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It sure seems possible with Julio Jones in camp Albert McClellan Jersey , first-round pick Calvin Ridley ready to make an impact and – perhaps most important – a full season in the books with offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.

While Ryan put up his seventh straight year with more than 4,000 yards through the air, he didn’t come close to matching the best season of his career under previous coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

In 2017, Ryan’s yardage dipped significantly (4,944 to 4,095). So did his TDs (38 to 20) and quarterback rating (117.1 to 91.4). His interceptions went up (7 to 12).

Most tellingly, the Falcons went from leading the league in scoring (33.75 points per game) to a middle-of-the-pack 15th position (22.06). Coming off an MVP season, Ryan wasn’t even in the conversation for the league’s top player.

The slide in production had some people wondering if head coach Dan Quinn would give Sarkisian another chance .

But Quinn was mindful that Shanahan’s first season in Atlanta also was a bit of a struggle. He found his groove in 2016, overseeing a dynamic offense that helped carry the Falcons all the way to the Super Bowl and earn Shanahan his first head coaching job with the San Francisco 49ers.

”I’ve got a lot of confidence,” Ryan said of Year 2 with Sarkisian. ”Obviously, I think Sark is a lot more comfortable with the personnel, knowing what guys to use in certain situations. I think that just comes with experience. We all kind of have a feel for his flavor as well. I think he did a great job for us last year and will continue to do a great job this year.”

Quinn is certainly expecting a more comfortable relationship between Ryan and Sarkisian. For good measure Ed Dickson Jersey , the Falcons also hired Greg Knapp, a former Atlanta offensive coordinator, to serve as quarterbacks coach.

”Like most relationships, there’s probably some situations that you need to go through together,” Quinn said. ”OK, how did that person respond? How did he get through it? Generally as it goes, the communication improves.”

For a while, it looked as though Ryan might have to make do without one of the league’s top receivers .

Unhappy with his contract, Jones skipped offseason workouts in Atlanta as well as a mandatory minicamp. But on the eve of training camp, he agreed to report after the Falcons figured out a way to give him a bit more money this season, along with a promise to negotiate a new deal in 2019.

No one was more pleased than Ryan to have No. 11 on the receiving end of his throws.

”He’s the best teammate you could ask for,” Ryan said. ”He’s just a great worker and such a good teacher for the young guys Kurt Coleman Jersey , too.”

Jones is already spreading his knowledge to Ridley , who is expected to take over the third receiver role filled so ably the past two years by Taylor Gabriel.

Ryan is impressed by what he’s seen so far from the rookie.

”He’s a talented player who can do a lot of different things,” Ryan said. ”Certainly through the offseason and through the first couple of days of camp, he showcased his talent level. I kind of see him having a really good year for us and really fitting in with the receiving corps that we have.”

Ryan certainly has no complaints about his contract. He expects to remain with the Falcons for the rest of his career after signing a new five-year, $150 million deal, the most lucrative in NFL history and the first with $100 million in guaranteed earnings.

To justify all that money, Ryan is focused on being more efficient in the red zone. Far too many times last season, the Falcons settled for field goals instead of touchdowns after driving inside the 20-yard line.

In the early days of training camp, the team already looks much crisper in those situations.

”A point of emphasis for us is improving in the red area, so we can have more touchdowns than we did last year,” Ryan said. ”We’ve got a lot of work to do before the season, but it’s a good start.”

With Jones Donald Penn Jersey , Ridley and Mohammad Sanu catching passes, an offensive line bolstered by the signing of free-agent guard Brandon Fusco, and a dynamic backfield duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, Ryan certainly has plenty of options at his disposal.

Enough to play like an MVP.

”We’ve got a really, really scary offense,” Freeman said.

Notes: The Falcons agreed to terms with OL Kendall Calhoun, LB Jonathan Celestin and WR Colby Pearson. All three players were undrafted out of college. To make room on the roster, team has waived S Jason Hall, DB Terrance Parks and FB Daniel Marx. … Quinn split up his players Monday’s practice, essentially creating two teams roughly the size of a regular-season roster, even putting offensive line coach Chris Morgan and defensive coach Jerome Henderson in charge of the squads. ”We wanted to create some game-like, stressful situations to really evaluate the players in that environment Joe Thuney Jersey ,” Quinn said.

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In 12 NFL seasons, Brandon Marshall has never been to the playoffs.

Now, he’s joining a team that would conceivably give him a chance.

Marshall sent out word via Instagram today that he had joined the Seahawks. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that it’s a one-year deal, worth a maximum of $2 million if he hits all his incentives.

The 34-year-old wide receiver was released by the Giants this offseason, after playing just five games last year because of an ankle injury. He’s a few years removed from peak productivity, but caught 109 passes for 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Jets in 2015.

The Seahawks are in the midst of a considerable retooling, and clearly needed to reinforce their offense after a number of offseason departures including wide receiver Paul Richardson.

Instead, they became one of the biggest winners at the NHL draft by acquiring 23-year-old forward Elias Lindholm and 21-year-old defenseman Noah Hanifin in a five-player trade with Carolina on Saturday. It cost the Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton, winger Micheal Ferland and prospect Adam Fox, but they got younger and may have restored their lineup to its rightful order.

Lindholm is a natural center, but could be the perfect fit on Calgary’s first line alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Moving Hamilton will allow T.J. Brodie to slide back on to the first defensive pairing with Mark Giordano, while Hanifin could benefit from playing with those veterans on the blue line.

”I think Noah is just scratching the surface,” general manager Brad Treliving said. ”We’ve got some guys on the blue line who can produce. We also want guys who want to be in Calgary. Both players talking today Bob Griese Jersey , in Elias and Noah, they’re excited to get out there.”

Beyond the Flames, here are some more winners and losers from the NHL draft:

WINNER: PHILIPP GRUBAUER

After lifting the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals, Grubauer was traded to the Colorado Avalanche where he’ll initially split time with Semyon Varlamov but should take over as the starter after next season. Grubauer signed a $10 million, three-year contract in the biggest payday of his career.

LOSER: NEW YORK ISLANDERS

They got strong value in first-round picks Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson, but didn’t agree to terms on a new deal with John Tavares before he could begin meeting with other teams Sunday. Tavares will host five teams in the coming days and could become a free agent July 1, which would be devastating for the Islanders.

”I have no disappointment Alex McGough Jersey , no discouragement,” GM Lou Lamoriello said. ”He’s earned every right to make whatever choice he has. The most important thing is that we hope in the end that he’s an Islander.”

WINNER: BUFFALO SABRES

After years of wandering and floundering, the Sabres have a franchise defenseman in No. 1 pick Rasmus Dahlin. This was set in stone in April when Buffalo won the lottery, but the organization will get an up-close look at the Swedish playmaker at prospect camp and has every reason to be excited about the future.

”He’s a young player, he’s 18 years old, there’s high expectations down the road,” GM Jason Botterill said. ”But it’s going to be imperative to us to protect him Jimmy Graham Jersey , put him in and put him in the right situations so he can have success.”

LOSER: ENTERTAINMENT

The only trades involving NHL players were the deal by Carolina and Calgary and the Capitals trading Grubauer and defenseman Brooks Orpik to Colorado. None of the top 10 picks changed hands, and most of the two days went off without drama.

WINNER: ILYA KOVALCHUK

The Kontinental Hockey League’s leading scorer and Olympic MVP had plenty of suitors and wound up agreeing to a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings worth $6.25 million a season. The 35-year-old is returning to the NHL on the same deal Patrick Marleau got from the Toronto Maple Leafs a year ago, which is a coup for Kovalchuk.

LOSER: MONTREAL CANADIENS

Rumors persisted about Montreal trading captain Max Pacioretty or even acquiring center Ryan O’Reilly from Buffalo. Neither move happened, leaving Marc Bergevin with a lengthy to-do list after already trading Alex Galchenyuk to Arizona for Max Domi.

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Steelers guard Ramon Foster will soon begin his 10th season with the team. Some think it could be his last.

Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review explains that the Steelers could choose to go with B.J. Finney in 2019. Finney will be a restricted free agent; Foster, who is in the final year of his current contract, will be an unrestricted free agent.

Foster is under contract for 2018, at a base salary of $2.675 million and a cap charge of $3.591 million.

He joined the Steelers in 2009 Joe Williams Jersey , the first season after the team’s most recent Super Bowl win. He became a full-time starter in 2011, missing only eight regular-season games in seven seasons.

Foster also has started 11 postseason games, including Super Bowl XLV.

Tom Brady has survived yet another trip around the sun.

He’s 41 as of today Kenny Clark Jersey , a rare starting quarterback still functioning at a high level a year into his fifth decade, and still (supposedly) determined to play until he’s 45.

Whether he means it remains to be seen. For the past few years, I’ve believed that Brady simply wants to never have a Jeter-style farewell season, for a variety of reasons. Brady instead wants to be done when he’s done, with no advance warning or notice. Saying he intends to play longer than he actually plays would be the only practical way to pull it off.

Some think that he’ll walk away with one more Super Bowl win. Others think he’s got two years left, Super Bowl win or not. Both positions assume that he’ll ultimately be able to walk away on his own terms.

As a league source pointed out a year or so ago, the thing to watch with Brady isn’t his arm but his legs. Although when he decides to go vertical he looks like he’s chasing a kid who just stole his skis J'Mon Moore Jersey , Brady continues to have the ability to adroitly and effectively move and slide in the pocket, avoiding pressure and ducking big hits. The moment he can’t do that is the moment his performance begins to crumble, with every game becoming like one of those rare games when the defensive line gets to Brady early and often enough to make him look mortal.

He definitely is mortal. And he definitely won’t continue to play football indefnitely. I think.

Either way, happy birthday.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t talk like someone eyeing the finish line.

If anything, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is doing what he can to push it further into the distance.

The 36-year-old overhauled his diet in preparation for his 15th season and points to the lack of time spent in the trainer’s room during camp as proof the choices he’s made are working.

Asked if he feels rejuvenated and Roethlisberger nods.

“I really like where this team is,” the two-time Super Bowl winner said. “I think if you didn’t have a good feeling about this team it probably wouldn’t be as exciting, but I am excited about this group.”

The feeling George Fant Jersey , however, could be fleeting. Eight months removed from a stunning home playoff loss to Jacksonville , the Steelers are well aware the missed opportunities in recent seasons are starting to pile up. While Pittsburgh has reached the postseason in each of the past four years, the Steelers have just three playoff victories to show for it.

Though Pittsburgh is heavily favored to win a third consecutive AFC North title, the window that once seemed so wide open could be starting to close. All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell is likely playing his final season in black-and-gold after failing to come to terms on a new contract. The offensive line features three Pro Bowlers but also three starters in their 30s.

While Roethlisberger downplays any additional sense of urgency — he’s been around long enough to know that any season that doesn’t end with a victory parade through downtown Pittsburgh in early February is considered a disappointment — he’s also well aware the standard coach Mike Tomlin mentions so frequently has not been met.

“Winning games can lead to Super Bowl opportunities is always our ultimate goal,” he said. “There are 31 other teams doing the same, but that needs to be our singular focus.”

A focus that was lacking at times in 2017 even as the Steelers rolled to a 13-3 record.

There was the national anthem debacle in Chicago. The drama surrounding enigmatic wide receiver Martavis Bryant. The late season decision to cut linebacker James Harrison. The devastating spinal injury to budding star linebacker Ryan Shazier. Social media chatter of a rematch with New England in the AFC title game Josh Jones Jersey , chatter that looked foolish after the Jaguars beat the Steelers at Heinz Field for the second time in four months.

The front office has done what it can to limit the distractions heading into 2018. Bryant was traded to Oakland. Harrison is retired. Longtime quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner takes over as offensive coordinator for Todd Haley. Shazier is walking again and serving as a de facto coach/scout as his body continues to recover.

The message could not be clearer: the team that’s built to win now needs to win. Now.

“Time is running out for everybody,” center Maurkice Pouncey said. “I know it’s all fun and games for everybody at the beginning but man it’s time to win. It’s been too long.”

Other things to look for as Pittsburgh vies for a fifth consecutive playoff berth for only the third time in franchise history:

REMODELED BACK END: The Steelers gave the secondary a massive overhaul after the Jaguars lit them up for 45 points in January, drafting safety Terrell Edmunds in the first round and signing veteran Morgan Burnett from Green Bay. The goal is to reduce the number of big plays allowed. Pittsburgh gave up 13 passes of more than 40 yards, tied for third-most in the league. Burnett’s sure tackling will help in the run game and Pittsburgh believes third-year safety Sean Davis‘ athleticism will allow him to be an effective center fielder at free safety.

FLIP FLOP: Pittsburgh exercised the fifth-year option on the contract of outside linebacker Bud Dupree in the offseason, a sign it believes the 2015 first-round pick’s best days are ahead of him despite uneven results in his first three years. The Steelers moved Dupree from the left side to the right side in the spring, confident he’ll be a more effective pass rusher attacking the quarterback’s blind side. Either way, Dupree understands he’s still in the “prove it” mode in his career and needs to become more consistent at a position that’s long been a focal point in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense.

BELL’S BET: There may not be a player in the NFL with more at stake in 2018 than Bell. The 26-year-old believes he’s in a class by himself among running backs and wants to be paid accordingly. He’ll make $14.4 million this season playing under his one-year franchise tender Dion Dawkins Jersey , but thinks he’ll be even more valuable on the open market next spring. Bell shouldn’t lack for opportunities to show he’s worth a massive payday. He led the NFL in touches last season and Tomlin could opt to use him even more extensively knowing he’ll be out the door in the spring.

TIGHT SPOT: The Steelers are still trying to find a legit heir to tight end Heath Miller, who quietly stepped away in the spring of 2016. While Jesse James has evolved into a solid complementary player, Vance McDonald is the closest thing to a complete package Pittsburgh has at a vital position. One problem: McDonald has struggled to stay on the field. He missed practically all of camp with a foot injury. The Steelers need him to be a factor in the passing game to help take some of the attention off Brown and second-year wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Senzatela worked out of a first-inning jam en route to throwing seven scoreless innings in his first start of the season Lorenzo Carter Jersey , Nolan Arenado hit his National League-leading 22nd home run and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 8-1 on Tuesday night.

Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon had three hits, including his first homer since June 20. Trevor Story had an RBI triple for the Rockies, who have won five of their last six games.

D.J. LeMahieu added a run-scoring double for Colorado, which has beaten the Giants in 14 of the past 16 games at Coors Field dating to Sept. 7, 2016.

Senzatela, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Albuquerque, struck out four and walked none while limiting the Giants to three hits but two of them came in the first inning. He got out of the two-on, two-out jam by retiring Pablo Sandoval, getting him to pop-out on a 2-0 changeup.

”To get out of that inning with a zero, stranding those runners, was huge,” Senzatela said through a translator. ”I settled down pretty nicely and I’m glad I gave the team a chance to win.”

Arenado said Senzatela’s ability to work out of first inning trouble helped set the tone for the rest of the game.

”Getting out of that first inning with no runs was huge,” Arenado said. ”I feel like sometimes we always give up a run in the first and lately they haven’t. He was just great Frank Gore Jersey , pounding the zone, throwing strikes getting ahead of guys. It was awesome. Our pitching in general lately has been huge for us and I think that’s why lately we have been playing better.”

Senzatela started in the spot vacated by struggling Jon Gray, who started for the Rockies in their season opener but was optioned to Albuquerque last weekend.

Senzatela (3-1) made the team out of spring training and began the season in the Rockies’ bullpen before being optioned on May 2 to Albuquerque, where he went 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA in eight starts prior to his recall. As a rookie last season, Senzatela had most of his success as a starter, going 10-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 20 starts.

Chris Stratton (8-6) went 5 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs on 11 hits, including Blackmon’s solo shot in the first inning as well as Arenado’s three-run drive.

”His fastball command wasn’t real sharp tonight,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ”Fastballs missed their spots there. That’s usually his forte, he commands it so well. He threw some good fastballs to Arenado and the changeup stayed in the middle. He wasn’t real sharp with his command. He threw strikes but he needed to work the edges.”

The Giants broke through for a run on Alec Hanson’s RBI single in the eighth off reliever MikeDunn.

The Giants were trailing 3-0 when Arenado broke the game open in the fifth with a three-run homer. Stratton walked LeMahieu to start the inning and Blackmon singled before Arenado drove a 3-2 offering over the left-center field wall.

GIANTS NEMESIS

Arenado has driven in 90 runs in 100 career games against the Giants, the second most among active players. Matt Kemp leads with 93 career RBIs against the Giants. Said Arenado: ”I think they bring out the best in all of us. They bring out the best in me – three World Series rings and they’ve always been one of the top tier teams in our division. It’s always a tough place to play and I always want to beat them because I always feel like they’ve beaten us in the past, a lot.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: The team’s starting rotation is nearing full strength again. Manager Bruce Bochy said that RHP Johnny Cueto is slated to be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on Thursday, when he’s scheduled to start against the St. Louis Cardinals. Cueto was placed on the DL, retroactive to April 29 Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey , because of a right elbow sprain. RHP Jeff Samardzija is slated to start Saturday’s game against St. Louis after being reinstated from the 10-day DL. Samardzija went on the DL after leaving a May 30 start against Colorado following one inning due to tightness in his pitching shoulder.

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis has gone on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on his right middle finger. Bettis left his last start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers after three innings because of the finger injury. Senzatela was recalled from Albuquerque to fill Bettis’ roster spot and started Tuesday against the Giants in the place of RHP Jon Gray, who was optioned Saturday to Albuquerque.

UP NEXT

Giants: LHP Andrew Suarez (3-4, 4.18 ERA) is coming off a strong outing in which he allowed one run on seven hits over six innings in a 2-1 win against Arizona.

Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (5-3, 4.23 ERA) has gone 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA in eight previous starts at Coors Field this season.

The fadeaway.

With cold-blooded precision, James worked the 24-second shot clock down to single digits before sinking one fadeaway after the next in Game 2 on Thursday night, each swish pushing the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference closer to ending a season that was supposed to conclude differently.

Instead, it’s a replay: another Raptors extinction is expected.

Back from LeBronto, as some have nicknamed Canada’s multi-cultural metropolis, James and the Cavaliers – featuring a rejuvenated Kevin Love – will host Game 3 on Saturday night. They look to tighten their stranglehold on a semifinal series that has gotten away from the Raptors.

In the East’s other semifinal, the Philadelphia Sixers are trusting their process – and that Ben Simmons will shake off a horrible performance in Game 2 – before they fall into their own 3-0 hole against a Boston Celtics team that added a spectacular comeback to a season of overcoming long odds. Boston wiped out Philly’s 22-point lead on Thursday to open a 2-0 lead.

For the Raptors, this is all so familiar, so painful.

They insist that the magnificent James Brandon Fusco Jersey , who has won eight straight playoff games against the Raptors and eliminated Toronto from the past two postseasons, is not in their heads. That’s what the Raptors are saying; they might not believe it.

After James dropped shots and jaws with 43 points on 28 shots with 14 assists and eight rebounds in Game 2, All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan insisted the Raptors will fight back.

”It’s the first one to win four,” he said. ”It’s not over.”

History begs to differ.

James is 21-0 in playoff series in which he has held a 2-0 lead, and the 33-year-old seems intent on dispatching the Raptors for a third straight postseason and maybe get to his eighth straight Finals.

”When he retires, that’s what you admire what he’s done,” said Toronto coach Dwane Casey. ”Right now he’s the enemy and we’ve got to do a better job of not being part of history. We’ve got to make LeBron work harder for his catches and work harder for some of his possessions. You’ve got to live with something. Some of those shots are indefensible.”

A closer look at Saturday’s games:

CELTICS AT 76ERS

Boston leads 2-0. Game 3, 5 p.m. EDT, ESPN

NEED TO KNOW

The Sixers are headed back to the Wells Fargo Center where they won 30 regular-season games and two more in a first-round playoff series over Miami. Philly won a franchise-record 16 straight games to close the season, so a comeback isn’t totally out of reach. But history – and a Celtics team clicking – is working against the Sixers. Boston has won all 36 playoff series when it has a 2-0 lead.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Simmons. He was a leading contender for rookie of the year and a regular threat to notch a triple-double. But where was he in Game 2 when he failed to score a field goal for the first time? Simmons said he was ”overthinking.” Perhaps his mind was racing from Boston’s physical defense, which kept him from driving to the basket and forced him into five turnovers.

INJURY UPDATE

Jaylen Brown returned to the Celtics after sitting out the opener with a strained right hamstring. He came off the bench and played 25 minutes, scoring 13 points and grabbing four rebounds.

PRESSURE IS ON

Sixers coach Brett Brown. The playoffs are about adjustments and he needs to make one to free Simmons from Boston’s defensive clutches. If Simmons continues to struggle, Brown may have to stick with backup point guard T.J. McConnell Ryan Fitzpatrick Jersey , who sparked the Sixers with eight points, five assists and two steals in 17 minutes of Game 2.

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RAPTORS AT CAVALIERS

Cleveland leads 2-0. Game 5, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

NEED TO KNOW

James continues to ascend and astound. He’s averaging 34.4 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 41.7 minutes in his 13th postseason. He has led Cleveland in points and assists in 10 consecutive playoff games, tying Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson for the longest such streak in postseason history.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Toronto’s defense on James and Love, who scored 31 in Game 2. Casey has to try something new to slow down James because nothing is working. His ability to post up creates a dilemma: guard him with one player and he gets to the rim; double-team him and risk him finding an open teammate for an uncontested shot.

The Raptors need to force some mistakes after the Cavs had a franchise playoff record-low three turnovers in Game 2.

INJURY UPDATE

Both teams are relatively healthy.

PRESSURE IS ON

DeRozan and Raptors guard Kyle Lowry. They’ve spent the past two years chasing and not catching James. The only way for the Raptors not to be considered pretenders again is for them to dethrone King James and they’re running out of time.

Four of the highly rated quarterbacks in this crop also will be at AT&T Stadium – Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson and Josh Rosen. Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield has chosen not to attend.

Barkley and Chubb are projected to go in the top five picks.

The other AP All-Americans planning to be on hand April 26 are Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson Logan Paulsen Jersey , Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, and Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward.

Also attending will be UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin. Griffin, the American Athletic Conference defensive player of the year, had his left hand amputated when he was 4.

The NFL said Thursday that other draft-eligible players attending will be:

Louisville CB Jaire Alexander, Florida DT Taven Bryan Jarius Wright Jersey , Texas-San Antonio DE Marcus Davenport, Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds, Alabama LB Rashaan Evans, LSU RB Derrius Guice, Florida State S Derwin James Oren Burks Jersey , UCLA T Kolton Miller, Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch, Washington DT Vita Vea, and Texas T Connor Williams.

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The Carolina Panthers are keeping their kicking game intact.

The Panthers announced Tuesday they have signed Pro Bowl kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract extension.

The deal is worth $17 million overall with $9 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the financial terms of the contract have not been publicly released.

Gano was set to become an unrestricted free agent and the team had considered using the franchise tag on him Trevor Williams Jersey , but came to an agreement just hours before the deadline to use the tag.

The 30-year-old Gano is coming off his best NFL season, converting all 29 field goals from inside of 50 yards and 29 of 30 overall. He made 34 of 37 extra points.

Gano also set a franchise record and tied the NFL postseason record with his 58-yard field goal in a Wild Card playoff loss at New Orleans.

He’s spent the last six seasons in Carolina.

The Panthers drafted Harrison Butker in the seventh round last year providing Gano with some competition. But Gano outkicked Butker in training camp and held on to the job. Gano went on to lead the NFL with a touchback percentage of 85.4, belting a franchise-record 70 of his kickoffs into the end zone.

Butker was cut and later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

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 Womens James Washington Jersey

Now he can’t wait to see what they do back home in Winnipeg with a chance at history.

The franchise that just won its first playoff series in the first round is heading home for Game 6 with a chance to eliminate the Presidents’ Trophy winners and clinch Winnipeg’s first berth in the Western Conference final.

”It’s going to be awesome Jerry Rice Jersey ,” Hellebuyck said. ”Our home fans have been waiting for this for a while.”

Kyle Connor had two goals and an assist as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Nashville Predators 6-2 on Saturday night to grab a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven conference semifinal.

Jets captain Blake Wheeler said they have a little bit of experience with a chance to close out an opponent. Winnipeg ousted Minnesota in five games in the first round.

”We’re going to have to play our best game of the year,” said Wheeler, who had three assists. ”This is a team that doesn’t go away. We’ve played them 10 times now this year and they fight to the very end every single game. We have a ton of respect for how hard they play every night.”

Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist, and Paul Stastny and Mathieu Perrault also scored as the Jets got four goals on 14 shots in the second period. Nikolaj Ehlers added two assists.

Yannick Weber and Ryan Johansen each scored for Nashville. The Predators have not won consecutive games since taking a 2-0 lead over Colorado to start the playoffs, but defenseman P.K. Subban insisted they will be back for a Game 7.

”We’ve got a ton of experience in here,” Subban said. ”We’ve had our backs against the wall before. Like I said, we’re going to go to Winnipeg, we’re going to win a game, we’re going to come back here. Every single guy in here believes that.”

Nashville coach Peter Laviolette noted his Predators have won in Winnipeg before. They won 2-1 Thursday night to tie up the series at 2-2.

”The plane’s already booked, and we were ready to go,” Laviolette said. ”There’s no group that I’d rather be with to win one hockey game than this group.”

Pekka Rinne Justin Jones Jersey , Nashville’s Vezina Trophy finalist, was pulled for the third time this postseason after giving up six goals on 26 shots.

Lady Antebellum became the latest star act to handle the U.S. anthem, and the Grammy-winning trio missed part of the lyrics. But Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton waved the rally towel, and one of first catfish to hit the ice was tossed by Caleb Daniel, a 5-year-old Predators fan with a new heart.

Laviolette switched his lines again, swapping out Scott Hartnell for Kevin Fiala. This change didn’t work.

Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice brought back Perrault on the third line after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.

The Predators had plenty of great scoring chances while outshooting the Jets 11-7. Only a great performance by Hellebuyck kept it scoreless through the first period for the first time in this series.

”It starts with Connor,” Connor said of Hellebuyck. ”He’s been the backbone the whole year. He played great again tonight.”

They made up for that in the second. Patrik Laine helped get the Jets on the board with a shot that deflected off Stastny’s right hand and past Rinne at 7:44. Defenseman Yannick Weber tied it up for Nashville with a wrister from the left circle at 11:08.

Then the Jets scored two of their next three goals 2:05 apart.

First, Connor scored off the rebound of a shot by Scheifele with 7:30 left for his first postseason goal, then Rinne lost his stick in a scrum in the crease. The puck squirted out, and Byfuglien scored with a slap shot for a 3-1 lead with 5:25 remaining. Connor made it 4-1 with a wrister from the slot with just under three minutes to go.

The period seemed to be slipping further away from Nashville when Viktor Arvidsson went to the box for slashing. But Johansen scored his fifth goal this postseason with 2:01 remaining for the first short-handed goal of his career in the postseason.

The Jets made it 5-2 just 28 seconds into the third, stifling any Nashville rally when Scheifele scored his ninth goal this postseason from the slot. Perreault capped the scoring at 6:23 to chase Rinne for the second time this series.

NOTES: Nashville now is 0-4 when trailing after two periods this postseason. … Weber’s goal was the fourth of his career in the postseason and first with Nashville.

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Jon Lester won his fifth straight start Russell Bodine Jersey , Javier Baez backed him with three hits and two runs, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Wednesday.

Lester (9-2) gave up five hits over seven innings. Baez had two doubles, a triple and a steal. He also made some solid plays at shortstop and second base.

Kyle Schwarber hit his 14th homer, and Kris Bryant added two hits and an RBI. And the Cubs handed Ross Stripling his first loss since April 30, taking two of three in a rematch of the past two NL Championship Series.

Lester walked three and struck out one batter. Anthony Bass worked the final two innings to finish the six-hitter.

Stripling (6-2) had won six straight starts. The right-hander went six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out seven without a walk.

YANKEES 7, MARINERS 5

NEW YORK (AP) – Giancarlo Stanton lined a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, and New York erased a five-run deficit to beat Seattle.

Gary Sanchez tied the score with a two-run homer against Alex Colome in the eighth, and the Yankees went on to complete their largest comeback victory of the season.

Didi Gregorius singled with two outs in the ninth and Stanton hammered an 0-2 breaking ball from reliever Ryan Cook (1-1). The drive traveled a projected 453 feet to left-center for Stanton’s first walk-off homer with the Yankees – his previous one came in April 2014 for the Marlins (also vs. Seattle).

New York is a season-high 27 games above .500 with the majors’ best record at 49-22.

Aroldis Chapman (3-0) pitched a perfect inning for the win.

The Mariners have lost three straight for the first time since April 17-19 against the World Series champion Astros.

ASTROS 5, RAYS 1

HOUSTON (AP) – Jose Altuve homered twice, including the last of three straight by the Astros in the sixth inning Shareece Wright Jersey , to lift Houston over Tampa Bay.

The game was tied in the bottom of the sixth when George Springer’s 15th homer made it 2-1. Two pitches later Alex Bregman sent an 87 mph slider from Rays starter Nathan Eovaldi (1-3) into the seats in left field for his 11th home run.

But the Astros weren’t done yet, as Altuve put one on the train tracks atop left field for the second time on Wednesday night to push the lead to 4-1. It was the first time the Astros hit three home runs in a row since May 2, 2008, when Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee did it against Milwaukee.

It was a welcome display of power for a team that managed just five singles in a 2-1 loss to the Rays on Tuesday night that snapped Houston’s 12-game winning streak. The win made the Astros the first team to reach 50 victories this season.

Houston starter Charlie Morton (9-1) allowed just two hits and one unearned run in six innings.

TWINS 4, RED SOX 1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Robbie Grossman and Max Kepler homered to back an effective start by Lance Lynn as Minnesota beat Boston.

Grossman led off the bottom of the first with a home run and Kepler added a two-run shot off David Price (8-5). Brian Dozier added a pair of doubles to help the Twins win for the fourth time in five games.

Lynn (5-5) again struggled with command, issuing five walks, but he gave up just one unearned run and three hits in five innings.

Four relievers combined for four scoreless innings, with Fernando Rodney securing his 16th save in 19 chances.

PHILLIES 4, CARDINALS 3

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Odubel Herrera hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning, Cesar Hernandez had a two-run shot and Philadelphia beat St. Louis.

Herrera ripped a 91 mph slider from Sam Tuivailala (1-3) off the scoreboard on the facing of the second deck in right field to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. Herrera has a homer in four straight games.

Yadier Molina hit a pair of homers for the Cardinals off Phillies starter Jake Arrieta.

Edubray Ramos (2-0) got five outs and Adam Morgan retired the last two batters with the tying run on second for his first career save. The Phillies took two of three to win a series against the Cardinals for the first time since August 2014.

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha left in the fourth with a left oblique strain.

INDIANS 12 Harry Carson Jersey , WHITE SOX 0

CLEVELAND (AP) – Corey Kluber became the first pitcher with 11 wins this season and Jose Ramirez and Jason Kipnis hit three-run homers in Cleveland’s victory over Chicago.

Reigning AL Cy Young winner Kluber (11-3) allowed only a second-inning single past third base by Omar Narvaez and a third-inning walk to Charlie Tilson in seven dominant innings. The right-hander struck out seven and retired the last 14 batters before giving way to George Kontos to begin the eighth. Josh Tomlin surrendered a double to Jose Abreu in the ninth before completing the combined two-hitter.

Kluber now has one more victory than Washington’s Max Scherzer and the Yankees’ Luis Severino.

Ramirez put the Indians ahead 3-0 in the first with his team-high 22nd home run off starter Reynaldo Lopez (2-5). He also extended his on-base streak to a career-high 28 games, scored three times and stole a base.

Kipnis’ three-run shot and Edwin Encarnacion’s two-run double were part of a six-run sixth against Bruce Rondon that pushed the lead to 11-0.

ATHLETICS 12, PADRES 4

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Light-hitting Franklin Barreto connected for a 424-foot, three-run home run, one of five long balls Oakland hit in routing San Diego.

Josh Phegley, Mark Canha, Matt Olson and Jed Lowrie also went deep for Oakland.

The A’s hit seven homers in sweeping the two-game series. Stephen Piscotty tied Tuesd Authentic Womens Denzel Ward Jersey

The announcement came Friday Alex Mack Jersey , the same day Indy opened its rookie mini-camp.

Nelson was selected No. 6 overall and is expected to start immediately at left guard.

The Colts also signed two of their four second-round picks – defensive ends Kemoko Turay and Tyquan Lewis.

Running backs Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins, receivers Daurice Fountain and Deon Cain and linebackers Matthew Adams and linebacker Zaire Franklin also agreed to deals.

Terms were not immediately available.

Indy still has two unsigned draft picks, linebacker Darius Leonard and guard Braden Smith.

The Colts also signed free agent receiver Kasen Williams, claimed defensive end Rakeem Nunez-Roches off waivers from Kansas City and waived outside linebacker Josh Perry and receiver DeAndre Smelter.

Williams played in 10 games and made two starts over the past two seasons with Cleveland and Seattle. He has 10 receptions fo4 92 yards and one carry for five yards in his career.

The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Nunez-Roches played in 34 career games and started 16 in three seasons with the Chiefs. Last year DeAndre Washington Jersey , he started 11 times and finished with a career-high 24 tackles. He had 23 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack in 2016.

Those moves follow signings earlier this week of free agent offensive linemen Austin Howard, a 6-7, 300-pound tackle who started 88 career games with four different teams, and 6-5 Laremy Tunsil Jersey , 236-pound defensive end Chris McCain, who has 34 tackles and seven sacks in his four-year career.

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Former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. has been arrested on charges of rape and other sex crimes on the day he was to appear in court on an unrelated burglary charge.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports sheriff's deputies arrested Winslow on Thursday at his home in the San Diego suburb of Encinitas.

The 34-year-old Winslow was charged with two counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping with intent to commit rape and single counts of forcible sodomy, oral copulation and indecent exposure. He's free after posting $50,000 bail.

Defense attorney Brian Watkins declined to comment to the Union-Tribune.

Winslow was due to appear in court Thursday after being charged with burglary following an incident last month at a mobile home park. He now faces arraignment Friday.

The son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Terron Armstead Jersey , the younger Winslow spent 10 seasons in the NFL from 2004-13 with Cleveland, Tampa Bay, New England and the New York Jets. The former University of Miami star had 469 catches for 5,236 yards and 25 touchdowns in 105 games.

Once NFL's highest-paid tight end, he was suspended in 2013 with the Jets for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. In November 2013 Stephone Anthony Jersey , he was arrested after a woman told police she saw him masturbating in a parked car outside of a New Jersey department store. Winslow was arrested for possession of synthetic marijuana, and the charge was dropped after he completed court-ordered terms.

Drafted No. 6 overall by Cleveland, he broke his right leg in his rookie season, then sustained a serious right knee injury in a motorcycle accident that offseason.

PHOENIX — Crack the door Michael Strahan Jersey , and these days the Arizona Diamondbacks will blow right through.

Three times in their last four games, Arizona has made an opponent pay and pay and pay for a blunder here or a miscue there.

The Diamondbacks did it again Tuesday, when they took advantage of three throwing errors in a six-run first inning for the impetus needed for a 13-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Chase Field. The game was not decided until Jon Jay’s three-run homer in the seventh inning, but the decisive first inning helped them build an 8-0 lead.

“Those are some of the characteristics of a good team, that when they sniff a little blood, they are going to go out there and execute,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “When you get second chances in this game, you have to take advantage. Our guys are ready for that.

“We talk about them (opponents) being in their most vulnerable state when they are making mistakes, and we have to be ready. It’s not a good feeling when you are on the (other) side of it and it is not going well. But when you are executing and fighting back a little bit Manti Te'o Jersey , it is very gratifying.”

Arizona right-hander Zack Greinke, who has lost only one of his last 25 starts at Chase Field, will oppose Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon in the final game of the series Wednesday.

The Pirates have lost eight straight series, and a failure to execute has hurt in the first two games of this series. They blew a 5-0 lead entering the seventh inning in a 9-5 loss Monday, when the Diamondbacks combined timely hitting and extra benefits, including hit batter, an infield error, two wild pitches and a balk.

First baseman Josh Bell and second baseman Josh Harrison had throwing errors and pitcher Trevor Williams made an errant pickoff throw in the first inning Tuesday around two singles and Ketel Marte’s two-out, two-run triple. Five of the six runs were unearned.

“We didn’t handle the ball like we needed to handle the ball Stefan Charles Jersey ,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “We weren’t able to execute defensively the way we needed to execute defensively. We’ve got work to do. We are not playing at the level we are capable of playing.”

Arizona scored six runs in the eighth inning of a 12-7 victory at Colorado on Saturday, capitalizing on a double-error by reliever Bryan Shaw early in the inning. Only one of those six runs was earned.

“That’s what you have to do,” said Jay, who had his first three hits in his fifth game with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. “When you have chances, you have to make the most out of the opportunities. We’ve been able to do that the last couple of days, and we just have to keep it going.

“I think that’s the mentality they have here. I saw that last year playing on the other side. That’s just the mentality you have to have.”

The Diamondbacks have scored 51 runs in their five-game winning streak, with heavy contributions from Paul Goldschmidt and Marte. Goldschmidt is hitting .477 with five homers and 12 RBIs in the last 11 games, with six multi-hit games. Marte is hitting .389 with 11 extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in the last 11. He hit his NL-leading seventh triple Tuesday.

Greinke (5-4, 3.53 ERA) has won his last two decisions and is 3-2 with a 2.96 ERA and a .229 opponents’ batting average since beating the Dodgers at Chase Field on April 30. He is undefeated at home this season Kyzir White Jersey , going 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in seven starts while continuing the success he had at home last year. Greinke was 13-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 18 home starts in 2017.

Greinke took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh at Chase Field last season, losing it when Gregory Polanco led off with a homer down the right-field line. Greinke struck out 11 and walked one in that game, his lone start against the Pirates last season. He is 7-3 with a 4.59 ERA in 11 career starts against the Pirates, about half of those games coming when he was with Milwaukee in 2011-12.

Taillon (3-5, 4.08) has been effective for the most part, but a few rocky outings this season caused his ERA to jump over 4.00. He has given up three runs or fewer in 10 of his 13 starts, but has given up five, seven and six in the other three.

After winning his first two decisions and giving up two earned runs in his first 20 2/3 innings, Taillon is 1-5 with a 5.36 ERA. He has not faced the Diamondbacks in his three seasons.

The sudden passing of Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano left the team with an opening at a key staff position. The Vikings will fill it with a pair of coaches.

The Vikings have announced that Clancy Barone and Andrew Janocko will serve as co-offensive line coaches. Barone previously served as the team’s tight ends coach. Janocko had been the assistant offensive line coach.

Former Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing will replace Barone as the tight ends coach. He previously spent 2001 through 2005 with the Vikings Kyle Murphy Jersey , in a variety of roles.

Coach Mike Zimmer, a defensive specialist, told PFT on Saturday that he’ll likely spend a extra time on the offensive side of the ball this year, due to the absence of Sparano. John DeFillippo is the team’s new offensive coordinator, replacing new Giants coach Pat Shurmur.

"I think the biggest thing is we're laying a foundation," said Wilks, who had the team assembled beginning last week for strength and conditioning work. "I wanted those guys to understand my vision, expectations."

Not much attention is paid to the Cardinals outside Arizona these days.

"Right now we're flying below the radar and that's great," he said Tuesday. "I like where we are, and I'll continue to start there until the time is right."

There is plenty going on inside the team's Tempe offices and meeting rooms. Wilks said he is busy trying to build relationships because "that's what it's all about."

Meanwhile, the defense is adjusting from the previous 3-4 scheme to the 4-3 Wilks used last year as defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. The offense, under the direction of coordinator Mike McCoy, is pretty much being invented from scratch around the abilities of running back David Johnson Joshua Garnett Jersey , wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and new quarterback Sam Bradford.

Bradford, with his injury history, will be brought along slowly.

"The biggest thing we're going to do with Sam is to make sure that he's ready to play 16-plus games," Wilks said. "I've seen what he can do over the years. I'm not concerned about trying to get him out there as quick as possible to throw the ball."

The coach said that he, along with the training and medical staff, have developed a plan for Bradford to follow.

"He knows his body more than us," Wilks said. "We're trying to make sure that we give him the things that he needs on a day-to-day basis to make sure that he feels healthy when he goes out there and he feels very confident about that. I feel great where he is right now. I think he's making great progress in what we're doing but once again we want to make sure that he's here for the long haul."

In the meantime, the new quarterback will have a voice in the shaping of the offense.

"With a veteran guy like Sam, he's going to have a lot of input in the things we're trying to do Spencer Ware Jersey ," Wilks said. "Most importantly, the guy's smart. He understands the game. He's played for a while. We want his input, most importantly, to be able to give him some accountability with this offense."

Wilks sat courtside with Fitzgerald at Sunday night's NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.

It's part of what Wilks called "up-close-and-personal time" he's had with the star receiver.

"He's everything that's advertised," Wilks said, "a true gentleman, a pillar not only of this community but a pillar of this league. It's great to have him back not only for his performance on the field but the things that he brings off the field as well. His leadership, his commitment to excellence, all those things are great."

Wilks commended the NFC West-rival Rams for their offseason moves.

"They're doing a tremendous job Tom Brady Jersey ," he said. "Look at some of the guys they've brought in this offseason."

He said it would be "a very competitive division."

"I'm going to keep the focus on us," he said. "I think when you really pull the layers back we have a lot of great talent as well."

Wilks has talked about holding some outdoor practices in training camp, a bit of a challenge considering the scorching desert heat of late July and August.

But he said he's experienced that heat, and he has associates relaying their experiences, as well.

"I'm listening to the stories people have been telling me," he said. "I'm saying we'll be outside, but we'll see."

Osuna has not pitched since May 6, two days before he was put on administrative leave when he was charged with one count of assault in Toronto.

Major League Baseball said Friday the suspension is retroactive to May 8 and covers 75 games. Osuna will wind up missing 89 days DeShone Kizer Jersey , which would cost him about $2.54 million of his $5.3 million salary.

”I don’t have much of a reaction other than you take what MLB does and trust that and live with that and let it go through its course,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said before Friday night’s road game against the Los Angeles Angels. ”We knew something was coming down. Actually, it took a while. Hopefully, it all gets worked out on both sides and everyone gets the help they need and everything works out fine.”

Osuna will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the joint policy board of MLB and the players’ association.

The 23-year-old Osuna is 0-0 with nine saves and a 2.93 ERA in 15 games this season. The righty was an All-Star last year, when he went 3-4 with 39 saves and a 3.38 ERA.

Asked if it was better the Blue Jays now knew the length of the penalty, Gibbons said: ”I guess that helps.”

”We’ve kind of moved past that anyway and made do with what we’ve had,” he said.

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James Shields of the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds play in opposite leagues and rarely see each other Melvin Gordon Jersey , yet they currently have much in common.

Now that they’re starting to make something out of what appeared to be a totally lost season, they’d like to keep it going.

The Reds got off to the worst start in baseball at 8-27, one so bad that getting to .500 looked to be as much of a challenge as winning a division title would be for most teams.

But when the Reds (36-48) take on the right-handed Shields and the White Sox on Monday night at Great American Ball Park, in the teams’ first matchup since 2015, they’ll be one of the majors’ hottest clubs. They’ve won 11 of 14 after taking the final two games of a four-game weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers, and interim manager Jim Riggleman now has a 33-33 record for a last-place team.

Considering that Riggleman took over a Reds team that was 3-15 under former manager Bryan Price, that’s something of an accomplishment. And the Reds own a 6-1 record in interleague games.

“We know we can play with these teams that are in first place in their division,” Riggleman said.

They’re winning now in grand fashion, too. Jose Peraza hit the team’s major league-leading ninth grand slam Sunday in an 8-2 win over the Brewers, their second in two games (pitcher Michael Lorenzen hit a pinch-grand slam Saturday) and sixth in 17 games. They’ve already tied a club season record.

“We’ve been getting better at-bats … and we’ve happened to have men on base,” Riggleman said.

Cincinnati starter Matt Harvey pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings before being lifted after a rain delay DeSean Jackson Jersey , and the Reds dealt Brewers rookie Freddy Peralta (3-1), who gave up three runs in five innings, his first major league loss. Peralta allowed only one hit in seven shutout innings against the Kansas City Royals in his previous start.

“That’s probably the best I’ve felt since 2013,” said Harvey (4-5), who won his third straight start.

Shields (3-9), likewise, is beginning to see a ray of sunshine in what previously was a gloomy season. He’s coming off his best start of the year, pitching seven shutout innings and giving up four hits Wednesday in a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. It was his 12th quality start of the season, or five more than he had all of last season.

Shields still isn’t the pitcher that won 13 or more games seven times from 2008 to 2015, but it hasn’t helped that he’s pitching for a team that’s off to the second worst start in franchise history. He has allowed a respectable six earned runs in his last four starts, and twice yielded one or no runs while lasting at least seven innings.

At age 36 Tarvarius Moore Jersey , Shields is making adjustments to compensate for his decreased velocity, yet has pitched at least six innings in 12 of his last 13 starts for a last-place team.

“My body’s feeling really good this year, and this is kind of what I’ve done my whole career,” Shields told reporters after the game against the Twins. “I strive to go as deep as I possibly can in games and so far it’s been good.

“I’m not throwing as hard as I used to. If I were to throw over the top, I’d still throw a little harder than I am right now. (But) at the end of the day, I’m feeling really good with my delivery right now, my mechanics. It’s been a lot of fun making these adjustments.”

Shields goes against Reds right-hander Luis Castillo (5-8), who was 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in five June starts. He retired the first 11 batters he faced Wednesday at Atlanta, only to give up four quick runs on a walk and five consecutive singles, although the Reds came back to win 6-5.

Castillo is 0-1 in two starts against American League clubs this season, giving up eight runs in six innings. He has never faced the White Sox.

Shields is 18-18 with a 4.57 ERA in interleague play and 0-2 in two career starts against the Reds Adrian Peterson Jersey , the last of which was in 2015.

The White Sox (29-54) ended a three-game losing streak Sunday by salvaging the final game of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, winning 10-5 as Avisail Garcia went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

The Reds have won five consecutive interleague games but are facing the White Sox at Great American Ball Park for the first time since 2009. The White Sox are 16-4 overall against the Reds and 10-2 in Cincinnati, though that success there predated any of the current players.

When Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made it to the Hall of Fame last year, the celebration included a surprisingly self-aware smattering of references to the nutty things he has said over the years.

The best? In 2012, Jones explained at training camp that “I’ve been here when it was gloryhole days, and I’ve been here when it wasn’t. And so having said that, I want me some gloryhole.”

(The best actually got better; Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple tried to save Jones by pointing out that “gloryhole is a commonly used expression in the oil and gas exploration business,” and Jones interrupted by saying, “That’s news to me.”)

As Jones continues his quest for the kind of gloryhole to which he was referring (I think), he has offered up another all-time quote. This one happened not publicly but within the confines of his party bus, during a visit withBig Game author Mark Leibovich Reggie Ragland Jersey , whose bloodstream eventually was polluted with excessive amounts of Johnnie Walker Blue but whose recording device remained sober as a league-appointed arbitrator.

In the same conversation during which Jones applied specificity to the “shocking” price he’d pay for a Super Bowl win ($250 million, which further underscores the wisdom of a hard salary cap), Jones talked about his love of business, of selling. He once sold shoes in his youth. And he really, really liked the job.

Leibovich emerged from his Walker Blue Persuasion long enough to notice that Jones had mentioned “spending the afternoon masturbating over selling shoes.” Leibovich sought clarification.

“I’ve sold shoes, and I’ve masturbated in my shoes,” Jones said.

Jones went on to explain that sales isn’t about the product but about having fun while selling the product. (Apparently, a whole lot of fun.)

And Dalrymple, who was present for the exchange, did not even try to explain that “masturbated in my shoes” is a commonly used expression in the oil and gas exploration business.