headlines for their offensive efforts and while the likes of Mitch Ma

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Two American Olympic swimmers landed in Miami on Friday morning after being pulled off a plane a day earlier to testify about an alleged robbery at the Rio Olympics that Brazilian police later deemed erroneous.The lawyer for a third U.S. swimmer said he would make a $10,800 payment and leave Brazil later in the day.The drama surrounding the alleged robbery of American swimmers -- and their ever-changing descriptions of it -- has shocked and deeply angered Brazilians, who said it cast a false negative shadow on their city and their Olympics. The story has also dominated Olympic headlines, overshadowing the worthy accomplishments of athletes who had trained for years just to get to Rio and set records during their performances at these Olympics.The rapid-fire developments early Friday came hours after police announced that Ryan Lochte and three of his teammates had not been held at gunpoint after a night of partying, as Lochte claimed. Instead, Brazilian police said the men, while intoxicated, vandalized a gas station bathroom and were questioned by armed guards before they paid for the damage and left.The saga has been an embarrassment for the U.S. Olympic team, which has otherwise dominated the games. It also deeply wounded a country eager to prove it could host the first Games in Latin America despite concerns it could not keep athletes and spectators safe from rampant street crime.No robbery was committed against these athletes. They were not victims of the crimes they claimed, civil police chief Fernando Veloso said during a news conference.As two of the swimmers, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, were whisked through airport security and onto a plane home Thursday night from Rio de Janeiro, their attorney insisted they had nothing to do with Lochtes story. Lochte himself left the country earlier this week.Bentz and Conger, who arrived at Miami International Airport around 6:30 a.m. on Friday, were heard only as witnesses. This has to be made very, very clear, lawyer Sergio Riera told The Associated Press. They did not make any untruthful testimony. They did not lie in their statements.A lawyer for another swimmer, James Feigen, said early Friday that the athlete had reached an agreement with a judge in which he planned to donate 35,000 Brazilian reals ($10,800) to an institution and leave the country later in the day.Attorney Breno Melaragno said under the agreement, Feigen will make the donation, get his passport back and depart.Melaragno did not specify where the money will go, but his use of the term institution can be taken to mean a charity. He said that under Brazilian law, a donation can be made to avoid criminal prosecution for minor offenses, but he did not say which charge was being contemplated.Although police appear mostly finished with their probe, the case may be far from settled. Police have said they are considering charges of falsely reporting a crime and destruction of property, both of which can carry up to six months in jail or a fine.Lochtes attorney has insisted the story wasnt made up -- but neither he nor Lochte commented on the police account after it unfolded.The saga began when Lochte said he, Conger, Bentz and Feigen were held at gunpoint and robbed several hours after the last Olympic swimming races ended. That claim began to unravel when police said that investigators could not find evidence to substantiate it.Then security video reviewed by police confirmed that the athletes vandalized parts of the gas station, leading to an encounter with station employees.The video shows one of the swimmers pulling a sign off a wall and dropping it onto the ground. A gas station worker arrives, and other workers inspect the damage. Veloso said the swimmers broke a door, a soap dispenser and a mirror.The swimmers eventually talk with station workers, and their cab leaves. In another sequence, the swimmers appear to briefly raise their hands while talking to someone and sit down on a curb.After a few minutes, the swimmers stand up and appear to exchange something -- perhaps cash, as police said -- with one of the men.The footage doesnt show a weapon, but a police official speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing said two guards pointed guns at the swimmers. Veloso said the guards did not use excessive force and would have been justified in drawing their weapons because the athletes were conducting themselves in a violent way.A station employee called police, and the guards and employees tried to get the swimmers and the taxi driver to stay until authorities arrived, some even offering to help interpret between English and Portuguese, Veloso said. But he said the athletes wanted to leave, so they paid 100 Brazilian reals (about US $33) and $20 in U.S. currency and left.Police said the swimmers had been unable to provide key details in early interviews, saying they had been intoxicated. The police official said officers grew suspicious when security video showed the swimmers returning to the athletes village wearing watches, which would have likely been taken in a robbery.Bentz and Conger told police that they felt Lochte had lied about the situation in media interviews, according to text of the statements released by Rio police.We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over, Lochte told NBCs Today the morning after the incident. They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground -- they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didnt do anything wrong, so -- Im not getting down on the ground.And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, Get down, and I put my hands up, I was like whatever. He took our money, he took my wallet -- he left my cellphone, he left my credentials.The debacle prompted both wild speculation and social media mockery, which quickly turned to scorn after the official account went public. #LochteGate trended on Twitter, with users sharing video footage and posting comments about white privilege and rude Americans.David Fleischer, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia, said the incident touched a nerve in Brazil because of the countrys history and cases of people committing crimes while impersonating police.The story did have some sense of validity, but it didnt bear out and it made them look bad worldwide, he said.That outrage was evident Thursday, as onlookers shouted liars and shameful at Bentz and Conger as they left a police station where they gave statements.Although Lochte has medaled often, his accomplishments have long been overshadowed by those of teammate Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history. Lochte, a 12-time medalist, won a gold in Rio in a relay race alongside Phelps.Lochte and the other swimmers could face sanctions from USA Swimming, including fines or suspension. The group, as well as Olympic officials, publicly expressed disappointment and said they would further examine the matter.We apologize to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence, the U.S. Olympic Committee said.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Hydro Flask Coffee Suomi . PETERSBURG, Fla. Hydro Flask Pullo . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. http://www.hydroflaskpullosuomi.com/hydro-flask-32-oz.html . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Ombre Hydro Flask . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Hydro Flask Hinta . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. MONTREAL -- The NHL-leading Montreal Canadiens are once again streaking. Only this time, its in the opposite direction.After matching or setting franchise -- and league -- records en route to a 13-1-1 start, the Canadiens are now 0-2-1 in their past three games after falling to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night in Raleigh. Now theyll head home to face a Toronto Maple Leafs squad on a roll, rested and waiting in Montreal.Its the second meeting in three weeks for the historic rivals, and the final on at the Bell Centre. The teams last squared off on Oct. 29 in Montreal, with the Canadiens skating away with a 2-1 victory.The Canadiens gave up three goals in six minutes in the third period against Carolina to see a 1-0 lead become a 3-1 deficit. It marked the third straight game of at least three goals allowed for Montreal and while they connected three times of their own in Tuesdays overtime loss to Florida, theyve only scored three goals total in their two other losses.I think the effort was there, Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said after the loss to the Hurricanes. You need puck luck and we dont have the puck luck lately.If theres been one bright spot during Montreals recent slide, its the play of defenseman Andrei Markov. The 16-year NHL veteran picked up a pair of assists against the Hurricanes to extend his point streak to seven games and moving him into a tie with Yvan Cournoyer for seventh place on the Canadiens all-time assists list.Carey Price, who made 37 saves in their last meeting with Toronto, will get the start in goal on Saturday but Therrien didnt confirm any other potential line-up changes. Rookie Charles Hudon, called up from the AHL on Thursday, replaced Sven Andrighetto. He could earn another go after picking up an assist and leaving an impression oon his coach.dddddddddddd.Well see, but he played really well, Therrien said. He played well for a first game, I thought he created offensively, really responsible on the ice. I thought the kid competed really well. Im pleased with his effort.For the Maple Leafs, November has been much kinder than October was. After posting a 2-4-3 record in the opening month of the season, Toronto has won six of its eight games so far this month. And not only has Mike Babcocks group been winning, its been doing so with plenty of offense of late; Toronto has scored at least six goals in each of their most recent four wins.The young Leafs have made headlines for their offensive efforts and while the likes of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander have generated most of the buzz, rookie Connor Brown added his name to the conversation on Thursday night. Brown became the fifth Maple Leafs player to record a four-point night with two goals and a pair of assists in a 6-1 win over the Panthers.Im slowly getting more comfortable with the puck and more comfortable making plays, Brown told TSN after the game. Offensively it was a bit of a slow start but I feel good defensively and I feel like Im in the right spots.While the offense has been rolling, its been doing so without much help from the power play. Toronto has scored just three times on 19 opportunities with the man advantage and has been held off the scoresheet in four of the past five games.Opponents arent scoring much on power plays either against the Leafs, who have allowed just three goals on the penalty kill and have denied the opposition of any power play tallies in six of eight games this month. ' ' '