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DALLAS (AP) Now that Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys has become the first NFL owner with a public suggestion of repercussions for displays during the national anthem Eric Wood Jersey , players are opening up more about the delicate balance of team chemistry and politics in the locker room.

And they’re not necessarily slamming the powerful and outspoken Jones for suggesting his players will be benched if they disrespect the flag.

”He’s the owner. Either you listen or you don’t,” Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis said Monday. ”And if you don’t listen, then you won’t play. It’s all up to each and every individual.”

Jones was responding Sunday night to questions about Vice President Mike Pence’s decision to leave an Indianapolis home game in protest of about a dozen San Francisco players who kneeled during the anthem. President Donald Trump tweeted after Pence’s walkout that he had told his vice president to leave if any players kneeled.

On Monday night, Trump also tweeted his support for Jones.

”A big salute to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who will BENCH players who disrespect our Flag,” the president tweeted. ”`Stand for Anthem or sit for game!”’

Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the movement early last season when he sat on the bench, and later kneeled, during the anthem to protest racial inequality and police mistreatment of black males. He remains unsigned and wants to resume his career.

The 74-year-old Jones Colton Schmidt Jersey , also the team’s general manager, said after a loss to Green Bay on Sunday that the NFL cannot leave the impression that it tolerates players disrespecting the flag and said any Cowboys doing so will not play.

They were the most provocative comments so far from Jones, a powerful behind-the-scenes force in the NFL and recent Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee who had already been clear in his support of standing for the anthem.

The NFL players’ union had a swift rebuke Monday. Executive director DeMaurice Smith said Jones contradicted assurances last week from Commissioner Roger Goodell and New York Giants President John Mara that players could express themselves without reprisals.

”I look forward to the day when everyone in management can unite and truly embrace and articulate what the flag stands for, liberty and justice for all, instead of some of them just talking about standing,” Smith said. ”We look forward to continuing our talks with them on this very issue.”

Many of the NFL’s 32 teams have held meetings in various forms to discuss the issue since Trump said more than two weeks ago during a rally in Alabama that owners should fire players who kneel for the anthem.

In some cases, teams have struggled with their responses.

After Trump’s criticism, the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to stay off the field before the anthem. But Army veteran Alejandro Villanueva, an offensive lineman Cordy Glenn Jersey , stood at the edge of a tunnel with his teammates in darkness behind him during the anthem two weeks ago.

Villanueva said he was not making a political statement or defying his teammates, calling it a misunderstanding that was ”very embarrassing on my end.”

Miami coach Adam Gase recently created a team policy requiring players either to stand or wait in the tunnel. Three chose to stay off the field Sunday at home against Tennessee – Michael Thomas, Kenny Stills and Julius Thomas. All three have kneeled in the past.

Asked why he was responding to questions on the topic after previously declining to comment, Gase said, ”Because I thought it was time for us to address it.”

After several meetings over two days before a Monday night game in Arizona two weeks ago, the Cowboys and Jones kneeled arm-in-arm before the anthem. All of them stood during the anthem, with arms still locked. Otherwise, the Cowboys have stood on the sideline.

The Denver Broncos decided two weeks ago that they would stop kneeling after coach Vance Joseph met with his leadership group. The Broncos stood before their most recent game against Oakland, with linebacker Brandon Marshall raising a fist. Denver was off Sunday.

”We just feel like as a team Jerry Hughes Jersey , it’s bringing more negative attention … than it is positive,” safety Justin Simmons said. ”So, we made our point the one time we did it. The awareness of the social injustices are out there.”

During their bye last week, Atlanta players and coaches had a discussion mediated by a representative from the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality. Falcons owner Arthur Blank invited the outside perspective, and the team has decided to stand during the anthem.

”There’s no policy that was written or spoken about,” coach Dan Quinn said. ”It’s more one that was really in the heart of brotherhood, that what we do, we’ll do it together.”

Jones isn’t the only owner who feels strongly about players standing for the anthem, but there have been no indications of teams requiring their players to stand. Mara has told Giants players he wants them to stand but supports their right to do otherwise.

”As a team we’ve had our talks about it and we’re good to go Preston Brown Jersey ,” said Redskins running back Chris Thompson, among several Washington players to deny reports that they are required to stand. ”Our ownership, we’ve all talked about it. I think on our end, we’re good.”

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Corrects previous version to linebacker for Denver’s Brandon Marshall, not receiver.

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ALAMEDA Eric Wood Jersey , Calif. (AP) Marshawn Lynch’s appeal of his one-game suspension for shoving an official was denied Tuesday and the running back will miss Oakland’s game this week at Buffalo.

Appeals officer James Thrash, who was appointed jointly by the league and the NFLPA, upheld the one-game ban without pay.

Lynch will not be allowed to be with the Raiders until Oct. 30, clearing the way for second-year backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington to carry the load for the Raiders (3-4) against the Bills (4-2).

”We’re going to miss him but it’s the next-man-up mentality,” Richard said. ”It’s the NFL. We can’t whine about it because if that’s the case we’ll go out this week and end up losing because we’re not being focused. Me and D-Wash are confident in ourselves and the offense and our teammates have confidence in us so we’ll do everything we can to impact the game against Buffalo.”

Lynch was suspended for coming off the sideline during a scuffle in the second quarter and then shoving a game official during Oakland’s 31-30 victory over Kansas City last Thursday night. The ban will cost him more than $100 Colton Schmidt Jersey ,000 in salary and per game roster bonuses.

The incident started when Oakland quarterback Derek Carr was hit late on a run by Kansas City’s Marcus Peters midway through the second quarter. Several of the Raiders offensive linemen, including Kelechi Osemele and Donald Penn, immediately confronted Peters, and Lynch sprinted onto the field from the bench to join the fray. Line judge Julian Mapp tried to break up the fight, but Lynch pushed him and grabbed his jersey. Lynch was ejected and got a personal foul.

While several players have only been fined for making contact with an official Cordy Glenn Jersey , Lynch also left the sideline to join the fray, making his infraction worthy of a suspension, according to NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan.

Lynch and Peters are both Oakland natives and are so close they consider each other family. Some of Lynch’s teammates said he came out on the field as a peacemaker looking to separate Peters from the Oakland players.

Lynch came out of retirement this season and was traded from Seattle to the Raiders. Lynch said he wanted to make a comeback so he could give something back to his hometown of Oakland before the Raiders move to Las Vegas in 2020.

After a promising start, Lynch hasn’t provided much production for Oakland. He had just two carries for 9 yards before his ejection and has rushed for 266 yards on 72 carries (3.7 yards per carry) with two touchdowns so far this season.

After gaining 121 yards the first two weeks, he is averaging just 29 yards per game the past five weeks.

With Lynch sidelined Jerry Hughes Jersey , the Raiders will rely heavily on the smaller backs Richard and Washington. Richard has rushed for 158 yards on 35 carries this season, while Washington has 53 yards on 23 runs and scored a touchdown last week after Lynch was ejected.

”We feed off each other’s energy, big play after big play, we get juice off that,” Washington said. ”I get juiced up seeing him go out and make plays. Last year we had a couple of times we had to carry the load. I think we’ll be fine.”

Washington and Richard were the primary backs for two games last year when Latavius Murray was injured and give the Raiders better threats in the passing game even if they may lack the power running that Lynch provides.

”We’ll be able to spread out the defense and defenses won’t know what’s coming Preston Brown Jersey ,” Richard said. ”We’ll use that to our advantage.”

NOTES: The Raiders signed CB Tevin Mitchell to the practice squad.

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ATLANTA (AP) The Dallas Cowboys knew it would be tough to get by without Ezekiel Elliott.

Turns out Eric Wood Jersey , they missed Tyron Smith even more.

With their starting left tackle sidelined by back and groin injuries, the Cowboys surrendered six sacks to Adrian Clayborn in one of the greatest pass rushing performances in NFL history.

The result: an ugly 27-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday .

”The next man up has to be ready on a moment’s notice,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. ”We didn’t handle the adversity of the day.”

After three legal reprieves, Elliott finally began serving a six-game suspension for allegations of domestic abuse . There was certainly no replacing a dynamic back who led the league in rushing as a rookie.

Alfred Morris started in Elliott’s place and broke off a 20-yard run, but the former Pro Bowler really didn’t have much of an impact. He finished with 11 carries for 53 yards.

Rod Smith carried three times for 14 yards, while Darren McFadden was stuffed for a 2-yard loss on his lone run.

”We became one-dimensional Colton Schmidt Jersey ,” Morris said. ”We got behind. I take full ownership of that. We’ll learn from this game.”

Chaz Green certainly has a lot to learn.

The third-year lineman stepped in for Smith – and spent most of the game grasping at air.

Clayborn was simply too quick off the edge, blowing by Smith time after time.

”It was more me not sticking to what I know,” Green said. ”A lot of my issues were self-inflicted. It just hurts because I feel I let the team down.”

Clayborn, who had two sacks on the season and 22.5 in his seven-year career before Sunday, broke the Atlanta team record and equaled the second-most sacks by any player in a game.

Only the great Derrick Thomas has ever been credited with more, recording seven sacks for the Kansas City Chiefs in a 1990 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Clayborn also forced two fumbles by Dak Prescott and recovered one of them Cordy Glenn Jersey , simply ripping the ball out of the quarterback’s hands .

”Give them a lot of credit for completely compromising everything we did offensively,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

With the running game bogged down and Prescott running for his life, the Cowboys (5-4) never got much going offensively against an Atlanta team that has lost four of five games.

Dallas finished with just 233 yards, its worst showing of the season.

In all, Prescott was sacked eight times – just two fewer sacks than he endured through the Cowboys’ first eight games. The second-year quarterback had never been sacked more than four times in a game.

”When we got in those passing situations, we couldn’t slow them down Jerry Hughes Jersey ,” Garrett said. ”We didn’t protect well enough, and they put too much pressure on Dak.”

The dismal performance in Atlanta capped a tumultuous week for the Cowboys , who had been riding a three-game winning streak.

Jones is upset about a contract extension for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and didn’t dispute reports that he has threatened to sue the league.

While unhappy about with the way Goodell handled Elliott’s case, Jones said he is mainly at odds with the league over a committee of six owners, chaired by Arthur Blank of the Falcons, negotiating an extension without another vote of all 32 owners. Blank was also at Sunday’s game Preston Brown Jersey , but there was no indication that he spoke with Jones about their differences.

As for Elliott’s case, the Cowboys are moving on.

”He intends to come back with a fresh approach,” Jones said. ”He’s learning things every day. What I want for Zeke is that he is a better person.”

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PITTSBURGH (AP) The words slipped out of Mike Mitchell’s mouth and the Pittsburgh Steelers safety couldn’t help but shake his head.

Asked to describe rookie defensive back Mike Hilton Eric Wood Jersey , Mitchell settled on ”feisty” and ”fiery.” And even as Mitchell said it, he recognized the trap he’d fallen into.

”I hate to use those words because you usually use them with small people,” Mitchell said. ”Mike is a shorter guy, but his heart is super big and he puts it on display every Sunday for us and you can see it.”

Considering the impact the 5-foot-9, 184-pound Hilton is making for the NFL’s second-ranked defense, he’s kind of impossible to ignore. The 23-year-old had his first career sack and his first career interception in Pittsburgh’s surprisingly easy 26-9 romp over Baltimore last week.

The former practice squad player took down 6-foot-6 Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in the third quarter and then found himself in the right spot to catch linebacker Ryan Shazier’s tipped pass in the fourth to turn back an ultimately toothless rally by the Ravens. He figures to see the field plenty on Sunday in passing downs when the Steelers (3-1) host Jacksonville (2-2).

”I didn’t play much last year. I didn’t play at all last year,” Hilton said. ”So this whole game is new to me. I’m slowly getting comfortable and my confidence is getting hype.”

Not that it ever really wavered even as he wandered the fringes of the league after graduating from Mississippi in 2016. He spent a week on the practice squad with New England before being cut, continuing to work out believing the phone would ring even though the market for undersized cornerbacks isn’t exactly a thriving one.

”I’m not the first one that’s been through this Colton Schmidt Jersey , I know I wasn’t going to be the last,” Hilton said. ”I’ve trained with guys that have been in the NFL, they broke it down to me, said it was just about being confident in your ability and confidence that there’s always going to be a shot out there.”

The shot came last December with the Steelers, who made him a late addition to the practice squad then signed him to a futures contract shortly after the season ended.

On a roster dotted with self-made men – linebacker James Harrison (undrafted), wide receiver Antonio Brown (sixth round) and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva (undrafted) chief among them – Hilton understood once he got in the door, he had as good a chance as anyone to make the final 53-man roster.

”They brought me out here for a reason,” Hilton said. ”The time they spent looking into me Cordy Glenn Jersey , I want to give them that time back and show them they made the right choice giving me a shot and putting me out there.”

Even if that shot came at the expense of a former teammate.

The Steelers first noticed Hilton while visiting Ole Miss to scout defensive back Senquez Golson, whom they ended up taking in the second round of the 2015 draft. Golson’s NFL career ended before it began. He spent 2015 and 2016 on injured reserve and didn’t make it out of camp this year before being cut.

Golson became expendable in part because of Hilton’s relentlessness, a trait that propelled him from an academically risky recruit coming out of high school to a three-year starter with the Rebels. He started at all four defensive back positions during his college career, though what set him apart was his tenacity. It didn’t go unnoticed.

Hilton wore No. 38 during his senior year after teammates voted him the Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner in 2015, annually to the player who best represents the spirit of Mullins, a former Ole Miss defensive back who was paralyzed while making a tackle during a game in 1989 against Vanderbilt but overcame his injuries to return to the classroom before passing away in 1991.

”Anyone that knows anything about Ole Miss football, the guys that they recognize with that jersey, it speaks to their football character and the way that they play the game Jerry Hughes Jersey ,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

A way that fits right in with the Steelers, who threw Hilton onto special teams and use him at nickel back, where he’s developed a reputation for impeccably timed blitzes off the edge.

His first NFL sack was no different. Hilton took off at the snap, ran around 6-foot-7 right tackle Austin Howard and tripped up Flacco for a 6-yard loss.

”Quick little thing isn’t he?” Pittsburgh defensive end Stephon Tuitt said.

One who studies film for clues in an effort to pick up a quarterback’s cadence, though there’s more to it than that. Hilton will check to see when an offensive lineman reaches out to tap a teammate, a dead giveaway the snap is coming.

”I wouldn’t say it’s a specialty,” Hilton said. ”I just have a knack for things.”

Many things. Hilton understands he doesn’t have the resume or the experience to go asking to be placed in a specific role. So he doesn’t even try.

”He is one of the easiest dudes to play with and work with because his attitude is, `Whatever you need me to do Preston Brown Jersey , I can do it,”’ Mitchell said. ”If he doesn’t know how to do it, then he asks. I love playing with the guy.”

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JACKSONVILLE Antonio Garcia Jersey , Fla. (AP) Fast starts in games are a big reason for Jacksonville’s fast start to the season.

The Jaguars (4-3) have scored on their opening possession in six of seven games, two shy of the franchise record set in 1997 and matched in 2007 and 2009. Getting those early leads have been the key for a team built to pound the ball with rookie running back Leonard Fournette and play solid defense. They also have propelled Jacksonville to a first-place tie in the AFC South and the team’s best start in a decade.

”I think it’s just the attention to detail,” quarterback Blake Bortles said. ”I think guys are pretty locked in and have a really good idea of what we’re running, when’s it going to be called, what look, who we’re going to get. So I think guys are pretty locked in and focused on that.

”It’s something that we’ve talked about for a long time in Jacksonville – the past couple years for sure – being able to start fast, and we haven’t always been able to do that Derek Rivers Jersey , so I think for us to be able to take the next step and be able to do that this year has been big.”

The Jaguars have more first-quarter points (51) than any other team and haven’t committed a turnover in the opening 15 minutes. Those initial drives have undoubtedly set the tone for the rest of the games.

Jacksonville has three touchdowns and three field goals on opening possessions. The only time the team failed to score on its first drive was at Pittsburgh, a game the Jags managed to win 30-6 .

”When you go out there and get off to a good start, it’s like two-minute (drill),” coach Doug Marrone said. ”You make that first completion and you get on a roll. If you miss the first one, then it’s very difficult when you study all the two-minute stuff.

”Don’t let that last drive hinder what you can do on the next one. And then when you do well on it, go on the sideline, keep that momentum going for the next drive. It is a matter of the consistency and the execution.”

The Jaguars are designed to play with a lead. They have Fournette and former 1 Nate Solder Jersey ,000-yard rusher Chris Ivory in the backfield, have a rookie left tackle, have a quarterback with accuracy issues, have played without former Pro-Bowl receiver Allen Robinson all season, and have a defense that might be the best in the league.

Being ahead minimizes what the Jaguars ask Bortles to do and turns loose the league’s top pass rush .

The results have been staggering, really.

All four of Jacksonville’s wins have been by at least 20 points. To put that in perspective, the team had three such wins over the previous seven seasons.

And the Jaguars feel like they should be 5-1. They gave up 17 points on three special teams blunders in a 27-17 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6. Two weeks before that Devin McCourty Jersey , they gave up 17 points on three running plays totaling 177 yards in a 23-20 overtime loss at the New York Jets. Those included a 75-yard TD run in which defenders failed to touch Bilal Powell when he fell to the turf.

Jason Myers also missed a 52-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, and Marqise Lee dropped a third-down pass in overtime that likely would have set up a winning attempt.

Pulling out close games late is the next step for Jacksonville.

For now, though, the team will settle for making huge progress early in games.

The Jaguars haven’t finished a season outscoring opponents in the first quarter since 2007, the last time they had a winning record and made the playoffs. They trailed at the end of the first quarter in seven games last season and 10 in 2016. They’ve been behind after the first quarter just twice this season.

”When you go through the week, you have a sense of what you would like or think that the players can do well and what you want to do in those situations,” Marrone said. ”During the course of the week Stephen Gostkowski Jersey , you’re going to practice those plays. You’re probably practicing them pretty much in the order that you would probably want to call them.

”I really think if you are really focused in and really paying attention to what we’re doing during the week, then you are going to know exactly what we’re going to be able to call on Sunday.”

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PHILADELPHIA — The top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles will compete in their first playoff game in four years when they host the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC divisional round Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles lost MVP candidate Nick Boyle Jersey , quarterback Carson Wentz, down the stretch but still managed to finish 13-3 and earn the No. 1 seed with backup Nick Foles. Ironically, Foles was the quarterback in 2013 when the Eagles fell to the New Orleans Saints 26-24.

The Falcons received the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC, then promptly traveled to the West Coast and defeated the Los Angeles Rams 26-13 in the wild-card round.

Philadelphia became the first No. 1 seed to open as an underdog in the playoffs. In the last two regular-season games, the offense sputtered under Foles with a 19-10 win over the Oakland Raiders and a 6-0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Foles did sit out the majority of the regular season finale against the Cowboys.

“Yeah, there’s going to be wonder,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said when asked how his team will respond in the postseason. “But I’m going to tell you, ‘Listen, these guys are football players.’ I think sometimes the outside Terrance West Jersey , whether it be the media, the fans, can make it bigger than it really is. When you boil it down, it’s football at the end of the day. It’s football at the end of the day. Just go do your job.

“Do what you’ve been coached to do all week long and give it your best effort on Saturday. If it’s good enough, great. If it’s not, then we focus on next season.”

Foles was 4 of 11 for 39 yards and an interception against the Cowboys and struggled to throw the ball downfield. Third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld was 19 of 23 for 134 yards, but the Eagles have repeatedly made it clear that Foles is the starter.

“As much as we and everybody else wants to run the football, you have to be able to stay aggressive in the pass game and get the ball down the field,” Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. “Nick has proven that over the length and entirety of his career. He not only can get the ball downfield Mike Wallace Jersey , he can do so very well. He wants to throw the ball downfield. He’s aggressive in his mindset, as aggressive a guy as I’ve been around. He’s looking to throw it down the field. Some guys are the dink-and-dunk kind of guys. That’s not Nick. Nick is aggressive.

“So we need to be good in the run game and be able to mix in our play-action, take our shots down the field, keep the defense off guard and keep them guessing and that starts with good production on first down,” Reich added.

The Falcons, who finished the regular season at 10-6, are preparing for their second road playoff game. Quarterback Matt Ryan (personal reasons) and wide receiver Julio Jones (ankle, ribs) both missed practice Tuesday but are expected to start on Saturday.

Ryan was 21 of 30 for 218 yards and a touchdown in the 13-point win over the Rams. It was his first road playoff win in three starts.

“We’re not here just to get here,” Ryan told reporters. “We want to make noise while we’re here. This is what it’s all about. It’s about giving yourself the opportunity this time of the year to compete and play in games like this Eric Weddle Jersey , and to win games like this.”

Ryan led Atlanta to the Super Bowl last season in what wound up being a heartbreaking overtime loss to the New England Patriots. He was able to guide the Falcons back to the postseason once again.

“He’s a hell of a competitor, and those of you that know him know the nice guy you see through the media, but in between those white lines, he is a wolf,” Atlanta coach Dan Quinn told ESPN.com. “I love what he stands for as a competitor, and his teammates know that, too. I thought there’s all sorts of examples, getting hit and bouncing back up, getting ready for the next one. He really showed that kind of toughness to his teammates.”

Ryan Matt Judon Jersey , who was raised in nearby Exton, Pa., and attended Penn Charter High School — is 1-3 all-time against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

The Falcons forced a pair of huge fumbles and turned them into 10 points against the Rams. Kicker Matt Bryant also booted four field goals.

“We know that they’re a good team, and we know that they beat us last year,” Atlanta free safety Ricardo Allen told ESPN.com of the Eagles. “We know we’re going to have to go there and fight.”

CLEVELAND (AP) Bengals coach Marvin Lewis found his good friend near midfield and gave him a hug.

Hue Jackson needed one. The besieged Browns coach could use a lot more than an embrace right now.

After Cincinnati got its first win this season Graham Gano Jersey , thrashing Cleveland 31-7 on Sunday, Lewis weaved his way around players, coaches and cameramen to greet Jackson, his former offensive coordinator who is 1-19 in two seasons with the Browns.

The men shared a moment and Lewis offered some advice to Jackson.

”Don’t let `em quit on ya,” he said.

Four games into what was supposed to be a rebuilding season, the Browns are in shambles – still. A week after an embarrassing performance in Indianapolis, where they fell behind by 21 points and never recovered, the Browns were down 31-0 in the third quarter to the previously winless Bengals.

They only avoided a shutout with a meaningless touchdown in the final two minutes.

There are no signs the Browns (0-4) are laying down for Jackson Charles Johnson Jersey , but Lewis’ comment about quitting is curious given that the season is only 25 percent complete.

Jackson didn’t offer any excuses . And as he has done almost from the start of last season, he vowed to stay positive and keep working until he gets the Browns headed the right way.

”We didn’t play well,” he said. ”We didn’t play well anywhere. We didn’t coach well. We didn’t play well. We didn’t do anything well. Cincinnati had a lot to do with that. We did not play as well as I think our football team can play.”

Not long after Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton threw his fourth touchdown pass t o put the Bengals ahead by 31, thousands of Browns fans began streaming out of FirstEnergy Stadium, which was barely one-quarter filled when the game ended.

Jackson said the mass exodus was difficult to watch.

”It pains me,” he said. ”I see it all. I saw everything here today because we all want to give them what they deserve. We didn’t today. I understand our fans leaving. I probably would have, too. We weren’t playing good enough.

”I respect that. Hopefully, they will be back next week. We need to give our fans and our football team what they deserve Andrew Norwell Jersey , which is an opportunity to win. That is what we are trying to do.”

As bad as it is, things could get worse for the Browns, who remain the only team not to hold the lead this season.

Next week they host the New York Jets, who improved to 2-2 with a win over Jacksonville. The Jets are starting quarterback Josh McCown, who was released in the offseason by Cleveland.

Here are some other takeaways from Cincinnati’s latest rout on the shore of Lake Erie:

DANDY ANDY

Dalton was nearly perfect in the first half, completing 17 of 18 passes while throwing three TD passes. During one stretch, he completed 16 straight and finished 25 of 30 for 286 yards and a 146 rating.

It’s quite a reversal for Dalton, who didn’t throw a TD and had four interceptions in the first two games. In the past two Daryl Williams Jersey , he has six TDs without a pick and is 46 of 57 for 498 yards.

TOOTHLESS TIGER

Bengals linebacker Carl Lawson was smiling after the win, but not as brightly.

Lawson was attempting to sack Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer when something went wrong.

”When I’m bringing him down I see my teeth in the air,” Lawson said. ”I’m like, `oh crap.’ “

A few teammates and members of Cincinnati’s training staff went onto the field to help Lawson retrieve his teeth. He hopes to get them fixed when the team gets back home.

CLEVELAND ROCKED

The Bengals make the most of their visits to the shores of Lake Erie, winning their past four games in Cleveland by a combined 121-20.

Cincinnati has also won six straight in the ”Battle of Ohio” and 20 of 26 against the AFC North rival.

BUMBLING BRITT

Maybe no player epitomizes Cleveland’s struggles more than wide receiver Kenny Britt, who signed a four-year, $32.5 million free agent contract with the team during the offseason. Britt was supposed to replace leading receiver Terrelle Pryor, but has been a major disappointment.

Britt has been plagued by drops and he had a costly miscue in the second quarter when he let a pass from Kizer slip through his hands Mario Addison Jersey , bounce off his shoulder pads and get intercepted as the Browns were inside the 10.

Britt also had a false start, and he’s become a target for disgruntled fans.

”If we listen to the boos, it’s going to get worse,” he said, ”or if we get down, it’s just going to get worse.”

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ARLINGTON Eric Wood Jersey , Texas (AP) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has been traded – from the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees.

The MLB’s Rangers selected Wilson in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 draft during the winter meetings in December 2013, about two months before he led the Seahawks to a win over Denver in the Super Bowl.

On Wednesday, Texas traded Wilson to the Yankees for future considerations.

Wilson spent a day in uniform with the Rangers at spring training in Surprise, Arizona, in 2014 without appearing in a game Colton Schmidt Jersey , and made another cameo appearance at camp the following spring. An infielder, Wilson hit .229 in two seasons in the low minor leagues in Colorado’s system in 2010-11.

The 29-year-old Wilson is expected to be in the Yankees major league camp in March, where he will participate in pregame workouts and watch games from the Yankees dugout while in Florida. He will be assigned to the Double-A Trenton roster.

”We’ve admired Russell’s career from afar for quite some time,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

”This is a unique opportunity for us to learn from an extraordinary athlete who has reached the pinnacle of his profession. After talking to a number of our players, there is a genuine excitement in having Russell join us for a short time in camp.”

Wilson issued a statement thanking the Rangers for giving him the chance to experience professional baseball again.

”Growing up taking grounders Cordy Glenn Jersey , hitting BP, and throwing deep post routes early in the mornings with my dad and brother is where my love of sports came from, and those memories stick with me every morning I wake up,” Wilson said.

”I remember how excited I was when Texas selected me in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2013. During my two springs in Arizona with the Rangers, I was reminded just how much I love the game of baseball.”

A two-sport athlete in college Jerry Hughes Jersey , Wilson graduated from North Carolina State University in 2010. In 2011, he left the Rockies organization for football to be a graduate transfer at Wisconsin, leading to the Badgers to a share of the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl appearance before the Seahawks took him in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft.

”While football is my passion and my livelihood, baseball remains a huge part of where I came from and who I am today,” Wilson said.

”I’ve learned so much on the baseball field that translates to my game physically and mentally playing quarterback in the NFL. … While I embrace the chance to be a New York Yankee Preston Brown Jersey , I will forever be grateful to have been a part of a world class organization like the Texas Rangers.”

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HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans added offensive tackle Duane Brown to the active roster Saturday.

A starter for Houston Antonio Garcia Jersey , Brown held out until this week, missing six games. He has two years remaining on his contract Derek Rivers Jersey , had sought a new deal, which he did not receive. The three-time Pro Bowler Nate Solder Jersey , who has been the team’s starter since he was drafted in the first round in 2008.

Three-year veteran tackle Kendall Lamm was waived.

Brown’s salary for this season is $9.4 million, a big chunk of which he lost in his holdout. His 2018 salary is $9.75 million.

The 32-year-old has been Houston’s most steady presence on the line since joining the team Devin McCourty Jersey , starting 132 games – all at left tackle – in his career. His return should be a boost to an offense that has flourished with rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson.

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Chuck Pagano might be facing his greatest challenge all season.

He needs to keep the reeling Indianapolis Colts together Nick Boyle Jersey , unified and working toward the same goals. It won’t be easy.

One day after the Colts were shut out for the first time in 376 regular-season games, Pagano ignored the outside chatter about his job status and instead focused on the most immediate solution – winning a game to get back in the AFC South chase.

”We’re not worried about anything other than Cincinnati and what we put out there yesterday (for the fans),” he said. ”They deserve better and we’re going to do everything we can to do better.”

Jacksonville exposed many flaws in Sunday’s 27-0 victory.

The Colts (2-5), without three of their projected starting offensive linemen in the second half Sunday, allowed seven sacks in the final 25 minutes.

Jacksonville finished with 20 quarterback hits and 10 sacks, the most ever permitted in a single game in the franchise’s Indianapolis era.

Indy’s offense finished with a paltry 232 yards and the defense wasn’t much better.

Blake Bortles threw for a season-high 330 yards by hitting big play after big play and the Jaguars managed to rush for 188 yards even with Leonard Fournette, the league’s No. 2 rusher, inactive because of a sprained right ankle.

Things got so ugly Colts players were showered with boos when the first half ended and again during a miserable second half as the number of empty seats steadily increased.

Then the real trouble began.

Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton urged the offensive line to take ”some pride up front and block more Terrance West Jersey ,” demonstrating a rare fissure in a usually unified locker room. His comment didn’t go over well with his teammates.

”That’s what needs to not happen. There can’t be pointing of fingers,” left tackle Anthony Castonzo said.

”Everybody has to look at their own game, see what they can do better on each play and if everyone gets a little better than the team can get better.”

On Monday, after meeting with Pagano, Hilton backtracked and apologized.

”I love them to death, and I was wrong. I’m always against that, and then I go out there and do it. So, 100 percent I messed up. All on me Mike Wallace Jersey ,” Hilton said.

”I’m sorry for that, and I’m a leader. Those guys look up to me, and I kind of stabbed them in the back. So for me, I’m very sorry about that, and I’ll approach them individually, one-on-one, and just let them know that I was 100 percent dead wrong.”

Other solutions will be just as difficult to find.

With Indy two games out of the division lead and facing a two-game road trip, fans again are vociferously calling for Pagano’s ouster with play-calling among their top complaints.

The latest criticism came after Jacoby Brissett was stopped short of a first down on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-2 from the Jaguars 6 Eric Weddle Jersey , ending Indy’s best scoring chance. Pagano explained that’s not how the play was designed and blamed himself for the miscue – even though it came after a timeout.

”Just a communication breakdown,” he said. ”It’s bad, bad ball.”

Then there are injuries.

Andrew Luck will not throw again this week after being temporarily shut down last week because of soreness in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.

Center Ryan Kelly (hamstring), who didn’t finish Sunday’s game, is expected to practice Wednesday.

Meanwhile, inside linebacker John Simon (stinger) and cornerback Rashaan Melvin (concussion), both starters, may not be available for the Bengals game.

And Matt Judon Jersey , as feared, the rookie season of promising safety Malik Hooker is over after he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee. Indy’s first-round draft pick was tied for third in the NFL with three interceptions, and his absence leaves a gaping hole in an already undermanned secondary.

”He’s a ballhawk. You can’t really teach that,” cornerback Vontae Davis said. ”The games he did play – he was always around the football. We’ve just got to do a better job of just continuing to create turnovers – overemphasize it.”

All of it looks as if the Colts may have hit rock bottom after 5+ seasons under Pagano.

But inside the locker room, Pagano insists there’s time to find a fix.

”You’ve got to execute and you’ve got to make plays. There’s nothing magical about it,” Pagano said. ”We’ve got to coach better, we’ve got to play better.”

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