Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
02/09/2007 -
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -Tim Connolly is free of his headaches, but not of some questions.
The Buffalo Sabres center still couldn't say Friday when he would be ready to return after sustaining the second serious concussion of his career 10 months ago.
``There's no set date. There's no timeline,'' Connolly said after taking part in his fourth practice this week since being cleared to skate with his teammates. ``I'm not going to speculate about that right now. I just come in each day knowing what I have to do and work as hard as I can to get through.''
What mattered most to Connolly is that he made it through another session free of the debilitating headaches that have sidelined him since he was hurt in Game 2 of Buffalo's second-round playoff series against Ottawa last May.
``I feel pretty good,'' Connolly said smiling through a sheen of sweat that covered his face after the 90-minute session in which he was the second-to-last player off the ice.
Still not allowed to take part in contact drills, Connolly showed he had not lost some of his shooting touch, twice banging slap shots off the post.
With his head clear, a neck and jaw problem also corrected and his rusty skills beginning to re-emerge, Connolly's final test is getting his body in shape after being stagnant - he didn't start working out until about six weeks ago - for an extended period.
``It was up there but it's coming off quickly,'' Connolly said, referring to his body weight. ``It's going to be a long process and a lot of hard work, but I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge.''
Coach Lindy Ruff said it's possible Connolly could be back within two months, just in time for the playoffs. But Ruff cautioned that he's not going to rush him back.
The Sabres are taking a cautious approach in part because the six-year NHL veteran missed the entire 2003-04 season after sustaining a concussion during a preseason game.
Connolly's potential return, however, would provide the Eastern Conference-leading Sabres a big boost.
He's a play-making center, who was enjoying a breakout year last season, his fourth in Buffalo after the team acquired him in a deal that sent former captain Michael Peca to the New York Islanders.
Despite missing 19 games with a knee injury, Connolly finished fifth on the Sabres with 16 goals and 39 assists in 63 regular-season games. He had five goals and six assists in eight playoff games before he was hurt, caught skating through the middle with his head down when he failed to avoid a clean check by Ottawa's Peter Schaefer.
Although the injury was severe, it didn't stop the Sabres from re-signing Connolly to a three-year $8.7 million contract in July. The prognosis at the time was Connolly would potentially miss the start of training camp.
Connolly, however, was still experiencing headaches in December, which raised fears that he would miss the entire season.
The initial breakthrough came when doctors discovered Connolly had a degenerative protruding disk in his upper back that was affecting his neck and potentially contributing to his headaches. Doctors also corrected a jaw joint that prevented him from closing his mouth.
Connolly then began a series of light workouts at the University at Buffalo as part of the school's newly introduced post-concussion rehab program.
The combination of treatments led to Connolly receiving clearance to skate on his own earlier this month.
``I knew I'd eventually be here. But I didn't know it would take this long,'' Connolly said. ``It's kind of been frustrating not to be out there.''
His teammates were happy to see him back practicing.
``It's very encouraging,'' co-captain Daniel Briere said. ``The first thing we want for Tim is to get back to living a normal life. After that, if he can come back and play, it's a big plus.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Park and Mets reach deal
NEW YORK (AP) -Chan Ho Park is joining the expanding list of pitchers trying to earn spots in the New York Mets' rotation.Park and the Mets agreed Friday to a $600,000, one-year contract, giving the team another option for its starting rotation head
<< Park and Mets near deal
NEW YORK (AP) -Chan Ho Park is joining the expanding list of pitchers trying to earn spots in the New York Mets' rotation.Park and the Mets reached a preliminary agreement on a $600,000, one-year contract, giving the team another option for its star
<< Wizards seek to downplay hype as Arenas aims for 50-point game against Portland
WASHINGTON (AP) -Perhaps the Washington Wizards are showing the effects of a little too much Gilbertology. Two days before what Gilbert Arenas has proclaimed will be his next 50-point game, no one wanted to say much about it.``I'm not going to comme
<< Fassero retires after 16 major league seasons
Jeff Fassero is retiring from baseball after winning 121 games over 16 major league seasons.The 44-year-old lefty, cut by the San Francisco Giants in May, worked out for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb. 2.``I thought I threw really well. I guess they
Old Dominion hires Maine assistant Wilder as coach >>
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -Former University of Maine associate head coach Bobby Wilder was hired as the second football coach ever at Old Dominion, which will field a team in 2009 for the first time since 1940.Wilder will be introduced to the media Monday
Hurricanes recall Bayda from Albany >>
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -The Carolina Hurricanes recalled left wing Ryan Bayda on Friday to replace winger Cory Stillman, who was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.Stillman left during the second period of Carolina's 2-1 win Tuesday over the M
Nash misses second game with sore shoulder >>
PHOENIX (AP) -All-Star Steve Nash sat out the Suns' game against Atlanta because of a sore right shoulder.It was the second game in a row that the league's two-time defending MVP was sidelined. He missed Tuesday's overtime victory at Portland and sa
Lightning-Rangers, Sums >>
Tampa Bay 0 0 0-0N.Y. Rangers 2 2 1-5First Period-1, N.Y. Rangers, Orr 1 (Tyutin, Betts), 4:28. 2, N.Y. Rangers, Hossa 4 (Rozsival, Straka), 11:32. Penalty-Shanahan, NYR (hooking), 13:24.Second Period-3, N.Y. Rangers, Hollweg 1 (Jagr), 8:28
MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect
LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.
Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.
Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting