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Ross' comments Tuesday in a statement released by the Dolphins came after the New York Daily News reported that he said all of the team's players will stand for the anthem in 2018. Ross was in New York on Monday to be honored by the Jackie Robinson Foundation and receive its ROBIE Lifetime Achievement Award.
"I have no intention of forcing our players to stand during the anthem, and I regret that my comments have been misconstrued," Ross said in his statement.
"I've shared my opinion with all our players: I'm passionate about the cause of social justice http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marquis-haynes-jersey , and I feel that kneeling is an ineffective tactic that alienates more people than it enlists."
Colin Kaepernick started the NFL anthem movement when he was with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 to protest racial inequality and police brutality. President Donald Trump has criticized the movement, saying it's disrespectful to service members.
"I know our players care about the military and law enforcement too," Ross said in his statement Authentic Daryl Worley Jersey , "because I've seen the same players who are fighting for social justice engaging positively with law enforcement and the military. I care passionately that the message of social justice resonates far and wide, and I will continue to support and fund efforts for those who fight for equality for all."
Dolphins players Julius Thomas, Michael Thomas and Kenny Stills knelt during the anthem before games last season. At one point coach Adam Gase established a team rule requiring players either to stand for the anthem or stay in the tunnel.
When protesting players told Gase waiting in the tunnel was interfering with their game preparation Authentic Will Butcher Jersey , he relaxed the rule and allowed them to resume their sideline kneeling.
Stills was the Dolphins' nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which honors involvement in the community and performance on the field. He's expected to be back with Miami with 2018, but Julius Thomas and Michael Thomas are less likely to return.
Two victims of disgraced national ski coach Bertrand Charest joined former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy to demand immediate action from the federal government to combat abuse in sports.Charest was found guilty in June 2017 of 37 sex-related charges and received a 12-year prison term.
Genevieve Simard and Amelie-Frederique Gagnon spoke at a news conference Friday at the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary.
The former skiers want the federal government to put in place online training regarding mental and physical abuse for sports organizations. They also want independent safety officers to investigate when concerns are raised.
In addition http://www.jetsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-trenton-cannon-jersey , they say any sports organization receiving government funding must be required to have a safety plan.
.After splitting a four-game weekend set in Seattle Cheap Leighton Vander Esch Jersey , the Boston Red Sox return to work Tuesday night when they open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
The Red Sox went into their off day on Monday just a half-game behind the New York Yankees, but they have won six of their last nine games thanks to a starting rotation that has been among the best in baseball during the last two weeks.
Chris Sale will look to keep that going Tuesday when he takes the mound for his 16th start of the season. The left-hander snapped a three-start losing streak his last time out, allowing just a run in six innings of a 5-1 victory over Baltimore.
Sale had allowed 10 runs in 10 1/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros on May 27 and June 1, respectively. He rebounded by holding the Chicago White Sox to a run in eight innings while striking out two on June 8 in a 1-0 Red Sox loss before getting back in the win column against the Orioles.
“I have a good rhythm and tempo going for me right now,” said Sale, who has held opponents to no more than a run in nine starts this season. “I’m feeling good. That’s the way I like it.”
He’s 10-6 with a 4.21 ERA in 26 career appearances (18 starts) against the Twins, who also had Monday off after a 3-3 road trip that saw them drop two of three to the Detroit Tigers and take two of three from the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians.
They’ll begin the day third in the division, five games behind Cleveland and 2 1/2 behind Detroit.
“It was a good series win (in Cleveland),” third baseman Eduardo Escobar said. “We’ll be ready Tuesday for another series at home. This team will be OK. We go out there and play hard every day, but sometimes you have to give credit to the other pitchers.”
The Twins will turn to their own budding ace for the series opener.
Right-hander Jose Berrios is 4-1 with a 2.47 ERA in his last six starts. He has allowed more than two runs just once during that stretch and has struck out 51 while walking only 12 in 43 2/3 innings, including 24 strikeouts with two walks in his last three outings.
Berrios took no-decision his last time out. He held the Tigers to a run, seven hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings, but the Twins’ offense and bullpen couldn’t get the job done in a 5-2 loss.
“He threw a hell of a game,” reliever Addison Reed said afterward. “That was fun to watch. He works his tail off Weston Richburg Color Rush Jersey , and it shows when he’s out there. The thing that I’m most (upset) about tonight is not getting him the ‘W.'”
Berrios has one previous career start against the Red Sox. He allowed four runs and struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-1 loss at Fenway Park last season.
Brandon Beane is happy he's still around to tell the story of when the Buffalo Bills pegged quarterback Josh Allen to become their heir-apparent starter.The amount of film the Bills general manager watched, games attended and people he interviewed before drafting the Wyoming quarterback in the first round was nothing compared to the hair-raising experience Beane and the team's brain trust had visiting Allen in mid-March.
"Ha, ha, ha, you want that story?" coach Sean McDermott said, after Beane first mentioned how "interesting" their trip was to Laramie, Wyoming.
Sure, was the response, during an hour-long session McDermott and Beane held with reporters in June. By agreement, the contents of the interview were not allowed to be published until Thursday.
Beane shook his head in describing the turbulence the Bills' private jet experienced during landing.
"We were coming in over the mountains, and the plane started just going like this," Beane said, bobbing his arm up and down. "Literally, our heads are going off the ceiling."
Beane and co-owner Terry Pegula Authentic Johnny Townsend Jersey , who had been watching video of Allen, suddenly started grabbing anything they could get their hands on 鈥?seatbacks and armrests 鈥?to steady themselves.
While McDermott remained calm, Beane said offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was in near hysterics.
"Daboll is face-timing with his wife. And every expletive, like, 'It's over,'" Beane said.
"It was like Fred Sanford: 'I'm coming home!'" he added, referring to the character played by Redd Fox in the 1970s sitcom "Sanford And Son."
Upon finally landing, the pilot informed them the turbulence was the result of what's referred to as a mountain wave, which occurs occasionally when planes fly over high terrain.
Once they gathered their breath, the Bills then proceeded with meeting Allen, and put him through a workout.
Without providing Allen with a script of plays beforehand, Daboll began yelling out situations to see how quickly the quarterback could digest the information and make a throw.
"It was, 'All right, the deep dig. Now. Five-step Cheap Customized Chicago Bears Jerseys , this. Go.' And he processed it quickly," Beane said. "His workout was very good. And when we left there, we felt very confident."
They were confident enough to give up two second-round picks to Tampa Bay and trade up five spots to draft Allen at No. 7.
Where their confidence wavered involved what bumps they might encounter upon leaving Laramie.
"We were a little distracted about how we were getting out of here," Beane said. "It was like, 'Where do we drive to have the plane meet us?'"
Here are a number of other notable topics discussed during the session:
McDERMOTT OWNS UP
Beane revealed how McDermott owned up to Bills players by acknowledging he erred in starting rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman over Tyrod Taylor in a bid to provide Buffalo's sputtering offense a spark in Week 11.
The switch backfired , with Peterman benched after throwing five interceptions in the first half of a 54-24 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers, that extended Buffalo's skid to three games.
"Sean stood up there and he owned the Tyrod decision," Beane said. "He said, 'It didn't work. We tried it. And I'm trying to win every week. And unfortunately that decision didn't work out for various reasons. Tyrod's our starter.'"
The Bills responded with a 16-10 win at Kansas City the following week as part of a season-closing 4-2 run to finish 9-7, and end a 17-year playoff drought.
CHARTING ALLEN
To address questions regarding Allen's accuracy, Bills scouts turned to game tape to chart every throw he attempted. They assessed what caused the incompletions, including times he threw the ball away when his receivers weren't open.
The Bills also took into account Wyoming's offensive philosophy, which didn't include many short passes.
"He had no gimme throws," Beane said of a quarterback who went 152 of 270 Avonte Maddox Jersey Eagles , in completing just 56.3 percent of his passes, with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games last year.
The only real concern was Allen's footwork, which Beane said notably improved by the time he played at the Senior Bowl in January.
"I'm not saying it's fixed," Beane said of Allen's footwork. "But improved."
QB COMPETITION
McDermott has no intention of rushing Allen into a starting job once training camp opens in suburban Rochester on July 26.
Allen earned limited time with the starters during Buffalo's three-day mandatory minicamp in mid-June. He spent the previous 10 practices working with the third-stringers, while Peterman and free-agent addition AJ McCarron split time with the starters.
McDermott previously coached in Carolina and Philadelphia, and noted how quarterbacks develop differently.
Whereas, Cam Newton started immediately during his rookie season in 2011 in Carolina, Donovan McNabb waited until Week 7 in 1999 to make his first start in Philadelphia.
"There's no exact way to do it, right? It's about bringing him along the right way," McDermott said. "We're not going to put him out there unless we feel like he's ready."
Beane concurred, while adding: "Whether he plays zero games or 16 games, we're going to put out the guy that gives us the best chance to win each Sunday."
.Players do not have to attend either the organized team activities or any minicamps.
Shurmur, however, let it be known in the offseason that he would appreciate it if they attended, with new systems on offensive and defense being installed and the team coming off a 3-13 season that cost former coach Ben McAdoo his job.
Flowers has skipped everything. There are now reports the Giants are shopping him in the days leading to the NFL draft, which starts Thursday.
The former Miami product has not lived up to expectations in his first two seasons at left tackle. That forced new general manager Dave Gettleman to go out and sign New England Patriots left tackle Nate Solder as a free agent, a move that would have forced Flowers to move to right tackle.
Flowers has not given any indication why he has stayed away.
"He's not here Clay Matthews Packers Jersey , so there's not really much to say," Shurmur said.
The coach refused to say whether he was disappointed.
"We understand that this is a program that is voluntary," he said. "I tend to believe it is very necessary, but he's not here. So, when he is here, we will start to talk about him."
The Giants don't have a lot of depth at tackle. Free agent Chad Wheeler played in 11 games with five starts as a rookie. Adam Bisnowaty started in his only game last season after being drafted in the sixth round.
If Flowers is traded, the Giants are going to have to draft a tackle or sign one as a free agent.
Odell Beckham Jr., who missed most of last season with a broken ankle, and defensive end Olivier Vernon were both at the minicamp. They skipped the minicamp a year ago.
"I think the big thing for us is our game is very simple 鈥?it's about the ball, it's about negotiating the ground and it's really about man whipping man," Shurmur said.
The minicamp, which does not entail any hitting Eagles Authentic Jerseys , is more about making sure players get to know the new systems, with some throwing and receiving mixed in. The defenses can work on stripping the ball.
There was speculation that Shurmur wanted to use the minicamp to see what quarterback Davis Webb could do. The third-round pick did nothing last season, so the Giants really don't know what they have with their backup to Eli Manning.
"I don't think there needs to be any anxiety on his part 鈥?get trained up, come on out here, let it rip and mistakes happen in practice and you learn from them," Shurmur said. "I think that's why you practice, so I think you have to be careful about making a final evaluation on a guy in a three-day period here. He just needs to come out here and get as good as he can be."
Most players said they felt they were entering this season with a clean slate.
Cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was suspended for a game last season after missing a practice, intends to be on his best behavior this season.
"I promise y'all that Jackrabbit says it won't happen this year what happened last year," he said. "There won't be any animosity between players, no disrespecting the coach. There will be none of that. New York Giant football is back."
Jenkins also believes fellow cornerback and 2016 first-round draft pick Eli Apple, who also was suspended for a game Packers J'Mon Moore Jersey , will be a different player this season.
"You have to understand that he was young," Jenkins said. "It's a clean slate, new coaching staff and for him it's guys like me that have to push him and help him out because I've been in the league so long and just help him understand that adversity is going to hit you and when it hits, you've just got to keep it going."
Beckham did not take part in the afternoon practice, but fellow receiver Sterling Shepard said that was a precaution.
"I've been with him and have been training with him a bit and, to be honest, I forget that he got hurt sometimes," Shepard said.
.The Lions hired Hank Fraley on Friday to be their assistant offensive line coach and Evan Rothstein to assist with research and analysis.
Fraley was UCLA's offensive line coach last season after three years with the Minnesota Vikings as their assistant offensive line coach.
Rothstein has been with the Lions since 2012 Youth Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys , working as a research and analysis assistant the previous three years.
The Lions hired Patricia earlier this month to replace Jim Caldwell, who they fired last month. Patricia was on the New England Patriots' staff for 14 seasons, the last six as defensive coordinator.
Daniel Cormier believes not having to cut weight will serve him well when he returns to the octagon to meet heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in July’s UFC 226 pay-per-view headliner.
The light heavyweight champion also told the AP’s Dan Gelston on the ”AP Sports Weekly” podcast that he wouldn’t mind holding both the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles at the same time.
And Cormier said he wants fights that make financial sense Wholesale Hayden Hurst Jersey , and that would include a fight with former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar in the future should Lesnar return to the octagon.
Co-hosts Jim Litke and Tim Dahlberg also talk to B.J. Armstrong, who won three NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan, about the NBA playoffs. Also joining them is Nick Nurse Youth Cleveland Browns Jerseys , an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors, who breaks down some of the challenges of the playoffs.
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds weighs in from Puerto Rico, where he is covering the two games between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians and where the statue of Hiram Bithorn outside the stadium named after him was blown down in Hurricane Maria.
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Listen at podcastonesports.com http://www.49ersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-tarvarius-moore-jersey , the podcastone app and apple podcasts. .
Jenkins is entering his 15th season with the franchise Dolphins Elite Jerseys , staying with Cleveland despite numerous front-office overhauls. Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam cited Jenkins’ ”performance and leadership” in placing him in charge of the team’s business operations.
Jenkins has spent the past three seasons as the team’s executive vice president and the past five as its chief financial officer. He will remain its primary government relations contact.
The Browns are exploring the possibility of a major redevelopment at their downtown stadium. The long-term plans could include an extensive remodeling of FirstEnergy Stadium or a new facility.
Jenkins will oversee operations including financial management, revenue generation, stadium operations, legal, information technology, business analytics and administration.
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HOUSTON — It was yet another example of what the Houston Astros look like when their lineup depth flashes, their fourth win in their final at-bat this season offering a glimpse of potential even when everything didn’t quite fall into place.
As the Astros (51-27) near the halfway point of the schedule on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals Patriots Cheap Jerseys , they recognize fully that they will require more wins like the one they recorded on Saturday to keep pace in the chase for the best record in the American League.
They were handcuffed by a scuffling pitcher for seven innings before the bottom third of their order helped complete a game-tying rally in the ninth.
And, while Houston failed to walk it off in the 11th, the bottom third of its order generated just enough traffic for the heavy hitters to come to bat in the 12th and secure the 4-3 victory.
Designated hitter Evan Gattis, batting seventh, produced the game-tying RBI with his sacrifice fly in the ninth inning following an 0-for-3 start to his evening. Marwin Gonzalez, batting eighth, walked in both of his final two plate appearances after recording three strikeouts against Royals starter Ian Kennedy. By churning out quality plate appearances http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-malik-jefferson-jersey , the job was easier up top.
“We’re at our best when those guys are doing something at the bottom,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “That takes a lot of pressure off the top of the order or the middle of the order to have to do it every time. That’s why we think we have a complete team.”
Right-hander Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.59 ERA) will start the series finale for the Astros in the rubber match. Cole did not factor into the decision in his last start, a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, after allowing four runs on three hits and five walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
He made his lone start against the Royals on July 21, 2015, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 loss at Kauffman Stadium when he pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Right-hander Jason Hammel (2-8 Customized New England Patriots Jerseys , 4.88 ERA) gets the starting nod for the Royals. Hammel is 2-2 with a 2.85 ERA over nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Astros, including a 1.74 ERA over his last three starts. He hasn’t pitched at Minute Maid Park since 2014.
Hammel, who issued a season-high four walks in his previous outing, has issued two or fewer walks in 11 of 15 appearances this season and is tied for fifth in the American League with 37 starts with two or fewer walks since the start of 2017. His four walks against the Texas Rangers snapped a 37-start streak of walking three or few batters dating back to May 29, 2017.
After delivering at the plate and in the field for the Royals (23-53) in the opener, right fielder Rosell Herrera had a quiet night on Saturday, going 0-for-4 with a walk. Claimed off waivers from Cincinnati on June 2 http://www.saintsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-rick-leonard-jersey , Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Omaha last Sunday and has worked to show the defensive range and offensive versatility that could make him an asset as the Royals take extended looks at some of the younger players on their major league roster.
“He’s athletic, he’s fast,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Herrera. “He seems to swing the bat OK from both sides. It’s only been a week. There’s a lot to like looking at him on a short look.”
.BALTIMORE — The Los Angeles Angels are hoping to cure their recent slide with a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles beginning Friday at Camden Yards.
Even though the Angels have lost six consecutive games Panthers Cheap Jerseys , they still have time to get back in the wild-card race. However, they will need to gain some much-needed momentum in Baltimore.
“At some point, obviously we need to put both ends together and get the pitching we need, get some early runs and get the game on our terms and we’re going to start to do things the way we can,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are mired in last place and own the worst record in Major League Baseball. Baltimore has lost five straight, including its first-ever four-game sweep at the hands of the Seattle Mariners.
“I don’t like losing any games. It eats at you,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “But you should be doing those things all the time, because things are always evolving, especially in our situation compared to some of the people we compete against in this division.”
The Orioles, looking at a possible rebuild, are open to trading several key players, including shortstop Manny Machado and closer Zach Britton, as they look toward the future. On Thursday Authentic Preston Brown Jersey , the team recalled rookie Chance Sisco, who is viewed as a long-term fixture as the starting catcher and will split time with Caleb Joseph.
“Chance went down (to Triple-A Norfolk) and did what we asked him to do and we got him back and we’ll play him and Caleb,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “It won’t necessarily be a strict platoon, but could be, depending on how it falls.
“We know we’re getting right, left, right against Anaheim. We know they only have two left-handed hitters. It’s more about today now, but we’re going to make use of all their skills and keep them all in the mix.
“And also, part of Chance’s development is two steps forward, one step back. We’ll keep trying to do what’s best for his long-term development and success.”
The Orioles have also struggled with injuries. Both right-handed reliever Darren O’Day (hamstring) and outfielder Craig Gentry (rib fracture) were placed on the 10-day disabled list earlier this week. The team’s most consistent starter, Dylan Budy (ankle), is also on the DL.
Baltimore looks to get off to a solid start against the Angels with rookie David Hess (2-4, 5.44 ERA) starting the opener. He has shown some upside but has lost his last three decisions.
In his last outing, Hess allowed five runs and seven hits in just four innings of a 7-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.
“The results speak for themselves Buccaneers Cheap Jerseys ,” Hess said. “They’re definitely different, but I think just executing pitches, I think I haven’t done it as well the past few starts. I think just getting back to what was successful those first few outings. I think we’ll get back to work and make a good move for the next outing.”
Felix Pena (0-0, 5.40) will make his third start of the season for the Angels, filling in for injured Garrett Richards (hamstring). In his last outing, Pena allowed three runs and eight hits with strikeouts and one walk in five innings of a 7-6 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. He is facing Baltimore for the first time in his young career.
Los Angeles will be without reliever Jake Jewell, who suffered an ankle injury while covering home plate after a wild pitch against the Red Sox on Wednesday night.
The Oakland Athletics will go for their season-high fifth win in a row when they open a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.
Oakland (38-36) has achieved a four-game winning streak on four occasions this season, including its current stretch, but has yet to make it five. The A’s have outscored opponents 28-15 during this week’s streak, which includes two wins apiece against the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres.
A’s hitters slugged five homers in a 12-4 rout of the Padres on Wednesday. The team already has four players with double-digit blasts, including Khris Davis (20), Matt Olson (15), Jed Lowrie (11) and the injured Matt Chapman (10).
“We definitely have some power,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said to the A’s official website. “That’s one of the strengths of the team.”
As Oakland is riding a hot streak Ozzie Albies Atlanta Braves Jersey , Chicago (24-49) is mired in a seven-game losing streak. A loss in the series opener would give the White Sox their worst skid of the season, which is saying something considering the club’s ugly record.
White Sox manager Rick Renteria’s club is coming off back-to-back sweeps at the hands of the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. In Wednesday’s series finale, Chicago managed only two hits in a 12-0 loss to the Indians.
“It’s tough, but instead of getting frustrated, we have to keep working, use that feeling to work harder,” White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada said to the team’s official website. “There are still plenty of games to play, and we can improve. We can keep getting better, and if it is not this year, then next year. But definitely the games we have this year, we have a chance to improve.”
White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (4-7, 7.19 ERA) will look to improve in his 15th start of the season. The former first-round pick of the Washington Nationals (No. 16 overall in 2012) has terrific potential but has been unable to produce consistent results in his first full season on the South Side.
Poor command has plagued Giolito, who has 45 walks in 71 1/3 innings. He also has hit 10 batters, which is tied for most in the majors along with Cole Hamels of the Texas Rangers and Carlos Martinez of the St. Louis Cardinals.
This will mark the 23-year-old’s first career appearance against Oakland.
For the A’s Cheap Joseph Noteboom Jersey , right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-2, 2.45 ERA) will make his third start of the season. The 29-year-old is seeking his first victory since Aug. 4, 2015, against the Baltimore Orioles.
Bassitt is quite familiar with the White Sox, who drafted him in the 16th round in 2011 and developed him in the minors. He went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in six appearances (five starts) as a rookie in Chicago in 2014.
On Dec. 9, 2014, the White Sox shipped Bassitt, Marcus Semien, Josh Phegley and minor leaguer Rangel Ravelo to Oakland in exchange for Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa. The trade did not pan out as hoped for Chicago, which retained Samardzija for one underwhelming season before he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants.
Bassitt has faced the White Sox once in his career. That was in 2016, when he gave up eight hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings, but did not get a decision in Chicago’s 5-4 victory.
This will be the first meeting of the season between the teams. Last year, Oakland won the season series 5-1.
.The four-year deal was done Friday, before Vikings rookie minicamp began. They have three of their eight draft picks left unsigned: first-round cornerback Mike Hughes, fourth-round defensive end Jalyn Holmes, and fifth-round tight end Tyler Conklin.
O'Neill was the 62nd overall selection, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound converted tight end. He played in all 38 games over the last three seasons for the Panthers, forgoing his final year of eligibility to enter the draft. The Vikings lauded his athleticism but stressed the need for him to add strength. O'Neill is likely headed for a backup role this season behind starting tackles Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers.
The journey from the tiny African nation of Togo to the Cologne Crocodiles of the German Football League to the Arizona Cardinals is a very long one.Now, still learning English, Moubarak Djeri is trying to navigate the tough and often complicated world of the NFL and prove he belongs.
”This experience is really big,” he said after the Cardinals went through a voluntary workout Thursday. ”That was like a dream for me to be here. Now to see how it’s working Authentic Alex Ovechkin Jersey , how you’ve got to work hard to make the team and be in the season, it’s a really big experience.”
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive end came to Arizona on a tryout basis but showed enough ability to sign a contract and earn a spot as one of the 90 players going through offseason drills.
Djeri speaks four languages – German, French, his mother’s native tongue of Kotokoli and ”just a little English.” He has been in the United States for three months.
”My English was not that good before I came here,” Djeri said. ”I just started learning better the time I was here, like speaking with my other teammates, watching movies. On the field, the coach is speaking English and you just keep understanding what they say.”
One of his best new friends is teammate Praise Martin-Oguike, also a defensive end Cheap Jaire Alexander Jersey , who was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States at age 10.
”The language barrier, he might not get the communications sometime,” Martin-Oguike said. ”It’s very difficult.”
There are other challenges. Martin-Oguike helped Djeri set up a bank account with a debit card to facilitate the automatic deposit of his paycheck. He showed him how to use an Uber app on his phone.
And he provides lots of on-the-job encouragement.
”If I have bad practices, I just think about it and get myself really mad,” Djeri said. ”Praise says don’t think too much about it. Keep going, next play. Tomorrow you’re going to get better. It’s something to motivate me.”
Djeri was born in Lome, the capital city of Togo, a small west African nation sandwiched between Ghana and Benin. One of six children, Djeri is part of a very large extended family. He has 27 aunts and uncles.
At age 11, he moved with his family to Germany and in his late teens Daryl Worley Jersey Raiders , he became interested in American-style football, first joining the Cologne junior team and then advancing to the senior team.
Combined, he played just four years of football. But Cologne assistant coach David Odenthal saw something special in Djeri and put together a highlight tape that eventually caught the attention of the Cardinals. He was one of many tryout players, but one of the few that made the initial cut to become an undrafted rookie.
At 22, he has a long way to go to master the game he loves.
”He’s still learning the game,” coach Steve Wilks said. ”He’s just got to continue to get better, keep putting the time in.”
The time required is so much different than what he had to do in Germany, Djeri said. He said players in Germany thought they knew what it takes to play in the NFL, but it’s much different once it’s experienced up close.
”To have it and to feel it is way different than you think,” he said. ”You’ve got to be every time on point. We’re done now with the practice. We do our lift in 30 minutes. After that Authentic Kevin Long Jersey , we’ve got meetings again. After that, you go to the hotel and you study and after that you’ve got to sleep to be ready for tomorrow.”
Djeri sees how the odds must be against him.
”I just ask why are they going to get someone from Europe if they’ve got a lot of guys from college,” he said. ”They’ve got a lot of guys with four years’ experience of college football. This is the difficulty to be here.”
But he is giving it his all.
”This is what I want to do every day,” he said. ”After the practice you feel like your body is sore but this is what you want to do. That’s why it don’t matter how you feel, you’ve got to keep at it every day to get better.”
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Whether trying to avoid a first-round gamble or reaching for a player too soon Cheap Jeremy Kerley Jersey , many fantasy football players will go into 2018 drafts with a list of performers to absolutely not trust.
Don't be that obtuse to completely exclude players. One person's disappointment could be another's bargain:
JOE MIXON, RB, Bengals: Mixon will be off most boards by the end of the fourth round yet still has the taint of a 3.5-yard average yards per carry and the shadow of Giovani Bernard, especially in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues. Mixon is worth the risk if his value freefalls. Also note that only Tennessee's Dion Lewis (91.4 percent) had a better catching percentage than Mixon's 88.2 percent.
COREY DAVIS, WR, Titans: Last year's fifth overall pick had just 34 catches for 375 yards and failed to score in 11 games. Davis was an overreach in drafts last summer, but health and the addition of new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur are strong signs he can be a mid-round steal who could emerge as a WR3/flex with upside, which would be good news for...
MARCUS MARIOTA, QB, Titans: After firing 26 touchdown passes in 2016, Mariota threw half that number last year while tossing 15 interceptions. LaFleur will open the offense to take advantage of his dual-threat potential. He'll start as a backup option, but Mariota can easily account for 30-plus TDs this fall.
SAMMY WATKINS, WR, Chiefs: Despite scoring eight touchdowns, Watkins was a disappointment Youth Dontae Johnson Jersey , catching only 39 passes for a Rams offense that broke out under quarterback Jared Goff. Now in Kansas City, Watkins' game-altering skills will be a good fit for strong-armed Patrick Mahomes.
MARSHAWN LYNCH, RB, Raiders: Oh, how he will love new coach Jon Gruden. Lynch could return to RB1 status under the new regime as he should eclipse the 207 carries he had in 2017. A 1,200-yard, 10-12 TD season is not out of the question.
WE REALLY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT CLAYTON...
Clayton Kershaw owners can't be blamed for being in near-panic mode upon the Dodgers ace returning to the disabled list last week. Kershaw's back woes will keep him out at least a month while a possible early August return is also possible.
Those who own Kershaw should look at what 鈥?if anything 鈥?they can get in return for moving him now, pitching trade partners the idea of having Kershaw for the stretch run. Equal value is no longer in discussion, so moving Kershaw for about 70-75 cents on the dollar might be as good as it gets. Owners willing to gamble on acquiring him should put themselves in position to dictate the price, especially if the Kershaw owner is already out of the money.
CHASE ELLIOTT THIS WEEK
Chase Elliott is overdue for a Top 5 finish after four straight weeks of ranking between 10th and 12th place. Elliott ($9,300 at DraftKings, $10,600 at FanDuel) is still looking for his first career win and is in position to do so in Sunday's NASCAR Monster Energy FireKeepers 400.
He has run well at Michigan Speedway, having placed in the Top 10 in each of his previous four races that includes three top five finishes. Elliott has been solid in 2018 thus far yet has managed just one lap led during his previous 14 races entering Sunday.
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, ://FNTSY Jordan Zimmermann knew two things when he took the mound against Bartolo Colon on Friday night.He was going to have to be good to keep Colon from making history Cheap James Daniels Jersey , and the game wasn’t going to take long.
Zimmermann came through, outdueling Colon as the Detroit Tigers beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 in a game that ended four minutes after sunset at Comerica Park.
”I’ve hooked up with Bartolo a lot of times over the years, and he’s always good and the games are always short,” said Zimmermann, who struck out 11 batters in eight innings. ”He works fast, I work fast and we almost got out before 9 o’clock tonight.”
Colon was trying to become the winningest Latin-American pitcher in major league history. He remains tied with Dennis Martinez with 245 career victories.
He pitched well, allowing three runs – including homers by James McCann and JaCoby Jones – in an eight-inning complete game, but Zimmermann (4-0) was better.
”When I was young, a loss like this would bother me,” Colon (5-6) said through a translator. ”Now, I know games like this are going to happen. Tonight was good for us and not good for the hitters.”
The Tigers right-hander allowed one run and four hits and struck out 10 or more for the first time since his no-hitter for Washington against Florida on Sept. 28, 2014.
”That might be the best slider I’ve had in my career, and when I can throw it like that, it makes my fastball and curve even tougher to hit,” Zimmermann said. ”I’m not going to give up many runs with that kind of stuff.”
There were no walks in the game Andrei Svechnikov Jersey , and neither starter needed 100 pitches for their eight-inning outings. Zimmermann threw 96 pitches, and Colon 97.
”Those were two great veteran pitchers doing what they do best,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. ”They were attacking the zone, moving the ball all over the place and making the hitters chase their pitches.”
Joe Jimenez pitched the ninth for his third save, helping the Tigers end a three-game losing streak by winning for just the third time in 17 games.
At 45 years, 43 days old, Colon became the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game since Jamie Moyer (47 years, 199 days) on June 5, 2010. Tim Wakefield and Randy Johnson are the only other 45-year-olds to pitch complete games in the 21st century.
”That’s a tough loss for Bartolo, but both pitchers were great out there,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. ”Zimmermann had his A-game going, and Bart was getting a lot of weak contact.”
Colon first faced Detroit on May 10, 1997, allowing one earned run in six innings for Cleveland in a loss at Tiger Stadium. He’s the last active major league player to have played at Tiger Stadium, which closed in 1999.
”That old man took me to school Bengals Billy Price Jersey ,” Nicholas Castellanos said. ”He was moving the ball over the place and I didn’t know what was happening.”
The Rangers took the lead on the game’s second pitch as Shin-Soo Choo hit a homer into the shrubbery beyond the center-field fence. The home run extended his on-base streak to 45 games, the longest in the majors this season.
McCann put the Tigers ahead with a two-run homer in the second inning, but Zimmermann and Colon took over after that.
The Tigers had the next significant threat, putting runners on the corners with two out in the fifth, but Jones grounded out to end the inning. Jones, though, homered off Colon in the eighth to make it 3-1.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: Choo returned to the lineup after sitting out Thursday. Choo is limited to playing designated hitter because of a sore quadriceps, and Adrian Beltre started there Thursday after an emergency dental procedure.
Tigers: Closer Shane Greene had tests on his sore pitching shoulder, and they showed no significant problem. Greene is eligible to come off the disabled list on July 12.
FAST GAME
The game ended at 9:15 p.m., forcing the postgame fireworks show to be held well before the sky was dark.
UP NEXT
The teams continue their four-game series on Saturday, with Cole Hamels (4-7, 4.05) pitching for Texas against Detroit’s Mike Fiers (5-5, 3.79).
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The Orioles slugger is enduring a nightmare season. Although his power numbers have improved slightly since a recently mandated layoff, Davis is batting .156 with seven homers, 24 RBIs and 99 strikeouts at the midpoint of the season.
Not exactly what the Orioles were expecting when they signed the left-handed hitting first baseman to a guaranteed seven-year, $161 million contract in January 2016.
At the time of the deal, Davis averaged 42 home runs and 109 RBIs over the previous three seasons and was coming off a year in which he hit .262 with 47 homers and 117 RBIs.
Since then, his production has dipped annually. His 2017 numbers – .215, 26 and 61 – were downright prolific compared to this year.
Thus, the jeers from the home fans, who have grown weary of watching the struggles of the highest-paid player on the worst team in the big leagues.
”I understand their frustration,” Davis said. ”I know exactly what I’m capable of and what I’ve done in the past. I know that the standard is high and I haven’t been playing that well. But I have to move forward and continue to try to find a way to still have an impact on this season.”
It’s probably too late for his bat to make a difference. His most significant influence on the team, unfortunately, is that his sizable contract makes it that much more difficult for Baltimore to pay big bucks to several of its pending free agents, most notably Manny Machado.
The Orioles and Davis appear destined to be together through the 2022 season Authentic Travis Wood Jersey , so both sides must make the best of it. That’s why Davis was given an eight-game hiatus in June to get his swing down and his head right. Up to that point, he had tried just about everything else.
”For me, it was exhausting,” Davis said. ”My solution to a lot of my problems in baseball has always been to work. I felt as long as I was working, as long as I was trying, that I would figure it out. This is the first time in my career when I was kind of at a point where I didn’t know what else to do.”
So he went to the sideline, working with hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh and vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson, a left-handed batter who hit 50 homers for the Orioles in 1996.
Upon his return, on June 26 in Atlanta, Davis homered and drove in two runs. Over the past 10 games, he’s hitting .158 with two doubles, two homers, nine RBIs and 13 strikeouts.
”His run production is a lot better Brian Urlacher Jersey Youth , his at-bats have been better,” manager Buck Showalter insisted. ”They may say comparatively speaking, but if Chris continues at this rate, if you put it over 160 games it’s pretty good.”
Davis has tried just about everything else in an effort to get back into the groove, with the breakaway from the game coming as a last resort.
”I appreciate them giving me the chance to step back, gather myself and regroup,” he said.
Showalter and the organization can only hope for positive, lasting results.
”Chris has been a good friend of mine,” the manager said. ”He’s got a lot of support from the coaches and his teammates.”
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When Jon Halapio joined the New York Giants‘ practice squad in 2016, Brett Jones was one of the first guys to welcome him.
Jones had joined the Giants the previous year as a center in trying to make the jump from the CFL to the NFL, and he appreciated when some new teammates made him feel welcome.
Why not do the same for Halapio? The two 27-year-old offensive linemen became real good friends and helped each other become better players.
Halapio, a guard at Florida, taught Jones some trade secrets at the spot and Jones taught his buddy how to snap and play center.
A little less than two years later http://www.titansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-harold-landry-jersey , Jones is fighting to keep the starting center job he manned the final 12 games of last season. And it’s Halapio, who is the main competition.
Not only is he the competition, Halapio has been getting most of the first-team snaps in the lineup being put on the field by new coach Pat Shurmur.
Jones isn’t worried. It’s early in training camp and nothing is set. He also has no regrets about teaching the guy who might take his job.
”It’s always been like that in my life,” Jones said Monday. ”If anybody ever gave me an opportunity I wanted to repay it to them. So that was my thing. Jon was on the practice squad and I was the backup center and if Jon was going to play I wanted to help him out and do what I could. That’s what a good teammate does.”
Learning to snap was part of the mentoring.
”He had asked me and I sort of gave him the basic training for it,” said Jones, who was the CFL’s most outstanding lineman in 2014 and missed his first season in the NFL the following year because of a training camp injury. ”After practice we would stay and practice snapping. It sort of went from there.”
Halapio took the long road to the NFL. He was drafted in the sixth round by New England in 2014. He was on the Broncos’ practice squad that season and went to the Cardinals and Patriots training camps in 2015 and ’16, respectively, getting cut each time.
The Giants signed him to the practice squad for most of 2016. He was cut in training camp the following season and re-signed to the practice squad. Injuries got him on the active roster in October and he played in 10 games with six starts at guard.
The move to center came this year.
”Everything was new so I had to learn a lot, not only the schemes, but the different techniques and calls,” Halapio said. ”I had to learn a lot.”
The biggest differences are blocking from a balanced stance, having to make line calls and read coverages and sometimes making the shotgun snaps.
”The more you do it, the better you get Buccaneers Jordan Whitehead Jersey ,” Halapio said. ”In the offseason I snapped a bunch, and even now I keep snapping after practice so it’s second nature.”
Halapio admits fighting Jones for a job felt odd at first.
”It’s just pure competition now,” Halapio said. ”Like coach says all the time, don’t read into who’s taking the first-team reps. Everyone is being evaluated. As far as me and Brett goes, we’re friends. We help each other out in the film room, on the field, outside of football. Nothing is awkward between us. Yeah, it’s just pure competition between us and everybody in the room.”
The Giants have revamped their offensive line after last year’s disastrous 3-13 season. Guard Justin Pugh and center Weston Richburg signed elsewhere as free agents. Guard John Jerry is now a backup fighting for a roster spot.
Patriots free agent Nate Solder was signed to take over at left tackle and 2015 first-rounder Ereck Flowers was moved to right tackle. Second-round draft pick Will Hernandez is the left guard and free agent Patrick Omameh is the right guard.
The center spot is uncertain.
A former center, Shurmur says he is watching the position closely. He wants his centers to be good communicators.
Halapio might be a little stronger than Jones, who probably understands the job better and had 30 NFL games under his belt at guard and center.
It should be an interesting decision for Shurmur.
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Earlier, Owens activated a 10-day window to receive a contract offer from the Eskimos by Tuesday. Edmonton placed Owens, who last played in the NFL in 2010, on its 45-man negotiation list June 19, shortly after he posted a video of himself running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash.
Jason Staroszik, the Edmonton-based agent handling Owens' CFL negotiations, said the Eskimos' decision won't dampen the receiver's enthusiasm about resuming his football career in Canada.
"It's definitely not over Zack Greinke Jersey ," Staroszik said. "Terrell could still sign as a free agent with any team that's interested. We might see another team put him on their negotiation list. Hopefully there's another team with an interest, I feel there is, so we'll see what happens."
Owens will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month in Canton, Ohio, but declined an invitation to the enshrinement ceremony. Instead, Owens will deliver his Hall of Fame speech at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, his alma mater.
Trevor Ariza has agreed to a one-year Eagles Cheap Jerseys , $15 million contract with the Phoenix Suns, a person with knowledge of the situation said Sunday.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement cannot be officially announced during the free agent moratorium.
The 33-year-old Ariza brings a reputation for winning and veteran leadership that general manager Ryan McDonough said the team needed around its young core that features Devin Booker, Josh Jackson and No. 1 overall draft pick Deandre Ayton.
It’s a nice raise for the 14-year NBA veteran, who earned $7.4 million last season, his fourth with Houston.
Ariza averaged 11.7 points last season for a Rockets team that compiled the best record in the NBA at 65-17 before losing to Golden State in a seven-game Western Conference finals. Phoenix had the league’s worst record at 21-61 and has missed the playoffs eight years in a row.
Ariza has averaged 10.5 points per game, shooting 42 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range, in a career that included stops with the New York Knicks Authentic Patrick Omameh Jersey , Orlando, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans and Washington, as well as Houston.
The move gives Phoenix a glut of players at the wing positions and uses up most of the team’s available salary cap space. However, more space could be created with personnel moves.
The team’s biggest remaining need would appear to be point guard, where the top two currently are Brandon Knight, returning from knee surgery that cost him all of last season Authentic Drew Hutchison Jersey , and French rookie Elie Okobo, the first player drafted this year in the second round.
The Suns also announced their Las Vegas Summer League roster. Ayton and fellow first-round pick Mikal Bridges are on it, as is Jackson. Dragan Bender is on the list but no Marquese Chriss.
Ayton threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Sunday’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants.
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