Players under contract No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Age Exp. College 55 Desmond Bishop ILB 6-2 238 27 5 California 50 A.J. Hawk ILB 6-1 247 28 6 Ohio State 49 Robert Francois ILB 6-2 255 26 2 Boston College 51 D.J. Smith ILB 5-11 239 22 R Appalachian State 52 Clay Matthews OLB 6-3 255 25 3 Southern California 59 Brad Jones OLB 6-3 242 25 3 Colorado 58 Frank Zombo OLB 6-3 254 24 2 Central Michigan 97 Vic So'oto OLB 6-3 263 24 R Brigham Young 57 Jamari Lattimore OLB 6-2 230 23 R Middle Tennessee St.Free agents No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Age Exp. College 93 Erik Walden OLB 6-2 250 26 4 Middle Tennessee St.The good news: Even though his sack numbers were down precipitously – just six, after a combined 23.5 his first two NFL seasons – Clay Matthews is on the Green Bay Packers' roster, and that's awfully good news. ProFootballFocus.com credited Matthews with six sacks, 22 quarterback hits and 43 pressures in 16 games (including the playoff loss to the New York Giants) last season; in 2010, he had 17 sacks, 12 hits and 45 pressures in 19 games; in 2009, he had 11 sacks, 14 hits and 26 pressures in 16 games. So his overall production, despite the extra attention he gets, didn't drop. He was also solid in coverage (three interceptions, only one 20-yard pass play allowed) and remains a high-effort player. Bishop is almost as valuable and certainly deserves credit for a fine season, too. He missed three games after pulling his calf at Detroit on Thanksgiving, but he still led the team in tackles in the regular season (142), forced two fumbles and had five sacks, second only to Matthews on the sack-starved defense. After becoming the starter in 2010 following Nick Barnett's broken wrist, Bishop took his game to a new level in 2011.The bad news: Outside linebackers in the 3-4 defense can come from just about anywhere and develop into terrific players, with James Harrison being Exhibit A. The Packers had success on a lesser level in the previous two years with Jones, a seventh-round pick in 2009 who started nine games as a rookie; with Zombo, an undrafted free agent who made the conversion from 4-3 defensive end after being scouted by some NFL teams as a potential tight end; and Walden, who had a breakthrough three-sack game in the 2010 must-win regular-season finale against Chicago. The problem in 2011, of course, was that none of those players elevated his game and gave Matthews an adequate running mate, leaving the right outside linebacker position as the most glaring of needs as the offseason heats up. Zombo had his moments as a rookie (five sacks, three quarterback hits, six pressures) but 2011 was a wasted year after he suffered one injury after another. At this point, it doesn't appear that he, Jones or Walden (the position's lone free agent) has what it takes to be an impact player. "We were looking for that guy this year," outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene said after the season. "We gave a number of guys the opportunities to step up and show that he was going to be that guy, and they came up short. It didn't happen. (So) we're still looking for that guy. We definitely are looking for somebody to be the match for Clay on the other side of the defense. Absolutely."The big question: While it's hard to predict how much interest Walden will generate on the free-agent market, his status is hardly the biggest question of the offseason. Instead, it's a player who isn't scheduled to be a free agent: Hawk. The Packers had to cut Hawk last offseason because the final year of his rookie contract called for a $10 million guaranteed salary. Then, in the brief window before the lockout, the Packers re-upped with Hawk, giving him a five-year, $33 million deal with a guaranteed $10 million up front. As it turned out, it was a costly purchase. Hawk was his usual solid-but-unspectacular self, and when Smith, a rookie, filled in, he played as well if not better, showing how easily Hawk could be replaced. The question now becomes, does Thompson, who drafted Hawk with the No. 5 pick in 2006, live with the signing or cut his losses?Offseason outlook: While Thompson isn't going to go all Ron Wolf and use his first three picks in the 2012 NFL Draft on outside linebackers a la Wolf in 1999 with cornerbacks, it's not hard to imagine him picking a bevy of defensive players if the board falls in his favor. Outside linebacker has to be at the top of his wish list. Meanwhile, Greene hasn't completely given up hope on his "kids," and So'oto, for one, is an interesting candidate. He only saw limited action on defense and the word "raw" is often used to describe him, but an offseason in the program can do nothing but help him. "If we had him, he would've shown up sometime this year. He would've done something," Greene replied when asked if Jones, Zombo, Walden or So'oto might emerge. Then, he added, "Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up on my kids that I have." For that hope to be realized, Greene's "kids" will have to put the offseason to excellent use. Meanwhile, Smith also stands to benefit from another year in the system after impressing as a rookie. Whether he can take his game to the next level if given the chance to assume Hawk's starting role is vital to improving the league's worst-ranked defense.Next: Defensive backs.– Jason Wilde

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Energy investor T. Boone Pickens: America needs leadership on energy
• He says vast reserves of cheaper, cleaner natural gas could displace OPEC oil
• Pickens: U.S. could have a more secure energy system and help control gas prices
• He commutes in a natural gas-powered car whose fuel is less than $1 a gallon

Long Beach, California (CNN) -- Gasoline at $4 a gallon is no worry for T. Boone Pickens, the billionaire energy investor from Texas. He drives from his home to his office in a car that runs on fuel costing less than $1 a gallon.

His method: He has a device that fuels his Honda Civic GX with natural gas from the pipes that serve his home. And he thinks there's a lesson there for America's energy woes.

Pickens, who is speaking Wednesday at the TED2012 Conference in Long Beach, California, said America needs to make natural gas a building block of a plan for ending oil imports from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Natural gas is "cheaper, it's cleaner, it's abundant and it's ours, and we're fools not to use it," Pickens said in an interview with CNN.

Pickens, an 83-year-old trained geologist who has been working in the energy field since 1951, said the United States could use domestic resources to replace the 5 million barrels of oil imported daily from OPEC, which makes up a quarter of America's daily use of oil. The U.S. natural gas reserves amount to the equivalent of three times the oil reserves possessed by Saudi Arabia, he said.

"All you need now is leadership," he said, lamenting that America "has no plan, we've gone 40 years with no energy plan. We're the largest user of oil in the world."

Pickens' plan is encapsulated in the Natural Gas Act, a bill with Democratic and Republican sponsors, that would provide tax credits to replace diesel-fuel burning truck engines with natural gas-powered engines; users of natural gas as a transportation fuel would pay fees that would make up for the lost government revenue.

His firm, BP Capital, has a vested interest in energy policy since it invests in energy futures and the shares of firms in a variety of parts of the industry.

He said the worry over increasing fuel prices in the United States rests in part on a lack of understanding of the energy market. Energy prices in America are by far the cheapest in the world, with Europeans paying more than double to fuel their cars and with natural gas costing four or five times as much in Europe and China.

Promises of much lower fuel prices are a fantasy, Pickens said, since the world's demand for oil is roughly equal to the amount that is being produced.

Pickens said the media should challenge GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on his claim that if elected he can lower gasoline prices to $2.50 a gallon.

"You've got Donald Trump saying don't pay OPEC $100 for the oil. Just tell 'em you'll give them $50.

"Really? I go into Trump's hotel, it's $1,000 for a suite and I say I'm not going to give you that, I'll give you $200. I'm on the street looking for another place to sleep. You can't tell 'em I'll give you $50 when the world market is $100. It just doesn't work that way."

He said he still favors wind energy, which was a key part of the "Pickens Plan" he put forth in 2008, but the price of natural gas is now so low that wind projects can't compete economically, Pickens said.

With 70% of everyday oil use going to transportation fuel, he said the impact of putting a much cheaper fuel such as natural gas into the market will be to bring the price of gasoline and diesel down.

His current plan is focused on moving trucks to natural gas, but he said President Barack Obama could also urge consumers to commit that their next car will run on a domestically produced fuel, whether it's natural gas or a plug-in electric vehicle.

A Wall Street Journal editorial Tuesday, headlined "Boone-Doggle," called Pickens' plan "the hottest energy fad in Washington" and criticized it for proposing subsidies for a natural gas industry that should compete on its own.

The start-up costs of relying on natural gas for transportation aren't cheap. The cost of replacing truck engines is roughly $35,000 apiece, Pickens said. His own natural gas car costs thousands more than a gasoline-powered Honda Civic, and then there is the cost, which he said was $2,000, to install the natural gas fueling device for the car.

And U.S. consumers have only that one natural gas model from which to choose. In France, he said, there are 62 models that use natural gas. Pickens said American carmakers do produce such vehicles for overseas markets but have not seen a viable market in this country.

One of the concerns is that there isn't a widespread network of service stations that could refuel a natural gas-powered car. Pickens said natural gas is available in pipes that go down every street and alley, so it could eventually be more accessible for refueling.

"Somebody says you couldn't get in that car and drive to Chicago, well, you could -- you'd have to do a little work to see where the stations are, but I'm not going to drive that car to Chicago, I'm going to drive that car from my house to my office."

And if he is going on a trip to Chicago? "I'm going to get in my wife's car. She has a bigger car. Women always have bigger cars than men do."

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HUNTINGTON -- City police arrested a local man Tuesday charging him with burglarizing his ex-wife's residence and beating her in the process, according Huntington Police Capt. Alan Rohrig and court documents

The incident happened at 8:08 p.m. Tuesday in the 1600 block of 12th Avenue. Criminal complaints charge that Roger Dale Justice, 41, broke a window and forced his way into the ex-wife's residence. That led to him hitting her multiple times with a closed fist, which tore skin from her cheek.

The complaints also charge Justice with hitting her in the back of the head, chest and torso. It further states he continued punching and kicking her in the right thigh once she fell to the ground. She suffered torn skin, bruising and a large knot.

Rohrig said patrol units initially responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at the 12th Avenue residence. They arrived to find the assailant had run from the scene. Officers then captured him in an alley behind the house.

Huntington Police charged Justice with felony burglary and malicious wounding, along with misdemeanor destruction of property and failure to process, according to the complaints. The misdemeanors allege Justice threw unknown objects to break windows on the first and second floor of the house and refused to be fingerprinted by police.

Justice was incarcerated at 11:05 p.m. Tuesday in the Western Regional Jail. He was detained on a $30,000 bond.

The criminal complaints were filed in Cabell County Magistrate Court.

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Facing the reality of a tight salary-cap situation and a youth movement at wide receiver, the Pittsburgh Steelers will release 14-year veteran Hines Ward, the team announced Wednesday.

The move has been expected. NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported earlier this month the Steelers would release Ward, who had two years and $8 million left on his contract.

"We had a conversation today with Hines Ward and informed him that we plan to release him of his contract prior to the start of the 2012 NFL calendar year," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement posted on the team's website. "Hines has been an integral part of our success since we drafted him in 1998 and we will forever be grateful for what he has helped us achieve. He has meant so much to this organization, both on and off the field, and we appreciate his efforts over the past 14 years.

"Hines' accomplishments are numerous, and he will always be thought of as one of the all-time great Steelers. We wish him nothing but the best."

A clause in Ward's contract likely prompted the Steelers' announcement. The Post-Gazette reported in January that his contract stipulated that the receiver must be released or guaranteed his job with the Steelers by March 1.

Ward, who turns 36 next week, released a statement through his attorney moments after the Steelers' announcement.

"This isn't how I wanted this chapter of my career to end," said Ward, who will finish his Steelers career with 1,000 catches for 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns -- all franchise records -- and helped Pittsburgh to three AFC championships and two Super Bowl wins. "I did everything in my power to remain a Steeler and finish what I started here 14 years ago.

"I want to thank the organization, my teammates and coaches and everyone who made my run as a Steeler the best years of my life. To Mr. Rooney, thank you for allowing me to play for one of the greatest organizations in the world. To my fans and in particular, Steeler Nation, thank you for your support and all the great memories. I gave my heart and soul for you every down and I will always bleed black and gold."

Ward added that he has more football left and is "looking forward to playing in the NFL, again, this upcoming season."

Ward's soon-to-be ex-teammates took to Twitter to respond. Wide receiver Antonio Brown told Ward,"You define a 'Steeler,' " and linebacker LaMarr Woodley called Ward "not only 1 of the best WRs ever, but also a great leader & even better friend."

Ward, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl XL MVP, took a back seat to Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown last season, posting his lowest receiving totals (46 receptions, 381 yards, two touchdowns) since his rookie season in 1998.

The Steelers are facing what general manager Kevin Colbert recently called "serious issues" with the salary cap this offseason, and as of Feb. 6, they were $22.5 million over the cap, according to NFL.com research. Since then, the team has restructured the contracts of offensive tackle Willie Colon, linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Veteran linebacker James Harrison also has expressed a willingness to re-work his current deal.

The Steelers' offseason priority is to retain Wallace, but La Canfora has reported there is very real concern within the front office that the team could lose the receiver in free agency because of its financial limitations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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So recently I finished re-watching the two Live Action Mortal Kombat adaptions from the 90's, as well as Mortal Kombat: Conquest TV series, and Kevin Tancharoen's 9 episode web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy. And it got me thinking, who should the new cast and crew be? But lately I've heard that New Line Cinema, the sister studio to Warner Bros., has hired Kevin Tancharoen to direct the new movie in 2013 - which is going to be a reboot of the series. It is announced that the filming of the movie will start casting around March 2012. &
Anyway, I've been researching for quite some time looking up a lot of martial artist actors and actresses and made a Photoshop collage of the list who I think has the potential to play as the characters from the series. With that being said, I honestly think that I have found the "PERFECT" actors and actresses that really looks like and can act like them, which would be perfect for them to play as the characters in the MK series. &

Note: I might include additional actors that will play the same role should any of them were to be chosen. Also, all of the Actors and Actresses I've included speaks English, multi-lingual, and for the most part a lot of them have Martial Arts experience. It is going to absolutely be a good opportunity for a lot of them to promote themselves in the film industry.&

So anyway, if you guys can check out the Actors and Actresses on this list, I'd really appreciate it. I have done some major researching on this project and compared my matches to a lot of Mortal Kombat film fans, so hope to see what you guys think and make this happen :) &
And honestly, I think this reboot will be a good, "more realistic take on the characters." from the articles I've read recently, and I look forward to a really bloody Mortal Kombat "R" rated film.&

Hope to get the director and Warner Bros. to see my list as well. I've been up all this week and not getting enough of sleep 'cause I've been researching about this a lot. I mean, I don't want this next film to be as bad as the first two. I grew up with Mortal Kombat as a kid and I'm 21 now. So I'm really a big fan of the series and like me and a lot of the fans, we hope to see some good actors and actresses in the series.&
So for all the time and effort of me for making all this is worth something, I hope they can consider all these actors and actresses to be closely accurate to the characters in the game.&

Missing characters so far in later Mortal Kombat: Shinnok, Kenshi, Sheeva.&

Correction: I think I might have to change Smoke. I realized he's not an Asian character, but not like it matters to me since he'll be playing as a ninja.&

Update 11/09/2011: I made Gary Daniels play as Smoke. I think with his martial arts experience, he's the perfect Smoke and Smoke's character is a Caucasian man from Europe in Prague, Czech Rep. Also, I added Tahmoh Penikett as Stryker from MK: Legacy. I just realized that he was a former FBI agent in Battlestar Galactica, he still makes a good Stryker! In addition, I added Scott Adkins as a Stunt double for Scorpion for some of Scorpion's moves like the summersault.&

Update 11/29/2011: Added a "Primary Pick" choice for some of the additional actors for character's role. Added Aleks Paunovic as Shao Kahn from Legacy, Lateef Crowder as my Primary Pick for Kai,and Jon Foo as Kenshi. &

Update 12/04/2011: Updated pictures for Shang Tsung and Jade. Added Primary choice for both Young Shang Tsung and Old Shang Tsung. &

Update 12/20/2011: Updated Jade replacement of Bingbing Li for Grace Park. Her dark skin tone matches Jade perfectly, and I think she would be really good as Jade!

Update 02/29/2012: Updated two replacements for Sindel. Added Marko Zaror for Nightwolf!

NOTE: Click the link on the picture to preview the full picture.

1. Shin Koyamada as Liu Kang