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The Wizards traded Gortat http://www.dolphinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jerome-baker-jersey , their starting center, to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Austin Rivers on Tuesday night. Both players are entering the final season of their contracts and are set to earn similar salaries, making a straight-up exchange work under NBA rules.
The 34-year-old Gortat is a durable, screen-setting big man who has played 12 years in the league, the past five with Washington. He averaged 8.4 points and 7.6 rebounds last season, his lowest numbers since 2009-10, when he was with the Orlando Magic, but could fill a need in Los Angeles if DeAndre Jordan departs.
After the Wizards finished eighth in the Eastern Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs to No. 1 seed Toronto http://www.chargersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-uchenna-nwosu-jersey , Gortat was adamant that he had no interest in changing his style of play at this late stage of his career.
Asked about the possibility of working on his outside shot, Gortat replied: ”This summer, I’m going to work on my tan. I’m going to work on my 6-pack. Get my biceps definition a bit better. You can’t improve 3-point shooting. You can’t improve your shot, specifically for me. I truly believe I’m a solid, good shooter up to 15, 17 feet. But I’m not going to shoot 3s. No, I’m not going to do that. I want to go into the paint. Body people. Be physical. Get scratches. Bleed.”
Gortat also discussed the widely held perception that he and All-Star point guard John Wall did not get along.
”We are good. Are we best friends? And, like Cheap Logan Cooke Jersey , the greatest friends? Brothers? Probably not. But I’m not best friends with probably half of the team over there,” Gortat said in April after Washington was eliminated. ”So I have a few good friends, but the rest of them are just my colleagues and teammates. That’s how it is. That’s how it is around the league.”
The Wizards had a bit of a roster problem at center, with Gortat plus a similar, stay-in-the-paint, well-paid backup center Ian Mahinmi.
They also were in need of backup help at guard, which Rivers can provide.
Rivers, who turns 26 in August Dan Bailey Jersey , averaged a career-best 15.1 points and four assists last season while playing for his father, Doc, the Clippers’ coach.
”He is coming off a career year and his ability to create offense for himself and others will help our second unit and allow us to play a variety of lineups throughout the season,” Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement announcing the trade.
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The Cleveland Browns continued their crazy Friday shopping spree, acquiring Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor in exchange for a third-round pick - according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:Browns strike again.This time, Cleveland agrees to trade a mid-round draft pick to Buffalo for QB Tyrod Taylor, source tells ESPN.Taylor now will throw to new Browns鈥?WR Jarvis Landry.And Buffalo back in QB market.More on SportsCenter now.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2018The transaction was announced shortly after Cleveland landed Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry for two mid-round draft picks. Now Cheap Darius Leonard Jersey , the Browns have themselves a starting quarterback plus a star wideout.Though Taylor never reached Pro Bowl form in Buffalo, he did guide this team to its first playoff berth since 1999 in 2017. Taylor was easily this team's best quarterback since Jim Kelly - who last played in 1996.The trade will surprise some, since the Browns own the first and fourth-overall picks in this year's draft. Many expected them to draft either Josh Allen, Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold, but neither is a slam dunk to be taken by Cleveland at this point..
The Rangers led 5-0 when heavy showers forced a 29-minute rain delay in the top of the fourth inning Thursday night. The first batter after the delay hit a two-run homer to give the Rangers a 7-0 lead, but it was all Detroit Tigers after that.
The Tigers had the winning run at the plate with no one out in the ninth inning, but closer Keone Kela retired the next three batters to finish off a 7-5 victory and snap a three-game losing streak.
The Rangers didn’t arrive in Detroit until the early hours of Thursday morning after an extra-inning loss to the Astros the previous night.
”We had a tough night last night and some tough travel, but our guys showed up tonight,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. ”We needed to get a win to gain some momentum and gain some confidence.”
Yovani Gallardo (3-0) got the win, giving up four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two while winning his third straight start.
Kela allowed a run in the ninth – the first he’s given up in 12 career innings against Detroit – before finishing off his 21st save.
Matthew Boyd allowed a season-high seven runs and seven hits in four innings. He is 0-3 with a 10.59 ERA in his last four starts.
”Everyone goes through good stretches and bad stretches at this level, and a lot of it depends on luck,” he said. ”Once the game is over, you have to put it away and focus on getting ready to take the ball in five days.”
Tigers bench coach Steve Liddle, who managed while Ron Gardenhire recovered from the heat exhaustion that caused him to leave Wednesday’s loss in Chicago, wasn’t pleased with Boyd’s pitch selection.
”He never threw his fastball, so they were sitting on his soft stuff all night,” Liddle said. ”They saw what he was doing and made adjustments, but he never made any adjustments to counter that.
”You can’t throw the same thing over and over and expect to win games.”
Detroit lost is third straight and dropped to 2-14 since June 17.
”We were down a touchdown early and we had the winning run at the plate in the ninth,” Liddle said. ”That’s something positive we can take from this.”
The Rangers took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Gallo became one of the few players to clear Comerica Park’s right-field stands with a home run. Gallo came into the game hitting .191 with 20 homers.
Nomar Mazara made it 3-0 with an RBI grounder in the third Richard Rodgers Jersey Eagles , and Tigers third baseman Ronny Rodriguez misplayed Adrian Beltre’s grounder to allow a fourth run to score.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s fourth-inning RBI single extended the Rangers’ lead to 5-0 on the final pitch before a 29-minute rain delay. The game had started 15 minutes late due to a brief rain shower.
On Boyd’s fifth pitch after play resumed, Guzman hit a two-run homer to put Texas ahead by seven.
The Tigers made it 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth on RBI singles by John Hicks, Jim Adduci and Rodriguez, but Gallardo got Jose Iglesias to hit into an inning-ending double play.
”It’s tough coming out of the rain delay,” Gallardo said. ”We were ready to start the game and it rained, and then I had to stay loose through the second one. I gave up those three runs, but we got out of it.”
Goodrum homered in the sixth to make it 7-4.
Rodriguez started the ninth with an infield single and Iglesias reached on an error by third baseman Jurickson Profar. Victor Reyes followed with an RBI single to make it 7-5, but pinch-hitter Jeimer Candelario bounced into a force at second.
Kela struck out Nicholas Castellanos and retired Goodrum to end the game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Chris Martin (groin) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and RHP Ricardo Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. … LHP Martin Perez (elbow) was scheduled to make his third rehab start for Round Rock on Thursday. Perez has not pitched for the Rangers this season after elbow surgery.
Tigers: Gardenhire was told by doctors to stay in the air-conditioned clubhouse with the heat index approaching 100 degrees at game time. Temperatures are forecast to be much cooler in Detroit on Friday. … RHP Drew VerHagen (broken nose) is expected to make one more rehab appearance for Triple-A Toledo before rejoining the Tigers.
BANISTER’S MILESTONE
The win was Banister’s 300th as a manager in his 574th game, making him the fastest manager to 300 wins in Rangers history. ”It’s a nice milestone for the organization and the ball club,” he said. ”I’ve been fortunate enough to be granted a great opportunity here.”
UP NEXT
Bartolo Colon (5-5, 4.76) will try to break a tie with Dennis Martinez for most wins by a pitcher born in Latin America when he starts against the Tigers on Friday. Colon is the last active major-league player to have played at Tiger Stadium, which closed in 1999. Jordan Zimmermann (3-0, 3.91) is scheduled to start for Detroit.
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It’s apparent the coaching change to Matt Nagy will mean anything but business as usual for the Chicago Bears on offense.
Whether it’s hiring former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, coming from an up-tempo college attack, as offensive coordinator Josh Rosen Youth Jersey , or quarterback Mitchell Trubisky running Nagy’s pet run-pass options, the Bears anticipate becoming less predictable than under former coach John Fox.
Nagy, former Kansas City offensive coordinator, is still completing his coaching staff, and the most surprising hire so far was bringing in Helfrich to help revive the league’s 30th-ranked attack.
”As you could tell from some of the things we did in Kansas City offensively, we were trying to be a little bit out of the box and new wave type of stuff,” Nagy said. ”It was easy when I was approached, and started researching different names, that he was the guy.”
Developing Trubisky is the key for the Bears’ offense, and Nagy cited it as a reason for hiring Helfrich.
”It’s such an important position in this league and it’s a delicate position that has to be done the right way,” Nagy said. ”It was a slam dunk.
”The second I knew he was interested and got to talk football with him and people skills, it was a no-brainer.”
Helfrich was head coach at Oregon when his quarterback was current Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota, and he sees Trubisky as someone with similar abilities – and flaws.
”Mitchell has a tight release, he’s an accurate passer,” Helfrich said. ”They also have a couple things similar that makes them inaccurate. Their feet take them out of position.”
Whether due to poor footwork or other reasons Authentic Geron Christian Jersey , Trubisky completed only 59.4 percent of passes as a rookie. He had seven touchdowns to seven interceptions.
”He had, I think was a 3-to-1 or maybe even a 4-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in college,” Helfrich said. ”That works. That’s a good thing. We need to continue that.
”We can’t put the defense in a bad situation, our team in a situation, because there’s times in the NFL they’re going to get you, and I think a quarterback kind of has that innate ability to take care of the football versus turning it over when he, for lack of a better word, panics.”
Nagy will call plays, and referred to Helfrich’s role as a ”conduit” between himself and the offense.
”The communication process is so big, so Mark’s been there, done that as a head coach,” Nagy said. ”He’s been there as an offensive coordinator, so the process whether you want to compare it from college to the NFL, it’s the same.”
While Helfrich lacks any NFL experience, the same isn’t true for Nagy’s defensive or special teams coordinators. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was retained from Fox’s staff Jaguars Cheap Jerseys , while former Browns special teams coordinator Chris Tabor returned for his second stint as an assistant in Chicago.
Fangio’s defense finished 10th and he was a candidate for the Bears’ head coaching position. He had interest from other teams as a coordinator, but found returning his best option after Nagy was hired.
”I just had to feel comfortable with everything, you know, with who the head coach was going to be, the continued direction of the team as far as where we were headed roster-wise, things of that nature,” Fangio said.
Having personnel back from an effective defense was an enticement, but Fangio sees work ahead. The Bears had eight interceptions in each of his three seasons as coordinator – each a franchise single-season low.
”I think it’s a wrong picture to paint that the defense was great and the rest of the team wasn’t,” he said. ”We were 5-11. If we were a great defense we’d have more than five wins.”
Tabor was a special teams assistant under coordinator Dave Toub from 2008-2010 in Chicago and inherits an immediate problem at kicker. The Bears went through three last season and have no one under contract for 2018. It’s much different than when Tabor left, with Robbie Gould as a mainstay and the Bears coming off an NFC title game.
”When you have a great one, you want to ride that horse all the way, there’s no doubt about that,” Tabor said. ”And then when teams are looking for guys, I think there’s going to be growing pains.”
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At linebacker Cheap DJ Moore Jersey , however, the Rams are trending in the opposite direction.
The youth movement becomes even more evident during offseason practices.
Third-year linebacker Cory Littleton is calling plays for the first time after moving inside. Second-year outside linebacker Samson Ebukam was paired with rookie defensive end Justin Lawler to form the main pass rush tandem during a team period Tuesday, with rookies Trevon Young, John Franklin-Myers and Brian Womac seeing significant action behind them.
It is a trade-off that seems to be working for head coach Sean McVay.
"We've really put them in some tough situations with how we've practiced, so it requires a lot of thinking on the move, some of the adjustments and things, especially just based on what the offense is presenting And I think they have handled it well, and I think we'll have a better feel towards the end of the offseason program and them going into training camp," McVay said.
The Rams traded inside linebacker Alec Ogletree and edge rusher Robert Quinn during the offseason, and outside linebacker Connor Barwin remains a free agent. Ogletree led the team in tackles last season, and Quinn and Barwin combined for 13.5 of the Rams' 48 sacks.
In the hopes of filling some of those gaps, the Rams used four of their 11 picks on linebackers to add depth inside and outside. Special teams contributors Littleton and Bryce Hager will take on larger roles in the middle, and players from McVay's first draft class in 2017 such as Ebukam and Ejuan Price are being asked to further ramp up their development in pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
That inexperience could be what limits the potential for a defense that added defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters Cheap Arden Key Jersey , but Littleton expects the linebackers to respond to the challenge.
"We're all still developing, but by the time the season comes I feel we'll all be ready and we can all show that we have more to offer than people might think," said Littleton, who is getting the first chance to replace Ogletree in the middle.
Suh is emphasizing the little details to his youthful teammates, but understand that they take time to be refined.
"As a young guy, I remember you're like a chicken with your head cut off," Suh said. "Just try and take the basic things, and then elaborate on them each and every day."
Fellow veteran lineman Michael Brockers is stressing relentless effort on every play. Suh puts a priority on communication.
For Littleton, the challenge to communicate is literal. He has never had to relay defensive signals before, and Littleton acknowledged that requirement of his new position is at odds with his reserved nature.
"I'm not the most vocal person, but I do my best," Littleton said. "Speak a little louder, hope everyone can hear me."
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Roquan Smith mentioned Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary Babe Ruth Jersey , Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. The Georgia standout hopes to add his name to the list of great Chicago linebackers.
The Bears drafted Smith with the No. 8 overall pick Thursday night, adding a potential cornerstone player on defense rather than another offensive weapon for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
The Bears have spent the offseason collecting pieces they believe will help Trubisky develop into a franchise quarterback. But when Indianapolis took Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson with the sixth pick, it seemed apparent Chicago would address the defense.
"What they can expect from me when I arrive is a relentless guy on the field and off the field, going about my business the right way and going to do whatever it takes to put the Bears in the best possible situation every time I step on to the field," smith said. "And I'm beyond excited, I can't put it into words how excited I am about this opportunity to be a Chicago Bear. It's insane and I'm ready to give the city of Chicago everything I have in me."
Smith joins a team with four straight last-place finishes in the NFC North and just one playoff appearance since the 2006 team's run to the Super Bowl. The Monsters of the Midway haven't finished with a winning record since 2012, Lovie Smith's last season as coach.
That's something they hope Smith will help change.
An All-American and Butkus Award winner as college football's best linebacker, he led Georgia to the national championship game last season. Though he is a bit undersized at 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, he has speed and athleticism and the coverage skills to stay on the field in passing situations. His leadership is also a plus.
Smith figures to line up inside for the Bears. He'll also be reunited with another Bulldog in outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, drafted by Chicago with the No. 9 pick in 2016.
Smith said he "looked up to the guy a lot" and is eager to play with him.
"It's insane. I'm excited," he said.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace used the phrase "fired up" three times in his opening remarks about Smith. He later used it to describe defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, too Derrius Guice Jersey Redskins , and again when addressing the Bears' positioning for the second day.
Fangio came into the media room prior to the draft to tell reporters he shot a hole-in-one earlier with a 9-iron from 125 yards on the fourth hole at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His day got even better when the Bears grabbed one of the top defensive players in the draft.
"Every game you watch, this guy's flying around, making plays, you just can't help . I think in today's NFL, the linebackers are becoming more and more of this," Pace said. "Sometimes you might sacrifice a little bit of size to gain a lot of athleticism and a lot of speed, and Roquan definitely has that."
Pace said there weren't many calls looking to move up from teams needing a quarterback. He said he wasn't interesting in trading the pick, anyway, once it became clear Smith would be there for them. Pace did acknowledge the Bears tried to add a late first-rounder.
Chicago has one second-round pick, two fourth-rounders and one each in the fifth, sixth and seventh. The Bears don't have a third-round selection.
The Bears fired John Fox after three seasons and replaced him with an offensive-minded coach in Matt Nagy, who spent the past 10 years working on Andy Reid's staffs in Philadelphia and Kansas City. They also gave Trubisky some new targets Tarvarius Moore Color Rush Jersey , most notably signing former Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson.
The Bears were still looking to boost a rather effective defense. Chicago ranked 10th overall last season despite injuries to several key players, including Floyd, and tied for seventh in the NFL with 42 sacks last season. But the Bears let linebackers Jerrell Freeman, Pernell McPhee and Willie Young go.
Smith is looking forward to playing for Fangio, who in three seasons has helped transform a defense that ranked among the worst in franchise history. Fangio's predecessor was Mel Tucker, Georgia's defensive coordinator.
Smith called Tucker a "great guy" who taught him "a lot of things." But Fangio has "coached a lot of legends," including similarly sized linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis in San Francisco.
"I feel like those guys, we're all different in our own way, especially in being very unique. I feel like me, I feel like me and Patrick Willis both have similar speed and whatnot and both have a high IQ of the game."
.Running back David Johnson returned to the fold this week after sitting out mandatory minicamp in a contract dispute.
"It means a lot" to have Johnson back Mike Hughes Youth Jersey , Wilks said after players reported Friday. "We talked about from day one that he is a major part of what we're doing. I'm glad to see him back. He came back last Sunday on the 22nd very focused, very committed. He's in shape and looking good and I'm expecting some great things out of him this year."
The team added three players the past two days, despite the absence of general manager Steve Keim, who was suspended for five weeks and fined $200,000 by the team following his July 4 DUI arrest.
Cardinals President Michael Bidwill doesn't often speak to the media but he took the opportunity to do so after the players reported and went through their conditioning test.
Bidwill said that, as far as he knew, it was the largest penalty ever for a driving under the influence incident by someone connected to the NFL.
"I came down hard on him and he knew that was going to be the case in the early conversations (after the arrest)," Bidwill said. "I think it's important for everybody now in this day and age there's no excuse to drink and drive. We have Lyft, we have Uber, and there are consequences for the person to be arrested. People can be hurt or killed."
Bidwill has stepped in to take a more active role and said that Keim and his team have been together so long that it's easy to determine what the general manager's position would be if he were there, although no contact with the GM is allowed.
The team signed safety Tre Boston to a one-year deal Friday and added defensive ends Arthur Moats and Jacquies Smith on one-year contracts on Thursday.
"We have taken the philosophy that in his absence we are going to try to make the kind of decisions Steve Keim would make," Bidwill said.
Quarterback Sam Bradford was excused from Friday's run test but is expected to be a full participant, as the No. 1 quarterback, when workouts begin Saturday. Bradford was brought along slowly in offseason workouts as he works his way back from a knee injury that wiped out nearly all of his season a year ago.
Rookie Josh Rosen has been praised for his offseason work and will be competing with Mike Glennon for the backup job.
Johnson led the NFL in yards from scrimmage two seasons ago but fractured his left wrist in last year's opener and missed the rest of the season. As his representatives and the Cardinals talk about a contract, Johnson decided to come to camp rather than continue the holdout that began in minicamp.
"I wanted to be with the team at the start of camp Cheap Customized Baltimore Ravens Jerseys ," Johnson said. "I wanted to bounce back from last year, the injury."
Johnson said he doesn't know how close the parties are to a contract agreement and is leaving it to his agents to deal with. Bidwill said it is possible for the Cardinals and Johnson to reach an agreement despite Keim's absence.
Los Angeles Rams star running back Todd Gurley just signed a four-year extension that guarantees him $45 million.
"My biggest thing is I was proud for him," Johnson said. "I trained with Gurley coming out of college and it was cool to see him get what he deserves. Not only him, but to see Saquon (Barkley) get his deal. It's just good to see running backs get deals."
Boston came back to the Cardinals after criticizing the team's initial offer following a visit earlier in the free agent period. He agreed to a $1.5 million contract that can reach $3 million with incentives, far less than he expected to get when he entered free agency after a strong season last year with the LA Chargers.
Boston set career highs last year with 79 tackles, five interceptions and seven passes defensed. He figures another year like that will get him the money he already believes he deserves.
"I can't get paid on the sidelines. I can't get paid at home," he said,. "This year you've just got to get back to the roots, get back to who I was last year. Two times in a row, they can't deny it."
Boston played four years for Carolina with Wilks as the defensive backs coach and joked that the players called the coach Denzel Washington because of the way he resembles the actor.
"A great coach, one of my favorite coaches," Boston said. "It reminds me of Denzel Washington, the way he coaches. That was our joke back in Carolina, man. But he's a great coach. He has a vision, a laser-like focus Authentic Josh Sweat Jersey , somebody who motivates you to be better. You don't want to let him down."
The Minnesota Timberwolves picked up another important win to keep pace in this relentless Western Conference race.Their quest to end the franchise’s 14-year absence from the playoffs still isn’t finished.
Karl-Anthony Towns slammed his way to 24 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who toughed out a 113-94 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night to move one step closer to the postseason.
”We had to play as if we had that kind of desperation in us,” said Towns, who had five dunks to help ignite the crowd.
They haven’t always displayed that attitude down the stretch, which is why they weren’t able to clinch that long-sought spot before their 82nd game. They’ll have to beat surging Denver on Wednesday night to get in, because the Nuggets won their sixth straight game to stay tied with the Wolves in eighth place. Denver’s victory over Portland ended about an hour after Minnesota’s, but the players expressed nonchalance about following along as they left the arena.
”I’m not going to check my phone. I’m going to go eat,” Jimmy Butler said wryly, after scoring 15 points in 23 minutes, his second game back from the knee injury.
Jeff Teague added 24 points for the Timberwolves, who trailed by 10 points early before taking over against a depleted Grizzlies team that beat them 101-93 exactly two weeks ago in one of their worst losses of the season.
Teague missed six of his first eight shots, but he helped the Wolves pull away with a four-point play in the early portion of the third quarter. His lob found Andrew Wiggins for a soaring dunk about three minutes later. Gorgui Dieng sank his second 3-pointer of the night soon after for a 75-63 lead. Butler gave the Wolves a 98-83 lead midway through the fourth quarter with a hustle to finish a fast break with a layup.
The Wolves brought energy and crisp ball movement, but they clearly carried some pressure with them during an ugly start filled with turnovers and misfires. They made only four of their first 16 shots from the field, and boos circulated in the arena as Omari Johnson’s jumper put the Grizzles in front 24-14. Butler missed a short bank shot as he was fouled and bricked the first free throw, too http://www.texansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jordan-akins-jersey , causing him to growl in disgust as he reached the bench early in the second quarter.
The Wolves, though, used a 20-4 run to lighten the mood a little in the arena. Derrick Rose (13 points), Dieng (11 points) and Tyus Jones (eight points) combined to produce a solid output from the second unit.
”We were just playing soft. We tend to do that from time to time,” Butler said. ”Whenever we play hard, a lot of good things happen.”
GIBSON GOES OUT
The Wolves lost power forward Taj Gibson in the first quarter to a neck injury he suffered in the previous game and tried to play through. He left for the locker room without returning to the bench.
”It’s tough when you can’t even turn your neck from right to left when you look around,” Gibson said. ”Just try to get as much treatment as possible.”
STILL SWEATING
Ben McLemore had 18 points for the Grizzlies, who moved one loss closer to a prime lottery pick and fell to 6-34 on the road.
The Grizzlies, whose streak of seven straight postseason appearances was snapped long ago, were sapped by the summer departures of stalwarts Zach Randolph, Tony Allen and Vince Carter. Mike Conley, Tyreke Evans and Chandler Parsons have missed a combined 143 games. Even Marc Gasol, who bested Towns for 20 points and 10 rebounds in the last matchup, sat out to rest. The starting lineup for this game had only one holdover, Dillon Brooks Youth Chase Edmonds Jersey , from the March 26 meeting.
The Grizzlies would match the franchise’s worst record (22-60) since the move to Memphis if they lose their final game.
”It’s disrespectful to say that guys are tanking and trying to lose, because those guys that are on the floor every night have something to prove,” interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, adding: ”Every single night they’re giving their best effort. So you’ve got to give the guys that are out there on the court more respect than I think people give them credit for.”
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: MarShon Brooks, who averaged nearly 24 points over his first five games with the team since joining last month fresh from the Chinese league, missed 12 of 16 shots against tough defense from Butler and finished with 14 points.
”Just going out there playing hard, making them work for everything,” Brooks said.
Timberwolves: Backup center Cole Aldrich, who has logged just 49 minutes all season, was honored before the game with the Flip Saunders Legacy Award for community service in honor of the team’s late executive and coach. Aldrich had an assist in the final minute.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Play at Oklahoma City on Wednesday to wrap up the franchise’s 23rd season, the 17th in Memphis.
Timberwolves: Take on Denver on Wednesday, after losing 100-96 on the road last week.
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Right now Quenton Nelson Jersey , that’s all Casey can say for certain after meeting with Toronto President Masai Ujiri Wednesday morning, with little else clear about the coach’s outlook with the organization.
Ujiri said Casey has been ”unbelievable for our organization” but declined to make a firm commitment about Casey’s future, saying he needed more time to evaluate the entire team.
”We’re evaluating everything and that’s how we’re going to leave it,” Ujiri said. ”It’s my responsibility as a leader to do that and we’ll go from there.”
It was the first time Casey and Ujiri spoke to reporters since Toronto was swept out of the second round of the playoffs for the second straight season. Ujiri talked about his uncertainty regarding Casey’s future the same day Casey was named coach of the year by the National Basketball Coaches Association . The award is voted on by NBA head coaches. A media panel voted separately for the NBA’s coach of the year award, which will be announced June 25.
Ujiri’s wait-and-see approach didn’t appear to bother Casey, who said he was aware of the questions about his job but didn’t need Ujiri to provide a public backing.
”I haven’t gone looking for a vote of confidence or anything like that because no one is saying anything different,” Casey said. ”Until they do, I’m still here, still fighting, still scratching, still meeting with players. That’s all I can do. Nobody has changed my key card, the door still opens. I’ve had some meetings with Masai talking about what we can do better next year to get over the hump.”
It’s not uncommon for Ujiri to withhold definitive support for a head coach – he also declined to address Casey’s status after last year’s sweep.
Ujiri said the Raptors are ”absolutely disappointed” at their playoff exit after a franchise-record 59 wins in the regular season gave Toronto the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time in franchise history. That came after Ujiri demanded a ”culture reset” last spring, leading a greater emphasis on ball movement, depth Brian O'Neill Color Rush Jersey , and 3-point shooting.
”In the regular season there was good success,” Ujiri said. ”Going from last year to this year, we’re happy with the jump we made, with some of the things we said we wanted to do. We got stuck at a certain point.”
While playoff results may suggest otherwise, Casey insisted ”the gap is closing” between the Raptors and Cavaliers, who ousted Toronto form the postseason for the third year in a row.
”A lot of folks have run up against Cleveland in the last few years and had the same challenge and it went down the same way,” Casey said. ”That’s the mountain this organization has to climb.”
Ujiri bristled about the Raptors being the butt of jokes about their long-running struggles with the Cavs, who have won 10 straight postseason games against Toronto.
”We believe in what we’re doing here,” Ujiri said. ”We believe in the growth. We’re relevant now in the NBA. And when you get relevant, now you have to meet the challenges, every day, of expectations and growing, getting bigger, and winning. And that’s what we’re going to try and do.”
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Two miserable seasons. One measly win.
Still Cheap Jimmy Garoppolo Jersey , Cleveland coach Hue Jackson continues to have the "unwavering" support of owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who believe his third year will bring out the best in him 鈥?and the Browns.
"I think we will see the real Hue Jackson," Jimmy Haslam said Saturday before practice.
Jackson has lost 31 of 32 games since taking over a Cleveland franchise that has undergone numerous coaching changes and front-office upheaval since the team's NFL expansion return in 1999. However, the Haslams feel the worst is over, and thanks to a roster overhaul directed by general manager John Dorsey, Jackson has the pieces to win.
"He has good quarterbacks, he has some skill players, he has a veteran offensive lineman 鈥?now, we have to figure out left tackle 鈥?and three really good (running) backs and a good defense."
Jackson has also been helped by not also handling offensive coordinator duties. With some urging and the blessing of the Haslams, he turned his offense over to Todd Haley, who was fired after six seasons with Pittsburgh.
"You have to give Hue credit for bringing in Todd Haley, which I think will allow Hue to be the head coach," Haslam said. "I think this will be the first opportunity Hue will have to do what we know he can do as head coach as a leader. Even though Todd will be calling all of the shots on offense, I think Hue will obviously have some impact there like he will defense. We are excited to see it."
The Browns went 0-16 last season Authentic Kerryon Johnson Jersey , matching the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams in NFL history to lose all 16 games. But while there were many Cleveland fans calling for Jackson's firing, his players remained united behind him and the Haslams decided to bring him back for another year.
That doesn't mean Jackson's job is permanently safe, but Haslam refused to say there was a mandate on wins this season.
"No, we're excited about Hue Jackson," Haslam said. "I think our commitment to him has been unwavering and still is."
Jackson is grateful for the Haslams' backing.
"I said all last year, I felt like I had their full support," he said following the Browns' first practice in pads. "They were always in communication with me, and I thank them for that. I'm glad they feel that way. My job is to go out and coach this football team and get them better and we've got to do it better than we've ever done it since I've been here. We have some players that I think are going to help make the difference, but at the same time, it's just all talk right now.
"We have to go do it. So we've just got to keep working, but I do thank them for that."
As the 2017 season unraveled, the Haslams chose to fire head of football operations Sashi Brown, whose analytics-heavy approach yielded mixed results and not enough wins. Dorsey, who guided Kansas City's turnaround from 2013 to 2016 Roquan Smith Jersey Youth , replaced Brown and spent this past offseason acquiring talent.
Haslam felt it was fair to assess Jackson's upcoming third season as his first.
"I think in some ways you could say because of the talent he's had, particularly at quarterback, particularly last year, it could view it as his first year, but we don't look at that," Haslam said. "I know everybody's saying Hue has to win this many games or he has to win that many games. We don't look at it (like that)."
"We're really excited about the relationship that Hue and John have and not just that they have but their staffs have, how the building is working together. I mean we're in here at 7 this morning talking about who else we might need to add to the roster. So we feel good about the chemistry, we feel good about the work ethic, but at the same time, we all understand we've got to win games."
.Jerry Jones has agreed to pay the NFL more than $2 million in legal fees resulting from two disputes the Dallas Cowboys owner had with the league Customized Chicago Bears Jerseys , a person with direct knowledge of the settlement tells The Associated Press.
The amount to be paid was resolved Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL did not announce details.
Commissioner Roger Goodell held an appeal hearing with Jones on Monday. That came a few days after Goodell assessed the financial penalties for Jones' lawsuit to overturn the suspension of Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott, and for a lawsuit Jones threatened to stop Goodell's newly approved contract.
Many owners were consulted on seeking restitution, including members of the finance committee. Some finance committee members are on the compensation committee that was at the center of what became a legal back-and-forth over Goodell's deal.
The restitution is rooted in a 1997 resolution that states owners can seek repayment for legal fees if a fellow owner is responsible for getting them involved in legal action.
Jones' attempt to derail Goodell's extension, which came after Elliott was suspended over domestic violence allegations, led to a volley of threatening letters from lawyers for both sides.
After eventually relenting, Jones said after the owners meetings in December that he got what he wanted with an agreement to consider changes to the power of the commissioner's role through the league's constitution. Jones denied that his attempt to scuttle the contract was tied to Elliott's suspension, but made repeated references to Goodell's power to punish players.
Jones and the Cowboys were supportive of Elliott's lawsuit, which was led by the players' union and resulted in federal court hearings in three states over a span of two months. The suit eventually failed and Elliott served the suspension.
AP Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon contributed. Teddy Bridgewater remembers some of his teammates crying. They were on their knees and praying.For him.
The New York Jets quarterback was with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016 when he went down in a heap of agonizing pain. Bridgewater had twisted his left knee badly on a non-contact play, and the severity of the injury was only beginning to surface.
Bridgewater knew from the looks of his teammates' faces that the situation was dire. And somehow, he stayed calm.
"As gruesome as it may have seemed, I feel like I did a great job of remaining poised," Bridgewater recalled Tuesday as the Jets opened their three-day minicamp.
Coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance, Bridgewater had torn the anterior cruciate ligament and had other structural damage, including a dislocated knee joint.
"There were guys throwing helmets Cheap B.J. Hill Jersey , guys on knees and I didn't cry and I didn't worry," Bridgewater said. "I just knew that it was in God's hands. I think I was impressed with the way I kept my faith, but I got to see how much I meant to the guys 鈥?not only as a football player, but also as a person. It could've went totally south."
His career was in jeopardy, and at one point, saving his mangled left leg was the only thing that mattered.
"It was scary," Bridgewater said while managing a smile. "But at the end of the day, I was still breathing. That was my biggest takeaway from it. ... When there's someone out there whose situation is worse than yours, that's the first thing that came into my mind. Like, 'Man, I don't know what just happened, but I know there's someone out there who's going through something worse than I am, so I just have to keep my faith and believe that everything's going to be all right.'"
Bridgewater gets his perseverance and never-quit attitude from his mother, Rose Murphy DaeSean Hamilton Color Rush Jersey , who raised him and his three siblings in the Miami area. She's a breast cancer survivor who has been in remission for several years, something that is a source of pride for Bridgewater. He also counts her as his biggest supporter.
"She was a fighter, so I witnessed her fight with her battle with breast cancer," Bridgewater said. "I took away those traits and attitude. Whenever she was down 鈥?well, she was never really down because she would always say, 'There's someone out there whose situation is way worse than mine, so I can't be down, plus the cancer feeds off negativity, so I have to be positive.'
"So that's why I feel like I'm just this positive guy. Watching her continue to smile and stay upbeat throughout her toughest times in life had a huge impact on me."
Bridgewater has needed every bit of that positivity during the last two years of often grueling rehabilitation. Now 25, the former Louisville star is still a youngster in NFL years. But the injury was enough to make some teams wary of giving him a chance after the Vikings allowed him to become a free agent during the offseason.
The Jets, looking for quarterback depth, signed him for $500,000 in March and drafted Sam Darnold with the No. 3 overall pick a month later. Josh McCown, who turns 39 on July 4 Lorenzo Cain Jersey , remains the favorite to win the starting job, but Bridgewater could have as much of a shot at winning the three-man competition as anyone 鈥?especially if he continues progressing. He won't discuss details of his health or his status, other than saying he's getting better every day.
"To be able to just stand here right now, I'm thankful for the guys who supported me through the injury," Bridgewater said, "and the guys still there today."
He's wearing a brace around the left knee, which is covered by a sleeve. But he doesn't appear to be hampered by any of it. Bridgewater has thrown some of the prettiest passes in the practice sessions open to the media, including several throws on the run.
"Having not been injured like that, I can't even relate to someone being injured like that," coach Todd Bowles said. "But just knowing Teddy's personality and the drive he has, it doesn't surprise me."
There were plenty of people who doubted he'd get to this point. Bridgewater isn't here to prove them wrong.
"Not at all," he insisted. "I do it for the ones who believed in me because that small ounce of faith and belief got me over the hump."
Bridgewater made it back onto the field late last season for a few plays, but the moment he knew the comeback was on track happened when he rejoined his teammates on the Vikings sideline again 鈥?in full uniform 鈥?in November.
It was then that he allowed his emotions get to him.
Finally.
"This game means a lot to me," Bridgewater said. "I've been playing football since I was 5 years old Authentic Brian O'Neill Jersey , and it brought tears to my eyes because it showed me that you're never out of it. You're never out of the fight. There were dark days throughout my rehab process, so when you're rehabbing, the light seems so far at the end of the tunnel. But to be able to see that light, and make it to the light 鈥?which is being active and standing on that sideline with my gear on 鈥?it kind of hit me a little.
"I joked around with my agent, my adviser, told them, 'Man, I'm a tough guy. I won't cry.' But reality set in. It was truly a blessing to be back out there and, you know, continue to live your dream."
.Another slider found too much of the plate and the reigning NL player of the month sent it over the wall in right.
Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer, Zack Greinke pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.
”Paul’s gifted,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. ”You can’t make mistakes like that. He’s going to make you pay.”
Greinke (9-5) gave up two runs in the second inning to end his 13-inning scoreless streak but was otherwise sharp in winning his fourth straight game. Yoshihisa Hirano needed one pitch to get a groundout with the bases loaded in the seventh and extend his team record with a 26th straight scoreless appearance.
Brad Boxberger worked around a walk in the ninth for his 20th save in 24 chances.
Goldschmidt had the big blow, following a four-hit night Monday with a three-run homer off Flaherty (3-4) in the fifth inning. The NL player of the month for June, Goldschmidt is hitting .413 with 11 homers and 28 RBIs his past 26 games.
”It wasn’t the best slider I had thrown all night and you get a guy like that, who is red hot like that, he put a good swing on it,” Flaherty said.
Greinke entered Tuesday’s game with the 13-inning scoreless streak after tossing seven scoreless innings against Miami his last start. His streak lasted one more inning; the Cardinals scored two runs in the second inning on Yairo Munoz’s single and Kolten Wong’s sacrifice fly.
Greinke shook off the shaky second by mixing his pitches well, keeping the Cardinals off-balance with low-90s fastballs and looping curves that dipped to 63 mph. He was lifted with two outs in the seventh inning after giving up consecutive hits, allowing two runs on seven hits and four strikeouts.
”I felt good, there was good defense behind me and we scored some runs,” Greinke said.
Flaherty allowed four runs on six hits in six innings in a loss to Cleveland his last start. He was sharp after giving up David Peralta’s run-scoring single in the first inning http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dalton-schultz-jersey , retiring 10 straight batters.
Flaherty ran into trouble in the fifth inning, giving up a double and hitting a batter before Goldschmidt lifted a three-run homer just over the wall in right to put Arizona up 4-2.
Flaherty allowed four runs on four hits and struck out seven in six innings.
”He threw the ball well,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. ”(He) got into a tough situation with a good hitter, got to two strikes, the guy got the best of that matchup, but overall his stuff was very good today.”
TRANLATOR BOOTED
Lovullo brought Hirano’s translator, Kelvin Kondo, with him to the mound after making a pitching change in the seventh inning, just to make sure the Japanese right-hander was clear on what he wanted. The mound meeting turned a bit chaotic when Lovullo left the mound and Kondo was still talking to Hirano.
Under big-league rules, a translator has to stay next to the manager while on the mound, so when Lovullo started to walk away, plate umpire Bill Welke started shouting and told Kondo to leave the field.
”I didn’t even know what was going on up there. It was crazy, chaotic Authentic Sam Darnold Jersey ,” Lovullo said. ”There’s a clear rule and it’s so new to us having the interpreter and exchanging information. I just left the mound too soon, the dirt area too soon and that was my responsibility to stay there until all the instructions were made.”
TRAINER’S TABLE
Cardinals: SS Paul DeJong (broken left hand) went 0 for 4 for Triple-A Memphis on Monday night, his third rehab game with the Redbirds.
Diamondbacks: RHP Randall Delgado (strained left oblique) allowed a run on three hits in an inning for Triple-A Reno Monday night in a rehab appearance. … OF Steven Souza Jr. went 1 for 4 with a solo homer for the Aces as he works back from a strained right pectoral.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin has allowed a run in 13 innings his past two starts heading into Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals. St. Louis sends out RHP Miles Mikolas, who lost his last start despite allowing a run in 6 2/3 innings against Atlanta.
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The San Francisco 49ers built around quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo early in the NFL draft, then used the rest of their nine selections to fortify defense and fill needs in their push to become a legitimate playoff contender.
After adding both a protector and deep threat for Garoppolo with their first two picks, the 49ers used each of their first four selections Saturday to grab prospects who can bolster a defense that ranked 24th in the NFL last season.
"Really feel we got better as a football team," 49ers general manager John Lynch said Saturday. "We got guys we wanted to come out of this draft with. We came out pretty well in terms of what we wanted to accomplish and are very proud of what we did."
In their first season under Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan last year, the 49ers won their final five games to finish 6-10 after acquiring Garoppolo near midseason.
San Francisco signed Garoppolo to a $137.5 million contract extension in February, then added key free agents on offense during March before drafting Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey in the first round Thursday, and moving up in the second round Friday to select Washington receiver Dante Pettis.
The 49ers then turned their focus to defense through the next four rounds, selecting BYU linebacker Fred Warner, North Carolina State end Kentavius Street, and defensive backs Tarvarius Moore of Southern Mississippi Justin Verlander Jersey , D.J. Reed of Kansas State and Marcell Harris of Florida.
San Francisco selected another defender, Temple lineman Jullian Taylor, with its first seventh-round pick before taking Middle Tennessee State wide receiver Richie James with its final pick.
"We're in Year 2 of our program, and it's going to be tougher to make our team," Shanahan said. "It was much harder this year to pick guys on the (later) days that we thought can make our football team. We drafted guys that have a chance to do that."
Here are some other takeaways from the draft:
REDSHIRT PICKS?
The 49ers failed miserably earlier this decade with former GM Trent Baalke using several high draft picks to select prospects coming off significant injuries who never panned out after sitting out their rookie seasons. San Francisco took another chance in the fourth round Saturday on Street, who sustained a torn ACL during a pre-draft workout and had surgery earlier this month. He's unlikely to contribute this season.
"We're not trying to make popular picks, we're trying to make good picks," Lynch said. "And we're very convicted that this was just that."
Two picks later, the 49ers selected Harris, who missed the entire season last year after tearing his Achilles tendon during Florida's fall camp.
PLAYMAKER ON THE PREMISES?
On a conference call after being selected in the fifth round, Reed was describing his game to reporters when he was abruptly interrupted by the man who drafted him.
"I'm a playmaker, man." Reed said, before Lynch suddenly appeared in San Francisco's media room and blurted out Carlton Davis Color Rush Jersey , "That's what I'm talking about, D.J.!"
Reed ranked second in the Big 12 last season with four interceptions and was third in the conference with 13 passes defensed. He led the Big 12 with 19 passes defensed while earning the conference's Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors in 2016.
EXPLOSIVE AND DYNAMIC
Pettis and Reed are expected to help the 49ers in the slot on both sides of the football - Pettis as a receiver, Reed defending slot receivers - but each also brings another dynamic to the team.
They were two of the most explosive return specialists in college football last season and could add an immediate boost to San Francisco's return game.
Pettis set an NCAA record with nine career punt returns for touchdowns, averaging 14.2 yards on 90 career returns. Reed ran back a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and a punt 62 yards for a score last season, when he averaged 34.2 yards returning kicks and 14.9 yards returning punts.
MANNING THE MIDDLE
Of the six defenders selected by San Francisco, Warner could find himself making the biggest immediate impact and also filling the biggest immediate role.
That will be determined in the months to come as the 49ers await the fate of Reuben Foster, who is facing three felony charges in a domestic violence case. Foster, who finished second on the team last year in tackles despite missing six games, also could be facing a league suspension of six or more games.
STILL NEED
The 49ers entered both free agency and the draft this year with an impact edge pass rusher as perhaps their biggest need. They failed to address that, opting to pass on the premier edge prospects with their top two picks. The closest San Francisco came to adding help on the defensive edge is Street, who had 3 1/2 sacks in 13 games last season.
.Maybe even tens of thousands.
The Jacksonville Jaguars running back bought seven offensive linemen – five starters and two backups – Rolex watches.
Fournette ran 268 times for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. He also had 36 receptions for 302 yards and a score.
”I couldn’t do it myself,” Fournette said Thursday, three days before Jacksonville (10-6) hosts Buffalo (9-7) in an AFC wild-card game. ”I can’t block 11 guys on my own. That’s the O-line and wide receivers, too. They played a big part of contributing to me getting 1,000 yards.”
The former LSU star rewarded his linemen with some wrist bling. Left tackle Cam Robinson, left guard Patrick Omameh Tyron Smith Jersey Elite , center Brandon Linder, right guard A.J. Cann and right tackle Jermey Parnell will get their watches Friday. Backups Tyler Shatley and Josh Wells, both of whom started four games because of injuries, also will get Rolexes.
”Just show them the dedication for all the hard work they put in to help me to get me where I’m at and all for this team,” Fournette said. ”Their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Fournette said he picked the watches out himself and had each lineman’s number and initials engraved on the back.
”They got me my 1,000 yards,” he said. ”That’s what I need.”
Fournette finished eighth in the NFL and fifth in the AFC in rushing despite missing three games. He averaged 3.9 yards a carry against the most eight- and nine-man boxes in the NFL. His average was buoyed by touchdown runs of 90 and 75 yards in consecutive games.
Fournette missed one game in October because of a sprained right ankle, another in November because he violated an undisclosed team rule during the bye week and sat out a third time last month because of a bruised right quadriceps muscle.
He has a combined 117 yards rushing the last two games, averaging 3.2 yards a carry.
”I think it’s tough,” coach Doug Marrone said. ”When you’re out for a bit Mike McGlinchey 49ers Jersey , whether you’re injured or not, especially early in your career, to be able to come back, you don’t come back and start where you left off. … For him, he comes back and starts getting in a groove and you go.”
Fournette hopes to get back on track against the Bills, who rank 29th in the league against the run. Buffalo gives up 124.6 yards rushing a game. In the past five weeks, the Bills have allowed nearly 150 yards a game on the ground.
Fournette stopped short of committing to buying expensive watches every year.
”We’ll see how it goes,” he said, laughing.
—
.
Attorney Stephanie Rickard issued a statement on behalf of Elissa Ennis that said her client can prove the injuries in February that led to the charges were not caused by Foster.
"(Foster) did not strike her Terrelle Pryor Sr. Color Rush Jersey , injure her or threaten her," Rickard said.
Rickard said Ennis' injuries were the result of a fight with another woman, and that Foster tried to end his relationship with Ennis after he learned of the fight. A video of that fight with another woman has been made available.
"She was extremely upset and told him if he broke up with her she would 'trash his career,'" Rickard said.
Richard said that Ennis went back to the district attorney after she realized what she had done and tried to recant what she had told deputies. Ennis apologized to anyone harmed in the case, especially Foster.
The district attorney's office declined to comment.
Prosecutors said earlier this month Foster attacked his girlfriend in February at their Los Gatos home, leaving her bruised and with an injured eardrum.
The 28-year-old woman told responding officers that Foster dragged her by her hair, physically threw her out of the house, and punched her in the head eight to 10 times.
Foster was also charged with felony possession of an assault weapon after officers found a Sig Sauer 516 short-barreled rifle in his home while investigating his girlfriend's domestic violence report.
If convicted on all charges, He faces up to 11 years in prison.
Foster has not been allowed to participate in the 49ers' offseason program while dealing with the case. General manager John Lynch said earlier this week that the team would be patient but that Foster would be released if they determined he hit a woman.
"The gravity of these charges has not been lost on us," Lynch said Monday. "We take it extremely seriously. We do feel like patience is the right approach right now. We're going to learn things through this legal process. I do want to be very clear, abundantly clear, that if these charges are proven true, if Reuben indeed hit this young lady, he won't be a part of our organization going forward."
The 49ers drafted Foster 31st overall last year after questions about his health and character caused him to drop from being a possible top 10 pick.
Foster delivered on the field, ranking second on the team with 72 tackles in 10 games as a rookie and looking like a key part of San Francisco's defensive future.
Foster then was charged in January in Alabama with second-degree marijuana possession before the incident in February that led to the most recent charges.
The Jets called an aggressive audible by trading up to the No. 3 pick last month to assure themselves of getting one of the top quarterbacks available in the NFL draft.Now comes the toughest play call of all.
Sam Darnold? Baker Mayfield? Josh Rosen? Josh Allen?
"You just want to get it right," general manager Mike Maccagnan said.
And Will Hernandez Jersey , the pressure is certainly on.
After all, this is a team that has been starving for a franchise quarterback since the days of Broadway Joe. The likes of Richard Todd, Ken O'Brien, Chad Pennington and Mark Sanchez had some good moments as homegrown QBs, but none had the type of impact or sustained success of Joe Namath.
Since Namath's last game with the Jets in 1976, the team has had 30 players make at least one start under center. On Thursday night, New York has the opportunity to add a quarterback who might stop the revolving door.
That's why the Jets were willing to deal the No. 6 overall pick to Indianapolis along with two second-round selections this year and a second-rounder next year to move up three spots.
"It's all about opportunity," Maccagnan said. "We felt good about where we were originally picking and then we made the trade and moved ourselves to position ourselves, in our mind, to be in a position to have a good option and a good choice with that spot."
New York's ultimate decision, however, will be contingent upon what Cleveland 鈥?which also needs a quarterback 鈥?does at No. 1 overall, and if the Giants stay put at No. 2 and pick a successor to Eli Manning or target another position.
That dynamic at the top of the draft, along with the lack of a consensus order among the top QBs, has created lots of intrigue and made mock drafts an always-changing mix-and-match mess.
"When they made that move (the trade), that was before the owners' meeting Authentic Michael Dickson Jersey , which is very unusual," said former Dallas VP of player personnel Gil Brandt, currently a draft analyst for NFL and SiriusXM NFL Radio.
"That led me to believe that he and his staff were ready to roll in terms of these quarterbacks in the middle of March, regardless of which one winds up at No. 3."
Maccagnan wouldn't tip his hand on how the Jets are leaning 鈥?and wouldn't even acknowledge that quarterback will be the way they'll go with their first pick.
But it seems clear that either USC's Darnold, Oklahoma's Mayfield, UCLA's Rosen or Wyoming's Allen will be wearing green and white sometime Thursday night.
"I know everybody seems to be locked in on that, I don't know why," a smiling Maccagnan said of the QB-to-Jets speculation. "We actually may take a safety this year. ... I think like everything else, the quarterback is such an important position that it's always going to be a focal point of that this may be a position of interest, especially for us.
"But, yeah, we'll see how it plays itself out."
CROWDED QB ROOM
Once the Jets make their selection, they'll have five quarterbacks on their roster. They re-signed Josh McCown, the starter last year, in the offseason; signed Teddy Bridgewater, who's still coming back from a severe knee injury nearly two years ago; and have holdovers Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg.
Petty was a fourth-rounder in 2015 Youth JK Scott Jersey , while Hackenberg went in the second round in 2016. Both players' spots on the roster are tenuous, at best.
BUSY OFFSEASON
Maccagnan went into free agency armed with about $90 million in salary cap space and he certainly made use of it while revamping the Jets' roster.
New York signed 16 players in free agency, including cornerback Trumaine Johnson (five years, $72.5 million), running back Isaiah Crowell (three years, $12 million), linebacker Avery Williamson (three years, $22.5 million) and wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (one year, $4.5 million).
The Jets also re-signed seven of their unrestricted free agents, including McCown (one year, $10 million), cornerback Morris Claiborne (one year, $7 million) and defensive lineman Mike Pennel (three years, $12 million).
MOVES TO MAKE
New York doesn't have a second-round selection this year, but has one pick in each of the five remaining rounds.
A pass-rushing outside linebacker or defensive end could be near the top of the draft board, particularly after cutting Muhammad Wilkerson.
Depth on both the defensive and offensive lines figure to be targets for New York in the later rounds Cheap Da'Shawn Hand Jersey , as well as possibly tight end, running back and cornerback.
HITS, MISSES AND BARGAINS
The Jets considered themselves fortunate when defensive end Leonard Williams fell to them at No. 6 in 2015, and again two years later when they landed safety Jamal Adams at the same spot. Both are considered cornerstone players for New York's defense, as is safety Marcus Maye, who went in the second round last year.
The top of the draft hasn't been as kind in recent years, though. Oft-injured cornerback Dee Milliner, No. 9 overall in 2013, is considered one of the franchise's biggest busts. Safety Calvin Pryor, the Jets' top pick in 2014, also never panned out. New York had 12 picks that year and only two remain on the roster: offensive lineman Dakota Dozier and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, a sixth-rounder who has become a solid contributor.
.Tarasenko scored his second goal of the game in overtime to lift the St. Louis Blues over the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Tarasenko got a nifty backhanded pass from Vladimir Sobotka Alex Bregman Jersey , who fought off Mikkel Boedker behind the net for the puck. Sobotka skated in front of the net, and then passed the puck to Tarasenko, who was on the left side of the goal.
The Blues’ leading goal scorer did the rest, tipping in the winner at 2:33.
It was Tarasenko’s 31st goal, and he has 30 or more in four consecutive seasons. The last Blue to do that was Brett Hull, who did it for six straight seasons from 1988 to 1994.
”I knew he would make this pass,” Tarasenko said. ”I’m not sure he heard me or no, but he’s a great player. I just expect the plays like this from him. Obviously the great play, easy tap-in goal.”
”That’s an unreal play,” St. Louis coach Mike Yeo said. ”This team works for what it gets and that play exemplified it.”
Tarasenko has six goals and six assists in his last 11 games against San Jose.
San Jose goalie Aaron Dell said he guessed wrong on the play.
”He’s a good player,” Dell said about Tarasenko. ”I thought he was going to go short side but he went far side and just made a good shot.”
St. Louis has won a season-best six straight games. Four of those wins have come in overtime, all in the last 11 days.
”I mean overtime is fun when it’s 3 on 3,” Tarasenko said.
The win moved the Blues back into a wild-card spot.
”Desperate hockey,” Yeo said. ”We’re still in a dire situation.”
San Jose had won eight straight before the loss.
”I thought the guys dug deep and found a way to get a valuable point,” San Jose coach Peter Deboer said.
Oskar Sundqvist also scored for St. Louis, and Jake Allen made 22 saves.
Evander Kane and Joe Pavelski scored for San Jose. Dell stopped 29 shots.
Kane drew first blood for the Sharks with his 29th goal. Melker Karlsson fed Kane http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-nate-solder-jersey , who put a wrist shot off Allen’s glove at 6:26. Kane has nine goals and five assists in 14 games since he was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 26.
Brent Burns got the second assist, giving him 50. He became the first Sharks defenseman to record 50 assists in a season.
St. Louis tied it when Sundqvist threw the puck on net and it sneaked in at 17:43. Ivan Barbashev was parked in front of the crease and helped screen Dell, who got a piece of the puck.
”That was the blueprint for the way we needed to win this hockey game,” Yeo said.
It was Sundqvist’s second goal in 65 career games, including 37 with the Blues. Sundqvist’s only other goal came April 2, 2016, when he was with Pittsburgh.
”It’s been a long time since I scored,” Sundqvist said. ”Actually, I didn’t know what to do. It’s a relief.”
The teams traded power-play goals in the second period.
The Sharks took a 2-1 lead on one by Pavelski. Standing beside the net, Pavelski got a pass from Burns and tapped it in for his 20th.
Tarasenko tied for St. Louis. He got a perfect leading pass from Brayden Schenn in the left circle, then snapped a quick wrist shot to tie it.
The Blues missed a chance to take the lead about two minutes into the third period when Barbashev skated in and had Dell beat but hit the post with his shot.
NOTES: San Jose’s Barclay Goodrow left in the first period and did not return. The team said he has an upper body injury. … Blues D Alex Pietrangelo had an assist on Tarasenko’s goal. That gave him 52 points for the season, a career high. … Allen made his 10th straight start for the Blues. … Dell got his first start in five games after San Jose played at the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday and won in a shootout. … Blues backup goalie Carter Hutton returned after being out with a neck injury since March 8. … The Blues are 1-2-0 against the Sharks this season.
UP NEXT:
Sharks: At Nashville on Thursday night.
Blues: At Vegas on Friday night.
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More NHL hockey: Like many young Russian hockey players, Nikita Kucherov grew up following Alex Ovechkin’s career, hoping to someday become a prolific scorer and maybe even compete against his countryman in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The 24-year-old Tampa Bay Lightning winger has spent five seasons fulfilling the first portion of the dream.
The other part becomes a reality Friday night, when the Lightning open the Eastern Conference finals against Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals.
”When he came in the league, he was the best player Authentic Customized Texans Jerseys , and I mean he’s still the best player,” Kucherov said.
”Everybody would talk about him, and I definitely wanted to be in his spot one day, scoring goals,” the Lightning star added. ”He’s a great example for young kids and someone to look up to.”
Ovechkin is also looking for his first trip to the Stanley Cup Final, a platform Kucherov has already performed on.
The Lightning, who also feature of couple of other young Russians playing key roles in goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, are in the conference final for the third time in four years.
In 2015, they defeated the New York Rangers before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Cup Final.
”It’s great competition to play against the best players and then against your countrymen,” Kucherov said.
”I think it’s great for Russia to see the young guys come into North America and go through the CHL, AHL and then make it to the NHL,” he added. ”It’s great to see and to see how the kids want to be in the best league in the world. They don’t care about the money in the KHL, they want to be in the best league and play against the best. It’s nice to see.”
The Lightning have been exceptional through the first two rounds of the playoffs, going 6-1 at home while eliminating both the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins in five games.
The Capitals beat Columbus in the opening round before ousting the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
”They are similar to us in that they have a pretty deep lineup, a very lethal power play and forwards that can really change the momentum of the game with how good they are,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said.
”We are going to need to rely on our depth as well and stay disciplined. That’s something we’ve talked about going against Boston with how good their power play is and we saw first hand that if we are going to take penalties Panthers Cheap Jerseys , teams are going to make us pay,” Stamkos added. ”Washington is very similar in that regard. That will be one of the keys for us.”
Ovechkin expects the Atlantic Division winners to be a stern test, too.
”Right now, in this situation in this time of year, everybody has the best players, the best goalies, and you have to be the best to beat them,” the Capitals star said.
”That has to be in our mind and we have to play as a group, not play individually.”
Some things to know about the Capitals and Lightning, one-time Southeast Division rivals meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 2011:
CAPITALS REINFORCEMENTS: Washington won Game 6 in overtime at Pittsburgh without top center Nicklas Backstrom and wingers Andre Burakovsky and Tom Wilson.
Backstrom, who took a shot from Justin Schultz off his right hand in Game 5 against the Penguins on Saturday, skated and did some light stickhandling Thursday; Burakovsky (out with upper-body injury) practiced and are each considered day-to-day.
Wilson will be back off a three-game suspension, and with Backstrom and Burakovsky potentially close, the Capitals could have their full lineup soon.
”The first instinct is to try to put the lines back together that you had, but this time of year, you go with the guys who are going Babe Ruth Jersey ,” coach Barry Trotz said. ”The guys that are going well, you use, and the other guys wait for another opportunity. When I get the word, then we’ll put them back together.”
ROAD WARRIORS: The Capitals are 5-1 on the road through two rounds and 9-3 away from home going back to the 2017 playoffs. It helps Trotz to be able to get his top defensive pairing of Dmitry Orlov and Matt Niskanen out against opponents’ stars, but beginning on the road could prove beneficial for Washington.
”With the matchups on the road, you don’t get them all the time so I think guys are a little more aware of who they’re on the ice against, maybe a little more engaged in terms of knowing who’s on the ice,” winger Brett Connolly said.
”So I think we’re just playing on the road. Barry’s just throwing guys over the boards and they ultimately get to decide who they want to play against that line, so guys are feeling confident and comfortable and just playing and feel good about themselves.”
LONG TIME SINCE 2011: Only five players in this series were around when the Lightning and Capitals last met in the playoffs back in 2011: Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman and Washington’s Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson. The Lightning won in a sweep before losing in seven to Boston in the East final.
”Obviously we haven’t played these guys in meaningful games like this for a while,” Stamkos said. ”So we can definitely expect a different series than that was.”
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed.
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