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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Tony Gonzalez is still bitterly disappointed in himself for allowing a sack for the first time since 1999. The 13-time Pro Bowl tight end said Thursday that "it was laziness on my part," "embarrassing" and "inexcusable" when Saints linebacker Junior Galette to sack Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan for a 10-yard loss late in the second quarter of last weeks loss at New Orleans. With the Falcons (0-1) preparing to host St. Louis (1-0) on Sunday, Gonzalez knows that protection will be at a premium. The Rams pass rush is led by ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn, who combined for 22 sacks last year. Quinn had three sacks in last weeks win over Arizona. "All of us have to keep Matt upright and keep that pocket nice and clean so he can throw that ball down the field," Gonzalez said. "I thought we played well at times, but weve just got to be more consistent in holding up. Thats the biggest improvement were looking for this week." Gonzalezs mistake hurt Atlantas chance for a field goal that wouldve tied the game and was one of three sacks and six hits on Ryan. Other star playmakers had tough moments, too. Julio Jones lost a fumble that led to New Orleans first touchdown three plays later. Steven Jackson dropped a touchdown at the goal line on the final possession. But Gonzalez insists that missing three weeks of training camp and two preseason games didnt affect his performance, which included a 7-yard touchdown catch. The tight end said thats ridiculous. The Falcons allowed Gonzalez to take time off last month to spend time with his family and watch the first football practices of his 12-year-old son, Nikko, in Southern California. "He let me have it," Gonzalez said. "He said, Youre lucky that you scored the touchdown. Otherwise that wouldve been a bad game for you. Its something Ive been thinking about a lot. It wont happen again hopefully." Gonzalez was a third-year tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs when Gonzalez last allowed a sack. He went on to earn his first Pro Bowl invitation that season, but Gonzalez is still irritated about getting beaten by Peter Boulware for a 6-yard sack in Kansas Citys 1999 victory at Baltimore. Thirteen years later, it happened again against Galette, a fourth-year linebacker with just two starts in 33 career games. "Its not like the guy pushed me into the quarterback," Gonzalez said. "Its one of those things that was a miscalculation on my part, which is inexcusable, and it happened the same way last time." Gonzalez prides himself on every part of his game from running crisp routes to making tough catches in traffic and using proper techniques on blocks. "I was thinking, Hes way out there (on the edge), and theres no way he can get to the quarterback," Gonzalez said. "Matts going to throw it by then, and I just had a slow, lazy kick instead of kicking it back there and getting aggressive with it like I should have, like Ive always done." Lamar Holmes, a second-year right tackle, struggled all afternoon in his first career start. Its possible that Jeremy Trueblood, an eighth-year veteran who signed after getting cut by Washington last month, could get some snaps against St. Louis. Atlanta could have issues at left tackle, too, if Sam Baker doesnt return from a knee injury thats kept him out of practice this week. "We determine who needs help, who doesnt need help prior to the game, and we try to make those adjustments," coach Mike Smith said. "Thats what coaching all about -- making those adjustments. Gonzalez believes pass protection is the offences biggest concern in facing the Rams. "Obviously weve got a couple of injuries right now, but well be ready this Sunday," he said. "Theres no doubt about it. We have to be because we have no choice. Were a good football team, and we can make it happen. Weve done it before. Well do it again." Notes: Baker, WR Roddy White (ankle) and DT Jonathan Babineaux (knee) did not participate in practice. ... WR Julio Jones (knee), CB Asante Samuel (thigh) and LB Sean Weatherspoon (knee) were limited. Phil Kessel Jersey . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Ryan Callahan Lightning Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. http://www.thehockeyfanzzonline.com/St-Louis-Blues...l-Demit ra/ . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Robert Bortuzzo Jersey . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. David Backes Blues Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from.REGINA -- Calgary Stampeders kicker Rene Paredes was serenaded by Drakes "Started from the Bottom" as he headed to the stage to accept his award as the CFLs Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award. "Started from the bottom, now were here," went the refrain. For a player ignored in the draft, it was a fitting soundtrack. Paredes recalls that three kickers went in the first three rounds. "It really doesnt matter any more," he said, his trophy on a table next to him. Paredes received 47-of-50 votes by the Football Reporters of Canada and the leagues eight head coaches in winning the award Thursday night. Montreal linebacker Marc Beswick was the Eastern nominee. "Coming into this league undrafted, it was very hard and tough. All I could do was use it as motivation," Paredes said. Paredes may have got some more motivation in that his team was mistakenly etched on the trophy as the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It is slated to be fixed. The 28-year-old from Montreal was close to perfection in 2013. He was good on 54-of-57 field goals -- a success rate of 94.7 per cent -- and set a record for most consecutive field goals in the regular season with 39. The previous mark was 30 by Paul McCallum. Paredes led the league in field goals made (54), points (213) and converts (49). He also averaged 63.5 yards a kickoff. But the Stampeders 35-13 loss to Saskatchewan in the Western final still rankles. "Its still tough to swallow," he said in an earlier interview. Paredes is as close to automatic as it gets in field goal kicking. He has missed just six-of-100 attempts over the last two seasons and 129 of 145 in his three-year career. He refuses to rest on his laurels. "When theres a lot of success youve got to work harder and tthats what I did in the off-season.dddddddddddd. My goal was to get better. Ill take the same approach this off-season, get better, and well see what happens next year." Asked how he follows this season, he said: "I guess go 95 per cent. And the Grey Cup. I wish I had the Grey Cup." Paredes, however, limits his actual kicking in the off-season in his Montreal home to allow his body to recover from the rigours of the season. He rests until January when he starts working out. He starts kicking in April, starting with a four- or five-day session with kicking guru Don Sweet. After that, he may kick once a week or every two weeks. "The main thing is to keep my leg strength," he said. "You dont forget how to kick. Thats what youve got training camp for. Obviously you have to kick, I cant go to training camp without kicking but I dont try to tire my leg out in the off-season." Kicking takes a toll. Paredes reckons he kicks maybe 2,000 to 3,000 balls a season. "Your leg is tired. I felt it towards the end of the season," he said. "Not really injuries but it was bothering me." A former star kicker for Concordia, Paredes arrived in Calgary after a couple of stints in Winnipegs camp. He won the job after Rob Maver went down in the first game of the 2011 season and Stamps GM-coach John Hufnagel brought in Paredes and three others as possible replacements. Paredes was the last kicker standing, making a 50-yarder in his first field-goal attempt. Born in Venezuela to Peruvian parents, Paredes moved to Miami and then Montreal. A former soccer player, he switched to football after his high school football coach asked his soccer counterpart who had the strongest leg. The CFL awards are sponsored by Gibsons Finest. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' '
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