or a score to highlight the first year of a $21 million, th

UAE cricket took a significant step towards full professionalism, with the Emirates Cricket Board granting two-year central contracts to eight of its players. A further four players, including captain Amjad Javed and vice-captain Shaiman Anwar, have been given annual, part-time retainers, but will continue with their day jobs.The eight centrally contracted players include a number of young, promising players, with only Rohan Mustafa and Mohammad Shahzad having a significant amount of experience.For the first time in the UAE, we will have professional contracts, Emirates Cricket Board member Zayed Abbas told the National. We are proud to say that, from today onwards, we are professional.UAE have notched up notable successes in the past few years. Their runner-up finish in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier in January-February 2014 resulted in them qualifying for the 2015 World Cup and attaining ODI status. They also qualified - ahead of Afghanistan - for the Asia Cup earlier this year. These achievements have raised the profile of UAE cricket and unlocked the income that has made the move towards professionalism possible.It will definitely enhance their performances, UAE chief selector Waleed Bukhatir said. Being full-time cricketers from morning to evening, they will be performing better and giving more to the ECB [Emirates Cricket Board], as opposed to being employed somewhere else and then coming in the evening and playing.Bukhatir alluded to the possibility of the ICC reducing funding in future if, for example, UAE were to lose its ODI status, but insisted that the move towards professional contracts would withstand such eventualities.We need to work with the resources that are available to the ECB, Bukhatir said. We do realise there is support that might not be there if the team doesnt perform. But we want to be optimistic. We were realistic in deciding on this programme. It is meant to continue, even if there were to be any cut from the ICC in terms of the financial support they give. Hydro Flaske . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Hydro Flask Oslo . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. http://www.norgehydroflask.com/norge-hydro-flask-barn.html . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Hydro Flask i Butikk . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Hydro Flask Norge . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Derrick Johnson knew his season was over the moment he hit the frozen turf of Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs veteran linebacker ripping off his helmet in frustration.It became official when he went to the sideline and found he had torn his Achilles.The injury only briefly deflated Kansas City on Thursday night, though. The Chiefs defense seemed to rally around their fallen leader in the second half, shutting down the Oakland Raiders to preserve a 21-13 victory that gave them control of the AFC West.Hes a guy I respect so much, and just to see the look on his face when it happened, it looked serious, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said. Theres not a guy in the locker room that doesnt look up to D.J., so yeah, in a big game like that, hats off to our defense for responding.Something like that can hurt you big-time and our guys didnt miss a beat.Kansas City had just taken a 21-3 lead in their AFC West showdown when Johnson fell to the turf away from the play. The look of frustration on his face was evident as the training staff and coach Andy Reid ran onto the field, and as his left shoe was removed and the examinations began.Johnson was helped off the field without putting any weight on his foot, and he spent the rest of the half sitting on one the heated benches in somber silence.I felt a little bit of a letdown when it happened, but Justin (Houston) and Eric (Berry) reeled everyone in and got after it. The last thing D.J. would want is a letdown.Johnson ruptured his right Achilles in similar fashion two years ago, and the Chiefs proceeded to lose the game. But this time, they managed to squeak out a crucial win for their playoff hopes.We made adjustments but we gott it done, fellow linebacker Dee Ford said.ddddddddddddMy heart goes out to him. Its hard. But were going to keep moving. Thats life. But were going to miss him.The 34-year-old Johnson, already the Chiefs career tackles leader, had been having another stellar season. He came into the game with 89 tackles, a sack and an interception that he returned for a score to highlight the first year of a $21 million, three-year deal that he signed in March.Kansas City was already without middle linebacker Josh Mauga, who had season-ending surgery to his hip in training camp, and Justin March-Lillard, who had surgery on a broken hand in October.Reid indicated its possible that one of them could return before the playoffs.Thats part of the equation, Reid said. Well discuss that tomorrow, but thats part of the equation. We have the flexibility to do that.The Chiefs also lost defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches to back spasms in the first half, while Oakland was missing three starters at kickoff after offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele was scratched with an illness that ultimately landed him in the hospital.Safety Karl Joseph had already been ruled out with a toe injury and defensive tackle Stacy McGee was out with an ankle injury.I saw him prior to the game and there was no way I could ask him to try, Del Rio said of Osemele, who has also been dealing with a knee injury. Not trying to get into specifics, (but) it was significant enough we wanted to make sure we got him to the proper care.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '