TORONTO -- Dwane Casey can breathe a sigh of relief knowing his role as head coach of the Toronto Raptors is secure, at least for the time being. New general manager Masai Ujiri said on Wednesday that Casey will be back for the final year of his contract. That decision may not have caught many people by surprise, but Casey says he didnt dismiss uncertainty surrounding his job that came with Ujiris arrival. "Theres always doubt," Casey said at a press conference at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday. "When you see coaches like George (Karl), Lionel (Hollins), those colleagues lose their jobs, theres always doubt." Casey also witnessed a shake-up within his own organization over the past month. Bryan Colangelo, the former Raptors GM who announced in April that Casey would be back in his head coaching role for the 2013-2014 season, was ousted from his own position and replaced by Ujiri a month later. The 56-year-old Casey said a fear of failure has kept him going. "Thats what motivates me, and I hope thats what motivates our players," he said. "Ive never taken anything for granted, whether it was this job or any job Ive had. Im always fearing failure. I always want to do a good job and thats what I work for." Casey joined the Raptors in 2011 after winning the NBA championship as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks. But since becoming a head coach in Toronto he has managed a 57-91 record. The Raptors, who began their 2012-2013 campaign full of promise after signing young Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas and acquiring Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields through trades during the off-season, finished the season with a 34-48 record and missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Casey hopes this year will be different. With a new GM in place, Casey says hes excited to begin preparing for the upcoming season alongside Ujiri, a man who hes known for years. "I know what Masai is about," Casey said. "Hes about a lot of the same things that I stand for -- the toughness, playing hard, being accountable -- all of the things it takes to win. "What I want to do, what is my vision and his vision, is to get to where its a constant, where youre in the playoffs, and build a program thats going to be sustainable over the test of time." According to Casey, he and Ujiri have already begun that process together, despite any uncertainty surrounding Caseys job security. "Weve spent the last couple weeks, probably since (Ujiri) got the job, talking, texting or emailing almost every single day," the Raptors coach said. "We share the same outlook, we know what we need to improve on, what direction we need to go to, and the bottom line is to keep developing what we have. "Our ultimate goal is to develop not just into a team that sneaks into the playoffs, but a team that can consistently say, Hey, we have a chance to fight for a championship." As Casey spoke, the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs were preparing for Thursday nights Game 7 NBA finals match-up. It may be tough to picture Toronto in a do-or-die championship setting right now, but Casey has his sights set high. "I want to be in that situation with the Raptors one of these days," he said. . Bryan Mone Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Marquise Blair Jersey . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. http://www.cheapseahawksjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-jordan-simmons-jersey . 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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Not even in grade school, Tom Brady cried from his seat at The Stick when Dwight Clark made The Catch.The New England quarterback had so counted on playing at Candlestick Park in 2008, his first NFL game back home in the Bay Area against the 49ers team he watched Joe Montana lead when Brady was a boy.Then, a season-ending knee injury spoiled his plans. He cant quite believe it took until age 39 and his 17th NFL season to finally get a shot on San Franciscos home field.I had everything arranged and set up before the season for my family and friends, and then I got hurt, Brady said. So it is (shocking), it is. It will be a lot of fun. Ive got a lot of people coming to the game and it will just be a great environment.This could perhaps be the only time Brady gets the opportunity, and he should feel pretty confident about his chances of winning with the AFC East-leading Patriots (7-2). The New England quarterback might have to change teams to visit Levis Stadium again after Sundays matchup with the Niners (1-8), losers of eight straight since a season-opening win against the Rams.He was there when Clark leaped high and pulled down the Montana touchdown pass that helped send San Francisco to its first Super Bowl after the 1981 season.I was, I think 4 years old and my parents brought me. I cried -- I wanted one of those foam fingers and I cried the entire first half, Brady recalled. Finally, my dad bought me one to shut me up for the second half. I think I have a picture of it.It was just a great. I remember we were on the opposite side of the stadium, and I started crying when everyone jumped up and screamed at the end when Dwight made the catch. I still have those memories.San Francisco went to New England in 2004 and again in 2012 to win 41-34 during the 49ers Super Bowl season.It was a great feeling to go up there, get that victory, especially against a team like that, quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. It was huge and it was another confidence builder for our team.Here are some things to watch for Sunday:BETHEAS FIRST PICK: San Francisco safety Antoine Betheas first career interception is still plenty fresh 10 years later. He has the ball at home in a case.It came with the Colts against Brady, in Foxborough, on Nov. 5, 2006, the first of three career picks he has of Brady passes.Its definitely something I remember, out there in Foxborough, BBethea said.dddddddddddd Of course Im always going to remember that, especially because it comes on a top-caliber quarterback.HOT TICKET: Brady, who grew up in nearby San Mateo, has arranged countless tickets for Sunday -- more than ever.I may never get the opportunity again, so its nice to have all the support, and Ive had a lot from the Bay Area over the years, Brady said. My high school, my elementary school, and I still have so many friends from growing up, and coaches, my family, my aunts and uncles, cousins. It will just be a lot of fun to be out there.KAEPERNICK IMPROVES: After failing to complete even half of his passes in each of his first two starts, Kaepernick has been much sharper the past two weeks after the bye.Healthy again after three surgeries, and promoted in favor of Blaine Gabbert last month, he is completing 59 percent of his passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 96.8 passer rating.ROOKIE WOES: Patriots rookie defensive back Cyrus Jones returned last week against Seattle after being a healthy scratch for three straight games following his ejection during New Englands win at Cleveland on Oct. 9. During an up-and-down first year, he also has struggled to find consistency as a kick returner.Jones performance will determine how much he is on the field.It doesnt necessarily stay the same, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. It hopefully gets better, but we just have to evaluate those performing opportunities.LEWIS RETURNS?: Pats running back Dion Lewis was taken off injured reserve last week, but was inactive against Seattle. He has made progress since returning to practice, but the Patriots are unlikely to rush him.New England is getting great production out of LeGarrette Blount, who leads the league with 12 touchdowns rushing. James White has also been a solid pass catching option out of the backfield, hauling 33 receptions for 290 yards and three touchdowns.I think any time a player is coming back from missing a significant amount of time, theres a certain buildup process, Belichick said of Lewis. Its hard to predict how thats going to go.--
