Cuts » very limited at the start of preseason practice. Tuttle is

It was the chairmans idea.How could he get the NFL, one of the largest global brands in all of sports, to agree to hold regular-season games in a Premier League stadium? It had never been done.Maybe the NFL thought Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy was, as he said, a little bit mad in 2012 when he suggested the two agree to hold NFL games in his clubs new 61,000-seat stadium beginning when it opens in 2018. But the NFL listened.Levy proposed equipping the stadium with a retractable pitch -- a grass soccer field over a synthetic surface for NFL games -- which would make it possible to hold two games in the same stadium on the same day. Over time, Levy also agreed to configure the stadium so the sight lines would be as good for NFL games as they would be for soccer games and to build a dedicated NFL-sized locker room and NFL-sized medical and media facilities.We worked together, Levy said, because it needed to be viewed as a combined joint soccer and NFL stadium. In fact, the way we designed the whole experience is one side of the stadium is a dedicated soccer entrance and the other side is a dedicated NFL entrance.If it ever got to a stage where the NFL decided it wanted to have a permanent team in London, this stadium could literally be, whatever the team was, it would be their stadium as opposed to an NFL team feeling theyre renting Tottenhams stadium.That is a big reason why Mark Waller, the NFLs executive vice president of international, told ESPN.com earlier this year that he could see the league putting a team in London by 2020 if the ownership decided that was something we wanted to do.The NFL has been building a fan base in England since it started its International Series there in 2007. The league has held 14 regular-season games in London -- all at Wembley Stadium -- and will hold three more there this season, including one at Twickenham Stadium, home of Englands national rugby team.Starting in 2018, the NFL will hold at least two games at Tottenhams as-yet-named stadium for a 10-year period, although Levy said, Weve encouraged them to engage with us in a wider way.If the NFL decides it wants to base a team in London, Levy said the Spurs?would like to host it.We would welcome very much close cooperation with the NFL and a dedicated team, Levy said. Obviously a decision is entirely theirs whether they do bring a team to the U.K., and where it would be located is something that would be talked about. But yes, we would be very much welcome to that scenario.When Levy became chairman for the Spurs in 2001, he had three objectives: improve the quality of the team, build a world-class training facility and build a new stadium.When the stadium, which will be adjacent to Tottenhams current White Hart Lane home, is complete, Levy will have achieved all three. Last season, the Spurs finished third in the Premier League, their highest finish of Levys tenure. And a couple of years ago they moved to a new training facility, where they soon will break ground on an addition for player housing.But the stadium and the accompanying neighborhood revitalization project -- both of which are known as the Northumberland Development Project -- are Levys baby. The project includes the construction of new homes, a hotel, a medical facility and a grocery store, among other things.I have lived and breathed this project from day one, the 54-year-old Levy said. It is absolutely my ambition to make this work. When I first started talking about it internally at the club, again I think people around me thought I was mad as well. I guess its my tenacity to get it done because there were many times with the NFL where there wasnt going to be an arrangement. We just kept going back and saying, What about this? What about that?When we first went to them, we went to them with the idea of a joint stadium in some shape or form without going through all the details at that stage. As we sat down and we went through all the operations, we worked out, What does the NFL need? What does soccer need? Basically we had a checklist of all the various things we wanted to achieve, and then at the end of the day it was the best solution.Levy said he researched stadiums in the United States, and while he said he didnt want to give away any trade secrets, the major difference between venues there versus in England is the scale. Theyre enormous, Levy said. So while Tottenhams video boards will be the largest in a European stadium, they wont touch the size of some in the U.S.And although Levy looked at the retractable grass field at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the Cardinals, there were logistical differences there, too. That field retracts outside the indoor stadium, where it can be exposed to sunlight. At the Tottenham site, where land is at a premium, the grass field will retract under the stands and be exposed to artificial light.But unlike Wembley Stadium, the Spurs new venue wont need to be reconfigured to accommodate an NFL field. So the turnaround time from hosting a soccer match on the grass field to an NFL game on the synthetic surface will be two hours.One of the idle thoughts we have at the moment is, would you really be able to play an NFL game and an EPL game on the same day as a doubleheader? Waller said. It wouldnt be absolutely out of the question. I dont think youd want to do it on a regular basis, but on a unique feature, that might be a really interesting idea.Said Levy: I dont think its something wed want to try our first game, but that is certainly realistic. How exciting the idea of having the two biggest leagues in the world from a television perspective -- fantastic! -- play on the same day.While the NFL likes to cite a string of statistics that shows how well it is trending in England -- such as that it has sold out every game at Wembley -- Levy is a bit more conservative in his assessment of whether England can support a full-time NFL franchise.It starts with kids.Kids in school in England dont think about NFL, Levy said. They think about soccer, and to a much, much less extent rugby and cricket. You wouldnt put the NFL in that list at the moment, and therefore one has to be cautious about the timing of the decision and how that is done.I think its possible and I think it can work, otherwise we wouldnt have invested what weve invested in our stadium, and we wouldnt have entered into the arrangement with the NFL. I just think that everyone needs to have their feet on the ground, and just because you sell out three games of 80,000 or 90,000 people [doesnt mean] that a franchise is an automatic success.One NFC front office executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity, says he worries about issues beyond the size of the fan base. He wonders if commissioner Roger Goodell and the league are being overly aggressive with their overseas ambitions during a time when player safety is being emphasized.I would say 2020 is probably the realistic goal in Rogers mind and the owners minds, he said. Theres been so much talk about international. My biggest concern is were trying so hard to go international in so many places too fast that too many bad things can happen. Theyre talking about playing in China. Are you kidding me? Its a bad idea. There are enormous questions about London that havent been answered, but its player safety, player safety, player safety. Regardless of the timeframe, Levy emphasized two things would help put a U.K. franchise in position to succeed. One is the continued engagement of fans, young and old. The other is ensuring that the stadium experience is a real NFL experience, because if its not, not only will the fans attending the game know it, so will the ones watching on television.Tottenham is committed to making the stadium experience special, and if and when the NFL is ready to move a team to London, it will be waiting.Clearly we wouldnt both be putting all this into this stadium if there wasnt the prospect of one day a team eventually coming to London, Levy said. But there are certainly no guarantees that A) a team comes to London, and B) they have to use our stadium.I think were all putting the effort in in the hopes that they will do it. Air Force 1 Mid Nz . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Air Force 1 Low Womens Sale . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. http://www.airforce1salenz.com/sf-air-force-1-nz/high.html . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Nike SF Air Force 1 Mid Nz . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Air Force 1 Just Do It Nz . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee believes it wont be distracted by its unfamiliar status as a preseason division favorite.The Volunteers opened preseason practice Monday, returning the nucleus of a team that went 9-4 last year and ended the season on a six-game winning streak. Southeastern Conference media have picked Tennessee to win its first Eastern Division title since 2007.When your internal expectations are very high, it doesnt matter what the external expectations are, coach Butch Jones said.This marks the first time since 2005 that SEC media have picked Tennessee to win a division, but that distinction comes with a caveat. Tennessee finished only 5-6 in 2005 despite being picked to win the entire SEC that year.It wants to avoid a similar fate this season.We always have high expectations, Jones said. We expect to compete for championships. Thats why you compete. But you have to follow the process, and its a journey. The more time you spend talking about winning championships and expectations, youre wasting time. Thats taking you away from the task at hand -- and thats being a better football player and a better football team.Jones enters his fourth season as the Vols coach with the most experienced team hes had at Tennessee. That has allowed him to lean on his upperclassmen to help teach the newcomers whats expected.If somebodys doing something theyre not supposed to do, we can (correct) it, junior defensive end Derek Barnett said. He trusts us because were older.Its different because since Ive been here, weve always been a young team. Its the first year since Ive been here weve been a veteran team.The only starters from last seasons Outback Bowl blowout of Northwestern missing from this seasons roster are offensive tackle Kyler Kerbyson, wide receiver Von Pearson, defensive tackle Owen Williams and safeties Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil.On offense, the Vols must find a left tackle to replace Kerbyson, a two-year starter. They also are seeking reliable targets for quarterback Joshua Dobbs, as the Vols havent had anyone accumulate more than 618 yards receiving in each of Jones first three seasons.We have to stay healthy on the perimeter of our offense, Jones said. When you look at it, weve been decimated with injuries (at receiver) the last two years. Everything inn the throw game is about rhythm and timing and trust and consistency.dddddddddddd Its kind of been a revolving door there.Tennessees defense must replace the Randolph-McNeill duo at safety. Jones called it an extremely, extremely, extremely competitive situation. Candidates include Todd Kelly Jr., Rashaan Gaulden, Evan Berry, Micah Abernathy and freshman Nigel Warrior.The Vols also must determine who will line up at cornerback alongside senior Cam Sutton, entering his fourth year as a starter. Justin Martin, Emmanuel Moseley, Malik Foreman and freshman Marquill Osborne are among the contenders for that spot.But with much of the lineup relatively set, the biggest concern for Tennessee may be how it handles its status as the team to beat in the SEC East. Jones likes the mindset his team has shown throughout the offseason.As we all know, its a long journey, he said. Its not a sprint. Its a marathon and every day is critical. We put a lot of work into this, a lot of work that really started since we walked off the field in Tampa (after the Outback Bowl).Game notes Jones said defensive tackle Shy Tuttle will be very, very limited at the start of preseason practice. Tuttle is recovering from a broken fibula and torn ankle ligament that caused him to miss the final seven games last season. Jones said wide receiver Jauan Jennings also will be limited at the start of practice but is expected to be full-go here real shortly.... Kelly is switching his jersey number from No. 6 to No. 24 this season to honor Zaevion Dobson, a Knoxville high school football player who was shot to death at the age of 15 last year while shielding two girls from gunfire. ... Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord will earn $580,000, linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen will make $505,000 and running backs coach Robert Gillespie will make $480,000 this year according to contract information obtained Monday through a public records request. DeBord had made $505,000, Thigpen had made $405,000 and Gillespie had received $355,000 last season. Jones announced last month that Thigpen had added the title of defensive run game coordinator.---AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '