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ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Matthew Stafford vows to stay focused on football while his agent and the Detroit Lions negotiate a deal that would keep him under contract deep into the decade. Even if talks break down and Stafford goes into the season with one year left on his contract, he insisted there wont be distractions. "I dont play this game to get contracts," he said Tuesday. "I play this game to win games." He didnt do much of that last year. The Stafford-led Lions lost their last eight games, plummeting to a 4-12 record. Stafford threw more interceptions and had less than half as many touchdown passes last year as he did in 2011, when he led the Lions to the playoffs. Those facts were pointed out by people trying to figure out what went wrong in what was expected to be a promising season for him and the franchise. "Its impossible not to hear it just because I watch SportsCenter like everybody else. Im a person, too," he said. "Its not the main fuel. The main fuel for me is, I want to keep progressing in the right direction. I want to be a great quarterback. I want to be able to help this team win. "The only way I am going to be able to do that is if I let nothing get in my way and concentrate on what Im supposed to concentrate on and get better at what I need to get better at." Stafford struggled to stay healthy in his first two years after Detroit drafted him No. 1 overall in 2009 and gave him $41.7 million in guarantees as part of a six-year contract worth as $78 million. After playing in just 13 games over two seasons, he flourished in his first full year with 41 TD passes while completing 64 per cent of his attempts and throwing 16 touchdowns. He stayed on the field last season, but his passing percentage dipped as did his TD passes (20) while he threw one more interception. "Matts not happy with last year," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "None of us were happy with last year, but you also cant overreact." Detroit didnt make drastic moves to invest a lot in a wide receiver to play alongside superstar Calvin Johnson because the team hoped Nate Burleson and Ryan Broyles could bounce back from season-ending injuries. Although the regular season is a few months away, both Burleson and Broyles look like theyll be ready to contribute when the games count. They ran routes, made hard cuts and caught passes in traffic during non-hitting team drills Tuesday. Burleson was limited to six games last season because he broke his right leg, but shows no signs of being hurt. "Hes ready to go," Stafford said. "He looks great. Thats been a big plus, having him healthy going into this off-season helps us keep our stride and going into the right direction." During last seasons slide, Broyles made the most of more opportunities to play -- catching six passes for 126 yards against Houston -- until he tore a ligament in his right knee to end his rookie season that started with him recovering from torn ligament in his left knee. Stafford acknowledged being surprised to see Broyles lining up and running routes as often as he did during the first of a three-day minicamp. "I think it was kind of a last-minute decision," Stafford said. "I think he felt pretty good and he made some plays, which is a positive sign for us." "We saw some of that late in the year before he got hurt. Hes a guy who can be a chain-mover and be explosive." Stafford has spent much of this off-season splitting time between his home in suburban Detroit and team headquarters, after working out and rehabilitating injuries elsewhere in previous years. He has looked back to analyze the previous season, seeing when it was good to take chances with passes and when it wasnt while the losses piled up after climbing to .500 midway through the season. "It was a total, learning experience just because it was a tough year," Stafford said. "You have to find a way to battle through it." NOTES: Lions S Louis Delmas (left knee) was among the players relegated to watching teammates go through drills because of a "longer-term" injury, according to Schwartz. ... Schwartz declined to say much about RB Jahvid Best (concussions) who hasnt played since Oct. 16, 2011. "Hes still on our roster," Schwartz said. "Hes not here for minicamp." Emails seeking comment were sent to Best and his agent, Tony Fleming. Fake Hurricanes Jerseys . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Carolina Hurricanes Shirts . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Hurricanes Jerseys 2020 . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Carolina Hurricanes Store . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. The Cubs wasted no time in making their intentions to play a Game 7 clear: Tuesday night in Game 6, they scored three runs in the first and another four in the third, putting the game almost entirely out of reach.While the Cubs racked up their runs, Jake Arrieta was cruising. The former Cy Young winner went five and two-thirds innings Tuesday night. He gave up just two earned runs, allowed three hits and struck out nine. Not long after he came out, manager Joe Maddon went back to Aroldis Chapman for another extended outing, before Travis Wood eventually closed it out.The night belonged to Addison Russell, the 22-year-old shortstop who made up for a 4-for-17 start to the World Series -- and set a World Series record for RBIs -- with a two-run hit in the first and a grand slam in the third -- the Cubs first ever World Series grand slam.Being part of the Cubs, youre forced to deliver whenever the games kind of on the line, Russell said in the postgame press conference. So having that practice throughout the whole season, and then, finally, here comes the big moment in the postseason, in the World Series.The Indians had two outs and two strikes on Kris Bryant in the top of the first when he hit one out of the park. My favorite pitch to hit is the hanging curveball, he said later. Usually if you just put your good swing on it, theres a good chance its going pretty far. I felt like that was something Ive been waiting for, is a pitch in that area, and I got it. Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesAnthony Rizzo waves home Ben Zobrist in the first inning after the ball hit by Russell is misplayed in the outfield. Andrew Hancock for ESPNZobrist collides with Indians catcher Roberto Perez to score the third run of the first inning. Andrew Hancock for ESPNTyler Naquin lies on the ground after nearly colliding with teammate Lonnie Chisenhall. Miscommunication was an early problem in the outfield for the Indians. That was an unfortunate play, Terry Francona said later. Because we thought we were out of the inning. Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesIndians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin steps onto the mound in the third inning after walking Kyle Schwarber. Tomlin was pulled after loading the bases. Andrew Hancock for ESPNTeammates greet Russell at home after his grand slam off pitcher Dan Otero in the third inning. The key to that at-bat was to not swing at the first two pitches, Maddon said later. If you get over-eager right there, youre going to put that sinker in play, its a ground ball to third base, inning over, none of this happens. Andrew Hancock for ESPNCleveland fans look dejected as the Cubs jump out to large lead after three innings. Shannon Stapleton/ReutersArrieta had a seven-run lead when he took the mound in the bottom of the third inning. I knew that was all we were going to need tonight, he said after the game. Andrew Hancock for ESPNJason Kipnis races too second base for a double in the fourth inning, the first hit given up by Arrieta.dddddddddddd Matt Slocum/AP PhotoKipnis scores the Indians first run on a single by Mike Napoli. Its tough to scrap away against a good pitcher like Arrieta, said Napoli. Charlie Riedel/AP PhotoCleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez makes a great catch of a foul ball hit by Rizzo in the fifth inning. Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY SportsRussell loses control of his bat after swinging and missing a pitch from Danny Salazar in the fifth inning. Andrew Hancock for ESPNKipnis runs to home plate after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Elsa/Getty ImagesRussell tosses to Javier Baez at second base to get the force out on Lonnie Chisenhall after fielding a hit by Brandon Guyer in the sixth inning. After the game, Arrieta said the Cubs defense was a key cause for the win. Andrew Hancock for ESPNWith two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Maddon hands the ball to closer Chapman. Five runs -- listen, Ive been at this ballpark when we were up by seven or nine and they came back at the last, Maddon said. Cleveland has this tendency and this tradition, so I dont want that to happen. Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesChapman barely beats Francisco Lindor in a foot race to first base for the final out of the seventh. Though he appeared to turn his ankle on the play, he later said it was nothing to worry about. Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesMike Clevinger walks down the stairs of the bullpen to take over pitching duties in the eighth inning. Michael F. McElroy for ESPNBaez turns a double play in the eighth inning as Ramirez slides into second base. Andrew Hancock for ESPNThe Cubs middle infield duo, Baez and Russell, walk off the field together in the bottom of the eighth inning. Just watching Russell, hes unbelievable, man, Bryant said after the game. Hes 22 years old, Gold Glove [finalist], hitting homers in the World Series. Hes a pretty special player. Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesRizzo looks up with no doubt that the ball was hit for a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, increasing the Cubs lead to 9-2. Pretty much all around, up and down the order, everybody contributed, and thats why we played so well, Arrieta said after the game. Andrew Hancock for ESPNAn Indians fan tries in vain to out-cheer his neighboring Cubs fans. Both fanbases will no doubt be out in huge numbers for Game 7. [Wednesday] is a day that you kind of have to put it all on the table, Russell said. The winner is going to be the people that come up in the big situations. The guys that make the routine plays and the guys that make the spectacular plays to avoid the big inning. I think thats going to be the difference-maker. Andrew Hancock for ESPN ' ' '