TORONTO -- After making moves to bolster its attack and midfield, Toronto FC has turned its attention to the backline by acquiring American defender Justin Morrow from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for allocation money. Dwan Edwards Womens Jersey . The deal also adds experience to Torontos young roster. In four years with the Quakes, Morrow has played in 71 regular-season games and two playoff games with 65 starts. Only Toronto midfielder Jeremy Hall (114) has played more MLS games. "In Morrow, we are adding a young all-star calibre player to our back line," Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a release Tuesday. "Justins steady presence, versatility and MLS experience make him a great addition to the club." The move beefs up the Toronto backline with the 26-year-old Morrow able to play both fullback and centre-back. Morrow adds depth to captain Steven Caldwell and Doneil Henry in the middle of defence and will likely challenge Ashtone Morgan at left back. Mark Bloom appears to have inherited the right back position from Englands Richard Eckersley, who is likely to move on once the team buys out the $500,000-plus last year of a contract renegotiated to make the number more palatable in 2013. Fullbacks Jonas Elmer and Ryan Richter and centre back Gale Agbossoumonde are also on the Toronto roster. Torontos defence, in a state of flux for the first half of the season, yielded 47 goals in 2013. That was down from 62 in 2012 but still ranked 14th in the 19-team league. Morrow, who made US$139,562 last season with San Jose, has two career goals. Its the latest in a series of off-season moves by Toronto FC as it bids to leave a 6-17-11 season far behind it. Toronto unveiled Brazilian striker Gilberto last Friday, its newest designated player. Jermain Defoe is expected to join him in the January transfer window in a megabucks deal that will make the Spurs and England forward the face of the Toronto franchise. While club officials have not confirmed the signing of Defoe, privately they see it as a done deal. The firing of Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is a complication given the new boss might be more amenable to trying to keep Defoe. TFC officials hope that any such wooing will be too little, too late. Toronto also recently traded away the rights to goalie Stefan Frei and midfielder Bobby Convey for draft picks, acquired Brazilian midfielder Jackson from FC Dallas and re-signed goalie Joe Bendik to a new deal. Toronto also appointed Greg Vanney as assistant GM and head of its academy. San Jose picked Morrow in the second round -- 28th overall -- of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. Morrow also started for the U.S. in a 0-0 friendly against Canada last January and was on the bench for World Cup qualifying matches against Costa Rica and Mexico in March. Judging from his Twitter account, Morrow is a Cleveland Browns fan with a sweet tooth and a taste for travel. He played collegiate soccer at Notre Dame where he made 89 appearances in four seasons. Having played under Notre Dame coach Bobby Clark while he was in charge of Stanford, Nelsen takes the Fighting Irish connection seriously. Morrow joins forward Bright Dike as Notre Dame alumni on the Toronto team. Greg Olsen Jersey . -- The basic role that Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito shared as offensive linemen for the Miami Dolphins was protecting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Luke Kuechly Jersey . The 24-year-old piloted the No.06 Sprott Inc. Newman/Haas Racing entry to nine top-ten finishes, including three season-best fourth-place finishes, all on wildly different tracks - at Long Beach (street course), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (short oval) and Kentucky Speedway (1.The Florida Panthers have been given permission to speak to Montreal assistant coach Gerard Gallant about their vacant head coaching position, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin confirmed on Monday. Gallant has worked the last two seasons with head coach Michel Therrien behind the bench, after coaching in the QMJHL with the Saint John Sea Dogs. He led Saint John to to the Memorial Cup in 2011 and coached them back to the tournament in 2012. Prior to joining the Sea Dogs, Gallant served as an NHL assistant coach with the New York Islanders during the 2007-08 season. He also spent seven yearrs on the coaching staff of the Columbus Blue Jackets, serving as the teams head coach from 2004 to 2006. Jason Avant Panthers Jersey. He was also behind the bench as an assistant coach with Team Canada at the 2007 IIHF World Championship in Russia, capturing gold at the tournament. Before joining the Blue Jackets, Gerard was an assistant coach with the American Hockey Leagues Louisville Panthers and led the Summerside Western Capitals to a Kent Cup Championship in 1997 as the MJAHL teams head coach. Gallant appeared in 615 games in the NHL as a member of the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '
