PHILADELPHIA -- Danny Watkins can put out fires full-time now. A former first-round pick who was a firefighter before the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him 23rd overall in 2011, Watkins was released Saturday. He started 18 games at right guard in two seasons before losing his job early last year. "A change of scenery was necessary for him," general manager Howie Roseman said. "The pressure of being a first-round pick in Philadelphia, how he internalized that, the way for him to get his career back on track is to go to a new place and both I and Chip (Kelly) told him that today." Watkins was a surprise pick by former coach Andy Reid two years ago. The Kelowna, B.C., native played hockey and rugby in high school and had more experience as a firefighter (five years) than a football player (four) when the Eagles selected him at age 26, making him the oldest first-round pick since 1980 at that time. There were questions about Watkins passion to play the game and whether he turned to football just to make money. "Part of his personality, him being a firefighter, is that he feels he has to save people," Roseman said. "He put a lot of pressure on himself. He couldnt just go out and play. Getting away from Danny Watkins, the first-round pick and just being Danny Watkins will really help him." The Eagles also released tight end Clay Harbor, safety David Sims, offensive lineman Michael Bamiro, linebackers Travis Long and Chris McCoy, wide receivers Greg Salas and Russell Shepard, and running back Matthew Tucker to reach the 53-man roster limit. Harbour was a fourth-round pick in 2010 who still has potential. He learned to play linebacker in off-season workouts and also played wide receiver in training camp in an effort to increase his versatility. Harbor had 47 catches, including four touchdowns. He became expendable when the Eagles signed free agent James Casey and drafted Zach Ertz in the second round. On Friday, the Eagles cut 12 players. Among them were quarterbacks Dennis Dixon and G.J. Kinne and 2012 starting centre Dallas Reynolds. Watkins departure means the Eagles already have cut ties with their first two picks in the 2011 draft. Safety Jaiquawn Jarrett was released last year. Their third and fourth-round picks in that draft, cornerback Curtis Marsh and linebacker Casey Matthews, are barely clinging to roster spots. Reid, who presided over that draft, is gone. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie already absolved Roseman from blame for drafts before 2012. The Eagles restructured their personnel department after hiring Kelly to replace Reid. "A lot of the leadership positions and the responsibilities have changed in our organization," Roseman said. "Weve obviously changed a lot of people in our personnel department. Weve changed the way we look at things because we have new people in place." The Eagles have 20 players that werent on the team last year, including 10 rookies. Only 15 players remain from 2010 when the Eagles won the NFC East title. They followed that up with an 8-8 finish before a disastrous 4-12 season cost Reid his job. Logan Cooke Jersey . Burris threw for 247 yards in one half of a game -- on pace for a nearly 500-yard outing -- as the Redblacks downed the woeful Montreal Alouettes 26-10 in CFL pre-season play Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium. Taven Bryan Jaguars Jersey . Claude Noel will be the man behind the bench when the team hits the ice of the MTS Centre to begin its inaugural season. http://www.shopthejaguarsonline.com/Elit...Jaguars-Jersey/. Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. Taven Bryan Jersey . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. Logan Cooke Jaguars Jersey . There is no argument that the line of Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek was one of the hottest in the NHL leading into the post-season, and they did combine for three goals and seven points, but it was the depth of all four lines that helped propel Montreal.TORONTO -- To Dwane Caseys way of thinking, it was more than just overtime. It was an invaluable lesson. So, through much of the fourth quarter and two extra sessions Monday night, the Toronto Raptors head coach never thought of returning his starters to the floor against the New York Knicks. This is the pre-season, a time to learn about your team. And for your players to learn about themselves. The Raptors reserves got to play a starring role in a 123-120 double overtime win before 15,701 at the Air Canada Centre, improving their pre-season record to an impressive 5-1. "It was a great experience for those young kids to really play in those situations," Casey said. "In the regular season, most likely, unless something catastrophic happens, theyre not going to be out there." Second-year guard Terrence Ross led the way, hitting six of the 13 three-point shots he attempted on the night. None was bigger than a rainbow from beyond the arc as the buzzer sounded to end the first overtime period, tying the game at 113-113 and setting the stage for another five-minute session. "It prepares you for future games if you ever get in that situation, what to do, what not to do," said Ross, who finished the night as the games high scorer with 27 points. "Its always kind of nerve-wracking (in a game) no matter how many times you go over it in practice. "So, getting in that live experience it helps." The games dont count. But that doesnt mean they dont matter. Casey said because "nobodys guaranteed minutes," it was great to see the bench players battle down the stretch and eventually pick up the win. Especially after they struggled earlier in the game. "I owe it to the players to try and execute down the stretch," Casey said. Toronto power forward Tyler Hansbrough, who since signing from Indianapolis in the off-season has already become a fan favourite for his aggressive style of play, forced overtime with a dunk in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter. He took a pass at the top of the key, spun on his defender and waltzed to the basket.dddddddddddd. "Theyre very important minutes," Hansbrough said of the fourth quarter and overtimes. "You never know if a starter is going to go down or something and youre going to be in that situation, especially late in the game. "It was important to get some guys some experience." Among the starters, DeMar DeRozan had 21 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes while Rudy Gay added 19 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes. Kyle Lowry chipped in 11 points in 24 minutes. "It was entertaining to watch, especially to see the other guys get out there and get a chance to compete," said DeRozan. "It definitely helps because you have to understand every play and every situation is critical." The Raptors were an impressive 6-1 in the pre-season last year but ended up posting a 34-48 record in the games that count for something in the standings. They missed the playoffs for a fifth straight season. The Knicks took a 79-77 lead into the final quarter after Toure Murrys one-handed prayer from centre court found the mark at the buzzer. The shot restored a New York lead, which climbed as high as 13 points earlier in the quarter before Toronto went on a nice run to bring the crowd back into it. The Raptors, who host Memphis on Wednesday and finish the pre-season at Milwaukee on Friday, open the regular season on Oct. 30 when the Boston Celtics visit Air Canada Centre. The Knicks took a 60-51 lead into the locker room at halftime as Metta World Peace had eight points in eight second-quarter minutes off the bench. The former Ron Artest, who signed a two-year deal with New York after four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, hit a pair of three-pointers in the quarter. The Knicks bench was the difference in the first half, outscoring their Raptors counterparts 30-14. The Raptors had led 30-29 after one quarter on the strength of Gays 11 points and 10 from DeRozan. 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