Morning News Links
NFL
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt says that he picked up the Miami Dolphins' snap count in Week 1 by watching them on HBO's "Hard Knocks." The Texans beat the Dolphins 30-10. [ProFootballTalk]
Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey says that starting running back Fred Jackson will be sidelined for three to eight weeks due to a sprained LCL. Jackson missed six games last season with a broken fibula. [BuffaloBills.com]
Texans J.J. Watt says the team won't miss linebacker Mario Williams, who signed a six-year $96 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. "I'll miss him in the locker room, but not on the field," Watt said. [ProFootballTalk]
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has agreed to meet with the four players suspended for their involvement in the New Orleans Saints' bounty program. Scott Fujita, Will Smith, Jonathan Vilma and Anthony Hargrove will all meet with Goodell, but likely not before next week. [ESPN]
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler wished the Green Bay Packers' secondary "good luck" against the Bears' receiving core ahead of their Thursday Night Football game. The Packers have won four straight games versus the Bears. [ESPN]
The brother of Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was reportedly killed in a triple homicide on Sunday. [CBS 42]
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Rashad Jennings is expected to miss Week 2 due to a knee injury. Maurice Jones-Drew will likely see an increased workload with Jennings sidelined. [Florida Times-Union]
NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke says he will likely go with the squad he has now, whenever the NHL season resumes. "Based on the lack of activity that I see out there, no I don't think I'll do anything else right now. We'll probably go with this group," Burke said. [Globe & Mail]
The NHL and NHLPA are expected to meet ahead of today's NHLPA player meeting. A new offer from the players is possible. [RDS]
The Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL have offered singer Justin Bieber a tryout contract for the upcoming season. [Bakersfield Condors]
Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen, 37, does not think his body could handle an NBA-like lockout shortened season. "If you look at the NBA and their 66-game schedule, it was a lock to play four or five games a week, so that's not a good story for my body either," Timonen said. [CSN Philly]
MLB
Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine says that he wants to return to the team in 2013, and that he is the "best man for the job." [WEEI Sports Radio]
Ryne Sandberg is the most likely candidate to replace Charlie Manuel as the Philadelphia Phillies' manager whenever Manuel decides to leave the team. Sandberg is currently the manager for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate. [CBS Sports]
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman has been shut down for a few days due to shoulder fatigue. [Cincinnati Enquirer]
Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who was hit in the head by a pitch last Wednesday, has been discharged from the hospital six days after undergoing emergency brain surgery. [San Francisco Chronicle]
