Forum » a lot of strong feelings about

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians didnt want to talk about Julius Thomas chop block anymore and apparently neither did the Denver Broncos Pro Bowl tight end.A person with knowledge of the penalty said Thomas was fined $8,286 for his chop block on Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell last weekend. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the fine hadnt been announced yet by the NFL. ESPN first reported the fine, the first of Thomas four-year career.Arians, who had called the chop block Sunday the worst play hed seen in 37 years of coaching and refused to believe it wasnt intentional, told reporters in Tempe, Arizona, he had no reaction to the fine.No, Im tired of all that, Arians said.Thomas, who expressed remorse Monday for hurting Campbell and said it was a matter of miscommunication, not malice, wasnt in the locker room during the medias 45-minute window Wednesday.On Monday, Arians called for Thomas to be suspended for as long as Campbell is out. Campbell is expected to miss up to three weeks with a strained right MCL.The league, however, fined Thomas the same amount it penalized Peyton Manning in August for his taunting foul of Texans defensive back D.J. Swearinger following the swaggering safetys hard hit on Wes Welker.Campbell had this to say about Thomas fine: Its a max fine for an illegal block for a first-time offender. It makes sense that the NFL did something and hopefully he wont do it no more.With Campbell rushing off the right edge in a three-man front early in the second half Sunday, Manning motioned for Thomas to come out of the two-tight end backfield and line up next to left tackle Ryan Clady.At the snap, Thomas dived at Campbells knees thinking he was cut-blocking him. But it was flagged as a chop block because Clady stood in a pass block stance and didnt back away from the line of scrimmage.Never before have I been blocked like that, Campbell said. It (stinks). I dont think it was a great football play but its over and done with. Id like to move past it and get back to playing good football again.Thomas leads the NFL with seven TD catches and has an NFL-high 19 touchdown receptions since 2013, but blocking isnt his forte. He only began playing the position as a senior at Portland State in 2010 after hed exhausted his eligibility on the hardwood, where he was a power forward.Its frustrating to get hurt in a situation that could have been avoided, but you cant do anything about it now, Campbell said.Thomas has been lambasted in the Cardinals locker room and across the airwaves over the chop block. Among the most critical comments were those of Arizona linebacker Larry Foote. On Monday, he said: That looked like Karate Kid. Sweep the legs, Johnny. It was ugly. Thats a black eye to football a€” period. Even their own players knew it. Yeah, they said something, even the linemen. Hopefully it isnt coming from the sidelines. I dont want to play that game. But that should be dealt with. It dont get no uglier than that.Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton came to Thomas defence Wednesday.If you look at it from a defensive lineman point of view, how (Campbell) was lined up, he should have initiated contact with Julius, Knighton said. He should have been more aware, I think, because he was lined up on Julius. So, it wasnt like Julius came in and hit him. He just went forward. I dont know how they teach it there, but here when were in that technique, we play tight end.Knighton blamed all the fuss on how bad the play looked and Campbells status as a star and reputation as one of the classier players in the league.So is Julius, Knighton said. But its football. Were past it. Julius isnt that type of player. If they want to dwell on it, they can. But were not.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___AP Sports Writer Bob Baum contributed. Stephen Gonsalves Twins Jersey . - The New York Rangers have momentum, a unified locker room and Henrik Lundqvist. Tony Oliva Jersey . While Chelsea stayed two points behind leader Arsenal courtesy of Etoos hat trick, seventh-place United slipped 14 points from the summit this weekend. And the gap from the Champions League places is growing as well, with Liverpool six points ahead in fourth. https://www.cheaptwins.com/312t-zack-lit...rsey-twins.html. With the win, the Marlies complete a three-game series sweep of the Admirals and move on to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. T.J. Brennan added an empty netter with less than 25 seconds remaining for his second of the playoffs. Harmon Killebrew Jersey . But San Diego had even more trouble against right-hander Tanner Roark, who pitched a three-hitter for the first complete game of his career as the Nationals shut out the Padres 4-0. The 27-year-old set down the first 16 batters before San Diego catcher Rene Rivera, an . Fernando Romero Jersey . - The Oakland Athletics say they are stopping negotiations to extend their lease at the Coliseum.PEORIA, Ariz. -- Chase Headley is confident the Padres will spend what it takes to become a contender. Its just that so far they havent offered him enough money to ensure hell stay in San Diego. A healthy and confident Headley was upbeat in the clubhouse Wednesday after the retooled Padres held their first full squad workout of spring training, even as the third baseman acknowledged contract talks are going nowhere and hell likely become a free agent next winter. "Unless something drastically changes, I think were just going to focus on playing this year and reevaluate when the seasons over," Headley said. "I dont think either side is going to close the door, necessarily, but I think weve had enough discussion to understand that right now we havent found enough common ground to keep doing this." Headley, who declared himself fit after minor off-season surgery on his right knee, declined to say how long of a contact hes seeking or how far apart the two sides are on money. Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler was similarly tightlipped when asked if he thought a deal could be reached before the start of the regular season. "All Ill say is that discussions have taken place," Fowler said. "To put a timeline on us I think is not appropriate at this point." Fowlers tone Wednesday was a far cry from last May, when he said he was prepared to offer Headley a multi-year deal that would make him the highest-paid player in franchise history. Headley, though, quickly rebuffed the overture and said he wouldnt negotiate during the season. He then went on to hit just .250 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs. Headley acknowledged the trouble in the negotiations now is whether he should be paid for hitting .286 with 31 home runs and a National League-best 115 RBIs in 2012, or for last seasons mediocre numbers. "As a player youre always going to bet on yourself," Headley said. "I think Im a much better player than I showed last year. And I think in this coming year and the years to come Im going to be a better player.dddddddddddd. So thats why we are where we are and we understand it." The two sides avoided arbitration in January when Headley agreed to a one-year deal for a team-high $10,525,000. Known for being thrifty in the past, the Padres also signed free-agent starting pitcher Josh Johnson to a one-year, $8 million deal and brought in setup man Joaquin Benoit for $15.5 million over two years. The Padres, who last made the playoffs in 2006, are expected to have a club-record payroll of about $87 million. "In business you budget for investment years, and Id call this the first of probably many investment years," Fowler said. Thats a key for Headley, who turns 30 in May and has yet to play in the post-season. "If the clubs not going to be willing to put the pieces on the field that you need, then I dont want to be part of that club," Headley said. "And I know thats not going to be the case here. "San Diego is all Ive ever known and I have a lot of strong feelings about the guys in this clubhouse, the coaching staff, the city. Perfect world? Absolutely, this would be the No. 1 choice." But Headley doubts a deal can be reached before the opener and vowed to again not negotiate during the season. And the Padres may want to wait to see if Headley rebounds from his subpar 2013. "Its kind of a difficult thing to judge," Headley said, "when youre coming off two seasons that were kind of polar opposites." NOTES: Fowler, who indicated 10-year-old Petco Park had been "neglected" recently, said a new sound system has been installed and a new video board is likely in 2015. "We want to put significant number of dollars in over the next five years and have Petco looking the way Petco should," Fowler said. . The Padres announced the opener March 30 against the Dodgers is a sellout and CEO Mike Dee said ticket interest is at a "five-year high." ' ' '