Atletico does represent something different
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers signed rookie kicker Adi Kunalic to a three-year contract on Tuesday, and also decided to keep veteran Olindo Mare on the roster. Kunalic, an undrafted rookie from Nebraska, attended training camp with the Panthers, but was cut prior to the season. Mare missed a 36-yard field goal with 5:26 left in the game Sunday that would have given Carolina a 26-24 lead against Atlanta. Instead, the Falcons took advantage of that momentum and scored two plays later on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to beat the Panthers 31-23. Mare also missed a game-tying field goal earlier in the season against Minnesota. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said its too early to know wholl handle field goals and kickoffs for Sundays game against Houston. \"I dont know, we brought Adi in compete with Olindo,\" Hurney said. \"Well see what happens this week in practice.\" The Panthers made a significant investment in Mare this off-season, giving him a four-year contract worth $12 million that included a $4 million signing bonus to replace long-time kicker and fan favourite John Kasay. If the Panthers were to cut Mare this coming off-season they would have to absorb the prorated portion of his signing bonus -- $3 million -- under next years salary cap. Mare has converted 19 of 25 field goals this season. At 76 per cent, that ranks near the bottom of the league. Hurney said Kunalic caught the coaching staffs attention during training with a strong leg, even though he didnt get many field goal attempts at Nebraska. He was primarily used on kickoffs. \"We liked what we saw from Adi and he has a lot of potential,\" Hurney said. \"He has a strong leg and a great attitude.\" Hurney said its unclear why Mare has struggled this season, particularly in crucial situations. \"We talked to him and he knows and we need to do better in that area,\" Hurney said. To make room on the roster, the Panthers put linebacker Jason Phillips on injured reserve with a right calf injury. The Panthers have a franchise-record 15 players on injured reserve. wholesale jerseys china . With the teams trading chances, the Brazilian midfielder put Los Angeles ahead with a looping shot that went over the head of Motagua goalkeeper Kerpo De Leon. The goal was Juninhos sixth in all competitions for the Galaxy and his fifth from beyond the box. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- While much of the nation is buried in snow, glazed by ice or just plain shivering in the cold, its time to play ball in the desert. http://www.wholesalejerseysdeals.us.com/. PETERSBURG, Fla. wholesale jerseys . Thank God. This IS a story about the story of Super Bowl Media Day.LISBON, Portugal -- Atletico Madrids only previous European Cup final appearance branded the club with the nickname that has come to encapsulate its penchant for misfortune. Beating Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday may finally put that moniker to rest. Atletico was on the cusp of winning the European Cup on its first appearance in the final in 1974, leading Bayern Munich 1-0 in extra time after Luis Aragones curled home in the 114th-minute at Heysel Stadium. The Spanish club was clinging on until defender Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck stepped up to smash home a powerful right-footed equalizer from outside the area in the 120th-minute. Without penalties to decide the champion, a replay was scheduled just two days later in Brussels. But having experienced the title slipping from its grasp in such fashion proved too much for Atletico, and it lost 4-0 to a team featuring Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Mueller. Following the defeat, president Vicente Calderon termed Atletico \"the jinxed ones\" or \"pupas.\" \"We practically had the trophy in our hands,\" said Atletico goalkeeper Miguel Reina, father of Spain international Pepe, reminiscing of what could have been before Schwarzenbecks low shot beat him. The loss seems to have had a long-lasting effect on the club. \"Atleticos history may have been different with that title, which was the first for Bayern,\" said former striker Jose Eulogio Garate, who played in that final 40 years ago. Atleticos history is filled with success and clouded by unnecessary turmoil and disorder. Such is Atleticos knack for dramatics that the team hymn includes the phrase: \"What a Way to Suffer.\" One of the most famous advertising campaigns in Spain featured a young child looking up at his fathher to ask \"Daddy, why do we support Atleti?\" The father looks off in thought before the phrase \"Its hard to explain\" takes over the screen.dddddddddddd During its Spanish league title winning run this season, Atletico did the near unthinkable -- it did not stumble or implode as might have been expected. Instead, coach Diego Simeones team showed the verve of a champion and a knack for coming through when it counted to secure a fourth major trophy since 2009/10 -- following two Europa League titles and a Copa del Rey. \"The club is growing. Were pushing forward, building a stronger team, getting better -- despite the economic differences in this league,\" said Simeone, who has also relied on one of the top qualities of the 1974 team -- strength on the counter attack. Atletico won the Intercontinental Cup after Bayern spurned its invite, and it has an impressive trophy haul overall: 10 Spanish league titles, 10 Copa del Reys, one Cup Winners Cup, two Europa Leagues and two European Super Cups. \"Its been seven or eight years now that pupas doesnt follow us anymore,\" Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said after the club secured its first league title since 1996 last Saturday. \"When Calderon labeled the team that, it certainly was at that time. Maybe now they should call us the good luck ones.\" That could be difficult as Atletico almost seems to embrace the nickname at times, like when it celebrated the 40th anniversary of its lone European Cup final defeat last week. \"Atletico does represent something different, something special,\" said Spanish coach Javier Irureta, who played against Bayern. \"Usually they only organize homages for champions, not for the losers. \"But the club is like that.\" Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '