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MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Being told he couldnt race last weekend because of an eye and vision problem will not make Denny Hamlin less likely to seek the help of medical staffs available at NASCAR tracks every weekend, he said Friday. Hamlin let Sam Hornish Jr. drive his car last weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., after he sought the assistance of the on-site medical team when his face swelled up and his vision blurred. Initially thought to be a sinus infection, it turned out to be a small piece of metal in his eye, Hamlin said at Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin said he doesnt blame the two doctors who examined him for failing to see the rusting metal, and it wasnt until he saw an optometrist that it was discovered, removed, and he started feeling better. "It took someone who was in the business of eyes to find it," he said. Hamlin has been cleared to return this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where he has won four times, and he took umbrage at the notion that his reputation might have been tarnished when he missed the race. "People who think negatively of me or think that we side-stepped some sort of drug test or something is ridiculous," he said, adding that he was making an effort not to get angry at the suggestion that something untoward was afoot. "Im in one of the top-three cars in NASCAR. I would have to be an absolute moron — moron — to risk that." Dale Earnhardt Jr., who originally said he was concerned about Hamlins point of view about how he wound up being told he couldnt race, said his concern wasnt for the medical teams competency, but for his fellow driver. "I feel great about the process and what NASCAR has had in place for years," Earnhardt said. NASCAR travels with two registered nurses who have access to each drivers medical records each week, and tracks work with local doctors and hospitals to staff a full trauma unit when cars are on the track. Hamlin, 34, said hes frustrated by spending so much time answering medical questions. The Fontana race was where he sustained a broken back a year ago, and he rushed back into competition hoping to make the playoffs, but came up short. "I feel better than I ever have," he said. "Pilates has changed my life as far as my back is concerned. My back is no longer an issue — knock on wood. Everything — you hate getting attention for those reasons, but a lot of it is because we havent won a whole lot over these last year and a half. 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Masahiro Tanaka has touched down in the United States and the courting of the Rakuten Golden Eagles stud pitcher has begun in earnest by a bevy of MLB teams interested in the Japanese ace.With NFL training camps underway, the league is abuzz with position battles, injury news and rookies making an immediate impact. Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NFL beat. Brady Bunch? While reports have come out saying Brian Hoyer is the current front-runner for the starting quarterback job in Cleveland, none have heralded the 28-year-old as one of the greatest of all time. Insert Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas, who told Clevelands The Plain Dealer that his QB is a lot like a living legend over in New England. "Hes a lot like Tom Brady," Thomas said. "When you look at the way he competes and the way he demands the most out of everybody around him, its no coincidence that those guys played together. (Hoyer) has a lot of those same mental attributes and thats a great thing for a quarterback to have. "Hes the ultimate competitor, and no matter if we drafted a quarterback No. 1 overall, I knew that in his mind he expects to win the job because thats the type of competitor he is and the type of quarterback." Hoyer was Bradys backup with the Patriots from 2009-2011. Back In Action The New Orleans Saints can breathe a little easier now with their prize off-season acquisition back on the field. Safety Jairus Byrd practiced in full pads Tuesday morning and is off the physically unable to perform list. Byrd signed a six-year, $56 million contract free-agent contract with the Saints this off-season, but couldnt attend any practices due to back surgery. The 27-year-old was put on the PUP list last week before training camp started, but seems ready to go now.dddddddddddd Byrd also tweeted earlier Tuesday, "thankful for the day…Be blessed." Look To The West Third-round pick Terrance West might not be the No. 1 running back for the Cleveland Browns to start the season, but is definitely turning heads at training camp. Browns running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery had some high praise for the rookie out of Towson. "Terrance West has some shades of Brian Westbrook," Montgomery said to the Akron Beacon-Journal. "He can break you down with his right leg. He can break you down with his left leg. He has that Ricky Watters, Walter Payton, lure-you-to-sleep-on-the-sideline move that I can accelerate or play like Im going to accelerate and come back inside. Those are traits I havent seen in a while." Off-season pickup Ben Tate is likely the favourite to grab the top position out of camp - and has taken most of the first-team reps so far in practice - but West is not far behind. Depth of Field The New England Patriots got some good news in the return of cornerback Alfonzo Dennard to the practice field on Tuesday. Dennard opened training camp on the PUP list after shoulder surgery during the off-season. He joins a deep corps of corners that features Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Kyle Arrington and Logan Ryan. The sophomore, who has started 20 games in the regular season and playoffs in his first two seasons, can expect to see plenty of playing time to open the season as the Patriots will be forced to make do without Browner, who will serve a four-game suspension for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy. ' ' '