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ATLANTA (AP) — Dolphins coach Adam Gase won’t be shopping elsewhere for his backup to starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

“It’s going to be one of those two guys Reggie White Jersey ,” Gase said after watching Brock Osweiler and David Fales split the playing time in Miami’s final preseason game.

Osweiler enjoyed the more impressive final audition, leading three first-quarter touchdown drives in the Dolphins’ 34-7 preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

Osweiler completed each of his first six passes for 65 yards, including a 1-yard scoring pass to Buddy Howell , on Miami’s opening drive. He added a 14-yard scoring pass to Francis Owusu on the final play of the third quarter.

Osweiler said he didn’t think Gase and his staff would need the preseason game to evaluate his potential as the team’s backup.

“I think I’ve started enough games in this league to be able to see what I’m capable of doing, you know what I mean?” Osweiler said. “I don’t think the coaches are going to look at just one game, but you’d have to ask them what they’re really trying to look for.”

Osweiler completed 16 of 25 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns for the Dolphins (1-3). He had 25 career starts in 42 games in six seasons with Denver and Houston before signing a one-year deal with Miami.

Fales completed 13 of 20 passes for 94 yards and one interception.

Gase was impressed by the first-half production of the offense, led by Osweiler, Howell and running back Kalen Ballage, who had a 9-yard scoring run . Howell also ran for a touchdown.

“They had a good tempo going,” Gase said. “They took advantage of some of the calls versus the coverages they ran. They got some explosive plays. It was good to see.”

Each team rested most starters in the final preseason game.

The Falcons (0-4) had little offense with their starters, including quarterback Matt Ryan, running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and wide receiver Julio Jones Dan Skuta Jersey , watching on the sideline. Atlanta was held to nine first downs and 185 yards.

“Obviously not the night that we wanted and not the energy that is needed and certainly not the energy that our fans deserve,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said.

The Falcons also finished 0-4 in the 2017 preseason before advancing to the playoffs.

Kurt Benkert played most of the game at quarterback and may have lost ground in his effort to win a roster spot behind Ryan and Matt Schaub. He threw two interceptions while completing only 10 of 25 passes for 103 yards.

Benkert’s first pass of the second half was intercepted by Jordan Lucas on a deflection off the hands of receiver Reggie Davis.

Linebacker Stephone Anthony’s interception of Benkert’s pass late in the first quarter set up a 1-yard scoring run by Howell.

A rare offensive highlight for Atlanta came late in the first quarter when Benkert completed a short pass to running back Malik Williams, who jumped over Lucas for a 16-yard gain. That possession ended when Williams was stopped on fourth down.

Benkert’s 13-yard pass to Devin Gray set up Williams’ 8-yard scoring run with 25 seconds remaining in the half.

“That’s the big back we were hoping to see when we saw him coming out of Louisville,” said Quinn of Williams, an undrafted rookie.

INJURIES

Dolphins WR Rashawn Scott suffered an ankle injury in the first half and did not return.

For Atlanta, Williams and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson left in the second half with shoulder injuries.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Dolphins wide receivers Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills embraced after each took a knee during the national anthem, continuing their protests of social injustice through the preseason. All Falcons players stood during the anthem.

ROOKIE KICKERS

Miami’s Jason Sanders, competing with Greg Joseph in a competition of rookies, kicked a 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

OPEN-AIR FOOTBALL

Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s roof was open for the game. The roof was closed for every game after the Falcons’ opener in the 2017 debut for the $1.5 billion stadium. The complicated camera lens-type design on the roof has been fine-tuned and is ready for more action this season.

NEXT UP

Dolphins: Miami opens its regular season with a home game against Tennessee on Sept. 9.

Falcons: Atlanta opens its season on Sept. 6 at Philadelphia. The Eagles beat the Falcons in the playoffs on their way to winning the Super Bowl.

Hamburgers and hot dogs are always great at a football game. How about some pimento cheese melts, fried ravioli or a brat wrapped in a blanket of fried cheese curds on a pretzel bun.

Hungry yet?

For dessert, try a battered and fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich dusted in powdered sugar.

On a stick too. For easier eating, of course.

With the start of the NFL season J'Marcus Webb Jersey , teams hit the field trying to show just how much they’ve improved. In the stands, the pressure is just as intense when it comes to feeding fans. Chefs spend weeks and months each offseason scheming up tasty new dishes to help lure people away from their couches and big-screen televisions into NFL stadiums and up to concession stands.

“We always try to add a few items every year,” said Camilo Baquero, executive chef for Delaware North, the food service provider for MetLife Stadium and home to the New York Jets and Giants. “We try to make sure that we stay competitive and trendy with the items that are being put out there. So we always challenge ourselves either to come up with a brand new item or add to concepts that may already exist here at the stadium.”

Inspiration for that fried PB&J sandwich served at New Era Field, home of the Buffalo Bills, came from the annual Erie County Fair. Executive chef Jonathan Wilson with Delaware North wanted to boost a stand at the stadium and took inspiration from the fair wanting to make an item that could be held with only one hand. A year ago, they introduced a Polish kielbasa corn dog.

Creating this dessert on a stick required lots of testing. Wilson and his assistants made their own jams and breads with nothing clinging to a stick. Then they tapped the ingredients already used in the meal, and the crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich worked after a dip in the batter and 10 minutes in a blast chiller before frying. A stadium steal at $5.

“We figured it would hit everybody,” Wilson said. “Kids, adults, something fun to play with. That’s how they get legs on the menu. We obviously want to sell it http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/dean-lowry-jersey , but we’ve got to have a good price point.”

That pimento cheese melt — with bacon no less — can be found at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay.

Some food companies like Aramark, which works with nearly half the NFL teams, tapped celebrity chefs to create some of its new dishes for stadiums . Cleveland native and Food Network star Michael Symon devised the B-Spot Red Zone Bratwurst with kraut, spicy mustard and Tony Paco’s pickles for FirstEnergy Stadium and his hometown Browns.

Hometown inspiration came easily to chefs at Lambeau Field, where fans can buy Brat in a Blanket: a brat wrapped in melted cheese curds inside a pretzel bun. Or they can grab a ham and bacon sandwich with sauteed onions and a beer mustard cheese sauce on a pretzel bun. Executive chef Heath Barbato calls it perfect glove or mitten food when the weather turns frigid in Wisconsin.

“Lambeau is still a king of selling brats and cheese curds and things like that,” Barbato said. “So we always try to feed the fans that only get out to one or two games something different other than the normal food here.”

Sometimes new food items are held back until later in the season, or when a team makes a run to the postseason.

Fried ravioli and jambalaya aren’t usually connected with Jacksonville. But the Jaguars teamed with a company called Grunt Style this year to create a military-themed area in one end zone , and executive Sean Kinoshita looked to MREs, or Meals Ready to Eat, in devising chicken and andouille jambalaya with dirty rice. Ravioli also is a popular MRE item, so they decided to fry them up with 10 ravioli per serving.

“It should be pretty decent deal,” Kinoshita said.

Fans decide just how good each dish is http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/jaire-alexander-jersey , of course, though chefs and their companies usually give an item at least a whole season to test its popularity. Demand decides whether a dish stays on the menu or winds up being replaced by something new, and companies closely monitor sales.

Baquero’s staff introduced The Fat Rooster spicy hot chicken sandwich a year ago, then looked for something that could appeal to more customers. That led to The Fat Rooster Drummies, chicken brined in buttermilk and hot sauce before being battered and fried and served with either a hot honey or honey mustard dipping sauce.

Jets fan Justin Sandomir, 40, of Nanuet, New York, and his 12-year-old son, Ryan, at a preseason game gave the drummies an early review.

“I like the crunch …” Sandomir said. “I like the dipping sauce. The spicy honey gives it that little extra kick that I like in my fried chicken.”

Sounds like a keeper.

As for their other six picks http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/jason-witten-jersey , time will tell.

In the days leading up to the draft, Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis were convinced the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Davenport was worth trading up to take in the middle of the first round. So they did that and had to give up next year’s first-rounder as part of the deal.

”This is the philosophy regardless of position: If there’s somebody we really covet and we have an opportunity to move up, then we’re just going to analyze the cost and the risk. And if we like it, we’re going to make a move,” Loomis said.

With their other picks on Friday night and Saturday, the Saints selected Central Florida receiver Tre’Quan Smith in the third round; Florida State offensive tackle Rick Leonard in the fourth round; Wisconsin safety Natrell Jamerson in the fifth; Boston College cornerback Kamrin Moore and Louisiana Tech running back Boston Scott in the sixth; and LSU interior offensive lineman Will Clapp in the seventh round.

The cost of drafting Davenport 14th overall arguably was a little high. In addition to next year’s first-round pick, the Saints gave Green Bay the 27th and 147th overall picks this year.

Payton and Loomis saw that as fair. After all, the Saints enter 2018 looking like a contender. They hope playing Davenport opposite All-Pro defensive end Cameron Jordan increases chances of winning enough to push their traded-away 2019 top pick toward the end of the first round.

”He clearly, for us, was a guy that we felt strongly enough about,” Payton said.

The Saints ranked 17th defensively last season – considerably better than the previous three seasons, but with room to improve. New Orleans’ offense, by comparison Doug Flutie Jersey , ranked second in 2017.

Payton and Loomis say elite pass rushers can be tough to find in free agency and often have to be obtained in the draft.

”Pressure traits are hard to come by,” Loomis said. ”When you have them, you protect them and you generally don’t let them out of the building.”

That’s what the Saints have done with Jordan. They’re hoping Davenport becomes a similar type of player.

CONFERENCE QUESTIONS

Davenport was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year for UTSA last season after making 8 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He also had eight quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and four batted passes. While Davenport’s level of competition in college was not as strong as prospects coming out of the Southeastern Conference, UTSA coach Frank Wilson, a former lead recruiter at LSU, said Davenport ”is as talented as any of those guys. His work ethic is as good as any of those guys.”

DEPTH PERCEPTION

Last season, the Saints drafted five players who filled starting roles, and two – Marshon Lattimore and Alvin Kamara – who were voted rookies of the year. This season, Davenport might be the only prospective starter. Smith could play regularly on offense, but will have to compete for snaps with several accomplished veterans. Jamerson and Moore join a defensive backfield full of returning regulars. Leonard and Clapp likely will back up incumbent starters, as will Scott.

SWITCHING SIDES

Two of the Saints’ third-day draft choices switched sides of the ball during their college careers. The 5-11, 198-pound Jamerson switched from receiver to defensive back as a sophomore. The 6-7 Cody Parkey Jersey , 305-pound Leonard played defensive end two seasons before beating out an incumbent starter at offensive tackle as a junior.

”I’m comfortable with where they’re at from an experience standpoint,” Payton said. ”You see that a lot in college.”

HOME COOKING

Not only was Clapp the first LSU player selected by the Saints since linebacker Al Woods in 2010, he grew up in the New Orleans area and routinely attended Saints games with his family.

Meanwhile, Scott is from Zachary, just north of Baton Rouge, and described his mother as an avid Saints fan.

MUSICAL SAINTS

At least two of the Saints’ third-day draftees should fit in nicely in a music city like New Orleans. Leonard is an avid guitar player. Scott grew up playing trombone and has been in a band.

STILL NEED

Entering the draft, Payton cited linebacker and tight end as positions of need. But no players at either position were drafted by New Orleans.

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Chris Herndon says his arrest last weekend for driving while intoxicated does not reflect the person he is.

The New York Jets rookie tight end declined comment after practice Tuesday on details of the incident in which New Jersey State Police say Herndon crashed into another car on a New Jersey highway early last Saturday morning.

”I can’t really speak much on it now,” the fourth-round draft pick from Miami said. ”It’s still a pending legal matter, so it’s not up to me to have a conversation about it right now.”

Herndon was asked if there was anything he wanted Jets fans and others to know.

”This is not who I am,” Herndon said while shaking his head. ”But like I said, I can’t really speak much on that.”

According to New Jersey State Police, the 22-year-old Herndon was driving his Nissan Armada westbound in Rockaway Township, about 35 miles west of New York City, when he crashed into a Toyota Land Cruiser that was towing a trailer carrying another vehicle.

When troopers arrived Josh Ferguson Jersey , they arrested Herndon on suspicion of DWI and took him to a nearby state police barracks for an alcohol breath test. The test revealed a blood-alcohol level over New Jersey’s limit of .08, according to State Police Sgt. Lawrence Peele, though he didn’t say what the level was.

Herndon was released pending a court date in Rockaway Township. He also was given a summons for careless driving. Both Herndon and the driver of the Land Cruiser suffered minor injuries.

”I don’t feel too bad (physically) right now,” Herndon said. ”I’m just dealing with everything and trying to stay focused.”

This was the latest in a string of off-field issues for the Jets, who had had seven arrests in the last 13 months. Despite that, coach Todd Bowles isn’t concerned that the team might be too lenient with its discipline with players.

”Our disciplinary process is fine,” Bowles said. ”There’s nothing wrong with the disciplinary process. The arrests are going to happen, and you deal with them as they come.”

Linebacker Dylan Donahue was arrested in February for DWI after New Jersey police said he crashed into a small bus while driving the wrong way inside the Lincoln Tunnel. Donahue was also arrested for DWI in May 2017 in Montana, and voluntarily checked into a rehabilitation facility in Florida in March.

Linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin was arrested in June 2017 and charged with misdemeanor assault after being accused of punching a man at a Manhattan nightclub. The case was later dropped.

Cornerback Rashard Robinson was accused in December of possessing marijuana-laced candy in Morris County. He was arrested and charged with drug possession and carelessly driving a 2018 Mercedes Benz.

Wide receiver Robby Anderson arrested in May 2017 at a Miami music festival and charged with felony resisting an officer with violence – but the charge was later dismissed. He also had felony charges against him dropped from an incident in January after he was arrested in Florida for allegedly fleeing from police at 105 mph and then threatening the officer’s family.

”It’s not a Jet problem or a league problem,” Bowles said. ”It’s a nationwide problem. We deal with them on a daily basis as they come. … Things happen in your 20s, and you treat them on an individual basis and you move on.”

Bowles said the team regularly addresses the players about off-field issues, and reiterated that he and the Jets handle each as they happen.

”I’m not here to sit here and say I approve of it, because I don’t,” Bowles said. ”Is it a problem? Yes. To lay all this on Chris Denico Autry Jersey , no, we aren’t going to lay all of it on him. He’s got to take responsibility. We understand that and we deal with it in house, but I’m not going to sit here and be a spokesperson and say it’s OK to drive drunk, because it’s not.”

Bowles would not rule out having a zero-tolerance policy regarding discipline, but nothing was imminent.

”We could have a different policy,” Bowles said. ”I’m not going to say never. But things change accordingly. There is nothing wrong with our policy right now. If you sign a contract and you’re making $10, $20, $30 million, if that doesn’t stop you or anything else, what else is going to stop you?”

As for Herndon, Bowles said there was nothing in the team’s research on him before the draft in April to indicate the tight end would have any type of off-field issue.

”He had not had a problem,” the coach said. ”He does not have a glitch in his evaluation or anything. There’s nothing to bring up. These things do happen.”

—

Associated Press writer David Porter in Newark contributed.

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Adidas Henrik Sedin Jersey

Matt Martin is going back to the New York Islanders.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have dealt the feisty forward to the Islanders Adam Vinatieri Jersey , who drafted him in 2008. The Leafs get minor-league goalie Eamon McAdam in the deal.

Also on Tuesday, the Islanders agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with goalie Robin Lehner. Lehner had a 3.01 goals-against average with a .908 save percentage in 53 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season.

The Sabres declined to give Lehner a $4 million qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and relinquished his rights. He will try to improve the Islanders goaltending which allowed a league-high 293 goals last season.

Martin signed a four-year, $10 million deal with the Leafs prior to the 2016 season. After playing every game in his first season with the Leafs, Martin suited up for just 50 games this past season and did not dress for Toronto’s seven-game playoff series against the Boston Bruins.

In 132 games for the Leafs, the 29-year-old Martin had eight goals, 13 assists and 173 penalty minutes.

The 23-year-old McAdam split the 2017-18 season between Bridgeport of the AHL and Worcester of the ECHL. A third-round pick of the Islanders in 2013, McAdam has not played in the NHL.

The move comes two days after the Leafs beat out the Islanders for marquee free agent John Tavares, who had been with New York since starting his NHL career in 2009.

It marks the first trade between new Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and the man who preceded him in that role – Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello.

—

DENVER (AP) — It’s like old times in the AFC West.

Jon Gruden glowering on the sideline. Philip Rivers surrounded by co-stars. An air-it-out quarterback in Kansas City. Von Miller sauntering around Denver again thanks to the arrival of a new pass rush partner in Bradley Chubb.

Widely regarded as the best defender in the draft, Chubb T.Y. Hilton Jersey , the No. 5 pick overall, teams with Miller, Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett to form a fearsome front ready to rankle the likes of Rivers, Patrick Mahomes II and Derek Carr, and reclaim the division crown they used to own when Peyton Manning was around.

The Broncos have a bona fide QB again themselves with the free agent signing of Case Keenum, who’s out to prove his breakout 2017 season in Minnesota was no fluke.

He’ll have to navigate a new division that features some of the league’s best pass-rushing duos ready to wreck game plans and quarterbacks alike.

The Chargers feature Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram as bookends to an ever-improving defense. The Chiefs have Dee Ford and Justin Houston to cover warts on their defense. Oakland has Bruce Irvin and — maybe — Khalil Mack, who wants a long-term contract.

Here’s a quick tour around the AFC West:

RECHARGED CHARGERS : The Chargers ranked third in the league last year in yielding 17 points a game, but their run defense was their soft underbelly and kept them from an even bigger bounce-back season (9-7) in coach Anthony Lynn’s first year.

Enter versatile rookie safety Derwin James, who was selected at No. 17 overall in the first round of the NFL draft out of Florida State. James played in the box effectively as a strong safety for the Seminoles, and he’s learning to play deep as a free safety. He’s also getting chances to rush the passer from multiple spots in the formation Robert Newhouse Jersey , adding more experiences to his skill set.

The addition of James and a year of familiarity in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s system have the Chargers expecting big things in 2018.

“It’s looking like we are going to have a great defense,” Bosa said.

And that would take pressure off Rivers in the Chargers’ quest for their first division title since 2009.

RESUSCITATED SANDERS : Emmanuel Sanders proclaimed Denver as “wide receiver heaven” upon his arrival in 2014, and with Manning, Sanders indeed found paradise, setting career highs with 101 catches for 1,404 yards and nine touchdowns his first season in the Rocky Mountains.

Nirvana gave way to wide receiver purgatory after Manning’s retirement, however.

Sanders caught just 47 passes for 555 yards and two touchdowns last year when he was stifled by a nagging ankle injury and the Broncos’ QB turnstile that churned through Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch.

Energized by a return to health and Keenum’s arrival, Sanders is ready for a comeback, sporting a rookie’s enthusiasm to go with his veteran moxie while building chemistry with his new quarterback.

“I’m just loving football these days http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/kavon-frazier-jersey ,” Sanders said.

MAHOMES’ MOMENT: After trading away ball-protecting Alex Smith to Washington, Andy Reid is turning over the reins to Mahomes, the athletic Texas Tech QB who’s a perfect fit for the Chiefs’ steady diet of misdirection and multi-option reads.

Eric Bieniemy takes over as offensive coordinator following Matt Nagy’s hiring as Bears head coach, and he’ll have plenty of firepower at his disposal with reigning rushing champ Kareem Hunt, speedy Tyreek Hill, star tight end Travis Kelce and new wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Mahomes gave the NFL a tantalizing glimpse of what he could do in the preseason when he ducked through a collapsing pocket and threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Hill, who burned three Falcons D-backs to catch the pass in stride.

“I underthrew it, to be honest,” Mahomes said with a wry smile.

The Chiefs might need to pile up the points to compensate for a depleted defense that was atrocious in the preseason after cutting loose veterans Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali and trading Marcus Peters to the Rams.

LACK OF MACK: When Gruden gave up his TV gig to return to the sideline for the first time in a decade, he quickly jettisoned punter Marquette King in a surprising move. King wasted no time in signing with Denver Willie Young Jersey , fueled in part by the revenge factor.

King said he never had a chance to speak with Gruden before getting jettisoned in Oakland.

“I just saw him on car commercials and stuff,” King said. “I get to see him two times a year.”

Gruden didn’t just give the silent treatment to King but also to his star pass rusher as Mack held out for a long-term contract.

Mack skipped the Raiders‘ offseason program, all of training camp and the entire exhibition season. Whether he reports before the start of the regular season remains to be seen.

“I don’t want to put any timetable on it,” Gruden said. “This has obviously been a long a process that has been grueling for both parties and fans and me personally. We’re just hoping we can get him in here.”

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: Chargers, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders.

Stewart http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/tyron-smith-jersey , entering his second NFL season, can return to the active roster on Sept. 17. He's eligible to take part in all preseason practices and games. Stewart participated in the Jets' first practice of training camp Friday.

Stewart was a third-round draft pick out of Alabama last year. He had six catches for 82 yards in limited action in his rookie season with the Jets.

New York could start the season with a handful of players serving suspensions. Cornerback Rashard Robinson must sit out the first four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/damien-wilson-jersey , while wide receiver Robby Anderson, linebacker Dylan Donahue and tight end Chris Herndon are all facing potential discipline for off-field issues.

The recent DUI arrest for Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim is apparently not his first.

According to the police report from the incident Derrius Guice Jersey , Keim also told officers he was convicted of another DUI in 1996.

That was the year he graduated from N.C. State and made a brief appearance in Dolphins camp, before he embarked on a career in personnel.

A local DUI attorney told Lindsey Collom of the Arizona Republic that the previous DUI wouldn’t impact this case because it was more than seven years ago Logan Thomas Jersey , but the NFL has shown that it is not bound by the legal system in its crime-and-punishment role.

Keim would be subject to punishment by the league under the personal conduct policy, and owner Michael Bidwill has already said there would be “consequences” for the arrest.

FLORHAM PARK http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/khalil-mack-jersey , N.J. (AP) — Obum Gwacham wanted to catch footballs from the time he started playing the sport.

Now, the New York Jets linebacker is chasing after the guys who are throwing them.

“You can also catch the ball on defense, too,” Gwacham said with a big smile. “So if I’m able to do that, I would not be mad at all.”

Gwacham — oh-BOOM GWAH-chum — enters the team’s final preseason game Thursday night at Philadelphia hoping to make an impression on Todd Bowles. He’s among several sitting squarely on the roster bubble, but has flashed the type of speed and athleticism that make him an intriguing player.

“They want to see an outside linebacker that can power rush, that can speed rush and can do all those things,” Gwacham said. “They know that I can do that.”

The 27-year-old Gwacham has two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit, along with a special teams tackle in the preseason. He’s facing tough competition at the outside linebacker position, with Brandon Copeland, Frankie Luvu, Dylan Donahue, Lorenzo Mauldin and David Bass all jockeying for spots behind projected starters Jordan Jenkins and Josh Martin.

Gwacham is also still learning the nuances of playing defense after spending most of his college career at Oregon State as a wide receiver. He didn’t play defense regularly until his senior season.

“I’ve been trying to work on getting tackles’ hands off me as soon as I can, so I can turn that edge faster and get to the quarterback,” he said. “I just want to get around the edge as fast as I can.”

Gwacham is certainly used to finding different paths to achieve his goals.

He was born in Onitsha, Nigeria, and spent his early years in a high-rise in Lagos, where his mother Caroline owned a jewelry store. She and her husband Edwin raised five children — two boys, including Obum, and three girls — while trying to provide them a solid life.

“I remember school, and I had to be trilingual,” Gwacham recalled. “I had to know English, French and Igbo. My sister is planning to get married in Nigeria next year. She sent out some pictures of our old house and a lot of memories came back. I remember our auntie cooking for us when my mom was working and I remember us acting a fool in the house when I was younger.”

Gwacham — whose name means “Son of God” — was just 7 when his family packed up and headed to the United States with hopes for a brighter future.

They had won a visa lottery, which allowed them to emigrate to the U.S. The family lived with relatives in southern California before settling in their own place in Chino Hills. Sports became a bonding activity.

Gwacham played soccer and learned about football, basketball and track from his older cousins and siblings. By the time he got to high school, he was already an outstanding athlete. And Le'Raven Clark Jersey , his mom finally allowed him to play football.

“I felt as though I was a little different from the other kids,” Gwacham said. “I was a little bit taller, a little bit faster than them.”

He played wide receiver and cornerback at Ayala High School. The 6-foot-5 Gwacham also excelled in track, where he ranked among California’s best athletes in the high jump, triple jump and long jump.

That’s how he first drew the attention of Joe Seumalo, then the defensive line coach at Oregon State.

“The thing that always intrigued me about Obum was his 6-foot-10 high jump,” said Seumalo, now the D-line coach at San Jose State. “I knew that validated the fact that he was explosive, a very freakish athlete. When we recruited him, I was able to get on the table and convince people that, yeah, this kid is raw, but he was 6-5, 220.”

Gwacham visited Oregon State’s campus in Corvallis and fell in love with the school. He joined the football and track teams, and continued to impress with his athleticism in both sports.

“I was probably the heaviest high jumper because at the time, I was about 225, 230, and going up against guys who were 160, 170 or so,” said a smiling Gwacham, now listed at 246.

In football, Gwacham insisted on playing wide receiver, despite Seumalo urging the youngster to play defense.

He was buried on the depth chart, though, behind the likes of Brandin Cooks and Richard Mullaney and saw little action. Gwacham played frequently on special teams, though.

Entering his senior season in 2014 Nick Kwiatkoski Jersey , he finally agreed to take Seumalo’s advice and switched to defensive end.

“I told him, ‘Boom, I just need you to run. I need you to run by or through somebody. And, you just need to go,'” Seumalo said. “And, that’s what he did.”

Gwacham finished tied for third on the team with four sacks and had 27 tackles as a top backup. It was also enough to get him an invitation to the NFL combine.

He was drafted in the sixth round by Seattle in 2015, and claimed by New Orleans off waivers later that season. Gwacham had 2½ sacks for the Saints in nine games as a rookie, but was hurt most of the 2016 season.

He was among New Orleans’ final cuts last September and was signed to Arizona’s practice squad, from where he was plucked by the Jets last October.

Gwacham had two tackles on defense and two on special teams in five games with New York. Now, he hopes to stick by catching quarterbacks.

“Once you’re in the NFL, you’ve got to find a way to stand out from everyone else,” Gwacham said. “It helps to be a little bit explosive. If I’m able to get a good turn off the edge and I feel the quarterback about to throw, I can try to anticipate and jump and swat the ball. Wha The Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights were favored to win their second-round matchups.

After losses Saturday, the Lightning and Golden Knights will be happy just to reclaim home-ice advantage.

Hours after Boston beat Tampa Bay 6-2 to take a 1-0 series lead Saturday, the Sharks handed Vegas its first postseason loss in six games with a 4-3 double-overtime victory.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper and Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said it was their teams’ worst performances of the postseason.

”I didn’t like the game we played, that was the main thing,” Gallant said Sunday before he and the Golden Knights left for San Jose. ”Not just losing in overtime, but I didn’t like the game that we played the first 40 minutes.”

And while the Lightning enjoyed six days off after eliminating New Jersey in five games, it was Boston that looked sharper after winning an emotional Game 7 at home against Toronto three nights prior.

Cooper put the Lightning through an intense, high-tempo practice Sunday in hopes of setting the tone for a more spirited performance in Game 2, after his team played with less intensity than in any of its first-round games against New Jersey.

”The purpose of our practice was to put us in the best position to be ready to play (Monday night),” Cooper said. ”Often times a lot of things in your game you develop in practice. We had a week off. We did some good things, but our game was not at a playoff level like the other team that had just played in a Game 7, and that’s what we have to bring (Monday night) or it’s going to be a long series for us.”

Boston’s top line of Brad Marchand (one goal, three assists) David Pastrnak (four assists) and Patrice Bergeron (two goals, one assist) combined for 11 points Sam Huff Jersey , a huge contrast from Tampa Bay’s top line of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and J.T. Miller, which went scoreless in Game 1.

”With every round, you have to elevate your game, your intensity, everything, and we didn’t,” Cooper said. ”We took a step back. A really good team showed us what happens when you do that.”

Much of the same can be said for Vegas, which looked nothing like the team that opened its second-round series with a 7-0 shellacking of San Jose. Instead of the team that looked crisp with every pass, and sharp with every shot on goal, the Golden Knights were undisciplined and sloppy through the first 40 minutes.

”We got a little too confident after Game 1, we came out a little slow in Game 2 and we just have to fix that and focus on a good start for Game 3,” Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore said. ”We can’t take those kinds of penalties. When you’re in the box for a good portion of the night it’s not going to go good. It kind of bit us in the ass.”

The Golden Knights, who surpassed its season-high 13 penalties in minutes with 22 PIM, found themselves in the box more than San Jose, 11-6.

Vegas is used to rolling four lines and three pairs of defensemen. Saturday the schematics changed with them spending more than a period in the penalty box collectively. And while Gallant admitted he didn’t like some of the calls against his team, or some of what he felt were missed calls, he also said his players brought a lot of it on themselves.

”I thought we had a couple of opportunities for power plays, we didn’t get them,” Gallant said. ”I don’t want our guys in the penalty box, I don’t want my top guys in the penalty box wrestling. (David) Perron took six minutes in penalties last night, (Jonathan) Marchessault’s sitting in there for roughing. You play hard, you get penalties – that’s fine. You don’t waste your time with after-the-whistle activities.”

BOUNCE BACK STRONG

Tampa Bay and Vegas have shown resiliency after a setback, as the Lightning are 19-8 following a loss, while the Golden Knights are 20-10-1.

”We know they’re going to come back faster and harder than they did, and they played a really good game (Saturday) Terrance Williams Jersey ,” Marchand said of the Lightning. ”They came out fast, they came hard and it was tough to weather that storm early on. So, we can expect more of that.”

San Jose’s Brent Burns, who had two goals on Saturday, said the Sharks fixed what they needed to for Game 2, but the win meant nothing more than tying the series and it’s now just a best-of-five, not seven, against a Vegas team that will be looking for revenge.

”It’s just one game,” Burns said. ”Obviously we had to win it, but it’s one game, so.”

FLURRY ON FLEURY

After allowing just three goals through the first five games, Vegas netminder Marc-Andre Fleury allowed three in the second period alone on Saturday. His shutout in Game 1 was his third of the postseason, but the Sharks peppered him throughout Game 2, outshooting the Golden Knights, 47-29.

The 14-year veteran said the lack of discipline, and even his own mistakes, are nothing to dwell on if the Golden Knights want to steal back home-ice advantage.

”We have a good bunch of guys, we’ve been through a lot together this year,” Fleury said Sunday. ”You win 7-0 or you lose like last night, you always got to start fresh every night. I think we’ve been doing that, for the first round and the first game of San Jose. Every game is a new start, you got to start from scratch and try to win that one.”

—

AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report.

Udonis Haslem knows how they’ll feel.

He also may be the example they’ll need.

Undrafted in 2002, Haslem – a Miami native who has spent his entire NBA career with his hometown Miami Heat – has been in the league longer than just about any other active player. He’s planning and hoping to sign this summer to return for a 16th season, something that was not only unlikely but unthinkable after every team passed when given the chance to secure his services through the draft.

”My mind works differently,” Haslem said. ”I know when one door closes, another door opens. That’s the way it’s always been for me.”

Out of the 57 draft picks that all went ahead of Haslem in 2002, only one – Nene – was on a roster last season. Haslem has outlasted almost everyone who was in the league when he arrived as a rookie in 2003 following a year in France; just 12 players who were in the NBA in 2002-03 remained on rosters this past season.

He’s one of many undrafted success stories in the NBA right now: Utah’s Joe Ingles and Philadelphia’s Robert Covington played huge roles for their respective teams reaching the second round of the playoffs, Miami’s Tyler Johnson is about to see his salary explode to nearly $40 million over the next two seasons, and Boston’s Aron Baynes became a pivotal part of the Celtics‘ rotation this season while appearing in 100 games.

They’re all proof that if there’s enough skill, the NBA will eventually notice.

”UD would never get told no,” his longtime Heat teammate Dwyane Wade said. ”I remember when I came in for my Heat workout before the draft and asked who the guy getting every rebound was and they told me Braden Smith Jersey , `That’s Udonis Haslem.’ And I didn’t even recognize him because of how much he’d changed his body. I knew right away that he was a guy I wanted on my team.”

Haslem was an underrated part of all three of Miami’s championship teams in 2006, 2012 and 2013. He barely sees the court anymore, appearing in only 30 games over the last two seasons. But he remains invaluable to the Heat for what he brings to the locker room and from a leadership perspective, which is why he’ll probably be on Miami’s roster next season – although Thursday, Haslem floated the idea of possibly looking to play in Europe or China if things in Miami don’t work out.

”When you talk about culture and Miami Heat culture, you’re talking about Udonis Haslem,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ”The way he keeps himself ready, the way he’s always working, the way that he’s a voice in our locker room, he epitomizes what it means to be a Miami Heat player. We tell people all the time Jamison Crowder Jersey , if you want to understand our culture, look at UD. He is our rock. He has the ultimate respect of this locker room.”

It hasn’t been easy. Haslem has reinvented himself more than a few times along the way.

”He impacts winning,” said Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan, Haslem’s college coach at Florida. ”He knows exactly what goes into winning. He’s a consummate warrior, an unbelievable competitor.”

Haslem was a 300-pounder during his college days at Florida, which explains why he went undrafted; he’s now chiseled, with nary a speck of visible body fat on his 38-year-old frame. He was terrible with money when he entered the league; he still cringes at particularly wasteful expenditure – an ostrich couch – that he quickly ruined. He not only didn’t open his mail, he didn’t even know where it was being sent.

Today, he’s a budding mogul.

Haslem has ownership of no fewer than 13 franchises – Subway, Auntie Anne’s Trent Williams Jersey , Starbucks and Einstein Bros. Bagels among them – in his rapidly growing business portfolio. He’s partnering with Wade on some future projects.

”I’m not complaining. I’m continuing to stay motivated, putting basketball energy into business energy,” Haslem said. ”The things that I deal with are things that I’m engaged in, things I believe in. If I invest in something, I’ve eaten there.”

That’s another lesson for this next generation of NBA players. Haslem has made himself rather wealthy despite never signing what would be considered a massive contract by NBA standards. The most he ever made in a season was just over $7 million – a fortune for most people, yet pretty pedestrian for those who have been in the league this long.

”UD is a great example of what happens if you work,” Heat guard Goran Dragic said. ”That’s how he made a great career.”

—

The NFL is exploring options to get more than $2 million in reimbursement for legal fees from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones over his threat to derail Commissioner Roger Goodell's contract extension and support of running back Ezekiel Elliott's fight to avoid a six-game suspension, said a person with knowledge of the situation.

Many owners were consulted on seeking restitution, including members of the finance committee, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because the matter hasn't been addressed publicly.

Some of the 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 attempt at 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.

The Cowboys declined to comment on the owners' actions.

Jones' attempt to derail Goodell's extension Ziggy Hood Jersey , 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.

With Jones and Goodell in the same room for a news conference after the December meetings, the commissioner said he didn't take Jones' objections to the extension personally. Goodell also denied assuring Jones that Elliott wouldn't be suspended before announcing the punishment in August.

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.

A fan put on a full uniform and made it past security at Steelers training camp this morning Brett Favre Jersey , just missing getting to take part in practice before he was exposed.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the fan attempted to take part in drills with the team before he was escorted off the field.

If they were full-contact drills, the security guards who pulled the fan off the field probably saved him from great bodily harm. Shoulder pads and a helmet aren’t enough to protect the average Joe from the hits an NFL player would deliver.

The fan was wearing a No. 43 jersey, which Troy Polamalu wore and which the Steelers haven’t issued since Polamalu retired after the 2014 season.

It is unclear whether the fan is facing any type of charges for trespassing on the practice field. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin declined to discuss the incident when reporters asked him about it after practice.

The questions about Alex Guerrero on Saturday prompted Brady to abruptly end his first media availability of training camp.

"I have no comments, just ridiculous. I'm out," Brady said before walking away.

Edelman brushed aside a similar question in his first comments since receiving his four-game ban for a drug-policy violation.

"What's in the past is in the past. I love Alex and ultimately I'm worried about just going out here and playing football William Perry Jersey ," Edelman said. "I'm not here to talk about or make a headline or something."

Edelman, tight end Rob Gronkowski and former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola are among several Patriots who have also worked or consulted with Guerrero.

Edelman will begin serving his suspension at the start of the regular season. He can practice with the team and play in preseason games.

Brady provided another short response when asked if there was tension between him and coach Bill Belichick this summer.

"I have no thoughts," Brady said.

Brady has relied on a fitness and nutrition program developed by Guerrero since 2004. The pair also partnered in opening Brady's TB12 Sports Therapy Center, which is adjacent to the Patriots' Gillette Stadium facility.

In January, Patriots CEO Robert Kraft Deion Sanders Jersey , Belichick and Brady released a statement calling an ESPN report "flat-out inaccurate" that said there had been disputes between team officials and Guerrero regarding player-medical affairs.

Brady will turn 41 next week and has credited Guerrero's program with helping to extend his NFL career, which is entering its 19th season. As part of the strict regimen devised by Guerrero, Brady eats a mostly plant-based diet during the season.

Despite skipping the voluntary portion of spring workouts, Brady said his focus and commitment to football remain high.

"Football is very, very important to me. It always has been Jack Mewhort Jersey , and I love being out here with my teammates. So, it's great," Brady said. "As you get older you have different responsibilities, and I think that's just part of life. Everyone's got to deal with those responsibilities differently and what works for them.

"Football is a huge part of my life. I love being here with my teammates and playing, and hopefully we can have a great season."

__

Adidas Seth Jones Jersey

RICHMOND Akiem Hicks Jersey , Va. (AP) The Washington Redskins have signed backup quarterback Colt McCoy to an extension that keeps him under contract through the 2019 season.

The team announced the deal Friday. NFL Network reported Thursday the contract could be worth up to $7 million.

McCoy is entering his fifth season with Washington, all under coach Jay Gruden, who called the 31-year-old a ”great player to have around.” Gruden says if anything happens to new quarterback Alex Smith, the team is in good hands with McCoy.

Drafted in the third round out of Texas by Cleveland in 2010 Josh Sitton Jersey , McCoy started 21 games for the Browns and appeared in three more. He started four games for the Redskins in 2014.

McCoy has thrown for 5,586 yards, 26 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 35 NFL games.

—

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed defensive tackle Mitch Unrein on injured reserve and signed long snapper Garrison Sanborn.

Unrein, slowed during training camp and preseason by a concussion Nick Perry Jersey , is eligible to be designated for return from injured reserve. Sanborn re-joins the team two days after being released when the roster was trimmed to the season-opening limit of 53 players.

The Bucs also announced Monday the signing of 11 players to the practice squad, including linebacker Eric Nzeocha, who's part of the International Player Pathway program and not eligible to be activated during the season.

Others signed to the practice squad include offensive lineman Cole Boozer, cornerback Javien Elliott Phillip Gaines Jersey , defensive ends Demone Harris and Patrick O'Connor, tight end Tanner Hudson, safety Godwin Igwebuike, defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/ty-montgomery-jersey , running back Dare Ogunbowale, linebacker Azeem Victor and wide receiver Bobo Wilson.

Vonn amped up her preparations for the Pyeongchang Games by winning a World Cup downhill by a large margin Saturday while Italian rival Sofia Goggia avoided a major crash with the help of a safety air bag.

Vonn clocked 1 minute Vontae Davis Jersey , 36.48 seconds on the sun-drenched Olympia delle Tofane course for a massive 0.92-second advantage over Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein.

”I know what I’m capable of. This weekend just proves it,” Vonn said. ”No matter what happens from here to the Olympics I’ll be confident. I have a good feeling on my skis. I feel balanced, in control and solid. This weekend was really important for me.

”This is just the momentum that I was hoping for and that I was planning on going to the Olympics,” added Vonn, who celebrated by riding an electric bicycle – a gift from the local organizing committee – around on the snow in the finish area.

Vonn’s U.S. teammate Jacqueline Wiles finished third, 0.98 behind, for her second career podium result.

Goggia, the winner of the past two downhills, lost control landing a jump in the Tofana Schuss and made a quick recovery but could not continue.

”I was able to control the fall with the help of the air bag,” Goggia said. ”I ran a big risk. It was scary.”

Many racers wear an air bag in a vest under their racing suits. A complicated algorithm triggers inflation during falls when skiers reach a point where they can no longer regain control.

Vonn clocked 129.8 kph (80 mph) in the schuss, an imposing and narrow chute between two huge rock outcrops on the top section of the course.

”It was good, clean skiing today. I didn’t make any big mistakes like yesterday,” said Vonn Emmitt Smith Jersey , who finished second in Friday’s downhill after an error midway down.

”And it was just really fun to race. It was a beautiful day – normal, perfect Cortina sunshine – and perfect conditions,” Vonn added. ”So it made me really happy just to be out there on the mountain today.”

It was Vonn’s second win this season, a record 12th in Cortina and 79th of her career – moving her within seven of Ingemar Stenmark’s record 86 World Cup victories.

”My focus right now is so much on the Olympics that I haven’t really thought about it that much this season,” Vonn said of Stenmark’s record. ”After the Olympics, that will be my No. 1 priority again and I’ll try to rack up as many wins as possible before I retire.”

After a couple of crashes and a jarred back at the start of this season, Vonn had been holding back or sitting out races when conditions were difficult due to fog or ice.

So how will she handle it if the conditions for the Olympic downhill on Feb. 21 are not perfect?

”When I get to Korea there will be no holding back no matter what the conditions are. This is what I’ve been working for for the last eight years,” said Vonn, who missed the 2014 Sochi Games due to a series of knee injuries.

”The tactics leading into the Olympics are so that I can get to the Olympics healthy – not that I’m afraid to push myself in bad conditions,” Vonn added. ”I know what I’m capable of and if I choose to ski aggressively I know what I can do. It’s all or nothing in Korea.”

Wiles was on course to finish second – trailing Vonn by just 0.30 seconds at the penultimate checkpoint – but then drifted too wide on a turn and lost a big chunk of time.

Still, Wiles was especially honored to share the podium with Vonn, who supported her financially when she was getting started on the circuit.

Wiles is also an ambassador for the Lindsey Vonn foundation.

”She’s done a lot for my career and she gave me an amazing course report and pumped me up through the radio before my run,” Wiles said. ”I’m really grateful she’s such a great friend and role model I have to learn from.”

Up next is a super-G on Sunday.

—

More AP Olympic coverage: Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters were laughing and joking like old friends shortly after the start of their first day together at the Los Angeles Rams’ training complex.

The Rams’ opponents might not have that much fun this fall when they face two of the NFL’s best pass defenders in the same secondary.

The defending NFC West champions kicked off their offseason by acquiring bookend elite cornerbacks in two trades that were formally announced Wednesday. Talib and Peters say they’re thrilled to play under coordinator Wade Phillips on a defense undergoing an intriguing overhaul.

”These guys are special players Marquez Valdes-Scantling Jersey ,” head coach Sean McVay said. ”They bring a great passion for the game. You can see these are both cerebral players, and then they have the physical talents to match up. Guys that love football, these are the types of guys we love to be around.”

Rams general manager Les Snead has created a seemingly stellar secondary after entering the season with the uncertainty of top cornerback Trumaine Johnson, slot cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman and starting safety Lamarcus Joyner all heading for free agency.

They lost Johnson to a lavish deal from the New York Jets, but the Rams re-signed Robey-Coleman, franchised Joyner and swung trades for two cornerbacks with seven combined Pro Bowl selections to play alongside Joyner and safety John Johnson III in a potent starting lineup. Los Angeles even added talented veteran cornerback Sam Shields, who missed last season due to concussions, as a probable backup alongside 2017 starting cornerback Kayvon Webster, who has a long road back from a heel injury.

Peters has known for nearly three weeks that he was headed out of Kansas City, where he spent his first three NFL seasons. When he heard last week that Talib would join him with the up-and-coming Rams, the Oakland native was thrilled.

”Oh, let’s do it,” Peters said. ”For me L. P. Ladouceur Jersey , I get to have another All-Pro corner on the other side, so now you don’t know where you’re going to go. And then when you’ve got a safety like Joyner and then you’re adding Sam Shields and you keep Robey? Come on now. It’s just going to be fun. You’ve got to find a way. Pick your poison.”

Talib and Peters both paid attention last season when McVay and Phillips led this long-struggling franchise to its first winning season since 2003 and its first playoff appearance since 2004. After winning the Super Bowl two seasons ago under Phillips’ direction in Denver, Talib was eager to be a part of another potential powerhouse.

”I saw a bunch of guys having fun,” Talib said of watching the Rams last season. ”They were playing for somebody who they believed in. You watch half the teams in the league, they just go through the motions and kind of collect a check, but there’s another half of those teams, and playoff teams, they’ve got a coach who they respect, and whatever he’s preaching, he’s got guys believing that they can really go do it.”

Peters and Talib are two world-class talents with just enough apparent questions surrounding them to make them available to the Rams.

Peters, who was dismissed from his college team at Washington, argued with an assistant coach late last season with the Chiefs, leading to a one-game suspension. McVay and Snead are confident Peters’ competitiveness is the only reason for the trouble Zay Jones Jersey , and he intends to direct that energy toward the Rams’ goals.

”When we look back into the game, passionate players have always been the ones that got the bad rep of not being a team player and being selfish,” Peters said. ”That’s not the case for me. My ultimate goal is to be a winner. I was born a champion.”

Talib has been in scrapes with the law, his employers and opponents during his 10 professional seasons. His rivalry with receiver Michael Crabtree has attracted the most attention, but teammates also praise his loyalty and competitiveness. McVay, who is 20 days older than the 32-year-old Talib, expects the veteran to be an immediate team leader.

The additions came at a cost to the Rams, who had to trade defensive captain Alec Ogletree to the New York Giants to make room for Talib.

”It’s rare to be able to acquire two players of this caliber,” McVay said. ”So when the opportunity does present itself, you want to be ready.”

—

Authentic Womens Josh Sweat Jersey

Vonn amped up her preparations for the Pyeongchang Games by winning a World Cup downhill by a large margin Saturday while Italian rival Sofia Goggia avoided a major crash with the help of a safety air bag.

Vonn clocked 1 minute Vontae Davis Jersey , 36.48 seconds on the sun-drenched Olympia delle Tofane course for a massive 0.92-second advantage over Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein.

”I know what I’m capable of. This weekend just proves it,” Vonn said. ”No matter what happens from here to the Olympics I’ll be confident. I have a good feeling on my skis. I feel balanced, in control and solid. This weekend was really important for me.

”This is just the momentum that I was hoping for and that I was planning on going to the Olympics,” added Vonn, who celebrated by riding an electric bicycle – a gift from the local organizing committee – around on the snow in the finish area.

Vonn’s U.S. teammate Jacqueline Wiles finished third, 0.98 behind, for her second career podium result.

Goggia, the winner of the past two downhills, lost control landing a jump in the Tofana Schuss and made a quick recovery but could not continue.

”I was able to control the fall with the help of the air bag,” Goggia said. ”I ran a big risk. It was scary.”

Many racers wear an air bag in a vest under their racing suits. A complicated algorithm triggers inflation during falls when skiers reach a point where they can no longer regain control.

Vonn clocked 129.8 kph (80 mph) in the schuss, an imposing and narrow chute between two huge rock outcrops on the top section of the course.

”It was good, clean skiing today. I didn’t make any big mistakes like yesterday,” said Vonn Emmitt Smith Jersey , who finished second in Friday’s downhill after an error midway down.

”And it was just really fun to race. It was a beautiful day – normal, perfect Cortina sunshine – and perfect conditions,” Vonn added. ”So it made me really happy just to be out there on the mountain today.”

It was Vonn’s second win this season, a record 12th in Cortina and 79th of her career – moving her within seven of Ingemar Stenmark’s record 86 World Cup victories.

”My focus right now is so much on the Olympics that I haven’t really thought about it that much this season,” Vonn said of Stenmark’s record. ”After the Olympics, that will be my No. 1 priority again and I’ll try to rack up as many wins as possible before I retire.”

After a couple of crashes and a jarred back at the start of this season, Vonn had been holding back or sitting out races when conditions were difficult due to fog or ice.

So how will she handle it if the conditions for the Olympic downhill on Feb. 21 are not perfect?

”When I get to Korea there will be no holding back no matter what the conditions are. This is what I’ve been working for for the last eight years,” said Vonn, who missed the 2014 Sochi Games due to a series of knee injuries.

”The tactics leading into the Olympics are so that I can get to the Olympics healthy – not that I’m afraid to push myself in bad conditions,” Vonn added. ”I know what I’m capable of and if I choose to ski aggressively I know what I can do. It’s all or nothing in Korea.”

Wiles was on course to finish second – trailing Vonn by just 0.30 seconds at the penultimate checkpoint – but then drifted too wide on a turn and lost a big chunk of time.

Still, Wiles was especially honored to share the podium with Vonn, who supported her financially when she was getting started on the circuit.

Wiles is also an ambassador for the Lindsey Vonn foundation.

”She’s done a lot for my career and she gave me an amazing course report and pumped me up through the radio before my run,” Wiles said. ”I’m really grateful she’s such a great friend and role model I have to learn from.”

Up next is a super-G on Sunday.

—

More AP Olympic coverage: Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters were laughing and joking like old friends shortly after the start of their first day together at the Los Angeles Rams’ training complex.

The Rams’ opponents might not have that much fun this fall when they face two of the NFL’s best pass defenders in the same secondary.

The defending NFC West champions kicked off their offseason by acquiring bookend elite cornerbacks in two trades that were formally announced Wednesday. Talib and Peters say they’re thrilled to play under coordinator Wade Phillips on a defense undergoing an intriguing overhaul.

”These guys are special players Marquez Valdes-Scantling Jersey ,” head coach Sean McVay said. ”They bring a great passion for the game. You can see these are both cerebral players, and then they have the physical talents to match up. Guys that love football, these are the types of guys we love to be around.”

Rams general manager Les Snead has created a seemingly stellar secondary after entering the season with the uncertainty of top cornerback Trumaine Johnson, slot cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman and starting safety Lamarcus Joyner all heading for free agency.

They lost Johnson to a lavish deal from the New York Jets, but the Rams re-signed Robey-Coleman, franchised Joyner and swung trades for two cornerbacks with seven combined Pro Bowl selections to play alongside Joyner and safety John Johnson III in a potent starting lineup. Los Angeles even added talented veteran cornerback Sam Shields, who missed last season due to concussions, as a probable backup alongside 2017 starting cornerback Kayvon Webster, who has a long road back from a heel injury.

Peters has known for nearly three weeks that he was headed out of Kansas City, where he spent his first three NFL seasons. When he heard last week that Talib would join him with the up-and-coming Rams, the Oakland native was thrilled.

”Oh, let’s do it,” Peters said. ”For me L. P. Ladouceur Jersey , I get to have another All-Pro corner on the other side, so now you don’t know where you’re going to go. And then when you’ve got a safety like Joyner and then you’re adding Sam Shields and you keep Robey? Come on now. It’s just going to be fun. You’ve got to find a way. Pick your poison.”

Talib and Peters both paid attention last season when McVay and Phillips led this long-struggling franchise to its first winning season since 2003 and its first playoff appearance since 2004. After winning the Super Bowl two seasons ago under Phillips’ direction in Denver, Talib was eager to be a part of another potential powerhouse.

”I saw a bunch of guys having fun,” Talib said of watching the Rams last season. ”They were playing for somebody who they believed in. You watch half the teams in the league, they just go through the motions and kind of collect a check, but there’s another half of those teams, and playoff teams, they’ve got a coach who they respect, and whatever he’s preaching, he’s got guys believing that they can really go do it.”

Peters and Talib are two world-class talents with just enough apparent questions surrounding them to make them available to the Rams.

Peters, who was dismissed from his college team at Washington, argued with an assistant coach late last season with the Chiefs, leading to a one-game suspension. McVay and Snead are confident Peters’ competitiveness is the only reason for the trouble Zay Jones Jersey , and he intends to direct that energy toward the Rams’ goals.

”When we look back into the game, passionate players have always been the ones that got the bad rep of not being a team player and being selfish,” Peters said. ”That’s not the case for me. My ultimate goal is to be a winner. I was born a champion.”

Talib has been in scrapes with the law, his employers and opponents during his 10 professional seasons. His rivalry with receiver Michael Crabtree has attracted the most attention, but teammates also praise his loyalty and competitiveness. McVay, who is 20 days older than the 32-year-old Talib, expects the veteran to be an immediate team leader.

The additions came at a cost to the Rams, who had to trade defensive captain Alec Ogletree to the New York Giants to make room for Talib.

”It’s rare to be able to acquire two players of this caliber,” McVay said. ”So when the opportunity does present itself, you want to be ready.”

—

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