Matt Schaub, Houston QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta RB Jamaal Charles

NEW ORLEANS -- NBA Commissioner David Stern said Wednesday his $250,000 fine of the San Antonio Spurs was justified because the club went beyond what league owners agreed was a reasonable approach to resting healthy players. Graham Zusi World Cup Jersey . Stern said coaches should have the authority to rest players at the end of the season, but that teams should not rest four starters little more than a month into it, and the team made matters worse by not notifying the league beforehand. Last week, the Spurs sent home Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green before a game in Miami. Stern points out that Green is 26 and Parker 30, and that he doubted any of the players needed rest this early in the season in what was also their only visit to Miami. "In the case of San Antonio, they didnt just come into town and rest healthy players, they sent a 26-year-old and a 30-year-old, plus Manu and Tim home virtually under cover of darkness ... and without notifying as our rules require for injury and illness," Stern said before watching the Hornets play the Los Angeles Lakers. Stern said owners discussed resting healthy players at a meeting in April 2010, and that the Spurs would have remembered it. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich often rested healthy players last season after the lockout and there was no punishment, but Stern decided to act after this game, which was televised nationally by TNT. "Maybe its my mistake not to think that injury and illness when youre secreting someone away should also include deciding to move them out," Stern said. "So in all of the circumstances, I thought that if we didnt do something this time, there would never be a reason to do it. "(It was the Spurs) only visit to Miami, practically the first month of the season. Notifying nobody and sending home young and healthy players merited a rebuke and I did it." Stern said the punishment had nothing to do with his feelings about Popovich but solely the actions of the Spurs, who ignored NBA rules that teams must notify the league, opposing team and media when players wont travel because of injury. They have not appealed the fine. "This was a team decision," Stern said. "This was not me and Pop. Pop is a great coach, Hall of Fame coach, and this decision was made by the entire senior management of the San Antonio Spurs. And I felt that they were doing what they perceived as their job and I was doing what I presume as my job and thats what happens. "I would suggest to you if we had been notified it wouldnt have happened, so maybe from their perspective they did the right thing." Stern was making a regularly scheduled visit with first-year Hornets owner Tom Benson, who is also the owner of the NFLs Saints, to see how Bensons plans for the NBA franchise were taking shape. Stern visited Saints headquarters, where new construction has begun on additions that will also accommodate Hornets offices and practice courts. Matt Besler USA Jersey . So when he came to the plate in the eighth inning, Chisenhall had one objective -- a double. Nick Rimando Jersey . The four return-legs of the Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs will be played Tuesday to determine the final four teams to qualify for next years tournament. NEW YORK -- Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson want to cap their sensational comebacks with Super Bowl appearances. For now, they can be proud of Pro Bowl spots. So can Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, one of two rookies chosen Wednesday for the Jan. 27 NFL all-star game. Manning missed all of the 2011 season with neck and back problems that required several operations. He then signed with Denver as a free agent and has led the Broncos on a 10-game winning streak to take the AFC West. "I know theres great players out there in the NFL, but theres some great players on this team this year that deserve to go," said Manning, whose 12th Pro Bowl is a record for quarterbacks. He ranks fourth in league passing this year, has thrown 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Four other Broncos made the AFC roster: DE Elvis Dumervil, linebacker Von Miller, CB Champ Bailey and tackle Ryan Clady. Baileys 12th appearance is a record for defensive backs. "My goal has always been to go out and help the team win and play at a high level," Manning added. "Anything that comes along with that, like being honoured as a Pro Bowl selection, is very humbling." Minnesotas Peterson tore up his left knee on Christmas Eve last year, underwent major surgery, then was back for the season opener. Hes gone from uncertain to unstoppable, running away with the rushing title with a career-high 1,898 yards and lifting the Vikings toward an NFC wild card. "Coming into the season after going through the rehab process, I just told myself that I wanted to lead my team to a championship and make sure that I contribute and do my part," Peterson said. "Ive been doing it." Griffin is one of three rookie QBs who had superb debut seasons, along with Andrew Luck of Indianapolis and Russell Wilson of Seattle. Luck and Wilson werent voted to the Pro Bowl by players, coaches and fans, although their teams are in the playoffs; Griffin can get to the post-season if Washington beats Dallas on Sunday. "You cant play down those kind of things," Griffin said. "Ive always said my whole football career that you dont play for awards. They just come. You dont say youre going to win the Heisman. You dont say youre going to win MVP. You go out and you prove it on the field, and if everyone feels that way then theyll give you that award." San Francisco had the most players selected, nine, including six from its second-ranked defence. Houston was next with eight, six on offence. Kansas City, despite its 2-13 record that is tied with Jacksonville for worst in the league, had five Pro Bowlers, including RB Jamaal Charles, who like Peterson is coming back from a torn ACL. One other rookie, Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh, was chosen. Walsh has nine field goals of at least 50 yards, an NFL mark. The AFC kicker is at the other end of the spectrum: Clevelands Phil Dawson earned his first selection in his 14th NFL season. "I deliberately tried not to know," Dawson said. "We wanted to watch the show with my kids. I had a really good idea what was going on, but it was a pretty priceless moment when we saw the name flash up on the screen. My kids went nuts cause my wife went nuts. That makes these 15 years of waiting worth it." Another record setter will be heading to Honolulu: Detroit WR Calvin Johnson. Johnson broke Jerry Rices single-season yards receiving record and has 1,892 yards with a game left. Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez set the record for Pro Bowls at his position by being chosen for the 13th time. The leagues top two sackmasters, DEs Aldon Smith of San Francisco and J.J. Watt of Houston, were first-time selections. Watt has 20 1-2 sacks, one ahead of Smith; the NFL record is 22 1-2. Other newcomers, along with Griffin, Walsh and Dawson, were AFC players tackle Duane Brown and guard Wade Smith of Houston; safety LaRon Landry of the Jets; kick returner Jacoby Jones of Baltimore; and punter Dustin Colquitt of Kansas City. For the NFC, first-timers were Giants WR Victor Cruz; Atlanta WR Julio Jones; Seattle tackle Russell Okung and centre Max Unger; San Francisco guard Mike Iupati, linebacker NaVorro Bowman and safety Donte Whitner; Chicago cornerback Tim Jennings and defensive tackle Henry Melton; Washington tackle Trent Williams and special teamer Lorenzo Alexander; Minnesota fullback Jerome Felton; Tampa Bay DT Gerald McCoy; and New Orleans punter Thomas Morstead. Eight teams had no Pro Bowl players: Carolina, Philadelphia and St. Louis in the NFC, Tennessee, Buffalo, Jacksonville, San Diego and Oakland in the AFC. AFC Pro Bowl Roster (Offence) NFC Pro Bowl Roster (Offence) QB Tom Brady, New England QB Robert Griffin III, Washington QB Peyton Manning, Denver QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay QB Matt Schaub, Houston QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta RB Jamaal Charles, Kansas City RB Frank Gore, San Francisco RB Arian Foster, Houston RB Marshawn Lynch, Seattle RB Ray Rice, Baltimore RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota FB Vonta Leach, Baltimore FB Jerome Felton, Minnesota WR A. DeAndre Yedlin World Cup Jersey. . Green, Cincinnati WR Victor Cruz, New York Giants WR Andre Johnson, Houston WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit WR Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis WR Julio Jones, Atlanta WR Wes Welker, New England WR Brandon Marshall, Chicago TE Rob Gronkowski, New England TE Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta TE Heath Miller, Pittsburgh TE Jason Witten, Dallas C Chris Myers, Houston C Jeff Saturday, Green Bay C Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh C Max Unger, Seattle G Logan Mankins, New England G Jahri Evans, New Orleans G Wade Smith, Houston G Mike Iupati, San Francisco G Marshal Yanda, Baltimore G Chris Snee, New York Giants T Duane Brown, Houston T Russell Okung, Seattle T Ryan Clady, Denver T Joe Staley, San Francisco T Joe Thomas, Cleveland T Trent Williams, Washington AFC Pro Bowl Roster (Defence) NFC Pro Bowl Roster (Defence) DT Geno Atkins, Cincinnati DT Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay DT Haloti Ngata, Baltimore DT Henry Melton, Chicago DT Vince Wilfork, New England DT Justin Smith, San Francisco DE Elvis Dumervil, Denver DE Jared Allen, Minnesota DE Cameron Wake, Miami DE Julius Peppers, Chicago DE J.J. Watt, Houston DE Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants ILB Derrick Johnson, Kansas City ILB NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco ILB Jerod Mayo, New England ILB Patrick Willis, San Francisco OLB Tamba Hali, Kansas City OLB Clay Matthews, Green Bay OLB Robert Mathis, Indianapolis OLB Aldon Smith, San Francisco OLB Von Miller, Denver OLB DeMarcus Ware, Dallas CB Champ Bailey, Denver CB Tim Jennings, Chicago CB Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets CB Patrick Peterson, Arizona CB Johnathan Joseph, Houston CB Charles Tillman, Chicago SS Eric Berry, Kansas City SS Donte Whitner, San Francisco SS LaRon Landry, New York Jets FS Dashon Goldson, San Francisco FS Ed Reed, Baltimore FS Earl Thomas, Seattle AFC Pro Bowl Roster (Specialists) NFC Pro Bowl Roster (Specialists) P Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City P Thomas Morstead, New Orleans K Phil Dawson, Cleveland K Blair Walsh, Minnesota KR Jacoby Jones, Baltimore KR Leon Washington, Seattle ST Matthew Slater, New England ST Lorenzo Alexander, Washington ' ' '