urray left practice early in what McLellan called a

Matt Johns is Virginias incumbent starting quarterback and one of its unequivocal team leaders.In a summer that is part of a new era for the Cavaliers, the fifth-year senior has been leading his teammates through seven-on-seven drills and workouts in the weight room. Johns is embracing the changes though he doesnt know if he will be behind center when Virginia opens Bronco Mendenhalls coaching tenure against Richmond on Sept. 3.After spring practice, Mendenhall declined to name Johns or fellow senior Connor Brewer the starter, and the program has added former East Carolina quarterback Kurt Benkert as a transfer. Benkert, who has two years of eligibility remaining and can play right away, might be more mobile than either Johns or Brewer -- a factor Mendenhall said he wants in a quarterback -- and is familiar with the offensive system the Cavaliers will use.Johns is not letting any of the uncertainty knock him off course.Im good. Im just taking it one day at a time and putting one foot in front of the other and trying to stay in my lane, he said Friday. When you get caught up with everything, thats when it really hurts you and I just try to focus on what I can do to help this team get better and let the chips fall where they may.That means maintaining his leadership in the weight room, too. Frank Wintrich, the teams director of football performance, or strength and conditioning coaches, guides them through intense, body-changing workouts.Were getting pushed every day to new limits physically, mentally and just as a team, Johns said.Mendenhall promised when he was introduced that Virginias players would work harder than they ever thought they could. Wintrich and Mendenhall were already on the same page in that regard when they teamed up last year at BYU and then came east to Charlottesville together.Like the head coach, Wintrich was delighted that the Cavaliers embraced, rather than shied away from, the high standard. Only a handful of players opted to leave the football program, and none of them were on scholarship.The leadership of Johns and others has been crucial, Wintrich said, even after his job status became murky.Real testament to the kid, Wintrich said. Outstanding leadership, outstanding buy-in. His motivation and his energy havent waned one bit.Johns credits a changed attitude program-wide, and said the team is closer than ever before not only because they have had to work so hard together, but because of the excitement brewing that better results will be their reward in the fall.In the spring, when some players had one last chance on a Saturday morning to earn the right to practice by completing a series of runs within a proscribed time, the rest of the team showed up to cheer them on.And when the freshman recruits, on campus for nearly two weeks now, had their first scheduled workouts with Wintrich and his staff on Monday, about 50 of the veteran players were there offering encouragement.The culture is completely different, and its very exciting, Johns said.Even if he doesnt know what his fate will be in the fall. Fake Celtics Jerseys . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Celtics Jerseys China . 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TORONTO -- On Tuesday, Aaron Ekblad went home to Florida.After becoming a surprise scratch in Monday nights loss to Team Russia, the most important defenseman on Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey watched his teammates lose from a press box suite while wearing a suit and tie.He and North America management were following league protocol after Ekblad experienced concussion-like symptoms following a big hit from Finlands Leo Komarov in Ekblads first game of the tournament.But in terms of making the tough call between playing through pain in a best-on-best tournament and preserving yourself for the long grind of a regular season, there is no real protocol.There are judgment calls, conversations and, right now, lots of NHL general managers just hoping it ends.If youre a fan of the game, you love to watch the excitement, and its a beautiful game to watch, said one Western Conference general manager. But when you look at whats the benefit to the [NHL] team? Its zero.For a team like Ekblads Panthers, its now gone into the negative. The Dallas Stars can feel their pain. Stars captain Jamie Benn of Team Canada pulled out of the tournament to heal from surgery, and theyve now suffered two injuries in Canadas Tyler Seguin (foot) and the Czech Republics Radek Faksa (concussion symptoms).Ales Hemsky of the Czech Republic, one of the last healthy Stars left, had better watch out.How the communication between the club team and international team went down has varied depending on the situation. Stars GM Jim Nill got word after Canadas first exhibition game against the U.S. that Seguin was banged up.He sent Seguin a text, and the response from his star center assured him he was fine. After he played another exhibition game, the tone of the texts changed.Seguin was hurting.A conference call was set up with Nill, Seguin, doctors and Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong, and the group hashed out a solution. Maybe Seguin could power through the injury, but with center Ryan OReilly ready to step in, it wasnt necessary.The decision was made to send Seguin home. There might have been relief for the Stars that Benn and Seguin were out of harms way and should be ready to go to start the season, but they also felt for a guy who all summer had been looking forward to representing his country.I talked to Tyler the night before he went to the camp in Ottawa, how excited he was in playing for Canada, Stars coach Lindy Ruff said Tuesday. I dont think any of them think of injury before they go. They just think of playing.And when they get hurt, theyy think of playing through it.dddddddddddd Thats what makes these guys the best in the world.So its important that NHL clubs have a say in the decision, especially considering how hard it can be for the player to take a big-picture approach when opportunities like this dont present themselves very often.For a player such as Faksa, this is one of the first opportunities to play for his country on a big stage.Radek, hes a young guy representing his country. Hes 21. It tugs at them, Nill said. Its hard. Its tough. Its tough for them to go, Hey, I cant go anymore, to their teammates there and their country.Ultimately, the team has a say, and the Panthers certainly didnt hide their desire to bring Ekblad home, nor should they have. Hes their franchise defenseman. They have Stanley Cup hopes this season.Its not like Ekblad grew up dreaming of wearing the Team North America orange and black. So this was the no-brainer.It makes the North Americans job a little harder as they face Sweden on Wednesday needing a win to survive. The team is also without goalie Matt Murray, who is out with a hand injury. Ekblad was their big-minute defenseman, taking on the toughest competition for coach Todd McLellan.Fellow defenseman Ryan Murray left practice early in what McLellan called a maintenance day, saying he expects Murray to be available for the Sweden game. If not, that would leave North America with five defensemen, which would be an issue.Yeah, defenseman Jacob Trouba deadpanned. You usually want six.If they get to six, the young group remains confident they have a defense capable of advancing in this tournament. The coaches and general managers of the emerging NHL stars might not exactly be broken hearted if they dont.The World Cup has seen big names go down and its just getting out of group play. Multiple general managers said they were taken aback at just how intense and physical the opening exhibition game was between the United States and Canada. It was clear then the players cared about this tournament in a big way. When thats the case, injuries are going to follow. Its inevitable.Those watching from the outside, waiting for it to end just hope it doesnt strike their key players as the games get even more intense once the World Cup shifts to the semifinalsYou just look at the history of these tournaments, one team is going to get significantly hurt, said one GM. Youre holding your breath its not you. ' ' '