easily cruising past the previous record of 68.6 | Forum

CINCINNATI -- For the first time since his Bengals lost Januarys wild-card playoff game to the Steelers, owner and president Mike Brown issued his public support Tuesday for embattled linebacker Vontaze Burfict, whose controversial penalty in that game helped set up Pittsburghs winning field goal. Eric Hosmer Jersey .Because of that unnecessary roughness penalty and his broader history of similar personal foul infractions, Burfict was suspended by the NFL for the first three games this upcoming season.Burfict is one hell of a football player, Brown said at the Bengals annual pre-training camp media luncheon. He makes a difference for our team. We want him on the field. And I regret that for three games this year we wont have him, but hell be back then, and we expect outstanding play from him. Hes a difference-maker. Were lucky to have him.The Pro Bowl defender was Cincinnatis third-most prolific tackler last season, despite missing the first six games with a knee injury. To go along with his 74 stops, Burfict also had a sack and two interceptions.He also picked off a pass just after the final two-minute warning of the playoff game against Pittsburgh. When he celebrated the interception by running into the Bengals tunnel and up to the locker room door, it appeared Cincinnati would win its first playoff game in 25 years.But moments later, a Jeremy Hill fumble, followed by Burficts 15-yard penalty and another by Bengals cornerback Adam Jones put the Steelers in position to kick the game-winning field goal. Flagged after hitting Steelers receiver Antonio Brown in the head late after an overthrow, Burfict was later widely criticized for not pulling up and avoiding contact with Brown altogether.Mike Brown, it seems, disagreed with some of those criticisms.I own the Cincinnati Bengals and not the Pittsburgh Steelers, so you can probably guess where I come out on that, he said. But Im not allowed to get mad [and] Id be foolish to get into that kind of discussion publicly.Burficts suspension has Bengals coach Marvin Lewis taking an overly careful approach with how he uses the linebacker in training camp. Lewis vowed Tuesday not to play Burfict in the preseason at all. Once the regular season begins, he wont even be allowed around the team, per league rules.Theres no reason for us to expose him to injury, because hes too valuable, Lewis said. He and [Rey] Maualuga, the extension of them and [defensive coordinator] Paul [Guenther] on that field and into that huddle on Sunday is key to us. So well continue to protect those guys as much as we can.Guenther has told Burfict not to change his intense style of play. He only wants to see him rein in his emotions better.What were going to do is were going to put our foot on the gas pedal and were going to be smarter in those situations, Guenther said. We have to understand that guys are targeting you -- theyre targeting some players. Theyre going to try to get underneath your skin and try to do those type of things.Thats been my whole M.O., that were not changing how we play, were not changing our style of play or how we play. Were going to be smarter situationally and emotionally. Cory Spangenberg Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Jose Pirela Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. http:///...Richard-Kids-Jersey/ .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. So much for Puig-mania sweeping the country. Give this contest to Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman. Freeman and Toronto reliever Steve Delabar won the fan voting for the final spots in next weeks All-Star game, meaning Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Yasiel Puig is likely headed for a few days off after a terrific stretch to begin his major league career. Freeman set a record with 19.7 million votes, and Puig was second. Major League Baseball didnt release the vote total for Puig, but said the Cuban defector also surpassed the previous record for the final vote of 15.6 million for Shane Victorino in 2009. "Its unbelievable," Freeman said. "Im kind of speechless. I wouldnt be here without the fans and I just saw that its 19.7 million votes. Its incredible and its just a dream come true." Freeman was taking ground balls during batting practice before Atlantas 6-5 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday night when general manager Frank Wren called him over and told him about his first All-Star selection. The slugger had three hits and four RBIs against the Reds and is batting .313 with nine homers and 60 RBIs in 79 games. "I never, ever thought that I would make one," Freeman said. "I just wanted to get to the big leagues, and when I got here I just wanted to win ballgames. All-Star games were not on my mind. "To win this is just beyond me." Puig wont get to play in the July 16 game at Citi Field in New York unless he is added as an injury replacement. The outfielder is batting .394 with eight homers and 19 RBIs heading into Thursday nights home game against Colorado, helping the Dodgers shoot up the NL West standings followwing a slow start. Hunter Renfroe Jersey. "I dont have my head down at all," Puig said through an interpreter before the game. "I want to congratulate Freddie Freeman for winning the vote. Im happy for everyone who voted. I have to keep playing. Hopefully the best things come out for this team for the future." Puig has been in the majors for only five weeks, leading some to question whether he belongs on the NL team. "If he can continue to do what hes doing over seasons, then were going to see a lot of Yasiel," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "How good you are really is measured over time." The final vote for the AL team also had its share of controversy, with Tigers manager Jim Leyland nominating five middle relievers for the spot. There was some talk about whether the list should have included more high-profile players, since the All-Star game is essentially geared toward the fans. Delabar won with 9.6 million votes. The right-hander is 5-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 37 appearances for the Blue Jays. The Braves and Blue Jays had partnered up in the process, asking fans to vote for each others player. The other players on the list included righties David Robertson of the Yankees, Joaquin Benoit of the Tigers, Koji Uehara of the Red Sox, and Tanner Scheppers of the Rangers. Freeman and Puig finished ahead of San Francisco outfielder Hunter Pence, Washington shortstop Ian Desmond, and Los Angeles first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. MLB said a record 79.2 million votes were cast between the two leagues, easily cruising past the previous record of 68.6 million from 2009. Votes were cast through text message, Twitter and MLB.com. Jerseys NFL CheapCheap NFL Womens JerseysWholesale Authentic JerseysYouth NFL Jerseys WholesaleCheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Black JerseysWholesale JerseysCheap Jerseys Free ShippingWholesale NFL T-shirtsNFL Jerseys WholesaleChina NFL GearCheap NFL Jerseys WholesaleChina Womens NFL JerseysWhite NFL Jerseys CheapWholesale Jerseys 2020 ' ' '