"The league's got to start protecting him. The last two games, teams have gone out there and kicked him and I don't think the referees have done a good job protecting him. Today was a case in point. ... We have a talented player in this league, a player who's a good player, who fans want to come and watch play, then we let thugs hit him and we don't protect him enough."

-- Seattle coach Sigi Schmid after Sounders playmaker Mauro Rosales suffered a knee injury from a tackle by D.C. defender Daniel Woolard after Rosales assisted on two goals in a 3-0 win on Saturday. The Argentine Rosales has 12 assists and five goals this season. (Seattle Times)