1.   The players deserve a pat on the back.

2.   MIDDLESBROUGH manager Lennie Lawrence feels his players deserve promotion as a reward for a gruelling season.

3.   As the clock was winding down on another disappointing season, Gallagher spoke about how hard the team tried, how the players deserved better.

4.   Beane deserves the praise for turning the Athletics around, but the players deserve some credit.

5.   But I think all those other players in this deserve an enormous amount of credit.

6.   But players deserve a little something, too.

7.   But the players deserved it tonight, along with our coaching staff and everyone else.

8.   Defensive tackles coach Craig Boller said the coaches and players deserve to share the blame.

9.   Dooley insists, saying the players deserve it after having their coach suddenly taken away.

10.   He believes the players deserve their share of an ever-expanding stream of revenues.