on third-inning RBI singles by Cameron Maybin and J.D. Martinez,

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers plan to play Sundays game against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of America Stadium despite violent protests taking place in the city.More than that, they want to play unless the protests stemming from a Tuesday shooting escalate over the next couple of days as they did Wednesday night.I think it would be good for the city, coach Ron Rivera said on Thursday.The protests began Tuesday night after a black Charlotte police officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott, who also is black, in an apartment complex parking lot about 15 minutes from Bank of America Stadium.The protests moved within a few blocks of the stadium on Wednesday night, turning violent with gunshots, vandalism and police setting off tear gas bombs in an attempt to break up the protesters.Rivera said he has faith that city leaders will get the protests under control soon. He has no reservations about the safety of his team or having his wife at the stadium.The team issued a statement Thursday that said: We are in contact with government officials, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the NFL. We are continuing to monitor events as we prepare for Sundays home game.Carolina shut down its open locker room to reporters early on Thursday and had outside linebacker Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen serve as team spokesmen.Both agreed the game should be played on Sunday.This game absolutely should be played Sunday, Davis said. I look at football as a way to bring people together ... I hope people know that violence is not the answer. Its not the way to solve this problem.Olsen and Davis noted that the Carolina locker room, a mixture of different races, religious and political beliefs, could serve as an example.On Sundays, when people come and watch us, not only do people see that, but to a bigger level those people sitting in the crowd are from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, from all religious denominations, Olsen said. But for one day, for one afternoon for a few hours, they all come together for a few hours around the Carolina Panthers.Sports have a tremendous ability to bring people together. Sports have a tremendous ability to give people a little bit of reprieve from what for a lot of people not only with whats going on now but a general state of life.The Panthers and the NFL are monitoring the situation downtown. Their primary concern is having enough police to handle the safety concerns of the city and keep the stadium secure.The presence of the National Guard in Charlotte, according to a team source, helps that situation tremendously.Many businesses already have told employees not to come downtown for work unless it is necessary. In fact, NASCAR has closed its Charlotte office for normal business Thursday.During the unrest Wednesday night in Charlotte, windows were broken on the ground floor of the building where NASCAR offices occupy several floors. The building is adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which operates the Hall of Fame, said exterior windows were damaged, but the facility will be open as scheduled Thursday.In a statement, Charlotte Hornets chairman and owner Michael Jordan expressed his condolences to the Scott family and asked for calm.In light of the tragic events of the past three days, it is more important than ever that we restore calm and come together, as a community, in peaceful demonstration and conversation, and in constructive and non-violent ways.As part of the fabric of Charlotte, the Hornets organization is committed to working with civic leaders, our elected leaders and law enforcement to foster more trust, transparency and understanding so we can heal and grow together as a community, Jordan said.?Duke football coach David Cutcliffe said he planned to address the situation with his players.?We love the city of Charlotte and its sad and I havent really gone into any detail with the team. I have a Thursday night meeting and its on my agenda tonight. We know a lot of great change has come in this country through protest and through somewhat even loud voices and I think we always need that. But what we never need is violence. Just pray for peace. Thats it.San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been kneeling during the anthem for the past month as a protest against social injustice in the United States. While some players around the country have joined Kaepernicks protest, members of the Panthers have not.But safety Tre Boston said recent events have him considering possibly joining Kaepernicks cause.Look how much backlash he took, Boston said. Thats a peaceful protest, am I right? When stuff like this happens in the world ... where are the people that are mad at Kaepernick for taking a knee? Is everybody still mad at him for trying to stand for something that is happening in this world?So do I see myself taking that knee? I dont know. I have to talk to some people and see if thats the best thing for me to do.Protests are anticipated on Sunday. During Wednesday nights protest, a man carrying a megaphone shouted that if quarterback Cam Newton stood during the national anthem, his No. 1 jerseys would be burned.But Newton did post a message on Facebook on Wednesday saluting Kaepernick for making a stand for injustice in this country.Newton typically doesnt publicly address social issues, but he made an exception Wednesday. He spent a majority of his weekly news conference addressing what is happening in Charlotte.Im an African-American, and Im not happy how the justice has been dealt with over the years and the state of oppression in our community, the NFL MVP said. But we also as black people have to do right by ourselves. We cant be hypocrites.And I say that on one voice and also another voice that when you go public or when things happen in the community, its not the fact that things are happening, its the way they are being treated after they happen.The police said Scott exited his vehicle carrying a gun. Scotts family said he was unarmed and sitting in his car reading a book while waiting for his son to come home from school.Protests involving hundreds on Tuesday night turned to violence. Rocks were thrown, police vehicles vandalized and fires set. Sixteen police officers reportedly were injured. The situation escalated on Wednesday night.It could have happened in Atlanta. It could have happened in Los Angeles. It doesnt matter, Newton said. Its embarrassing for things to keep happening, and from what I do know we had an incident that happened in 2013 that had something to do with the police and it went to jury and whatever -- it got washed away in time.Newton was referring to the 2013 fatal shooting of Jonathan Ferrell by Charlotte officer Randall Kerrick. Ferrell, who was black, was shot 10 times by Kerrick, who is white.Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter. A judge declared a mistrial after the jury could not reach a verdict.My big thing is holding people accountable, no matter what the race, no matter what the gender is, no matter what the age is, Newton said. We all have to hold each other accountable.That was the message sent by Olsen, Davis and Rivera on Thursday. Thats why they chose to mix politics with football.This has to be a national discussion, Rivera said. But at the same time we have to do it the right way.All three also agreed they will be able to focus on football on Sunday.The neat thing is when its time to do football theyve done football, Rivera said. But when its times like this that they have some comments, you do hear them talking about it, you hear them pretty open.As Greg and Thomas said, you look at the diversity, where theyre all from, all races and colors, but yet they talk to one another, they care about one another. What has helped made this team strong has been what goes on in that locker room.Information from ESPNs Bob Pockrass was used in this report. Discount Nike NFL jerseys . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. Wholesale NFL Jerseys Gear . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. http://www.nfljerseyschinastore.com/ . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Cheap NFL Jerseys Shop .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Jerseys NFL Wholesale China .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. DETROIT -- With their playoff hopes fading fast, the Kansas City Royals showed some fight.Paulo Orlando hit a tying, two-run double and Eric Hosmer followed with a three-run homer against Francisco Rodriguez, capping a ninth-inning comeback that led the Royals over the Detroit Tigers 7-4 Saturday.Kansas City stopped a four-game losing streak, and its tragic number for elimination from postseason contention remained at three. The Royals would be the fourth straight World Series champion failing to reach the playoffs after winning a title the previous season.We want to finish strong, no matter where we are in the standings said Hosmer, who was hitless in four at-bats, including three strikeouts, before the home run. We have to be professional about what were doing and continue to play it through.Given a 4-2 lead, Rodriguez (3-4) allowed singles to Alex Gordon and Hunter Dozier before Orlandos double. Cheslor Cuthbert walked and Hosmer hit his 24th homer.We put together a lot of good at-bats, Hosmer said. I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit and not miss it.Wade Davis (2-1) pitched a one-hit eighth and Kelvin Herrera, Kansas Citys seventh pitcher, got three straight outs for his 12th save in 15 chances, ending a game that took 3 hours, 50 minutes. Rodriguez blew a save for the fifth time in 49 opportunities.Detroits five-game winning streak was stopped, and the Tigers dropped a half-game behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card berth.Its a bad position to fail the way that I failed, Rodriguez said. Just unacceptable. This one hurts, big time. I let my team down.Royals starter Yordaano Ventura, 7-0 against Detroit in his career, allowed three runs and 10 hits in four innings, then left with back tightness.dddddddddddd Kansas City said he is day to day.Tigers starter Daniel Norris, who was in line for his first career victory over the Royals, gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.Alcides Escobar hit a sacrifice fly in the second, but the Tigers went ahead 3-1 on third-inning RBI singles by Cameron Maybin and J.D. Martinez, and Maybins RBI single in the fourth.Kendrys Morales homered leading off the sixth, becoming Kansas Citys first player to reach 30 since Jermaine Dye hit 33 in 2000. Martinezs RBI single gave Detroit a 4-2 lead in the sixth.Give them credit for coming back against one of the best closers in the American League, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.FREE PASSTigers slugger Miguel Cabrera drew an intentional walk in the fourth inning, his 14th of the season. He is tied for the most intentional walks in the AL with Bostons David Ortiz.LONG AFTERNOONSaturdays game was the longest nine-inning contest of the season for Detroit, which played a 3:47 game at the Chicago White Sox on June 14.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: C Salvador Perez started after missing Friday nights game with a minor knee issue. He went 1 for 5 with a single.Tigers: SS Jose Iglesias and Cabrera started after sustaining minor hand injuries Friday.UP NEXTRHP Edinson Volquez (10-11) is to start Sundays series finale for the Royals and LHP Matt Boyd (6-4) for the Tigers ' ' '