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But the two-time All-Star said he’s not going to spend the offseason dwelling on where he’ll be playing next season.
Walker has one year remaining on a four-year Ravens Authentic Jerseys , $48 million contract and while he’d like to remain with the Hornets – where he’s the franchise’s all-time leading scorer – he knows nothing is for certain after a second straight non-playoff season prompted team owner Michael Jordan to hire Mitch Kupchak as the new general manager.
That means that if Kupchak decides a massive rebuilding project is in order, Walker could be the first one out the door given he’s the team’s biggest bargaining chip and has a favorable contract.
”I have no idea,” Walker said Wednesday regarding his future after Charlotte’s regular season finale. ”That is out of my control. I am just going to focus on getting better as a player. That is really all you can do. I don’t know what they are going to do.”
The 6-foot-1 Walker is coming off three tremendous seasons in Charlotte where he has averaged more than 20 points and five assists per game.
Walker, who led Connecticut to a national championship, has never won a playoff series since his arrival in Charlotte six seasons ago.
Kupchak offered no hints over the team’s plans with Walker during an introductory press conference on Tuesday.
”My understanding is he is great in the locker room and great in the community,’ Kupchak said. ”I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to have a player like that going forward.”
Other things to know about the Hornets heading into the offseason:
NOT GOING THERE: While some other star players have been outspoken about what their team needs personnel-wise to get better, Walker refused to go down that path. ”I don’t want to answer that question because it could get real ugly,” Walker said. ”I will leave it up to the guys upstairs.”
CLIFFORD’S FUTURE: Coach Steve Clifford said he felt this was the most talented team he’s had with the Hornets, which made finishing 10 games under .500 all the more disappointing. His future with the team remains uncertain after his teams have failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs the last five seasons.
”The NBA is about winning in the playoffs, so if you want to look back at our five years I do feel very good about where we are and how we are perceived versus where it was five years ago,” Clifford said. ”We made great gains. To be relevant and respected in this league is a long way from where we started.”
HOWARD’S BIG SEASON: Hornets center Dwight Howard enjoyed an impressive bounce back season with Charlotte individually, averaging 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in 81 games after struggling to find his way in Houston and Atlanta the previous two years resulting in him being traded twice. ”This year really showed a lot of people this guy really takes this game seriously,” said Howard, who finished with a franchise-record 53 double-doubles.
PLAYING WITH HOWARD: While Howard excelled, several players had to learn to adjust their games to play with him, including Nic Batum. He excelled with Cody Zeller in the pick-and-roll the previous seasons, but Batum spent more time dumping the ball to Howard in the low post and said he had to adjust his own game to play with Howard.
”I thought I feed him the ball a lot inside and play through him because he’s so big and has so much potential inside Womens Jared McCann Jersey ,” Batum said. ”If you have a guy like that you have to use him. … Did I give up a lot of my game? Yes, maybe. But I don’t care as long as it is good for the team.”
HORNETS LACKED SPIRIT: One overriding theme of Clifford’s post-season press conference was that he felt his team lacked ”spirit” this season. ”We’ve always had spirit,” Clifford said, ”but we didn’t have that this year. Some games (we did). But not nearly the togetherness, the spirit that we’ve had for years. And they know that. I’ve let them know. So you do have to look at that and I don’t know what the answer is. But it has to start with me.”
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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 Authentic Kyle Quincey Jersey Kids , 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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Before Falcons receiver Julio Jones worked out with Terrell Owens Eagles Elite Jerseys , the former Alabama receiver worked out with fellow former Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley. And Jones rubbed off on Ridley, apparently.
Via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, Falcons players have been gushing about Ridley, taken by Atlanta in round one.
“He was highlighted during the meetings on a run play, making a great block,” tackle Ryan Schraeder said. “That told me he’s going to fit in well here. And he’s a humble kid.”
Safety Ricardo Allen agrees.
“One thing me and the veteran DBs already talked about and one of the things I’m already excited to see is him in year four and year five,” Allen said Mikkel Boedker Jersey , per McClure. “I know that’s kind of jumping ahead early, but because he’s such a disciplined route runner and because he already kind of moves like a veteran, I just want to see when he becomes a veteran how much better a player he’s going to be.
“He’s the real deal. And he’s a good person. He’s not walking around like he thinks he’s hot sh-t. He’s walking around like a really good dude.”
Ridley could end up doing a variety of things for the Falcons. One thing he won’t be doing is replacing Jones. Despite his absence of offseason workouts, it would be a shock if Jones — under contract for three more years — isn’t present when camp opens, or at the latest when the season starts. Which means that Ridley and Jones together could do big things.
“I feel pretty good about how I’ve performed out here and bonded with the team,” Ridley said, according to McClure. “I definitely need to clean up a lot of things. But I feel pretty good about myself http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-anthony-averett-jersey , where I’m at right now.”
The could make the Falcons feel pretty good about their offense, for 2018 and beyond.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Blues goaltender Jake Allen is expected to miss the first week or more of training camp because of back spasms.
General manager Doug Armstrong announced Allen’s injury Wednesday on the eve of camp. Allen is out at least 10-14 days, which would put him in position to return for the end of the preseason and be ready for the start of the regular season.
St. Louis signed veteran Chad Johnson during the offseason to replace Carter Hutton as Allen’s backup. Allen, 28, had a 2.75 goals-against average and .906 save percentage splitting time with Hutton last season.
The Blues also re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Jordan Schmaltz to a $1.4 million, two-year contract. They also said forward prospect Erik Foley is out indefinitely with a concussion and goaltending prospect Luke Opilka is out indefinitely after hip surgery.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — While the offense finds it rhythm Womens Odell Beckham Jr Jersey , the Philadelphia Eagles know they can count on a smothering defense.
The group shut down Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons again in their season opener and now have a few extra days rest before hitting the road next week. Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox dominated while playing 93 percent of the snaps in the 18-12 victory.
“It’s a credit to him and how well he’s worked in the offseason and obviously in training camp,” coach Doug Pederson said Friday. “Fletcher is a tremendous, tremendous player. He’s a strong, powerful guy, very disruptive in the pocket. Those are things that you like to see from your top players.”
The Falcons were held to 299 total yards, including 74 rushing. Ryan struggled most of the night, going 21 of 43 for 251 yards and one interception.
Philadelphia’s defense did its best work inside the red zone. Kamu Grugier-Hill stopped Devonta Freeman on fourth down from the 1 on the opening series and need a stand to seal the win. The defense forced Ryan to throw four straight incomplete passes from the 10 on the final possession only to have a penalty give the Falcons one more chance from the 5. Ronald Darby prevented Julio Jones from making a catch in the left corner of the end zone on the last play .
“We put a big emphasis on red zone,” safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “Our scheme is pretty simple, we’re really good at what we do, we detail every small thing, and we trust our players. When we get down to it, it’s nothing complex or anything. We just do our jobs and we trust our matchups. Obviously guys show up, and it’s been crucial for our team.”
The offense took a while to get going after a shaky preseason in which most starters didn’t play much. With Carson Wentz still recovering from knee surgery and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery also sidelined, the unit was out of sync.
Nick Foles wasn’t sharp but played mistake-free until a pass bounced out of rookie Dallas Goedert’s hands and went right to Atlanta’s Deion Jones. But Pederson turned to his trick plays and called Foles’ number in the third quarter to invigorate the offense and the crowd. Nelson Agholor’s 15-yard pass to Foles extended a drive that ended with Jay Ajayi’s first of two TD runs.
“I knew the play was going to be effective based on what the Falcons had been showing up in that situation, and I needed it to work and be a spark for the offense Authentic Fred Warner Jersey ,” Pederson said. “I try not to do things as conventional at times, but at the same time, I want to make sure that I’m doing the best for the football team and giving us a chance to succeed.”
The Eagles will play at Tampa Bay on Sept. 16. They came out of the opener without any significant injuries and will get linebacker Nigel Bradham back against the Buccaneers. He served a one-game suspension Thursday night.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The stat sheet couldn’t have been more lopsided. The San Francisco 49ers had decided edges in yards, first downs, time of possession and just about every other statistical category except one and ended on the losing end against Arizona.
That’s what committing five turnovers and getting no takeaways will do.
C.J. Beathard threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles and Raheem Mostert also coughed one up for the 49ers, who gave away a game to the previously winless Arizona Cardinals in a 28-18 loss Sunday.
The Niners (1-4) lost despite outgaining the Cardinals (1-4) by a 447 to 220 yard margin, recording 23 more first downs, running 43 more plays and more than doubling Arizona’s time of possession.
“You look at a lot of those (stats), it’s hard to find how you lost a game,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Then it’s very easy when you look at the turnover column. I haven’t been part of any game, I don’t think many people have, where five turnovers to zero leads to a win. We have to improve that drastically to have a chance.”
The Niners started the game well, taking the opening kick and driving 75 yards for a touchdown. Beathard completed all five passes on the drive as San Francisco exploited Arizona with screen plays, including the 5-yard touchdown pass to Matt Breida.
But the next eight drives resulted in one interception Youth Paul Worrilow Jersey , two fumbles, one missed field goal and four punts.
“It is self-inflicted wounds and those are toughest ones to swallow,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “Because you don’t feel like it is the opponent, you feel like you are hurting yourself. We have to clean those up in practice.”
Despite those woes, San Francisco’s defense shut down rookie Josh Rosen after allowing a 75-yard touchdown pass on Arizona’s first play and the Niners were in position to take this game when Beathard threw a 1-yard TD to Trent Taylor on fourth down with 6:51 to go to make it 14-12.
Chandler Jones then batted away a potential game-tying 2-point conversion try, but the 49ers forced a three-and-out to get the ball back with 5:50 to play needing only a field goal for the lead.
Then on the third play, Beathard dropped back and Haason Reddick knocked the ball out of his hands. Josh Bynes scooped it up and ran 23 yards for the game-sealing touchdown.
Beathard threw one more interception before adding a garbage time touchdown that did little to ease the pain of this loss.
“You can’t win ball games turning the ball over five times,” Beathard said. “I feel like we played well in all the other aspects except for turnovers. Just got to take better care of the ball.”
The 49ers held Arizona to just 3.0 yards per play after allowing a 75-yard touchdown pass from Josh Rosen to Christian Kirk on Arizona’s opening play when free safety Adrian Colbert jumped up in the play to take away Larry Fitzgerald and let Kirk get open deep.
But the defense was unable to help the offense out by generating any turnovers against a rookie quarterback.
“It’s frustrating,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “Obviously the first play of the game on defense, we give up a big play. We just have to be better than that. It was a simple play, it was easy to get stopped and we just didn’t execute it like we needed to. So, that’s where you need to because after that they didn’t have much. We gave them 75 yards to start and I think they had 200 in the game and 30 rushing. So, we have to find a way to get that out of there.”
After 0-16, what did they have to lose?
Cleveland’s selection of polarizing Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick was a major surprise, and the Browns followed with another shocker, taking Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward at No. 4 – several slots higher than most mock drafts predicted.
The team addressed the need to replace retired left tackle Joe Thomas and added a running back and defensive end on the second day as new Browns general manager John Dorsey was praised for bold moves and sound strategy.
But Saturday’s choices of troubled Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway in the fourth round and Louisiana-Lafayette cornerback Simeon Thomas were curious.
Callaway failed a drug test at the NFL combine and his alarming list of legal issues with the Gators plunged him from potentially being picked in the first round to No. 114.
Thomas missed time in 2013, 2014 and 2015 for academic reasons and NCAA violations. He was one of 13 players charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief after they were accused of entering a dorm room and taking $2,400 worth of items.
Shortly after making the Callaway pick, Dorsey left the team’s draft room to defend the choice. Dorsey told reporters the team was satisfied it had done its homework on Callaway’s background, just as it had on Mayfield, whose Heisman Trophy-winning year began with an offseason arrest.
”Character is important,” Dorsey said. ”I think it’s a case-by-case basis and you sit and meet individuals, and then you begin to understand what they are as people. If you sit there and understand his situations and his life story Authentic Allen Robinson Jersey , you can see a guy that actually loves the game of football.”
Callaway’s passion notwithstanding, his selection seems at odds with the Browns’ message of adding quality people to change their culture.
But Dorsey, hired in December, has a track record for picking players at risk. While Kansas City’s GM, he drafted wide receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Marcus Peters and tight end Travis Kelce despite all bringing off-field baggage into the league. Each has made multiple Pro Bowls.
Dorsey feels Callaway would have been one of the top two receivers drafted if not for his off-field problems, which include a season-long suspension in 2017 during an investigation into felony credit card fraud, marijuana possession and a sexual assault complaint.
Browns coach Hue Jackson acknowledged the team’s draft class might not be choir boys.
”Obviously, there are some guys that are in this group that have some spots on them,” he said. ”But trust me, we’ve done our due diligence in making sure that we vetted it all out and we feel very good about these guys in our organization. There’s no question that we have the resources in place to help them through it and we’ll kind of go from there.”
Here are some other takeaways from a draft the Browns hope begins their turnaround:
THIRD IN LINE: Mayfield will go from No. 1 pick to No. 3 quarterback. For now.
Jackson anointed Tyrod Taylor his starter as the Browns want to bring Mayfield along slowly. But Jackson knows things can change once training camp opens and Mayfield could move up the depth chart.
”Right now Brent Seabrook Jersey Kids , Tyrod is the starter,” Jackson said. ”If Baker can understand the National Football League and all the rigors and the grinding that you have to go through, I am not going to ever stop a player from being the best he can be. But we have a plan and I want to work that plan as much as we can.
”Now, can a player supersede that? You never know. I have not had that happen. Right now, this team is going to be led by Tyrod Taylor.”
SELLING POINT: Mayfield might have been the top choice from the outset for some inside the Browns’ organization. Not Jackson. He was skeptical about the Heisman winner until his pro day.
”The ball jumps off his arm,” Jackson said. ”He has a quick arm. He is very accurate with the ball. From there, obviously, spending some more time with him when he came here. Baker Mayfield from a football IQ standpoint is as good as I have been around. He has tremendous arm talent, more so than anybody knows.”
RUNNING GAME: Second-round pick Nick Chubb compared his running style to Miami’s Frank Gore. Jackson sees the former Georgia star as ideally suited to run in Cleveland and as a nice complement to Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson.
”A guy that is very physical, very tough,” Jackson said. ”He can create runs on his own. This is a guy that if we are going to run the football the way that we plan on running it Alex Goligoski Jersey , you have got to have good backs. With him and Carlos and Duke, we feel like we have some guys that we can do that with.”
STILL NEEDED: Victories. Cleveland is 1-31 under Jackson, who needs to get off to a strong start in 2018. The Browns have made progress talent-wise in the offseason. Now it has to translate to the field.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers will be a little short-handed as they prepare for their home opener against Kanas City.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, cornerback Joe Haden and guard David DeCastro could all miss practice time after getting dinged up in a season-opening tie in Cleveland.
Roethlisberger is dealing with a right (throwing) elbow issue, Haden has a hamstring problem and DeCastro fractured one of his hands during the four-hour marathon in a monsoon.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he will monitor their participation before making any sort of judgment on whether they will be available when the Chiefs (1-0) visit Heinz Field.
The injuries don't appear to be serious, with Haden the most likely candidate to sit out if his hamstring doesn't recover in time.
Tomlin described Roethlisberger's achy elbow the byproduct of "the bumps and bruises associated with play."
Roethlisberger raised his concerns after the bizarre 21-21 tie in Cleveland, a game in which the 36-year-old turned the ball over five times, three on interceptions and twice on fumbles. Tomlin said Roethlisberger's elbow had nothing to do with the miscues.
DeCastro fractured his hand during the game but did not miss a play. The All-Pro cleared the way for a pair of touchdown runs by second-year running back James Conner, including a textbook kickout block on Conner's 22-yard scoring run in the second quarter.
If Haden is unable to play, the Steelers will turn to Cam Sutton to fill the void. Sutton grabbed his first career NFL interception when he picked off Tyrod Taylor's lob late in the fourth quarter. Sutton's play was part of what Tomlin described as a "very positive" performance by his team's restructured secondary.
Tomlin also praised the new alignment at outside linebacker of T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree. The two switched sides during the offseason, with Dupree set up to go at the quarterback's blind side. The two combined for five of Pittsburgh's seven sacks Zach Hyman Jersey , four of them going to Watt.
The Steelers are also planning to get ready for Kansas City without All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell, who remains out while waiting to sign his one-year franchise tender. Tomlin said he has not had any contact with Bell, who has dominated the Chiefs during his career. He is averaging 126.8 yards rushing against Kansas City in four regular-season games and racked up 170 yards in a divisional round win two years ago.
Conner filled in capably for Bell in Cleveland, piling up 192 total yards on 36 touches. Tomlin is not concerned about relying too heavily on Conner, pointing out Conner was a workhorse during his college career at the University of Pittsburgh.
"That's one of the things that made him attractive," Tomlin said.
Cheap New York Jets Jerseys"I mean Womens Ryan Kerrigan Jersey , honestly, I was shocked," Miller said. "I always felt like Khalil and Aaron Donald were untradeable guys. J.J. Watt, I thought guys like that were untradeable. Then they traded him. A guy like Khalil, he only comes around once every lifetime. You want to keep guys like that."
The Broncos' star linebacker said it's "going to be a little weird" Sunday not seeing his friend, whom he's trained with the last two summers, when the Raiders (0-1) visit Denver (1-0), where Mack once collected five sacks in a single half.
"He's talented," Broncos QB Case Keenum said, "but I'm pretty sure they're going to play 11 guys. They're not just going to put 10 out there without him."
Raiders new/old coach Jon Gruden said he's been asked aplenty about the trade that sent shockwaves through the NFL and smiles across locker rooms across the AFC West.
"And rightfully so," Gruden said. "He's a great guy. He's a great player. It's unfortunate we don't have him. But we feel we did the right thing for this football team, for the future of the Raiders and for this building process.
"I know we've got to prove it. But so does he."
Mack began doing just that Sunday night at Green Bay , fresh off signing a six-year, $141 million contract, $26.5 million more than Miller got in 2016 in the shadows of his Super Bowl 50 MVP performance.
Hours after Miller wrecked Seattle's game plan by sacking Russell Wilson three times and snaring the ball out of power back Chris Carson's arms for a forced fumble and fumble recovery, Mack burst into the NFC North conversation with a pick-6 and a strip sack of backup QB DeShone Kizer in which he, too Andrew Shaw Jersey , snatched the ball from his opponent.
Whereas Miller's showing led to a 27-24 Denver victory, Mack's dominant debut was rendered a footnote when Aaron Rodgers returned from a knee injury at halftime to lead the Packers back from a 20-point deficit for a 24-23 win.
One night later, the Raiders lost 33-13 to the Rams, barely touching quarterback Jared Goff just over a week after trading their star pass rusher to the Bears for a package that included two first-round picks. Bruce Irvin had the only sack when Goff held the ball too long.
Mack is still on the Raiders' minds.
Quarterback Derek Carr said he misses his friendship more than his play on the field.
"We still text, and we still talk all the time, but not seeing him every day is weird," Carr said. "I think that was the hardest part."
Other subplots as the Broncos seek their sixth straight 2-0 start:
KING STING
Broncos punter Marquette King didn't want to talk about Gruden this week, but he made it clear he had hard feelings over his release from the Raiders this spring.
He said he never had a chance to speak with Oakland's coach before getting jettisoned.
"I just saw him on car commercials and stuff," King said. "I get to see him two times a year."
And that was certainly a factor in King's decision to come to Denver.
"I just wanted to find the best place that I thought I would fit," King said. "I think there is somewhat of a revenge factor in there, too."
BRYANT BACK
Broncos coach Vance Joseph said Martavis Bryant's re-signing with Oakland only adds to Denver's already stiff challenge Sunday.
"Absolutely. He's a guy that's a vertical threat. I faced him in Cincinnati when he was in Pittsburgh for six games. He caught a 98-yard touchdown on my secondary, so I won't ever forget that," Joseph said.
PRESSURE POINT
After trading Mack, there were questions about how the Raiders would generate a pass rush. The results weren't good in the opener as Oakland had one sack and four quarterback pressures against the Rams.
The Raiders had more pressures in every game last year with Mack leading the defense.
Gruden said playing better defense on first and second down will give Bruce Irvin and Arden Key more chances to get to the QB on third down.
"You have to get them on third-and-long when you can cut loose your blitzes and some of your great rushers," he said.
HOUSE OF HORRORS
Gruden has had little success in Denver in his career, losing all five trips to the Mile High City. Gruden lost every year with Oakland from 1998-2001, and again with Tampa Bay in his final year as a coach there in 2008.
In all Travis Konecny Jersey , Gruden's teams are 1-9 against the Broncos, with the one win coming in Oakland in 2001. The Raiders won 38-28 on Nov. 5, 2001, behind three TD passes by Rich Gannon.
He has fond memories of that lone victory over Denver.
"That was the greatest win of my career as the Raiders coach, beating the Broncos," Gruden said, "because I knew how far we'd come in just a few years."
Arthur Rosen puzzled over the photocopied sheet of paper listing all sorts of exotic bets on baseball games, including one in which the number of runs scored and hits made in Tuesday night’s New York Yankees-Seattle Mariners game had to exceed 29.”I lived in Vegas 20 years and I never heard of a bet like that,” the 83-year-old retired truck driver said.
Rosen was one of more than 100 people at a New Jersey racetrack at 1:30 on a Tuesday afternoon, ready to plunk down money on professional sports in the first week it has been legal here. Although revenue figures won’t be released for a few weeks yet, Monmouth Park racetrack and Atlantic City’s Borgata casino say they’re delighted with the extra business sports betting has generated in its first few days.
”We’re really pleased with the early results, especially considering it’s a slow time on the sports betting calendar,” said Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US, which runs the sports book at Monmouth Park.
Likewise, the Borgata is seeing an uptick in business at its race book, which has been expanded to cover sports bets.
”The revenue was definitely beyond what it would have been Scottie Upshall Jersey ,” said spokeswoman Liza Costandino.
Sports betting is bringing new demographics into what was traditionally an older, male clientele at the Borgata’s horse racing betting operation. Younger customers are stopping in to bet on sports, including more women.
”A full bachelorette party came in and they all made sports bets,” Costandino said.
The casinos and tracks report their sports betting revenue to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which will publicly release monthly totals along with traditional casino revenue. The next such report is due for release July 12, and neither the Borgata nor Monmouth would reveal their totals before then.
Last month, New Jersey won a U.S. Supreme Court case that cleared the way for all 50 states to offer sports betting, including wagers on individual games, should they desire. Delaware was the first state to begin doing so after the court decision; New Jersey was the second.
So far in New Jersey, just the Borgata and Monmouth Park are offering sports betting. The soon-to-open Ocean Resort Casino, formerly known as Revel, is due to open June 28 and plans to offer sports betting on its first day of operation, owner Bruce Deifik said.
The property will go before state gambling regulators on Wednesday to seek a casino license. William Hill will run the sports betting operation for Ocean Resort as well as Monmouth Park. Eventually, most of Atlantic City’s casinos (there will be nine by the end of next week) and its three racetracks plan to offer sports betting.
Both facilities said the early action has been mostly on individual baseball games and World Cup soccer matches. Customers also are making long-term bets on who will win the World Series or Super Bowl, a market segment expected to increase as the baseball playoffs and the start of the NFL season draw closer in the fall.
Michael Black, of Tinton Falls, New Jersey Womens Bryan Rust Jersey , was at Monmouth Park to wager on Tuesday’s Cubs-Dodgers baseball game, betting that the two teams combined would score 9 or more runs. A boiler installer, Black tends to be busier in the fall, and has been able to visit Monmouth Park several times since sports betting began last Thursday. He’s up $175 so far, he said.
”As soon as football opens, this place is going to be packed,” he said. ”This has been a long time coming.”
Fred Reyes, of Jersey City, had been to the track four times since last Thursday, and had yet to lose a sports bet.
”So far I’m up close to $1,000,” he said, betting on the Cubs to win Tuesday.
Rosen was enjoying the many novel ways he could risk money on sporting events, particularly on a bet combining runs and hits in a baseball game.
”The Mets and Colorado is 32,” he said. ”That’s a whole lot. You think the Yankees will score in the first inning? It’s tough, huh?”
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The two each had two goals and an assist as the playoff-bound Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Monday night.
Andreas Johnsson also scored as Maple Leafs extended a franchise record with their 48th win and matched the team mark for points (103) set in 2003-04.
Matthews has five goals and 10 points during his seven-game streak to give him 60 points in 60 games. Meanwhile, Nylander is up to 59 points. They trail only Mitch Marner (69) in team scoring with two regular-season games remaining.
”I feel like we’ve had (chemistry) since we started playing with each other last year and especially with (Zach) Hyman as well,” Matthews said. ”The more you play with somebody, obviously, you build more chemistry and get to know them and have a feel for where they’re going to be in certain areas. We definitely showed that tonight.
Backup goalie Curtis McElhinney stopped 32 shots to help Toronto win for the 15th time in the last 17 at home while getting their 28th win at the Air Canada Centre.
”Home’s been pretty good to us and we feel we have an advantage when we step into the arena here,” Matthews said.
Sam Reinhart got his career-high 24th goal for the last-place Sabres, and Jason Pominville also scored. Chad Johnson finished with 31 saves.
Buffalo came into the game following a 7-4 win Saturday at Nashville.
”You think you’re heading in the right direction and then you take a step back,” Pominville said.
Matthews broke a 1-1 tie on the power play at 5:01 of the second period as he scored top shelf on Johnson from just inside the faceoff circle.
Nylander made it 3-1 on a breakaway at 7:39 after Matthews caught Buffalo on a bad line change and made a stretch pass ahead to the streaking Swede Michael Hutchinson Jersey , who broke in alone to beat Johnson glove side.
Nylander added his second of the period for a three-goal lead, going backand-to-forehand before snapping it under the bar for his 19th a little less than three minutes later.
”I thought the first period was pretty good, then we tied it up with the power-play goal,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said. ”Then we didn’t manage the puck very well, get caught on a line change and game gets out of reach. (The Leafs) have a terrific rush game and can finish.”
The Sabres pulled to 4-2 with their second power-play goal 2:56 into the third when Pominville put home a rebound for his 14th.
Matthews made it 5-2 with his second power-play goal of the game, finishing off a Nylander pass for his 33rd goal and 60th point in 60 games.
Johnsson opened the scoring at 5:44 of the first when he deflected a pass from Tomas Plekanec past Johnson.
Buffalo had its opportunities to put a goal on the board before the period was through with Toronto defenseman Roman Polak taking back-to-back high sticking penalties – including a double minor – but the Sabres couldn’t get much going.
Polak had 5:37 of ice time in the first, a secondary assist on Johnsson’s goal and six minutes in high-sticking penalties.
The Sabres began the second period with more than three minutes remaining in Polak’s double minor and finally took advantage when Reinhart deflected Rasmus Ristolainen’s point shot past McElhinney to tie it at 2:27.
NOTES: Toronto’s 103 points 14 years ago came before the NHL started using shootouts to decide games tied after overtime. The Maple Leafs have seven shootout wins this season. … McElhinney made rare back-to-back starts, with coach Mike Babcock choosing to give starter Frederik Andersen some extra rest. Andersen has faced the most shots of any goalie this season and is third in minutes played. … Toronto F Leo Komarov was out of the lineup for personal reasons. He was replaced by Matt Martin.
UP NEXT
Sabres: Host Ottawa on Wednesday night in their final home game before finishing with two on the road.
Maple Leafs: At New Jersey on Thursday night before returning home to close the regular season.
Carlos Dunlap walked into the Cincinnati Bengals locker room and noticed a group of videographers and reporters waiting by his locker in a far corner of the room.”Y’all looking for me?” he said.
Indeed Chris Tierney Jersey , Dunlap was the focus on the first day of mandatory minicamp after skipping most of the voluntary offseason workouts in Cincinnati. The ninth-year defensive end chose to work out on his own while his agent negotiated a new deal with the team, costing him $300,000 in bonuses.
Rather than skip the minicamp as well, he decided to catch up on what he’s missed with a new defense being implemented.
Plus, he’s encouraged by the progress made on a deal that would keep him in Cincinnati well beyond 2018.
”There are no hard feelings between any of us,” Dunlap said Tuesday. ”This is the process. Both sides understand it.”
Dunlap is a key to the Bengals’ hopes of a turnaround this season. They slid to 18th in the league overall and 30th against the run last season while missing out on the playoffs for a second straight year. Coordinator Paul Guenther left to join Jon Gruden with the Raiders, and Teryl Austin was hired as his replacement.
Dunlap has been a game-changer in Cincinnati with his ability to rush the quarterback and bat down passes. He’s second on the team’s career sacks list with 64 , and he’s been the best lineman in the league at batting down passes over the past few seasons.
Coaches have been trying to get him to be more consistent not only from game-to-game Craig Anderson Jersey , but within games as well. His number of plays could diminish this season as Cincinnati integrates some of its young pass rushers into the line rotation.
Carl Lawson had 8 sacks last season, the most by an NFL rookie and one sack shy of Dunlap’s team rookie record from 2010.
”They’re very adamant about having a big rotation, and I would too with all this talent on the D-line,” Dunlap said.
Dunlap and tackle Geno Atkins have anchored the line since 2010. Atkins leads the NFL in sacks by an interior lineman over the past few years. Dunlap had a career-high 13 sacks in 2015, but slipped to 8 the following season and 7 last year, third on the team.
By working out on his own the past few months, he missed a chance to learn the system implemented by Austin. He said the biggest change is in terminology.
”They’re pretty much similar in scheme – minor tweaks here or there – but they’re things we already had in our defense,” Dunlap said. ”So it’s not like a full spring cleaning or anything.”
Coach Marvin Lewis said Dunlap won’t get much time on the field during the three-day minicamp because he’s missed so much practice time.
”It’s a chance for him to get a preview of what will happen during training camp Authentic Derrick Henry Jersey ,” Lewis said. ”He’ll get very limited repetitions (in minicamp) just because these guys have been working here for an amount of weeks and he hasn’t been here.”
WOODSIDE CHARGED: Rookie quarterback Logan Woodside – a seventh-round pick from Toledo – practiced Tuesday after arraignment in northern Kentucky. He was charged over the weekend with speeding and driving under the influence in Bellevue, Kentucky, according to information in his case file in Campbell County District Court. The Bengals said they’re aware of the matter and gathering information. Lewis declined further comment.
EIFERT MISSING: Tight end Tyler Eifert was in the locker room but didn’t participate in the afternoon practice. Lewis declined to say why the often-injured tight end wasn’t on the field. ”He was here all morning and then all of a sudden he wasn’t,” Lewis said. ”I’m sure he’s being dealt with in some kind of medical fashion. That’s the only reason a guy wouldn’t be here.”
Eifert was limited to two games last season because of chronic back problems. He signed a one-year deal after the season. Lewis said Eifert has been doing well so far in his latest comeback.
”When we start to play football, then we’ll have an idea where he is,” Lewis said.
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Asked how the Atlanta Braves have surprised many experts by establishing a three-game lead in the National League East at the season’s halfway point Madison Bowey Jersey , catcher Kurt Suzuki didn’t hesitate.
“This team has no fear,” he said Saturday night after an 11-4 victory in St. Louis. “We have a lot of young guys but we also have some veterans. We approach every game the same way.”
Atlanta’s consistency has been too much for the Cardinals this weekend. Behind solid starting pitching and an explosive offense, the Braves (47-34) have outscored St. Louis 16-5 in winning the series’ first two games. They go for a sweep on Sunday at Busch Stadium.
Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (5-4, 2.14 ERA) will try to match what Julio Teheran and Max Fried have done in the series. Neither allowed a run in a combined 12 2/3 innings, with Fried enjoying the best outing of his short big league career Saturday night.
The former first-round pick of the San Diego Padres allowed only four hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings, recording 11 strikeouts against the whiff-prone Cardinals. The hard-throwing Foltynewicz made his return from the 10-day disabled list Monday night, allowing one hit and one run in five innings while walking four and fanning four against Cincinnati in a no-decision.
“The arm was just kind of heavy,” he said to mlb.com. “You can’t really practice these situations when you’re out there with your adrenaline running, but just a couple of times I just couldn’t really extend too far. But adrenaline pushed me through.”
Foltynewicz has faced St. Louis three times in his career, going 1-2 with a 9.95 ERA and yielding a whopping 22 hits over 12 2/3 innings.
In an attempt to avoid a fourth straight loss Wayne Gretzky Jersey , the Cardinals (42-39) will turn to former Atlanta prospect John Gant (2-2, 3.48). Gant, replacing the disabled Michael Wacha in the rotation, pitched the best game of his career Monday night, limiting Cleveland to an infield single by Yan Gomes over seven innings in a 5-0 victory.
Gant walked five and fanned four, but his off-speed pitches kept the Indians off-balance all game and enabled him to post his first win as a starter.
“We’re lucky the third base bag got in the way of Gomes’ (grounder) or we wouldn’t have had anything,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said to mlb.com of Gant’s performance.
Before plating four runs in the ninth inning Saturday night, St. Louis managed two runs in its previous 26 innings. Its offense has been primarily singles and homers, as it’s on pace for the fewest doubles and triples in the majors.
Help may be on the way when the Cardinals start a nine-game road trip Monday night against Arizona. Shortstop Paul DeJong may be activated off the disabled list after a weekend rehab stint for Triple-A Memphis.
That could result in the move of first baseman Jose Martinez, who’s on a 100-RBI pace but has been poor afield Zack Smith Jersey , to his natural outfield position. In fact, Martinez played the last three innings Saturday night in right field.
“Jose Martinez has earned a spot in the lineup every day, so we have to figure out a spot to play him,” general manager Michael Girsch said to mlb.com.
Russell Wilson struck out in his first spring training at-bat with the New York Yankees.The Seattle Seahawks quarterback pinch hit for AL Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge in the fifth inning against Atlanta on Friday and swung past a 2-2 pitch from left-hander Max Fried.
"The best thing for me is, I had no fear," Wilson said. "I went up there with confidence. I was ready and will always remember that. And I'll remember when they announced my name."
Wilson received a loud ovation when introduced and fouled back the first pitch sharply to the screen.
"I used to go crazy when Derek Jeter walked up to the plate," Wilson said. "To have that feeling and experience, I'll never, never forget that. It always be a memory of mine, forever."
The decision to give Wilson an at-bat was made Thursday Womens Henrik Zetterberg Jersey , and the Seahawks approved. Wilson did not take the field in the sixth to play defense.
"It was cool to see," said Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who was in the on-deck circle. "We were anticipating it all day.
A former minor league infielder, Wilson is spending this week working out with the Yankees, who acquired him from Texas last month and wanted to observe his leadership skills. He wants to soak up the attitude of a franchise with a record 27 World Series titles.
The 29-year-old Wilson led the Seahawks to the 2014 Super Bowl championship.
"It's been great all week," said Wilson, who took batting practice in a group that included Stanton and Judge.
Wilson will end his stay at Yankees camp Saturday.
"I think we share the same philosophy, it's not easy to win," Wilson said. "These guys know what they're doing. This is going to be a great baseball team."
In 93 career minor league games between Rookie-level Tri-City (2010) and Class A Asheville (2011) in Colorado's system, Wilson hit .229 with 19 stolen bases Tyler Ennis Jersey , five homers and 26 RBIs. In his last 15 games with Asheville in 2011, Wilson hit .302, had five extra-base hits and nine RBIs.
Wilson was selected by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2010 amateur draft, and was acquired by Texas in the minor league phase of the 2013 winter meeting draft. He participated in Rangers' spring training workouts in 2014 and '15.
NOTES: RHP Masahiro Tanaka was not worried after not getting through the second inning of his first start. "Mistakes on my part," Tanaka said through a translator. He allowed four runs and four hits in 1 1/3 innings. ... Judge played right field for the first time since offseason left shoulder surgery. He made his debut Wednesday as the DH. ... OF Clint Frazier still has concussion symptoms and underwent an MRI.
Arizona Cardinals Elite JerseysBroncos defensive tackle Clinton McDonald expects to begin training camp on time with his teammates Ryan Strome Jersey , Mike Kliss of Denver’s 9News reports.
“I’m good to go,” McDonald said.
McDonald missed the offseason program with a bacterial infection stemming for a 2015 shoulder surgery. He underwent a procedure in New York to drain the infection, per Kliss, and Dr. David Altcheck has cleared McDonald.
McDonald will undergo a physical this week.
He signed as a free agent after making five sacks last season with the Bucs, but because he didn’t pass a physical before the mandatory minicamp last month Womens Kris Russell Jersey , McDonald had to restructure his contract so that the $4 million no longer is guaranteed.
The Broncos may have to place only one player, receiver Jordan Taylor, on the physically unable to perform list to start camp, per Kliss. The Broncos’ medical staff still is discussing options for Shane Ray.
NEW YORK GIANTS (3-13)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OL Justin Pugh; C Weston Richburg; G D.J. Fluker; RBs Orleans Darkwa and Shane Vereen; QB Geno Smith; WR Tavarres King; DT Jay Bromley; DE Kerry Wynn; LBs Keenan Robinson, Jonathan Casillas Authentic Ezekiel Elliott Jersey , Devon Kennard, Kelvin Sheppard, Mark Herzlich Akeem Ayers and Deontae Skinner; S Nat Berhe; CB Darryl Morris.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: C Brett Jones.
NEEDS: Name it and Giants probably need it. Biggest void remains offensive line, especially if they lose Pugh. Standout running back, quarterback of future Womens Jake Gardiner Jersey , another safety to play with Landon Collins, linebackers who can cover running backs, placekicker and even punter are needs. That’s what happens when you win three games and fire coach and leave new coach Pat Shurmur with little. Good news is No. 2 draft pick should fill one of those needs. Would be interesting how Shurmur and Eli Manning get along, especially if new general manager Dave Gettleman takes QB heir apparent. Giants have potential to be explosive offense if WR Odell Backham Jr. shows no lingering effects from broken ankle; couple him with tight end Evan Engram and WR Sterling Shepard. With former Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher taking over same role, how will he try to incorporate some 3-4 fronts. Giants don’t have fast linebackers Authentic Jameis Winston Jersey , although they picked up Alec Ogletree from Rams.
AVAILABLE SALARY CAP SPACE (approximately): $24 million.
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The Giants safety recently made headlines with radio comments that teammate Ereck Flowers was ”unhappy” the team signed Patriots left tackle Nate Solder. The move effectively flipped Flowers to right tackle.
”That’s not for Landon to talk about Cody Eakin Jersey ,” Shurmur said Saturday at the rookie minicamp. ”I think the important thing is, let’s let Ereck talk for Ereck when he gets here, and we’ll worry about that later. But really Womens Robin Lehner Jersey , I don’t think our players should be talking about another player’s situation.”
Flowers has been the starting left tackle the past three seasons after the Giants took him with the ninth pick overall in the 2014 draft. The Giants recently declined to pick up the fifth-year option of Flowers’ contract for $12.5 million in 2019.
First-year general manager Dave Gettleman signed Solder in March. Flowers hasn’t shown up to the team’s voluntary workouts this spring.
But Shurmur said he’s been in touch with Flowers.
”It’s our understanding that he’s in good shape,” Shurmur said. ”I can’t wait for him to be here. I’ve mentioned it in the past, there were some things that he did last year that were really good Youth Darnell Nurse Jersey , and I look forward to him getting here at some point and working with him.”
After wrapping up rookie minicamp this weekend, the Giants will take the field as a full team for the first time at OTAs on May 21-22. They have mandatory minicamp June 12-14.
”We’ll see when he gets here,” Shurmur said. ”We’ll talk about it then. We’re communicating with him. There’s been times when Odell (Beckham Jr.) hasn’t been here and we’ve communicated with him Ryan Suter Jersey , so we’re looking forward to him being here. We feel like we’re a better team with him here than without him.”
NOTES: R.J. McIntosh has been a spectator for the on-field portion of rookie minicamp. The fifth-round selection out of Miami says he’s being treated for a minor medical condition he didn’t want to discuss. He says he expects to be back on the field for minicamp in June.
Wide receiver Bernard Reedy opened last season with the Buccaneers and he’ll try to do the same after closing out the 2017 campaign with the Patriots.
The Buccaneers announced that they have signed Reedy to their 90-man roster on Wednesday. They waived wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck, who joined the team last week, with an injury designation.
Reedy’s relationship with Bucs coach Dirk Koetter goes back even further than last season as he first played for Koetter while he was the Falcons’ offensive coordinator in 2015. He joined the Bucs the next year and made his first regular season appearance last year.
Reedy caught two passes for 21 yards and ran three times for 17 yards in nine games. He also returned kickoffs and punts before being released in November and went on to return four punts in two games with the Patriots.
http://www.officialusafootballs.com/carolina-panthersEven if Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop prove they are capable right away of a place in the rotation Youth John Moore Jersey , though, there is a question about how much they will actually play as rookies. This is, after all, the team run by Tom Thibodeau, who is as likely to prefer experience over potential as any head coach in the NBA.
”Practices are important. Playing time is based on performance. You earn that,” Thibodeau said. ”That’s not just something that is given to you.”
Okogie and Bates-Diop, during their introduction at a news conference Tuesday http://www.officialblackhawksproshop.com/authentic-adidas-artem-anisimov-jersey , sounded like they understand the climb they face. All five starters for the Wolves last season averaged 33 minutes per game or more and ranked among the top 36 most-used players in the league, with Jimmy Butler third and Andrew Wiggins ninth.
”Everybody wants to play a lot as a rookie, but that comes with trust and learning the system and being productive out there,” said Bates-Diop, the Big Ten Player of the Year award winner at Ohio State last season who dropped into Minnesota’s lap with the 48th overall pick in the second round after most projections pegged him much higher on the board.
Okogie, who was selected 20th overall out of Georgia Tech, also expressed a willingness to accept the no-nonsense Melker Karlsson Jersey , tough-love supervision that comes with playing for Thibodeau.
”I’m definitely comfortable with it,” Okogie said. ”I’ve never really had a coach who wasn’t hard on me.”
Both players will go through an adjustment phase with their offensive game, beginning with the longer 3-point shot. Bates-Diop led the Big Ten in scoring (19.8 points per game) and Okogie was fourth in the ACC (17.9 points per game), though, so they’re not coming to the league without any shooting prowess. They’re not one-and-done prospects, either. Okogie will be 20 before the season starts, and Bates-Diop will turn 23 in January Torey Krug Jersey , just two months after Wolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
What will help them the most toward working their way onto the court is the athleticism, tenacity and versatility they’ve exhibited while playing defense. That’s at the top of reasons Thibodeau and the front office targeted these two, enamored by a high leap and a long reach that makes switching from a 6-foot-4 classic shooting guard to a 6-foot-10 stretch power forward doable. Bates-Diop and Okogie were two of the four non-post players with a ”wingspan” of 7 feet or more at the NBA scouting combine last month.
”You can kind of be in two places at once,” Okogie said.
The other factor in their favor? The roster. Butler and Wiggins don’t currently have any backups in place, with Jamal Crawford’s decision to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. There’s nobody else who played on the wing last season who is under contract entering the start of free agency this weekend.
So just how important is it for a rookie to play right away?
”I think it’s important,” Okogie said. ”Is it the most important thing? Probably not. But if I was given a chance to produce and to help this team win nothing would give me more joy than that. So hopefully it happens, and I’ll work and do everything in my power to make it happen.”
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Texans General Manager Brian Gaine said in May that the team hoped to have running back D'Onta Foreman on the field when training camp starts this summer Luke Glendening Jersey , but it doesn’t sound like that’s how things will play out.
Foreman will continue rehabbing his torn Achilles in Houston until camp and says he’s “not trying to rush anything” as he works with the medical staff to figure out the best plan for getting him back to the player he was before the injury. Hitting that mark is “looking really good right now,” but Foreman isn’t sure he’ll get there before the start of the regular season.
“At this point, it’s just when I feel ready to go and when the trainers and everybody feels it’s best for me to get on the field and play a game,” Foreman said, via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “I’m just focused on doing everything I possibly can and making sure my weight is where it’s supposed to be and being sure when I get out there that I’m able to perform at a high level like I was before.”
Foreman tore his Achilles while running for a touchdown in a November game. The 2017 third-round pick finished his rookie year with 78 carries for 327 yards and two scores.
The Texans re-signed Alfred Blue and also have Tyler Ervin and Troymaine Pope behind starter Lamar Miller.
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