CHARLOTTE, N. [url=http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Cole-Hamels-Kids-Jersey/]Cole Hamels Cubs Jersey[/url] .C. -- Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons. The Panthers confirmed the three-time Pro Bowl left tackle will announce his retirement at a news c

CHARLOTTE, N. Cole Hamels Cubs Jersey .C. -- Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons. The Panthers confirmed the three-time Pro Bowl left tackle will announce his retirement at a news conference on Wednesday at the stadium. "Jordan has been a great Panther and he will be missed," Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said Tuesday in a text message. Cam Newton agreed. The Pro Bowl quarterback said in a text message, "It was truly a pleasure to play with Jordan. He always had my back. He will be missed." Just wholl replace Gross at left tackle is uncertain. Gross, 33, was a first-round pick by Carolina in 2003 and started a franchise-record 167 games. He went to his third Pro Bowl this past season as an alternate. Gross contract had expired with the Panthers earlier this month, but there was still some question as to whether he might agree to return for one more season. He went on vacation with his family last week to Idaho to contemplate whether or not to retire. Gross told the teams website, Panthers.com, that it was the right time to step away. "Ive played a lot of football here, and Ive seen a lot of guys come and a lot of guys go," Gross told the website. "Sometimes it ends well for guys, and sometimes it is not the ending they were looking for." Gross said he didnt want to leave until the team was in good position for sustained success. He believes the team is there now. "There is good, young leadership, there are talented players, and there are guys that really want to work hard and want to win," Gross said. Former quarterback Jake Delhomme, who played with Gross from 2003-2009, called him the "ultimate professional." "He was a hell of a player, and a great gentleman," Delhomme said. "The thing is I dont believe he got the respect he deserved around the league." Delhomme said the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Gross was extremely athletic, humble and driven. "We he was a rookie in 2003, his initial thoughts heading into minicamp were Oh gosh, please dont (stink)," Delhomme said with a laugh. "That was the mentality he always took. It wasnt a fear, but it was a mentality of, hey, Ive got to be good every day. Thats how Jordan prepared every day." Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said he spoke to Gross recently and half-jokingly tried to convince him to return. But he said Gross already had his mind made up. "Hes such a great player and Im really happy for him," Olsen said. "When I talked to him, I know he feels good not only about his body of work and his career, but also the impact he had on this organization. He was always a stand-up guy. He has the respect of all of his teammates. Hes the type of guy you want if youre an NFL franchise." Gross joined the Panthers in 2003 and stepped right in as a starter, helping Carolina reach the Super Bowl as a rookie. However, Gross spent the next 10 years trying to get back, but the Panthers could never make it past the NFC championship game. Gross decision creates a void for the Panthers at left tackle. Bruce Campbell, Garry Williams and starting right tackle Byron Bell are potential replacements, but the team could look for help in free agency or the draft. The Panthers have the 28th pick in the draft. Olsen said it will be difficult to replace Gross after the Panthers went 12-4 this past season, but said young players will have to step up. "Jordan has been top notch for his whole career," Olsen said. "Hes tough to lose. But every year it happens around the league -- you lose players to retirement or injury. You have to move on and fill that role." Wide receiver Steve Smith is the only remaining player from Carolinas Super Bowl team in 2003 that lost 32-29 to the New England Patriots on a last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri. Gross current and former teammates immediately took to Twitter to comment on the news. Said Smith: "Since 1999 until 2day (at)J2theGross and I have been in same huddle. Today its has stopped I salute JG, great player better man!!! Love ya." Said Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson: "One of the best to ever play in a panther jersey. I wish he would stay but you gotta do what u gotta." Offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, a former teammate of Gross with the Panthers, wrote that Gross "was an outstanding mentor and Im so thankful he decided to help me when I was a young naive rookie." Kyle Hendricks Jersey . -- Jerry Rice Jr. Willson Contreras Cubs Jersey .com) - The New York Jets have named Mike Maccagnan their new general manager. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Brandon-Morrow-Kids-Jersey/ . Fourteen players were suspended last summer by Major League Baseball as part of the Biogenesis drug scandal, ranging from All-Stars to also-rans.Sacramento, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Rudy Gay posted a game and season-best 40 points along with eight rebounds as Sacramento picked up its first win of the year with a 103-94 triumph over Portland on Friday night. DeMarcus Cousins and Darren Collison each contributed 17 points for the Kings, who shook off a season-opening 18-point loss to Golden State on Wednesday. I just wanted to be aggressive, said Gay. I tried to make plays better and took what they gave me. LaMarcus Aldridge totaled 22 points and Damian Lillard poured in 20 for the Blazers, who were coming off a 17-point home win against Oklahoma City two days prior. We knew they were a really good second-chance team and they did that all night, Lillard said. They just outplayed us. Wesley Matthews hit from long distance and Portland was up 77-73 early in the fourth, but Omri Casspis layup just over three minutes in triggered a momentum-turning 13-0 run which gave the Kings the lead for good. Gay followed with five in a row including a trey, Cousins added a bucket, Collison made two from the charity stripe and Coussins ended the burst with two more from the line to make it 86-77. Anthony Rizzo Jersey. Gay later connected on both his free-throw attempts with 2:39 to play and Sacramento was up 92-81. Portland was unable to close the gap to less than six the rest of the way. Aldridge scored 11 first-quarter points but the Blazers trailed 26-24 after 12 minutes of action. Things were tight again in the second period, which ended in a 48-48 deadlock thanks to a pair of Chris Kaman shots sandwiched around a Collison jumper. The Kings lead swelled to 62-52 with four minutes elapsed in the third thanks to seven points from Gay, and it was 69-58 for the hosts with 4:18 left after a Gay three-pointer, but the Blazers battled back to knot the score heading to the fourth, 71-71, thanks to six points from Aldridge. Game Notes Gay shot 13-of-19 from the floor including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and made 11 of his 13 free throws ... Matthews ended up with 16 points for Portland ... Collison had eight of Sacramentos 14 assists and three of his clubs six steals. ' ' '