Four days after being praised as a hero for helping Russia win its first gold at the Sochi Olympics, Evgeni Plushenko was taking criticism Friday for dropping out of the mens figure skating. Throwback Lions Jerseys . Plushenkos strong performance in the team event brought wide accolades for his determination to overcome injury. But on Thursday he withdrew before the mens short program, complaining of severe spinal pain during the warmup. Plushenko was Russias only men singles skater in Sochi. He won the slot in a closed exhibition skate that cut out Maxim Kovtun, who beat him in the Russian nationals. Among his critics was longtime rival Alexei Yagudin, the 2002 Olympic gold medalist. He told the R-Sport news agency he supports "people who go to the end." "I think Zhenya will understand my words," he said, using the familiar version of Plushenkos name. "We always competed through the pain." The choice of Plushenko as the sole Russian man was debatable. Although he was the dominant skater the past 15 years, with an Olympic gold and two silvers before coming to Sochi, he is 31-years-old and underwent back surgery a year ago. When he was selected, advocates argued his long international experience made him a stronger choice than the 18-year-old Kovtun. Decision comes under fire But that came under sharp questioning Friday. "You should go when its time," Ruslan Nugmatullin, a former Russian national soccer goalkeeper said on Twitter. "Kovtun earned the right to participate in Sochi2014." Alexei Urmanov, the 1994 Olympic gold-medal winner, suggested that Plushenkos hubris backfired. "Its on the conscience of Zhenya, the team and the federation," he was quoted by R-Sport. To some politicians, Plushenkos withdrawal was a blow to Russias national pride. "Perform through the pain for the honor of the country," Igor Lebedev, a parliament member from the nationalist Liberal Democrats, said on Twitter. Elena Vaitsekhovskaya, the figure skating correspondent for Russias Sport-Express newspaper, seemed weary not only of the intrigue behind Plushenkos selection but also of the appearances of his flamboyant wife, Yana Rudkovskaya, in the mixed zone to support him. "All of this was reminiscent of an incompetently directed stage show," she wrote. "It became harder and harder to sympathize with the athlete." "The one-man show in Sochi has concluded. Real sport has begun," she said in the newspapers Friday edition. But more complaints may still come. "After Sochi, the federation will have to answer for its choice," nationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said. Tracy Walker Stitched Jersey . Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stood tall with 41 saves between the pipes, but it was defenceman Ryan McDonagh who got the first star of the game as he had a goal and an assist and now has two goals and four assists for six points in two games. Pink Lions Jerseys . Unlike last year when nobody got in, there have been estimates of as many as five getting voted in this time around and as few as one, Greg Maddux. http://www.officiallionsnflauthenticshop.com/tyrell-crosby-stitched-jersey/ . Viewers in the Jets region can watch the game on TSN Jets at 6:30pm ct/7:30pm et. The game is also avialable on TSN Radio 1290 in Winnipeg at 7pm ct.RENTON, Wash. -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. After spending the past three seasons with the Seahawks, Rice was released by Seattle following the Super Bowl in a salary-related move. He was scheduled to make $8.5 million in base salary for 2014 before being released in late February. But Rice and the Seahawks remained in contact and he was brought back on a $1 million, one-year deal earlier this month. He received medical clearance to participate in football-related activities in the middle of April. Rice appeared in eight games for Seattle last season with 15 catches for 231 yards and three touchdowns before being placed on injured reserve after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in October against St. Louis. If he can return to health and productivity, Rice could quell one of Seattles questions about depth at wide receiver heading into next season. "When we released him it was hard but we explained the landscape to Sidney and his representative and we stayed in contact with him all the way through it," Schneider said. Schneider touched on a number of topics during his pre-draft availability. Schneider said that Terrelle Pryor was acquired from Oakland with the idea that hed compete as a quartterback. Camo Lions Jerseys. Seattle sent a seventh-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for Pryor. There was a thought he could be a dual-threat player for Seattle, but Schneider said Pryor is learning the quarterback position. Schneider said Seattle knew it wouldnt be able to get Pryor off waivers, leading to the discussions of the trade. The value of what Pryor could bring was likely higher than what they could get from the seventh-round pick. "Right now hes learning the quarterback position and (another position) isnt even an option," Schneider said. Schneider did not know if wide receiver Doug Baldwin would sign his second-round tender as a restricted free agent. Friday is the deadline for restricted free agents to field offers from other teams. He added the team has not made a decision on whether to pick up the fifth-year option on former first-round pick James Carpenter. Schneider also declined to comment on whether strong safety Kam Chancellor or left tackle Russell Okung had surgery in the off-season. Left to be determined is if recently hired consultant Jeff Ireland will have a role with the club following the draft. The former Miami general manager was hired by Seattle earlier this week to be another voice in the draft room. But Schneider said it was too early to know if there would be a spot for Ireland with the team beyond the draft. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '