ENGLEWOOD Chuma Edoga Jersey , Colo. (AP) — Ever since soon-to-be Hall of Famer Pat Bowlen stepped down from his daily duties as owner of the Denver Broncos, team president and CEO Joe Ellis ran the team in a “What would Pat do?” sort of way.With Bowlen’s death last month, that’s no longer the case.Ellis told The Associated Press that while the team will always honor Bowlen’s memory, it’s time for the Broncos to establish a new identity.“I got to thinking about that,” Ellis said Thursday from the sideline as the Broncos became the first NFL team to open training camp . “I think it’s a fair question at this point because he’s no longer with us. He was with us (the last five years) even though he was not out here. I got to go see him and I always sort of felt his presence. And I think Pat would want us to move on from him a little bit, you know? I don’t think we’re going to be able to do that totally because of what he’s provided all of us …“But it’s time to buckle up your chin strap here and do things the Broncos way,” Ellis said. “Yeah, we want to make Pat proud. We’re going to honor him. It’s a subtle honoring with the decal on the helmet and he’ll always be in the back of my mind. But you know what Trevon Wesco Jersey , we have to act independently now in some fashion. I hope you can make sense of this.”Bowlen died June 13 at age 75, nine weeks shy of his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.When Alzheimer’s forced him to step away five years earlier, Bowlen entrusted Ellis to operate the team with full authority and represent the Broncos in league matters until one of his seven children was deemed ready to take over. Ellis drew on his working relationship with the notoriously publicity-shy Bowlen that spanned nearly three decades to continue operating the team as Bowlen would have during those five years.Ellis said he doesn’t want to look back anymore.“There’s been so much talk about Pat and his excellence and everything that he’s done and it’s all well-deserved and it’s well-acknowledged — he’s going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Ellis said. “But I know if he were here and he were advising me, he’d say, ‘Listen, you know, your job is to get everybody in the organization to pull together and do this for our fans and do this for themselves and each other Shareef Miller Jersey , players, coaches. And do what I always wanted to do and not make it about me, make it about them, make it about yourselves, make it about the fans. Make it about winning. Let’s focus on that. Let’s not focus on me anymore.'”Ellis noted the Broncos have to change the way they do things to reverse their recent slide that includes back-to-back double-digit losses for the first time since the 1960s.Even with those 5-11 and 6-10 seasons, the Broncos have as many Super Bowl appearances — seven — as losing seasons during Bowlen’s ownership that began in 1984.“We need to establish our own identity,” Ellis said. “So much of our identity the past several years has been based on the success of Pat in some ways, right? And people talk about the Pat Bowlen era. Even if a child were to take over Zach Brown Jersey , it’s not the Pat Bowlen era anymore. So, this is kind of in some ways this is Year 1 of establishing a different identity as an organization. Never forgetting everything that was Pat.“No one’s ever going to forget what he did. We’ll remember him. We’ve got the decal on the back. His name is on that field house. His father’s name is on this facility’s front here at UC Health Center. So, he will continue to be honored and remembered, but I do know that he would want us to put our own stamp on this program. I just know that in my heart.”Ellis said he’ll meet with Brittany Bowlen, who is hoping to take over the franchise, next week about returning to the team to gain more front office experience. She’s currently working for global consulting firm McKinsey & Company in Denver. Ellis said her role would be generally focused on the business side.“She’s going to come here and work hard. She’s got to prove herself,” Ellis said. “There’s more pressure on her than any other employee. And then we’ll see. If that works out, then there’s room for growth. Pat always said Devin Bush Jersey , ‘Listen, I’d love to be able to keep it in the family if I can and have a child run it, but if that’s not the case, then the team will be sold.’ And so we’re not there to assign anybody that role yet.” Playing for your original team's rivals has to go one of two ways for a player. There are those guys who will revel in the extra hate and intensity provided by signing for the perceived enemy, while there are others who are professional enough to see the whole situation as just another step forward in a playing career. As a fan it is obvious how to handle the first type of player, but the second can cause differences of opinion within a fan base.Also interesting within this situation is a player’s motivation. Perhaps the current team gave the play a low ball offer in free agency and the rival offered significantly more money? In that situation it would be hard to turn down the payday no matter how you felt about your current team. Maybe the rival team is one or two players short of a Super Bowl challenge, while your current team is mired in the middle of a 10 or 12 year rebuilding project. Again this would be a tough deal to turn down and walk away from, and many NFLers have indeed crossed to the “dark side” in order to chase a ring late in their careers.On the other hand maybe it is as simple as the player and the team or coach not getting along. These are the ones which tend to look the worst to fans as the betrayal is played out in the media week after week before the ugly Diontae Johnson Jersey , and obvious, split occurs. In these situations the player involved is often seen as slightly too happy to be appearing for the rivals, maybe making an extra big deal out of a play or appearing on talk shows leading up to the game to rub that salt into the wound just a little deeper.With so many angles to look at it won’t be easy to narrow this list to just a top ten, but that is exactly what we are going to try to do here with a top ten list of NFL players who turned out for their rivals.

FLORHAM PARK http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marquise-blair-jersey , N.J. (AP) — In the hours that followed the New York Jets‘ announcement last Friday that Adam Gase is their new head coach, many frustrated fans took to social media to voice their displeasure.Some used all 280 characters on Twitter. Some only needed one word and a hashtag.Either way, they weren’t happy.Christopher Johnson and the Jets, however, were thrilled with their decision. And shortly after formally introducing Gase at the team’s facility Monday, Johnson sacked the pointed criticism with overwhelming optimism.“We’ve just had a couple of down years, so I have to earn their trust,” the team’s chairman and CEO said. “I think that they will see this as, if not right now, they’ll see it pretty soon as a great hire.“I’m not trying to win Twitter. I’m trying to win football games.”Hashtag: You’ll see, Jets fans.Gase beat out the likes of Mike McCarthy T.J. Hockenson Jersey , Todd Monken and Matt Rhule for the job, less than two weeks after being fired by the Miami Dolphins.“I’m just really convinced that he is the man,” Johnson said.Johnson praised Gase’s work over the years with quarterbacks and offenses, and how the Jets’ Sam Darnold — along with the rest of the offense — will benefit greatly from the new coach being here.“To paraphrase Wayne Gretzky,” Johnson said, “he’s coaching to where football is going.”The 40-year-old Gase was the hot assistant just three years ago as the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator after directing the Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning-led offense to record-setting performances in 2013 and 2014. But a 23-26 record in three seasons with the Dolphins, including a playoff loss, had him out of a job — along with reports of some friction with players.Gase quickly got a second chance, with a former AFC East opponent.“Over three years, you’re going to have mistakes that you make,” Gase said with his wife Jennifer and their three young children sitting a few feet away from the podium. “It can be either a mental note or Jahlani Tavai Jersey , really, you start creating that list from year to year. It’s really starting with this first part of the process.”That would be putting together a coaching staff, which is something he has been working on since he was hired.And, Gase will have total control of the hirings — contrary to reports that the Jets were telling candidates they wanted to have final say over assistants.“No, that never happened,” Johnson said. “I completely deny it.”The Jets haven’t made the playoffs since the 2010 season, an eight-year drought that feels like a lifetime to some fans. Johnson made it clear he wants to win, and soon.“My expectations for this team under Adam are very high,” Johnson said. “In short, I chose him to win.”That doesn’t mean the owner is putting a playoff mandate on Gase, general manager Mike Maccagnan and the rest of the organization.“Absolutely not Will Harris Jersey ,” Johnson said. “I will never do that.”This isn’t like the days of Rex Ryan, who blew into his first news conference in 2009 with bold talk of meeting the president and winning the Super Bowl.Gase’s introduction was a low-key affair with no boasts or promises. In fact the only real buzz came on social media from fans who were mesmerized by the new coach’s intense eyes throughout the news conference.Gase won’t have roster control as he did with the Dolphins, and that’s no issue.“That’s not something I was really interested in,” Gase said. “That’s just kind of how it worked out in Miami…. I knew coming in here it would be a team effort. I can do my part, which is coaching the team.”Many of the fans who were frustrated with the hire have pointed to Gase’s mediocre record in Miami — without the resume of a Super Bowl-winning coach such as McCarthy.“We’re going to look to go better than .500,” Gase said. “We’re going to work to do that. That’s part of this process. Right now, we’re 0-0. … It’s a fresh start for everybody. I think there’s a lot of good pieces in place. I think we’re going to have a lot of opportunities to add to this.”It all starts with Darnold, of course. The No. 3 overall draft pick had an up-and-down rookie season, but finished strong after coming back from a foot injury that sidelined him for three games.The two spoke via FaceTime during the hiring process and hit it off, and now could be linked together for years to come.“I like his fire,” Gase said of Darnold. “You could see it the way he plays and just when you talk to him Austin Bryant Jersey , you could see there’s a love for football.”Gase acknowledged he could go without a quarterbacks coach and rather he and the offensive coordinator will work directly with Darnold and the team’s other QBs.“I think the less voices there, the better,” Gase said. “I think there needs to be a direct line of communication with myself or if we bring in just a coordinator.”Gase is also still mulling his options at defensive coordinator, and wouldn’t confirm or deny that Gregg Williams is a leading candidate for the spot. Gase indicated he would focus mainly on the offense and leave the defense primarily to whomever he hires.“I’m pretty sure that everyone is in the same boat that I need to spend my time with the quarterback,” he said.“Whoever we bring here on the defense has to do a great job of making sure that he’s really the head coach of the defense. That’s what we’re looking for.” PHILADELPHIA (AP) — When the Philadelphia Eagles went to New Orleans in Week 11, their leaders lost their composure before the team lost the game.Carson Wentz walked off the field punching at the air after throwing one of his three interceptions, an uncharacteristic display of frustration by the third-year quarterback.Malcolm Jenkins raised two middle fingers to his former head coach Sean Payton after Alvin Kamara beat him for a 37-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-7 in the fourth quarter and the Saints already leading by 31 points. Then Jenkins slammed his helmet to the turf on the sideline.The Eagles were beat up physically and mentally in a 48-7 loss that dropped their record to 4-6. It was the most lopsided defeat by a defending Super Bowl champion and it wouldn’t have been a surprise if the season spiraled downward.Instead, the Eagles were resilient. They didn’t give up. They didn’t quit. They rallied around each other. Now they have the rematch they wanted.The Eagles (10-7) are heading back to New Orleans to face the Saints (13-3) in a divisional playoff game on Sunday.“Neither team is going to start this game with a lead and neither team is going to start with an advantage because of something that happened, it seems like another season ago,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said Tuesday.“When you get beat the way we did, it’s easy to play into negativity. It’s easy to get down Rashan Gary Jersey , but our guys got more determined I think and our guys stayed positive and we were able to have some good results and make it back there.”This won’t be the same team playing against the Saints in the Superdome.Wentz went down with a back injury and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles stepped in to lead Philadelphia to four straight wins, including a 16-15 comeback victory at Chicago in the wild-card round.The offense has found its rhythm, averaging 25.4 points while going 6-1 since that loss. They scored 20.5 points per game in the first 10 games.“I think we’ve made a lot of improvements since that last game,” offensive coordinator Mike Groh said. “Feeling good about where we are offensively. Obviously, every week there’s things that you want to improve in and get better at based on what people try to do to you. We know we have a tremendous challenge. They are an excellent defense. They have had a really good year and done a lot of things really well.“So, we’re excited for it. We’ve created a great opportunity for ourselves to be here in the divisional round and looking forward to getting back there.A secondary depleted by season-ending injuries to three starters and stitched together by deep reserves and guys off the street has gained experience and built chemistry since Drew Brees dominated them for 363 yards and four touchdowns the first time around.“We can pull some positives from it,” Schwartz said. “There were some good plays in there; they are hard to find, but there are some good plays that our guys can gain a lot of confidence in that and say, ‘Hey, we can get this done.'”

Reaching the NFL in the first place is an incredible task all by itself. Especially when you consider that people have been trying their whole lives to get to that point http://www.arizonacardinalsteamonline.com/zach-allen-jersey , and many still don't make the cut. Those who do are lucky enough to end up getting paid to play football. While making it to the show is an achievement in itself, becoming a superstar in the league is another thing entirely. When you reach the level of super stardom that everyone knows who you are and all the fans in the stadium are wearing your jersey on Sunday there can’t be anything like it.That being said, every player in the history of the NFL (no matter how great) ultimately becomes a shell of that former player. Sometimes it is because their system changes and they don’t quite fit in the same. Other times it could be injures and a worn down body from one of the most physical games on the planet. Most of the time their greatness has just faded due to old age but at the end of the day it happens to every player. It is the simple reality that times change, and with change comes a dip in performance for many of the game's best and brightest.This is a ranking of 15 great well-known players who will take at least a step back this year. Some will end up being shells of their former selves while others will just be in systems that don’t ft. Either way let’s start the countdown. ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock were invited by Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis for an event in Las Vegas last week, a year before the team’s planned move to Sin City.The Raiders coach and general manager were set for a night on the town with their wives when those plans got altered with the news that the NFL’s most prolific receiver, Antonio Brown Cullen Gillaspia Jersey , was available from Pittsburgh.Just 24 hours later, Mayock had completed his first major move since leaving his old role as television draft analyst to join an NFL front office and all those plans the Raiders had made were overturned.“The wild card was all of a sudden understanding that this guy might be available,” Mayock said this week. “That was the wild card. That was not in our free agent planning. When all of a sudden we realized we might have an opportunity to compete for his services, it changed everything.”The Raiders seemed poised for a rebuilding year after dealing away foundation pieces Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper last year in trades that netted three additional first-round picks the next two years. But the trade for Brown set them up to begin a spending spree that the Raiders hope can make them a contender in their final season in Oakland before the move to the desert.The Raiders also gave big-ticket deals to free agent tackle Trent Brown, safety Lamarcus Joyner and receiver Tyrell Williams and have committed more than $200 million in contracts just six months after trading Mack to Chicago because they didn’t want to give him a mega-contract as the highest-paid defensive player in football.“We’ve gotten better, we have some resources in the draft that can continue that process and as I’ve said all along, I don’t think you can rush this Rock Ya-Sin Jersey ,” Gruden said. “You have to do what you deem is right. Players don’t become available all the time. You can’t make all the necessary improvements. It takes a little bit of time. But we’re confident that we’re heading in the right direction.”At least the Raiders now appear to be moving forward after taking a significant step back in Gruden’s first season. The team never recovered from the deal reached a week before the opener that sent Mack to the Bears for a package that included two first-round picks after he held out in search of a lucrative long-term contract the Raiders weren’t willing to offer.After starting last season 1-5, Gruden then sent Cooper to Dallas for another first-round pick and the rebuild was on. Oakland finished 4-12 just two seasons after breaking through with 12 wins and the team’s only playoff berth since 2002.Plenty of holes remain on the roster even after this week’s big spending spree with the most glaring being at pass rusher where Mack has yet to be replaced. Oakland has only one edge rusher under contract for 2019 in Arden Key, who had just one sack as a rookie.The Raiders finished with a league-low 13 sacks last season — 17 fewer than the next-worst team. Oakland still would like to find an edge rusher in free agency and also figures to target that position the draft when the team has picks No. 4, 24, 27 and 35 in the first two rounds.Mayock and Gruden also are looking for more help in the secondary, a playmaking linebacker, and possible help on offense at tight end http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/ben-banogu-jersey , running back and guard.Filling all those holes in the draft and the end of free agency seems far-fetched, but getting a good start on the task will give the fans in Oakland a more desirable product to watch this season and create excitement in Las Vegas for the team’s planned arrival in 2020.“There is a lot of history here, so I definitely wanted to come and be a part of the history and I also wanted to be a part of new beginnings,” said Joyner, who was attracted by the move. “Hopefully we do a lot of great things this year and make Nevada even more excited to have us.”The Raiders hope the move to Las Vegas, where they will play in a fancy new stadium rather than the rundown Coliseum and have a more modern facility, will make the team a wanted destination for free agents in the future.A recent poll of agents by Sports Illustrated’s “The MMQB” listed Oakland as the second-least desirable team to join in free agency Parris Campbell Jersey , ahead of only the Buffalo Bills, but that figures to change next season with the lack of a state tax in Nevada only making the location more desirable for players.But those factors won’t be as important in the future as Gruden and Mayock hitting on the draft picks to replenish the roster and make the team a contender once again.“I think the reason for me wanting to come here was to advance to Nevada with coach Gruden,” Joyner said. “I have come into contact with him throughout my career and he has always expressed to me how highly he thought of me as a player. When it comes to the state income taxes and stuff, that’s the kind of conversations you have with your wife and your kids, but that didn’t have anything to play into me wanting to join this great organization.”

FOXBOROUGH http://www.seahawkscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-cody-barton-jersey , Mass. (AP) — More times than not, the sight of Rob Gronkowski approaching the end zone has signaled good things happening for the New England Patriots.Yet there was the image of Gronkowski awkwardly crashing to the ground in a desperate attempt to prevent Kenyan Drake from crossing the goal line during Sunday’s last-second 34-33 loss to the Dolphins .Talk about something being the opposite of what people have come to expect from the Patriots.While Miami’s pass and double-lateral on the final 69-yard touchdown play got all the attention in the aftermath of Sunday’s loss, coach Bill Belichick reiterated there were other miscues that contributed.There was Stephen Gostkowski’s first missed extra point in 38 tries this season and only his second missed field goal inside 50 yards in 2018.New England also missed a scoring opportunity at the end of the first half. Albert McClellan blocked a Miami punt inside the Dolphins 20, setting up the Patriots on the 15 with 14 seconds left and no timeouts. Tom Brady completed a 13-yard pass to Gronkowski to get the ball to the 2. But Brady was sacked by Robert Quinn on the next play — very unlike Brady to miss a scoring opportunity —leaving New England’s lead at 27-21 at halftime.Finally, on its last series of the game, the offense failed to get into the end zone and settled for a 22-yard Gostkowski field goal, despite having a first-and-goal on the 7.“I think there were a lot of things that could’ve been better in the entire game,” Belichick said. “I think the game was about a lot more than that (final) play, but certainly that play wasn’t a good one for us.”Belichick said the reason Gronkowski was at safety instead of Devin McCourty, one of New England’s best defensive players: “It would be his ability to play the deep, long throw.”But the coach then admitted that Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill probably didn’t have the arm strength for such a desperation heave.“I think it was a little too far to get to the end zone Gary Jennings Jr. Jersey ,” Belichick said, “but certainly a deep pass in that situation is a possibility. I wouldn’t rule that out.”The irony of the ending is that it overshadowed one of Gronkowski’s best performances of the season. The tight end finished with eight catches for 107 yards, marking the 28th 100-yard game of his career. The only tight end with more 100-yard games than Gronkowski is Tony Gonzalez with 31. It was just Gronkowski’s second 100-yard receiving game this season and his first since New England’s season opener.Fullback James Develin also continued to impress with his fourth rushing touchdown in four games. He had one in his first 74 career games.“It’s going to test our character. It’s going to test our mental toughness,” Gronkowski said Sunday. “I mean, I feel like I’ve been going through that all year, and now to get to this point now. We’ve just got to keep working hard. We’ve just got to keep grinding. We’ve got to keep focusing and just come together as a team more.”Still, the loss only meant their route to reaching another Super Bowl will be that much tougher.As stunned as New England’s players felt as they trudged off the field following the loss , other surprise results around the conference on Sunday kept their hopes of securing a ninth consecutive first-round bye in the playoffs very much alive.The Patriots (9-4) began preparations for their Week 15 game at Pittsburgh still on track to capture the second seed in the AFC behind Kansas City (11-2), which stayed in first place after fighting off Baltimore in overtime. Los Angeles improved to 10-3 after its win over Cincinnati and has the conference’s second-best record. But the Chargers are division-mates with the Chiefs and would have to settle for a wild-card spot if nothing changes over the final three weeks of the regular season.New England holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Houston, which is also 9-4 after its loss to Indianapolis. And courtesy of the Steelers’ loss to the Raiders, even should Pittsburgh (7-5-1) beat New England http://www.seahawkscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-phil-haynes-jersey , it would still trail the Patriots in the AFC standings.The Texans would move ahead of the Patriots in the AFC if they beat the Jets on Saturday and the Steelers win Sunday.Patriots center David Andrews said the fact they still have a say in where they finish up is the only thing they were thinking about when they walked back into the team facility Monday.“We’ve got a lot we can do better. We got a big challenge coming up this week, so that’s what our focus is on,” he said on Monday. “We can’t do anything to change what happened yesterday, so we gotta move on.”Special teams captain Matt Slater, invoking Belichick’s classic parlance, said everyone in the locker room is officially “on to Pittsburgh.”“I don’t think there’s really much else to talk about,” Slater said. “Over the course of the season it’s gonna be very rare that things go your way all the time. And we’ve certainly been spoiled around here with some good fortune over the years. So we’re just gonna move forward and focus on the Steelers and what we need to do to perform well there.” By the 16th inning, the Tampa Bay Rays had their backup catcher pitching, and the Miami Marlins had one of their pitchers pinch-hit.

It was a battle of attrition, and Tampa Bay won.

Jake Bauers hit a tiebreaking two-out, two-run double in a five-run 16th Ugo Amadi Jersey , ending the Rays’ 13-inning scoreless streak and lifting them over Miami 9-6 on Tuesday night.

”There were a lot of people doing things they’re not used to doing,” Bauers said.

That included Rays reliever Vidal Nuno (2-1), who pitched two scoreless innings and also had two hits. He was thrown out on a headfirst slide trying to stretch a single into a double in the 15th, singled home a run in the 16th and then left the game after straining his right hamstring sprinting to first base.

Nuno will likely go on the disabled list, manager Kevin Cash said.

”What a performance,” Cash said. ”Amazing.”

”That was an incredible effort by Nuno, especially the dive into second base ,” Bauers said. ”That was one of the crazier things I’ve seen on a baseball field.”

Nuno became the first American League reliever to record two or more hits and earn a victory in the same game since the designated hitter rule was adopted in 1973.

Miami’s J.T. Realmuto led off the 15th with a double, but Nuno pitched out of the jam.

With the Rays leading 9-4 in the 16th and short on pitchers, backup catcher Jesus Sucre took the mound for the bottom of the inning but gave up three consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly.

Jose Alvarado came on and walked pinch-hitting pitcher Dan Straily before Cameron Maybin grounded out to end the 5 1/2-hour marathon. That gave the Rays their ninth win in 11 games.

”It got a little stressful there at the end,” Cash said. ”We appreciate the win http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-drew-sample-jersey , but we’re beat up.”

Announced attendance was 6,259, and a few hundred remained at the finish. The Marlins offered two tickets to each fan leaving after the game.

Johnny Field singled to start the Rays’ five-run 16th against Brett Graves (0-1), and Carlos Gomez was hit by a pitch. After Kevin Kiermaier hit into a double play, Matt Duffy walked, and both scored on Bauers’ double.

The runs were the first for the Rays since the second inning, when they led 4-0.

Right fielder Mallek Smith was yanked in the fourth inning for missing a sign, Cash said, which left the Rays even more shorthanded in the late innings. Reliever Sergio Romo batted in the 12th, struck out and remains hitless in his career.

”Definitely not how you draw it up in a lot of different ways,” Duffy said. ”In a 16-inning game there are going to be some ugly things. Not an ideal day http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/trayvon-mullen-jersey , but we’re happy to come out with the win.”

Wilson Ramos hit a two-run homer for the Rays, his 12th.

Miami’s Brian Anderson singled home a run in the fifth and has 33 hits with runners in scoring position to lead the majors. Teammate Justin Bour had three hits and scored once.

Rays center fielder Kiermaier threw out Anderson trying to score on a flyout to end the fifth and keep the score at 4-all. Tampa Bay’s Chaz Roe struck out Realmuto with runners at second and third in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.

”A lot of ifs and buts in a game like that,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara will be placed on the 10-day disabled list with an infection under his upper right arm.

Rays: RHP Chris Archer (left abdominal strain) threw four hitless innings in a rehab start for Class A Charlotte. … RHP Jake Faria (left oblique strain) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Marlins RHP Jose Urena (2-9, 4.40), sidelined since June 20 with right shoulder impingement, is expected to come off the disabled list to start Wednesday afternoon against RHP Matt Andriese (1-3, 3.86).

—

BEREA http://www.pantherscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-greg-little-jersey , Ohio (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr.’s current part-time employment isn’t bothering the Browns.Not yet, anyway.The star wide receiver did not practice Wednesday after showing up Tuesday for Cleveland’s voluntary offseason program, ending an excused — if not questionable — monthlong absence. Beckham, who was acquired in a March trade with the New York Giants, has been open with the Browns about his plans to mostly work out on his own during the spring and summer.Still, his decision to stay on his own only enhances the knock on Beckham that he’s not team-oriented.Because the offseason training activities (OTAs) are voluntary, new Browns coach Freddie Kitchens is not upset that Beckham isn’t around. Kitchens is communicating with Beckham and remains confident the three-time Pro Bowler will be ready for the team’s mandatory minicamp in June and training camp in July.“Listen, I have never disputed the fact that it is not important for him to be here, but it is also important for him to be mentally ready to be here,” Kitchens said following practice. “I’m not giving him an out by any stretch of imagination, and nobody here knows the conversations that Odell and I have. I’m just saying it is better for him to be here when he can present his best self — emotionally, physically, everything.“Odell Beckham is going to be here in the fall, and he is going to be a good football player in the fall just like he has been.”After Tuesday’s session, Beckham posted a photo on Instagram of him catching a pass. Quarterback Baker Mayfield said it was good to have his new teammate on the field, and he feels no need to try to persuade Beckham to change his routine.“You let a guy like that be him,” Mayfield said. “Everybody has their routine. Stick to what is working, and for him, obviously, it has been working for a while. He is going to do what he’s going to do. You have to trust that he is going to be there when it matters, and we know who he is.”Beckham wasn’t the only notable absence. Running back Duke Johnson remains away from the team after asking to be traded following the team’s signing of free agent Kareem Hunt.Johnson has been one of the team’s best players over the past few years Will Grier Jersey , but is upset about a reduced role.Kitchens said he has talked to Johnson “a few times” and believes the versatile back will report next month. He acknowledged some frustration that two of his best players aren’t practicing.“I would be lying to say that I wasn’t disappointed that we don’t have everybody here,” he said. “I’m not going to fool you and try to trick you into saying I’m happy-go-lucky fine with it. I want everybody here because I do think it is important to be here, but it is their option.“They understand what they have to do once they come here. As long as everybody is on the same page as that, I’m fine as long as they are ready to play. Odell is going to be ready. Duke is going to be ready. All of them are going to be ready to play.”NOTES: WR Jarvis Landry did not participate in on-field drills during the workout. … The Browns presented $25,000 in hew helmets to players from Berea-Midpark High School, which is near the team’s facility. When Kitchens told the gathered players he was giving them a surprise gift, one of them asked, “Season tickets?” METAIRIE, La. (AP) — It’s one thing to throw passes as accurately as any quarterback ever has, which the New Orleans Saints‘ Drew Brees arguably does.His pinpoint control was even documented in a “Sport Science” episode in which Brees’ ability to hit a target compared favorably to that of an Olympic archer.Yet Brees attributes his record career and single-season completion percentages to far more than his ability to throw passes wherever he wants. And he is also quick to stress that he can’t do it alone.“We work at it. It takes an entire group and it starts with the guys up front, goes to the receivers catching the ball, tight ends, backs, everybody in protection and running routes and timing,” Brees said. “I mean, there is so much that goes into that.”Brees takes time during or after virtually every practice or even offseason workout to help receivers and blockers see the field the way he sees it, to help them understand how he’s inclined to act when the approach of a defense causes plays to develop any variety of ways.During the course of 18 full regular seasons, Brees, who turns 40 on Jan. 15 and has one year remaining on his contract, has set an entirely new NFL standard for completion percentage. His 74.4 percent completion rate (364 of 489) this season broke the NFL record of 72 percent that Brees himself set last season. Brees owns three of the six highest single-season completion rates in NFL history. His 70.6 rate in 2009, when the Saints won the Super Bowl http://www.pantherscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-christian-miller-jersey , tied Kenny Anderson for the highest of all time. He owned the record alone after completing 71.2 percent in 2011. That stood until Sam Bradford’s 71.6 percent in 2016, which Brees broke the very next year.Brees’ career completion rate of 67.3 percent also is highest of all-time. And he leads in passing yards and number of completions.Saints coach Sean Payton, who played quarterback in college and very briefly as a pro, and whose entire 30-year coaching career at the college and pro levels has involved working with offenses, attests to the rarity of what Brees has accomplished by completing nearly three-quarters of his passes this season.“Honestly, it’s a high mark. I can’t recall being with a quarterback or an offense where (a QB) is completing balls at that high number,” Payton said. “It’s exceptional and I don’t think you take it for granted. That efficiency is impressive.”Brees is a stickler for throwing mechanics. He has trained for years with throwing coach Tom House, a former major league pitcher. And the ex-Purdue star sounds like an engineer when he explains the “kinetic chain,” which, in his case, refers to the transfer of energy from his feet to his hips, shoulders and ultimately the index finger in his throwing hand as he unloads the ball. He drops terms like “ankle eye,” referring to an imaginary eye on the inside ankle of a passer’s back foot, which should be looking straight at the intended target.“His accuracy is exceptional,” Payton said. “Then the methodical approach, the amount of time he puts into the situations, those things factor in.”Tight end Ben Watson, whose 15-year NFL career included several seasons with New England’s Tom Brady, said Brees spends as much or more time explaining what he’s thinking, seeing and needing on a given play than any QB or offensive coordinator he’s known. Brees goes into fine detail with receivers about route depth, timing and leverage. He reminds offensive linemen that when he’s taking just a three-step drop blocks need to be aggressive so that defensive lineman will be forced to engage with their hands Jordan Scarlett Jersey , preventing them from getting their arms up to bat down the ball.Sometimes, Brees can sound defensive when discussion turns to his completion rate, as if he’s sensitive to the notionit’s only so high because he often throws short, particularly to running backs. Brees tends to harken back to advice from his second NFL head coach, Marty Schottenheimer, who’d extol the virtue of modest completions by saying one never goes broke taking a profit.“I know this: completions usually equal positive plays. Positive plays move the chains, moving the chains scores points, scoring points wins games,” Brees said. “So you just focus on getting the ball in the hands of your playmakers as early and often as possible. Good things happen. But we work on that. That’s not easy.”Added Watson, “The No. 1 thing about having a high completion rate is getting to a play that has a high chance of being a completion.”“A lot of our plays have options,” Watson continued, citing different versions of a given passing play for zone or man-to-man coverage, as well of the option to check out of a play and call an entirely new one because of defensive alignments.So Brees’ sophisticated understanding of opposing defenses “is just as important as his accuracy or a guy catching the ball,” Watson concluded.Saints veteran receiver Ted Ginn played in Carolina when Cam Newton was the NFL’s Most Valuable player in 2015. Ginn said Brees was MVP-worthy this season — and not just for his completion percentage record or the fact that the Saints went 13-2 in Brees’ 15 starts.“He’s one of the smartest human beings that I know on and off the field,” Ginn said. “You can understand why him and Sean have been together for a long time.”And Ginn added that Brees’ affability, leadership and ability to communicate play a part, too.“The guy is amazing and he does a lot of things that a lot of people wouldn’t even know,” Ginn said. “He’s really like a father figure out there to a lot of our guys that’s on that field. We really believe in that guy — and that guy really believes in us.”

KANSAS CITY http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-austin-bryant-jersey , Mo. — The Cincinnati Reds have the worst record in the National League at 24-43, but they still have a better record than the Kansas City Royals.

The Reds beat the Royals 5-1 in 10 innings Tuesday. The Royals have dropped eight of their past nine and are 22-45 overall. Only the Baltimore Orioles (19-47) have a worst record.

The Royals are 23 games below .500 for the first time since Sept. 13, 2011, when they were 63-86.

The Reds will go for a sweep of the two-game mini-series in Kansas City on Wednesday night. The Reds’ victory Tuesday was their first over the Royals since June 12, 2010.

Right-hander Tyler Mahle of the Reds and Jason Hammel of the Royals are scheduled starting pitchers for the series finale.

Mahle (4-6, 4.33 ERA) is 1-0 in two June starts, allowing 11 hits and two earned runs in 10 innings, while striking out 11 and walking four.

This will be Mahle’s first time facing the Royals Rashan Gary Jersey , but not his first time on the Kaufman Stadium mound. He threw a mound session before the 2013 draft when the Reds chose him in the seventh round.

“They had a high school workout,” Mahle said. “Pitchers just threw a bullpen off the game mound; that was it. All the scouts were here.”

He said never pitching against the Royals does not change his preparation.

“It’s the same between every start,” Mahle said. “I prepare to go out there and hit my spots and compete. It’s a new team, and I’ve never seen them play before, so I’m going to do my homework and kind of make a game plan out of it.”

He said he pitches not to the Royals’ weaknesses, but his strengths.

“You always play to your own strength,” he said. “We’re going to find out what their weaknesses are and kind of find something there in the middle. I throw a lot of fastballs, but if there’s a guy who likes a lot of fastballs http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-darnell-savage-jr.-jersey , it kind of collides there.

“But, at the same time, if you hit spots, good things are going to happen. Obviously if you throw it down the middle, he’s going to hit it, but if you hit a corner, or something like that, always if you make your pitch Elgton Jenkins Jersey , good things are going to happen.”

Good things happened to the Reds in the Tuesday victory. They trailed 1-0 entering the ninth, but Tucker Barnhart led off the inning with a blast off Kelvin Herrera that landed in the Royals’ bullpen.

“That is against one of the best closers in the game, so that was huge,” Reds manager Jim Riggleman said. “Both pitchers are pitching so good it’s probably going to be a home-run type game. Nobody was putting a rally together. They got one and we got one, and our bullpen really did a great job.”

Hammel (2-6, 5.12 ERA) is 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA in his last four starts after a 13-start winless streak in which he went 0-8 with a 7.28 ERA. He has issued two or fewer walks in 10 of his 13 starts this season.

Hammel is 0-3 with a 4.70 ERA in five home starts this year and is winless in his last seven Kauffman Stadium starts dating to Aug. 20.

He is 4-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 12 career outings (11 starts) against the Reds. He has won his last four starts against Cincinnati with a 0.75 ERA, but has not faced the Reds since 2016.

Thursday night’s game between the Oakland Athletics and the Chicago White Sox has been postponed because of rain.

The postponement is the 40th in the major leagues this season, one more than last year and the most in at least the past six years.

The game will be made up on Friday as part of a straight doubleheader beginning at 3:10 p.m. CDT. The second game will start at 7:10 p.m. http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jace-sternberger-jersey , the time for Friday’s regularly scheduled game, or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

The White Sox announced right-hander James Shields (2-8, 4.63 ERA) will start the first game on Friday, with righty Lucas Giolito (4-7, 7.19) following in the nightcap. Chicago has lost seven straight to match a season high and is a season-low 25 games under .500.

Oakland will send left-hander Sean Manaea (6-6, 3.56) to the mound in the opener and start righty Chris Bassitt in (0-2, 2.45) in Game 2.

The Athletics are scheduled to play four games this weekend during their only visit to Chicago this season.

—

A pair of two-homer performances. A bases-loaded triple Zach Gentry Jersey , followed by another triple. So many unusual things went into Chicago’s biggest comeback of the season that even the White Sox had trouble keeping track.

No matter. They’ll take it.

Daniel Palka and Avisail Garcia each homered twice, and Yoan Moncada tripled with the bases loaded in the 12th inning as the White Sox pulled off their biggest comeback and beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-8 on Tuesday night.

”Well, a lot going on today,” manager Rick Renteria said.

It was a night of non-stop offense, right from the outset.

Trailing 7-2 after five innings, the White Sox pulled even in the ninth on Garcia’s solo homer off Raisel Iglesias, then pulled it out with the help of a couple of Reds errors.

”That last inning was tough,” said Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett, whose error opened the way.

The White Sox loaded the bases with a walk and two errors. Moncada’s opposite-field triple off Jackson Stephens (2-1) broke the tie, and Yolmer Sanchez followed with another triple.

Hector Santiago (3-3) fanned six in two innings as the White Sox extended their domination in the interleague series. They’re 17-5 all-time against the Reds, including 11-3 in Cincinnati.

”Surreal Chris Lindstrom Jersey ,” said Chicago starter Lucas Giolito, who gave up three homers but wound up on the winning side. ”From my perspective, I didn’t get the job done. It’s an awesome feeling that these guys play hard behind you.”

Jim Riggleman was ejected by plate umpire Eric Cooper during Chicago’s winning rally, his first ejection as the Reds’ interim manager. They had words as Riggleman was signaling from the dugout for an intentional walk.

”Then he made some comment that I didn’t like,” Riggleman said. ”That’s kind of how the whole game went.”

The Reds got the better of a free-swinging game early on, surging ahead 4-0 before Giolito could record an out. Jose Peraza opened with a triple, Gennett hit his 14th homer , Joey Votto walked, and Eugenio Suarez followed with his 17th homer . Suarez performed a salsa dance with Votto after he crossed the plate.

Adam Duvall added a three-run shot into the upper deck in left field in the fifth inning off Giolito for a 7-2 lead, the second time in his career that the right-hander has allowed three homers in a game.

Anthony DeSclafani also gave up a career-high three homers – two by Palka and one by Garcia, who went 3 for 6 and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games.

INTERLEAGUE

The White Sox are 4-10 in interleague play this season. The Reds are 7-2. The loss snapped their streak of six straight wins against the AL.

LONG TIME COMING

The last time the White Sox and Reds played an extra-inning game was Game 6 of the ”Black Sox” World Series in 1919. Chicago won that game 5-4 in 10 innings at Crosley Field.

HOMECOMING

Giolito started the Futures Game as part of the All-Star festivities at Great American Ball Park in 2015 and pitched two scoreless innings .

SLOPPY http://www.falconscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-kaleb-mcgary-jersey , SLOPPY

The Reds committed a season-high four errors – two by Suarez at third, one by Peraza at shortstop and one by Gennett at second base.

ROBBED … SORT OF

Sanchez’s triple in the 12th came on a weird play. Right fielder Brandon Dixon stretched above the wall and grabbed the fly ball – robbing Sanchez of a homer – but the glove flipped off his hand as he hit the wall and the ball deflected back onto the field.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: Jose Abreu was out of the lineup a day after he fouled a pitch off his left ankle. X-rays were negative. Abreu pinch hit in the 11th inning and grounded out.

Reds: Homer Bailey threw 103 pitches in 6 2/3 innings of a rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday night, giving up one run and seven hits while fanning eight. Bailey has been sidelined since June 2 by a sore right knee.

UP NEXT

White Sox: Dylan Covey (3-3) is 0-1 with a 12.71 ERA in his last three starts, walking 12 in 11 1/3 innings and giving up 16 runs.

Reds: Sal Romano (4-8) went 1-2 with a 3.90 ERA in five June starts. He’s been limited to five innings in four of his last six starts.

—


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t have near the playoff experience as the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jacksonville, though, has winning experience at Heinz Field.

The champions of the AFC South (Jaguars) and AFC North (Steelers) will meet Sunday in the divisional round with the winner advancing to the AFC Championship Game against Tennessee or New England on Jan. 21.

Jacksonville trounced Pittsburgh 30-9 on Oct. 8 at Heinz Field, forcing Steelers two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into a career-worst five interceptions.

The Steelers (13-3) went on to win 10 of their last 11 games to secure the AFC’s second seed and first-round bye.

“We’ve evolved since then,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “They have evolved a lot since then. (The first game) is a good physical reference in terms of the matchups. … I am sure that they are as different as we are since the last time we’ve seen them.”

The Jaguars are hoping that the evolution has been minimal, especially the passing game. Roethlisberger said last week he was hoping the Steelers would get to play the Jaguars.

Jacksonville All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey helped grant his wish with his interception in the final seconds to seal Jacksonville’s 10-3 victory over Buffalo in the wild-card round Sunday at EverBank Field. The win was Jacksonville’s first in the playoffs since the 2007 season, its last appearance.

The Jaguars (11-6) returned two Roethlisberger interceptions for touchdowns in the first meeting.

The 35-year-old Roethlisberger wondered “if he still has it” after the loss when meeting with reporters.

Ramsey said with the Bills game behind them Kendall Sheffield Jersey , Big Ben’s comments about wanting a rematch have their attention.

“I’m sure it will be brought up a couple times this week,” Ramsey said. “I would want to play us again too. He threw five picks and was contemplating retirement saying whether he had it or not after playing us. They had a good season after our game. But, sometimes you have to be careful what you ask for. We’ll see Big Ben and the Steelers on Sunday. We’ll see what happens then.”

Ramsey intercepted a pass in the Pittsburgh win and deflected four passes. One breakup resulted in strong safety Barry Church intercepting a pass and returning it 51 yards for a touchdown.

Roethlisberger was quick to praise the Jaguars’ defense this week.

“This is one of the best defenses I’ve ever played against,” Roethlisberger said.

The Steelers finished the season ranked third in the NFL in passing yardage, with the Jaguars first in pass defense.

“They play to our strengths,” Ramsey said. “They think that passing is their strength. Defending the pass is our strength. Any team that tries to pass the ball on us 40 times hasn’t had success on us and I don’t think will have success on us. We have to grind this week though. They’re a good team coming off the bye. We’re going to have to have a great game plan and execute.”

Ramsey will be in the headlining matchup Sunday as he goes up against Steelers All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown, who caught 10 passes for 157 yards on 19 targets in the first meeting.

Brown injured his calf on Dec. 17, but is expected to play Sunday. The eighth-year veteran led the NFL in receiving yards this season with 1,533 (89 more than No. 2 Julio Jones), despite missing the final two games of the season.

Pittsburgh will also try to lean more on All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell, who was held to 93 total yards in the first meeting.

“He’s not one-dimensional http://www.falconscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-john-cominsky-jersey ,” Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said. “It’s not like this guy is going to take the ball and run downhill and run you over every single time he takes it. He can do that. He can also get the ball outside. He has excellent patience. He has a really good understanding of the blocking scheme. He’s a natural catcher.”

The big question is how much will Pittsburgh really need to score? Jacksonville’s offense has been sluggish lately, scoring 20 total points in its last two outings combined.

Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles wasn’t effective in the first meeting. He completed 8-of-14 passes for 95 yards with no touchdowns and an interception for a 48.2 passer rating.

The Jaguars’ top-ranked run offense had one of its best days of the season, generating 231 yards. Rookie running back Leonard Fournette carried 28 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-clinching 90-yard score.

“Hopefully, we can throw less,” Bortles said. “That would be awesome. Leonard goes off again and those guys up front play as well as they did last time, we can run the ball up there and not have to throw at all. It was something that happened last time, but you never know.”

FLORHAM PARK Kyler Murray Jersey , N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets picked a pass rusher with plenty to prove.Florida’s Jachai Polite was the first of the Jets’ two third-round selections Friday night, going 68th overall and giving New York the explosive edge rusher they coveted entering the NFL draft.The Jets just hope the 21-year-old Polite has outgrown the maturity questions many teams had about him. He was once considered a likely early selection, but he struggled during what he called a “bumpy” pre-draft process — both physically and mentally.“I’ve accepted all my flaws,” Polite said during a conference call. “I’ve been just working on that all offseason.”Polite had 11 sacks in his junior season with the Gators, playing mainly off the edge, and is considered still a bit raw. He tweaked his right hamstring during the 40-yard dash at Florida’s pro day last month and was slowed the rest of the day. The injury previously hampered him at the NFL combine in February in Indianapolis, where he ran the 40-yard dash in an underwhelming 4.84 seconds and posted a vertical jump of just 32 inches before choosing not to do any additional drills. His weight became an issue as he got up to 258 pounds, but was in the 240s when he visited the Jets.He also made headlines for what he perceived as teams — Green Bay, in particular — “bashing” him during the interview process at the combine.“I regret saying that (anyone) was bashing me http://www.arizonacardinalsteamonline.com/byron-murphy-jersey , because they weren’t really bashing me,” Polite said. “They were just trying to interview a guy to come play for their team. They just wanted to see how I reacted. It was all my fault, and I learned from it.“It was an incident that got misjudged. Things were said that didn’t happen and weren’t meant that way. It wasn’t really that bad, if you ask me.”Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan was aware of Polite’s off-field concerns, but said the team did its homework leading up to the draft. He added that a member of the scouting department also had familiarity with Polite when the two were at Florida.“He might not have had the best spring he would’ve ideally wanted,” Maccagnan said. “But there were definitely things there that we felt good about, in terms of the opportunity to kind of work with him and develop.”New York also drafted USC offensive tackle Chuma Edoga in the third round, trading with Minnesota to move up a spot to take him with the 92nd overall pick. The Jets gave the Vikings the 93rd pick and No. 217 overall (a seventh-rounder).Polite led the NCAA with six forced fumbles last season, despite starting just five of 13 games. He had a team-leading 19½ tackles for loss and was selected to the AP All-America second team.The Jets selected Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams with the third overall selection Thursday night Andy Isabella Jersey , giving New York’s defensive line two promising new additions. With Williams expected to provide power in the middle as a run-stuffing pass rusher, Polite will be counted on to get to the quarterback as a mismatch on the outside, potentially as a 3-4 outside linebacker.“This is a perfect place for me to fit scheme-wise,” Polite said.He’ll also start fresh in the NFL, and is eager to put all the negative talk in the past.“I have a lot of people to prove wrong,” Polite added. “I’m ready to work. Growing up, there’s always been a lot of negative things about me, and I’ve just worked my whole life.”The 6-foot-3, 308-pound Edoga was a teammate of current Jets quarterback Sam Darnold at USC in 2017 Clelin Ferrell Jersey , and he’ll be tasked with helping protect the second-year signal caller on New York’s offensive line.“I blocked for Sammy D in college and now I get to block for him in the NFL, it’s a blessing,” Edoga said during a conference call. “It’s a dream come true.”Edoga played in 44 games, including 26 starts, with the Trojans — mainly as a right tackle, where he was selected to the All-Pac-12 second team last season. Both left tackle Kelvin Beachum and right tackle Brandon Shell are scheduled to be free agents after this season, so Edoga could be groomed to replace one of the two in 2020, if not sooner.He played both tackle spots during the Senior Bowl week, something he thinks he will be able to do in the NFL. Maccagnan added that Edoga could also potentially play guard.Edoga also impressed teams by flashing some of the on-field characteristics that moved him up draft boards.“I just like to use my athleticism and play with aggressiveness Josh Oliver Jersey ,” Edoga said. “Try to get off the ball and hit somebody in the mouth.”After the trade with the Vikings, the Jets will enter the final day of the draft Saturday with just two more picks: a fourth-rounder (No. 105 overall) and a sixth-rounder (No. 196).NOTES: Maccagnan disputed published reports that he and new coach Adam Gase have clashed at times during the offseason. “I think Adam and I have worked very well together,” he said. “I’m sure, like in any process, there are times … when we have different opinions on a player. From my standpoint, I’ve actually had a very good working relationship with Adam. Quite frankly, he has a very good sense of humor and kind of makes me laugh quite a bit.” Authorities say a former major league All-Star pitcher held two people at gunpoint after they took mail from his mailbox.

The Bibb County Sheriff’s office said on Facebook that deputies responded just after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to a call from Kevin Brown in Macon.

The Telegraph newspaper reports Brown saw two men in a white sports car take his mail before speeding off twice Tuesday. The next day, he waited with a gun and detained the pair when they tried again.

The sheriff’s office arrested two brothers from Miami, one 30 and one 15. They face charges of mail theft and forgery http://www.jacksonvillejaguarsteamonline.com/quincy-williams-ii-jersey , and the older brother is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The 53-year-old Brown was 211-144 with a 3.28 ERA in 486 games in 19 seasons with Rangers, Orioles, Marlins, Padres, Dodgers and Yankees. The six-time All-Star last pitched in the majors for the Yankees in 2005.

Tom Brady will soon slip on his sixth Super Bowl ring Chris Lindstrom Jersey , and Herb Adderley is the only other player on the planet who can relate to that level of success in the National Football League, which celebrates its 100th season this year.“It’s going to be a long time, another 100 years, before somebody wins himself six titles,” suggested Adderley, the Hall of Fame cornerback for Vince Lombardi’s great Green Bay Packers teams of the 1960s.“Because of all the free agency and guys jumping around from team to team, you’re not going to be on one team long enough and you’re not going to be lucky enough to be with a team every year that’s going to win a championship.”Adderley, who turns 80 next month, won five championships in Green Bay, including the first two Super Bowls, plus another with Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys in 1971, as did Hall of Fame lineman Forrest Gregg, who died last month at age 85.Their Green Bay teammate, offensive lineman Fuzzy Thurston, who died in 2014, won all six of his titles with Lombardi and the Packers just as Brady has won each of his half dozen rings in New England with coach Bill Belichick.Belichick reminds Adderley a lot of Lombardi.“The teams are fundamentally sound and they play with discipline,” Adderley said. “And if you get a team that can do that week after week after week and you have good players, you’re going to win.”Adderley, who just celebrated his 22-year-old cousin Nasir Adderley’s selection in the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, won his six rings in a 12-year span.“You look at all the great players that never played on a championship team that went to the Hall of Fame like Gale Sayers and Deacon Jones, one of my classmates when in 1980 when I went in,” Adderley said. “There are just so many guys that deserved just one Super Bowl title and then I end up with six, which was half of my career.“I played 12 years and six times to be an NFL champion, I mean, that’s mind blowing.”Thurston won his six titles over a 10-year span http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-kaleb-mcgary-jersey , Gregg over a 15-year career and Brady has won his six rings over a 19-year career. He’ll be 42 this summer as he enters his 20th season. Gregg retired at 38, Thurston at 34 and Adderley at 33.Gregg was the first man to play and coach in the Super Bowl. He took the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl during the 1981 season when they lost 26-21 to Joe Montana and the 49ers.Gregg died last month after a long fight with Parkinson’s, a disease his neurologist and family believe might have been triggered by countless concussions he sustained while playing football in the 1950s at SMU and in the NFL from 1956-71 during a Hall of Fame career that led Lombardi to call him “the finest football player I ever coached.”“Aw man, I was with him for nine years in Green Bay and then we were teammates in Dallas,” Adderley said. “For 10 years we were teammates and we were the best of friends, I’m telling you. They had a grading system where offensive linemen would be graded on pass blocking and run blocking and every week Forrest Gregg was the only one that ended up with a 100 on both run and pass, and if he didn’t, it would be 95.“Other guys on that line in the Hall of Fame, Jim Ringo and Jerry Kramer — and Fuzzy Thurston wasn’t a bad lineman, either — but those guys didn’t end up with the same grades as Forrest Gregg. That’s why Lombardi said he was the best that he’d ever coached.”While he believes it might take another century for the four-man club to expand to five, Adderley concedes that Brady might very well become the first player to win seven NFL championships.“Oh yes, indeed. He has a shot at it as long as he plays,” Adderley said. “As far as I’m concerned, because of the titles that he’s won, he’s the best quarterback to play. And Bill Belichick gets a lot of credit because of the system that he has. He brings in guys that fit in that system. It doesn’t matter who it is, Brady’s going to hit the open man.”Adderley, who lives outside Philadelphia, said Lombardi’s teams may have won all their titles in a shorter span than Belichick has won his championships in New England but the similarities are striking: both dynasties are marked by sidestepping boneheaded plays and calls that their opponents just can’t avoid.“There would be games and seasons that we wouldn’t make any mistakes to beat ourselves,” Adderley said. “Of course, everybody makes mistakes, even the scientists — they use pencils with erasers on the end because everybody’s going to make mistakes now and then. But we didn’t make enough to beat ourselves and other teams either we forced them to make mistakes or they just lacked discipline.“So, that’s the key, if you are fundamentally sound and play with discipline, you’re going to be in the running to win. And I think that as long as Brady and Belichick are there, Brady’s going to have a chance to get No. 7 Kendall Sheffield Jersey ,” Adderley said.“And as long as he keeps going, our names will always be mentioned: Thurston, Gregg and myself.” FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Gregg Williams is the furthest thing from warm and fuzzy.Never has been. And, never will.That’s not how the New York Jets‘ defensive coordinator is wired.Williams has helped build stingy defenses all around the NFL for nearly 30 years with a mix of fiery passion, intimidating intensity and undeniable self-confidence. It rubs some — OK, many — the wrong way. But Williams has made a long, successful career of never, ever being Mr. Nice Guy.“My secrets get out,” the 60-year-old Williams said in his first news conference since being hired by coach Adam Gase in January.“And the reason I keep getting hired is culture,” he added, “and culture beats strategy any day of the week.”Williams motivates his players with his undying desire to win. He wants guys in his defense who reflect everything for which he stands.“It’s about how you find ways yourself to be tougher,” he said. “How you find ways to play harder, play smarter for longer than any opponent you go against. And, all the scheme is is a way to surround the ball, surround the formation and just find ball, see ball, get ball.“But it comes from an attitude. It comes from a personal understanding of what it takes to play this game at this level at the highest level.”Williams’ arrival has been welcomed by the players, who rave about his “crazy” energy and no-holds-barred approach.“Between those whistles, it’s a dog-eat-dog mentality,” linebacker Jordan Jenkins said.“It’s aggressive, obviously,” safety Jamal Adams added. “We talk our noise and we fly around the ball. I know we’re going to compete every down, every play. That’s what it’s about.”Williams made an immediate impression on Adams, pulling no punches with the third-year safety who’s coming off his first career Pro Bowl selection.“You know http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-john-cominsky-jersey ,” he told Adams, “I’ve coached a lot better people than you before.”Adams, who appreciated that blunt assessment, was sold on Williams immediately.“I love him,” Adams said with a big grin. “It’s like an uncle, really. He’s coaching us hard, he wants the best out of us and you could run through a wall for a coach like that.”That’s nothing new for Williams, who has heard things like that throughout his journey in the NFL, from Houston and Tennessee to Buffalo, Washington, Jacksonville, New Orleans, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Cleveland and, now, New York.“Players can smell and feel and know whether you’re conning them, faster than coaches do because they see the personal side of it,” Williams said. “So, yeah, I push, prod. And attitude does come first and I tell them attitude is everything.“Pick a good one today.”Williams has been a polarizing figure at times, particularly during his time with the Saints from 2009-11 as the defensive coordinator under Sean Payton — a period that included a Super Bowl win in 2010. Williams was suspended by the NFL for the entire 2012 season for his role in the “Bountygate” scandal in New Orleans, where Saints defensive players were paid bonuses for injuring opposing team players.That mark on Williams’ resume became a topic of conversation again when he joined the Jets because Joe Vitt was hired as the team’s outside linebackers coach. The two were on the Saints’ staff during the controversy, and Vitt testified against Williams in the hearings Qadree Ollison Jersey , accusing Williams of lying in his testimony to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.Williams and Vitt are working together for the first time since. Oh, and Vitt just happens to be Gase’s father-in-law.“Not a question,” Williams snapped when asked about the dynamic now between he and Vitt. “Next question. Go ahead. He’s a great friend of mine, OK? And, he’ll always be a great friend. I don’t care what you’ve written. Go ahead. Somebody else.”Vitt, who was suspended for six games for his role in the scandal, was similarly evasive when asked about his relationship with Williams.“So this is a National Enquirer question, or what?” Vitt said. “I like Gregg. Me and him are friends. Next question.”The working relationship between Gase and Williams also bears watching as this season goes along, particularly because of their strong personalities and ultra-competitive tendencies.Gase has said Williams’ approach will only make him better, and the aggressive defense will do the same for quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense. Williams pointed out that Gase has worked with several of his good friends in coaching, and developed a mutual appreciation while playing against each other in the NFL.“Respect and trust is earned,” Williams said. “He has earned my respect, OK? And, he’s earning my trust now because we’re working together on the same thing. It’s been fun. And he’s a very good coach, has a really good mind and has a challenging mind on what conceptually we’re doing and how he goes about doing it. So, it’s fun.”And, as always, intense.“You know, it’s the honesty part of it,” Williams said. “Every day’s an interview, them to me and me to them. People ask me all the time how much longer am I going to do this? I love what I do. I’m a competition-aholic.“When I walk into a room and nobody will pay attention anymore, it’s time to do something else.”

FLOWERY BRANCH http://www.jacksonvillejaguarsteamonline.com/jawaan-taylor-jersey , Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn says running back Devonta Freeman and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen are still on the mend and that he believes each of the injured starters will be ready for the start of training camp.Freeman has missed 16 games since signing the NFL’s richest contract for a running back before the start of the 2017 season. Neal tore his ACL in the opener last year and was out the rest of the season. Allen tore his Achilles tendon two weeks later.Freeman has had head, knee and groin injuries over the last two years. The Falcons ranked 27th in rushing last year, one of seven teams not to average 100 yards per game.Quinn indicated at a rookie mini-camp Saturday that Freeman, who had season-ending groin surgery last October, is closest of the three to returning for a mandatory mini-camp next month.“We can’t wait to get Free back,” Quinn said. “He’s having such an awesome offseason. His energy and him being around the team, you feel what he brings. It’s been awesome having him part of the offseason program. When you get the team out here this spring http://www.jacksonvillejaguarsteamonline.com/gardner-minshew-ii-jersey , I think you’ll feel some energy at running back with Free leading the way.”Neal and Allen are the two leaders of a secondary that contributed to the Falcons’ ranking 25th in scoring defense and 27th against the pass. Atlanta missed their ball skills, too, as the defense recovered only four fumbles.“Keke and Rico both are really pushing it from a rehab and competitive side,” Quinn said. “Big shocker. Two of our most competitive guys. They are really determined and detailed and they’re off to excellent starts with their process.”The goal for Neal and Allen is to be ready for training camp in late July.“If they continue to hit the markers that they are, I think that would be more than realistic,” Quinn said.Notes: Quinn liked the versatility he saw from cornerback Kendall Sheffield, a third-round draft pick from Ohio State http://www.losangelesramsteamonline.com/darrell-henderson-jersey , and running back Qadree Ollison, a fifth-round pick from Pittsburgh. Both have to earn several roles on special teams and provide depth at their regular positions. … Approximately 30 undrafted college free agents had tryouts while working alongside the draft class the last two days. … The Falcons begin offseason training activities for the entire roster on May 23. There are certain players who, in my eyes, will just never get to touch the Lombardi Trophy after victory. Various players are on this list because they have gotten to a point in their career where it seems almost unfathomable that they would ever win, or they are stuck in unattractive circumstances. The 15 players listed, in order, represent a group of players who I feel pessimistic about http://www.minnesotavikingsteamonline.com/irv-smith-jr.-jersey , or rather pessimistic towards. Some players on this list have maybe been close to winning a championship at some point in their career, but at this point, that amount of success is behind them. This list is subjective, but I am sure readers will resonate with some of these athletes' presence in this article. What defines some of these players is not their pure talent, but maybe current circumstance.Many players, who are very talented by nature, are stuck in horrible circumstances with teams who have no shot at a title. For example http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/dexter-lawrence-jersey , Joe Thomas, perhaps the NFL's best left tackle, is stuck with the Browns, a team that hasn't won a championship since 1964. In 1964, gas was 0.30 cents a gallon, The Vietnam War was going on, and Dr. Martin Luther King received the Nobel Prize. So yeah http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/josh-jacobs-jersey , it's been a while Cleveland.