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The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of LeBron James as a free agent Joel Iyiegbuniwe Jersey , confirming the seismic shift created by the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player’s decision to leave Cleveland for the 16-time champion franchise on the West Coast.
James’ representatives at Klutch Sports Group tweeted a photo of James signing his contract with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. James’ agency already announced last week that the superstar had agreed to a four-year deal worth $153.3 million with Los Angeles.
Magic Johnson, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, called James ”the best player in the world” in a news release.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The New Orleans Pelicans have signed free-agent guard Elfrid Payton and re-signed guard Ian Clark.
New Orleans announced the roster moves along with the formal signing of former Lakers forward Julius Randle, who agreed last week to a two-year contract worth about $18 million. Payton and Clark each have signed for one year.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Kyle Anderson’s move to Memphis is official.
San Antonio had until midnight Sunday to match the Grizzlies‘ four-year, $37.2 million offer to Anderson, and declined. That means Anderson is now a member of the Grizzlies, and their likely starting small forward.
Anderson averaged 7.9 points for the Spurs last season, in his first year as a full-time starting forward.
DALLAS (AP) – Luka Doncic has signed his rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks that will pay the third overall pick $5.5 million next season.
Dallas moved up two spots in the NBA draft last month to get the versatile Slovenian guard, who was selected by Atlanta at No. 3. The Mavericks picked former Oklahoma scoring sensation Trae Young for the Hawks at No. 5 as part of the deal that includes a protected 2019 first-round draft pick going to Atlanta.
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound Doncic is set to make $6.4 million in his second season with the Mavericks.
TENNIS
LONDON (AP) – Serena Williams reached her 13th Wimbledon quarterfinal by beating Russian qualifier Evgeniya Rodina 6-4, 6-2, and never looked likely to join the parade of favorites who have been eliminated.
No. 7 Karolina Pliskova became the last of the top-10 seeds to be knocked out, losing to Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands. Since seeds were introduced in the 1920s, it’s the first time none of the top 10 women have reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. It’s also a first for any Grand Slam tournament in the 50-year professional era.
In the men’s tournament, Roger Federer advanced to a record-extending 16th Wimbledon quarterfinal with a 6-0, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Adrian Mannarino of France.
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal also moved on to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011. The Spaniard beat Jiri Vesely 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court. Nadal, a two-time champion at the All England Club Russ Grimm Jersey , has yet to drop a set in this tournament.
As play was being suspended on other courts, Novak Djokovic broke Russia’s Karen Khachanov for the seventh time to finish off a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win on No. 1 Court.
Ninth-seeded Amerian John Isner, No. 13 Milos Raonic of Canada and No. 24 Kei Nishikori of Japan also advanced.
NFL
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – The Carolina Panthers announced the sale of the franchise to David Tepper has closed.
Tepper becomes only the second owner in team history.
The founder and president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, L.P., bought the team from founder Jerry Richardson for $2.2 billion – the most ever paid for an NFL franchise. Richardson put the team up for sale in December after reports of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace, which the league later confirmed.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Former USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian has lost a $30 million lawsuit that claimed he was improperly fired by the school instead of being allowed to seek treatment for alcoholism.
An arbitrator last week ruled in favor of the University of Southern California, saying Sarkisian concealed his condition from the school. In a statement Monday, Sarkisian said he was ”disappointed in the decision, but we will respect it and move on.”
Sarkisian was fired in October 2015, two months after he slurred his words and swore during USC’s annual ”Salute to Troy” preseason pep rally.
Sarkisian blamed his behavior on mixing alcohol with medication before the event. However, Sarkisian also reportedly showed signs of being intoxicated during a game and at a team meeting.
He was replaced by current head coach Clay Helton.
BASEBALL
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Giants catcher Buster Posey will miss the All-Star Game because of a lingering right hip issue that needs an injection to calm the inflammation.
The hip has bothered him both hitting and catching off and on all season, so Posey is hopeful the time off will allow him to heal.
Manager Bruce Bochy made the announcement before the start of the Giants’ three-game series against the Chicago Cubs. The Giants had been discussing the possibility for about a month, Bochy said, and Posey is scheduled to have the injection after Sunday’s Bay Bridge Series game against Oakland.
SAN DIEGO (AP) – The Dodgers placed right fielder Yasiel Puig on the 10-day disabled list with a right oblique sprain.
Puig, who is hitting .265 with 11 home runs, was removed from Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels during a fifth-inning at-bat. Earlier, Puig had homered for the second consecutive game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Pui
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — One of the great leaders football has seen Charley Taylor Jersey , Ray Lewis used his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech to call for more enlightened leadership in the United States.
The last of the seven members of the class of 2018 on hand to be enshrined, Lewis eschewed notes and the lectern, instead strolling along the stage and passionately urging his listeners to come together.
“Are you living every day to make this world better?” Lewis asked Saturday night at the end of his 33-minute oratory, often invoking the teachings of Martin Luther King. “Think what we can do if we work together as a country … teaching our nation to love each other again.
“It’s how we react to the challenges in our life that shows our greatness. How do we execute that dream? Who will answer that knock on the door in the middle of the night? And it has to start right now. We need people willing to fight for what is good and what is right.”
Turning to the 140 Hall of Famers on the stage, he told them: “We can go from being legends to building a legacy bigger than football, bigger than sports. Look at what unites us … the answer is simple, love. Hope, faith and love, and the greatest is love.”
Lewis was joined by Randy Moss, Brian Dawkins, Brian Urlacher, Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile and Bobby Beathard as inductees at the hall ceremony.
One of the best linebackers in NFL history, Lewis won two Super Bowls with the Ravens; he often chanted “BALTIMORE!” during his speech.
“Tell me something can’t be done is like pouring lighter fluid on an open flame,” said Lewis, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who won a second Super Bowl for the 2012 season — coming back from a torn triceps — then retired. He was the MVP of the 2001 title game.
“I came back, and boy did I come back,” Lewis said. “When you walk off the last time with that thing, that Lombardi, it’s a confirmation I am living proof of the impossible.”
A first-year nominee, Lewis was selected 26th overall in the 1996 draft — what were other teams thinking? He wasn’t even Baltimore’s first choice: Jonathan Ogden was John Miller Jersey , and the big tackle made the Hall of Fame in 2013.
His impact was immediate, both on the field, in the locker room, and even in pregame introductions, when his “squirrel dance” fired up fans and teammates alike. He and Ogden even did a short version on the stage.
Lewis was the first player with 40 sacks and 30 interceptions in a career. An eight-time All-Pro and inside linebacker on the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team, he had a franchise-record 2,643 career tackles.
Dawkins also delivered a powerful speech and, as he promised, cried during it.
One of the hardest-hitting and most versatile safeties in NFL history, Dawkins stared at his bust and nodded his approval to the crowd.
“The majority of success I have had has come on the back end of pain,” he said noting he had suicidal thoughts when he battled depression. “On the other side of it, all of a sudden I became better. There’s a purpose for my pain.
“I have grown leaps and bounds because of the things I went through. For those going through this now, there is hope on the other side. Keep moving, keep pushing through.”
Dawkins was the leader of an Eagles defense that made four straight NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. Voted to the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team and a five-time All-Pro, Dawkins intercepted passes in 15 consecutive seasons and had 37 picks overall. He averaged nearly 100 tackles a year and spotlighted his versatility as the first player in NFL history to get a sack, interception, fumble recovery and touchdown catch (on a screen pass) in a game, against Houston in 2002.
Urlacher became a record-28th Chicago Bear inducted into the hall. A first-year nominee who filled the tradition of great middle linebackers in the Windy City so brilliantly, Urlacher actually was a safety at New Mexico. Chicago selected him ninth overall in the 2000 draft and immediately converted him to linebacker. He spent two weeks in training camp on the outside, then was moved inside — for 13 spectacular seasons.
“I love everything about football: the friendships, the coaches http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/anthony-miller-jersey , the teachers, the challenges, the opportunity to excel. I loved going to work every day for 13 years,” said the 2000 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, a season in which Urlacher had 171 tackles.
The five-time All-Pro and member of the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team even did some work on special teams.
But it was in the heart of the defense where he shone.
“The most coveted position for a defensive player to play is middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears,” said Urlacher, who had to hold back tears several times. “Just think about it. I hope over my 13 seasons I made you Bears fans proud.”
Another first-year nominee, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Moss brought the perfect combination of height, speed, soft hands and agility to Minnesota as the 21st overall draft pick in 1998 after a rocky college career. His 69 receptions, 17 for touchdowns, and 1,313 yards helped the Vikings go 15-1 and earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
That was just the start for the eccentric but always dynamic Moss. When he finally hooked up with an elite quarterback, he caught a record 23 TD passes from Tom Brady in New England’s perfect 2007 regular season.
Moss rubbed the face and top of his bust, then delivered a sermon worthy of any church or synagogue. He paid tribute to his family, to the fans of his five teams, and to his roots in West Virginia — he promised he would return to his hometown of Rand on Sunday to show o Von Miller Jersey
While many players may not be going far from the team's facility, they have been given film of Jacksonville to study before returning Monday.
New York finished a 2-2 preseason Thursday night with a 17-12 loss to the Patriots when all of the starters rested.
Players did a little lifting and running Friday before being sent home. The coaches will spend the next day cutting the 90-man roster to 53 for the regular season. A 10-man practice squad will be added once the front office tweaks the final roster with cuts and additions from the waiver wire.
General manager Dave Gettleman has promised the team will work the wire. Coming off a 3-13 season, New York has the second pick on all players waived.
"We've got a decent idea of the direction we're going to go with things, but we still have some conversations," Shurmur said Friday. "I told that to the players, it's a credit to them. Every year Ronde Barber Jersey , the players want to make it tough on us as to this guy or that guy. I think sometimes, you're right, you can be in a situation where it's pretty cut and dry. But I think we've had some guys that have played themselves into the mix."
The Giants' roster is not deep, so it's unlikely Shurmur is going to have to shed any major talent. He plans to meet with all players cut and says he will tell them where they need to improve and to be ready in case a roster spot opens.
For those who remain, the opener at home is Sept. 9. Some preparations have already started.
"We have sort of leaned towards Jacksonville in some of our drill work, even though we didn't say Cassius Marsh Jersey , 'hey, this is a Jacksonville play' or 'this is Jacksonville's defense,'" Shurmur said. "It's out there, and I'm sure some of them will look at it, but we'll get them re-centered on Monday."
Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, who was 21 of 30 in the preseason Ryan Allen Jersey , started looking at the Jaguars a couple days ago.
"Their front seven is talented, their back four is talented," Manning said of the team that blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead against New England in the AFC title game in January. "They have a good scheme and they do it very well. They play fast and are in the right spots. It will be fun to pick coach Shurmur's brain and see what plays we will have installed and what's the best way to attack them."
The season opener will be the first time the Giants will try to put all their weapons on the field.
Odell Beckham Jr. did not play in the preseason as Shurmur took a cautious approach with his star receiver coming off a broken ankle in early October. Halfback Saquon Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, missed the final three preseason games after injury a hamstring on Aug. 13.
NOTES: Shurmur gave backup quarterback Davis Webb the night off against the Patriots because he felt the second-year pro had enough snaps. He threw 53 passes in three games. Rookie Kyle Lauletta and veteran Alex Tanney played against New England. ... LB Alec Ogletree said the new 3-4 defense is slowly coming along. "We got a good group of guys that come to work every day and do the right things. This up- and-coming week will be a really big test of how close we are to be the defense that we want to be."
The Panthers want to sign right tackle Daryl Williams to a contract extension and may do it before training camp. Unless they don’t.
Following last week’s report that a deal could come soon comes some decidedly less optimistic news.
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer, a league source described a “monster gap” in economic expectations and said a deal before training camp would be “shocking.”
The 2015 fourth-rounder is coming off an excellent season Bob Griese Jersey , earning second-team All-Pro honors. He’s also entering the final year of his rookie deal, making the time right to do something.
But the Panthers also have 2017 second-rounder Taylor Moton in reserve, and his presence could cut into some of Williams’ leverage. Moton has taken some snaps this spring at left guard (where they’re trying to replace Andrew Norwell), but seems more naturally qualified to play outside, specifically on the right side.
Womens Trent Murphy JerseyLuke Weaver flirted with perfection Phil Simms Jersey , had to overcome a little frustration, and settled for domination. The St. Louis Cardinals’ offense was pretty good, too.
Weaver pitched two-hit ball over eight innings and St. Louis beat the San Francisco Giants 11-2.
Weaver faced two over the minimum and had seven strikeouts. The 24-year-old right-hander carried a perfect game into the sixth inning before giving up a single and Alen Hanson’s two-run homer. Weaver then bounced back to retire the final seven batters he faced.
Jedd Gyorko had three hits including a home run and drove in five runs to spoil the return of Johnny Cueto after two months on the disabled list.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Trea Turner hit two homers, including his first career grand slam, and drove in eight runs to help the Washington Nationals rally from a nine-run deficit and defeat the Miami Marlins 14-12 to end a five-game losing streak.
The Nationals, who dropped 17 of their previous 22, have won 12 consecutive games against Miami dating to last season – their longest winning streak against any team since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005.
The victory came a day after the Nationals called a players-only meeting after Washington was swept by Boston and slipped under .500 for the first time since May 2.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Twins signed first-round draft pick Trevor Larnach just one day before Major League Baseball’s deadline.
For both sides, the delay was well worth the wait. There were no contentious contract negotiations in the way, only a College World Series championship for Larnach with Oregon State.
Larnach’s standard minor league deal came with a $2.55 million signing bonus. The slot value set by MLB for the 20th overall selection was $3.12 million, so the Twins put some of that savings toward signing other players in their draft class.
Larnach, a corner outfielder who hit .327 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs this season for the Beavers K.J. Wright Jersey , batted .417 with five doubles, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored in eight games at the College World Series.
NBA
BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Celtics have signed first-round draft pick Robert Williams.
Terms were not disclosed. Williams, a forward-center out of Texas A&M, was selected 27th overall last month with the Celtics’ lone draft pick.
Williams’ signing comes days after he received a lecture from the team about accountability following a pair of off-the-court incidents. The 20-year-old slept through a scheduled conference call with reporters the day after the draft and then failed to catch a flight from his native Louisiana to Boston in time for a summer league practice.
Williams will wear jersey No. 44.
NHL
NEW YORK (AP) – Vegas forward William Karlsson is among 43 NHL players seeking salary arbitration after he finished third in the NHL in scoring with the expansion Golden Knights last season.
Two more Golden Knights, defenseman Colin Miller and forward Tomas Nosek, also are on the list of players electing to have an arbitrator determine their contracts, the NHL Players’ Association announced.
The number was 44 before the Carolina Hurricanes agreed to a $4.6 million, two-year contract with defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, a restricted free agent. Van Riemsdyk will make $2.1 million next season and $2.5 million in the final year of the deal.
Winnipeg has five players on the list, including goalie Connor Hellebuyck and defenseman Jacob Trouba.
Players are allowed to negotiate and sign contracts before appearing at their arbitration hearings, which will be held in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4.
COLUMBUS Ty Sambrailo Jersey , Ohio (AP) – The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed forward Boone Jenner to a four-year, $15 million contract, locking up a player who has been a stalwart presence in the team’s emergence as a playoff contender.
The contract pays the 25-year-old Jenner $3.75 million annually through the 2021-22 season, according to a person with direct knowledge of the contract who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Blue Jackets didn’t reveal the value of the deal.
Jenner was a restricted free agent who made $2.9 million in 2017-18, a season in which he missed all of training camp and the first seven games of the season with a back injury.
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (AP) – Barry Trotz has added former Washington Capitals assistant Lane Lambert to his New York Islanders coaching staff.
The Islanders announced the hiring, saying Lambert would be the associate coach. The 53-year-old had served the past four seasons as the assistant coach with the recently crowned Stanley Cup champions.
Before joining the Capitals, Lambert spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators. He also served as head coach of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals from 2007-11.
MONTREAL (AP) – Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber will be out for an extended period after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
The Canadiens said Weber’s recovery time is expected to be five to six months, meaning he won’t be suiting up until December at the earliest.
It’s the second surgery this year for Weber, who had a torn tendon in his left foot repaired in March.
Team surgeon Dr. David Mulder said the damage to Weber’s knee was discovered last month as part of his rehabilitation from foot surgery.
GOLF
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) – Webb Simpson ran out of sensational shots in the end to keep him from joining an elite group.
Simpson shot a 9-under-par 61 for a one-stroke lead o After struggling with a knee injury late last season Jason McCourty Jersey , Devonta Freeman says he is on track to returning to the form that made him the NFL's highest-paid running back.
Freeman missed two games for the Atlanta Falcons last season following his second concussion in four months. Then a sprained right knee cut into his production in the last few games of 2017. The injury helped to keep him from his third straight season with 1,000 yards rushing. It also helped to stop the Falcons' bid for a return trip to the Super Bowl.
No offseason surgery was necessary, and Freeman said Wednesday his knee is feeling better.
"I'm able to do a lot of things I couldn't do back in January and February, running, cutting, sprinting, getting a little stronger," Freeman said.
Freeman said he's "making harder cuts" and "sprinting a little faster" in his offseason workouts .
He said he wants to be "100 percent healthy" for the team's minicamp in June and training camp in July.
"Be able to be ready for game one," he said.
Two straight Pro Bowl seasons earned Freeman a five-year, $41.25 million extension before the 2017 season. It was the top overall salary package for any NFL running back. Only Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell has a higher average salary.
Health problems quickly followed Freeman's big new deal.
He spent the last two weeks of the preseason in concussion protocol before suffering another concussion on the second play of Atlanta's 27-7 win over Dallas on Nov. 12. He missed the next two games but returned with three strong games, including a season-high 126 yards rushing at Tampa Bay on Dec. 18.
The knee injury helped to limit Freeman's production the rest of the season. He was held to a combined 59 yards rushing in the final two regular-season games and then managed only seven yards on 10 carries in a playoff loss to Philadelphia.
Following the season Cassius Marsh Jersey , Freeman said he feared he would need surgery on the right knee. No surgery was needed, so he has focused on rebuilding strength through his offseason program.
Freeman's health will be a key for Atlanta's offense, which led the league in scoring in 2016 before falling to mid-pack in the league last year. The Falcons will be closely watching Freeman's health, as top backup Tevin Coleman is entering the final year of his contract.
The Falcons selected running back Ito Smith from Southern Mississippi in the fourth round of last week's NFL draft. Smith is expected to replace Terron Ward as the team's third running back, behind Freeman and Coleman.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff said Smith was not drafted to be a safety net if the team can't re-sign Coleman.
"That's not what we're looking back," Dimitroff said Saturday. "We're looking at him being a nice addition in that third position."
Womens Courtland Sutton JerseyThe guard from Duke understands the concerns NBA teams might have about him after four polarizing seasons with the Blue Devils during which he attracted about as much attention for play that crossed the line as he did for his accomplishments on the court.
”You have to address it, for sure,” he said Thursday at the league’s draft combine. ”It’s something that comes from my competitiveness. Competitiveness that I’ve had as a player, competitiveness that was pointed in the wrong direction and went over the line. It’s obviously something that I needed to work on and address.”
Allen said he’s gotten ”a lot better” controlling his competitiveness, without losing it.
”It’s something you don’t want to put away,” he said. ”You don’t want to put competitiveness and emotion away, so you learn to play with it. You learn to use it for your team. That’s what I’ve been saying.”
The question is whether Allen can channel that emotion in a positive direction.
He is projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick after helping Duke win a championship and at times attracting attention for the wrong reasons.
The Atlantic Coast Conference reprimanded Allen for appearing to trip two players on purpose in 2016. He served a one-game suspension by coach Mike Krzyzewski and got stripped of his captain’s title in the 2016-17 season after he got caught tripping an opponent. Though he basically stayed out of trouble this past season, Allen hip-checked North Carolina’s Garrison Brooks in the ACC Tournament.
And when it comes to the NBA Bruce Smith Jersey , Allen no doubt has some explaining to do. With the draft on June 21, the next few weeks are his chance to ease any concerns league executives have, to show his emotions are under control.
”I think the NBA, they like competitive guys,” he said.
An overlooked member of a heralded recruiting class, Allen grabbed the spotlight as a freshman at the 2015 Final Four. He wound up providing a huge lift off the bench, scoring 16 points in the championship game victory over Wisconsin that gave Duke its fifth title.
Allen put off turning pro after his sophomore and junior years because he enjoyed college and wanted to make another run at the Final Four. He averaged 14.1 points in his career and joined Grant Hill, Jon Scheyer Robert Quinn Jersey , Danny Ferry, and Johnny Dawkins as the only Duke players with at least 1,900 points, 400 rebounds and 400 assists.
Allen’s leadership and ability to blend with four freshmen in the lineup last season, particularly after a switch to a zone defense in February, were crucial for the Blue Devils. Duke just missed another trip to the Final Four with an overtime loss to Kansas, after his bank shot over two defenders at the end of regulation hit the rim, bounced off the backboard and hit the rim again before rolling off.
Now Doug Baldwin Jersey , Allen hopes to show teams these next few weeks that he is not only an intelligent player but the type of person NBA executives want in their locker room.
”I just want to answer any questions they have,” he said. ”Just kind of show my personality, just let these teams get to know me, get to know me outside of what they see on the court, not just what kind of player I’ll be on the floor but what kind of person they’ll have in the locker room as well.”
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The Jaguars led the league in rushing attempts last season and their biggest free agent acquisition was guard Andrew Norwell, so it seems unlikely that they’re going to be changing their approach in 2018.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett wouldn’t mind seeing running back Leonard Fournette tweak his approach a bit in order to take as many of those carries as possible. Fournette missed three games during his rookie year — two with injuries and one because of a disciplinary matter — and Hackett said he “almost took sometimes too many hits.”
Hackett stresses that he doesn’t want any major changes to Fournette’s style, but hopes the running back has gained a better understanding of the offensive system that will leave him “able to protect himself and get more out of each run play.”
“I don’t want him to change,” Hackett said Javorius Allen Jersey , via ESPN.com. “I want him to be him. I want him to do his style. I never want him to change. I just want him to be able to understand the system more so he can run even smarter but still never lose that aggressiveness. That’s what makes Leonard Leonard. That’s what gets everybody excited, makes me excited [and] makes me want to call another run.”
Fournette has cut weight heading into his second season and says he feels he has more burst than he did last season. Should that and a keener understanding of the game lead to fewer early collisions with defensive players, it should bode well for the Jaguars’ chances of a second straight trip to the postseason.
Authentic Womens Leighton Vander Esch JerseyConsidering where the Bears passing game was last season Dwight Clark Jersey , they expected this wait to be worthwhile.
Robinson con
The Chicago Bears anticipated wide receiver Allen Robinson would need time to assume a role as quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s No. 1 target.Considering where the Bears passing game was last season Dwight Clark Jersey , they expected this wait to be worthwhile.
Robinson continues to work at a slower, steadier pace through his first live practices since suffering a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, and hopes to reach a point where he and Trubisky click in the passing offense.
”It’s all about getting back acclimated, running certain routes, getting the small things in football, as far as actually football – route-running, sinking my hips, stuff like that,” Robinson said Tuesday at Bears training camp. ”As far as physically, I feel fine.”
Robinson took off Monday’s practice to rest his knee after his first full practice participation over camp’s first three days. He returned to work Tuesday with no ill effects.
The slow, steady approach isn’t keeping Robinson from learning during meetings.
”He’s asking great questions,” Nagy said. ”He sits in the front of the room. He’s a little introverted, which is fine. That’s what we talk about – everyone is a little different. But he comes to me probably three to four times a practice and asks me certain questions, so we have a good relationship going there.”
Rehab from the injury kept Robinson from doing much in organized team activities and minicamp.
”Man, it’s fun Joey Bosa Jersey ,” Robinson said. ”Being away from the grass for 10-plus months, it feels so good to be back out here running routes, competing, going against defenders, everything like that. It’s exciting.”
Nagy said no receiver has stepped up so far as Trubisky’s top target.
”But in a couple weeks I think if you come back and ask me that question there might be somebody that he starts to develop that bond with,” Nagy said to reporters.
Nagy sees signs Robinson is a bit tentative on routes requiring a cut inside, and expects the fifth-year receiver to overcome this as the knee continues to strengthen.
”I like where he’s at,” Nagy said. ”Allen is doing everything that we’re asking for. There might be a couple routes I think more mentally he’s just trying to get over, that it’s OK to do that. But that’s part of the health part of him.
”Just once you get through that part, then you’re ready to go. So we have the time. That’s the benefit of having five weeks in the preseason and then we get him ready for Week 1.”
Robinson calls his goal a better understanding of the offense rather than simply labeling it a need for receiver and quarterback to build chemistry.
”I think that’s a big misused word,” Robinson said. ”Because at the end of the day you know certain routes and certain things like that, you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time in a way that matches up with your quarterback.”
The Bears last season badly needed a primary target for Trubisky after injuries deprived them of Kevin White and former Bear Cameron Meredith. Chicago finished last in passing yards (2,811) and tied for last in touchdown passes (13).
Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in Jacksonville’s opener, Robinson signed a three-year, $42 million free agent deal with the Bears. In the process Justin Britt Jersey , he left a blossoming AFC championship game qualifier for a team out of the playoffs since the 2010 season.
”You know, looking at the (new) coach, offensively scheme-wise, the quarterback, and things like that, I mean, there’s no doubt at all that this team has all the talent in the world to win games,” Robinson said.
The talent Robinson brings is being able to stretch defenses and make jump-ball catches. Robinson had 22 touchdown catches in his first three seasons.
”Me being a bigger receiver, I think I’m a versatile receiver,” Robinson said. ”I think that’s something that coach Nagy, as far as his offensive scheme, it’s about versatility.
”For me, watching him, the play calls that he had prior to coming here, I knew that’s something that was a big part of his offense is versatility. I knew that he would be able to use me in a very effective way.”
Even if Trubisky has been targeting receivers such as Kevin White A.J. Klein Jersey , Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller just as much or more often at camp, the Bears quarterback said he knows how to use the 6-foot-3 Robinson.
”He goes up, gets the football, creates separation,” Trubisky said. ”He can make those acrobatic catches that we haven’t seen here in the past.
”He can separate with speed, he’s physical, he runs great routes. He’s really a student of the game. That’s something I’ve learned.”
Robinson expects to apply what he’s learned by making Trubisky’s job easier.
”I want Mitch to be able to go out there and just be able to play free,” Robinson said.
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87. LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-6)
LAST SEASON: In breakthrough year for long-suffering franchise, Rams snapped streaks of 13 consecutive non-winning seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons by winning NFC West under first-year coach Sean McVay. Los Angeles went from worst to first in league in scoring with dynamic offense led by Offensive Player of Year Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff, whose solid sophomore NFL season proved Rams weren't wrong to trade up in 2016 to grab him. Coordinator Wade Phillips' solid unit was led by Defensive Player of Year Aaron Donald, and though defense came up short in handful of late-season games, it has strong base around dominant defensive lineman. Los Angeles also had NFL's best special-teams units, with Pro Bowlers at every skill position. Turnaround season ended quickly with home playoff loss to postseason-tested Atlanta.
THEY NEED: LB, DL, OL Ryan Tannehill Jersey , WR.
THEY DON'T NEED: QB, RB, DB.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: T Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh; LB Tegray Scales, Indiana; LB-DE Rasheem Green, Southern California; LB Shaquem Griffin, UCF.
OUTLOOK: For second straight year, Rams don't have first-round pick. They sent this one to New England for WR Brandin Cooks, and they'll be thrilled if Cooks becomes No. 1 deep threat as expected. They also don't have second-round pick, sent to Buffalo last summer for Sammy Watkins, last season's deep threat. Rams can only look for depth in draft, most obvious hole is in middle of defense after trading top tackler Alec Ogletree to New York Giants so they could fit veteran CB Aqib Talib under salary cap. Los Angeles needs tackle machine at linebacker, along with depth on D-line to supplement big stars.
Adidas Marc-Andre Fleury Jerseytinues to work at a slower, steadier pace through his first live practices since suffering a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, and hopes to reach a point where he and Tr
The Chicago Bears anticipated wide receiver Allen Robinson would need time to assume a role as quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s No. 1 target.Considering where the Bears passing game was last season Dwight Clark Jersey , they expected this wait to be worthwhile.
Robinson continues to work at a slower, steadier pace through his first live practices since suffering a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, and hopes to reach a point where he and Trubisky click in the passing offense.
”It’s all about getting back acclimated, running certain routes, getting the small things in football, as far as actually football – route-running, sinking my hips, stuff like that,” Robinson said Tuesday at Bears training camp. ”As far as physically, I feel fine.”
Robinson took off Monday’s practice to rest his knee after his first full practice participation over camp’s first three days. He returned to work Tuesday with no ill effects.
The slow, steady approach isn’t keeping Robinson from learning during meetings.
”He’s asking great questions,” Nagy said. ”He sits in the front of the room. He’s a little introverted, which is fine. That’s what we talk about – everyone is a little different. But he comes to me probably three to four times a practice and asks me certain questions, so we have a good relationship going there.”
Rehab from the injury kept Robinson from doing much in organized team activities and minicamp.
”Man, it’s fun Joey Bosa Jersey ,” Robinson said. ”Being away from the grass for 10-plus months, it feels so good to be back out here running routes, competing, going against defenders, everything like that. It’s exciting.”
Nagy said no receiver has stepped up so far as Trubisky’s top target.
”But in a couple weeks I think if you come back and ask me that question there might be somebody that he starts to develop that bond with,” Nagy said to reporters.
Nagy sees signs Robinson is a bit tentative on routes requiring a cut inside, and expects the fifth-year receiver to overcome this as the knee continues to strengthen.
”I like where he’s at,” Nagy said. ”Allen is doing everything that we’re asking for. There might be a couple routes I think more mentally he’s just trying to get over, that it’s OK to do that. But that’s part of the health part of him.
”Just once you get through that part, then you’re ready to go. So we have the time. That’s the benefit of having five weeks in the preseason and then we get him ready for Week 1.”
Robinson calls his goal a better understanding of the offense rather than simply labeling it a need for receiver and quarterback to build chemistry.
”I think that’s a big misused word,” Robinson said. ”Because at the end of the day you know certain routes and certain things like that, you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time in a way that matches up with your quarterback.”
The Bears last season badly needed a primary target for Trubisky after injuries deprived them of Kevin White and former Bear Cameron Meredith. Chicago finished last in passing yards (2,811) and tied for last in touchdown passes (13).
Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in Jacksonville’s opener, Robinson signed a three-year, $42 million free agent deal with the Bears. In the process Justin Britt Jersey , he left a blossoming AFC championship game qualifier for a team out of the playoffs since the 2010 season.
”You know, looking at the (new) coach, offensively scheme-wise, the quarterback, and things like that, I mean, there’s no doubt at all that this team has all the talent in the world to win games,” Robinson said.
The talent Robinson brings is being able to stretch defenses and make jump-ball catches. Robinson had 22 touchdown catches in his first three seasons.
”Me being a bigger receiver, I think I’m a versatile receiver,” Robinson said. ”I think that’s something that coach Nagy, as far as his offensive scheme, it’s about versatility.
”For me, watching him, the play calls that he had prior to coming here, I knew that’s something that was a big part of his offense is versatility. I knew that he would be able to use me in a very effective way.”
Even if Trubisky has been targeting receivers such as Kevin White A.J. Klein Jersey , Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller just as much or more often at camp, the Bears quarterback said he knows how to use the 6-foot-3 Robinson.
”He goes up, gets the football, creates separation,” Trubisky said. ”He can make those acrobatic catches that we haven’t seen here in the past.
”He can separate with speed, he’s physical, he runs great routes. He’s really a student of the game. That’s something I’ve learned.”
Robinson expects to apply what he’s learned by making Trubisky’s job easier.
”I want Mitch to be able to go out there and just be able to play free,” Robinson said.
—
87. LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-6)
LAST SEASON: In breakthrough year for long-suffering franchise, Rams snapped streaks of 13 consecutive non-winning seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons by winning NFC West under first-year coach Sean McVay. Los Angeles went from worst to first in league in scoring with dynamic offense led by Offensive Player of Year Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff, whose solid sophomore NFL season proved Rams weren't wrong to trade up in 2016 to grab him. Coordinator Wade Phillips' solid unit was led by Defensive Player of Year Aaron Donald, and though defense came up short in handful of late-season games, it has strong base around dominant defensive lineman. Los Angeles also had NFL's best special-teams units, with Pro Bowlers at every skill position. Turnaround season ended quickly with home playoff loss to postseason-tested Atlanta.
THEY NEED: LB, DL, OL Ryan Tannehill Jersey , WR.
THEY DON'T NEED: QB, RB, DB.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: T Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh; LB Tegray Scales, Indiana; LB-DE Rasheem Green, Southern California; LB Shaquem Griffin, UCF.
OUTLOOK: For second straight year, Rams don't have first-round pick. They sent this one to New England for WR Brandin Cooks, and they'll be thrilled if Cooks becomes No. 1 deep threat as expected. They also don't have second-round pick, sent to Buffalo last summer for Sammy Watkins, last season's deep threat. Rams can only look for depth in draft, most obvious hole is in middle of defense after trading top tackler Alec Ogletree to New York Giants so they could fit veteran CB Aqib Talib under salary cap. Los Angeles needs tackle machine at linebacker, along with depth on D-line to supplement big stars.
Adidas Marc-Andre Fleury Jerseyubisky click in the passing offense.
”It’s all about getting back acclimated, running certain routes, getting the small things in football, as far as actually football – route-running, sinking my hips, stuff like that,” Robinson said Tuesday at Bears training camp. ”As far as physically, I feel fine.”
Robinson took off Monday’s practice to rest his knee after his first full practice participation over camp’s first three days. He returned to work Tuesday with no ill effects.
The slow, steady approach isn’t keeping Robinson from learning during meetings.
”He’s asking great questions,” Nagy said. ”He sits in the front of the room. He’s a little introverted, which is fine. That’s what we talk about – everyone is a little different. But he comes to me probably three to four times a practice and asks me certain questions, so we have a good relationship going there.”
Rehab from the injury kept Robinson from doing much in organized team activities and minicamp.
”Man, it’s fun Joey Bosa Jersey ,” Robinson said. ”Being away from the grass for 10-plus months, it feels so good to be back out here running routes, competing, going against defenders, everything like that. It’s exciting.”
Nagy said no receiver has stepped up so far as Trubisky’s top target.
”But in a couple weeks I think if you come back and ask me that question there might be somebody that he starts to develop that bond with,” Nagy said to reporters.
Nagy sees signs Robinson is a bit tentative on routes requiring a cut inside, and expects the fifth-year receiver to overcome this as the knee continues to strengthen.
”I like where he’s at,” Nagy said. ”Allen is doing everything that we’re asking for. There might be a couple routes I think more mentally he’s just trying to get over, that it’s OK to do that. But that’s part of the health part of him.
”Just once you get through that part, then you’re ready to go. So we have the time. That’s the benefit of having five weeks in the preseason and then we get him ready for Week 1.”
Robinson calls his goal a better understanding of the offense rather than simply labeling it a need for receiver and quarterback to build chemistry.
”I think that’s a big misused word,” Robinson said. ”Because at the end of the day you know certain routes and certain things like that, you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time in a way that matches up with your quarterback.”
The Bears last season badly needed a primary target for Trubisky after injuries deprived them of Kevin White and former Bear Cameron Meredith. Chicago finished last in passing yards (2,811) and tied for last in touchdown passes (13).
Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in Jacksonville’s opener, Robinson signed a three-year, $42 million free agent deal with the Bears. In the process Justin Britt Jersey , he left a blossoming AFC championship game qualifier for a team out of the playoffs since the 2010 season.
”You know, looking at the (new) coach, offensively scheme-wise, the quarterback, and things like that, I mean, there’s no doubt at all that this team has all the talent in the world to win games,” Robinson said.
The talent Robinson brings is being able to stretch defenses and make jump-ball catches. Robinson had 22 touchdown catches in his first three seasons.
”Me being a bigger receiver, I think I’m a versatile receiver,” Robinson said. ”I think that’s something that coach Nagy, as far as his offensive scheme, it’s about versatility.
”For me, watching him, the play calls that he had prior to coming here, I knew that’s something that was a big part of his offense is versatility. I knew that he would be able to use me in a very effective way.”
Even if Trubisky has been targeting receivers such as Kevin White A.J. Klein Jersey , Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller just as much or more often at camp, the Bears quarterback said he knows how to use the 6-foot-3 Robinson.
”He goes up, gets the football, creates separation,” Trubisky said. ”He can make those acrobatic catches that we haven’t seen here in the past.
”He can separate with speed, he’s physical, he runs great routes. He’s really a student of the game. That’s something I’ve learned.”
Robinson expects to apply what he’s learned by making Trubisky’s job easier.
”I want Mitch to be able to go out there and just be able to play free,” Robinson said.
—
87. LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-6)
LAST SEASON: In breakthrough year for long-suffering franchise, Rams snapped streaks of 13 consecutive non-winning seasons and 12 straight non-playoff seasons by winning NFC West under first-year coach Sean McVay. Los Angeles went from worst to first in league in scoring with dynamic offense led by Offensive Player of Year Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff, whose solid sophomore NFL season proved Rams weren't wrong to trade up in 2016 to grab him. Coordinator Wade Phillips' solid unit was led by Defensive Player of Year Aaron Donald, and though defense came up short in handful of late-season games, it has strong base around dominant defensive lineman. Los Angeles also had NFL's best special-teams units, with Pro Bowlers at every skill position. Turnaround season ended quickly with home playoff loss to postseason-tested Atlanta.
THEY NEED: LB, DL, OL Ryan Tannehill Jersey , WR.
THEY DON'T NEED: QB, RB, DB.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: T Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh; LB Tegray Scales, Indiana; LB-DE Rasheem Green, Southern California; LB Shaquem Griffin, UCF.
OUTLOOK: For second straight year, Rams don't have first-round pick. They sent this one to New England for WR Brandin Cooks, and they'll be thrilled if Cooks becomes No. 1 deep threat as expected. They also don't have second-round pick, sent to Buffalo last summer for Sammy Watkins, last season's deep threat. Rams can only look for depth in draft, most obvious hole is in middle of defense after trading top tackler Alec Ogletree to New York Giants so they could fit veteran CB Aqib Talib under salary cap. Los Angeles needs tackle machine at linebacker, along with depth on D-line to supplement big stars.
Adidas Marc-Andre Fleury JerseyFormer Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema is now an assistant on the Patriots’ staff Jason Spriggs Jersey , his first job in the NFL after a quarter century coaching in college. He doesn’t think he’ll go back.
Bielema says he’s so thoroughly enjoying the all-football focus of working for Bill Belichick that he isn’t eager to return to a college campus.
“The thing I love about football in the NFL is you go to work at 6 a.m. and you leave at 9 [p.m.] and it’s nothing but football,” Bielema told CBS Sports. “It’s just purely football.”
Bielema was head coach at Arkansas for five years and at Wisconsin for seven years. Prior to that he was defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, co-defensive coordinator at Kansas State and linebackers coach at Iowa. The NFL Kenneth Dixon Jersey , he has learned, is something else.
“It’s a whole different way to coach [in the NFL],” Bielema said. “I understand once they go to that level P.J. Williams Jersey , coaches don’t ever go back. One of the most ‘a-ha’ moments was one of the first drills I did during OTAs. I had 11 [defensive] guys go through the drills. ‘Holy cow, these guys are good.’ These are the elite of your elite.”
The Patriots still haven’t announced what Bielema’s title will be, but whatever his job is Spencer Ware Jersey , he sounds like he wants to keep it for a long time.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden says wide receiver Josh Doctson is OK after landing hard on his left shoulder.
Gruden said Thursday ”everything checked out fine” after an evaluation. The third-year receiver is expected to be held out of at least one practice, but Gruden insisted it’s not a problem.
Doctson got tangled up with cornerback Josh Norman during red-zone drills at training camp Thursday and left with trainers. He posted on Twitter that he was OK.
Achilles’ tendon soreness robbed the 2016 first-round pick of most of his rookie season. But he played every game last year and had 35 catches for 502 yards and six touchdowns. Even with the addition of Paul Richardson Mike Pouncey Jersey , the Redskins expect significant contributions from Doctson with new quarterback Alex Smith.
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They pushed the pace with speed and skill when Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom were part of the ”Young Guns.” They made every game a coin flip with tight, Dale Hunter hockey. Each time, an early exit followed.
This year is different. Suddenly, the Capitals are a suffocating defensive team that clogs the middle of the ice and makes even the fastest of opponents look slow.
The Vegas Golden Knights are the latest to get frustrated by Washington’s neutral-zone pressure that took a toll on Columbus, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, paving the way for this run to the Stanley Cup Final. After cruising through three rounds with ease, nothing looks easy right now for Vegas because the Capitals have mastered the art of frustration, and are two wins away from hoisting the Cup for the first time.
”Offensive teams have certain tendencies, certain routes that they take through the neutral zone, plays they like to make, so if you can be on top of them and turn over some pucks, stifle them, make it hard for them to gain entry with possession, that frustrates skilled players,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said Sunday. ”If you can be in their face, just standing in the way, it’s amazing what that does.”
It’s amazing the transformation the Capitals have made since coach Barry Trotz challenged players late in the regular season to embrace this approach. It was clear as early as Game 4 of the first round that the 1-1-3 trap in the neutral zone had the ability to essentially shut down the opposing attack, and since the first two playoff games Washington is 10-2 when scoring first.
The Golden Knights have found how difficult it is to try to come back against the Capitals and need to adjust quickly down 2-1 in the Cup Final going into Game 4 Monday night. They have to make some adjustments before it’s too late.
”Our guys who have a lot of speed can go back deeper Jaleel Scott Jersey , gather some speed,” winger David Perron said. ”Then the defensemen can try to freeze the first forechecker, kick it wide. These guys coming with speed, if they’re confronted, which they will be most times at the blue line, you can put it in and go on the forecheck. You can have guys hang close to the right wing or up top, and as the puck is coming your way, win the one-on-one battle with support. … We also have to try to not let them set up, so if there’s a turnover, a quick one, we can punt it up, go back on offense.”
The Penguins and Lightning tried that and couldn’t crack the Capitals well enough to advance.
”They’re really good at slowing you down,” Lightning forward J.T. Miller said during the Eastern Conference final. ”Right when you want to just chip it and go, there’s a guy, there’s a wall there, and guys are ready to go back and get it on the other side. … It’s just their ability to stand up and make you force plays because it looks like there’s more ice than there is, and then all of a sudden they do a good job of staying in front and retrieving pucks.”
Vegas is built on speed, but it’s hard to harness it if players can’t get blue line to blue line with the puck to create any offense. When the Capitals took a lead in Game 3 Bart Starr Jersey , they went into their now-patented scheme.
”It’s just kind of a group mentality to make life difficult on them,” winger Tom Wilson said. ”I think that’s when we’re at our best as a team is when we’re playing physical, we’re taking away time and space, making it difficult on their top guys.”
That difficulty wears on a team, and Trotz said it’s noticeable when an opponent tries to change its game and manage the puck differently to counterbalance the trap. When it works effectively, not only does it limit changes against, but it creates the kind of odd-man rushes that have paced Washington’s offense this postseason.
”It’s important to recognize moments when you can pressure, and we don’t want to get away from that, where we can send two guys and try to force teams into mistakes,” Niskanen said. ”If you can hold either the red line or the blue line with layers of support, you can force teams into turnovers, and we’ve done a good job of that.”
—
More Stanley Cup coverage: Nick Foles did his best Tom Brady impersonation, leading a late-game comeback to cap a season that began as a backup and ended as Super Bowl MVP.
Foles’ journey mirrored Brady’s 16 years ago and ended late Sunday night, with green-and-white confetti falling as delirious Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrated their first NFL title since 1960.
No quarterback has gone from backup to title game MVP in one season since Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe in the 2001 season. Foles topped the 40-year-old Brady, football’s greatest winner, in the most prolific offensive game in NFL history, with the Eagles defeating the favored New England Patriots 41-33.
Foles finished it off by engineering the type of game-winning drive that made Brady famous, and he watched his defense stop Brady to seal the victory and the Eagles first Super Bowl – their earlier titles came before the Super Bowl era.
”The stage was never too big for him all year Frank Clark Jersey ,” said Zach Ertz, who caught the game-winning 11-yard touchdown pass from Foles with 2:21 remaining. ”To get in a shootout with that guy on the other team is probably not ideal for anyone ever. The guy is the best quarterback to ever play the game.”
But on this night Brady played second fiddle to Foles despite throwing for a playoff record 505 yards. Foles was nearly as prolific with 373 yards and three touchdown passes and also caught a TD pass for the Eagles (16-3). Brady dropped his own chance at a reception on a trick play by the Patriots (15-4).
That all added up to Foles becoming the first backup quarterback to win the Super Bowl since Brady beat two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner to win his first title 16 years ago.
Brady never gave up the job he got after Bledsoe got hurt early that season. He has gone on to win a record five Super Bowl titles. After throwing his third touchdown pass, to Rob Gronkowski, with 9:22 to play to give the Patriots their first lead of the game, he seemed poised for a sixth.
That’s when Foles stepped up with the drive of his life to give Philadelphia a championship in a season many wrote off after Carson Wentz injured his knee in Week 14.
Foles drove the Eagles 75 yards, converting a fourth-and-1 with a 2-yard pass to Ertz near midfield and then capping it with the pass to Ertz that needed to survive a replay review to make sure Ertz held onto the ball long enough for a score.
”It doesn’t get any bigger than this, but I felt good,” Foles said. ”I felt calm. I think the big thing that helped me was knowing that I didn’t have to be Superman. I have amazing teammates.”
One of those teammates delivered the key defensive play on a night when the offenses combined for 1,151 yards – the most in any modern NFL game. With Brady poised to lead one of his memorable comebacks, Brandon Graham knocked the ball out of his hand for a fumble that rookie Derek Barnett recovered with 2:09 to play.
”When the fourth quarter came we had to go out there and make a stop,” Graham said. ”As a defense we hadn’t been doing it all game. The offense carried us all the way through. At the end of the day we kept coming.”
Jake Elliott tacked on a field goal and the game ended when Brady’s desperation heave to the end zone fell to the turf, sending the Eagles out on the field in celebration and Brady to the ground in despair.
”I don’t think anyone wallows on our team,” Brady said. ”We’re a competitive team. Played hard. Didn’t make enough plays or score enough points.”
The questions after the game immediately turned to the future with Foles expected to return to the backup role when Wentz is healthy. In the other locker room, Brady was asked if he would come back for another run at age 41.
”I expect to be back,” he said. ”It’s 15 minutes after the game ended, so I would like to process this. I don’t see why I wouldn’t be back.”
Brady did just about all he could to win the game, with his most glaring miss coming as a receiver on a trick play in the first half when he dropped a pass from receiver Danny Amendola.
Foles topped him in that role with his touchdown late in the first half that made him the first player to catch and throw a TD pass in the same Super Bowl.
On fourth down from the 1, Foles motioned into the slot Rob Gronkowski Jersey , while rookie Corey Clement took a direct snap. Clement pitched to tight end Trey Burton, a former quarterback at Florida. Foles slid into the right side of the end zone, uncovered and caught the touchdown on a play coach Doug Pederson calls ”Philly Special.”
”Yeah, that was something we’ve been working on, and Doug and I were talking, and he was like, `Let’s just run it.’ It was a good time,” Foles said. ”And the end was a little wider than I thought, so I was like, `I really need to sell like I’m not doing anything.’
”And it worked, Trey made an amazing throw. I just looked it in and, yeah, we’ve repped it for a while, so I was excited to get it run in the Super Bowl.”
That gave the Eagles a 22-12 halftime lead but Brady led three straight second-half touchdown drives – two to Gronkowski. Foles kept pace with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Clement and another drive for a field goal that kept the Eagles in it until the dramatic finish.
”It kind of felt like whoever had the ball last could win this game, and we were just fortunate enough to put ourselves in a position to end the game with that drive for the touchdown,” Pederson said. ”Our defense stepped up and did a nice job to finish it for us.”
All that was l Authentic Womens Jaire Alexander Jersey
Really bad start.
Really good finish.
Paul George scored 27 points, Russell Westbrook got his 25th triple-double of the season and the Thunder ran wild in the fourth quarter on the way to wrapping up a Western Conference playoff berth with a 115-93 win over the Miami Heat on Monday night.
”Half the league gets a chance to play in the postseason,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. ”You don’t want to take things for granted. They should feel good about creating an opportunity to play after the regular season’s over, but the thing I said to them after the game was we want to continue to play well, we want to continue to build, we want to continue to get better.”
That’s what Oklahoma City did all season. They started 8-12, are 39-22 since and got road wins over Houston and Miami in a three-day span to clinch the berth.
”We’re headed in the right direction,” said George, who walked off a winner in Miami for the third time in 21 appearances. ”This is what we wanted. We wanted to come out of this road trip 2-0 and we did that.”
Westbrook finished with 23 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists for the Thunder, who missed their first 10 shots and were down by 18 in the opening minutes before outscoring the Heat 39-12 in the fourth.
It was the third-worst scoring margin for any quarter in Heat history, and the worst ever in a game at Miami.
The Heat were called for 10 fouls in the fourth against three for the Thunder, and Oklahoma City shot 15 free throws in the final quarter – one more than Miami shot in the entire game.
”We had a lot of good things going, and then I think it was a combination of them marching to the free-throw line and us not executing on the other end Tyeler Davison Jersey ,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Jerami Grant scored 17 points and Carmelo Anthony added 11 for Oklahoma City, which made 14 3-pointers. Anthony will be playing in postseason games for the first time since 2013, after four consecutive futile seasons with the Knicks.
”Feels good to be back in the postseason and the mindset of not looking forward to another vacation,” Anthony said.
Josh Richardson scored 18 points and Hassan Whiteside added 16 for the Heat, who fell one spot to No. 7 in the East for now. Miami’s playoff seed won’t be decided until the season finales Wednesday.
Justise Winslow and Tyler Johnson each scored 12 for Miami, and James Johnson added 11.
”We haven’t done things the easy way,” Heat guard Wayne Ellington said. ”I guess we like the challenge.”
TIP-INS
Thunder: Westbrook needs 16 rebounds in the Thunder finale Wednesday to average a triple-double for the second straight season. He’s also the second player with 2,000 points and 800 assists in back-to-back years. The other is Oscar Robertson, who did it five times. … Alex Abrines was held out of the second half with concussion symptoms.
Heat: Miami outscored Oklahoma City 58-32 in the paint. … The Heat shot 5 for 22 from 3-point range. … James Johnson got poked in the eye and Richardson banged a knee late, but both suggested after the game that they’ll be fine.
QUOTABLE
”We know we can beat anybody when we’re playing our best,” Westbrook said postgame.
WADE HONORED
Heat guard Dwyane Wade was presented with the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for March, recognizing his response to the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union donated $200,000 toward getting students to the ”March for Our Lives” event in Washington last month. ”I came back to this city at a time when I was needed Lee Roy Selmon Jersey , when my voice was needed,” Wade said.
TITLE WINNERS
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski sat midcourt with Heat CEO Nick Arison, his former manager with the Blue Devils. Coach K was one of three accomplished college coaches at the game; Rick Pitino was also there, near Donovan – who played guard on Providence’s 1987 Final Four team (coached by Pitino), and a two-time NCAA title winner at Florida before going to Oklahoma City.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Host Memphis on Wednesday.
Heat: Host Toronto on Wednesday.
—
Despite squandering a late lead, the San Jose Sharks still managed to keep winning.
Kevin Labanc scored the deciding goal in the fourth round of a shootout and San Jose beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on Monday night for its eighth straight victory.
Labanc almost pulled to a stop in front of Chicago goalie Anton Forsberg, faked and then lifted in a nifty backhander. Logan Couture also connected in the tiebreaker for the surging Sharks, whose winning streak is their longest in seven years.
”We found a way,” coach Peter DeBoer said. ”I don’t know any other way to put it.”
Chicago’s Patrick Sharp tied it at 3 with 2:22 left in the third period with a shot from the slot that hit Martin Jones‘ blocker and then tumbled into the net. Tomas Hertl had put the Sharks ahead 3-2 just 1:57 earlier with his 21st goal.
”It wasn’t pretty for a lot of it, but we found a way to win,” Jones said. ”We’ve been doing that a lot lately, so that’s a good sign.”
Jones might not have looked great on Sharp’s goal, but he made 28 saves through overtime and stopped three of four Blackhawks in the shootout. The veteran goalie came up with several point-blank saves in the third period and stoned Patrick Kane late in overtime.
”We wouldn’t be where we’re at (without Jones) and we sure wouldn’t have an eight-game winning streak,” DeBoer said. ”He’s been our best player a lot of nights in the last month.”
The Sharks solidified their grip on a playoff spot and home-ice advantage in the first round.
San Jose’s Evander Kane scored his 28th goal – his third in two games and eighth in 13 since being acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline. Marcus Sorensen also had a goal for the Sharks.
Rookie forward Alex DeBrincat had his 26th goal and an assist Shaq Mason Jersey , and Connor Murphy scored his second for the last-place Blackhawks, who have lost six of seven. Forsberg turned aside 35 shots through overtime.
”I thought we played pretty well,” DeBrincat said. ”We gave up a late goal, but we responded well.”
Eventually, the Sharks had more going for them.
”I thought there were some decent things,” Chicago coach Joel Quennevillle said, ”but they’re definitely playing well.”
Chicago center Victor Ejdsell made his NHL debut and started the game on a line between Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad. The 6-foot-5, 22-year-old Swede was acquired from Nashville on Feb. 26 in a trade that sent Ryan Hartman to the Predators.
Sorensen opened the scoring 9:15 in, sliding a one-timer under Forsberg’s right skate from the edge of the crease after taking Jannik Hansen’s centering pass.
DeBrincat and Murphy scored 1:18 apart late in the first to give Chicago a 2-1 lead.
DeBrincat fired in a rebound with 4:28 left in the period – and 12 seconds after a Chicago power play had lapsed – to cap a rush. Murphy then connected on a shot from the right point as San Jose defenseman Brenden Dillon screened Jones.
Evander Kane tied it at 2 with 3:21 left in the second, finishing a breakaway set up by Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook’s turnover inside the San Jose blue line. Set up by Mikkel Boedker’s stick, Evander Kane streaked in alone and beat Forsberg with a shot that trickled between the goalie’s legs.
In the third, Jones made a point-blank save on Artem Anisimov’s tip about eight minutes in. He denied Ejdsell and Hinostroza from the doorstep midway through the period.
After outbattling Chicago defenseman Erik Gustafsson on the right boards, Hertl sprinted to the net and beat Forsberg on the glove side to give San Jose a 3-2 lead with 4:19 left.
In overtime, Jones made a diving Derek Watt Jersey , close-in save on Patrick Kane with 1:20 left. Forsberg made a pad save on Evander Kane on a breakaway with 22 seconds to go.
NOTES: Sharks C Eric Fehr sat out with a lower-body injury, but Couture was back in the lineup after missing the end of San Jose’s 5-1 win over Calgary on Saturday with an illness. … Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (upper body) sat out his third game and forward Anthony Duclair (lower body) missed his eighth. Both are day to day. … The Sharks signed University of Denver forward Dylan Gambrell to an entry-level contract, one day after his college season ended with a loss to Ohio State in an NCAA regional final. Gambrell, 21, was a second-round pick by San Jose in 2016. … Chicago prospect and forward Dylan Sikura, who signed a two-year contact with the Blackhawks on Sunday after Northeastern University was eliminated from an NCAA regional, joined the team. The 22-year-old from Aurora, Ontario, is expected to make his debut Thursday against Winnipeg after immigration formalities are settled.
UP NEXT
Sharks: At the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday in the second of a four-game trip.
Blackhawks: Host the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday
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Harvey pitched six-hit ball into the seventh inning Richard Sherman Jersey , earning back-to-back wins for the first time this season and leading Cincinnati to a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
”A start like today where you’re facing a good lineup, and you don’t have your best stuff, and you grind through it, it’s a step in the right direction,” Harvey said.
Jesse Winker had three hits and two RBIs for last-place Cincinnati, which has won eight of nine. Scooter Gennett had two hits, including a run-scoring single in the ninth, and scored three times.
Harvey (3-5) allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings in his longest start since lasting seven innings with the New York Mets on April 21, 2017 Marshawn Lynch Jersey , against Washington.
”I was cruising,” Harvey said.
Harvey pitched out of trouble in the fourth when he allowed Tyler Flowers‘ run-scoring double before stranding two baserunners.
”The more he goes out there, the more comfortable I think he gets,” Gennett said. ”He’s able to command his pitches better and better … you can see that confidence going up. I’m just really happy he’s got an opportunity over here to get back to his normal self and it looks like he’s doing that.”
It was Harvey’s ninth start with the Reds after he was acquired in a trade with the Mets on May 8. He allowed two runs in a 6-2 win over the Cubs on Thursday.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said ”everything was crisp” in Harvey’s pitch selection.
”His breaking ball was really good tonight,” Snitker said. ”His fastball, his whole game, the whole thing was a lot better than the last time I saw him.”
The last time Harvey won consecutive starts was May 23 and May 28, 2017, for the Mets against the Padres and Pirates.
The Reds led 4-1 before Atlanta scored two runs in the eighth. Ender Inciarte reached on a single that bounced off Amir Garrett’s left leg J'Mon Moore Jersey , knocking him to the ground and out of the game. Ozzie Albies doubled before Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis produced run-scoring groundouts.
Raisel Iglesias recorded the final out in the eighth on Johan Camargo’s fly ball to right field with runners on first and second, and then pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
Anibal Sanchez (3-2) left with two outs in the fifth inning due to cramping in his right calf, but he is expected to make his next start. He allowed two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: X-rays on Garrett’s left leg were negative. Garrett tried to chase the deflection before falling to the ground in pain. ”At the time when it hit me, it hurt me pretty bad, I’m not going to lie,” Garrett said, adding ”my leg gave out.” He said he hopes to return ”in a day or two.”
Braves: RHP Arodys Vizcaino (right shoulder inflammation) has felt good playing catch and is expected to throw on the mound when the team begins a weekend series in St. Louis on Friday. If all goes well, Vizcaino could come off the 10-day DL on Sunday.
SHORT VISIT
Right-hander Lucas Sims was sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett only three days after his promotion. Matt Wisler was recalled from Gwinnett and allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings after replacing Sanchez in the fifth.
NEW ROLE
Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan is being moved to a relief role at Triple-A Louisville. ”We’ve just got to get him in a role where he can experience some success again,” president of baseball operations Dick Williams said.
TRAE’S PITCHING FORM
Atlanta Hawks first-round draft pick Trae Young threw out the first pitch . Young is best known for his 3-point shooting on the court Ereck Flowers Jersey , and he lofted a slow pitch that was caught in the left-handed batter’s box.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Luis Castillo (5-8, 5.70 ERA) will start in Wednesday’s finale of the three-game series. He allowed two runs in four innings in his only preview start against the Braves, an 8-1 loss on Aug. 20, 2017.
Braves: LHP Sean Newcomb (8-2, 2.59 ERA) is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against the Reds.
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The Buffalo Bills are shuffling punters by claiming Corey Bojorquez off waivers and releasing Colton Schmidt.
The Bills also claimed cornerback Ryan Lewis on Sunday, a week before Buffalo opens the season at Baltimore. Bojorquez and Lewis were claimed after being released by the New England Patriots over the past two days.
Bojorquez is an undrafted rookie free agent after spending the past two seasons at New Mexico. He earned honorable mention All-America honors last season by finishing fourth in the nation and setting a single-season school record by averaging 47.3 yards per punt.
He replaces Schmidt, who spent four seasons in Buffalo. Schmidt was cut despite ranking second on the team list with a career 44.1-yard gross punting average.
Lewis was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Pittsburgh last year, and spent the season on the Patriots' practice squad.
The Bills also began stocking their practice squad by signing eight players, all of whom were cut by the team a day earlier.
Buffalo signed safety Dean Marlowe Marlon Humphrey Jersey , receiver Cam Phillips, running back Keith Ford, linebacker Corey Thompson, cornerback Levi Wallace, defensive end Mike Love and offensive linemen Gerhard de Beer and De'Ondre Wesley.
Authentic Womens Lamar Jackson JerseyThe Philadelphia Inquirer reports that police officers were out Sunday afternoon rolling hydraulic fluid onto light poles to keep celebrating fans from climbing them in case of an Eagles victory.
Officers who declined to give their names reported greasing about 100 poles up and down Broad Street. They dubbed themselves the ”Pole Patrol” rather than the earlier ”Crisco Cops” that applied shortening that failed to stop some fans after the NFC championship victory.
Philadelphia’s police commissioner earlier vowed a safe but effective alternative before the big game. He said police had to assure the safety of fans ”as well as the people who they could fall down on.”
The Cowboys will have former Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough among their roster cuts today, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports. Scarbrough, a seventh-round pick Laquon Treadwell Jersey , had 24 carries for 69 yards — a 2.9 yards per carry average — and a touchdown during the preseason.
Scarbrough fell behind even Darius Jackson on the depth chart, but Jackson didn’t make the roster either, per Todd Archer of ESPN. Ezekiel Elliott and Rod Smith are the team’s running backs Nick Boyle Jersey , and the Cowboys also will use receiver Tavon Austin in the backfield.
The Dallas Morning News reports that the Cowboys also have informed defensive end Charles Tapper, a fourth-round pick in 2016, of his release.
The newspaper also has safety Jeron Johnson Jerick McKinnon Jersey , cornerback Marquez White and receiver Lance Lenoir among the team’s cuts.
White was a sixth-round choice in 2016.
Tapper and Lenoir are among the players the Cowboys hope to get back on their practice squad.
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