Dein erstes Forum » CB Dee Milliner, the teams top draft pick at No

THEY SAID ITIt was a clear penalty. There will not be a clearer one this year in the A-League, from Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic. And from opposite number Kevin Muscat, who has just worn a $5000 fine for criticising referees, I could be honest with you and the headlines tomorrow would be Muscat slams referee. In their different styles, both coaches agreed that Jarred Gilletts decision to deny the Wanderers a penalty for Jason Gerias tackle on Jumpei Kusukami was wrong, and a game-changer.STAT THAT MATTERSMelbourne City captain Bruno Fornaroli became the quickest man to 30 A-League goals with another double in Thursday nights 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets and now has 31 goals in 25 appearances. In just 14 months in Australia, the Uruguayan striker has already smashed the record for most goals in a single campaign.MEN OF THE ROUNDWellington Phoenix duo Ernie Merrick and Roy Krishna deserve recognition for turning around Wellingtons season. After four straight losses, the Nix have two on the bounce and are again looking dangerous. Krishna has scored in the Phoenixs last three matches and teed up Hamish Watson to seal a 2-0 win over Central Coast on Saturday. That was also Merricks 100th win as an A-League coach.SAFEST HANDSEugene Galekovic was a busy boy in the Reds 1-1 draw with Brisbane on Friday night, making six saves and keeping his side in the contest as Adelaide gained just their second point of the season.CONTROVERSY CORNERMelbourne City already enjoyed a numerical advantage over Newcastle Jets on Thursday night when they unintentionally deepened their disadvantage. With Jets skipper Nigel Boogaard off with an ankle injury, a botched double substitution saw Tim Cahill stay on the field as his intended replacement, Paulo Retre, joined him. Within a minute, City had pointed out the mistake and with no advantage gained, both clubs were able to laugh the incident off.UNDER PRESSUREJets boss Mark Jones could be facing his first major moment at the club. Three straight defeats and a long list of unavailable defenders headed by Boogaard means Newcastle head into this weekends F3 derby with their tails between their legs. A point might feel like a win.Cheap Air Max 97 . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Cheap Womens Air Max 97 . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. http://www.outletairmax97.com/wholesale-air-max-97-undefeated.html . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Air Max 97 Undefeated China .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Racer Pink Air Max Plus 97 .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Geno Smith was surrounded by a throng of reporters, a crowded scene usually more appropriate for a No. 1 draft pick than a second-rounder. But Smith, of course, isnt your ordinary No. 39 selection. And, the New York Jets are certainly used to their quarterbacks -- and backup quarterbacks, for that matter -- getting this type of attention. "I just come out," Smith said Friday, "and be my natural self." Who that is, exactly, has been open to some debate in recent weeks as Smith has taken lots of criticism for his abilities on the field -- despite a record-breaking career at West Virginia -- and his attitude off it. Various published reports painted Smith as an immature diva who didnt always take football seriously enough. "Maybe I dont know what the diva behaviour looks like," coach Rex Ryan said. "I never saw that at all." Smiths free fall from potential top-10 pick, and his reported decision -- and later, change of heart -- to leave New York rather than return to the draft site at Radio City Music Hall added to the perception. As did Smith firing his two agents shortly after the draft. Hes done with all that. Still without an agent, Smith is ready to move on to football again. "I think its been a more eventful few weeks for the media," Smith said. "My only job is to focus on what I have here and get better." And theres plenty to do, if you ask Smith, who said all the right things after his first practice of rookie minicamp. "Im going to be tough on myself," Smith said. "Ill let the coaches do the grading, but if I say it, its an F because I want to be an A-plus. "Hey man, thats just the way I do things." Despite the tough self-evaluation, the quarterback looked pretty good during practice. Smith appeared to have a solid working knowledge of the playbook, and zipped many of his passes -- mostly in short yardage -- around the field. "Ive been studying my butt off, learning formations, learning protections," said Smith, wearing No. 7 because his old No. 12 from his college days is Joe Namaths retired number. "I think I did a good job overall today. There were some bumps in the road. Those are things I think I can clean up." He also worked under centre most of the time, something he wasnt used to doing during his time at West Virginia. Smith hesitated a few times on some throws, and was even yelled at by offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg for failing to pull off a play-action bootleg pass. Rookie jitters? Smith wont go there. "There are no excuses here," Smith said. "Weve all got to study our playbooks and be prepared for practice. If he felt like I needed to pick things up, then hell get on me, which he did. Im receptive to that, and I did what he askked of me.dddddddddddd" Yes, the man some outside the Jets organization anonymously labeled as not very coachable said all the right things after practice, appearing humble and clear of his role on the team. While many assume that will be to someday become the Jets starting quarterback, Smith refused to look too far ahead. "I have a job to do as of right now, and thats to come in and compete," he said. "Right now, theres a long ways to go in that process. This is only Step 1, Day 1, but it was fun to get out here on the practice field and enjoy my teammates and coaches." The plan is to have Smith compete for the starting job this summer with Mark Sanchez and David Garrard, as well as Greg McElroy and Matt Simms -- although those two likely have no realistic shot at winning it. Smith said he was told that Sanchez will get "the majority of the reps" in training camp. "I know Mark is a competitor, and I understand Mark wants to win the job," Smith said. "We all do. But at the same time, Im going to learn from him and David and Greg." He already impressed his fellow rookie teammates on offence by getting together with several of them at the players hotel Thursday night and going over the playbook. "I think thats great," Ryan said. "Its unusual the way he commanded the huddle. And the fact hes already telling guys (instructions), thats pretty sharp." Smith has also studied former quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, trying to get an even better handle on Mornhinwegs West Coast offence. So, Smith says, the critics can keep on talking about him. He has better things to worry about. "I dont resent any of it," Smith said. "I dont pay attention to any of it. I just focus on what I can control and thats being a Jets quarterback, being a great teammate and just getting better as a quarterback daily." ------ NOTES: CB Dee Milliner, the teams top draft pick at No. 9 overall, didnt practice as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. He expects to be ready in time for training camp in late-July. ... Ryan said he was "disappointed" in Quinton Coples work in the weight room Thursday. "If Quinton doesnt do a better job in the weight room," Ryan said, "hell have to compete like anyone else for a job," Ryan said. It was a clear motivational ploy since Coples, the teams first-rounder last year, is a rising star for the defence and will move from the line to outside linebacker this season after leading the team in sacks with 5 1/2. "Hes been doing a great job, but any chance I have to get him, Im going to," Ryan said. "I expect so much from him and if he lets up a little bit, were going to make sure he knows it." ' ' '