Knee

In the wake of WWE's Over the Limit pay-per-view, a new Intercontinental champion has been crowned, four other champions continue to hold onto their titles and John Laurinaitis remains employed. Sunday night's show delivered an evening of quality entertainment and good in-ring performances. On a non-major PPV event, WWE delivered a product that surpassed the expectations of many. Here's a match-by-match look at the show: Battle Royale This last-minute addition to the card was a means of crowning a No. 1 contender for one of the midcard titles.

Zach Britton (shoulder) had his work day in Sarasota today. He is expected to pitch Saturday in Bowie on his first rehab assignment - the 30-day clock for pitchers starts then. Britton will pitch again for Double-A Bowie in Akron on May 31. His schedule after that has not been announced. J.J. Hardy is out of the lineup on Wednesday afternoon, just his second game off this year. Showalter said he wanted to give Hardy off two days in a row (with Thursday's team off day) and said Hardy's shoulder has been “a little barky” but he can play through it. Robert Andino will play shortstop and Ryan Flaherty is at second.

Right-hander Jason Hammel had fluid drained from his sore right knee this week and says he believes he is improving - certainly enough to make Friday's scheduled start and stay on the active roster. "I really feel like just getting me out there every fifth day is going to help the team," said Hammel, who is 5-1 with a 3.12 ERA. "Obviously, I don't want to kill the [bullpen], but I think missing me for a couple of weeks right now is probably not in the best interest of myself or the team.

Right-hander Jason Hammel had fluid drained from his sore right knee this week and says he believes he is improving - certainly enough to make Friday's scheduled start and stay on the active roster. "I really feel like just getting me out there every fifth day is going to help the team," said Hammel, who is 5-1 with a 3.12 ERA. "Obviously, I don't want to kill the [bullpen], but I think missing me for a couple of weeks right now is probably not in the best interest of myself or the team.

The NFL tweaked some of its rules Tuesday, making thigh and knee pads mandatory equipment for players (starting in 2013) and pushing forward a pair of other changes involving the trade deadline and injured reserve. The rule involving thigh and knee padding for players is already being met with criticism by some players who argue that the bulky, additional padding slows them down without adding much protection . Vanity might also be a factor here for some opponents of the rule change, specifically those flashy wide receivers and defensive backs.

In an early season of surprises, no one has been a more pleasant revelation or a bigger key to the Orioles' success than Jason Hammel. The big right-hander allowed two runs or fewer in his first seven starts. He didn't lose a game until April 30. Not bad for a guy that entered the season with a career 34-45 record and a 4.99 ERA. So there definitely was some concern when earlier this month Hammel's start was pushed back several days because he was having soreness in his right knee.

Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia will undergo arthroscopic surgery at a New York hospital Friday to correct a small meniscus tear in his right knee. Sabathia is scheduled to begin his regular routine in preparation for spring training three to six weeks after the surgery. In the meantime, manager Joe Girardi reportedly has begun to talk with the Yankees about the parameters of a new three-year contract for between $9 million and $10 million. And the Yankees declined to pick up the options of Lance Berkman ($15 million)

A 54-year-old man was in stable condition after being shot in the knee Saturday night in Northeast Baltimore, police said. Officers responding to a report of a shooting found the man at the corner of The Alameda and E. Belvedere Ave. just after 6 p.m., police said. The man had been shot once in the knee. He was transported to an area hospital. No other details were available. Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call 410-396-2455.

D.C. United goalkeeper Josh Wicks underwent successful surgey on his right knee, the team announced. Wicks, who had shoulder surgery on Oct. 29, is not expected to miss more than the original four to six months. He recorded five shutouts and posted a 1.4 goals against average on the year.

What fans and media know about Beanie Wells' injured right knee fits in a medium-sized paragraph. Wells suffered the injury against the Steelers last Sunday and has swelling. The knee is "stable", according to coach Ken Whisenhunt, and Wells won't knee surgery. The unknown, however, takes several paragraphs to explore. We don't know what part of the knee is injured. We don't know what made the knee keep "locking up" on Sunday. Wells said it's not related to the knee surgery he underwent last season.

In an early season of surprises, no one has been a more pleasant revelation or a bigger key to the Orioles' success than Jason Hammel. The big right-hander allowed two runs or fewer in his first seven starts. He didn't lose a game until April 30. Not bad for a guy that entered the season with a career 34-45 record and a 4.99 ERA. So there definitely was some concern when earlier this month Hammel's start was pushed back several days because he was having soreness in his right knee.

The Orioles' starting rotation, a strength during the team's early-season success, will be pieced together with patchwork the next two days. Right-hander Jason Hammel, who has anchored the rotation with a 4-1 record and 2.09 ERA, will most likely be pushed back from his scheduled start Thursday with right-knee soreness that he said had regressed the past two to three starts. But Hammel said he's confident that being pushed him back will avoid a stint on the disabled list.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter knew that at some point, his team's depth would be tested. And now in the fifth week of this young season, Showalter has his first true test: shuffling his roster throughout a sudden rash of injuries. The biggest - and most worrisome one - is right-hander Jason Hammel's right-knee soreness that will force the Orioles to push back his next start, which was scheduled for Thursday. Hammel said the soreness has gotten worse over his past two or three starts and has started to affect his delivery.

Anyone who watched John Greeley crumple to the turf after intercepting a pass untouched in the second quarter of Johns Hopkins' 8-2 loss to Navy on April 21 grimaced and knew that the junior midfielder would miss an extended period of time. That period of time has turned into the remainder of the season, according to coach Dave Pietramala. Greeley, who had recorded seven goals and seven assists in 12 starts this season, will undergo surgery to repair the left knee in which he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament last summer.

After opening the season with back-to-back losses by a combined three goals, Washington has ripped off four consecutive wins, capped by Saturday's comeback 10-9 victory over Centennial Conference rival McDaniel. The Shoremen's run has gotten this far despite a spate of injuries that have depleted the team of some of its top players. Sophomore attackman Jim Cusik, who registered 16 goals and three assists last year, tore the meniscus in his knee against Catholic March 10 and is out for the remainder of the season.

Three years ago, the Ravens signed Domonique Foxworth, a Maryland native, to one of the most lucrative free-agent contracts in team history. But an injury never gave Foxworth an opportunity to live up to the deal, and Monday, the Ravens terminated the veteran cornerback's contract. Foxworth, who hails from Randallstown and starred at Maryland, played in just two games for the Ravens the past two seasons after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a noncontact drill on the first day of training camp in 2010.

Orioles catcher Taylor Teagarden, acquired in the offseason to be a veteran reserve to Matt Wieters, said Tuesday that he's about 85 percent healthy after having two procedures on his right knee. Teagarden had a Baker's cyst - a buildup of joint fluid - behind his right knee removed in November. Doctors had to perform another procedure in the knee to remove blood that was forming in the back of the knee and affecting his range of motion. “That's all behind me now, and now it's just a strengthening phase and getting into baseball shape,” Teagarden said.

Safety Haruki Nakamura could miss at least a month after suffering a right knee injury in the Ravens' 37-7 victory over the St. Louis Rams Sunday. Although the team was still waiting for the results of a magnetic resonance imaging exam late Monday afternoon, coach John Harbaugh confirmed that timetable for Nakamura, who injured the posterior cruciate ligament in the knee. “Haruki's MRI is not back yet, but it looks promising,” Harbaugh said Monday. “In terms of him being able to come back, maybe a month or so. We'll see.” Nakamura suffered the injury during a punt return in the first quarter and did not return.

Salisbury's path to a possible 10th Division III championship could be blocked not only by an opponent, but also perhaps injuries. Senior attackmen Matt Cannone and Tony Mendes are battling leg injuries. Cannone suffered what coach Jim Berkman described as a leg strain suffered in the first quarter of the No. 1 Sea Gulls' 22-5 rout of then-No. 2 Roanoke on Saturday. And Mendes played sparingly in that contest because of an injured hamstring. But the offense barely missed a beat.

Orioles catcher Taylor Teagarden, acquired in the offseason to be a veteran reserve to Matt Wieters, said Tuesday that he's about 85 percent healthy after having two procedures on his right knee. Teagarden had a Baker's cyst - a buildup of joint fluid - behind his right knee removed in November. Doctors had to perform another procedure in the knee to remove blood that was forming in the back of the knee and affecting his range of motion. “That's all behind me now, and now it's just a strengthening phase and getting into baseball shape,” Teagarden said.