QPR Picks Up Pickens

Luis Arroyave is reporting on his blog The Red Card that goalkeeper Matt Pickens has signed with Queens Park Rangers of the Football League Championship after turning down an offer from the Chicago Fire.Pickens, 25, had been with the Fire since 2004 but wasn't a regular starter until last season. In 27 games, he posted a 9-8-10 record to go along with a 1.15 GAA in 2007, a good enough performance to merit the attention of U.S. MNT coach Bob Bradley last month. While in his first camp with the senior national team, however, he decided to leave early to go on trial with a handful of English clubs, a move that has apparently paid dividends for the 19th overall selection in the 2004 SuperDraft.