and found an opening

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons fears were confirmed on Wednesday when a second medical opinion found star wide receiver Julio Jones foot injury will cause him to miss the remainder of the season. Coach Mike Smith said Jones will have surgery on Monday, but the Falcons still did not release details of the injury. Jones, the NFLs leading receiver, injured his right foot in Monday nights 30-28 loss to the New York Jets. Smith had said Tuesday the first reports were not encouraging. Jones wanted a second opinion and was examined Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C., by foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. "Unfortunately, Julios appointment with the doctor today confirmed our initial findings," Smith said in a statement released by the team. Anderson repaired a broken bone in Jones right foot before his 2011 rookie season. The loss of Jones is a devastating blow to the Falcons, who are 1-4 and entering their bye week. Roddy White, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver, hurt his hamstring in the loss to the Jets and missed Wednesdays practice. Smith said White, who already was slowed by an ankle sprain, also will miss Thursdays practice. Harry Douglas, Kevin Cone and Drew Davis were the top receivers Wednesday. After those three, the teams options are practice squad receivers Darius Johnson and James Rodgers. "Injuries are a part of the NFL and youve got to deal with them," Smith said. "Everybody has to deal with them. Our guys understand its an opportunity for somebody else to step up. Weve done it many times already this season. Its not going to be any different than any other week." Jones leads the NFL with 41 catches and ranks second with 580 yards receiving. He made his first Pro Bowl team in 2012 when he had 79 receptions for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jones (6-3, 220) provides size mismatches for most cornerbacks and is the Falcons top deep threat. He had eight catches for 99 yards, including a 46-yarder, against the Jets. "Its tough to replicate what he can do," said quarterback Matt Ryan. "Certainly hes one of the most gifted receivers in the NFL. That makes it difficult to replace that but we have other guys who need to step up and I think will step up for us." Ryan said he saw Jones on Wednesday before the receiver left the practice facility for appointment in Charlotte. "Weve all kind of been there before," Ryan said. "Its part of playing in this league. Its a tough, physical game. Hes got a great mindset about it though. Hes positive, hes upbeat." The Falcons could seek help at wide receiver during the bye week. Jones big-play ability will be difficult to replace. "Its going to take some time to figure out what were going to do, depending on how long hes out or whatever," Ryan said. "But well figure it out and try to find a way to get it done and be explosive in some different ways." Douglas, who has 16 catches for 219 yards, is in his fifth season. Most of his experience has come as the No. 3 receiver, and he could be asked to join tight end Tony Gonzalez in a lead role when the Falcons return from the bye week to play Tampa Bay on Oct. 20. "Ive been playing football for a long time," Douglas said. "I dont need to go out there and try to be Superman. Ive just got to play the game of football." Cone had his first career catch on Monday night. Davis had four catches in 2012 and none this season. While his teammates made optimistic predictions about the backup receivers, Cone stated the obvious. "Im definitely no Julio Jones," Cone said. NBA Jerseys 2020 . McCutchen hit his first home run in over a month, doubled twice and scored two runs to help the Pirates beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Sunday and take three of four from the defending NL West champions. Bob Sura Jersey Signed .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats said head coach Steve Clifford underwent a successful procedure Friday to have two stents placed in his heart. https://www.cheapnbajerseysjustwholesale...-jersey-signed/. Messis father, Jorge Horacio Messi, is apparently still under investigation for an alleged 4 million euros ($5.3 million) in unpaid taxes from Messis image rights from 2007-09. Messis public relations firm confirmed Spanish media reports that the state prosecutor has asked for Messi to be dropped from the investigation that began in June 2013. Malik Allen Jersey Signed . -- Former NHL star Jeremy Roenick shot a second-round 69 to take the lead after 36 holes and former LPGA great Annika Sorenstam and Chad Pfeifer, who lost his left leg above the knee serving in Iraq, are among several players in contention in the American Century Championship tournament on Saturday. Wholesale NBA Jerseys . Mohamed Diame put West Ham ahead in the 47th minute before goals by substitutes Carlton Cole and Joe Cole condemned Fulham to a fifth straight defeat, keeping the visitors in the bottom three.TORONTO -- Lexie Lou will get a shot at winning Canadas most prestigious horse race. Lexie Lou earned a commanding 4 1/2-length win Sunday in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks. In fact, Lexie Lous winning time of 1:49.77 was better than the 1:50.78 posted by Queens Plate favourite We Miss Artie in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes earlier. That left Lexi Lous handlers with the question whether to run her against the boys in the Queens Plate on July 6 or chase the remaining two legs of the Triple Tiara for Canadian-bred three-year-old fillies. Conditioner Mark Casse missed Sundays race while attending a horse sale in Florida. But the six-time winner of Canadas top trainer award said he spoke with owner Gary Barber and the decision was made to point the filly towards the Plate. "As long as shes healthy and happy that will be her next stop," Casse said in a telephone interview Sunday evening. Assistant trainer Kathyrn Sullivan represented Casse at Sundays race, however she was unable to call him afterwards with the good news. Thats because Sullivan lost both of her cellphones in the walking race prior to the race. "I havent talked to Kathryn yet," Casse said with a chuckle. "She did text me saying she was a nervous wreck. "But were fortunate to have a lot of great people working with us and I know she did a terrific job." Jockey Patrick Husbands had Lexie Lou, the 2/1 second choice, sitting second behind stablemate Wild Catomine for much of the race before surging into the lead and cruising for her fourth victory in 11 career starts. The $300,000 winners share boosted her lifetime earnings over $630,000. Wild Catomine, also trained by Casse, was second in the nine-horse field, with Llanarmon taking third. Paladin Bay, the 2/1 favourite, was fourth. "We took a good run at her, like we always do, but Lexie Lou found another gear out there, she just took off again," said Gerry Olguin, the jockey aboard Paladin Bay. "I thought I was going to be second . . . she got tired at the end." Sundays race was just Lexie Lous second since being purchased by Barber and first without blinkers. Husbands rode Lexie Lou to a third-place finish in the $150,000 Fury Stakes event May 10 and felt blinkers werent necessary. "The last time she never relaxed," Husbands said. "We worked her twice since the last race without blinkers, no problem. "In the post parade, she was relaxed."; Only five Oaks winners have gone on to win the Queens Plate, the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown and this countrys most prestigious horse race.dddddddddddd The last was Inglorious in 2011. Sullivan said while Lexie Lou would give away size to the colts in the Plate, shed have the speed needed to compete. "Shes light and just floats on the track and theres definitely advantages to that," she said. "I think youd find some people would say thats the kind of horse youd want and youd find as many other people saying the other (bigger is better). "Shes put on a little weight and sort of filled out a little bit in the last month. Shes just got that big, long, beautiful stride." And theres the matter of Lexie Lou posting a faster time than We Miss Artie did in the Plate Trial, both races covering 1 1/8 miles. "Yeah, I know," Sullivan said with a smile. "Thats also a debate that will rage on." We Miss Artie was the overwhelming 1/5 favourite in the Plate Trial, and with good reason. The Todd Pletcher-trained bay colt was the Queens Plate Winterbook favourite this winter and finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby on May 3. Sundays race was not only We Miss Arties first since the Derby but first-ever at Woodbine. He found himself sitting third, boxed in along the rail at one point but jockey Javier Castellano patiently waited for an opening and when it appeared, he had more than enough horse to respond. "I think I rode the best horse in the race, I think I rode with a lot of patience," Castellano said. "I let him settle . . . when we turned for home we asked (for) a little bit and he give me a good kick." Assistant trainer Ginny DePasquale admitted being concerned about We Miss Arties dire standing late in the race. "There for a moment you get a little nervous but we knew he would come through in the end," she said. "Hes got a big heart and found an opening and went on. "Javier just kind of saved him at the wire a little bit." Sullivan was impressed with We Miss Arties late kick. "Hes a much nicer horse than he is on paper, weve always thought that," she said. "You could see at the top of the turn as soon as he got some room he was full of horse, full of run. "He will definitely be very tough to run against." Majestic Sunset was second in the seven-horse field, with Tower of Texas taking third. ' ' '