FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The mantra of the New England Patriots when a player gets injured is "next man up." This week that man will be backup linebacker Dane Fletcher. With Brandon Spikes joining three key defenders on injured reserve with a knee injury, Fletcher is likely to see a lot more action when the Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC divisional-playoff game Saturday night. "Everybody has to step up," Fletcher said Tuesday. "Everybodys role kind of increases on defence, especially in the linebacker unit." Spikes, an outstanding run stopper in his fourth season, was placed on injured reserve Monday. That left the Patriots with six linebackers on their 53-man roster, including rookie free agent JaGared Davis, who was signed off the practice squad Tuesday. Two others have played very little on defence. Rookie Steve Beauharnais has one tackle in two games and Chris White has one defensive tackle while being used mostly on special teams. The remaining starters are Donta Hightower and rookie Jamie Collins, a first-round draft choice. Fletcher, a better pass defender than Spikes, has averaged just 14 defensive snaps in the 15 games hes played, starting just one. He played more than half the snaps only once, against Denver and Peyton Manning. "Spikes has done a great job this year," safety Devin McCourty said, "being a guy thats been a leader on the defence, a guy thats stepped up and made key plays, I think, like hes always done, but really stepping into a leadership role. But now its next man up and being ready to go." That figures to be Fletcher. "Every play matters. Every second youre in there matters," he said. "It could be one problem play that costs your whole team so you dont want to be that guy. So its just kind of that time of the year where everything amps up in every aspect of the game." New England has played most of the season with three of its best defensive players on injured reserve. Tackle Vince Wilfork played the first four games, tackle Tommy Kelly played the first five and linebacker Jerod Mayo played the first six. The Patriots did well enough without them to earn a first-round bye. But will the latest injury be one too many? "I hope not," McCourty said with a laugh. . Paul, MN (SportsNetwork. . Alen, 28, hit .315 with five home runs, 59 RBI and a career-high nine stolen bases for the Goldeyes last season. He is the longest serving catcher in Goldeyes history, having already spent five seasons with the organization.
https://www.cheapblackhawks.com/. -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. . The team of Lars Nelson, Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, and anchor Marcus Hellner cruised to victory in the 4x10 km event, winning in a time of one hour, 28 minutes, and 42. . - Kyle Wood and Barclay Goodrow scored second period power-play goals to provide all of the scoring for the North Bay Battalion in a 2-0 victory over the Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League action on Thursday.HAMILTON, Ont. -- Bailee Bourassa scored the eventual winner 1:50 into the second period as the Weyburn Gold Wings edged the Edmonton Thunder 2-1 for gold at the Esso Cup womens midget hockey champion on Saturday. Tessa Wilson opened the scoring for the Gold Wings (6-1-0-0) with a goal off a pass from Caitlin Dempsey at 16:01 of the first. Brett Campbell pulled the Thunder (2-4-1-0) to within one goal, scoring on the power play at 7:01 of the second frame. Weyburn goaltender Jane Kish made 29 saves for the victory. Edmontons Tracie Kikuchi turned aside 23 shots in the loss. Earlier, Victoria Pitawanakwat scored the winning goal 12:57 into the third period to lead the Sudbury Lady Wolves to a bronze medal with a 3-2 victory over the host Stoney Creek Sabres.dddddddddddd Sydney Walker had a goal and an assist for the Lady Wolves (4-3-0-0) while Karli Shell had the other Sudbury goal. Pitawanakwat picked up an assist for a two-point day. Stephanie Ayres and Jesse Bellamy scored for the Sabres (4-1-0-2). Lady Wolves goaltender Stephanie Pascal stopped 24 shots in the win, while Stoney Creeks Hannah Miller made 24 saves in defeat. ' ' '
