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On the surface Jim Kelly Jersey , they’re relatively indistinguishable. One was the defensive player of the year in 2016, the other won the award in 2017.

Both arrived via round one of the 2014 draft. Both are entering the fifth year of their rookie contracts.

Neither has gotten the long-term deal he deserves.

But there’s a difference between Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, when it comes to a potential training-camp holdout.

Last year, Mack showed up. Donald didn’t. And Donald’s holdout kept him from getting a fourth year of credit toward free agency. Which means that, if he does it again (specifically Kavon Frazier Jersey , if he holds out and doesn’t show up at least 30 days before the start of the regular season), he’ll still be stuck on three accrued seasons — and he wouldn’t be eligible for unrestricted free agency next year.

That means he wouldn’t necessarily receive the franchise tag in 2019. While the Rams could still use it if they want, the Rams could instead tender him at the highest restricted free agency level, which would give the Rams the right to match an offer sheet from another team and first-round compensation if they don’t.

Donald may welcome that, since someone would surely make a run at him if the compensation is only a first-round pick. And if in the end the Rams realize that the safest course would be application of the exclusive franchise tag despite Donald having only three accrued years (even with the non-exclusive franchise tag DeAndre Hopkins Jersey , another team may happily surrender two first-round picks), Donald would be in the same place he would have been even if he shows up.

The only downside for Donald comes from a possible injury that would impair his market value and potentially prompt the Rams to roll the dice with the RFA tender, securing his rights for 2019 by putting millions less on the table. That dynamic would/could (should) make Donald more likely to carry a holdout deep into the regular season, in order to ensure that, come 2019 Dion Dawkins Jersey , he’ll be getting the exclusive franchise tender.

By rule, he can show up as late as the Tuesday after Week 10 and get credit for the contract year. While few players ever do that, the sheer volume of disgruntled players in 2018 raises the odds that one of them will.

Word that the Saints were signing running back Terrance West came over a week ago, but the deal did not become official until Thursday.

The NFL’s transaction report for Thursday includes West’s arrival in New Orleans as well as the corresponding move the Saints made to clear space on their 90-man roster. They have waived wide receiver Paul Turner.

Turner signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and spent most of the season on the practice squad. Turner was promoted to the active roster in November and caught nine passes for 126 yards in four games. He was out of the league last year after being waived by the Eagles in early September.

With Turner gone, the Saints have 12 wide receivers on the roster while West gives them seven running backs.

There’s plenty of uncertainty regarding the new helmet rules. For Washington safety D.J. Swearinger Seth DeValve Jersey , one thing definitely is certain: Head injuries will be traded for leg injuries.

“They want us to, I guess, hit with our shoulder,” Swearinger said, via ESPN.com. “I guess not hit a guy when he ducks. So I guess we just gotta aim for the knees. That’s the only way I know how. If you don’t want me to hit you Cody Kessler Jersey , then I guess it’s the only way, the only way.”

But the new helmet rules have nothing to do with hitting a guy in the head; they prohibit hitting a guy with the helmet, specifically when lowering the helmet and initiating contact. So while Swearinger is right when he says the league wants players to hit with the shoulder, the hit with the shoulder doesn’t have to go low, except when a receiver is still defenseless.

The broader problem is that the officials still don’t seem to know what is and isn’t a violation of either of the two new helmet rules. Which makes it even harder for the players to know what they can and can’t do.

The NFL may not be finished fiddling with kickoffs.

According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com Erik Swoope Jersey , the league said there may be additional changes to this year’s new rules about kickoffs, which they’re trying to make safer.

A league spokesman said any additional changes would be “minor,” but the fact they’re still adjusting just before training camp starts is still a bit startling.

The new rules are a significant change, with former referee Terry McAulay calling them “the biggest change I’ve ever seen.” And if the league’s considering adjusting the rule book now (it was just published on June 28), there figures to be confusion among coaches as they try to figure out what to teach players.

“The NFL officiating and football operations staff Kevin Huber Jersey , with competition committee approval, may make some minor tweaks to the language to further clarify the rule,” league spokesman Michael Signora said. “If so, that information would be circulated to all clubs and the rule book updated accordingly.”

The league took steps to change kickoffs to try to curb injuries, routinely describing it as the most dangerous play in the game. And even in the recently published rulebook Cole Beasley Jersey , there were other changes which hadn’t been previously disclosed, including automatic touchbacks if a ball hits the end zone without being touched by a member of the receiving team.

The lefty slugger promptly laid down a bunt where nobody was on the left side Tony Romo Jersey , sparking a big inning as another of manager Gabe Kapler’s defensive moves backfired.

Ian Desmond hit a two-run homer in that five-run fourth, Tyler Anderson pitched seven strong innings and the Colorado Rockies routed the Phillies 7-2 on Wednesday night to end a five-game losing streak.

”We were probably most excited about CarGo’s bunt,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. ”After the Nolan (Arenado) walk and then the bunt, that sort of set everything up. It got us going. And CarGo practices that every day.”

Trevor Story added three hits and drove in two for the Rockies, who had dropped nine of 11 while falling from first place to fourth in the NL West.

Anderson (4-1) allowed one run and six hits while matching his longest outing of the season, set in his last start.

”I think we were feeding off Andy a little there. He pitched great tonight,” Desmond said. ”An electric fastball. He was locating all his pitches. He was working quick. You could tell he was pitching with a purpose tonight. And as an offense, I think we fed off that.”

Jorge Alfaro and Jesmuel Valentin homered for the Phillies La'el Collins Jersey , who were seeking their first three-game winning streak since May 13-17.

Gonzalez’s bunt was another blow to the Phillies’ defensive alignments, which came under criticism from Philadelphia pitcher Jake Arrieta after a loss at San Francisco earlier this month.

”I don’t think it’s something we want to see him do every day,” Desmond said of Gonzalez. ”But that built momentum. It kept it going.”

Nick Pivetta (4-6) struck out five straight batters in the second and third innings. But the bunt was the first of five straight hits allowed before he recorded an out in the fifth. Story had an RBI double off the wall and Gerardo Parra followed with a two-run single.

Desmond, who came in hitting .196, then sent an 0-1 slider into the right-field seats for his 12th homer to make it 6-0.

”I hung a couple breaking balls tonight and they’re a good-hitting club,” Pivetta said.

Story, who had his career-high fifth straight multihit game, had another run-scoring double in the seventh against Mark Leiter Jr. Golden Tate III Jersey , giving him 49 RBIs.

Pivetta, who lost his fourth straight start, was charged with six runs on eight hits with three walks over five innings.

Anderson didn’t allow a walk and struck out six, including Scott Kingery three times. He used his awkward lefty delivery to keep the Phillies off balance, save for an 0-2 fastball that Alfaro hit to right for his fifth homer in the fifth.

Valentin had three hits, including his first major league homer in the ninth off Harrison Musgrave.

”As soon as I hit it, I thought I had a chance,” Valentin said. ”Thank God I got it out of the way.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: Reliever Adam Ottavino (oblique) felt good after throwing Tuesday. ”He’s champing at the bit to get back on the mound Miles Killebrew Jersey ,” Black said. ”We’re really optimistic that this could happen in a couple days.” Ottavino has a team-best 0.95 ERA.

Phillies: Reliever Pat Neshek (shoulder, forearm) will throw all of his pitches in a bullpen Thursday. If it goes well, he’ll head to Florida to throw live batting practice. Neshek, who signed a two-year, $16.5 million deal in December, has yet to throw a pitch this season. ”The greatest acquisition we can make right now is inserting Pat Neshek in our bullpen,” Kapler said.

FRANCO BACK, HERRERA SITS

Slumping 3B Maikel Franco started after being out of the Philadelphia lineup five straight games and went 0 for 4.

CF Odubel Herrera Robert Newhouse Jersey , 0 for 17 in the past four games, didn’t play.

PICK SIGNS

The Rockies signed former Mississippi LHP Ryan Rolison, the 22nd overall pick in last week’s draft.

MUSGRAVE BACK

Musgrave returned from his grandfather’s funeral in West Virginia, was activated off the bereavement list and pitched the ninth. LHP Sam Howard was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

UP NEXT

Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez (4-7, 4.95 ERA) starts the series finale Thursday against RHP German Marquez (4-6, 4.79). Velasquez was charged with 10 runs in 3 2/3 innings in his last start.

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The Tennessee Titans have told defensive lineman Sylvester Williams they are releasing him after one season into a three-year deal signed a year ago.

The Titans announced Saturday they were releasing Williams.

The 28th pick overall in 2013 by Denver, Williams spent his first four seasons with the Broncos where he started 48 games and had 5陆 sacks with 94 tackles. Williams signed with Tennessee in March 2017 and started 11 of 15 games. He finished with four tackles for loss and three quarterback pressures with 26 tackles.

Williams' base salary for this season was $5 million and $5.5 million in 2019.

The Titans also released defensive lineman Karl Klug on Friday with Williams the sixth player released since March 8.

Karlsson scored a short-handed goal in the third period Authentic Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey , and the Golden Knights clinched the title with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.

”It’s a great feeling to win our division. Obviously, nobody had those expectations the first of the season,” coach Gerard Gallant said. ”A lot of things went right for us, a lot of guys played real well, a lot of guys had career years, so that’s why we’re here today.”

Vegas (50-22-7) reached 50 wins in its inaugural season with its third victory in four games. San Jose (44-25-10) is second in the Pacific, four points ahead of Los Angeles.

”It’s a great accomplishment Xander Bogaerts Jersey , but we all know what the real accomplishment is gonna be,” Gallant said. ”A great regular season means a lot, but a great playoffs can mean a lot more.”

For the second straight night, Karlsson scored a short-handed goal on a breakaway, this time with what might have been his sweetest of 42 goals this season – between his legs to beat Martin Jones top shelf for the game-winner.

”I kind of had a great spot there to pull that move … it’s instinct, when you black out, that’s usually when you do good – don’t overthink it Authentic Nate Solder Jersey ,” Karlsson said. ”It was a great game, a lot of fun to play. It’s good to clinch not only the division, but the home advantage over the Pacific teams.”

Shea Theodore and Oscar Lindberg also scored for the Golden Knights, and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 shots. Fleury improved to 29-12-4 this season and moved into sole possession of 11th place on the career wins list with 404 victories.

”This is obviously a nice feeling, to do this at home, in front of our fans, you know they’ve been so great to us all season long Authentic Danny Shelton Jersey ,” Fleury said. ”I’m very proud of these guys, the way they’ve played all season long. To have an expansion team win the division in our first year, I think it’s pretty cool.”

Jones made 35 saves. The Sharks had allowed fewer than 30 shots in eight of their previous 15 games.

Joe Pavelski and Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored for San Jose, which has dropped three in a row.

The Sharks, who went 10-4-1 in March, will have to wait until Tuesday to try to clinch a playoff berth for the 13th time in 14 years.

”You’re going to come in here and win in this rink in this time of year, you’re going to have to bring your A-plus game Cheap Breeland Speaks Jersey , and I thought we were B tonight,” coach Peter DeBoer said. ”Just not good enough at certain moments and we probably got what we deserved.”

Vegas struck early in the first period. Theodore took a pass from Karlsson at the point and sent a wrist shot past Jones at 2:21.

Pavelski tied it when he fired a rebound into an open net at 7:14 while Fleury was still recovering from making a save at the other side of the goal.

Lindberg got the lead back for Vegas when he redirected Theodore’s shot from the point past Jones 3:03 into the second. But Vlasic tied it midway through the period when he backhanded home a rebound that came off Vegas defender Brayden McNabb’s knee.

NOTES: In a pregame ceremony, the Golden Knights retired No. 58, raising a banner with 58 stars and the names of the lives lost in the Oct. 1 concert shooting. … The 18,458 in attendance was the largest crowd of Vegas’ inaugural season. … Vegas’ James Neal played in his 700th career game, while teammate Jonathan Marchessault played in his 200th game. … San Jose’s Joonas Donskoi played in his 200th career game. … San Jose, which has the league’s second-best penalty kill Jarrod Dyson Jersey , denied Vegas’ four power-play opportunities, and hasn’t allowed a power-play goal in 16 of its last 18 contests. … The Golden Knights improved to 33-5-2 record when scoring the first goal of the game.

UP NEXT

Sharks: Host Dallas on Tuesday.

Golden Knights: Visit Vancouver on Tuesday.

The difference between the two teams, to a large degree, is that Seattle finds a way to win, and the Orioles keep coming up with a variety of ways to lose.

Nelson Cruz homered and drove in three runs, and the Mariners capitalized on two 10th-inning errors in a 4-2 victory Thursday that completed their first four-game sweep at Baltimore in franchise history.

The Mariners improved to 8-0 in extra innings this season. They won in 11 innings on Wednesday, after winning the first two games of the series 5-3 and 3-2.

”We won four games Ryan Rua Jersey , four different ways,” manager Scott Servais said with pride. ”It shows what kind of team we are. Different players on different nights, all pitching in. We are playing pretty good baseball as a team right now. This sweep was a great turnaround for us.”

The Mariners came to town with a run of six losses in seven games. They headed back to Seattle in the thick of the AL West race.

”It’s great to get a sweep,” shortstop Jean Segura said. ”It gives us momentum as we go back home.”

After missing two straight games with lower back pain, Cruz celebrated his return with his 21st homer , a two-run shot in the fourth inning that put Seattle up 2-0.

Manny Machado and Chris Davis answered with solo drives off Mike Leake in the bottom half Giants Cheap Jerseys , and that accounted for all the scoring until the 10th.

Dee Gordon beat out a dribbler to the left of the mound and scored when center fielder Colby Rasmus bobbled Segura’s single off Miguel Castro (2-4). A throwing error by third baseman Steve Wilkerson and an RBI single by Cruz followed.

Gordon’s speed and Cruz’s power have proven to be a potent combination for the Mariners. It was certainly too much for Baltimore.

”Guys like Gordon put such pressure on you because you know any little bobble, anything, he’s going to take another base,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. ”A groundball that probably 95 percent of people are out on pretty easily, it’s a base hit. That’s why they’re having a good year and winning some games, because of things like that.

”You can’t say Authentic Brian Allen Jersey , `We don’t have it.’ Well, a lot of teams don’t have that.”

Juan Nicasio got three straight outs in the 10th for his first save after James Pazos (2-1) worked the ninth.

Leake allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, his eighth straight start of at least six innings.

Making his first major league start, Jimmy Yacabonis gave up two runs and six hits over four-plus innings for Baltimore. After Yacabonis allowed two straight singles to start the fifth, Jefry Ramirez took over and retired Segura and Mitch Haniger before striking out Cruz.

”I thought I did well,” Yacabonis said. ”There were a couple of times where I tried to make my pitches too good instead of just executing. That’s just going to come with fine tuning and experience.”

Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before the game Cheap Ronald Jones II Jersey , Ramirez threw five innings of three-hit ball in his second big league game.

STREAKY

Baltimore’s Mark Trumbo extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a sixth-inning single. It matches a career high, set with Seattle in 2015. … Davis has two HRs in his last two games and three in seven games since returning from an 8-game hiatus designed to break a season-long skid.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: 3B Kyle Seager did not start after hurting his toe during a swing Wednesday night, but entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth and stayed in the game.

Orioles: 3B Tim Beckham was given a day off. He had played in three straight games since coming off the DL following core surgery. ”He feels good. We just want to keep him that way,” Showalter said. … CF Adam Jones was also rested. ”I’ve been looking for a day (off) for him, and today’s the day,” Showalter said.

UP NEXT

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (7-5 Youth Tracy Walker Jersey , 4.04 ERA) starts against Kansas City on Friday night in the opener of a nine-game homestand.

Orioles: Rookie David Hess (2-4, 5.44) helps Baltimore launch a three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.

—

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Players milled around the field briefly, many of them joking with one another Nick Wittgren Jersey , before returning to the benches and bullpens.

Votto thought he’d drawn a walk on a 3-1 pitch from Junior Guerra and started toward first base, but plate umpire Roberto Ortiz called it a strike. Votto and Kratz traded words as the Reds first baseman got back in the box Cheap Tyquan Lewis Jersey , prompting their teammates to take to the field. When play resumed, Votto flied out.

Votto was ejected in Atlanta on Wednesday by plate umpire Carlos Torres for arguing a called third strike Jim Thome Jersey , his eighth career ejection.

Landry was given a non-exclusive franchise tag Tuesday after leading the NFL with 112 catches in 2017. The move by the Dolphins came on the first day that teams could assign franchise tags.

The tag’s value is expected to be about $16 million. Landry made $894,000 last season.

Landry has said he wanted to remain with the Dolphins Carlos Lee Jersey , and they said they wanted him back. But his volatile personality has been cause for a concern – especially on a team that went 6-10 last year in part because of poor discipline.

Landry was ejected in the fourth quarter of the season finale, a loss to Buffalo Cheap Calvin Ridley Jersey , and coach Adam Gase said the episode was embarrassing and ”extremely bad.” But Landry was by far the highest-profile Dolphins player eligible for free agency, and perhaps the best player on an offense that sputtered throughout 2017.

Miami still hopes to sign Landry to a multi-year deal Authentic Jordan Whitehead Jersey , a person familiar with the team’s plans said. The person didn’t want to be identified because the Dolphins haven’t publicly discussed contract negotiations with Landry.

Landry had a franchise-record 112 catches and a career-high nine touchdowns in 2017, the final season of the contract he signed before his rookie season. He has been selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls and has 400 career receptions Authentic Mike McGlinchey Jersey , a record for a fourth-year player.

The non-exclusive tag allows Landry to sign an offer sheet with another team. The Dolphins could match that offer, and if Landry leaves Shelby Miller Jersey , they would receive two first-round picks from his new team. Miami also could withdraw the tag.

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Closer Kyle Barraclough has been exceptional for the Marlins in the last two months Blake Treinen Jersey , so the novelty of him giving up a run — even in a Miami win — is major news.

“Claw will bounce back, no worries about that,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said after he gave up the tying run in the ninth, ultimately earning the victory in a 2-1 win in a series opener against the Rays.

Barraclough had not allowed a run since May 8 — an amazing run of 21 games and 20 2/3 innings with just two hits allowed before Monday, when the Rays matched that with two hits and the tying run. His season ERA had dipped below 1.00 to 0.99 ERA before that run scored.

“To be able to scratch runs and get pitching, it’s nice to be able to get that win in the end Authentic Orlando Brown Jr. Jersey ,” Mattingly said of his Marlins (35-51), who have won three of four games.

The Marlins will try to continue that Tuesday with rookie right-hander Trevor Richards (2-5, 5.06 ERA) on the mound. Richards lasted only four innings in his last outing, giving up six hits and three runs to Arizona, but he has two wins in his last four starts, this after having zero wins in his first six starts of the season.

Richards has never faced the Rays Carlos Baerga Jersey , but his limited work in interleague play has been rough — eight hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Red Sox in April, then nine hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings against Baltimore in June. His interleague record is 0-2 and his ERA is 12.91, with a staggering 17 hits in 7 2/3 innings.

The Rays answer with another rookie who hasn’t faced this team before — Ryne Stanek, spectacular as an “opener” with short outings to open games throughout the month of June, was supposed to start Tuesday but instead got the nod in the 10th inning Monday, surrendering a leadoff walk that quickly became the winning run off an infield single.

Ryan Yarbrough (7-4 Matt Andriese Jersey , 3.76 ERA) has pitched well coming in after the “opener,” but he’ll get the start now against the Marlins. Much like Richards, he’s struggled in interleague play, going 0-2 with a 6.60 ERA, allowing 19 hits in 15 innings. His last outing wasn’t bad at all, lasting 6 1/3 innings in relief Reggie Jackson Jersey , giving up seven hits but only one run in a 1-0 loss to Houston on Thursday. He’ll likely get a rare chance to bat as well with the game in a National League park — he’s just 0-for-2 at the plate in his young career.

One-run games have been a major part of the Rays’ season — they’ve played in 37, matching the most in the majors, and they’ve lost 21, the most of any team, but Rays manager Kevin Cash said he was optimistic even when his team was down 2-1 in the ninth on Monday. The Rays had won eight of nine coming in and will try to bounce back Tuesday.

“The way we’ve been playing, we’ve been getting the big hit Pat Valaika Jersey ,” Cash said. “I think it was going to work out the entire game.”

Opponents tend to freak out against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick just when they’re about to conquer the New England Patriots’ dynastic duo. The Philadelphia Eagles swear they won’t fall into that trap if they have the chance in Super Bowl 52.

The pair have built such a reputation of coming through in the clutch that foes often outthink themselves with conservative Cheap Barkevious Mingo Jersey , uncommon or unconventional calls against the five-time champs.

Think Seattle in Super Bowl 49 and Atlanta in Super Bowl 51.

The Patriots have built an extreme confidence through five Super Bowl-winning seasons under Brady and Belichick and are disciplined when other teams get discombobulated, like last month when they sniffed out Ben Roethlisberger’s fake spike and intercepted him in the end zone, reshaping the AFC playoff picture.

”You’re basically talking about experience and knowing that no matter what the score is, it’s not insurmountable,” said ex-NFL quarterback Joe Theismann.

He pointed to Brady’s habit of making a few plays every game that swing momentum and Belichick’s knack for coaxing his counterparts into beating themselves – like the Indianapolis Colts did with their fake punt fiasco in 2015.

”The New England Patriots find a way to make a play when no one else seems to be able to do that,” Theismann said. ”Teams that haven’t been in that situation don’t really understand the ability of New England teams to be able to overcome darn near anything.”

Like the 25-point second-half deficit Brady rallied the Patriots from in last year’s Super Bowl or the 10-point fourth-quarter hole he dug them out of against Jacksonville in the AFC championship last week.

”You’ve got to play a damn near perfect game against them,” lamented Jaguars safety Jarrod Wilson.

Therein lies the trap.

The Jaguars were on the verge of knocking off New England when a flurry of follies in Foxborough aided Brady’s two-TD rally that sent the seemingly impervious Patriots back to another Super Bowl.

”You can never have a safe lead with (No.) 12 at the helm Authentic Leighton Vander Esch Jersey ,” Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson said. ”… That’s Tom Brady, the greatest to ever lace up the cleats at the quarterback position.”

And Belichick, arguably the best to ever roam the sideline.

The Eagles swear they’re not going to give the Patriots any help next Sunday in Minneapolis.

”You know what? If I make this all about them, we’re in trouble,” coach Doug Pederson said. ”Honestly. We’re in trouble. Everything’s going to be written about it, has been written about it, talked about it Authentic Nyheim Hines Jersey , discussed, debated and it’s about us. And I’ll keep saying that. It’s about what we do and how well we execute and I can’t worry about that.”

The Eagles (15-3), who statistically can make the case for being the best opponent Brady and Belichick have ever faced in the Super Bowl, don’t see themselves getting out of their comfort zone against New England (15-3).

”Doug is going to do what got us to this point,” right tackle Lane Johnson said. ”Just because you’re in a big stage doesn’t mean you have to do anything out of the ordinary to make bigger plays. Don’t make the moment bigger than what it is.”

The Patriots may need no assistance but that hasn’t stopped teams from helping them out like Jacksonville did last week with a delay penalty coming out of a timeout and a rushed punt that essentially gave Brady an extra timeout before halftime.

”I think why the Patriots are so good is because they capitalize off people making those mistakes,” Johnson said. ”They don’t make mistakes, hardly. They’re well-coached. You don’t necessarily have to be the most talented team. You saw last year they weren’t the most talented team. Yet Authentic Mike White Jersey , they’re the best team because they function together well and they’re coached well.”

New England safety Duron Harmon said the Patriots never panic like so many other teams because they rehearse adversity so well and so often in practice.

”We go over every type of situation that you can think of,” Harmon said.

Theismann said Belichick is simply the best at teaching ”if somebody’s going to beat us, they’re going to have to beat us; we’re not going to beat ourselves.”

”What New England does is New England preaches discipline and understanding your job,” Theismann said, singling out lieutenants Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia in addition to Belichick, who, along with his personnel assistants Authentic Johnny Townsend Jersey , identifies coachable players who fit in.

”Think about it: You never see Bill Belichick run up the sideline and call a timeout because the time clock’s running out,” Theismann said. ”You don’t see Bill’s players making those kids of errors. I mean, I was very fortunate to play for Joe Gibbs and Joe was the same type of game manager, where he was aware and he made me aware of all the possible circumstances and situations that you deal with.

”For example, when you’re coming out of your own end zone, if you’re backed up inside your own 3-yard line, it’s a great time to run a hard count because you’re only going to get a yard and a-half penalty. Instead of first-and-10 Cheap JK Scott Jersey , it’s going to be first-and-11. But you do have the possibility of making it first-and-5.

”There is a game within the game that the Patriots play better than anybody.”

T.

More than anything Bruce Maxwell Jersey , the Bulls insisted, they continued to position themselves to move up in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls went big with their first pick Thursday night, drafting Carter Jr. from Duke seventh overall and giving them another versatile frontcourt player to go with Markkanen. They took Boise State’s Chandler Hutchison at No. 22.

Combine those moves with the draft night trade last year that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota for Markkanen, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn, and the front office believes the Bulls are positioning themselves to make a jump.

”This is a really good night for our organization Omar Vizquel Jersey ,” executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said. ”We feel like when you look at where we were a year ago and what we decided to do, and one year later, we feel like we have added five really good pieces to build (around). That’s important to us. … We’re excited about the direction we’re headed.”

The 6-foot-10, 259-pound Carter Jr. was the second Duke big man taken after Marvin Bagley III went to Sacramento at No. 2. With his ability to hit from the outside and score down low, he averaged 13.5 points and 9.1 rebounds as a freshman last season while helping the Blue Devils advance to the Elite Eight.

Hutchison is a 6-7 forward who came on strong the past two seasons and averaged 20 points and 7.7 rebounds as a senior.

General manager Gar Forman said the Bulls had some discussions about trading up. But nothing materialized.

The Bulls instead are banking on Carter to form a potent tandem with Markkanen and help them climb in the Eastern Conference coming off a 27-55 season.

”We’re going to complement one another on both ends of the court Authentic Donte Jackson Jersey ,” Carter said. ”It’s very similar to who I played with at Duke – Marvin Bagley.”

One of the knocks against Carter is his foot speed. It affected him at times in transition and on defense. He also ran into foul trouble on occasion, even fouling out in 22 minutes during Duke’s overtime loss to Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. Forman acknowledged lateral quickness is one area where he could improve. Carter insisted he is making big strides.

”I’ve made a huge improvement in that,” he said. ”It’s something I was working on night-in and night-out. I definitely showcased that in the workouts. It definitely paid off, all the work.”

And he sees himself as a match for the Bulls.

”I think I fit perfectly,” Carter said.

The Bulls went all in on rebuilding with the Butler trade after years of treading water in the wake of the Derrick Rose era. Chicago then produced its worst record since the 2003-04 season and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

But the 7-foot Markkanen emerged as the team’s best player and one of the league’s most productive rookies with his ability to hit from the perimeter and go inside. He averaged 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds after being drafted seventh overall Youth Dorance Armstrong Jr. Jersey , and the Bulls certainly would take that from Carter.

Paxson said he might have put up bigger numbers at Duke had Bagley not petitioned the NCAA to reclassify and become eligible for last season.

”A lot of their offense would have run through Wendell this year,” he said. ”The young man sacrificed a lot in order to be a good teammate and all those things. A lot of it speaks to who he is.”

It’s still not clear if the Bulls have the star they need to become a contender.

”We’re gonna look at everything,” Paxson said. ”You hope you draft players that become stars. We believe that last year, drafting Lauri, he has the potential. He’s got a long way to go Jarrod Dyson Jersey , but he has the potential. … We’re trying to draft as well as we can, put a core together that we think can play together and win, at least put a team out that’s gonna play hard and compete, play the right way. We feel we’re at the beginning stages of that.”

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