to your community, as well as the league has to understand its entertaining for people to see that.Newton recalled how he was influenced by the Universit

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSUs Josh Boutte knows his late hit on Wisconsins DCota Dixon two weeks ago looked bad. Hes thankful that the recipient of the hit - which drew an ejection, a one-game suspension and a flood of criticism - was willing to listen to his side of the story.Believe it or not, the conversation that took place during Bouttes apologetic phone call and their communication via text message afterward created a bond between the two players.DCota Dixon, hes a really good guy, really nice guy, Boutte said Monday while speaking to reporters for the first time since the Wisconsin game. I got to talk to him and we exchanged numbers. We became friends over something that probably shouldnt have happened. But in a way, Im glad that we got to meet. ... I just wish him the best.Dixon had every reason to doubt Bouttes version of what happened on the play. The 346-pound LSU offensive lineman leveled Dixon well after the Tigers final offensive play, where Dixon had sealed the Badgers 16-14 upset by intercepting a Brandon Harris pass. Just as Dixon made it back to his feet to celebrate the interception, Boutte barreled into him and delivered a brutal hit on the unsuspecting defensive back.Dixon said he had already forgiven Boutte for the hit even before he called the next day to apologize and make sure he was OK. However, he appreciated that Boutte had requested to make contact so he could extend those sentiments.He was just saying, How are you doing? How is your head feeling? He was like, Man, I really didnt mean to do that. Im sorry for what I did, Dixon recalled. He mentioned how he thought I was still up, which I could kind of see. So I told him it was all right, it was totally OK and dont worry about it. It happens. Its part of the game.When the call ended, Dixon took a step that he worried might be inappropriate. He texted the Louisiana number that had just called him, unsure whether Boutte had even called from his own cell phone. The return gesture helped the two players find even more common ground.I texted him asking if there was anything that I could possibly pray for him about, Dixon said. He ended up texting me back and saying, Yeah, just pray that we have a good season and that Gods hand is on both of us moving forward throughout the season. So I ended up praying for him and it was OK.Dixons text touched Boutte, also a devout Christian.I would have to say [what helped us become friends was] just our relationship with God, Boutte said. He was a big God guy and after I found out that, it kind of like just meshed. Its almost like hes been in my life. It was really good. Hes a really good guy.Boutte faced near-universal condemnation from media critics and across social media immediately after the game, but LSUs stance from the beginning has been that Boutte did not realize Dixon was down before the hit.Anyone who knows Josh knows that he did not mean to hurt that kid or hit him [flagrantly]. It just was bad timing because it was at a frustrating point in the game, LSU center Ethan Pocic said. But anyone who knows Josh knows he didnt mean that. He was on the other hash and you see on film the kid gets up and from when the ball got intercepted, [Boutte] didnt stop running. He was running full-speed, and he honestly thought he was making a tackle.Just as he told Dixon that it was not an intentional cheap shot on their phone call, Boutte reiterated that point on Monday.On TV it seems like it happened so slow, and you can tell in the game experience, I literally looked up, I saw the ball in his hand and I was like, Ive got to get the ball, Boutte said.Even if it was an unintentional late hit, LSU still suspended Boutte for the Tigers game against Jacksonville State the following week. Dixon was fortunate to be OK, but Boutte could have seriously injured the Badgers defensive back on the play.Even though this was done by mistake, a play like this does not belong in the game of football, and therefore, action must be taken, LSU coach Les Miles said while announcing Bouttes suspension two days after the Wisconsin game.Boutte admitted the ordeal has been embarrassing, although Dixons forgiveness alleviated his shame over the situation somewhat.Cheap Adidas Ultra Boost White .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Cheap Adidas Ultra Boost Womens . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.stansmithdiscount.com/discount-ultra-boost-shoes.html . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Cheap Stan Smith Black . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Stan Smith On Sale . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton doesnt know why ratings have been down in the NFL this season, but he knows what hed like to see more of: players having fun and celebrating.The reigning NFL MVP says the league has to understand that allowing players to express themselves is good for the game.I really cant talk on their ratings, Newton said Tuesday as he prepared for a Thursday night game against the Saints. But in some?way, shape, form or fashion, we are entertainers. Our influence ranks second-to-none at this time of the year.Few, if any, in the league expressed himself more last season than Newton, whose Dab after touchdown runs spread throughout the country. Newton brought back the Atlanta-based dance in the second quarter of Sundays loss to Kansas City after proclaiming it retired following the 2015 season.Hes not sure whether hell continue to dab the rest of the season.But Newton would like the league to allow more celebrating.Youre asking a person who celebrates, he said with a smile.Newton grew up in Atlanta watching cornerback Deion Prime Time Sanders, known for high-stepping and showboating after big plays.Newton watched the Monday night game between the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals just to see what wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would do after a touchdown.Beckham did his version of Michael Jacksons Thriller. Newton began softly singing the lyrics to the song as he described it.Football is hard, man, Newton said. I cant stress it enough. The way my body feels right now is not going to be the same way it feels come Thursday. Now Im sore, but still knowing that Thursday I gotta give everything.And if scoring a touchdown, getting a sack, getting a win ... let alone all of that bottled up and staying here until 10 att night and here at 6 in the morning, all of that energy that you put, spending time away from your family, all of that bottled up and being able to do exactly what you planned and foresaw yourself doing, you are owed something.ddddddddddddNewton, whose foundation sponsors a 7-on-7 football tournament, says he sees his influence and the influence of other NFL players throughout the year talking to kids.So when you come out in blue cleats or white cleats, gold cleats, whatever cleats ... When you come out and do a certain dance, people are watching, Newton said. And when you nuke that, I wouldnt say the ratings may get affected. I dont know what you can determine to that.[But] Im an advocate of youth football, and every time I look on social media or wherever, and I see kids from where I grew up in Atlanta wearing your cleats to doing the whatever, its just mind-boggling. And you have to understand your worth to giving back to your community, as well as the league has to understand its entertaining for people to see that.Newton recalled how he was influenced by the University of Miami football team as a kid in terms of wanting to wear a bandanna as he wears now.I wasnt from Miami, but they didnt know how important they were for my overall growth for the love of football, Newton said. I am pretty sure there are people that I dont know that I wish I could talk to.Its just football brings a lot of people together. I saw one commercial the NFL put together where it says football is family -- and it really is. On a Sunday, on any given day that football is on, collegiate, high school and professional, it brings a lot of people together. ' ' '