NEU » s on three separate lines in preparation for a

Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss the New England Patriots, the Quebec Soccer Federation, Andrew Wiggins, and baseballs umpires. Dave Naylor, TSN: My thumb is up to the New England Patriots, who this week signed the one and only Tim Tebow. This is good news because it would have been wrong if Tebows career had ended in an incomplete set fashion in his one year as a backup with the New York Jets. Actually, Im not sure he was the backup with the Jets, I dont know what he was doing there and Im not sure what hes going to be with the Patriots. You have to give Tebow credit, nobody can start a conversation topic like he can, that is unless you are Bill Belichick, the Patriots head coach, who this week deflected 14 consecutive Tebow questions without giving a hint away about what they have planned. This sets up the first great matchup of the 2013 NFL season - Boring Bill Belichick against Tebowmania. Cathal Kelly, Toronto Star: My thumb is down to the Quebec Soccer Federation for their flip flop on a turban ban this week. The FSQ claimed two false things. First, that turbans represent some sort of a safety risk on a soccer field, they dont. Second, that they had the support of FIFA in enforcing the ban, they didnt. FIFA pointed that out on Friday and on Saturday the FSQ climbed down. What they have done cannot be wiped out with a press release, shame on them for trying. Dave Feschuk, Toronto Star: My thumb is up to Andrew Wiggins for deciding not to play for Canada at this summers World Junior Basketball Championship. I know what you are thinking, another Canadian hoopster is blowing off his country and why is my thumb not down? I think Wiggins deserves the benefit of the doubt here, he is the most famous Canadian teenager since Justin Bieber. He has tons of talent and tons of hype, but unlike Bieber he has not been seen walking shirtless through airports or abandoning his pet monkey in Europe. This kid is actually doing his country proud. He is the consensus number one pick in next years draft NBA Draft. He will be available for Canada in Olympic qualifications, so lets wish him a healthy holiday. Dave Hodge, TSN: Did you hear the story of the Japanese Baseball commissioner, who secretly ordered new and livelier baseballs to be put in play this season? He told the manufacturer, but didnt tell anybody else. He didnt tell the teams. He didnt tell the pitchers who might have wondered why fly balls were homers, and didnt tell the batters, who might have wondered what was making them stronger. It made me wonder whether Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has secretly ordered changes to the strike zone. I know we say the umpires get their calls right most of the time, but this seasons wrong calls continue to be some of the worst ever. Lance Berkman Rangers Jersey . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Ronald Guzman Rangers Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/3152h-colby-lewis-jersey-rangers.html . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Stitched Rangers Jerseys . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Frank Howard Jersey .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. ARLINGTON, Va. -- Just because its early in the season doesnt mean its too early for Barry Trotz to shake things up.His Washington Capitals are 9-4-1 despite some inconsistent play, but that didnt stop the veteran NHL coach from making wholesale line changes. Superstar Alex Ovechkin practiced Monday on a line with former fourth-line center Jay Beagle, and the rest of the lineup was about as jumbled as it could get.Ovechkin doesnt have a point in three games, but it was a 5-1 loss at Carolina on Saturday that prompted Trotz to take action.I dont think its to wake up Ovi, Beagle said. Just the team in general to kind of shake things up.Trotz explained it as a way to generate a combination of will and skill on every line. Will over skill is the teams motto, a year after winning the Presidents Trophy and losing to the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round.With Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov around, the Capitals dont lack for skill. Trotz put the three all-stars on three separate lines in preparation for a road game Tuesday at the Columbus Blue Jackets.Ovechkin said players accept Trotzs decisions and that he and Beagle have some chemistry since theyve been put together a few times in recent years.Its always going to be changing and moving around the bodies, said Ovechkin, who has seven ggoals and four assists.dddddddddddd I think its a regular, normal thing.Backstrom, Beagle and others consider it something of a wake-up call, given that Washington has lost two of three and not been on top of its game lately.I feel like especially the top players, including myself, weve got to get going here, said Backstrom, whos centering leading scorer Marcus Johansson and T.J. Oshie. Weve got to start playing better. Weve just got to be better. We have to create more chances, produce more and help the team out a little more.Beagle has been helping plenty and is surprisingly fourth on the team in goals. The defensive-minded grinder plays the kind of straightforward style previous coach Adam Oates wanted to see more from with Ovechkin, and that could have something to do with Trotzs thinking.Theyve got a lot of skill and theyve got a lot of will, Trotz said of Ovechkin and Beagle. Hopefully they can help each other -- that combination of someone getting pucks, someone shooting pucks, someone helping along, all that stuff. That line should be fine. All the lines have a unique quality to them. I just think theres a balance there.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno . ' ' '