NEU » e Saints, drawing a 15-yard penalty for unsports

Stoke boss Mark Hughes says there is no reason Leicesters stunning story cannot be repeated next season. Claudio Ranieris side, rank outsiders at the start of the campaign, defied extraordinary odds to claim the first top-flight title in their 132-year history with two matches to spare.Despite their success, bookmakers have installed them around the 40/1 mark to repeat the feat next season. But Hughes says Leicester, or any other so-called unfashionable club, should not be written off. Speaking ahead of Saturdays trip to Crystal Palace, Hughes, whose side lie 10th in the Premier League, said: Whether or not it is unprecedented, are we going to see more so-called unfashionable clubs getting to the top of the pile, who knows?But its a great effort that Leicester have been able to do it with a couple of games to spare. They deserve great credit for that. Leicester City players celebrate title their success at clubs training ground The fact Leicester have done that probably adds more pressure on clubs like Stoke because now everyone thinks maybe we can do it, or other teams in and around the top 10.But Hughes insists a number of factors must fall in line if any manager is to have a chance of adding only the seventh name to the Premier League trophy.Its not easy, he added. You have to have things go for you, you need a bit of luck along the way and the players have to be at the the top of their level for the entire season and that doesnt happen very often. You need good players, a good team and a good work ethic. If you have all these things, and a little bit of luck, then you have a chance.Despite the countrys leading clubs looking certain to strengthen in the summer, Hughes is adamant another shock winner this time next year cannot be ruled out.Leicester have shown what can happen and that will obviously resonate with a lot of clubs, he said.You sense next season the so-called bigger clubs will have something to say about that, and probably give it a better run than they did this season. But when an opportunity presents itself you have to grab it, and that is what Leicester have done. Also See: Stoke video Stoke fixtures Stoke stats Get a ￡10 free bet! Victor Hedman Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Ryan McDonagh Lightning Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.lightninghockeystore.us/Mikhail-Sergachev-Jersey/ . 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He was the first running back to top 100 yards against Denver this season. He averaged 4.8 yards a carry.So, with the Chargers trailing the Broncos 27-19 with less than three minutes remaining Sunday, McCoy had Philip Rivers throw four times.In McCoys defense, cornerbacks Aqib Talib (back) and Kayvon Webster (hamstring) were on the sideline along with linebacker Brandon Marshall (hamstring).In McCoys indictment, pass rusher DeMarcus Ware was back from a broken arm to lead a group that picked off Rivers three times, sacked him four times, broke up 13 of his passes and hit him 17 times.Rivers was hurried by T.J. Ward on first down and threw the ball away.He was hurried by Ware on second down and threw it away.Understandably jumpy, he overthrew Antonio Gates on third down.The Broncos sent an all-out blitz on fourth down and Lorenzo Doss broke up a pass intended for tight end Hunter Henry.After the fact, you go, `Shoot, maybe we should have run it once or twice down there, Rivers said.Not so, McCoy.We called the plays we did. We didnt finish them. We didnt score, McCoy said. We called what we did. It didnt work. Im not going to second-guess it now.Instead of a chance at evening the score and maybe going on to win the game and evening their record, the Chargers limped home at 3-5, all but buried in the AFC West, where the Broncos and Raiders are 6-2 and the Chiefs 5-2.Two stars called out the NFL officials Sunday, and only one of them had a legitimate beef.Cam Newton said hes had it with the officials not protecting him and taking the fun out of the game for me.Josh Norman complained about one official who kept throwing flags on him even though he kept committing penalties.In Charlotte, Newton, the leagues reigning MVP, said he simply doesnt get the same calls that other QBs in the league get.Enough is enough, Newton said after Carolinas 30-20 win over Arizona. I dont think theres a person that can go through what I go through and keep their head, you know what Im saying? Hits to the head, thats one thing, but when youre not protected in the pocket, thats another thing. It became the story of my life ever since I came in (to the league). Its always, `Oh, we missed that, Im sorry.Newton said he plans to talk to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about why he is treated ddifferently than other QBs.dddddddddddd.He said the breaking point for him came in the third quarter when Arizona defensive tackle Calais Campbell came crashing into Newtons knees , reminiscent of the hit that sidelined Tom Brady in 2008.Newton was slow to get up, but Campbell was not penalized.I could have torn my ACL, Newton fumed.In London, Norman was miffed after Washingtons 27-27 tie with Cincinnati about all the times he kept getting called for hands to the face while covering Bengals star receiver A.J. Green.Whos official 88? Norman asked.That would be field judge Brad Freeman.He sucked, Norman said. Im just going to be honest with you. Im going to be straight-forward. He was terrible and I feel like he should be reprimanded.Its Norman who should be chided, suggested NBC football analyst Tony Dungy.All (Freeman) does is watch the wide receivers and defensive backs and those were good calls. Those were not phantom calls, Dungy said. Josh Norman has to understand if you put your hands in the face or you grab jerseys, its going to get called.Rodney Harrison suggested Norman should have been thankful Freeman didnt throw three or four more flags on Norman, and if he does not change his technique, its going to continue to happen.In New Orleans, safety Earl Thomas was flagged for giving too much love to the officials. He embraced side judge Alex Kemp in a bear hug after his 34-yard fumble return for a touchdown in Seattles 25-20 loss to the Saints, drawing a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.That one may have been silly, but Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was serious when he complained to the officials about two pick plays that werent whistled, one of which came on a touchdown.These are the plays that challenge the officials, Carroll said, and they were challenged today.And the best call of the weekend had to be Jack Del Rios decision to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Tampa Bay 41 with 1:55 left in overtime.Derek Carr hit Seth Roberts over the middle and he slipped out of a sandwich tackle and raced into the end zone for the 30-24 win that sets up a showdown with Denver next weekend pitting two 6-2 teams for the AFC West lead.---AP Sports Writers Steve Reed and Brett Martel contributed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton . 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