National Sports

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Even though the Dallas Cowboys have underperformed under head coach Jason Garrett, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones is standing behind him.

In his first two full seasons with the Cowboys, the team has gone just 8-8 back-to-back years. He is also entering the third year of his four-year contract. While some are putting Garrett on the hot seat, Jones doesn't see it that way.

"Well, no, he's not ... to the last question: Is Jason coaching for his job? No," Jones told the NFL Network. "What we're doing is taking the assets that we have, and Jason being right at the top and certainly our premier asset, and we're using them to the best of our ability."

While he served as an assistant coach with the team, Garrett was a much heralded coaching prospect, but it has yet to translate on the field. Despite a talented roster, the team has yet to reach the playoffs under Garrett. The team did have the sixth rated offense in 2012, but also had the 19th ranked defense.

Garrett is reportedly considering relinqueshing the play-calling duties to assistant head caoch Bill Callahan, or another coach on the staff, for the upcoming season.

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Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images(DENVER) -- NHL Hall-of-Fame goalie Patrick Roy has agreed in principle to join the Colorado Avalanche as its Head Coach/Vice President of Hockey Operations.

“This is an unbelievable day for me,” said Roy. “It’s a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. I would like to thank (Owner) Stan and (President) Josh Kroenke for this opportunity as well as (Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations) Joe Sakic for the trust they are putting in me."

"Almost 10 years to the day that I announced my retirement as a player I am back in Denver and hope the fans are as excited as I am,” he continued. 

Roy played seven-and-a-half seasons for the Avalanche, winning two Stanley Cups.

The 47-year-old three time Vezina Trophy winner, has spent the last eight seasons as the head coach and general manager of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he had a 348-196-0 record.                                                                                                                      

Chris Graythen/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The Arizona Cardinals signed their third round draft pick Tyrann Mathieu to a four-year contract Thursday.

“I never doubted it,” Mathieu said on the team's website when talking about signing an NFL contract. “I knew it was a long shot and it would be a process, but to finally sit down and sign my name on the dotted line means a lot to me.”

League sources told ESPN's Ed Werder that Mathieu will receive a $662,500 guarenteed signing bonus.

A source of ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said Mathieu will receive $265,000 upfront with the rest of the money coming through annual roster bonuses.

Mathieu becomes the sixth of the Cardinals nine draft picks to sign.

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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images(DETROIT) -- Jimmy Howard saved all 28 shots he faced leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-0 Game 4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in their Western Conference semifinal playoff series Thursday night.

The Red Wings lead the series 3-1, and are one win from eliminating the top-seeded Blackhawks from the postseason.

Howard has now held the Hawks to one goal or less in three straight games.

"He has kind of been in a groove for a while now," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "And we need that to be successful."

Red Wings defensemen Jakub Kindil scored his first goal of the postseason 10:03 into the second period.

Corey Crawford had 25 saves in the loss for Chicago.

Game 5 is Saturday night in Chicago. Start time scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

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