KANSAS CITY, Mo. Alex English Jersey . -- Two Pro Bowl players were missing at the start of the Chiefs mandatory minicamp, one of them hoping to land a new contract and the other let go so that the team might be able to afford it. Justin Houston, their talented young pass rusher, is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Hes due to make only $1.4 million, a bargain for a linebacker who has piled up 26 1/2 sacks in three seasons. And in whats believed to be a negotiating ploy, Houston not only skipped three weeks of voluntary workouts, but hes also skipping this weeks three-day minicamp. The Chiefs practiced Tuesday for the first time since releasing cornerback Brandon Flowers. The move last Friday saves the Chiefs about $7.25 million against the salary cap this season and $7.5 million next season, money that could be used in a deal for Houston. Of course, the Chiefs have two other pending free agents in quarterback Alex Smith and centre Rodney Hudson. That means they might have to get creative if they want to keep all of them. In the meantime, first-round pick Dee Ford got first-team reps in place of Houston during Tuesdays practice. Marcus Cooper and Ron Parker split time at cornerback in place of Flowers and fellow starter Sean Smith, who was excused from the workout with an illness. "Every day I go out there as if Im the starter, so I cant say its any different if (Flowers) is here or isnt here," Cooper said. "Just keep grinding, getting better every day." Cooper was a revelation early last season, a seventh-round pick claimed off waivers from San Francisco who wound up starting six games and picking off three passes. He went through a rookie lull midseason, but came on toward the end, giving the Chiefs front office a sense of confidence that they would be able to withstand Flowers release. Still, the change brings even more instability to the defensive backfield. The Chiefs already had allowed starting free safety Kendrick Lewis and backup defensive back Quintin Demps to sign elsewhere, opening a couple of holes they are hoping to fill internally. Husain Abdullah and Sanders Commings appear to be the first in line. "We have guys who can step up," Commings said. Tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Kyle Williams and cornerback David Van Dyke did individual workouts and the install period, but were otherwise limited. Kelce is coming off knee surgery, Williams a torn ACL and Van Dyke a hamstring injury. Rookie running back DeAnthony Thomas appeared to be overcome by the heat and humidity on a warm afternoon. He chugged water on a knee after one series of plays, then took a swing pass to the end zone, where he collapsed. He wound up walking to the shade and spent several minutes with a trainer before heading to the locker room. He did not return to the field. Thomas, a fourth-round pick out of Oregon, has been unable to join the Chiefs for workouts since rookie minicamp because of an NFL rule that prohibited him from working out until his school graduates. Oregon is on the quarter system, so that didnt happen until this past weekend. The Chiefs also had four players in for tryouts on Tuesday: former Rutgers wide receiver Mark Harrison, Cal Poly wide receiver Cole Stanford, Utah State cornerback Quinton Byrd and Missouri cornerback Kip Edwards. Custom Denver Nuggets Jerseys . Ted Ligety, Mikaela Shiffrin, Bode Miller and Tim Jitloff underlined the squads enormous potential on the Rettenbach glacier in Austria. Will Barton Jersey . Notes on P.K. Subban, Dale Weise, Erik Haula, Mikael Granlund, Ilya Bryzgalov and more. http://www.authenticnuggetsproshop.com/Malik-Beasley-Jersey/ . Reimer is winless (0-2-1) since returning from a six-week absence due to concussion-like symptoms. The Maple Leafs dropped a 4-2 decision to the hosting Washington Capitals on Friday.PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby scored his 23rd goal of the season and added two assists as the Pittsburgh Penguins ripped the New York Rangers 5-2 on Friday night for their 11th straight home win. Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves for Pittsburgh and Jussi Jokinen ended a lengthy scoring drought with two goals. Chris Kunitz also scored twice for the Penguins, who won for the 10th time in their last 12 meetings with New York. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma picked up his 231st career victory, leaving him one shy of Eddie Johnsons franchise record for coaching wins. Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves for the Rangers. Mats Zuccarello scored a pair of third-period goals for New York, but the Rangers continued to have problems with the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins. Fleurys play had a little something to do with it. The Pittsburgh goaltender improved to 29-3 in his last 32 games at Consol Energy Center and is bolstering his bid for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team when its announced next week. Crosbys place is already assured. And four years after lifting Canada to gold in Vancouver, he remains at the top of his game. He pushed his point total to an NHL best 62 by setting up Kunitz twice and bumping Pittsburghs lead to 4-0 late in the second with pretty backhand from in front that Lundqvist fanned at as the puck hit the back of the net. Theres a good chance Crosby could be joined in Sochi by Kunitz, who has developed a unique chemistry with one of the games greatest players. Both of Kunitzs goals came on assists from Crosby. His 22nd goal of the season put the Penguins in front late in the first period aand his 23rd goal with 6:37 remaining blunted a late New York rally. Jamal Murray Jersey. New York simply couldnt keep up. Ryan Callahan returned after missing nine games with a knee injury and while the Rangers were able to control play for several lengthy stretches, they never came close to beating Fleury while the outcome was still in doubt. Their best chance came early, when Brassard broke in alone on Fleury only to have his backhand shot deflect off the inside of Fleurys pads