MINNEAPOLIS -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell encouraged players to speak their minds on social issues Sunday in the wake of Colin Kaepernicks decision not to stand for the national anthem.While Goodell said he has not reached out to the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, he praised the shift of players activism from protests to progress.As Ive said before, I truly respect our players wanting to speak out and change the community, Goodell said at U.S. Bank Stadium before Sunday nights game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. We dont live in a perfect society. We want them to use that voice. Theyre moving from protests to progress and trying to make things happen in the communities, and I admire that about our players [being] willing to do that.Kaepernick, who initially said he was sitting during the anthem to raise awareness about the treatment of African-Americans in the U.S., knelt again before the 49ers game Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Players around the league have followed the quarterbacks lead in a number of different forms, whether kneeling during the anthem or locking arms as a team, like the Seattle Seahawks did before their season opener Sept. 11.Obviously, we want to respect people, Goodell said. We want to respect our differences. We want to reflect our flag and our country, and our players understand that. So I think where theyre moving and how theyre moving there is very productive, and were going to encourage that. Alex Iwobi Arsenal Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Bernd Leno Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. http://www.arsenalsoccerproshop.com/Authentic-Granit-Xhaka-Arsenal-Jersey/ . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. Rob Holding Jersey . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. MINNEAPOLIS -- Freshman Amir Coffey scored 10 points, all in the second half, and Minnesota came from behind to beat Texas-Arlington 84-67 on Monday night.Reggie Lynch, in his first year with Minnesota after transferring last season, scored 14 points. Jordan Murphy added 11 points and 12 rebounds and five Gophers in all scored in double figures.I think it just shows, we got a long way to go obviously, but this is not last years team, Minnesota coach Richard Pitino said. Its very evident. Its a totally different team with much more balance and depth.The Gophers (2-0) trailed the final eight minutes of the first half against the preseason Sun Belt Conference favorite Mavericks (1-1).But Coffey and Lynch ignited Minnesota in the second half. Minnesota used a 22-1 run to take control as Texas-Arlington missed its first 12 shots of the half and had a scoring drought of over six minutes.We were just out there playing free and guarding the 3, which was the biggest problem in the first half, Lynch said.Jalen Jones scored 17 points and Erick Neal added 12 for Texas-Arlington. The Mavericks pulled out road wins at Ohio State and Memphis last season, and appeared primed to pull another upset against the Gophers.Texas-Arlington hit 9 of 18 3-pointers in the first half but just one in the second half.I think our guys, to be honest, it looks to me like they lost a little bit of that chip on their shoulder, grit, coach Scott Cross said. Its a learning lesson for us. I guess Id rather learn a lesson now than in conference, and hopefully our guys will be better.BIG PICTURETexas-Arlington: The Mavericks return all five starters from last season and are testing themselves with a tough nonconference schedule. When the shots were fallling, Texas-Arlington showed it can still hang with major conference opponents.dddddddddddd.Minnesota: The Gophers got the test coach Richard Pitino was seeking for his new-look squad. Coffey had eight of his points during Minnesotas second-half run and added two steals. The 6-foot-10 Lynch gives the Gophers an option down low.STAT OF THE NIGHTThe Mavericks led the nation in rebounding last year with an average of 43.71 per game. The Gophers had a 47-32 rebounding advantage on Monday and scored 22 points off offensive rebounds.Our guys have to change their mentality a little bit, Cross said. We have to get that hard-hat, blue-collar attitude that we had ... to get outrebounded the way we did is disappointing.QUICK COMPAREThe game was bogged down at times due to personal fouls, particularly in the second half. Minnesota extended its lead from the free-throw line where it made 30 of its 40 attempts. The Mavericks went to the line 22 times, hitting 13 free throws.Thats got to be our identity, Pitino said. We may not be a 10-3s-a-game team. Thats OK, we can still win in other ways.UP NEXTTexas-Arlingtons three-game road trip continues at Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday and on to another major conference foe in Arkansas on Friday. Florida Gulf Coast will be playing only its second game of the season after opening with an 80-59 loss to Florida.Minnesota remains home on Wednesday against Mount St.-Marys. Its a matchup of two schools with very different schedules. Minnesota plays its first six games at home and 12 of the first 14. Mount St. Marys starts the season with nine straight road games. ' ' '