. Louis Blues, finalized contract terms with centre Corban Knight

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Veteran NFL receiver Hakeem Nicks decided this offseason that persistently lobbying New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton for a job gave him the best chance at salvaging his career.The 28-year-old Nicks, who participated in his first practice of Saints training camp on Friday, is coming off several seasons in which his production dipped far below the standard he set early in his career with the New York Giants. But Nicks sounds confident that the prolific offense designed by Payton, and executed by quarterback Drew Brees, provides the perfect platform for his resurgence.If you look at the offenses I was in when I had most of my production throughout my career, I felt like this offense fit my skill set the best, Nicks said. And who else to do it with than coach Sean Payton. Hes a brainiac when it comes to offenses, and I would love to play for him.Nicks, who worked out for the Saints this offseason, is taking a spot on the 90-man preseason roster that opened up when New Orleans placed Vincent Brown on injured reserve. In recent months, Nicks said hed been sending Payton texts almost weekly in an effort to persuade the coach to give him a chance. Sometimes, those texts said something like, Lets Hunt. Other times, they included video of Nicks training.Hes obviously an experienced receiver. Hes in good shape. And he was kind of on a short list if we had a roster opening, Payton said of Nicks. Plus, he wouldnt stop texting me.Nicks posted 1,000-yard seasons in 2010 and 2011 with the Giants under then-offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, but he has been far less productive since and at this point is far from being guaranteed a regular-season roster spot.I know the situation, Nicks said. Im a man and I know what Ive got to do.Two seasons ago, Nicks left New York for Indianapolis, joining Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. But Nicks wound up having one of the least productive seasons of his career, catching 38 passes for 405 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games. He then went to Tennessee, but said he had a preseason knee injury that he kept quiet about and rejoined the Giants in midseason, finishing 2015 with seven catches for 54 yards.Payton said Hicks dip in production could have resulted from a variety of factors, including the systems in which he played.Each situations different ... but I cant speak specifically to his (snaps) or reasons why maybe there were certain attempts thrown his way, Payton said. Its an opportunity for him to come in and kind of find his role, if you will, a little bit -- work for a role within this system, which is a little different than maybe other places hes been.Nicks said his recent dip in production motivated him to ramp up his study of pro football.I was learning the business, Nicks said. I hadnt had much success since Id been with coach Gilbride. Being younger, you think you can just go fit in anywhere, any offense. I was oblivious. ... So as I got older and started talking to some older guys that had been in the league, you know, youve got to fit your skill set. So I started studying some offenses and I feel like this is the best fit.Nicks also said he has continued to focus on recovering from last years knee injury since leaving the Giants a second time.Ive spent my whole offseason from January up until now, rehabbing and training. So I put a lot of work into it, Nicks said. The opportunity came and Im ready for it.Game notes Rookie receiver Michael Thomas drew high praise from teammates and coaches after making a lunging, off-balance, one-handed catch of a long Luke McCown pass along the left sideline during 11-on-11 drills. Thomas, a former Ohio State standout drafted in the second round last spring, corralled the ball with his left hand while tumbling into the end zone. That was really an amazing play, Payton said. ... The Saints have signed offensive lineman John Fullington, who plays center and guard. He replaces lineman Tony Carter, who was waived with an unspecified injury.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Fake NFL Jerseys Discount . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Fake NFL Jerseys Cheap . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. https://www.fakenfljerseys.com/ . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Fake NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Fake NFL Jerseys Wholesale . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46.CALGARY - The Calgary Flames crowded their crease with the signing of Finnish goaltender Karri Ramo on Friday. Ramo joins goaltenders Miikka Kiprusoff, Reto Berra and Joey Macdonald under contract with the Flames, although Calgary awaits Kiprusoffs decision on whether the 36-year-old veteran will retire or return to the NHL for the final year of his contract. But the Flames are already ushering in the post-Kiprusoff era by signing Ramo to a two-year contract worth $5.8 million. Calgary also picked up defenceman Kris Russell from the St. Louis Blues, finalized contract terms with centre Corban Knight and re-signed centre Greg Nemiscz to a one-year extension worth $725,000. Calgary acquired Ramos rights from Montreal in 2012. Hes spent the past four seasons with the KHLs Avangard Omsk, but has pplayed 48 NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.dddddddddddd. Ramos record with Omsk this past season was 26-9-5 with a goals-against average of 2.00 and a save percentage of .929. The Flames dealt a fifth-round pick in 2014 to St. Louis for Russell. The 26-year-old from Caroline, Alta., was a restricted free agent before signing a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with Calgary. Russell had a goal and six assists in 33 games for the Blues this past season. The five-foot-10, 173-pound defender was drafted in the third round by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2005. Russell played five seasons with Columbus and the last two in St. Louis. Russell compiled 23 goals and 72 assists in 364 career NHL games. Knights two-year, entry-level contract pays a base salary of $810,000 annually. ' ' '