surging Philipp Zulechner. "If he showed a card at all, it sh

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Pro Bowlers Cam Newton and Greg Hardy will be ready to practice when the Carolina Panthers take the field for the start of training camp Friday night. The same cant be said of often-injured running back Jonathan Stewart. Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said Newton has been cleared medically following ankle surgery on March 19 and is expected to participate in all drills -- which comes as great news for coach Ron Rivera, who is returning from a European vacation. "Cam will participate full go and we will monitor just to make sure," Rivera said. "He will go through treatments to make sure, in terms of maintenance, but he is starting day one and will be on the field." Newton was not made available for interviews Thursday. Rivera said Newton recently worked with some of Carolinas receivers away from team facilities and came away feeling good about his surgically repaired ankle. "Im pretty excited about having him back on the field full time with those guys," Rivera said. Gettleman said Hardy, convicted on two counts of domestic violence last week, will not face any suspension from the Panthers at this time. He said the team will follow the leagues stance and let the legal process play out. "We constantly talk to our players about putting themselves in a position to succeed both on the field and even more importantly in life, so what has happened with Greg is very concerning and very disappointing," Gettleman said in the teams first public comments on Hardy since his conviction July 16. "These are very serious allegations," the GM said. "At the same time, we also respect the fact that Greg has appealed the decision and is entitled to a jury trial. We have been in touch with the league and were in the position that they have a personal conduct policy, which we are a part of. At the same time, we have to respect the legal process. Thats basically where were at." Hardy appealed the conviction last week after a judge sentenced him to a 60-day suspended jail sentence and 18 months probation for assault on a female and communicating threats. His appeal will be heard by a jury trial, but a date has not been set and it could be several months -- likely after the completion of the NFL season and would become a free agent -- before the case is heard in court. Hardy, who signed Carolinas franchise tag tender for $13.1 million, is a key player on the leagues No. 2-ranked defence. He had a career-high 15 sacks last season and has 26 sacks over the past two seasons. Gettleman said Hardys arrest in May did not play a role in the teams decision not to offer him a long-term contract. However, Gettleman wouldnt discuss Hardys long-term future with the team. Hardys teammates said they dont believe his off-the-field issues will be a distraction moving forward as the Panthers prepare to defend their NFC South title. "Its completely separate from anything were doing here," tight end Greg Olsen said. Stewart, who missed 17 games the past two seasons, pulled a hamstring recently in workouts and will miss 1-2 weeks. Gettleman also said offensive guard Edmund Kugbila, a former fourth-round draft pick, will have back surgery and will miss the entire season. The Panthers had high hopes for Kugbila when they draft him but hes not played a game for Carolina since coming into the league. Gettleman said safety Tre Boston (hernia) and cornerback De-Andre Pressley (stress fracture) will start training camp on the physically unable to perform PUP list. The Panthers went 12-4 last season but lost to San Francisco in the divisional playoffs. "To get that far and to lose, especially at home, was a tough pill to swallow," Olsen said. "Its disappointing, but its over. ... We are trying to get to where we were." Jameer Nelson Jersey . 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He quickly tossed it to shortstop Chris Owings, who flipped over his shoulder to left fielder Cody Ross. Joe Dumars Pistons Jersey . PAUL, Minn.BERLIN -- Borussia Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl scored the only goal as his team consolidated second place in the Bundesliga with a 1-0 win at his former club Freiburg on Sunday. Kehls goal came against the run of play in the 58th minute when he swept the ball over Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann from around 25 metres with his left foot. "We didnt really have any shots on goal. Dortmund neither -- apart from Kehls shot," Baumann said. "Its annoying, because we were holding our own." The result prevented Freiburg from escaping the relegation zone with a win. It would have been the clubs 100th home win in 500 Bundesliga games. Dortmund restored its 20-point gap behind runaway leader Bayern Munich. "Whoever wins these sorts of games becomes champion, but that doesnt apply (this season)," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp joked, referring to Bayerns unprecedented form. Both Dortmund and Freiburg cancelled each other out in a first half of few real threats, and there werent many more chances in the second. "It was a lucky win for us. You have to say that," Doortmund defender Mats Hummels said.dddddddddddd Dortmunds Sokratis was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card at the end of the first when he appeared to take down the surging Philipp Zulechner. "If he showed a card at all, it should be red as he was the last defender," Zulechner said. Mainz drew 1-1 at home with Hertha Berlin in Sundays late game, a result that cost both sides the chance to climb into the European qualification places. Hertha goalkeeper Thomas Kraft made a series of key interventions as the home side came closest to scoring in the first half. Adrian Ramos put the visitors ahead in the 51st, when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting lost the ball to Per Skjelbred, who set up the Colombian striker to shoot inside the far post. Choupo-Moting atoned in the 65th with a well-struck penalty, conceded when Sami Allagui brought down Koo Ja-Cheol. "We made unnecessary mistakes in the first half but improved in the second," said Hertha coach Jos Luhukay, whose side remains ninth, two points behind seventh-placed Mainz. "Were happy with the point." ' ' '