OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice received a two-game suspension from the NFL on Thursday following his off-season arrest for domestic violence. Rice will miss the season opener against AFC North champion Cincinnati on Sept. 7 and the Sept. 11 game on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The six-year veteran was arrested following a Feb. 15 altercation in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in which he allegedly struck then-fiancee Janay Palmer. The 27-year-old Rice has been accepted into a diversion program, which upon completion could lead to the charges being expunged. Rice met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last month after joining the diversion program. Goodell ultimately decided to suspend the running back for two games without pay and fine him an additional game check "for conduct detrimental to the NFL in violation of the leagues Personal Conduct Policy." Despite the courts decision not to impose criminal punishment, "the Commissioner determined, as he advised Rice, that the conduct was incompatible with NFL policies and warranted disciplinary action." In a letter to Rice, Goodell wrote: "As you acknowledged during our meeting, your conduct was unquestionably inconsistent with league polices and the standard of behaviour required of everyone who is part of the NFL. The league is an entity that depends on integrity and in the confidence of the public and we simply cannot tolerate conduct that endangers others or reflects negatively on our game. This is particularly true with respect to domestic violence and other forms of violence against women." Rices suspension will begin on Aug. 30. He will be eligible for reinstatement Sept. 12 after the Pittsburgh game. Rice may participate in all aspects of training camp and preseason games. "It is disappointing that I will not be with my teammates for the first two games of the season, but thats my fault," Rice said in a statement issued by the Ravens. "As I said earlier, I failed in many ways. But, Janay and I have learned from this. We have become better as a couple and as parents. I am better because of everything we have experienced since that night. The counselling has helped tremendously." Rice is the teams career leader in total scrimmage yards and ranks behind only Jamal Lewis in total yards rushing. Bernard Pierce is expected to start for Rice in Baltimores first two games. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement: "We appreciate the thorough process the league office used to evaluate the incident with Ray Rice. The time the Commissioner spent with Ray and Janay is typical of the extra steps the NFL takes when making decisions regarding discipline issues. While not having Ray for the first two games is significant to our team, we respect the leagues decision and believe it is fair." He added, "We also respect the efforts Ray has made to become the best partner and father he can be. That night was not typical of the Ray Rice we know and respect. We believe that he will not let that one night define who he is, and he is determined to make sure something like this never happens again." Rices teammates were not stunned by the news of the suspension. "You knew something was going to happen," wide receiver Torrey Smith said. "Ill be glad when those two games are up." Coach John Harbaugh said, "Its part of the process. There are consequences when you make a mistake; well move forward." Rice participated Thursday in Baltimores first full-squad practice. Before that session began, the Ravens lost cornerback Aaron Ross for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, a mishap that occurred during his conditioning test. . -- Chad Labelle scored the winner 17:36 into the third period to give Medicine Hat a 2-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Sunday and lift the Tigers into the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. . The Montreal Canadiens goaltender has won three of his four games since returning from a lower-body injury that kept him out from the end of the Olympic break until March 15.
http://www.bluejacketsauthority.com/aut ... ts-jersey/. At this point, even he isnt sure when it is going to stop. The right-hander dropped his fourth straight decision in Los Angeles 6-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night, leaving his status very much in doubt as the Dodgers prepare for the stretch drive. .S. Olympic hockey management team have been making what he called "ghost rosters" since August. .ca/CurlingSkins - with the Top 16 curlers earning a ticket to Banff, Alta. to compete in the TRAVELERS ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME Presented by Pintys, running Jan.CHICAGO -- The Minnesota Twins knew they were playing in a park that gives up home runs. They ended up hitting 11 of them, accounting for all 19 runs in their weekend series against the Chicago White Sox. Kevin Correia pitched seven shutout innings, Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer backed him with home runs and the Twins beat the White Sox 5-2 Sunday. "It sure seems we missed a lot of opportunities, but we did put the ball in the seats," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "As we said coming into this series, in this ballpark, the ball flies. If you get a hold of it pretty decent, its going to go out." The Twins took three of four games in the series and have won nine of 12 against the White Sox this season. Minnesota has scored 23 of its 28 runs during its current road trip via home run, but the Twins are 7 for 62 with runners in scoring position during that stretch. "If you look at our runners in scoring position in this series, I dont think Major League Baseball thought you could do that either," Gardenhire said. "But well take the home runs if thats the way we have to score runs right now, as long as were winning ballgames." Adam Dunn and Conor Gillaspie hit solo home runs off Casey Fien in the ninth. Doziers three-run homer, his 11th of the season, gave the Twins a 3-0 lead in the fifth after Chris Colabello singled and Doug Bernier walked. After Jamey Carroll singled, Mauer hit his ninth homer. Mauer is hitting .351 in 64 career games at U.S. Cellular Field. Correia (8-8) struck out seven, tying a season high. He allowed five hits and one walk in his second scoreless outing of the season. "Early in the year, I had a lot mmore smoother innings where I was getting deeper in the game," Correia said.dddddddddddd. "Im trying to get back to firing a lot of strikes and getting quicker outs." Jose Quintana (6-4) gave up five runs in five innings. Thats the most runs hes permitted since giving up six on April 5 against Seattle. Quintana is 0-2 with a 9.15 ERA in four career starts against the Twins. The White Sox have scored three runs or fewer in 17 of his 24 starts. "Its kind of the same old story with him," Dunn said. "He keeps us in every single ballgame and one inning got him." Dunn hit his 27th homer and Gillaspie had his 10th. Notes: The Twins traded INF Carroll to the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named later or cash on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the Royals put 2B Miguel Tejada on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf. "If I can go there and contribute in a positive way, I know the team is playing extremely well right now and they have a bunch of good young guys and some great pitching," Carroll said. ... The Twins started Carroll at third base, giving Trevor Plouffe a day off, and started Doug Bernier at shortstop, resting Pedro Florimon. Plouffe is batting .233, and Florimon is hitting .223. "Plouffe is not swinging good. Flori didnt swing good, and Im using everybody anyway," Gardenhire said. ... Twins C Ryan Doumit is eligible to come off the seven-day disabled list this week. He went on the DL on Thursday for concussion-like symptoms. "Hell get re-examined by our doctors when we get home to determine if hes ready to resume baseball activities," Twins assistant GM Rob Antony said. ' ' '
