WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed two picks from this years CFL draft, receiver Carl Fitzgerald and punter Billy Pavlopoulos. Fitzgerald, a six-foot-five, 240-pound native of Peterborough, Ont., finished second last season at Saint Marys with 14 receptions for 184 yards and one touchdown. He was taken in the third round, 20th overall, in this years draft. Pavlopoulos, six-three, 200 pounds, was born in Georgetown, Ont., and finished the 2011 season at the University of British Columbia with the second best average in the country after punting 70 times for 3,007 yards. He also handled placekicking for the Thunderbirds and converted 13 of 19 field goal attempts but was placed on a two-year-suspension in 2012 for use of an anabolic steroid contained in a supplement he took during off-season training. The Blue Bombers took him in the seventh round, 54th overall, in last weeks draft. Nicolas Batum Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Muggsy Bogues Hornets Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. http://www.hornetsteamproshop.com/Cheap-Glen-Rice-Hornets-Jersey/ . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Malik Monk Hornets Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Bismack Biyombo Jersey . PAUL, Minn. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Two teams almost certainly headed nowhere collide in the desert Sunday.The New Orleans Saints (5-8) and Arizona Cardinals (5-7-1) are in the homestretch of disappointing seasons.There are some far-fetched scenarios that have either team reaching the playoffs. The New York Times put the chances of New Orleans making the postseason at 1 percent, Arizona at 2 percent.So most everyone involved with this game is resigned that the season will end in three weeks.Just being real, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said.That doesnt mean the game is meaningless.Thats what were paid to do. Were paid to play games, Arizona center A.Q. Shipley said. We have to go out and perform to the highest level. Some of us are playing for futures. Some of us are playing for right now.The Saints have to win out to avoid a third consecutive losing season. But coach Sean Payton said this is a different team than those two 7-9 squads and hes encouraged by its progress.Im encouraged with young guys we had a chance to play through injury, he said. Weve overcome some, tough, hard-fought games. ... Its going to be important that this team finishes well though.One more loss and the Cardinals will have their first losing season in Arians four years as coach.New Orleans has lost three in a row in Arizona, most recently a 31-19 defeat in last years season opener. Drew Brees completed 30 of 48 passes for 355 yards, but had only one touchdown with one interception.We havent played real well when weve played there, so I think thats another challenge for us -- turning that streak around, Brees said. We need to go to a place like that, a hostile environment, and be able to play well on the road.Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer will try to survive behind a makeshift offensive line. Tackle D.J. Humphries is out with a concussion, so the lineup will include John Wetzel at left tackle, Taylor Boggs at right guard (in his first NFL start) and Earl Watford at right tackle.Here are some things to consider when New Orleans meets the Cardinals:JOHNSON MARCHES ON: Arizonas David Johnson can set an NFL record if he amasses 100 yards from scrimmage again Sunday. He would be the first player to top that mark in each of the first 14 games of a season. Right now he and Edgerrin James are tied at 13 in a row.Johnson has his eyes on an even more impressive staat.dddddddddddd He needs 255 yards receiving to join Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk as the only players to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a single season.NO FLOYD: Wide receiver Michael Floyd was released by Arizona on Wednesday, two days after police say he was found unconscious behind the wheel of a running vehicle at a Scottsdale intersection. Floyd was charged with driving under the influence and failure to obey a police officer.He signed with New England on Thursday.The abrupt departure of the teams 2012 first-round draft pick should mean even more action for the Cardinals diminutive wide receiver J.J. Nelson, who caught two TD passes in last Sundays loss at Miami.After Larry Fitzgerald and Nelson, a bunch of guys will fill in for Floyd, Arians said. One of them is John Brown, who has been slowed by fatigue related to a diagnosis of a sickle cell trait.OFFENSE VS DEFENSE: The Saints have the No. 1-ranked offense in the league at 418 yards per game. The Cardinals have the No. 1 defense, giving up 298 yards per game.So something has to give.I guess thats kind of exciting, isnt it? Brees said.New Orleans offense ranks first in passing, too, at 314 yards per game. The Cardinals are second in pass defense, giving up 202 yards per contest.OFFENSIVE WASTE: While the Saints are ranked No. 1 on offense, their inability to reach the end zone during the past two games helped their playoff hopes fade to black. New Orleans has scored just one touchdown in the past two games against Detroit and Tampa Bay. Five drives during that span have ended with field goals and six with interceptions.IMPROVING D: Five weeks into the season, the Saints allowed four opponents to score 34 or more points and ranked 31st in the NFL on defense. Since then, theyve held five opponents to 23 or fewer points and have climbed seven spots in the defensive rankings to 24th.Some of that has to do with players returning from injuries. And its evidence that chemistry across the defense and players understanding of coordinator Dennis Allens scheme have improved.---AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
