TORONTO -- Toronto FC will be without star striker Jermain Defoe and defensive lynchpin Steven Caldwell for Saturdays game against the Columbus Crew. Custom Panthers Jersey . Defoe, who has scored all three of Torontos goals this season, has been sidelined by a slight hamstring strain while Caldwell must serve a suspension. And the injury list could be longer with midfielder Jonathan Osorio facing a second week out with his own hamstring issue. Manager Ryan Nelsen says Defoe, who had a scan Tuesday after leaving Saturdays game in Salt Lake City early, will be out "for the short-term." "Not a major thing but definitely unavailable this weekend," he said. The 31-year-old England striker was substituted in the 61st minute Saturday favouring the back of his left thigh as he went to the dressing room. Caldwell was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount Wednesday for what MLS called "serious foul play that endangers the safety of an opponent." The hard-nosed Scottish centre back -- TFCs captain -- was yellow-carded for a studs-up tackle on midfielder Ned Grabavoy in the 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. Toronto had hoped to avoid a ban, arguing that the referee had seen the incident and decided on the appropriate punishment. But the leagues disciplinary committee disagreed. While Caldwell insisted he was just trying to win the ball, it was an ugly challenge that could have merited a straight red card, which carries with it a minimum one-game suspension. Caldwell is the second Toronto FC player to receive supplemental discipline. Brazilian midfielder Jackson missed the Salt Lake game after getting a one-game ban for an elbow thrown away from the ball in a 1-0 win over D.C. United. The latest suspension is especially worrying because Doneil Henry, Caldwells partner in central defence, has not trained this week because of a jarred knee suffered in Salt Lake City. "There could be a few guys unavailable," said Nelsen, who has repeatedly noted that the teams that succeed in MLS are the ones with the depth to cover such absences. The Toronto manager, who brought in as many as eight new starters in the off-season, is on the lookout for such reserve talent. "They normally play under the radar, they dont get any publicity or anything like that. Theyre the most valuable players on MLS teams and Toronto hasnt had those type of guys. Were trying to build them, were trying to get them, were trying to bring them (in), were trying to develop them ourselves. "For me, (the time) well get very, very, very good is when we can have a number of those guys who throw out seven of 10 (performances) every week." Goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who also took a knock to the knee on the weekend, was back in training Wednesday. And Toronto has Jackson back from suspension. Nelsen declined to say who will partner Brazilian striker Gilberto on Saturday against the unbeaten Crew (3-0-0). Nelsen played Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario up front with Defoe in the opening game of the season in Seattle when Gilberto was not ready. He pointed to De Rosario, Jackson, Andrew Wiedeman and newly signed Issey Nakajima-Farran as possible options. There was no "woe is me" from Nelsen. "Jermains come in and done really well obviously. But he got a slight strain and we move on. Thats life." On the backline, Nelsen has Gale Agbossoumonde and rookie Nick Hagglund at his disposal. American Justin Morrow could also move in from the left flank. Reserve fullback Ashtone Morgan is also dealing with a sore hip. Nelsen has spoken at length the last two days on the leagues supplemental discipline, arguing that it can undermine referees when the league rules on incidents that the on-field officials have already ruled on. "I dont know why the league needs to get involved, to tell you the truth," he said Wednesday. Still he seemed to want to have his cake and eat it too when, awaiting word last week on the Jackson suspension, he argued that Real Salt Lake forward Alvaro Saborio deserved a ban for his foul on A.J. DeLaGarza of the Los Angeles Galaxy the previous week. "That could have broken his leg," Nelsen said at the time of the Saborio challenge. "So if Jackson gets suspended, then youd like to hope that a guy whos nearly broken a guys leg is probably going to get suspended as well. "But I dont know, you never know. I dont make those rules." Nelsen was no doubt aware that RSL was already facing a glut of injuries at forward. His argument is that such supplemental discipline sets a precedent, effectively prompting all clubs to seek justice. "So do we slow down all elbows that were hit on Jackson before he did one or the elbow on Steven before that tackle?" he asked. "Its a slippery slope isnt it when you start overturning referees and taking away the human element of it, then every single team will have cases every single week." Unlike the NHL, MLS players are still paid while suspended. Also Wednesday, the leagues disciplinary committee fined Colorado Rapids defender Drew Moor an undisclosed amount for swinging his arm at the back of Sporting Kansas City forward Claudio Bielers head. According to the league, the disciplinary committees mission statement is "to preserve the integrity and reputation of the game and Major League Soccer, and to assist in ensuring player safety." The committee can take further action when the referee has seen or ruled on an incident on the field, if there is unanimous opinion that the play deserved a red card or was of "an egregious or reckless nature, such that the committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game." Trai Turner Black Jersey . -- With Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus struggling at the plate, Texas manager Ron Washington enjoyed watching a couple of home runs from two of the few players in his lineup who were hitting . Drayton Florence Black Jersey .6 million if he becomes a regular starter. The contract was agreed to on Dec. 17 and finalized Tuesday, three days after a spot on the 40-man roster opened when Alex Rodriguez was suspended for the season for violations of baseballs drug agreement and labour contract. INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning could soon be throwing footballs to his teammates, the best news Colts fans have heard since this miserable season began. While the Colts and the four-time league MVP are still trying to find out what the next part of his rehabilitation program entails, lifting weights and throwing balls are apparently going to be part of it. "Throwing will be part of the next progression," Manning said Friday before heading back to the teams weight room. "I will be doing some throwing and I have been doing some throwing. But now were going to ramp it up a little more." Manning called the news encouraging and said he would like to practise or even play this season if hes cleared. Vice chairman Bill Polian said he is pleased with Mannings progress "Its great news that the fusion has healed," Polian said after speaking at the Big Ten Football Awards Gala. "Its on schedule, so we just keep going from here." It was welcome news in a winless season that began with Manning underdoing his third neck surgery in 19 months back on Sept. 8. He has not practised since having a single-level spinal fusion that doctors hope will not only alleviate pressure on a damaged nerve that had caused weakness in Mannings throwing arm but allow the 35-year-old quarterback to return to his perennial Pro Bowl status. Indy (0-11) has kept Manning on the active roster all season with the hope that he may start throwing at practice before the Jan. 1 season-finale at Jacksonville. He just might. On Thursday night, the team issued a statement from Dr. Robert Watkins who said the fusion had healed firmly enough for Manning to increase the intensity of his workouts. Those at the team complex are still trying to figure out what Manning can do. "I dont know. I really dont know," coach Jim Caldwell said when asked about Mannings rehab program. "I just know theyve been pretty cautious with what theyve allowed him to do. I just know hes not practising today. I know that." The Manning story was newsy on a busy day in Indianapolis, where the inaugural Big Ten football championship is being played Saturday night and basketball fans are celebrating the return of the Pacers and the resurgence of the Indiana Hoosiers (7-0). Even before Manning walked into the room, his locker was surrounded by so many reporters that teammates started joking about the entourage. Some simply laughed. Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis climbed a cameramans unoccupied stool to get a view from above. One player asked whether U.S. President Barack Obama was expected in the locker-room and when another asked what was going on, Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne quipped: "Hes retiring." Manning was not amused by the media horde, which had anticipated a medical update Wednesday. "There is no schedule, there never has been. I think we have checkpoints here, and I dont know when the next one is," he said during a 12 1/2-minute question-and-answer session. "But I hope they dont announce it, so yall wont be here on decision day like Wednesday supposedly was. At times, Manning was self-deprecating. At others, he brushed off questionss by acknowledging he didnt have all the answers. Charles Godfrey Black Jersey. And yet he wanted to avoid adding to the speculation about the hottest topics in Indy sports -- do this weeks results suggest hell get back to 100 per cent, will the Colts exercise a US$28 million option to keep him in Indy, might he ponder retirement or would he have a problem if the Colts drafted Stanfords Andrew Luck or some other standout quarterback with the No. 1 pick? Indy is the clear front-runner in the chase for the top pick and many people believe the Colts should take Luck as Mannings successor. Luck has attended the Manning Passing Academy as both a pupil and a counsellor, and Lucks father, Oliver, and Mannings father, Archie, were teammates with the Houston Oilers in the 1980s. Manning insists he cant answer those questions now and has called the speculation about Luck disrespectful to his teammates, who are still trying to win games. "He (Polian) and I have not had a conversation about the 2012 draft," Manning said, referring to the Colts vice-chairman. "Bill keeps the players informed on a lot of things, but Ive never been informed about who were going to draft and I think that would be inappropriate." Polian said about Luck is premature, and that the topic of Luck has not come up in conversations with Manning. "We havent talked specifics," Polian said. "We dont know where were headed specifically. Theres a long way to go till April." Still, Mannings slow recovery has touched off talk of the Colts future and even his possible retirement. "Weve had discussions about it," Polian said. "He knows what our plans are going forward. He understands what the situation is. Weve got a lot of work to do to rebuild our team, and all of that is part and parcel of a larger plan. Hes well aware of where were going. Im sure hes anxious to be part of it." Now the latest results have again raised hopes of a return. "This is a good sign," Manning said. "A lot of people have had fusions, and I know of some cases where it doesnt take, so its comforting." Indys biggest problem this season has been the unsettled quarterback spot. Manning, who had started all 227 regular-season and playoff games since being drafted No. 1 overall in 1998, hasnt played a down. Kerry Collins, who was signed in August, started the first three games before a season-ending concussion. Curtis Painter got the next shot and played well initially, then threw eight interceptions and one touchdown in the last five games. The team has benched Painter in favour of Dan Orlovsky for Sundays game at New England (8-3). But regardless of who is starting this week or the rest of this season, Colts fans continue to focus on No. 18. "Its nice to have the reins cut off a little bit and do things that are a little more normal. Its nice that weve done what we were supposed to do over the last three months and that it allows you to go into that next phase," Manning said. "But I think a lot of the questions will answer themselves in the next three months," he added. "I have to put a lot of energy and time into my rehab." cheap jerseys ' ' '
