Externer Ankauf » Bjoergen lived up to her billing as

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Its easy to spot Clay Matthews at Packers practice, with his long blond hair protruding from his helmet and on to his neck and shoulders. When the veterans are getting a break, the pass-rushing outside linebacker can often be found taking a breather next to A.J. Hawk, the durable inside linebacker. After some doubt, theyll be together again this weekend to face the Detroit Lions. The Packers bye week did wonders for Matthews and his sore hamstring. "Well I mean we obviously had the bye week, which helped out as far as" getting healthy, Matthews said Thursday. "It was a fortuitous bye week, Ill say that." The TV commercial star and the eight-year veteran. The energized Matthews, in his fifth season, and the well-spoken, blue-collar Hawk. Mainstays of the Packers starting linebacking corps since 2009. So many games against NFC North foes like the Lions, it must make playing them seem like second nature. Wrong, said Hawk. Especially with Reggie Bush in the mix now in Detroit to join receiver Calvin Johnson to give opposing defences headaches. "And the truth is, Ive been part of a lot of games like that. You go in with all these things that you think are 100 per cent, and they can change in division games," Hawk said. "I need these days leading up to every game. I need every rep I can get because were working on so many different looks and so many different things." Sounds like sage comments a grizzled veteran would say. Hawk agreed to a pay cut in the off-season, not worried about outside perception of the deal. Hawk has also taken heat from fans about perhaps being a step slow, or not making enough big plays. But he does make tackles -- 28 this year, second behind Brad Jones, and a team-high 145 last season. Hes also durable, having played in 123 of a possible 125 games while in Green Bay. Its all in the preparation, Hawk said, at least until Sunday. "I have little tips in the back of my head that Ive written down all week," he said. "But I know once Im out there, we just need to run around and make plays." Which is exactly what Matthews is known for, becoming one of the leagues most popular defensive players. His No. 52 jerseys might be outnumbered in the Lambeau Field stands only by the No. 12 jerseys for Aaron Rodgers among current players. When hes on the field, Matthews fires up the crowd and his teammates. When hes on the sideline with a hamstring injury, like when he was knocked out of the Bengals game two weeks ago, it gives the green-and-gold fans a scare. Matthews missed four games last season with a hamstring problem. He quickly reminded reporters Thursday that when he returned, Dec. 16 at Chicago, he had two sacks. "The first part of getting over a hamstring strain is healing, and obviously I cant control that," Matthews said. "But coming back, the final hurdle you have to overcome is mentally are you comfortable with exerting 100 per cent effort or even more so. I wouldnt put myself out there if I wasnt." In his fifth season in the league, Matthews still possesses the wide-eyed eagerness of a rookie. But that experience is building up in his brain, beneath those trademark locks, especially when it comes to dealing with his hamstring. Matthews was playing well with two forced fumbles and a sack against Cincinnati before departing. It was a joint decision with medical staff and coaches. "I just told them where I was at and how I felt and moving forward what the smart thing would be," Matthews said. "At that point in the game, with that lead, too, I felt like it was the wise decision." The Packers went on to cough up their 16-point lead. But its a long season. After the early bye, the Packers will have to play 13 straight weeks. "I think Ive become a lot smarter. Obviously a younger player would have kind have pressed the issue, maybe hurt himself even more so," Matthews said. "But I think were smart with the events that took place in Cincinnati and where were at now, so fortunately there will be no time missed." Detroit Lions Jerseys China . -- The Val-dOr Foreurs made it to the Memorial Cup semifinal thanks to their workhorse goaltender and their ability to hang around like a bad cold. Stitched Detroit Lions Jerseys . The Major League Soccer teams were scheduled to play on Saturday night, but their game was rescheduled after Stu Tudor was hit during a pregame storm. The 54-year-old lieutenant in the Columbus Fire Department is in critical condition in the intensive care unit of the Ohio State Medical Center. http://www.cheaplions.com/. -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. Cheap Detroit Lions Gear . -- Byron Scott is taking over the Los Angeles Lakers with the vocal support of his fellow Showtime greats. Discount Detroit Lions Jerseys . PAUL, Minn.Marit Bjoergen lived up to her billing as the hot favorite by winning the womens 15-kilometer skiathlon at Sochi on Saturday, giving the Norwegian cross-country skier her fourth career Olympic gold medal. Bjoergen pulled away from Swedens Charlotte Kalla on the final straight to win in 38 minutes, 33.6 seconds and defend her title from the 2010 Vancouver Games. Kalla was 1.8 seconds back. Heidi Weng of Norway took bronze. Bjoergen was the most successful athlete of the Vancouver Games with three gold medals, a silver and a bronze and showed right away she has the ability to match that feat in Sochi. With a group of five skiers staying together until the last kilometer, Kalla tried to pull away in the final tough uphill section and decide the race before the final sprint. Only Bjoergen was able to match her pace going up the hill, and the Norwegian then went in front as they entered the stadium. Kalla had no answer for the strong finish by Bjoergen, who had time to turn her head and then raise her arm in celebration as she crossed the line. The skiathlon event starts with 7.5 kilometers of classical-style skiing before switching to freestyle, making it a tough test of the athhletes all-round abilities.dddddddddddd Kalla won the 10K freestyle event in Vancouver four years ago and showed she has vastly improved her classical style skiing since then. She has never finished on the podium in a skiathlon on the World Cup circuit and celebrated as if she had won on Saturday, raising her arms to celebrate as she crossed the line behind Bjoergen and then jumping up and down holding her skis in the air. She prevented a Norwegian sweep of the medals, with Therese Johaug finishing fourth. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen of Finland was fifth. Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland, a three-time overall World Cup winner who has been struggling with a foot injury, was with the leading group of seven skiers at the halfway mark but slipped and fell just as she was about to enter her station for the ski change and lost several seconds. She exited the ski change 7.4 seconds behind Kalla, and never came any closer during the freestyle. Entering the last lap, she was nearly 19 seconds behind and she finished sixth, 58.1 seconds back. The next womens event is the individual freestyle sprint on Tuesday, when Bjoergen is again among the favorites. The mens 30K skiathlon is Sunday. 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