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CALGARY -- The Calgary Flames shook up their front office Thursday after a disappointing start to the season, firing general manager Jay Feaster and assistant general manager John Weisbrod. The Flames have just 26 points this season, good for 13th place in the 14-team Western Conference. Brian Burke, the teams president of hockey operations, will serve as acting general manager. He said the search for Feasters replacement is underway. Sources tell TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger the Dallas Stars have granted Calgary permission to speak with former Flames player and Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk. Burke felt the moves needed to be made to get the franchise back on track as it tries to pursue a championship. "I wouldnt have come here if that wasnt the ultimate goal," he said. "I have to look at the steps that have been taken and figure out whats the best way for us to get on that path. "And I reached the conclusion that we needed to make this change." Burke, who was hired by the Flames in early September, added that one of the teams priorities is to get tougher and more "truculent." "We want black-and-blue hockey here, thats what we do in Alberta," Burke said. "Weve got to be big and more truculent -- I know youre all waiting for the word, there it is. I want a little more hostility out there than what Im seeing right now." Burke said it was tough to fire Feaster, who he called a friend. But he said potentially unpopular decisions come with the job. "Im not kissing babies up here," he said. "Im not running for office. This is about winning hockey games. And I have to take the steps that I think are going to lead us to win the most hockey games we can win." Calgary took an 11-15-4 record into Thursday nights home game against the Carolina Hurricanes. "If you look at our record, its not where we want to be and we have to change it as players," said Flames captain Mark Giordano. "You could call it whatever, but the bottom line is this: as an organization, Ive been here for a while now, and right from our owners down, we want to win. "Nothing else is acceptable. Weve got to start winning hockey games and push this forward." Burke said there are no plans to make any changes to the coaching staff this season. "When he came in he told me he likes the way that we play," said head coach Bob Hartley. "And this morning he told me again. But at the same time, it doesnt change my job. You come in every day, I have a great coaching staff, we have players that want to learn and they want to work. "It doesnt really change our day-to-day operation." Burke said one of the reasons for the shakeup is that he believes the Flames are giving up points in games they should win. "Im frustrated like all of our fans are with our inability to hold leads," Burke said. "I love how this team works, I love how the coaches are playing the kids ... Im just frustrated that we seem to routinely turn third-period leads into losses." Calgary did not make the playoffs in the two full seasons Feaster served as GM. He took over in an acting role midway through the 2010-11 season, and Calgary did not qualify that year either. "We wish Jay the best," said forward Matt Stajan. "Hes a great man, he did a lot for the guys in that room. Its too bad we didnt show better on the ice but weve got to keep grinding here and find a way to win games." Feaster previously served as GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who he guided to a Stanley Cup win in 2004. Burke has had a long career as a hockey executive. He has previously served as GM of the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Whalers and Anaheim Ducks, who won the Stanley Cup under his watch in 2007. Cheap NCAA Jerseys Football . -- Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale searched more than three quarters for five guys who would play well together. Cheap Basketball NCAA Jerseys . Alvarez hit his first career home run, pitched six innings and hurt his right hamstring while running the bases in the Miami Marlins 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. http://www.cheapncaajerseys.net/. Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden was in the building. Cheap NCAA Jerseys Online . -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys Authentic . Helwani said that Weidman has been dealing with recurring swelling and pain in his knees related to torn meniscus he suffered as a teenager and the problems came to a head last week when he suffered prolonged swelling and pain in his left knee, resulting in the decision to undergo an arthroscopic scope procedure to clean up the tear in both knees.NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Zach Mettenberger knows exactly what happens when he doesnt use the proper technique when throwing to his left.I throw picks to the other team, the Titans rookie quarterback said Wednesday.Mettenberger quickly took blame for his pass to the left sideline Monday night picked off by a Steelers cornerback and returned for a touchdown, just an example of how he readily steps up for mistakes even when he could point a finger elsewhere. That accountability is what teammates want in their quarterback as a telling point of how someone reacts under pressure.Any mistake a receiver or a tight end makes theyre going to blame it on the quarterback, and he understands that, tight end Delanie Walker said. For him not to go pointing fingers, thats what you need in a quarterback. Hes a leader in the making.Mettenberger credits Cam Cameron, his offensive co-ordinator at LSU, with teaching him to handle the responsibility that goes along with being quarterback including shouldering the blame.I can take it, Mettenberger said. Ive been in a lot of situations in my life where it wasnt looking good for me, so Id rather take the blame than maybe some guy who cant mentally handle it and put him in a jar.That kind of leadership is why the Titans turned to Mettenberger last month as their starting quarterback as they try to determine if the sixth-round draft pick out of LSU can be their quarterback into the future. So far the results have been mixed so far from the strong-armed rookie already dubbed CannonBerger by a former college teammate in Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.Three starts into his NFL career, Mettenberger already has the best passer rating among four rookies who have started this season, but he wants a win more even as the Titans are rallying around their rookie. Blake Bortles of Jacksonville and Minnesotas Teddy Bridgewater already have won as starters.Ive got to keep working, Mettenberger said. Ive yet to get a win, and really thats the most important thing. And its kind of eating at me.So far, Mettenberger is throwing the ball well enough. He has completed 61.9 per cent of his passes with five touchdowns and four interceptions, and he had his best thrrow of the season Monday night hitting wide receiver Nate Washington in stride for an 80-yard touchdown.dddddddddddd Hes also becoming more comfortable with people falling at his feet leaving even less space in the pocket.The rookie also stepped in at one of the tougher stretches in the schedule with games at Baltimore and Monday night against Pittsburgh. Now the Titans prepare to visit Philadelphia (7-3), and Eagles coach Chip Kelly has been impressed by Mettenbergers arm and ability to stand in the pocket.He doesnt seem to be affected by the rush, Kelly said on a conference call. Sometimes you worry about that with a young quarterback. Is he going to look at the rush or look down the field and try to complete the ball? He stands in there and throws the ball and delivers it. I think theyre giving him a little bit more as the games go along, as he starts to kind of pile up some experience there.Mettenberger went from being sacked five times at Baltimore on Nov. 9 to not being sacked once by the Steelers. Whisenhunt said Mettenberger is doing a nice job handling protections and changing plays at the line keeping everyone on the same page. Throwing the ball faster also helped. Teammates noticed with a number of players talking to the rookie after the game.I think thats an indication of leadership, Whisenhunt said.Mettenberger also talked briefly with one of his big role models in Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and the rookie said Big Ben had a lot of encouraging words for him.For him to take time there and talk to me was a really big deal for me, Mettenberger said.Notes: TE Delanie Walker (concussion) said he was knocked out for a couple minutes when hurt Nov. 9. He is expected to be cleared by a doctor Thursday after the Titans decided Sunday not to play him against Pittsburgh. ... The Titans had a light practice Wednesday and didnt even wear helmets. WR Justin Hunter (knee) was limited with CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (back). DB Marqueston Huff (hamstring) did not practice. S Daimion Stafford (shoulder) practiced fully.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '