last season, ranking last in the NFL in yards per rush and yards

The New Orleans Saints top draft pick, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, suffered a broken fibula during Mondays practice at the teams training camp site in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.The detail of the injury was first reported by the NFL Network and confirmed by ESPN. Rankins will have surgery, and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks; he will get a second opinion, sources told ESPNs Adam Schefter.Rankins, who was drafted with the 12th overall pick, went down with the injury during a set of live goal-line drills.?The injury is another big blow to a Saints defense that also lost second-year pass-rusher Hauoli Kikaha to a knee injury this summer. The Saints were woeful on defense last season, ranking last in the NFL in yards per rush and yards per pass play. Rankins was expected to be a big part of their turnaround.?The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Rankins is an athletic and versatile big man who had 14 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss over his final two years at Louisville.Rankins has mostly been working with the first-string defense this summer, though he has been rotating at the three-technique spot with another one of the Saints key acquisitions -- veteran free agent Nick Fairley. Depending on the severity of Rankins injury, Fairley could become much more important to the Saints defense.Rankins had been off to a solid start in camp so far, highlighted by his interception against Tom Brady in last weeks joint practices with the New England Patriots. His athleticism has been evident -- though he has still been facing the normal rookie highs and lows.Some good news Monday for the Saints: A source told ESPN Insider Adam Schefter that linebacker?Stephone Anthony, who suffered a leg injury last week, could miss a couple of weeks but?absolutely is expected back by the start of the season. Stan Smith Schweiz Online . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Stan Smith Schweiz China . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. http://www.schweizstansmith.ch/ . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Clearance Stan Smith Schweiz . PETERSBURG, Fla. Adidas Schweiz . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. The face at the top of U.S. womens gymnastics will change next month when longtime national team coordinator Martha Karolyi retires following the Summer Olympics.The address that doubles as the programs heartbeat will not.USA Gymnastics has reached an agreement with Karolyi and husband Bela to purchase the training facility the couple owns in Huntsville, Texas. Financial terms were not disclosed, but a closing date of Aug. 24 has been set, just three days after the closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro and five days before Martha Karolyis 74th birthday.It has everything we could possibly ask for, USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny told The Associated Press. Along with what it represents to our heart and soul, as a physical facility, we couldnt go out and build it. Its been custom made what for what we want and need. You add up all the elements and its like `Dang, what an easy decision.The Karolyis established the rustic estate in Sam Houston National Forest about an hour north of Houston in 1983, eventually expanding it to 2,000 acres. USA Gymnastics is buying 36.2 acres, including three training gyms, housing for up to 300 athletes and coaches as well as a dance studio, dining hall, medical and rehab facilities and recreational areas. The facility will also get a new name: the USA Gymnastics Athlete Development Center at the Karolyi Ranch.The Karolyis will keep their residence, a hunting lodge Bela Karolyi built and the remaining acreage. USA Gymnastics will have right of first refusal if the Karolyis decide in the future to sell off other parcels of land.The USA Gymnastics board of directors unanimously approved the sale, pointing to the amenities, the location and the unique aspects of the ranch -- which includes a vast array of wildlife from camels to peacocks -- that have helped turn the womens national team into an international powerhousee.dddddddddddd The five-woman team Karolyi will lead to Brazil next month is heavily favored to back up the team gold medal it won with ease in London four years ago.This place has stood the test of time, Penny said. There are things we have to make sure we do a little bit differently, we have to fix some things. Nothing that is going to require significant work. Its sturdy. Its a sturdy place to be.Karolyi announced her decision to step down after the Rio Games last summer. The Karolyis are expected to maintain a presence at the ranch, and USA Gymnastics is considering turning an older portion of the main gym -- one lined with pictures, medals and trophies from major competitions dating back to the 1980s -- into a museum to honor the Karolyi legacy.They are still a part of us, Penny said. They will always be a part of USA Gymnastics. Theyre still both going to play vital roles for us in the future. Martha will always want to drift into the gym and well always want her to do that.Bela Karolyi joked the sale means freedom for him to do as he pleases on the ranch while his wife of 54 years travels to visit family in her native Romania. Though the deal has been in the works for a while, the formal exchange of power will mark the end of an era. The Karolyis defected from Romania to the U.S. in 1981 and the ranch played a vital part in the U.S.s rise from also-ran to dominant force.The Karolyis have pledged to donate $250,000 to USA Gymnastics after the sale.Its very nice to see that once Im finishing my job, USA Gymnastics will take over and continue, Karolyi said Monday. I think thats the best way to preserve the system which proved itself as very efficient and able to produce world-class gymnasts and world-class teams. ' ' '