Sonstieges » win the division. "Its been a wild ride so

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy isnt sure if quarterback Aaron Rodgers will start the teams winner-take-all NFC North matchup with the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field. McCarthy did say Monday that the team wants to make a decision on Rodgers availability "sooner than later." Rodgers, who has not played since fracturing his left collarbone against the Bears at Lambeau Field on Nov. 4, has missed the past seven games. Including the loss to the Bears when Rodgers was injured at the end of the Packers opening series, the Packers have gone 2-5-1 with three different starters at quarterback. Throughout the process, the team has emphasized that Rodgers has not been "medically cleared" by team physician Dr. Pat McKenzie. McCarthy also emphasized last week that the decision not to start Rodgers in Sundays 38-31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was an "organizational decision," suggesting that general manager Ted Thompson, McCarthy and McKenzie made the call. "(There is) lot of conversation going on with Aaron and obviously Dr. McKenzie and Ted Thompson and I. Were working through that," McCarthy said Monday of the teams plans for Rodgers. "I do not have anything to announce today. Hopefully we can get the question answered sooner than later. Were still working that." Asked directly if Rodgers has been medically cleared, McCarthys answer was different than previous answers to the same question. "Thats all part of the conversation. Were still gathering information today," McCarthy said. "Theres testing and things to get done, so were still working through that. I, personally, havent talked to Dr. McKenzie yet. He left for surgery. Were working through it." Last week, McCarthy had also said that Rodgers looked "ready to play" after observing him in practice last Wednesday and Thursday. While Rodgers had experienced pain in his shoulder after returning to practice in advance of the Dec. 8 game against Atlanta, he was essentially pain-free before the Dec. 15 game against Dallas and before Sundays game against the Steelers. "Clearly after seeing Aaron practice for two weeks, this is something Ted Thompson and I need to sit down and we need to assess all the information and to decide if its time for him to play," McCarthy said. "Aaron wants to play, has wanted to play for the last couple of weeks. He fully accepts, understands everything going on with his injury, so this is really a decision for Ted Thompson and I representing the organization. Thats how it works." Backup Matt Flynn had led Green Bay to back-to-back double-digit comebacks in victories over Atlanta and Dallas the previous two weeks to keep the Packers playoff hopes alive. And their loss to Pittsburgh ended up having no ill effect because of the Bears 54-11 blowout loss at Philadelphia later in the night. Now, the Packers (7-7-1) and Bears (8-7) will square off Sunday, with the winner earning the NFC North crown and a home playoff game in the NFC wild-card round. "We know whats at stake," Flynn said. Rodgers status isnt the only issue for the Packers on the injury front. Four-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Clay Matthews, who missed four games earlier this season after breaking his right thumb against Detroit on Oct. 6, broke the thumb again Sunday and may be lost for the season. "The training staff didnt feel very good about the injury, so were still working through the process," McCarthy said. And running back Eddie Lacy, who has been hobbled by a sprained right ankle since suffering the initial injury Dec. 8, hurt the ankle again Sunday and could be out, too. "Eddie, hes sore, which he has been pretty much the whole season," McCarthy said. "Were not going to practice on the field until Thursday, so Ill probably have a better feel for where hes at." The Packers have 16 players on injured reserve, including wide receiver Randall Cobb, who has been designated for return but has yet to be medically cleared for game action. Defensive end Johnny Jolly was the latest starter to be placed on season-ending IR on Saturday with a neck injury. And yet, here they are, with a chance to win the division. "Its been a wild ride so far. And I like to think were just getting started," McCarthy said. "Thats what Im selling. Hopefully theyre buying it." Fred Biletnikoff Youth Jersey . Rasmussen didnt have a decision during his four appearances in May, when he gave up two hits and no runs in two innings. Toronto used five relievers while pulling off the second-biggest comeback in franchise history on Friday night, rallying from an 8-0 deficit to a 14-9 win. Maxx Crosby Youth Jersey . He is nigh unstoppable against the leagues worst. The 31-year-old dangerman set up two goals and scored two himself as Toronto FC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the slumping Houston Dynamo 4-2 on Saturday night. http://www.shoptheraidersonline.com/Elit...Raiders-Jersey/. Last year, Matt Kuchar closed with a 4-under 68 to beat Kevin Chappell by two strokes for his second win of the 2013 season and sixth of his career. George Blanda Raiders Jersey . According to a report from CSN Bay Area, the 49ers are bracing for 6-8 game suspension for their outside linebacker. Bo Jackson Youth Jersey . Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks.TORONTO -- Ryan Benesch scored seven goals to lead the Buffalo Bandits to a 15-13 win over the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League East semifinal Saturday night. The Bandits, who were the only team in the nine-team league to miss the playoffs last season, will meet the Rochester Knighthawks in a two-game East final. Buffalos other goal scorers were John Tavares, with two, Mark Steenhuis, Andrew Watt, Shawn Williams, Jamie Rooney, Dhane Smith and Chad Culp. Buffalo outshot Toronto 57-54. Kasey Beirnes scored four goals for the Rock, Colin Doyle and Nick Diachenko scored three each, Josh Sanderson got two, and Rob Hellyer chipped in with one. Stephan Leblanc, Torontos leading goal scorer with 45 during the regular season, was unable to put a ball behind Bandits goalie Anthony Cosmo. Buffalo led 4-2 after one quarter and 8-7 after two. Benesch, whose 25-goal regular season was his least productive in five years, put four balls behind Rock goalie Brandon Miller in the first half. Beirnes tied it 8-8 early in the third quarter. Then, Buffalo was assessed a slashing penalty to Billy Dee Smith at the same time it was nabbed for too many men and Sanderson gave Toronto its first lead, 9-8, duuring the two-man advantage.dddddddddddd Benesch scored his fifth and sixth around a goal by Diachenko to send the teams to the fourth quarter tied 10-10. Tavares, the Bandits 45-year-old captain, restored Buffalos lead and Smith made it 12-10 when he pulled a ball out of Torontos crease to beat Miller. Diachenko replied for the Rock. But Benesch fired an overhand bullet into the top corner of the net on a power play for a 13-11 Buffalo lead with Damon Edwards in the penalty box for a high hit on Rory Smith. Diachenko, who scored two goals in three regular-season games with the Rock, got his third of the night and Culp offset it. Beirnes scored his fourth of the game but Tavares kept Buffalo ahead by two with a power-play goal. With one minute remaining it was desperation time for the Rock. Miller was lifted for an extra attacker to no avail. The Bandits entered the post-season on an eight-game losing streak while Toronto had won its last four regular-season games. Buffalo open the East final at home next weekend. Game 2 will be in Rochester on May 17. Should the teams split, a 10-minute mini-game and sudden-death overtime, if needed, will immediately follow the second game. ' ' '