last year the NRL took over control of the Titans

The NFL finally got its first kickoff return for a touchdown in 2016, the latest point in a season it has happened in 37 years. That distinction coincides with a new NFL rule that has encouraged teams to use high, short kickoffs that can be covered more effectively.According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the first touchdown off a kickoff return happened in Week 6 or later was in 1979. Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles Wendell Smallwood broke the ice by taking back a Washington Redskins kickoff 86 yards at FedEx Field.Smallwoods return was the shortest kickoff return for a touchdown since 2013, according to Elias.Smallwood caught Sundays kickoff at the 14-yard line, in part because the Redskins had been assessed a 15-yard penalty after tight end Vernon Davis took a jump shot with the ball after scoring a touchdown. After the penalty, the Redskins kicked from the 20-yard line instead of the 35.?Washingtons first three kickoffs all were touchbacks.Davis, who was celebrating his first touchdown catch of the season, took a jump shot with the ball, shooting it over the goal post to draw the penalty. Officials penalized Davis for excessive celebration, using the ball as a prop.The Redskins won Sundays game, 27-20.NFL strategy has been upended this season by a one-year experiment that the NFL hoped would reduce the total number of kickoff returns and improve player safety. The rule calls for touchbacks this season to be marked at the 25-yard line instead of the 20. But instead of incentivizing returners to take a touchback more frequently, it has instead led to a swell of shorter kicks that teams hope will force returns and ultimately pin returners well inside the 25-yard line.Through Week 5, NFL teams were kicking into the end zone 79 percent of the time, down from nearly 92 percent last season. Returns were up about seven percent over last year as well, confirming the experiment has produced the opposite of the desired effect.ESPNs John Keim contributed to this report. Wayne Gretzky Oilers Jersey . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Kris Russell Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.hockeyoilersshop.com/ryan-smyth-jersey/ . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. 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Its official - Parramattas NRL top-eight hopes are over after falling 34-14 to the Titans in Saturday evenings clash on the Gold Coast.In contrast, the seventh-placed Titans remain in sight of their first finals campaign in six years after a five-tries-to-three triumph in front of 15,273 fans at cbus Super Stadium.However, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur said there was still plenty to gain from their nightmare season.Our season may be over but we have standards and expectations - that is all we can judge ourselves on, he said.We have to ask ourselves at the end of the year did we maintain those standards or take the easy option?.The Eels had been holding onto hope that winning their remaining seven matches would keep them in the finals mix.In a year of lurching from controversy to controversy for Parramatta, Eels fans would still have been disheartened by the events of the past week.Wayward five-eighth Corey Norman watched from the Gold Coast sidelines after being suspended for eight weeks and fined $20,000 for a string of off-field incidents, including a conviction for drug possession.Parramatta were also taken over by a NSW government-appointed administrator on Tuesday in the wake of their salary-cap scandals which resulted in them being fined $1 million and docked 12 competition points.But the loss finally derailed the Eels unlikely finals run.Captain Beau Scott (ankle) was cut before the match while hooker Isaac De Gois (suspected knee) limped off in the 64th minute as Parramatta slid to third last on 12 points.Weve got probably three quarters of the salary cap sitting on the sidelines, Arthur said of their long list of unavailable players including playmaker Kieran Foran.We will just add them (De Gois, Scott) to the list.We will find some (back-up).If anything, I would rather them (injuries) this year than next year.Eels stand-in skipper Tim Mannah said it was pretty easy to ignore their off-field dramas.This is a resilient, tough group, he said.The attitude we have makes it a lot easier to deal with situations that look pretty messy from the outside.I think we will be better for it once we come through it.Happier days aappear ahead for the Titans.ddddddddddddThey will back themselves to crack the top eight for the first time since 2010 after downing Parramatta - the first of three straight home fixtures.The Titans overcame the loss of suspended former NSW Origin player Greg Bird to book their second straight win.The Gold Coast may need to win just three of their remaining six games to guarantee a finals berth.Henry admitted many would be surprised by the Gold Coasts finals push after being dismissed as no chance by so-called pre-season experts.But the Titans mentor urged his side to keep the shocks coming.Everyone is surprised by our performances, but were not, Henry said ahead of two-straight home games.It (finals) is in our own hands. We have fought to be in that head space.Now we need to maintain it.A finals tilt would cap a remarkable Titans turnaround.Just last year the NRL took over control of the Titans in a nightmare 12-month period which also included the Daly Cherry-Evans backflip and a cocaine scandal.It (turnaround) is on the back of leadership, Henry said.Plus guys we have recruited are getting the job done (and) weve handled a bit of adversity with injuries.Its also about winning back fans by playing a brand of football that we are proud of.We will keep pushing.After trailing 14-4 at halftime, Parramatta cut the deficit to six points when prolific winger Bevan French crossed in the 58th minute for his 10th try of the season.But the Titans were not to be denied.Back-rower Chris McQueen bagged his double by the 71st minute before halfback Ash Taylors 40m intercept try in the dying moments iced the result.Gold Coast jumped to a 14-0 lead by the 19th minute after tries to Titans recruit Konrad Hurrell, Anthony Don and McQueen.Eels back-rower Ken Edwards put the visitors on the scoreboard running off Clint Gutherson in the 36th minute.Titans veteran hooker Nathan Friend (hamstring) left the field in the 34th minute in addition to the Eels rake de Gois (suspected knee issue) who limped off in the 64th. 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