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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (12-6)
OPEN CAMP: July 26 Shaquem Griffin Jersey Seahawks , Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Metairie, Louisiana
LAST YEAR: Helped by infusion of elite young talent, Saints pulled out of three-year rut of mediocrity and won NFC South. They were seconds away from advancing to NFC title game, only to be thwarted by Minnesota receiver Stefon Diggs' winning touchdown as time expired in divisional round. New Orleans received major contributions from running back and Offensive Rookie of Year Alvin Kamara, and cornerback and Defensive Rookie of Year Marshon Lattimore. Several other first-and second-year players filled regular roles as well, and veteran Drew Brees remained one of NFL's top QBs.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: LB Demario Davis, S Kurt Coleman, CB Patrick Robinson, WR Cameron Meredith, Rookie DE Marcus Davenport.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: S Kenny Vaccaro, TE Coby Fleener, WR Willie Snead, G Senio Kelemete, RT Zach Strief, CB Delvin Breaux.
CAMP NEEDS: Lineup is relatively stable from last-season's playoff run, but New Orleans looking to bolster pass rush by finding someone who can make offenses pay for sending multiple blockers at All-Pro end Cameron Jordan. Saints want Davenport to develop into that player. But he is raw in first season out of UTSA. Saints also want to figure out which running backs can fill in for Mark Ingram during his four-game suspension to open season. Veteran free agents Shane Vereen and Terrence West, along with draft pick Boston Scott and second-year pro Trey Edmunds, are competing for those snaps.
EXPECTATIONS: Saints appear to have gotten stronger and deeper than last season, particularly with additions on defense. Keys to improving are how well new players fit and, as usual, avoiding injuries. If Davenport develops quickly http://www.brownsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-baker-mayfield-jersey , Saints could be elite. If not, teams with good plan to block Jordan could give New Orleans fits.
AP NFL website: pro32.ap.org and AP_NFL CAROLINA PANTHERS (11-6)OPEN CAMP: July 26, Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina
LAST YEAR: Panthers enjoyed bounce-back season after failing to reach playoffs in 2017. Carolina lost three times to New Orleans, including wild-card playoffs. No deep threat, lengthy injury to TE Greg Olsen and poor pass protection doomed offense. Defense remained one of NFL's best behind high MLB Luke Kuechly.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Rookie WR D.J. Moore, WR Torrey Smith, WR Jarius Wright, RB C.J. Anderson, RB Kenjon Barner, G Jeremiah Sirles, DT Dontari Poe, rookie CB Donte Jackson, CB Ross Cockrell, S Da'Norris Searcy.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: G Andrew Norwell, RB Jonathan Stewart, DT Star Lotulelei, DE Charles Johnson, S Kurt Coleman, CB Daryl Worley, QB Derek Anderson.
CAMP NEEDS: Panthers need to adjust to three new coordinators: Norv Turner (offense) Youth Kareem Martin Jersey , Eric Washington (defense) and Chase Blackburn (special teams). Turner's relationship with QB Cam Newton critical to team's success. Second-year RB Christian McCaffrey is featured back with Jonathan Stewart gone. Team expected to use more two tight end sets, play-action under Turner. Addition of WRs D.J. Moore, Torrey Smith and Jarius Wright should bolster passing game. Washington inherits defense looking to replace four starters (Lotulelei, Johnson, Coleman and Worley). Kuechly, DT Kawann Short, LB Thomas Davis, CB James Bradberry and pass-rushing tandem Julius Peppers and Mario Addison (11 sacks each) all return. GM Marty Hurney thrilled with second-round pick CB Donte Jackson, who'll start.
EXPECTATIONS: Core of team that's been to postseason four of past five seasons remains intact, but aging quickly. Peppers is 38, S Mike Adams 37, Davis 35, and C Ryan Kalil and Olsen are 33. Newton is 29. Plenty of pressure to win now under new owner David Tepper before window closes. Carolina should compete for NFC South title with New Orleans and Atlanta if offense improves.
ATLANTA FALCONS (11-7)OPEN CAMP: July 27, Falcons practice facility, Flowery Branch, Georgia
LAST YEAR: One year after reaching Super Bowl, Falcons finished third in NFC South and lost to Philadelphia in second round of playoffs. Quarterback Matt Ryan, working under new coordinator Steve Sarkisian, had decline in production from 2016, when team led NFL in scoring. Ryan still signed five-year, $150 million deal in offseason. Good news is young defense, led by speedy linebackers Deion Jones and De'Vondre Campbell and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen Texans Elite Jerseys , allowed 318.4 yards per game, significant drop from 371.2 in 2016.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: G Brandon Fusco, rookie WR Calvin Ridley, TE Logan Paulsen, CB Justin Bethel, rookie DT Deadrin Senat, QB coach Greg Knapp, RB coach Bernie Parmalee.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: DT Dontari Poe, DE Adrian Clayborn, WR Taylor Gabriel, FB Derrick Coleman, TE Levine Toilolo.
CAMP NEEDS: Spotlight will be on WR Julio Jones after team announced it won't renegotiate his current $71.5 million contract. Jones has three years remaining in five-year deal. Jones did not attend minicamp, and training camp holdout could be major distraction to "brotherhood" atmosphere promoted by coach Dan Quinn. Defensive front will be concern following losses of Poe and Clayborn. Senat could have opportunity for immediate playing time, if not starting role. Ridley needs to prove he can handle No. 3 receiver spot behind Jones and Mohamed Sanu and be ready for even bigger role.
EXPECTATIONS: Ryan is 33, Jones is 29, RB Devonta Freeman had two concussions, including one in preseason, and knee injury last season, and RB Tevin Coleman could be free agent after this season. These are all alarm signals as window for current offense is narrowing. While young defense is emerging as team's strength, Atlanta's offense needs to re-emerge in second season with Sarkasian if team can have real hope for second Super Bowl appearance in three years. Addition of Fusco should add more stability to interior offensive line. Competitive NF The "Honey Badger" is leaving the desert.
The Arizona Cardinals released one of the team's most popular players, safety Tyrann Mathieu, on Wednesday after the two sides couldn't rework his contract.
Mathieu was due for $18.75 million of his contract to be guaranteed when the league year officially begins. By cutting him Adidas Nathan MacKinnon Jersey , Arizona will save close to $5 million in cap space.
Mathieu became a star in the Arizona secondary and a fiery leader of the defense after being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft following a troubled college career at LSU. He was an All-Pro in 2015, when he had five interceptions and 17 passes defensed.
But he also has been plagued by injuries and only last season did Mathieu appear in all 16 games.
"I've never made a secret that Tyrann has always had a special place in my heart and always will," Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said in a statement announcing the release. "While we all understand this is a part of the business, that certainly doesn't make it any easier. We all wish Tyrann nothing but continued success in his career and beyond."
Following his release, Mathieu exchanged Twitter posts with supporters.
One of them , "Bro you know I'm a savage. I hate the mushy stuff, but I'm gonna miss everyone in AZ. Who's going to annoy you now?"
At LSU, Mathieu was one of the most dynamic defensive players college football had known, becoming a finalist for the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. But he got into trouble with marijuana and eventually was kicked out of school.
Mathieu spent an entire season out of football and slid to the third round before the Cardinals took a chance by selecting him in 2013.
Off the field, he was a model citizen and with his fierce style and natural charisma, was among the most popular players on the squad.
His rookie season ended prematurely when he tore the LCL and ACL in his left knee.
His big 2015 season was cut short when he tore the ACL in the other knee. His absence was sorely felt as the team that went 13-3 and won the NFC West faltered down the stretch, barely getting past Green Bay in the divisional round before being routed by Carolina in the NFC championship game.
Despite the injury, the Cardinals rewarded him with a five-year, $62.5 million contract, with $15.5 million guaranteed.
He finally was able to play an entire season last year 鈥?in fact, he played every defensive snap 鈥?but there was a perception that he had lost a step from his "Honey Badger" prime.
Still, expect several teams to be interested. Safeties as versatile as the fierce 5-foot-9 Mathieu are hard to find.
He has 11 career interceptions, four sacks, 41 passes defensed and 281 tackles in 66 NFL games. He had two interceptions last season.
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Four of the highly rated quarterbacks in this crop also will be at AT&T Stadium – Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson and Josh Rosen. Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield has chosen not to attend.
Barkley and Chubb are projected to go in the top five picks.
The other AP All-Americans planning to be on hand April 26 are Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson, Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, and Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward.
Also attending will be UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin. Griffin, the American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year, had his left hand amputated when he was 4.
The NFL said Thursday that other draft-eligible players attending will be:
Louisville CB Jaire Alexander, Florida DT Taven Bryan, Texas-San Antonio DE Marcus Davenport, Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds Sam Hubbard Jersey Elite , Alabama LB Rashaan Evans, LSU RB Derrius Guice, Florida State S Derwin James, UCLA T Kolton Miller, Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch, Washington DT Vita Vea, and Texas T Connor Williams.
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New England might have found a running back in undrafted free agent Ralph Webb.
Washington may have lost one with a knee injury to second-round pick Derrius Guice.
Webb ran for two touchdowns and also scored on a pair of 2-point conversions on Thursday night as the defending AFC champions rallied from a 17-0 first-half deficit to beat Washington 26-17 in the teams' exhibition openers.
"I've been working my whole life for this, to come out here and get a chance to compete," said Webb, who was undrafted out of Vanderbilt and listed ninth among nine running backs on the Patriots' depth chart. "I'm blessed to be able to be here and say that I did it."
Guice, the No. 59 overall pick from LSU, was slow getting up after a 34-yard run that was negated by a penalty late in the first quarter. Coach Jay Gruden said he would have an MRI on his knee on Friday.
"I just said a little prayer for Derrius Authentic Billy Price Jersey ," Washington quarterback Colt McCoy said. "I hope he's OK."
McCoy outplayed New England's Brian Hoyer in a scrimmage of backup quarterbacks, while starters Tom Brady and Alex Smith stayed on the sidelines counting their money.
On the day that the Patriots reportedly sweetened Brady's contract with $5 million in incentives, the reigning NFL MVP sat out the game, along with tight end Rob Gronkowski.
"Some players played and some players didn't," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We wanted to take a look at some guys."
ESPN reported before the game that the Patriots would add $5 million in incentives to Brady's contract, which was due to pay him $15 million. That would bring the 41-year-old, five-time Super Bowl champion closer in pay to less accomplished quarterbacks around the league 鈥?including Smith, who got a four-year, $94 million extension from Washington.
Brady's agent, Don Yee, did not respond to an email seeking comment. Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the team does not comment on contracts.
McCoy completed 13 of 18 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns in a little less than a half, helping to stake Washington to a 17-0 lead before he was replaced by third-stringer Kevin Hogan.
Hoyer struggled against the Washington starters Youth Orlando Brown Jr. Jersey , but drove New England to a pair of second-half touchdowns, including Webb's 8-yard TD run followed by the catch on a 2-point conversion that gave New England an 18-17 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Trent Harris strip-sacked Hogan and Geneo Grissom recovered the ball and ran 53 yards before he was brought down near the goal line. Webb punched it in for the touchdown and also ran in the conversion to make it 26-17.
Hoyer was 16 of 23 for 144 yards.
TWO HALVES
The Patriots offense did little until back-to-back 20-plus yard catches by Devin Lucien set up Stephen Gostkowski's 52-yard field goal just before halftime. Mike Gillislee ran seven times for 31 yards on a drive that set up Jeremy Hill's 1-yard run.
Webb made it 18-17 with nine minutes left in the game and added an insurance score with 3:27 to play. Washington's Dustin Hopkins, who kicked a 52-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter, banged a 56-yarder off the left upright just inside the two-minute warning.
Third-stringer Danny Etling, a seventh-round draft pick, was 2 of 5 for 21 yards, with a fumble for New England. Hogan completed 7 of 9 passes for 44 yards, but also fumbled for Washington.
INJURIES
Washington was hit with a slew of injuries. Also needing medical attention: TE Manasseh Gardner (knee), and WR Trey Quinn, who took a hard shot in the side from Patriots cornerback Ryan Lewis and took a few minutes to get up before heading to the medical tent.
"Trey Quinn is getting checked," Gruden said. "Some internal stuff going on."
LEADING THE CHARGE
As usual Giants Nate Solder Jersey , Brady led the team out of the tunnel before the game. But he was not carrying a helmet as he jogged onto the field. Julian Edelman, who missed all of last season with a knee injury and will miss the first four games of 2018 because of a suspension for performance-enhancers, sprinted the length of the field.
BIG PLAY
McCoy hit Cam Sims with a 57-yard pass midway through the second quarter. Sims pulled the ball down behind his defender, made one person miss at the sideline and dodged another before he was brought down at the 2. Two plays later, McCoy connected with Maurice Harris to give Washington a 17-0 lead.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
All of the players on each team appeared to stand for the national anthem, some bowing their heads and others placing their hands on their hearts. The Patriots observed a moment of silence beforehand for Weymouth police officer Michael Chesna, who was killed last month in the line of duty.
NEXT UP
Washington: Hosts the New York Jets on Thursday night in its second exhibition game.
Patriots: Play their second and final home preseason game on Thursday night with a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles.
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The Penguins lead the first-round playoff series 3-1 as its shifts to Pittsburgh for Game 5.
Matt Murray stopped 26 shots for his second shutout of the series and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins are a win away from playing in the second round for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons.
Crosby scored in the second period for a 4-0 lead and passed Pittsburgh owner and Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux for most playoff points with 173. Crosby and the Penguins followed a 7-0 Game 1 win and a 5-1 Game 3 victory with another dominant outing.
Evgeni Malkin Youth Los Angeles Rams Jerseys , Phil Kessel and Kris Letang each scored to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead in the second and chase Flyers goalie Brian Elliott. Riley Sheahan made it 5-0 late in the third.
SHARKS 2, DUCKS 1
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – Tomas Hertl scored the tiebreaking goal 9:09 into the third period, Martin Jones was spectacular in goal yet again, and San Jose Sharks completed a first-round sweep.
Hertl scored just 1:16 after the Ducks finally got a puck past Jones when he deflected a point shot from Marc-Edouard Vlasic past John Gibson. San Jose then held on to advance to the second round against the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.
Fourth-line winger Marcus Sorensen scored for the third straight game to open the scoring for San Jose and Jones did most of the rest of the work with 30 saves.
Andrew Cogliano scored the lone goal for the Ducks Fred Warner Jersey 49ers , who were outscored 16-4 in the series and swept for the first time since 1999 against Detroit. Gibson finished with 22 saves.
LIGHTNING 3, DEVILS 1
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Nikita Kucherov scored two goals, set up another and knocked New Jersey’s top defenseman out of the game with a big hit, and the Tampa Bay Lightning moved within a game of making the Devils‘ first trip to the playoffs in six years a short one.
J.T. Miller also scored and had two assists Mike Hughes Youth Jersey , and Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped three breakaways in making 27 saves as the Lightning bounced back from a loss in Game 3 to tale a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.
Tampa Bay can wrap up the best-of-seven series in Game 5 at home on Saturday.
Kyle Palmieri scored on a 5-on-3 advantage for the Devils. Cory Schneider made 34 saves.
New Jersey’s Sami Vatanen was knocked out of the game on the hit by Kucherov late in the first. No penalty was called but Kucherov appeared to jump before hitting Vatanen in the shoulder and head area.
PREDATORS 3, AVALANCHE 2
DENVER (AP) – Filip Forsberg scored another creative goal, Pekka Rinne rebounded from a rocky performance with 31 saves, and Nashville withstood a furious rally by Colorado to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.
Colton Sissons and Craig Smith also added goals for the Predators, who can close out the best-of-seven series Friday when it shifts back to Nashville for Game 5.
Rinne was solid early after being pulled from the last game. Cruising along and up 3-0 Tyler Naquin Jersey , the Vezina Trophy finalist allowed Gabriel Landeskog’s 5-on-3 power-play goal in the third and another on Alexander Kerfoot’s tap-in off a rebound.
Colin Wilson nearly tied with about 2 minutes left when his shot appeared to hit the post. The Avalanche pulled backup goalie Andrew Hammond late, but couldn’t get the tying goal.
The NFL has suspended free agent quarterback Mark Sanchez for the first four games of next season for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing substances.The league announced the punishment Friday. He is eligible to participate in offseason and preseason practices and games.
Sanchez says on Instagram he was "blind-sided" and has "never cheated or attempted to gain a competitive advantage by using a banned performance enhancing substance." He says he has been "subject to 73 drug tests" and "all but one have been clean."
He attributed the result to "unknowing supplement contamination, not the use of performance enhancing substances."
Sanchez spent last season as Chicago's third-string quarterback. He has also played for the New York Jets (2009-13), Philadelphia (2014-15) and Dallas (2016).
The 31-year-old quarterback was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft and helped lead the Jets to the AFC championship game during his first two seasons. He has been mostly a backup since being released by New York after the 2013 season, starting just 10 games over the last four years.
Sanchez has thrown for 15 Armani Watts Color Rush Jersey ,219 yards and 86 touchdowns with 86 interceptions during his career. He did not play in a game for the Bears last season.
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Mittelstadt is scheduled to join the Sabres on Tuesday, and general manger Jason Botterill said he expects the player to make his NHL debut Thursday, when Buffalo hosts the Detroit Red Wings.
With Buffalo out of playoff contention, Botterill also told reporters before Buffalo’s game at Toronto on Monday that he hoped Mittlestadt would consider representing the United States at the world hockey championships in Denmark in May.
The agreement with the Sabres was reached a little over a week after Minnesota’s season ended by failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Gophers are also undergoing a change after coach Don Lucia announced he is stepping down following 19 seasons.
The 19-year-old Mittelstadt was selected by the Sabres with the No. 8 pick in the 2017 draft.
Mittelstadt had 11 goals and 19 assists in 34 games and was named to the Big Ten all-freshmen team this year.
He has already made a splash in Buffalo after creating several highlight-reel plays in representing the bronze-medal-winning United States team at the World Junior hockey championship, which was held in the city three months ago.
From Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Mittelstadt was named the 10-nation tournament’s MVP after finishing tied for first in scoring with 11 points (four goals, seven assists).
Botterill was impressed by how Mittelstadt excelled at the world juniors.
”With it being here in Buffalo, there was that added pressure Pat Valaika Colorado Rockies Jersey ,” Botterill told The Associated Press in January. ”And I think you saw a player who instead of succumbing to the pressure, actually thriving in that type of environment.”
Mittelstadt’s most memorable goal came in a in a 3-2 preliminary-round loss to Slovakia.
With the U.S. trailing 2-1, Mittelstadt stripped the puck from Marian Studenic at the Slovakia blue line and circled back into the zone. Mittelstadt kicked the puck between his legs to avoid a check by defender Michal Ivan and didn’t break stride in cutting across the top of the crease and avoiding goalie Roman Durny. He swept a shot into the open left side with 3:11 remaining.
Mittelstadt joins a Sabres team that has already extended its franchise-worst playoff drought to seven years, and in jeopardy of finishing last in the overall standings for the third time in five seasons.
The Sabres have six games left after playing Toronto, and they are not allowed to demote Mittelstadt to the minors this spring.
Mittelstadt will use up the first year of his contract this season. However, he would not be eligible to be exposed for selection in an expansion draft in 2020, should the NHL approve Seattle’s bid to join the league for the 2020-21 season.
Mittelstadt’s addition comes a day after defenseman Will Borgen elected to skip his senior season at St. Cloud State to sign a three-year contract with the Sabres.
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More NHL hockey: Giants closer Hunter Strickland broke his pitching hand punching a door in frustration after blowing the save and taking the loss in a 5-4 defeat to the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
The right-hander had surgery Tuesday and expected to be out six to eight weeks, manager Bruce Bochy said. An X-ray after the game revealed the break of Strickland’s pinkie, similar to what sidelined lefty ace Madison Bumgarner to begin the season after he was hurt in his final spring training start.
”I’m thoroughly disappointed, trust me. I’m crushed because this guy had just grown as a pitcher and a player and a person,” Bochy said. ”But I know Hunter Youth Jeremy Kerley Jersey , he cares. He cares deeply. He let his emotions get away … he had a temporary snap.”
Strickland blew his fourth save in 17 chances and second straight, allowing more than two runs for only the fourth time in his career.
PRO BASKETBALL
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown sued the city of Milwaukee and its police department Tuesday, saying officers’ use of a stun gun during his arrest for a parking violation constitutes excessive force and that they targeted him because he is black.
Brown’s attorney Mark Thomsen filed the lawsuit in federal court, accusing police of ”discriminating against Mr. Brown on the basis of his race.” The lawsuit alleges officers involved in his arrest used their incident report to try to reframe what happened to give the impression Brown was resisted and obstructed them.
”Mr. Brown hopes that instead of the typical denial of the claims … the city actually admit to the wrongs, admit that his constitutional rights were violated,” Thomsen said at a news conference outside City Hall after filing the lawsuit.
Brown had been talking with officers while waiting for a citation for illegally parking in a disabled spot outside a Walgreens at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 26, when officers took him down because he didn’t immediately remove his hands from his pockets as ordered. An officer yells: ”Taser! Taser! Taser!”
GOLF
Peter Thomson, a five-time winner of the British Open and only golfer in the 20th century to win the tournament for three straight years, died Wednesday. He was 88.
Thomson had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for more than four years and died at his Melbourne home surrounded by family members, Golf Australia said.
The first Australian to win the British Open, Thomson went on to secure the title five times between 1954 and 1965 Chargers Authentic Jerseys , a record equaled only by American Tom Watson.
The Australian’s wins came in 1954, `55, `56, again in 1958 and lastly in 1965 against a field that included Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
Only Harry Vardon, with six titles between 1896 and 1914, won more.
Thomson also tied for fourth at the 1956 U.S. Open and placed fifth in the 1957 Masters. He never played the PGA Championship.
SOCCER
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) – Russia scored three goals in a 15-minute span early in the second half to set up a 3-1 win over Egypt on Tuesday, moving the host nation to the brink of the World Cup’s knockout stage.
Mohamed Salah won and converted a penalty for a consolation goal on his return from injury but Egypt’s first World Cup in 28 years could be over in barely five days following a second straight loss.
Ahmed Fathi poked the ball into his own net – the fifth own-goal of the tournament – to put Russia ahead in the 47th minute. Then Denis Cheryshev and Artyom Dzyuba scored in quick succession to leave Russia on course for a victory that followed up a 5-0 opening-night win over Saudi Arabia.
It was Cheryshev’s third goal of the World Cup, putting him tied with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scoring chart.
ATHLETE ABUSE
LANSING, Mich. (AP) – A letter signed by at least 130 sexual abuse victims of former sports doctor Larry Nassar urged Michigan State University’s governing board to oust interim president John Engler, saying he has reinforced a ”culture of abuse” at the school.
The women and girls issued their joint statement three days before the board of trustees’ next meeting and after a week in which demands for Engler’s resignation reached a fever pitch.
Engler Nick Nelson Jersey Raiders , who served as the state’s Republican governor from 1991 through 2002, has resisted pressure to step down. He took over on an interim basis in February after the previous president resigned amid fallout from the Nassar scandal. Media outlets last week reported that he sent emails to another university official in April criticizing lawyers for Nassar’s sexual assault victims and suggesting the first woman to go public with her accusations was probably getting a ”kickback” from her attorney.
HOCKEY
The Ottawa Senators traded winger Mike Hoffman, hoping to solve an ugly off-ice issue involving star defenseman Erik Karlsson and his wife.
The Senators sent Hoffman to the San Jose Sharks, who then dealt him to the Florida Panthers. All told, the two transactions involved four players and six draft picks.
The Sharks sent forward Mikkel Boedker, defensive prospect Julius Bergman and a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Senators for Hoffman, defensive prospect Cody Donaghey and a 2020 fifth-round pick. They then dealt Hoffman and a 2018 seventh-round pick to the Panthers for 2018 fourth- and fifth-round picks and a 2019 second-round pick in a move that clears significant cap space for San Jose to use in an offseason that includes potential free agent forwards John Tavares and Ilya Kovalchuk.
The Senators were eager to deal Hoffman amid a dispute with .
Pitching in front of at least 75 friends and family members http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dorance-armstrong-jr.-jersey , the right-hander tossed seven shutout innings against his hometown team and Jody Mercer homered to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-3 victory over the sloppy San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Musgrove (3-3), a 2011 graduate of Grossmont High in suburban El Cajon, was facing the Padres for the first time in his three-year big league career. He allowed seven singles while striking out five and walking two.
He had plenty of support as he got into and out of trouble in the seventh. The Padres had runners on first and third after hitting consecutive singles to open the inning but Musgrove retired the side, including inducing Manuel Margot to hit into an inning-ending double play.
”It was incredible,” Musgrove said. ”They were the ones who really pushed me through that last inning. I got first and third and no one out and all I could think about was all the people that are here watching me and how I’d love to get out of this and put on a little bit of a show for them. It was really cool. It was special.”
Musgrove did his best to not get distracted.
”Out of the gate when I’m out warming up, there’s people screaming right and left and every time I took a step I’m getting called from different directions,” he said. ”I was trying to block it out for the most part but I was also trying to acknowledge the people who were here. Throwing my bullpen there’s 50 of my friends standing right above the catcher hollering and stuff. I’ve always done well in front of my family and friends and that’s something that takes me to that next level.”
He had dinner at his parents’ house on Thursday night and planned to go out with them after the game, as well as have a local beer that’s named after the late Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.
”Tonight was really special for me,” he said. ”It’s a night I’ll never forget.”
Musgrove was relieved by Steven Brault, a 2010 Grossmont grad. Brault had a short night, allowing two runs on two hits while getting just one out in the eighth.
”It was cool Cheap Customized Baltimore Ravens Jerseys ,” Brault said. ”Felt good coming in, felt confident. Some things didn’t go my way, and that happens. Overall the experience is something that is priceless. Something I never knew I’d actually get to have.”
Brault said it was ”pretty weird” to have two guys from the same high school pitch consecutively against their hometown team.
”If you told us six years ago, seven years ago, that that would happen, we’d probably both go, `That’s ridiculous,”’ he said. ”Just for it to actually happen, and for us to get a win out of it, and Joe pitched so well tonight, it was just awesome to see. It was cool.”
Felipe Vazquez got the last two outs for his 16th save.
The Pirates won for the third time in nine games and the Padres lost for the 10th time in 12 games.
While Musgrove dominated Bills Josh Allen Jersey , the Pirates piled on against rookie lefty Eric Lauer (3-5) and the Padres. The Pirates scored an unearned run in the first inning on two singles and Austin Hedges’ passed ball, and added four runs, including two unearned, in the third. Hedges and shortstop Freddy Galvis each had a throwing error. Gregory Polanco hit a two-run double and was thrown out to end the inning trying to stretch it into a triple. Josh Bell hit an RBI triple and Elias Diaz drove in a run on a fielder’s choice.
Mercer homered to center field leading off the fourth to make it 6-0. It was his fifth.
Lauer allowed six runs, three earned, on nine hits in five innings, struck out three and walked none.
Padres manager Andy Green was ejected before the top of the fourth inning by plate umpire Angel Hernandez. Green apparently was unhappy about a balk call against Lauer while trying to pick off Polanco in the second. The Pirates did not score that inning.
”We felt very strongly that it wasn’t,” Green said. ”That was not the story of the baseball game by any stretch. I don’t think we were very clean early in the game. We did what we’ve done very recently which is show a lot of fight late. It was just a little too late.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Placed RHP Chad Kuhl on the 10-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.
Padres: Green said OF Franchy Cordero is leaning toward having surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (6-5, 4.03), a 2010 graduate of San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo High, is scheduled to start the middle game of the series. He’s made one career start against the Padres Dolphins Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey , giving up four runs in six innings and getting a no-decision in an 8-5 Pirates loss at Pittsburgh on May 20.
Padres: LHP Joey Lucchesi (3-3, 3.57) is scheduled to make his third start since returning from a DL stint that lasted just more than a month.
The Washington Capitals scored in the opening minute of the game and twice in the last 1:02 of the second period to pull away to a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final.Evgeny Kuznetsov and Lars Eller each had a goal and two assists. Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson had a goal and an assist apiece.
Devante Smith-Pelly and Brett Connolly also scored for the Caps, who took the first two games of the best-of-seven matchup on the road. Since 1974-75, teams that take a 2-0 lead in the conference final or semifinal have a series record of 39-2 (95.1 percent).
Game 3 is Tuesday night in Washington.
Braden Point and Steven Stamkos had early power-play goals for Tampa Bay, which rebounded after falling behind on Wilson’s goal 28 seconds into the game.
Smith-Pelly’s one-timer finishing an odd-man rush made it 2-2 at 2:30 of the second period. The Caps took control when Eller scored with 1:02 remaining and Kuznetsov – with assists from Ovechkin and Eller – delivered on a power play less than a minute later.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was called for tripping Washington’s Andre Burakovsky with 10 seconds left in the period. Kuznetsov scored seven seconds later to make it 4-2, the second time in the series the Caps stunned the Lightning with a power-play goal in the closing seconds of a period.
Ovechkin and Connolly finished the rout with third-period goals. Braden Holtby stopped 33 of 35 shots to improve to 10-3 this postseason.
Ovechkin, playing in the conference final for the first time, also had a goal and an assist in Washington’s 4-2 victory in Game 1.
Vasilevskiy was pulled from the opener after facing 25 shots in two periods, but the Lightning didn’t pin the loss on him. Instead, they vowed to player harder in front of the young goaltender, who finished with 31 saves in Game 2.
Tampa Bay benefited early from a couple of questionable penalties – Wilson for goaltender interference and T.J. Oshie for high-sticking Victor Hedman Russell Bodine Jersey Bills , when the Tampa Bay defenseman actually was struck by the puck – to score twice in just over three minutes on the power-play for a 2-1 lead.
Stamkos and Hedman assisted on Point’s goal at 7:08 of the first. Stamkos’ fourth goal in five games gave Tampa Bay its first lead of the series.
NOTES: Before Sunday night, the Lightning had won Game 2 of a series five consecutive times after losing Game 1. They’re 4-2 in six previous series in which they lost Game 1, with those series losses coming in the first round in 2014 against Montreal and the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against Chicago. … Capitals C Nicklas Backstrom, who took a shot from Justin Schultz off his right hand in Game 5 of Washington’s second-round series against the Penguins, missed his third straight game. He took part in the morning skate on a limited basis and remains day-to-day. … Hedman has a franchise-record, seven-game point streak (eight assists). Martin St. Louis had a six-game streak in 2004.
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Green Bay hosts Chicago in the first Sunday night matchup on Sept. 9, while the Monday nighters on opening weekend feature the New York Jets at Detroit, followed by the Los Angeles Rams at Oakland.
The Eagles also will play at England's home of soccer when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8 at Wembley Stadium.
That's one of four international games. The other match at Wembley will be the previous week with the Los Angeles Chargers hosting the Tennessee Titans. Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium, also in London, will be the site for a Raiders home game on Oct. 14 against Seattle.
For the third straight year, the NFL will stage a game in Mexico City: the Rams will host Kansas City in a Week 11 Monday night game.
Thanksgiving will provide a feast of divisional games. The traditional doubleheader in Detroit and Dallas has the Lions playing the Bears, followed by the Redskins at the Cowboys. At night, it will be Atlanta visiting New Orleans.
Other intriguing matchups include Cleveland, which lost all 16 games last season, hosting archrival Pittsburgh on opening day; New England at Jacksonville in a rematch of the AFC title game in Week 2; the Eagles and Vikings in an NFC championship game redux in Philly on Oct. 7; and the Steelers vs. Patriots in Pittsburgh in Week 15.
"We like to open at home in front of our great fans and this will be the second season in a row we do it against the Steelers Clay Matthews Jersey Youth ," Browns coach Hue Jackson said. "We start with the best in our division."
Fox, which will do 11 Thursday night games, begins its package in Week 4 with the Vikings at the Rams. Those contests also will be televised by NFL Network and in Spanish on Fox Deportes. NFL Network has seven exclusive broadcasts.
Flexible scheduling in which a Sunday afternoon game can be switched to the evening because it is a better matchup than the previously planned game will be in use for Weeks 11-17. But two Sundays in Weeks 5-10 also can have a game flexed to night.
In a new twist, flex scheduling will be used for Saturday games in Weeks 15 and 16. In Week 15, two games will be played on Saturday, Dec. 15: Houston at the New York Jets and Cleveland at Denver, with game times of 4:30 p.m. EST and 8:20 p.m. EST to be determined. In Week 16, two of four possible matchups will be scheduled for Saturday: Baltimore at the Chargers, Jacksonville at Miami, the New York Giants at Indianapolis Raiders Brandon Parker Jersey , or Washington at Tennessee. Start times for Saturday games for Week 15 and 16 will be announced no later than following Week 8, with the contests not chosen for Saturday to be played on Sunday on the 16th weekend.
No Sunday night game has been scheduled for the last day of the season, Dec. 30. That will be chosen after Week 16 games conclude.
The 2018 schedule has three three-game road trips, down from seven last year. The Saints, Rams and Ravens will have those three-game journeys, but the Ravens and Rams also have three-game homestands. In all, 12 franchises are home for three straight weeks, and Baltimore and Indianapolis have a bye in there, meaning neither club will leave home for a month.
Also, no team plays a road game following a road Monday night match. That occurred last year five times.
AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed. Khalil Mack is holding out from the mandatory minicamp for the Oakland Raiders.Mack stayed away from the first day of the three-day minicamp on Tuesday. He is subject to a fine of about $80 Authentic Clive Walford Jersey ,000 if he doesn't show up at all this week.
Mack is entering the final season of his rookie contract that is set to pay him $13.8 million. Mack is seeking a long-term deal and hasn't participated in the entire offseason program in the first year under new coach Jon Gruden.
"One of the big reasons I came here was to coach that man," Gruden said. "I don't want to speculate. There are a lot of guys in the league, several players in a similar situation. We're just trying to resolve it as soon as possible and in the meantime coach the players that are here."
Mack has been one of the top defensive players in football since being drafted in the first round in 2014. He was a first-team All-Pro at both defensive end and linebacker in 2015 and won AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He has 40 1/2 sacks in four seasons and leads the NFL in QB pressures with 185.5 since entering the league, according to SportRadar.
"You can't replace Khalil," safety Karl Joseph said. "You know what he's doing. We respect it. I think the other guys have done a good job stepping up and learning the system like everybody else has been. When he's ready to come back, we'll be ready for him. You can't replace a guy like that."
The Raiders also signed free agent defensive tackles Ahtyba Rubin and Frostee Rucker on Tuesday and waived quarterback Christian Hackenberg and linebacker Brady Shelton to make room on the roster.
Rubin spent his first seven seasons with Cleveland before stints with Seattle, Denver and Atlanta the past three years. Rubin has appeared in 144 games and made 107 starts, while recording 428 tackles, 15 sacks, two interceptions Johnny Townsend Jersey Elite , seven passes defensed, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Rucker spent the first six years of his career with Cincinnati before going to Cleveland in 2012. He spent the past five seasons with Arizona. Rucker has appeared in 142 games with 73 starts, recording 350 tackles, 21.5 sacks, one interception, 12 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
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Peralta pitched one-hit ball over seven scoreless innings Kerryon Johnson Lions Jersey , Jesus Aguilar hit one of Milwaukee’s three homers and the Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Peralta (3-0) allowed a leadoff double in the third to Adalberto Mondesi and also a walk in the second. The 22-year-old rookie was perfect otherwise, striking out 10 in his fourth major league start.
”He was wonderful,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. ”The big thing to me, again, was just how he pounded the strike zone. That’s the common theme to me, is that if he’s not issuing free passes, he’s going to be tough. He did that tonight, just all over the strike zone.”
Aguilar, Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun homered off starter Jakob Junis (5-9), who has lost six straight.
Mondesi, called up June 17, hit his first homer this season with two outs in the eighth off Dan Jennings. Jacob Barnes got two outs in the ninth and Josh Hader retired one batter for his seventh save.
Peralta has not allowed a run in 13 innings, giving up three hits in two starts since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on June 19 when starter Zach Davies went on the disabled list.
”That hasn’t been a conversation,” Counsell said when asked about the rotation. ”He’s pitching well. If you keep pitching like that, it’s going to lead to more starts Mark Lowe Jersey , for sure.”
Peralta was called up in May and allowed one hit in 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his debut, striking out 13 in a 7-3 win over Colorado. He gave up four runs in four innings without a decision in his second start, and then was sent down.
After three starts on the road, Peralta was pitching for the first time at Miller Park.
”I was waiting for this day to pitch in the Brewers stadium,” Peralta said. ”A lot of fans were waiting for this day, too. I’m really happy for this. I did the best job I could and it was awesome for me.”
Junis, who has not won since May 18, surrendered five runs, seven hits and three walks in five innings.
”I’m giving up a lot of runs on home runs,” said Junis, who has allowed three or more homers five times this season. ”If I keep it in the yard, I’d have a lot better chance of keeping some runs off the board. But, just a couple pitches that I’m leaving over the plate are getting handled.”
Yelich staked the Brewers to a 2-0 lead in the first with his 11th home run, sending a 3-0 pitch over the wall in left after a one-out double by Braun. Aguilar made it 3-0 with his team-leading 17th homer, a two-out solo shot to center in the third.
The Brewers extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth when Eric Thames singled and Braun followed with his ninth home run and first since June 8.
Kansas City threatened in the second when Mondesi opened with a double to right. Junis bunted Michael Dickson Jersey Elite , but Aguilar charged from first, made a barehanded pickup and got Mondesi at third.
The Royals fell to 4-19 in the month of June, scoring just 48 runs in that span. They have scored one run or less in 18 games this season.
”We’re all frustrated,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never been a part of a month like this. An offensive drought like we’ve had all month long is pretty puzzling. There’s no answer for it I’ve never been through anything like this.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: CF Lorenzo Cain was placed on the 10-day DL (left groin strain) and OF Keon Broxton was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. … LHP Boone Logan was released. … 3B Travis Shaw, who left Sunday’s game against St. Louis in the middle of his first at-bat, was not in the lineup and is day-to-day.
UP NEXT
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (3-7, 5.18) starts the series finale Wednesday at Miller Park. After beginning the season 1-6 with a 6.88 ERA, he is 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA in his last six starts.
Brewers: LHP Brent Suter (8-4, 4.15) is 6-1 with a 3.12 ERA over his last seven starts. After no quality starts in his first 14, Suter has pitched seven innings in each of his last two, allowing one and two runs, respectively.
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By two percentage points, the Arizona Diamondbacks are no longer in the lead in the NL West.
Losing six of seven at home will do that.
Eric Lauer limited Arizona to a run over five-plus innings, Austin Hedges homered for the first time since April 10 and the San Diego Padres opened a four-game series in the desert with a 6-3 victory over the slumping Diamondbacks on Thursday night.
The Diamondbacks fell to 1-6 in what will be a 10-game homestand and dropped into a virtual tie with the idle Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West. Arizona had been alone in first since June 8.
”We know that we are in a pennant race, if you want to call it that right now at the halfway point of the season 49ers Fred Warner Jersey ,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. ”I think we enjoy that part of the game. We know it is going to be a dogfight for the rest of the year.”
Wil Myers drove in two runs with a triple and single, and Carlos Asuaje reached base four times – a triple, RBI single and two walks – for the last-place Padres, winners for only the fourth time in 17 games.
”Offensively, I think Carlos Asuaje is probably the story of the day for us,” San Diego manager Andy Green said.
Shelby Miller (0-3) was better in his third start coming off Tommy John surgery, but still got the loss, allowing five runs – three earned – and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
”I feel good,” Miller said. ”I think today the command was a little bit better. I would have liked to go out there and finish the sixth, put up a zero out there and get out of the game. Have us in a little better situation, 2-1 instead of 5-1, leaving that inning but we kind of beat ourselves that inning a little bit.”
Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit a two-run homer off Matt Strahm in the eighth.
Lauer, a 23-year-old left-hander, gave up seven hits – mostly to soft contact – walked two and hit a batter, but only one of those baserunners managed to score in his first win in four starts.
Brad Hand gave up an infield single Cheap Customized Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys , then struck out the next three in the ninth for his 24th save in 28 opportunities.
Miller, who had allowed 11 runs and 15 hits in 8 2/3 innings during his first two starts back from the surgery, got off to a rocky start in the first inning when the second batter, Asuaje, tripled to deep center and scored on Myers’ single.
But the Arizona right-hander settled down, blanking the Padres for three innings before Hedges’ line shot into the left-field seats put San Diego up 2-1 in the fifth. Hedges missed 41 games with right elbow tendinitis before being reinstated on June 24.
An error by usually sure-handed shortstop Nick Ahmed led to two unearned runs in San Diego’s three-run sixth. Asuaje led off with an 11-pitch walk and scored when Myers tripled to deep right-center.
Ahmed muffed Eric Hosmer’s hard one-bouncer to allow Myers to score. Freddy Galvis‘ two-out single off reliever Andrew Chafin brought home Hosmer and the Padres led 5-1.
BIG PITCH
With runners at first and third and two outs in the fifth, Lauer struck out Paul Goldschmidt with a pitch that Green never had seen the pitcher throw: a cutter.
”It’s fun to watch a kid throw a pitch that you’ve never seen him throw before,” Green said. ”I haven’t seen the 90 mph cutter out of him before. If I haven’t seen it, Goldschmidt hasn’t seen it, either.”
Lauer said he has been working on the cutter as his slider evolved and was ”amped up” when he threw it to Goldschmidt.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: OF Steven Souza Jr. (right pectoral strain) was activated from the 10-day DL and OF Jarrod Dyson was placed on the DL with a strained right groin. Souza started in right field and went 0 for 3 at the plate with a walk in just his 15th game of the season. Dyson was injured in Arizona’s loss to St. Louis Wednesday night.
UP NEXT
Padres LHP Joey Lucchesi (4-3, 3.26 ERA) makes his fourth start since coming off the disabled list (right hip strain) and the Diamondbacks counter with RHP Zack Godley (9-6, 5.07) in the second game of the four-game series.
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MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-4)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QBs Case Keenum Authentic Robert Golden Jersey , Sam Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater; RB Jerick McKinnon; WR Michael Floyd; RG Joe Berger; DTs Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen; LB Emmanuel Lamur; CBs Terence Newman, Marcus Sherels and Tramaine Brock; PK Kai Forbath.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OL Jeremiah Sirles; LG Nick Easton; SS Anthony Harris.
NEEDS: With trio of QBs set to hit market, priority for Vikings this month is obvious. Affordability under salary cap and durability for long run will factor as heavily into decision who to pursue as will past and projected performance. Vikings could always start over, too, and go after former Redskins QB Kirk Cousins, though he’ll get heavy interest that will make him most expensive option. Next in queue is starting offensive lineman Josh Allen Jersey , either tackle that could allow Mike Remmers to move inside or new guard. Defense remains strong, with several standouts recently secured to long-term contracts. But Pro Bowl DT Linval Joseph could use interior sidekick. Another quality CB would help, too, with Newman’s status at age 39 uncertain.
AVAILABLE SALARY CAP SPACE (approximately): $48 million.
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Jack Mewhort kept trying to play through knee pain.
Eventually, the 26-year-old offensive linemen simply couldn't any more.
After the Indianapolis Colts gave the oft-injured offensive lineman a second chance last spring, Mewhort abruptly announced he was retiring Wednesday.
"I would like to thank the Irsay family and the entire Colts organization for giving me the opportunity to live a childhood dream," Mewhort said Justin Reid Jersey Elite , referring to the team owner in a statement released by the team after its morning practice. "The fans and the city of Indianapolis have treated me like one of their own, and I am forever grateful. Wearing the horseshoe was one of the biggest honors I have ever known, and I will always bleed blue."
Mewhort came to Indianapolis as a second-round draft pick in 2014, billed as part of the long-term solution to protecting quarterback Andrew Luck. His promising career started well.
Mewhort made 14 starts as a rookie, 13 at left guard, one at right tackle, and played well enough in both spots that the Colts moved him to right tackle in 2015.
Three games into the experiment M.J. Stewart Youth Jersey , it was over. Mewhort's struggles on the leaky line prompted the Colts to move him back to his old spot, where he finished the season by starting the last 13 games.
The devastating knee injuries began in 2016.
He missed six of the last 10 games that season and all but five games in 2017, finishing both seasons on injured reserve. Even when he did play, he was rarely at full strength.
Mewhort's health issues scared most teams away when he became a free agent during the offseason.
But even after drafting Quenton Nelson with the No. 6 overall pick in April and immediately plugging Nelson into Mewhort's spot at left guard, the Colts thought highly enough of Mewhort and his potential to take a low-risk gamble. They re-signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, with an additional $1.5 million available in incentives.
When Mewhort reported to training camp last week, he sounded confident that with some extra rest he could stay healthy enough to at least win a spot on another revamped offensive line. The Colts were hoping he could provide depth and versatility to the line Jim Bunning Jersey , even if he didn't completely regain his old form.
His comeback attempt officially ended on the same day longtime left tackle Anthony Castonzo was activated from the non-football injury list.
"Jack Mewhort gave this organization everything he had in his four seasons with the team," general manager Chris Ballard said. "He fought through injuries and played through pain. Jack is a selfless player who always carried a team-first mentality. He is revered among his coaches, teammates and staff, and his leadership will be missed in the locker room. We're appreciative of Jack's dedication to the Colts, and we wish him the best moving forward."
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The former running back with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos was given $200,000 in credit in 2011 to gamble at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City. But he didn't have sufficient funds to cover the debt, and six checks he signed to the casino bounced.
Portis retired in 2012 after rushing for just under 10,000 yards and scoring 75 touchdowns between 2002 and 2010.
Under a deal reached last week in Florida bankruptcy court, he will pay the Borgata 10 percent of any income he receives above $30,000 through August 2021.
During court proceedings, lawyers for Portis said he thought he had more than enough to cover the debt. He anticipated $8 million from his NFL contract, but it ended when he was cut from the Redskins a month later.
"At that time, in January of 2011, my client was slated to make $8 million in the coming year," Steven Silton, a lawyer for Portis Bengals Preston Brown Jersey , testified. "He believed that his financial situation was very, very, very solid and that there was no question that he had more than enough financial capability."
Portis had difficult contract negotiations that resulted in him being cut by the Redskins, Silton said.
"He had no reason to believe that as of that time that he wasn't going to be playing for the Redskins, or he wasn't going to be making the money that he was contractually obligated to make," Silton said.
Portis has repaid $30,000 of the $200,000 he was fronted by the casino. The remaining $170,000 balance has grown to $190,000 with interest and attorney fees.
He will have to show his tax returns to casino officials each year to verify his income.
Portis' financial difficulties have been well-documented. In the court proceeding, his lawyer said an unnamed financial adviser "absconded with upwards of $8 million dollars" worth of the player's money.
Portis told Sports Illustrated last June that he contemplated killing one of his financial advisers but was talked out of it by a friend while parked outside his office with a gun.
Several of his advisers were barred from working in the financial services industry but were not convicted of a crime.
Silton did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday, and the Borgata declined to comment.
Follow Wayne Parry at ://WayneParryAC Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke plans to go diving in Bora Bora on summer vacation Quenton Nelson Youth Jersey , and when he returns he'll really start trying to figure out who should play where this season.Burke and the rest of the defensive staff have been experimenting and evaluating during spring non-contact drills. But when asked Wednesday how much he can tell before players don pads, he responded with a slight smile.
"Nothing," Burke said.
Minicamp does offer a chance to assess agility and how well players are absorbing the system, he said. But it will be August before Burke and the Dolphins have a true sense regarding what kind of defense they'll be in 2018.
"Everything has an asterisk on it until we put pads on," Burke said.
Miami hopes and need to be much better on defense than last season, Burke's first as a coordinator under coach Adam Gase. The Dolphins ranked 29th in points allowed at 24.6 per game, and then parted with their best defensive player, five-time Pro Bowl tackle Ndamukong Suh.
On the plus side, they added veteran Robert Quinn at defensive end and first-round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety. Raekwon McMillan, a 2017 second-round pick, returns to start at middle linebacker after missing his entire rookie season because of a knee injury. And depth appears improved at end, linebacker and safety.
"We don't have any positions set in stone right now Derrius Guice Jersey Elite ," Burke said. "We're rolling a lot of guys at a lot of positions."
Fitzpatrick, for example, is splitting his time among the free safety, strong safety and nickel back positions.
"He's probably about as advertised," Burke said. "He's really sharp. He's thirsty for knowledge. We're trying to overload him, and he keeps taking it. We are moving him around at some different spots and trying to get a feel for what his best fit is. He has responded well."
At defensive end, the rotation will include Quinn, Cameron Wake, Andre Branch, William Hayes and 2017 first-round pick Charles Harris.
"Our plan would be to rotate different groups," Burke said. "We feel we'll be better off having fresh guys, whether it's for two Jalyn Holmes Jersey Elite , three or four snaps at a time, and then send the next group in. Building depth there was important to us. We want guys going full speed."
The Dolphins have four more practices scheduled next week and then break until training camp, allowing the 42-year-old Burke to embark on his latest exotic vacation in Bora Bora, a small island in the South Pacific. He has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, done charity work in Uganda, and taken a safari in three other African countries.
Burke joked in the past about Gase calling him during vacation with football questions, and had a quick response when asked if the boss will be able to reach him this time.
"Whether I have cellphone service or not," Burke said, "the answer is no."
Decisions about who's playing where will have to wait.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks open a four-game series Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and by the time they move on to Miami, their rotation could look different. As in, more intact.
Right-hander Zack Godley (7-5, 4.77 ERA) is scheduled to face Pittsburgh righty Ivan Nova (4-5, 4.42) in the opener and, in fact, the Diamondbacks (40-33) have starters penciled in all four games against the Pirates (36-37).
But starters Shelby Miller (Tommy John surgery) and Robbie Ray (strained right oblique) appear close to returning, particularly Miller.
“He’s getting close,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Miller. “With these outings and the feedback he’s giving us, he’s telling us that he’s getting closer every day.”
One possibility is that Miller will replace Matt Koch, who allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings Wednesday in a 5-4 loss against the Angels.
“Yet to be determined,” Lovullo said. “We’re going to huddle up and have some conversations … and figure out what the next course of action.”
In the meantime, Godley is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA over his past two starts. That includes a 7-3 win Friday against the New York Mets when he gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings.
“I had to fight through myself pretty much for the first three innings and then after that kind of settled in a little bit and got some quick outs and was able to go deep into the game,” Godley said. “I was just kind of fighting myself body-wise, just kind of not finishing some of my pitches and leaving some up and in on righties and up and away on lefties.”
Getting through that impressed Lovullo.
“He’s battling himself Youth Albert Wilson Jersey ,” Lovullo said of Godley’s early innings in that game. “He can’t duplicate pitches, and he just made some key pitches at the right time. … So, when you see things like that when a guy doesn’t have his best stuff, that’s what sticks out for me. Pretty impressive.”
Godley is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two appearances, one start, against Pittsburgh.
The Diamondbacks, who were off Wednesday, have won eight of their past 12 games. That includes taking two of three last week when the Pirates visited Chase Field.
Pittsburgh last lost two home games in a row against Arizona but had won six in a row before that.
The Pirates have won four of six after getting an impromptu day off Wednesday — their game against Milwaukee was postponed after a rain delay of more than two hours.
Nova, like Godley, is coming off two good starts, going 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA since he came off the disabled list (sprained finger).
On Saturday, he struggled with his curveball but it didn’t stop him from allowing just one run and five hits in six innings in a 6-2 win over Cincinnati.
“Even though I walked a couple guys, the fastball command is better than what it was before I hit the DL,” Nova said. “I think I’ve been able to control it a bit better. I think that’s been the key.”
Nova is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks.
Pittsburgh will be without starting left fielder Corey Dickerson for at least the start of the series. He is on family leave.
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