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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb favours pitchers having the option of wearing protective headgear on the mound. Cobb returned to Tropicana Field on Monday, nine days after being struck in the right ear by a ball hit by Kansas Citys Eric Hosmer and nearly seven weeks after Torontos J.A. Happ also was hit in the head by a batted ball while pitching there. Sitting on a platform in the auxiliary clubhouse in which Happ also answered questions about the scary incident that knocked him out of a game in early May, Cobb -- who is making progress in his recovery, spoke to the media for the first time since being carted off the field and taken to a hospital on June 15. Cobb, like Happ, was released from Bayfront Medical Center less than 24 hours later. "I remember deciding what pitch to throw. ... I remember seeing the ball come back," said Cobb, who is out indefinitely with a concussion. "Might have caught a glance of the ball and subconsciously turned my head, thankfully." The injury renewed debate about what can be done to protect pitchers from batted balls. "Even after J.A. Happ went through this, we were asked pretty heavily about this topic. I came right out and thought there should be something for us to have the option to do," Cobb said. "I dont want it to turn into something where every pitcher on the mound has to wear something. Thats everybodys personal choice," Cobb added. "Its one where you want to have a little say-so that if this incident happened again you were able to do everything you could to protect yourself, your future, your family." Cobb, who remained conscious the whole time, said he has experienced nausea, severe headaches that have begun to subside, as well as symptoms of vertigo. Still, he is beginning to feel better each day. "Im having my days," the 25-year-old Cobb said. "Today has been the best day by far." Cobb said he visited the doctor Monday and was told he is healing quicker than expected. There is still no timetable for him to return to the mound. "Thats something you just have to let play out," Rays manager Joe Maddon said before Tampa Bay opened a three-game series against the Blue Jays, who are still without Happ. "I dont like to apply finish lines to items that I really have no clue (about). I dont think anybody does," Maddon said. "Even if you talk to doctors, Im sure theyre not sure how long its going to take. ... So just let it play out. "Hell let us know when hes ready for that next moment, and well take it from there." After initially being reluctant to watch a replay of the line drive, Cobb said he watched it later that night or the following morning. He said he initially thought the injury wasnt that serious, and wanted to get up and walk off the field. It wasnt until after the ambulance ride to the hospital, where he later overheard a nurse talking about, "how she couldnt believe this is happening again within a month" that he began to think about Happ. "When it happened I didnt think it was too big of a deal. ... It didnt sink in for a while," Cobb said. "Once I got the CATSCAN going and they told me there was no bleeding inside the brain, from there I was kind of at ease with the whole situation." There has been speculation that Cobb, who is 6-2 with a 3.01 ERA in 13 starts this year, might not pitch again this season. He said that isnt true. "Ill be ready to go as soon as my body tells me Im 100 per cent," he said. "But mentally, theres no doubt in my mind Ill be fine. Its just another challenge." He conceded, though, that it is difficult to imagine what it will be like when he does finally get back on a mound and faces hitters. "I dont think thats something you can say until you actually go through it," Cobb said. "Id love to sit up here and tell you no, that once I get out there Ill have the mindset that it happened once, its probably a pretty good chance its not going to happen to me again. "But Im not going to lie. Ive had some nightmares about how bad it could have been. Its obviously in the back of my mind, but Id like to think I could pitch through it." Adidas NMD R1 Aanbieding . Dallas also Monday recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and assigned goaltender Jack Campbell to the AHL squad. Adidas NMD Te Koop .com) - The surprising Calgary Flames host the winless New Jersey Devils at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday. http://www.nmdtekoop.com/ultra-boost-sneakers/ultra-boost-19.html .Y. -- Sore nose and all, Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists to help Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 5-3 on Friday night, snapping the Penguins mini-slump and slowing the Sabres late-season surge. Adidas Ultra Boost Nederland . Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, Shawn Marion had 22 and the Mavericks beat undermanned Philadelphia 124-112 Friday night, handing the 76ers their 10th straight loss. Adidas NMD R2 Heren . The Toronto Blue Jays general manager made a series of bold moves that reshaped the club ahead of what would turn out to be a disastrous 2013 campaign.ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons have to recast their coaching search after Arizona defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles called off a scheduled second interview with the team.Bowles agent, Tony Agnone, told The Associated Press on Tuesday night Bowles cancelled the meeting with the Falcons that was set for Wednesday. The change in plans came as Bowles was finalizing an agreement to coach the New York Jets. Bowles met with the Jets on Tuesday.The Falcons are expected to have a second interview with Detroit defensive co-ordinator Teryl Austin later this week.The team is seeking to replace Mike Smith, who was fired following a 6-10 finish in 2014.The talks with Austin could determine if the Falcons wait for a second meeting with Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn, who is unavailable this week as the Seahawks prepare for Sundays NFC championship game.If the Seahawks beat Green Bay on Sunday, Quinn may not be open for more talks with Atlanta until after the Feb. 1 Super Bowl.Bowles, 51, was Philadelphias defensive co-ordinator in 2012 before building one of the leagues top defences in Arizona. The Cardinals ranked fifth in the league, allowing 18.7 points per game.He previously was a defensive assistant with the Jeets, Cleveland, Dallas and Miami.ddddddddddddHe was 2-1 as the Dolphins interim head coach in 2011.Austin, 49, was Baltimores secondary coach for three years before becoming Detroits defensive co-ordinator for the 2014 season.The Falcons search has focused on top defensive co-ordinators after former Jets coach Rex Ryan, also known for defence, was hired as Buffalos new coach. Its not a new strategy. Smith was the defensive co-ordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-07 before being hired by Atlanta.Atlanta has struggled on defence while finishing a combined 10-22 the past two seasons. The Falcons allowed the most total yards and yards passing in the league this season.The two straight losing seasons followed five winning seasons in a row under Smith.The Falcons also have interviewed New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels, Broncos offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, former Bills coach Doug Marrone and Atlanta special teams coach Keith Armstrong.It is unclear if the team will seek to interview former Denver coach John Fox, who suddenly became available on Monday. Fox coached in the NFC South with Carolina from 2002-10.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '