Diskussionsbereich » to my university," Manning said. "Most of

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Manning wants to clear up a couple of things about his recent visit to Tuscaloosa, Ala., that raised eyebrows at NFL headquarters and the hackles of some Tennessee fans. The five-time MVP said hes always been driven to improve, a quality thats even more essential at age 38, and thats why he met with Alabama coach Nick Saban a couple of weeks ago. Saban shared defensive tips with Manning, who gave him pointers on the hurry-up offence that has befuddled the Crimson Tide. Saban said Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase also visited his staff that week. NFL rules prohibit players and their coaches from meeting before the start of off-season workout programs, and thats why the NFL said it would look into the matter. Following the Broncos first organized workout Monday, however, Manning insisted that he and Gase didnt break any rules because they didnt meet with each other in Tuscaloosa. "Yeah, that didnt happen. We know what the rules were. Like I said, I was there on an independent project, and Adam was as well," Manning said. Saban has also said that Manning and Gase didnt meet with his coaches at the same time. Gase and Saban go way back: Gase got his start in coaching under Saban in the 1990s at Michigan State and followed him to LSU as a graduate assistant. As for fans from the quarterbacks alma mater who might be upset that he met with a rival coach from another SEC team, Manning said he still bleeds orange. "Obviously, I have been to Tennessee doing the same thing for the past 16 years. Ill do that, going to make it 17 years in a row, going back to Knoxville. Hopefully that covers me as far as being loyal to my university," Manning said. "Most of the other places, I go just one time. So Ive got 17 years at one place, so I think its pretty clear where my loyalties lie. "The projects I did this year were to help the Denver Broncos and to help me. That still is what my job is, to make myself a better player." The NFL rule prohibiting players and coaches from meeting before the start of the voluntary off-season workouts, the first two weeks of which are limited to strength and conditioning work and rehabilitation, were installed with the latest collective bargaining agreement a few years ago. Its designed to prevent players from feeling pressured to meet with coaching staffs during whats supposed to be their free time in the off-season. Players and coaches often get together in casual settings and NFL coaches often meet with college coaches. Mannings appetite for improvement is what led to his trip this off-season to Alabama. He also visited Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. "Theres different things that Ive done throughout my career in the off-season that Ive sought out someone to talk to, something to study to try to make myself a better quarterback," he said. "I believe in this league you either get better or you get worse -- you dont stay the same. I know that has gotten a lot of attention, but that is something Ive done throughout my career. "I certainly know the rules, but I know theres no rule that says a player cant get better -- at least I havent read that one. Thats what I was trying to do and I believe that is important, especially as you get older, in the off-season to try to seek out some things to try to make yourself a better player." Seeing the leagues only five-time MVP trying to improve impressed new defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who was lured to Denver by a three-year, $30 million offer from general manager John Elway and the chance to play with Manning, whos intent on getting back to the Super Bowl this season following the Broncos 43-8 loss to Seattle in February. "Sometimes it doesnt matter about accolades, it doesnt matter if you were MVP or not, its what can I do to really get better for next season?" Ware said. "Peytons one of those types of guys that puts in that effort, not just on the field but off the field, trying to figure out, What can I do to get better? Because he has a bad taste in his mouth from the last season and he doesnt want it to happen again." Air Max 1 Sale Australia . Notes on P.K. Subban, Dale Weise, Erik Haula, Mikael Granlund, Ilya Bryzgalov and more. Wholesale Air Max 1 Australia . As they are wont to do, the Spurs made things real easy. The Spurs signed Parker to a multi-year contract extension on Friday, ensuring that the six-time All-Star point guard will be in the fold whether Duncan and Ginobili are able to continue their careers or not. http://www.wholesaleairmax1australia.com/. Jagr had a goal and two assists, Andy Greene scored 43 seconds into overtime and Marek Zidlicky had two goals as the Devils rallied past the Washington Capitals 5-4 Saturday night. Air Max 1 Clearance . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. Air Max 1 Wholesale . 9 Baylor Bears just needed some time to get on track in their first game after the Christmas break.DRUMMONDVILLE, Que. -- Alexandre Grand-Maison broke a tie game with less than three minutes to go, and Louis-Philip Guindon made 39 saves to give the Drummondville Voltigeurs a 3-2 win over the Val-dOr Foreurs on Wednesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. The Voltigeurs, who tied their second-round series 2-2 with the win, opened the game with first-period goals from Ryan Culkin and Joey Ratelle. Val-dOr replied in the second period, as Shawn Ouellette-St-Amant and Phil Pietroniro scored within 24 seconds of each other. Pierre-Maxime Poudrier assisted on both goals. Foreurs goaltender Antoine Bibeau made 26 saves in the losing effort. --- MOOSEHEADS 4 OLYMPIQUES 2 GATINEAU, Que. -- Nikolaj Ehlers scored the eventual winner on a power play, and added an assist as Mooseheads extended their second-round playoff series lead over the Olympiques. Luca Ciampini and MacKenzie Weegar also scored for Halifax, who leads the best-of-seven set 3-1. Brent Andrews added an empty-net goal at 19:05 of the third period. Simon Tardif-Richard and Vaclav Karabacek replied for the Olympiques. Mooseheads goalie Zachary Fucale made 25 saves for the win. Gatineaus Robbert Steeves stopped 19 shots in the losing effort.dddddddddddd --- DRAKKAR 4 HUSKIES 2 ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. -- Baie-Comeau got goals from four different skaters and outshot the Huskies 39-19 to complete the sweep of their second-round playoff series. Charles Hudon, Denis Gorbunov and Valentin Zykov all had a goal and an assist apiece, and Alexandre Ranger also scored for the Drakkar, who won the series 4-0. Jean-Sebastien Dea and Mathieu Lemay replied for the Huskies. Baie-Comeaus Philippe Cadorette made 17 saves for the win. Rouyn-Norandas Alexandre Belanger stopped 35 shots in the loss. --- ARMADA 5 OCEANIC 1 BOISBRIAND, Que. -- Christopher Clapperton and Daniel Walcott each had a goal and two assists as Blainville-Boisbriand evened its second-round playoff series with Rimouski. Emil Aronsson, Marc-Olivier Roy and Samuel Tremblay also scored for the Armada, who tied the series 2-2. Etienne Marcoux stopped 30 shots. Jimmy Oligny had the lone goal for the Oceanic. Philippe Desrosiers started in net for Rimouski but left the game after giving up all five goals on 25 shots through 44:27. Olivier Tremblay stopped all nine shots he faced in relief. ' ' '