Die Chilluminati » Washington held a 17-6 advantag

CLEVELAND -- The Browns are acting as if Josh Gordon is already gone. With the status of their Pro Bowl wide receiver still unclear for next season, the team added two veteran free-agent wide receivers Thursday, agreeing to terms with Miles Austin and signing Earl Bennett. Both players give the Browns insurance in case Gordon, the teams top playmaker who led the NFL in yards receiving last season, is suspended for a year after reportedly failing another drug test. Austin and Bennett have been available since March, but the Browns passed on them in favour of signing veteran Nate Burleson to challenge Greg Little for the No. 2 receivers spot. However, a report last week that Gordon is facing a one-year suspension forced the Browns to find some quality help and rookie general manager Ray Farmer added Miles and Bennett. Despite being aware of Gordons situation, Farmer passed on drafting a wide receiver last week. At the time, Farmers inaction seemed peculiar, but the team obviously had other options in mind. "Were confident we have a plan," coach Mike Pettine said at a golf outing earlier this week. "That the situation didnt call for panic, thats something we werent going to do. I agree with Ray 1,000 per cent that we have to build this team so that no one player drives the ship, that we can be insulated. Losing players for extended periods of time potentially is part of the game. "Successful franchises are the ones that have enough depth built and enough options that they have from scheme-wise, coaching-wise to account for it. Those are the ones that are successful." A two-time Pro Bowl player, Austin was released by Dallas in March in a salary-cap move. The 29-year-old played in just 11 games last season because of hamstring injuries. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Austin was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He appeared in 106 games, recording 301 receptions for 4,481 yards and 34 touchdowns. Miles had his best season in 2009, when he had 81 receptions for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 27-year-old Bennett has made 29 starts in six pro seasons -- all with the Chicago Bears. He has 185 career receptions for 2,277 yards with 12 touchdowns. Last season, he had 32 receptions for 243 yards and four TDs in 15 games. Only hours after the Browns introduced Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel last Friday, ESPN reported that the 22-year-old Gordon is facing a one-year ban for testing positive for marijuana dampened the enthusiasm created by Clevelands draft. Citing unidentified sources, the report said Gordon was notified by a league physician that he failed the test. Gordon has failed two previous tests and was suspended for the first two games last season for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. Despite playing just 14 games, Gordon, who also had substance abuse issues in college, led the league with 1,646 yards receiving. The league has not commented on Gordons situation. Agent Drew Rosenhaus has declined comment. Faced with a substantial fine, Farmer was careful as he spoke about Gordon, but indicated the team was prepared to move on without him. "Its no different than if a player was going out during the off-season and broke an ankle or tore an ACL playing pickup hoops," Farmer said. "We have to build a football team that can win regardless of whos missing. I think thats the charge that we have. Thats my job. Thats coach Pettines job. To prepare this football team to win games regardless of whos missing." Along with Gordons fluid situation, the Browns may be without Burleson after he recently underwent minor surgery to fix a plate in the left arm he broke last year in a car accident. Farmer expects Burleson to be ready when training camp opens in July. The Browns also signed undrafted free agent defensive lineman Elhadji Ndiaye. Born in Senegal, the 6-4, 265-pound Ndiaye attended Nebraska-Kearney. He had six sacks in 2013. Cheap Flyers Jerseys China . The Redblacks host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-9) Friday night in their last home game of the year and as of Thursday afternoon, the team was anticipating a ninth consecutive sellout. You can watch all the action on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Cheap Adidas Flyers Jerseys .J. -- Travis Zajac of the New Jersey Devils took a lot of grief considering his scored the first of his career-best three goals just 12 seconds into a crucial game against the Florida Panthers. http://www.cheapflyersjerseys.com/ . The team announced the defensive coordinator will not be offered a contract extension. Wholesale Flyers Jerseys . There were no real chances until Augsburg broke the deadlock through Raul Bobadilla in the 33rd minute. Frankfurt failed to clear a cross and Bobadilla slotted home from close range at the far post. Cheap Flyers Jerseys Authentic .com) - Devan Dubnyk stopped all 30 shots fired his way and made several big saves down the stretch for his third shutout of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Tuesday.INDIANAPOLIS -- Washington keeps finding ways to break through old, stubborn barriers. Even in the unlikeliest place of all -- Indiana. Bradley Beal scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Trevor Ariza added 22 and the Wizards held off the Pacers with a stout defence over the final 7 1/2 minutes Monday night to get a 102-96 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. It was Washingtons first second-round win in 32 years. "We know its a tough building to play in. We havent won here in a while," Ariza said after the Wizards snapped a 12-game losing streak in Indy. "Why wouldnt this be the best time to come here and get a win -- in the playoffs?" The Wizards know there is a lot more work to do in this best-of-seven series. Game 2 is Wednesday in Indianapolis. So far, though, things have gone well for the upstart Wizards. After clinching their first playoff berth since 2008, the Wizards have advanced to the second round for the first time since 2005, won at Indiana for the first time since April 18, 2007, and have their first second-round win since April 28, 1982. Washington has opened these playoffs with four straight road wins and put the pressure right back on the top seed in the Eastern Conference. It doesnt get better than that for a young team that beat Chicago 4-1 in the opening round. "The way I think about it, Im 20 years old, Im playing in the playoffs, something Ive always dreamed of. Why not embrace it?" Beal said. "Why not accept the challenge and have fun with it? Thats all Im doing -- having fun." For the Pacers, it was another kick in the pants. After salvaging their season with two straight wins to beat Atlanta in seven games, Indiana lost Game 1 for the second straight series and for many of the same reasons. They were outrebounded 53-36 and were outscored 19-5 on second-chance points. They got beat outside as Washington made a franchise playoff-record 10 3-pointers with Ariza going 6 of 6. They got no points and no rebounds from 7-foot-2 centre Roy Hibbert, who has looked nothing like the All-Star he was during the first half of the season. And when they were desperately trying to rally in the fourth quarter, Indiana went 7 minutes without a basket. Things got so frustrating that even the emotional Lance Stephenson lost his cool and snapped at coach Frank Vogel when he was yanked with 1 minute to play in the third quarter.ddddddddddddVogel said he took Stephenson out because he didnt want him playing 48 minutes. Stephenson said he was mostly mad at himself. "I waited too late," Stephenson said. "Third quarter was too late to turn (it) up. I mean we need to come out first quarter and turn (it) up and get everybody going so the second half we could already have that pace." Paul George and George Hill scored 18 points each to lead the Pacers, though half of Hills points came on three 3s in the final minute when it was too late to come back. David West added 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Wizards trailed once all game, 31-30, and retook the lead on the ensuing possession. But Washington won this one in large part because it beat Indiana at its own game. Marcin Gortat had 15 rebounds, six on the offensive end where Washington held a 17-6 advantage. The defence limited Indiana to 40.7 per cent shooting and never allowed them to get closer than six points until the final minute of the game. By then it was too late. Washington jumped to an 8-0 lead and led 28-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. After the Pacers charged back to take the lead, the Wizards closed the half with a decisive 17-6 run to make it 56-43. Washington took its biggest lead of the game, 68-52, midway through the third quarter with the Pacers in full catch-up mode. Indiana got within six late in the third, within seven early in the fourth and within five when Hill hit a 3 with 23.6 seconds to go. That was as close the Pacers got. "We won one game here in Indiana, but we still have to get three more," Beal said. "We have to be more desperate each and every game." NOTES: Washington has won seven straight on the road and nine of its last 10 including the regular season. ... Indiana held Washington to 66 points on Jan. 10, the lowest single-game point total in the NBA this season. It took the Wizards only 26:02 to top that mark Monday. ... Washington shot 62.5 per cent from 3-point range (10 of 16), the best against Indiana this season. ... Robert Mathis and Reggie Wayne of the Colts attended the game. ' ' '