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The rookie season appears to have come to an abrupt end for Lions seventh-round draft pick Nick Bawden.

Bawden was injured in practice today and is believed to have suffered a torn ACL that will end his season Keanu Neal Jersey , according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

A fullback from San Diego State, Bawden was believed to have a very good shot of earning playing time as a rookie because the Lions liked his abilities as a lead blocker and a special teams player. He suffered the injury during a special teams drill.

Bawden was initially a quarterback at San Diego State and started two games there as a freshman, but he struggled as a passer and moved to fullback Paul Krause Jersey , where he bulked up and developed into a solid blocker and receiver out of the backfield. Now it appears that he’ll have to wait until 2019 to prove himself at the next level.

The Washington Capitals captain took the NHL trophy to a fan zone in Moscow where World Cup games are screened. With the Russian National Guard providing security, Ovechkin lifted the cup above his head in front of a crowd of fans, who were allowed to take photos with the trophy.

”The cup is with us. The cup is in Moscow Landon Collins Jersey , Russia,” Ovechkin said. ”I am very happy for the people that can see it and touch it. I am very, very happy.”

Ovechkin said he wishes the Russian soccer team well in its quarterfinal match against Croatia in Sochi.

”The national team did a great a job for the fans. Everyone is so happy. Miracles can happen. We are not far away from the final Kerry Wynn Jersey ,” he said. ”We need to fight, and our players understand it. They will do everything that they can.”

Ovechkin won his first Stanley Cup championship a month ago in his 13th season in Washington.

Other Russian NHL players are also interested in soccer. Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins posted a picture on Instagram showing himself on a luxury jet with Ilya Kovalchuk of the Los Angeles Kings and Alexander Radulov of the Dallas Stars.

”Flying to Sochi” was the caption.

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 Authentic Womens Trent Murphy Jersey

If trading the third overall pick or adding two of the best offensive linemen in this year’s NFL draft wasn’t enough to convince doubters Mason Crosby Jersey , perhaps the acknowledgment that the Colts turned down trade inquiries for Luck will.

At an impromptu news conference during Saturday’s draft, Irsay acknowledged the Colts had been contacted by other teams interested in Luck and the Colts had no interest in dealing ther face of the franchise. General manager Chris Ballard later clarified those initial contacts were made during the 2017 season.

”Look, we had some calls last year at the trade deadline and I said, `We’re not taking those seriously,”’ Ballard said. ”I said, `I’m not putting that on my resume.”’

Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in 2012, missed all of last season after having surgery for a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

He’s been on the field for Indy’s offseason workouts, but still isn’t throwing a regulation-sized football.

Earlier this week, Ballard acknowledged the Colts wouldn’t have made the March deal with the New York Jets to move back three spots if they didn’t believe Luck was healthy.

Irsay went even further Saturday Ricardo Allen Jersey , less than 48 hours after the Colts selected guard Quenton Nelson, the highest-rated offensive lineman in the draft, at sixth overall. On Friday, they drafted another guard, Braden Smith, at No. 37.

”Trust me, there are people who would have given an unprecedented amount of draft picks for him, all with a No. 1 behind them and we wouldn’t even consider it,” Irsay said. ”He (Luck) is our guy and we’re confident about that. Let’s just say, I think the rest of the league is anticipating him to return and play great.”

They need him.

Without Luck Jarius Wright Jersey , the Colts endured their first losing season since 2011 and missed the playoffs for the third straight year.

But if Luck is healthy, Irsay believes the complexion of the Colts could change.

”Only Andrew can decide how far we are away because he’s a magic man and there are only a few magic men and you know who they are,” Irsay said. ”But if he’s healthy and he’s back, he makes up for a lot of deficiencies. Can he take you all the way? We’ll have to see how good Chris is at plugging the holes on defense and things like that.”

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TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs will be anticipating the playoffs and the Montreal Canadiens will only be able to look forward to next season when the teams meet in their final game of the regular season on Saturday night.

The Maple Leafs looked like a team that was more interested in looking ahead to the playoffs than the remainder of the regular season Thursday when they lost to the Devils 2-1 in New Jersey.

“I thought this was fair,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said after the game Thursday. “I thought the team that worked the hardest won. I thought they were more desperate early. We weren’t good enough defensively. We didn’t compete hard enough. I thought we competed hard as the game went on.

“We had our chances but, in the end, we couldn’t overcome it. The bottom line is we’ve got one more game. This is our last chance to get ready but we’re going to have to get to another level than we were tonight for sure.”

The Canadiens, meanwhile, looked like a team that is making the most of what is left of the season when they defeated the Red Wings 4-3 in Detroit on Thursday.

“I’m not used to losing. I don’t like to lose,” Canadiens coach Claude Julien said. “But at the same time Howie Long Jersey , I have to be objective and look at the situation and there were some challenges along the way that we didn’t expect, a number of injuries, and players having to move up in the lineup in areas they weren’t quite ready for.”

The Maple Leafs (48-26-7) do have something to play for Saturday at the Air Canada Centre. The loss to the Devils kept them at 103 points, which equals a franchise best for a season. So, they still have a chance to set a franchise record for total points in a season.

“Two different situations but we’re all competitive people and we’re all very prideful,” Toronto center Nazem Kadri said. “That’s what got us here in the first place, so I don’t think we take any games off. Obviously, we didn’t start (Thursday) the way we wanted to, but I felt that we made a push.”

Goaltender Frederik Andersen will be trying for a club record 38th win in a season by a Toronto netminder on Saturday.

Still, the playoffs will be on the minds of the Maple Leafs.

“You’re focusing on these games to get ready for the playoffs Daniel Sorensen Jersey ,” said Toronto center William Nylander, who scored the goal Thursday. “So, whatever we’re doing now is trying to get prepared for the playoffs.”

Nylander became the sixth Maple Leafs player to reach 20 goals this season.

The Canadiens (29-39-13) have been dealing with injuries all season, including season-ending ones to their top defenseman Shea Weber (foot surgery) and their captain Max Pacioretty (knee).

“It’s unbelievable the number of injuries and the types of injuries,” Julien said. “When we started the season, we felt we had enough veterans and enough experience to bring in some young guys and still battle through and get ourselves in the playoffs. But there’s a lot of things that have happened and concussions are one of those issues that we’ve had more than we’d like.”

The Canadiens have had five players with concussions listed on the injury report this season.

The Dolphins dropped a pair of offensive linemen from their 53-man roster on Sunday and they added one on Monday.

Center Travis Swanson is the new arrival in South Florida. Swanson spent the offseason and summer with the Jets Eddie Yarbrough Jersey , but was released on Friday.

Before going to the Jets, Swanson spent four seasons with the Lions. He played in 53 games and started 42 times over that span Rickey Jackson Jersey , but missed time in each of the last two seasons due to concussions.

The Dolphins parted ways with longtime center Mike Pouncey this offseason. Daniel Kilgore is the projected starter after being acquired in a trade with the 49ers. Jake Brendel was on the 53-man roster as his backup, but was placed on injured reserve Sunday.

Linebacker Mike Hull also went on IR while tackle Sam Young was released and two players were claimed on waivers Matt Breida Jersey , which left a roster spot open for Swanson.

News outlets report Fowler was sentenced Thursday after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery, criminal mischief and petty theft. He could still be disciplined by the NFL.

St. Petersburg police say Fowler was arrested last July after confronting a man who made a comment about his driving in a parking lot. Authorities say Fowler exchanged words with the man before hitting him. Police say the man’s glasses were knocked off and Fowler stepped on them before taking a grocery bag from the man and tossing it in a lake.

Fowler played for the University of Florida and was the Jaguars’ first-round draft pick in 2015.

Since Terrelle Pryor and Josh Gordon went in round three and round two Desmond King Jersey , respectively, in the 2011 and 2012 supplemental drafts, respectively Landon Collins Jersey , only one player has been selected in the annual July selection process. This year, at least one of the players could go as high as Pryor or Gordon did.

Gil Brandt of NFL.com believes that Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal may be taken in round three, and that he possibly would have been a second-round pick in the 2018 draft proper.

Any team that selects a player with a pick in the supplemental draft surrenders its pick in the same round in the following year’s regular draft.

Brandt pegs the Browns and Bills as teams that may take a flyer on Beal Charles Woodson Jersey , who considered leaving school for the April draft and who was thereafter declared academically ineligible for the coming football season.

An Achilles injury made Washington wide receiver Josh Doctson‘s rookie season an almost total washout and his work in 2017 looked a lot like what you’d expect from a player getting his first extended taste of professional life.

There were some highlights, including six touchdown catches, but it was an inconsistent overall package on the way to 35 catches for 502 yards. Those ups and downs may pay some dividends on the field in Washington this year.

Doctson said that last year’s experience worked to build his confidence heading into this season and likened the way he feels now to the way he felt at TCU when he was on his way to becoming a first-round pick.

“It’s just being comfortable Cameron Brate Jersey , man,” Doctson said, via John Keim of ESPN.com. “Being comfortable and trusting myself. … The biggest thing is confidence level. You give anybody confidence and he’ll be fine. You have high school players who could come out here and play through confidence. It’s kind of surreal when you first get here Sony Michel Jersey , then last year was my first year playing. Just kind of calmed it down and now I’m just back like I was at TCU.”

Doctson is working with a new quarterback in Alex Smith and Keim points out a few examples of Smith throwing balls to Doctson while covered in hopes of having him outfight the coverage for the ball. That suggests the confidence in Doctson isn’t just internal and could lead to the kind of role Doctson was ticketed for when he went 22nd overall in 2016.

He raced to the other end of the court. When he returned to his team’s sideline, he threw a red towel, before being held back by teammates.

”I was beyond emotional. Beyond mad. Frustrated. Pretty much any synonym you can add,” Beal said. ”I told my team that we were going to win, regardless. Especially if we’ve got John still in the game, I love our chances.”

That would be John Wall, and Beal was exactly right. Wall took over down the stretch after his backcourt mate was done for the day, scoring or assisting on 10 of Washington’s last 14 points as the No. 8 seed Wizards came back to beat the No. 1 Raptors 106-98 Sunday night and even their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at 2-all.

”When Brad went out,” Wall said, ”I knew I had to do whatever it took.”

Wall finished with 27 points and 14 assists and, at the other end of the court, guarded All-Star DeMar DeRozan, making sure the Wizards would not be pushed to the brink of elimination ahead of Game 5 at Toronto.

”He’s a big shot maker. A playmaker. It was what you want and what you expect,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. ”We needed him to step up. He stepped up big.”

This was a game the Raptors led by 14 points early in the second half. But as their offense bogged down, the Wizards clawed back.

It was 92-all when Beal – who led Washington with 31 points – drew his sixth foul on a play in which he and DeRozan collided while Toronto had the ball.

Asked whether the official told him why that call was made, Beal replied: ”He wasn’t explaining that one. There was no explaining to do.”

Wizards center Marcin Gortat’s view of the officiating: ”I truly believe that some of those calls are very soft. I’ve never seen so many soft calls in the playoffs.”

After Beal left B.J. Goodson Jersey , the Raptors immediately went up by two, but Wall pulled the Wizards even with a layup that drew a goaltending call, then put the hosts in front to stay by feeding Markieff Morris for a layup off the glass.

With Beal cheerleading, jumping and waving his arms, Wall just kept producing, showing no signs of fatigue despite playing all 24 minutes in the second half. This is a guy who missed about two months of the regular season because of surgery on his left knee.

While the closing seconds ticked away, Wall held up two fingers on each hand: Yes, it’s 2-2 now, and the best-of-seven series has become best-of-three.

The Raptors were up 51-40 at halftime, and increased that advantage early in the third quarter. But the game was tied at 80 entering the fourth, and Toronto only scored 18 in the last period.

”We couldn’t get a stop,” DeRozan lamented. ”And we couldn’t get a bucket.”

He had 35 points, six assists and six rebounds, but he started 0 for 6 and wound up 10 for 29, acknowledging afterward: ”I took some bad shots.”

Noted Kyle Lowry, who scored 19 for Toronto: ”We didn’t completely stick with our offense.”

TIP-INS

Raptors: Now 0-4 all-time in Game 4 when up 2-1. … Starter OG Anunoby limped off late in the second quarter. He returned in the third quarter Chris Jones Jersey , but sat out all of the fourth. … Backup PG Fred VanVleet was out with an injured right shoulder.

Wizards: Won their eighth consecutive playoff home game. … Wall entered Game 4 averaging 26.7 points and 12.7 assists in the series. He could become only the third player in NBA history to put up 25 points and 10 assists per game in multiple postseasons, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.

TOO MANY TURNOVERS

Raptors coach Dwane Casey declared before tipoff: ”Taking care of the ball is our No. 1 priority.” And then his team went out and had 18 turnovers, only one fewer than in Game 3. ”You can’t explain them,” Casey said. ”They’re out of character.”

PORTER SHOWS UP

After languishing through an 0-for-4, one-point first half, Wizards SF Otto Porter Jr. scored eight in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the third quarter, including a pair of 3s. He finished with 12 points.

UP NEXT:

Game 5 is at Toronto on Wednesday night.

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A Russian mixed martial arts fighter who has connections with President Donald Trump, the president’s personal attorney Michael Cohen and Russian President Vladimir Putin was questioned this week by the FBI, his manager confirmed Saturday.

Fedor Emelianenko was questioned by agents who met him in his hotel room on Tuesday, manager Jerry Millen said before Emelianenko’s Bellator MMA heavyweight fight against Frank Mir. Millen declined to detail his client’s conversations with the agents.

”The FBI came to the hotel looking to talk to Fedor and they were very nice, came in to speak with Fedor for a few minutes, spoke to me, very cool guys, and that’s all I can really say about it. Again, the FBI did come to the hotel, they found us Anthony Barr Jersey , knocked on the door,” Millen said.

”Hundred percent, kind of surprised,” Millen added. ”They were very nice, very professional.”

The agents were in attendance at Saturday’s fight, Millen said.

SOCCER

MADRID (AP) – Barcelona is celebrating yet another Spanish league title to cap a nearly perfect season.

Unbeaten Barcelona added to its domestic dominance by winning La Liga for the third time in the last four seasons on Sunday, remaining unbeaten after 34 rounds. Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and Philippe Coutinho added a goal to give Barcelona a 4-2 win at Deportivo La Coruna and an insurmountable 11-point lead over Atletico Madrid.

”We know how difficult it is to win this league,” Messi said. ”We were better than our rivals. There is a lot of merit to winning this title without any losses.”

Barcelona has won 26 league games and drawn eight, with four matches left.

It was Barcelona’s seventh league title in 10 seasons and 25th overall. Real Madrid, last year’s champion, leads with 33 La Liga trophies.

SURFING

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) – Rodrigo Koxa has been credited with a world record for riding the biggest wave ever surfed.

The World Surf League confirmed the record at its Big Wave Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday, saying its judging panel determined that a wave Koxa surfed at Naraze, Portugal, on Nov. 8 was 80 feet (24.38 meters).

The Brazilian surfer’s mark overtook the record of 78 feet (23.77 meters) which Garrett McNamara set in 2011.

”The award goes to the surfer who, by any means available Lorenzo Carter Jersey , catches the biggest wave of the year,” The WSL said in a statement. ”Not only did Koxa win this year’s honor, but he now holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest wave surfed.

Koxa described the award as ”a dream come true.”

PARALYMPICS

Paralympic Games organizers hope U.S. President Donald Trump won’t find it tough to watch their events in future.

The International Paralympic Committee pointed to the growing reach of its competitions in response to comments made on Friday by Trump when American athletes from the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Pyeongchang were welcomed to the White House.

”What happened with the Paralympics was so incredible and so inspiring to me, and I watched,” Trump said, surrounded by members of Team USA. ”It’s a little tough to watch too much, but I watched as much as I could.”

The Paralympics in March were broadcast in the U.S. on NBC, NBCSN, and streamed on the NBC website.

”Record numbers of people around the world are not finding the Paralympics tough to watch,” IPC communications director Craig Spence told The Associated Press on Saturday. ”Billions of viewers now take in the Paralympics in hundreds of countries around the world.

PRO BASKETBALL

PHOENIX (AP) – A person with knowledge of the situation said interim coach Jay Triano is not among ”handful” of remaining candidates for the Phoenix Suns coaching job.

The person, who asked to remain anonymous because the search is ongoing, said the Suns are in the midst of second interviews ”with a handful of candidates still in the mix.”

Triano served as interim coach for all but the first three games of last season after Earl Watson was abruptly fired. Triano guided an exceedingly young and injury-plagued team to a 21-61 record, worst in the NBA and second-worst in franchise history.

Phoenix has the most ping pong balls and therefore the best chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in next months’ draft lottery.

The Suns conducted initial interviews with a wide range of candidates, including Triano.

COSTA MESA Allen Bailey Jersey , Calif. (AP) — Chargers rookie defensive back Derwin James has been steadily improving throughout training camp, but the next two weeks should be a better indicator of how much the first-round pick will be able to contribute this season.

Los Angeles faces potent quarterbacks and passing attacks in its next two games. The Chargers host Seattle and Russell Wilson on Saturday while New Orleans and Drew Brees will be in for two days of joint workouts next week before their game on Aug. 24.

“Every week is going to be a challenge. You’re competing against the best, so that pretty much tells you where you stand,” said James, the 17th overall selection in this year’s draft.

James should expect to see plenty of snaps Saturday. In last week’s exhibition opener at Arizona, he was on the field for 29 plays in a 24-17 loss to the Cardinals. That was the most among defensive backs and tied for second-most on defense.

He also saw more reps during training camp practices this week as some of the veterans got rest days. He had two pass breakups on deep routes during 11-on-11 drills on Wednesday.

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has lauded James for his high football intelligence, and said he has picked things up pretty quickly in the classroom. But Bradley notes that what James is going through right now is common with all rookies.

“Now, it’s coming out on the field and putting it together. He’s in that phase right now, but it’s coming,” Bradley said. “If he makes a mistake, he knows right now. It’s just that next step, which you see sometimes with young guys. You have to work not to think anymore Kirk Cousins Jersey , and he’s kind of at that stage.”

Bradley is playing James in packages similar to what he had the past three seasons at Florida State. He is lining up at safety in base packages but is also seeing some time at linebacker in nickel or dime situations.

James notes, though, that his biggest adjustment is knowing different formations, since most college teams run more of a spread with some up-tempo. James said Bradley’s system is simpler than what he had in college.

“He doesn’t ask you to do too much. It’s pretty self-explanatory what he’s teaching us,” James said. “It allows us to play fast. You have to really do your job. It’s less work, but it’s more efficient work.”

Wide receiver Mike Williams, who went against James while at Clemson, said he hasn’t noticed James struggling during practices, especially when the two are matched up against each other in drills.

“He goes out there and makes a lot of plays. He has a big body back there at safety and isn’t afraid of contact. He wants to hit you,” Williams said.

James said he is anxious to take part in the Chargers’ first home game Saturday at StubHub Center, but he is still focusing on continuing to improve his technique and trying to eliminate penalties with three weeks remaining until the season opener on Sept. 9 against Kansas City.

“There’s not a lot of room for error. One step wrong and a guy is going the distance. You really have to hone in on what they’re telling you and what you’re doing,” he said. “It’s much different than high school where I can get away with a lot of stuff because I was more athletic than most guys. Now you have to come out here and do what you need to do.”

The Hart Trophy candidate might be the reason they get knocked out in the first round if he can’t become the force the Flyers need to have a chance against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Only six years ago Brooks Reed Jersey , Giroux was dubbed ”best in the world” by former coach Peter Laviolette after he posted six goals and eight assists in six games and a rare playoff series win over the Penguins. Playing in a major market, Giroux was on his way toward NHL superstardom.

Six years later, the Penguins have won two Stanley Cups, the Flyers haven’t advanced out of the first round and Giroux’s standing as one of the NHL’s best has wildly fluctuated: The 30-year-old followed two mediocre seasons with a career year this season, reaching personal highs in goals (34), assists (68) and points (102). He added a hat trick on the final day.

His production has again vanished in the playoffs.

The Flyers captain has no goals and one assist in three games – the Penguins hold a 2-1 series lead headed into Game 4 (7 p.m. EDT Wednesday, NBCSN) – in a postseason slump that dates to 2014. He again had no goals and one assist in six games against Washington in 2016 and scored two goals in seven games in 2014 against the New York Rangers. Giroux’s last playoff goal came on April 29, 2014.

In the Game 3 loss to Pittsburgh, Giroux took four shots on goal and led the Flyers with 10 shot attempts – four on goal, one that was blocked and five that missed.

”There’s a lot of hockey left to play here,” Giroux said. ”I have no doubt that we’re going to come out strong in Game 4.”

Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds (who dropped from 31 goals in 2017 to 24 this season) are also scoreless for the Flyers.

”Our team’s got to elevate our play overall,” coach Dave Hakstol said. ”There’s nothing drastic that needs to be done.”

That didn’t stop Hakstol from mixing up his lines at practice Tuesday Zay Jones Jersey , when Sean Couturier was injured. There was no immediate word on his status.

The Flyers have hit these rough patches before, losing 10 straight games over November and December before bouncing back to land in the postseason.

”Our guys have been through similar situations,” Hakstol said. ”This one’s just a little bit more elevated.”

The Penguins will play Game 4 without Patric Hornqvist, who has a goal and two assists in the series and is out with an undisclosed injury. He was on the top line with Sidney Crosby in Game 3 and was third in the league in power-play goals this season. Hornqvist was checked from behind into the boards by Philadelphia’s Andrew MacDonald in Game 3.

CLOSE IT OUT

Only four NHL teams have taken a 3-0 series lead like San Jose has over Anaheim and lost a best-of-seven series. The Sharks just happen to be one of them, having collapsed against the Los Angeles Kings four years ago in the first round. That’s one reason why the Sharks head into Game 4 at home against the Ducks (10:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Golf Channel) with a sense of urgency to close out this series.

”Enough has happened in this room where I think we understand the challenges that still lie ahead of us,” captain Joe Pavelski said. ”We want a good start, we want to come out and put it on the line. We’re going to have to earn this next game for sure.”

The Sharks have controlled the series, outscoring Anaheim 14-3 following an 8-1 victory in Game 3. Anaheim allowed four power-play goals as the Ducks lost their composure as well as the game.

”I mean, we got to win a game,” captain Ryan Getzlaf said. ”Our focus has got to be to win that Game 4 and that’s all we can do.”

SPIRITED PRACTICE

Nashville turned up the intensity in practice Tuesday, complete with some light hitting and vigorous battles for the puck in front of goaltender Pekka Rinne.

This is a reason for the stepped-up pace: Being outscored by a 5-0 margin by Colorado in the first period of the series.

”Today was a perfect practice for that. It wasn’t about easing into practice Tyler Lockett Jersey ,” said Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis, whose team leads the Avalanche 2-1 heading into Game 4 (10 p.m. EDT Wednesday, NBCSN). ”It was about going full speed into practice right away. We need that to translate into the game.”

Colorado went through an optional practice and had defenseman Samuel Girard on the ice wearing a non-contact sweater. He has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury.

TRUST THE … PROGRESS?

Tampa Bay holds a 2-1 series lead over New Jersey headed into Game 4 (7:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Golf Channel). But New Jersey’s 5-2 win over the Lightning on Monday was at least a sign that the Devils should trust the … progress?

The Devils are owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the same company that also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. Team owner Josh Harris attended the 76ers’ Game 2 loss in Philadelphia on Monday.

Under Harris’ watch, his teams can orchestrate a turnaround. The 76ers, accompanied by the now-familiar ”Trust The Process” slogan, went from 10 wins two seasons ago to 53 and the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference this year while the Devils made a stunning run from the worst team in the East to the postseason in a year.

All the Devils need is a catchphrase.

The Cowboys saw tight ends Jason Witten and James Hanna retire this offseason. It leaves a hole at the position even with their selection of Dalton Schultz in the fourth round.

Rico Gathers Bradley McDougald Jersey , who did not play a regular-season game in his first two seasons, acknowledges the opportunity.

He spent his rookie season on the practice squad after playing college basketball, and a concussion kept Gathers on injured reserve last season.

“The biggest thing for me this year is just making it to the regular season,” Gathers said. “I have to make sure I’m healthy and make sure I’m able to be on somebody’s 53-man roster.”

The Cowboys took a flyer on Gathers in 2016, using a sixth-round pick on him. He showed signs of development during the 2017 preseason by catching seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the first two preseason games.

But Gathers took a helmet-to-helmet hit from defensive back Kavon Frazier during an August 15 practice, and the concussion ended Gathers’ season before it began.

He was cleared from concussion protocol before Week 7, but the Cowboys elected not to use one of their short-term injured reserve designations on Gathers.

“They finally gave me the clear to start back working out normal and going back into the meetings and stuff Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey ,” Gathers said. “For the most part, I was excited after getting cleared, but the people above had bigger expectations for me rather than me coming in and practicing and getting back on the field.

“Really they didn’t tell me anything. But I could just tell by the drift of the season and the drift of the coaching staff that I probably wasn’t going to play last year anyway. I just look forward to getting back on the field this year.”

Gathers is confident he could have helped last season. He’s more confident he will help this season with Witten and Hanna gone. He is competing with Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, Schultz and undrafted rookie David Wells likely for three roster spots.

Gathers has worked hard on his blocking, seeking to become an all-around tight end.

“It was agonizing [not playing last season], because I felt like I had finally got into a rhythm of what I wanted to do Kyzir White Jersey , and I think they saw that,” Gathers said. “It was tough to deal with, especially because in some of the games I felt like we needed a scoring punch and I felt like that was what I brought to the table. But playing for the Cowboys is bigger than being able to score touchdowns. You have to block and everything else.”

PHILADELPHIA (AP) More than $500 million in claims were approved as of Monday under the NFL’s concussion settlement, nearly a decade earlier than league officials estimated they would reach that amount.

Claims administrators in the settlement released an updated report on the concussion settlement information website saying about $502 million had been approved in less than two years of the settlement. The original actuarial estimates from the NFL estimated a little more than $400 million would be paid out in the first decade.

Attorneys for the retired players adjusted their estimates on the total payout of expected claims earlier this month, saying the settlement would likely reach $1.4 billion- almost a half billion more than the NFL originally estimated.

”We encourage all eligible former players to immediately sign up for a baseline assessment, and they can take comfort in knowing that compensation will be available for more than 60 years if they develop a qualifying condition,” said Christopher Seeger Tommylee Lewis Jersey , co-lead class counsel for the former NFL players. ”The fact that $500 million in claims have been approved in less than two years proves that this settlement is fulfilling its promise to former NFL players and their families.”

Almost 2,000 claims have been filed in less than two years, according to the update filed Monday. Hundreds more of the nearly 20,500 retired players signed up to be prequalified to file claims than were expected, outpacing all previous projections.

As of Monday, the claims administrator said 7,343 medical appointments to assess neurological baselines had been made and more than 6 Brandon Parker Jersey ,000 had been attended.

The settlement, which took effect January 2017, resolved thousands of lawsuits that accused the NFL of hiding what it knew about the risks of repeated concussions.

It covers retired players who develop Lou Gehrig’s disease, dementia or other neurological problems believed to be caused by concussions suffered during their pro careers, with awards as high as $5 million for the most serious cases.

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 Womens Avonte Maddox Jersey

The Sabres are moving on from Robin Lehner after the goalie failed to establish himself as a starter during three seasons David Bakhtiari Jersey , capped by Buffalo’s last-place finish this past year.

General manager Jason Botterill announced Friday the Sabres will not extend Lehner a one-year qualifying offer of about $4 million to retain his rights as a restricted free agent. The decision means Lehner will become free to sign with any team once the NHL’s free agency period opens on July 1.

”It’s a scenario where you finish 31st you have to make some difficult choices,” Botterill told reporters in Dallas, hours before the Sabres were scheduled to open the NHL draft with the No. 1 pick.

”Part of it that was so disappointing and difficult about it is that I know Robin is passionate about the city of Buffalo, and passionate about helping this organization,” he said. ”We felt like we had to make some adjustments.”

The move comes nearly three years to the day Botterill’s predecessor, Tim Murray, gave up a first-round draft pick to acquire Lehner and journeyman forward David Legwand in a trade with Ottawa.

Lehner’s tenure in Buffalo was plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He missed the first half of his first season in Buffalo after spraining his right ankle in the Sabres opening game.

Last year, he went 14-26-9 on an under-performing team that failed to meet expectations in becoming the league’s first to finish 31st following the addition of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.

Lehner finished with a 42-61-22 record in Buffalo O. J. Howard Jersey , and particularly struggled in winning just six shootout decisions.

The price of Lehner’s qualifying offer was an issue for a rebuilding team seeking to free up space under the salary cap to address other needs.

Another factor was Botterill’s intention to provide Linus Ullmark an opportunity to make the jump to the NHL on a full-time basis after spending the past three seasons developing in the minors.

The Sabres lack experienced depth in goal with veteran backup Chad Johnson also eligible to become a free agent.

Botterill acknowledged the Sabres are in the market to add an established goalie this offseason to work alongside Ullmark.

”You have to understand there’s a growing process here, and we think Linus is ready for the next challenge,” Botterill said. ”But to hand over the No. 1 role, I think that’s unfair to any young goalie.”

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PITTSBURGH STEELERS (13-4)

New faces: S Morgan Burnett, LB Jon Bostic, rookies S Terrell Edmunds, WR James Washington, QB Mason Rudolph Fred Biletnikoff Jersey , OL Chukwuma Okorafor.

Key losses: LB Ryan Shazier (injured), WR Martavis Bryant, S Mike Mitchell, S Robert Golden, CB William Gay, OL Chris Hubbard, offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Strengths: Offense returns seven Pro Bowlers, including QB Ben Roethlisberger Rickey Jackson Jersey , RB Le’Veon Bell and WR Antonio Brown. Brown is arguably best receiver in NFL and seemingly impervious to constant double coverage. Bell is most versatile back in league and is just as comfortable lining up in slot as next to Roethlisberger. Offensive line (LT Alejandro Villanueva, LG Ramon Foster, C Maurkice Pouncey, RG David DeCastro and RT Marcus Gilbert) that allowed just 24 sacks in 2017 remains intact for at least one more year, though Gilbert was slowed by knee injury during preseason. DT Cam Heyward is coming off career-high 12 1-2 sacks while spearheading defense that set franchise record and led NFL with 56 sacks year ago.

Weaknesses: Consistent production at outside linebacker is issue. Steelers flipped Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt in offseason, hoping Dupree will be more effective rushing from quarterback’s blind side. Dupree’s sacks total has inched up in each of his three years but he’s struggled to make weekly impact. Secondary underwent serious overhaul after giving up 45 points to Jacksonville in playoffs. Position coach Carnell Lake stepped down and veterans Mitchell, Golden and Gay walked. Burnett provides experience but Edmunds will be given plenty of opportunities to justify first-round selection. Depth behind Brown and second-year WR JuJu Smith-Schuster may be issue after Steelers traded away enigmatic Bryant. Washington put up record-setting numbers at Oklahoma State and will get every shot at becoming slot receiver. After those three, however Chris Doleman Jersey , there’s not much.

Fantasy Players To Watch: Brown. Only player in NFL history to post five consecutive seasons with at least 100 receptions remains very much in his prime at age 30. He led NFL in receiving yards (1,533), yards per game (109.5) and yards per touch (14.2) last season while launching MVP candidacy thanks to series of clutch grabs that fueled Pittsburgh’s second straight AFC North title. Brown said repeatedly he’s not focused on his numbers but winning Super Bowl. Only way Steelers secure their seventh Lombardi Trophy, however, is with Brown being heavily involved.

Vegas Says: Super Bowl 10-1. Over/under wins 10.5.

Expectations: Atlanta or bust. Steelers believed they were destined to take down New England last winter only to get tripped up by Jacksonville in divisional round. While Roethlisberger insists he’s in remarkably good shape, he turned 36 in March and this could represent his last best chance to win third Super Bowl. Bell is almost certainly gone via free agency next spring. His imminent departure should help provide sense of urgency to talented group that wants to make most of window of opportunity before it closes.

Before his rookie season LaDainian Tomlinson Jersey , Bears running back Tarik Cohen said that he compared himself to Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill due to his ability to make plays as a runner, receiver and returner.

Cohen spent much of that rookie season making those plays and he repeated the comparison in a recent interview while noting that Matt Nagy is now Chicago’s head coach after a stint as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. Cohen said that gives him a chance to “live up to that” comparison.

Nagy said that he didn’t think it was fair to make a comparison between the two players, but that he understands why Cohen and others have connected those dots.

“Well, No. 1, size-wise you see that and you say, ‘OK, they’re pretty similar, right?'” Nagy said, via ESPN.com. “And then you have the speed Blake Martinez Jersey , the shiftiness, the moves, everything that they do. They’re similar in the fact that you can move them around and do different things. As you see on tape, the one thing if you go back and look at simple numbers, you’re going to see that Cohen can run the ball a little bit more from the backfield. Not that Tyreek can’t.”

Hill took a step forward as a receiver in his second season to become an even bigger part of the offense in Kansas City. Cohen averaged just under nine offensive touches a game during his rookie season and an uptick in the early part of the year will be a pretty good sign that Nagy has a similar plan in mind this time around.

He’s also pain free – just as the Indianapolis Colts hoped.

Luck passed his first major tests by returning to the practice field, taking all of his normal snaps during the Colts’ first two workouts, connecting with receivers on the run rather than throwing at stationary targets while feeling good physically and mentally.

It’s a good start for the quarterback with the surgically repaired right shoulder.

”Every day there will be new hurdles,” he said Sunday. ”The second day, things seemed to calm down or slow down a lot. The first day I was nervous Kenneth Dixon Jersey , I was excited and there was a certain element of the unknown. I wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen. It was also very fun to be out there with the guys and focus on getting better at practice and not just surviving practice.”

The angst could be sensed all around the Colts’ new camp site earlier this week in Westfield, Indiana, a northern suburb of Indianapolis.

Fans roared throughout Thursday’s opening workout, even cheering when Luck was throwing to ball boys and quarterbacks. One fan shouted ”stay in that pocket” as Luck went through an individual drill designed to help all four quarterbacks evade oncoming pass rushers.

Not surprisingly, the early jitters also impacted Luck’s performance.

He was just 4 of 9 with an interception in his first 11-on-11 work since having a partially torn labrum fixed in January 2017.

On Friday, he was 15 of 19 overall.

He resumed throwing Sunday night, his first full practice in pads in nearly 20 months, and was 19 of 22 with two touchdowns in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills.

”There have been four or five throws that have been like, `Oh yeah Olivier Vernon Jersey , that looks 100 percent like normal,”’ coach Frank Reich said before the evening workout. ”Then there have been one or two that we just need to work through and continue to get better.”

Luck did not talk with reporters after those practices or Saturday when he left the field about halfway through Saturday’s practice at Grand Park Sports Campus – as scheduled.

”It’s weird, but this is the plan Frank and I and (general manager) Chris (Ballard) and everybody who helped came up with at the start. I know it’s helped me continue to get better and better and better,” Luck said. ”It is sort of a bit odd to reconcile `OK, I’m out here, but I don’t get to participate.”

But after blaming his slow recovery at least partially on skipping steps in a rush to get back, he’s sticking to the plan this time.

And Reich intends to hold him to that promise even though Luck is under no restrictions on the field.

Luck still must pass a few more milestones such as throwing deep balls and taking hits. The wait may not be too long.

Reich has said he expects Luck to play in the Colts’ preseason opener on Aug. 9 at Seattle, though Reich has not yet determined how much Luck will play.

”I’m going into this from the very start that he was full go, fully cleared for everything. We have some planned rest days Andrus Peat Jersey , but in my mind the amount that he plays is he’s 100 percent in my mind,” Reich said. ”We will plan him playing accordingly based on how much we would want to play our starting quarterback.”

Luck isn’t just starting to shake off the rust.

With each successive practice, he seems to be picking up Reich’s newly installed offense better and continues to look stronger and more confident in the shoulder.

”It’s fun. What can I say? I had jitters like before a game for that first practice, which was a neat feeling. I hadn’t felt that way in a long time. It’s been responding well,” he said. ”No pain. Soreness, tiredness for sure and stresses on my arm that are different. Shoot, there are stresses on everybody’s body at this camp that are different.”

Notes: Reich hopes to have injured offensive tackles Anthony Castonzo and Austin Howard back ”pretty soon.” Neither has practiced yet and only eight of the 15 offensive linemen practiced Saturday. … Offensive lineman Jack Mewhort returned to practice Sunday after getting an extra day off Saturday. … The evening practice was marred by a scuffle that began when right guard Matt Slauson instigated after he thought George Odum took an unnecessary hard shot on rookie running back Nyheim Hines. … Linebacker Anthony Walker left practice early with a groin injury.

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The Jets haven’t announced a starting quarterback for Week One. But a decision is coming Saquon Barkley Jersey , and the team’s head coach seems to be leaning in one specific direction. Even if he’s not revealing his lean.

“As coaches, we’ll meet on it and we’ll keep meeting on it,” Bowles told reporters on Sunday. “I have my ideas in my head, which I will keep to myself at this point. But I have a good idea.”

Bowles added that he’s not struggling with the decision, and that he’ll listen to his assistant coaches before making a final decision.

“I don’t think it happens in a week,” Bowles said. “It happens throughout the course of spring and summer. I always get their opinions. This is not a state of the union meeting-type of thing. I think they have a feel for where I am from a coaching standpoint. You tell the players when you tell the players, and you kind of go from there. It’s a little bit of a [double]-edged sword. It’s good that the players know when they know, but they haven’t been told anything for the record.”

They likely haven’t been told anything not for the record, either. But it’s coming soon. In little more than a week, preparations will commence in earnest (and in New Jersey) for the Week One game against the Lions, and one of the three quarterbacks will be taking the first-team reps in practice: Sam Darnold Derrick Thomas Jersey , Josh McCown, or Teddy Bridgewater.

An exceptional medley of great awareness, terrific balance and deft reflexes allowed Stefon Diggs to ad lib and seize both the ball and the moment in the Vikings’ demon-exorcising ”Minneapolis Miracle .”

Diggs was supposed to go out of bounds if Case Keenum threw his way on the play dubbed ”Seven Heaven,” although in countless rehearsals at practice never did the pass go to the deep receiver, according to teammate Jarius Wright.

Ten seconds and no timeouts remained when Keenum dropped back from his 39 on third-and-10 in the hushed U.S. Bank Stadium, another haunting playoff heartbreak looming for Minnesota . New Orleans had taken a 24-23 lead just 15 seconds earlier.

The Saints had three defensive backs guarding the sideline as Kyle Rudolph, Wright and Diggs all ran sideline routes from the right of their formation.

Diggs was the deepest, with his break coming at about 25 yards, and just as he swiveled his hips he noticed nothing but green grass and purple end zone behind rookie free safety Marcus Williams, who was closing fast.

Diggs turned back to see the ball heading his way.

”I was thinking, `Catch it Kyler Fackrell Jersey , get out of bounds and maybe kick a field goal,” Diggs said. ”I took a picture before I turned around to catch the ball. There was only one guy there. If he slipped, then I was going to try to stay up and keep it going.”

Williams, who had a key interception on a floater to Diggs in the third quarter, arrived a tad early. A pass interference flag would stop the clock with about 5 seconds left, giving the Vikings a chance at a field goal.

Williams awkwardly whiffed on Diggs, taking out cornerback Ken Crawley as Diggs came down, tucked the ball in his right arm and stuck his left hand in the turf to stay up.

If he stumbles there, maybe he gets caught and time runs out. But he kept his balance, his cool – and stayed in bounds – shooting toward the end zone like a sprinter coming out of the blocks.

His 61-yard touchdown catch was one of the NFL’s all-time last-play stunners and it erased four decades of heartache for a franchise that was victimized by Drew Pearson’s original ”Hail Mary” catch; Gary Anderson missing his only field goal of the season in the NFC title game; Brett Favre throwing across his body for a game-destroying pick in another NFC championship contest; and Blair Walsh shanking a short field goal against Seattle.

While the delirium echoed, Williams Brian Poole Jersey , the 42nd overall selection in last April’s NFL draft, sat sobbing in front of his cubicle in the Saints’ locker room.

”I’m going to take it upon myself,” Williams said after composing himself for a stand-up performance in front of the assembled media, ”to make sure nothing like this happens again to me.”

While the magical ending in Minnesota dominated the playoff discussions, there were other notable calls in the divisional round:

PAYTON’S CHALLENGES: Saints coach Sean Payton unsuccessfully challenged two calls on the same series in the fourth quarter: Wright’s 27-yard catch and Keenum’s knee not being down before he released the ball.

”Two very bad challenges by the Saints,” tweeted Tony Dungy. ”Not sure who is talking to Sean Payton in the Coaches booth but they have given him poor information.”

Payton explained afterward that the monitor in the team’s booth was malfunctioning, so he didn’t have an assistant coach warning him not to throw his red challenge flag.

MOVING ON: Tennessee’s 35-14 loss at New England turned out to be Mike Mularkey `s last as head coach of the Titans. He was fired Monday after leading them to their first playoff victory in 14 seasons.

A week after controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said Mularkey ”will be our head coach moving forward,” she dismissed him, saying, ”It became evident that we saw different paths to achieve greater success.”

Of the six head coaches ousted this cycle, only Mularkey made it to the playoffs.

FORGETTABLE FOURTH-AND-1s: Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley made two curious calls on fourth-and-1 in Pittsburgh’s 45-42 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

One was a pitch to Le’Veon Bell Ja'Wuan James Jersey , who was dropped for a loss, and the other an incompletion to Juju Smith-Schuster.

Maybe Haley didn’t know Ben Roethlisberger is 18 for 19 on fourth-and-1 keepers in his career.

LOOKING AHEAD? On Saturday, Bell riled up the Jaguars and their fans when he tweeted, ”I love round 2’s … we’ll have two round 2’s in back to back weeks …”

Bell was assuming a rematch with the Patriots next weekend to avenge a 24-21 loss last month, the Steelers’ only defeat since a 30-9 home loss to Jacksonville early in the season.

Bell wasn’t the only one presuming a Steelers-Patriots conference championship rematch.

In response to a recent quote from Steelers safety Mike Mitchell, who said Pittsburgh would beat New England no matter where the AFC championship was played, the Jaguars had some fun following their big win Sunday, tweeting: ”You can play them on (at)EAMaddenNFL all offseason.”

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