NEWS » Decker, rookie DT AShawn Robinson, OG G

Even if Ernie Merrick doesnt coach another game, his record as the most successful mentor in the A-Leagues history will take some beating.Only Graham Arnold is within cooee of Merricks 100 A-League wins, a benchmark that cements the former Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix coachs place in A-League history.Merrick resigned as Phoenix coach on Sunday night after a 2-0 loss to previously winless Adelaide United.It is likely to spell the end of Merricks senior coaching career.At 63, Merrick would be the oldest man in the leagues history to begin a fresh coaching stint.The Edinburgh-born Scottish-Australian coach can look back on a fantastic legacy.He is the only man to be named coach of the year twice and the only man to win the premiership-championship double twice.In 2007, Archie Thompson led a 6-0 grand final rout of Adelaide United to secure the clubs first title.Two years later, Tom Pondeljaks goal over the Reds in another grand final confirmed Victory as the leagues biggest club.So much of that was because of Merrick.He led Victorys original recruitment efforts, bringing Archie Thompson and Kevin Muscat among others to the club.Long-time rival Graham Arnold said he was saddened by the resignation of a fantastic guy.Hes the most successful and experienced coach in the A-League in terms of trophies and games, he said on Monday.Its (Phoenix coach) got to be he hardest job in the A-League.The travel is very difficult but then having to deal with the international FIFA windows and losing players.In the first eight or nine games hes lost players for two games ... theyre fatigued, then you lose and it just rattles players confidence and its hard to bring everything back together, especially in the public eye.Merrick was the last foundation coach to be sacked when the increasingly ambitious Victory board fired him in 2011 after a 5-1 Asian Champions League loss to Gamba Osaka.At Wellington, Merrick was a victim of raised expectations - hopes hed raised himself.Merrick told AAP the clubs sights were set on a top-four finish after a pre-season with nine wins from 10 games and the additions of Kosta Barbarouses, Gui Finkler and Marco Rossi.Im very upbeat about this team, he said in early October.Were buzzing in Wellington because weve got such a strong squad. It would have to be the strongest squad since Ive been at the club.Despite resigning his post on Sunday, Merrick believed - both at the start of the season and now - that the Nix could be champions this season.In the shadow of the 2-0 loss to the Adelaide, Merrick said the team was certainly good enough to make the finals still with a strong run.If we did we could get in the finals and do something, he said. Balenciaga Shoes Wholesale China .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Balenciaga Shoes Sale Online . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. http://www.discountbalenciaga.com/ . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Balenciaga Shoes Cheap Sale . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. Cheap Balenciaga Shoes Online . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. DETROIT LIONS (7-9)OPEN CAMP: July 28, Allen Park, MichiganLAST YEAR: Lost first five games and seven of eight, leading to team president Tom Lewand, general manager Martin Mayhew and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi getting fired. Won seven of last nine games, helping coach Jim Caldwell retain job for third season, under first-year general manager Bob Quinn.IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: WRs Marvin Jones and Jeremy Kerley, rookie OT Taylor Decker, rookie DT AShawn Robinson, OG Geoff Schwartz.IMPORTANT LOSSES: WR Calvin Johnson, RB Joique Bell, DE Jason Jones, LB Stephen Tulloch, CB Rashean Mathis, SS James Ihedigbo.CAMP NEEDS: QB Matthew Stafford has to work on chemistry with receiving corps without Johnson, especially veteran newcomers Jones and Kerley. Detroit must figure out how to protect Stafford better and to open more holes for runningg game with reshaped line that includes Decker as highly touted, first-round pick.dddddddddddd Defensively, coaches are hoping any DE -- perhaps Devin Taylor -- emerges to start opposite rising star Ezekiel Ansah. Lions also need DT -- ideally, Robinson -- can be paired with veteran Haloti Ngata.EXPECTATIONS: Lions had losing record in seven of Johnsons nine years. They will be projected to have another sub-.500 season without retired superstar drawing double-coverage on almost every snap. Quinn, first-time GM, will not be under pressure to win right away. Caldwell, though, will have to show new boss he can help franchise move in right direction.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '