PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tomas Vokoun will miss 3-6 months while undergoing treatment for blood clots. Pepe Jersey . The 37-year-old Vokoun hasnt played since the blood clots were discovered last month. Vokoun said Wednesday he hadnt thought about retirement yet and wants to see how the treatment plays out before making any kind of decision. "Im just in the beginning of this road," Vokoun said. "Obviously all kinds of things cross your mind. Right now Im not thinking about my career or, you know, playing hockey. Im more worried about long-term health." This is the second time in Vokouns career hes been sidelined by the condition. He missed extensive time while playing for Nashville in 2006 with a similar issue, but says the two injuries are not related. Vokoun will be able to train as usual but cant play because of the blood-thinning medication he must take during his recovery. Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero believes Vokoun is doing "great" both physically and mentally, and he is far less concerned with how Vokouns absence will affect the Stanley Cup-contending Penguins than about the player hes known for the better part of a decade. "Its going to be whatever is best for him and his safety and the good thing for him is he can lead his active life, do the things he does, work out, play tennis or whatever," Shero said. "Well see where it goes and hope for the best in the short term or the long term." Vokoun helped the Penguins reach the Eastern Conference finals last season. Taking over in the first round for struggling Marc-Andre Fleury, Vokoun went 6-5 with a 2.01 goals against average and a sterling .933 save percentage. Coach Dan Bylsma called Vokoun and Fleury the best tandem in the NHL when training camp opened last month. Now Jeff Zatkoff will serve as Fleurys primary backup when the Penguins open the season Thursday against New Jersey. The 26-year-old Zatkoff went 26-20 with a 1.93 GAA for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL in 2012-13. "Were going to give Jeff that opportunity, which I think he deserves, and well see how he goes," Shero said. Uruguay Soccer Jersey . Coach Miguel Herrera said Wednesday he had told his players more than a month ago not to eat red meat. During the 2011 Gold Cup, five Mexico players tested positive for clenbuterol, a muscle-building drug. The Mexican Football Federation eventually cleared the players of doping. Angel Correa Jersey . The photos, published on at least one sports website, were taken during batting practice before the Dodgers 2-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Orlando Franklin ambled into the locker room Thursday and loudly announced, Im available to talk about the situation.It was the start of an extraordinary half hour in the Denver Broncos locker room where the offensive linemen cling to vestiges of the old code of silence that former offensive line coach Alex Gibbs introduced in the 1980s.One by one, each member of the Broncos usually quiet O-line chimed in on the criticism thats being piled upon them for failing to protect Peyton Manning or get the ground game going, which threatens to derail their Super Bowl dreams.—Franklin, still getting used to playing left guard after three years at right tackle, said he doesnt care about the scathing critique from Mark Schlereth. The ESPN analyst and ex-Broncos Pro Bowl O-lineman said this week that Denvers front five was so horrendous that if I was grading, giving an F would be kind.—Will Montgomery, who slid in at centre two weeks ago as the centerpiece of Denvers wholesale changes up front, said he doesnt pay any attention to whats being said outside the building but was confident the front five can get the team back on track starting Sunday.—Ryan Clady, whos dealing with a strained groin, said his surgically repaired left foot that sidelined him almost all of last season feels great. He stressed the O-line realizes righting the ship starts up front because if we go, the team goes.—Louis Vasquez, the All-Pro right guard whos been moved to right tackle, said while changes are tough especially in the middle of the season, Ill take it as a complement that the coaches believe and trust in me to get out on the edge and get the job done.—Manny Ramirez, whos moved from centre to right guard, said the reconfigured O-line was a work in progress but he appreciated Mannings vote of confidence a day earlier.Manning defended his O-line, pointing out the difficulty in switching the group midstream.Certainly, Manning replied when asked if this front five was good enough to win. Its not easy forming chemistry in just two weeks in the middle of the season, right? What is that, just a handful of ppractices theyve had together? Youd like for an offensive line to have a minicamp and a training camp to go through together, but . Diego Lopez Jersey. ... were having to form that chemistry on the run.Franklin said: You dont just create chemistry in two weeks as an offensive line. Its not going to be like that.The Broncos have seen 38 runs go for zero gain or negative yards, their O-line has been penalized 31 times and although Mannings been sacked a league-low 11 times, three have come on three-man rushes.The heat was turned up high after the Broncos 22-7 loss at St. Louis on Sunday in which Manning threw 54 passes and handed off just nine times.Offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, who one week earlier criticized into his offensive linemen for their poor play, took a more contrite tone Thursday, saying he could help them with better play-calling.The first thing I can do is run the ball more, Gase said, giving them more of a chance and allowing those guys to tee off a little bit instead of being on their heels so much.Another thing that could help is the return of Virgil Green, whose three-game absence with a strained calf has coincided with the offensive lines dive.Franklin said no matter whats called or whos in there or whos saying what, the O-line has to get it done.At the end of the day, this is the NFL. Youre at the top of your game. You do what youre told in this league, he said. They pay us a lot of money. They compensate us very well in order for us to go out there whether youre going to throw the ball 100 per cent of the time or run the ball every time. Thats our job to get it done.The Broncos knew there would be growing pains when they chose to make wholesale changes up front rather than try to help the O-linemen out schematically by inserting another tight end or running back into the formations.Gase said it was a matter of getting his best five linemen on the field.Right now, I feel good about it, he said. I know were getting better. ... I think we are going to start moving forward here in these last six games.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Jerseys Wholesale JerseysWholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
