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SUNRISE Authentic Oscar Lindberg Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Bob Boughner’s favorite dinner spot used to be a sports pub in the minor-league hockey hotbed of Glens Falls, New York called Dango’s, a place where the chicken wings were huge and most of the televisions were usually tuned to hockey.These days, it’s an upscale steakhouse called Mastro’s.If there’s one constant of Boughner’s life in hockey, it’s that just about everything — from refining a palate, to reaching the NHL, to transforming a hockey team — takes time. And Boughner got a very tough reminder of that last season when the Florida Panthers missed the postseason by a single point in his inaugural year as their coach.So here the Panthers go again, trying to become a playoff club. But with Boughner leading the charge, there’s real belief that good things are coming.“He’s even more than advertised,” Panthers president Matthew Caldwell said. “His diligence, he’s a player’s coach but also very, very technical. He gets into the weeds and I think the players trust him, but he’ll hold them accountable too. His ability to be there for the players but also correct them, not be too friendly with them, have strong standards, that’s been excellent.”Boughner won the job in Florida by selling Caldwell and the rest of the Panthers’ leadership on a vision.His message: Be patient.Boughner played 297 games in three different minor leagues, needing seven years to make the jump from NHL draftee to NHL player. Once he got to the top level, he never left Reilly Smith Jersey , spending parts of 10 seasons with six franchises and being part of five deep runs in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He was a hard-nosed defenseman, someone whose pro-career-best of eight goals came during those Dango’s-fueled days with the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings in 1993-94.His coaching climb took time as well, going from an owner-coach-president of OHL team in his hometown of Windsor, Ontario to some NHL assistant stints and finally getting the head job in Florida in 2017.“It wasn’t an easy road. It was a hard road,” Boughner said. “I earned it as a player and I had to work every day to stay there. And it was not like I had a secure spot every year, too. But I always worked hard to be a team guy and that’s what has sort of turned into some of my coaching philosophy. I had to build it from the ground up. I miss playing every day, but coaching, there’s something gratifying when it all comes together.”He feels that gratification coming in Florida.The Panthers, who open their home schedule on Thursday against Columbus, won three playoff series in their third season of existence — 1995-96. They’ve won zero series since, missing the playoffs entirely in 17 of the 21 seasons that followed their lone run to the Stanley Cup final. Boughner spent two seasons as part of the Panthers organization as a player, though he never made the NHL club.Panthers general manager Dale Tallon knew it would take time for Boughner’s system to take root. Florida was 25-8-2 in its last 35 games last season, going from near the bottom of the Eastern Conference to just missing the postseason.“I just like his whole attitude about everything,” Tallon said. “He’s a straightforward, no-nonsense guy. His technical aspect is terrific. And he gets the player. He has good relationships with all the players.”Boughner looks back at last season with the obvious tinge of disappointment.But he also knows the growing pains were vital.Much of the core from last season remains the core now, and those players know what makes Boughner tick — and what makes his system work. There’s a culture in place now, a level of expectation, a level of accountability.It’s what Boughner demanded from himself as a player Tomas Tatar Jersey , and it’s his blueprint for what he wants as a coach.“There’s no more excuses,” Boughner said. “There’s a point last year, maybe 10 or 15 games in, when we were on a trip and I couldn’t wait to get off our plane and get to the hotel and tell the guys get into the meeting room. I sort of blew up, got a lot of things off my chest, and the guys sort started taking inventory of themselves. I think we’ve turned a corner now. I think we’re ready now.” GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) After firing coach Alain Vigneault, the New York Rangers have also dismissed two of his top assistants.Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said Monday that associate coach Scott Arniel and Darryl Williams were let go the previous day. Gorton said Lindy Ruff is still on staff and intends to speak with him before deciding on his future.Gorton said the decision to fire Vigneault was made in the last week of the season. The announcement Saturday night came hours after a 5-0 loss at Philadelphia in the season finale.The Rangers went 226-147-37 in five years under Vigneault. They made the playoffs four times, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in his initial season in 2014. This season, they finished last in the Metropolitan Division, missing the postseason for the first time since 2010.”AV has been a terrific coach in the league, he’s been a really good coach for the Rangers,” Gorton said. ”After five years we just think it’s time for a change. The players need a new voice and the organization needs a new coach.”Gorton expects to interview five to 10 candidates.”We’ll look anywhere, whether it’s AHL, NHL, wherever we can find the best possible coach going forward,” he said. ”We’re looking for somebody who can help us get back to an identity we want to get back to. We’re looking to go through this process and hear some ideas from some people.”
DALLAS (AP) — Jim Montgomery didn’t pause very long to savor a win in his NHL coaching debut.The Dallas Stars coach isn’t even sure it counts.“First of all Womens Bryan Rust Jersey , players win games,” Montgomery said after Devin Shore, Alexander Radulov and John Klingberg scored less than two minutes apart in the second period of a 3-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night.“I don’t know why coaches have records. I really think players win championships, and I’ve always believed that. I think coaches help give them opportunities to do that.”Ben Bishop stopped all 30 shots for his first season-opening shutout and the 25th of his career. Bishop has a four-game winning streak on opening night.Shore broke a scoreless tie by putting in a rebound as he was going to his knees. Radulov beat backtracking former Dallas defenseman Alex Goligoski one-on-one in a battle for the puck as they skated up the ice and slipped it between Antii Raanta’s pads 27 seconds later.A little more than a minute after that, Klingberg skated alone up the right side in 4-on-4 and beat Raanta inside the far post.“A couple of big ‘yeahs’ by me behind the bench on every one of them,” Montgomery said. “So, it was a great flurry by us.”Defenseman Connor Carrick, acquired in a trade with Toronto three days before the opener, assisted on the first two goals.Jamie Benn also had two assists in the Stars’ eighth straight win over the Coyotes — all in regulation by a combined score of 30-13. It was Dallas’ 11th consecutive home win over Arizona, a streak dating to February 2012.The Coyotes — who opened last season with 10 straight losses, nine in regulation — hit the post twice when the game was scoreless.Clayton Keller did it in the first period, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the second less than a minute before Shore’s goal sparked the Dallas flurry.“We hit the post, and then …,” second-year coach Rick Tocchet said. “It’s the first game of the year, but it’s something you can’t let happen. We have to play quicker and initiate.”Montgomery, who played his final game with Dallas in 2002, was making his debut less than two years after winning an NCAA championship at Denver. He is one of three current NHL coaches who made the jump from college.General manager Jim Nill chose Montgomery as the club’s third coach in three seasons after one year under Ken Hitchcock Authentic Conor Sheary Jersey , who led the Stars to their only Stanley Cup title in 1999 but missed the playoffs in his return 15 years after he was fired.“It’s nice to not have to make him wait for it,” Bishop said of Montgomery’s first win. “There’s a lot of firsts in here tonight. Monty’s obviously one of them. Hopefully we can get him a lot more.”Missing several injured forwards they figure to count on for scoring, the Coyotes outshot the Stars 30-25 but didn’t generate many good chances in the final period. Raanta stopped 22 shots.“It’s a new season. It feels way different,” Goligoski said. “Every year there’s new faces in here. I don’t think (last year’s start) is on anyone’s mind.”Bishop finished a season-opening shutout after getting injured when he was working on one in his Dallas debut last season. He had stopped all 19 shots for a 1-0 lead over Vegas when Bishop took a puck to the mask early in the third period and left the game. The Golden Knights rallied for a 2-1 win.“Can’t start thinking I’m feeling good because that’s like the worst thing you could probably think to yourself,” Bishop said. “Did a good job of clearing the front when there was a couple of ones that squeaked by.”NOTES: Stars D Stephen Jones started the season on injured reserve. He was dealing with headaches during the preseason. He says they might be related to concussions sustained last season. … Coyotes D Jordan Oesterle went to the locker room in the second period after a hard check from Tyler Pitlick but returned to the game. … Stars F Tyler Seguin was scoreless in his first game since signing a $78.8 million, eight-year contract extension.UP NEXTCoyotes: Home opener Saturday against Anaheim.Stars: Second of four straight home games to start season Saturday against Winnipeg. PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins don’t expect the sting from their second-round playoff exit to fade anytime soon.They also don’t expect it to compel general manager Jim Rutherford to give the roster a thorough makeover after the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions’ bid for a three-peat ended at the hands of Washington.If anything, the setback has given Sidney Crosby and company a chance to put their remarkable run atop the league in perspective.No team in a generation had won consecutive Cups until Pittsburgh did it last spring and the Penguins went as far as the 1999 Detroit Red Wings and Mario Lemieux-led 1993 Penguins in their own respective quest for a three-peat.”I think it definitely allows you to appreciate how difficult that was, but also to know we were that close to moving on too, that’s the difficult part,” Crosby said Wednesday as Pittsburgh packed up for the summer.”I think it definitely gives you a greater appreciation how many times it could have went the other way on a pretty good run.”The margin is always razor thin in the playoffs. And the Penguins somehow found a way to land on the right side of things through nine playoff series across three springs.Against the Capitals, however, the bounces – and often the energy – went the other way.Twice Pittsburgh blew a third-period lead in regulation – something that never happened during the regular season.Goaltender Matt Murray was usually crisp but not dominant. The scoring depth that made the Penguins an impossibly tough out vanished this time around. Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel did not register a point at even strength against Washington.Derick Brassard – brought in at the trade deadline to be the third-line center role Nick Bonino filled so capably in 2016 and 2017 – was a nonfactor.So were Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary, who played beyond their years and scored pivotal goals in the process while ending their first two seasons in the league with a parade through downtown Pittsburgh with the Cup in hand.Not this time.The Penguins downplayed the notion they simply ran out of gas after playing more hockey than any other club over the past 32 months.Maybe, but there’s ample proof the NHL has caught up with the team that built itself on lightning quick aggression when Mike Sullivan took over as head coach in December 2015.Now it’s time for Pittsburgh to spend the offseason trying to get that extra gear back.”We’re a good team,” Rutherford said. ”And we will be a good team going forward. We’ll have a chance to win again. We have the nucleus to do that.”How? Let’s take a look back and a look ahead while the Penguins spent the rest of the playoffs watching the pursuit of the Cup on TV, if they bother watching it at all.DINGED UP: Pittsburgh, as is hockey tradition Melker Karlsson Jersey , had several players make a go of it in the playoffs despite undisclosed or non-characterized injuries that limited their effectiveness. The group includes Kessel, Malkin and Brassard. Kessel picked up a career-high 92 points while playing in every single game for the eighth straight season, but had just one goal in 12 playoff games. Sullivan allowed Kessel was dealing with a health issue but added ”it was nothing significant, I can tell you that.”Penguins rookie Zach Aston-Reese, who broke his jaw and suffered a concussion following an illegal hit by Washington’s Tom Wilson in Game 2 of the second round, is currently eating lots of ice cream, sidestepped when asked if the three-game suspension Wilson received was enough but does feel it was a positive step.”It’s something I guess they’re trying to get rid of and I think moving forward guys need to be a little more aware and have more control of their body when they go in and have hits like that,” Aston-Reese said.HOT STOVE: Rutherford, who is as aggressive as they come in terms of trying to upgrade the roster, admitted there’s a chance the Penguins could move an established player or two if necessary.”It is fair to say that this will be a different looking team by the time we open next season,” Rutherford said. ”It doesn’t mean there will be drastic changes … but they’ll be changes that are necessary.”SPRING SPRONG?: Pittsburgh kept forward Daniel Sprong in the minors for most of the year and he responded by scoring a club-rookie record 32 goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. It didn’t earn him a promotion during the postseason. That likely won’t be the case next season, when the 21-year-old will be given every chance to make the team out of camp.”He will be a regular on our team,” Rutherford said.So will Rutherford. The 69-year-old famously said he might only be around a handful of seasons when he took over in the spring of 2014. Now it appears he’s not headed anywhere.”I think the best answer is I may be around longer than you guys,” he said with a laugh.—
CHICAGO (AP) — Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford will start Thursday night against Arizona in his first game since he missed most of last season because of a concussion.Coach Joel Quenneville confirmed Crawford’s return at the team’s morning skate. Rookie forward Luke Johnson was assigned to Rockford of the American Hockey League Authentic Gustav Nyquist Jersey , leaving three goaltenders on Chicago’s roster.It’s the first game for Crawford since Dec. 23.“It’s exciting,” Quenneville said. “I’m sure he’s looking forward to it and we all are excited about him in there as well. It’ll be a fun situation for the guys seeing him back in net as well, so we’re looking for everybody to be excited about tonight’s game.”The 33-year-old Crawford helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015. Without him last season, the Blackhawks tumbled into last place in the Central Division and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The two-time All-Star has 230 wins, a 2.37 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 409 career games.“I think we’re all happy to see him back on the ice,” star forward Patrick Kane said. “He seems like he’s in a good mood lately. A lot of smiles out there. Good to have him back.”Crawford went 16-9-2 with a 2.27 GAA last season before he was placed on injured reserve. He faced some shots during a morning skate in Arizona on Feb. 12, but was never able to come back.Crawford’s return creates a crowded situation in Chicago’s net with Cam Ward and Anton Forsberg. Ward started Chicago’s first five games. Forsberg hasn’t played yet this season.Beginning with the matchup with the Coyotes, the Blackhawks have three games in the next four nights and seven in the next 11 days.“We’ll see how that goes. I know that we have three right now on our roster,” Quenneville said about the goaltending situation. “With three in four nights, we’ll see how that plays out.” WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals (all times local):11:03 p.m.The Washington Capitals have beaten the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 and taken a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored second-period goals and Devante Smith-Pelly added another late in the third period to put the Golden Knights in a hole. The lone Vegas goal came from Tomas Nosek, who cashed in a mistake by Washington goaltender Braden Holtby at 3:29 of the third period.Vegas pulled goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for the final two and half minutes of the game but couldn’t break through.It was the first Stanley Cup Final held in the nation’s capital since 1998.—10:50 p.m.Devante Smith-Pelly has given the Washington Capitals a 3-1 lead on Vegas late in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore had trouble clearing the puck and Capitals centerman Jay Beagle took the puck away and found Smith-Pelly skating in all alone on Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.Smith-Pelly ripped it past the goalie at 13:53 of the third period.The series is tied 1-1.—10:35 p.m.The Vegas Golden Knights have taken advantage of a huge mistake by Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby to get back into Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.Holtby did a poor job of clearing the puck from behind the Capitals net, and Tomas Nosek easily scored to slice Washington’s lead to 2-1 at 3:29 of the third period.The goal deflated the mood of the sellout crowd, many of them wearing red and cheering for the Capitals in the first Stanley Cup Final held in D.C. since 1998.The series is tied 1-1.—10:10 p.m.The Washington Capitals are 20 minutes away from taking a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.Second-period goals by Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov put Washington up 2-0 in Game 3. Washington holds a 21-13 advantage in shots on goal after two periods.Washington lost the opener 6-4 in Vegas before rebounding to win 3-2 on Wednesday. The series shifted to the nation’s capital for Game 3 Womens Henrik Zetterberg Jersey , marking the first time 20 years the Capitals hosted the Stanley Cup Final.When the Final has been tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to win the Stanley Cup 21 of 27 chances (78 percent) since the series went to the best-of-seven format in 1939—9:45 p.m.Evgeny Kuznetsov has given the Washington Capitals a 2-0 lead in Game 3 of their Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.Kuznetsov came down the right side in a 2-on-1 with Jay Beagle and pushed a shot into the left side of the net past goalie Marc-Andre Fleury at 12:50 of the second period. Kuznetsov missed most of Game 2 with what appeared to be a left arm injury.The goal came after Washington defenseman Brooks Orpik looked dazed following a hit from Golden Knights forward James Neal. He was not pulled from the game to go through concussion protocol.Orpik went to the bench following the check in the corner but did not go down the tunnel for evaluation. The NHL’s concussion protocol states that a player exhibiting any possible concussion symptoms must be evaluated, and the league has spotters in place to pull players if that’s suspected.—9:25 p.m.Alex Ovechkin has given the Washington Capitals a 1-0 lead over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.Ovechkin scored on a shot from the left side at 1:10 of the second period as he was falling over Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb to end a flurry that saw goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury make three saves before Ovechkin connected.It was Ovechkin’s 14th goal of the playoffs, tying the franchise mark set by John Druce in 1990.The series is tied at one game apiece. This is the first Stanley Cup Final held in the nation’s capital since 1998.—9:05 p.m.The Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights have skated through a scoreless first period, though both teams had chances to get on the board first in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury swatted away a close shot by Alex Ovechkin, and the Capitals had an apparent goal taken away when winger Devante Smith-Pelly was called for goalie interference.Golden Knights’ leading scorer, Jonathan Marchessault, hit the right post with a shot at the 14-minute mark.Washington finished with 7-5 advantage in shots. There were 15 goals total in the first two games, the most in a Final since 1982.Toward the end of the period, Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny left the ice. He took a spill in pregame warmups after crashing into the boards.There’s plenty of star power in the stands, including a few people you never knew were Capitals fans.Keenan Thompson, a longtime cast member of ”Saturday Night Live,” spent this Saturday night watching hockey. He waved to the crowd and tipped his red hat http://www.redwingsshoponline.com/authentic-jimmy-howard-jersey , which said, ”ALL CAPS.”Actress Lynda Carter showed off her red Capitals jersey. Former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs yelled ”Let’s Go Caps!” over the public address system and game show host Pat Sajak introduced the starting lineups.The series is tied 1-1. It is the first Final game in Washington in 20 years.—8:40 p.m.Plenty of action between Vegas and Washington in the opening minutes of Game 3, even if the game remained scoreless as the first period approached its midpoint. The fast pace of the first two games has continued.The Capitals missed an early chance to score when Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury dived to stop a close-in shot by Alex Ovechkin.With around five minutes elapsed, Washington had an apparent goal wiped out when Capitals winger Devante Smith-Pelly was called for goaltender interference when he collided with Fleury as a shot found the net.Washington subsequently killed the penalty.There were 15 goals total in the first two games, the most in a Final since 1982.The series is tied 1-1. It is the first Final game in Washington in 20 years.—8:25 p.m.Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final is under way with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Michal Kempny in the Capitals’ lineup.Kuznetsov was a game-time decision with an apparent left arm injury resulting from a hit from Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb that caused him to leave Game 2. Kempny stepped on a puck and crashed into the boards during pregame warmups but returned.The pregame festivities moved from a Sting and Shaggy concert outside to a red-rocking party inside Capital One Arena, where fans shook red glow sticks as three-time Redskins Super Bowl-winning coach did the ”Let’s Go Caps!” chant as fan of the game.After Vegas put on a show in the first two games of the series with Michael Buffer introducing players and a Knight vanquishing Capitals invaders, Washington had ”Wheel of Fortune” host and longtime season-ticket holder Pat Sajak reading off the starting lineups. Fans drowned out the Golden Knights introductions with boos – except for former Capitals defenseman Nate Schmidt.—7 p.m.Almost 100-degree heat wreaked havoc on ice conditions in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final in Las Vegas, and humidity threatens to affect it in Game 3 in Washington.Humid weather outside – typical for the nation’s capital in June – has Capitals coach Barry Trotz wondering just how the ice will be at Capital One Arena.”We don’t know how the ice conditions are going to be in our rink,” Trotz said after the morning skate at the Capitals’ suburban practice facility. ”Humidity is not kind to ice. One thing I’ve learned over my years is it’s not necessarily the heat but the humidity. If you get the combination of both, you could have a tough night. We’ll just see how it is.”Vegas players reported decent conditions after their morning skate at Capital One Arena, or at least better than Game 1 in the desert. Pre-game warmups will be important for the Capitals, who haven’t skated on their home ice surface since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final on May 21.”You gauge it right away,” Trotz said. ”Guys have to manage that. We’ll see right away. I think in warmup Jonathan Ericsson Jersey , even as a coach standing on the bench, you have a feel right away on how the ice is. I think we’ll have to keep it simple. We’ll have to keep our emotions in check, have good energy, and we will.”—6:20 p.m.Vegas had Imagine Dragons inside the arena before Game 2. Washington has Sting and Shaggy playing outside before Game 3.Sting and Shaggy collaborated on a new reggae lite album, ”44/876,” and are performing at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery steps away from Capital One Arena. After the concert, fans not attending the first Stanley Cup Final game in Washington since 1998 can watch on video boards stationed outside.Fall Out Boy is scheduled to play before Game 4 on Monday.—6:05 p.m.It’s wet outside, and it’s sure to be red inside the Washington Capitals’ home arena for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.After splitting a pair of games in Las Vegas, the Capitals are preparing to host the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 20 years.The expansion Golden Knights have gone 6-2 on the road during their surprising run to the Finals, numbers that take the sting out of losing home-ice advantage with a 3-2 loss on Wednesday.Washington is 4-5 at home, but captured a must-win 3-0 decision over Tampa Bay before capturing the Eastern Conference title with a victory in Game 7 on the road.The Capitals were hoping to have Evgeny Kuznetsov, who skated Saturday morning after missing most of Game 2 with an upper-body injury.—More Stanley Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/StanleyCupFinals
After four seasons as mostly a backup in Minnesota http://www.officialhockeyrangersshop.com/authentic-adidas-marc-staal-jersey , McKinnon was one of San Francisco's big-ticket additions in free agency this offseason and took some time to learn coach Kyle Shanahan's complex new offense.
"When I first got here, I was lost. I was really lost," McKinnon said. "My head was spinning. It's different protections I have to learn, different concepts I have to learn and basically I have to take my whole way of thinking for four years and switch it up to a new one. I guess it's complex when you're new to it, but once you start studying it, you get it. I'm starting to get it."
McKinnon has shown just that early in training camp. He broke a long run around the left side on the team's first 11-on-11 drill of the summer and also has made several catches out of the backfield.
Those skills are why the 49ers gave the career backup a $30 million, four-year contract this offseason. McKinnon will get paid $12 million in 2018. Only Todd Gurley and Saquon Barkley have signed contracts that will pay them more this season, according to spotrac.
But McKinnon feels no added pressure because of the high price tag.
"I've had the same mindset I've had since my rookie year, which is coming in and working," he said. "A lot of guys get contracts and some of them get content. For me, it's about staying the same and continuing to work and showing my teammates how I work and what I bring to the table and pushing everybody around me."
McKinnon spent four years in Minnesota after being drafted in the third round in 2014 out of Georgia Southern. He has rushed for 1,918 yards with an average of 4.0 yards per carry, 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.
McKinnon replaces Carlos Hyde, who left 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. But Shanahan said McKinnon's strengths start as a runner.
"You have to be a good running back to truly get the effects of being good in the pass game because if you're only good in the pass game, then they can just treat you as a receiver and it's different," he said. "So, it starts with being a running back and we really like him as a running back. We studied every run he had in Minnesota. I think he fits in the type of runs we do very well. He's got the speed. He's got the cutting ability and he's got the toughness to run through arm tackles. Then the pass game is the huge bonus. He is a matchup issue. He's very good in his routes. ... Just versatility-wise Zach Parise Jersey , he's going to help us a lot."
Having a running back who is a threat in the passing game is a crucial part of Shanahan's offense. The Niners ranked third in the NFL last year with 113 receptions out of the backfield, up from just 67 the previous year under Chip Kelly.
While Hyde had a team-high 59 catches last season, he wasn't particularly productive. He averaged just 5.9 yards on those catches and turned only 28.8 percent of them into first downs.
Those numbers are significantly below McKinnon's 8.3 yards per catch and 39.2 percent first downs as his skills make him a better option in the passing game.
"Jerick is a unique talent," quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said. "He can do things out of the backfield. You can line him up in the slot. ... He can do so many different things that it's hard for a defense. What do you put on him? A linebacker, a safety, a corner? It's a pick your poison type of thing so it makes my job a whole lot easier."
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa set an NFL record with 19 sacks in his first 20 career games.
He recorded at least 10 1/2 sacks in each of his first two seasons, but Bosa and the Chargers insist the best is yet to come.
”I think there’s so much I have to work on that I have an idea in my head of what I want things to look like and how I want to be as a player, and I’m not anywhere near those things, but I know I’m making the right steps in that direction,” Bosa said Sunday.
Cornerback Casey Hayward has never been shy in sharing his belief that Bosa could become the best defender in football. It was only reinforced last season as Bosa’s pass rush skills helped contribute to Hayward intercepting four passes.
”Made my life a lot easier,” Hayward said. ”A couple of my picks last year came off Joey hitting the guy, wobbly ball, I take all of them.”
Entering his third season, the next step in Bosa’s development could come from a better understanding of coordinator Gus Bradley’s 4-3 defense. The Chargers were productive in 2017 while transitioning to Bradley’s system, finishing third in points per game allowed, tied for fifth in sacks, and sixth in takeaways. Those rankings could improve as the coaches, players and front office are more comfortable with what will allow the defense to succeed in this iteration.
The Chargers added depth in the draft Roberto Luongo Jersey , with Bosa praising defensive lineman Justin Jones and linebacker Uchenna Nwosu for their ability to get to the quarterback. The progression of second-year defensive end Isaac Rochell could result in Bosa staying fresh by allowing Bradley to rotate more. The 280-pound Bosa could play inside if Rochell is capable of creating pressure off the edge consistently, allowing Bradley to use his most disruptive players together in obvious passing situations.
Bosa, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season as the bookend to Melvin Ingram, could cause more havoc if opponents cannot focus all their attention on stopping the two standout defensive ends.
”Joey can improve,” coach Anthony Lynn said. ”I don’t think he has reached his peak yet at all, and the better we get on that defensive line and create more one-on-one matchups, that’s going to help his success as well.”
But Bosa will never put a target on his individual production going into his season after recognizing that chasing personal goals often comes at the expense of both the individual and the team.
”If you want to get 15 sacks and you’re out there doing your own things to get sacks, more than likely you’re going to hurt the team and not get a sack rather than you just doing your job and you falling into one,” Bosa said. ”I’ve come to realize when I’m really out there trying to make a play like that, I do something wrong and they’ll break a run or whatever. But if I I stay within myself and the defense, it usually works out pretty well.”
Bosa’s zen mentality carries over to his offseason workouts. He stresses developing his overall athleticism rather than addressing any particular football technique. That regiment makes the first week of training camp something of a transition period, with Bosa joking he is focused on ”lining up right.”
Still, Hayward sees how Bosa approaches the game spilling over to the rest of the team. If Bosa can improve on his momentous initial returns, that bodes well for the Chargers as a whole.
”That’s definitely contagious. You see that, you want to work just as hard as he does,” Hayward said.
NOTES: Rookie tight end Austin Roberts tore his ACL on Saturday, Lynn said. . The Chargers will practice in full pads for the first time Monday.
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Calhoun hit a two-run homer, Richards pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Mariners 7-4 on Wednesday to snap Seattle’s eight-game winning streak.
Batting in the leadoff spot for only the fourth time this season, Calhoun had three hits and drove in three runs to help lift Richards (5-4) in his return.
Calhoun’s towering homer in the sixth gave the Angels a 6-2 lead. He also had a single in the fourth inning for his first RBI. Calhoun is batting .306 with four homers and eight RBIs since coming off the DL on June 18. He was hitting .145 before that break.
”Kole did his job today,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ”That’s what we need from the guys at the top of the order. It gave us a lot of opportunities today.”
Richards, who went on the DL on June 15 with a left hamstring strain, allowed three runs, including back-to-back homers to Kyle Seager and Ryon Healy, over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out eight.
”I just overthrew a couple of heaters there,” Richards said of the home runs. ”But I felt good. The hamstring felt good. I knew I would be on a leash (80 pitches), so I just tried to execute pitches.”
Richards retired 10 of the next 11 hitters he faced after the home runs.
”Garrett just exhaled (after the homers) and made some really good pitches,” Scioscia said. ”He gave us a chance to win the game.”
Blake Parker pitched out of trouble in the ninth for his 10th save. Mike Zunino singled and Denard Span doubled to put runners at second and third, but Dee Gordon flied out to center and Zunino was thrown out at the plate on Jean Segura’s grounder to Albert Pujols at first. Mitch Haniger ended it with a groundout to third.
Parker failed to cover first on the grounder to Pujols, so Pujols had no choice but to throw home.
”Pujols getting that guy at the plate was a huge out,” Scioscia said. ”The pitcher didn’t cover there, so Albert made a great decision and threw a strike to the plate.”
The Mariners had their chances, including a bases-loaded, no-outs situation in the seventh inning when trailing 6-3. After Gordon and Span struck out, Segura hit a broken-bat flare that looked like it might drop behind second base and score two runs, but Angels second baseman David Fletcher made a leaping catch to end the inning.
”I got a pretty good read off the bat Bengals Authentic Jerseys ,” Fletcher said. ”I kind of felt I had a bead on it all the way. It was a nice feeling to save those runs from scoring.”
The Mariners struck out 15 times and left eight men on base.
Mike Leake (8-5) allowed four runs and nine hits before leaving with no one out in the fifth. He had allowed two runs or less in seven of his previous eight starts.
”They were battling me, fouling balls off today,” Leake said. ”Trying to get them to go down, but they found some holes and that’s about it.”
Luis Valbuena drove in two runs for the Angels and Shohei Ohtani and two hits and scored two runs.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: OF Chris Young was placed on the 10-day DL a day after straining his hamstring. LHP Tyler Skaggs was also placed on the DL with a thigh strain. Skaggs said hopes to miss only one start. OF Jabari Blash and RHP Deck McGuire were recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake, with INF Kaleb Cowart also optioned to Triple-A. … LHP John Lamb will undergo Tommy John surgery on his left elbow early next week. He’ll become the fourth Angels pitcher to have the procedure this season.
Mariners: Manager Scott Servais said RHP Erasmo Ramirez could begin a rehab assignment soon. Ramirez has been on the DL since May 1 because of a right teres major muscle strain in his pitching shoulder. Ramirez said is willing to pitch in relief if that’s where he’s needed.
UP NEXT
Angels RHP Jaime Barria (5-4, 3.40) will start Thursday’s series finale in place of Skaggs. Barria is making his 12th start of the season and has given up two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. LHP Marco Gonzales (8-5, 3.77) will make his 18th start for Seattle. Gonzales pitched the first complete game of his career in his last start, a 4-1 victory over Kansas City when he allowed six hits and didn’t walk a batter.
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Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin could have gotten something richer than the two-year, $15.5 million contract he signed with Milwaukee during the offseason.
It turns out the Brewers certainly cashed in.
Chacin (6-1, 3.32 ERA), who faces right-hander Trevor Williams (5-4, 4.38) and the Pittsburgh Pirates in a series opener Monday at PNC Park, is 6-0 with a 2.66 ERA in his past 12 starts, a career-high six-game winning streak.
The Brewers are 12-3 in his starts overall.
“He’s PITCHING,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said after Chacin’s last outing, when he gave up one run in six innings Wednesday and combined with three relievers for a 1-0 shutout against the Cubs in Chicago.
“He’s got some cunning and some craftiness out there, as well as good stuff.”
Chacin, who is 2-3 with a 4.76 ERA in seven career starts against Pittsburgh, introduced a split-fingered fastball Wednesday Youth Danny Shelton Jersey , switching to that after he struggled with command on his changeup.
His performance more than 2 1/2 months into the season would seem to make him quite a deal for Milwaukee. He has no regrets.
“I’ve never been a guy who wanted a lot of attention,” Chacin said. “I just want to go out there and do my job. I was happy to sign here because I saw the chemistry last year. I’m 30 years old, but I’ve been in the big leagues a little bit longer, and I really want to win. This is a good young team.”
Milwaukee (42-29) lost its second straight Sunday, 10-9 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pittsburgh (35-36), which won two of three against Milwaukee in a series in early May, sits fourth in National League Central. The Pirates lost 8-6 Sunday to the Cincinnati Reds to end a three-game winning streak but still won a series after losing eight in a row.
“If somebody would have told me you’re going to lose eight series, you’d think you’re going to be horrible,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “We’re not horrible. We’re fighting. And we believe that our best baseball is in front of us. You’ve got to go play it, though.”
Second baseman Josh Harrison said that mindset has permeated the clubhouse.
“For one, nothing changes for us as far as our day-to-day grind, preparing,” he said. “But we also know what’s happened here the past couple weeks. Guys are still plugging away and coming ready to show up every day. … We’ve just got to continue bringing it every day.”
Williams is in need of a turnaround just like his club. He won his first three 2018 starts, but he is 0-2 with an 8.57 ERA in his past five starts. Most recently, he gave up three earned runs (eight total) and six hits in three innings Tuesday in a 13-8 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Williams is 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA in three career appearances, two of them starts, against the Brewers.
The Panthers announced that they have lost their second offensive lineman to injury. Amini Silatolu Nate Schmidt Jersey , the favorite to win the left guard position vacated by Andrew Norwell‘s departure in free agency, tore the meniscus in his left knee.
Head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion said in a statement that Silatolu will undergo surgery Friday, with Silatolu’s return evaluated on a week-by-week basis.
Undrafted rookie Brendan Mahon will start the preseason opener on Thursday night. Mahon started 41 games at Penn State.
“We kept an eye on him [in the draft], and in the end when he didn’t get drafted and we got into rookie free agency, he was our first call,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of Mahon Authentic Nico Hischier Jersey , via David Newton of ESPN. “We got on him early and stayed on him.”
The Panthers already were practicing without right tackle Daryl Williams, who tore his medial collateral ligament and dislocated the patella in his right knee during the first week of camp. Carolina has no timetable for Williams’ return.
Cornerback Vontae Davis says the opportunity to play in a talented young secondary is what eventually drew him to sign a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.Davis also says he’s put behind last year’s dispute with former Colts coach Chuck Pagano that eventually led to Indianapolis cutting him in early November. The 29-year-old Davis called it ”one of those unfortunate situations,” and is focused on moving forward.
He spoke during a conference call Friday, three days after signing with Buffalo.
Davis referred to the Bills as being ”a perfect fit.” The nine-year NFL veteran called it ”intriguing” to join a secondary made up of safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre’Davious White, a Defensive Rookie of the Year contender last season.
Hyde and Poyer had five interceptions each, and White four as Buffalo finished tied for sixth in the NFL with 18 interceptions.
Davis’ five-plus-season tenure with the Colts ended after he publicly complained about how the team handled his demotion to a backup role. Pagano said the decision wasn’t injury related. Davis disputed that by saying his drop in production was directly linked to a groin tear that occurred during a preseason game.
Davis elected to have surgery after he was cut.
He says he was cleared to resume working out two weeks ago Youth Michael Gallup Jersey , but isn’t sure if he’ll be able to fully participate once the Bills start practicing in May.
The Bills have a need at cornerback with starter E.J. Gaines and backups Leonard Johnson and Shareece Wright all set to become free agents in two weeks.
Davis entered the NFL as a first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins before being traded to the Colts for a second-round pick in 2012. He has started 113 of 120 games, with 342 tackles, 97 passes defensed and 22 interceptions.
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Editors:
To help you with planning for the NBA Draft in Dallas on June 21 in New York Durham Smythe Color Rush Jersey , here are some of our coverage plans. Please direct questions to Oscar Dixon (odixon(at)ap.org). Plans subject to change. This digest will be updated. All times Eastern.
TUESDAY, JUNE 19
BKN–NBA DRAFT-YOUNG
Trae Young’s numbers in his lone season of college were ridiculous. He led the nation in scoring and assists. He had NBA stars tweeting about his every move. But where he’s going to end up in the draft on Thursday night remains a bit of a mystery, for reasons that Young doesn’t fully understand. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 2 p.m.
BKN–NBA DRAFT-BIGS
RALEIGH, N.C. – Arizona one-and-done 7-footer Deandre Ayton headlines the list of big men in the NBA draft. Ayton was a dominating force in college and could be the No. 1 overall pick. He leads a position that includes top-10 prospects in Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr., Texas’ Mo Bamba and Duke’s Wendell Carter Jr. By Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 675 words and photos by 3 p.m.
BKN–NBA DRAFT-HAWKS-TRADE TALKS
ATLANTA – With four picks in the top 34, including No. 3 overall, the Atlanta Hawks are in position to move up or down in Thursday’s NBA draft. GM Travis Schlenk says he’s getting a lot of calls but says there is space on the rebuilding Hawks roster to carry four rookies next season. By Charles Odum. UPCOMING: 550 words, file photos by 3 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
BKN–NBA DRAFT
NEW YORK – Luka Doncic may have the best resume in this year’s draft. He won a Euroleague championship and MVP award last season, and a European championship with Slovenia last summer. Sometime early Thursday night he’ll add to that resume when he becomes an NBA lottery pick. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
– Sidebars on merit
THURSDAY, JUNE 21
BKN–NBA DRAFT
NEW YORK – The Phoenix Suns have the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, with big men Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and Michael Porter Jr. among the top prospects along with Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Trae Young. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Developing from 7 p.m. draft.
With:
– BKN–NBA DRAFT-THINGS TO KNOW. By Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 5 a.m. on draft day.
– BKN–NBA DRAFT-THE LATEST, real-time updates on draft day/night.
– Individual stories from each NBA team.
FRIDAY, JUNE 22
BKN–NBA DRAFT-HUERTER’S NIGHT
CLIFTON PARK Adidas Eric Staal Jersey , N.Y. – The Associated Press spends the NBA draft with early entrant Kevin Huerter, as he waits for the phone to ring and the next step in his basketball life to be decided. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos, video planned by 6 p.m.
SENT PREVIOUSLY:
Features:
BKN–NBA DRAFT-THE INTERVIEW
CHICAGO – When teams are deciding who to take in the NBA draft, the off-court interview still carries enormous weight. What happens on the floor obviously is of great importance as well, but the half-hour chats at the draft combine might be just as critical to teams that need to choose which players merit multi-million-dollar investments. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 800 words, photos on June 18.
BKN–NBA DRAFT-UNDRAFTED LIFE
There’s going to be dozens of players left out in the cold at next week’s NBA draft, players who will not hear their names called by the time the night is over. Udonis Haslem knows how they’ll feel. Undrafted in 2002, Haslem – a Miami native who has spent his entire NBA career with his hometown Miami Heat – has been in the league longer than just about any other active player. Next season will be his 16th in the NBA. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 850 words, photos on June 14.
BKN–THE OFFSEASON
There are a slew of questions that need to be answered in the NBA this offseason. There’s the obvious one: What will LeBron James do? But there are plenty of others, including the future for Kawhi Leonard, the next moves for Chris Paul and Paul George, and whether the league has seen the last of Dwyane Wade. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 950 words, photos on June 9.
Profiles:
BKN–NBA DRAFT-PORTER
Someone is going to gamble on Michael Porter Jr., and he insists it’ll pay off. There is an element of danger involved with every NBA draft pick, in that nothing is guaranteed. There isn’t a player that epitomizes the risk versus reward thinking in this draft more than Porter Jr., who some think could get taken as high as No. 2 by Sacramento and others forecast could go several picks lower because of uncertainty surrounding his health. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 750 words, photos on June 17.
BKN–NBA-DRAFT-DIVINCENZO
Donte DiVincenzo’s plan was to come out and test the NBA draft waters this spring, with the expectation that he would be returning to Villanova for another season. And then the national championship game happened. The hero of Villanova’s win over Michigan picked the perfect moment to play the game of his life. And the intrigue surrounding how his game might translate to the NBA has been growing since. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 750 words, photos on June 16.
BKN–NBA-DRAFT-ANTETOKOUNMPO
Kostas Antetokounmpo has a famous brother Youth Sam Hubbard Jersey , a great bloodline and soon, he hopes, an NBA job. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s younger brother is an early entry candidate for next week’s
With Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, it’s fairly clear that something is bothering him. It’s still not clear what it is, or how it will affect his preparations for 2018.
With Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, there’s less mystery. And while he may not be present for Organized Team Activities as of Monday, a source with knowledge of the situation says that Gronkowski will be present at some point.
Gronkowski made it clear that last month, after weeks of uncertainty, that he’s committed for 2018. And a revised contract could soon be coming.
Possibly, Gronkowski will show up for OTAs once he gets that adjusted deal.
As to Brady, it’s unclear what it would take to make him happy and to get him to show up for OTAs. And if you hope to plug your fingers in your ears and cry “not listening” or simply shout “fake news!,” the truth is that Organized Team Activities have become the centerpiece of the offseason program, where important work gets done in advance of the work to be done in training camp. If Brady’s not there, he will be behind when he reports.
Whether he’s sufficiently skilled to overcome that isn’t the issue. His teammates (especially the new ones) need to commence the process of working with him. And the coaching staff will surely be less stressed about that adjustment if/when Brady is there.
Yes, the workouts are voluntary. But quarterbacks occupy a different position as a practical matter, making them part player, part coach. If the quarterback isn’t all in, it becomes harder to get the most out of the team.
But this blurb is about Gronkowski. He’ll be there at some point, regardless of whether Brady joins him.
Professional athletes that excelled at their respective craft typically have a unique story of how they achieved greatness and separated themselves from the rest of the pack. For professional ice hockey Los Angeles Rams Jerseys Womens , the National Hockey League attracts athletes from all around the globe, which has allowed those same unique stories to unfold on a more consistent basis. It鈥檚 no secret that some of the NHL鈥檚 greatest players of all-time were given up on much too early and by a club that originally gave them their first shift, or chance, in the league.
There are a couple organizations鈥?(former) front offices that have made too many mistakes when deciding whether or not to give up on a potential rising star; and all of which seem to be during the same era too. Some, decided to part ways with former early-round draft-picks before they even stepped foot onto the ice, while others traded away future Hockey Hall Of Fame skaters during an NHL Trade Deadline with what seemed to be an impulsive decision at the time. Those moves would eventually come back to haunt those teams.
Now Authentic Tyquan Lewis Jersey ,聽TheSportster ranks the top 15 NHL players who were given up on too early.
As a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, I can tell you firsthand that some people take the words of ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. as gospel. As a teenager in the '70s, Kiper was merely an amateur scout that would write draft reports and personally hand them out to anyone who would read them. While in high school in Baltimore, Maryland, Mel Kiper had the chance to give one of his draft reports to Baltimore Colts executive Ernie Accorsi. Accorsi encouraged Kiper to turn his passion into a business and sell his draft reports to NFL fans and the rest is history. In 1981 while attending Essex Community College, Kiper started Kiper Enterprises and by 1984 he started draft coverage at ESPN before the NFL draft became what it is known as today.
Throughout the years Ricky Wagner Jersey , Kiper has been on television and in print giving grades and analysis of nearly every draft eligible player over the last 34 years. That is a lot of experience and that kind of experience is what makes Kiper so well respected in his field. If you are a younger NFL fan, Mel Kiper is all you know and if Kiper doesn't like a player or falls in love with one, fans tend to do the same. This is not the case however for NFL front office personnel. Kiper's mock drafts have rarely been correct and you would find it surprising how different NFL teams view prospects compared to the analysis of a Mel Kiper or even a Todd McShay. With that being said, we'll look at 10 NFL players that proved Mel Kiper wrong and 10 young players that will.
Brett Favre was diagnosed with “three or four” concussions during his career Jason Spezza Jersey , but the Hall of Fame quarterback guesses he had “probably thousands.”
Favre, who has become an advocate for concussion research, worries about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after taking the number of hits he took in a 20-year, 302-game NFL career.
“As we’re learning about concussions, there’s a term we use in football and maybe other sports, that I got ‘dinged,'” Favre told NBC’s Megyn Kelly Today, via The Associated Press. “When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that is a concussion.
“If that’s a concussion, then I’ve had hundreds, probably thousands, throughout my career, which is frightening.”
Abby Wambach, David Ross and Kurt Warner joined Favre on Kelly’s show. The four star athletes are investors in a company developing a concussion-treatment drug not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Favre, 48, said he would discourage boys from playing football with “no treatment solution out there.”
“I grew up playing football,” Favre said. “My dad was the coach. He was tough on me. He was a hard-nosed, just in-your-face-type of guy, and he didn’t know what concussions were about. We knew basically what a concussion was, but the thought process in those days was you would never come out of a game or practice because you had a little head ding. You would be considered, for lack of a better term Dorance Armstrong Jr. Color Rush Jersey , a sissy.
“My point in this is: 30 years ago, there wasn’t a problem in anyone’s mind from playing football. It was just a matter of being tough, and the ones who stuck it out and made the most of it. Now, what we know, is it has nothing to do with toughness, and that’s a lot scarier. So I look at my career as something wonderful. I didn’t know; had I known in Year 5, I would have looked at my future a bit closer as my career unfolded.”
Derrius Guice heard the rumors and wondered why he kept slipping in the NFL draft.Projected to be a first-round pick, Guice talked to his agents, watched six other running backs get drafted and came away with no more answers. The end of his freefall came Friday night when the Washington Redskins selected the LSU running back late in the second round with the 59th overall pick.
Guice was finally picked minutes after NFL Network reported some of his visits didn't go well and there were incidents in college NFL teams found out about.
"It did surprise me because a lot of the things came out of nowhere and weren't true, and I just didn't understand why me out of all people because I'm great to everybody. I have a great personality and I just didn't understand why everything just hit so hard with me out of everybody," Guice said on a conference call. "I'm just thankful to know that this whole process is over with, that an organization believed in me and trusted in me and I'm just ready to get to work."
Guice denied reports he got into an argument with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and assistant head coach Duce Staley during his pre-draft visit to the defending Super Bowl champions. Guice said he had no idea about NFL Network suggesting there was another story possibly coming that could be embarrassing to him and the organization.
"My trip to the Eagles was great," Guice said. "There wasn't an altercation when I went. It was great. They were also like family. Me and Duce have a great relationship."
FM-97.5 in Philadelphia reported the argument. Former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said Friday: "I think he got into a little bit of an argument with Howie, and quite possibly Deuce as well. I don't know that they all saw eye-to-eye."
Coach Jay Gruden described Guice as a "character" with a lot of energy but came out of those meetings satisfied there weren't off-field character issues with the physical, 5-foot-11, 244-pound back. Eager to upgrade the fifth-worst rushing attack in the league, the Redskins met with Guice multiple times, took him after trading down and drafted Louisville offensive tackle Geron Christian with the 74th pick they acquired from San Francisco for No. 44.
"We looked at the reports and talked to Derrius' agent and got a pretty good indication that we felt good about taking Derrius at that position," Gruden said. "Lucky to get him. This is a hard-nosed runner, plays hard, he can catch the football, he can pass protect Dorian O'Daniel Color Rush Jersey , he's got good vision and a guy we really liked in early rounds."
Senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams promised recently acquired quarterback Alex Smith he'd solve the team's running back problem. Guice joins a crowded backfield that also includes 2017 fourth-round pick Samaje Perine, third-down back Chris Thompson and Rob Kelley, who earned the starting job out of training camp last year.
Detroit traded up to the 43rd pick, one ahead of the Redskins, and took another running back in Auburn's Kerryon Johnson.
"I think there's some things that some teams are worried about in terms of some things in his history," Lions general manager Bob Quinn said, refusing to go into specifics. "There were some things. We met with Derrius. He's a good kid. There's some things that we were just a little concerned about."
Guice said falling in the draft will only increase his motivation.
"It's just a feeling that I have inside of me that I've already ran with since being little, and I just feel like it's gotten 10 times worse now," Gucie said. "I can't wait to be unleashed on the field."
On the field, Guice led all SEC running backs with 1,387 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns despite starting just six games and set the conference record with three career 250-yard games. He does have durability concerns, which combined with the reports of off-field problems likely contributed to him not being drafted higher.
"I've been talking to (my agents) the whole time either and this is all news to them as well," Guice said. "It's all hitting them and me off guard and out of nowhere and we just don't know where it's coming from our how it happened. It just kind of happened."
It was a tumultuous offseason for Guice, who changed agents and told SiriusXM Satellite Radio that at the combine one team asked him if he was gay and another asked if his mother "sells herself." The NFL conducted an investigation and found no evidence that any team asked Guice inappropriate questions.
This is the highest pick the Redskins have used on a running back since Ledell Betts in 2002. They recouped the third-round pick traded to Kansas City for Smith when they acquired the 59th and 74th picks from San Francisco.
"We felt the trade was needed," Gruden said. "We thought we could add a third-round pick, which was very critical for us."
Gruden expects to keep Christian at tackle, opening up the possibility that Ty Nsekhe moves to left guard, where Washington has an opening.
AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Allen Park, Michigan, contributed.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to one of their best starts in recent memory http://www.officialcanucks.com/authentic-adidas-henrik-sedin-jersey , and you get the feeling that they'll avoid the usual second-half unraveling that takes them right out of the playoff race. While this season has seen some ups and downs, it's safe to say the Leafs are finally being taken seriously, and that they're headed in the right direction.
Led by franchise superstar Auston Matthews and other talents in William Nylander, Nazem Kadri, Patrick Marleau, James van Riemsdyk and others, Toronto sits at second in the Atlantic Division and they look poised to go on a lengthy run during the 2018 playoffs.
However, the Maple Leafs don't come without their flaws. They could use plenty of help on their blue line http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/kevin-king-jersey , and a little more depth on offence could go a long way. The Maple Leafs also have the youthful resources to make a big a trade, but they also need to clear out some salary cap space if GM Lou Lamoriello is to make a blockbuster deal. With young stars needing new contracts in the near future, the Leafs have a whole lot of treasure in their chest, but they definitely need to make some key personnel decisions if they're going to become real contenders.
So who should stay and who should go? Here are eight players the Maple Leafs should pursue in a trade, and seven they should try dealing.
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon announced on Thursday that he is planning to bring back the infamous XFL in the year 2020. He said he plans to wait two years because he wants fan interaction to rule. In that, he wants football fans to tell him and his team in the XFL what they want in their football. A lot of things are going to be different from the NFL it seems.McMahon mentioned that, while he did not clear the idea of bringing XFL back with wife Linda, he planned to do this with a lot of input. Last time Nick Perry Jersey , he felt it all moved too fast and that was a lesson learned. He wants to make the quality of the play much better with a game that fans want to see.Vince McMahon was asked during the live stream of the announcement about players coming to the XFL. Certain people were mentioned in the question, such as Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel, and Colin Kaepernick. All three quarterbacks no longer play in the NFL, but did prove some ability to play in their time. While McMahon did say he would love if Tebow came over, he also pointed out that some people might be ruled out when it comes to playing in the XFL.