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TORONTO - Senior Toronto FC players say the speculation about star striker Jermain Defoes future is just part of the game. "This is football," midfielder Michael Bradley told reporters Tuesday. "When you look around the world — big clubs, big players — theres speculation. Theres things that go on behind the scenes, in some cases that you guys never even know about. "To be honest, it interests and, in some ways, fazes you more than us. Because this is something that we understand is part of our job." Added captain Steven Caldwell: "Theres always offers and movement in any football club that Ive ever played at, in fact any football club in the world. These things happen. Jermains here, hes a great lad, a great professional and a very good football player and Im sure hell be back here shortly once he gets over his (groin) injury and hell be prepared to give 100 per cent to Toronto FC." Toronto turned down a club-record transfer bid for Defoe from an English Premier League club on Monday as the transfer window closed. Harry Redknapp, manager of Queens Park Rangers, said his team tried hard to pry Defoe free but was told Toronto would not give him up ahead of the MLS playoffs. Redknapp, who worked with Defoe at West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham, said Defoe wants to return to England. Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko denied that, saying his star forward is happy in Toronto. Defoe, who is nursing his injury in England, has yet to speak publicly on the future. The next transfer window is in January. "We only want guys at this club that are committed to being here and whose hearts are in it," said Bradley. "Jermain has been a guy from Day 1 who when hes here has shown a desire and an excitement and a real motivation to not only being here but to helping this team win. "I can only speak for myself but Im no different." The speculation over Defoe continued to swirl Tuesday in England. The Daily Telegraph reported the 31-year-old England striker is believed to be concerned he made a mistake by moving to MLS and that the standard of soccer is not as good as he had hoped. The paper added that Defoe has struggled to adapt to his new life and was upset at the weekend firing of manager Ryan Nelsen and five members of his coaching staff. Bradley, meanwhile, repeated his commitment to the cause as he recalled his excitement at the challenge that lay ahead when he and Defoe were introduced as Toronto FC players in January. "Those might have been just words to you guys but it was exactly what I meant," he said. "I didnt expect it to be easy and it hasnt been. But weve made good progress and were going to continue to make good progress. And everyone whos here is proud of what were doing." Both Caldwell and Bradley, who has been captaining the MLS side in the Scottish defenders injury-enforced absence, said they were disappointed at the weekend firings. "Any time somebody loses their job, its not a nice thing," said Bradley. "And certainly for us as players, you always feel responsible when results and things within a club dont go well. Because at the end of the day, we are the ones on the field." "These decisions get made," said Caldwell. "Ive been in the game long enough, and Ryans been in long enough, to understand that these things happen. "We look forward. Im a Toronto FC player, Im fully committed to the job whoever the manager is and looking forward to an exciting and tough run-in (to the season) where we have to show our collective spirit and personality and strength and makes sure that we get in these playoffs and were firing at the right time to do well in them." Toronto (9-9-6) stands fourth in the Eastern Conference and remains in playoff contention. But the team has won just three of its last 13 games (3-5-5) as it prepares to play in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Tomas Hyka Jersey . DETROIT LIONS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 1:00 PM (ET) Detroit - G Rodney Austin, WR Ryan Broyles, DT Nick Fairley, QB Kellen Moore, DT Caraun Reid, CB Mohammed Seisay, DE Larry Webster Chicago - S Chris Conte, DT Brandon Dunn, QB David Fales, K Robbie Gould, CB Terrance Mitchell, OT Michael Ola, DE Trevor Scott GREEN BAY PACKERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Green Bay - LB Carl Bradford, DT Bruce Gaston, C Garth Gerhart, CB Davon House, WR Jeff Janis, TE Justin Perillo, QB Scott Tolzien Tampa Bay - OT Anthony Collins, CB Isaiah Frey, WR Robert Herron, RB Mike James, WR Solomon Patton, FB/TE Evan Rodriguez, LB Lawrence Sidbury KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 1:00 PM (ET) Kansas City - WR Donnie Avery, CB Marcus Cooper, OT Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OL Eric Kush, QB Aaron Murray, RB Charcandrick West, DT Nick Williams Pittsburgh - WR Justin Brown, DE Clifton Geathers, G Chris Hubbard, QB Landry Jones, S Troy Polamalu, TE Matt Spaeth, CB Ike Taylor MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS, 1:00 PM (ET) Minnesota - LB Anthony Barr, OT Carter Bykowski, DB Ahmad Dixon, OT Charlie Johnson, FB Zach Line, CB Shaun Prater, TE Kyle Rudolph Miami - G Nate Garner, WR Matt Hazel, S Don Jones, WR Rishard Matthews, LB Chris McCain, G Dallas Thomas, RB Daniel Thomas NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS, 1:00 PM (ET) New England - CB Kyle Arrington, RB LeGarrette Blount, OL Dan Connolly, CB Alfonzo Dennard, OT Jordan Devey, WR Julian Edelman, RB James White NY Jets - DT T. Vegas Strong Jersey . Fans can also watch the game on the newly launched TSN GO (currently available to Bell TV and Rogers customers), which gives TSN subscribers the freedom to live stream the networks programming from their smartphones, tablets, and computers at no additional charge – just as they would watch Canadas Sports Leader on TV at home. The following week, MLS ON TSN is at BMO Field in Toronto to deliver live coverage of TFCs home opener vs. D.C. United on Saturday, March 22 at 4:30 p. http://www.officialgoldenknightsfanstore...ts-jersey-c-55/. The Rays hope to stay alive for the postseason and salvage the finale of this series Sunday at Rogers Centre, where they dropped a 7-2 decision Saturday. Chris Archer lasted 2 1/3 innings in the no-decision, charged with a run and five hits, and Alex Torres suffered the loss in relief. Oscar Lindberg Jersey . -- Tiago Splitter tipped in a rebound with 2. Custom Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys . The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made. By releasing Bailey, the Broncos would open up cap space with the 12-time Pro Bowl player scheduled to make around $10 million next season.NEW YORK -- Paul Pierce drove his shoulder right into LeBron James, a post-season foul in a preseason game. A message to the NBA champions? "Its a message to the league," Pierce said. The Brooklyn Nets showed the defensive toughness Pierce said will be their identity, smothering the Miami Heat 86-62 on Thursday night after retiring coach Jason Kidds number. Brook Lopez scored 14 points for the Nets on a night that peaked with the pregame. Kidds No. 5 was lifted to the Barclays Center rafters during a ceremony a few minutes before the tip, honouring him for leading the franchise to its greatest NBA success. The game itself could have used the jolt Kidd provided when the Nets acquired him in 2001. Except for a few James highlights, it was typical exhibition play, with starters resting and subs misfiring for much of the night. But theres already a hint this could become a rivalry when the games do count, as Miami-Boston was before the Celtics traded Pierce and Garnett to Brooklyn. A day earlier, James noted that those two shouldnt have been so hard on Ray Allen when he opted to leave the Celtics for the Heat, since Pierce and Garnett ended up leaving themselves -- though Allen was a free agent and the pair was traded. "Tell LeBron worry about Miami," Garnett said when asked about James comments. "He has nothing to do with Celtic business." James and Chris Bosh each finished with 16 points for the Heat, who shot 32 per cent and did next to nothing in the 20 minutes James wasnt on the floor. "Weve got so many guyss out, were just trying to get better and not waste an opportunity to get better," James said.dddddddddddd"I think we did that at phases. Obviously, we dont have all our guys playing, but when guys were in the game, they played, worked hard." The Nets believe their acquisition of Pierce and Garnett, along with a number of other moves, has given them a roster that can compete with the Heat in the Eastern Conference. All that could really be told from this game was that the Nets appear to have a better back end of their bench. Miami managed just 12 points in the second quarter, when it went mostly with reserves and fell behind 44-28. Dwyane Wade sat out for the Heat and Deron Williams is still sidelined by a sprained ankle for the Nets, but the exhibition at times had a playoff feel to it thanks to the rivalry among some of the veterans. James was dribbling quickly up the floor in the first quarter and Pierce simply threw his shoulder into James for a foul that stopped the fast break. Garnett played only 10 minutes. Kidd led the Nets to consecutive NBA Finals as a player and became the sixth member of the franchise to have his number retired. A few former teammates attended the ceremony, while taped messages from Kenyon Martin, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson were shown during breaks in the game. Key reserves Allen and Chris Andersen also sat out for the Heat, while the Nets remained without Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko from their bench. The teams will meet again in Brooklyn on Nov. 1 in the Nets home opener. ' ' '