reasoning, it appears the Browns have had to adjust on the fl

ST. LOUIS -- Jeff Fisher has never been afraid to buck a trend, draft a troubled player or grant a second chance. The coach of the Rams stuck with Adam "Pacman" Jones and Kenny Britt when he was at Tennessee, despite their off-field problems. Britt is now reunited with Fisher in St. Louis. Fisher recently rehired Gregg Williams, the defensive co-ordinator who was given a one-year suspension by the league for the bounty scandal with the Saints. It was not a surprise that it was Fisher who helped Michael Sam make history as the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team. "He is an amazing leader, and even better, hes a better man," said Wade Davis, the head of an advocacy group for lesbian and gay athletes. Davis currently is doing some work with the NFL. "He looks at everything from all angles and hes not afraid to take on a challenge." The 56-year-old Fisher deflects any praise for being a trailblazer, insisting it was simply a football decision to upgrade one of the NFLs top pass rushes by taking Sam at No. 249. "In our world, nobodys going to agree with what you do 100 per cent of the time because everybody has opinions, and thats fine," Fisher said. "Im concerned about whats going on in the building, with the staff and players, the direction were headed. Thats always been the case." At least on the field, Fisher can relate to the challenge for Sam. He also was a seventh-round pick, the fourth wheel of a star-studded Southern California secondary that featured Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith and Joey Browner. He then carved out a career playing under Mike Ditka for a Super Bowl winner in Chicago and is entering his 19th season as an NFL head coach. Lott, a Hall of Famer, recalls Fisher smoothly making the switch from wide receiver to cornerback. "To me, its easy to play wide receiver because you know where youre going," Lott said. "Having to react, respond and do it with confidence and knowing youre not going to win every play, thats the mindset on defence. The determination he had then has stayed with him." Not long after Sam came out in February, Fisher said hed have no problem having him on the team, that this was an age of diversity. Turns out it wasnt just talk. Several picks before the Rams took Sam, Fisher broached the subject with owner Stan Kroenke and general manager Les Snead. Ditka said he wasnt surprised it was Fisher who stepped up when every other team was backing away from Sam. Ditka, who once traded all his draft picks to land Ricky Williams, called it a "pretty gutsy move." Players have fallen in lockstep with their coach on the question of picking Sam. Defensive end Chris Long called it a "football move" and so did linebacker James Laurinaitis. "I dont think it was courageous," Laurinaitis said. "I think its a calculated move by the organization. ... If you have the opportunity to draft a guy that you think is extremely productive and maybe you had a higher grade on him than where he is, you go ahead and take that. I think football-wise, it was a very smart decision." Fisher wouldnt say how far Sam slid on the Rams draft board. The coach joked that divulging that information might affect Sams rookie contract. Titans broadcaster Thom Abraham remembers Fisher in 2009 after Tennessees 0-6 start removing his sport coat, tie and shirt at the podium of a civic function to reveal a Peyton Manning jersey underneath. The punch line: "I just wanted to know what it felt like to be a winner." "Picking Sam did not surprise me one bit," Abraham said of Fisher. "Hes confident in his ability to be out front, and almost represent the NFL." Sam has had several off-season workouts and more practices are on tap this week with the veterans. Long said Sam was working hard and former Missouri teammate, receiver T.J. Moe, said the team viewed Sam simply as someone trying to make it in the NFL. "He is on the team. Theres a 90-man roster, it doesnt go 89 and then Michael Sams over there, this is the gay team, this is the straight team," Moe said. "Michael Sam is on this team and hes treated just like anybody else." And if Sam struggles, nobody that knows Fisher well doubts the coach will have any problem cutting him loose. "He doesnt like doing that part of it," said Brad Hopkins, a former Pro Bowl offensive tackle who played his entire NFL career under Fisher. "But he knows it has to be done, and that you cant make everybody happy." Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Colombia Jersey . For Bergevin, the best pick is the 30th — which traditionally goes to the Stanley Cup winner. "Thats our goal. Cristian Zapata Colombia Jersey . Johansen scored twice and Derek MacKenzie, Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson also had goals to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, ending a three-game losing skid. http://www.nationalcolombiafootball.com/yerry-mina-colombia-jersey/ . Cesar said the difficulties he went through after the 2010 World Cup helped him become "a better professional" and made him "more focused" on his career. He admitted that he took things for granted before the World Cup in South Africa, when he arrived considered the worlds top goalkeeper. Radamel Falcao Jersey . Irving played 10 minutes Sunday night before going to the locker room. He had two points and four assists, missing all five of his shots. The All-Star game MVP is the top scorer among Eastern Conference point guards with 21. Mateus Uribe Colombia Jersey .Y. - Referee Ed Hochuli referred to replay official Tom Sifferman by his nickname Jungle Boy, which was heard on the in-stadium microphone during the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers NFC wild-card game Saturday.CLEVELAND - The Browns coaching search — or is it a scramble? — could be nearing a conclusion. Buffalo defensive co-ordinator Mike Pettine is the front-runner to become the teams seventh full-time coach and will reportedly have a third interview with the team on Thursday. Team officials interviewed Pettine on Tuesday night in Mobile, Ala., site of the Senior Bowl, and although the sides did not reach a deal during their four-hour meeting, enough progress was made to move forward. And as the focus narrowed on the 47-year-old Pettine, a "mystery" candidate emerged. The team reportedly interviewed former Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano on Wednesday in Florida, but a person familiar with Clevelands coaching search told the Associated Press that Schiano will not be hired by the Browns. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting on the search, said there is "zero chance" of Schiano taking over in Cleveland. Earlier, Pettine, who spent one season with the Bills after four on Rex Ryans staff with the New York Jets, told Cleveland.com that he "should have some feedback on my interview by the end of the day." A person familiar with the Browns plans told the AP on Tuesday night that the team intended to interview an unknown candidate on Wednesday. The club, too, was expected to meet with Atlanta offensive co-ordinator Dirk Koetter at some point. Pettine is the first candidate known to have a follow-up interview with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, CEO Joe Banner, general manager Michael Lombardi and team president Alec Scheiner. Cleveland has met with at least nine known candidates. The team initially interviewed Pettine on Jan. 16, and following the interview, Pettines teenage daughter, Megan, tweeted that her dad was going to meet again with the team while taking a not-so-subtle shot at the Browns. "Its the browns," she posted on a Twitter account since deleted. "But hey, still pretty cool!" The Browns, who fired Rob Chudzinski on Dec. 29 following one season, are also expected to conduct a second intterview with Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn.dddddddddddd He was the first candidate to meet with the team and the director of the NFLs top-rated defence could sit down with Clevelands front office before Sunday. Because the Seahawks are in the Super Bowl, league rules require the Browns to speak with any assistants in that game by Jan. 26. However, the Browns are not permitted to finalize a deal with any assistant coach participating in the Super Bowl until after the game, so Cleveland may have to wait until Feb. 3 if they want to hire Quinn. Its possible, though, the team could decide Pettine is their choice and can name him their coach at any time. Last week, Haslam, aware of the public appearance the Browns had no clear plan to find Chudzinskis replacement, sent a letter to fans last week explaining the teams "methodical" approach to finding its next coach. Despite Haslams reasoning, it appears the Browns have had to adjust on the fly. The search is in its fourth week. Six other teams entered the off-season with coaching vacancies and all have been filled. Early favourites in Clevelands quest to replace Chudzinski dropped quickly. New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels, Ohio born with a connection to Lombardi, removed himself from consideration. Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase — another perceived favourite — did the same, calling Haslam on Tuesday to say he was happy with the Broncos. Top college coaches such as Oklahomas Bob Stoops, Gus Malzahn and James Franklin emerged as possibilities and disappeared as rapidly as they arrived. Stoops is still with the Sooners, Malzahn stayed at Auburn and Franklin took the Penn State job. Bill OBrien, who was on Clevelands wish list last year, signed with Houston. There have even been rumours that former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was on Clevelands radar. Since the start, Haslam has promised to "take as long as necessary" to find the right coach — his second in less than two years as owner — to lead the Browns. It appears hes finally closing in on one. ' ' '