NASHVILLE http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/brian-urlacher-jersey , Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators started training camp explaining why they’re keeping a player after the NHL suspended forward Austin Watson for the entire preseason and the first 27 games of the regular season for domestic abuse.

Predators president Sean Henry and general manager David Poile made the move sound more like a family affair than a business decision Thursday.

“I think you would do everything you could do just to rehabilitate your child or make the situation whole,” Poile said.

“I’m hoping at the end of the day that maybe this is a blessing, that maybe this is what was meant to be for a lot of reasons and there’s going to be a good outcome for Austin and Jen and their baby. It’s a very difficult situation. It’s a private situation, and we’re the family that’s going to do our best to try to care of this.”

The NHL announced the suspension Wednesday night, and the NHL Players Association plans to appeal. Watson will not be paid during the suspension but can practice with the team and use the Predators’ resources all while not taking up a roster spot.

Watson, 26, was charged in an incident June 16 with his girlfriend after a witness flagged down a police officer to a gas station in Franklin, Tennessee. Watson told police he and his girlfriend were arguing and that he pushed her. Officers said they found red marks on her chest, and she said Watson caused them. Watson pleaded no contest to domestic assault on July 24.

As part of that plea, Watson can have the misdemeanor charge dismissed by fulfilling terms of the diversion program. Watson must serve three months of probation and complete both an in-patient treatment program and a batterer’s intervention program.

The Predators have been heavily criticized in Nashville for not commenting since Watson’s arrest. The franchise has been very involved with AMEND Rigoberto Sanchez Jersey , a program fighting domestic violence over the past few years. Watson was even in a commercial against domestic violence for the program.

Poile said the Predators’ players leadership group have talked repeatedly with both Watson and his girlfriend, and players were in the room during the news conference as a show of support. Henry was asked Thursday morning at an AMEND event why the Predators are keeping Watson and said it’s possible to both support Watson while fighting domestic violence.

“Whenever something like this hits a little closer to home, you have to look at it in two ways,” Henry said. “You have a choice. Walk away from the person or walk away from the issue. That’s how everyone looks at it. You can’t have both, and we don’t see it that way. We see engaging with Austin and Jen deeper, and most importantly staying with our commitment with AMEND.”

Neither Watson, nor his girlfriend, have spoken publicly about the incident or suspension.

The 18th pick overall in 2010, Watson scored a career-high 14 goals with five assists in 76 games last season. He had five goals and three assists in 13 playoff games.
The first workout in pads during training camp usually belongs to the defense, but Los Angeles Chargers center Mike Pouncey was ready to bring his own level of physicality.

Pouncey traded blows with Chargers defensive linemen Brandon Mebane and Corey Liuget on Monday Jason Spriggs Jersey , showing a ferocity he rediscovered because of how his time in Miami ended after seven seasons.

”It just lit that fire again in me,” Pouncey said. ”I never thought I would play with anybody but the Dolphins, but once they released me, it made me want to be an even better football player. It made me want to prove everybody wrong, and I’m excited to be here. I can’t wait to help this run game out, help this football team do something special.”

Pouncey signed a two-year contract with the Chargers in March, inspired by the chance to play with one of the game’s top quarterbacks in Philip Rivers.

His time in Miami saw Pouncey working with a host of journeymen before helping first-round draft pick Ryan Tannehill transition to the NFL. Rivers is at the other end of the spectrum in terms of talent, experience and understanding of the game. It didn’t take long for Pouncey to recognize Rivers’ comprehensive mastery of the position.

”I just like that he knows everything that is going on each and every play. When we go up, he’s the guy that points out the Mike (linebacker). He knows when blitzes are coming, so he puts us in the right protections and he gets us in and out of plays. When a bad look is there and we don’t want to run that play http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/aaron-jones-jersey , he switches the play,” Pouncey said.

”To be able to play with him, I don’t take it for granted. I feel like it’s something that I lucked up into, and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”

The chance to play on a team with viable Super Bowl aspirations was just as important for Pouncey, who reached the playoffs once during his time with the Dolphins, as the Chargers are the only team in the AFC West that returns its head coach, both coordinators and starting quarterback. The professionalism displayed by his new teammates during their brief time together has convinced Pouncey the Chargers can deliver on their growing expectations.

”Every year in the league I’ve always wanted to win,” Pouncey said. ”That’s the goal every year you go into training camp is to try and win something, win the Super Bowl. For me right now, at the point in my career http://www.officialcapitals.com/authentic-adidas-evgeny-kuznetsov-jersey , I’m excited to be on a football team that has a chance. They finished top of the league in offense last year, and our defense is unbelievable, so I feel with me coming here it can only help.”

Pouncey wants to make his presence felt in the run game, where the Chargers tied for 25th after averaging 3.8 yards per carry last season. He looked up to the part in practice, creating holes for Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. But Pouncey also felt the familiar push back from the likes of Mebane and Liuget on the interior.

Chargers defenders had been looking forward to the chance to hit again, and coach Anthony Lynn said their energy was evident.

”That’s kind of why you had to hold them back a little bit. You don’t want the excitement to go too far,” Lynn said.

The back and forth during the morning session was fine by Pouncey.

”First days of pads is always the funnest day,” Pouncey said. ”I feel we had a really good day as a football team on both sides of the football, and we can only get better from here.”

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