xD LOOOOL » ce to get in the playoffs.DOMINATION

SAO PAULO - Brazil football officials and first-division teams have met to try to clarify a controversial change in the way referees have been giving handball decisions, hoping to ease criticism from clubs, coaches and the media.The number of penalty kicks awarded has increased significantly since a new recommendation from the Brazilian confederation prompted referees to be more rigorous when giving handball, especially inside the penalty area.The change created confusion and drew complaints from virtually all parties involved. Referees considered going on strike because of the lack of respect for officials.In the meeting on Thursday that lasted nearly two hours in Rio de Janeiro, the confederation said it has not changed international football laws but warned players they could be penalized for handball even if the contact was not deliberate.The law hasnt changed, said Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda, a former FIFA official used as an instructor by the confederation. There was some miscommunication, some people didnt quite understand the recommendations.The confederation insists it did not tell referees to give a free kick every time the ball touches a hand or arm, but said players should not put themselves at risk of blocking a shot with their hands when inside the area.Players need to show the referees that they are trying to avoid hand contact, said Larrionda, who refereed in two World Cups.He was the official who didnt see Frank Lampards shot cross the goal-line in Englands 4-1 loss to Germany in the second round of the 2010 tournament.There have been disputed handball decisions in nearly every round since the new recommendations were introduced in Brazil a few weeks ago.Referees started blowing for handball almost every time the ball touched a players hand inside the penalty area, apparently regardless of intention to block shots or crosses. Some referees are being more rigorous than others, prompting even more confusion and complaints.Referees, saying that they are only following the confederations advice, last week threatened to halt the Brazilian league unless football officials and the nations sports tribunal took serious actions against those not respecting the officials.When told about the way referees have been officiating in Brazil, FIFA head of refereeing Massimo Busacca recently told Brazilian media that they didnt appear to be following FIFAs recommendations. He said its always up to the referees to try to decide whether players are intentionally using their hands or arms to handle the ball.Referees officiating in the league this weekend, as well as retired referees, participated in Thursdays meeting to speak to the players, who have also been demanding more consistency in the calls. Members of the media also participated.The confederation used nearly 30 videos a€” including from the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, and the Copa Libertadores a€” to try to clarify how handballs are being applied.The confederation did not say whether the meeting came in response to the referees threat to go on strike.___Follow Tales Azzoni at http://www.twitter.com/tazzoni Jordan Retro Shoes Uk .com) - Patrik Elias registered the winner in the shootout as New Jersey nipped Toronto 2-1 at Prudential Center on Wednesday. Cheap Air Jordan Uk .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston. http://www.ukairjordan.com/. Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks. Discount Jordan Shoes Wholesale . Peko, a fourth-round pick in 2006, started all 16 games and a playoff loss to San Diego last season. He was second on the line with 72 tackles and had a career-high three sacks. Nike Air Jordan Uk Sale . Peter Dawson took his long before he started the job. "I was playing an American one year at Oxford Golf Club, and he introduced me to this travelling mulligan," Dawson said.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Dont worry. The New England Patriots should be just fine for the playoffs.Thats the message Tom Brady delivered after his offences second straight poor performance.And this time they had an excuse: Brady played just the first half and six other key starters didnt play at all because the Patriots already had clinched the top seed and a first-round bye in the AFC.We have a lot of confidence as an offence, Brady said after the 17-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Weve been able to score points against a lot of good teams, a lot of good defences.A week ago they edged the lowly New York Jets 17-16.On Sunday, Stephen Gostkowski kicked three field goals, but the Patriots failed to score a touchdown for the first time since the fifth game last season, although top receivers Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski and starting offensive linemen Dan Connolly and Sebastian Vollmer were inactive.Its a big difference without Gronkowski, New England wide receiver Brandon LaFell said. The middle of the field is not that much open.The Patriots (12-4) must wait until next weekends wild-card games to learn their opponent in the divisional round. Meanwhile, coach Bill Belichick gave them Monday off.Belichick might need some time to regain his strength after he was checked by trainers and a doctor after the game.I had to spend a few minutes in the training room after the game, nothing serious, he said in a conference call after skipping his usual postgame news conference. It was no big deal. I dont want to get into it.The Bills (9-7) finished with their first winning record since going 9-7 in 2004. They were eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight season with a loss to the Oakland Raiders in their previous game.Sundays win was bittersweet, Bills centre Eric Wood said, because you always think what could have been.A winning record is important to some people, Buffalo coach Doug Marrone said. There were a lot of lessons that well reflect on. ... If we dont understand that after this season, then all will be lost.Some takeaways from Buffalos first win ever at Gilleette Stadium after losing 12 games:RUSHING REVIVAL: The Bills ran for 104 yards after gaining just 13 on the ground, the fourth fewest in team history, the previous Sunday.dddddddddddd One of their touchdowns came on a 1-yard run by Anthony Dixon that gave them a 14-3 lead about five minutes into the second quarter.The win is something we can build on, said Fred Jackson, who led the Bills with 58 yards rushing. We were able to come in here today and play well enough to get a victory.BRADYS DAY: Brady played all five offensive series for the Patriots in the first half and completed 8 of 16 passes for 80 yards with one sack. He also ran twice for nine yards and, most importantly, avoided injury.We always hate losing, he said. We didnt make enough plays to win, but, hopefully, we make them in a couple of weeks.ORTON IN CHARGE: Bills quarterback Kyle Orton completed 16 of 23 passes for 176 yards and a 6-yard touchdown pass to Robert Woods in his 12th straight start after taking over for EJ Manuel.I really didnt go into (the season) with a ton of personal goals, Orton said after finishing the season with 3,018 yards passing, his third season with more than 3,000. The later in your career you get, most of your goals are just team goals and fighting for that chance to get in the playoffs.DOMINATION DECLINES: The Patriots superiority in head-to-head meetings took a hit. Theyre now 21-2 in the past 23, Brady is 23-3 against the Bills and Belichick is 26-4 against them since become coach in 2000. Several Patriots streaks also were broken: 16 straight home victories in the regular season, 17 at home against AFC East opponents and 35 home wins against AFC teams.ROOKIE REPLACEMENT: Brady backup Jimmy Garoppolo completed 10 of 17 passes for 90 yards with three sacks while running four times for 16 yards. In the rookies previous five appearances in mop-up duty, he completed 9 of 10 passes.Thats my job as a backup to be ready to go whenever and the (game) speed is what it is, he said. Youve just got to play with it.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '