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A look ahead to top enterprise and feature stories planned globally by AP Sports. New digests will go out each Thursday and Monday and will be repeated on other weekdays. Please note that story plans may change depending on news and other issues.

For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues Cheap Kyzir White Jersey , contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or 877-836-9477. For reruns, call the Service Desk 800-838-4616 or your local AP bureau.

As with all our operations, we welcome and want your feedback. If you have thoughts or questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia, assistant sports editor for the U.S. east region, at 215-446-6632 or at ogarcia(at)ap.org.

All times are Eastern.

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NOTE: The stories slugged Black History-Game Changers are part of AP’s coverage during Black History Month of how African-American athletes have used their platforms during the last 100 years to influence social and political change. Please see the Black History Month advisory for more details on the series.

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FRIDAY, Feb. 2

BLACK HISTORY-GAME CHANGERS-KAEPERNICK

Colin Kaepernick knew he was sending a message when he first refused to stand during the national anthem, before a preseason game in 2016. He probably never would’ve guessed the price he would pay. Because of the efforts of the now-unemployed quarterback Chiefs Authentic Jerseys , the days of excluding politics and social issues from sports appear to be over, and those who have followed Kaepernick’s lead are feeling more and more empowered to use their platform for something other than mere fun and games. By National Writer Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos and video by 3 a.m. Friday.

BLACK HISTORY-GAME CHANGERS-BLACK ATHLETES

Sports and race have been intertwined in America’s journey to become a more perfect union, and black athletes have often found themselves at the center of the struggle for racial progress. From Jack Johnson’s defiance outside of the boxing ring, thumbing his nose at segregation and challenging notions of black inferiority to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel silently during the national anthem ahead of NFL games that many point to as the reason he is now out of the league, black athletes have protested for generations in ways large and small in an effort to highlight injustice, expose hypocrisy and move the country forward. Often met with hate by fans uninterested in mixing sports and social issues, many have taken stances that risk their careers Authentic Kerryon Johnson Jersey , choosing race over the games they love. Where does that leave us? By AP National Writer Errin Haines Whack. UPCOMING: 1,200 words, photos and video by 1 p.m. Friday.

MONDAY, Feb. 5

OLY–SBD-SHAUN WHITE

Shaun White says there were times in the weeks after he slammed his face into a halfpipe in New Zealand and had to be helicoptered off the mountain when he wondered what was to be learned from it all. To outsiders, the answer is simple. The accident served as a jarring reminder of the hurdles White was willing to overcome to make it back to the Olympics – and this time, to leave with a third gold medal. By National Writer Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 3 a.m. Monday.

TUESDAY, Feb. 6

BKN–MAVERICKS-DIRK’S 20TH

DALLAS – Dirk Nowitzki made peace years ago with the reality that spending his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks would likely mean little or no chance to win a second championship. The most accomplished European player in NBA history never seriously considered leaving the franchise that courted him as a teenager in Germany and drafted him five days after his 20th birthday in 1998. Now in his 20th season Cheap Mike Gesicki Jersey , Nowitzki is comfortable with the idea that he led the Mavericks to their first championship and can try to help a younger core build toward making Dallas a title contender again. By Schuyler Dixon. UPCOMING: 850 words, photos by 3 a.m. Tuesday.

THURSDAY, Feb. 8

BLACK HISTORY-GAME CHANGERS-JOHNSON

There was no more potent or more closely guarded symbol of white domination at the turn of the 20th Century than the title of heavyweight champion of the world. Then 32-year-old Jack Johnson stepped into the ring. By AP Sports Writer Kareem Copeland. UPCOMING: 950 words, photos and video by 3 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, Feb. 8.

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Again, if you have questions about the Sports Showcase Digest or the material listed, please reach out to Oskar Garcia, assistant sports editor for the U.S. east region Babe Herman Jersey , at 215-446-6632 or at ogarcia(at)ap.org.

Thanks,

AP Sports

The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to a one-year contract with inside linebacker Ramik Wilson.

The Rams announced the deal Thursday night.

Wilson spent his first three NFL seasons with Kansas City, making 112 tackles. He started 11 games for the Chiefs in 2016, but saw less playing time last season.

Kansas City declined to tender a contract to Wilson last week, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Wilson is reunited with NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, his teammate for three seasons at Georgia.

The NFC West champion Rams are in need of inside linebackers after trading Alec Ogletree to the Giants to make room for cornerback Aqib Talib.

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Russell Westbrook unleashed the same fury he had in Game 4 Derwin James Jersey Chargers , just a little more efficiently this time.

Westbrook was controlled, and he was too much for Utah. Silent and serious, the reigning league MVP scored 33 of his 45 points in the second half, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from 25 points down to fight off elimination and beat the Jazz 107-99 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

”It was win or go home,” Westbrook said. ”Regardless of what is going on in the game, you have to give yourself a chance to win, and I thought our guys did a good job of that tonight. They did an amazing job of sticking together.”

Westbrook got sidetracked during Monday’s Game 4 by a one-on-one matchup with Ricky Rubio. He was in foul trouble for much of Oklahoma City’s loss and was later fined $10,000 and assessed a technical for an altercation late in that game.

With Oklahoma City trailing 3-1 in the series, he focused up in Game 5 and helped keep the season alive. He made 5 of 16 shots in the first half, then 12 of 23 in the second.

Westbrook also had 15 rebounds and seven assists. Paul George added 34 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder, who forced a Game 6 in Salt Lake City on Friday.

”We stopped playing defense,” Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell said. ”We stopped getting back. Our offense got stagnant. They made adjustments and we didn’t make the right adjustments back. We will watch the film and figure out what went wrong, but from my analysis right after the game, we just stopped getting back in transition and they just fed off of that.”

Jae Crowder scored a career playoff-high 27 points, Mitchell had 23 and Joe Ingles added 16 for the Jazz, who still have a 3-2 lead in the series.

They realize it probably should already be over.

”We need to do a better job,” Rubio said. ”Of course, you have to give them credit. They made a lot of shots. They took their pride and forced a Game 6. But we are going home and we’ve got to be strong and be confident.”

Oklahoma City took advantage after Utah’s post players, Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors Jamal Adams Jets Jersey , got into foul trouble. Both finished with five fouls, and Oklahoma City was able to get to the basket consistently for the first time in the series.

Gobert’s absence, in particular, caused problems.

”It’s a different feeling when you don’t have big fella back there,” Mitchell said. ”It’s hard that we put all the pressure on him. We have had success but eventually it’s not going to work and we have to play better defense as guards ourselves.”

Utah opened the second half on an 8-1 run to go up 64-42, and Crowder’s 3-pointer made it 71-46 with 8:34 left in the third quarter.

Westbrook made back-to-back 3-pointers, then after a 3-point play by George, Westbrook made a jumper and a layup to cut Utah’s lead to 73-60 and bring energy back into the arena.

Gobert picked up his fifth foul with 3:46 left in the third quarter. Westbrook’s 3-pointer tied the game at 78 heading into the fourth quarter. He scored 20 points in the third.

Westbrook scored immediately at the start of the fourth to finally put the Thunder in front. Back-to-back 3s by Westbrook and Alex Abrines put Oklahoma City up 96-91, and a jumper by Westbrook with 1:24 left put Oklahoma City up 107-99.

”We just never quit,” George said. ”We never quit. I can’t pinpoint one thing we did wrong. We just never got down on ourselves, regardless of the lead they built and the shots they were making. We could surge back and we did.”

TIP-INS

Jazz: Shot 57 percent in the first quarter to take a 34-29 lead. … Crowder scored 15 points in the first quarter. … Mitchell was fouled on a 3-pointer with 11.1 seconds left in the first half. Before Mitchell shot his free throws, Thunder coach Billy Donovan was called for a technical. Mitchell made all four free throws, and Utah led 56-41 at the break. … Rubio finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Thunder: Former Thunder forward Enes Kanter, who was sent to New York in the deal that brought Anthony to Oklahoma City, attended the game. Kanter played for Utah before playing for the Thunder. … George made a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer.

STAT LINES

Westbrook had only scored 36 points in the second half of the first four games combined before unleashing 33 in Game 5.

”Just staying aggressive,” Westbrook said. ”Just trying to pick my spots, the same shots I’ve been getting. I’ve just got to concentrate on making them.”

MISSING IN ACTION

Carmelo Anthony scored just seven points on 2-for-6 shooting and played just 26 minutes. When he subbed out in the third quarter, the Thunder trailed 71-53. By the time he subbed back in Rasheem Green Jersey Elite , Oklahoma City led 88-87.

QUOTABLE

George on not resting in the second half: ”What were we going to rest for? We wanted this game tonight. We needed this game tonight. We were just going to give it everything we had.”

UP NEXT

Game 6 is Friday in Salt Lake City.

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On Day 2 of the NFL draft, Denver Broncos general manager John Elway began fixing the mess on offense, selecting two big bangers in SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton in the second round and Oregon running back Royce Freeman in the third.

"Well, we got better on the offensive side, no question," Elway said Friday night after adding Sutton (6-foot-4, 218 pounds) and Freeman (6-foot, 238 pounds).

Also in the third round, the Broncos selected Isaac Yiadom, a lean, long-armed cornerback from Boston College who impressed the Broncos at the Senior Bowl and is expected to be a special teams stud in Denver.

Mix Demaryius Thomas' size and strength with Emmanuel Sanders' pedigree and athleticism and you've got Sutton, whom the Broncos project as a future featured receiver.

"He's big and he can really run," Elway said. "He can make the very difficult catch and make great catches. We also think he's very raw and has lots of upside."

Thomas and Sanders "are going to be great role models for him," Elway added.

Sanders tweeted a video of the two of them working out together last month in Dallas, saying the he and Sutton "joked about how lethal we'd be together."

Now, the laugh is on Denver's opponents.

With the first of two third-round picks, the Broncos added Oregon's all-time leading rusher in Freeman, a big back who ran for a Pac-12-record 60 career touchdowns but carried 947 times in four seasons in Eugene, putting plenty of miles on his football odometer.

"What it shows to us is durable Derrick Nnadi Jersey Chiefs ," Elway said. "He played a lot, so obviously he can take that. And it's probably nearer at the end of his career, but who knows how much that will shorten it? But it wasn't a concern when we took him."

The Broncos needed a top-tier running back after releasing C.J. Anderson in a cost-cutting move, and in Sutton they added the big playmaker their anemic offense has sorely lacked of late.

Sutton gives quarterback Case Keenum another big, physical red-zone target who will initially be the third receiver but "has No. 1" receiver traits, according to coach Vance Joseph.

"John said it, in the future he could be our No. 1 guy," Joseph said.

Freeman could be the starting running back right away.

Elway called him a "big banger that we haven't had for a while."

Freeman is big like Anderson but faster.

"With Freeman, he is a big back with speed, so when you're down in the red zone running the football, he's definitely a nice option," Joseph said. "When you're in third-and-1, fourth-and-1, he's a great option."

Like Sanders, Sutton went to SMU, and over the years he sought his advice.

"It wasn't an everyday thing but we would talk a few times about how I get to that level and how I continue to climb to be the best that I can be, even with that big fight against me coming from a smaller school," Sutton said.

The versatile Sutton prides himself on garnering attention no matter where he lines up, but he's admittedly still a work in progress and eager for mentoring by Thomas and Sanders.

"I am very new to the position. I am learning as I go Youth Tanner Lee Jersey ," Sutton said.

Recruited out of high school as a safety, Sutton was moved to wide receiver by former Mustangs head coach June Jones.

"I loved playing safety, but I feel like in my heart I was a true receiver," Sutton said. "They played me at safety but Coach Jones saw that I had the ball skills and they needed some grit on that other side of the ball."

After a medical redshirt in 2014, Sutton caught 194 passes for 3,193 yards and 31 touchdowns in three seasons at SMU.

The Broncos turned to offense on Day 2 after Bradley Chubb , the top-ranked defensive player in the draft, fell to them at No. 5 on Thursday night.

Elway insisted he was also surprised to see Sutton there at No. 40 on Friday.

"We feel very fortunate," Elway said. "We had a first-round grade on him."

Chubb, a defensive end at North Carolina State, will play outside linebacker in Denver, where the Broncos believe his dogged determination and relentless motor will help their defense return to dominance.

"That is really what we're excited about because I think it's contagious," Elway said Friday.

"That motor came from always wanting to make plays," Chubb said. "I always wanted to be around the ball. It was just something I was raised with. If I am going to do something, I am going to do it at 100 percent. That is my mindset every time I step on the field. I feel like I bring that to the pass-rush game."

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Now that Von Miller has his new pass rushing partner Michael Gallup Jersey Cowboys , John Elway knows he needs to give Case Keenum and Demaryius Thomas some help on offense.

The Denver Broncos' general manager grabbed the top-ranked defensive player in the NFL draft Thursday night when North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb fell to Denver at No. 5.

A stunned Elway said "zero" of his mock draft scenarios had Chubb falling into his lap to the thrill of superstar Von Miller and giving coach Vance Joseph the ultimate problem for a coach: an abundance of pass rushers.

Chubb will play outside linebacker in Denver where he's expected to immediately upgrade a defense that ranked third last season but surrendered a whopping 29 TD passes.

The Broncos own three more picks in the top 100, including the 40th overall selection in the second round and a pair of third-rounders Friday.

Elway, who signed Keenum in free agency last month, needs more playmakers for an anemic offense. He has said he'll target a running back after releasing C.J. Anderson.

The Dallas Cowboys kept talking up the receivers they already had going into the NFL draft after dumping Dez Bryant in a cost-cutting move.

They ended up having to tout their tight ends as well when ESPN reported on the draft’s second day that Jason Witten was planning to retire after 15 seasons to join the ”Monday Night Football” crew as lead analyst.

Even with all the talk, Dallas still addressed a pair of positions that figure to look dramatically different after years of Bryant and Witten at or near the top of the club’s list of receiving leaders.

A day after drafting receiver Michael Gallup in the third round, the Cowboys traded one of their three picks in the sixth Saturday to the Los Angeles Rams for receiver Tavon Austin, the eighth overall pick in 2013 when the franchise was still in St. Louis.

The Cowboys took a tight end with the second of two picks in the fourth round in Stanford’s Dalton Schultz. Their first pick in that round was defensive end Dorance Armstrong from Kansas.

”I think we’re better because I think we’ve got a great read on where we were as we sort through Dez Authentic Tarik Cohen Jersey , as we sort through the what ifs of Witten,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. ”I think we’ve got more clarity now than we did when we started the draft.”

As for those players on the roster before the draft, the Cowboys don’t expect a No. 1 receiver to emerge because they don’t think their offense will be structured that way without Bryant.

Dallas wants quarterback Dak Prescott to feed off the run with 2016 rushing leader Ezekiel Elliott, so free-agent pickup Allen Hurns could be the top receiver without numbers similar to what Bryant posted during his best run from 2012-14.

The Cowboys also signed journeyman Deonte Thompson to go with incumbents Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley. Dallas took a receiver out of the equation Saturday by sending Ryan Switzer to Oakland for defensive lineman Jihad Ward.

”When you lose a player like Dez and what he’s brought to the table throughout his career, we’re remaking our receiving room,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. ”I do think we wanted to do things that, as Jerry has said Authentic Kevin Gausman Jersey , that’s Dak-friendly.”

ESPN reported Friday that Witten was planning to retire to join the network, but Jerry Jones said the franchise leader in games, catches and yards receiving hadn’t made a decision and wanted the weekend to think about it.

Without Witten, the Cowboys currently have nine career catches from the tight ends on their roster – all by fourth-year player Geoff Swaim.

Dallas is high on Blake Jarwin and hopeful that former Baylor basketball player Rico Gathers can develop. Gathers hasn’t played a regular-season game and missed all of his second season after sustaining a concussion in training camp last year.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT NO. 1: Because of all the talk about Bryant and Witten, first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch was overshadowed. The linebacker from Boise State, taken 19th overall, could be a walk-in starter. Jerry Jones likes to compare him to Rolando McClain Authentic Jessie Bates III Jersey , a key man in the middle when the Cowboys won the NFC East in 2014. Dallas took another linebacker in the sixth round (Indiana’s Chris Covington).

PLAN FOR AUSTIN: Rams coach Sean McVay used Austin as more of a hybrid, with some wildcat and other change-of-pace looks as a runner in the last of five disappointing seasons for the speedy receiver. The Cowboys have similar plans for him, and high hopes for more production than Austin had while the Rams surged to the NFC West title in the first year under McVay after 10 straight losing seasons.

TILTED TOWARD OFFENSE: Six of the nine picks were offensive players. The third-day choices were Schultz, quarterback Mike White of Western Kentucky (fifth round), receiver Cedrick Wilson of Boise State (sixth) and Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough (seventh).

STILL NEED: The Cowboys didn’t draft a safety despite moving one of last season’s starters, Byron Jones, back to cornerback. At the moment Cheap Bo Scarbrough Jersey , the starters appear to be Jeff Heath and Xavier Woods, a sixth-round pick last year.

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Before throwing Jarvis Landry a pass Cordy Glenn Jersey Bengals , the Browns made a huge commitment to him.

Cleveland signed the star wide receiver to a five-year, $75 million contract extension on Friday night, locking up a game-changing player they're counting on for the future.

A three-time Pro Bowler acquired last month in a trade with Miami, Landry was at the team's headquarters Friday as the Browns continued preparations for an NFL draft that may re-shape their franchise.

"Jarvis Landry is the type of football player we want on this team for a long time," general manager John Dorsey said. "Obviously, he's an accomplished playmaker, that's why we went after him in the trade but in his short time as a Brown we can already see the type of leadership and competitiveness he's going to bring to his teammates. We are very pleased that we've been able to secure him to a long-term contract."

Landry led the NFL with 112 catches last season and scored nine touchdowns, two more than Cleveland's entire receiving corps.

The 25-year-old will make an immediate impact for a Cleveland team that lost all 16 games last season and is 1-31 in two years under coach Hue Jackson.

"I've always dreamed of two things: taking care of my family and playing football," Landry said. "I've become a product of hard work Lions Tracy Walker Jersey , sacrifice, persistence, and mental toughness. Jerry Rice said the thing that made him so great was the fear of failure. I've been afraid of failure my whole life. I've endured my share, but in each and every discomforting time I've failed, I've also grown, I've also learned, I've also found success."

The Browns have the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks and are expected to select a quarterback. However, that pick is likely to spend at least one season backing up newly acquired QB Tyrod Taylor, who will have Landry as a target.

鈥?The Latest on Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win reaction (all times local):2:35 p.m.Philadelphia’s top police official says he got hit in the head by a bottle during one of the big street celebrations of the Eagles’ first Super Bowl victory.Commissioner Richard Ross tells TV station WPVI that “the lion’s share of people just celebrate peacefully Braden Smith Color Rush Jersey , but you’re going to get some idiots out there.”He says bottles were thrown at police officers at times and some suffered minor injuries, including himself.Ross says that he “doesn’t get what people do and why they do it.”Philadelphia officials say there were some acts of vandalism, a gas station was looted and three arrests were made as tens of thousands of people converged on downtown to celebrate the Eagles’ first Super Bowl title.12:40 p.m.The date is set for Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory parade.The city announced Monday that the parade will be Thursday, starting at 11 a.m. at Broad Street near the stadiums. It will move north along the city’s main thoroughfare, past City Hall and finish at the art museum’s “Rocky Steps.”The team is scheduled to arrive at Philadelphia’s airport Monday afternoon.The Eagles won their first Super Bowl in franchise history Sunday, defeating the New England Patriots 41-33.11:15 a.m.Philadelphia’s mayor says the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade will most likely take place on Thursday. KYW-TV reports Mayor Jim Kenney on Monday set the tentative parade date during an interview on the 94WIP Morning Show.The National Weather Service says Thursday will be mostly sunny with a high of 34 degrees. Rain and snow are expected in the city Wednesday.The Eagles won their first Super Bowl in franchise history Sunday, defeating the New England Patriots 41-33.10:20 a.m.Philadelphia officials say there were some acts of vandalism, a gas station was looted and three arrests were made as tens of thousands of people converged on downtown to celebrate the Eagles’ first Super Bowl title.A city spokeswoman says Monday that there were several acts of vandalism where windows were smashed and some injuries were reported around light poles pulled down Sunday night when crowds gathered to celebrate the Eagles 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots.The city said that other than a “handful of bad actors” the celebrations were peaceful.The Philadelphia Fire Department said Sunday was an average day that included nearly 800 EMS incidents, about 150 fire incidents Authentic Sam Darnold Jersey , seven structure fires and “1 Super Bowl championship.”8 a.m.Bud Light is spilling the details on how Philadelphia can cash in on its promise of free beer for the city now that the Eagles have won the Super Bowl.They’re making good on a summertime deal with Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson.The company tweeted that 25 bars along the parade route will be offering free Bud Light to patrons.The deal came after Johnson said in an interview last summer that should the Eagles win the Super Bowl, he would give out beer “to everybody.”Bud Light tweeted to Johnson “Let’s make a bet. Win it all and the party is on us. Deal?”The beer maker went on to change its catchphrase “Dilly Dilly” to “Philly Philly” celebrating the Eagles playoff run.7:30 a.m.Twelve people were taken to the hospital and six people were arrested during a post-Super Bowl disturbance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.A university spokesman says about 2,000 people gathered outdoors at the Southwest Residential Area after the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 on Sunday night.Campus police says fights broke out, the crowd threw objects and set off smoke bombs and firecrackers. Police used pepper balls to disperse the crowd and the area was cleared by 11:30 p.m.Those transported to hospitals suffered from head injuries, lacerations and alcohol intoxication.Police say those arrested face criminal charges, and if they are students they face punishment under the student code of conduct. No names were released.6:45 a.m.Philadelphia is cleaning up after its late-night street celebrations, where some overzealous fans smashed windows, climbed traffic lights and trashed some convenience stores.Rowdy fans clambered atop the awning at the swanky Ritz Carlton Hotel on Broad Street near City Hall, jumping off into the crowd in what one post calls “Ritz Carlton Skydiving.” The awning could be seen collapsing later with a large group of people on top of it. It’s not clear if anyone was injured. Nearby Durham Smythe Jersey Elite , windows were smashed at a Macy’s department store.And apparently no amount of grease in the world can keep some Eagles fans from climbing poles in celebration. A few managed to shimmy up traffic lights and street sign poles on Broad Street. And after 1 a.m., the only people allowed inside the Wawa convenience store were police officers.Messages seeking comment from police on injuries and arrests overall weren’t immediately returned.1:25 a.m.The rain and hail that pelted Philadelphia for much of the day dissipated just as people across the city spilled out of sports bars, apartments and houses.They all had one destination: Broad Street.It was time for a celebration 58 years in the making.On Sunday evening, just as Nick Foles led the Philadelphia Eagles to a surprise Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in Minneapolis, the scene more than 1,000 miles away in Philly was jubilation and pandemonium.Fireworks were set off. Car horns blared. And Philadelphians young and old descended on Broad Street, the iconic thoroughfare that will soon host a parade to commemorate the city’s first major pro sports championship since the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. Copyright ©2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. .

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A New Jersey memorabilia dealer who claims New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning conspired with the team's equipment staff to sell bogus "game-used" helmets to unsuspecting collectors as part of a long-running scam could get a chance to make his case in court next month.

A jury in New Jersey is scheduled to be selected May 14.

Attorneys for the two-time Super Bowl champion have attacked the allegations in Eric Inselberg's lawsuit as "inflammatory and baseless Taven Bryan Youth Jersey ," and have accused Inselberg's attorneys of using underhanded tactics to whip up a media frenzy against their client.

The lawsuit has encompassed four years, two courts and thousands of pages of documents, and has featured more than a little acrimony between the two sides as one of the NFL's oldest and most-revered franchises has had to defend allegations that conjure up the seamy side of the sports memorabilia business.

Attorneys representing Inselberg, Manning, the team and an equipment manager named in the suit didn't respond to requests for comment last week.

Inselberg filed the suit in 2014 and accused Manning and the team of doctoring jerseys, helmets and other equipment to make it look as though they had been used during play. He was among a group of memorabilia dealers accused of selling counterfeit jerseys following an FBI sting.

Though the case against Inselberg eventually was dropped, he said in court papers that he wanted the Giants to be held accountable for the lies that led to his indictment and ruined his business.

The dispute boiled over in April 2017 when Inselberg's attorneys filed court documents that contained emails between Manning and equipment manager Joseph Skiba, including one in which Manning asks Skiba to get "2 helmets that can pass as game used."

In the furor after the emails became public, Manning Bengals Elite Jerseys , who is known for his even-tempered demeanor, angrily denounced the allegations, saying, "I have done nothing wrong and I have nothing to hide, and I know when this is done everyone will see it the same way."

Manning didn't return a message left with a spokesperson last week.

In a request to the judge to impose sanctions on Inselberg's attorneys, Manning's attorneys wrote that the emails were provided during the normal exchange of information that occurs in all civil cases and were labeled confidential.

They also argued the emails showed Manning carrying out the terms of his personal services contract with Steiner Sports, under which he provided them with two game-used helmets and two game-used jerseys after each season.

The email in question "was intended by Mr. Manning to be a request for his game-used helmets that were in the possession of the Giants' equipment staff, consistent with Mr. Manning's intentions and practices for other years as corroborated by the other email exchanges," they wrote.


Former NFL running back Reggie Bush alleges that dangerous conditions at a St. Louis stadium led to a season-ending injury in a case that could leave the city on the hook for damages Cheap Fred Warner Jersey , even though the Rams are long gone.

Defendants in the civil trial, which began Tuesday, include two public entities 鈥?the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority and the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission 鈥?as well as the Rams, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Bush was playing for the San Francisco 49ers in November 2015 when he slipped and fell in a game after being pushed out of bounds at the former Edward Jones Dome, now called the Dome at America's Center. Bush's cleats apparently slipped on a concrete surface about 11 yards (10 meters) behind the 49ers bench. The suit says the area had been nicknamed the "concrete ring of death." The Rams moved to Los Angeles the following season.

"You can see, it's like all of a sudden he's running on an ice rink," Bush's lawyer Tim Cronin told jurors in opening statements as he played video of the injury. "Whatever risks a football player assumes, concrete 11 yards outside the sidelines is not one of them."

Two weeks after Bush tore the lateral meniscus of his left knee, the Dome covered the concrete surface with rubber padding Authentic Tony Watson Jersey , according to his suit. Bush's fall followed a similar incident at the Dome on Oct. 25, 2015, in which Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown slid into a wall, injuring his shoulder.

After sitting out the rest of the 2015 season, Bush signed with Buffalo for the following season, saying at the time that his surgically repaired knee was 100 percent. But his attorney told jurors that the knee injury prevented Bush from getting a more lucrative deal as a free agent.

Debbie Champion, who represents the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority and the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, told jurors that the Rams, whom she called "the football experts Christian Kirk Jersey Cardinals ," controlled the stadium during home games, not her clients. She said Bush's injury happened "during the normal course of a football game."

Rams lawyer Daniel Allmayer said the team took steps to ensure the safety of players, including installing carpet runners in the tunnels between the locker rooms and turf field. Allmayer said that after Bush got hurt, Rams Operations Director Bruce Warwick immediately contacted the St. Louis Conventions and Visitors Commission about covering the exposed concrete.

"Mr. Warwick had to get the authority of the CVC if he wanted to change it or move things because it was their stadium 鈥?their area," Allmayer said.

Bush's suit doesn't put a price on the injury but says he seeks at least $25,000 in damages.


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The NFL has finally changed up its catch rule Adidas Jack Eichel Jersey , following unanimous approval from all 32 teams,聽according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The catch rule passed by a vote of 32-0 #theyallcaughtit— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2018Alberto Riveron - league senior VP of Officiating, explained how the rule book will now define a catch:After much deliberation & input from coaches, players, @NFLLegends, & club executives, the @NFL Competition Committee will recommend the following language simplifying the catch rule at the Annual Meeting next week. pic.twitter.com/hJwH5YYBRK— Al Riveron (@alriveron) March 21, 2018This ends the "going-to-the-ground," part of the catch rule that sparked massive controversy for years. Most notably, it cost the Dallas Cowboys a potential playoff win during the 2014 NFC Divisional Round, when Dez Bryant's fourth-down catch was overturned late in the game.There was even more controversy in Week 15 of the 2017 season, when the New England Patriots faced the Pittsburgh Steelers. With a chance to clinch the top seed in the AFC, Ben Roethlisberger apparently hit Jesse James in the end zone for a late touchdown that would have likely own the game.But according to the rule book Eli Manning Giants Jersey , James lost control as he went to the ground. Roethlisberger threw an interception two plays later, and the Steelers failed to secure the top seed.There were many other controversial touchdown rulings throughout the season. Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the New York Jets appeared to have broken the pylon for a touchdown in a Week 6 game, but briefly lost the ball, which went out of bounds. It was ruled a touchback.Of course, the Philadelphia Eagles benefited from the controversial catch rule twice in Super Bowl 52. Running back Corey Clement caught a touchdown in the third quarter, but looked to have bobbled the ball as he went out of bounds. The touchdown was upheld, however.Then there was the game-winning touchdown from tight end Zach Ertz. Though it looked like he may not have maintained the process of the catch, officials reviewed the play and deemed that he established himself as a runner - upholding the touchdown.The NFL catch rule didn't make sense to many NFL fans and pundits. Too many big games ended in controversy, with nobody really understanding what a catch truly was in the NFL anymore.But with all 32 teams agreeing to change the definition of a "catch," we can only hope that lesser controversy will take place. Anthony Lynn left Texas Tech in 1992 for a life in the NFL, he was only six class hours shy of earning his degree.

Although he won two Super Bowl rings as a running back before beginning a coaching career that eventually put him in charge of the Los Angeles Chargers last season, Lynn never forgot about missing his college graduation.

On Saturday, the Chargers’ 49-year-old head coach will take that long-delayed walk to get his diploma when he receives his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at UNLV.

”Football has always been my No. 1 priority, and sometimes that’s good Authentic Francisco Rodriguez Jersey , sometimes that’s bad,” the Chargers’ head coach said Friday after running a workout with their rookies and undrafted free agents. ”But I chose football over education. I thought, at some point, `No more excuses. Just go back and get it done.”’

While he led the Chargers to a 9-7 record last season, Lynn was also hitting the books. He spent the past 18 months completing his coursework while simultaneously navigating his first head coaching job.

Lynn didn’t say much about his studies to his Chargers assistants or players, but he strategized like any good coach to manage his workload. With the help of a counselor, Lynn used a five-week down period in last summer’s schedule to line up his daily educational goals and deadlines for the following year.

”It requires you to be a master planner,” Lynn said with a grin.

He recently completed his 30-page capstone research project about the challenges and pitfalls facing athletes as they make the transition into post-competitive life. After starting out with the goal of learning more about the mental health of athletes with head injuries, Lynn eventually took 30 hours of online classes in subjects such as sociology, public health and psychology.

”Mental health is broader than what I thought,” Lynn said. ”Things like identity crisis. Things like boredom with athletes post-career, and how that can lead to other sicknesses that are sometimes fatal. So that’s probably the biggest thing I learned.”

The seeds of Lynn’s return were planted in 2014 while he was on Rex Ryan’s staff with the New York Jets. Dave Szott, Lynn’s good friend and a former Jets lineman who became a coach and executive with the club, finished his degree 15 years after leaving Penn State with the encouragement of his own wife Keke Coutee Jersey Texans , Andrea.

”I remember she looked at me and said, `Coach, you should do the same,”’ Lynn recalled. ”`There’s no reason why you shouldn’t do that, no excuses.’ And that just gave me a little push and inspired me to go back, or at least investigate it.”

Lynn put it off for a couple of years while he moved with Ryan to Buffalo and attempted to land his own head coaching job. He eventually connected with an educational firm that has expertise in such endeavors, and he committed to his studies in earnest in 2017.

”I said, `You know what? It’s now or never,”’ Lynn recalled with a smile. ”And then I become a head coach.”

But with the Chargers’ encouragement, Lynn decided to continue his educational pursuits. He did most of his coursework remotely, but also went to UNLV recently for face-to-face discussions with his professors.

Lynn also was motivated by his highly educated children. His daughter, Danielle, is receiving her master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Texas next week. His son, D’Anton Markus Wheaton Color Rush Jersey , a former Penn State defensive back, will miss the graduation ceremony at UNLV because he’ll be at work with the Houston Texans in his new job as an assistant coach.

”They were happy,” Lynn said. ”I’m not the butt of the jokes anymore when I go to one of their graduations. They would always say stuff like, `That’s why you didn’t graduate.’ I’d talk about how hard I work. `That’s why you didn’t graduate.”’

Lynn wasn’t planning to participate in UNLV’s graduation ceremony until he realized what it could mean to other athletes, coaches and professionals facing similar educational challenges. His mother and daughter will be in attendance in Las Vegas along with Chargers owner Dean Spanos and his wife, Susie.

”I decided to walk, because if it could inspire one person, then it’s worth it,” Lynn said. ”Dave Szott inspired me. Maybe if I inspire one, then it’s worth it.”

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J.T. Realmuto was focused purely on putting the ball in play with the bases loaded and two strikes on him.

He ended up putting it out of play.

Realmuto hit a grand slam during a five-run seventh inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2 Saturday.

With one out Authentic DaeSean Hamilton Jersey , Realmuto fouled off three pitches against struggling reliever Bryan Shaw before lining an elevated cutter just over the right-field wall. The drive helped Miami stop a three-game skid and ended the Rockies’ winning streak at four.

”Early, I felt like I was trying to do a little too much in that at-bat,” Realmuto said. ”Once I got to two strikes I was really just trying to fight and put the ball in play. That’s really it.”

Shaw said he threw the pitch he wanted against Realmuto. It just ended with a bad result.

”We executed where we wanted to and he hit it,” Shaw said.

Trevor Richards (2-4) gave up one run and three hits in six innings Andy Dalton Jersey , striking out eight. He also singled for his first hit in the majors.

The 25-year-old rookie was 0-3 with a 7.40 ERA on the road coming into the day at Coors Field.

”He set the tone,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. ”He kept us in the game and gave us a chance.”

Rockies starter Tyler Anderson (4-3) was sharp before allowing three consecutive hits to open the seventh, including an RBI single from pinch-hitter Justin Bour that chased the lefty and put the Marlins ahead 2-1. Starlin Castro then loaded the bases after video review reversed an out call and ruled him safe with an infield single.

An out later, Realmuto hit his second career grand slam. His first came on Aug. 12 Odell Beckham Jr Giants Jersey , 2015 against the Boston Red Sox.

”J.T.’s great, you know he’s not afraid,” Mattingly said. ”He’s not bothered by anything out there. He’s one of the guys that you like being up there. I remember telling him last year, at one point he was struggling Mark Lowe Jersey , and I just told him `there’s no one I like up there better than you’, because you always feel like he’s not afraid and nothing is going to bother him up there.”

Gerardo Parra hit a solo homer in the seventh to bring Colorado within 6-2. Parra drove both runs for the Rockies, who fell back below .500 (38-39).

Derek Dietrich hit his 10th home run of the season off Anderson in the fourth to put the Marlins up 1-0. Colorado tied it on Parra’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: SS Miguel Rojas was a late scratch with soreness from a bruise on his left hand.

Rockies: RHP Scott Oberg (back strain) and LHP Mike Dunn (shoulder strain) were slated to begin rehab assignments in Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday.

NEW ROLE FOR SHAW?

Colorado manager Bud Black wasn’t opposed to the idea of moving Shaw into a different role in the bullpen as he continues to struggle.

”That’s possible,” Black said. ”We have some guys coming back that might potentially be able to go that way to give Bryan a little step back.”

TRANSACTION

The Rockies called up INF Pat Valaika and optioned RHP Yency Almonte to Triple-A Albuquerque.

WELCOME BACK

The Rockies welcomed back a few of their former players as the organization celebrated their 25th year anniversary. Todd Helton and Larry Walker were among those in attendance. Prior to the game Authentic Patrick Omameh Jersey , they returning players posed for selfies with fans and a couple of them took a few swings in a batting practice. Former Rockies third baseman Vinny Castilla – who is 50 – hit a couple well over the fence in left to the oohs and ahhs of the crowd.

UP NEXT

Marlins: LHP Caleb Smith (5-6, 4.03 ERA) takes the mound for the series finale Sunday. Smith has gone 3-4 with a 4.89 ERA on the road this season.

Rockies: RHP German Marquez (5-7, 5.20 ERA) is 1-2 with a 7.77 in his four starts in June. He got the win against the Mets on Tuesday after allowing four runs in six innings.

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Orlando Brown Jr. grew up in his father's world.

He hung out in NFL locker rooms. He learned the mentality required of a successful offensive lineman. He even began to value the college diploma his father never earned.

Now the massive Oklahoma tackle is about to enter a different universe Kenley Jansen Jersey , one in which he will be poked and prodded, measured and compared. And he will no doubt hear a litany of questions about his late, great, dear old dad.

"I don't necessarily model my game after him," Brown said Thursday at the NFL's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis. "I can't really study dad because it's a different game. So much has changed between 1993 and now."

Make no mistake, the same traits Orlando "Zeus" Brown used to carve out a more than decade-long career with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens still work.

He was known as a tough, physical blocker who could steamroll anyone in his way.

The second-generation star still relies on power but understands he must be leaner and more athletic to succeed in today's up-tempo, no-huddle track meets.

Still, he was born into the family business.

"I've been fat my whole life," he said when asked if ever didn't want to play on the line. "I wish I was fast. If I was 6-foot-2, I'd probably be playing DB. But God blessed me."

With dad's genes.

Brown fins himself in good company this weekend. There are plenty of family ties around Indy.

Some, like Brown and running back Chris Warren III, are now playing their fathers' positions.

Others have more recent ties 鈥?especially among the linemen.

The brother of Michigan State's Brian Allen, Jack Lonnie Chisenhall Jersey , has played the last two seasons with the New Orleans Saint The brother of UCLA's Scott Quessenberry, David, suited up for the Houston Texans last December after waging a long battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey even claimed to try catching passes from cousin Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons.

"We went out and he started throwing passes to me and the balls were going over my head every time," said McGlinchey, a high school tight end at the time. "I said 'What are you doing? He said 'That's where Julio (Jones) usually is. I told him, 'Ok, I'm not that guy.'"

Nobody has a bigger legacy to fulfill than Brown.

He described his play that first season in Norman, Oklahoma, as "really bad."

Since then, there have been few complaints.

Brown started 40 consecutive games for the Sooners and was twice named an All-American. He insisted he wouldn't leave school until he had a first-round projection.

At 6-8, 360 pounds, Brown could be one of the biggest players chosen in this class.

The problem: He did only 14 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, the lowest total of any lineman who has lifted at the combine.

Brown knows it's a problem that must be corrected at his pro day and the stigma could stick with him through the end of April.

"I didn't stick to my breathing routine," he said. "That's the lowest number I've done."

But Brown has repeatedly demonstrated his strength on and off the field.

When his father died from diabetic ketoacidosis in September 2011 Authentic Courtland Sutton Jersey , the grieving son's academics suffered.

Things deteriorated so much the University of Tennessee pulled a scholarship offer.

Then, Brown woke up.

"I made up my mind to not ever let academics be a problem again," he said.

It hasn't been.

Yet with so much at stake over the next three months, Brown must show that he's more than just a big, passionate player who enjoys studying the game and the history of it.

He must carve out his own identity in this new football world.

"I think my biggest asset is my football I.Q. I understand the game, I understand the NFL, I understand what it takes," Brown said. "I've always loved football and the personnel part and I learned a lot by growing up around it."

Note: Army offensive lineman Brett Toth said he has applied for a waiver to enter the NFL but has not yet been given any assurance it will be granted by draft weekend. "I hear occasionally they've been talking about it. But they have other things far more important than me. They've got to worry about the whole Middle East."

Former Cowboys Pro Bowlers Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray find themselves united again, only now they are joined as one-time Fantasy football anchors who have not received a nibble from an NFL team.

Both will sign at some point between now and the start of the regular season, as injuries and/or depth issues arise in training camps. When it comes to whether Bryant and Murray still have any Fantasy value, drafters will have to proceed with caution.

Regardless of where he signs, the days of viewing Bryant as a WR1 are long over. Last season marked the third straight season he both failed to eclipse more than 838 yards and catch barely half of the passes targeted to him. After a 2014 season in which he caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and a league-high 16 touchdowns, Bryant's receptions and yardage per game have taken a dive. Since then http://www.jaguarsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-ronnie-harrison-jersey , those numbers have dropped as low as 3.4 catches per game and 44.6 yards per contest, both in 2015.

A best-case scenario for Bryant would be to go to a pass-friendly team with a competent quarterback, which would offer some hope for him as a WR3/Flex option. At 29, there's a glimmer of optimism that he can be useful but, at least for now, Bryant is in "Hmm...he's still on the board?" stage of his career where he's a late-round play.

Murray has never been the same since the Cowboys gave him a whopping 457 total touches in 2014, the sixth-highest total in NFL history. He was woefully ineffective with the Eagles in 2015 before a revival with the Titans a year later when he accounted for 1,664 yards from scrimmage on 346 total touches, sparking false hope. Murray fell to 925 yards last season on 223 total touches, his lowest since 2012.

At 30, Murray is probably at the stage of his career where he's more of a specialist. He remains a good receiver, so it's not hard to envision him being a third-down back with the potential of 45-50 catches a season. After 1,921 touches in his seven-year career, Murray no longer can be considered a workhorse back Bobby Cox Jersey , but there can be a place for him on a Fantasy roster, especially in PPR formats.

BROOKLYN NETS D12

Dwight Howard has another jersey for his collection after being acquired by the Nets from the Hornets on Wednesday. No longer the monster he was in his prime for Fantasy basketball players, Howard still put up 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season, ending his 2017-18 campaign with 11 double-doubles in his last 12 games.

Howard will be 33 early next season and still can solid production. In an NBA deep with younger, more versatile centers, Howard will fall into the mid-to-late stages of most drafts yet will also have to be considered a strong Sell High candidate with the Nets set to give second-year center Jarrett Allen (who is a strong sleeper) more minutes.

BREAK ON THROUGH (To the Other Closer)

Giants closer Hunter Strickland slammed (or rather, punched) away his potential career year when he lost a one-round bout with a clubhouse door. Strickland, who had 13 saves, will now miss up to eight weeks.

Enter Sam Dyson, who now becomes San Francisco's stopper after rebounding from a horrific 2017 campaign. Dyson isn't a hard-throwing beast, but he did have 38 saves for the Rangers in 2016 and has the support of manager Bruce Bochy. That alone will raise his value in leagues where he currently sits on the waiver wire.

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, ://FNTSY


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The Tennessee Titans keep wrapping up their own players with defensive lineman DaQuan Jones the latest to reach agreement on a new deal keeping him on the roster.

The Titans announced Wednesday that they have agreed on a multi-year deal with Jones after reaching a new deal to keep right guard Josh Kline and signing defensive end David King to a one-year deal earlier in the day.

Tennessee also announced they tendered a contract to left guard Quinton Spain Authentic Denzel Ward Jersey , a restricted free agent.

Financial terms on the deals were not released.

A fourth-round pick out of Penn State in 2014, Jones has started 45 of his 51 games, and the 6-foot-4, 322-pound lineman was playing his best with a career-high 3 陆 sacks before tearing a bicep that put him on injured reserve Dec. 4 .

General manager Jon Robinson claimed Kline off waivers from New England in September 2016. Kline has started 30 games at right guard for Tennessee on a line that allowed the third fewest sacks (63) and blocked for the third most rushing yards (4,020) in the NFL.

An undrafted free agent from Kent State, Kline started 18 of 33 games in New England and won the 2015 Super Bowl.

The Titans agreed to terms Tuesday with a pair of former Patriots . The deals with cornerback Malcolm Butler and running back Dion Lewis will be signed once free agency begins.

Spain Ravens Lamar Jackson Jersey , undrafted out of West Virginia, has started 33 of his 35 games played over the past three seasons for the Titans.

King signed a one-year deal after being poised to become an exclusive rights free agent after playing seven games with four tackles and a sack for Tennessee. The Titans picked him up last September in a trade with Kansas City, and King was a seventh-round pick by Philadelphia in 2013 out of Oklahoma.

The Washington Redskins have paired two Alabama defensive linemen in an effort to upgrade their run defense, drafting Daron Payne to join Jonathan Allen in consecutive year first-round picks.

Allen showed star potential until a foot injury cut his rookie season short in the fifth game. Four picks ahead of where they got Allen, the Redskins thought it best to roll with another Crimson Tide big man by taking Payne.

"The more Alabama guys, the better Authentic Robert Griffin III Jersey ," Allen said during Redskins organized team activities on Wednesday. "I was super excited about. I knew what kind of guy we were getting. I knew he was going to fit in and help us reach our goals."

The Redskins know they must improve their run defense. They finished worst in the NFL last season at 134.1 yards allowed a game 鈥?hurt by injuries to Allen and others.

Considering how the group performed when Allen was on the field, allowing just 88 rushing yards a game, Washington could be in store for a massive upgrade.

"(Jonathan) was a key component in the run game and the pass game," linebacker Preston Smith said. "He helped collapse the pocket. He helped stop the run. He's a multi-talented guy."

He is also a healthy guy. Allen, who had 22.5 sacks during his final two seasons at Alabama, deemed himself "100 percent" and pain-free following Wednesday's session.

"I think he did a great job of rehabbing in the offseason Cheap Armani Watts Jersey ," defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said of Allen, who had a Lisfranc injury to his left foot. "We were kind of a little bit hesitant early on when he was here just taking reps and stuff, but looks like he's just keeps on progressing from where he kind of left off last year. The sky's the limit for him."

Allen's presence helped a defensive front that otherwise lacked playmakers. The hope is Payne makes two.

Though not in Allen's class as a pass rusher, Payne's ferocious work helped spark Alabama's win for the national title against Georgia. Early reviews suggest that version of Payne is causing havoc on the Redskins practice field.

"I've seen Payne these few days of practice being really disruptive in the run game and he can pass rush," Smith said. "He's a really athletic big guy. I don't know if a lot of people slept on him, but we're thankful for him 49ers Dante Pettis Jersey , that he was there when we got the chance to draft him. We're glad to get him."

Now Payne lines up yet again next to his fellow disruptor and friend. Two other former Alabama teammates 鈥?outside linebacker Ryan Anderson and rookie inside linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton 鈥?also may contribute along the front seven.

Allen sees the defensive line making major moves and genuinely believed the pieces existed for success last season.

Now there's a second Alabama defensive lineman at the point of attack to add to promising holdovers Matt Ioannidis and Anthony Lanier, who are entering their third seasons.

"I really think we're going to be a dominant defense," Allen said. "If we can stay healthy and do what I know we can, there's nothing stopping us."

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Tyler Saladino was activated from the disabled list and in the Milwaukee Brewers‘ starting lineup Thursday as they prepared to open a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves.

Saladino was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in late April and recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on May 9. He appeared in 16 games for the Brewers and was batting .326 in 16 games when he went down with a sprained ankle and landed on the DL on May 30.

His performance allowed the Brewers to send Orlando Arcia to Triple A to work out of an offensive funk. Arcia was brought back up when Saladino was hurt and has since been sent back to Colorado Springs while Brad Miller and Nate Orf shared time at shortstop.

Those two will remain in the mix at short Tre'Quan Smith Jersey Saints , along with Saladino.

”Tyler had played so well, we were starting to give him regular `reps’ at shortstop before the injury,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ”What we were most impressed by is the way he played defense. He played shortstop at a really high level and was making very difficult plays look easy.”

To clear space for Saladino on the active roster, Milwaukee designated infielder Eric Sogard for assignment.

Sogard, 32, signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal with the team over the winter after batting .273 with a .393 OBP in 94 games for Milwaukee last season. He was never able to get on track in 2018 and was batting just .134 (13-for-97) with a .241 OBP and .165 slugging percentage in 55 games.

”He had some bad luck early in the season and he could never get out of it,” Counsell said. ”As we got healthier, we ran out of (roster) space. Eric made a huge contribution to us last year. And really, throughout all of this Cheap Jessie Bates III Jersey , he was a real pro in how he prepared and provided us with value.”

Sogard accepted an option to Colorado Springs earlier in the season, but by designating him for assignment he’s been removed from the 40-man roster. The Brewers have 10 days to trade him, release him or outright him to the minors.

—

An awful start followed by three quarters of utter dominance, spot-on shot-making and beautiful defense – even against one of the game’s greatest and hardest to stop in James Harden. That’s the way it’s been for these up-and-down, uber-talented Warriors, who leave even their coach perplexed.

”I have no clue why our team is like this,” Steve Kerr said. ”It’s kind of what we do.”

They can still do it all the way to a fourth straight NBA Finals.

Klay Thompson knocked down nine 3-pointers on the way to 35 points, the Warriors held Harden down in the second half, and Golden State rallied from an early 17-point deficit to stave off elimination with a 115-86 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night to force a deciding Game 7 in the Western Conference finals.

”I guess you could say I was born for it. Man, that felt good Authentic Geron Christian Jersey ,” Thompson said.

Stephen Curry added 29 points and five 3s on a night Harden dazzled for long stretches with 32 points, nine assists and seven rebounds while backcourt mate Chris Paul sat out sidelined by a strained right hamstring.

Kevin Durant struggled with his stroke at 6 for 17 but still scored 23 points as the defending champions kept their repeat quest alive by thoroughly outplaying Houston in the second half. The Warriors outscored the Rockets 55-20 in the second half before both coaches subbed their key players with 4:28 left.

A dynamic, star-studded series projected to be as captivating and compelling as the actual NBA Finals is going the distance. Game 7 is Monday night back in Houston.

”We just didn’t want to go out like that,” Thompson said, ”we wanted to force Game 7 so badly.”

Golden State stymied Harden on consecutive possessions early in the fourth with smothering defense led by Nick Young and several helpers, then Thompson hit a 3-pointer from the left wing at 9:40 for an 89-77 lead. And roaring Oracle Arena went crazy with hopes of even more home games to come if Golden State can get to a fourth straight finals.

Thompson came through with his best performance of these playoffs with the season on the line, just as he did in a 2016 Game 6 of the Western Conference finals at Oklahoma City when he went off for 41 points against Durant and the Thunder to force Game 7.

”I thought Klay was amazing tonight, not just the 35 points and the nine 3s but his defense,” Kerr said. ”The guy’s a machine. He’s just so fit physically. He seems to thrive in these situations.”

Thompson went a combined 20 of 32 from 3-point range in those two Game 6s.

The Warriors used another of their signature third quarters to take an 84-77 advantage going into the final 12 minutes, then maintained that dominant level this time down the stretch Chad Thomas Jersey Browns , unlike their last home game at roaring Oracle Arena when they blew it in Game 4 on Tuesday.

Both teams let it fly from every corner of the court – Golden State hitting 16 3-pointers and Houston 15.

The Warriors outscored Houston 93-47 over the final three quarters.

”Nothing changes for us. We know what we have to do,” Harden said. ”… We’re still confident. We’re a confident group. We’ve just got one chance.”

Thompson’s baseline 3 in transition with 3:35 left in the third put the Warriors up 76-74, then Curry hit from way back the next time down over Gerald Green. Curry did it again moments later from deep.

The Warriors opened the third with an 11-0 burst to go ahead 62-61 on Curry’s 3 at 9:17, also getting a pair of 3s from Thompson and a dunk by Durant. Houston committed four quick turnovers.

Yellow-clad Oracle came alive, too.

Golden State did it playing again without forward Andre Iguodala, who missed his third straight game of the series with a bone bruise in his left knee sustained in Game 3.

TIP-INS

Rockets: The Rockets made 8 of 12 3-pointers in the first and topped the Warriors 19-4 in fast-break points. … Houston committed 11 first-half turnovers, five early. … Harden shot 4 for 12 on 3s.

Warriors: Golden State’s 33-point third quarter was its first 30-point period since the third in Game 4. … The Warriors shot 4 for 18 in the first half from long range. … Golden State is 4-1 when facing elimination dating to the 2015 championship. … The Warriors are 16-8 all-time in Game 6 of postseason series. … Second-year G Patrick McCaw, who had been out since a scary back injury at Sacramento on March 31 when undercut by Vince Carter, received a roaring ovation when he entered the game late. He quickly grabbed a rebound. … Kerr listed Iguodala as day to day because there’s still pain in the knee when running.

PAUL’S PRESENCE

Paul is receiving treatment ”around the clock,” according to coach Mike D’Antoni.

Having him on hand still meant so much.

”He’s devastated. He has to be. We’re all devastated for him. At the same time Cheap James Washington Jersey , we’ll rally and do what’s right,” D’Antoni said. ”He’s so integral in what we do and the spirit of the team. And him being here is a big deal, and him being on the bench is a big deal. He’ll will us through, if he can.”

Kerr felt terribly for Paul – and others who have gone down.

”More than anything, I feel bad for Chris. The guy is a phenomenal player and competitor, and pretty much willed his team the last two games. He’s just been haunted by these types of injuries in his career, and it’s a shame,” Kerr said.

”I hate when anybody gets hurt. I hate when Andre got hu.

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The moment the Predators have been waiting for since June 11 finally is here. After failing to force a Game 7 for the Stanley Cup Tracy Walker Color Rush Jersey , Nashville is back in the postseason eager to chase hockey’s ultimate prize once again.

This time, the Predators are the Presidents’ Trophy winners for their first-round series starting Thursday night at home against the Colorado Avalanche. Nashville forward Filip Forsberg sees the NHL’s best in the regular season as a better team than the group that made a thrilling run to the franchise’s first final as the lowest-seeded team in the playoffs.

”Same group of guys, same great mindset, great mentality in this group, but we’re a more skilled team,” Forsberg said.

”Everyone who was here last year is a year older, a year better, and all the guys that they brought in have been great additions and really created a big impact on this team.”

Winning the Presidents’ Trophy is no guarantee of success: Since 2004-05, more teams with the most regular-season points (four) have been eliminated in the first round than have reached the final (three). And Nashville’s own first-round sweep of Chicago, the Western Conference’s top seed last year Dante Pettis 49ers Jersey , has given the Avalanche confidence after their own amazing turnaround for their first playoff berth since 2014, even if they have lost 10 straight to Nashville.

”We got in,” forward Nathan MacKinnon said. ”Anything can happen now. We’re excited for the challenge. It’s not going to be easy against the Presidents’ (Trophy) winning team.”

Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said the Predators won’t take anybody lightly.

”We’re disappointed obviously the way the thing ended last year,” Laviolette said. ”We put ourselves in position to finish it off, and we didn’t get it done. We wanted to give ourselves the best position that we can through the course of the regular season in order to be successful, and we made it. We’re here.”

Some things to know about the Predators and Avalanche for this series:

YOUTH MOVEMENT

The Avalanche have one of the youngest rosters with an average age of just 25.8. This season, they dressed 11 rookies. That youthful spirit has rejuvenated the veterans. ”You can feel the excitement and energy from all those guys,” said 28-year-old center Colin Wilson, who spent his first eight seasons with Nashville. ”It’s a fun energy to be a part of.”

PIT OF MISERY

Nobody spent more time in the penalty box than the undisciplined Predators, who led the NHL with 928 penalty minutes at an average of 11.3 minutes per game. They led the league with 320 minor penalties and 10 misconducts and tied San Jose with the most game misconducts (four). Laviolette said they have to be better. ”It’s playoff time http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/saquon-barkley-jersey , and we have to be in control of our actions on the ice,” Laviolette said.

TALENTED TRIOS

Colorado’s top line of captain Gabriel Landeskog, MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen had a combined 243 points, which accounted for 36 percent of the team’s scoring in the regular season. The speedy MacKinnon led the way with 39 goals and 58 assists to put himself in the Hart Trophy discussion as for the league’s MVP. They’ll likely be matched against Nashville’s top line of Forsberg, who led Nashville with 64 points, center Ryan Johansen (54) and Viktor Arvidsson (61). ”We’re always OK with best-best,” Laviolette said.

WHO’S IN GOAL

The Predators have a big advantage in Pekka Rinne , a three-time Vezina Trophy finalist who could finally win the award after a career-high eight shutouts and 42 wins this season. Rinne played a huge role in Nashville’s playoff run last spring. Colorado will be without Semyon Varlamov this series because of a knee injury, putting Jonathan Bernier in net. Bernier went 19-13-0 for Colorado with two shutouts, but this will be just his second career playoff start. His first? A 6-3 loss to Nashville as the Predators clinched the Western Conference title against Anaheim last spring.

ON THE CALL

AJ Mleczko Da'Ron Payne Color Rush Jersey , who won Olympic gold with the U.S. women’s hockey team in 1998 and silver in 2002, will be the color analyst for this game on NBCSN. The network believes this will be the first time a woman has been in the booth for an NHL playoff game in the U.S. Mleczko, who worked broadcasts for the 2018 Winter Olympics, started doing analysis on men’s hockey with NBC’s national broadcast March 6.

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AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed to this report.

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A jury in St. Louis on Tuesday ordered the NFL's Rams to pay former running back Reggie Bush $12.5 million for a severe knee injury he suffered in 2015, the team's final season in St. Louis before moving to Los Angeles.

The jury found the Rams 100 percent liable for Bush's injury and ordered the team to pay $4.95 million in compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Attorneys for the Rams said they plan to file a motion for a new trial.

Bush was playing for the San Francisco 49ers when he was pushed out of bounds during a game on Nov. 1, 2015, at what was then the Edward Jones Dome, now known as the Dome at America's Center. He slipped on a surface that the lawsuit dubbed the "concrete ring of death," about 35 feet (11 meters) behind the 49ers' bench.

Bush suffered a season-ending left knee injury. The lawsuit contended the injury undermined his earnings as a player for the rest of his career. He signed with Buffalo in 2016 and retired in 2017. Now 33 Ravens Authentic Jerseys , he works as an analyst for the NFL Network.

"Reggie lost his ability to do what he loved, and to bargain for a contract that he worked his entire life for," Bush's lawyer Tim Cronin said during closing statements. "These players get chewed up. They only have so many chances."

Bush also sued public agencies that own and operate the dome, but a judge dismissed them from the suit last week after ruling that the team had control of game-day operations.

Just a week before Bush's injury, Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown slid across the same concrete stretch and injured his shoulder.

The concrete surface in the dome was covered with rubber padding two weeks after Bush was injured.

Rams attorney Dan Allmayer said the team should not be held responsible for Bush's injury because it could not have foreseen a dangerous condition. He noted that no one besides McCown and Bush had been injured there over 20 seasons played at the dome.

Allmayer said Bush's injury was caused by "pre-existing issues," not the fall on the concrete.

NFL owners approved the request from Rams owner Stan Kroenke to move the team to Los Angeles in 2016.


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After his first two games with the Vegas Golden Knights in late February Cheap Sebastian Janikowski Jersey , there weren’t many fans who were happy with Ryan Reaves.

He arrived from Pittsburgh and immediately made his presence known with six penalty minutes in a home-and-home series against Los Angeles, both losses. The Vegas faithful thought team chemistry was ruined.

”Ruin the whole team, yeah?” Reaves joked Tuesday as Vegas prepared for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against Washington. ”I apologize to Vegas.”

Vegas wasn’t the only one he apologized to. Reaves immediately went to coach Gerard Gallant after those Kings games to acknowledge that while he didn’t necessarily agree with the penalties, he also would not be taking silly penalties and disrupt what Gallant and general manager George McPhee worked hard to build.

”He was up front, and he took responsibility, but I said, `Just play your game, that’s why we got you, to play your game and work hard’ and he’s been excellent ever since,” Gallant said Tuesday. ”He doesn’t take penalties, he really doesn’t.”

Reaves believes it’s been his on-ice intelligence and hockey IQ that has made him an effective teammate over nine seasons in St. Louis, Pittsburgh and now Vegas, where he’s since become a crowd favorite.

”My fights have gone down every year,” Reaves said. ”I only had six this year and all within the first two or three months (with Pittsburgh). I think there’s always going to be physical play in this league, and as long as I can keep up and and be able to catch guys and do it in a way that’s not hurting the team Youth Baltimore Ravens Jerseys , then yeah, I think I got a spot here.”

Especially after scoring what may have been the biggest goals in franchise history.

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Final in his hometown of Winnipeg, Reaves scored the game-winning goal that sent the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final. And in Game 1 against the Capitals on Monday, he scored the game-tying goal before linemate Tomas Nosek put the game-winner past Braden Holtby in a 6-4 victory that gave Vegas a 1-0 series lead.

”Playoff hockey you have to be a little smarter, you got to be a little faster, everything is kind of magnified,” Reaves said. ”I think at this time of the year the details have to be there for sure.”

Since Reaves was re-inserted into the lineup midway through the second round of the playoffs, the fourth line has clicked more often than not.

Shedding his overly aggressive tactics, Reaves has adapted to playing Vegas’ simple north-south game, while learning how to make the right decisions and build chemistry with Nosek and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. The trio is proving it can be just as important as the Golden Knights’ top line of William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, and that has become extremely dangerous for teams to defend.

”I think we just try to outwork whoever we’re playing against,” Bellemare said. ”It won’t maybe work this well every night, but we get the payoff from hard work. Sometimes we can’t explain why suddenly everything clicks. But we are at the right spot at the right time and it worked for my wingers and me. Maybe your fourth line won’t change the game every single game, but when they do it sure helps.”

And while Nosek’s two goals in Game 1 against the Capitals extended his point streak to three games Frank Ragnow Color Rush Jersey , he said it doesn’t matter who scores or tallies points, because it’s never been about individuals on the Golden Knights.

”That’s what we’ve done the whole year, 20 guys on the ice and off the ice,” Nosek said ”We support each other. On our (line), we just try to create some chaos in front of the net, go hard to the net and get some forecheck going, that’s how we roll, and it was good last night. It doesn’t matter who scored the goals either way, we are a team and victory is the most important thing.”

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More Stanley Cup coverage: The only time Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen ever felt rattled on his first day of practice was shortly after the session ended Friday.

That's when coach Sean McDermott escorted the first-round pick to the sideline and introduced him to Jim Kelly in what became a meeting of the team's hopeful future and legendary past.

"I'm still shaking from meeting him," Allen said.

Though Allen grew up in central California and played college at Wyoming, the 21-year-old is very aware of who Kelly is and what he means to Buffalo.

"It's all on the wall," Allen said, pointing the four AFC Championship banners the Kelly-led teams won from 1990-'93.

Allen also knows how tough Kelly is in his ongoing battle with cancer.

"I can't say anything else but he's a special man. He's been through a lot," he said. "And to be in the spirits that he is and to come out here and show support for the Buffalo Bills, that just shows to me how much he means to Buffalo and Buffalo means to him. It's awesome."

Kelly made a surprise visit for the start of two-day rookie minicamp some six weeks after his latest operation to have cancer removed from his jaw.

Kelly walked with a cane and had difficulty speaking. He raised his right thumb while he and Allen posed for pictures. Said Kelly: "It's the best thing I can do: Thumbs up."

The Bills are pinning their hopes on Allen to fill what's been their most unsettled position since Kelly retired following the 1996 season.

Buffalo traded up five spots in the draft order to select him with the No. 7 pick two weeks ago. Allen became just the fourth quarterback selected by Buffalo in the first round http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-josh-jackson-jersey , and first chosen in the top 10 of the draft order.

He joins a team once again shuffling starters after Tyrod Taylor was traded to Cleveland in March despite helping Buffalo to a 9-7 finish and end a 17-year playoff drought.

At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Allen is a raw, but strong-armed and athletic quarterback. He was a two-year starter at Wyoming, where he completed 365 of 649 for 5,066 yards with 44 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

Allen was knocked for his relatively low completion percentage of 56.2 and mechanics, something he spent working on this offseason.

McDermott isn't providing any guarantees in saying Allen will compete for the starting job with offseason free-agent addition A.J. McCarron and second-year player Nathan Peterman.

"We've got a plan in place for all of our players, and in this case Josh, in terms of bringing them along at the right pace," McDermott said.

Allen threw a few wobbly or high passes to his right. He was far more accurate with passes to his left and over the middle. Allen showed off his strong arm, by completing several deep passes, including one to rookie seventh-round pick Austin Proehl.

He was also intercepted once during one-on-one drills. His hard, high pass over the middle slipped through receiver William Scott's hands and to a defensive back.

"I felt like I've made a lot of strides," Allen said. "I felt like I put the ball where it needed to be most of the time. Obviously, there's some throws that I would like back. But as we progress through this rookie minicamp and through the rookie developmental period, I plan to improve every day."

He was pleased in learning how Kelly was overheard praising a few of his throws.

Allen said Kelly first contacted him by text in welcoming him to Buffalo the day after being drafted.

"Hopefully Mike McGlinchey 49ers Jersey , in the near future we can keep that relationship going," Allen said. "Any rookie that can develop a mentorship with a former quarterback like Jim Kelly, it's going to be huge."

NOTES: The Bills signed fourth-round pick, Weber State cornerback Taron Johnson. That leaves their top-three selections unsigned, including third-round pick, Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. ... The Bills also signed 12 undrafted free agents including Arizona guard Gerhard De Beer, who is from South Africa. He was a Pac-12 discuss throwing champion and made the switch to football. ... Also signed were defensive linemen Mat Boesen (TCU) and Mike Love (South Florida), linebacker Corey Thompson (LSU), cornerbacks Ryan Carter (Clemson) and Levi Wallace (Alabama), running back Keith Ford (Texas A and M), receivers Robert Foster (Alabama) and Cam Phillips (Virginia Tech), offensive linemen Ike Boettger (Iowa) and Mo Porter (Baylor), and Penn State kicker Tyler Davis.

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The "Honey Badger" is headed to Houston.

The Houston Texans said Monday they had signed unrestricted free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu and claimed wide receiver Sammie Coates off waivers from Cleveland.

Mathieu was released last week by Arizona after five seasons when the two sides couldn't rework his contract. The 25-year-old safety was due for $18.75 million of his contract to be guaranteed when the league year officially began and Arizona saved nearly $5 million in cap space by cutting him.

He has 11 career interceptions Jaleel Scott Jersey Ravens , four sacks, 41 passes defensed and 303 total tackles in 66 NFL games during a career plagued by injuries. Only last season did Mathieu appear in all 16 games and he finished with two interceptions along with 74 tackles. He was an All-Pro in 2015, when he had five interceptions and 17 passes defensed.

Mathieu became a star in the Arizona secondary after being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft following a troubled college career at LSU. A finalist for the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, he got into trouble with marijuana and eventually was kicked out of school. Mathieu spent an entire season out of football and slid to the third round before the Cardinals took a chance on him.

His rookie season ended prematurely when he tore the LCL and ACL in his left knee.

His big 2015 season was cut short when he tore the ACL in the other knee. His absence was sorely felt as the team that went 13-3 before being routed by Carolina in the NFC championship game.

Despite the injury, the Cardinals rewarded him with a five-year, $62.5 million contract, with $15.5 million guaranteed. Off the field Authentic Jonathan Allen Jersey , he was a model citizen and with his fierce style and natural charisma, was among the most popular players on the squad.

The 24-year-old Coates was a third-round pick by Pittsburgh out of Auburn in 2015.. He spent two seasons with the Steelers before joining the Browns last year. He has 28 career receptions for 516 yards and two touchdowns in 32 regular-season games played, including six starts.

The New Orleans Pelicans addressed have a couple of major, uncertain free-agent concerns and they used their only pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft to address one of them.

The Pelicans bolstered their backcourt, drafting Penn State point guard Tony Carr in the second round. New Orleans used the 51st overall pick to take Carr, 6-foot-5, who averaged 19.6 points (second-most in the Big Ten) Authentic Claude Giroux Jersey , 5.0 assists and 4.9 rebounds as a sophomore last season.

While the biggest question facing New Orleans this offseason is the future of free-agent All-Star forward of DeMarcus Cousins, the organization faces questions about a key agent in point guard Rajon Rondo.

”He can play” both guard positions, Pelicans general manager Dell Demps said of Carr. ”We like his size. We like his ability to score. We like his ability to make plays. He’s pretty crafty and he played in a tough conference and was able to score at an elite level.”

As New Orleans looks to resolve those situations, the Pelicans wanted to upgrade their perimeter game this offseason, particularly with scorers who can create their own shot off the dribble.

Carr shot just 40.8 percent from the floor last season, but that was an improvement from the 37.7 percent he shot while averaging 13.2 points as a freshman. He improved his three-point percentage from 32.0 as a freshman to 43.3 as a sophomore.

The Pelicans hope that upward trend continues with Rondo’s situation unclear.

Starting shooting guard Jrue Holiday can also play the point, but backup point guard Ian Clark is also a free agent. Last year’s No. 2 pick Dolphins Albert Wilson Jersey , Frank Jackson, is a combo guard who missed all of his rookie season because of a foot injury.

Carr said he has studied Holiday, who was named to the NBA All-Defensive team and averaged 19 points per game last season.

He said like Holiday, ”I can play on both ends of the floor. I can score and I can also facilitate for others.”

Rondo, 32, was signed to a one-year deal last summer and proved to be a valuable veteran presence on a team with little playoff experience.

Demps said the uncertainty of Rondo’s and Clark’s future with the team wasn’t a factor in the Pelicans selecting Carr.

”We really looked at the best player available,” Demps said. ”But I don’t want to get too excited. We’re going to get him in here next week. We’ll see when we get a live look at him. There’s no guarantee he’ll be on the team this year.”

Cousins’ status is complicated by a couple of factors. He’s coming off a torn Achilles that ended his season in January Scott Kazmir Jersey , and the Pelicans played well after acquiring Niko Mirotic in a February trade with Chicago to replace Cousins. That trade cost them their first-round pick.

New Orleans wound up winning 48 games and sweeping Portland in a first-round playoff series before losing to Golden State in five games.

Demps said July 1, the first day of free agency, ”is going to be a busy day for us.”

He said the Pelicans have been communicating with the agents for Cousins and Rondo.

”They’re both big parts of what we did,” Demps said.

Demps added that Cousins’ rehabilitation is ”right on schedule,” adding that Cousins is ”committed to getting back and being ready to play.”

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Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch sat during the national anthem.

Lynch declined to stand for the anthem before the exhibition opener against the Detroit Lions on Friday night. Lynch also sat for the anthem all of last season but never gave a reason for his decision.

No other players on either team demonstrated during the anthem http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-logan-woodside-jersey , with the Lions all standing together with locked arms.

The league and the players' union have yet to announce a policy for this season regarding demonstrations during the anthem after the league initially ordered everyone to stand on the sideline when "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played, or remain in the locker room.

Several players throughout the league demonstrated on Thursday night. President Donald Trump lashed out against them earlier Friday, claiming on Twitter that "most of them are unable to define" what they're demonstrating against.

Turns out there were enough bodies on offense for the Kansas City Chiefs to practice after all.

The Chiefs opened a three-day rookie minicamp on Saturday after selecting six defensive players in last week's draft, though one of them 鈥?defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie 鈥?is expected to transition to offensive guard. But with 14 rookie free agents and another 43 players in for tryouts, there were plenty of bodies to make up an offensive, defensive and special teams unit.

Don't sleep on the unknown guys, either.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid pointed out that just a few years ago, an unheralded wide receiver named Albert Wilson impressed him during the same weekend. Wilson hung around for the next phase of the offseason program, survived training camp and ultimately made the Kansas City roster.

This past offseason Nathan Shepherd Jersey Jets , Wilson signed a $24 million, three-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.

"Albert just made about $8 million," Reid said with a smile, "so there's been a few. You invite them to the next phase and the next and eventually they make the roster."

Still, it's the draft picks that will draw the most attention this weekend.

The Chiefs didn't have a first-round pick, so they used their initial selection on Ole Miss pass rusher Breeland Speaks in the second round. Speaks is expected to push last year's second-round pick, Tanoh Kpassgnon, for playing time right out of the gate opposite standout linebacker Justin Houston.

"I did get the playbook," Speaks said. "My first reaction was John Kelly Jersey Elite , 'I can do this.' I looked at a few defenses we installed today and went over those and know those by heart already."

With two third-round picks, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach continued to shore up his defense. He grabbed 315-pound run-stuffer Derrick Nnadi out of Florida State and then Clemson hybrid linebacker Dorian O'Daniel, both of whom could also factor into the starting rotation this fall.

The Chiefs were thin along the defensive front, even after signing Xavier Williams in free agency and retaining Rakeem Hunez-Roches as a restricted free agent. And with the expected departure of erstwhile pass rusher Tamba Hali, and injury woes to Dee Ford, finding another linebacker was paramount.

McKenzie, the son of Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, was also in attendance, as were fellow sixth-round pick Tremon Smith and Texas A&M safety Armani Watts Youth Troy Apke Jersey , who could be the steal of the draft.

Watts dropped to the fourth round after concerns about his workouts at the combine, but the four-year starter said he had bulked up in the hopes that it would help him out. Instead, it only slowed him down and already Watts has reverted to his lean, fast playing weight.

The Chiefs are hopeful that he factors into the defense right away.

Star safety Eric Berry is returning from a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, and reliable safety Ron Parker was released in a cost-saving move. That leaves plenty of questions at the back of the defense.

"It's a little bit different for those safeties," Veach said, "because they are like the quarterbacks of the defense where they have to line up people and make the calls and adjustments. That is no different than any safety, even if you draft them in the first round.

"Breeland is someone who we feel can come in and help us right away. Derrick, Dorian and Armani can certainly do some different things while he grows and understands the system a little bit better."

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS

The Chiefs signed 14 rookie free agents on Saturday Cheap Will Dissly Jersey , including former Kansas State wide receiver Byron Pringle. The local product left school a year early and has intriguing size at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, but he needs to showcase better hands than he did playing just down the road.

The Chiefs also signed RBs Darrell Williams and J.D. Moore from LSU; OL Ryan Hunter (Bowling Green), Jimmy Murray (Holy Cross) and Devondre Seymour (Southern Illinois); TE Blake Mack (Arkansas State); WR Elijah Marks (Northern Arizona); QB Chase Litton (Marshall); DB Arrion Springs (Oregon) and D'Montre Wade (Murray State); LBs Ben Niemann (Iowa) and Raymond Davison (California); and DT Dee Liner (Arkansas State).

BERRY'S BROTHER

The Chiefs also had 43 players on tryouts during the three-day rookie minicamp, including DB Elliott Berry. The undrafted rookie from Tennessee is the younger brother of the Chiefs' star safety, Eric Berry.

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The Carolina Panthers are keeping their kicking game intact.

The Panthers announced Tuesday they have signed Pro Bowl kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract extension.

The deal is worth $17 million overall with $9 million guaranteed Ian Thomas Color Rush Jersey , a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the financial terms of the contract have not been publicly released.

Gano was set to become an unrestricted free agent and the team had considered using the franchise tag on him, but came to an agreement just hours before the deadline to use the tag.

The 30-year-old Gano is coming off his best NFL season, converting all 29 field goals from inside of 50 yards and 29 of 30 overall. He made 34 of 37 extra points.

Gano also set a franchise record and tied the NFL postseason record with his 58-yard field goal in a Wild Card playoff loss at New Orleans.

He's spent the last six seasons in Carolina.

The Panthers drafted Harrison Butker in the seventh round last year providing Gano with some competition. But Gano outkicked Butker in training camp and held on to the job. Gano went on to lead the NFL with a touchback percentage of 85.4, belting a franchise-record 70 of his kickoffs into the end zone.

Butker was cut and later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

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MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee’s Brent Suter will not start as scheduled Saturday when the Brewers continue their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park.

The left-hander was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday with a strained left forearm, an issue he first reported after his last outing when he gave up five runs over five innings against the Reds on Monday.

Suter worked with the team’s medical staff over the last week but the issue didn’t resolve itself as they had hoped, so the decision was made to give the 28-year-old a break.

“We saw the doc and he was like, ‘Let’s just skip a start,'” Suter said. “It’s disappointing, for sure Baker Mayfield Color Rush Jersey , but I’ll try to come back stronger. Our team is gelling so well right now that you want to be a part of it.”

Though forearm strains are often a precursor to significantly more serious issues, manager Craig Counsell was confident that the move was more precautionary than anything else and that Suter’s absence would be brief.

“You’re always cautious when a pitcher has a forearm injury, but at this point it’s a minor injury,” Counsell said. “I think it’s important we don’t let it become something big. That’s why we’re putting him on the DL.”

In 18 appearances this season, including a pair of relief outings, Suter is 8-5 with a 4.53 ERA. He allowed nine runs over his last two starts but was on a roll before that, going 6-1 with a 3.12 ERA in seven starts from May 18 to June 21.

“I was trying my best not to miss a start all year,” Suter said. “That was my No. 1 goal coming into the season, so it’s disappointing that way. But I’ve got to listen to the docs. They know what they’re talking about.”

With Suter out Rams John Kelly Jersey , the Brewers plan to recall right-hander Aaron Wilkerson from Triple-A Colorado Springs Saturday morning and send him to the mound Saturday afternoon.

Wilkerson, 29, reported to spring training with a chance at cracking Milwaukee’s Opening Day rotation but was optioned to Colorado Springs, where he was 2-2 with a 2.08 ERA in eight appearances, including seven starts, after opening the season on the disabled list.

Wilkerson was called up last weekend and worked three innings of relief against the Reds on Sunday, giving up five runs and taking the loss in his only major league appearance of the season. He was sent back to Colorado Springs the next day when the team promoted infielder Nate Orf.

“He’s on line and he’s ready to go,” Counsell said of Wilkerson, who will be starting in the big leagues for the first time since since the 2017 season finale Marcus Davenport Jersey Elite , when he held the Cardinals to a run on two hits over seven innings, striking out five.

While Wilkerson gets his first start of the year, Braves right-hander Anibal Sanchez takes the ball for the 10th time in what’s been a pleasantly surprising season.

The veteran right-hander brings a 3-2 record and sparking 2.89 ERA into the contest and went 2-2 with a 2.48 mark in five June starts. His last outing in June was cut short by a sore calf, but he took his next turn on schedule, allowing three runs over six innings against the Yankees on Monday.

“Every day that I come here, I feel a blessing,” Sanchez told the Atlanta Journal Constitution before that outing. “I feel blessed to be here because I know how tough the offseason was for most of the players my age. I signed with the Twins, got released, got an opportunity here with another team that I liked. To be able to be in that position right now Michael Gallup Jersey , with a team whose expectation was different than where we are right now.

“Now, for me, every outing is a challenge. I want to pitch for the team. I want to win for the team. I want to keep the team in first place. I want to be able to be healthy the rest of the season and help the team the most that I can and make the playoffs.”

Sanchez is 2-2 with a 6.37 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers, but he has not faced them since 2015.

Prior to their loss Friday night, the Braves were the only team in baseball to lose no more than three games in a row this season. Their four-game losing streak is the longest since dropping six in a row September 25-30 of last season.

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