and what Im going to say about Nick and were going to miss him. Its tough when you lose a guy thats been playing the way hes played centre here for so long and how awesome he is in the preparation and protection. But I wanted Rich to know at the same time I believe in him and I think our team does, too. We believe Rich can do it." Rivers and Ohrnberger do have some work to do. Rivers couldnt handle a shotgun snap from Ohrnberger on third-and-8 from the Arizona 29 with seven minutes left, forcing San Diego to punt on fourth-and-22 from the 43 while leading 17-12. That set up a drive capped by John Browns winning 13-yard touchdown reception from Carson Palmer with 2:25 left. ' ' '