Gästebereich » .30pm Also See

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers coach Ron Rivera still isnt sure wholl protect quarterback Cam Newtons blindside this season. But he doesnt seem overly worried. The Panthers have been searching for a replacement for longtime left tackle Jordan Gross, who retired earlier this off-season. Byron Bell, last years starting right tackle, and Nate Chandler, a converted defensive tackle, have been working as the starting tackles during OTAs. Theyve been flip-flopping from left to right tackle, depending on the day. Neither has played left tackle before in the NFL. Rivera said veteran Garry Williams, who is coming off a knee injury, could also figure into the mix once healthy. "Weve not decided on a lot of positions yet," Rivera said. "The biggest thing we have right now is competition and guys working. ... Well see how we are once we get into training camp." Newton hasnt participated in OTAs except to throw on the side. He said he could be ready for minicamp next week, but at the very least should be completely healthy when training camp begins July 24. "Come game time, its no doubt in my mind that every single person will be ready to go. That is what OTAs and minicamp are designed for -- to get these guys prepared, to get myself prepared," Newton said. "When that ball is snapped I have full confidence in Nate Chandler and Byron Bell that they will get the job done." While many teams invest millions in protecting their quarterbacks blindside, the Panthers seem to be taking a chance with lower-priced players who havent played the position. Bell and Chandler will make a combined $2.6 million this season. Both players insist they dont have a preference on which position they play. "Were both getting an equal opportunity to win a job, which is nice," Chandler said. Said Bell: "I really dont care. Either position, wherever coach sees being the best fit for either one of us is fine. Im just trying to win football games. If that means left tackle, right tackle or on the bench, wherever the team needs me is fine." Filling Gross shoes wont be easy. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Gross started 167 games during his 10 seasons with the Panthers and was a member of the Super Bowl team as a rookie in 2003. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Chandler is an intriguing story. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2012 out of UCLA. He started his career with the Bruins as an offensive lineman, but later moved to tight end as a sophomore and then to defensive tackle for his final two seasons. When he arrived in Carolina he saw spot duty at defensive tackle a rookie, playing in 10 games with five tackles in 2012. But coaches thought with Chandlers combination of quickness and size he might be more valuable on the offensive line, so they moved him there last year in training camp. Chandler started eight games in 2013 -- six at right guard and two at right tackle -- due to injuries. Bell was also undrafted. He came out of New Mexico in 2011 and was thrust in the mix as a rookie. Hes started 41 games over the past three seasons for Carolina -- all but one of those at right tackle. "Im left handed, so Ill feel comfortable over there," said Bell, who started three years at left tackle at New Mexico. "But if it is right tackle, Im certainly fine over there. "The big thing is we as an offensive line have to do is go in with the mindset that we have to keep No. 1 (Newton) upright. And if you have a bad play, you have to forget about and move on the next one because that (pass rusher) will be coming again." Peter Forsberg Jersey . -- Mississippis Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot. John Wensink Jersey . Toronto has lost six of its last eight games but is coming off Thursdays 7-3 victory at Kansas City. Juan Francisco and Colby Rasmus both went deep for the Blue Jays, who are second in the American League with 34 home runs on the season. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/authentic-rob-ramage-avalanche-jersey/ . The CFL will help tackle womens cancers by playing four special "CFL PINK" games this weekend. Lanny McDonald Jersey . Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Fiorentina levelled on aggregate in the 14th minute when Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez headed back a long ball from David Pizarro and Pasqual smashed home an angled volley. Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . The Earthquakes (6-9-7) were coming off a 5-0 loss at home last Saturday to FC Dallas. Even with the draw, the Sounders (13-7-3) climbed back into a tie for both the Western Conference and overall top spot in MLS. Seattle, West co-leader Real Salt Lake and East leader Sporting Kansas City all have 42 points.Lewis Hamilton has taken his world championship fight with Nico Rosberg to the wire by claiming his first Brazilian GP on a day of epic drama at Interlagos. Defying heavy rain, two race stoppages and five separate Safety Car deployments, Hamilton mastered the conditions to deliver an inch-perfect masterclass in the wet and finally break his Interlagos duck.This is the race I have been dreaming of winning since I was very, very young, said Hamilton. It was a hard, hard grand prix to win and today was one of the most difficult in terms of rain and aquaplaning. But Rosberg will still clinch the title in the season-concluding Abu Dhabi GP in two weeks time if he finishes on the podium after a strategic mistake by Red Bull enabled the German to finish second behind Hamilton in Sao Paulo.WATCH: What a gentleman, Lewis!Max Verstappen had charged past the world championship leader with a bold move around the outside of Turn Three but then tumbled down the field after making two extra pit-stops when Red Bull mistakenly gambled on intermediate tyres in the hope that conditions would improve. After falling out of the top 10 with just 12 laps left, the Dutchman then produced a series of stunning overtakes to finish in third and deservedly claim the Driver of the Day award. Red Bulls Max Verstappen was voted driver of the day, and after this display in the Brazilian Grand Prix, you can see why. That was one of the best drives Ive seen in Formula 1, said Red Bull boss Christian Horner. His recovery was amazing. Verstappen drive one of the best everAs chaos and crashes erupted behind him, Hamilton led every lap with a wheel-perfect performance in treacherous conditions which saw Kimi Raikkonen crash out just seconds after the race had restarted and Romain Grosjean hit the wall even before the Grand Prix had started. A few seconds after the Brazilian GPP restart, Kimi Raikkonen crashed on the pit straight to bring out the red flag Hamiltons astonishing pace superiority over Rosberg was such that, had the race run to its entirety and his leads of various lengths not been regularly wiped out by the plethora of Safety Car deployments and race stoppages, he was on course to beat his team-mate to the chequered flag by over a minute.ddddddddddddBetween lap 29, when the race resumed following Raikkonens crash and lap 49, when Felipe Massa hit the wall to bring his final race in Brazil to a premature end, Hamilton had streaked 23 seconds clear of the sister Silver Arrows. During this period Rosberg nearly spun, but just managed to keep his Mercedes pointing the right way after hitting a puddle exiting the final corner. Hamilton rues Rosbergs unbelievable luckBut, heading to Abu Dhabi with a 12-point buffer and only requiring third place to clinch the title, Rosberg remains the heavy favourite to end the year as the drivers champion.I can live with a second place, the German acknowledged. It worked out fine.Updated Drivers StandingsFurther down the field, Toro Rossos Carlos Sainz drove doggedly for sixth behind Sergio Perez and Sebastian Vettel while Saubers Felipe Nasr finished in ninth after a winning a race-long battle with Esteban Ocon, who eventually finished 12th. Its a result which means the Swiss outfit have climbed above Manor in the Constructors Championship. For both teams, the financial repercussions could be enormous. For the all-Mercedes world championship battle between Hamilton and Rosberg, the real significance of the result in Brazil will only become clear on November 27. Mercedes Lewis Hamilton does the noble thing and offers one of the grid girls a team jacket to keep her warm at the Brazilian GP. Brazilian GP race result1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 3:01.01.3352. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, + 11.4553. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, + 21.4814. Sergio Perez, Force India, + 25.3465. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, + 26.3346. Carlos Sainz, Toro Rosso, + 29.1607. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, + 29.8278. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, + 30.4869. Felipe Nasr, Sauber, + 42.62010. Fernando Alonso, McLaren, + 44.43211. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, + 45.29212. Esteban Ocon, Manor, + 45.80913. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, + 51.19214. Kevin Magnussen, Renault, + 51.15515. Pascal Wehrlein, Manor, + 1:00.49816. Jenson Button, McLaren, + 1:21.994Did not finish: Esteban Gutierrez, Felipe Massa, Jolyon Palmer, Kimi Raikkonen, Marcus Ericsson, Romain GrosjeanDont miss the F1 Reports Brazilian GP review on Sky Sports F1 on Wednesday at 8.30pm Also See: All the 2017 dates and line-ups The Formula 1 Gossip column WATCH: Raikkonen crashes out Latest driver standings ' ' '