Spam & Fun » broken. Im sure it wont last long. Mikael will b

HOUSTON - Ryan Malletts wait to be a starter is over.After toiling in the shadow of Tom Brady for three seasons in New England and backing up Ryan Fitzpatrick for nine games this year, coach Bill OBrien said Wednesday that the Houston Texans will bench Fitzpatrick and start Mallett at Cleveland on Nov. 16.Ive been waiting four years for this, Mallett said. Now its my time to have an opportunity to show what I can do.OBrien made the announcement as the Texans prepare to take time off during their bye week. He lauded Fitzpatrick for his hard work, but said the team needed a change.I might be wrong, OBrien said of the move, but I think this might be the thing that helps our team.The coach made it clear that this isnt a one-game experiment and that Mallett will be Houstons starter for the rest of the season.Were going to give Ryan a shot to play, OBrien said. Were going to make sure that hes given a good opportunity to lead this football team.Fitzpatrick joined the team in the off-season after the Texans traded Matt Schaub and he started the first nine games. But he struggled to move the offence as the team fell to 4-5.He wasnt happy with the move.I didnt like it, he said. I dont really agree with it, but I respect the (heck) out of coach OBrien.The Texans traded for Mallett on Aug. 31, reuniting him with OBrien, who was the offensive co-ordinator for the Patriots when he was a rookie in 2011. Mallett didnt see much action in New England, and didnt take a single snap in two of his three seasons there. He appeared in four games in 2012, but completed just one of four passes for 17 yards with an interception.OBrien insisted that he isnt concerned about Malletts lack of experience and said hes been impressed with Malletts development and maturity since joining the Texans.Youve got to start somewhere, he said when questioned about his inexperience. Its his turn to get a shot and lets see how he does.Mallett was a third-round draft pick after throwing for 7,493 yards with 62 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in his career at Arkansas. He was an eager student in his time spent with Brady, soaking up everything he could from the nine-time Pro Bowler.I learned how to be a professional, Mallett said. How to work with your teammates, how to communicate. Its not a one guy thing. Its all 11 guys on offence doing what we want to do to be successful. You cant have one guy not doing the right thing and 10 other guys doing it, because that can hurt the offence.Despite his strong ties to Brady, the Texans are careful not to place too much pressure on Mallett by expecting him to be something hes not.We are not asking him to go out there and be Tom Brady, OBrien said. We are asking him to go out there and be Ryan Mallett and be the best Ryan Mallett he can be, which is trying to go out there and be the best quarterback he can be for our team.Mallett thinks some people might underestimate him, but thats OK with him.My football IQ is a lot higher than a lot of people give me credit for, he said. I like that. If you think Im a dumb player, fine. My advantage there.Though OBrien hopes this move helps turn things around for the offence, he is also looking for everyone on the unit to improve after the break to help Mallett be successful. The first-year coach also noted that he and the rest of the coaching staff need to get better, too.He doesnt expect a lot of changes with Mallett under centre, but did note one of his deficiencies.I wouldnt call him a speed demon, OBrien said with a laugh. Hes 6-foot-7, hes a pocket passer. So theres certainly some things that were going to have to do that are a little bit different, but at the end of the day our system is what it is.Receiver Andre Johnson said he feels comfortable with both quarterbacks, but otherwise didnt have much to say about the move. The team has talked often about needing a spark on an offence that is 28th in the league in yards passing a game. Could this be that spark?Well see what happens, Johnson said.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Authentic Jerseys . "This doesnt end anything," he said. "Weve got 10-1 in our last 11 games, and were going home in first place. We just have to keep playing the way we are right now. NFL Jerseys . Espanyol midfielder Sanchez intercepted Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizozs clearance and, having spotted a gap, risked using his less-favoured left foot to fire a beautifully precise long-range shot that bounced in from high up the near post in the 24th minute. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . Louis Blues have returned to the top spot in the TSN. Offcial Jerseys .com) - Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri is expected to miss the next two weeks because of a thigh injury. Cheap Authentic Jerseys . The 23-year-old Woods, Tiger Woods niece, closed with a 4-under 69 at Royal Pines to finish at 16-under 276. Lee also shot 69 in the event sanctioned by the European and Australian tours. Woods birdied the par-5 15th to open a two-stroke lead, hitting a wedge from about 120 yards to 4 feet.LA PLAGNE, France - Alex Bilodeau ended his World Cup skiing career with a flourish. The Rosemere, Que., freestyler won the final race of the season by taking the dual moguls competition while his teammate Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., came second but took his third straight World Cup title on Friday. "Its been an amazing ride," said Bilodeau. "Very emotional." The two-time Olympic champion had no chance to catch Kingsbury for the Crystal Globe as overall champion, but wanted to push his friend and rival to the limit in the last race of his career. Kingsbury got down the hill quicker, but the judges gave the gold medal to Bilodeau on execution. "I knew the grand prix was done and I couldnt go up or down," said Bilodeau. "I looked at Mikael and said Im really honoured to have my last run against the best in the world. "I said Ill just enjoy it. I decided to do a back double, which is something you dont do in duals. Its too risky. But I thought its my last race, Im going to go for it. " On the womens side, Hannah Kearney of the United States won a fourth straight Crystal Globe and the fifth of her career. Kearney defeated Canadas Chloe Dufour-Lapointe in the final. Her sister Justine Dufour-Lapointe had a shot at catching the American for the title, but crashed in the round of 16 and lost to Perrine Laffont of France. With his win, Bilodeau broke freestyle leggend Jean-Luc Brassards record for World Cup podium finishes with his 48th, including 19 wins.dddddddddddd "I never looked at the number of podiums," he said. "For me it was a day-to-day process of trying to be the best in the world. "Records are made to be broken. Im sure it wont last long. Mikael will break it in a year or two." The 26-year-old, who this year became the first freestyler to defend an Olympic gold medal, now plans to finish his accounting studies at Concordia University and enter the corporate world. Kingsbury, who has 38 World Cup podium finishes, said it was an emotional day for both skiers as they waited at the top of the final run of the season. "We did a big hug," said 21-year-old Kingsbury. "I told him it was an honour to be at his last run. "Then we both made amazing runs." While Bilodeau is bowing out, Kingsbury said his career is just getting started and he intends to try to stay on top through the next Winter Olympics in 2018 in South Korea. "Im still young and Ive got a lot to learn in the sport," he said. "Ive had an amazing career so far. "I never thought Id do as much as Ive done so far, but Ill work hard, get stronger in the gym. The best is still to come." The three Dufour-Lapointe sisters finished just behind Kearney in womens standings, with Justine second, Chloe third and Maxime fourth. ' ' '