TAMPA, Fla. China Jerseys . -- Joe Girardi found out about Derek Jeters retirement announcement the same way almost everyone else did: when the New York Yankees captain posted a letter to the world on his Facebook page this week. Girardi left snowy New York on Friday and arrived at spring training for his seventh year as Yankees manager, and he spent the first eight minutes of his 20-minute opening news conference discussing Jeters decision to retire after this season. "I think we were probably all a little bit taken aback by it," Girardi said. "Youre never sure how someones going to do it, but I had no inkling that thats what he was thinking." After missing the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years, the Yankees were back in business when pitchers and catchers reported ahead of Saturdays opening workout. Alex Rodriguezs locker was empty following his season-long suspension. Masahiro Tanaka inherited Mariano Riveras locker and Shawn Kelley got Andy Pettittes stall. Scott Sizemore, attending camp on a minor league contract, was assigned Robinson Canos jersey No. 24. Position players report next Wednesday, when Jeter holds a news conference at Steinbrenner Field to explain his decision. Girardi has exchanged texts with the 39-year-old shortstop but has not spoken with him. "This is going to be a guy thats hard to replace in your clubhouse and on your club," he said. "Its the nature of the business where people age and they move on and they go and do different things in their life, and in our life its a little bit quicker than some of the other working people of this world." Jeter was limited to 17 games last year after fracturing his left ankle in the 2012 playoffs and breaking it again last spring during his rehabilitation. Girardi said Jeter always told him "I feel great," but that he could sense frustration. After working out Friday with Brian Roberts at the Yankees minor league complex, Jeter demurred discussing his decision. "It makes no sense to do it here and then do it again over there, so Ill do it all over there one time," he said. And so now Jeter will go on a valedictory tour, much like Mariano Rivera did last year. Jeter is not the type to call attention to himself, making his public announcement before spring training all the more surprising. "It could have been just watching how Mo did it, and how much fun everyone seemed to have with it with Mo," Girardi said. "He might have said, you know, its a pretty good way to go out." Jeter has won five World Series titles with the Yankees but none since 2009, and his final lap of the major leagues figures to set the theme as New York tries for title No. 28. His teammates looked forward to speaking with him after he reports. "Not really surprised, saddened I guess that hes not going to be around," ace pitcher CC Sabathia said. "You want a guy like that to play forever." Having witnessed Chipper Jones final season with the Atlanta Braves in 2012, new Yankees catcher Brian McCann is looking forward to Jeters last go-round. "Hes been the face of baseball since he broke in," McCann said. "I went through it with one Hall of Famer. Im going to go through it with another." David Robertson, inheriting the closers role from Rivera, hadnt thought Jeter would make his plans known before the seasons end. "But Im really glad he did," he said. "I think its going to give the fans a chance to come out this year and see him in his final season in pinstripes." Robertsons new job is one of many changes for the Yankees, who spent $471 million on free agents, including a $20 million payment to Tanakas old club in Japan. McCann and outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran are among the many newcomers, and first baseman Mark Teixeira is returning from a wrist injury that sidelined him most of last season. Cano -- the Yankees top hitter -- left for a $240 million, 10-year deal with Seattle. Girardi predicted for the April 1 opener at Houston that Yankees players at every position other than pitcher will be different from opening day last year. The only time thats happened in franchise history was 1947, according to STATS. "I think it is probably the biggest transition Ive been through," Girardi said. "I need to learn a lot of new faces fairly quickly." Discount Nike NFL Jerseys . 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee. Cheap Jerseys From China . But that changed when he committed a five-minute major penalty and helped pave the way for a comeback by the Philadelphia Flyers. Vincent Lecavalier scored at 2:45 of overtime and the Flyers rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 5-4 victory on Sunday. http://www.jerseyscheapsale.com/ . -- Theres something about playing on Orlandos floor lately that seems to bring out the best in the Dallas Mavericks.BALTIMORE - Things were going so well for the Carolina Panthers before Pittsburgh came to town. Carolina was 2-0, alone atop the NFC South and eager to impress the nation on Sunday Night Football. Unimpressed, the Steelers amassed 264 yards rushing and cruised to a 37-13 victory. The events of last weekend do not bode well for the Panthers, who face another AFC North opponent with a solid running attack on Sunday: the Baltimore Ravens. You can watch the game live at 1pm et/10am pt on TSN2 and TSN GO, with pregame coverage on live NOW. Not only did the Ravens (2-1) manhandle the Steelers 26-6 on Sept. 11, but theyre coming off a 160-yard rushing performance in a 23-21 win at Cleveland. For Carolina, playing against AFC North competition means fortifying their shoulder pads and making sure all helmets are fully secured. I think, really, its just their physical nature a€” the way they play, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of the division, which also includes Cincinnati and Cleveland. Its only the fourth week of the season, but the Ravens have thus far been forced to delve deep into the depth chart to keep first-year offensive co-ordinator Gary Kubiaks scheme afloat. A three-tiered running back system (Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, Lorenzo Taliaferro) has been employed in the wake of the release of the suspended Ray Rice; rookie James Hurst will be making his first NFL start in place of injured left tackle Eugene Monroe (knee); and tight end Owen Daniels is expected to become more of a target after Dennis Pitta was lost for the season with a dislocated his right hip. Good offences arent made up of one guy here and one guy there. They are made up of a collection of guys that play physical, play fast and can do a lot of things, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. And I think we have that. Former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is one of the fast, physical guys. Following a 13-year run in Carolina, Smith plans to make life miserable for his former teammates as a member of the Ravens. When Im on your team, you love me, Smith said. When Im not on your team, you despise me. Here are some things to know about the Panthers-Ravens matchup: SOMETHING TO PROVE: The Panthers allowed a whopping 7.8 yards per carry against the Steelers, in part because LeVeon Bell and LeGGarrette Blount found big holes after patiently waiting for blocks to develop. NFL Jerseys Sale. A couple of times we got knocked out of our creases and allowed the double teams to work, Rivera said. When that happens, youve got to do one of two things: hold your point a little bit better, or stay in your crease as a D-lineman. We just didnt do that very well. INTRODUCTIONS REQUIRED: This is only the fifth time the Panthers and Ravens have faced each other. Flacco has been in NFL since 2008 and faced Carolina only once, never before at home. The previous time these teams met, Brian St. Pierre threw two interceptions for the horrid Panthers, who fell to 1-9 after losing at home 37-13 in 2010. Oh, by the way, current Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was at Auburn in 2010. Hes never played against Baltimore. SLIM PICKINGS: The Panthers are averaging just 72.3 yards per game on the ground and it may be a while before things get much better. Newton is still recovering from rib and ankle injuries and isnt much of a factor to run the ball. He carried just twice for 7 yards against the Steelers. Rivera expects to get DeAngelo Williams back Sunday, but fullback Mike Tolbert is out for eight weeks and Jonathan Stewart is battling a severely sprained knee and may not play, leaving the Panthers quite thin in the backfield. THREE-PRONGED ATTACK: Each of the Ravens three running backs provides a varied challenge to the Panthers. Pierce is a straight-ahead pounder; Forsett has slipped his way to 6.3 yards per carry; and Taliaferro, a rookie, mixed power and finesse in running for 91 yards in his NFL debut last week. All three backs are similar, but they have their own different characteristic style of the way they run, Rivera said. We have to make sure we understand who the back is and then play from there. CAMS DOUBLE: Carolinas 6-foot-5, 245-pound wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin is off to a great start, leading all rookies with 253 yards receiving to go along with 16 receptions and two TDs. Smith called his replacement a 6-foot-5 Cam Newton with dreads. Said Smith: They look very similar but hes very athletic and catches the ball well. I think it doesnt surprise me what hes done thus far in his ability to catch the ball because he did that in college (at Florida State). ' ' '