Dressed in civvies and a hoodie to hide the damage, a sheepish looking Nigel Reo Coker emerged at training Thursday following his Sunday night stumble. The injury was gruesome, enough to keep the midfielder out of this weekends clash with Houston. The bruise to Reo-Cokers ego and reputation, however, might be more damaging. The former Villa and West Ham recruit has not had a stellar start to 2014. He dazzled once during the season opener beautifully setting up Pedro Moraless first MLS goal in the late stages, but that was a rare foray into the front third. At Chivas, he coughed up the ball in a bad area at a bad time, and the 10 men Goats took full advantage. In addition, against New England he had his pocket picked on a couple of occasions and was fortunate that neither led to a serious goal threat. Being substituted in the 60th and 70th minutes of those last two games was an indictment on his fitness. Youd think with a child on the way and a real opportunity in Vancouver to be the catalyst and a leader in a young squad, that "Reo C" would have come to camp in top shape and perhaps give the Whitecaps something to think about long term. At 29-years-old, hes still young, hes the box to box midfielder the Caps need, and he has some excellent supporting characters around him. But he didnt come to camp in shape, and in a simple one-on-one drill at the beginning of last week, he was badly exposed by a potential replacement in young Canadian Bryce Alderson. For all his bluster, Reo Coker has been put in his place, by an inanimate object no less. It might have been his manager sending the message, but now Carl Robinson has been let off the hook by having that decision made for him. What happens from here will define Reo Cokers future in Vancouver. He might view this injury/incident as the motivation needed to put his head down, get fit and let his game do the talking. The alternative will look all too familiar to keen observers of the British Bulldogs career; a departure with questions asked and unanswered followed by a new beginning somewhere else. I for one, hope its the former because its easy to like Nigel Reo Coker the person. Its even easier to like Nigels game when its at its very best. J.A. Happ Jersey .C., won gold in the womens 200-metre backstroke, and Dominique Bouchard of North Bay, Ont. Custom Yankees Jersey China . Horford is out 3-to-4 months with a torn pectoral muscle for the Hawks, who have won two straight and five of six games. Atlanta improved to 2-0 on the residency with Saturdays 93-91 triumph over Minnesota, as Ivan Johnson scored his teams final four points, including the game-winning free throw with 4. http://www.customyankeesjersey.com/custo...arge-1304i.html. -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday. Thairo Estrada Jersey . "I met her, I think, a week ago. We went to a Norwood hockey store and picked her out some gear. Randy Johnson Jersey .C. Lions signed cornerback Dante Marsh to a contract extension on Friay and released receiver Paris Jackson.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Panthers coach Ron Rivera said hes awaiting final clearance from team physicians before officially naming Cam Newton the starter for Sundays game against the Cleveland Browns.That clearance is expected to come Saturday.Right now, everything is pointing in the right direction, Rivera said Friday. The reason I havent said anything (definitive) is because of that one big thing — waiting for doctors to tell me they feel good about it.Newton practiced Friday for the third straight day and Rivera said he feels very confident and comfortable that the fourth-year quarterback will start Sunday, 12 days after a two-vehicle wreck left him with two lower back fractures.Rivera said he expects Newton to start as long as he keeps going. Good things have happened and weve done a lot of positive things.He said the only way Newton wouldnt play is if he suffers an unforeseen setback this weekend, but added the quarterback has had no ill effects waking up every morning this week.The 25-year-old Newton said Thursday he feels pain-free.The Panthers have increased Newtons workload every day this week to make sure hes ready to play. That includes having him run the football, which will be a part of the game plan.He did a lot of turning and twisting today, Rivera said. We put a lot of pressure on it. We had to do some things on purpose just so we could see. He seems to be right on track.Newton enters the weekend 3-8-1 as the teams starter this season.Derek Anderson ffilled in last week for Newton and threw for 277 yards and one touchdown, leading the Panthers to 19-17 win over Tampa Bay.dddddddddddd. Anderson is 2-0 as the teams starter with both wins coming against the Buccaneers (2-11).Newton had one of his best games of the season on Dec. 7, two days before he flipped his 1998 Dodge truck one block from the teams stadium on the way in to watch film. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns lead the Panthers to a 41-10 victory at New Orleans. He also ran 12 times for 83 yards and a touchdown, the majority of those rushes on designed running plays.It adds another dimension, Rivera said. He and (Anderson) are similar, but they are different. Cam obviously is a better runner. They both bring a lot to the table. What Cam does is he adds that extra dimension, the ability to run.That was big for us against New Orleans. He had a really good rhythm. Were hoping to recapture some of that. As long as we can continue to do those things and he can do them well, hell stay out there.Rivera said if there is one concern about Newton it is making sure he is protected in the pocket, particularly on blindside hits. Newton has been sacked 36 times in 12 games.NOTES: Rivera said running back DeAngelo Williams will likely miss his third straight start with a broken bone in his hand. Jonathan Stewart is expected to start against Cleveland.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '