and slammed off the goal post

DENVER -- Kyle Orton wont come out and say it, calling his much-anticipated return to Denver on Sunday just another chance to take the field and play a football game. Wholesale Jerseys China. Its a whole lot more than that. With a victory over the Broncos, Orton, who was masterful in ending the Green Bay Packers perfect season two weeks ago, perhaps can secure starters money and a long-term deal hes been longing for as he heads off into unrestricted free agency. And he could also help Kansas City Chiefs interim coach Romeo Crennel secure his own future. Perhaps biggest of all, Orton can stick it to the team that benched him after he finally caved under the weight of Tebowmania and the Broncos stumbled to a 1-4 start. The stakes are even higher for Tim Tebow, whos gone 7-3 with a series of fourth-quarter comebacks that galvanized a city and captivated the league. Tebow has stumbled himself the last two weeks, committing five turnovers in back-to-back losses that have rendered Sundays reunion a high-stakes showdown. If Tebow can beat the guy he couldnt beat out in training camp, the Broncos (8-7) will win the AFC West and clinch their first playoff berth since 2005, when Mike Shanahan and Jake Plummer were still around. They could lose and still get in, if San Diego wins at Oakland, but the Broncos dont want to leave it up to anyone else to bail them out. A victory over the Chiefs (6-9) would also validate Broncos boss John Elways dangerous decision to release Orton on Nov. 22 knowing full well the Chiefs had lost Matt Cassel to a hand injury and were likely to put in a waiver claim. They did, saving the Broncos US$2.6 million in salary -- the same amount theyd paid him to ride pine for six weeks after his demotion. Orton could make them pay an even heftier price if he keeps the Broncos out of the post-season party. That would make Denvers front office look foolish for granting him his request to be released and would stamp Elways first -- and otherwise successful -- season as an NFL executive with a black eye over a blunder that could long hang over the franchise that has won just one playoff game since Elway hoisted the Super Bowl trophy in 1999. If the Broncos win, Orton is a mere footnote in this scintillating season thats included four consecutive fourth-quarter comebacks, a 1,000-yard bounce-back season by Willis McGahee, clutch kicks galore by Matt Prater, and a defensive revival led by Pro Bowlers Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. At 2-5, the Broncos appeared headed for another debacle like last years franchise-worst 4-12 finish, but they revamped their offence to fit Tebows unorthodox skill set and surged to the top of their division. So, here comes Orton versus Tebow, although both teams cringe at the very mention of it. "Its the Broncos versus the Chiefs, thats how we look at it," Dumervil said. "Yeah, Kyle was here and maybe it would be more sensitive to him, but for the guys here in the locker room, were worried about getting ourselves in the playoffs." "I dont pay attention because I dont care about all that," Broncos safety Raheem Moore added of the Orton versus Tebow hype. "The focus should be on the Chiefs and Broncos. Forget about all that jibber jabber. Lets give the fans what they want to see and lets compete, and may the best man win." Orton is clearly the better passer, Tebow the better scrambler. In almost every other category, Orton is better -- except under pressure. Thats when its Tebow Time. Hes guided the Broncos to victory six times when they were trailing in the second half, winning once as time expired and three more games in overtime. After winning his first six starts for the Broncos -- and the hype was nothing like when Tebow won six straight this season -- Orton went just 6-21 in Denver. He never endeared himself to the fans, who didnt really like him first because he wasnt Jay Cutler and then because he wasnt Tim Tebow. Win or lose, Orton was serenaded this summer and fall with chants of "Tebow! Tebow! Tebow!" "And you get tired of that, and youre the starting quarterback and you go out there and its all 15 jerseys and he runs out there and everyones cheering," Elway said recently. "Thats why it was good for Kyle to get a new start in Kansas City. And we knew we may have to face him down the line and we kind of took that risk." Orton asked for a trade last off-season and the Broncos tried to accommodate him. But talks with the Miami Dolphins fizzled, so new coach John Fox threw open the quarterback competition in camp and Orton won it hands-down. Then came a loss to Oakland in the opener when Orton dropped the slick football with a tight end open in the end zone for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. It was all downhill from there. Now, Orton has a chance, deliberately this time, to hurt the Broncos again. "I think when you look at it, we dont want to be in the situation where were at, eliminated and all that stuff. Thats disappointing," Orton said. "But the fact remains in the NFL you get 16 weeks to prove yourself to your teammates and you know, thats not a lot of chances. Thats how Im going to look at that. Its just another week to come out and prove my preparation and play with my teammates." We all know better, and so does Crennel, who said hes certain Orton is jacked up to play the Broncos. "Sure. I mean, hes human. Hey, you would be jacked up if you were going up against your old team," Crennel said. "I mean, were all human. But the thing is, I think in this game, our players have to understand that its a team sport and one guy generally doesnt do it all by himself. Sometimes one guy can make the plays that help you win, but you cant do it without your teammates." Crennel warned his players not to view this game as anything more than a division rivalry. He took Orton aside and admonished him not to get too pumped up over the reunion or the revenge angle. "Every player that I know wants to play good against his old team. He would like to play good and Im sure hed like to win the game," Crennel said. "Thats what I told him this morning. I said, Your job is to help your team win. Its not Kyle versus the Broncos, its the Chiefs versus the Broncos. I think guys need to be reminded of that sometimes." Not that he sensed Orton was a mess emotionally. "Id have done the same with any player, whether its a defensive lineman, a running back, anybody playing against their former team," Crennel said, "because over my years, thats what Ive seen, guys getting over-hyped playing against their former team. Crennel said he senses a reinvigorated quarterback now that Orton is out from under Tebows long shadow. "Sure. I mean, any quarterback doesnt want to be looking over his shoulder and he doesnt want to hear the clamour for another quarterback," Crennel said. "He wants to be the guy. So, I think that coming here gives him an opportunity to be more relaxed, to run the offence that we have in place and then just do the best he can." Playing spoiler isnt much fun, but you can bet Orton would take satisfaction in getting the last laugh at Mile High on Sunday. "I think you got to worry about yourself. Theres so much you get to play for every week, and just look at it that way," Orton said. "There are so many things to play for." Wholesale Jerseys USA.C. Division in the Western Hockey League. Neil Manning and Dalton Sward scored three goals each as the Giants defeated the Victoria Royals 11-3. Cheap Jerseys. -- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. http://www.choicejerseys.com/. Chandler was hurt Wednesday night in the opening minute of the Knicks exhibition victory over the Brooklyn Nets when he banged knees in a collision with Gerald Wallace. Wholesale Jerseys. The struggling Reds held on for a 0-0 draw in Montreal on Wednesday night in the opening game of their semi-final against the Impact. Toronto, which lost to Mexicos Santos Laguna in last months CONCACAF Champions League semi-final, began its quest for a fourth straight Canadian title cautiously, hardly threatening offensively throughout the 90 minutes before a crowd of 13,405 at Olympic Stadium. Cheap Jerseys China. Chandler was hurt Wednesday night in the opening minute of the Knicks exhibition victory over the Brooklyn Nets when he banged knees in a collision with Gerald Wallace.BOSTON -- The Bruins didnt have to be -- or want to be -- told how long it had been since theyd won two games in a row. "January-something, I know that," Tyler Seguin said. "I knew it was too long." David Krejci scored for the fifth time in the last five games and Boston won consecutive games for the first time in almost two months with a 3-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. Defenceman Johnny Boychuk broke a 1-1 tie at 12:56 of the third period and Krejci scored 2:58 later to make it 3-1. The Bruins, who won at Toronto Tuesday night, last won two in a row since Jan. 10 and 12. It was the 11th time the Bruins had tried for two in a row since then. "Weve been obviously battling for consistency," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "Even though this is our first back-to-back win in a long time, I was encouraged by our play in New York (a 4-3 loss to the Rangers Sunday) and it just kept coming along, in the next game, obviously winning and then tonight again we had a pretty decent effort. ".When youve got the amount of injuries that you have, you take every win for what they are and tonight was a good win for us." The loss was the second in the last three games for the Sabres, who are battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres almost pulled out a point with backup Jhomas Enroth in goal for the first time since Feb. 12, as Ryan Miller got the night off after 10 straight starts. They lost for the second time in their last three games. I think it is a good example and shows you why they are where they are at right now, and where were at," Buffalo captain Jason Pominville said. "They stuck with it, they were patient and they didnt really give up much." Pominville scored in the first period and Bostons Gregory Campbell tied it in the second. Tim Thomas made 19 saves for Boston. With the game tied 1-1, Boychuk stepped into a loose puck after a sliding Jordon Leopold broke up Jordan Caron pass. Boychuk blasted his fourth goal of the season past Buffalo goalie Jhonas Enroth, making his first start since Feb. 16. Carons assist on the goal gave him six points in his last three games.dddddddddddd Krejci has been Bostons best scorer since joining a line with wingers Tyler Seguin and Milan Lucic. All three players have at least one point in each of the five games and the line has 20 points (10 goals). It was Krejcis sixth goal in the last seven games, his 18th of the season. Pominville walked down the right side on a 2-on-1 but Thomas had a clear view of his slap shot the hit the top of the net. It was the 25th goal of the season for Buffalo captain, the third time in his career he has scored 25, but the first time since 2007-08. The Bruins ran up a 13-6 shots advantage in the first period but didnt score until the final minutes of the second. Christian Ehrhoffs pass in the defensive zone hit the skate of teammate Cody Hodgson and headed out to the blue line. Shawn Thornton stepped right into the puck and his shot was deflected out of midair by Campbell and Enroth at 18:09. The goal was reviewed but stood. For Campbell, it was his seventh goal of the season, first in 20 games. It came just over five minutes after a shot by defenceman Dennis Seidenberg, beat Enroth and slammed off the goal post to Enroths left. It came right out into the crease and the goalie covered it with his glove. "I wasnt quite sure of the exact date (of the last two-game winning streak) but I know, we all knew, that its been quite a while," Campbell said. "As we approach the playoffs youre not going to find yourself going very far if youre winning one, losing one so thats where the consistent factor comes in." NOTES: Bostons Brad Marchand, nailed by a clean check from Tyler Myers late in the game, appeared to injure his right shoulder or arm and didnt play again, but Julien said he didnt play because of game circumstances and that Marchand was "ready to go." ... New Boston backup goalie Mary Turco, who cleared waivers to return to the NHL Wednesday, dressed as Thomas backup. Turco was signed for the rest of the season because of the injury to Tuukka Rask. . The Bruins wished a happy 94th birthday to former coach Milt Schmidt. ' ' '