referenced how San Antonio got much better this season after seeing a title

GREEN BAY, Wis. - A bye week gave Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers some much-needed time to rest a sore hamstring.The injury news isnt as promising for two beefy guys who protect Rodgers in the pocket.Starting guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang each sat out practice Wednesday with injuries suffered the last time the Packers played, a 44-23 loss at New Orleans on Oct. 26. Sitton and Lang are the Packers best offensive linemen, and the longest-tenured players on what coach Mike McCarthy considers one of best front fives in his nine seasons in Green Bay.Now, there are questions about the line going into Sunday nights NFC North showdown against the Chicago Bears.The best offensive lines in my opinion are the ones that play week in and week out. The timing, the communication, particularly the non-verbal communication, happens so fast at the line of scrimmage, so its definitely a big part of the flow of your offence, McCarthy said.Lang was carted off the field in New Orleans with a left ankle injury. Sitton said he may have torn a ligament in his left big toe in the second half of the same game, but gutted it out through the end.First few days, it was pretty swollen and pretty sore. So its come a long way, said Sitton, the left guard.How Sitton and Lang respond to treatment the next few days will be telling about whether they will be available Sunday.At least the Packers got Rodgers back for the first full practice after the bye. Rodgers, who tweaked his hamstring while scrambling against the Saints, followed a rehab program during the off week and got acupuncture to help with the injury.McCarthy said his franchise quarterback looked good at practice. Still, some dynamics have changed since the Bears and Packers last met on Sept. 28, a 38-17 win for Green Bay at Soldier Field.Besides the uncertainty on the line, the Bears figure to have Jared Allen back; the veteran defensive lineman missed the teams first meeting with an illness. While not a real running threat, Rodgers does rely on his mobility to help extend plays.Asked about compensating for potentially being without Lang and Sitton or being cautious with his hamstring, Rodgers said Well, I take care of my body pretty well, and I trust that by Sunday that its not going to be an issue.I just have to play my game and if something happens I might dial it back a little bit, Rodgers said.But hes having such a good season that dialing it back for Rodgers might mean an average year for anyone else.Rodgers leads the league with a 113.6 passer rating. He has thrown 19 touchdowns in helping lead the Packers to a 5-3 record, which included a six-game stretch without an interception.What makes the season more impressive is that Green Bay hasnt had the production expected out of the running game with Eddie Lacy and James Starks. That in part is due to a lack of opportunities with the Packers up-tempo offence scoring on quick-strike drives.While receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have been torturing secondaries, rookie wideout Davante Adams is still emerging as a third target. Also, Green Bay hasnt had a consistent threat at tight end since Jermichael Finley got knocked out last season by a neck injury.Well, its just about finding the right matchups for us, whatever that might be. Jordy and Randall have had a lot of targets go their way. Theyve been open a lot, Rodgers said. But you know this is a progression offence, as the West Coast offences are, and Im going to go through (them) and look for the guy thats open.Notes: The Packers did get three defensive starters at practice with safety Morgan Burnett (calf), cornerback Sam Shields (knee) and end Datone Jones (ankle) all returning at full participation. Rodgers was also officially listed as a full participant. ... Green Bay signed guard Jordan McCray to the practice squad while releasing running back Michael Hill. ... The team announced that is testing the addition of 200 standing-room only tickets for the first time for the next two games, against the Bears followed by the Eagles. That would increase Lambeau Fields capacity to 80,935. The tickets are priced at $75.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP Vapormax Herre Udsalg . Edmonton opened the season with 14 straight victories before falling Friday night 10-8 to the host Colorado Mammoth in National Lacrosse League action. Vapormax Dame Danmark . Next up, the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns in the AFC North. Baltimore Ravens In 2014, the 8-8 season that the Baltimore Ravens experienced was to be expected. http://www.vapormaxdanmark.com/ . RAPTORS STRUGGLING: The bottom line is the true test in sports isnt just how you handle failure, but how you handle success. Vapormax Dame Tilbud Dk . Early in the first period, Stuart pinched in from the blue line, hit Nash and was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. Nash remained in the game for the rest of the first period, but did not return for the second. Vapormax Danmark Online . The matchup will be made up in Minnesota at a later date. The arena was evacuated about 45 minutes before the scheduled 9:30 p.m. EST tipoff when a generator malfunction outside the arena sent smoke pouring into the building, according to NBA spokeswoman Sharon Lima.MIAMI -- Pat Riley walked into the room to begin his end-of-season availability annoyed, and armed with history. There have been franchises that have enjoyed prolonged runs of greatness during his 45 years as a player, coach and executive in the NBA -- the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs and his Miami Heat among them -- and Thursday Riley pointed out each shares a trait. They all lost sometime. "I think everybody," the Heat president said moments after smacking the table to begin the news conference, "needs to get a grip." With that, Riley was off and running on a message-sending session that lasted nearly an hour. No players were there, but they surely heard his themes: He saw his teams mental fatigue during the year, but doesnt accept it; he isnt willing to let Miami fall from the ranks of the NBA elite, and the organization will do what it can to keep LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade together. "We have a tremendous opportunity here for long-term success," Riley said. "Dont think were not going to get beat again, so just get a grip, everybody. Thats my message. Its my message to the players, also." It was one of his many messages. Riley, who gets a reported $75,000 when hired to deliver motivational speeches, worked in anecdotes on everything from sipping Johnnie Walker Blue to playing James Ingram records to how even at 69 years old he still finds himself dreaming big. He was speaking with reporters, but clearly talking to players through the cameras. "Youve got to stay together, if youve got the guts," Riley said. "You dont find the first door and run out of it if you have an opportunity. This is four years now into this era, this team. Four finals -- its only been done three other times before -- and two championships. From day one to the end, it was like a Broadway show. It sort of ran out of steam. And we need to retool. We dont need to rebuild." How to retool is the question, but the answer isnt up to Riley yet. James, Bosh and Wade all need to decide if theyre going to opt out of their contracts, a choice that was probably going to be complicated even if the Heat hadnt lost the NBA Finals to San Antonio, ending Miamis two-year reign as leaague champions.dddddddddddd. From those decisions, Heat free-agents-to-be -- Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen and others -- may start charting their futures. Players from other teams will listen as well. Then Riley and the Heat spring into action on July 1, just as they did four years ago when they netted James, Bosh and Wade. Other than Norris Cole, no Heat player currently is locked into a fully guaranteed deal for next season. But Riley doesnt feel the Heat need to recruit current players again. "Were prepared," Riley said. "Weve got the main-themed book all written up and its dependent on whatever the scenario were presented with on July 1. Weve got a lot of room for flexibility. Theres a tremendous amount of flexibility depending on what happens. So were ready." He offered plenty of perspective on Thursday, about how he still feels like he choked away what should have been a title for the Lakers team he coached in 1984, but how they roared back with three titles in the next four seasons. He even referenced how San Antonio got much better this season after seeing a title in 2013 get taken away by Miami in dramatic fashion. "What happened last year with San Antonio? Did they run? They faced it," Riley said. "They faced it and they came back, and we saw the result. Well find out what were made of here. Its not about options. Its not about free agency. Its not about anything. Its about what we have built over four years here." Among Rileys more impassioned defences was the one of Wade, who was widely criticized for both missing 28 games in the regular season -- mainly part of a maintenance program laid out by the team -- and for struggling in Games 4 and 5 of the NBA Finals. "For the last 10 years, this has been a Dwyane Wade-driven thing," Riley said. "Now does he have to reinvent himself a little bit? Absolutely." Riley can only hope that reinvention is in Miami, and that James and Bosh are there as well. "Im an Irish guy who believes in big dreams," Riley said. "Im optimistic. Until thats proven different, I just have a level of optimism that there isnt a better place for players to be than Miami." ' ' '