ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Theres no longer any bad blood between Bill Belichick and Wes Welker heading into the showdown Sunday between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.Belichick said he has long gotten over Welkers hit that sidelined then-Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib in the AFC championship.At the time, New Englands often cantankerous coach called it one of the worst plays hed seen in nearly four decades of coaching and asked the NFL to look into it.The league ruled the hit was legal.Way past that, Belichick said in a conference call with Denver media Wednesday. I have a lot of respect for Wes and what he did for us and what hes done for the Broncos and what hes done throughout his career.Welker took out Talib, now his teammate in Denver, on a pick play at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter of Denvers 26-16 victory in January. Talib went to the locker room with a bruised knee and didnt return.With the Patriots best cover player out, Peyton Manning finished with 400 yards passing and two TDs — nearly 300 of those yards coming with Talib sidelined.When Talib signed a free agent deal with Denver this spring, he called Welker, a good friend of mine, and said, I watched that play 1,000 times and I can promise you he didnt do it on purpose.Welker, who played six seasons in New England before coming to Denver in 2013, got over the brouhaha even faster than his old boss.I moved on to getting ready for the Super Bowl, Welker said Wednesday. So, its the same for me. Its in the past and Im just really kind of looking forward to this game.Hes hoping its better than his homecoming last year, when his muffed punt in overtime led to New Englands 34-31 win in overtime.Welker said hes probably a little more comfortable with it this time around as the Broncos (6-1) prepare to face the Patriots (6-2). Im just so excited about the opportunity and a big game like this.The forecast for wintery weather has helped him stay focused this week.No, I havent had to get any tickets. So I think a lot of that is people like visiting Denver where its warmer weather, and they saw the forecast in Foxborough and said, Well, I dont think Ill be heading there, Welker said.Welker just doesnt want to have to return to New England in January.Obviously its still early but at the same time, theyre all big games, especially when it comes down to home-field advantage, he said. Theyre really big and you have to make sure that youre treating these games as playoff-type games.Manning vs. Brady XVI features two quarterbacks coming off monster months in which they each threw for 14 touchdowns.Mannings 127.4 passer rating in October was second only to Tom Bradys 129.1 — which came on the heels of the Patriots 41-14 wipeout at Kansas City that had many fans saying the Patriots dynastic days were history.Since then, the Patriots have won four straight.Im not surprised at all at Bradys bounce-back, Welker said. Ive seen it 100 times there where its one bad week and everythings falling apart. So, its one week and you can never really judge anything off that and you knew they were going to bounce back from it.Welker has a unique perspective of having been on both sides of Manning vs. Brady.Theyre both the best in the game right now and Im obviously very fortunate to get to play with both, Welker said.Welker isnt having the same kind of season he enjoyed last year. After five 100-catch seasons in New England, Welker was leading the Broncos with 73 catches for 778 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2013 before missing most of the final month with a concussion. He returned for the playoffs and caught 18 passes for 160 yards and a TD.This year, he has 19 catches for 181 yards and one touchdown.He caught just two passes for 5 yards in Denvers last game, a 35-21 win over San Diego. But Manning called his second one the catch of the game, because it came on third-and-4 from Denvers 10 with 3:29 left.Would I want the ball more? Yes. (But) as long as were winning games and were being productive on offence and doing those things, Im good with however we get that done, Welker said. Its kind of strange being, I feel like, the weak link of our offence.If Im the weak link, were going to be OK. Im excited about the guys we have and the camaraderie that we have together and really pulling for each other.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Custom Miami Marlins Jerseys . - The Oakland Athletics say they are stopping negotiations to extend their lease at the Coliseum. Marlins Jerseys China . Mark Van Guilder, Austin Watson and Colton Sissons also scored for the Admirals (22-13-10), who are 2-0-2 in their last four outings, while Roussel tacked on an assist for a two-point night. Greg Pateryn scored once for the Bulldogs (20-22-4), who lost their fifth straight contest, and also assisted on Gabriel Dumonts goal. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ .FIFA says it is relaxing the rule which forced match officials to leave its international list at the end of the year they turned 45. Stitched Marlins Jerseys . If there is one club built to handle an off-field controversy, its the Bill Belichick era Patriots. Even if New Englands offence stumbles a bit out of the gate, their defence can help them stay in games, especially in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in the first two weeks. Miami Marlins Shirts .com) - The Kansas City Chiefs activated linebacker Joe Mays from short-term injured reserve on Saturday.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Hi Kerry, Upon watching Datsyuk`s goal against Dallas the other night, I could not help thinking what the referee who was watching his incredible deke was thinking. This also made me remember Mike Cammalleris referee high-five. Have you encountered any goal celebrations where the player used you as a prop? How about ones where you just couldnt help but laugh? Also, were you ever just in awe of a goal that was scored on the ice? All The Best, Eric G.Montreal Eric, During my 30 year NHL Officiating career, there was countless times when my jaw dropped in awe as I watched the sheer magic performed by some of the games greatest stars. I had the best seat in the house every night while following the play from a safe distance a mere 15 feet away. When the stars shone, I was able to maintain my focus and duties as a referee but my love of the game and true appreciation of their unique talents often caused me to become the biggest fan in the building. In the early days of my career, Wayne Gretzky and then Mario Lemieux provided highlight reel moves and goals on a nightly basis. There was never a game I worked involving these superstars that they failed to do something really special. The two of them had amazing vision of the ice like no other players I encountered. They were truly the best of the best during their time on the ice. The precision with which their no-look passes and shots found the intended target through sticks, skates and bodies was uncanny. The Great One was always four to five moves ahead of the game and the albatross-like reach and grace with which Super Mario swooped around opposing players and goalkeepers was mesmerizing. I remember my jaw dropping as Mario scored on a breakaway in the 1990 All-Star game which I worked and then again in the Stanley Cup Final against the Minnesota North Stars that same year. Kent Nilsson was the guy they called “Magic” for his soft hands and the tricks he could perform through his exceptional puckhandling skills. Mike Bossy always knew where the net was and his accurate shot penetrated the smallest opening imaginable, often while carrying a defender on his back or while wheeling around with his back to the goal and falling to the ice. Alex Kovalev had the hands of a surgeon. While playing s a member of the Montreal Canadiens, he scored a highlight reel goal against the Florida Panthers in my last game in Sunrise. I approached Alex immediately afterward and told him if I ever required open-heart surgery, I wanted the knife placed in his hands. It was a little unnerving when Kovi responded, “Some nights maybe not!” I was amazed by the leadership demonstrated by New York Rangers captain Mark Messier in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils. Mess promised a victory that afternoon but with the Rangers down 2-1 at the end of the secondd period and about to start the third killing a penalty I had assessed to Esa Tikkanen for kneeing Stephane Richer, I made a bold prediction of my own.dddddddddddd In the our dressing room, I told linesmen Pat Dapuzzo and Gerard Gauthier they could stick a fork in the Rangers because they were done, out of gas and unable to solve Devils goalie Martin Brodeur! Messier then proceeded to take the game upon his back, making good on his called shot by scoring his first hat trick as a Ranger (a natural one at that) to force Game 7 two nights later. The feat has been described as one the greatest individual efforts in the history of the game. The modern game is blessed to have so many young players like never before with soft hands and exception skills that bring us out of our seats. While I was never “high-fived” the way Erik Cole celebrated with referee Greg Kimmerly, I want to share a couple of unusual moments I encountered on the ice with two, shall I say, less gifted scorers. Steve McKenna played eight seasons in the NHL from 1996 to 2004 with four different teams (LA, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and NY Rangers). In 373 NHL games, the 68”—255 pound left winger scored a total of just 18 goals, all of which Im sure were cause for an outburst of celebration. The big guy wasnt there to put the puck in the net and picked up a total 824 penalty minutes during those seasons, most of which were for fighting. Steve was really a funny guy and kept what little hair he had cut close to the wood. We got along really well together on the ice. One game in the Igloo in Pittsburgh, McKenna was in the middle of a scrum and before he got rolling, I grabbed the giant by the sweater to get his attention. I only stood as tall as McKennas belly button but I told him if he didnt break it up, I was going to “kick the %^&* out of him myself!” That immediately got the Penguins tough guys attention. Steve got a big grin on his face and, looking downward lightly, speed-bagged my chin with his two fists as he rolled his tongue with a “bdllllllllllt” sound. McKenna then picked up his gloves and skated to his players bench! The altercation was over before it even got started as my chin was used a prop. The most bizarre goal scoring celebration ritual I ever saw occurred from John Flesch, who, like Steve McKenna, shaved his head to the wood. For his own personal safety, given Fleschs unorthodox method of celebration, he is probably fortunate to have scored just 18 goals in 124 NHL games during parts of four seasons with Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Colorado. Whenever Flesch dented the twine and the red light flashed, the big guy would charge full speed and launch into the glass with his bald head. I also saw Flesch crank himself in the head with his hockey stick in celebration of scoring a goal while playing in the Minnesota North Star organization with the New Haven Knighthawks of the AHL. Being just an 18-goal scorer was a gift to the mans health! ' ' '