Bewerbungen » move on from the disappointing campaign.For

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens never gave up hope of getting back fullback Vonta Leach, and Monday they got their wish. Leach signed a two-year contract with the defending Super Bowl champions after failing to find a proper suitor in the free agent market. "Im excited about it. Its great news," coach John Harbaugh said. "Weve been in contact, weve been talking all along. It worked out great for the Ravens." Leach paved the way for running back Ray Rice to gain 1,143 yards last season. Leach ran nine times for 32 yards during the regular season and scored a touchdown against Indianapolis during Baltimores run to the Super Bowl. But Leach declined to renegotiate his contract during the off-season and was released by Baltimore in June. At the time, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome left open the possibility that Leach could come back, saying, "There could be an opportunity for him to return to the Ravens once he explores the free-agent market." That is exactly what happened. Houston, Miami and the New York Giants expressed interest, but Leach ended up back to Baltimore, where he spent the past two seasons and earned two Pro Bowl invitations. "He came in today to work out," Harbaugh said after Mondays practice. "Did a great job on the conditioning test, did a nice job in the workout. Hes ready to go, and were pleased to have him back." The Ravens are off Tuesday, so Leach should be back on the field Wednesday. While he was gone, the Ravens drafted Harvard rookie Kyle Juszczyk at fullback. Juszczyk will become a second-stringer, but Harbaugh believes both fullbacks will be utilized. "Its good to have fullbacks," Harbaugh said. "We normally have two during training camp and through the course of the season it will valuable for us. There will plenty of reps for those guys." Leach will get the majority of the time when the games count, though, beginning with the Sept. 5 opener in Denver. "Vonta being here gives us a dimension that is valuable for us," Harbaugh said. "When we head into the Denver game and thereafter, having him in the mix is going to be important." Leach, 31, broke into the NFL in 2004 with Green Bay. Although his job is usually open up holes for other runners, he has rushed for 70 yards and scored three touchdown in addition to catching 112 passes for 749 yards and four scores. NOTES: Harbaugh said TE Dennis Pittas dislocated hip is not career-threatening. "Its a very rare football injury," the coach said. "The good news is that theres a fracture, but its in the back part of the bone. Theres no ligament damage, no cartilage damage. He should be rehabbing in six to eight weeks." ... Two ice cream trucks drove onto the field after practice and served up treats to the players and coaches. Harbaugh got a banana boat. ... Offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele returned to practice after missing three days with a hamstring injury.John Elway Womens Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Phillip Lindsay Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Broncos-Noah-Fant-Jersey/ . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Bradley Chubb Youth Jersey . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. Brian Dawkins Broncos Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.ST. LOUIS -- Andrew McCutchen is not worried.Although rumors persist that the five-time All-Star outfielder might be moved by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason, he remains philosophical about his future.My mindset is just to do my job and get myself in the best shape I can get myself in for next year, McCutchen said following the Pirates 10-4 season-ending loss at St. Louis on Sunday.Thats all out of my control, he added. All I can do is be myself and work hard and go from there.McCutchen is guaranteed $14 million next season and could become a free agent sometime in the next two years.I think its fair to say were going to continue to explore how we can get this club back into the postseason, general manager Neal Huntington said. We love this core. At the same time, if theres a significant move that we think gives us a better chance to get back to the postseason in `17 and `18, thats something well be open to.Matt Carpenter homered and Randal Grichuk keyed a six-run seventh-inning with a two-run double to lead St. Louis to its fourth win in a row.However, the Cardinals (86-76) were eliminated while still on the field when San Francisco (87-75) beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-1 and earned the second NL wild card.Thats the danger when its not in your hands anymore, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. Our focus was to take care of our own business -- and we did that.St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright allowed two runs on six hits over six innings and did not get a decision.To miss the playoffs by one game -- thats tough to swallow, Wainwright said. You think about how many times you couldve won games, or just one or two games, and you didnt. It gets you to thinking back a little bit.St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday was brought into the game momentarily to play left field in the ninth inning. He was given a standing ovation and taken out before the first pitch. The Cardinals announced Friday they plan to decline his 2017 option and allow him to become free agent.ddddddddddddHow special was that? Matheny said. What instigated it was the response of the fans, so badly they wanted to see him one more time.St. Louis was a big league-best 100-62 last year but lost to the Chicago Cubs in the Division Series. The Cardinals never led the NL Central at any point this season and finished with a losing record at home (38-43) for the first time since 1999.Anytime you dont win the World Series, its disappointing, said infielder Aledmys Diaz. But we kept coming and never let down.After making the playoffs for three straight years, Pittsburgh dropped from 98-64 to 78-83.Yadier Molina had three hits for the Cardinals. Stephen Piscotty singled in Molina to break a 4-4 tie in the seventh.Carpenter hit his 21st homer of the season off Antonio Bastardo for a 4-2 lead.Jonathan Broxton (4-2) won despite allowing two runs in one inning of relief.Juan Nicasio (10-7) gave up three runs without recording an out in the seventh.McCutchen hit a two-run single in the fifth to give his team a 2-1 lead.Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle is ready to move on from the disappointing campaign.Forty-one years in the game and I honor the game, I respect the game, Hurdle said. And Ive also gotten very good on closing the book when its time to close the book.Pittsburgh catcher Eric Fryer had two hits in a losing cause.I think down the stretch we definitely competed, Fryer said. Theres a lot of optimism here with a lot of young arms.PACK THE PLACEA crowd of 44,615, the 19th sellout of the season, watched the final game.St. Louis drew 3,444,490, second to the Los Angeles Dodgers in major league home attendance. It was the fifth highest attendance total in franchise history and the 13th successive year the team has drawn at least 3 million. ' ' '