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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.
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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.
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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.
The toughness that Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and the rest of the veterans brought to the Minnesota Timberwolves this season was on display from start to finish.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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CHARLOTTE Sonny Milano Jersey , N.C. (AP) — The Panthers will be without three-time Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen and second-team All-Pro Bowl right tackle Daryl Williams for the foreseeable future.
The team announced Tuesday that Olsen re-fractured the same right foot that kept him out of nine games last season in Carolina’s 16-8 win over Dallas on Sunday. Olsen will not have surgery and will be reevaluated on a “monthly basis.” He’ll remain on the team’s roster in hopes that he can return later in the season as he did a year ago.
Williams suffered an undisclosed knee injury and will need surgery.
Ranked as the top right tackle in the NFL last season by Pro Football Focus, Williams is likely headed for injured reserve. He tore the MCL and dislocated the patella in his right knee in training camp, but fought back to play in the season opener.
Rookie Ian Thomas is expected to replace Olsen in the starting lineup, while Amini Silatolu is next in line to take over at right tackle.
Unlike last year Youth Brandon Carlo Jersey , the 33-year-old Olsen opted not to have surgery.
He posted a statement on Twitter Tuesday that he is optimistic that his season is not over.
“After consulting with our medical team, we have determined the best course of action is to press forward with my rehab in hopes of playing again this season,” Olsen said.
Olsen added that he and the training staff will “re-examine our options this offseason in regard to my foot and our path forward.”
“To say I am disappointed in the development would be an understatement,” Olsen said. “I believe my greatest career achievement has been my ability to play every game for over a decade. Unfortunately the last two seasons have not continued that trend.”
Royals outfielder Jorge Soler will miss at least six weeks after breaking a bone in his left foot while leaving the batter’s box in Kansas City’s series opener against Houston.Soler had provided some much-needed punch to a struggling Kansas City offense Tuukka Rask Jersey , batting .265 with nine homers and 28 RBIs. He has been especially crucial while fellow outfielder Jorge Bonifacio finishes off his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
The Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in Omaha is on a West Coast trip, making it impossible to get anybody to the ballpark in time for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Astros. The Royals will place Soler on the disabled list and make a corresponding roster move before Sunday’s series finale.
”It’s very tough. He was very disappointed, very upset last night,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”He knew something was wrong. He was putting together a really Harrison Smith Jersey Big , really good, solid year where he’s getting a chance to play every day and was doing some nice things.”
Soler’s injury occurred in the seventh inning of the Royals’ 7-3 loss on Friday night. He stumbled out of the batters’ box and crumpled to the ground before limping to the dugout, and an X-ray revealed a fracture in the first metatarsal on his left foot, just behind the big toe.
Yost said a CT scan showed the break isn’t big enough to warrant surgery at this time Jeff Petry Jersey Kids , but Soler will be evaluated again in about 10 days to determine the next course of treatment.
Also Saturday, Yost said Lucas Duda will begin his rehab assignment Sunday with Omaha. The first baseman has been out since May 14 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Bonifacio could be ready to rejoin the club on July 1.
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The NFL released a statement outlining聽a new anthem policy agreed to in a unanimous vote of league owners at this week’s meetings in Atlanta.
The policy calls for everyone on the field for the song to “stand and show respect Jakob Silfverberg Jersey ,” but allows for players and other personnel to remain off the field if they choose. It also calls for the league to fine teams whose personnel do not “stand and show respect” and allows teams to set their own “work rules” for players who do not stand for the song.
After the NFL released its statement, the NFLPA responded with one of its own.
“The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new ‘policy.’ NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.
“The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Chairman of the NFL鈥檚 Management Council John Mara about the principles, values and patriotism of our League.
“Our union will review the new 鈥減olicy鈥?and challenge any aspect of it that is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement.”
At a brief press conference after the release of the statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said there was “incredible engagement” with players about the anthem issue and said any response to the union would come in direct conversation with them. He was also asked who would be the arbiter of what it means to “show respect” and said the “general public has a very good feel” for what that is without delving into a detailed discussion of what that might mean beyond kneeling.
A pair of veteran wide receivers trying to make the Eagles found out their bids fell short on Saturday.
Kamar Aiken and Markus Wheaton were both released as the defending Super Bowl champs cut the roster to 53 players. Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor Steven Stamkos Jersey , Mike Wallace, Mack Hollins, Shelton Gibson and DeAndre Carter are the receivers on the initial roster.
The Eagles placed defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan on the non-football injury list and safety Chris Maragos on the physically unable to perform list, so neither player will be in the lineup for the first six weeks of the season. They also released vested veteran defensive end Steven Means.
Cornerback DJ Killings, tight end Gannon Sinclair and tackle Toby Weathersby were all waived with injury designations. If unclaimed, they will revert to injured reserve.
Quarterback Joe Callahan, quarterback Christian Hackenberg and running back Donnel Pumphrey were waived in previously reported moves. They are joined on the waiver wire by running back Josh Adams, cornerback De’Vante Bausby Authentic Mikael Backlund Jersey , linebacker Asantay Brown, tight end Billy Brown, defensive tackle Winston Craig, wide receiver Rashard Davis, tight end Anthony Denham, guard Aaron Evans, defensive end Danny Ezechukwu, safety Ironhead Gallon Womens Jason Demers Jersey , guard Darrell Greene, tackle Taylor Hart, running back Matt Jones, defensive end Joe Ostman, wide receiver Darius Prince, defensive tackle Elijah Qualls, safety Jeremy Reaves, defensive tackle Aziz Shittu Youth JuJu Smith-Schuster Jersey , cornerback Chandon Sullivan, center Jon Toth, wide receiver Bryce Treggs, wide receiver Greg Ward, linebacker Jaboree Williams, linebacker Kyle Wilson, and wide receiver Tim Wilson.
New England Patriots Customized JerseysIndianapolis' offense was largely out of sync Monday night against Baltimore. The defense made some big plays Ryan Miller Jersey , but still needs to find consistency. And he expects everyone to start cutting down on penalties over the final two preseason games.
He also knows it's early and all those things can be fixed.
"It was more on the there's a couple things to clean up," he said Tuesday as he evaluated Indianapolis' starting offense. "It was not terrible, but it was not our best day."
Clearly, fans at Lucas Oil Stadium expected to see a better showing from Andrew Luck than the mediocre one he delivered.
He missed his first three throws, the last ending a scoring chance when the Ravens intercepted Luck inside their 10-yard line. Luck later described the play as a bad decision compounded by an inadvisable throw.
But judging what went right and wrong becomes eminently more difficult given all the missing pieces.
T.Y. Hilton, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver, longtime left tackle Anthony Castonzo and the Colts' top two running backs, Marlon Mack and Robert Turbin, sat out with injuries.
Plus Womens Pavel Buchnevich Jersey , Reich acknowledged the Colts have been intentionally rather vanilla in their play-calling.
Besides, Reich still has some position battles to sort out.
Rookie offensive lineman Braden Smith, initially projected to be an NFL guard, played into the second half at right tackle 鈥?the one open spot on the offensive line 鈥?and Reich said he liked what he saw out of Smith with the exception of two holding penalties.
The other positive sign: Luck has been sacked three times, taken at least two big hits on his surgically repaired throwing shoulder and remains pain-free.
"I was like, 'Oh, I landed on my right elbow, sort of reminiscent of how I injured my shoulder a couple years ago,'" he said. "I didn't feel anything. Didn't give it a second thought Carter Hutton Jersey , so I think it's actually a big deal for me and being able to sort of lose that thought bubble."
Defensively, there were others signs of progress.
Rookie linebackers Darius Leonard and Zaire Franklin played well for the second straight game and veteran defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway is starting to look like a potential playmaker in the new 4-3 defensive front.
Franklin and Leonard lead the Colts in tackles with 12 and 11 while Ridgeway has now recorded eight tackles, 4陆 sacks and six tackles for loss.
Defensive end Tarell Basham, a third-round pick in 2017, also may have helped his cause by blocking a punt and recovering it to set up the Colts' final score 鈥?giving them a chance to rally in the final 2陆 minutes.
Phillip Walker connected with Zach Pascal on a 9-yard TD pass, but Walker was stopped short on a 2-point conversion run that would have given Indy a 21-20 lead.
"It was a huge play, a great effort by him," Reich said before explaining why Basham appeared to be sliding down the depth chart. "The defensive line has been very fluid. It can go hot and cold and a guy can go out and have a couple sacks in a hurry."
Reich also sounded optimistic about getting some injured players back.
He's hoping Castonzo (hamstring) returns to practice before the Sept. 9 season opener against Cincinnati and, if all goes well in practice this week Authentic Todd Gurley Jersey , starting safety Malik Hooker could play Saturday against San Francisco.
But Reich also knows he can't be sure exactly how things will fit together 鈥?until the key players return.
"I think it's like putting a puzzle together," he said. "I don't know what the best analogy is, a puzzle, putting the furniture in a room. You have a vision for what it can be, and even though it hasn't all been in there at one time, you still feel like, 'Hey, when it all gets in there, it's going to look good.'"
Free agent cornerback Davon House is returning to the Green Bay Packers after agreeing to terms on a one-year deal.General manager Brian Gutekunst announced the signing on Friday.
House was Green Bay's fourth-round draft pick in 2011. He's the second former Packers cornerback to return to the defense this offseason Tomas Tatar Jersey , joining Tramon Williams.
House started all 12 games he played last year in Green Bay, finishing fourth on the team with nine passes defended. A respected veteran in the locker room, House had shoulder and back injuries in 2017.
He played the previous two seasons in Jacksonville after a four-stint in Green Bay to start his NFL career.
The Packers may still be looking for help at cornerback in this year's draft, which starts April 26.
Cincinnati Bengals Elite JerseysCoach Doug Marrone says he feels like Seferian-Jenkins will play Sunday at the New York Giants Womens Luke Kunin Jersey , "but you never know. That's me saying it, not him or the doctors."
Seferian-Jenkins caught 50 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns last year for the New York Jets. He signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract with Jacksonville during free agency.
Seferian-Jenkins is expected to be a big part of Jacksonville's passing game in 2018. The Jaguars only have three tight ends on their 53-man roster, with James O'Shaughnessy and Niles Paul serving as backups.
A sixth-year pro, Seferian-Jenkins has 105 receptions and 10 touchdowns in his career.
Marrone adds that "he's a guy that's been around, knows his body. If it was a younger guy, I think there would be more of a concern."
The Seattle Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" blew up with Kam Chancellor's neck injury and Richard Sherman's exit. The Denver Broncos' "No Fly Zone" was grounded by Aqib Talib's trade and T.J. Ward's departure.Not so fast, insist the holdovers.
These two teams may not have the star power in their respective secondaries that they've boasted in years past, but they still have formidable, youth-infused defensive backfields expected to play leading roles in 2018.
When Talib was traded to the Rams this spring, he suggested the "No Fly Zone" no longer existed.
Nonsense, retorted cornerback Chris Harris Jr.
"I started the 'No Fly Zone Ryan Getzlaf Jersey ,' so it's going to always be here," said Harris, who has some new co-pilots in cornerbacks Tramaine Brock, Adam Jones and Isaac Yiadom backing up Talib's replacement, Bradley Roby.
At safety, the Broncos had hoped to add some pop to go with Darian Stewart's heady play, and they acquired Su'a Cravens from Washington. But he's on IR with a sore left knee, leaving Will Parks and Dymonte Thomas to step up.
Behind Sherman's swagger, Seattle's secondary became a catchphrase across the NFL. The "Legion of Boom" was so well known the names of Sherman, Chancellor and Earl Thomas were always associated with that moniker.
Not anymore.
Sherman is now with division rival San Francisco. Chancellor's career is likely over after a neck injury suffered last season. Thomas is still around but he only returned to the team on Wednesday after a holdout that produced neither the contract extension nor the trade he hoped for.
Broncos coach Vance Joseph doesn't see much difference on film, however.
"That defense is more of a culture than it is a certain player," Joseph said. "They play hard Mark Giordano Jersey , they play fast and that's what coach (Pete) Carroll brought there five or six years ago. As I watch the tape this year, it's different names and numbers, but it's the same personalities. It's Seattle. It looks like Seattle."
If Thomas plays Sunday, it will likely be on a limited "pitch count" as Carroll described it.
Otherwise, Seattle's secondary features Shaquill Griffin and Dontae Johnson at cornerbacks, Bradley McDougald at strong safety and some combination of Thomas and Tedric Thompson at free safety.
Not quite "Boom" worthy just yet.
Griffin is on his way to being Seattle's next secondary star. He showed the skill last year as a rookie playing opposite Sherman and may eventually take over as the leader of the unit. Johnson was a starter last year in San Francisco, and McDougald may be one of Seattle's most versatile players with the ability to bounce between both strong safety and free safety.
"It's very reassuring Earl is back," McDougald said. "I'm happy he's here and I'm ready to get to work."
Other subplots as the Broncos try to extend the NFL's longest active winning streak in openers to seven:
STATING HIS CASE: QB Case Keenum , trying to help the Broncos avoid their first back-to-back losing seasons since 1971-72, figures his Denver debut got a little bit harder with Thomas ending his holdout.
He praised Thomas as one of the best safeties he's ever faced, insisted, "he can do some things on film that nobody else can do."
That said Womens Landon Collins Jersey , Keenum likes his teammates and his chances.
"I've got a lot of respect for 29," Keenum said. "But we trust our guys running routes and catching the ball versus anybody out there."
SHAQUEM STARTS: Shaquill Griffin's twin brother, rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin, is expected to start against the Broncos with K.J. Wright out following minor knee surgery. It's another chapter in the remarkable story of Griffin , who had his left hand amputated as a child. While Griffin is a superior athlete, he is undersized for the position and will be challenged both in the run game and trying to defend bigger tight ends Jeff Heuerman and Jake Butt.
HONORING T.D.: Royce Freeman is set to become the first rookie running back to start Week 1 for the Broncos since Hall of Famer Terrell Davis in 1995. Fellow rookie and local hero Phillip Lindsay, who starred at the University of Colorado, got Davis' blessing to rock his No. 30 jersey .
"As a running back, it's special to be able to wear T.D.'s number," Lindsay said.
COLORADO CONNECTION: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was once a farmhand of the Colorado Rockies, who drafted him a day before his father died in 2010. "I'm very, very grateful for the Colorado Rockies organization and what they did for me and just gave me a chance and allowed me to take my mind off of my dad Valtteri Filppula Jersey , who was my best friend. I'll never forget that," Wilson said.
The New York Yankees now hold Wilson's baseball rights, and while he's got a great gig now, "I think I'd look pretty good in them, wearing the pinstripes," Wilson said. "When you put on a Yankee uniform, they say you become immortal."
AP Sports Writer Tim Booth contributed. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Elite JerseysJaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey provided GQ with some candid commentary regarding many of the quarterbacks currently in the league. He also addressed one who currently isn’t.
Does Ramsey think Colin Kaepernick should be in the league?
“Oh Womens Alejandro Villanueva Jersey , hell yeah,” Ramsey said. “He’s way better than some of these second-string quarterbacks out here. Possibly better than some of these first-string quarterbacks out here. And some teams have third-string quarterbacks. He’s definitely good enough to be in the league, but he won’t be.”
Of all the things Ramsey had to say, that’s arguably the least controversial; regardless of how anyone feels about Kaepernick, it seems to have become a given that he’s not in the NFL for reasons unrelated to skill. The only question is whether it’s legitimate or not legitimate to shun someone who is perceived to be “bad for business.”
And Ramsey thinks it will definitely be awkward for business if someone were to sign Kaepernick now.
“I think it’s like a pride thing now,” Ramsey said. “It’s kind of like, if all of a sudden we pick him up now Zemgus Girgensons Jersey , people might be like, ‘So why didn’t we pick him up last year? Now we gonna pick him because he has the opportunity to stay in the locker room?’ It’ll reflect bad on teams if they pick him up now. So I don’t think he’ll get picked up.”
Ramsey is right; no matter what happens with Kaepernick’s collusion grievance, Kaepernick most likely won’t be back in the NFL. Regardless of whether he’s better than most if not all of the quarterbacks Ramsey candidly trashed to GQ.
It took all 1,230 regular-season games to decide which 16 teams were going to the NBA playoffs.Same goes for picking the 36 playoff-bound referees.
The NBA on Friday revealed the officials selected to work the opening round of the playoffs that start this weekend. The league got there with a process including everything from a study of analytics, ratings filed by teams and coaches, the assessments of retired veteran referees and much more.
”It’s definitely a different world to be a part of those who are doing the deciding, instead of those that are being decided upon http://www.officialwild.com/authentic-adidas-matt-dumba-jersey ,” said longtime referee Monty McCutchen, who left the floor this season to become an NBA vice president. ”And there’s a certain growth pattern for me in that regard, having to learn new skill sets and new ways of sort of approaching it.”
The five active officials with the most playoff experience are all headed back to the postseason this year: Ron Garretson, Ken Mauer, Mike Callahan, Derrick Stafford and Scott Foster have combined to work nearly 1,000 playoff games.
There are three first-time referees selected in Kevin Cutler T.J. Oshie Jersey , Karl Lane and Kevin Scott. If form for rookie playoff refs holds, they’ll do no more than a handful of games.
”Like in most professions you’re given what you can handle at the time – well, you’re not given it, you’ve earned this opportunity that we want you to experience,” McCutchen said. ”I think it is important to point out someone getting in their first year not going to be working 14 of our playoff games. There’s a developmental stage here that they have shown an excellence that warrants them being a part of this.”
Most of the 12 referees who worked last season’s NBA Finals are back in this year’s playoffs, the exceptions being McCutchen and Danny Crawford, both of whom have retired from officiating.
Courtney Kirkland http://www.officialmapleleafsproshop.com/authentic-adidas-james-van-riemsdyk-jersey , who was taken off the floor for a week this season after an incident with Golden State’s Shaun Livingston , was selected for the postseason ref roster.
”Are they exhibiting the proper amounts of courage and strength without arrogance? Are they showing humility without weakness? Are they showing the proper amount of resoluteness and firmness to withstand crowd pressure?” McCutchen said, listing some of the things that he and others consider when deciding who gets the playoff call. ”Those are important aspects to being an effective referee.”
The NBA has been stressing better relationships between referees and players for months, and teams do provide some of the feedback that goes into the evaluation process for choosing which officials make the playoffs.
That process used to determine the first-round pool remains in play, as the group gets pared down for subsequent playoff rounds.
”Each referee has a dashboard of thousands of decisions that they’re rated on,” McCutchen said. ”And that gives a very clear picture of where people are being successful.”
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Duvernay-Tardif graduated from McGill University’s medical school on Tuesday.
The Chiefs picked Duvernay-Tardif in the sixth round of the 2014 draft Phil Kessel Jersey , but despite playing at a smaller Canadian school, he quickly earned a starting job. But he never gave up his pursuit of medicine, spending time each offseason doing school work and hospital rotations.
Duvernay-Tardif posted a photo of himself on social media after commencement wearing a lab coat with ”Dr. Duvernay-Tardif” across the back and his No. 76 in Chiefs colors. ”This is it!” he said. ”Today I become a doctor! It also marks the beginning of a great new adventure.”
Duvernay-Tardif plans to begin his medical career after his playing days are over. He signed a $41.25 million, five-year contract to remain with the Chiefs last offseason.
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The NFL players' union says former San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid filed a grievance against the league http://www.jaguarscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-leonard-fournette-jersey , alleging that he remains unsigned as a result of collusion by owners.
Reid, a Pro Bowler in 2013, had joined former teammate Colin Kaepernick two seasons ago in kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.
Kaepernick wasn't signed for the 2017 season following his release in San Francisco. Reid continued the quarterback's protests. The 26-year-old safety became a free agent this offseason when his rookie contract with the 49ers expired.
"Our union is aware that Eric Reid and his legal representatives filed a collusion claim, which will be heard through the arbitration process as spelled out in our collective bargaining agreement Jack Johnson Jersey ," the NFL Players Association said in a statement Wednesday. "Our union supports Eric and we are considering other legal options to pursue."
Kaepernick previously filed a collusion grievance that is in the discovery stage. He deposed several league owners and executives, including Commissioner Roger Goodell. Reid is using the same attorneys as Kaepernick.
A league spokesman said Wednesday: "We are abiding by the confidentiality provision of the CBA and have no comment."
In March, Goodell was asked about Reid, one of the better players at his position in the NFL Victor Mete Jersey , not having a job.
"I've said this repeatedly to you: The 32 teams make individual decisions on the players who are going to best help their franchises," Goodell said. "Those are decisions they have to make. They do that every day in the best interest of winning. Teams make those decisions. I'm not directly involved with that."
Last month, Kaepernick praised Reid for continuing to make a stand for social justice when the quarterback was presented an Amnesty International award in Amsterdam.
"Eric introducing me for this prestigious award brings me great joy," Kaepernick said. "But I am also pained by the fact that his taking a knee Joel Eriksson Ek Jersey , and demonstrating courage to protect the rights of black and brown people in America, has also led to his ostracization from the NFL when he is widely recognized as one of the best competitors in the game and in the prime of his career."
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McCaskey says the vote by NFL owners two weeks ago will ”return the anthem to what it should be – a unifying force” even though the policy ”isn’t perfect.”
McCaskey says players should stand. But he acknowledges those who kneeled the past two years to protest policy brutality and racial inequality raised ”legitimate issues” that deserve action.
He also says the policy was not a reaction to criticism by President Donald Trump Braydon Coburn Jersey , who added to the feud with the league by canceling the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles‘ White House visit this week.
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Even in the preseason, Matt Ryan gets miffed about a poor showing.
He had nothing to complain about Friday.
Ryan guided the Atlanta Falcons right down the field for a touchdown on their first possession, hooking up with Austin Hooper on a 4-yard scoring pass , and led another impressive drive before calling it a night in a 28-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ryan finished 5 of 7 for 90 yards, looking very much like the quarterback who won the MVP during the 2016 season even though receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman didn't play for the second week in a row.
It was certainly an encouraging contrast to the preseason opener, when the Falcons (0-2) were blanked 17-0 by the New York Jets and Ryan played only one brief, dismal series .
"He wants to attack," coach Dan Quinn said. "That's what I saw tonight."
With a resting Jones watching from the sideline, Calvin Ridley got a chance to shine for the Falcons. The first-round pick from Alabama hauled in the first touchdown of his professional career on a 7-yard pass from backup quarterback Matt Schaub .
Ridley finished with three receptions for 49 yards.
"It felt good making some catches and getting that first touchdown out of the way," he said. "I'm ready to get some more."
Kansas City's new starting quarterback Authentic Jameis Winston Jersey , Patrick Mahomes, had an up-and-down game but delivered one tantalizing pass.
Alex Smith's replacement was intercepted on a deep throw by Falcons safety Damontae Kazee , who drifted over from the middle of the field to pick a ball intended for Sammy Watkins. Mahomes caught a break when another ill-advised throw into the end zone was dropped by Falcons cornerback Blidi Wren-Wilson, allowing the Chiefs to salvage a field goal.
But, with just 17 seconds left in the first half, Mahomes made the most of his final pass. Three Atlanta defensive backs inexplicably allowed Tyreek Hill to get behind them, and Mahomes delivered the pass in stride for a 69-yard touchdown .
The throw actually traveled 70 yards in the air 鈥?ample evidence of Mahomes' enormous potential .
"I don't think I've ever thrown one that far in a game," said Mahomes, who finished 8 of 12 for 138 yards. "I don't know many people that would be able to catch that ball going that far in a game. I told (Hill) if I had thrown a spiral, he wouldn't have been able to get to it. He disagreed with that."
Chad Henne took over for at quarterback to begin the second half. He connected with Gehrig Dieter on a 27-yard touchdown that put the Chiefs (1-1) ahead for the first time Authentic Erik Karlsson Jersey Kids , capping a 10-play, 76-yard drive.
Ben Niemann finished off the scoring with a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown after picking off a horrible throw by Atlanta's third-string quarterback, undrafted rookie Kurt Benkert.
"He overthrew it and gave me a gift," said Niemann, also an undrafted rookie.
While many Atlanta fans were still backed up in security lines outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ryan began his impressive showing by converting on third-and-11 with a 29-yard pass to Hooper.
"Classic Matt," Quinn said. "He buys some times, moves around in the pocket and rips one."
Tevin Coleman, the other half of the Falcons' dynamic 1-2 punch at running back, broke off a pair of 15-yard runs before Ryan rolled to his left and hit Hooper on the short scoring pass. The tight end showed impressive athleticism Mark Scheifele Jersey , hurtling into the end zone over cornerback Steven Nelson .
After the Chiefs went three-and-out, Ryan guided the Falcons deep into Kansas City territory once again. The big play was a 36-yard completion to Ridley , who beat David Amerson to haul in the pass.
On fourth-and-2 at the Chiefs 20, the Falcons passed on a field goal attempt, which was essentially irrelevant since 43-year-old kicker Matt Bryant skipped his second straight preseason game. Ryan's pass for Ridley was broken up by Kendall Fuller, halting a seven-play, 69-yard drive.
INJURY REPORT
Nelson was kneed in the head by Hooper on Atlanta's first touchdown and staggered off the field. He was evaluated for a possible concussion.
Another Kansas City player, linebacker Terrance Smith, sustained an ankle injury.
The Chiefs also were missing star safety Eric Berry, who didn't dress while he continues to nurse a sore heel.
SARK ON THE FIELD
For the second week in a row Authentic David Perron Jersey , Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian called plays from the field.
That's where Sarkisian prefers to be, but Quinn ordered him upstairs last season. Now, with Greg Knapp 鈥?a longtime offensive coordinator who was hired as Atlanta's quarterback coach 鈥?working from the press box and passing along what he sees to Sarkisian, it seems everyone has found an arrangement to their liking.
"Right now, I'm comfortable with the way he's seeing it and calling plays," Quinn said.
ANTHEM UPDATE
There were no apparent protests during the national anthem.
UP NEXT
Chiefs: Hit the road again to face the Chicago Bears on Aug. 25.
Falcons: Travel to Jacksonville that same day to face the Jaguars in a matchup between 2017 playoff teams.
Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at s://apnews/search/paul%20newberry Cleveland Browns Customized Jerseys