Ein Traum wird wahr » eed him.Timmons has been a calming

Concussions drove Ben Utecht out of pro football five years ago.He fears that the effects from the hits he took as a tight end for four NFL seasons, and for four years before that at the University of Minnesota, will have a significant impact on his future health.Now a singer-songwriter and in-demand speaker, Utecht wanted to ensure that his family will always remember him as a bright, clever and insightful person. What better way than through a song?It was the hardest song I have ever had to co-write, the 33-year-old Utecht says. It came down to doing something I had not done yet in my life after my football career ended: writing that love letter to my wife and daughters. It was in concern that if the day comes when my mind begins to fail — when your faces and names begin to disappear — no matter what physically takes my memory, nothing will take away what you mean to me.Utecht, who earned a Super Bowl ring after the 2006 season with the Colts, left the NFL in 2009 after an injury settlement with the Bengals. The players union won a grievance so that he could get his entire salary.Since then, hes worked on his music and has been one of the leading advocates on behalf of current and former players recognition, treatment and medical coverage of concussions and head trauma. Hes currently a spokesman for the American Academy of Neurology and testified before Congress in August about concussion issues.Utecht also is one of the former players involved in the NFLs settlement of lawsuits over head trauma and concussions — a settlement still, well, unsettled as a judge determines its validity. The judge who preliminarily approved the settlement this summer heard objections last month and will make a decision in 2015.Hes passionate about his work for several national neurological organizations. Just as passionate as he is about his music, which includes an upcoming album entitled Man Up. Utecht tackles the topic in his songs, joking he is not a candy writer, but a meat-and-potatoes writer with Midwest values.Music is a universal language, he says. I can go to places and talk about neurology and people scratch their heads, and you see it has not clicked. But I can tell a story through melody and instrumentation and lyrics.One commonality we have is we are all human and emotional, and we all experience the spectrum of love and hate. Music doesnt know any of those boundaries.Utecht inherited his musical talents from his father, who was a music major and planned to be a choir teacher before he became a pastor. Indeed, Utecht grew up with training in more music-related activities than in sports.Clearly, though, he was skilled on the gridiron, enough to earn a full ride to Minnesota. While there, he sang the national anthem at a variety of sporting events, including local pro teams — except the Vikings, which would have been a violation of NCAA rules.He joined the Colts in 2005 and had 37 receptions as a backup tight end in 2006 when Indy won it all.But he was first known as the Singing Colt, because Utecht performed the anthem before the teams preseason game against Buffalo even before he played a down.That led to some musical connections in Indianapolis, and Utecht toured with gospel star Sandi Patty, who mentored him and recommended he pursue music as a profession.When football disappeared as an option — Utecht was knocked out for 90 seconds after a hit in training camp, causing a head injury that took eight months to recover from — he dived into his music full time.Eclectic in his musical tastes, Utechts Man Up is in the pop/country vein because, he says, all of the songs have meaning.These songs are designed to fill you and give you what can potentially help you, he says, specifically mentioning Standing Strong and Oblivion from the album. Your songs are pages in your diary. Your heartbeat is put into these recordings.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL New Balance Uk Sale . The Blue Jackets got goals from Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and R.J. Umberger and Curtis McElhinney posted his first shutout since 2011 in a 4-0 victory on Friday night. Wholesale New Balance Shoes . Messis father, Jorge Horacio Messi, is apparently still under investigation for an alleged 4 million euros ($5.3 million) in unpaid taxes from Messis image rights from 2007-09. Messis public relations firm confirmed Spanish media reports that the state prosecutor has asked for Messi to be dropped from the investigation that began in June 2013. http://www.newbalanceoutletuk.com/. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Cheap Wholesale New Balance . So much so that even a simple foul pop up to the first baseman turned into a run. Houstons four-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Monday night was capped by a bizarre play that started as Crowe fouled out to first baseman Justin Smoak with runners on second and third. Wholesale New Balance For Sale . Donald Young lost in straight sets to Israels Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-0. Querrey, ranked No. 61, is the second-highest ranked American, ahead of Johnson (64).PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Lawrence Timmons is in the midst of another Lawrence Timmons season. Steady. Occasionally spectacular. Largely unnoticed.He leads the Pittsburgh Steelers in tackles and has been one of the few constants on a unit ravaged by injury and inconsistency.In other words, its business as usual for the soft-spoken 28-year-old, even if that means another sublime season without a trip to the Pro Bowl.LT deserves all the credit, defensive end Cam Heyward said. This defence has been good for a very long time since hes been here. . So it was a shock when I got here that he never went to a Pro Bowl. He puts in the work, and hes successful on Sundays. Whats not to like about the guy?Timmons has 112 tackles, two sacks, six quarterback pressures and two pass breakups. He also has called all the defensive signals the past two seasons and hasnt missed a game since 2009.Hes probably one of the most underrated linebackers, cornerback Ike Taylor said. When teams game-plan for us, they do it for Troy and they do it for 94, because they know what (Timmons) brings to the table. When you talk about a throwback linebacker, youre talking about LT. Hes not afraid of contact. He initiates it. I know all about that, and Im glad hes on my team.Defensive co-ordinator Dick LeBeau has seen a lot of good players during some five decades in the NFL, and Timmons has to be among the most versatile.dddddddddddd The Steelers ask him to rush the passer, cover running backs, tight ends and wideouts in pass coverage and knock down ball carriers.Ive said the last several years that he plays at a Pro Bowl-level, and I feel that hes doing that again, LeBeau said. Hes a very, very good player and does a lot of things for us. . I think he can go and play with any group of athletes and hold his own, whether its across the ocean over there in Hawaii or this Sunday where were going to need him.Timmons has been a calming presence during a season where there has been a lot of turnover at linebacker with injuries to Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier and James Harrison, though the starting group should be intact when the Steelers (8-5) visit the Atlanta Falcons (5-8) on Sunday.When you think about the Pittsburgh Steelers, you start with the linebackers, and hes been doing a great job in the middle for us for quite a while, strong safety Troy Polamalu said. Honestly, I dont think all the accolades matter to him. All that matters is that we win games and win some hardware.Notes: CB Ike Taylor (right forearm, shoulder) is doubtful for Atlanta. ... Harrison (knee) is questionable. ... C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle), OT Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and CB William Gay (quadricep) are probable.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '