rceptions.Chicago is hoping that changes with the additions of 336-pound defensive end Akiem Hicks, inside linebackers Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan, and No. 9 overall draft pick Leonard Floyd at outside lin

MIAMI -- Mike Miller was a luxury that the Miami Heat decided they could no longer afford. Miller was designated Tuesday as the teams amnesty player, a move that may save the Heat more than $30 million in luxury tax payments over the next two years and comes only a few days after team president Pat Riley said the two-time defending NBA champions were hoping to keep the core of the roster largely intact for next season. But with the teams tax bill set to be bigger than ever -- depending on what the final payroll numbers are, the Heat could pay as much as $2.50 per $1 they are over the salary-cap threshold for this coming season under the leagues new and more punitive rules -- the team ultimately made the call to part with Miller, a move that he suspected was coming. "I understand the business side of basketball," Miller told The Associated Press. "Its a combination of being very, very thankful for the opportunity that Ive had, but it hurts that we had a chance to do something very, very special and Id love to have been a part of it." Riley said the team tried to trade Miller, then had to make "a very difficult decision" to use the one-time amnesty provision on him. He said the teams managing general partner Micky Arison, CEO Nick Arison and coach Erik Spoelstra all struggled with the decision. "Mike had an incredible impact on the Miami Heat; helping us to three finals appearances and winning back-to-back World Championships," Riley wrote in a statement released by the team. "This was a very difficult decision for me personally, the Arison family, Erik and the entire Miami Heat organization. Mike was one of the best we have ever had here, and will be sorely missed. We wish Mike, his wife Jennifer and their family nothing but the best." Miller would have made $6.2 million this season, and $6.6 million next season. He still gets that money, but his salary will not count against Miamis cap, nor will it count against a luxury-tax hit that was in line to exceed $30 million this coming season alone. "I love Mike. We all love Mike," Heat guard Dwyane Wade told AP as the news of the teams decision broke. "Its tough to lose one of our brothers. But I think we all understand its not personal. Its a business decision." If Miller is not claimed off waivers, he becomes a free agent later this week. Its believed he would like to play for a title contender, and a return to Memphis -- where he spent parts of six seasons -- would likely appeal to Miller. "I know I can be very, very productive for a couple years for sure," Miller said. "But at the same time, it would be very difficult to go into a situation where youre not competing for a title. So Im going to have to weigh those things, and well see how it plays out." Miller spent three seasons in Miami, helping the Heat win two titles and playing big roles in each playoff run. He started the last four games of this years NBA Finals, the highlight of that run possibly being how he lost a shoe during play early in the fourth quarter of Game 6 against San Antonio, flipped it over to the bench, came downcourt and swished a 3-pointer anyway to help the Heat rally from 10 points down in the final 12 minutes. He also came off the bench to make seven 3-pointers in the title-clinching Game 5 win over Oklahoma City in 2012. "Ive had a pretty good career and Ive been a part of a lot of special things," said Miller, the NBAs rookie of the year in 2000-01 and sixth man of the year in 2005-06. "Ive won some individual awards and now two rings, so Im going to have some pretty good memories." Miller plans to keep playing for at least a couple more years, saying that he feels better now than he has in several seasons. He expressed disappointment that not only will he not get to help the Heat try for a third straight title, he will no longer be playing alongside Udonis Haslem, his former college teammate at Florida. Reuniting with Haslem was one of the many reasons why Miller signed with Miami. "I said this when I first got back here: My career started in the state of Florida with unbelievable teammates, one of them being Udonis," Miller said. "And then ending back up in Florida with UD, that was a special thing. We had a chance to win a national championship, came up short, then at the end got back as teammates in the NBA and won two championships together. Thats special." Connor McGovern Youth Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Randy White Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. http://www.cowboysfootballgearshop.com/roger-staubach-jersey/ . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Emmitt Smith Youth Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Terrell Owens Cowboys Jersey . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears rebuilt their front seven on defense. They gave their offensive line a makeover, too. And they also got hit with a rash of injuries.Between players going down and poor play in general, it was a rough preseason for a team trying to pick itself up after finishing last in the NFC North at 6-10.On the positive side for the Bears? Teams have a history of making big jumps in their second season under coach John Fox.Carolina did it. So did Denver. And the Chicago is hoping the pattern holds.The Bears have been plagued by injuries and at least two important players might be limited or unavailable for the opener at Houston on Sept. 11: star right guard Kyle Long (shoulder) and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who had offseason knee surgery.There are also concerns in the secondary, and the offense is missing two of its top contributors from last season after Chicago parted with running back Matt Forte and tight end Martellus Bennett.Besides all that, they released Robbie Gould and ended an 11-year run with the most accurate kicker in franchise history while upgrading their offensive line by signing three-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton on Sunday night.Here are some things to look for this season:CATCHING UP: The Bears will finally get to see just how just how dynamic a receiving tandem Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White can be. They never got that chance last season.The 6-foot-3, 216-pound White missed his rookie season because of a stress fracture in his left shin after being drafted with the seventh overall pick. But with his size and physical skills, Chicago is counting on big things from the West Virginia product.Hes an explosive guy, Cutler said. You can see hes a physical specimen. So well just find ways to get him the ball in space and kind of let him catch and run and use that speed and that burst hes got.Jeffery led the team in receiving, but there are questions about his ability to stay healthy, not to mention his future with the club.Calf, hamstring, groin and shoulder problems limited the former Pro Bowl receiver to nine games last season after he played in all 16 the previous two years. A strained hamstring in training camp only raised more questions.Jeffery is also playing under the franchise tag after he and the Bears were unable to agree to a long-termm contract extension.ddddddddddddINING UP: Quarterback Jay Cutler should be happy after the Bears signed Sitton. After all, Chicago now has two elite guards.With Sitton at left guard, rookie Cody Whitehair could slide to center. Veteran Ted Larsen, who took over when Hroniss Grasu tore the ACL in his right knee in early August, is another option.A healthy and effective Long would also take some pressure off new right tackle Bobby Massie as well as the center. Long is back at guard, the position he played his first two seasons, after filling in at right tackle last year.UP FRONT: While the defense made strides in its first year under Fox and coordinator Vic Fangio, the Bears were inconsistent and lacked playmakers. They tied for 22nd against the run, 22nd in sacks and 30th in interceptions.Chicago is hoping that changes with the additions of 336-pound defensive end Akiem Hicks, inside linebackers Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan, and No. 9 overall draft pick Leonard Floyd at outside linebacker.PROVING TIME: With two-time Pro Bowler Forte and the colorful Bennett gone, the Bears are banking on players who are unproven or have injury histories to fill the voids.Jeremy Langford, who had 537 yards rushing and 279 receiving as a rookie, leads a committee that includes KaDeem Carey, Jacquizz Rodgers and fifth-round pick Jordan Howard.At tight end, the Bears are counting on Zach Miller staying healthy -- no sure thing given his history. The veteran earned a two-year contract after he re-established himself last season by catching 34 passes for 439 yards and a team-leading five touchdown receptions. Miller also missed the 2012, `13 and `14 seasons because of injuries and spent much of the preseason in the NFLs concussion protocol.SMOOTH TRANSITION: The Bears maintained some continuity for Cutler when offensive coordinator Adam Gase took the Miami Dolphins coaching job by promoting quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains. That was hardly a surprise.Cutler had one of his best seasons for Chicago, posting a career-high 92.3 rating and cutting his interceptions from 18 to 11 in 15 games.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '