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”Playing football,” the New York Jets rookie quarterback said with a huge grin.

The birthday boy is now officially of the legal drinking age, but Darnold wasn’t expecting to toast the milestone Tuesday night.

”Probably not,” he said, smiling. ”I’ll probably just stay in and go to sleep early, like I have been every single night.”

Partying is not high on the list for Darnold, who’s the youngest player on the Jets’ roster – and the fresh-faced future of the franchise.

The No. 3 overall draft pick out of USC has taken a businesslike approach to his introduction to life in the NFL. Eat, sleep and dream football.

Those are Darnold’s days. Every day.

”I’m making a ton of strides, but at the same time, I’m not exactly where I want to be,” Darnold said. ”But I know it’s going to take time and it’s a process. I’m aware of that and it’s exciting, though Josh Rosen Cardinals Jersey , to understand the playbook the way I am and the strides I’m making. I’m really excited about where I’m going right now.”

Darnold will compete with veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater this summer for the starting job, and he’s giving Todd Bowles and his coaching staff plenty to consider early in this offseason.

The youngster looked predictably shaky in his first practice of organized team activities two weeks ago, but has appeared increasingly more poised in the sessions open to the media since.

”He’s just more comfortable with the playbook and obviously seeing things a couple of times will make you more comfortable,” Bowles said. ”He’s just hard-working. Everything we thought coming in. He’s going to work every day, wants to be good, understands the mistakes he makes, works at them night and day, and watches film and asks questions.

”At this time of year, that’s what you’re supposed to be doing.”

During Tuesday’s practice, Darnold tossed a badly underthrown pass that safety Jamal Adams, last year’s first-rounder, easily intercepted.

For a guy who was celebrating his birthday Cheap Taven Bryan Jersey , it was certainly a gift – but for the defense.

”Yeah, I just made a bad read on it,” Darnold said. ”I should’ve just dumped it down to the back, but I tried to force one in there.”

Rookie mistake.

”He retains things when you tell him,” Bowles said. ”He makes mistakes, but doesn’t make the same one twice, so he’s very good from that standpoint as far as retaining information.”

Late in practice, though, Darnold had perhaps his prettiest play as a pro. He zipped a deep pass down the sideline that dropped over the reach of safety Kacy Rodgers II and right into Chad Hansen’s hands. It was a terrific throw and a reminder of why so many labeled Darnold as ”special” in the months leading up to the draft.

But such is the up-and-down life of a rookie quarterback that Darnold overthrew his final pass of practice on a deep toss to a wide-open Jordan Leggett. There’s no doubt Darnold would be spending part of his birthday night breaking that down in the film room.

Darnold’s development has included lots of rewinding and fast-forwarding through plays, and dissecting every move. He’s got that type of time now, because football is the only thing that matters these days.

”I don’t have class, so I’m spending every single day in the film room or on the practice field Cole Beasley Jersey ,” he said. ”So in regards to that, just being able to spend time watching football and playing football is awesome. To be able to come in here every single day and do it for a living, that’s pretty sweet.”

Darnold also recognizes the value of working with McCown and Bridgewater on and off the field.

”What makes it really cool is that they’re really good players,” Darnold said. ”They’ve experienced ball and they understand what’s going on on the field all the time, at all times. It’s amazing to be able to learn from them. After that play with Jamal, to be able to talk about it with them is something that is really cool, to be able to do that right after the play and get that feedback.”

Darnold has had to make several adjustments since coming to the Jets, including calling plays in the huddle – something he hadn’t done much of at USC. He also says the increased pace of the game is evident, even in practice.

”It’s faster, which is what I thought it would be, so it’s been awesome,” he said. ”It’s just been a learning experience Uchenna Nwosu Youth Jersey , just learning every single day and getting used to it has been awesome.”

Darnold says ”awesome” a lot and sounds like a kid who’s happy to be doing what he loves.

”You know, no, I don’t feel any different,” a smiling Darnold said of his milestone birthday. ”It’s cool to be 21, but at the same time, I’m just coming here every single day ready for practice. Nothing’s changing for me.”

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Sean Couturier had a goal and two assists, Brian Elliott stopped 34 shots and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 on Friday night to even the first-round Eastern Conference series at a game apiece.

Shane Gostisbehere, Travis Konecny, Andrew McDonald and Nolan Patrick also scored for the Flyers. They bounced back from an embarrassing 7-0 loss in the opener to beat the Penguins for the first time this season. Game 3 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Patric Hornqvist scored Pittsburgh’s lone goal with just over 5 minutes left to avoid the shutout, but the Penguins looked ordinary for long stretches after looking unstoppable in Game 1.

Matt Murray’s shutout streak dating to the 2017 Stanley Cup finals ended at 226:49 when Gostisbehere scored on the power play late in the first period. Murray finished with 16 saves to lose for just the third time in 17 home playoff starts in his career.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2, KINGS 1, 2 OT

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Erik Haula’s goal in double overtime gave Vegas a 2-0 lead against Los Angeles in their first-round playoff series.

With 4:37 left on the clock in the second overtime Nick Chubb Browns Jersey , Haula skated in on his own to beat goalie Jonathan Quick and send a towel-waving crowd of 18,588 into a frenzy.

Game 3 in the best-of-seven Western Conference series is Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Alex Tuch scored for expansion Vegas in regulation, and Paul LaDue had the Kings‘ goal.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves for the Golden Knights. Quick stopped 54 shots for the Kings.

Los Angeles played without star defenseman Drew Doughty, who served a one-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head on Vegas forward William Carrier during the Golden Knights’ 1-0 series-opening victory Wednesday.

JETS 4, WILD 1

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) – Paul Stastny, Andrew Copp and Patrik Laine scored in the third period and Winnipeg beat Minnesota to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference series.

Defenseman Tyler Myers had a goal in the second period and also had an assist. Rookie Jack Roslovic, replacing injured Mathieu Perreault, had two assists in the game that ended with a series of fights.

Zach Parise had his second goal of the series when he deflected Mikko Koivu’s shot past Connor Hellebuyck to end the goalie’s shutout bid with 45 seconds left. The goal came on the power play after Jets forward Brandon Tanev was called for hooking with 59 seconds left.

Hellebuyck made 16 saves. Devan Dubnyk stopped 39 shots for Minnesota.

Winnipeg won 3-2 on Wednesday night. Game 3 is Sunday at Minnesota.

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