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Hachette Books told The Associated Press on Tuesday the book is called ”Fearless” and is coming out August 28. According to Hachette Jake Muzzin Jersey , Pederson will look back on his career as a quarterback and assistant coach and tell of the Eagles’ unexpected championship season.

Pederson has been the team’s head coach since 2016. He said in a statement that he had always considered himself an ”underdog,” whether backing up quarterbacks such as Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers or, as Eagles head coach, facing the Patriots in Super Bowl LII and winning 41-33.

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco confirmed the team’s decision Friday night after the second day of the NFL draft.

The Chargers had waited to make any announcement on Gates’ future because they weren’t sure whether he intended to attempt to join another team for a 16th NFL season this fall. Gates has spent his entire career with the Chargers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2003.

Gates has caught 927 passes for 11,508 yards and 114 touchdowns – all Chargers records. He set the NFL record for TD catches by a tight end early last season.

Gates also ranks third in career receptions by a tight end behind Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten.

FRISCO Artemi Panarin Jersey , Texas (AP) – Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten plans to retire after 15 seasons and join ESPN as its lead analyst for the ”Monday Night Football” telecast, the network reported Friday.

Witten met with owner and general manager Jerry Jones, who said no announcement was coming Friday. Jones said he had several conversations with Witten this week and indicated the franchise leader in games, catches and yards receiving hadn’t made a final decision.

Jones said the Cowboys would have no other comment on Witten’s future the rest of the weekend, which includes the last two days of the NFL draft on Friday and Saturday.

The news on the second day of the draft could affect Dallas’ plans just a week after Witten suggested he might play until he was 40 and intended to return this coming season. Witten turns 36 early next month.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Maybe NFL teams got exhausted from scrambling to pick quarterbacks in the first round of the draft.

It took until the 76th overall slot Friday night, 44 picks after the last one http://www.officialoilers.com/authentic-adidas-connor-mcdavid-jersey , that Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph was selected by Pittsburgh. The Steelers get a big, strong-armed, highly competitive QB – yep, sounds a lot like incumbent Ben Roethlisberger, who is 36 and closing in on the end of his championship career.

”It’s not Ben’s job to teach me anything. It’s my job to learn,” said Rudolph, who added he dreamed of becoming a Steeler.

Pittsburgh has had little success with backups for Big Ben Carter Hutton Jersey , with another Oklahoma product, Landry Jones, never approaching the Roethlisberger level.

When Oklahoma State played at Heinz Field last year and won 59-21, Rudolph threw for five touchdowns in the first half.

WRESTLING

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – Women and children were on hand to watch World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.’s ”Greatest Royal Rumble” in Saudi Arabia.

A previous WWE event held in the ultraconservative kingdom in 2014 was for men only. But Friday night’s event in Jiddah included both women and children in attendance to watch the likes of WWE star John Cena and others.

It’s all part of a series of social changes pushed by the kingdom’s assertive 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

WWE is wildly popular across the Middle East. The organization has an Arabic website and has held events in other Gulf Arab nations.

SOCCER

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to withhold support from nations who don’t back the joint bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup.

While FIFA has no authority to act against the North American bid over Trump’s words, the world soccer body’s rules of bidding note that governments can have an ”undue influence” on the contest.

Morocco also has bid to host soccer’s showcase. The FIFA Congress meets on June 13 in Moscow to select the 2026 host http://www.officialstarsproonline.com/authentic-adidas-brett-ritchie-jersey , and a majority of the 207 voting FIFA members is needed. They also may pick neither bid, which would lead to the host process being reopened.

Trump tweeted on Thursday: ”The U.S. has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?”

Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham‘s continued attendance at Giants workouts was #asexpected Ryan Suter Jersey , and allows the team to think about the future of what could be a prolific offensive tandem.

Via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Beckham was back on hand for Giants OTAs today, giving him a chance to continue to work with rookie running back Saquon Barkley, as well as a chance for coach Pat Shurmur to continue building their relationship.

Shurmur suggested that Beckham’s still not medically cleared to fully participate John Klingberg Jersey , and he still doesn’t have that contract extension which was reported to be an issue. But that hasn’t kept the good vibes from flowing.

“Odell’s been in and out, so he’s been around. It’s very encouraging,” Shurmur said. “I’ve developed a really nice relationship with him. We’re very open and honest about everything Giants and everything Odell. I’m just looking forward to him being there. There’s a lot to be learned. He’s not quite finished with his rehab, but there’s still a lot to be learned by just watching what’s going on.”

Shurmur also said he expected “the whole team” to be on hand Michael Grabner Jersey , which includes the return of tackle Ereck Flowers, who skipped the earlier voluntary work after the team acquired left tackle Nate Solder.

The Patriots have already lost one first-rounder for the season, but they got a look at the other for a change.

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, running back Sony Michel was back on the practice field for the first time since Aug. 1.

Michel has been dealing with a knee problem since early in camp Patrice Bergeron Jersey , and hasn’t played in the preseason. The 31st overall pick, Michel could potentially add a dynamic element in their backfield, after he averaged 7.9 yards per carry his final season at Georgia.

The Patriots have already lost 23rd overall pick Isaiah Wynn to a torn Achilles, which made Michel’s absence tougher to swallow.

Right tackle Marcus Cannon was also back on the field Monday. He has also been out since Aug. 1 and hasn’t played in a preseason game.

The defensive back, who played both safety and cornerback during training camp http://www.officialknightsproshop.com/authentic-adidas-brad-hunt-jersey , joined safety Brandon Bryant and linebackers Frankie Luvu and Anthony Wint on the practice squad Sunday.

Clark missed almost all of last season while recovering from a knee injury suffered while playing at Michigan. He played in the regular-season finale last December against New England.

Bryant signed with the Jets after going unselected in this year's supplemental draft. The former Mississippi State star had six tackles in New York's preseason finale at Philadelphia.

Luvu, an undrafted free agent out of Washington State Alex DeBrincat Jersey , had an impressive camp while running with the Jets' first-team defense at times.

Wint was signed by New York after rookie minicamp following a standout career at Florida International.

Vonn held a 0.95-second advantage over Sofia Goggia of Italy and was 2.02 ahead of American teammate Jacqueline Wiles.

In a strong showing for the American and Italian teams, Alice McKennis of the United States was fourth and Federica Brignone of Italy was fifth.

Vonn has won only one race this season and will be looking to step up preparations for next month’s Pyeongchang Olympics on a course where she holds a record 11 wins.

Vonn recorded her first podium result in Cortina in 2004.

After another training session Thursday Craig Smith Jersey , downhill races are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, followed by a super-G on Sunday.

CINCINNATI (0-0) at BALTIMORE (0-0)

Sunday Noah Hanifin Jersey , 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE – Colts by 1 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD – Cincinnati 8-8, Indianapolis 8-8

SERIES RECORD – Colts lead 19-11

LAST MEETING – Bengals won 24-23, Oct. 29, 2017

AP PRO32 RANKING – Bengals No. 24, Colts No. 30

BENGALS OFFENSE – OVERALL (32), RUSH (31), PASS (27).

BENGALS DEFENSE – OVERALL (18) Drew Doughty Jersey , RUSH (30), PASS (8).

COLTS OFFENSE – OVERALL (31), RUSH (22), PASS (30).

COLTS DEFENSE – OVERALL (30), RUSH (26), PASS (28).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Bengals and Colts meet for second time in 11 days, marking first time since 2014 NFL teams have squared off in preseason finale and regular-season opener (San Diego and Arizona). … Cincinnati has won three of last four openers and three of last five in series after snapping seven-game skid against Colts. … Coach Marvin Lewis is 20-14 against first-year head coaches. … QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green enter eighth season together and are oldest players on Bengals’ offense at 30. … Dalton needs one 300-yard game to tie Boomer Esiason’s career record for most in franchise history (23) Jake Guentzel Jersey Kids , and nine passing attempts to pass Esiason (3,464) for No. 2 in Bengals history. … Green and Chad Johnson are tied for most career 100-yard games (32). … LB Preston Brown makes Bengals debut after sharing NFL lead for tackles (144) in Buffalo last season. … Bengals open with Sunday afternoon/Thursday night slate for second straight season. … Cincinnati will wear white color rush uniforms at Indy. …Colts’ Frank Reich makes head coaching debut and will call offensive plays. … Indy needs two wins for 300 since making move in 1984 from Baltimore. … Andrew Luck expected to make first regular-season start since Jan. 1, 2017. Luck has at least one TD pass in 23 consecutive games, longest active streak in NFL, and tied for No. 19 in league history. … Indy offensive line allowed league-high 56 sacks last season. … K Adam Vinatieri needs seven field goals and 58 points to break Morten Andersen’s NFL career records in both categories (565 field goals and 2,544 points). Vinatieri needs five field goals between 40 and 49 yards to tie Gary Anderson (161) for league’s career mark. Vinatieri is oldest player in NFL at 45. … Indy has switched from 3-4 defensive front to more traditional 4-3 defense under new coordinator Matt Eberflus. … Safeties Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers expect to line up side by side for first time in regular-season game after injuries last season. Hooker tore two ligaments in right knee in October. Geathers missed first nine games in 2017 with neck injury and had offseason knee surgery. … Fantasy Tip: Dalton and Green have connected for league-high 21 plays of 50 or more yards since 2011 and could take advantage of Indy’s new defense and young secondary.

Washington has won three straight and scored a combined 35 runs since calling a players-only meeting on Wednesday after falling under .500 for the first time since May 2.

Reynolds (5 for 5) tied his career high for hits and equaled the Nationals’ RBI record.

Reynolds hit a two-run homer in the second inning into the same visitors’ bullpen where his walk-off homer landed on Friday. He followed that up with an RBI double in the second Luca Sbisa Jersey , a two-run single in the fifth, a three-run homer in the sixth, and a two-run single in the seventh.

Washington, which has won 14 straight against Miami, broke it open by batting around the order and scoring a season-best seven runs in the fifth inning.

Scherzer (11-5), who was 0-4 in his previous five starts, pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on four hits – three of which were home runs. The Nationals had been shut out in three of Scherzer’s previous five starts.

Miami starter Wei-Yin Chen (2-6) lasted 4 1/3 innings Youth Colin Miller Jersey , allowing seven runs on seven hits.

Bryce Harper had three hits and an intentional walk.

Starlin Castro and J.T. Realmuto hit the first back-to-back home runs of the season for the Marlins in the fourth inning. Yadiel Rivera hit his first homer of the season in the seventh.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: OF Brian Anderson was out of the lineup for the first time this season. After playing in Miami’s first 90 games, manager Don Mattingly said it was time for a breather. . Mattingly said OF Lewis Brinson (right hip) is still sore and ”doing a little treatment, and that’s all.”

Nationals: Manager Dave Martinez said that RHP Stephen Strasburg (shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to go on a rehab assignment Tuesday with the goal of throwing 50-60 pitches. . OF Victor Robles (hyperextended left elbow) and RHP Koda Glover (right shoulder tendinitis) both played in a Gulf Coast League game Friday. Martinez said Glover is ”progressing well” but that he wouldn’t be pitching in back-to-back games. . C Matt Wieters (left hamstring strain) went 1 for 4 in a rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg and is expected to play again on Sunday before being re-evaluated.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Rookie RHP Trevor Richards (2-5, 5.26 ERA) makes his first start against the Nationals in the series finale.

Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (3-10, 4.60 ERA) is looking for his first win since June 6. Roark is 5-8 with a 3.99 ERA in 22 games against the Marlins.

ENGLEWOOD Carl Soderberg Jersey , Colo. (AP) — Pat Bowlen’s nomination for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a jolt of good news for a franchise that’s had little to cheer in the 30 months since winning Super Bowl 50.

Peyton Manning retired. Gary Kubiak resigned. Paxton Lynch flopped.

The Broncos have lost 18 times over the last two seasons and went 5-11 in coach Vance Joseph’s first year in 2017.

Last month, Bowlen’s wife, Annabel, announced she has Alzheimer’s, a disease which led her husband to give up control of the team four years ago, and earlier this month former personnel executive Tom Heckert died at 51 following a long illness.

On Thursday, Bowlen and Gil Brandt were nominated for enshrinement in Canton as contributors to the game.

To get in, they need fourth-fifths of the vote from a 48-member panel that will meet on the eve of the Super Bowl in Atlanta in February.

In recent years, Bowlen has seen several of his former players get into the Hall of Fame , including Terrell Davis Miles Wood Jersey , Gary Zimmerman and Shannon Sharpe.

“We’re absolutely thrilled for Pat and the entire Bowlen family,” Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said. “There’s no question Pat elevated the NFL, the Broncos and our region over the last three decades. He’s always had such modesty and humility, but he’s incredibly deserving of this selection and we appreciate the contributor committee nominating him. It’s very special to see Pat take such a significant step toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Bowlen’s credentials include both on-field success and behind-the-scenes triumphs.

He was the first NFL owner to win 300 games, including playoffs, in his first three decades and he has more Super Bowl appearances (seven) than losing seasons (six) since buying the team in 1984.

Under his stewardship, the Broncos have won Super Bowls following the 1997, 1998 and 2015 seasons.

He also chaired 15 NFL committees, more than any other owner except for Hall of Famers Dan Rooney (18) and Lamar Hunt (16). Bowlen helped negotiate record-breaking TV contracts as chairman of the NFL Broadcasting Committee and as a member of the NFL Management Executive Committee he’s helped the league enjoy decades of labor peace.

“When you talk about contributors, nobody’s given more to the game than Pat Bowlen Carter Hutton Jersey ,” general manager John Elway tweeted. “His impact on the Broncos and NFL will never be matched, and it’s great to see that recognized today. I can’t wait for the day Pat’s bust joins the Bronco family in the @ProFootballHOF!”

The Broncos have averaged 10.2 wins a year in 34 seasons under Bowlen, whose 348 wins are fifth all-time among owners. During his tenure, the Broncos have posted the second-best regular season winning percentage (.603) in the league and the third-best mark among all 122 major North American sports teams.

Bowlen has never had consecutive losing seasons in his tenure and is the only NFL owner to reach the Super Bowl with four different head coaches.

Following Denver’s 31-24 victory over Green Bay for the franchise’s first championship, Bowlen famously hollered, “This one’s for John!” something the Hall of Fame QB called the greatest moment of his playing career.

Elway the executive returned the favor on Feb. 7, 2016, when he jabbed the silver trophy into the sky after Denver’s 24-10 win over Carolina and declared, “This one’s for Pat.”

That came 18 months after Alzheimer’s forced Bowlen to step down from his daily duties running the team.

Only a handful of current Broncos — Von Miller, Chris Harris Jr. Luke Schenn Jersey Kids , Demaryius Thomas, Derek Wolfe and Brandon Marshall — were on the roster when Bowlen was still making daily treks to team headquarters.

“We have a young team, especially this year,” Joseph said. “Obviously we talk about Mr. B all the time around here. In our team room there’s a big picture of Mr. B, so they’re aware of who he is.”

Outside the team’s new meeting rooms is a large picture of Bowlen with his legacy quote: “I want us to be number 1 in everything.”

The Giants announced the moves Monday with the newcomers being receiver Cody Latimer, defensive end Josh Mauro and cornerback B.W. Webb.

Wynn has played in 49 regular-season games with 10 starts since making the team as a free agent out of Richmond in 2014. He has 91 tackles, three sacks, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Last season, he played in 15 games with three starts.

Latimer played his first four seasons for the Denver Broncos Jake Guentzel Jersey Kids , appearing in 45 regular-season games with three starts. He had 35 receptions for 445 yards and three touchdowns. Latimer also averaged 24.4 yards on 18 kickoff returns. He finished with a career-high 19 receptions for 287 yards and two touchdowns in 2017.

Mauro is being reunited with defensive coordinator James Bettcher. He played his four seasons for the Arizona Cardinals, the past three under Bettcher.

Undrafted coming out of Stanford, Mauro played in 47 games with 26 starts for the Cardinals. He had 92 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He started seven of the 13 games last season.

Webb did not play in a regular-season game last season. He was on the Cleveland Browns' roster for one game in December but was inactive.

A fourth-round draft pick out of William & Mary in 2013, Webb had played with Dallas, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and New Orleans.

Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 45th goal and the Capitals extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday night.

T.J. Oshie Womens Paul Byron Jersey , Matt Niskanen and Evgeny Kuznetsov also scored for Washington, which went 3-0 at Detroit, Montreal and Madison Square Garden.

Nicklas Backstrom, who had four assists in a win over Montreal on Saturday, added two more to give him 44 this season. Philipp Grubauer made 28 saves.

”Tonight we got really loose in the second two periods there, they really took it to us,” Oshie said. ”Without Grub, we might be in overtime right now.”

Washington increased its lead to five points over two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh for first place in the Metropolitan Division.

”We’ve still got to keep going and keep getting points every night Joel Armia Jersey Kids ,” Oshie said.

Lias Andersson scored in his NHL debut and Mats Zuccarello added a goal for the Rangers.

Andersson, at 19 years, 164 days, became the youngest player in team history to score in his NHL debut. He broke the mark set by Mike Allison (19 years, 195 days) on Oct. 9, 1980, at Boston.

”It feels good, obviously Zach Werenski Jersey ,” Andersson said. ”It’s always fun to score and especially in your first NHL game, so it was fun.”

The Capitals scored four goals in the first period and cruised from there.

”I think we jumped in right away,” Ovechkin said. ”I think we had pretty good chances in the first couple of shifts. Osh scored, Nisky’s goal is pretty sick. How he scored, it was pretty impressive.”

Oshie gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead 2:50 into the game with his 18th of the season. Backstrom skated the puck into the zone and had three Rangers near him when he passed to an open Oshie at the right faceoff circle and he beat Alexandar Georgiev with a wrister.

Niskanen made it 2-0 just 2:23 later. Kuznetsov skated with the puck at the blue line and sent a backhand pass to Niskanen, who had plenty of time to score his seventh of the season at 5:13

Ovechkin scored on a one-timer on the power play from his favorite spot in the left faceoff circle at 8:54. Georgiev was pulled after allowing three goals on six shots.

Ondrej Pavelec replaced him and made 26 saves. It was Pavelec’s first appearance since Feb. 9 against Calgary.

Kuznetsov finished off the dominant first period with a short-handed goal at 16:39.

”We talked about this road trip,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. ”We’ve had really terrible starts. We put a lot of emphasis on the first period, obviously. We were able to get their goaltender out and obviously built a lead.”

Andersson and Filip Chytil gave the Rangers a glimpse of the franchise’s future. Andersson and Chytil Victor Hedman Jersey , both 2017 first-round draft picks and centers, were promoted from the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford on Sunday.

Chytil centered a line with Kevin Hayes and Zuccarello. Andersson centered a line with Jimmy Vesey and Ryan Spooner and got the Rangers on the board. Andersson cut it to 4-1 late in the second period when Vesey worked the puck behind the net and sent a pass to Andersson, who wristed it past Grubauer at 13:16.

”It was a great feeling to see him score his first goal,” Chytil said of Andersson. ”It was something special. We will talk about it tonight. It’s great that he scored his first goal in his first game.”

Chytil assisted on Zuccarello’s 16th goal at 4:26 of the third for his first NHL point.

”Both kids had a good game,” Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. ”It was an emotional day and an emotional game for them, but I thought they played well.”

NOTES: Devante Smith-Pelly, Shane Gersich and Christian Djoos were scratched by the Capitals. … According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Andersson and Chytil became the first pair of teenagers to get a point in the same game with the Rangers since Dec. 18 Justin Abdelkader Jersey , 1974 (Ron Greschner and Dave Maloney). Chytil played two games earlier in the season with New York. … Henrik Lundqvist, David Desharnais, Peter Holland, Paul Carey and Tony DeAngelo were the healthy scratches for the Rangers.

UP NEXT

The teams play the second half of a back-to-back Wednesday night in Washington.

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More NHL hockey: The Philadelphia Eagles will have their choice of uniform jerseys when they visit the New Orleans Saints in Week 10 because of a golf bet between coaches Doug Pederson and Sean Payton.

Payton said Monday that he lost a wager to Pederson on a golf course at the NFL meetings in March so the Super Bowl champion Eagles will get to choose their green home jerseys when they play the Saints on Nov. 18.

Pederson said his "competitive juices" were flowing and he wanted to beat Payton. It took three holes for a victor to be declared.

Payton recalled the hole involved him shooting into the water.

Pederson, Payton and Arizona State coach Herman Edwards spoke to reporters on a conference call in advance of their appearance in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe later this month.

The first-round draft pick from Missouri turned to his faith to shake the funk he found himself in last season when he totaled two sacks, which tied for 156th in the NFL.

"As a rookie, I was in a dark place," he says. "Now I'm cool. I understand grace."

Harris says he's optimistic he'll fulfill his potential this season, and a week into training camp, so are the Dolphins.

"I actually think Charles Harris has probably had the best offseason of anybody on our team," four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake says. "He came back in tremendous shape. He has obviously been working on his strength; he has been working on his football. I think that's definitely going to pay off when it comes time to put in the live bullets and get after the quarterback."

Coach Adam Gase repeatedly defended Harris last season, saying the rookie was more disruptive than statistics would suggest. But the Dolphins were hoping for a bigger impact from the No. 22 overall pick in the draft.

Harris says off-the-field issues complicated his adjustment to the NFL. The Kansas City native says he struggled with the move to South Florida, and with the sudden wealth that accompanies a $6 million signing bonus.

"There was a lot of confusion Alex Pietrangelo Jersey Kids ," he says. "This offseason I just prayed a lot, prayed about my lifestyle, prayed about things off the field. Just like Revelation, I asked God for Solomon-like wisdom, and he blessed me with it. ... I'm using my talents and not burying them. Last season I buried them."

Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch, a second-round draft pick in 2012, says he can see the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Harris beginning to blossom.

"He's a monster," Branch says. "He has always had talent http://www.officialcapitals.com/authentic-adidas-evgeny-kuznetsov-jersey , but it takes time. He was a rookie coming into a program where he's expected to do a lot. He's a high draft pick. I've been there. There are a lot of things on your shoulders, and you're young. You have no clue what to do and who to go to. But he's coming into his own."

Harris plays the deepest position on the roster. Along with Wake and Branch, two-time Pro Bowler Robert Quinn and veteran William Hayes are expected to be part of the rotation.

More pressure on the quarterback is mandatory if the Dolphins are to improve on last year's 6-10 record. They had 30 sacks last season, the team's lowest total in a decade, which is a big reason they gave up more points than all but three other teams.

Harris says he's spending camp perfecting two or three pass-rush moves, preferring to polish them rather than add more that he doesn't do as well.

Wake and Quinn make for great mentors, he says, because their styles are so different.

"They're two different varieties," Harris says. "I've got a power rusher and a finesse rusher at the same time. I feel like I can combine both of them and be one of the greatest."

Gase is encouraged by what he has seen lately from Harris Mattias Janmark Jersey , but taps the brakes on any soaring expectations, noting limitations on contact make it difficult to evaluate defensive linemen during practice.

"For me it's hard sometimes, because we're asking these guys to stay away from the quarterback," Gase says. "Once we hit real games, then that's going to be easier for us to say, 'OK, here's where we're at with his development, and where do we need to go next?'"

Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith stated the obvious last week when he said that the team’s defense needs to be better than it was during a 5-11 2017 season.

It was obvious based on the way the Bucs played and by their offseason focus on adding pieces to the unit. Many of those pieces were added to a defensive line that’s been anchored by defensive tackle Gerald McCoy in recent years.

The Bucs have added Jason Pierre-Paul, Vinny Curry Zack Smith Jersey , Beau Allen, Mitch Unrein and first-round pick Vita Vea to the group this offseason, which McCoy sees as reason for optimism tinged with the realization that they can’t just show up and expect better results.

“Me going into my ninth year, we need more experience in the room and I am excited about it,” McCoy said, via the Tampa Bay Times. “It’s going to be good. Here’s the thing, the media, you guys see names and you immediately get excited. There is a lot of work to be done.”

There are new faces to integrate on the other levels of the defense as well and the ability to do so successfully will have a lot to do with how the Bucs fare in 2018.

A look at what’s happening around the majors Thursday:

CLUTCH CITY

Alex Bregman is red-hot at the plate as the Astros travel to Tampa Bay for a four-game series Jesper Bratt Jersey Kids , and he’s been especially good late in games. Bregman has homered in three straight, including a game-ending two-run shot Wednesday to cap Houston’s rally from five runs down against Toronto. That was the second walk-off hit this month for Bregman, who also had a game-ending single in Game 5 of last year’s World Series. Bregman is 9 for 17 with three homers and five doubles since shaving his mustache midway through a game Sunday.

TAKE TWO

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw looks to sharpen his stuff against the Cubs in his second start since ending a DL stint for a lower back strain. Kershaw stumbled through three innings against the Mets last Saturday after surprisingly nixing a scheduled minor league rehab assignment, though Los Angeles beat New York 8-3 that day behind stellar relief work from rookie Caleb Ferguson. The 21-year-old left-hander is set to follow Kershaw again against Chicago. Kershaw acknowledged feeling some rust at Citi Field, when he was limited to 55 pitches. He’s hoping to go deeper and pitch more effectively this time at Dodger Stadium.

BOSIO FIRED

The Tigers fired pitching coach Chris Bosio on Wednesday Cam Talbot Jersey , saying he made insensitive comments to another employee of the team. General manager Al Avila said Bosio made the comments recently and they were brought to Avila’s attention Tuesday. Avila decided Wednesday to terminate Bosio’s contract after the team investigated the situation and spoke to all of the people involved. Detroit promoted bullpen coach Rick Anderson to replace Bosio. Roving pitching instructor A.J. Sager will be the team’s bullpen coach until Triple-A Toledo pitching coach Jeff Pico takes his place next week. The Tigers are set to wrap a four-game series against Oakland.

ANOTHER SHOT AT NOLA

The Nationals try to solve the Phillies’ Aaron Nola five days after the right-hander won a 5-3 decision in Washington. Nola (9-2, 2.58) allowed two runs, four hits and three walks over six innings while striking out five in that game. Nola is fifth in the NL in ERA, and only Mets ace Jacob deGrom has allowed fewer home runs per nine innings than Nola (0.53) among qualified NL starters.

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The Washington Redskins signed former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson to a five-year deal in the hopes that he provides them the outside speed threat they lacked last season after the departure of DeSean Jackson.

Richardson had 95 catches for 1,302 yards and eight touchdowns in four seasons with the Seahawks after they drafted him in the second round in 2014. He had 44 receptions for 703 yards and six touchdowns last season.

The 25-year-old said he can "beat guys downfield Youth John Tavares Jersey , take the top off the coverages, challenge people downfield." He'll be tasked to do that after his breakout 2017.

"Stretch the offense, stretch the defense," senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams said Thursday.

"When the defense knows that you don't have the speed, they all come up and just cover you up and make you throw the ball underneath and it kind of kills the offense. Now they've got to respect Paul Richardson."

According to multiple reports Womens Charlie McAvoy Jersey , Richardson's deal is worth $40 million. Richardson joins a Redskins receiving group that also includes Jamison Crowder, 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson and Brian Quick, who was re-signed this week.

The Redskins will look very different in the passing game with recently acquired quarterback Alex Smith replacing Kirk Cousins and receivers Ryan Grant and Terrelle Pryor and tight end Niles Paul gone. Richardson said he looks forward to developing chemistry and trust with Smith.

"I want him to know I'm always available," Richardson said. "Just throw it. It don't matter where it is. I'm going to go get it. And I'm going to turn him into a believer."

On Thursday, Washington wrapped up a three-year deal with linebacker Zach Brown Madison Bowey Jersey , who led the league with 127 tackles through Week 15 before his season was cut short by injury.

"We're glad to have Zach back," coach Jay Gruden said. "To have him in his second year in this system is very important. He'll be a lot more comfortable. To get him back here for another year is important for our defense."

Washington also signed former Dallas Cowboys punter Sam Irwin-Hill, according to a tweet from his agent. The 27-year-old figures to be training camp competition for established punter Tress Way.

Gabe Rivera Jason Spezza Jersey , the overpowering ”Senor Sack” lineman for Texas Tech who was paralyzed in a car accident while a Pittsburgh Steelers rookie, has died. He was 57.

The university on Tuesday confirmed Rivera’s death. He had been living in San Antonio with his wife, Nancy, who told KENS-TV her husband had taken ill last week and died Monday night.

Rivera, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame Youth Jamie McGinn Jersey , played at Texas Tech from 1979-82 and was an All-America defensive lineman. He had five sacks and 62 tackles as a senior in 1982.

”He was one of the most dominating defensive lineman to ever play the game and a loyal Red Raider throughout his life,” Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt said.

Rivera was drafted 21st overall by Pittsburgh in 1983. He had two sacks in his first six games, but in October of that year he was in an automobile accident that left him a paraplegic. He was intoxicated when his car collided with another vehicle.

”From the accident in `83, it took maybe five, six Shayne Gostisbehere Jersey , eight years to get control,” Rivera said in 2012 on the day he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. ”At one time, I just changed my life and started going forward.

He added: ”I was mad at the world, mad at God and stuff.”

Rivera went to high school in San Antonio before heading to West Texas to play for the Red Raiders. He returned to San Antonio after his injury. He met his wife at the San Antonio zoo and remained active in the community.

In addition to his wife of 18 years, he is survived by two children Bo Horvat Jersey , Timothy and Rae.

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We booked legendary broadcaster Brent Musburger for a 30-minute chat during Thursday’s #PFTPM. The conversation nearly doubled that.

And it was awesome. While I tried not to lapse into Chris-Farley-questioning-Paul-McCartney mode, it was one of the highlights of my 18 years of doing this. Like any football fans who grew up in the 1970s, Musburger has a special place in a wide range of Sunday memories. He hosted the extremely popular NFL Today on CBS, before becoming one of the top play-by-play announcers.

He’s the new radio play-by-play announcer for the Raiders. He talked about how he landed that job, along with plenty of other compelling topics.

Do yourself a favor and listen to all of it. And do me a favor and subscribe to the #PFTPM podcast.

When Smith will join the team is hard to say.

After the New York Jets reached a contract agreement Monday with quarterback Sam Darnold, Smith became the lone unsigned pick from the 2018 draft class.

”We will continue to keep trying to do our best to make this thing happen,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said after Saturday’s practice. ”At the same time, what we need to do is we need to focus on who’s here right now, right? That’s the realism of it all.”

Cash is not the problem – at least in terms of how much Smith is to be paid. That amount is slotted for the eighth pick of the draft.

The stumbling block is whether the Bears should be allowed to take back guaranteed bonus money in the future from Smith if he is ever suspended for disciplinary reasons, including a violation of the league’s new rule preventing players from leading with their helmets.

”Well, for both sides, it’s more of a language deal, a language-type deal,” Nagy said.

Asked specifically if the issue is the helmet rule, Nagy said: ”That’s part of the issue with it. As far as the details, I’m not going to get into all that right now. That wouldn’t be fair to either party, but there’s some of that to it.”

The new rule stipulates a player will be penalized for lowering his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet. The player will be ejected and could be subject to suspension if he is determined to have lowered his helmet to ”establish a linear body posture.”

The Bears had a somewhat similar situation last year with Trevathan when he was suspended for an illegal hit on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams.

In that instance, Chicago management never sought to reclaim any bonus money given to Trevathan.

”They were on my side about the hit against Green Bay Patrick Roy Jersey ,” Trevathan said.

As a result, Trevathan remained optimistic his new teammate will soon be in camp.

”So I’m sure they’ll work it out,” Trevathan said. ”It’s just details within a contract. We want him here.”

Trevathan said he has been in contact with Smith during the holdout.

”I’ve been talking to him, just making sure as a person he was all right, he’s not fading away from the game that he loves,” Trevathan said. ”I just make sure that he’s all right. I’ve been through some stuff.

”I’m pretty sure he wants to take care of himself and he wants to get back in. I’m sure he’s missing just as much as we are.”

Smith was fully involved in off-season work with the Bears, so Trevathan doubts his teammate will have any trouble catching up after the holdout ends.

Chicago has an extra preseason game this season, so Smith’s holdout has come at a time when the Bears normally wouldn’t have been in training camp. They open preseason Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, against the Baltimore Ravens in the Hall of Fame Game.

The Bears have traditionally been among the first teams to get all their draft picks signed. In one 10-year stretch, they were the first team to sign all their picks nine times.

They haven’t had a holdout of note since Cedric Benson missed 36 days in 2005.

Nick Kwiatkoski and John Timu have taken most of the snaps at inside linebacker during training camp with the first team. Trevathan is practicing on a limited basis until he’s 100 percent healthy.

Kwiatkoski has earned Nagy’s respect in scrimmages. A third-year player, Kwiatkoski had been a reserve but played extensively each of his first two years because of injuries and suspensions to Trevathan and former Bear Jerrell Freeman.

”I love his mentality,” Nagy said of Kwiatkoski. ”He didn’t blink when we drafted Roquan. He stepped right on in there and put the horse blinders on and went after it.”

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The Tampa Bay Lightning stormed back in the Eastern Conference final against the Washington Capitals, thanks in part to a thriving power play and suddenly reliable penalty-killing unit.

To regain control of the best-of-seven matchup that continues Saturday night Semyon Varlamov Jersey , the Caps need a lift from their special teams, too.

”The series is tied 2-2,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. ”It doesn’t matter how you got there.”

Tampa Bay, which has taken two straight in a series in which the home team has yet to win, believes it hasn’t played its best.

Washington was dominant in winning twice on the road, then sputtered – particularly on the Alex Ovechkin-led power play – while dropping the next two games at home.

”I think we look at it realistically,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. ”I mean, I said to everybody in September, even yesterday, and they’re saying the same thing: Sign me up. Best-of-three, got a chance to maybe go to the Stanley Cup Final, sign me up.

”I don’t think anybody thought the series would go four straight or anything like that. There’s two really high-quality teams that are going to go nose-to-nose,” Trotz added. ”There’s twists and turns in the road sometimes. … It’s just another layer of adversity. This group has taken on any adversity that has been thrown its way all year.”

Since yielding three power-play goals in the first two games of the series, two of them in the closing seconds of a period Justin Faulk Jersey , the Lightning have gone 7-for-7 killing penalties over the past two games.

Not bad for a team that had one of the most potent power plays (third, 23.9 percent) in the NHL during the regular season, while also ranking among the league’s worst at killing penalties (28th, 76.1 percent).

Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has a power-play goal in each of the first four games of the conference final.

Six of his seven goals this postseason have come in man-advantage situations, including his franchise-best 11th career playoff power-play goal (snapping a tie with Martin St. Louis) in Game 4 on Thursday night.

”Desperation. Realizing how important it is, especially in this series against the group that they have,” Stamkos said of the improved play on the penalty kill.

”It starts with the goaltending, and then it starts with guys willing to sacrifice. I think it’s been a challenge,” Stamkos added. ”When the power play is going well like we are, the PK wants to step up and be just as good, and vice versa when it’s the other way. … It’s been a lot of fun to watch.”

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 36 of 38 shots in Game 4. He has bounced back nicely since allowing 10 goals over five periods in the first two games.

Center Nicklas Backstrom, who returned to Washington’s lineup Thursday night after missing four games with a hand injury, thinks the Capitals need to create more traffic in front of the Lightning goaltender.

”He’s actually too good of a goalie if you’re going to shoot from outside with no traffic, so maybe we can get some more traffic and find these rebounds like we did the first couple of games John Hayden Jersey ,” Backstrom said.

”We have pretty good chances. We just don’t execute,” Ovechkin said after the Washington power play was shut out for the second straight game. ”We tried. … We had so (many) shots, and we just didn’t score one more goal.”

But just as Tampa Bay embraced the challenge of battling its way back into the series after losing Games 1 and 2, the Capitals are excited about the opportunity ahead, beginning Saturday night.

Not only is Washington is 7-1 on the road this postseason, but the Caps went on eliminate Columbus in the first round and Pittsburgh in the conference semifinal in six games after those series were each tied at 2.

”I think we’ve played three out of the four games pretty well,” Trotz said. ”I’m not disappointed at all.”

The Lightning are confident, too.

”Clearly home-ice advantage has been a disadvantage in this series,” Cooper said. ”Now, in saying that, I’d rather have Game 5 at home. I believe we’ll be a different team here than we showed up in Game 1 and 2.”

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