to the World Cup title, he was playing

SANTA CLARA, Calif. Nick Vigil Bengals Jersey . - Citing a pattern of behaviour and off-field issues, San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke informed defensive lineman Ray McDonald that he was released Wednesday amid a sexual assault investigation by San Jose police.Baalke spoke with McDonald and his agent by phone around 11:30 a.m. PST to let them know the defender is terminatedAfter the recent allegations concerning Ray McDonald, we as an organization notified him and his agent that he will be terminated, released immediately, effective immediately, Baalke said. While this organization has a strong belief in due process and has demonstrated that over time, Rays demonstrated a pattern of poor decision-making that has led to multiple distractions to this organization and this football team that really can no longer be tolerated.Baalke said CEO Jed York and coach Jim Harbaugh also were involved in the decision.We expect a lot from our players, hold them accountable for their actions, Baalke said. This is a situation that we can all learn from.Baalke said the 49ers notified the NFL of the allegations against McDonald, saying: This is a team decision. This is not a league decision.San Jose police Sgt. Heather Randol said Wednesday that the department is investigating McDonald on suspicion of sexual assault and had searched his San Jose home.Randol said an area hospital notified police late Tuesday night that a woman was seeking treatment.The victim alleged she was possibly sexually assaulted a day prior, Randol said. Based on preliminary investigation, detectives secured a search warrant and served it at the alleged suspects residence in San Jose.Randol didnt immediately respond to follow up questions seeking to clarify the reference to the alleged victim saying she was possibly sexually assaulted.No arrests have been made nor charges filed. McDonalds agent, Tom Condon, didnt immediately return a call seeking comment.McDonalds mother, Labrina McDonald, told the San Jose Mercury News the allegation was laughable and not true.She said her son warned her not to talk to the media, but she told the paper that theres no truth to that stuff.NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is looking into the case.York spoke to the 49ers players about two weeks ago about conduct before NFL owners unanimously approved changes last week to the leagues personal-conduct policy — and it was clear what the expectations are with the 49ers, linebacker Dan Skuta said.You just really dont know what to believe, so Im not getting mad at Ray, Skuta said. Obviously you want him here with you and youre a little upset hes not here. I have no business getting upset with him for something that he may or may not have done.This is the second time in recent months that McDonald has been the subject of a police investigation.Last month, the Santa Clara County district attorneys office announced that it declined to file charges against the defensive lineman in a domestic violence investigation. He was arrested Aug. 31 while celebrating his then-upcoming 30th birthday at his home.Following the arrest, York, Baalke and Harbaugh repeatedly said they have zero tolerance for domestic violence. The 49ers stuck by McDonald throughout the investigation, with Harbaugh regularly saying that due process would play out. He played despite outside pressure on Harbaugh and the organization to bench him.Prosecutors cited conflicting versions of what happened, a lack of verifiable eyewitnesses and a lack of co-operation by the alleged victim, McDonalds fiancee, in explaining their decision not to pursue charges in the domestic violence investigation.McDonald received a five-year contract in July 2011 and he was one of the top players Baalke had wanted to bring back long term.Like you would expect, extremely disappointed, Baalke said. We drafted Ray in the third round. Hes been an awful good football player and for the most part, has been a tremendous asset to this organization and this community. He has made some poor decisions. Hes aware of that. This is a case of being accountable for those decisions.McDonald was signed through the 2015 season. He had 26 tackles and three sacks in 14 games this season.Harbaugh notified the players Wednesday of McDonalds dismissal. An eight-year NFL veteran, McDonald has been a key member of one of the NFLs fiercest front seven units.Not a situation you want to hear about, very unfortunate, quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. He just brought us together and let us know what the situation was and why he was released. Its tough. He was a good friend to a lot of people on this team. No one around him ever thought bad of him. He was always a good person to everyone around here. Hopefully its just a misunderstanding.___Elias reported from San Francisco.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Kevin Zeitler Bengals Jersey . - Robert Griffin III has a sprained throwing shoulder that limited him in practice Wednesday as the Washington Redskins prepared for their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. Jeremy Hill Bengals Jersey . -- Canadas Milos Raonic defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France on Saturday to advance to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.MANGARATIBA, Brazil - A hard rain was falling when Gianluigi Buffon paused for a moment during an Italy training session Tuesday. Leaning forward with both hands on his knees, Buffon appeared to be resting or somehow trying to withstand the rain. Or perhaps the 36-year-old goalkeeper and Italy captain was reflecting on this: He is only the third player in history to be part of five World Cup squads, along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. Buffon first went to the World Cup back in 1998, although he didnt play a second-choice option behind Gianluca Pagliuca. He then took over the starting position from 2002 onward. "A fifth World Cup is a nice milestone but that doesnt mean Im satisfied," Buffon said before departing for Brazil. "Both individually and as a squad were preparing to surprise people." Buffon, of course, doesnt need to prove anything at this point in his career. He was one of the driving forces behind Italys run to the 2006 World Cup title, when he didnt concede a single goal to opponents during normal play over the course of seven matches — letting in only an own goal from Cristian Zaccardo and a penalty from Zinedine Zidane in the final won over France. He helped Parma to the UEFA Cup title way back in 1999 and has since won five Serie A titles with Juventus — including the last three. "As the years go by, Gigi still has the same amount of desire," said midfielder Claudio Marchisio, who plays with Buffon with both Italy and Juventus. "Hes a great professional, a great friend, and a top-level player. Hes a player who is able to give his all in every moment and always offer the right words of encouragement. "There are players here who are at their first big tournament and hes always there offering the right words of advice," Marchisio added Tuesday. Now that Buffon is setting records for longevity, its worth remembering what an early start he had. Born to members of Italys national teams in athletics (his mother) and weightlifting (father), Buffons distant relative Lorenzo Buffon was also Italys goalkeeper in the 1950s. Having played in midfield as a kid, Buffon decided he wanted to be a goalkeeper after seeing Thomas NKono defend Cameroons goal during the 1990 World Cup in Italy — when Buffon was 12 — and years later Buffon named his first son Louis Thomas after NKono. In 1991 when Buffon was just 13, Parma purchased his rights and put him in their youth system. Adam Jones Bengals Jersey. At 17, Buffon made his Serie A debut with Parma, keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against AC Milan. At 19, Buffon made a memorable Italy debut on a snowy pitch in Moscow during a playoff with Russia for a spot in the 1998 World Cup. Coming off a frigid bench as an injury replacement for Pagliuca, Buffon first raised eyebrows by wearing shorts in the arctic-like conditions then made a series of impressive saves in a 1-1 draw. Fast forward to 2006, when Buffon was one of the few key players to stay with Juventus when the Turin club was relegated to Serie B due to a match-fixing scandal — meaning that a month after guiding Italy to the World Cup title, he was playing in small second-division stadiums. Then at the 2010 World Cup, Buffon struggled with back pain. He played only a portion of Italys opening match and the Azzurri were promptly eliminated after the first round. But he was back in place to help Italy reach the final of the 2012 European Championship. And last October, Buffon surpassed Fabio Cannavaro with an Italy-record 137th appearance. So how does Buffon keep going? "Motivation is the key," he said in a recent interview with Italian daily La Repubblica. "Reflexes diminish. At my age you dont improve anymore, so its better to reduce training and take better care of injury prevention, nutrition and gym work." Buffon has often recounted how he fell into depression about 10 years ago, then resuscitated himself by turning to literature. He has also been the subject of a couple betting scandals. In 2011, he married Czech model Alena Seredova but Buffon announced last month when Italy gathered to begin training that they had separated. In announcing their split, Buffon thanked Seredova publicly for not making things too difficult for him, and said that he hopes she will bring their two boys to watch him play in Brazil. Whether Seredova and the boys come is yet to be seen. Either way, Buffon has already inscribed his name in the World Cup record books. And who knows, maybe Buffon will continue playing and go back to Russia and the site of his Italy debut for the 2018 World Cup, when hell be 40 — the same age that one of his idols, Dino Zoff, was when he helped Italy to the 1982 World Cup title. "Ill keep playing as long as I dont become a reserve," Buffon said. "Once the day comes that I get benched, thats when Ill hang my boots up." ___ Follow Andrew Dampf at http://twitter.com/asdampf Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '