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LAKE FOREST Authentic Nyheim Hines Jersey , Ill. (AP) For Jimmy Garoppolo, the wait is over.

It’s time to show he is ready to be a franchise quarterback, and that begins against his hometown team.

Garoppolo makes his first start for San Francisco when the 49ers visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday in a game that matches struggling franchises.

”It’s exciting,” he said. ”It really is. I’ve got a lot of family and friends going. They’re just as excited as I am. It’s going to be a fun opportunity. Good challenge for our team.”

Garoppolo grew up a Bears fan in suburban Arlington Heights and played at Eastern Illinois. He had Brian Urlacher and Anthony Thomas jerseys as a youngster. But when he arrives at Soldier Field on Sunday, it will be his first time there for a Bears game.

He’ll have quite a vantage point as the 49ers (1-10) try to pick up a rare win and hand the Bears (3-8) their fifth straight loss.

He’ll have quite an opportunity, too.

Acquired from New England for a second-round draft pick in late October, Garoppolo finally gets his chance to be a starter after backing up Tom Brady for 3 1/2 years. He made a cameo at the end of last week’s loss to Seattle and looked good.

Garoppolo replaced the injured C.J. Beathard (knee Cheap Deadrin Senat Jersey , hip) with just over a minute left and completed both passes. That included a 10-yard touchdown on the run through a tight opening to Louis Murphy on the final play.

Garoppolo started two games for New England in 2016 when Brady was suspended, and his impressive showing made him a highly sought quarterback. He threw for 496 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in wins over Arizona and Miami.

Though he has an expiring contract, the 49ers clearly view Garoppolo as a potential franchise quarterback .

Ironically, they could have taken the QB they will be seeing Sunday with the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. Instead, Bears GM Ryan Pace traded up a spot with San Francisco to grab Mitchell Trubisky.

The rookie has shown a strong arm and quickness at times in his seven starts. But he has struggled with his accuracy and posted a career-low 38.3 passer rating in last week’s blowout at NFL-leading Philadelphia.

”I just know the way I operate is you have to go back to work, you have to get back to the grind Cowboys Jihad Ward Jersey , gotta focus on the little things,” Trubisky said. ”Keep the big picture in mind but continue to do the little things, stay focused, stick together, continue to believe in each other.”

Here are some things to know as Garoppolo looks to make a successful first start for San Francisco and the Bears try to stop their slide:

PROTECTING GAROPPOLO: One reason the 49ers were hesitant to turn things over to Garoppolo was because of a patchwork offensive line that has been dealing with injuries to tackles Joe Staley and Trent Brown. The two have both been healthy for just one game since Garoppolo arrived, and Brown’s status this week is uncertain because of a shoulder injury. Beathard was sacked 17 times in his five starts.

GOOD AS GOULD: This game will be a homecoming for Niners kicker Robbie Gould, who spent 11 seasons with the Bears. Gould was part of Chicago’s 2006 Super Bowl team and holds the franchise records for points scored (1 Steelers Mason Rudolph Jersey ,207), field goals (276), and field goals of at least 50 yards (23). He played against the Bears as a member of the New York Giants in 2016. But this will be his first appearance at Soldier Field since Chicago released him prior to last season.

GROUND GAINS: The Bears were held to 6 yards rushing last week, the second-lowest total in franchise history. But there could be room to run facing a defense that ranks 30th against the rush. That should come as good news to Jordan Howard. The NFL’s fourth-leading rusher, he managed a career-low 6 yards on seven attempts against the Eagles.

TOUTING THOMAS: The Niners were happy to move down a spot in the draft-night deal with Chicago because they had targeted DL Solomon Thomas as the player they wanted with their top pick. Thomas hasn’t quite performed up to the standards of a No. 3 overall pick. He has two sacks and has generated pressure on the quarterback on less than 5 percent of his pass rush chances, according to SportRadar.

”I think I’ve been very, very pleased with Solomon Authentic Justin Jones Jersey ,” GM John Lynch said. ”Some people are saying, `Hey your number three pick maybe perhaps should be a little more dynamic.’ His play has been solid and we knew it would be a process.”

HEATING UP: Coach John Fox once again insisted this week he’s not thinking about his future in Chicago . But at 12-31 in three seasons with the Bears, the heat would only intensify with a loss this week.

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Two of the hottest teams in the NFL meet Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars travel to face the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara Cheap Ed Dickson Jersey , Calif.

Yes, really.

Jacksonville and San Francisco (along with the Dallas Cowboys) own the longest current winning streaks in the NFL at three games.

Under first-year head coaches Doug Marrone (Jaguars) and Kyle Shanahan (49ers), both teams are hitting their stride.

Both have quarterbacks playing well: Blake Bortles (Jaguars) and Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers).

The comparisons stop at the playoff picture.

The Jaguars (10-4) have won seven of their last eight, clinched their first playoff berth since 2007 and hold a two-game lead over Tennessee in the AFC South race. If the Titans lose to the visiting Los Angeles Rams (10-4) on Sunday, the Jaguars would have the division title secured right around their 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff.

The 49ers (4-10) will miss for the playoffs after a 0-9 start, but they have found momentum thanks largely to a midseason trade with the New England Patriots for Garoppolo in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick.

The fourth-year veteran has won all three of his starts for the 49ers.

“I think just (we are) getting more confident the more you win,” Shanahan said. “Including our bye week, only having one loss in these last five weeks Authentic Ronnie Harrison Jersey , it’s a much more positive feeling that you put together week after week and you build off of that. Everybody wants to be confident, but that only happens when you experience some success.”

Garoppolo is completing 68.7 percent of his passes for 1,026 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 98.0.

“You’re talking about a guy that is probably the hottest quarterback in the league right now,” Marrone said. “It’s a credit to him and their coaching staff and the rest of the team on offense. … Right now, he is the best quarterback in the league.”

Garoppolo led the 49ers to a 25-23 comeback win over the Titans on Sunday. He guided the offense 48 yards on seven plays in 1:07 to set up a game-winning 45-yard field goal on the final play.

“He’s carried himself like a veteran,” Shanahan said. “So far everything I’ve seen has been great. He’s played well in his games. I think he’s handled it real well.”

Garoppolo has never lost as a starter in his career, winning both starts for the Patriots in 2016 while Tom Brady was suspended.

He also has never seen a defense like Jacksonville’s.

The Jaguars lead the NFL in scoring defense (14.9 points allowed per game), pass defense (168.9 yards) Authentic Clive Walford Jersey , sacks (51) and forced fumbles (17). They rank second in takeaways (31) and interceptions (20) and are third in yards allowed (284.1).

“The scheme they run isn’t unique, but the players they have makes it unique,” Garoppolo said. “They have very talented players at every level of their defense.”

The Jaguars had four defensive players selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday: end Calais Campbell (14 1/2 sacks), cornerback A.J. Bouye (six interceptions), cornerback Jalen Ramsey (four picks) and tackle Malik Jackson (eight sacks).

The Jaguars counter with their own success story at quarterback. Bortles, a fourth-year veteran, is starting to realize his potential after being selected with the third overall pick. He has thrown for seven touchdowns with no interceptions over the past three games combined.

The Jaguars lead the NFL in rushing, so Bortles’ improvement has created a balanced attack.

“Any time you have a defense play the way they do and any time you have the number one running game in the NFL Broncos Isaac Yiadom Jersey , that makes a lot of things easier on a quarterback,” Shanahan said. “Not to take anything away from him, but he’s doing exactly what he needs to do, and he’s making plays doing it.”

Bortles completed 21 of 29 passes for 326 yards with three scores and no picks for a passer rating of 143.8 last week against Houston.

Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney joined Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict and Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas on saying something negative about Bortles either before or after a game. The Jaguars beat all three teams. Clowney was asked Sunday how Bortles has improved, and he said, “He’s trash.”

Bortles responded on Wednesday.

“If how we’re playing and how I’m playing is trash, then I’m fine with being trash,” Bortles said.

The Jaguars are getting some key players back.

Running back Leonard Fournette and receiver Allen Hurns returned to practice Wednesday. Fournette missed the Sunday game with a quad injury. The rookie ranks eighth in the NFL with 923 rushing yards and is tied for third in rushing touchdowns with eight. Fournette also has caught 29 passes for 213 yards and a score.

Hurns has missed the past five games with an ankle injury. He has 36 catches for 446 yards and two touchdowns this season.

“I do believe that they have as much qualities as anyone that it takes to win a Super Bowl Authentic Cody Latimer Jersey ,” Shanahan said. “A top defense, a very good running game, a good offense, good special teams. When you see a team like that on tape that you believe has that ability, it’s a good thing. It’s a good challenge for your team to go against them and see where you’re at.”

JACKSONVILLE Authentic Trent Brown Jersey , Fla. (AP) Malik Jackson has a Super Bowl ring at home and eight playoff games on his NFL resume.

Few others in Jacksonville’s locker room can say the same.

The Jaguars (10-6) are short on postseason experience heading into Sunday’s AFC wild-card game against Buffalo , with 11 guys having played a combined 42 playoff games. Jackson (eight) and fellow defensive lineman Calais Campbell (nine) have accounted for nearly half of those games in January and February.

By comparison, the Bills (9-7) have 20 players with a combined 80 postseason games. And that doesn’t include quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who didn’t play in any games but won a Super Bowl as Joe Flacco’s backup in Baltimore in 2013.

Jackson believes having ”been there, done that” matters and plans to do all he can to help his teammates get a grasp on what to expect.

”It’s definitely a big deal,” Jackson said Monday. ”I think being able to have playoff experience just to pass that knowledge to the younger players and to people who haven’t done it is important. This can be overwhelming for some. We have a lot of guys that haven’t been here before Cheap Deadrin Senat Jersey , so it can be overwhelming.

”We just have to understand to take it day by day and treat it just like the last 16 or 17 weeks. I think we’ll be good.”

Like Jackson and Campbell, punter Brad Nortman (six) and linebacker Lerentee McCray (four) played in more than three playoffs games before joining the Jaguars.

Cornerback A.J. Bouye and safety Barry Church played in three postseason games elsewhere. Running back Chris Ivory, right tackle Jermey Parnell and cornerback Tyler Patmon have played in two, and tight end James O’Shaughnessy has one.

The lone holdover from Jacksonville’s last postseason run is tight end Marcedes Lewis, who played at Pittsburgh and at New England in January 2008.

”Back when I was a young buck,” Lewis recalled. ”A lot has happened between then and now.”

The Jaguars were an NFL-worst 17-63 over the previous five seasons. They enjoyed one of the league’s best turnarounds this season even though they went 3-3 down the stretch and enter the postseason with a two-game losing streak.

Still Cheap Alex McGough Jersey , the won the AFC South and earned their first postseason berth since 2007 and first home playoff game in 18 years.

”This is the start of a different type of season,” coach Doug Marrone said. ”This is 12 teams, six in the AFC and six in the NFC. Every one of those teams has overcome something during the year and has earned the right to be here. Every one of those teams is dangerous, and it comes down to how you perform on that Sunday.”

Like most of his roster, this will be Marrone’s first playoff game in three full seasons as an NFL head coach. He was offensive coordinator for New Orleans in 2006 when the Saints made it to the NFC championship game.

”Anytime you have experience of something, it’s good Packers JK Scott Jersey ,” Marrone said. ”This way, as you’re up there as a coach or you’re trying to make sure you have your team focused in the direction you want to go, when you’re not around your team and the player sitting next to someone, `Hey, what is this like and that?’ You have that experience in your locker room. I think that’s important.”

Jackson hopes to answer those questions as much as possible this week.

”If anybody wants to listen,” he said. ”We have a lot of guys that have at least been to one playoff game http://www.denverbroncosteamonline.com/courtland-sutton-jersey , so I think we’ll be able to pass our knowledge down and it’ll be heard very well.”

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

Todays schedule is listed as follow:

The first game of the regular seasonwill start at 1:05 pm ET when Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirateswill face at the PNC Park with the starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija(5.14 ERA) and Francisco Liriano (2.31 ERA)

A couple of minutes after the firstpitch from Cubs and Pirates, at 1:08 pm ET, Kansas City Royals willplay against Detroit Tigers, the starting pitchers are Shields (4.74ERA) and Verlander (3.39 ERA)

Right after the the start of Royals andTigers Authentic Mike McGlinchey Jersey , exactly at 1:10 pm ET, Washington Nationals will jump intothe online sportsbook action against New York Mets starting withStephen Strasburg (3.48 ERA) and Dillon Gee (3.97 ERA)

At 2:05 pm ET, Phillies will battle theodds with Rangers in the first inter-league match up of the season,the starting pitchers will be C. Lee (5.56 ERA) and Tanner Scheppers(4.73 ERA) moving the lines and odds on the online sportsbook world.

Braves at Milwaukee Brewers Cheap Avonte Maddox Jersey , the gamewill start at 2:10 pm ET with Julio Teheran (3.25 ERA) vs. YovaniGallardo (4.04 ERA) as starting pitchers

Jon Lester (3.35 ERA) and Chris Tillman(4.67 ERA) will open the game at 3:05 pm ET the game between Red Sox,the World Series Champions and Orioles is going to be the game of theday and you should not miss it, and remember to place your onlinesportsbook action before the game start so you can enjoy all the MLBnew season excitement.

Minnesota Twins new right hander willface Chicago White Sox at 4:10 pm ET, starting with Ricky Nolasco(5.50 ERA) and Chris Sale (4.58 ERA)

At 4:10 pm Et Seahawks Dontae Johnson Jersey , Cardinals at CincinnatiReds with Adam Wainwright (2.65 ERA) and Johnny Cueto (4.48 ERA) asstarting pitchers

Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rayswill start the series with R.A. Dickey (5.79 ERA) vs. David Price(3.63 ERA) at 4:10 pm ET.

Colorado Rockies will visit MiamiMarlins at 7:05 pm ET starting with De La Rosa (5.40 ERA) and JoseFernandez (3.54 ERA)

AT 9:40 pm ET, San Francisco Giantswill visit the home of Arizona Diamondbacks with Madison Bumgarner(3.23 ERA) and Brandon McCarthy (5.23 ERA) starting pitchers

One of the last games of the day, at10:05 pm ET, Cleveland Indians will battle against Oakland Athleticslisting Masterson (4.44 ERA) and Gray (4.20 ERA)

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CINCINNATI (6-9) at BALTIMORE (9-6)

Sunday Authentic Justin Reid Jersey , 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE – Ravens by 10 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD – Cincinnati 8-7, Baltimore 8-6-1

SERIES RECORD – Ravens lead 22-21

LAST MEETING – Ravens beat Bengals 20-0, Sept. 10

LAST WEEK – Bengals beat Lions 26-17; Ravens beat Colts 23-16

AP PRO32 RANKING – Bengals No. 23, Ravens No. 11

BENGALS OFFENSE – OVERALL (32), RUSH (31), PASS (28).

BENGALS DEFENSE – OVERALL (20) Authentic Ed Dickson Jersey , RUSH (31), PASS (7).

RAVENS OFFENSE – OVERALL (26), RUSH (15), PASS (29).

RAVENS DEFENSE – OVERALL (9), RUSH (14), PASS (10).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – … Ravens need win to clinch playoff berth. … Could be final game for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis Authentic Da'Shawn Hand Jersey , who served as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator from 1996-2001. … Lewis is 17-12 vs. Ravens. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is 9-10 vs. Bengals. … Ravens QB Joe Flacco has 9-9 record, 17 TD passes and 22 INTs against Cincinnati. … Bengals QB Andy Dalton is 6-6 vs. Ravens with 12 TDs and 17 INTs. … Dalton had one of worst career games in season-opening loss to Ravens. Matched career high with four INTs. Also was picked off four times by Ravens in 2013. … Bengals trying to avoid getting swept by Ravens for first time since 2011. … Cincinnati offense ranks last in NFL, finished last in offense only one time in club’s 50-year history, in 2008. On track for fewest points since 2008. … Dalton has 22 career 300-yard passing games, one shy of Boomer Esiason for club record. … WR A.J. Green has 31 career 100-yard receiving games, tied with Chad Johnson for club record. … Green is first NFL receiver since 1970 merger to start career with seven straight Pro Bowl nominations. … Dalton went six games and career-best 193 passes without INT earlier in season, but has thrown four in last three games. … Bengals run game averaging 81.3 yards Cheap Jonathan Allen Jersey , which would surpass previous club low of 89.9 yards rushing per game in 1995. … Cincinnati on pace to have no runner with 600 yards for first time since 1994. … Bengals Pro Bowl DT Geno Atkins leads all NFL interior linemen with nine sacks. … Cincinnati LB Carl Lawson leads all NFL rookies with 8 1/2 sacks, one shy of Carlos Dunlap’s team rookie record in 2010. … Bengals broke three-game skid last week. … Baltimore has won five of six. … Ravens lead NFL with 33 takeaways, rank first with plus-17 turnover differential. … Baltimore has won four straight at home and is 59-20 on own turf under Harbaugh, who took over in 2008. … Ravens have won 13 of last 14 home finales. … Baltimore has 16 turnovers this season, tied with 2012 Super Bowl squad for fewest in franchise history. … Flacco has eight TD passes, just two interceptions over last six games. … Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs has 12 + career sacks against Bengals, including two in first meeting this season. … Ravens’ defense has scored five TDs Authentic Chukwuma Okorafor Jersey , tied for second in NFL behind Jacksonville (six). … Baltimore K Justin Tucker is 202 for 202 in PATs over career. … Fantasy Tip: Green has 46 catches for 800 yards and six TDs in nine career games against Ravens, who are without top CB Jimmy Smith.

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JACKSONVILLE Authentic Chris Herndon Jersey , Fla. (AP) Jacksonville Jaguars executive Tom Coughlin is backing cornerback Jalen Ramsey, saying he ”was playing football within the rules” when Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green attacked him Sunday.

Ramsey and Green were ejected late in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-7 victory.

Referee Brad Allen said Ramsey was ejected for instigating the fight, and Green was tossed for throwing punches. Officials warned both players following verbal exchanges earlier in the game.

Coughlin took exception with Ramsey’s dismissal.

”Our players are instructed to not retaliate or get involved or do anything that would result in eviction because that would hurt the team Cheap Mike Remmers Jersey ,” Coughlin said in a statement on Tuesday.

”Team comes first, and Jalen was trying to not hurt his team. While he did push his opponent – something that happened with other players during the game – he did not retaliate, he threw no punches http://www.detroitlionsteamonline.com/da_shawn-hand-jersey , and he did not fight back.

”Jalen was doing what Coach (Doug) Marrone has instructed him to do, which is to play tough, be physical and to make every play difficult for his opponent. There was banter going back and forth during the game http://www.detroitlionsteamonline.com/sylvester-williams-jersey , but Jalen was playing football within the rules.”

The NFL said Monday that Green would not be suspended for his actions. Ramsey and Green both could be fined for the fight.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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NEW YORK (AP) The New York Jets signed former Lions linebacker Brandon Copeland and re-signed defensive lineman Xavier Cooper on Monday.

Copeland missed last season after tearing a pectoral muscle during the preseason. He had 30 tackles and one forced fumble in 32 games the previous two seasons with the Lions.

The 26-year-old Copeland is expected to serve as a backup on defense and be a key part of the Jets’ special teams unit.

”Too many different levels of excitement to put into words Authentic Breeland Speaks Jersey ,” Copeland told the Jets’ website. ”Coming off of injured reserve, having to sit every Sunday, Monday and Thursday and watching other people play Authentic Kalen Ballage Jersey , I’m first and foremost excited to get back to the game that I love.”

He signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent out of Penn in 2013 and spent time later that season on Tennessee’s practice squad. After signing with Orlando of the Arena Football League in 2015, Copeland impressed Detroit after participating in the NFL Veterans Combine. His grandfather, Roy Hilton Authentic Nick Nelson Jersey , played for the Baltimore Colts against the Jets in the Super Bowl in 1969.

”He played defensive end against Joe Namath and all those guys,” Copeland said. ”I know he’s going to be very proud of his grandson and now my job is to continue to make him proud.”

Cooper was not tendered as a restricted free agent, but was brought back to serve as a rotational defensive lineman. He had 16 tackles and one sack in eight games Cheap Cassius Marsh Jersey , and his play increased when Muhammad Wilkerson was benched at the end of last season.

Cooper was a third-round pick by Cleveland out of Washington State in 2015. He has also spent time with San Francisco, and has 56 career tackles and three sacks.

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The Cincinnati Bengals firmly put the negative “Bungles” past of the 1990s through early-2000s behind them under the leadership of Marvin Lewis. The franchise not only began to experience some success, but was considered by many to be one of the league’s most talented teams during a good portion of this decade.

After a 4-12 season in 2010, the Bengals all of a sudden embarked upon a streak of five-straight seasons reaching the playoffs. Those campaigns all ended earlier than hoped (0-5 in those Wild Card contests), but it could be argued that most of those results could easily have turned the other way with slightly different circumstances.

Going into 2016, it seemed the team would likely return to the playoffs again, but instead dropped off in multiple areas to fall to 6-9-1. Looking back, that fall shouldn’t be as surprising, however. And the factors which played a part in that dip in the standings could prove to be even more impactful in 2017.

Combine them with other factors occurring since the end of last season Authentic Breeland Speaks Jersey , and there is a sizeable list of reasons that indicate those 2016 struggles could be more that just a one-season blip. Let’s take a look at five of the biggest reasons why the Cincinnati Bengals will continue to falter.

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Philosophically, Cincinnati shares common ground with a team like the Green Bay Packers. Each of these teams mainly builds the talent of their teams through the draft and are reluctant to spend money on players they did not develop themselves.

This can be a successful plan — Cincinnati did make the playoffs in six of the seven years prior to 2016, and Green Bay hasn’t missed the postseason since 2008. But a problem inherent to this model is what happens when those players you draft don’t develop as quickly or as well as planned. If they don’t develop to be as good as you hope when you need them to http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/jason-mccourty-jersey , your team suffers, and usually your record will follow suit.

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More damaging than simply not developing, though, is when a team allows talent to leave. Often this is somewhat inevitable. You cannot keep everyone, especially when realizing just how much more players cost on second contracts compared to the price tag on rookies. Even considering that issue, what has happened with the Bengals in recent years has been more damaging than in the average situation.

Going back through recent offseasons, we can see numerous key players for this team which have been allowed to leave in free agency. After the 2014 season, Terence Newman and Jermaine Gresham left for Minnesota and Arizona http://www.seattleseahawksteamonline.com/barkevious-mingo-jersey , respectively. With that, Cincinnati lost one of their better corners and decent insurance for Tyler Eifert’s injury issues (which were already showing up back then). Post-2015 saw Leon Hall, Reggie Nelson, Marvin Jones, and Mohamed Sanu leave. That took another two solid veteran performers from the secondary, as well as massively depleting the talented weaponry of the offense.

In a vacuum, each of those moves makes sense. Many of those players were either aging or set for high-market contracts (if not both). In multiple instances, the team also had drafted players to eventually take over. But this is a team that tends to have plenty of money to burn on their cap due to the lack of big-money outside signings.

Strategically Authentic Marquez Valdes-Scantling Jersey , what is the point of keeping that money if they never really push up on the cap? Outside of being excessively frugal, there isn’t much of one. Even considering their meager spendings in free agency and extensions for players they do keep long-term, there has consistently been enough to fit in at least one of these key players each season without crippling their future. What’s worse, in many cases those moves have failed to prevent a notable drop-off in production.

Granted, it should be noted that many of these players did go on to perform at lower levels elsewhere. Again, in a vacuum, most are pro.

CHARLOTTE 49ers Jeff Locke Jersey , N.C. (AP) The potential return of middle linebacker Luke Kuechly to the Panthers starting lineup on Sunday has been greeted with a mixture of excitement and concern by teammates and coaches.

Kuechly participated in all of practice for the second straight day Thursday, and coach Ron Rivera remains optimistic the three-time All-Pro will be cleared to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4). He’s in the final stage of the NFL’s concussion protocol, and will need to be cleared by an independent doctor before being allowed to play in a game.

Kuechly is expected to meet with doctors on Friday.

”The dude is the best middle linebacker in all of the game, so whenever we can get him back on the field that makes our odds of winning better,” said Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis.

But Davis, like everyone else in the Carolina locker room Cheap Jonathan Allen Jersey , has some trepidation about Kuechly’s long-term health because of recent studies focused on the effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, in football players who have sustained repeated concussions.

Kuechly is one of the most well-liked players ever to step in the Panthers locker room because of his humility, team-first approach and his leadership ability – qualities that helped earn him NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

”You don’t want to see anybody have any kind of head trauma,” Davis said.

The concern over Kuechly is amplified because this was his third concussions in the past three seasons for the Panthers (4-3).

He spent three weeks in the concussion protocol following the previous two on-field collisions in 2015 and 2016. Rivera even erred on the side of caution last year by holding Kuechly out an additional three games to recover at the end of the season because the Panthers were out of the playoff race.

Kuechly has only missed one game in the NFL concussion protocol so far this season, and Davis suggested last week that this hit might not have been as severe as the previous two.

Rivera’s first concern is Kuechly’s safety.

”You just hope that we’re doing the right thing 49ers Jonathan Cooper Jersey ,” Rivera said. ”We are going through the process and doing the things that we have been told to do – hopefully it is all positive.”

Kuechly was unavailable for comment Thursday.

He’s not allowed to conduct interviews while in the concussion protocol, per league rules.

Panthers defensive end Wes Horton called Kuechly the leader of Carolina’s defense.

He said Kuechly’s ability to give teammates pre-snap reads and even call out what plays the opponent is going to run is huge plus for the Panthers. Horton said he’s recorded a number of tackles over the years simply because Kuechly has told him what play is coming.

”He knows more than anybody else on the field,” Horton said.

Horton also knows how much Kuechly loves playing football, which gives him some worry as his friend prepares to return from his third concussion.

”I would say there is a little bit of a concern,” Horton said. ”… Football is in his DNA, so that is the route he’s going to go. But in the back of your mind Cheap Jonathan Cooper Jersey , sure it concerns you a little bit.”

Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter called what Kuechly has gone through the past three seasons ”horrible for any player.”

”The worst part of this game is injuries in general – and concussions are at the top of the list,” Koetter said. ”I think the concussion protocol that they have in place right now is a huge help for everybody – for the players, for the doctors, for the trainers, for the coaches. I think it was a very smart move and I think it’s serving a positive purpose.”

The 26-year-old Kuechly said after his second concussion he wouldn’t change the way he approaches the game.

Horton doesn’t expect that mentality will change as Kuechly prepares to return from his third, regardless of any medical study on the long-term effect concussions have on NFL players.

”It’s hard to tell a guy not to play as hard as he plays Authentic Brian Allen Jersey ,” Horton said. ”Sometimes (a concussion) is inevitable just because of how hard he plays.”

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