FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots have signed defensive lineman Alan Branch and released linebacker Deontae Skinner.Branch was cut by Buffalo on Aug. 24, one day after being arrested on a drunken-driving charge. He spent the previous four seasons with Arizona after being drafted in the second round in 2007, then played two years for Seattle. He started 47 of his 94 games and had eight sacks. With Buffalo last year he had 39 tackles in 16 games.Skinner signed with the Patriots as an undrafted rookie from Mississippi State on May 27. He had one start in seven games and made 10 tackles on defence and three on special teams. His release comes after the Patriots traded for linebackers Akeem Ayers from Tennessee last week and Jonathan Casillas from Tampa Bay on Tuesday.___AP NFL website:
www.pro32.ap.org and
www.twitter.com/AP_NFL . Sam, who joined the Cowboys in early September, has spent the entire season on the practice roster. . - Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has nothing but good problems right now.
http://www.cheapwizardsjerseysauthentic ... ris-jersey. Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday. . Matt Carkner got back into the Ottawa lineup, and made his presence felt right away by settling his clubs score in a one-sided fight with Rangers forward Brian Boyle. . The Laval Rouge et Or defensive back/kick-returner gained the invitation following his showing Sunday at an NFL regional combine in Baltimore.TRENTINO, Italy -- Brendan Bottcher of Sherwood Park, Alta., and his rink from the University of Alberta continued their four-game winning streak at the 26th Winter Universiade by defeating Koreas Chang Min Kim 7-6 on Saturday. Bottcher, with Michael Lizmore, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin and alternate Parker Konschuh, led 5-2 at the half-way point, but Kim scored three points in the seventh end to tie the game at 6-6. Canada blanked the next two ends and scored the winning single in the tenth to remain at the top of the leaderboard, tied with Swedens Oskar Eriksson with 4-0 records. Canada will face Italy and Czech Republic, both with 1-3 records, on Sunday. In womens curling, Laura Crocker and her Wilfrid Laurier University rink are still looking for a second win at the Winter Universiade curling tournament. Crocker lost to Great Britains Hannah Fleming 7-5 in Saturday morning action, before dropping an 8-5 decision to Anna Sidorova of Russia in the evening.dddddddddddd Canadas 1-4 record is tied with the U.S., and ahead of China and host Italy. Canada will face a winless China in their only game on Sunday. On the slopes, Philippe Rivet of St. Lambert. Que., was the lone Canadian to participate in the mens Super G. He posted a time of 1 minute, 25.26 seconds to finish 26th out of 59 competitors. In the cross-country skiing sprint events, no Canadians advanced to the semifinal round. The top finisher for Canada in the womens 7.5 kilometre race was Camille Pepin of St. Ferreol les Neiges, Que., who placed 32nd. On the mens side, Harry Seaton of Orillia, Ont., completed the 10 km event in 25th place. ' ' '
