who went 26th overall to Green Bay in the 2009 draft and was r

INDIANAPOLIS -- Adam Vinatieri has warmed up to those chilly New England receptions. Sometimes, he hears cheers. Sometimes, he hears boos. Its all part of life as an ex-Pat in one of footballs fiercest rivalries -- even for a kicker who signed with the Colts eight years ago. "Its the (Red) Sox-Yankees, if you will, that kind of thing where I think both teams respect each other and know what comes to the table," Vinatieri said. The story lines in this annual series have traditionally started and ended with the quarterbacks -- Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and now Andrew Luck. But the ties run so much deeper, especially given Indianapolis ever-expanding list of former Patriots. In addition to Vinatieri, theres cornerback Darius Butler, who may replace injured starter Greg Toler in Saturday nights playoff game, with the winner advancing to the AFC championship game. Butler was New Englands second-round pick in 2009, and since joining the Colts in September 2012, hes intercepted eight passes and returned three for scores. "Youve always got something to prove," said Butler, who was cut by the Patriots at the end of training camp in 2011. "And its always special when youre facing a former team." Safety Sergio Brown spent two seasons with New England (12-4) before landing with Indy last season, too. If LaRon Landry doesnt clear the concussion protocol before kickoff, the special teams standout could be starting, too. And on Monday, the Colts added another New England fan favourite -- receiver Deion Branch, the Super Bowl MVP in the Patriots last title run. Saturday will be his first trip to New Englands visiting locker room, and Branch isnt entirely sure about how hell be treated by the fans who warmly embraced him for so many years. "I think so far its been a little 75-25 (positive)," Branch said, based on what hes heard about the fans reaction to signing with Indy (12-5). "Most everybody understands and they respect that, but then you have those die-hard fans." Massachusetts native Matt Hasselbeck is one of three Colts players -- along with left tackle Anthony Castonzo and right tackle Gosder Cherilus -- who played at Boston College, and he knows enough about the city and its fans to know the boos are nothing personal. "Its probably a sign of respect, deep down," said Hasselbeck, who was a New England ball boy when his father, Don, played for the Patriots. "I think Adam is one of the all-time sports icons in that area, I know he was to me when I was in college there. Those kicks, especially in the snow, were special moments." Vinatieris history didnt matter to some fans when he returned to Foxborough for the first time in November 2006. While former teammates and team owner Robert Kraft traded handshakes with Vinatieri, he heard boos along with the cheers. It probably wont be much different Saturday night. New Englands ties to Indy are limited. Coach Bill Belichick started his NFL coaching career with the Colts back in 1975 when the team was still in Baltimore, and offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia worked on the Colts staff in 1989 and 1990. The only former Colt on New Englands roster is receiver Austin Collie. "I look forward to seeing guys that Ive built relationships with there," Collie said. "But to me its just - weve got to win. Its all about advancing. Thats what my mindset is." The Colts concur. "Ive been over on that sideline for a lot of years, too, and I know what they bring to the table. Theyll have their team ready to play. The fans will be loud and crazy. Its playoff football," Vinatieri said. "Thats what its supposed to be like." Notes: Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (hamstring) was the only Colts player who did not practice Thursday. Coach Chuck Pagano said he expected everybody except Heyward-Bey to play Saturday night, though Landry still has to be cleared because of his concussion. Sneakers Sale Online Uk . He could have transferred when academic sanctions barred the Huskies from the NCAA tournament his junior season. Best Sneakers Website Uk . So far, so good: Gonzalez has allowed one run through 12 innings this season. His second start came Tuesday night, when he gave up only three singles over six innings to lead the Nationals to a 5-0 victory over the Miami Marlins. http://www.wholesalesneakersuk.com/ . The Senators return from a lengthy layoff caused by Wednesdays attack on Parliament Hill to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Sneakers Uk Online Shop . According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Brodeurs agent Pat Brisson has spoken to six teams so far regarding the veteran goaltender. Buy Sneakers Wholesale Online . The Mets made the announcement Sunday night. Parnell blew a save on opening day against Washington and the next day it was revealed he had partially torn right elbow ligament.RENTON, Wash. - During one of the most successful coaching careers in football, Pete Carroll rarely has committed errors. He did at Southern California with Clay Matthews, and Carroll still shakes his head about it.A defensive mastermind throughout his years in pro and college football, Carroll always has had an eye for talented linebackers. Somehow, he didnt immediately see the skill in Matthews, a third-generation player who wasnt much more than a special teams guy early on with the Trojans.On Sunday, Carrolls Seahawks (13-4) will face Matthews Packers (13-4) in the NFC championship game. Carroll loves what he sees out of Matthews, a five-time Pro Bowler — even though the coach didnt recognize that playmaking ability back at USC.Thats a really interesting story, Carroll began. Clay comes from a great family, an SC family: dad, uncle and all of that had been All-Americans and All-Pros. ... His older brother was a walk-on player before him.When Clay came in he was 208 pounds and he didnt run really well. He wasnt really strong, but he loved playing and he tried really hard.Carroll paused, looking as if he wanted to smack himself upside the head before he continued with the SC saga.Unfortunately, this is one of the great mistakes that I missed in my coaching at SC was how good of a player he was, Carroll added. I had said going in I think maybe his junior year, somebody asked me about Clay Matthews, and I said, I think he might be one of the best special teamers to ever play at USC. He was a great player on (special) teams.I knew I couldnt really validate that, but I was blowing him up because he was a great kid.Fast-forward to Matthews final season with the Trojans. He was not a starter when top-ranked Southern Cal was losing at Oregon State. Searching for some answers, Carroll turned to Matthews.The Trojans still lost, but Carroll realized hed missed the mark earlier with Matthews.We put him in the game, and we said, We know Clay will do the right thing, Carroll said. He started playing there, and hes bbeen a great player since the time he was given the opportunity to show it.dddddddddddd He was always there banging away, always there fighting, clawing and scratching.Maybe because of the way he came up, it took him a long time to develop, and (we) didnt recognize the great heart that he had, and unbelievable competitiveness and the great savvy that he demonstrates now. Its really one of my big misses. I should have figured that out a lot sooner than I did. He made the rest of it history and been an extraordinary player ever since.Matthews consistently has performed in the NFL better than many of Carrolls other USC linebackers: Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga, Keith Rivers, et al. This season, Packers co-ordinator Dom Capers has moved Matthews from outside to inside and back, and Green Bays defence stepped up in the second half of the schedule.The Southern Cal days are far behind for Matthews, who went 26th overall to Green Bay in the 2009 draft and was runner-up to Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu for NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. He seemed to pay little attention to the fact Carroll will be on the other sideline Sunday, other than praising Carrolls achievements.Uh, you know he had a successful program at SC in my tenure there and years prior, and after me leaving, Matthews said. So its always interesting how coaches will deal with the next level, and hes obviously doing a fantastic job. Hes got the right athletes in place to help his scheme out, and hes doing a great job. Youve got to tip your hat to him.Carroll admitted he observes the work of Matthews and every other Trojan in the NFL, even though he only occasionally reaches out to Matthews.Not too much, he said of communicating with his former player. But because its the SC family, everybody is always kind of keeping track of everybody else. We always have an eye on each other, I think.___AP Sports Writers Tim Booth and Genaro C. Armas contributed to this report.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '