Eric Weddle has been in the NFL long enough to see certain fads come and go.

And the veteran safety isn’t convinced that the run-pass options used to such great effect by the Eagles last year en route to a Super Bowl will become anything more than a passing fad.

“I think in five years Cameron Meredith Jersey , it’s going to be out,” Weddle said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “I think it’s just another phase. . . .

“It’s just a revolving door. It’s just like the Wildcat, and the quarterback run game, yada, yada, yada. Teams that run the ball and take shots are usually the hard teams to beat.”

On such RPO plays, the quarterback makes a quick read after taking the snap before deciding to hand off or throw a quick pass. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had success that way in 2016, and others have as well.

Weddle, the 12th-year Ravens safety may have a point, as the speed of NFL defenses make such plays harder to sustain at the pro level than in college. On the other hand Justin Tucker Jersey , the Eagles have a shiny reminder that it can work, far better than other such gimmicks like the Wildcat.

As soon as Jordy Nelson was released by the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders put on a full-court press to acquire the former Pro Bowler.

His former position coach and coordinator in Green Bay, Edgar Bennett, and new Raiders coach Jon Gruden immediately called to bring him out for a free-agent visit. Quarterback Derek Carr picked him up at the airport and gave him a tour of the Bay Area.

Then the Raiders offered a two-year deal worth a reported $15 million that persuaded him to cancel his other scheduled visits and sign with Oakland.

"The plan was to make some other trips, but you never know what's going to happen," Nelson said Thursday. "You get to place and you enjoy it and they enjoy it. Obviously, there's a financial part of that. One thing I didn't want to do is fly around the country just because. I didn't want to waste my time or anyone else's time."

The Raiders wasted little time Thursday attempting to rebuild under their first-year coach, releasing receiver Michael Crabtree to make room for Nelson; signing safety Marcus Gilchrist, linebacker Tahir Whitehead, running back Doug Martin and fullback Keith Smith; and finalizing deals with blocking tight ends Derek Carrier and Lee Smith that had been agreed to earlier in the week.

But the most high-profile move came at receiver David Andrews Jersey , where Nelson hopes to bounce back from a down season and help Carr and the Raiders get back to the high level they produced at in 2016.

The 32-year-old Nelson struggled last season with 53 catches for 482 yards and six TDs, recording a career-low 9.1 yards per reception as Aaron Rodgers missed more than half the year with injuries.

"I can make plays," Nelson said. "I look forward to just getting out, getting in rhythm with Derek and start forming that chemistry with him that I've had with Aaron for the last 10 years. Continue to build off that. Just see what happens. Go out there and play my role in this offense. Make the plays that are available."

Nelson had made the Pro Bowl in 2014 and won AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2016 when he led the league with 14 touchdown catches a year after missing the entire season with a right knee injury.

Nelson had four 1,000-yard seasons in Green Bay, including 1,519 yards on 98 catches in 2014. In 136 career games, he has 550 catches for 7,848 yards and 69 TDs.

Crabtree had a $7.7 million cap hit for this season but there is no dead money with his release. The 30-year-old Crabtree had 232 catches for 2,543 yards and 25 touchdowns in three seasons with the Raiders.

The other big moves came on defense where Oakland added two potential starters to fill holes at safety and linebacker.

Whitehead joins the Raiders after spending his first six seasons with Lions. He has 378 tackles, three sacks Devonta Freeman Jersey , two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, four interceptions and 18 passes defensed in 93 career games.

Gilchrist has played seven seasons with the Chargers, Jets and Houston. He has 11 interceptions, 33 passes defensed, four sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He will likely step in as a starter alongside Karl Joseph.

Martin, who grew up in nearby Stockton, is a two-time Pro Bowler but averaged just 2.9 yards per carry the past two seasons, the lowest for any back in the league. That was part of what led to his release by the Buccaneers last month.

He joins a running back room that is currently led by Marshawn Lynch, along with youngsters DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard.

"I have been the lead back for most of my career Chad Henne Jersey , but what enticed me in coming here is the potential for this team," Martin said. "We have Gruden coming. The front line and just being home. I was born here. This is my homecoming. Those are the things that enticed me on signing here."

The 29-year-old Martin rushed for 1,454 yards as a rookie in 2012, including 251 in a win at Oakland. He also ran for 1,402 yards in 2015 but has failed to reach 500 yards in any of his other four seasons as he was hampered by injuries and a suspension for performance-enhancing substances.

Keith Smith gives the Raiders another fullback along with Jamize Olawale. Smith, a converted linebacker, played only sparingly on offense with the Cowboys but was an important part of the special teams under coordinator Rich Bisaccia, who now holds the same job with the Raiders.

Carrier has 36 catches for 327 yards and one TD in 50 games in his career. He caught eight passes for 71 yards last season with the Rams.

Lee Smith joined Oakland originally as a free agent in 2015 and has been a strong run blocker in his three years with the team. He played 35 games, missing most of the 2016 season with a leg injury. He has 26 catches for 175 and one touchdown with the Raiders.

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Russell Wilson struck out in his first spring training at-bat with the New York Yankees.

The Seattle Seahawks quarterback pinch hit for AL Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge in the fifth inning against Atlanta on Friday and swung past a 2-2 pitch from left-hander Max Fried.

"The best thing for me is Kenyan Drake Jersey , I had no fear," Wilson said. "I went up there with confidence. I was ready and will always remember that. And I'll remember when they announced my name."

Wilson received a loud ovation when introduced and fouled back the first pitch sharply to the screen.

"I used to go crazy when Derek Jeter walked up to the plate," Wilson said. "To have that feeling and experience, I'll never, never forget that. It always be a memory of mine, forever."

The decision to give Wilson an at-bat was made Thursday, and the Seahawks approved. Wilson did not take the field in the sixth to play defense.

"It was cool to see," said Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who was in the on-deck circle. "We were anticipating it all day.

A former minor league infielder, Wilson is spending this week working out with the Yankees, who acquired him from Texas last month and wanted to observe his leadership skills. He wants to soak up the attitude of a franchise with a record 27 World Series titles.

The 29-year-old Wilson led the Seahawks to the 2014 Super Bowl championship.

"It's been great all week," said Wilson, who took batting practice in a group that included Stanton and Judge.

Wilson will end his stay at Yankees camp Saturday.

"I think we share the same philosophy, it's not easy to win," Wilson said. "These guys know what they're doing. This is going to be a great baseball team."

In 93 career minor league games between Rookie-level Tri-City (2010) and Class A Asheville (2011) in Colorado's system Eric Kendricks Jersey , Wilson hit .229 with 19 stolen bases, five homers and 26 RBIs. In his last 15 games with Asheville in 2011, Wilson hit .302, had five extra-base hits and nine RBIs.

Wilson was selected by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2010 amateur draft, and was acquired by Texas in the minor league phase of the 2013 winter meeting draft. He participated in Rangers' spring training workouts in 2014 and '15.

NOTES: RHP Masahiro Tanaka was not worried after not getting through the second inning of his first start. "Mistakes on my part," Tanaka said through a translator. He allowed four runs and four hits in 1 1/3 innings. ... Judge played right field for the first time since offseason left shoulder surgery. He made his debut Wednesday as the DH. ... OF Clint Frazier still has concussion symptoms and underwent an MRI.

The first taste of the NBA playoffs for Timberwolves All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns has been rather bitter, thanks to the 3-point-happy Houston Rockets.

The two-game totals tell a frustrating story for the 22-year-old: just 13 points, 5 for 18 shooting and a 2-0 deficit in the series against the Rockets. Towns has found himself the subject of pointed criticism from analysts, fans and even his own team.

The switch-heavy Rockets have double-teamed Towns to a stifling effect, and the Timberwolves sure haven’t helped their 7-footer out by getting him the ball in favorable situations in the post.

”They’re coming to double. He knows that. He has to face up, be strong with the ball, make quick moves,” point guard Jeff Teague said. ”But we have to figure out how to get him running, get him some easy buckets.”

The team’s struggles have taken a little luster off Minnesota’s first postseason home game in 14 years, but the fans who remember the Timberwolves reaching the Western Conference finals in 2004 will surely be eager to witness the playoffs in person no matter the daunting challenge in this first round.

”This organization Adam Butler Jersey , all of our fans, they deserve this moment,” Towns said.

And they want a win.

The Timberwolves host the Rockets on Saturday night in Game 3. Earlier in the day, Miami takes on Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference and New Orleans hosts Portland, both in Game 4. Later, Utah visits Oklahoma City in Game 3.

Towns tried his best to shrug off the bad vibes and stinging rebukes when speaking with reporters on Friday.

”You dwell too much on the past, you forget that you’ve got to take care of the present,” Towns said.

The chatter on TV and Twitter, he said, has escaped him.

”I live my life very Amish-like,” Towns said. ”Other than video games, I don’t think I have a reason for electronics. It’s a life that I’ve always loved.”

—

76ERS AT HEAT

76ers lead 2-1. Game 4, 2:30 p.m. EDT, TNT

NEED TO KNOW: It’s simple: The team that has imposed its will is 3-0 in this series. Philadelphia took the pace where it wanted it in Games 1 and 3. Miami out-toughed the 76ers in Game 2. The Heat have to find a way to keep Philadelphia’s 3-point shooting in check; the 76ers made 18 shots from beyond the arc in Game 3. Joel Embiid is back from a concussion and a broken bone around his eye, and an already-confident Philadelphia bunch seems to have even more swagger now.

KEEP AN EYE ON: 76ers guard Marco Belinelli. The 76ers are 25-6 when he plays and 14-1 when he scores at least 15 points. In this series Patrick Chung Jersey , he’s 13 for 27 on shots from 20 feet and deeper, and many of those makes have been daggers for Miami.

PRESSURE IS ON: Heat center Hassan Whiteside . Backups Kelly Olynyk and Bam Adebayo have played a combined 145 minutes in this series, while Whiteside has played only 41, with 11 points, nine fouls, seven turnovers and three field goals in the three games. There’s no room for error now for Miami, so either Whiteside will figure it out fast in Game 4 or the Heat will get someone else into his spot.

HISTORY LESSON: This is the fourth time in Dwyane Wade’s career that the Heat have trailed an Eastern Conference opponent 2-1. In the three previous Game 4s in that scenario, Miami has won all three with Wade averaging 26.7 points in those second-round games against Indiana (2004 and 2012) and Toronto (2016).

—

TRAIL BLAZERS AT PELICANS

Pelicans lead 3-0. Game 4, 5 p.m. EDT, TNT.

NEED TO KNOW: The sixth-seeded Pelicans are on the cusp of a surprising sweep of the third-seeded Blazers, and their margin of victory has grown in each game. They dominated Game 3, leading by as many as 20 points in the first half and 33 in the second. Veteran guard Rajon Rondo has masterfully run the offense, and the Pelicans have played unselfishly with a different scoring leader in each game: Anthony Davis with 35 in Game 1, Jrue Holiday with 33 in Game 2 and Nikola Mirotic with 30 in Game 3.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Portland’s body language, intensity and aggressiveness. Guard Damian Lillard challenged the Blazers to ramp up those aspects of their game Adolphus Washington Jersey , stressing that the Pelicans were ”a lot more aggressive than we were and we didn’t dish it back out. I think in the playoffs and in a situation like this, when a team is coming for you like that, you’ve got to maybe go out of your way to do it back, even if that means foul trouble or some altercations happen out there.”

PRESSURE IS ON: Lillard. The Pelicans have sold out to stop the Portland star, who missed nine of 14 shots in Game 3. ”It’s either going to be a tough shot, or I’ve got to give the ball up,” Lillard said. ”I’ve got to trust making the right play, and when it comes time I’ve got to take my chances and I’ve got to take those tough shots.”

INJURY UPDATE: Blazers starting forward Evan Turner missed Game 3 because of a toe injury in Game 2. The team did not update his status on Friday.

—

ROCKETS AT TIMBERWOLVES

Rockets lead 2-0. Game 3, 7:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN.

NEED TO KNOW: The Rockets cruised to a 20-point victory in Game 2 despite only 12 points on a staggering 2-for-18 shooting performance by James Harden. After squandering their chance to steal Game 1 on the road in a three-point loss, the Wolves are back home in a big hole against the team with the best record in the NBA. They’ll need a big boost from a home crowd celebrating the team’s return to the postseason to send the series back to Houston for a Game 5.

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The Seattle Seahawks added depth to their offensive line Wednesday by signing veteran guard J.R. Sweezy.

Sweezy rose to prominence during his first four seasons in the league playing for the Seahawks. He signed with Tampa Bay prior to the 2016 season but then missed the entire year with a back injury. He started 14 games in 2017 but finished that season on injured reserve with a leg injury and was released by the Bucs in June.

Sweezy was a defensive lineman in college who converted to offensive line in Seattle and has been a right guard the majority of his career. Sweezy was a starter for both Seattle teams that reached the Super Bowl. He'll likely compete with right guard D.J. Fluker and left guard Ethan Pocic for a starting spot.

The Seahawks released guard Avery Young to clear a roster spot.

The Los Angeles Rams have gone from one of the NFL's biggest surprises to one of the top Super Bowl favorites in just one year.

The Rams didn't rest after an impressive turnaround campaign in coach Sean McVay's first season Bruce Smith Jersey , bringing in an impressive offseason haul led by three former All-Pros on defense in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, along with big-play receiver Brandin Cooks.

It's perhaps the most talent added in one offseason since the San Francisco 49ers brought in Deion Sanders, Ken Norton Jr., Rickey Jackson and Richard Dent 24 years ago and ended up as Super Bowl champs.

The newcomers join a roster that features a promising young quarterback in Jared Goff, an elite running back in Todd Gurley, a stout offensive line led by left tackle Andrew Whitworth 鈥?and perhaps Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who held out for a second straight training camp but could be back for the start of the season.

The Rams figure to be challenged most in the NFC West by a rejuvenated San Francisco team that won the final five games last year after Jimmy Garoppolo took over as quarterback.

Seattle still has Russell Wilson but few other key pieces from the 2013 Super Bowl team Alex Okafor Jersey , and Arizona has three of the division's top players in receiver Larry Fitzgerald, cornerback Patrick Peterson and running back David Johnson, who is coming back from a wrist injury.

Some things to know about the NFC West:

STABLE OFFENSE: For all the big changes on defense for the Rams , they predictably kept things very stable on offense after going from worst to first in the NFL in scoring in the initial year under McVay.

Los Angeles brings back 10 of 11 starters on offense, with the only change at receiver where Cooks replaced Sammy Watkins. It's a far cry from last year when the Rams broke in two new offensive linemen and a new receiver around Goff, who was getting ready for his first full season as an NFL starter in a brand new offense.

This team clearly has big-play potential. Cooks is one of the league's best deep threats and Gurley led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,093) and TDs (19) last season Jordan Mills Jersey , earning him the rare big-money contract as a running back.

JIMMY G: The 49ers fortunes changed almost immediately after acquiring Garoppolo at last year's trade deadline. A team that started 2017 with nine straight losses finished with five straight wins after Garoppolo took over as starter.

He completed 67.4 percent of his passes last season, averaging 8.8 yards per attempt with seven TDs, five interceptions and a 96.2 rating to improve to 7-0 in his career as a starter. His 308.4 yards passing per game in his five starts also would have led the league had he played a full season.

His offense got dealt a blow when versatile running back Jerick McKinnon went down with a season-ending injury. The Niners also have some questions on defense, where they are hoping Richard Sherman can get back to his pre-injury level as a shutdown cornerback, and someone can provide an outside pass rush to complement defensive tackle stud DeForest Buckner.

QB SHUFFLE: There have been big changes in Arizona with quarterback Carson Palmer retired and coach Bruce Arians moving from the sideline to the broadcast booth.

But the biggest deal for the Cardinals this year is the health of Johnson, the do-everything back whose 2017 season ended with an injury in the opener. Johnson is healthy again, and if he can get back to the form with which he ranked second in the NFL with 2 Kirk Cousins Jersey ,118 yards from scrimmage in 2016, that should take plenty of pressure off the quarterback.

Oft-injured Sam Bradford begins the year as starter, but he has only played 80 games in eight seasons. He has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee twice, and another left knee injury wiped out nearly all of his 2017 season in Minnesota.

But Bradford is likely only a stopgap. The Cardinals traded up to take Josh Rosen 10th overall in hopes that he can be a franchise quarterback for new coach Steve Wilks.

LAST HURRAH: The Seahawks have been one of the most consistent teams in the league under coach Pete Carroll the past few years. Seattle has posted six straight seasons of top two finishes in the division and winning records, missing the playoff only last year. But much of the core of the team that went to back-to-back Super Bowls in the 2013 and '14 seasons is gone.

Defensive end Michael Bennett was traded, cornerback Richard Sherman was cut and wound up with the archrival 49ers, tight end Jimmy Graham left as a free agent and defensive stars Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor have had career-ending injuries. Even safety Earl Thomas' status is in doubt as he has held out all offseason in hopes of getting a new contract.

While star power remains led by Wilson Thurman Thomas Jersey , receiver Doug Baldwin and linebacker Bobby Wagner, the rest of the roster likely has too many holes for the Seahawks to be able to challenge the top teams in the NFC.

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: Rams, 49ers, Cardinals, Seahawks.

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ENGLEWOOD Ronnie Stanley Jersey , Colo. (AP) — When he demoted Paxton Lynch to third string QB this week, Denver Broncos coach Vance Joseph said potential simply has to equal performance at some point and that the depth chart reflects results.

That doesn’t explain why tight end Jeff Heuerman and running back Devontae Booker are listed as starters despite middling resumes, promising pursuers and so-so summers.

Heuerman has 18 catches and two touchdowns in two years since missing his rookie season with a left knee injury. He missed most of training camp this summer with soreness in that same knee before returning this week to rave reviews from the coaching staff.

Second-year pro Jake Butt, who missed his rookie season following knee surgery, has been impressive in Heuerman’s absence but remains listed as the backup.

“They’re different,” Joseph said. “So, having a No. 1 tight end in our offense? Not that important. But having a couple of guys who have different skill sets, that’s important for us. Heuerman’s a bigger man. He’s more of an in-line blocker. Butt is a pass catcher, a route runner, a guy who can play in space versus (line) backers and win.

“So, they’re different. So, who’s 1? It depends on what play we call.”

Similarly, Joseph pointed to the differences between Booker and rookie backup Royce Freeman at running back.

“We need both guys Matthew Slater Jersey ,” Joseph said, “and they’re really different in what they do for our offense.”

Quarterback Case Keenum’s Denver debut was a dud last weekend against Minnesota as the starting offense went three-and-out twice, and the buzz surrounding the Broncos’ summer quickly fizzled.

On the opening series, Booker ran into his guard after a 3-yard gain on second-and-10. On the second series, Freeman dropped a pass on third-and-6.

Freeman bounced back to gain 38 yards on four carries, including a 23-yard touchdown scamper. Booker finished with two carries for 7 yards.

“Book is Book. I’ve been around Book for almost two years now, so I’ve watched him play and he’s doing what he does well — that’s third downs, catching the ball, outside zone is his best run,” Joseph said. “Royce is a downhill pounder. He’s a one-cut runner with pretty good vertical speed.

“I’ve been impressed with both guys, and again to go back to the tight ends question, we need both guys,” Joseph said. “They’re both really different in what they do for our offense.”

The Broncos demoted Lynch Rob Gronkowski Jersey , their 2016 first-round draft pick, this week in favor of Chad Kelly, a 2017 seventh-rounder who spent his rookie season on IR.

General manager John Elway isn’t sure Kelly’s ready to be the backup , and he might have to acquire a veteran backup later this month and finally give up on Lynch.

The Broncos aren’t ready to move on from Booker or Heuerman, however.

“We drafted Jeff in the third round three or four years ago, so we have high expectations because he has a lot of talent,” Elway said. “Hopefully, we can keep him healthy. He’s struggled with some injuries, but he’s very talented and he wants to be a good player and he wants to be on the field. Hopefully, we can keep him healthy and keep him out there, because we think he can be a guy that can be very helpful at tight end.”

Asked if Heuerman being listed as the starter on the initial depth chart was a vote of confidence in a guy who had missed most of camp with a nagging knee or a reflection of the inexperience of the tight ends group, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said, “probably all of the above.”

Heuerman has been dominant since returning to practice Tuesday and should make his 2018 debut Saturday night against the Chicago Bears.

“He’s got fresh legs. He was the fastest guy we had on the field today running from safeties and backers and even corners John Hannah Jersey ,” Musgrave said Tuesday when Heuerman returned to the field.

The key is keeping him out of the trainer’s room.

“If we can get his knee right,” Musgrave said, “he could really be a weapon for us.”

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Nick Perry thought it would be a “beautiful” day when the Green Bay Packers finally activated him from the physically unable to perform list and allowed him to start practicing.

As it turned out, Sunday was even better than that for the Packers outside linebacker.

“Like my dad says, ‘It’s an exquisite day,'” Perry said after coming off the PUP list in time to take part in Sunday’s closed practice. “I’m excited just to be out there and just be back with the team and put my best foot forward moving into the season.”

Perry missed the entire offseason program after ankle surgery following last season, and he has battled injuries throughout his career. The Packers have two preseason games remaining — Friday at Oakland and Aug. 30 at Kansas City — but it’s unclear whether Perry will play in either. The Packers practice Monday and Tuesday and will have a light practice Thursday before departing for Oakland.

“I would love to play Friday. That’s not my call, though,” Perry said. “I would love to play just to have an opportunity to go out there and get some real game reps down. But it’s only a couple days of practice this week. I’m just going to see how I feel moving from a day-to-day basis on whether or not I can take on that load. (The Raiders’) field isn’t as great, either. So that might be another reason why they might say, ‘Hey, just take it easy Antonio Gates Jersey , wait for next week.'”

Perry said his ankle bothered him throughout last season, when he registered only seven sacks in the first year of a five-year, $59 million deal that included an $18 million guaranteed signing bonus and came after an 11-sack season in 2016.

He also dealt with a broken hand, which forced him to wear a club cast, and a shoulder injury while playing in only 12 of 16 games. Perry’s ankle became enough of an issue late in the season that he left the team’s must-win game at Carolina because of it.

Perry has no concerns about being ready for the team’s Sept. 9 regular-season opener against Chicago, and that he won’t have any trouble catching up in the Packers’ new defensive system, which has been installed by new coordinator Mike Pettine.

“We’re at a point where I don’t have a choice,” Perry said. “I think I’ll be fine, ultimately. My body is in good shape to handle a (work) load like that. So it’s just a matter of me getting into practice and fully getting a whole practice under my belt and continue to stack those days.

“I think everything else will take care of itself.”

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How about getting this group together: Hall of Famers Franco Harris Grady Jarrett Jersey , Roger Staubach and LaDainian Tomlinson, plus Peyton Manning and Eli Manning and Larry Fitzgerald?

Players spanning generations who belong to the NFL’s Man of the Year fraternity will be honored during Super Bowl weekend in Minneapolis. Also on hand will be the family of Walter Payton, for whom the NFL’s award is named.

They will take part in special events and programs and, before Super Bowl 52, former winners will be recognized on the field – including the introduction of the 2017 recipient. That winner will receive a $250,000 donation to a charity of his choice Joshua Garnett Jersey , and $250,000 will be donated in his name to expand Character Playbook across the country.

”The NFL is proud to host these remarkable leaders and recognize their impact on the community,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

”From the family of the late Johnny Unitas to 2016 co-winners Larry Fitzgerald and Eli Manning, the most distinguished players on and off the field will share a platform in honor of their accomplishments.”

The Man of the Year winners will take part in a fundraiser for the NFL Foundation and several nonprofit organizations.

A Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year trophy silhouette began appearing on uniforms this season to further recognize past award winners and current nominees. The five current players who have won the award – Drew Brees, Thomas Davis, Jason Witten Dion Jordan Jersey , Fitzgerald and Eli Manning – will wear a Man of the Year patch on their jerseys for the rest of their careers.

All 2017 nominees wore a Man of the Year helmet decal through the end of the season, in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field. This tradition will continue for future nominees and winners of the award.

—

— As Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway stood by, a police officer said he “got real nervous” when he found bullets and a gun part while searching the rookie’s vehicle.

Callaway was cited for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license after being stopped by Strongsville, Ohio police early Sunday morning for failing to yield to oncoming traffic..

On Wednesday, the dash-camera video obtained by TMZ shows Callaway getting out of his car and being questioned by police after the ammunition and a “strap” for a handgun were found in the 23-year-old’s car.

A Browns spokesman said Callaway, a fourth-round pick who had numerous off-field problems while he was at Florida William Gholston Jersey , traveled with the team for Thursday’s exhibition opener against the New York Giants.

Callaway had been scheduled to appear in court Thursday, but had his appearance moved to Aug. 23. He recently moved into the starting lineup after the Browns traded Corey Coleman to Buffalo. It’s still not known if Coleman will be disciplined by the team.

Callaway was pulled over at 2:59 a.m., and during the routine stop was asked to exit his vehicle after one of the officers smelled marijuana. In the video, Callaway says he has not been smoking and tells the officer his car had just been shipped from Florida.

Once he returns to his patrol car, one officer tells the other he got worried when he found the bullets.

“I got real nervous when I opened (the car) up and first thing right down by where the seats sit is the backstrap of a Glock, and then he’s got a bunch of spare single rounds sitting in the center console Nat Moore Jersey ,” the unidentified officer said. “So I got real nervous when he’s standing back there and there’s no gun but there’s gun stuff everywhere.”

Callaway says he owned a gun, but that it was in Florida. The officer asks to pat him down to make sure he’s not carrying a weapon.

There was no mention of the ammunition or gun part in the police report. The AP has requested the dash-cam video.

Coach Hue Jackson said he only learned of Callaway’s situation on Tuesday and said he wanted to gather more information before commenting further.

“Obviously, the red flag is up,” Jackson said. “Let me work through it, see what it is and go from there.”

Callaway is already in Stage 1 of the NFL’s substance-abuse program after he provided a diluted urine sample at the league’s combine in February. He could be subject to a fine or discipline from the league for his latest transgression.

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Tramon Williams is returning to the Green Bay Packers to help replenish the secondary.

The team signed the free agent cornerback on Friday. The 11-year veteran spent the first eight seasons of his career in Green Bay Larry Warford Jersey , intercepting 28 passes in 127 games including 99 starts.

Williams played last season with Arizona after spending two years in Cleveland. New Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was coach of the Browns in Williams' first year in Cleveland in 2015.

Williams, who turned 35 last week, was a respected locker room presence when he left Green Bay in 2014. He returns to help mentor a cornerback position that struggled through an injury-filled season in 2017.

Green Bay may still be looking for cornerback help in the draft or free agency.

Last year's first-round draft pick, Kevin King, showed flashes of promise but his season ended in December because of a shoulder injury. Veteran Davon House is a free agent.

Damarious Randall was traded to the Cleveland Browns in a deal that brought backup quarterback DeShone Kizer to Green Bay.

A 15-game starter as a rookie last season for the winless Browns, Kizer said he was surprised he was dealt away. He threw a league-high 22 interceptions, but showed signs of improvement late in the season.

Now Kizer gets a chance to learn under Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and potentially compete for the backup job with Brett Hundley.

"I think it's going to be an awesome opportunity to take a step back and learn from (coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin) and be around some great competitors and get back to winning the way I know how," Kizer said Friday on a conference call.

Nicklas Backstrom dreamed about the road less traveled.

Driving down Constitution Avenue on his way to each home game since his NHL debut in 2007, he imagined the street lined with overjoyed Washington Capitals fans.

”It always popped up in my head that one time we’re going to have a parade here, and finally that day is here Ben Gedeon Jersey ,” Backstrom said.

It all becomes reality Tuesday when Backstrom and the Stanley Cup-champion Capitals give the city its first parade for a major pro sports team since the NFL’s Redskins in 1992. The parade is 26 years in the making for Washington sports fans who endured long, lean years of heartbreak.

”I don’t think anyone doubted what this city would do,” longtime Nationals infielder Ryan Zimmerman said. ”It’s just a matter of getting there and having the ability to do it. They definitely held up their end of the bargain.”

Tens of thousands gathered for viewing parties of road playoff games on the way to the Capitals’ first championship since beginning play in 1974. They camped out on the streets to watch on giant video screens – the kinds of scenes more germane to presidential inaugurations in this town than sporting events.

”I thought it was really cool when we were even at home and everyone was outside and going nuts and they would show that right after we would score a goal,” defenseman John Carlson said. ”I think that was probably one of the coolest moments of the playoffs for me and just seeing the support. … I think we deserve it, and so do the fans.”

It has been a long time coming. Since the Redskins won the Super Bowl in January 1992, the 1998 Capitals were the only Washington team in the NHL, NBA, NFL or Major League Baseball to reach a league semifinal until this spring, a drought of 74 combined seasons without a championship.

When the Capitals took the Cup into the Nationals’ clubhouse on Saturday, coach Barry Trotz wanted players to know: ”There’s no curse or anything. It’s all gone.” All they had to do to know that was look around the past two months to see the doubt being chipped away.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez Everson Griffen Jersey , who texted with Trotz throughout the run, got his first real taste of Washington sports in the playoffs with the Chicago Cubs last year when he came out of the dugout seeing 50,000 fans in red and couldn’t hear himself think because it was so loud.

”Right then and there I said, `Hey, these people, they’re in, they love it,”’ Martinez recalled. ”This is exciting. And the city then rallied this year around the Caps. I get it. It was awesome. It was good for the city. Good for us. I know our boys were all in, they were excited about everything. I told them yesterday, `Let’s just keep it rolling. The city’s all-in.”’

Washington isn’t a city accustomed to being all-in because of the scars of so many playoff failures over the years. Longtime Capitals season-ticket holder Jimmy Patterson said fans became reluctant to get together to watch games because the mood at the end of the night wasn’t something anyone wanted to endure in a group setting.

That’s part of what made the public gatherings for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final and throughout the Stanley Cup Final so remarkable. Exorcising franchise-long demons by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round seemed to free fans to actually enjoy themselves.

”It showed what they were capable of and shows if you get to that level Wayne Gallman Jersey , they’re going to match it or even step it up a little bit more than the actual players,” Zimmerman said.

Fans celebrating the Capitals beating the Penguins led ESPN’s Michael Wilbon – a former Washington Post columnist – to call D.C. a ”minor league sports town.” It’s not the first knock on Washington, though 14 years of playing baseball in the city has given Zimmerman some clarity on explaining that it’s not Boston, Chicago, New York or Philadelphia, and he doesn’t think it has to be.

”This is such an interesting city because not many people are from here, so it’s hard to be a Boston or a Chicago,” Zimmerman said. ”That’s a generational sports town. So it’s nothing against (Washington). They shouldn’t be like that. They have no reason to be like that.

”A lot of these people move here for work in their early to mid-20s or come here even later than that and they adopt a team. This is what happens nowadays: Everyone compares everything. Just let it be. Let it be what it is. We have great fans and obviously if you make the playoffs and get to a Stanley Cup finals, you have really great fans just like any city would.”

Thousands of fans are expected to watch the parade, from 17th to 7th on Constitution. Trotz has been thinking about something like this since he arrived in 2014.

”You start thinking about David Bakhtiari Jersey , `Well, what would it mean?’ and then you think about a possible parade on one of the most famous streets in all the world, really, and it’s sort of now coming into play,” Trotz said. ”It’s going to come true.”

—

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When John Tavares‘ contract ran out with the New York Islanders Julio Jones Jersey , he took the opportunity to talk with other teams.

”I felt like I owed it to myself to see what else was out there,” Tavares said.

Tavares’ exploration led him to rediscover his childhood affinity for the Maple Leafs, and his confidence in Toronto’s future led him to sign a monster $77 million, seven-year contract. The Islanders were left with nothing, a mistake other NHL franchises seem determined not to make.

Don’t wait. Sometimes not even a day.

On Sunday, when Tavares’ departure left a void on Long Island, the Sharks signed Logan Couture, Coyotes signed Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Kings signed Drew Doughty and Lightning signed Ryan McDonagh to long-term deals. None of them would have been free agents until July 1, 2019, and this was the first possible chance to ink extensions that begin more than a year from now.

It’s worth every penny to San Jose, Arizona, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay to get those contracts done now rather than risk a key player even exploring unrestricted free agency like Tavares did.

”If you wait too long and you get into the situation where they have the potential to walk or explore the UFA market Bo Jackson Jersey , that can be challenging times,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said.

The Ottawa Senators are trapped in such challenging times. They made a contract offer to Norris Trophy-winning captain and 2019 free agent Erik Karlsson, but it’s not a great sign that the real negotiating is only just beginning.

”We’re not going there,” GM Pierre Dorion said. ”We don’t really want to talk about roster players, contract negotiations, trades, all these things, but I think we owe it to our fans and we made a promise at the town hall that we would make a contract offer to Erik Karlsson and we’ve done so.”

Tick, tick, tick. Even a year away, the pressure is on the Senators to sign Karlsson long term or trade him before the deadline so they don’t end up like the Islanders.

The Coyotes made sure they wouldn’t be in that spot by locking up Ekman-Larsson to a $66 million, eight-year deal that the soon-to-be 27-year-old defenseman called ”a no-brainer.” Arizona GM John Chayka calls it ”a huge moment for our entire organization” because there’s now no fear of losing Ekman-Larsson for nothing.

”A superstar-caliber player has the option to basically go to any of the 31 teams and felt the loyalty, felt the belief in what we were doing enough to sign on long term JK Scott Jersey ,” Chayka said, adding that the Coyotes had to convince Ekman-Larsson with actions that they were moving in the right direction.

The Kings convinced Doughty of that so much, he knew all season he was going to re-sign. He’s building a new house in the LA area, is getting married this summer and is ready to start a family in a place he wants to stay for essentially the balance of his career.

”I never wanted to leave there, to be honest,” Doughty said. ”It will be nice not to answer the question, `Hey are you coming to Toronto? You’re coming to the Leafs, right?’ No, I’m not coming to the Leafs, everyone.”

Doughty signing for $88 million over eight years sets the bar for Karlsson, who could face similar questions if he goes into the season without a future contract like Tavares did. Over the past week, Tavares began wondering if he would play for his hometown Maple Leafs, a bond too deep for the Islanders to overcome.

Couture grew up not far from Toronto Aaron Burbridge Jersey , but he never entertained that possibility because he signed a $64 million, eight-year deal with the Sharks. Couture respected Tavares’ choice and made his own without much difficulty.

”We have some very good players: Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Brent Burns, Martin Jones, Evander Kane – very, very good players – Joe Pavelski,” Couture said, rattling off core players all signed long term. ”I want to win. That’s my goal as a hockey player. I believe that San Jose has and will continue to have a very, very good chance at winning in the future. That’s why my decision was so easy.”

It was just as easy for McDonagh, who signed a $47.25 million, seven-year deal with the Lightning, who acquired him at the trade deadline. McDonagh was comfortable with Tampa Bay, which went through an almost-Tavares situation two years ago with captain Steven Stamkos before signing him on the eve of free agency.

Days after signing Stamkos in 2016 Kelvin Benjamin Jersey , the Lightning extended top defenseman Victor Hedman at the first possibly moment like they did with McDonagh. GM Steve Yzerman knows how to work ahead, which is often essential in today’s NHL with important players.

”(If you wait), you don’t really know how it’s going to go,” Yzerman said. ”We go into next year for both parties, we don’t know, and I think it’s worthwhile exploring the opportunity now.”

—

The Chicago Bears have hired Harry Hiestand for a second stint as their offensive line coach.

With the Bears announcing the move Wednesday, Hiestand becomes the first assistant to join new coach Matt Nagy’s staff.

Hiestand was Chicago’s offensive line coach under Lovie Smith from 2005-09. With six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz leading the line, Hiestand oversaw a group that helped the Bears reach a Super Bowl.

He spent the past six seasons coaching Notre Dame’s offensive line. The Fighting Irish averaged 190 yards rushing during that time.

Hiestand has 36 years of coaching experience.

Nagy spent 10 seasons working under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City. He was the Chiefs’ sole offensive coordinator this season.

—

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At the end of a sweltering afternoon J'Mon Moore Jersey , Andrew Knapp kept the Philadelphia Phillies on a red-hot streak.

Knapp hit a game-ending pinch-hit homer just inside the right field foul pole in the 13th inning as the Phillies came from behind to beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 Sunday.

”That was cool,” Knapp said. ”That was a huge team win – huge team series.”

The win was the Phillies third in this four-game set with Washington. All the wins have come by one-run margins. Over the past two weekends, Philadelphia has gone 5-2 against the two-time defending National League East champions, increasing their edge on the Nationals to three games for second place in the division.

”It shows we’re here to stay,” Knapp said. ”Obviously, there’s a lot of games left, and we have to keep playing well. But we’re up there with a lot of those teams. This was a huge series win for us, especially coming off the series win in Washington. They wanted to come here and sweep us. For us to take 3 of 4 was cool.”

The Nationals are now 6-15 in their past 21 games dating back to June 8. Washington is six games behind Atlanta for the lead in the NL East.

On Sunday, Washington managed only four hits in eight innings against the Philadelphia bullpen, never moving a baserunner past second base in that stretch while striking out seven times.

”We’ve got to start striking out less, putting the balls in play, driving in runs when we have the ability to drive in runs,” Washington manager Davey Martinez said. ”But it’ll turn. Our offense is good. I know it’s good. And I truly believe that it’ll turn around.”

Knapp ended the game when he turned on a Justin Miller fastball and lofted it into the bleachers in right field. Miller (5-1) gave up the run in 1 1/3 innings of work.

Nick Pivetta (5-7) got the win pitching a scoreless inning. Pivetta- normally a starter- was roughed up for seven runs in 1 2/3 innings of work on Friday night. He entered the game as the final pitcher that Philadelphia had available.

”He wanted the opportunity bad,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. ”I asked him and pushed him to make sure that this is something that he was going to fight for and he did.”

Washington jumped out early, scoring an unearned run in the fourth on an Anthony Rendon sacrifice fly. In the fifth Laremy Tunsil Jersey , the lead expanded to 3-0 when Adam Eaton singled to right to score Daniel Murphy and Mark Reynolds.

However, Gio Gonzalez labored in the bottom of the fifth after cruising through the first four innings with only one hit and one walk allowed. He walked three guys in the fifth inning, including Cesar Hernandez with the bases loaded, that put Philadelphia on the board. Rhys Hoskins‘ sacrifice fly to right made it 3-2 then Odubel Herrera singled to score Carlos Santana to tie the game.

GAME NOTES

Knapp became the first Phillie to hit a walk-off, pinch-hit homer since Cody Asche did it back on Sept. 12, 2015 against the Chicago Cubs. Ryan Howard hit the last walk-off homer for Philadelphia back on April 29, 2016. . The Phillies bullpen posted a 0.60 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched on Saturday and Sunday. .. Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez has never allowed more than three earned runs in 14 career starts at Citizens Bank Park. He has tossed five or more innings in every start.

TRAINERS ROOM

Philadelphia placed right-handed starting pitcher Vince Velasquez on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday with a right forearm contusion.

Velasquez was hit in the second inning just below the elbow on a liner back up the middle by Washington’s Adam Eaton. Velasquez would eventually record the out by picking the ball up and throwing it lefthanded to first base to get Eaton to end the inning, saving a run from scoring during Philadelphia’s 3-2 victory.

This is the fourth trip to the disabled list for Velasquez in three seasons since Philadelphia acquired him.

In addition to Velasquez’s trip to the disabled list, the Phillies optioned lefthanded reliever Zac Curtis to Triple A Lehigh Valley. They recalled right-handed reliever Jake Thompson and reinstated reliever Pat Neshek from the 10-day disabled list. Neshek, who was signed by the Phillies during the off-season, has been on the disabled list since Opening Day with a forearm injury.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Washington returns home on Monday night to begin a three-game interleague series against the Boston Red Sox. RHP Max Scherzer (10-4, 2.04 ERA) will face former Detroit teammate Rick Porcello in a battle of former Cy Young Award winners.

Phillies: Philadelphia has Monday off, but will begin a brief two-game interleague series at home against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. Zach Eflin (6-2, 3.02 ERA) will get the start against Baltimore’s Alex Cobb.

—


The Portland Trail Blazers fought their way through a pressure-packed playoff race to earn home-court advantage in a series, then lost it in one game.

The Toronto Raptors know that problem all too well Kyle Juszczyk Jersey , so they want to take advantage of playing from ahead for a change.

They try for their first 2-0 playoff series lead ever Tuesday night against Washington, while the Trail Blazers try to even things up in against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Boston and Milwaukee play the other Game 2 on Tuesday after the Celtics pulled out a 113-107 overtime victory on Sunday.

The No. 3 Trail Blazers were the highest-seeded team to lose so far, falling 97-95 on Saturday. Anthony Davis was dominant, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were slow-starting, and the Pelicans got a couple big defensive plays down the stretch from Jrue Holiday to hold on after the Blazers nearly came back from a 19-point deficit.

”I think it puts some pressure on us,” Lillard said. ”You know, you come in with home court, the first two games on your floor and you lose the first one, and now they’re saying in their locker room we got one, why not go get another one. And our job is to defend the home court.

”We’ve got to tighten up, come back sharper, and take care of home floor.”

Toronto had lost Game 1 at home all six times it had home-court advantage in a series, part of an overall 10-game losing streak in series openers, before beating Washington 114-106 dropped on Saturday. Finally, the Raptors could enjoy the start of postseason play.

”And for me Ray-Ray Armstrong Jersey , this year is finally a year I can be happy watching other games and not be like `Damn, I lost Game 1,”’ point guard Kyle Lowry said.

—

Some things to know about Tuesday’s matchups:

WIZARDS AT RAPTORS

Toronto leads 1-0. Game 2, 7 P.M., NBA TV.

NEED TO KNOW: Toronto’s only other 1-0 series lead was in the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals against Philadelphia, which won Game 2 and ultimately the series in seven games.

KEEP AN EYE ON: The 3-point line. The Raptors made a franchise-record 16 in the opener, twice as many as Washington for a 24-point advantage behind the arc.

INJURY UPDATE: Raptors reserve Fred VanVleet (right shoulder) went through most of practice Monday after missing the opener but remains day to day. Lowry was fighting a cold but joked he was ”out tanning” Sunday during an ice storm.

PRESSURE IS ON: Washington’s bench. The Wizards‘ reserves probably aren’t going to win the battle against Toronto’s highly productive second unit, but need to produce something more after getting next to nothing beyond Mike Scott’s 14 points in the opener.

BUCKS AT CELTICS

Boston leads 1-0. Game 2, 8 P.M., TNT.

NEED TO KNOW: Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 20 or more points in eight straight games against the Celtics after scoring 35 before fouling out in overtime of the opener.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Boston’s balance. With Al Horford (24 points), Terry Rozier (23), Marcus Morris (21) and Jaylen Brown (20), the Celtics had four 20-point scorers in a playoff game for the first time since Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Reggie Lewis and Brian Shaw did it in a 1991 game. Throw in Jayson Tatum’s 19 points Zay Jones Jersey , and the Bucks let too many players get hot in Game 1.

INJURY UPDATE: Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Marcus Smart is getting some shots up and working on lower body and conditioning as much as he can, but has been told by the training staff that April 27 is the earliest the guard could begin basketball activity.

”We’re still a ways away from that and a lot of games away from that,” Stevens said.

PRESSURE IS ON: Eric Bledsoe. Milwaukee needs more from its starting guard who had more combined fouls (6) and turnovers (5) than points (9) in a bit of a Game 1 dud.

PELICANS AT TRAIL BLAZERS

New Orleans leads 1-0. Game 2, 10:30 P.M., TNT.

NEED TO KNOW: Anthony Davis had 35 points in the opener and has scored 25 or more in his first five postseason games. He can tie LeBron James for the second-longest streak to begin a career, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 14 straight, according to Elias.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Rajon Rondo. A 17-assist, eight-rebound opener was another reminder of how much the Pelicans’ point guard can elevate his game in the postseason.

INJURY UPDATE: Portland’s Maurice Harkless is nearing a return from late-season left knee surgery, but may not be available until later in the series.

PRESSURE IS ON: The Blazers’ backcourt. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined to shoot just 13 for 41, and their three combined points on 1-for-15 shooting in the first half doomed Portland to a big hole from which it could not recover.

—

AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower in Boston and freelance writer Ian Harrison in Toronto contributed to this report.

—

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Plaxico Burress may have just been projecting based on his own experience Chris Hogan Jersey , but at least he understands the situation.

The former Giants wide receiver urged the team to do what it takes to sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a contract extension now, to avoid the kinds of things that might have been on his mind a decade ago.

“Everybody in the world knows the guy [Beckham] needs to be rewarded,” Burress told Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com. “It’s only a matter of time. Don’t have him disgruntled going into the season, and then you lose him. Why even put yourself in that position?”

Again, Burress might have been remembering his own situation. In 2008, he was coming off an ankle injury, and wanted to sign a new deal before the season to offer himself some protection. He skipped offseason practices, but showed up at training camp and mostly rode a stationary bike until just before the start of the season, when the five-year deal came.

“It became about the (other) guys,” Burress said. “You try to handle your business as you should. I’m really close with a lot of the guys I played with. We were coming off a championship. Sitting down talking with those guys was like Larry Csonka Jersey , ‘It’s not about them. It’s about us.’ We had a great team back then. Hopefully, those same thoughts go through (Odell’s) mind and he’s able to make the decision to show up and perform.

“I hope that he doesn’t let that affect him going into training camp. I say just go pay the guy so they can put all that behind them and everybody goes into a season with a tremendous focus of winning another championship.”

Beckham’s entering the final year of his rookie deal. And there are plenty of people trying to spend the Giants’ money for them, including former quarterback Phil Simms.

Enrique Hernandez has been around the Los Angeles Dodgers long enough to know that an extended hot streak, even from a utility player, can lead to regular playing time.

Hernandez hit another homer, Kenta Maeda pitched seven strong innings and the Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Monday night.

Chicago lost its fifth straight, to tie a season high, after getting swept over four games at Cincinnati. The Cubs have scored a combined 13 runs over their past five games.

Hernandez has six home runs, nine RBIs and a .773 slugging percentage over his last 13 games. Hernandez also went deep twice Sunday. He has a career-high 13 home runs, surpassing his 12 from 2017.

A nagging hamstring injury to Chris Taylor – he came off the bench for a pinch-homer Monday – has given Hernandez more chances to deliver of late.

”I would say that getting a little more playing time over these last two Bradley Pinion Jersey , three weeks has definitely helped me to stay sharp,” said Hernandez, who hit three home runs against the Cubs in Game 5 of last year’s NL Championship Series-clinching victory.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave extended runs to offensive performers like Taylor and Austin Barnes in the second half of last season. Max Muncy has earned at-bats this year with 15 home runs and 32 RBIs.

Hernandez is making a case for himself.

”(Hernandez), on this run for us, has been as valuable, if not more valuable than anybody on our club,” Roberts said.

Maeda (5-4) struck out nine and allowed three singles over seven innings. The Dodgers returned to Los Angeles to open a 10-game homestand after sweeping the New York Mets over the weekend in a three-game series.

As a team, the Dodgers have hit 48 home runs and gone 16-5 in June.

Kenley Jansen gave up deep a sacrifice fly to Javier Baez in the ninth inning before closing out the Cubs for his 20th save.

”We just have to work better at-bats,” manager Joe Maddon said. ”We are chasing way too much. We have to force the pitcher into the strike zone. Once we do that we will be fine.”

Cubs starter Duane Underwood (0-1) made his major league debut, recovering from a 41-pitch first inning to give up just two hits and a run over four innings Bryan Anger Jersey , with three walks and three strikeouts.

DREAM COME TRUE

Underwood didn’t sweat a 14-pitch duel with Matt Kemp in the first inning – he embraced it. Kemp walked to load the bases, but Underwood escaped the jam by retiring Yasmani Grandal on a fly ball to the warning track.

”That was beautiful,” Underwood said. ”For me it was poetry in motion. I loved it going back and forth with the guy. … That was great, especially idolizing the guy growing up. To go one-V-one with the guy was great. Bases loaded, I loved it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish felt soreness in his troubled triceps tendon after a minor league rehabilitation start Monday. Darvish hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 20 because of right triceps tendinitis. The Japanese ace threw five sharp innings for Class A South Bend. Darvish was set to rejoin the team in Los Angeles on Tuesday to discuss his next steps. … 3B Kris Bryant (sore shoulder), who was out of the starting lineup, is not expected to go on the DL, but is not expected to play Tuesday. … RHP Brandon Morrow (lower back tightness) threw a bullpen and is expected to be activated Wednesday without needing a minor league rehab outing.

Dodgers: Taylor (sore left hamstring) was out of the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game. … RHP Walker Buehler (right rib microfracture) will throw another bullpen this week that will increase the intensity from his 17-pitch bullpen Sunday, but his return remains undecided. … RHP Pedro Baez (right biceps tendonitis) and LHP Tony Cingrani (left shoulder strain) will throw bullpen sessions this week. … LHP Julio Urias (left shoulder surgery) will throw two bullpens this week, as his fastball is nearing 90 mph Donovan Smith Jersey , but his return remains undecided.

UP NEXT

LHP Jon Lester (9-2, 2.10 ERA) will try to win his sixth consecutive start and faces the Dodgers for his second consecutive outing. RHP Ross Stripling (6-2, 1.99), who saw his six-start win streak come to an end last week at Chicago, will get another chance to beat the Cubs for the first time in his career.

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Sending two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to Tampa Bay for two draft picks gives the New York Giants much-needed salary cap space for 2019 and allows the Buccaneers to continue rebuilding a line that had the fewest sacks in the NFL last season.

With the unexpected trade announced Thursday Kendell Beckwith Jersey , the Giants take another step in their rebuilding under new general manager Dave Gettleman and the Bucs upgraded their defense in a bid to end a decade-long playoff drought.

The Giants will get Tampa Bay’s third-round pick (69th overall) in the draft in late April. The teams also will swap fourth-round picks, with the Bucs moving up to the 102nd pick and the Giants selecting 108th.

”Jason is an elite-level edge rusher who will make an immediate impact on our defense,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said in a story posted on the team’s website . ”We are adding a two-time Pro Bowler who is passionate about the game and has established himself as one of the league’s premier defensive ends.”

Later in the day, the Giants announced they had terminated the contract of wide receiver and special teams player Dwayne Harris, who missed the final 11 games with a broken foot.

While the Pierre-Paul trade only clears up a couple of million dollars in cap space this year, the benefit for the Giants – who were 3-13 last season – will be in 2019 when it sheds roughly $18 million in cap space. That will be important with safety Landon Collins and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. both possibly looking for new contracts.

The effects will be more immediate for the Bucs, who were 5-11 last season and had 22 sacks.

Pierre-Paul Zay Jones Jersey , who had 8 sacks last season and 58 since being drafted with the 15th pick overall in 2010, joins a team that recently signed two members of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, defensive end Vinny Curry and tackle Beau Allen. Former Bears tackle Mitch Unrein also was signed.

They join returning six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy on a Bucs’ line that hasn’t had a player finish with double-digit sacks since Simeon Rice in 2005.

Not only does Pierre-Paul give the Bucs a pass rusher, the 29-year-old is an every-down player who has overcome a fireworks accident in 2015 that severely damaged his right hand. He signed a $62 million contract last year.

”We appreciate everything Jason has done for the Giants,” Gettleman said. ”He was a fine player for us.”

Pierre-Paul had 68 tackles, 8 sacks and two forced fumbles last season. He has played in 111 regular-season games with 85 starts, including all 16 games in 2017. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2011 and ’12 and All Pro in 2011 Bruce Irvin Jersey , when he had a career-high 16.5 sacks, the fourth-highest total in Giants history, and helped New York win a Super Bowl.

Pierre-Paul also forced 13 fumbles and recovered seven, including one he returned for a touchdown. He intercepted two passes, returning each for a score. He also had defended 47 passes.

The move also sends Pierre-Paul back to Florida. He attended the University of South Florida and played high school football in the state.

The Giants are moving to a 3-4 defensive alignment under new coordinator James Bettcher, although they will continue to use some 4-3 formations.

This is Gettleman’s second trade since replacing Jerry Reese. He acquired linebacker Alec Ogletree from the Los Angeles Rams for fourth and sixth-round draft choices.

The Giants will have six picks in the draft, including the second overall. They also have the second pick in the second round (No. 34) Riley Dixon Jersey , two third-rounders (Nos. 66 and 69), the Bucs’ fourth-rounder and the second pick in the fifth round (No. 139). They traded their seventh-round pick to Pittsburgh last year for cornerback Ross Cockrell.

Harris did not have a catch last season. He had played in all 16 games with one start in 2016 and was selected for the Pro Bowl as a special teamer.

In his first season with New York in 2015, he played in 15 games with six starts and had a career-high 36 receptions for 396 yards and four touchdowns. He finished third in the NFL with a 28.7-yard average on 22 kickoff returns, including a 100-yard touchdown return against Dallas. He also averaged 10 yards on 34 punt returns, including an 80-yard touchdown against the Jets.

Harris was the third player in Giants’ history with kickoff and punt return touchdowns in the same season, the first in 60 years.

—

AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa, Florida James Develin Jersey , contributed to this report.

—


The Ravens reported to training camp on Wednesday and defensive back Lardarius Webb wasn’t among them for the first time since the 2009.

Webb was released in March as the team worked to create cap space to use during the offseason and has not landed a job with another team over the last four months. He hasn’t given up hope of that happening, however.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Webb plans to continue playing and that he is “weighing” a few offers. The fact that Webb hasn’t taken any of the offers suggests that he might be hoping to see someone step forward with a better opportunity.

Webb moved from cornerback to safety late in his years with the Ravens. He appeared in every game last season and finished the year with 39 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

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Aaron Rodgers‘ no-look touchdown pass is still the talk of Green Bay Packers training camp.

The defense was called for offsides to give Rodgers a free play during a two-minute drill in practice Thursday. The play was going left. Rodgers was looking left. But he threw the ball to his right.

Touchdown Breshad Perriman Jersey , Geronimo Allison.

The play looks even better on film to coach Mike McCarthy.

”I think you appreciate it more when you watch the video. I know I did, because he spoils you,” McCarthy said Friday. ”You don’t have too many practices around here where he doesn’t make that throw where you’re just like, `OK, file that onto the library. That’s the way you want to teach it.”’

Packers fans who dared to worry about Rodgers’ seven interceptions during the first five days of camp can breathe easy. The two-time NFL MVP likes how the offense has worked in the first week.

”Well, I’m working on things in training camp. I’m working on throws, whether it’s looking or no-looking. Trying different plays that we we’re working in,” Rodgers said.

A 7-9 finish last season ended a streak of eight straight playoff appearances for the Packers. The offense struggled while Rodgers was out with broken collarbone Will Redmond Jersey , and the defense had familiar problems against the pass.

McCarthy overhauled the coaching staff after the season, which included bringing back Joe Philbin as offensive coordinator. Philbin was the coordinator when the Packers won the Super Bowl in the 2010 season.

”We’ve done a medium overhaul of some offensive concepts, so working on some new stuff and trying to get on the same page with receivers,” Rodgers added.

An added wrinkle for Rodgers is the new looks in practice from coordinator Mike Pettine’s defense. His units have finished in the top 10 in the league when he’s been in charge.

”Well, they’re just so multiple. They have a lot of different pressures and types of pressures,” Rodgers said. ”They’re giving you pressures where they can actually get home. We haven’t had that issue in a while, where they scheme pressures to have a free guy on the play.”

It gives the linemen good practice for the regular season, too Al Davis Jersey , since the NFC North-rival Minnesota Vikings are among teams that run pressures similar to what the Packers’ defense is doing now.

”So the protection elements for offense are really challenged by his defense, which is great for us,” Rodgers said.

Getting Bryan Bulaga back will help too. The veteran right tackle was activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list on Friday and returned to practice on a limited basis for the first time since tearing his right ACL in Week 9 last year.

”I am very optimistic about Week 1, I really am,” Bulaga said. ”I still have some work to do to get to it but it’s definitely looking better than it did, say, four months ago, even though I thought I’d still get to that point.”

His return would solidify a right side of the line that will already have a new starter at guard. Bulaga is a steady Trevor Williams Jersey , reliable presence up front who has played in big spots with Rodgers.

”He’s a pro’s pro. He knows how to play the game,” Rodgers said. ”Unfortunately, he’s sustained a couple of tough injuries. But when he’s out there, he’s a rock.”

At its best, a starting five with Bulaga gives Rodgers just enough time to get out of trouble and outside the pocket, where the quarterback might be most dangerous.

As he showed with his no-look TD throw to Allison.

NOTES: WR Jake Kumerow, an undrafted free agent in his second year out of Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, continues to impress with his hands and route-running ability. He could be a long shot to make the roster Davon House Jersey , especially after the Packers drafted three receivers this year. But the 6-foot-4 Kumerow has earned some reps with the first-string offense and caught Rodgers’ attention. ”So there’s going to be some tough decisions when the cutdown happens,” Rodgers said. ”We drafted three guys, so. If you’re playing today, you’d like him on the field.”

—

Oakland Raiders long snapper Jon Condo says the team has told him he won't return in 2018.

Condo said on his Twitter account Wednesday that the Raiders told his agent he won't be back when he becomes a free agent next week.

Condo was initially signed to Oakland's practice squad in 2006 and became the team's long snapper the following season. He played 173 of 176 games over 11 years with the Raiders.

Oakland had signed two long snappers to futures contracts earlier this offseason, Andrew East and Bradley Northnagel.

The Raiders previously announced that kicker Sebastian Janikowski won't be back next year, meaning there will be no players remaining who were acquired before longtime owner Al Davis died in October 2011.

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LAS VEGAS — After suffering the worst playoff loss in team history on Thursday night Larry Johnson Jersey , a 7-0 shellacking by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first game of the Western Conference semifinals, the San Jose Sharks awoke to find that the sun did indeed come up in the morning.

Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said he was anxious to see how his team, which swept Anaheim in the first round, will bounce back in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

“It’s the first adversity we’ve faced in the playoffs, real adversity,” DeBoer said. “It’s on us to respond now. … We’ve got a lot of character, a lot of pride in there. This series is a long way from over.”

Pretty optimistic words for a coach facing a Vegas team that is 5-0 in the playoffs, 32-10-2 at home this season, and has the hottest goalie on the planet. Marc-Andre Fleury goes into Saturday night’s game with back-to-back shutouts and an eye-popping .982 save percentage in the playoffs.

The Golden Knights scored four goals in the first 12 minutes Thursday night, matching the total number of goals that San Jose and goalie Martin Jones allowed in the entire series against Anaheim.

Vegas had seven different goal scorers and 11 players who ended up on the scoresheet Dalvin Cook Jersey , led by center Jonathan Marchessault (one goal, two assists). William Karlsson and Reilly Smith each chipped in with three assists.

“We had a laundry list of issues,” DeBoer, who guided the Sharks to the Stanley Cup finals in 2016, said. “We weren’t good. They beat us. … (But) you don’t get extra points for winning by a touchdown like they did.”

A win on Saturday and San Jose still goes home with a split and home-ice advantage. However, that possibility became a whole lot tougher for the Sharks on late Friday afternoon.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety suspended left winger Evander Kane for one game for a cross-check to the face of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare during a third-period scrum that resulted in Kane receiving a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

Kane had 14 points in 17 regular-season games after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 26. He had three goals and an assist in San Jose’s four-game sweep of Anaheim in the first round.

“It’s difficult, but it’s not,” DeBoer told the San Jose Mercury News on Friday before the suspension was announced. “It’s like an injury. If he’s out, it’s next man up and we’ll stick somebody else in there. It doesn’t change our preparation.”

Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said his team must guard against overconfidence after the lopsided win in the opener and continue its one-game-at-a-time approach that has proved to be so successful during their storybook first season.

“We just have to be ready to play the next game,” Gallant said. “We know San Jose is a good hockey club and that (7-0) is not going to happen again.

“They’re a great hockey team and we got some early goals on them and took advantage of that. They’ll be a lot better and hopefully we’ll be better Jarius Wright Jersey , too.”

Magic Johnson is betting his job on his free-agent recruiting skills for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Johnson declared Monday that he will step down as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations if he can’t persuade an elite free agent to sign with the 16-time NBA champions within the next two summers.

”Next summer, if nobody comes and I’m still sitting here like this, then it’s a failure,” Johnson said after a news conference to introduce draft picks Moe Wagner and Svi Mykhailiuk.

Johnson was put in charge of the Lakers’ front office by owner Jeanie Buss in February 2017, and the former superstar point guard immediately announced his plans to revive the struggling franchise by enticing the game’s best players to join as free agents.

With Paul George and potentially LeBron James headlining the market this summer, Johnson is leading the Lakers’ efforts to land both players this weekend. If they sign elsewhere, Johnson and the Lakers will pursue the large crop of 2019 free agents.

And if he strikes out with every big name, Johnson said he will quit.

”Like I told you when I took the job, it’s going to be a two-summer thing for the Lakers,” Johnson said. ”This summer Stefan Charles Jersey , and next summer, and that’s it. And if I can’t deliver, I’m going to step down myself. She won’t have to fire me. I’ll step away from it. Because then, I can’t do this job. But so far, so good.”

Although the Lakers are mired in the worst five-year stretch in franchise history and haven’t made the playoffs since 2013, Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka have been successful in achieving their initial goals since they took over 16 months ago.

They have solidified a decent core of talented young players – Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart – to provide their potential free-agent signees with support. They have made several slick trades and personnel moves to clear enough salary cap room to offer two mammoth free-agent contracts this summer.

Now comes the tough part: Persuading George or James or other big names to move to Hollywood. Johnson said he has no idea whether the Lakers’ pitch will be well-received, but he also feels confident in his task.

”I’m Magic Johnson,” he said with his ubiquitous smile. ”You know how many finals I’ve been in? So you think I’m worried about this? I played against Larry Bird in the Finals. I played in nine Finals.”

Johnson is the second straight basketball decision-maker for the Lakers to create a self-imposed deadline for success.

In 2014 Seth Roberts Jersey , co-owner Jim Buss told the Los Angeles Times that the Lakers had to be a contender within three to four years, or ”I will step down, because that means I have failed.”

The Lakers badly missed that deadline, and Buss’ sister fired him and general manager Mitch Kupchak in February 2017.

Johnson and Pelinka are spending this week honing and fine-tuning their free-agent pitches. They’ll show their plans to Jeanie Buss later in the week, along with numerous contingency plans for the short-term and long-term future.

”If we can sign somebody this summer, we’ll do that,” Johnson said. ”If it doesn’t happen, we’ve got to turn to next summer.”

—

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The Carolina Panthers are off the market.

The Panthers announced Wednesday they have signed a ”definitive agreement” to sell the team to David Tepper Dan Feeney Jersey , the founder and president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management.

The deal is subject to NFL approval.

League owners will meet next week in Atlanta, where they are expected to vote on the purchase. Since Tepper already has been vetted by the league as a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the approval process is not expected to run into any snags.

The transaction is expected to close in July, the team announced.

Tepper, who has been a minority owner of the Steelers since 2009, said Wednesday in a release that he’s thrilled to become the next owner of the Panthers.

”I have learned a great deal about the community and the team over the past several months and look forward to becoming part of the Carolinas,” said Tepper, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh. ”I want to thank Jerry Richardson and the other Panthers partners for all they have done to establish and develop the NFL in the Carolinas. It has been a remarkable 25-year journey and I promise to build upon the Panthers’ success on the field and in the community.”

Tepper has a net worth of more than $11 billion, according to Forbes.

He is paying an NFL-record $2.2 billion to purchase the team, according to two people familiar with the situation. The people spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t release the selling price of the franchise.

The release didn’t mention if Tepper plans to move the team or keep it in Charlotte.

Jerry Richardson, the team’s founder and only owner LaAdrian Waddle Jersey , abruptly announced he was selling the team last December after coming under investigation from the league for sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace.

That investigation is ongoing.

Richardson, who rarely comments to the media, said in the release that bringing the expansion Panthers and the NFL to the Carolinas in 1993 was enormously fulfilling for him, his wife, Rosalind, and all of the team’s partners.

”We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support over the last 25 years,” Richardson said. ”You have taken the Panthers into your hearts and made them part of this warm and supportive community.”

Richardson has had a strong relationship with the Rooney family in Pittsburgh through the years and is familiar with Tepper.

”I look forward to turning the stewardship of the Panthers over to David Tepper,” Richardson said. ”I have enjoyed getting to know him in this process and am confident that he will provide the organization with great leadership in both its football and community initiatives. I wish David and his family the very best as they enter this exciting new phase of their lives.”

Tepper will have full ownership of the team. He’ll need to sell his ownership stake in the Steelers once he becomes the Panthers owner.

Richardson had owned 48 percent of the franchise and the Panthers had several minority owners under the previous regime.

Tepper is expected to be more outspoken that the relatively recluse Richardson, who hasn’t granted an interview with the media in more than a decade.

Tepper once criticized President Donald Trump before the election, calling him ”demented, narcissistic and a scumbag.”

A noted philanthropist Coby Fleener Jersey , Tepper told CNBC’s Squawk Box the day before the presidential election that Trump ”masquerades as an angel of light, but he is the father of lies.”

Tepper disputed Melania Trump’s claim that her husband was a generous, giving person in a campaign appearance. He contended Trump did not give money in the wake of some New York-area disasters.

”During Sandy, the big Sandy benefit, the big 9/11 benefit, not one dime. Not one dime! You can’t tell me this is a charitable, generous person,” Tepper said on Squawk Box in November 2016.

Tepper went on to say, ”One thing I do with my wife, this is a thing called the Golden Rule. It has nothing to do with investments-nothing to do with investments. It says do unto others as you would have others do unto you. And that’s not being done with Trump – not at least on the good side. It just was a turning point. That’s my upbringing. I can’t help it. I can’t take it anymore. And when you lie about that stuff and you lie about fundamental beliefs.”

—


SAN DIEGO — Rookie left-hander Joey Lucchesi will be activated from the San Diego Padres‘ 10-day disabled list Wednesday morning to face the Oakland A’s in the finale of an abbreviated, two-game homestand at Petco Park.

Lucchesi (3-2 Sterling Shepard Jersey , 3.23 ERA) will oppose A’s right-hander Frankie Montas (3-1, 2.67) as the Padres seek to snap a four-game losing streak during a run of in which they play 17 of 19 games on the road.

The 25-year-old Lucchesi has been on the disabled list since May 14 when he suffered a strained glute muscle while making his ninth major league start. He made one rehab start with Advanced Class-A Lake Elsinore last Thursday and hit a batter with six strikeouts over four hitless, shutout innings.

“Obviously, he’s going to be monitored a little bit,” Padres manager Andy Green said of Lucchesi. “We’re strong enough in the bullpen to cover whatever we need to cover. I can see him going five innings and, in an ideal world, going six. There’s no anticipation of more. Five or six is what you’re expecting from a No. 4 or 5 starter anyways, so that’s plenty enough to give us some length. We’re not going into this with the expectation of his glute flaring up. We expect him to be healthy. He felt good in his rehab outing. He bounced off the mound and made a play.”

The Padres were looking to the two games against the A’s as a brief respite from a streak during which they play only five home games in a span of 32 days.

“I’ve never seen a schedule like this,” said Green.

But the A’s ruined the Padres’ hopes of a two-game sweep Tuesday night with a game-tying, two-out homer in the ninth by Stephen Piscotty and a game-winning, two-run homer in the 10th by Jed Lowrie. After that 4-2 A’s victory it will be up to Montas to complete the sweep.

Montas was recalled from Triple-A Nashville May 27 for his first stint with the A’s this year and is scheduled to make his fifth start Wednesday afternoon. Montas won each of his first three starts and allowed two runs or fewer while tossing six or more innings in each of those starts while posting a 1.25 ERA.

He lost his most recent start against Houston in Oakland last Thursday Elandon Roberts Jersey , however, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits and four walks with a strikeout over 5 1/3 innings. Before joining the A’s, Montas went 1-5 with a 4.39 ERA in nine starts with Nashville, including a 1-2 mark with a 3.24 ERA in four starts in May.

Montas has never faced the Padres. Lucchesi will also be facing the A’s for the first time.

In his last two starts, including the one when he injured his glute muscle, Lucchesi gave up four runs on 12 hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in 10 innings. Lucchesi had given up seven homers in 25 2/3 innings in his five starts prior to going on the disabled list.

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The New York Jets have re-signed offensive lineman Dakota Dozier.

The Jets also announced Friday that offensive lineman Brent Qvale has signed his restricted free agent tender Andre Reed Jersey , worth $1.907 million this year.

Both Dozier and Qvale add depth and versatility to an offensive line that includes newcomers Spencer Long and Travis Swanson.

Dozier was a fourth-round draft pick of the Jets in 2014 out of Furman. He set career highs last season with 14 games played with three starts. He has appeared in 32 career games for New York with five starts.

Qvale was signed by New York as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska in 2014. He has started 12 games for the Jets, including seven at right tackle, four as a jumbo tight end and one at right guard.

—


The draft started two months ago tomorrow. And all but 17 of the draft picks have signed their rookie deals.

Per a source with knowledge of and access to the full list of rookie contracts, the collection of remaining unsigned players includes 12 first-round picks Vinny Curry Jersey , three second-round picks, one third-round pick, and one fifth-round pick.

Leading the way is Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. While post-2011 rookie contracts contain few terms about which to haggle, two important factors provide the basis for back-and-forth: (1) whether the guaranteed money will be subject to offset language Kenny Clark Jersey , preventing double-dipping; and (2) the cash flow of the signing bonus.

Given that Mayfield at one point considered going without an agent, his agents may feel compelled to justify his decision by driving a hard bargain on either or both points. Two years ago, Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa held out through training camp and the preseason over these issues.

With the Browns supposedly not inclined to use Mayfield this year, there’s less urgency on their part to get him signed. But they’d surely still like to avoid the distraction of a holdout Drew Brees Jersey , which gives Mayfield some leverage.

Beyond the top 10, where seven players remain unsigned, it should be easier to work out these contracts. There’s a cluster of unsigned players at the bottom of round one, with an impasse (if there is one) focusing on the handling of payments and guarantees in the fourth year of the contract.

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In a July 12 story about the Atlanta Braves Amara Darboh Jersey , The Associated Press reported erroneously that Anibal Sanchez is among the team’s starting pitchers currently on the disabled list. Sanchez missed 37 games with a right hamstring strain earlier in the season and is currently active and was starting in Friday night’s game against Arizona.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Baby Braves looking to shake out of midseason swoon

Young Braves still tied for NL East lead despite `obviously struggling in a lot of different areas’

By CHARLES ODUM

AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) – As well as things have gone for the Atlanta Braves in the season’s first half, lately there are troubling signs that something is not right.

Or maybe a lot of things are not right.

The Braves have lost six of eight games and this week briefly fell out of the NL East lead for the first time since May 30. They moved back into a first-place tie with Philadelphia with Wednesday night’s win over Toronto. Atlanta was off Thursday before Friday night’s opener of a home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Braves are looking to regain their momentum entering next week’s All-Star break.

”We’ve just have to get back to getting the whole thing going,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday. ”We’re obviously struggling in a lot of different areas.”

Snitker was far from panicked. He believes the downturn can be easily explained as a part of the normal flow of a season and said, ”I just think teams are going to do that.”

Even so, Snitker said he has examined all options, including tweaks to his lineup. General manager Alex Anthopoulos also has to look closely at the team’s recent downward trends as he considers possible trade options.

The Braves have interest in Baltimore’s Manny Machado but are seen as a long shot to acquire the All-Star shortstop. Anthopoulos has said the team is unlikely to give up top prospects for a short-term rental Derrick Shelby Jersey , and Machado is approaching free agency.

Anthopoulos may be more willing to trade a pitching prospect now that starters Sean Newcomb, Mike Foltynewicz and Mike Soroka have enjoyed success in Atlanta this season.

Trading a prospect for immediate help wouldn’t have been considered a likely move for Anthopoulos at the beginning of the year. The rebuilding Braves were expected to contend in a year or two. But now that the Braves have spent much of the season in first place, the timetable for aggressive moves may have changed.

Injuries have left the rotation full of questions. Soroka (right shoulder inflammation) and Brandon McCarthy (right knee tendinitis) are on the 10-day DL.

Left-hander Luiz Gohara, who had been in the bullpen, was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after Wednesday night’s game. He is expected to use his time in Gwinnett to prepare for a possible spot in Atlanta’s rotation after the break.

The team earned the nickname ”Baby Braves” thanks to key players including 21-year-old All-Star Ozzie Albies and 20-year-old left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. When Soroka, another 20-year-old James Develin Jersey , was in the rotation, the Braves had the three youngest players in the majors. Gohara, 21, could add even more youth.

Two more important players are only 24 – Newcomb and shortstop Dansby Swanson. Foltynewicz is a first-time All-Star at 26.

With so much youth, growing pains were inevitable. Newcomb and Foltynewicz have each allowed five earned runs in two straight starts.

Hard-throwing left-handed reliever A.J. Minter has four saves but gave up four runs, three earned James Harrison Jersey , while recording only one out in Tuesday night’s 6-2 loss to Toronto.

Meanwhile, leadoff hitter Ender Inciarte is hitting only .246, and Snitker pulled him from Sunday’s loss in Milwaukee for a lack of hustle. Inciarte was back in the lineup for the two-game series with Toronto.

Snitker wouldn’t blame the team’s recent offensive struggles on ”one or two guys.”

”We haven’t been hitting on all cylinders,” Snitker said.

Nick Markakis, selected to his first All-Star team at 34, Freddie Freeman and Albies have helped keep the team in first place.

Albies became only the sixth player in franchise history to hit homers from both sides of the plate in the same game on Wednesday night. He already has 20 homers Terrell Owens Jersey , the most for a Braves player before the All-Star break since Andruw Jones hit 20 in 2006.

Albies has hits in 19 of his last 20 games, pushing his average to .288.

Freeman described Albies as ”unbelievable to watch.” Foltynewicz said, ”I’m excited he’s on my team.”

Snitker hopes Albies can be a model for teammates who are struggling after strong starts.

”He’s adjusted,” Snitker said. ”He’s doing what good players do.”

—

St. Louis Blues forward Scottie Upshall is out indefinitely with a lacerated left kidney.

Upshall was injured Saturday night in a 6-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. St. Louis president of hockey operations and general manager Doug Armstrong provided an update Monday on Upshall’s status.

The 34-year-old has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 63 games. Upshall was playing in just his second game after missing three weeks with a knee injury.

The oft-injured veteran’s absence is another blow to the Blues as they fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. St. Louis already is without defenseman Jay Bouwmeester because of a hip injury and hasn’t had winger Robby Fabbri since he aggravated a knee injury.

—

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Injured Humboldt Broncos players got a visit from the Stanley Cup.

Tom Straschnitzki – whose 19-year-old son Terence Newman Jersey , Ryan, was badly injured in the junior hockey team’s bus crash – was in a waiting area at Royal University Hospital on Friday night when a large box was wheeled in.

Recognizing the box from Stanley Cup presentations, he immediately suspected what was inside, and his suspicions were confirmed when someone wearing white gloves lifted the trophy from the case.

Tom Straschnitzki said Ryan’s bed was the first stop, and he says his son’s eyes grew wide as it was carried in. Ryan asked to see name of Jonathan Toews, the Chicago Blackhawks forward who visited the hospital earlier in the day to deliver jerseys the Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets wore last weekend with Broncos nameplates on them.

Tom Straschnitzki says Ryan was asked if he wanted to touch the cup, but he wanted to wait until he wins it someday.

”They know the tradition,” Tom Straschnitzki said, noting the other injured players didn’t want to touch the trophy, either.

The Straschnitzki are from Airdrie Ryan Quigley Jersey , Alberta. The family said 19-year-old Ryan couldn’t feel his legs after the crash.

Sixteen people have died as a result of a crash last week when the Broncos’ bus collided with a semi-truck just south of Nipawin. Another 13 people were injured.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Athletics fans will get a chance to see their new record-tying pitcher in person for the first time Saturday when right-hander Edwin Jackson takes the mound against the Cleveland Indians.

The 34-year-old Jackson (0-0, 1.50 ERA) made history Monday when he pitched a 5-4 win for the A’s at Detroit.

Oakland became Jackson’s 13th team in his 16-year career, allowing Jackson to tie a former member of the A’s, Octavio Dotel, for most major league franchises in a career.

Jackson did not get a decision in his A’s debut despite allowing just one run and six hits in six innings. He has, however, had a lot of success against the Indians in his career.

Jackson has pitched 15 times, 13 as a starter, against Cleveland in his career Mark Clayton Jersey , going 9-1 with a 2.76 ERA.

The nine wins are the fifth-most for an active Indians opponent, trailing just Justin Verlander (20) and three players he can tie with a win Saturday — Zack Greinke (10), David Price (10) and Rick Porcello (10).

The .900 winning percentage is the second-best among active pitchers with five or more career decisions against the Indians, trailing only another former A’s pitcher, Gio Gonzalez (6-0).

Jackson admitted thoroughly enjoying Monday’s comeback effort.

“It’s a lot of fun pitching in games like that, kind of the new guy and wanting to set a good first impression,” he said.

Jackson could have a similar feeling Saturday as it will be his first home game as a member of the A’s. He has pitched two previous games in Oakland, both as a visitor, going 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA.

The veteran will be backed by an A’s team that has won five in a row and 11 of its last 13. The A’s also won eight of their last nine against the Indians dating back to 2016.

Not surprisingly, given his 15 previous years in the majors Jordan Phillips Jersey , Jackson has a significant history against several members of the Indians, including Yonder Alonso, who has gone 7-for-16 (.438) with two doubles and two home runs against his fellow ex-San Diego Padre.

Alonso also is no stranger to Oakland, having represented the A’s in the 2017 All-Star Game, after hitting 22 home runs in 100 games, before getting dealt to the Seattle Mariners.

The 31-year-old credits A’s manager Bob Melvin for helping him get the three-year, $24 million contract he received from the Indians in free agency over the winter.

“It’s always nice to come back here,” Alonso said Friday. “They gave me a huge opportunity that I’m really thankful for.”

Cleveland will counter on the mound Saturday with rookie right-hander Adam Plutko (4-1, 4.65), who has never faced the A’s.

Like Jackson Matt Bryant Jersey , Plutko is coming off a successful outing against Detroit, allowing two runs and six hits in six innings in a 12-2 win last Sunday.

He’ll find himself having to deal with one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball, Oakland second/third baseman Jed Lowrie, who contributed a home run to Friday’s 3-1 win in the series opener.

Lowrie has four singles, three doubles and three home runs in his last five games.

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Tom Brady shook off a hand injury and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola with 2:48 remaining Josh Robinson Jersey , rallying the New England Patriots back to the Super Bowl with a 24-20 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC championship game Sunday.

Brady, wearing a black bandage on his right hand, showed no signs of being hampered. And, with the game – and possibly the season – on the line, the Patriots star came up big again.

Brady finished 26 of 38 for 290 yards and two touchdowns for the Patriots (15-3), who’ll play Philadelphia in Minneapolis on Feb. 4.

The Jaguars (12-7) led 20-10 early in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hold against the defending champions.

Jacksonville – looking to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history – had one more shot, but Blake Bortles’ throw on fourth-and-15 to Dede Westbrook was knocked away by Stephon Gilmore.

The Patriots then ran out the clock, with Dion Lewis’ 18-yard scamper with 90 seconds remaining sealing the victory. And they did it mostly without tight end Rob Gronkowski Lawrence Taylor Jersey , who left the game late in the first half and didn’t return.

EAGLES 38, VIKINGS 7

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Nick Foles threw for three touchdowns and Philadelphia made big play after big play, winning the NFC title in a stunning rout of Minnesota.

Next up: the Eagles’ first Super Bowl appearance since 2005, against the team that beat them then, AFC champion New England.

Foles was on fire, throwing for 352 yards in a performance that might make the Philadelphia faithful miss injured Carson Wentz a whole lot less.

Patrick Robinson’s spectacular 50-yard interception return got Philadelphia (15-3) started. Then Foles and his offense tore up the league’s stingiest scoring defense, with long TD throws to Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith.

LeGarrette Blount had an 11-yard scoring run when things were decided in the first half, and the Eagles were headed to an NFL title game the Vikings (14-4) hoped to be in at their own stadium.

—

Paul Molitor said Minnesota’s recent 1-8 road trip was one of the worst he’s experienced in a long career in baseball. The Twins‘ manager is feeling much better about their homestand.

Joe Mauer homered and drove in four runs, and the Twins held on for a 11-8 win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

Jake Cave had three hits and a pair of RBIs Craig Mager Jersey , and Robbie Grossman added three hits to help Minnesota win for the eighth time in nine games on its homestand.

”I think we all think this homestand was much needed and it was timely coming off the heels of one of the worst trips I experienced in terms of finding ways to win,” Molitor said.

Trevor Hildenberger (2-2) struck out the side in the seventh to pick up the win in relief of starter Jake Odorizzi.

Tampa Bay starter Nathan Eovaldi (3-4) gave up eight runs and nine hits with two walks in 2 2/3 innings. Rookie Jake Bauers hit a three-run homer for the Rays, who climbed within a run before the Twins pulled away late.

”Look, we score eight runs, we’re going to win more games than not, for sure,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. ”But it was just too little, too late probably. We had some good at-bats against Odorizzi, put some pressure on them. They had to go to their bullpen early JK Scott Jersey , but their bullpen came in and did a pretty nice job of limiting and ultimately quieting us.”

Odorizzi had allowed just two runs over 17 innings in his previous three starts. Eovaldi had given up two runs in 19 innings over his three previous outings. Neither could keep the run going.

Eovaldi saw his ERA rise from 3.35 to 4.59 in his shortest outing of the season.

”I definitely felt they came out swinging,” Eovaldi said. ”They were a lot more aggressive, but I wasn’t ahead of the guys. I felt behind a couple batters, and I just should have done a better job of making my pitches.”

Odorizzi faltered after being given an 8-1 lead in his first start against his former club. He gave up six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

”It’s kind of on us or are we going to roll over and disassemble this,” Odorizzi said of the feeling after the road trip. ”I think everyone has responded the right way. Everyone wants to go out and do their job, contribute. It’s nice when you don’t do yours, everybody does theirs and they contribute for a win. That’s all we need.”

BAUERS POWER

Bauers had a home run in the fourth overturned following a replay review that showed the ball hit the top of the overhang in right field. He was caught by cameras lifting weights in the dugout after the near-miss and came back an inning later with a no-doubt homer over the high wall in right-center field.

”So (teammate Mallex Smith) had his where his home run got overturned, and he was doing push-ups and hit one a couple days later,” Bauers said. ”So once I came around and scored Reggie Ragland Jersey , Mallex came up and brought up some dumbbells for me and told me to knock out some different workouts. So credit to him on the second one.”

SNELL GETS HIS SHOT

Rays left-hander Blake Snell was named to the American League All-Star team on Friday as an injury replacement for Cleveland’s Corey Kluber.

”It’s cool,” Snell said of his first All-Star trip. ”I knew I deserved it. Knew I put in the work. It’s just awesome. It’s a childhood dream and something that I’ve look forward to for a long time. To be able to do it and say I did it, nobody can take that away from me.”

It’s the ninth consecutive season Tampa Bay has had a pitcher named to the All-Star team. Only the New York Yankees have had more selections in a row with 12.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Chaz Roe underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair a torn meniscus. Roe is expected to return in September. … INF Christian Arroyo (10-day disabled list, left oblique strain) left Thursday’s Triple-A rehab game with left hand discomfort, but Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said all tests were negative.

Twins: OF Byron Buxton had to leave his game with Triple-A Rochester on Thursday with pain in his left hand/wrist area. Manager Paul Molitor said X-rays didn’t show any issue and that he hasn’t heard the results of an MRI. Molitor said he’s optimistic it’s a ”minor strain” and wasn’t sure if Buxton will have to go on the disabled list.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Chris Archer (3-4, 4.41 ERA) will look for improvement in his second start off the disabled list on Saturday. Archer lasted just 3 1/3 innings in his last outing, giving three runs in a no-decision against Detroit. It was his shortest outing of the season after not pitching since June 2.

Twins: RHP Jose Berrios (9-7, 3.41) starts for Minnesota before heading to his first All-Star game next week. Berrios gave up one run in seven innings to beat Kansas City in his last start on July 9.

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The topic took over the offseason Justin Hardy Jersey , as players complained and coaches worried and officials panicked.

But after the first full night of preseason games, the NFL’s new lowering the helmet rule hasn’t been called as often as some feared.

According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, through the first 13 preseason games played so far, a total of 18 penalties have been called under the new rule.

That average of 1.38 calls per game is less than half the rate of offensive holding calls last season (3.2 per game).

Of course, it’s early yet, and officials could call more as the preseason goes along Terron Armstead Jersey , to emphasize the rule early in the year so everyone gets used to its enforcement and can modify their behavior.

Colts safety Shamarko Thomas was ejected last night for a helmet-to-helmet hit, but the “lowering the helmet” language was not used.

Whether Randy Gregory plays in Saturday’s preseason game or not, the Cowboys defensive end is ready.

Gregory has not looked like the player who has missed 30 of the past 32 regular-season games, last seeing action against another team on January 1, 2017. He has looked like the player the Cowboys thought they were getting when they made Gregory a second-round choice in 2015.

“I feel like a rookie again,” Gregory said Kendell Beckwith Jersey , via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “Just going through the basics, getting in the stance, getting off the ball, the keys, just the plays, everything that’s involved. It’s kind of humbling Marshawn Lynch Jersey , but it’s fun.

“I’m just curious to see how I do in a game.”

Considering Gregory’s long absence, the Cowboys have worked him back into practice slowly. Gregory has gone through only four practices, which likely gives the Cowboys pause about playing him this week. That means Gregory could make his preseason debut in Week Three against the Cardinals.

“There’s no question he’s done a really nice job, done a really good job with his rehab, done a really good job when he’s had full practices,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “He’s gone against our No. 1 offense line Matt Bosher Jersey , and he’s really held up well, both in the run and rushing the passer.

“A lot of good things. He’s going about it the right way. We’re excited about his progress.”

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The Dolphins offensive line play has been problematic over the last few years and the team’s offensive line coach hasn’t seen things come together as he hoped at this point in the calendar.

Jeremiah Washburn said that he likes having starters set at all five positions David Bakhtiari Jersey , including new left guard Josh Sitton and center Daniel Kilgore, but that a cohesive unit is not developing “fast enough” for his liking.

“We’re not near where we need to be,” Washburn said, via the Miami Herald. “I think Adam [Gase] said the same thing [Saturday]. I do like our group. It’s a good group of guys. They’re working hard. But in terms of production, we’re not near where we need to be — protection, run game. We’re going to have to continue to work at it.”

There’s over a month before the start of the regular season, so there’s still time for things to gel as hoped up front in Miami. If not, there will be a familiar feeling in Miami once the games start to count.

The unthinkable has happened before.

Conference semifinals, 2010, Boston vs. Philadelphia: Boston wins the first two games at home Cornellius Carradine Jersey , then goes into Philadelphia to capture Game 3 and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Undeterred, Philadelphia won in seven games to reach the Eastern Conference finals.

One small detail to note: That was in hockey.

If there’s one piece of solace for the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors right now, it’s likely this – comebacks from 3-0 deficits are not completely unheard of in major sports. There’s been four of them in the NHL. Another happened in baseball, the Boston Red Sox rallying to oust the New York Yankees in the 2004 AL Championship Series. And even Cleveland has blown a 3-0 lead, albeit again in hockey, and that was of the minor league variety in 1960.

But in the NBA, never.

NBA teams staring into the 0-3 abyss have never been saved: 129 have tried, 129 have failed. On Monday, the 76ers and the Raptors – both down 3-0 after down-to-the-wire defeats in their respective Game 3s of their Eastern Conference semifinal series – get their chance to be the ones who rewrite that ignominious piece of basketball history.

Philadelphia plays host to Boston and Toronto is at Cleveland, with the 76ers and Raptors both trying to find ways to extend their seasons.

”There’s a breaking point we all have Adam Joseph Duhe Jersey ,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said. ”And I believe that if we can maintain our spirit, why couldn’t we be the one? And I mean that. That’s my goal with us, is to fight. That’s all I know. I can’t see any other way to approach this that makes sense to me. So that’s what we’re going to do.”

The odds are obviously overwhelmingly in favor of the Celtics and Cavaliers, who seem destined to meet in the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive year.

That’s hard to believe, given where those clubs were a week or so ago. Both needed to survive Game 7s just to get out of the first round.

The narrative around the Celtics, with no Kyrie Irving for the postseason, was that they would be the East high seed ripe for a playoff upset.

Oops. They’ve been unflappable.

”I’ve never been around a group of guys, and I’ve been around some really special ones, that can just turn the page and they just play the next play the right way,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. ”It’s a really unique group in that regard.”

The narrative around the Cavaliers was that LeBron James was being asked to do too much and his supporting cast was capable of too little.

Oops Blidi Wreh-Wilson Jersey , again. And now James is five wins from an eighth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.

”We’re getting better,” Cavs forward Jeff Green said. ”We’re getting better each game. Our defense is getting better. We’re playing together. Things are turning a corner for us at the right time.”

A look at Monday’s games:

CELTICS AT 76ERS

Celtics lead 3-0. Game 4, 6 p.m. EDT, TNT.

NEED TO KNOW: The Celtics are playing for a lot of rest. A win on Monday, and the Celtics wouldn’t play again until at least Sunday. And there’s nothing more valuable than days off to heal nagging things at this time of year.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Jayson Tatum. Boston’s young standout was brilliant in Game 3 with 24 points, and the Celtics were plus-24 when he was on the floor. In the 11 1/2 minutes he was on the bench, Philadelphia outscored Boston 39-18.

STAT QUIRK: Philadelphia set an NBA record with a 16-game winning streak to end the regular season. The 76ers topped the 15-game end-of-season run by the 1950 Rochester Royals – who exited the playoffs in a sweep.

PRESSURE IS ON: Ben Simmons. The 76ers point guard made some atrocious decisions in the final moments of Game 3, like going back up with an offensive rebound late in regulation (instead of burning some clock with Philly leading) and the lazy-looking one-handed inbounds pass for a turnover in overtime that sealed Boston’s win.

RAPTORS AT CAVALIERS

Cavaliers lead 3-0. Game 4, 8:30 p.m. EDT, TNT

NEED TO KNOW: Pity the Raptors. After coming into these playoffs with title hopes Deion Sanders Jersey , Toronto has again been unable to solve LeBron James. In the last 15 matchups where the Raptors have faced James, they’re 1-14 and are now on the brink of being ousted by the Cavs for the third straight season.

KEEP ANY EYE ON: Kevin Love’s resurgence. Cleveland’s other All-Star has been revived in this series, a development that bodes well for the Cavs going forward. Love finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds in Game 3, responding to urging from Cavs coach Tyronn Lue to play faster.

PRESSURE IS ON: Raptors coach Dwane Casey. His moves have been questioned throughout the first three games. Toronto ran a mind-boggling inbounds play in the final minute of Game 3 with guard Fred VanVleet hoisting and missing a 35-foot jumper before the shot clock expired. Casey also benched All-Star DeMar DeRozan for the entire fourth quarter, a bold decision given that he’s the club’s best offensive player.

PRODUCT PLACEMENT: James’ choice to wear a Seagram’s 7 whiskey cap to his postgame news conference was interesting. Some suspected he might be trolling the Raptors since Seagram’s was originally a Canadian company. The logo also includes a small crown, so there’s the royal angle. Whatever the case, he may want to start getting Samuel Adams hats ready for the East finals – if he wants to tweak Boston fans a bit more.

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The Indiana Pacers are parting ways with guard Lance Stephenson Peyton Barber Jersey , the gritty veteran who brought energy off the bench in last season’s surprising run to the playoffs.

The team will not pick up the team option next season, Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said Monday.

”This was a very difficult decision, but as free agency begins on July 1, we want to have flexibility so that we can prepare for all of our available options,” he said.

A year ago, Pritchard decided to trade star Paul George before almost surely losing him in free agency and got Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis from Oklahoma City in a deal that turned out remarkably well for Indiana.

Oladipo emerged as a leader, earned his first All-Star trip and won the league’s steals title. Sabonis, a lottery pick in 2016 Lee Roy Selmon Jersey , became a key contributor off the bench. Point guard Darren Collison was the NBA’s most accurate 3-point shooter, and Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic thrived in their roles, too. Myles Turner, Indiana’s 22-year-old center, was one of the league’s leaders in blocks.

Four of the starting five and Sabonis are already under contract for next season, with Young being the lone exception. He and backup point guard Cory Joseph have player options.

Now Pritchard has decided to part with

Stephenson brought grit off the bench for a team that won 48 games, fell just short of finishing in the top four in the Eastern Conference and was within four points late in a first-round, Game 7 loss to Cleveland. Stephenson Tony Gonzalez Jersey , an eight-year veteran, finished the season averaging 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

The decision was no doubt wrenching for a team that bonded in finishing strong: Six players approached Pritchard before the trade deadline and pleaded with the GM not to make any moves because they wanted to close out the season together. Pritchard said it a first for him, and kept the team intact.

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Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey recently threw cold water on the notion that #Jimmy already is as good as #Tommy, pointing out that the 49ers scored 44 against the AFC finalists due in part to the scheme the team runs. Ramsey has elaborated on his remarks, via Twitter.

“Jimmy is good, I said that but based off our game, only 1 Wr had more than 25 yards on us & most of that came off 1 catch for 24 yards Doug Baldwin Jersey ,” Ramsey said, in response to a NinersNation.com blurb about the comments. “[H]e used his FB & TE for big gains off play action & their running game was also good that game. That鈥檚 scheme!”

Said Ramsey on NFL Network regarding Garoppolo: “What did he play, five games? He has good potential, I think he鈥檒l be a good player, but my experience in playing him, it was a lot of scheme stuff. It wasn鈥檛 like he was just dicing us up.”

The broader point, whether Ramsey specifically made it or not, is that defenses eventually will have enough film to understand how Garoppolo operates the scheme Carl Banks Jersey , what he does well, what he doesn’t do well, what he tries to do when what he wants to do is taken away, etc. That will be one of the various challenges the 49ers face when trying to build on the unexpected success the team had once Garoppolo became the starting quarterback.

Similarly, Garoppolo may have to do more/other things when defenses shut down play-action passes to fullbacks and tight ends, and when the running game isn’t working the way it should.

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