ROME -- Defending champion Italy will not use its top players at the United States in the first round of the Fed Cup. Cam Atkinson Jersey . The Italian tennis federation says in a statement that Sara Errani, Roberta Vinci, Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone asked to skip the Feb. 8-9 competition in Cleveland. Instead, Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti will likely rely on Camila Giorgi, Karin Knapp, Nastassja Burnett and Alice Matteucci. The top players cited a travel schedule that would have taken them from the Australian Open to a tournament in Paris, then Cleveland, then to another tournament in Doha, Qatar -- over a 16-day span. Errani and Vinci won the Australian Open doubles title Friday. Barazzutti says, "We decided to accept the request of our veterans." The team will be named officially Wednesday.Artem Anisimov Blue Jackets Jersey . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. Ryan Johansen Blue Jackets Jersey .Y. -- Trevor Cooney and C.Flowery Branch, GA - The Atlanta Falcons signed one of the most prolific kick returners in NFL history Thursday, agreeing to terms with Devin Hester on an undisclosed deal. Hester, who was released by the Bears earlier this offseason, is the NFLs all-time leader in punt return touchdowns (13) and total kick return touchdowns (18). Including his 108-yard missed field goal return touchdown, Hesters 19 overall return scores are tied with Hall of Famer Deion Sanders for the most in regular-season history. When adding Hesters 92-yard kickoff return touchdown to open Super Bowl XLI, his 20 overall return touchdowns (including the postseason) are an NFL record.Ryan Johansen Jersey. In 123 games played (46 starts) over eight seasons with the Bears, Hesters 3,241 punt return yards are eighth most in NFL history and his 12.3 punt return average ranks fifth. He left Chicago as the franchises all-time leader in total return touchdowns, punt return touchdowns, punt return yards, kickoff return yards (5,504), total kick return yards (8,745) and second in all-purpose yards (11,632). As a receiver, Hester had 217 receptions for 2,807 yards with the Bears. cheap nfl jerseyscheap jerseys ' ' '
