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Here’s a look at what’s happening around the majors today:
RECOVERING ACE
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw goes for his first win in 2 1/2 months when he faces Pittsburgh in the middle game of the teams’ three-game series in Los Angeles. Kershaw (1-4 Walt Aikens Jersey , 2.84 ERA) has no decisions with a 2.77 ERA in three starts since going on the disabled list in early May with biceps tendinitis. He returned to start against Philadelphia on May 31, but then went right back on the DL with a lower back injury. Kershaw, whose only win this season was against Arizona on April 15 Demar Dotson Jersey , gave up one run and four hits with no walks and six strikeouts in five innings against Chicago in his second start back last Thursday.
REALMUTO ON A ROLL
Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto looks to get a base hit in his 11th straight game as Miami continues its interleague series against Tampa Bay. He is 15 for 42 (.357 average) with two homers and 10 RBIs over his last 10 contests, a stretch broken up by him sitting out four straight games last week. Realmuto is hitting .311 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs on the season.
BIEBERMANIA
Cleveland rookie right-hander Shane Bieber looks to remain unbeaten as he faces the struggling Royals. The 23-year-old is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts since making his major league debut against Minnesota on May 31. Kansas City has lost 23 of its last 28 games and is tied with Baltimore for the most losses in the majors with 54. The Royals have scored four runs or fewer in 23 of their last 24 games.
THROWING SIX
Michael Fulmer (3-7, 4.20 ERA) tries to extend the Detroit’s streak of starters working at least six innings to seven games in the opener of a two-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Tigers‘ current stretch of sidx straight is the team’s longest since last July 28 to Aug. 2.
STRUGGLING
Chris Davis looks to keep up his recent hitting surge as the Baltimore Orioles open a two-game series at Philadelphia. Davis is 5 for 20 with two homers and four RBIs in his last five games. Since sitting out a stretch of 10 of 12 games last month to try to snap out a season-long hitting funk Amari Cooper Jersey , he is 7 for 38 with three HRs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games. That has improved his totals to a .156 average with seven homers and 24 RBIs while striking out 99 times.
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No one wants Christian Hackenberg.
Hackenberg, the quarterback who was the Jets’ 2016 second-round draft pick, was waived by the Raiders yesterday and went unclaimed on waivers today Nazair Jones Jersey , according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
That raises the question of whether Hackenberg will ever play in an NFL game. He never got on the field for the Jets and lasted only a few weeks of the offseason with the Raiders.
Given Jon Gruden’s professed love of Hackenberg when he was coming out of Penn State, Hackenberg must have looked bad during his brief stint in Oakland not to even get a chance to prove himself as a camp arm. NFL teams may have simply concluded that Hackenberg simply lacks the ability to become even a reliable NFL backup, let alone the starter the Jets hoped he’d be when they drafted him.
At age 23 and just two years after he was a second-round draft pick Solomon Thomas Jersey , Hackenberg might be done in the NFL.
Adidas Clayton Keller JerseyOn the surface Eagles Josh Sweat Jersey , they’re relatively indistinguishable. One was the defensive player of the year in 2016, the other won the award in 2017.
Both arrived via round one of the 2014 draft. Both are entering the fifth year of their rookie contracts.
Neither has gotten the long-term deal he deserves.
But there’s a difference between Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, when it comes to a potential training-camp holdout.
Last year, Mack showed up. Donald didn’t. And Donald’s holdout kept him from getting a fourth year of credit toward free agency. Which means that, if he does it again (specifically, if he holds out and doesn’t show up at least 30 days before the start of the regular season), he’ll still be stuck on three accrued seasons — and he wouldn’t be eligible for unrestricted free agency next year.
That means he wouldn’t necessarily receive the franchise tag in 2019. While the Rams could still use it if they want Scott Kingery Jersey , the Rams could instead tender him at the highest restricted free agency level, which would give the Rams the right to match an offer sheet from another team and first-round compensation if they don’t.
Donald may welcome that, since someone would surely make a run at him if the compensation is only a first-round pick. And if in the end the Rams realize that the safest course would be application of the exclusive franchise tag despite Donald having only three accrued years (even with the non-exclusive franchise tag, another team may happily surrender two first-round picks), Donald would be in the same place he would have been even if he shows up.
The only downside for Donald comes from a possible injury that would impair his market value and potentially prompt the Rams to roll the dice with the RFA tender, securing his rights for 2019 by putting millions less on the table. That dynamic would/could (should) make Donald more likely to carry a holdout deep into the regular season, in order to ensure that Dolphins Game Jerseys , come 2019, he’ll be getting the exclusive franchise tender.
By rule, he can show up as late as the Tuesday after Week 10 and get credit for the contract year. While few players ever do that, the sheer volume of disgruntled players in 2018 raises the odds that one of them will.
The New York Giants have re-signed defensive end Kerry Wynn and added three other free agents, including a wide receiver who has returned kickoffs.The Giants announced the moves Monday with the newcomers being receiver Cody Latimer, defensive end Josh Mauro and cornerback B.W. Webb.
Wynn has played in 49 regular-season games with 10 starts since making the team as a free agent out of Richmond in 2014. He has 91 tackles, three sacks Randy White Jersey , three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Last season, he played in 15 games with three starts.
Latimer played his first four seasons for the Denver Broncos, appearing in 45 regular-season games with three starts. He had 35 receptions for 445 yards and three touchdowns. Latimer also averaged 24.4 yards on 18 kickoff returns. He finished with a career-high 19 receptions for 287 yards and two touchdowns in 2017.
Mauro is being reunited with defensive coordinator James Bettcher. He played his four seasons for the Arizona Cardinals, the past three under Bettcher.
Undrafted coming out of Stanford, Mauro played in 47 games with 26 starts for the Cardinals. He had 92 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He started seven of the 13 games last season.
Webb did not play in a regular-season game last season. He was on the Cleveland Browns' roster for one game in December but was inactive.
A fourth-round draft pick out of William & Mary in 2013 Wholesale Mark Andrews Jersey , Webb had played with Dallas, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and New Orleans.
Authentic Womens James Daniels JerseyAdrian Peterson’s short stint in Arizona is over. Jordy Nelson long and productive stay in Green Bay has ended Brandon Parker Jersey Raiders , too.
Meanwhile, Drew Brees is staying put in the Big Easy, Case Keenum is headed to the Rocky Mountains, and Kirk Cousins will make his first visit as a free agent to Minnesota. The Vikings long have been considered a natural landing spot for one of the most valuable quarterbacks available.
One day before the league’s new year begins, veteran running back Peterson was released by the Cardinals on Tuesday, and receiver Nelson – Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite target – was let go by the Packers.
Seven-time All-Pro running back Peterson began last season with New Orleans but, after barely playing there, was dealt to the Cardinals. Peterson rushed for 134 yards in a win over Tampa Bay and 159 in a win over San Francisco. In six games, he gained 448 yards on 129 carries for Arizona before being sidelined with a neck injury.
Peterson, who turns 33 next week, ranks 12th in the NFL in career rushing with 12,276 yards.
Nelson had 550 receptions and 69 touchdown catches in 10 seasons in Green Bay. But his production declined last season with Rodgers sidelined much of the year by a collarbone injury. He missed the 2015 season with a major knee injury, and then was the 2016 Comeback Player of the Year.
”We cannot thank Jordy enough for all that he has given the Green Bay Packers and our community for the past 10 years,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. ”He has been an exemplary professional and teammate and greatly contributed to our success.”
Brees has agreed to a two-year, $50 million extension with New Orleans, with $27 million guaranteed the first year, two people familiar with the contract told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement has not been announced.
Brees is 39 and wants to finish his career in New Orleans Chris Taylor Jersey , where he has played since 2006, won a Super Bowl and led what has been one of the most productive offenses in the NFL since he and coach Sean Payton arrived.
”I’ll be here as long as they’ll have me,” Brees said after last season ended.
In 2017, Brees completed an NFL-record 72 percent of his passes for 4,334 yards and 23 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He ranked fourth in the NFL in yards passing and the Saints ranked second in the NFL in total offense.
Keenum, a backup when the season began, guided Minnesota to the NFC North title and then into the conference championship game. He’ll cash in with the Broncos.
The 30-year-old Keenum is considered the second-best QB available in free agency after Cousins. He went 11-3 with 3,547 yards passing, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His last-second throw to Stefon Diggs stunned the Saints 29-24 in the playoffs.
Denver chose to bypass incumbents Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch and go for Keenum, who can’t sign until Wednesday.
Six years ago, GM John Elway landed Peyton Manning, the biggest free-agent prize in NFL history, following his release by the Colts and a series of neck fusion surgeries. Manning guided the Broncos to two Super Bowls and won the 2015 NFL championship. Now, Elway hopes another free agent will replicate Manning.
Cousins will visit with the Vikings on Wednesday, agent Mike McCartney said. ESPN reported that Cousins will sign with the Vikings, but McCartney said no decision has been made yet by his client.
The Jets and Cardinals also made sense as fits for the 29-year-old who played consecutive seasons for Washington on franchise tags. New York http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jaire-alexander-jersey , however, re-signed last year’s starter, veteran Josh McCown, and Arizona made a deal with Minnesota’s Sam Bradford.
In other moves:
– Super Bowl champion Philadelphia lost two tight ends, cutting veteran Brent Celek, then saw Trey Burton agree to a four-year, $32 million contract with Chicago. Five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and linebacker Corey Nelson have agreed to one-year contracts with the Eagles.
The Bears also will be signing Jacksonville receiver Allen Robinson on Wednesday and kicker Cody Parkey.
– Tennessee agreed with New England cornerback and one-time Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler on a five-year deal worth more than $60 million. Agent Derek Simpson told The Associated Press that Butler will sign the deal including $30 million guaranteed once free agency begins.
Butler spent the past four seasons with the New England Patriots and has eight career interceptions. He was benched for the Super Bowl in February.
– Buffalo bolstered its interior defensive line, agreeing to a deal with Carolina tackle Star Lotulelei and re-signing Kyle Williams, who contemplated retirement.
– Kansas City will add wide receiver Sammy Watkins and middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens, filling two glaring needs.
The 24-year-old Watkins intends to sign a $48 million, three-year contract with $30 million in guarantees, while the 25-year-old Hitchens agreed to a five-year deal, two people familiar with their decisions told the AP. The Chiefs have needed to pair a playmaking wideout with Tyreek Hill. Watkins, the 2014 fourth overall pick of the Bills, spent last season with the Rams, where he caught 39 passes for 593 yards and eight touchdowns.
– Receiver Albert Wilson is closing in on a $24 million, three-year deal with the Dolphins. Miami traded top receiver Jarvis Landry to Cleveland and has a need. They also are near an agreement with Patriots receiver Danny Amendola.
The Dolphins also cut linebacker Lawrence Timmons after just one season with them. Timmons went AWOL on the eve of last ye After just four major league starts Nick Ahmed Jersey , Miami Marlins right-hander Pablo Lopez looks like he’s got the hang of it. Or at least he did Saturday night.
Lopez gave up one run on three hits in six innings, Cameron Maybin homered and the Marlins beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2.
”He’s going to keep getting better. I think he’s going to learn from every start,” said Marlins manager Don Mattingly. ”His look is different than most guys with three or four starts under their belt. He’s pretty composed.”
Lopez (2-1) struck out six, helping the Marlins match their longest winning streak of the season at four games.
”(Major league hitters are) the best at what they do. That’s why they’re here, and they’re ready to hit pitches,” said the 22-year-old Lopez. ”Our job is to break their rhythm, and that’s what we try to do.”
Joey Wendle led off the Tampa Bay fourth with a home run, his fifth, after Lopez had pitched three perfect innings. Lesson learned.
”I fell behind in the count and missed my spot. He took the chance and he hit it,” Lopez said.
Rays manager Kevin Cash noted the way Lopez was able to change his fastball.
”He cut it, he sank it. I’m not sure if it was by design or what, but you could tell it had a lot of late life through the zone,” Cash said.
The Marlins, who have won four of five against the Rays this season, pulled even in the all-time Florida series, 56-56. A win in Sunday’s series finale would give them their first five-game win streak since April 24-30, 2016.
Maybin’s third home run came in the seventh off Rays reliever Hunter Wood.
Martin Prado drove in the game’s first run with a double in the fourth off Ryan Yarbrough (8-5) and scored on Miguel Rojas‘ ground ball.
Adam Conley Cheap Customized Atlanta Falcons Jerseys , Drew Steckenrider and Kyle Barraclough each pitched an inning of relief for the Marlins. Barraclough earned his 10th save in 13 opportunities despite giving up a 460-foot home run to Ji-Man Choi.
Rays shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh due to a sore left oblique. Justin Williams, the pinch hitter who was called up from Triple-A Durham Saturday and arrived at the game in the third inning, grounded into a double play in his first major league at-bat.
The one-run loss was the 23rd of the season for the Rays, who have lost five of their last six overall.
MORE TIME OFF
Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier says he will be out until at least Monday after getting a cortisone shot for a bone bruise on his foot, an injury stemming from a foul ball on April 8. ”If I can just have this back to normal, then I’ll finally feel like I have my body under me once again for the first time since opening week of the season,” said Kiermaier, who returned June 19 after missing 57 games due to a torn right thumb ligament.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: Barraclough returned to the team after missing Friday night’s game with ”a little bit of a stomach thing going on,” according to Mattingly.
Rays: 3B Matt Duffy (back spasms) was out of the lineup for the second straight game but might start Sunday.
MINORS MATTERS
Marlins: RHP Tyler Kolek (right shoulder), taken second overall in the 2014 draft, allowed four runs and four hits over two-thirds of an inning in his second start for the GCL Marlins. On the Class A Greensboro disabled list, Kolek made five GCL appearances last year after missing 2016 following Tommy John surgery.
UP NEXT
RHP Trevor Richards (3-5) will pitch for the Marlins against RHP Chris Archer (3-4) in the finale of the six-game intrastate series.
Adidas Jonathan Toews JerseyATLANTA FALCONS (11-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 27 Authentic Nick Nelson Jersey , 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 Youth Dontae Johnson Jersey , led by speedy linebackers Deion Jones and De'Vondre Campbell and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen, 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 Authentic Chris Herndon Jersey , 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 Marquis Haynes Color Rush Jersey , 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 NFC South doesn't lessen expectations. Anything less than 10 wins and another postseason would be disappointment.
More NFL players kneeled during the national anthem before Thursday night’s preseason game, and President Trump noticed.
Trump took to Twitter this morning to blast the players who declined to stand.
“The NFL players are at it again – taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem,” Trump wrote. “Numerous players, from different teams Jamal Adams Jets Jersey , wanted to show their ‘outrage’ at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love. Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!”
Trump began blasting the NFL and its players for protests during the anthem last season, and he has seen it as a winning political strategy. The NFL attempted to placate Trump by changing its rules by requiring players either to stand on the field or remain in the locker room during the anthem, but that policy is now being reviewed between the league and the players’ union, and it is hard to see any way that a policy can be adopted that will satisfy everyone.
Authentic Womens Fred Warner JerseySan Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan saw enough from his film over those years to decide he was the player they wanted to be their starting running back, giving him a four-year deal that will guarantee him nearly $12 million in 2018.
”It was big for me,” McKinnon said Thursday. ”It was what I was hoping to have and looking for instead of staying in Minnesota and being in that third-down back role. I was looking for that opportunity. I’m glad this organization, this team, coach Shanahan felt strong enough about me and brought me in. I believe it’s the perfect fit.”
The 49ers said they heavily targeted McKinnon and center Weston Richburg as players they wanted to acquire early in free agency. Richburg agreed to a five-year deal on Wednesday and both players were introduced at a news conference Thursday.
McKinnon spent four years in Minnesota mostly as a backup after being drafted in the third round in 2014 after playing mostly quarterback in college at Georgia Southern. He has rushed for 1,918 yards with average of 4.0 yards per carry Frank Ragnow Jersey , has 142 catches for 984 yards, and has scored 12 touchdowns.
McKinnon had his most productive season last year when he ran for a career-high 570 yards,, while setting personal bests with 51 catches for 421 yards.
The addition of McKinnon replaces Carlos Hyde, who is leaving as a free agent for Cleveland. McKinnon has more speed and is a better receiving threat than Hyde and should fit well into Shanahan’s offense.
”He’s good enough to make it as a runner alone in this league. He’s good enough to make it in the pass game as just a third down threat alone, but when you can do both of those Trent Murphy Jersey , it gives you a lot of freedom as a coach,” Shanahan said. ”Based off of what downs you put him in and that when you do put him in, the defense doesn’t know exactly what type of plays you’re trying to run because he can do it all.”
Richburg spent the past four seasons with the New York Giants but played only four games last year because of a concussion. He began his career as a left guard before moving to center in 2015. He played there the past three seasons and is considered one of the top pass-blocking players at the position and has the athleticism to thrive in Shanahan’s zone-running scheme.
The Niners are hoping Richburg has a similar impact in San Francisco as Alex Mack had in Atlanta when he joined the Falcons when Shanahan was offensive coordinator there.
”I’ve been around some real good ones in my career,” Shanahan said. ”He’s put it all on tape and he looks right there with all those guys and that’s why I value him a ton off the tape. Didn’t know a ton about him until I turned on the tape and it was as good as I’ve seen.”
With Richburg in place, the Niners traded last year’s starting center Daniel Kilgore to Miami in a deal that included a swap of seventh-round picks. The 49ers had signed Kilgore to a three-year extension last month but felt Richburg was the better option at center so worked to find a new spot for Kilgore.
It’s been a busy offseason already for San Francisco. The Niners signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a five-year deal last month before he even hit free agency, signed cornerback Richard Sherman after he was cut by Seattle KeiVarae Russell Jersey , re-signed defensive lineman Cassius Marsh and offensive lineman Garry Gilliam and gave an extension to receiver Marquise Goodwin.
The team also signed defensive lineman Jeremiah Attaochu to a one-year deal Thursday to help bolster the pass rush and still could make a few more moves to upgrade a team that won its final five games last season after Garoppolo took over as starter to finish 6-10.
”We feel like we’ve improved our team greatly and that excites us,” general manager John Lynch said.
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Less than a year after scoring three touchdowns in his debut as a member of the Patriots, running back Mike Gillislee is a free agent. And Saints running back Mark Ingram is suspended. And that could be enough to get Gillislee his next gig.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Gillislee is visiting the Saints on Sunday, one day after not making it to the 53-man roster in New England.
The Patriots signed Gillislee as a restricted free agent in 2017, making an offer that the Bills didn’t match. For whatever reason, Gillislee fell out of favor after that three-score first effort.
But with Ingram gone for four games and with the Saints needing to not overwork Alvin Kamara while Ingram is gone Darian Stewart Jersey , Gillislee could help.
Because he has four accrued seasons, signing Gillislee before Week One means essentially guaranteeing his full-season salary. So it will be interesting to see what the Saints will pay to a guy who may end up being a short-term stop-gap through the first month of the season.
Womens Logan Cooke JerseyRobiskie has 36 seasons of NFL coaching experience Marcus Peters Jersey , including the previous two as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator. He twice finished a season as an interim head coach with Washington in 2000 and Cleveland in 2004.
The 63-year-old replaces Phil McGeoghan who was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers to be their receivers coach on Tuesday. McGeoghan spent just one season in Buffalo and oversaw a patchwork unit that lacked consistency and was also hampered by injuries.
Robiskie joins a revamped offensive staff under coordinator Brian Daboll, who was hired last month. Daboll took over after Rick Dennison was fired days after Buffalo's season ended with a 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in the AFC wild-card playoff round.
The Bills finished last season ranked 29th in yards offense and 31st in yards passing.
Mike Mitchell brought bluster and a physical if occasionally volatile presence to the Pittsburgh secondary. William Gay was a steady hand and contributed a decade of consistency to the Steelers. Robert Golden had the hard-to-quantify intangibles that made him a special teams ace and reliable backup.And now they're gone.
The two-time defending AFC North champions released all three players Wednesday, signaling a shift in direction in a defensive backfield that faltered in key moments last season.
The Steelers won 13 games but also allowed Tom Brady to light them up late in a mid-December loss that determined home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. They couldn't stop Jacksonville's Blake Bortles from orchestrating a playoff upset at Heinz Field that brought a season filled with Super Bowl expectations to an emphatic and sudden halt.
The moves freed up about $7 million in cap space, money Pittsburgh can now use in part to retool around veteran cornerback Joe Haden Chase Daniel Jersey , promising if erratic cornerback Artie Burns, and safety Sean Davis.
Mitchell spent four uneven seasons with the Steelers, who made a rare splurge in free agency when they brought him in from Carolina in 2014, signing him to a five-year Allen Hurns Jersey , $25 million deal. Mitchell picked off four passes and recovered four fumbles in Pittsburgh. He also reined in the questionable hits that cost him tens of thousands of dollars in fines earlier in his career.
He also served as a firebrand for a secondary in transition following the retirement of stars Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor. Yet he would occasionally go for the big hit when a routine tackle would have sufficed, an issue that popped up at inopportune times.
Gay's departure leaves quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as the only player from Pittsburgh's last Super Bowl victory nearly a decade ago. Gay carved out a niche as a reliable and versatile defensive back. He has played in 176 consecutive games while spending 10 of his 11 seasons with the Steelers. Gay's playing time decreased last season as rookie Mike Hilton took over his spot as the nickel back.
Golden filled in at various spots in the secondary, though his real impact was on special teams, a unit he served as the captain from 2014-16.
The moves came a month after Tom Bradley replaced Carnell Lake as defensive backs coach. Lake stepped down shortly after the playoff loss to Jacksonville to spend more time in California to watch his son play high school football.
Pittsburgh Pierre Desir Jersey , as has long been its custom, stayed quiet on the first day of the league's new year. The Steelers have focused most of their work over the last six weeks trying to get under the 2018 salary cap, something they've done largely through restructuring existing contracts.
While Pittsburgh has depth concerns at safety and inside linebacker, it's likely the Steelers will rely heavily on the draft to address those needs. Davis and J.J. Wilcox are the only safeties on the current roster with serious NFL experience. Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Shazier has already been ruled out for 2018 as he recovers from spinal surgery in December.
Adidas Pekka Rinne JerseyCHICAGO – From a standings perspective Andrew Norwell Jersey , the Brooklyn Nets don’t have much left to play for this season.
But don’t tell that to Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, who, heading into Saturday’s road game against the Chicago Bulls, isn’t finished finding positives from an otherwise disappointing season. The glimmers of hope come after the Nets (26-53) connected on 19 3-point field goals and shot 48.7 percent from beyond the arc on Thursday in a 119-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Nets finished with at least 10 long-distance connections for the 14th consecutive game, which tied a franchise record. Brooklyn snapped a two-game losing streak despite playing without injured forward DeMarre Carroll (left hip) and center Jahlil Okafor (right ankle).
Now, the Nets will look to keep building momentum for the future when they play the Bulls, who, like Brooklyn, remain focused on the bigger picture.
“I keep saying Michael Gallup Jersey , ‘We’re playing for a lot’,” Atkinson told reporters after Thursday’s victory in Milwaukee. “We’re playing for our future, we’re playing for our culture…we’re playing for our fans.”
How close to full strength the Nets will be Saturday in Chicago remains uncertain. Carroll is listed as day-to-day for the remainder of the season while it’s possible Okafor could play against the Bulls.
While Allen Crabbe paced Brooklyn’s offense against the Bucks with 25 points, Nets center Jarrett Allen blocked a career-high five shots on a night when the Nets blocked 12 shots despite being without Carroll and Okafor.
“(Allen) has to be our paint-patroller and rim protector,” Atkinson told reporters after Thursday’s victory.
The Bulls (27-52) saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday with a 111-104 loss to the Boston Celtics. Chicago wraps up its home slate on Saturday against the Nets, and the Bulls will face the Nets again on Monday in Brooklyn before wrapping up the regular season on the road against the Detroit Pistons.
For everything this season has produced, between the fight between then-teammates Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic to start the season, injuries and a focus on the future, coach Fred Hoiberg has appreciated the way his team handled what proved to be a season-long roller-coaster ride.
While the Bulls have spent the season in the first year of what is expected to be a multi-year rebuilding process David Njoku Jersey , Hoiberg has been forced to remain patient with a young group of players.
“I give our guys a lot of credit,” Hoiberg said this week, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “I’ve said it all along: Our guys have played the right way. They’ve found a way to fight through adversity.
“That has been our message to our team – we’re not looking at the end of the game when we come in here, win-loss. The wins are obviously nice, but you’re looking at, did you play harder than the other team? And, for the most part, our guys have competed at a very high level every time they stepped on the floor.”
Like Atkinson, Hoiberg sees value in how the Bulls finish the final three games of the year as he and the Bulls front office begin to plan ahead to next year. Chicago is building around is young core of talent that includes rookie Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine Carl Nassib Jersey , both of whom have been shut down for the season due to injuries.
“You look at the standings, where we are and what we’re still trying to accomplish,” Hoiberg said. “And there are still some important minutes this season.”
Myles Garrett has taken aim — mostly playfully — at Ben Roethlisberger since the Browns made the defensive end the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. But Garrett has yet to play Roethlisberger.
Garrett missed the first four games last season with a high ankle sprain, which included the season opener against the Steelers, and Roethlisberger sat out the regular-season finale as a precaution for the playoffs.
On Sunday, Garrett finally gets a chance to do what he’s said for more than a year he wanted to do.
鈥淸I want to] sack him. I want to win,” Garrett told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “I want to take him down multiple times. But I also want to have some fun.鈥?/p>
Soon after he was drafted, Garrett said he wanted to “chop him down” in reference to Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger responded by saying he and his offensive linemen couldn’t wait to meet Garrett.
Garrett trolled Roethlisberger again this offseason in a video produced by the Browns. In a parody of The Office, Garrett dressed the part of Dwight Schrute from the hit comedy and put a photo of Roethlisberger through the paper shredder.
The video went viral.
鈥淧eople loved it Star Lotulelei Jersey ,鈥?Garrett said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what it was all about. Some people say you鈥檝e got to prove it. Well, that鈥檚 what the season鈥檚 for. You can鈥檛 shy away from the challenge and just a little bit of fun.”
The former Texas A&M star had seven sacks in 11 games last season despite the high-ankle sprain. He expects double-digit sacks this season.
鈥淭hat high ankle came with me all season,鈥?he said. 鈥淣o matter how much treatment you do or how much time you give it, you just have to stay off of it until it just goes away. You have to combine treatment and time away from the game. So after the season, I was able to do that and was finally healed completely.鈥?/p> Authentic Womens Denzel Ward Jersey
It began for real on Wednesday.
That’s when the new league year ushered in a flurry of moves that could finally become official, including the blockbuster deal that sent Smith to the Redskins – where he had already agreed to a new contract – for cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick in this year’s draft.
”I have a tremendous amount of respect for Alex and what he was able to accomplish with us these past five seasons,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. ”He put every ounce of energy into making our team better and I appreciate his leadership and how he came to work with the right attitude every day.”
The Chiefs also made official a trade of two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters to the Los Angeles Rams for a fourth-round pick this year and a second-round pick next year, and the signings of wide receiver Sammy Watkins and linebacker Anthony Hitchens to fill two of their biggest holes.
Among their own free agents, the Chiefs are bringing back fullback and special-teams standout Anthony Sherman and defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins. They also put a sixth-rounder tender on defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches and non-tendered linebacker Ramik Wilson and cornerback Keith Baxter.
The 24-year-old Watkins agreed to a $48 million, three-year deal Tuesday that includes $30 million in guarantees. Watkins spent four injury-filled years with Buffalo before spending last season with the Rams, where he managed to stay healthy enough for the Chiefs to feel comfortable signing him.
At his best, Watkins is a potent playmaker with blazing downfield speed, and he should pair nicely with Tyreek Hill to give new quarterback Patrick Mahomes II plenty of options.
Throw in the emergence of running back Kareem Hunt, who led the NFL in rushing as a rookie last season, and perennial Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce A.J. Green Jersey , and the Chiefs should have one of the AFC’s best offenses even after trading their Pro Bowl quarterback to Washington.
The 25-year-old Hitchens, who likewise agreed to a $45 million, five-year deal on Tuesday, should fill Derrick Johnson’s old spot at middle linebacker alongside Reggie Ragland. Hitchens was a fourth-round pick who exceeded all expectations in Dallas, earning a contract in his first free agency.
Earlier this offseason, the Chiefs parted ways with franchise tackles leader Johnson and Tamba Hali, who ranks second only to Derrick Thomas in career sacks. The veteran linebackers were let go along with safety Ron Parker, who had become a critical part of the defensive backfield – especially when star safety Eric Berry went down with a season-ending injury last year.
All of the offseason decisions, including the aggressive trades of Smith and Peters, have served two purposes for new general manager Brett Veach: get younger and save money.
The Chiefs’ rapidly aging defense was a particular concern last season, and bringing Hitchens and Fuller into the mix immediately lowers their average age. Throw in the potential rookies that they net with their new draft picks and the pieces are in place for a massively revamped unit.
”After a thorough evaluation of our roster we decided it was in the best interest for us and for Marcus to move in different directions Josh Lambo Jersey ,” Veach said of the embattled cornerback, whose immature antics rubbed many the wrong way. ”We appreciate Marcus’ contributions and wish him the best of luck.”
Veach also inherited a salary cap mess from former GM John Dorsey, whose unparalleled ability to unearth talent was tempered by a dismal record in signing long-term contracts. The decision to trade Smith was a no-brainer with Mahomes waiting in the wings, as were the decisions to move on from Johnson and Hali, while the trade of Peters was made with an eye toward the future.
The money the Chiefs freed up allowed them to aggressively target Watkins and Hitchens, and thus filled two of their most pressing needs the moment free agency began.
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LOS ANGELES — When the San Francisco Giants arrive in Los Angeles to face a red-hot Dodgers club in the opener of a three-game series Friday, it will not be with a full head of steam.
The Giants are returning to California having barely avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins, needing 16 innings Thursday afternoon in South Florida to do it. There should be exhaustion and jet lag aplenty, especially from Buster Posey, who caught all 16 innings.
Now the Giants will be facing one of baseball’s hottest teams in a Dodgers club that has gone 9-2 in June and has crushed a baseball-best 30 home runs this month.
Back in April, when the Giants and Dodgers seemingly met on a daily basis Alex Erickson Jersey , things mostly went San Francisco’s way. The Giants took three of four in a series at AT&T Park in late April and won six of the first 10 matchups between the clubs.
The Dodgers struggled with runners in scoring position back then and barely showed any power. And when they did go deep the odds of nobody being on base were high.
That all has changed now, and the two hitters getting the most credit for L.A.’s power revival both have Bay Area ties.
Palo Alto native Joc Pederson has eight home runs this season, seven of which have come in June.
And former Oakland A’s infielder Max Muncy is in the midst of a coming-out party for the Dodgers with 13 home runs, 30 RBIs and a .631 slugging percentage in 46 games. Before the season, Muncy played in 96 major league games and hit five home runs with 17 RBIs and a .321 slugging percentage.
“I try not to think about it, (but) it’s hard not to,” Muncy said, according to mlb.com. “Games are a lot of fun right now. Everyone’s feeling the momentum up and down the lineup.”
Also in a bit of a revival is Cody Bellinger, who had a home run in four consecutive games last week.
The common thread among Pederson, Muncy and Bellinger is that all three bat left-handed and the answer from the Giants will come with lefties Derek Holland (Friday) and Madison Bumgarner (Saturday) starting in the first two games of the series.
Holland (4-6, 4.54 ERA) has helped the Giants toward six victories in his last nine starts. In two starts against the Dodgers this season he is 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA. In three career outings against the Dodgers he is 0-2 with a 7.43 ERA.
“Definitely we don’t feel good when you know going in these are ballgames you should be winning Will Richardson Jersey , and we’re not getting (victories) like we should,” the Giants’ Andrew McCutchen said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “It’s not something you take lightly.”
The Dodgers are scheduled to send Ross Stripling (5-1, 1.65) to the mound in the series opener. The right-hander, who threw 7 1/3 no-hit innings in his major league debut at San Francisco in 2016, has won each of his last five starts, posting a 1.15 ERA in that stretch (31 1/3 innings).
Womens Da'Shawn Hand JerseyA torn ACL ended the MVP contender’s season Brian Urlacher Jersey , but he’s doing everything he can to be supportive and help the team beat the New England Patriots.
“I don’t know anyone more competitive than myself,” Wentz said Monday night. “Wanting to be out there is definitely tough, but I get over that pretty quick and just be around these guys and things are going as well as they can be.”
Wentz spoke for about 25 minutes, answering questions about his injury, backup Nick Foles, and several queries about his faith.
“I’m super excited for these guys and for Nick. We’re so close,” he said. “He understands the pressure of not only playing in this game but playing in Philly and everything that’s involved in that. I just tell him to be yourself Phillip Gaines Jersey , play your game and when he’s done that, he’s played great. I couldn’t be happier for his success. He’s a great guy.”
Wentz didn’t want to take any spotlight off his teammates or be a distraction, but the second-year pro plans to be part of many Super Bowl weeks, so he thought it was important to see it up close.
“I’m going to use this as a learning opportunity and motivation,” he said. “Being here and seeing this all week, it’ll give me an edge to want to be back without a doubt.”
Wentz revealed last week that he tore his LCL along with his ACL in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams. He’s already walking without crutches or a cane – he was on crutches on the sideline in the divisional round against Atlanta, then used a cane while watching the NFC championship game against Minnesota – and hopes to be ready for the season opener in September.
“Ever since he went down Andrew Billings Jersey , I don’t think he hasn’t been a part of every element of the team, coaching and working with Nick,” owner Jeffery Lurie said. “That’s just who he is. He’s someone drawn to being great, really bright and humble at the same time … and a great leader at age 24 who is incredibly popular.”
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AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner contributed to this report.
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AP NFL website: The Latest on the NFL combine (all times EST):
11 a.m.
Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott says cutting quarterback Tyrod Taylor is not part of the team's current plans, though he won't rule out trading the three-year starter.
McDermott says it's too early to remove any option off the table "other than cutting him at this point," in answering a question as to whether the Bills would consider trading Taylor. "We're in a good position with some options out there, so that'll work itself out Brandon LaFell Jersey ," he added at the NFL combine on Wednesday.
Taylor's future in Buffalo remains in question even though he helped lead the Bills to a 9-7 record and clinch the team's first playoff berth since 1999. Taylor has a 23-21 record with the Bills and went 8-6 last season while also being benched for one game in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman.
The Bills considered cutting Taylor last March before the quarterback agreed to restructure his contract by reducing it from a five-year to a two-year term.
Taylor enters the final year of his deal, and is due a $6 million bonus in two weeks. General manager Brandon Beane previously said the Bills could comfortably afford carrying Taylor's contract this year, which will count $18 million against the salary cap.
8:45 p.m.Jon Gruden is back from the broadcast booth and the highest-paid coach in NFL history.
Unlike his colleague, Matt Patricia didn't balk at leaving Bill Belichick's brigade.
Andy Reid is in the midst of another major roster shake-up and his protege, Doug Pederson, is basking in Philadelphia's first Super Bowl triumph.
All are in Indianapolis at the NFL combine this week hoping to better their chances of winning in 2018.
Top college prospects, including a group of quarterbacks that could produce five first-round draft picks Ndamukong Suh Jersey , will spend four days getting poked and prodded, tested and timed.
GMs and coaches will do their best to get to know them off the field as well, either in formal 15-minute interviews or during a mixed zone after their physical assessments.
Adidas Jonathan Quick JerseyHanging off the racks were No. 4 Case Keenum jerseys.
For the first time since Peyton Manning’s retirement after Super Bowl 50, the Broncos entered their offseason training program certain of who will be under center after signing Keenum to a two-year, $36 million deal and declaring him the starter.
”I appreciate it, for sure,” Sanders said Wednesday. ”This is the first time in two or three years that I’m not standing up here talking about a quarterback debate. I remember when I got out here, I went out to the team store and I saw Case Keenum jerseys . I was like, `Thank God, I don’t have to deal with that again.’
”Case is our guy. We can go from there. We can work our butts off, try to gain chemistry and try to put up points.”
On the day he signed his contract, Keenum was named the starter by general manager John Elway, who also traded Trevor Siemian, who had beaten Paxton Lynch for the starting quarterback job each of the past two summers, to Minnesota.
After the draft last weekend, Elway reiterated two things about Lynch, whom he traded up to draft in the first round out of Memphis two years ago:
-He still believes he’ll figure things out and become a starting NFL quarterback.
-He’ll have to beat out Chad Kelly this offseason to win the backup job.
If he doesn’t, it would mark the third straight summer that Lynch has failed to beat out a seventh-rounder for a job.
Sanders, who said he’s healthy after being bothered by an ankle injury almost all of last season, is a big fan of Keenum and of the Broncos’ decision to declare him the starter right away.
”He’s a leader Justin Simmons Jersey ,” Sanders said, adding that ”98 percent” of his passes so far have been on target. ”He’s confident in himself. He’s one of those guys that when he steps into the huddle, he’s that leader.
”You don’t have to second-guess what his thought process is. We’re going to complete this ball. We’re going to keep the ball moving. I’m liking what I’m seeing from him so far.”
Sanders and Demaryius Thomas were loath last season to complain about it, but they were clearly affected by the turnstile at quarterback as the Broncos churned through Siemian, Lynch and Brock Osweiler during a 5-11 season.
”You can sit back and say we’re all professional football players and you’ve got to deal with that situation, but at the same time, obviously you can’t gain the same chemistry,” Sanders said.
”You don’t have the same mindset. You have to talk to two different quarterbacks. When you’re going into individual routes, you have to go to one guy and then go with the next guy. You don’t really gain that chemistry. You’re not maximizing the opportunity.
”Now we’re maximizing the opportunity, and hopefully it pays off.”
The Broncos also added some talent into their wide receiving depth, replacing free agent departures Cody Latimer and Bennie Fowler III with draft picks Courtland Sutton of SMU and DaeSean Hamilton of Penn State.
Sanders, who also played at SMU, worked out with Sutton over the winter and was delighted when the Broncos picked him in the second round.
At 6-4 and 218 pounds, he’s built like Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
”D.T. is big,” Sanders said, but Sutton ”looks like he belongs in the NBA. Working out with him, he has amazing feet. He’s very fluid for being so big. I’m looking forward to getting him in here and just working. Hopefully he can come up with some big plays for us this year.”
At 6-1 and 205 pounds, Hamilton is closer to Sanders’ size – 5-11 Adrian Amos Jersey , 180 – but still bigger.
”I’m going to teach those guys everything that I know,” Sanders said. ”That’s my job.”
Sanders, who is 31 years old and will make $8.25 million this season, said he’s not concerned that the rookies will eventually unseat him.
”That’s going to happen sooner or later,” Sanders said. ”… All I can do is make plays every single day and show that if I become expendable here, just show some other team, hey, look, I still got it. I still got the juice.”
NOTES: The Broncos face a Thursday deadline to exercise OLB Shane Ray’s fifth-year option at more than $9 million, which seems unlikely given that he’s started 15 games in three seasons, missed most of last season with a wrist injury and watched Bradley Chubb fall to Denver with the fifth pick in the last week’s NFL draft.
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Peyton Manning takes a family to Universal Parks & Resorts. Chris Pratt works out to get in shape to tout Michelob Ultra. Bill Hader takes a break on set to snack on some Pringles.
This year’s Super Bowl advertisers are minding their manners. They’re trying hard to steer clear of everything from politics to the (hash)MeToo movement with lightly humorous ads that don’t offend.
The goal is to capture the attention of the 111 million-plus viewers expected to tune in Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New England Patriots. Thirty-second slots are going for more than $5 million for airtime alone.
Last year, ads that tackled political issues fell flat, like an 84 Lumber ad about immigration. And some thought the recent Grammy Awards’ low ratings were because the show contained too many political moments, such as Hillary Clinton reading from the Trump biography ”Fire and Fury.”
People are in the mood for ”political-free entertainment,” said Kim Whitler, a marketing professor at the University of Virginia.
Several ads will be taking a light-humor approach with mostly male celebrities. PepsiCo brands Doritos Blaze and Mountain Dew Ice are showcased in two 30-second linked spots showing Morgan Freeman and Peter Dinklage in a lip-sync rap battle.
In a Pringles ad , Bill Hader has a snack on set and introduces a made-up practice dubbed ”flavor stacking,” in which he mixes and matches different Pringles varieties. M&Ms enlisted Danny DeVito to embody what happens when a red M&M becomes a person after wishing on a lucky penny.
Keanu Reeves surfs on his motorcycle through the desert in an ad for Squarespace. Chris Elliott lives in a bio dome to tout avocados from Mexico Logan Cooke Jersey , while ”Stranger Things” star David Harbour shows up in Tide’s commercial.
”They’re light hearted and good natured,” Whitler said. ”That’s on target with the mood of the country.”
”We’re exposed to so much constant negativity,” said Andy Goeler, a marketing executive at Bud Light. ”Delivering something just light hearted and fun is the root at what beer is all about.” The brand’s two spots showcase a mythical kingdom a la ”Game of Thrones” centered on Bud Light and the catchphrase ”Dilly Dilly.”
Amazon’s 90-second fourth-quarter ad stars a bevy of celebrities who sub for the voice of Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant: singer Cardi B, actress Rebel Wilson, star chef Gordon Ramsey and even actor Anthony Hopkins putting a Hannibal Lector spin on things. Leading up to the halftime show, Pepsi’s ad references past celebrities who have appeared in Pepsi Super Bowl ads: Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Cindy Crawford and others.
Nonetheless, two Super Bowl ads are bucking the trend and sidling up to political issues, however obliquely.
Coca-Cola’s anthemic 60-second ad features varieties of Coke, from Coke Zero to the stevia-flavored Coke Life, quaffed by women, men and a person who uses the ”they” pronoun.
”There’s a Coke for he, and she and her and me and them,” a voiceover states.
Coca-Cola executives say the ad highlights the diversity the company has always used in its advertising, adding that they consulted African-American and LGBTQ groups among its own employees. A biracial couple and a person in a wheelchair also appear in the spot.
”We want to celebrate all the people that make up the world,” Coca-Cola executive Brynn Bardacke said. ”We don’t want to exclude anyone.”
On the other hand Walter Payton Jersey , WeatherTech, which makes car mats and other interior car products, has a staunchly pro-American approach in its ad, which shows the construction of a factory that opened late last year.
”At WeatherTech, we built our factory right here in America,” the ad’s text reads. ”Isn’t that the way it is supposed to be?”
It’s the fifth year WeatherTech has advertised in the Super Bowl touting its all-American operations. Founder and CEO David MacNeil said his ad doesn’t have typical Super Bowl accoutrements – ”no ponies, no puppies, no pretty girls” – but said it’s straight to the point about its message.
”Isn’t it just logical to build your own factory in your own country so your own fellow citizens can have jobs?” he said. He said he doesn’t believe the ad might be divisive. ”It wouldn’t occur to me that I could offend anyone by supporting my own country,” he said.
While the majority of advertisers release their ads ahead of time to try to drum up publicity, there are some holdouts. Fiat Chrysler usually appears during the game without advance warning. Other advertisers that have remained mum about their plans so far include E-Trade and Monster Products.
”It may be that advertisers with risky ads are waiting for the game, hoping to protect the surprise and break through the clutter,” said Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Northwestern University.
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