Unser Forum » crowd of 35,188, including Miami Heat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Pro Bowlers Cam Newton and Greg Hardy will be ready to practice when the Carolina Panthers take the field for the start of training camp Friday night. The same cant be said of often-injured running back Jonathan Stewart. Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said Newton has been cleared medically following ankle surgery on March 19 and is expected to participate in all drills -- which comes as great news for coach Ron Rivera, who is returning from a European vacation. "Cam will participate full go and we will monitor just to make sure," Rivera said. "He will go through treatments to make sure, in terms of maintenance, but he is starting day one and will be on the field." Newton was not made available for interviews Thursday. Rivera said Newton recently worked with some of Carolinas receivers away from team facilities and came away feeling good about his surgically repaired ankle. "Im pretty excited about having him back on the field full time with those guys," Rivera said. Gettleman said Hardy, convicted on two counts of domestic violence last week, will not face any suspension from the Panthers at this time. He said the team will follow the leagues stance and let the legal process play out. "We constantly talk to our players about putting themselves in a position to succeed both on the field and even more importantly in life, so what has happened with Greg is very concerning and very disappointing," Gettleman said in the teams first public comments on Hardy since his conviction July 16. "These are very serious allegations," the GM said. "At the same time, we also respect the fact that Greg has appealed the decision and is entitled to a jury trial. We have been in touch with the league and were in the position that they have a personal conduct policy, which we are a part of. At the same time, we have to respect the legal process. Thats basically where were at." Hardy appealed the conviction last week after a judge sentenced him to a 60-day suspended jail sentence and 18 months probation for assault on a female and communicating threats. His appeal will be heard by a jury trial, but a date has not been set and it could be several months -- likely after the completion of the NFL season and would become a free agent -- before the case is heard in court. Hardy, who signed Carolinas franchise tag tender for $13.1 million, is a key player on the leagues No. 2-ranked defence. He had a career-high 15 sacks last season and has 26 sacks over the past two seasons. Gettleman said Hardys arrest in May did not play a role in the teams decision not to offer him a long-term contract. However, Gettleman wouldnt discuss Hardys long-term future with the team. Hardys teammates said they dont believe his off-the-field issues will be a distraction moving forward as the Panthers prepare to defend their NFC South title. "Its completely separate from anything were doing here," tight end Greg Olsen said. Stewart, who missed 17 games the past two seasons, pulled a hamstring recently in workouts and will miss 1-2 weeks. Gettleman also said offensive guard Edmund Kugbila, a former fourth-round draft pick, will have back surgery and will miss the entire season. The Panthers had high hopes for Kugbila when they draft him but hes not played a game for Carolina since coming into the league. Gettleman said safety Tre Boston (hernia) and cornerback De-Andre Pressley (stress fracture) will start training camp on the physically unable to perform PUP list. The Panthers went 12-4 last season but lost to San Francisco in the divisional playoffs. "To get that far and to lose, especially at home, was a tough pill to swallow," Olsen said. "Its disappointing, but its over. ... We are trying to get to where we were." Victor Oladipo Jersey . 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Paul George Jersey .The Dallas Cowboys released Sam from the practice squad Tuesday, dropping the rush end as they prepare for several potential reinforcements to return to the defensive line. MIAMI -- Jose Fernandez allowed his first two walks of the season, and they came back to back. When his foot slipped on a delivery, the pitch bounced several feet in front of the plate. One frustrating inning ended with the Miami Marlins precocious ace shaking his head and screaming angrily into his glove. Fernandez was at less than his best Saturday, but still good enough to beat the San Diego Padres. He struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings while lowering his ERA to 0.71, and Miami beat the punchless San Diego Padres 5-0. The Marlins improved to 5-1, their best start since 2009. Last year their fifth victory came in their 21st game, and they finished with 100 losses. "Another win. Its incredible," Fernandez said. "To be 5-1 is pretty amazing." Fernandez (2-0) improved his career record at home to 11-0 despite being miffed about a high pitch count early in the game. "Hes such a great competitor," manager Mike Redmond said. "He wasnt as sharp as Ive seen. But his stuff is so good, he still has the ability to make his pitches when he needs to." Fernandez, who threw 108 pitches, left the game annoyed after throwing a wild pitch on a strikeout that allowed Alexi Amarista to reach base with two outs in the seventh. But he allowed only three hits and two walks. "I threw a lot of pitches -- not what I wanted to do," Fernandez said. "But we won. Thats what I care about." Three relievers followed to complete a five-hitter. Giancarlo Stanton had two RBIs to increase his season total to 11, one more than teammate Casey McGehee, who began the day leading the NL. Four of the Marlins runs scored with two outs. "Theres a lot of good stuff going on right now," Redmond said. Andrew Cashner (0-1) allowed only two runs in six innings, but the offensively challenged Padres reached a new low -- for the first time, they were shut out. Theyve scored eight runs this season, worst in the majors, and haave lost four in a row since a win on opening day.dddddddddddd The Padres went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and are batting .108 (4 for 37) in those situations. "Collectively as a group, were not swinging the bats well," manager Bud Black said. "We are in a team-wide situation that were not swinging. We dont have one guy thats swinging the bat well. Inversely, you look at the Marlins they have guys who are swinging well. And thats what happens. Its cyclical during the course of a season." San Diegos best threat against Fernandez came when he walked two to load the bases with the score 0-0 in the third, but he escaped when Seth Smith hit into an inning-ending double play. The game drew a crowd of 35,188, including Miami Heat owner Micky Arison and president Pat Riley, who chatted briefly with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. Stantons run-scoring single in the third gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead, which looked hefty with Fernandez on the mound. "We knew once we got that one run, we had a good chance," catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. Notes: Marlins 2B Rafael Furcal (hamstring) is scheduled to report Monday to extended spring training in Jupiter, Fla., with rehabilitation assignments to follow. He likely wont be activated until April 20 at the earliest. ... Padres RHP Casey Kelly was scheduled to pitch in a simulated game Saturday, but the workout was postponed at least two days because he was feeling discomfort in his surgically repaired elbow, Black said. The setback isnt believed to be significant. ... Padres RHP Tyson Ross will get an extra day of rest before his next start Tuesday at Cleveland. Black said he made the move in part so the two left-handers in the rotation wouldnt pitch back to back. ... Stanton has two homers in eight at-bats against RHP Ian Kennedy (0-1, 5.40), who is scheduled to start Sunday for the Padres. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 3.00) will start for Miami. ' ' '