EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Cruz had an arthroscopic debridement of the knee Thursday afternoon in Pensacola, Fla. after getting a second opinion on the injury he sustained last weekend against Seattle. The surgery is similar to the one former Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora had before the 2011 season. The recovery period is at least three weeks. The Giants (5-9) have two games left in the regular season. The team listed him as out for the Lions game in Detroit on Sunday and spokesman Pat Hanlon said he would not play in the season finale against Washington on Dec. 29 Cruz was injured Sunday in the third quarter of the Giants 23-0 loss to the Seahawks. He jumped to catch a pass and landed hard on his head. After he walked off the field, the Giants said he sustained a concussion and injured his knee. Cruz was cleared of the concussion Wednesday. The knee injury was more serious. Cruz, who signed a $43 million contract this summer, had a team-high 73 catches for 998 yards and four touchdowns this season. He was 2 yards short of his third straight 1,000-yard season. Offensive co-ordinator Kevin Gilbride said last week that this might have been Cruzs best season because the former free agent drew double-team coverage all season. He also noted that the Paterson native has also had his best year blocking. "Theres no question that we havent been as effective in some of the other spots and, therefore, people gear up defensively," Gilbride said. "Theyre certainly very cognizant of where he is at all times. Sometimes we call it funnel coverage, where everybody is man-to-man and then there is a zone player in there. Usually that zone player is looking to see where Victor is and then weve gotten a lot more doubles." Gilbride said it reminds him of the attention that Steve Smith and Plaxico Burress got in their primes. Signed as a free agent out of Massachusetts, Cruz catapulted into stardom in 2011, catching 82 passes for a team-record 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns. He became a fan favourite with his salsa dance after each touchdown. Cruz caught 86 passes for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time. If there has been any disappointment for Cruz the past two seasons, its been missing the playoffs. "I am about the team," Cruz said last week. "The numbers are great but I am about going to the playoffs and being in contention and doing things that get the team excited, the organization excited, the fans excited." . -- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" and "obviously an asset," but the New York Yankees managing general partner wouldnt discuss the third basemans possible return to the team following a season-long suspension. . And once again, Team Homan emerged as the victor with the reigning national champions defeating Team Sweeting at the Pintys All-Star Curling Skins Game Friday night in the tournaments opening draw at The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in beautiful Banff National Park.
http://www.cheapnhldevilsjerseysauthent ... jersey.com) - Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is set to return Tuesday against Nashville after sitting out the past two games because of a minor upper body injury. . -- With Tony Allen back, the Memphis Grizzlies were able to turn up their defence pressure and hold off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch. . Striker Dario Mandzukic scored the opener in the 22nd minute but was given a red card nine minutes later for a reckless tackle and left Croatia with 10 men for the remainder of the match.SYDNEY, Australia -- New Zealand opened the Rugby Championship with a commanding 47-29 victory over Australia on Saturday, extending its dominance over its trans-Tasman rival and spoiling Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzies first game in charge. Despite missing star flyhalf Dan Carter through injury, the All Blacks always looked in control against a mistake-prone Australia. Ben Smith scored a hat trick of tries, and Aaron Cruden, Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith also crossed in a bonus-point win for the world champions at Sydneys Olympic stadium. Will Genia and James OConnor scored tries for the hosts. The All Blacks will retain the Bledisloe Cup -- a trophy contested annually between the Australasian rivals -- for the 11th straight year with a victory next week in Wellington. "I am obviously very happy with the performance," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said. "Its not every day that you can come here and get 40 odd points. Its important to be a winning team, but youve got to keep humble and your feet on the floor because youve got to win again next week. "The Bledisloe Cup, you have to win twice, so we havent done anything yet. Weve only done a small part of the job, but until we win two, we dont win it." On this performance, McKenzie will need a vast improvement from his players if they are to have any chance of competing in the four-team Rugby Championship, which also features South Africa and Argentina. "Every time you lose a game its disappointing," McKenzie said. "We were level pegging there for some time in the game, but you have to respect possession. "We didnt control the ball and they were able to play and do some of the things theyre good at, and you pay a price for that." Australia captain James Horwill said his team paid a heavy price for its mistakes. "Theyre very good. They show it by the way they play, the way they capitalize on turnovers, and they understand the way they want to play because they have done it for a long time together," he said. "They are No. 1 in the world for a reason." As was the case in the lost series to the British and Irish Lions in June and July, the Wallabies made its cause difficult with numerous individual errors, giving the visitors frequent scoring opportunities. Stephen Moores knock-on in the opening minutes gave the All Blacks an early opportunity to pressure the Wallabies goal-line defence. It was a chance they eagerly grasped, with Aaron Cruden getting on the outside of James OConnor and flicking a one-handed pass for Ben Smith to cross unchallenged for a converted try after four minutes. The Wallabies were given a penalty chance when Kieran Read barged into Rob Simmons off a high midfield kick. Center Christian Lealiifano made no mistake to narrow the deficit to 7-3. Australia closed to within a point on 12 minutes through Lealiifano after referee Craig Joubert penalized New Zeealand captain Richie McCaw for playing the ball while off his feet at the ruck.dddddddddddd Both teams traded penalties before a poor attempted clearance by Lealiifano was charged down by Cruden, with the flyhalf able to score with ease for a 17-12 lead. The home teams task was made harder when Jesse Moggs clearance kick failed to find touch in the 33rd minute. After several phases close to the Wallabies line, Aaron Smith fired a wide pass that eventually allowed the returning McCaw to dive over in the corner to make it 22-12. "For Richie to come back after having the break and everyone doubted him. To get through the 70 minutes like he did just shows the character of the bloke once again, so hopefully there wont be any more doubters," Hansen said. The Wallabies received a lifeline after the All Blacks fumbled the ball on its line-out. It was swooped on by Michael Hooper, who passed the ball for Will Genia to sprint 60 yards and beat Cruden, Ben Smith and Israel Daggs attempted tackles to score under the posts. Lealiifano added the extras to narrow the score to 22-19. In keeping with the see-saw nature of the first half, the Wallabies were caught offside in the final minute of the half, giving Cruden a simple penalty shot for the visitors to lead 25-19 at halftime. The Wallabies started the second half brightly and Lealiifano again drew the Wallabies within three points with another penalty. In the 51st minute, the Wallabies conspired to allow the All Blacks score its fourth try, and a bonus point, when Mogg dropped off Conrad Smith, allowing the centre to dash over under the posts for a 32-22 lead. The hosts misery was compounded when the All Blacks won possession on Australias scrum feed in the 57th minute and quickly played the ball wide. Ben Smith found space to dive over in the corner to end the match as a contest. Quade Cooper was brought on from the bench in the 61st minute, his first international appearance since September 2012. The Queensland Reds playmaker was greeted by a chorus of boos from the large All Black supporter contingent among the crowd of 68,765 people. Cruden continued to impress, slotting a penalty in the 66th to bring up 40 points for the All Blacks. "People have questioned Aaron Cruden at times at this level, and I think he showed tonight that hes a true international player of world-class ability and he led the team very well," Hansen said. Ben Smith scored his deserved hat trick in the 71st, latching on to a spilt ball at a ruck to dash to the line. Australia scored a late consolation try when OConnor found space out wide in New Zealands defensive line. ------ Scores: New Zealand 47 (Ben Smith 3, Aaron Cruden, Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith tries; Cruden 3 conversions, 3 penalties, Beauden Barrett conversion) def. Australia 29 (Will Genia, James OConnor tries; Christian Lealiifano 2 conversion, 5 penalties). Halftime: 25-19. ' ' '
