CHICAGO - A person familiar with the situation says the Chicago Cubs are closing in on a minor league deal with left-hander Dontrelle Willis. The person, who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been finalized, says the deal does not include an invitation to major league camp for spring training. Willis, who turns 31 on Jan. 12, did not appear in a major league game last season. He went 1-5 with a 5.00 ERA in 13 games with Cincinnati in 2011. Willis was the NL Rookie of the Year when he won 14 games for the Marlins in 2003. He went 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA in 2005, but hasnt come close to replicating those numbers since that big season. http://www.cheapauthenticjerseys.u... . -- Jerome Verrier scored once and set up two more as the Drummondville Voltigeurs downed the visiting Chicoutimi Sagueneens 5-1 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. [url=http://www.cheapauthenticjerseys.us.com/]cheapauthenticjerseys . On Saturday, he replaced Max Pacioretty on the Habs top line with David Desharnais and Erik Cole. http://www.cheapauthenticjerseys.u... .J. -- The Peter DeBoer era with the New Jersey Devils is officially only three practices old. [url=http://www.cheapauthenticjerseys.us.com/nhl-jerseys-china_chicago-blackhawk... . Headlining the list of Rock signings is 2013 first round pick (9th overall) Ethan OConnor. The 22-year old Milton, Ontario native agreed to a one-year contract and is the highest player selected by the Rock since the team selected Garrett Billings (6th overall) and Joel Dalgarno (7th overall) in the 2009 NLL draft. [url=http://www.cheapauthenticjerseys.us.com/]Cheap Jerseys Authentic . Poulter, also the first-round leader, had a 9-under 133 total at Victoria Golf Club. Australias Matthew Giles was second after a 68. Top-ranked Luke Donald was 3 under after a 70. ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Grady Allen, the father of Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen and a former NFL linebacker, has died. He was 66. The Raiders said Tuesday that Grady Allen died overnight from cardiac arrest. Dennis Allen had left the Raiders on Sunday night to go to the Dallas area to be with his father, who was hospitalized last week. "When we first heard it, we were shocked," cornerback Michael Huff said. "We knew he was sick but we didnt know to what extreme. When we first heard it, like I said, it was sad. Anytime a part of our families dies, obviously, Coach Allens a part of our family so his dads a part of our family so anytime a part of our family dies, its a sad moment. We know we have to go ahead and mourn but still go out there and play well. I say, get this victory for him." Dennis Allen is expected to rejoin the team Wednesday night and coach Oakland against Denver on Thursday night. Offensive co-ordinator Greg Knapp oversaw the team at practice on Tuesday with defensive co-ordinattor Jason Tarver running that side of the ball.dddddddddddd Quarterback Carson Palmer said it was a challenge to prepare for the game without Allen, but the team would persevere. "We understand he just needs some time away and a chance to be with his family," Palmer said. "What we need to do for him is prepare, get ready to play this game and focus on this game and be as prepared as we can in a short amount of time for when he returns." Grady Allen played 59 games over five years as a linebacker with the Atlanta Falcons. Broncos coach John Fox said he met Grady Allen last year when Dennis was defensive co-ordinator for the Broncos. Fox sent his best wishes to the Allen family and said he was glad Dennis Allen was able to be with his family during this difficult time. "Sometimes we get a little caught up in what we do for a living and those types of things, but if that was something he would have asked me, I would have said you need to be with your family," Fox said. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '