l Football Club and prestige

[blueberryjerry]

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. . -- Both Demaryius Thomas and Chris Harris Jr. plan to practice next week with the first day of the Denver Broncos training camp. Thomas was excused to attend the funeral of the grandmother who helped raise him in Georgia. Harris was held out while he awaits a trip to see his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, on Monday to check on his surgically repaired left knee. Thomas attended the Broncos team meeting Wednesday, a day after his grandmother died, and received permission from coach John Fox to leave for a few days. Hes expected to rejoin his teammates Monday. "He had a tragic loss. His grandmother in the Atlanta area passed away from Alzheimers," Fox said. "That combined with the news of (Broncos owner Pat) Bowlen is pretty devastating stuff. That woman basically raised D.T. Hes back there in Georgia and left last night. Hes where he needs to be right now. We expect him back when the services are over." The Broncos announced Wednesday that Bowlen was relinquishing control of the team because of Alzheimers. Thomas caught a team-best 92 passes for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. He also set a Super Bowl record with 13 receptions. Thomas agent and the Broncos have exchanged proposals on a long-term contract that general manager John Elway wants to get done within the next two weeks so that it doesnt become a distraction. Thomas is expected to be back Monday, the same day Harris hopes to get clearance to practice again. Harris was supposed to see his surgeon earlier this week, but that appointment was delayed. "It just worked out better, to give me an extra week," said Harris, who was wearing a knee brace during sideline work Thursday, something he hopes to be able to ditch in a couple of weeks. "I cant go into games with a brace, no way," Harris said with a chuckle. All indications are Andrews will clear Harris, who expects to be eased into practice the way Von Miller has been. Both tore an anterior cruciate ligament last season, Miller in December and Harris in the playoffs in January. Miller is participating in 7-on-7 and individual drills and retreating to the sideline during 11-on-11 portions of practice. Bubba Caldwell got the bulk of work in his absence Thursday and tight end Julius Thomas, whos also in contract negotiations, was split wide on some snaps. The Broncos open the preseason Aug. 7 against Seattle, which routed them 43-8 in the Super Bowl. Offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase made his players watch the first half of that debacle just before they scattered for vacation last month. "I still havent watched the three I lost," Elway cracked. Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said hes watched the loss to the Seahawks plenty of times. "I watched it enough to hate them and you can write that down," Knighton said. "And Im looking forward to playing them again." The teams also play in the regular season when the Broncos visit the Seahawks on Sept. 21. "We want to get that bad taste out of our mouth (but) playing them in Week 3 wont get it out of our mouth," Knighton said. "It will just be winning the Super Bowl. We want to hoist that trophy." Notes: Training camp is closed to the public this year because of a $35 million construction project that includes a new indoor practice facility. The Broncos will hold three practices at their downtown stadium, including one on Sunday. "Our guys are probably more disappointed about it than anybody, maybe even the fans," Fox said. "... Well miss them, but we have to deal with it. Its a safety issue here with the construction. We look forward to getting them back out here next year." ... Rookie WR Cody Latimer made several big catches, including a long TD reception from Brock Osweiler with top pick Bradley Roby in coverage. . LOUIS -- The St. . 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee. . Tokarski, a somewhat controversial choice -- with his 10 games of NHL experience and all -- to replace an injured Carey Price in Game Two had a night to remember, turning back a Rangers team that was dominating play from the get-go, outshooting the Canadiens 14-4 in the first period and 37-25 overall.Liverpool legend Phil Thompson believes that silverware is more important to the club than securing Champions League football ahead of Wednesdays Europa League final. The winner of Europes second-tier tournament will qualify for the group stages of the Champions League next season, adding to the importance of the Basel showdown between the Reds, who finished eighth in the Premier League, and La Ligas 7th-placed side, Sevilla.But Thommo, who won three European Cups during his distinguished Anfield career, insists securing silverware is still the most important factor for both the club and the players. Speaking to Sky Sports, Thompson said: If you ask me, winning a trophy is always the most important. People talk about finishing fourth like its winning a trophy but its not. Liverpool have seen off Dortmund and Villarreal to reach the final I think its massive for these players playing in another final. Winning trophies brings you a mentality which you cant put a price on.This is Liverpool Football Club and prestige of competing in finals, especially European ones, is huge, thats why players want to play for this club.Obviously a lot of people in England see it as second rate but in Europe its huge. I remember in 2001 when we won our three trophies and all the foreign players and Gerard Houllier saw the UEFA Cup as the most important one over the FA Cup and League Cup. Winning trophies brings you a mentality which you cant put a price on. Phil Thompson However, Thommo has warned Liverpool fans not to get too carried away if they do return to Europes top competition as Klopp comes to the end of his first season in charge.He added: It puts us back up there competting with the best but it doesnt suddenly make us contenders to win the Champions League. . . Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool dont need luck to beat Sevilla in the Europa League final Finishing seventh in the Premier League isnt good enough. Its a stepping stone in the right direction but its consistency that this team need in order to compete for the league.What people have still got to remember is this is Brendan Rodgers squad so Klopp still has to do a fair bit of tinkering to get a the right players for his style of play to really be effective. Thommo predicts... Find out what Thommo is predicting for the Europa League final here. Also See: Gerrard hopes for springboard Souness: Reds to win in style Liverpool v Sevilla preview Route to the final ' ' '

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