NEW YORK -- ACL injuries are down, the NFL has told its Health and Safety Advisory Committee. In a memo to the committee sent earlier this week and obtained by The Associated Press, the league said research showed there were 30 ACL injuries in games through the preseason and first 13 weeks of the schedule. There were 39 such injuries in 2012, 35 in 2011, 37 in 2010, and 31 in 2009. Anterior cruciate ligament problems are the most severe knee injuries. There was an increase in medial collateral ligament injuries (MCL), from 74 in 2012 to 89 in games this season through 13 weeks. But there were 106 MCL injuries in 2011, 89 in 2010 and 103 in 2009. The injury reporting service Quintiles/Outcome provided the numbers to the league, which then sent them to the committee chaired by 49ers owner John York. The committee also includes Giants owner John Mara, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Packers President Mark Murphy and Falcons President Rich McKay. The data are for all types of ACL and MCL injuries, including tears and sprains. There have been suggestions that knee injuries have gone up since the NFL cracked down heavily on hits to the head and neck area. While there have been several high-profile hits to the knee that sidelined players -- New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, for example -- the league-requested survey of this years injuries does not indicate a trend toward increased major knee problems through 13 weeks. Earlier this week, Patriots coach Bill Belichick claimed injuries were up. He didnt cite specific numbers, but said it was "a matter of record not opinion" that injuries league-wide have been on the rise over the past three years. Belichick blamed a decrease in the number of off-season, preseason and in-season practice sessions and workouts allowed as a main contributor to higher injury totals. League spokesman Michael Signora disputed Belichicks assertions. "We carefully monitor player injuries," Signora said. "There is no evidence that the new work rules have had an adverse effect on the injury rate or that injuries have in fact increased." And with the ACL injuries, the research by Quintiles/Outcome shows the opposite. This season through 13 weeks, about 68 per cent of ACL injuries involved contact with another player. The percentage in the four previous seasons ranged from 67 per cent in 2009 to 55 per cent in 2012. A breakdown by positions showed one tight end, one wide receiver and one quarterback had contact-related ACL injuries through 13 weeks this season. That compares to five such injuries combined at those positions in 2012 and four in 2011. For offensive players in general, there have been six such injuries in 2013 through 13 weeks, compared to 10 in 2012, eight in 2011, nine in 2010 and six in 2009. On defence, there were six ACL injuries involving contact with another player. This compares to nine such injuries in 2012, 10 in 2011, nine in 2010, and seven in 2009. For special teams, there were four ACL injuries involving contact with another player as compared to two last season and four in 2011. Randall Cunningham Eagles Jersey . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Marcus Smith II Eagles Jersey . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. http://www.authenticeaglesnflpro.com/c-37-eagles-nolan-carroll-jersey.aspx . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Reggie White Eagles Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Ryan Mathews Eagles Jersey . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans.Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh Penguins backup goaltender Tomas Vokoun will be out indefinitely after undergoing a procedure to clear up a blood clot in his pelvis. Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. "The most important thing right now is Tomas health and well-being," Penguins GM Ray Shero said. "The clot was dissolved by the procedure, and the doctors tell us that he will remain in the hospital for several days. We will continuue to monitor his progress after that.dddddddddddd" The 37-year-old native of the Czech Republic was 13-4-0 with a 2.45 goals- against average and three shutouts last season, going 6-5 with a 2.10 GAA during the postseason, which ended in a four-game sweep to the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference finals. Pittsburgh has one other goaltender on its roster besides starter Marc-Andre Fleury -- Jeff Zatkoff -- while Eric Hartzell had been assigned to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton of the AHL. Vokoun also missed the end of the 2005-06 season and the entire postseason, when he was the starter in Nashville, due to blood clots in his abdomen. Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '