LAKE FOREST, Ill. Calgary Flames Winter Classic Jerseys . - Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery was so busy in free agency he didnt mind having a few extra weeks to prepare for the draft. Times just about up. The three-day proceeding starts with the first round Thursday and the Bears, owners of the 14th pick, still need help on defence even after some big moves. So a little extra time to study the prospects suited Emery just fine. "I love it, honestly. Ive heard reports of people complaining about it," he said. "I dont know what theyre complaining about." The draft was pushed back about two weeks because of a scheduling conflict at New Yorks Radio City Music Hall. Emery said that allowed the Bears to have "less-rushed conversations" as they try to weigh short-term gains against long-term benefits. The defence ranked among the leagues worst a year ago and was the biggest reason the Bears missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years at 8-8. The Bears have been busy addressing that, bringing in Jared Allen and parting with Julius Peppers in an effort to spark a defence that ranked 30th overall, last against the run, and tied Jacksonville with a league-low 31 sacks. They still need help on the line, at linebacker and in the secondary, particularly at safety. Chicago has one pick in each of the first five rounds (Nos. 14, 51, 82, 117 and 156) and two in the sixth round (183 and 191). With that in mind, here are five things to know about the draft. STILL ON THE DEFENSIVE: Emery said he has six candidates for the 14th pick assuming the Bears keep it, and theres a good chance hell go with a defensive player even though he wasnt ruling out offence. Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Alabama free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert could be strong possibilities for Chicago. ROLL THE DICE: Emery showed in his first two drafts hes not afraid to take a chance on a first-round pick. He gambled on Shea McClellin in 2012 and did it again with Kyle Long last year. The results? Hes batting .500 so far. Long was a hit at right guard even though he made just five starts in his lone season at Oregon. McClellin is a swing and miss so far and is moving from defensive end to linebacker. At least Emery hit it big in the second round in 2012 with receiver Alshon Jeffery, who broke out last season with 1,421 yards receiving. PASS ON QB?: Emery insisted hes comfortable with Jordan Palmer backing up Jay Cutler and that hes not in favour of grooming a quarterback drafted in the later rounds as a potential starter down the line. "That developmental theory doesnt hold a whole lot of water," he said. Starting with the 2006 class, Emery examined how quarterbacks drafted after the third round fared. He didnt find a long-term starter, let alone another Tom Brady. Mostly, it was a collection of third-stringers, many of whom did not last long in the league. "Most of the starters in this league come from the first and second round. So thats where you need to take a quarterback," he said. The idea of pairing a late-round QB with coach Marc Trestman doesnt seem to interest him. "Im more intrigued with how Marc matches up with Jay and Jordan and Jerrod (Johnson)," he said. PLAYING IT SAFE-TY: Emery declared the starting safety spots "wide open" with the struggling Chris Conte back and Major Wright gone. Theyve brought in Ryan Mundy and M.D. Jennings and figure to add more help in the draft. The Bears have also scouted college cornerbacks with length with the idea of converting them to safeties, although that carries some risk. MAKING A MOVE: Emery said hes fielded calls from teams looking to move up to No. 14. He also indicated trading up is unlikely, saying such moves are "expensive." ___ Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Authentic Chris Stewart Jersey .Y. -- Dwane Casey admitted hed been concerned about his young Raptors team who had zero experience playing in close-out games -- what awaited them with the vastly-experienced Brooklyn Nets, and how theyd react. Authentic Doug Gilmour Jersey . It was the most lopsided loss in Lakers history. Darren Collison had a team-high 24 points while starting at shooting guard for the injured Jamal Crawford. Chris Paul added 13 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, who apparently are trying to make up for decades of humiliation at the hands of the Lakers all in one season; theyve won the last two meetings by a combined 84 points. http://www.cheapnhlflamesjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-lanny-mcdonald-jersey . A day after FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said three stadiums would not be ready in time for the Dec. 31 deadline, Brazilian officials said they actually plan to deliver all six remaining venues after that date. They claim only three are delayed, with the other three being handed over after the expected date only because of problems accommodating the schedule of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who wants to be present for the ceremonies.The Vancouver Canucks (21-11-3) ring in the new year and kick off a five-game homestand when they host the defending Stanley Cup champion LA Kings (18-12-8) tonight at Rogers Arena. The Canucks appear as though they’ll go with the same line-up they used in their 3-1 win in San Jose on Tuesday. That means although he’s been cleared medically Zack Kassian will be a healthy scratch/coach’s decision tonight. Ryan Miller stopped 31 shots in the win over the Sharks allowing only a Joe Thornton penalty shot goal and will return to the net tonight. He is 3-0-1 in his past four starts giving up just six goals in that span. The Canucks as a team have picked up seven of eight points in their past four outings opening the scoring in each game and not trailing at any point including in a 2-1 overtime loss in Anaheim on Sunday. Canucks penalty killing was four for four on Tuesday against the league’s 2nd best power play and was a red-hot 34/36 (94.4%) in the month of December. It has jumped to third in the NHL at 87.3% for the season. After going 2-9-3 against California opponents last season, the Canucks are 3-1-2 in six outings so far in 2014-15. The one regulation loss in the bunch was a 5-1 setback in Los Angeles on November 8th. The Canucks enteer the night a point up on the Kings with three games in hand. Cheap Calgary Flames Gear. The Kings get back to work after a 3-2 shootout loss in Edmonton on Tuesday. They fell 2-1 in Calgary the night before and are 1-1-2 in their last four contests. The Kings are expected to re-unite their 70’s line (Pearson-Carter-Toffoli) while Anze Kopitar centres Marian Gaborik and Justin Williams. Jeff Schultz is expected to replace Brayden McNabb on defense. LA is a surprising 4-8-6 on the road this season and a huge part of the problem has been the team’s 0-4-6 record in one-goal games away from home. The Kings power play has caught fire lately going 10 for 22 (45.4%) in the past six games and 10 of the last 19 goals the hockey club has scored have been with the man-advantage. Jonathan Quick has started eight straight games (3-2-3) and 11 of the last 12 and looks to be between the pipes again tonight. Los Angeles has lost five consecutive shootouts. Kings shooters are 2-for-21 on the season in the shootout and have been denied on the last 15 attempts since Marian Gaborik’s shootout goal in Anaheim on November 12. Jeff Carter is celebrating his 29th birthday today. 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