go in our favour

 DENVER -- Players who stood by Jim Tracy while the Colorado Rockies endured their worst season in franchise history are reiterating their support for him following the managers resignation over the weekend. . Left-hander Jeff Francis said he was surprised to hear Tracy had decided to step down, telling The Associated Press in an email: "I loved playing for him and I think everyone did. The Rockies will miss him for sure." Among the most vocal supporters was outfielder Dexter Fowler, who appreciated Tracy sticking with him through protracted slumps over the last two seasons before a breakout 2012. He tweeted, "Man Im gonna miss Tracy, thanks for believing in me! You are a wonderful and stand up guy!" Rex Brothers, Tyler Colvin and Josh Rutledge also tweeted praise for Tracy. .Y. -- Its lights out for Shawne Merriman in Buffalo after the Bills cut the one-time star pass rusher Monday. . The fines come as the league and its referees union were meeting amid reports they were close to ending the lockout of the regular officials. Belichick grabbed an officials arm at the end of Sunday nights game after the Ravens kicked a winning field goal. . The seventh-seeded Cornet, who is ranked 73rd, earned her second career title after winning in Budapest, Hungary in 2008 and is now 2-3 in WTA finals. She lost the final in Strasbourg last month. . Cross-country skier Beckie Scott, freestyle skier Jean-Luc Brassard, the 2006 Olympic womens hockey team and synchronized swim coach Julie Sauve will also be inducted at a gala Sept. . Sabourin, who missed several opportunities throughout the game, beat Keegan Wilson with the eighth and final shot of the shootout. The 67s had a great opportunity to win it prior to the shootout after Generals forward Scott Laughton was issued a major penalty and game misconduct for a hit to the head late in the third period.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The NFL said the 76-yard punt return by Denvers Trindon Holliday against Carolina on Sunday should have been ruled a touchback, not a touchdown. In the second quarter of Denvers 36-14 win, the Broncos 5-foot-5 returner raced up the sidelines and appeared to score. Replays showed Holliday prematurely celebrating the TD by flipping the ball out of his hands before crossing the goal line. Replay official Bob Boylston confirmed the touchdown and, as a result, referee Alberto Riveron did not stop the game for an instant replay review. The NFL said Monday in a statement "Because the video showed that Holliday lost possession of the ball before it broke the plane of the goal line, Boylston should have stopped the game to initiate an instant replay review. Had that occurred, Riveron would have had the indisputable visual evidence necessary to overturn the on-field ruling. The result of the play should have been a touchback - not a touchdown - with Carolina gaining possession at the 20 yard-line." "I thought I was actually in end zone this week but I wasnt," Holliday said Monday. "Coach (John Fox) told me next time, just bring in the ball." Of course, all of that doesnt help the Panthers now. Hollidays touchdown was a major turning point in the game and ushered in a Broncos scoring onslaught. At the time when he field the punt, the score was tied at 7, but the Broncos would go on to score 29 straight points to take charge and win going away in Foxs return to Carolina. "He definitely flipped it before he got in," said Panthhers special teamer Richie Brockel. . "But thats the way it went, unfortunately. The call didnt go in our favour, but it still counted for six points." The play might have also cost Carolina special teams co-ordinator Brian Murphy his job. One day after Hollidays return, Panthers coach Ron Rivera announced he had fired Murphy citing "philosophical differences and productivity." Rivera said earlier Monday he planned to send the play to the league because he thought the play should have been ruled a touchback. It is the second straight week the Panthers have been involved in a play where a touchdown should have been nullified. The NFL said on Nov. 5 that a 30-yard touchdown run by Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams against the Washington Redskins should not have counted because of an inadvertent whistle. The Panthers should have instead been offered the ball at the 17-yard line at the point where line judge Thomas Symonette blew his whistle because he mistakenly thought Williams had stepped out of bounds, the league said. Williams kept running and was awarded the first-half touchdown in the Panthers 21-13 victory Sunday. Redskins linebacker Perry Riley said he stopped pursuing the play because he heard the whistle. Referee Carl Cheffers said after the game that the officials decided the whistle wasnt blown until Williams reached the end zone and that it didnt affect the plays outcome, so the touchdown ruling stood. Replays show the whistle was blown earlier, but an inadvertent whistle is not reviewable by replay. ' ' '