2012 » rn Ontario.He listed off many former Bills gr

The National Lacrosse League announced a new and expanded playoff format along with division realignment, both set to begin with the upcoming 2014 NLL season. The league will reduce the number of teams who qualify for the playoffs from eight to six teams, featuring the top three clubs in each divisions standings. The two regular season division champions will earn a first-round bye as top seeds. The second seed will host the third seed in their respective division for the single-game elimination Division Semifinal in the first round. New to the postseason format, the Division Finals and Championship both expand to a two-game series from the previous single-game elimination setup. The top seed from each division will play the winner of the Division Semifinal game between the second and third seeds, with the lower-seeded team hosting the first game and the higher seed hosting the second game of the series. Teams who win both games shall win the two-game series. In the event of a series split with both teams winning one game, a 10-minute tiebreaker game will be played immediately following the conclusion of the second contest to determine the winner of the playoff series. Coinciding with the new postseason format, the leagues divisions will realign this season as the Minnesota Swarm join the Buffalo Bandits, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks and Toronto Rock in the new five-team East Division. The four-team West Division will be comprised of the Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush and Vancouver Stealth. The new playoff format was made official when the league recently reached an accord with the Professional Lacrosse Players Association for a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement through the 2020 NLL season. The 2014 NLL regular season begins on Saturday, Dec. 28. Cheap Air Max Shoes . LOUIS - The St. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . Here is a look at all the moves through the first week of NHL Free Agency. The most significant deals will get the full Numbers Game column treatment, like these:Briere-for-Parenteau trade. http://www.cheapairmaxstore.com/ .com Tours Nova Scotia Open. The 27-year-old Sloan, a former Texas-El Paso player from Calgary matched first-round leader Rodriguez at 10-under 132 on Ashburn Golf Clubs New Course. Discount Air Max . -- Omar Infante walked past the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, where he dressed so many times as a member of the Detroit Tigers, and slipped on a crisp, new Kansas City Royals jersey. Wholesale Air Max . The four-time Grand Slam champion has beaten Hantuchova nine straight times, with the Slovaks only win coming when they first played 10 years ago. "I had a tough first opponent who can play extremely good tennis," Sharapova said.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - New team. Same old brash and bold Rex Ryan.The Buffalo Bills new coach opened his inaugural news conference with the team Wednesday by tapping the microphone and saying: Is this thing on? Because its getting ready to be on.Outlining his objectives, Ryan said the job is his last chance to prove himself. He vowed to build the Bills into a bully and said he has an additional chip on his shoulder after being fired by the New York Jets.Yes, its personal, he said, about being fired. Its embarrassing.Despite having a grudge against the Jets, Ryan maintained the New England Patriots remain the AFC East team he wants to beat the most.Though he stopped short of guaranteeing Buffalo winning a Super Bowl, Ryan did guarantee winning a championship as being his sole pursuit.Were not afraid of it, Ryan said. My message to the players is get ready. Were going to be playing games in January and so forth. Were going to build a bully and were going to see if youre going to play us for 60 minutes.The entertaining, provocative front comes as the Bills search for relevance and under new owners Terry and Kim Pegula, who bought the team in October. Though coming off a 9-7 season, which matched Buffalos best finish in 10 years, the team still missed the playoffs to extend the NFLs longest active drought to 15 seasons.Ryan spent six seasons with the Jets, where he went 50-52, including 4-2 in the playoffs. He was fired along with general manager John Idzik following a 4-12 finish.He replaces second-year coach Doug Marrone, who surprised the Bills by opting out of his contract on Dec. 31.Ryan made a veiled reference to Marrones departure by saying: This football team deserves a loyal coach.Terry Pegula shares Ryans confidence and aggressive approach.We want the Buffalo Bills to be a nightmare to play against, he said.After interviewing 12 candidates, Pegula hired someone with previous head-coaching experience to take over a team he considers on the verge of being a contender.Ryans background is on defence. He inherits a unit that has been among the NFLs most aggressive over the past two years. Last season, Buffalo finished fourth in yards allowed, led tthe league with 54 sacks and produced three Pro Bowl linemen.ddddddddddddMany members of Ryans defensive staff with the Jets are expected to fill vacancies in Buffalo. That includes Dennis Thurman taking over as co-ordinator to succeed Jim Schwartz, whose contract was terminated by the Bills on Tuesday.Ryan intends to retain Bills defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson. The Bills announced special teams co-ordinator Danny Crossman is staying.Ryans biggest challenge is on offence, and a unit that finished 26th in yards gained.Kyle Orton, who replaced second-year starter EJ Manuel five games into the season, said he intends to retire, leaving Manuel as the only experienced quarterback currently on the Bills roster.Ryan said he and his staff — including newly hired offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman — are beginning to evaluate the roster and its too early to make any determination.Ryan and Roman share a run-first-philosophy.Ryan is no stranger to Buffalo. His father, Buddy Ryan, previously served as the University at Buffalos defensive co-ordinator in the 1960s.Rex Ryan and his two brothers spent their teen years in Toronto, a two-hour drive from Buffalo. Ryan avidly followed the Bills because many games were broadcast across Southern Ontario.He listed off many former Bills greats from the 1960s and 70s, including fullback Cookie Gilchrist, Hall of Fame offensive guard Billy Shaw, and an offensive line dubbed The Electric Company, which paved the way for O.J. Simpson.Ryan spent his first day getting a literal taste of Buffalo after flying into town Tuesday morning.He had a beer with Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly at bar near Ralph Wilson Stadium. Later, he was in a suite to watch the Pegulas other team, the NHLs Sabres, retire former star goalie Dominik Haseks No. 39 before losing to the Detroit Red Wings.Ryan grew up a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, but noted hes changing allegiances.If Bruce Gamble was still in the net for the Leafs, maybe Id be a Leafs guy, Ryan said, referring to the goalie who played in Toronto in the late 1960s and early 70s. But Im a Sabre all the way.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '