TEMPE, Ariz. -- Outside linebacker John Abraham has left the Arizona Cardinals and is considering retiring from the game. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said on Wednesday that Abraham, the games active sacks leader and ninth on the NFLs career list with 133 1/2, has been granted a leave of absence. The team obtained a roster exemption, using it to re-sign linebacker Marcus Benard. The 36-year-old Abraham sustained a concussion in Monday nights 18-17 season-opening victory over San Diego. But Arians said he had a long talk with Abraham on Tuesday and the concussion was not the main reason the player was considering leaving the game. Arians said that while Abraham goes through the NFL-mandated concussion protocol, he "will determine if he wants to continue playing football, whether his hearts still in it and he has the fire and desire to do it." Abraham, in his 15th NFL season, has five days under NFL rules before the Cardinals must either reinstate him or declare him out for the season. He missed nearly all of training camp to, as he later confirmed, undergo rehabilitation treatment for an alcohol problem. The rehab stint came after he was arrested in suburban Atlanta and charged with drunken driving. "I think with all the things that hes gone through in the last month, hes got a lot of things outside of football that hes never dealt with before," Arians said. "There are some people that can help him in that regard. Im not one of them." Arians said that "there are things Im not clinically smart enough to know what depression is and things like that so theres many issues that could be involved." Abraham, who had no tackles against the Chargers, expressed concern about whether he was hurting the team, Arians said. "If that game on Monday night football and that atmosphere didnt have you flying around like always or more, then somethings missing," the coach said, "and thats basically what he reflected to me. He said There were times in that game I wasnt in it and its not fair to my teammates. Ive got to decide if this is still what I really want to do." Abraham is in the second year of a two-year contract. He led the Cardinals with 11 1/2 sacks last season and made the Pro Bowl for the sixth time. He needs nine sacks to pass Michael Strahan for fifth on the career sacks list. Abraham played six seasons for the New York Jets and seven for the Atlanta Falcons before coming to Arizona as a free agent. "Were all hoping and praying for him, hoping he returns back to normal," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "Obviously, were going to miss him and miss his production. Somebody else has to step up. Coach Arians motto is next man up. Somebodys got to find a way to replace his production." The injury is another significant loss for the Arizona defence. Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett tore an ACL in training camp and is out for the season. The team already was without its two standout inside linebackers from a year ago. Karlos Dansby left for Cleveland via free agency and Daryl Washington is suspended for the season for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy. Arians said Abraham told him that this was his first concussion, something that teammate Lorenzo Alexander doubts is true. "Playing this game everybodys had multiple concussions. Whether or not theyre diagnosed is something totally different," Alexander said. "Im pretty sure hes had multiple concussions throughout his career like we all have. This was probably his first documented one." Arians said Sam Acho would move into Abrahams spot. "Johns a leader. Hes a guy that leads by example," Acho said. "You look at his film, the way he plays the game. I watch Johns film to see what I can do better." Leonard Fournette Womens Jersey . At times during a solid but not spectacular season, they looked all three. Still the defending AFC champions persevered, riding their top-ranked defence and key contributions from younger players to a 12-4 record and their eighth playoff appearance since 2000, remarkable consistency in a league where change is the only constant. Quincy Williams II Womens Jersey . JOHNS, N. http://www.officialjacksonvillejaguarspr...jaguars-jersey/. Consider it received. Attacking on offence early and often, the Penguins topped the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 on Saturday night as Jussi Jokinen scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to help give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference playoff series. Jalen Ramsey Womens Jersey .J. Hardy to avoid a three-game sweep after blowing a big early lead. Odour had a leadoff single in the seventh and scored the tiebreaking run with the help of two errors by Hardy as the Rangers went on to beat the Orioles 8-6 on Thursday night. Marqise Lee Jaguars Jersey . Vonn had another scary moment at Saturdays World Cup downhill in Val dIsere, ending up clutching her knee in pain after losing her balance and missing a gate. But she gave a reassuring answer shortly afterward, saying no new damage had been done to the surgically repaired knee, and that her plans for the Sochi Olympics were still intact.OAKLAND, Calif. -- No need for A.J. Griffin to glance over his shoulder at the bullpen. This game was all his to finish, something that seemed far-fetched when he walked two of the games first three batters. Griffin tossed a two-hitter for his first win in more than a month, Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer and the Oakland Athletics beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Wednesday for a sweep of their two-game series. Griffin (6-6) struck out seven and walked two in a 108-pitch gem for his first career complete game. "I was trying not to think about it because I was hoping I wasnt going to blow it," Griffin said. "Obviously, I get a little extra adrenaline going there." The shaggy-haired right-hander had been 0-3 in five starts since winning at Houston on May 25. He didnt allow a hit until Devin Mesoracos one-out single in the fifth, and Xavier Paul added a two-out double in the seventh for Cincinnati. Griffins mother, Kathy Griffin -- "not that one," he quipped of the comedian -- attended her first game of the season at the Coliseum to see his stellar start. With an off day Thursday, the pitcher planned to take his mom and girlfriend to a nice dinner. Its been a while since he has felt celebratory. The As had lost each of his last five starts. "I was getting tired of not personally me (not) getting a win but going out there every fifth day and the team losing," Griffin said. Pinch hitter Nate Freiman and Brandon Moss each hit an RBI double for Oakland. Griffin gave the As starters their first decision in four games after Oakland went three in a row without one for the first time this year. He struck out Jay Bruce swinging for a 1-2-3 ninth to end the 2-hour, 20-minute game -- looking as strong late as he did early. "The first two guys of the game it looked like his command might not be there," manager Bob Melvin said. "Then he found it and was spectacular." Oaklands fourth inning provided all the run support Griffin needed. Donaldson connected to highlight a four-run fourth after hitting a two-run homer in Tuesday nights 7-3 victory. Homer Bailey (4-6) faced just two over the minimum through three innings, and then ran into trouble in the fourth. He struck out seven and walked two in six innings in losing his second straight decision. Oakland got four straight hits to start the fourth, taking a 1-0 lead on Moss double. Jed Lowrie was nearly caught at third by a sprinting Yoenis Cespedes, who held up as Lowriee ran home but missed the bag before reaching back to touch the plate as catcher Mesoraco lost the ball.dddddddddddd Derrick Robinson and Joey Votto pulled off a double steal in the first to put runners on second and third, but Cincinnati missed more chances a day after stranding 11 baserunners. "Everybody is going to have a streak like this. It didnt matter because we didnt score any runs," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "You could, Homer did this or did that but we had no chance, even if it was 1-0. Not only are we not scoring runs but were not getting any hits either. Its not anything you want to do." The Reds are scheduled to get second baseman Brandon Phillips back from paternity leave Friday at Texas. Baker even had his team hit an abbreviated batting practice after the night game because, "This park plays as different day and night as anywhere in the big leagues." The tricky sun early and shadows late can be problematic. Donaldson experienced the glaring sun when the third baseman lost the ball on Pauls foul popup in the fourth. Stephen Vogt earned another start at catcher in place of injured starter John Jaso, a day after Vogt was promoted from Triple-A Sacramento. Griffin only shook off Vogt a couple of times, and chatted with the pitcher early to help get him back on track. "Its really easy to call a game when a guy is executing every pitch," Vogt said. "Ive had quite a few big league hugs, but that was a good one." Vogt is still searching for his first major league hit, going 0 for 3 to drop to 0 for 31 overall. Vogt was 0 for 25 with two walks in 18 games last season. Since 1990, the only longer hitless streak to open a career was 33 at-bats by Chris Carter with the As in 2010. NOTES: Griffin threw 73 of his pitches for strikes. ... As CF Coco Crisp had what Melvin called a non-emergency "family issue" that the team knew about Tuesday night. He arrived during the game. "This was a planned thing," Melvin said. Crisps replacement, Chris Young, struck out four times in the leadoff spot. ... Jaso missed his fifth straight start while he rested his injured left hand. Melvin expects him back Friday against St. Louis. ... The As raised $32,000 during their annual root beer float day for the Juvenile Research Diabetes Foundation. Melvins grown daughter has juvenile diabetes. The game drew 25,658. ... The Reds make just their second trip to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and first since 2002. ' ' '