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The Correct Pronunciation with Ben Baldwin *****Download Link Here*****(02:06) Fantasy Football winners have been notified (03:54) Signing George Iloka(12:51) Seahawks Preview(76:00) MailbagEpisode Notes:Follow @BenBBaldwin on twitterHere’s the Ringer’s piece on the Minnesota Vikings and technology — it’s what Ben was referencing when it came to “innovation” and stealingMike Zimmer “is not above stealing”We mentioned “the Hater 100” Womens Rashod Hill Jersey , one of our favorite episodes of the show that you can listen to if you want food recommendations in the Twin Cities — it’s near the end of the mailbag.Here’s the study on injury rates by turf type and individual stadiums (stadia?) — it appears that Washington actually has a much lower injury rate in their stadium than league average. The highest, after adjusting for how often the home team gets injured in general, is Baltimore (who have switched field types since the study)This is the NicholasJOlson Twitter thread I mentioned about George IlokaSubscribe to the Athletic at this link, where you can get 30% off until August 27thSpecial thanks to Rhymesayers Entertainment and Atmosphere for the new theme song!Arif - @ArifHasanNFLJames - @bigmonoTo listen to more, this is the link to that iTunes feed. If you can’t for whatever reason subscribe via iTunes, subscribe to via our RSS feed http://www.minnesotavikingsteamonline.com/harrison-smith-jersey , which should support the RSS reader or podcast organizer of your choice. You can still leave a review even if you can’t subscribe via iTunes because it’s easy to create an AppleID. We also have a YouTube channel. Our podcasts are automatically uploaded there.If you want to make sure you don’t miss an episode and find out ways to support the show, head to our website!But we also have a Patreon and that should make it even easier to support the best podcast for your Minnesota Vikings. We know that it’s a tough ask given all the problems involving their transaction fees, but if can manage it, check it out here. If you wanted to donate via Paypal instead of Patreon, head to this link.Once again, contact me at arifmhasan (at) gmail dot com or the podcast at NorseCodePodcast (at) gmail dot com. Follow us on twitter at @NorseCodeDN or just me at @ArifHasanNFL. You can follow producer and host James Pogatshnik at @bigmono.Vikings Roster Cuts: Minnesota Vikings release Brian Robison With all of the roster cuts that the Minnesota Vikings are making and were projected to make http://www.minnesotavikingsteamonline.com/sheldon-richardson-jersey , we’re now getting news of one that absolutely nobody saw coming.According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Minnesota Vikings are releasing defensive end Brian Robison.Robison, the longest-tenured member of the Vikings, was drafted by the team in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas. He served as a backup and a role player for a few seasons before assuming the starting left defensive end role in 2011. He has been with the team for the entirety of his NFL career, and has put up 60 career sacks and forced 13 fumbles.Robison took a significant pay cut to return to the team this season, which makes it that much more surprising that the team would take the step of releasing him. Still Authentic Ben Gedeon Jersey , it’s a sign that they obviously believe in all of the talent they’ve amassed at the defensive end spot, and that they feel the younger players are a better fit for what they want to do going forward than Robison is.Thank you to Brian Robison for everything that he’s given to the Minnesota Vikings over his eleven seasons in purple. It’s probably going to take a bit for this one to sink in.

 Kansas City is hurting badly The New England Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football with the eyes of the league upon the two best teams in the AFC. The Patriots crushed the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football White Jonathan Jones Jersey , while the Chiefs are coming off an easy victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Both teams are dealing with injuries, but the Chiefs injury report paints a more dire picture- but they’re still a formidable opponent.Here’s Wednesday’s injury report.Did Not ParticipateBerry is the team’s best safety and he’s missed time this year, while his back-up, Murray, is now missing practices. Their availability on Sunday is incredibly important because they’ve historically been tasked with defending the Patriots tight ends- and they’ve had plenty of success.Houston has also been battling injuries and his absence would put greater pressure on the rest of the defense- and would offer the Patriots offensive line a more favorable match-up. The current expectation is that Houston could miss a couple weeks.Limited ParticipationNew England had full attendance at practice, although there are a few new faces on the injury report. Brown and Simon suffered their injuries on Thursday against the Colts, while Hogan is a new listing with his thigh injury. Sony Michel is back on the report with his knee injury; hopefully the Patriots are just giving their workhorse running back some additional rest.DT Adam Butler, TE Jacob Hollister, and LB Elandon Roberts are no longer on the report.Full ParticipationThese three starters for the Chiefs should be good to go on Sunday. Ford is the team’s best pass rusher, while Watkins and Conley round out a strong offensive grouping with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt.Patriots vs.Lions: Fan Notes from the Game Hoo boy.Let’s just get this out of the way: the Patriots got embarrassed last night. They looked completely lost, they were sloppy, they got pushed around and out-muscled at absolutely every position, and had absolutely no business being on the field with the Lions last night.The Lions. Yikes.Was the Sunday Night Football intro always just one big ad for Pepsi Youth Malcom Brown Jersey , or is that a new thing? I legit don’t know, as I’ve actively tried to avoid the Faith Hill/Jewel/Pink/whoever preamble for a while now, but I was completely out of stuff to do by the time the game rolled around and made the mistake of tuning in.If your name is Jim-Bob Cooter, you have exactly two career options: football coach or rider mower salesman. Glad to see that he made it.Not glad to see him completely destroy the Patriots defense...but to be honest, I feel like I could have called a successful game plan last night.New England really needs to stop receiving these opening kickoffs. Maybe that’s why they suck so bad right now.The only thing worse than New England’s performance last night was that off-neon green whatever it is they decided to put on the field on third downs. It’s absurd and completely unnecessary. I would have loved to be in the production meeting when that green zone came into fruition. I feel like there was a guy who hadn’t contributed anything to the team since he was hired in the offseason and was on his last strike, so as a Hail Mary he just kind of threw out, “maybe we add another color to the screen?” I may as well break down the offense now and get it over with.....Um...Stretch run for no gain? Blown up screen? One decent drive per game?OK, that was easy. Moving on.The big issue with the offense right now is that it’s incredibly predictable. Part of that is the early season jitters and everyone finding their stride, and another part of that is the lack of depth at receiver position. It’s nothing but stretch runs and screens, and then when those don’t work they have no choice but to go for a middle crosser. I have absolutely no worries about what this offense will do when the games start to matter, but right now the NFL is a pool and the Patriots keep dipping a toe in to see if it’s too cold.Another real problem is how the receivers can’t get anything remotely close to resembling separation. There were plenty of plays last night where Tommy B had time to throw, but nobody was open.New England, three and out. Opponent, long, sustained drive that ends in points. Sound familiar? Being a Pats fan in September stinks. October through February? Juuuust fine. But man...these first few games are always rough.As for the defense...Never thought I’d see LeGarrette Blount torching the Pats as a receiver.I did http://www.authenticsnewenglandpatriots.com/cheap-shaq-mason-jersey , however, think I’d see receivers out in the flat go for big gains. Lateral movement is such an Achilles heel for these linebackers.The Lions didn’t even need a third down on their first TD of the day. I don’t know what’s worse: September 2017 when receivers were 10 to 15 yards open, or September 2018 when teams are just imposing their will.Kerryon Johnson averaged six yards per carry and have over 100 on the day. If that’s not bad enough, I can point to a handful of plays where all 200 pounds of him literally dragged Lawrence Guy, Danny Shelton, Malcom Brown, or sometimes all three for a few extra yards before he was brought down. I’m not sure how that’s even scientifically possible, but here we find ourselves.NFL football in 2018 has absolutely zero flow. The 1st quarter took 20 minutes, the 2nd took six days, the 3rd took 25 seconds, and the 4th took an hour. What happens in between is a series of questionable flags, unwatchable commercials, a bunch of weird colors, and watered down play. Last year it took me until mid-October to start questioning if I had better things to do with my Sundays.The red flag is officially up and waving furiously on Dont’a Hightower. He looks unbearably slow and constantly winded. The rust should be off by now and usually rust comes in the form of missed reads and muffed tackles. It doesn’t come in the form of getting smoked around the edge and getting shoved violently backwards on blitzes.Sony Michel didn’t do much as a short yardage back, did he. I don’t know why they keep running off-tackle on those plays...either do the sneak or go up the gut.Chris Collinsworth on Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford: “There’s just a difference when there’s a lady in the room Youth Devin McCourty Jersey , ins’t there?” Yikes, Chris. You can’t say things like that in 2018! I can think of a whole slew of college students that would be VIOLENTLY offended by that statement had they been watching the game last night instead of busy protesting Rice Krispies for discriminating against giants.Through three weeks now, I can think of exactly one instance where anybody not named Tom Brady showed any kind of emotion on or off the field, and that was last night when Deatrich Wise sacked Matt Stafford to fire everyone up. On the very next play, Jahwan Bentley picked off Stafford to set up New England’s only touchdown of the day. As of right now, this team has no teeth. No toughness. Nobody not named Tom Brady getting riled up on or off the field.Nobody upset when an opponent marches right down the field with ease and scores. The defense looked like it was just kind of killing time before the game ended, and you never want to see that. Somebody needs to step up.What may be most frustrating at the moment is that, every once in a while, the Patriots will look good. They play with urgency and passion and move the ball well. And then they remember to not give a crap anymore and go back to the stretch run and screen.Man... Golden Tate would have been something else as a Patriot. I love that guy.The great thing about a loss like this one is the smoking hot takes that are already coming from all angles. You have your typical Patriots fans who never grew up in the non-Brady era already calling for an end to the season. You have your media folks chasing clicks and pageviews with the end of days talk. I’m sure you have your Chiefs and Dolphins fans chirping away as they race towards their inevitable 9-7 finishes.Today’s Fan Notes were negative, because the Patriots deserve negativity this morning. That said, I’m still very staunchly in the “Patriots Will Be Fine” camp.That said... I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t occasionally looking across the lake at the ever-growing Camp Not Our Year and wondering what they’re serving for lunch tomorrow.We’re on to Miami.

 Should the Los Angeles Chargers re-sign Antonio Gates?Matthew Stanley: Yes Youth Brandon Mebane Jersey , the Chargers should re-sign Antonio Gates. However, it won’t completely solve things. It will help, but he most certainly will not replace what the team expected to get from Hunter Henry.Richard Wade: Reflexively, I want to say “yes,” but I’m not convinced that bringing back Gates is actually the right decision. He’s the greatest tight end in franchise history, but he is well past his prime and I don’t love the way that Philip Rivers still occasionally locked in on him last season.Jamie Hoyle: No, I don’t think the Chargers should re-sign Antonio Gates. It seems like an easy fix but I don’t think it actually fixes anything. They decided to move on because they had Henry, but also because they thought he didn’t add enough value to bring him back, and his inability to add value doesn’t really change just because Henry got hurt. Trust the evaluation and move on, he’d fade by mid-season if they asked him to replace Hunter Henry’s snaps on the offense. I’d rather take a flier on Julius Thomas than go back to the well with Gates again.Jamie Sewell: No, Gates isn’t the answer. He’s nothing more than a very limited role player at this point in his career, and bringing him back would be for nostalgia reasons over anything else.John Gennaro: Rivers is that weird guy that doesn’t like people he doesn’t already know. He’s already pissed that Gates is gone, and they spent two years getting him comfortable with Hunter first. If you bring in a fresh face, El Capitan is going to lose his shit and/or never throw to him.Garrett Sisti: No I’d take a look at a few free agent Tight Ends before bringing Gates back. There was a time where Gates would demand attention just by being on the field even when he wasn’t as effective as he’d been in the past; that time is gone now.Kyle Posey: I wouldn’t sign Gates. He’ll likely give you a solid stretch of plays but at this point, the team is better without him. If Whiz is creative, he’ll slide Keenan Allen inside & generate targets in Hunter Henry’s absence. I’d roll with 4 WRs & spread teams out. It would likely create bigger run lanes for Melvin Gordon.Jason Michaels: Yes, the Chargers should make every effort to re-sign Antonio Gates.As a PR move Womens Michael Schofield Jersey , this is a win.As a move of necessity, this is a no-brainer.Is it likely?I’d give it a 50/50 shot, but the proverbial ball is firmly in Gates’ hands.Keep in mind, I don’t think that this would ‘fix’ the situation, the question was Should the Chargers re-sign Antonio Gates.The answer is YES, they should definitely try.They will need another helper, but there are too many upsides to this move.Ruben J. Gonzalez: No, I don’t think they should re-sign Antonio Gates. It was evident last year that he has lost a step and is only really good for those 5-yard curls. If they wanted to bring somebody back, I would consider Jeff Cumberland. At one point in training camp a few years back I remember one of the coaches say that he was the fastest player on the field. Cumberland would eventually tear his Achilles and we never got to see what he could do. I’m still curious. Ask me about trading for Gronk, and I will give you an absolute yes! Even if he’s only with the Chargers for one or two years, that’s fine because Henry will be full strength by then.What do you think? Vote in the poll and let us know in the comments below.Chargers WR Mike Williams: debunking the curse of 7th overall pick The NFL Draft might be one of the weirdest events in all of sports history. A bunch of teams sit in a room and decide the fate of young athletes and where they will continue to play their football careers. How do they decide? Well of course the worst picks first. A team that has a lackluster offense, horrendous defense and terrible coaching is well deserving of getting all the help next season to improve their roster. Usually a quarterback, offensive tackle or pass rusher, the team that picks first always hopes that their selection becomes the face of the franchise and a cornerstone of turning the team around. We all know that more times than not, that’s usually not the case. While the first overall pick might be one of the trickiest selections to make due to the hype that will surround that athlete’s persona the rest of their career, in recent years, one pick has been a near death sentence overall when this team is on the clock. While it might be one of the more famous numbers in the sporting world and considered lucky by many believers in perfect numbers Authentic Keenan Allen Jersey , the seventh overall pick has been one of the worst selections to have come draft night. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams is looking to break that curse. Following the 2017 NFL Draft, Williams rookie season might have served as more evidence to why unlucky number 7 could be a trap for teams everywhere. Proof is everywhere for those who look, even for the 2018 selection, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. While there’s hope in Buffalo for the rookie gunslinger moving forward, 2018 could be a long season if the Chargers proved anything in Sunday’s 31-20 victory. The Wyoming product went 18 of 33 for 245 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times for 36 yards. Allen’s in for a beating his rookie year if his line doesn’t improve. Williams however is looking to break the curse of 7th overall pick. It would be hard to blame him if he couldn’t though, many have tried and only two have come close to being decent in the last 10 years. Since 2009, the seventh overall selection has been destined to fail from the start of their NFL career. And the degrading members of this selection can thank Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders. When the Raiders were on the clock back in 2009, they had plenty of options to help jumpstart the franchise. With names such as cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (still a corner at time), linebacker Brian Cushing and wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin all available to start their Pro-Bowl careers, the Raiders decided to go for speed. Just speed. They selected Maryland wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey, who put up an impressive 4.30 40 time at the combine that season. His collegiate statistics; 138 receptions for 1958 yards and 13 total touchdown in three seasons with the Terps.The Raiders would released Heyward-Bey in 2013 by the organization and has bounced around the NFL since as a speedy depth receiver who contributes on special teams. Since the infamous selection nearly 10 years ago, the seventh pick has seemed to be cursed in way or another, especially for wide receivers. While 2010 selection Joe Haden has been to the Pro-Bowl twice, his overall numbers have underwhelmed outside of his rookie and 2013 season. While still an excellent cover corner, his tackling skills have diminished while growth of receivers has made him a mismatch on the outside. Aldon Smith also had a Pro-Bowl caliber season in 2012 after the San Fransisco 49ers selected him in 2011. The former Missouri outside linebacker looked great on the field, but came with a laundry list of off the field issues that consistently put him on the suspension list. He was out of the NFL following his 2016 suspension and later release by the Raiders. It’s a shame since names like HoustonTexans defensive end J.J. Watt and Dallas Cowboys All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith were taken just several picks later. Mark Barron was supposed to become the next great strong safety out of Alabama in 2012 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him. He was traded to the then St.Louis Rams just two seasons later and has been a weakness as the team’s inside linebacker ever since. The Bucs struck out when the could have had a franchise leading tackler in the form or Carolina Panthers Luke Kuechley or a top caliber cover corner such Stephon Gilmore. The Arizona Cardinals took a huge flop in 2013 when they selected offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, who is now a free agent after being released by his fifth franchise. 2014 gave Tampa Bay Mike Evans Womens Virgil Green Jersey , who is one of the few lucky selections to find success after being drafted in this dread position. Although his team is still looking to find success, Evans has been a top caliber receiver for the Bucs offense since his arrival.While Evans might have started a trend upward at unlucky number seven, the Chicago Bears sent the pick back to the graveyard with their selection of wide receiver Kevin White. In four seasons, White has managed to collected 21 total receptions for 193 yards and is still looking for his first NFL touchdown. The 49ers might be able to help break the trend with their 2016 selection of defensive lineman DeForest Bucker but only time will tell on that. So far however, Bucker has shown growth up the middle and perhaps the most stable defensive piece the organization has. It’s easy to say that Evans’ success could change the narrative of the dreaded seventh selection but more often than not, being drafted here has been destined to fail since the Raiders cursed the pick all those years ago. Add a bunch of depth players and free agents and that is one club no one would ever want to join. Even Williams has seen his share of the curse just two years into his NFL career. Last season, the Chargers passed on Pro-Bowl caliber free safety Malik Hooker to selected the Clemson product. At six-foot-three-inches, Williams was projected to be the red-zone threat for Los Angeles offense, complimenting the speed and production of Keenan Allen. Instead, the rookie Tiger was plagued most of his rookie season with a herniated disc in his back. Williams would miss all of the 2017 preseason and placed on the team’s injured reserve for the first six week of the regular season. Williams would only suit up for 11 games during his rookie campaign, making one start and finishing the year with 11 receptions for 95 yards. Williams even admitted his frustration following a what he hoped would build off his National Championship season just four months prior to being drafted. “I’d be the first person to tell you that,” Williams said via the Los Angeles Times. “It’s totally different for me. I’m able to go out there and make those plays I couldn’t make last year, make the contested catches. The confidence just comes from being out there. I’m back out there having fun.”So far this season, the second-year pass catcher has looked to break the curse for all those drafted seventh overall and beyond. In Sunday’s outing against the Bills, Williams with just two receptions for a total 27 yards. Those two receptions however would lead to his first touchdown, showing promise at the wide receiver position for the first time in Los Angeles outside of Allen. https://twitter.com/Chargers/status/1041375719773810689On the touchdown pass, Williams does a great job getting off the ball at the snap http://www.sandiegochargersteamonline.com/kyzir-white-jersey , forcing the cornerback to open his hips early. Williams has cornerback Vontae Davis beat off the snap and makes a quick cut towards the post. With safety Jordan Poyer closing in, Rivers delivers a clean pass in the chest for Williams to catch as he holds on going down. A perfect execution on both sides as Chargers would take a 7-0 lead on their way to an impressive offensive performance. “Mike took advantage of opportunities that he had.” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said via Chargers.comThis isn’t the first time Williams has impressed this season against coverage. Back in the preseason, Williams made one of the more impressive catches around the league. https://twitter.com/Chargers/status/1031025279852929024Against the Seattle Seahawks in man coverage, Williams has a flawless release, allowing him to take advantage of the cornerback’s position inside. Williams breaks out on a fly pattern, having a slight step ahead of the Seahawks cornerback for backup quarterback Geno Smith to float one into the end zone. Williams times the jump perfectly to snag the football over the defenders head in a contested catch situation to come down with the score and give the Chargers a commanding 21-6 lead. “He’s just continuing to get better and better,” Rivers said via Chargers.com “Shoot, we know what Mike is capable of. It’s just a matter of being out here each and every day, as he has been. He continues to make plays every day, and with those plays comes more confidence. He will be a big part of our offense.”In two games this season, Williams has collected seven total receptions for 108 yards and broken the plains with his first NFL score. The real challenge will come ahead this Sunday as the Chargers fight for the heart of Los Angeles against town rival Los Angeles Rams. Williams will fight against two of the league’s top cornerbacks and hopefully continue to impress on his growing role with the Chargers offense. “We’ve seen that kind of progress through the spring and summer, especially in camp,” Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said via Chargers.com “I think that he made some plays going back to the Seattle preseason game where he jumped up caught that ball for a touchdown.”“The arrow is definitely pointing up on Mike. It was a lot of fun to see that.”So the seventh overall pick has been a curse since 2009. While Haden and Evans might have found success in their own ways, most players drafted there are destined to fail before their NFL careers begin. While Williams has a ton to prove this season, his arrow is certainly trending in the right direction. A direction all Chargers fans should be excited to see with this promising offensive unit.

 It wasn’t the best of results for the New Orleans Saints across the NFC South.As of now http://www.saintscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-demario-davis-jersey , there are two teams sitting pretty at 1-0, and two on the other send, at 0-2.James Lang-USA TODAY SportsComing into Week 1, the Atlanta Falcons opened the NFL season in Philadelphia on Thursday night to face the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. The Falcons lost in almost identical fashion to their matchup in the 2017 playoffs, to a final score of 12-18. New Orleans Saints offense played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at noon on Sunday. Just the offense. The Saints defense didn’t play that game. The Carolina Panthers hosted the Dallas Cowboys and won an ugly game to the tune of 8-16, meaning each of the four teams in the NFC South either won or lost their game by a single possession.That leaves the Panthers and Buccaneers atop the division at 1-0, and the Falcons and Saints looking up to both at 0-1.Ken Blaze-USA TODAY SportsIn Week 2, the Saints stay at home to face the Cleveland Browns. This time, it is the Buccaneers turn to play the Eagles http://www.saintscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-patrick-robinson-jersey , hosting Philly in Tampa Bay. The Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons open their first of two matchups, this time in Atlanta. All three games are at noon CST.Let’s hope Week 2 turns out better than Week 1.Keys to success: Saints can “Buc” a five year trend by starting fast vs Tampa Bay in the Superdome The Saints haven’t won an opening game since 2013. Time passes like a Sean Payton offense and it’s no coincidence that’s the last time this team won an opening game was the last time they had a stable roster, with fewer questions than answers in the first game of the season.Week 1 for a number of teams sometimes equates to week 5 of the NFL preseason and the Bucs are one of those teams. Meanwhile New Orleans has a superior coaching staff that boast 3 former or current head coaches. (Payton, Mike Nolan, Allen), a future defensive coordinator (Aaron Glenn), and an offensive coordinator that declined an interview for a HC Job (Pete Carmichael). Combine that with superior talent that boast the reigning offensive ROY (Alvin Kamara), and defensive ROY (Marshon Lattimore), and some guy named Drew Brees Thomas Morstead Jersey , who isn’t even the best player on the team (Cameron Jordan) and the Saints have the potential to dominate Tampa Bay.It takes coaching to put talent into positions to succeed and that’s where the Saints have a significant advantage vs the Buccaneers. A wrinkle here or there that creates a mismatch could determines the difference in a play being made or the punt team coming on the field.Let’s partake in a brief history lesson shall we?Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith are former NFC South rehashes that were either fired or not retained because they couldn’t beat Sean Payton and Drew Brees!Dating back to 2008 Mike Smith playing in the dome as a coordinator or head coach has only beaten Sean Payton twice.The Saints since 2007 have only lost to the Buccaneers at home once. At home a Sean Payton offense has only scored less than 23 points vs Mike Smith once and in 5 of those games they scored 30+ points. No better way to start fast than by winning the coin toss and if history has any say so to the present, New Orleans could quickly go up 7-10 points, making things Bubba Sparxxx ugly for the Buccaneers.Match-ups to Watch vs BuccaneersSaints run offense vs Buccaneers run defense.Sean keeping 10 offensive lineman suggest we’ll attempt to be physical and wear down a Bucs front seven that is a little smallish at the LB position. A few jumbo packages and a hard nosed runner in Mike Gillislee should set a tone very early for New Orleans that helps keeps the offense on schedule and mitigate the Buccaneers refurbished pass-rush. Tampa also has three new starters on their defensive line and giving them multiple looks could that test their chemistry as a unit.Saints pass offense vs Buccaneers pass defenseSafety play is important when facing drew Brees and for as iffy as the Buccaneers CB situation looks, I’d say the safety position is slightly weaker. Mike Smith has to know that he doesn’t have the secondary to give heavy man looks, so playing zone and telling their improvedD-line to go eat is his only real option. Zone coverage plays right into the hands of the offense and I expect protection to hold up so Drew and the receivers can find the open holes to exploit.Lavonte David vs Alvin KamaraIf the Bucs defense is to have any success it will have to start with limiting Alvin Kamara.That is easier said than done. Vs Tampa Bay in 2 games last year Kamara had 19 car for 112 yds and 2 TD’s in the run game alone. He also had 12 rec for 168 yards and 1 TD in the passing game. His only blemish was a fumble that was forced by none other than David. That’s a lot of yards AND scoring, (hi Julio) generated by one player.Random Thought IWith Boston Scott on the practice squad developing as a returner, expect WR Tommylee Lewis to be on a De’vante Harris like leash to begin the season.Random Thought IIIt was suggested that Colin Kaepernick is seen as Malcolm X and Malcolm Jenkins as Martin Luther King by the NFL.I’d say those roles deserve to be reversed.If the Saints go up early on the Buccaneers it will take away the run game which is the key to their play-action oriented offense, and their best chance at keeping the dome quiet so they can compete in this game.New Orleans has the look of an NFC South bully and Tampa could soon find themselves stuffed in a locker.Saints win 31-7www.animationfactory.com

A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press the Thunder are sending the veteran NBA forward and a 2022 protected first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Hawks guard Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala. Anthony will be waived Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys Womens , clearing the way for him to sign as a free agent elsewhere. The person spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

ESPN, which first reported the trade, said the Thunder will send Muscala to the Philadelphia 76ers for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Philadelphia’s Justin Anderson will be sent to Atlanta.

Schroder averaged a career-high 19.4 points per game last season for the Hawks in 67 games, all starts. The speedy 6-foot-1 guard averaged 17.9 points the year before that.

Anthony’s lone season in Oklahoma City was largely a bust. He averaged 16.2 points per game last season and struggled at times in his new role alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George. The 10-time All-Star posted career lows in scoring average and field goal percentage Clark Harris Jersey , and the Thunder were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by Utah.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The NCAA plans to study how the expansion of legalized betting could affect college athletics and member schools.

The NCAA announced Thursday it will create a working group of ”subject matter experts” to assess areas such as officiating, NCAA rules, federal and state laws, and the use of integrity services. NCAA leadership has already called for federal regulation on sports betting. NCAA rules prohibit sports wagering by athletes and athletic department employees.

The Supreme Court opened the door for states to have legal wagering on sporting events when it struck down a federal ban in May. Schools in some states such as West Virginia Authentic Alexander Alexeyev Jersey , Mississippi and New Jersey are already exploring the possibility of collecting integrity fees in anticipation of legal sports books opening in their states.

FIGURE SKATING

MOSCOW (AP) – Olympic figure skating medalist Denis Ten was killed Thursday, and prosecutors in Kazakhstan said they were treating the case as murder.

Ten was stabbed after a dispute with people who allegedly tried to steal a mirror from his car in his home city of Almaty, Kazakh news agencies reported. Doctors in Almaty say the 25-year-old skater died in the hospital there.

Born in Kazakhstan to a family of Korean descent, Ten’s bronze at the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014 made him Kazakhstan’s first medalist in figure skating.

Canadian skater Patrick Chan Nevin Lawson Jersey , who won silver in the same competition, said on Twitter he was ”honored and grateful to have shared the ice” with Ten. ”One of the most beautiful skaters to have graced our sport. My thoughts are with his family during this unimaginable time.”

The International Skating Union said it was ”deeply saddened” by news of Ten’s death.

Police in Milton, Georgia have released reports about three visits to Bills running back LeSean McCoy‘s house in response to calls about domestic disputes prior to the home invasion that left his ex-girlfriend injured this week.

The first report, via Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic Youth Royce Freeman Jersey , comes from July 2017 when police found McCoy outside the house with a “large mound” of clothing and personal items. McCoy said that he and Delicia Cordon had broken up and that Cordon was refusing to return jewelry loaned to them by jewelers for events.

Officers reported no signs of violence and that McCoy said he was concerned Cordon would make “false accusations” while noting that he was being “very careful” around her in light of the “climate of domestic abuse in his profession.” Officers told McCoy he could not kick Cordon out without formal eviction proceedings and that he should have witnesses around for further interactions given his concerns.

The police report from this week’s home invasion called it a “targeted” attack and noted that “the suspect demanded specific items from the victim.” Cordon’s attorneys said those items were pieces of jewelry that were given as gifts to her client before McCoy asked for them back.

An April 2018 call involved an argument between McCoy and Cordon regarding McCoy’s attempts to remove furniture from the house. There was no report of physical violence and the furniture was returned.

On June 1, 2018, police again went to the house after Cordon called them from Virginia and said she saw people moving things out of the house via a surveillance camera app on her phone. They found McCoy’s mother at the house and informed her that she could not remove what was considered “communal property” from the residence unless directed by civil court ruling. The officer spoke to McCoy on the phone and said the running back told him he would start that process.

Case Keenum had never in his NFL career been a team’s established starter during the offseason Colton Sissons Jersey , but this year in Denver, he is. And the Broncos like his leadership.

Keenum has started 38 games in his NFL career, but he’s always been the starter either because someone else got hurt, as was the case last year in Minnesota, or knowing that someone else was being groomed to take the job, as was the case the year before in Los Angeles. The Broncos, who gave Keenum a two-year, $36 million contract this offseason Authentic B.J. Hill Jersey , are making no secret of the fact that Keenum is their man.

The Broncos are already singing Keenum’s praises as a leader, and even Paxton Lynch, the former first-round pick who is relegated to backup behind Keenum, is happy to have the veteran aboard.

鈥淚 was really excited, actually, when we got Case for the fact he鈥檚 a veteran guy who鈥檚 been through it a little bit and had his ups and downs,鈥?Lynch told the Denver Post. 鈥淭he way he carries himself and handles himself 鈥?he鈥檚 a pro and that only benefits me and the other guys in the locker room and the other guys in the quarterback room.鈥?/p>

Keenum wouldn’t be there if Lynch had become the kind of quarterback John Elway thought he was when the Broncos took him in the first round two years ago. But perhaps Lynch can learn something from Keenum about how to develop into a starter, even if it takes some time.

The NFL isn’t merely being criticized by pandering politicians or labor unions who weren’t consulted on their anthem policy “compromise Youth Lamar Jackson Jersey ,” they’re catching it from other sports as well.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr blasted the NFL for its decision to mandate that players stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room, calling it “typical” of the way football does business.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e basically trying to use the anthem as fake patriotism, nationalism, scaring people,鈥?Kerr said, via Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle. 鈥淚t鈥檚 idiotic, but that鈥檚 how the NFL has handled their business. I鈥檓 proud to be in a league that understands patriotism in America is about free speech, peacefully protesting.

鈥淚 think our leadership in the NBA understands that the NFL players were kneeling to protest police brutality Youth Dontae Johnson Jersey , to protest racial inequality. They weren鈥檛 disrespecting the flag or the military. Our President decided to make it about that and the NFL followed suit and pandered to their fan base.

鈥淭hat created this hysterical, . . . It鈥檚 kind of what鈥檚 wrong with our country right now. People in high places are trying to divide us, divide loyalties and make this about the flag, as if the flag is something other than what it really is.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a representation of what we鈥檙e about 鈥?diversity, peaceful protest, right to free speech. It鈥檚 really ironic, actually, what the NFL is doing.鈥?/p>

The NBA also requires players to stand for the anthem M.J. Stewart Color Rush Jersey , but professional basketball has also operated from a position of trust with its labor force, and a track record of social involvement and willingness to take stands. The NBA also consulted with players when formulating their anthem policy, which seemed to go a long way with labor.

Kerr and the Warriors are also used to sticking it to the man, as their invitation to the White House for winning last year’s NBA title was rescinded聽by Donald Trump after a number of players said they wouldn’t go. Kerr also referred to Trump as a “blowhard,” which gives him something in common with at least one NFL owner.

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

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

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

His production has again vanished in the playoffs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CLOSE IT OUT

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

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

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

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

SPIRITED PRACTICE

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

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

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

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

TRUST THE … PROGRESS?

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

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

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

All the Devils need is a catchphrase.

The long wait to see Colts quarterback Andrew Luck throw a football came to an end at Tuesday’s practice when Luck threw some balls to former Colt Reggie Wayne.

It wasn’t the first time Luck had thrown a football Authentic Rashaan Gaulden Jersey , however. Luck said after practice that he threw with head coach Frank Reich a few weeks ago and used an official NFL football for those throws as opposed to the slightly lighter one he used on Tuesday.

Luck also said that he has no doubt about being ready to throw an official football many times when the Colts face the Bengals to open the regular season on September 9.

“Absolutely,” Luck said, via Kevin Bowen of the team’s website. “No knock on wood. I believe it in my bones.”

That game would not be the first game action for Luck since the end of the 2016 season. In addition to structuring camp practices to mimic what Luck will do in the days before regular season games, Reich said that Luck will play in the preseason this summer as he tries to knock off the rust that’s accumulated due to his right shoulder woes.

The Jacksonville Jaguars frittered away a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in losing 24-20 to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game Authentic Josh Jackson Jersey , yet their unraveling really began in the final 2+ minutes of the first half.

As Jacksonville threatened to expand a 14-3 lead, New England coach Bill Belichick called a timeout with 2:20 remaining and things started falling apart for the Jaguars, who would lead until succumbing in the final minutes of a 24-20 heartbreaker.

After the timeout, Blake Bortles dropped back on third-and-7 and zinged a beautiful 12-yard pass that Marcedes Lewis caught at the New England 32, putting the Jaguars within striking distance of a 17-3 or even 21-3 halftime cushion.

Only, the Jaguars were flagged for delay of game.

”Yeah I just thought out of the timeout we lost track,” lamented coach Doug Marrone.

Bortles was sacked for a six-yard loss on third-and-12, when the Patriots declined a holding penalty.

So the clock was running when the Jaguars inexplicably rushed their punt with 24 seconds to spare on the play clock.

Danny Amendola’s fair catch of Brad Nortman’s punt at his 14 came with 2:02 remaining, which essentially gave Brady and Belichick an extra timeout with which to work.

On first-and-10 from his 40, Brady threw a long pass for Rob Gronkowski, who was injured when he got popped by Barry Church on a helmet-to-helmet hit. Church was called for unnecessary roughness, putting the ball at the Jacksonville 45.

”It was a tough call,” Church said, ”but you’ve got to go with what they call.”

A.J. Bouye was called for pass interference on Brandin Cooks on the next play. The 32-yard penalty gave the Patriots the ball at the Jaguars 13. After a 12-yard catch by Cooks, James White ran it in from the 1 to make it 14-10 with just under a minute left in the half.

That was the 14th time this season the Patriots scored in the last two minutes before halftime.

Even though they had two timeouts and 55 seconds to work with, Bortles twice took a knee and the Jaguars, who had deferred to the second half, went into the locker room up by four, yet it was the Patriots who were feeling good about things.

”We came in at halftime with a good level of confidence that it was a four-point game and we hadn’t played well Youth Tarvarius Moore Jersey ,” Belichick said. ”If we could get it going then we could win the game. It took us a little while to do that, but that was a big drive for us.”

Asked afterward if he had any regrets about not trying to score in the final minute of the first half, Marrone said: ”I think more the second-half kickoff. They came down and we had to make some adjustments going into halftime. Wanted to make sure we got that done knowing we were going in getting the ball back.”

The Jaguars scored on their opening possession of the second half, and Josh Lambo followed up his 53-yard field goal with a 43-yarder on the first play of the fourth quarter that made it 20-10.

No team had ever overcome a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter of an AFC championship, but coveted coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia , in what might have been their last game on the home sideline at Gillette Stadium, made all the right adjustments, further burnishing their head coaching credentials.

Brady started pushing the ball downfield to his receivers and the New England defense took away the short middle and dared Bortles to start making plays downfield, too.

While Bortles managed a single first down in the fourth quarter, Brady came through with a pair of TD throws to Amendola.

Amendola had the crucial catch on the first TD drive, hauling in a 21-yard pass from Brady on third-and-18 in front of safety Tashaun Gipson, who said he figures he’d break up that pass nine out of 10 times.

”That play kind of gave them momentum,” Gipson said.

It was vintage Brady, too.

”He is the greatest quarterback to ever play this game,” Gipson said. ”You can never have a safe lead with 12 at the helm. We knew we had to keep our foot on the gas.”

Which, remember, they didn’t do at the end of the first half.

The Patriots’ comeback set up a Super Bowl 52 showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, who were miffed last week when the NFL mistakenly released an ad that featured Brady and Case Keenum with the Super Bowl trophy between them, signifying a New England-Minnesota matchup.

Instead Authentic Mike Hughes Jersey , it’ll be Nick Foles and the Eagles, who routed the Vikings 38-7 in the NFC championship game, trying to dethrone Brady and the Patriots.

—

Shaquille O’Neal called himself ”The Big Baryshnikov” and ”The Big Socrates” in his days in the NBA. Now he can add ”The Big Shakespeare.”

The basketball Hall-of-Famer, TNT TV analyst, commercial pitchman and onetime rapper is putting poetry on his lengthy resume as part of a new public television series.

He brings his best bard to a dramatic reading of a poem in his episode of the 12-part ”Poetry in America ,” then discusses it with Elisa New, a Harvard English professor who hosts the show.

”I’ve always been into poetry,” O’Neal said in an interview with The Associated Press in a sunlit conference room overlooking the Los Angeles skyline. ”I’ve been writing rhymes all my life.”

”Poetry in America,” distributed by American Public Television and presented by WGBH in Boston, is airing at various times on local public TV stations. Some episodes, including Shaq’s, are already available to stream.

On the show the 46-year-old former All-Star from the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat recites ”Fast Break,” a poem by Edward Hirsch from his 1986 book ”Wild Gratitude.” It describes some very imperfect players who manage to put together a perfect basketball play.

”A hook shot kisses the rim and hangs there, helplessly, but doesn’t drop,” the poem begins, ”and for once our gangly starting center boxes out his man.”

O’Neal, whose 350-pound bulk would never be called ”gangly,” still related to the center in the verse Youth Roquan Smith Jersey , but said he initially missed the poem’s point.

”The first mistake I made was thinking it was about basketball,” he said. ”I read it real quick I said `fast break, shovel passes, sure, this is what I do.”’

He said New, who sat next to O’Neal in the interview and like almost everyone is utterly dwarfed by him, gave him whole new insights that led to a fast friendship.

”When she broke it down intelligently for me, I was very astounded and very amazed,” O’Neal said.

The poem is written for a close friend and playing partner of Hirsch’s who had just died. That’s easy to miss if you skip past the dedication at the top, as most readers do.

”It’s fun that only later as you’re reading, you look back at that dedication,” New said. ”One line can change everything.”

Suddenly it becomes an examination of transcendent moments and human connections.

”It’s about friendship, it’s about caring, it’s about emotions,” O’Neal said. ”I had missed that.”

His latest learning experience took O’Neal’s thoughts back to high school, where he had a 69 percent in English after blowing a test during the basketball playoffs, and needed a 70 to stay eligible for sports.

The teacher allowed him a retest, and suggested a tutor.

”This guy, his name was McDougal Cowboys Authentic Jerseys , he was a geek, he saved my academic life,” O’Neal said. ”Everybody bullied him in school, except me.”

O’Neal said he took the work and ”broke it down, made it seem so simple.”

”I retook the test, got an 80, and we won the state championship,” O’Neal said.

”Now,” he said, ”I always tell kids I’m a geek.”

The professor had another name for him. ”He’s a learner!”

O’Neal partly looked the poet during the interview in a polo shirt and jeans, having traded his basketball sneakers for a pair of slip-on Toms shoes, size 22.

When he wanted them, a company executive told him ”it wouldn’t be worth it to make them in my size unless I bought 500 of them,” O’Neal said. ”I told him to give me 2,000.”

—

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The Wizards selected Oregon swingman Troy Brown Jr. with the No. 15 pick in the NBA draft Thursday night.

The 6-foot-7 Brown provides the Wizards with needed wing depth, a versatile defender and a potential playmaker for their second unit. He averaged 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists during his lone season with the Ducks.

There were multiple meetings between Brown and members of the Wizards organization during the pre-draft process. They talked during last month’s NBA Combine in Chicago. Brown visited Washington for a June 11 workout. It took little convincing that the former 5-star recruit was the right choice.

”Easy,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said about the decision. ”This is a guy that we’ve been targeting.”

Team president Ernie Grunfeld said the workout on the Wizards’ practice court was just a piece of the evaluation process. Brown clearly helped his cause. The session included standard basketball drills along with a chance for the mature player to reveal his cerebral side.

”We asked him to draw up a last-second play and he drew up several,” Grunfeld said after Washington’s first draft choice in any round since 2015. ”So, he has a good understanding of all those things and he’s a skilled basketball player.”

Brown had a good feeling about the Wizards entering the draft.

”I was really excited. My workout went very well with the team. I was just very happy Youth Brandon Sutter Jersey ,” he said during a teleconference with local reporters. ”It’s a lifelong dream to make it to the NBA. You work so hard to make that dream come true. To finally hear my name especially with a team that I felt like kind of hit it off with at the workout, with the interview, I was very excited.”

Enthusiasm was in short supply for Washington last season. After falling a game shy of reaching the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, the Wizards finished 43-39, entered the playoffs as the eighth seed and lost in the first round to Toronto in six games.

In 2015, the Wizards drafted Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant 19th overall before shipping him to Atlanta for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. Filip Forsberg Jersey , the No. 15 selection. Washington also tabbed forward Aaron White in the second round.

Minutes for Brown will come behind All-Star guard Bradley Beal and small forward Otto Porter. Oubre served as Porter’s primary backup last season. Jodie Meeks handled that role behind Beal, but he has 19 games remaining on his 25-game suspension for a violation of the league’s drug program.

Depth became an issue for Washington last season. Porter dealt with a lingering hip injury throughout and missed Game 6 against Toronto after undergoing minor surgery on his lower left leg. Five-time All-Star point guard John Wall missed 41 games with various injuries. Meeks’ suspension hit as the playoffs began.

Beyond last season’s issues, the NBA game’s move to more small-ball lineups puts a premium on versatile pieces.

”It’s very important. You have to have a lot of versatility (and) you have to have players that can play multiple positions,” Grunfeld said.

Now the Wizards have one more.

Washington selected another 18-year-old, Ukrainian Issuf Sanon, with the 44th selection. Grunfeld said Sanon will remain overseas for at least the 2018-19 season.

—

CANTON Dan Hamhuis Jersey Kids , Ohio (AP) There were no demonstrations by any players during the singing of the national anthem Thursday night at the Hall of Fame game.

All players and coaches for the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens stood as the NFL’s preseason began.

The NFL modified its national anthem protocol in May, prohibiting any sort of demonstrations for 2018, but allowing players to remain in the locker room during ”The Star-Spangled Banner” if they chose to. Individual teams would be responsible for disciplining any demonstrators.

The players’ union filed a grievance about the policy change, and late last month, the new policy was put on hold while the NFL and NFLPA work on a resolution.

Those demonstrations were begun by then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016 when he kneeled during the anthem to protest racial inequality and social injustice. The kneeling and other displays of protest spread leaguewide, particularly when President Trump suggested team owners fire players who didn’t stand for the anthem.

On Thursday night Womens Odell Beckham Jr Jersey , everyone on the sideline stood.

”We as a group talked about it and decided that was what we were doing,” new Bears coach Matt Nagy said. ”It’s for unity and togetherness. The guys are really excited to come up with one deal as a team. They were all out there; from what we talked about, it happened.”

—

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An endorsement deal between Nike and Colin Kaepernick prompted a flood of debate Tuesday as sports fans reacted to the apparel giant backing an athlete known mainly for starting a wave of protests among NFL players of police brutality http://www.officialhockeyrangersshop.com/authentic-adidas-marc-staal-jersey , racial inequality and other social issues.

The deal unveiled by Nike and the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was a trending topic on Twitter and other social networks, with some fans urging a boycott of the company’s clothes and sneakers — even burning and cutting out the signature swoosh logos on their gear.

Others pushed back, saying the backlash against Nike showed the polarizing debate has morphed well beyond whether NFL players should be allowed to demonstrate for social causes while the national anthem plays in stadiums before games.

The league itself weighed in Tuesday afternoon with an executive saying the social issues Kaepernick has raised are valid.

“We embrace the role and responsibility of everyone involved with this game to promote meaningful, positive change in our communities,” said Jocelyn Moore, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications and public affairs. “The social justice issues that Colin and other professional athletes have raised deserve our attention and action.”

Moore’s statement was paired with a detailed breakdown of things players and league executives have done together to learn about and address social issues, including community meetings, lobbying and financially supporting local programs.

On Twitter, country music star John Rich posted a picture of one of his crew members holding the tops of a cut pair of Nike socks, with the caption: “Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions.” The tweet garnered about 10,000 retweets and 30,000 likes, plus thousands of critical comments.

Rich, part of the duo Big & Rich and a former contestant of President Donald Trump’s reality show “The Celebrity Apprentice,” said he supported the right to protest but Nike lost his support when it endorsed Kaepernick.

Mixed martial arts fighter Elias Theodorou, a UFC middleweight, tweeted a widely shared picture of the Nike logo with a meme that read: “Instead of throwing away your Nike gear give to one of the millions of homeless veterans you pretend to care about.”

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said: “I hope other corporations follow (Nike’s) example.”

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, tweeted: “Proud to be an @usnikefootball athlete. Stand for something or fall for anything. Few moments in history has that been more true!”

Trump, a frequent critic of protesting NFL players, said Tuesday in an interview with the Daily Caller that he thinks it’s a “terrible message” for Nike to use Kaepernick in ads http://www.officialhockeyjetsshop.com/authentic-adidas-jacob-trouba-jersey , but that it’s their decision whether to use the quarterback.

“I think it’s a terrible message that they’re sending and the purpose of them doing it, maybe there’s a reason for them doing it,” Trump said, adding it’s “a message that shouldn’t be sent.”

Trump said it’s ultimately a business decision for Nike.

“In another way, it is what this country is all about, that you have certain freedoms to do things that other people think you shouldn’t do, but I personally am on a different side of it,” he said.

Trump has loudly urged the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem, repeatedly diving into what has developed into one of the most contentious debates in sports.

Kaepernick already had a deal with Nike that was set to expire, but it was renegotiated into a multiyear deal to make him one of the faces of Nike’s 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign, according to a person familiar with the contract. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Nike hasn’t officially announced the contract.

The person said Nike will feature Kaepernick on several platforms, including billboards, television commercials and online ads. Nike also will create an apparel line for Kaepernick, including a signature shoe, and contribute to his Know Your Rights charity, the person said. The deal puts Kaepernick in the top bracket of NFL players with Nike.

“I stand for anybody that believes in change. I stand for anybody that believes in a positive attitude,” LeBron James said Tuesday night at a Nike fashion show and awards ceremony in New York. “I stand with Nike, every day, all day.”

Nike also provides all NFL teams with game day uniforms and sideline apparel, a partnership that was extended in March to run through 2028.

Last week Authentic Mikael Backlund Jersey , Kaepernick scored a legal victory in his grievance against the NFL and its 32 teams when an arbitrator allowed his case to continue to trial. The quarterback claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests. His case hinges on whether owners worked together rather than decided individually to not sign Kaepernick.

A similar grievance is still pending by former 49ers teammate Eric Reid, a Pro Bowl safety who joined in the protests.

Meanwhile, the league and players union still haven’t resolved whether players will be punished this season if they choose to kneel or demonstrate during the national anthem. Owners approved a policy requiring players to stand if they are on the sideline during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” allowing them to stay off the field if they wish.

But the league and union put that on hold after the Miami Dolphins faced backlash for classifying the protests as conduct potentially detrimental to the team — putting players at risk of fines or suspensions.

Finally, after a 14-year absence, the long-languishing franchise is back in the playoffs.

Fittingly, it took until the last game and then some to get there.

Butler scored 31 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and the Timberwolves outlasted the Denver Nuggets 112-106 in overtime Wednesday night in the first final-day play-in game in the NBA in 21 years.

No team in the league had gone longer without a postseason appearance than the Timberwolves, who took Towns with the first overall pick in the 2015 draft and traded for Butler last summer to put themselves in position to return.

”I’ll probably fall asleep tonight and wake up in the middle of the night and start crying,” said Towns, who was 8 years old the last time the Wolves were in the playoffs. ”It’ll hit me, what happened.”

The Nuggets won six in a row to force this elimination game, including a 100-96 decision in Denver last week that was the last time the Wolves (47-35) played without Butler, and went 23-12 over their previous 35 contests.

Nikola Jokic locked in a classic big man battled with Towns, finishing with 35 points and 10 rebounds, but he missed six of his last eight shots after the third quarter as the valiant finish to this season fell just short. The Nuggets (46-36) haven’t made the playoffs in five years.

Now it’s the Timberwolves who are moving on to play, gulp, the NBA-best Houston Rockets.

”I feel like our effort was outstanding. Theirs was too Patrick Marleau Jersey ,” said Will Barton, who had 24 points but shot just 3 for 12 after halftime. ”They just made the plays at the end. Give them credit.”

Barton’s 3-pointer beat the shot clock for Denver’s first lead, 104-103, since midway through the first quarter. After Gibson hounded Jokic to force an air-balled 3-point try, Jeff Teague swished a floater with 1:19 left in overtime to put the Wolves back in front for good.

Andrew Wiggins sank two foul shots with 15 seconds remaining to make it 110-106 and finish with 18 points, and the Wolves were finally on their way to a celebration more than a decade in the making. Butler, who has not held back from openly challenging Wiggins and the other junior members of the team to play with more tenacity, walked up to Wiggins before the free throws with some forceful encouragement.

”I was like, `Wiggs, I know you can do this,”’ Butler said. ”And he told me to move. He did. He’s like, `Move!’ I’m like, `OK, excuse me.’ And he stepped up and hit both of them. So, from now on, stay in my lane.”

The Wolves were ahead by as many as 10 points in the second quarter and took a 99-91 lead on Teague’s 3-pointer with 4:26 left in regulation, but just like with this whole regular season the Nuggets wouldn’t go away.

Jokic answered with a 3-pointer, and Butler missed both of his free throws. Back-to-back jumpers by Jamal Murray, the last one from 3-point range, tied it. Butler put the Wolves back in front with a 13-footer Authentic Ezekiel Elliott Jersey , but he missed twice more from the floor in the final two minutes. Murray’s off-balance bank tied it at 101, so the Wolves needed Gibson’s defense to save them down the stretch.

He forced Jokic into the baseline for a forced layup that missed badly. Then Gibson stripped the ball from the 7-foot Serbian in the corner to give the Wolves the ball back with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation. Jamal Crawford’s heave from just inside half court was on line, but it fell short.

”I just took one dribble,” Jokic said, ”and Taj made a really good defensive play.”

PLAY NOW, REST LATER

Gibson played through a sore neck that forced him out of the last game in the first quarter, finishing with eight points in 35 minutes. Butler logged 42 minutes after playing 23 minutes apiece in his previous two games.

”He told me after the shootaround that he’s from Brooklyn,” coach Tom Thibodeau said, ”and he said he’d be fine.”

DRAMATIC FINISH

The game marked only the third time since the NBA’s current 16-team format began in 1984 that two teams met on the last day of the regular season with the winner qualifying for the playoffs and the loser being eliminated. Washington beat Cleveland in 1997 and Denver beat Sacramento in 1995 to claim the final spots.

DIVISION DOMINANCE

With the loss, the Nuggets finished last in the Northwest Division, a mere three games out of first. This was the first time in 14 seasons since the NBA realigned into six divisions of five times apiece that the last-place team was less than 11 games behind the leader.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: Jokic posted his seventh 30-point game of the season, three of those in the last six games. … Wilson Chandler went scoreless in 48 minutes. … The Nuggets had 15 turnovers, turning into 24 points for the Wolves.

”You can’t go on the road and beat yourself in the most important game of the season,” coach Mike Malone said.

Timberwolves: Towns finished the season with 68 double-doubles, the most in the NBA. His streak of 246 consecutive games played, every contest of his career, is the longest current run in the league. … This was the 16th sellout crowd for the Wolves, their most since the 1991-92 season.

UP NEXT

The Wolves will start the first round in Houston, on either Saturday or Sunday.

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