07.10.2019, Saat:10:37
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos coach John Fox returned to work Monday, four weeks after open-heart surgery, his newfound energy matching his renowned enthusiasm. "I feel tremendous. As my surgeon said, I had a valve that was the size of a pinhead and now its the size of a 50-cent piece," Fox said. "Obviously, the doctors feel good about me getting back to work. I actually would have preferred to be back sooner, but there was a pretty hard deadline of four weeks post-surgery and I honoured that and here I am." Truth is, Fox has been telecommuting for weeks. As soon as he was released from the hospital after having his aortic valve repaired, a surgery he had hoped to put off until after the Super Bowl, Fox set up a sort of command centre at his off-season home in Charlotte, N.C., some 200 yards from the spot on the golf course where he fell ill on Nov. 2 during the Broncos bye. Not only was he in daily contact with defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio, who guided the Broncos (10-2) to three wins in four games during in his absence, but Fox was also in constant communication with his captains, including quarterback Peyton Manning, over the toughest stretch of Denvers season. Fox was able to keep track of his team on his big-screen TV on game days and on his iPad play book, watching cut-ups of practices and helping to formulate game plans. "Other than that I was in another state, (it was) much the same as what I would have done in my office at Dove Valley," Fox said. "I want to be careful how I say that. I was involved, just like everybody in this building is involved. Like I said, its not one guy. Its a team. And its a lot of people doing their job. As I mentioned before, its a tribute to the staff and the players that did a tremendous job as I went on the longest bye week in history." Del Rio maintained his defensive play-calling duties while he was interim head coach and he allowed offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase to continue calling plays for Manning & Co. Fox admitted there were times he cringed at the play-calling while watching the games on TV. "In fairness, a couple times," he said, chuckling. "But Im sure a lot of people do the same thing when Im doing that. Its just part of the game." Fox and his wife, Robin, flew home on team owner Pat Bowlens jet on Wednesday and at Del Rios suggestion he visited with the team on Thanksgiving morning, then watched from his home in Denver as the Broncos beat the Chiefs 35-28 Sunday at Kansas City to take charge of the AFC West. Executive Vice-President John Elway presented Del Rio with a game ball afterward. "It was special to have John Elway recognize the things I did," Del Rio said, "but I basically want to say that is just a representation of what we all did. It wasnt about me; it was a collective effort of all the players, coaches, trainers, equipment guys that had to pull together in Coach Foxs absence." On Monday, Fox drove into work and was greeted by hugs and handshakes. Players said he flashed that famous smile all day long. "I had open-heart surgery and watching those games was harder than any pain I felt during that rehab," Fox said. "He stood up there in front of us in the team meeting and told us he feels better than ever," tight end Joel Dreessen said. Fox said he lost 10 pounds, and "Im actually in better shape now than I was a month ago." He said he has no restrictions, but isnt going to push it, either. "Yeah. Im going to be smart," he said. "If all of a sudden I cant hold my eyes open, Im going to go home. Like I said, the last three weeks, Ive been operating pretty much like I did the first eight games of the season. Its not like Im moving furniture or doing roofs. I sit somewhere and watch football." Hes not sure yet whether hell coach from the booth or the sideline Sunday when the Broncos host Tennessee (5-7). "Im going to see how I feel. I havent been to a practice yet. But it wont make a big difference. Im in communication with everybody whether theyre in the press box or on the field," Fox said. Ultra Boost Cheap Canada . There are practical ideas, like this Chewbaca inspired Star Wars jerseys. Star Wars themed jerseys for the Toledo Mud Hens. Stan Smith Shoes Canada Sale . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/ultra-boos...caged.html . After a 99-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, his Celtics coaches and teammates have only positive things to say about the Toronto-born rookie. NMD R1 Canada . The Islanders own the fifth pick in the 2014 draft but had until June 1 to decide whether to keep it or defer to 2015. The selection was packaged in the teams deal for Thomas Vanek on October 27, 2013. Ultra Boost 19 Canada . "We cannot stay the same way the whole season long," said Reyes. "This is not acceptable. Something needs to change because were a better team than what were showing right now. Its a long season and we just need to continue to push." Its been a frustrating week for the ballclub.PITTSBURGH -- Matt Garza provided the edge, even if it ended his night early. The Milwaukee Brewers took it from there, tightening the NL wild-card race with a contentious 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. Garza was ejected in the fifth inning after hitting reigning NL MVP Andrew McCutchen for a second time. The bullpen stepped in and kept the surging Pirates at bay with 4 1-3 shutout innings. The Brewers scored the games only run on when Elian Herrera sprinted home on Logan Schafers sacrifice fly off Mark Melancon (3-5) in the ninth. Milwaukee drew within 3 1/2 games of the Pirates for the last playoff spot with eight days left in the regular season by winning for just the second time in its last 13 road games. "We knew what we had to do and we know how things have been going," manager Ron Roenicke said. The Brewers celebrated loudly in the hallway leading to the clubhouse, the kind of fire thats been missing during their lengthy September swoon. Garza, however, stoked the fire with 4 2/3 strong innings. His work included two run-ins with McCutchen. Garza hit the Pittsburgh star centre fielder on the left shoulder in the third then grazed McCutchens elbow with the bases empty two innings later. Both plunkings came with two outs and the bases empty, hardly the kind of pitches meant to send a message. "If people think I hit McCutchen on purpose, with a 1-2 count in a game like this, then youre just an idiot," Garza said. Garza had hit just two batters in 158 innings coming in. McCutchen -- who went to the disabled list in August with fractured rib cartilage shortly after getting drilled while playing in Arizona -- figures Garza was just trying to work inside when the pitches got away from him. "He didnt try to hit me but he got it in and Im sure hes thinking its better he hit me than me hit him with a homer or double or something," McCutchen said. Zach Duke (5-1), a former All-Star with the Pirates, picked up the victory after getting the final out of the eighth. Francisco Rodriguez worked a perfect ninth for his 43rd save of the season and 347th of his career, moving him into a tie with Randy Myers for 10th on the all-time list. Herrera reachhed on a forceout off Melancon (3-5) in the ninth and moved to third on Lyle Overbays second double of the night.dddddddddddd Herrera scored when Schafers fly to left was just deep enough. The Pirates left 10 runners on base and went 0 for 8 with men in scoring position. "The pitchers were out there and kept putting up zeroes," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We had some opportunities and couldnt push a run across and they got one late." Pittsburgh starter Edinson Volquez retaliated after the first plunking by throwing inside to Milwaukee star Ryan Braun, earning a warning to both benches, making Garzas ejection automatic even as he pled his case to home plate umpire Marty Foster. "He just told me, In this type of situation, my hands are tied," Garza said. "I said, Come on, you know it. Hes like, Yeah, I know and all three umpires over there are like, Youve got to understand the situation." Garzas unexpected departure forced the Brewers to rely on an already taxed bullpen that had blown games on Thursday and Friday. This time a string of six relievers stood firm after letting late leads slip away earlier in the week. The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but Starling Marte lined to third and pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez grounded out to short against Duke. Volquez lacked Garzas crispness early, needing 52 pitches to labour through the first three innings alone, but continued his remarkable bounce back season. The pitcher who went 9-12 with a 5.71 ERA a year ago while pitching for San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers lowered his ERA to 3.15 by keeping the Brewers off the scoreboard before exiting in the seventh.. UP NEXT Brewers: RHP Wily Peralta (16-10, 3.70 ERA) makes his 31st start of the season on Sunday. He is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates, all of the starts coming at Miller Park. Pirates: RHP Vance Worley (7-4, 3.18 ERA) returns to the rotation after making a brief move to the bullpen when Charlie Morton was taken off the disabled list. Worley is 0-3 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts against Milwaukee. He gave up four runs on 12 hits in a 4-3 loss to Milwaukee on Aug. 24. ' ' '