GREEN BAY, Wis. Kyle Williams Jersey . -- Its easy to spot Clay Matthews at Packers practice, with his long blond hair protruding from his helmet and on to his neck and shoulders. When the veterans are getting a break, the pass-rushing outside linebacker can often be found taking a breather next to A.J. Hawk, the durable inside linebacker. After some doubt, theyll be together again this weekend to face the Detroit Lions. The Packers bye week did wonders for Matthews and his sore hamstring. "Well I mean we obviously had the bye week, which helped out as far as" getting healthy, Matthews said Thursday. "It was a fortuitous bye week, Ill say that." The TV commercial star and the eight-year veteran. The energized Matthews, in his fifth season, and the well-spoken, blue-collar Hawk. Mainstays of the Packers starting linebacking corps since 2009. So many games against NFC North foes like the Lions, it must make playing them seem like second nature. Wrong, said Hawk. Especially with Reggie Bush in the mix now in Detroit to join receiver Calvin Johnson to give opposing defences headaches. "And the truth is, Ive been part of a lot of games like that. You go in with all these things that you think are 100 per cent, and they can change in division games," Hawk said. "I need these days leading up to every game. I need every rep I can get because were working on so many different looks and so many different things." Sounds like sage comments a grizzled veteran would say. Hawk agreed to a pay cut in the off-season, not worried about outside perception of the deal. Hawk has also taken heat from fans about perhaps being a step slow, or not making enough big plays. But he does make tackles -- 28 this year, second behind Brad Jones, and a team-high 145 last season. Hes also durable, having played in 123 of a possible 125 games while in Green Bay. Its all in the preparation, Hawk said, at least until Sunday. "I have little tips in the back of my head that Ive written down all week," he said. "But I know once Im out there, we just need to run around and make plays." Which is exactly what Matthews is known for, becoming one of the leagues most popular defensive players. His No. 52 jerseys might be outnumbered in the Lambeau Field stands only by the No. 12 jerseys for Aaron Rodgers among current players. When hes on the field, Matthews fires up the crowd and his teammates. When hes on the sideline with a hamstring injury, like when he was knocked out of the Bengals game two weeks ago, it gives the green-and-gold fans a scare. Matthews missed four games last season with a hamstring problem. He quickly reminded reporters Thursday that when he returned, Dec. 16 at Chicago, he had two sacks. "The first part of getting over a hamstring strain is healing, and obviously I cant control that," Matthews said. "But coming back, the final hurdle you have to overcome is mentally are you comfortable with exerting 100 per cent effort or even more so. I wouldnt put myself out there if I wasnt." In his fifth season in the league, Matthews still possesses the wide-eyed eagerness of a rookie. But that experience is building up in his brain, beneath those trademark locks, especially when it comes to dealing with his hamstring. Matthews was playing well with two forced fumbles and a sack against Cincinnati before departing. It was a joint decision with medical staff and coaches. "I just told them where I was at and how I felt and moving forward what the smart thing would be," Matthews said. "At that point in the game, with that lead, too, I felt like it was the wise decision." The Packers went on to cough up their 16-point lead. But its a long season. After the early bye, the Packers will have to play 13 straight weeks. "I think Ive become a lot smarter. Obviously a younger player would have kind have pressed the issue, maybe hurt himself even more so," Matthews said. "But I think were smart with the events that took place in Cincinnati and where were at now, so fortunately there will be no time missed." Fred Jackson Bills Jersey .com) - There was clearly no looking ahead for the U. Robert Woods Bills Jersey . "Its huge," Casey said of Torontos matchup with the fifth-place Hawks, who sit 1.5 games behind the Raptors for third place in the Eastern Conference. "Its not like in the past where games dont matter. In the past we were building, getting guys experience.PORTLAND, Ore. -- Deron Williams took a moment to snap a few photos of Brooklyn teammate Jason Collins at their shootaround in Portland. He couldnt help it: The NBAs first openly gay player was surrounded by a throng of cameras and microphones, and at least for the next week or so, Collins will be the face of the Nets wherever they go. The 7-footer was signed to a 10-day contract on Sunday. He played in a 108-102 victory over the Lakers that night, with two rebounds, five fouls and a steal in just under 11 minutes. Before Wednesday nights game against the Trail Blazers, Collins said he accepted the both the interest and scrutiny that has come with his return to the league. "Im back playing basketball, so of course Im enjoying this," he said. Collins quietly played seven minutes in the 124-80 loss to the Blazers on Wednesday night, entering after Nets coach Jason Kidd had pulled his starters in the fourth quarter and many of the fans had already headed for the exits. He attempted one field goal. After Portland, the Nets visit Denver, where the attention will become even more intense. The family of slain Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard is expected to make the drive for the game Thursday night against the Nuggets. Shepard was tortured and murdered in 1998 because he was gay. Collins wears his No. 98 jersey in Shepards honour. He wants to keep the details of any meeting with Judy Shepard to himself. "Obviously, its extremely special and Im very much looking forward to meeting them," he said. Collins wore the No. 98 with both the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards for Shepard even before coming out. The jersey wasnt yet ready for the game against the LLakers (he wore a spare jersey with his name hastily added), but he wore No. Anthony Dixon Bills Jersey. 98 against the Blazers. "We were very touched," Judy Shepard told the New York Daily News about the jersey. "For him to make that tribute to Matt was meaningful to us." The jersey was already the biggest seller of the day Tuesday on NBAStore.com, and the NBA said it was selling well again Wednesday. The league didnt provide the number of jerseys sold. For all the attention hes getting, Collins is not a distraction for the Nets, who are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, inside the playoff cutoff. "He understands how to play the game the right way, and we saw that in L.A.," Kidd said. Collins publicly announced he was gay last May, and he joins several other athletes to come out, including Robbie Roberts of Major League Soccers Los Angeles Galaxy, Brittney Griner of the WNBAs Phoenix Mercury, and NFL draft hopeful Michael Sam, an All-American defensive end who played at Missouri. Since coming out, Collins has become an advocate for LGBT rights. He was in Portland just last week, appearing before a group thats advocating to get a measure on the November ballot that would legalize gay marriage on Oregon. In 2004, voters passed a measure that amended the state constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Campaign organizers hope to make Oregon the first state to overturn a constitutional amendment that bans gay marriage. Collins said for now, however, he just wants to focus on the Nets. "There are only so many ways you can write the story or tell the story," he said, "and then it will just be about basketball." wholesale jerseys ' ' '
