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METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints have placed linebacker Stephone Anthony on injured reserve, coach Sean Payton said Tuesday, ending a disappointing season for the 2015 first-round draft pick.Anthony, who started every game at middle linebacker as a rookie and led the Saints with 112 tackles, was demoted this year and barely played, even when healthy.He appeared in only 10 games with a total of 16 tackles; he was inactive last week with an unspecified knee injury that is not believed to be major.This sets up 2017 as a make-or-break year for the former Clemson standout, who was acquired with the 31st pick in last years draft as part of the trade that sent Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks.The Saints (6-8) could use as much young talent as they can get on a defense that has ranked among the NFLs worst over the past three years -- though it has finally started to climb out of the cellar over the past two months.Payton was candid last week when he talked about the read-and-recognition issues that have held Anthony back.Hes explosive, hes disruptive and yet his key-and-diagnose and his instincts at times are off, Payton said last week. Its run, and hes dropping back in a pass mode. Or its pass, and hes at the line of scrimmage. His ability to see and diagnose some very simple reads, for instance, are the keys for him getting better. ...Thats been the thing thats kept him back. And quite honestly, its kept him back on special teams [too]. Because a player like him who is on special teams, if hes covering a kick or covering a punt, generally a guy that can run and hit shows up. And hes been, I would say, just OK in that area.Anthony said last week that Paytons criticism is fair.I think every player goes through, I guess, a growth stage. Sometimes every linebacker can have a misread. But its just the little things I gotta get better at, Anthony said. So I think Coach Payton was right on.The Saints tried moving Anthony from middle linebacker to strongside linebacker this offseason so he could feature his athleticism without being in the position to relay in the play calls or make adjustments at the line of scrimmage.Anthony struggled at the unfamiliar Sam linebacker position, though, and played better in Week 14 against Tampa Bay when he was thrust back into the starting middle linebacker role as an injury replacement for Craig Robertson.Payton said the Saints are not yet sure what position Anthony will play in the future.I think its something that, obviously, the sooner, the better we can sort out, Payton said. I was encouraged with the [Week 14 performance]. Thats what he has to keep working on.The Saints used the vacant roster spot to sign receiver Corey Fuller off the Detroit Lions practice squad. Art Shell Womens Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Johnathan Abram Womens Jersey . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. http://www.shoptheraidersonline.com/Elite-Jim-Plunkett-Raiders-Jersey/ .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Jack Tatum Raiders Jersey . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Custom Oakland Raiders Jerseys . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions will be without their best pass-rusher when they face?Aaron Rodgers?and the Green Bay Packers?on Sunday.The Lions officially ruled out defensive end Ezekiel Ansah with an ankle injury Friday after he missed every practice this week. He wasnt even seen watching on the practice field, something players who are close to returning typically do.Ansah injured the ankle during the first series of Detroits 16-15 loss to Tennessee on Sunday. He went back to the locker room soon after the injury and did not reappear on the sideline. He was spotted in the elevator after Sundays loss but declined to comment on his ankle injury before walking out with a slight limp.Lions coach Jim Caldwell declined to give any updates on Ansah throughout the week and would not say whether Ansah has a long-term injury. ESPN Insider Adam Caplan reported Thursday night that Ansah would be seeking a second opinion on his ankle.With Ansah out, the Lions are expected to tturn to Devin Taylor and perhaps Kerry Hyder as the teams starting defensive ends.dddddddddddd Detroit rotates its ends frequently, so Wallace Gilberry, Brandon Copeland and potentially Anthony Zettel could all see some work there against the Packers.We have guys that we have confidence in, Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. Obviously, none of them are Ziggy. We know that.But we like to think well have some strength in numbers. Guys will rotate through and play hard if hes not able to be out there with us.The Lions are also likely to be without linebacker DeAndre Levy for the second straight week. Levy, who is listed as doubtful, has missed every practice the past two weeks with a quad injury after playing every snap in the season opener against Indianapolis. Levy missed all but one half of a game in the 2015 season with a hip injury. ' ' '