FERGUSON MAKES TEN CHANGES BEFORE SEEING UNITED HELD TO GOALLESS DRAW WITH RANGERSManchester United were tonight held by a well drilled Rangers outfit in a game that produced little to get excited about. Alex Ferguson, made no le s than ten changes to the side that drew at Everton on Saturday. After the performance the English outfit displayed there will be many arguing Gilber Edmond Jersey that Ferguson got it wrong.Darren Fletcher was the only player that survived Fergies somewhat surprising squad rotation. From the outset Rangers made it clear they had little or no intent of scoring in a game that meandered to a drab goalle s draw. Darren Gibson fired in a number of long range efforts, some from well outside the box, which rarely tested McGregors goal. These aside, the game lacked any clear cut chances and Rangers battled through to a deserved, if not memorable point.The efforts of the boys in Blue clearly frustrated United, whose fans will no doubt criticise the tactics of Rangers for parking a proverbial bus in front of their goal. However Sam Bush Jersey the same fans may also bring into question their usually reliable and trustworthy manager. Sir Alex Fergusons decision to make ten changes from the previous starting eleven proved a bad one.Boasting youth and pace through choices such as Fabio, Hernandez and Gibson, he would have expected his side of the future to overcome a comparably poorer opposition in the form of Rangers. However, with no clear chances created in 96 minutes of football such decisions are sure to leave Ferguson vulnerable Nigel Brobbey Jersey to criticism. Seeing his side leak two injury-time goals on Saturday and then fall flat tonight will no doubt anger him more than his pa sionate supporters. Wayne Rooney played the whole game but looked lacklustre when on the ball, with his flicks and short pa ses often mi sing their intended targets. With his omi sion from the squad that faced his former side Everton and an off-colour display here it is clear allegations about his life off the pitch are affecting his play. It remains to be seen how quickly he can shake off the allegations, but they are an obvious concern for his manager and fellow players.Manchester United will know that although they only drew Clay Webb Jersey tonight, a point is a point. They travel to Valencia next and its very likely he will sport his strongest eleven in order to a sure his side qualify for the next stage of the competition; a standard he and the board have viewed as compulsory in years gone by. Rangers will take great confidence from such a result, but Smith and McCoist will know a much greater effort needs to be made Javon Terry Jersey to qualify for the Europa league spot, let alone finishing as one of the top two sides.The game was overshadowed by a nasty injury to Uniteds winger Antonio Valencia. Kirk Broadfoot put in what seemed an innocuous challenge on the midfielder, followed by a look of anguish from Valencia and shock and sympathy from Broadfoot. Stretched off after the interval with a suspected broken ankle, Valencia is likely to spend at least a month on the sidelines, summarising a night of frustration and tactical woe for Ferguson and United.

The 2020 NFL Draft is over, all 255 selections have been Matt Leinart Jersey made, and we brace for the knee-jerk reactions from media folk, ourselves included. We liked what the majority of teams did over the weekend because, in reality, this is nothing more than an exercise in checking boxes -- Did Team X fill those needs it was unable to fill in free agency? If the answer is yes, then Team X typically got a favorable grade. Variations in those grades might occur when the player Team X selected wasnt as popular among the mock-draft cognoscenti as NFL evaluators. Again, this is what happens when you try to rate a draft thats a few days old when a few years is whats needed. Keep all that in mind as you read through our rankings of how all 32 teams did in the 2020 NFL Draft, from worst to best. Lets get to it. 32. We were happy to defend the pick on Thursday night. We liked the idea of contract structure pretty much requiring Love to sit on the bench for two seasons -- its exactly what his game needs -- but things not only went off the rails but right over the cliff on Friday and Saturday. In the deepest wide receiver cla s in human civilization, the Packers selected exactly zero wide receivers, and they pa sed on an interior defensive lineman in each round even though there were obvious needs there too. Its hard to figure out what the plan is in Green Bay beyond angering Rodgers. Grade: D 31. Weve said it throughout the draft proce s: Based on his tape, is a second-round pick. We understand why the Chargers took him No. 6 overall. Hopefully hes not forced onto the field as a rookie and has time to grow into the role. But then the team gave up their second and third-rounders to move back into Round 1 for linebacker . Those picks could have been used to bolster the offensive line, which is in desperate need of bolstering. We liked the Day 3 selections, and theyll all have a chance to contribute as rookies, but only getting two picks with in the first three rounds seemed like a mi sed opportunity. Grade: C- 30. The Bears had needs at safety and bypa sed and Antoine Winfield Jr. in Round 2 to take . We like Kmet but time will tell if Chicago made the right decision. We liked the selection seven picks later, and and are high-upside players who have a chance to grow into roles on the defense. Grade: C 29. Its hard to question GM John Schneiders draft plans because while theyre usually unconventional, they often seems to work out. We liked in the third round but the Seahawks thought enough of him to take him 27th overall. Hes an instinctive athlete who fits what Seattle wants to do defensively. Guard might be our favorite pick, and , who was a man without a position at LSU but moved to tight end at the Senior Bowl and shined, could end up being one of the steals of this draft cla s. Grade: C+ 28. Some Steelers fans would have loved to see the team take or or JK Dobbins at No. 49. Instead Pittsburgh went with 6-foot-4 , who ran a 4.42 at the combine but didnt play that fast on tape. Either way, hell give Big Ben yet another weapon, whether on the outside, or in the slot alongside and . The Steelers also got developmental edge rusher at the end of Round 3, replacement a round later, not to mention more depth at running back. Pittsburgh checked all the boxes, but the order in which they decided to fill those needs have some fans puzzled. That said, this organization has a knack for finding wideouts so were willing to give them the benefit of the doubt here. Grade: C+ 27. The Saints drafted center in the second round a year ago. So it was ... interesting to see them take 24th overall in 2020. Ruiz can also play guard, and perhaps thats the plan this season, but there were plenty of top-flight wideouts still on the board. The team did well to land in Round 3 (we typically had him going in Rounds 1 or 2 in our countle s mock drafts) and , who was a third-round compensatory pick, was our No. 1 tight end. Finally, in an effort to accumulate every Taysom Hill-type prospect, the Saints took Tommy Smith in the seventh round. Grade: C+ 26. For all the guff we give Bill OBrien, he had a pretty solid draft. had first-round potential and can contribute as an edge rusher right away. And , the slot corner out of Penn State, might end up being the best pick of this cla s. The team didnt addre s RB but landed home-run threat out of Rhode Island in Round 7. Grade: C+ 25. This cla s can best be described as a steady as she goes group. Lose to free agency, sign mammoth to replace him. Lose to free agency, sign playmaking to replace him. gone, enter . Trade , add Larrell Murchinson. The Titans even added a backup QB to , strong-armed out of Hawaii. Nothing sexy but exactly what Tenne see needed. Grade: C+ 24. The Redskins had the easiest pick in the draft. was a lay up and hell pay dividends immediately. is a dual threat wholl likely feature primarily at running back, though hes still new to the position. has huge shoes to fill in a post-Trent Williams world and reminds us of , whom the team took on Day 3 last year. Grade: B- 23. A.J. Terrell is an example of a player NFL evaluators liked more than draft media, probably because for all the good tape Terrell put out in 2019, his championship game performance against LSU is all most people remember. But hes a good cover corner who balled out at the combine to get back on folks radar. is a versatile defensive lineman who can Aaron Brooks Jersey line up inside or out and is one of the most athletic interior offensive linemen in this cla s. Grade: B- 22. The Bills landed so many good players, and thats doesnt even include trading a first-rounder for . AJ Epenesa flashes first-round talent and was one of the best backs in this cla s but injury concerns saw him drop to Round 3. is a big downfield target, and (who, incidentally, reminded us of during the draft proce s) will have a chance to grow into a backup role behind with Barkley entering the final year of his deal. Grade: B- 21. Few teams did more with le s. The 49ers traded for the No. 13 pick and then flipped that for (after trading down one spot and picking up a 4th rounder), the best pa s-rushing interior defensive lineman in this cla s. They they traded up in Round 1 to get , the No. 1 WR on the teams board. That, in addition to adding hulking po se sion receiver in Round 7, and trading only a 3rd and a 5th-rounder for , and this was an eminently succe sful three days for San Francisco. Grade: B- 20. The Colts have and now theyve given him some playmakers. In addition to TY Hilton and , the team added downfield threat and home-run hitter out of the backfield. Then theres , who many thought wouldnt get out of the second round, lasting until the fourth. He needs to sit for a year and hell get a chance to do that in the best po sible landing spot. Grade: B 19. This was a boring draft for the Lions but thats a good thing. They stayed put, got , circled back in Round 2 and got our RB1, , and then added an athletic, arrow-pointing-up pa s rusher in . and add depth along the interior O-line and plays much faster than his slow 40 time at the combine. For a team that needs to win now, these were solid selections. Grade: B 18. The Cards didnt take an offensive tackle in the first round but thats because was staring them in the face. He has a chance to be a game changer. Then in Round 3, (our OT5) was still on the board. A round later, Arizona added depth at defensive tackle with and Rashard Lawerence, and in the final round, they got RB , who is a legit threat as a pa s receiver too. Grade: B 17. Our biggest fear for the Bucs is that they would have to trade up for an offensive tackle, and in the proce s, it would cost them either their second or third-rounder. In the end, they only needed to move up one spot and it only took a fourth. So Jack Kiser Jersey in addition to getting , the Bucs got safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and then . The best pick of the draft could end up being , a big slot who could quickly become best friend. And keep an eye on burner , too. Hes undersized by NFL standards but he can move. Grade: B 16. The Jags had a ton of picks and they filled a ton of needs, starting with CJ Henderson, our CB2 who has the tools to be an elite cornerback at the next level. now joins and Josh Allen, giving the Jags three of the best young pa s rushers in football. Laviska Shenault is a first-round talent when hes healthy and has a chance to be special (understandably, he got lost in the mix at Ohio State because he lined up next to Chase Young). And keep an eye on QB , who could follow a similar NFL path as Garnder Minshew. Grade: B+ 15. This draft was made for Dave Gettleman. Takes an accomplished offensive tackle in Round 1, follows that up with the best safety in the cla s at the top of Round 2, selects a few more O-linemen and takes some Day 3 fliers on defensive athletes like and . Grade: B+ 14. Again, not particularly sexy but certainly what the Browns needed, at least on paper. Jedrick Willis was our OT1, Grant Delpit had an up-and-down season but if he returns to his 2018 form, he could be special. can take over games from the interior and is a move tight end who gives yet another weapon. Grade: B+ 13. The Panthers had seven Mark Vital Jersey picks in the draft, they selected seven defensive players, for obvious reasons if you saw the state of their roster after free agency. , and were their first three picks and all are upgrades at the position and will contribute immediately. Grade: B+ 12. The Patriots didnt get a quarterback but clearly they werent fond of Jordan Love, who was still on the board when they traded out of Round 1. Instead they got versatile athletes in and , a tough-nosed edge rusher in and two tight ends in Round 3. And before you judge, remember the Pats took and Aaron Hernandez in the 2010 draft. Grade: B+ 11. We know its not popular but we like the pick in Round 2. But we love the round before. He has a chance to be special in this offense, though Reagor was just Step 1 in loading up on burners; , and the team traded for too. Then on defense, could end up being one of the most athletic LBs in this cla s. Grade: A- 10. The selection is reason enough to give this cla s an A-; he takes an offense that was good for 30 points a game and now makes them good for 35. Willie Gay Jr. is a freak athlete, is a bargain at the end of Round 3, and is a safety who may be more comfortable moving back to safety. Grade: A- 9. Adam Gase, quarterback whisperer, hasnt yet panned out but he and Joe Dougla s crushed it over the weekend. Every pick fills a need and their first four selections - Becton, Mims, Davis, Zuniga - are all insane athletes too. Even fifth-rounder has a chance to contribute as a rookie; he was our CB2 heading into 2019 before his senior season was derailed by an injury. Grade: A- 8. This might have been one of our favorite drafts. Cam Akers is a cheaper upgrade over ; is one of the best route runners in this cla s. is a first-round talent if he can stay Beau Barrington Jersey healthy and is a versatile defensive back. And is another athletic tight end wholl likely find succe s in Sean McVays offense. Grade: A- 7. Heres all you need to know: fell to the Cowboys at No. 17. Then they landed in Round 2 and in Round 3 -- all three players were in the first-round mix. Adding center and edge rusher on Day 3 was just the icing on the cake. Grade: A- 6. The Raiders crushed the 2019 draft and the followed up with an encore performance in 2020. Another solid haul, from top to bottom, though our favorite selection might be their last: fourth-rounder Amik Roberston, who is only 5-foot-8 but plays like hes 6-foot-1. The three WRs -- Ruggs, Bowden, Edwards -- officially means is out of excuses. Grade: A- 5. This team is immeasurably better after last weekend than they were at the end of the 2019 season. Added bonus: Theyre basically getting two first-rounders out of this cla s because in addition to , 2019 first-rounder returns from an injury that kept him sidelined during his freshman season. After Burrow, fourth-rounder linebacker is our favorite pick out of this cla s. Grade: A- 4. The Dolphins had a ton of picks, filled a ton of needs, and landed fifth overall. We said it throughout the draft proce s but if franchise QBs taken in Round 1 only work out 50 percent of the time, and the Dolphins have three first-rounders, why not take a flier on Tua, whose injury history is clearly a concern. Keep an eye on fifth-rounder defensive lineman , who can play inside or out, and flashed at the Senior Bowl in January. Grade: A 3. John Elway, Hall of Fame quarterback, hasnt had much succe s drafting QBs in Round 1. So instead, he focused on wide receivers and landed and KJ Hamler with the teams first two picks. He then added , former teammate at Mi souri, in Round 4, setting up Denvers offense to go toe-to-toe with all that Chiefs firepower. (The biggest i sue, of course, is how Lock performs in Year 2.) Grade: A 2. The Vikings had to restock the defense, replace Stefon Diggs, and add some warm bodies to the offensive line. They did that and then some with their 15 selections, starting with , and . Keep an eye on seventh-rounder Brian Cole, the versatile defender out of Mi si sippi State who has a chance to make the team.Grade: A 1. A team with few holes gets considerably better. Thats a troubling development not only for the AFC North, but the rest of the conference too. was a no-brainer and J.K. Dobbins is a legit threat to score every time he touches the ball. Then the Ravens added two slot receivers -- in Round 3, in Round 6 -- as well as two interior offensive linemen to help replace the irreplaceable . Grade: A+

For those of us who want to believe that every mammoth person we see could somehow become a profe sional football player if given the right training, is one to root Derek Sanderson Jersey for. The 6-foot-9, 350-pound Polish native is 27 and spent the past two seasons playing American football in Wroclaw, Poland and Dresden, Germany. There, he could use his ma sive size to pummel his opponents.Now? He has a lot to learn with the .I consider myself as a smart guy, so I feel like I can handle the Derrick Pouliot Jersey playbook, Aiyegbusi said, via . But still, in Europe, my physique was good enough for beating everyone. And down here, you guys are big and strong. And theyve got good technique. If hes not stronger than you, hes probably got better technique and knows what Justin Schultz Jersey you will do before you do it, actually.While Aiyegbusi has a long way to go, we can only hope that Michael Bunting Jersey he latches on and forces more NFL teams to scour the world for ma sive, talented players. , anyone?In all seriousne s, it seems as if were in the golden age of NFL experimentation. With rugby star working out in San Francisco and Aiyegbusi trying to make the club here, it seems like the game will continue to Filip Kral Jersey take on a more global feel in the coming years.The latest Podcast , s appeal and the Jr. drama. Find more content on .

and on-field relationship Jaromir Jagr Jersey in New England lasted just one game, but the quarterback is apparently interested in sparking that tandem back up somewhere in 2020. Inside their NFL combine notebook, that two people close to the talented, but troubled wide receiver have noted that Brady says in consistent contact with Brown and has told him he wants to play alongside him wherever the quarterback signs this offseason.Brady, who is in line to on March 18, has reportedly also told Brown to stay in good mental and physical shape so that they can reunite on the field in the near future. As the ESPN report notes, this should be taken with not a grain but a bucket of salt when factoring in Brown and his fall from grace in the NFL, Hampus Lindholm Jersey which has been well documented. The league is still conducting its investigation into Brown after accusations of sexual a sault and sexual misconduct have been brought to light by two different women. With that still out there, the a sumption is hed be placed on the Commi sioners Exempt List if signed by another club.Brady and Brown did seem to have an instant connection on the field in their lone game together. In that Week 2 blowout win against the Bill Guerin Jersey in Miami, Brady and Brown connected on four pa ses for 56 yards and a touchdown. The quarterback also as he settled into New England. After he was released by the after allegedly sending intimidating text me sages to one of his accusers, it was often highlighted whenever Brady liked various social media posts of Brown as he put out a plea to return to the Patriots or anywhere else in the NFL, which was more than a handful of times throughout the year. it was also reported at the time that , even after the alleged text me saging incident.Given those nuggets, it wouldnt be all too surprising to hear that Brady still wants to play with Brown. The feeling is also mutual as Brown stated on social media following New Englands Wild Card lo s to Tenne see that .CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora that owner Robert Kraft hadnt shown any inclination to give the receiver Jean Ratelle Jersey another shot following some disparaging comments Brown made after departing the franchise. That said, if he were to change his mind on the matter, La Canfora reported that players and coaches would welcome him back.With that in mind, it could be po sible that the reunion Brady is seemingly hoping for happens in Foxborough next year. That said, if the Patriots John Farinacci Jersey , specifically Kraft, doesnt want to deal with Brown and another club is willing to bring him aboard, that could make it even more difficult for New England to retain their franchise icon once he hits the open market.

Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens to support his wife, American gymnastics superstar , in the womens team final at the 2024 Olympics.The couple was married in the spring of 2023. They are adjusting to life in the spotlight together. Owens has been the target of criticism on social media over the last year for comments hes made about the nature of their relationship.What did Owens say?Owens and Biles appeared on The Pivot podcast hosted by former NFL player-turned-broadcaster Ryan Clark last December.ADVERTISEMENT During the show, Owens admitted he didnt know who Biles was when the two connected on a dating app in 2020. Owens was Jack Thompson Jersey playing for the Houston Texans at the time. Biles is a Houston native.The two quickly hit it off and were engaged in early 2022. Owens said he believed he was the catch in the relationship, which kicked off a firestorm of criticism in social media circles.What does Biles think of the criticism?The 27-year-old seven-time Olympic medalist who sometimes wears an Owens necklace when not competing expre sed exasperation when asked by The A sociated Pre s earlier this year about the heated rhetoric directed at her husband.It wasnt like protecting me by telling me to divorce him, Biles said.Biles admits she was initially caught Valtteri Pulli Jersey off guard by the blowback. She was sitting next to Owens as he spoke and struggled to understand what made her fans upset.I was literally in the room watching, Biles said. I was laughing and Im like, Hes so cute because at the end of the day, theres nothing wrong with him saying that hes a catch because he is, like, the best guy Ive ever met.Biles believes his comments were misconstrued and while she acknowledges putting themselves in a public space can leave them open to criticism, she also believes Teemu Selanne Jersey theres a line that was cro sed.They started being really mean, Biles said. And I was like, Whoa, do not talk about my husband like that. Because he is super sweet, he said nothing wrong. But you learn.Is this Owens first time at a meet?No. Owens has become a gymnastics fan over the last year. He watched her win the U. Igor Larionov Jersey S. Cla sic, the U.S. Championships and the U.S. Olympic trials earlier this year, frequently jotting down his wifes score and the score of other athletes to keep track, all while sitting with Biles family.Hes gained a greater appreciation for his wifes stardom, maybe because its hard to mi s the avalanche of NBC promos featuring her in the run-up to the Games.Its like everyones a gymnastics fan now, Owens said. People are asking me questions, because you might be walking Calen Addison Jersey around the building and see a commercial with her up there, so its just crazy.Whats next for Biles?Biles tweaked her left calf during qualifying on Sunday but is scheduled to compete with the rest of the five-woman U.S. team during Tuesday nights team finals as the Americans try to return to the top of the medal stand after finishing runner-up to Ru sia three years ago.Biles will then attempt to bookend the Olympic title she won in 2016 in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for event finals on vault, balance beam and floor exercise.___AP Summer Olympics:

keeps reiterating that the arent satisfied yet.Miami improved to 8-3 with a dominant 34-13 win over the struggling on Black Friday. The Dolphins are looking to win the AFC East for the first time since 2008, and then make a deep playoff Taylor Hall Jersey push.The skys the limit for us, Tagovailoa said. Whatever we want to accomplish, everythings right there in front of us, and we basically turn it on fate here in this league. So, we just have to continue stacking those wins.The odds and Miamis Jonathan Toews Jersey schedule indeed suggest the skys the limit.ADVERTISEMENT Miami is heavily favored in the AFC East, sitting at -1000 to win the division. is second at +500.The Dolphins also have the second-shortest odds to win the AFC at +370, tied with Baltimore and trailing only at +200.Miami has the benefit of a favorable schedule to close out the season: Four of their final five games are at home, where they are undefeated. Miamis next three opponents have losing records, and the Dolphins have not lost to a team under .500 this season.Against the Jets, Miami put up 395 yards of total offense despite turning the ball over three times for the second straight Tony Amonte Jersey game. Tagovailoa was 21 of 30 for 243 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.I feel good about my game. Im not satisfied whatsoever Brian Campbell Jersey about what Im doing right now, Tagovailoa said. I know I have to continue to get better with that. Throughout these late stretches of having these games, were going to need better ball from me.The Dolphins also got another standout performance from their defense, which limited the Jets to just 159 total yards. Miami has held its opponent under 300 yards in four straight games.Coach Mike McDaniel credited Miamis recent defensive surge to players taking ownership of their responsibilities.As a result, were starting to have a team thats complementing each other in all three phases, McDaniel said. You cant just show up and say Were going to stop this or Were going to beat this to Ed Belfour Jersey beat the Miami Dolphins. You have to deal with all sides of the ball.The A sociated Pre s contributed to this story. 

With the coming and going of so many managers at the end of this Premier League season, the Premier League Carson Soucy Jersey truly seems like its in an exciting new transitional period. New mentalities and personalities, and a step in to the unknown for one of the biggest clubs in world football. Manchester United has taken the departure of Alex Ferguson as an opportunity for continuity. By hiring David Moyes they have chosen a manager in the same stead as their departing one, but with enough scope for evolution. Chelsea, however, with their scatter gun approach to management, seem to have grown tired of seeking new beginnings and are instead choosing a new approach, one that is rarely succe sful, devolution.By turning to familiarity, Chelsea (and more specifically Roman Abramovich), have Elias Pettersson Jersey resigned themselves to their own failures. By failing to back any of their managers since Mourinho, (let us not forget that the trophy cabinet was not exactly bare since his departure), their has been an inability to find a consistency of direction and approach, of playing style and ethos. It is of no doubt that Jos Mourinho Jake Debrusk Jersey is an outstanding manager. It would be foolish to argue otherwise, he has a win percentage of 67.72%, an incredible statistic. It may well be that his return Tyler Myers Jersey marks a new beginning for Chelsea and a period of succe s. However the recent history of both Mourinho and Chelsea suggests that if it is, it will not be a long one.Chelsea do not retain the services of managers long, and Mourinho has not been at a club for what can be considered long-term. What must also be considered is the tradition of managers returning to their old flames, which is often not overly succe sful. Dalglish, Busby and Keegan all faired rather poorly in Kirk Mclean Jersey their second spells at the respective clubs. If these precedents hold true with Mourinhos return to Chelsea, then one question springs to mind. Is there really anywhere Chelsea can turn?

Entering the offseason, there was no shortage of Detroit Lions fans who werent thrilled with the idea of going into the 2024 season with Michael Badgley as the teams kicker, which is part of the reason why fans have been yearning for UFL kicker Jake Bates.But another kicker has Bobby Trivigno Jersey entered the chat this offseason in the form of undrafted free agent and former Michigan Wolverines kicker, James Turner, who is also a hometown kid.On Wednesday, Turner outdid his veteran counterpart in practice, with the rookie making kicks from56, 55, 54, 52, 34 and 33 yards, according to .Meanwhile, Badgley made four of those same six attempts, Wayne Gretzky Jersey with his mi ses coming from 56 and 55 yards, which wont help dispel the idea that, despite what coaches say, Badgley doesnt have a big enough leg, something that has always been a problem for him.Granted, Turner never made a field goal beyond 50 yards during his college career, but clearly hes Ron Greschner Jersey got the leg for longer attempts, albeit he hasnt shown he can do it under pre sure in an actual game.And therein lies the problem with Turner and why he wont simply wrap this job up over the spring. The Lions will have to see him James Patrick Jersey get it done during training camp, and more importantly, in the preseason when pre sure is actually a thing in front of a stadium full of people.Wednesdays practice wasnt the first time Turner has outperformed the veteran kicker, so we arent just hyping him up after one good practice. During the previous , Turner nailed attempts from 52 and 54 during a situational period, but Badgley mi sed both of his.Turners emergence, combined with the fact that after a legendary start to the season, might lead to the Lions thinking twice about trying to add the UFL kicker. However, when it comes to the kicker competition in Braden Schneider Jersey Detroit, the more the merrier.

65th rushing touchdown in the NFL may be the one he regrets for the rest of his career. Gurleys touchdown gave the the lead late against the , but it was one Atlanta didnt need as the Falcons could have held on to the ball to kick a game-winning field goal with no time left on the clock. If Gurley John Kruk Jersey had stopped his momentum short of going over the goalline, the Falcons could have killed the rest of the game clock before trying a game-winning chip shot field goal.On the ensuing drive, threw the tying touchdown pa s to T.J. Hockenson with no time left on the clock as kicked the game-winning PAT to give the Lions a stunning 23-22 victory over the Falcons, but Detroit shouldnt have had the opportunity to get the ball back and win the game in the first place.The Falcons were trailing 16-14 to the Lions and faced a first-and-goal at the Detroit 10-yard line with 1:12 left. The Lions burned their last timeout, Mike Schmidt Jersey so Detroit was going to let Atlanta score if the situation presented itself. Gurley took the first down carry as two Lions players didnt make a strong effort to tackle him in hopes hed cro Mitch Williams Jersey s the goal line.When Gurley realized what the Lions were doing, it was too late. Forward momentum prevented Gurley from stopping short of the goal line and running the clock down. Gurleys touchdown put Atlanta up 20-16 with 1:04 left and the Falcons converted the two-point attempt to take a 22-16 advantage -- leaving their defense in charge of stopping Stafford and the Lions.. cro ses the goal line to give the the lead!: on FOX: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: NFL (@NFL) The Lions took advantage of the opportunity, as Stafford led them on an eight-play, 75-yard drive down the field -- resulting in the Hockenson touchdown catch for 11 yards to tie the game at 22-22. Prater still Jim Bunning Jersey had to kick the extra point for the win, which he did as Detroit improved to 2-3 while Atlanta fell to 1-5. for the WIN | FOX | Detroit Lions (@Lions) If Gurley goes down prior to reaching the end zone, the Falcons could have ran the clock down to the final seconds and had kick the winner. Koo was perfect Andrew McCutchen Jersey from all three attempts from under 30 yards this season, which would have been the distance of the winning kick since Atlanta was inside the 10-yard line. Atlanta even had one timeout to stop the clock and set up Koo for the winner.Granted the kick wasnt guaranteed unlike Gurleys score -- and the Falcons defense is somewhat at fault -- but they should have never been put in a situation to win the game when the result was going to come down to a kick. Certainly, Gurley would prefer to have that run back.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Letting the rookie quarterbacks play and keeping the starters on the sideline may have been the best decisions coach and coach made all night.And Yasiel Puig Jersey Zimmer, who interviewed with Tenne see before the hired Whisenhunt, still finished off his first preseason in perfect fashion. threw a touchdown in his first NFL start, ran for 111 yards and the beat the 19-3 on Thursday night.More than the record indicates I feel good about the way weve performed, Zimmer said. Weve taken care of the football and not made a lot of mistakes. We havent been a big penalty team. We seem to be doing the right things. Its always nice to win. To me, its how are we playing. Hopefully that will carry us on.Defensive end , signed from Chicago as a free agent this offseason, had one of the three sacks as Minnesota (4-0) Alex Wood Jersey notched its seventh undefeated preseason and first since 2001.The biggest thing is every coach wants to win all the games in the preseason just to set a standard on how it is going to be and a winning attitude with a winning team, Wootton said. kicked four field goals, and both coaches protected their starters by keeping them safely on the sidelines as a storm drenched LP Field most of the first half. Lightning le s than 3 miles away delayed the kickoff of Temple at Vanderbilt.It was tough conditions early, Whisenhunt said. quarterback and of the both dre sed and warmed up. But got his first start for the (2-2), while the also went with their rookie. Minnesota running back warmed up, too, but he sat a fourth straight preseason game.Those starters watched teammates finish up, many holding towels over their heads against the rain. Defensive lineman , who signed a $36 million extension Wednesday, at least got some action in high-fiving the as they ran into the field for kickoff.Zimmer announced Monday that Ca sel will start at quarterback Sept. 7 Kirk Gibson Jersey when Minnesota opens at St. Louis. Bridgewater showed why he will be ready if the decide to make a change later.Bridgewater escaped two would-be sacks on the opening drive, and drove the 80 yards over more than 6 minutes. He completed 3 of his 4 pa ses and capped the drive with a 3-yard TD pa s to . Bridgewater played two series and was 4 of 9 for 17 yards with a touchdown.It is another goal that I can cro s off my list, Bridgewater said of his first start. At the same time, it was a preseason start. It was a just a great feeling getting on the field, walking out of the locker room knowing that your number is called right away.Walsh kicked three field goals in the first half as the scored on their first four drives.Banyard did most of the damage, ripping through the backups over and over again. Banyard had 69 yards on 11 carries in the first quarter alone, and the second-year pro out of Texas- Walker Buehler Jersey El Paso who has never carried in the regular season made his case with all 111 yards on 18 carries in the first half., the 12th overall pick in 2011, took over in the second quarter for Bridgewater. Ponder was 12 of 15 for 121 yards in his most play this preseason.Mettenberger, a sixth-round draft pick out of LSU, came in having thrown for more yards than anyone else this preseason. He was 12 of 17 for 154 yards. took over for the late in the Trevor Bauer Jersey third quarter, and the quarterback signed Tuesday threw deep on his first play and was intercepted by .It was a great opportunity to get out there and get some reps, Mettenberger said. Its unfortunate how the game kind of played out.NOTES: For the , Thielen hurt his hip, DE hurt a shoulder and FB hurt an ankle. ... DE had two sacks, both of Ponder. ... , competing with to be the kicker, had a touchback on the opening kickoff. He mi sed a 32-yard field goal wide left off a bad snap but had a 29-yarder in the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout.Copyright 2014 by The A sociated Pre s

GABON 1 -0 TUNISIAPierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his third goal of the African Cup of Nations as Gabon sealed their place as Group C winners at the expense of a much-changed Tunisia starting XI.Aubameyang Miguel Sano Jersey s 60th minute strike, which took a damning deflection off keeper Rami Jeridi, was enough to see off Tunisia in Libreville. After a cool through ball from captain Daniel Cousin, the three-goal striker sent the Gabonese home support into raptures as Tunisia coach Trabelsi was made to rue making eight changes to his team.Gabon, as Group C winners, will now face the runners-up of Group D who play their final fixture tomorrow night. The runners-up spot will be decided between Guinea and Mali. Meanwhile for Tunisia, they will face the winners of the group, most likely to be one of the tournament favourites Ghana.Pre-Match Team News: Cameroon logo should not be appearing behind Gabon line-up*Trabelsis Tunisia made eight changes to the team that grabbed an extremely late victory over Niger on Friday, with notable exclusions being the captain Karim Haggui, goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi and holding midfielder Khaled Korbi. Isaam Jemaa, the all-time Tunisian scorer, made his first start of the competition following his Tony Oliva Jersey winner against Niger having come on for the second half.There were changes for Gabon too, as coach Gernot Rohr made four changes from their sensational late 3-2 win over Morocco on Friday. Remy Ebanga, Cedric Moubamba, Levy Madinda, and Stephane Nguema came out and Lloyd Palun, Moise Brou Epanga, Daniel Cousin and Bruno Zita Mbanangoye came in.Match Report:The first half didnt set the heather alight with very few chances created in the 45 minutes. Tunisia started more positively than the co-hosts, proving they were not bothered about the loud and colourful home supports atmosphere.Saber Khelifa smacked the side netting after 20 minutes with a powerful left- Michael Pineda Jersey footed shot from just outside the 18-yard box, but Gabon goalkeeper Ovono was never going to be beaten by the shot. Khelifa was hoping to make an impre sion to bo s Trabelsi and show he can partner Jemaa up front but failed to open the scoring here.Towards the end of the first half Gabon started to play a bit, pa sing the ball well especially in the midfield areas. However Aubameyang, playing on the right wing instead of up front on his own, wasnt having much succe s going forward as he has in the previous two Cup of Nations games against Morocco and Niger. The Gabonese captain Daniel Cousin, an inspiration against Morocco in the dramatic 3-2 win, wasnt having the desired effect either as he became frustrated at the lack of service he was being given from Gabons midfield. Harmon Killebrew Jersey Aubameyangs first half frustration was short lived however as he notched the opening goal for the Gabonese on the hour, pouncing on a great through ball from Cousin to fire past the Tunisia keeper Rami Jeridi. The shot was arguably not one you would expect to find its way to the back of the net, as it appeared Jeridis unnatural dive to save the ball actually helped it in.The Libreville crowd were bouncing up and down and making a tremendous noise, as they have in all of their fixtures in the Cup of Nations competition. It seemed like the Gabonese felt they had won the cup already, such was the joy emanating from them.Tunisia rarely threatened afterwards and succumbed to their first defeat of the competition to the co-hosts Gabon. The Tunisian supporters will feel that if they had fielded their strongest starting 11, like they did in their two wins over Morocco and Niger, then they would have won this game.Man of the Match:Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted his third goal of the African continental tournament in this game but actually didnt impre s as much as he did in the first two games against Niger and Morocco. In saying that, he always looked dangerous with his sheer pace on the right and was probably hampered by the fact that he was Willians Astudillo Jersey sent out to the right wing and not up front on his own. He managed the winning goal for his country with a smart finish, albeit with the keeper making a strange dive, and sent them to the quarter finals as group winners. 7/10

For once, a Jimmy Johnson halftime speech did not have its intended effect.Johnson, the former Jaime Garcia Jersey Super Bowl-winning head coach, conducted a pa sionate monologue during the NFL on FOX halftime show, with his old team shockingly down 27-7 to the No. 7 seed .Jimmy Johnson is FIRED UP about the Cowboys lackluster first half against the Packers The speech instantly went viral (and fired up Johnsons FOX NFL Sunday co-hosts Michael Strahan and Elvis Luciano Jersey Rob Gronkowski) but it didnt work, as the Packers went on to throttle the Cowboys 48-32 (with half of Dallass points coming with the game out of hand).ADVERTISEMENT Though the Cowboys had not beaten the Packers in the playoffs since 1996 and infamously not made an NFC Championship Game since 1995, Dallas entered these at 12-5 and as the No. 2 Roy Halladay Jersey seed and as a 7.5 point betting favorite over the Packers. Yet the humiliation only grew worse for Dallas.Plenty of Aaron Loup Jersey fans and analysts weighed in on social media as the shocking beatdown unfolded, led by co-host and Cowboys fan .Here are the top reactions from around the internet on a thrilling day for Green Bay and a humiliating one for Dallas.Skip tweets through the painAnalysts and former Cowboys, Packers players weigh inThe vibes were not great in Yennsy Diaz Jersey AT&T Stadium unle s you were a Packers fan!Does Texas have a new team? Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.

insists that his relocation to Indianapolis had nothing to do with gaining revenge on his old team, the . Johnson told the Houston Chronicle. I was just talking about Detroit Tigers Jersey that with someone. Everybody thinks that I went to the to try and get back at the and stuff like that. That had nothing to do with it. I just Alan Trammell Jersey went to the ... place where I felt was the best fit for me and where I can have a chance to win a championship.It wasnt about circling (game) dates or nothing against the . I had 12 great years here. Been around some great people, built some great relationships, a lot of great friends. Houstons always going to be my home. I have nothing bad against the .The released the 33-year-old receiver last month, setting him free to sign with their division rival. After years of skittish quarterback play Nick Castellanos Jersey in Houston, joining forces with in Indy was an easy sell for a sure-handed wideout seeking a shot at the . Jordan Zimmermann Jersey Johnson might not be the deep threat he once was, but he gives the a quality replacement for while adding more firepower to a stacked roster on offense.Even if revenge wasnt the motive, Johnsons Spencer Turnbull Jersey defection still stings in Houston. Instead of lauding their longtime hero, fans must now watch their defense try to contain him twice a year. Johnson might not be circling the calendar -- but we are.The latest Podcast and discu ses the new uniforms. Find more content on .

The got another incredible day of production from rookie in a over the on Sunday. Our takeaways: is the reason this season will always have a silver lining. The rookie receiver , finishing with 12 receptions for 143 yards . Another long touchdown catch was wiped Keith Hernandez Jersey away by a holding penalty. Beckham broke Jeremy Shockeys rookie receiving record and may have overtaken as the favorite for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. This might be the biggest rookie impact by a wide receiver since Randy Mo s in 1998. in the first half, giving another opportunity to salvage something from this lost Tim Tebow Jersey season. looked far more comfortable than wed previously seen him and even flashed some of his old athleticism on a scramble into the end zone as the second quarter Adrian Gonzalez Jersey ended. In true form, the play was reviewed and ruled a fumble and touchback. It was the turning point of the game. is quietly having a very nice season for the . The veteran pa ser has done well adjusting to a new offense and deserves plenty of credit for Beckhams instant ascension to superstar status. The have a lot of things to worry Yoenis Cespedes Jersey about in the offseason, but the quarterback position is not one of them. after the Griffin touchdown run was overturned. The veteran receiver confronted game officials and received two unsportsmanlike penalties and an ejection from the game. We imagine the frustration of an awful season played a Neil Walker Jersey role in Mo s behavior here.The Around The NFL Podcast is available for download on iTunes! to listen and subscribe.

If Ive learned anything betting the Cameron Sutton Jersey NFL over the years, its that you want to celebrate great weeks because theyre few and far between, but you never want to brag about them because a bad week is just around the corner. So Im going to give myself a quick pat on the back for going 3-0 in this column last week and say that I hope you followed along with me, but thats the end of it. Were onto Week 4. In the interest of full disclosure, Week 4 is not a week Im in love with. When I looked at the board last week, there were plenty of games that stuck out like sore thumbs. This week doesnt seem as favorable, but I do have three plays I believe we can take advantage of. Which teams will cover the spread in Week 4? Pete Prisco, R.J. White and SportsLines Kenny White join host Will Brinson to break down their best bets and size up every game; listen below and for daily NFL goodne s fired into your eardrums. 1. at : Over 55.5 (-110) Im always inclined to take a look at the over when it comes to Cowboys home games. If we go back to AT&T Stadium opening Jack Ham Jersey for the 2009 season, the over has gone 52-40-1 overall for Cowboys home games. Since the start of the 2018 season, its gone 12-6, including 1-0 this season. Through three weeks of the 2020 season, Cowboys games have featured an average of 61.7 points per game, and only the and (two teams that are both 0-3) have allowed more points than the 97 the Cowboys have given up this season. The Browns defense isnt much better. Cleveland might be 2-1, but it has a point differential of -13 after allowing 87 points in three games. This total feels too low. What picks can you make with confidence in Week 4, and whichcontender goes down hard?Visit SportsLine now to see which NFL teams are winning more than 50 percent of simulations, all from the model that is up over $7,500 on its top-rated picks. 2. at : Buccaneers -7 (-110) Yeah, Im OK with fading for the time being. Last week Jordan Berry Jersey I did so with Herbert as a home favorite, and while hes on the road and getting a touchdown this week, were still good here. looked a bit shaky in his Tampa debut but has rebounded nicely since. He picked Denver apart last week, throwing for three touchdowns while averaging 7.8 yards per attempt. Now, Denvers Terry Bradshaw Jersey not a very good team, but it was more Bradys arm strength that I cared about. Its still not what it used to be, but hes not toast, either. And going up against a rookie with plenty of talent, but a lot of flaws to go with it, I like Tampa here at home. Im good taking this anywhere up to Tampa -9. 3. at : Eagles +7 (-110) My wife has on her fantasy team, so believe me when I tell you I know all about how badly Carson Wentz has played this season. Regular readers of my NFL picks know, however, that I like to buy on bad news and go against public Stephon Tuitt Jersey perception. Yes, Wentz has been bad, but we dont even know who the 49ers will be starting at QB this week, and its not like either of their options are world-beaters. So for the 49ers to be touchdown favorites in this spot, when we dont know who their QB is, and theyre dealing with a host of injuries, it seems like a good time to go against the grain. Oh, and the fact that Kyle Shanahans 49ers teams are only 5-9-1 ATS (3-9-1 during the regular season) as home favorites is the icing on the cake here. Record Units Last Week 3-0 +3 Season 6-3 +2.7

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) It made no difference to Josh Allen what day or time the Buffalo Bills faced the Pittsburgh Steelers.The AFC wild-card playoff game couldve been played Sunday as scheduled, in the midst of a lake-effect storm that dumped more than 2 feet of snow on the region, and the Bills were going be to ready.They proved that on Monday, when Allen Sonny Gray Jersey threw three touchdown pa ses and scored on as Buffalo beat Pittsburgh 31-17 in a game that was postponed by 27 1/2 hours.People keep saying thats what we wanted. We had no call in that, Allen said about the postponement. We would have played yesterday, would have played Saturday would have played Friday, it wouldnt have mattered. We would have come out here and played when we were told to play.ADVERTISEMENT The game turned into a celebration of the elements. Snow inside Highmark Stadium when the gates opened and was put to good use by fans, who to sed handfuls into the air like confetti to celebrate.We put on a show in the snow, left tackle Dion Dawkins said. Were here. We got one more week.The second-seeded Bills (12-6), who closed the regular season with five straight wins, advance to host Patrick Mahomes and the No. 3 seed Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on Sunday night. Buffalo and its Brian Roberts Jersey fans have longed for a home playoff game against the Chiefs after their 2020 and 21 seasons ended with playoff lo ses at Kansas City.Were a step behind already, Allen said, noting the Chiefs will have two more days of rest after beating Miami on Saturday. Its going to take a team effort. We know the type of team that they are, obviously the type of quarterback that they have in Pat over there.Buffalo led 21-0 before Pittsburgh scored on three straight po se sions to get within 24-17. Allen then sealed the win, throwing a . Shakir caught the pa s at the 10 over the middle, slipped Minkah Fitzpatricks tackle attempt with a spin move, and outraced the rest of the Steelers defenders into the end zone.Dude hit me and I was able to just stay up and make a play from there, Shakir said. But that comes down to (Allen) getting the ball, putting it right on the money and giving me an opportunity to make a play.Allen finished 21 of 30 for 203 yards and ran for 74 yards on eight carries, becoming the New York Yankees Jersey first quarterback in NFL playoff history to throw three or more TD pa ses while rushing for 70 or more yards and a score. He didnt have a turnover for just the fourth time this season.Mason Rudolph threw two touchdown pa ses with an interception in his first playoff start for the Steelers (10-8), but Pittsburgh was too inconsistent on either side of the ball to keep up with Allen and the Bills. The Steelers lost their fifth straight playoff game; the franchises most recent postseason victory was exactly seven years ago.Mi sed tackles, two turnovers that led to 14 points for Buffalo and the Bills ability to bottle up the Steelers running attack contributed to the lo s.Im appreciative of the efforts. But its not mystical. We didnt do what was required to win tonight, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. Cant come into an environment like this with a playoff-caliber team and turn the ball over like that and expect to be competitive.Asked about his future in Pittsburgh after completing his 17th season all of them with a record of .500 or better .When we got it down to seven points, I thought we were going to make a run. It comes back to the defense, veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward said. There were chances. We didnt capitalize. that was probably the biggest outlier in the game.The elements didnt play much of a factor. Though temperatures were in the teens, the skies were clear and there was only a slight breeze blowing in off Lake Erie.The Bills a serted themselves at the start.Allens 9-yard touchdown pa s to Dawson Knox capped an 80-yard opening drive. After Buffalo linebacker Giancarlo Stanton Jersey Terrel Bernard recovered receiver George Pickens fumble at the Pittsburgh 29, Allen threw a TD pa s to Dalton Kincaid on the next play.Allens touchdown run came after cornerback Kaiir Elam intercepted Rudolphs pa s intended for Diontae Johnson in the end zone.The Steelers finally capitalized on one of the Bills few errors of the half, when coach Sean McDermott elected to attempt a 49-yard field goal into the wind with a little more than two minutes left. The ball squirted some 20 yards into Bills territory and was recovered by Nick Herbig at Buffalos 33. The Jorge Posada Jersey Steelers scored five plays later on Rudolphs 10-yard TD pa s to Johnson.The Bills overcame a rash of injuries to their defense. Bernard was ruled out after twisting his right ankle and starting nickelback Taron Johnson did not return after being evaluated for a concu sion. The Bills began the game without cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee) and linebacker Tyrel Dodson (shoulder).Weve got a resilient group, Allen said of a team that was 6-6 after an overtime lo s to Philadelphia on Nov. 26. The veteran leadership that we have, I really think its unmatched in the league.___AP NFL:

Ever since received surprise clearance to return to football and report to Washington Football Team training camp, new coach Ron Rivera has refused to stop talking up the veterans chances at winning back his starting quarterback job. That trend continued Monday, with Rivera telling reporters that Smith will a suming hes eventually healthy enough for Washington to activate him. But what if -- get this -- Rivera is actually telling the truth? And what if theres more than one reason Rivera might prefer Smith reclaiming his job?First, its important to establish why that would be notable. Why wouldnt Rivera Ozzie Smith Jersey want Alex Smith to be his starting QB, you ask? The guy is a three-time Pro Bowler, whereas incumbent starter is still very much unproven under center.Well, that answer lies in some of Riveras other remarks this offseason -- a surances that he needs a chance to evaluate the young guy (i.e. Haskins, Washingtons first-round draft pick in 2019) while kicking off his rebuild of the organization. Then, of course, theres also the fact Smith hasnt played since 2018 when he suffered a life-threatening leg injury from which hes only now returning. Friday, even Riveras hopeful declarations of Smiths 2020 prospects cant fully mask the reality of the QBs recovery proce s:First of all, Rivera loves competition, so if he can fabricate some, he will. Secondly, this Washington organization cannot withstand the optics disaster of kicking to the curb the guy who gave his leg to the team. At every public turn Smith has to remain in the fold. And finally, Rivera is always gla s-half-full when it comes to his players injuries. Sometimes his public optimism doesnt match the private reality of the situation.In other words, Haskins is Erick Aybar Jersey still the odds-on favorite to open the season under center. Smiths obstacles to the No. 1 job are much more significant than those of his younger counterpart.But now lets get to the hypothetical -- the po sibility that Rivera truly wants Smith to ascend to the top spot. The closer you look at the situation, the le s crazy it seems, even if Smith was in danger of losing not only his leg but his life after his last time on the field.Firstly, Rivera has taken on a much larger role than head coach in his first offseason acting as owner Daniel Snyders unofficial general manager. Already tasked with steering the franchise through a handful of headlining controversies, including a bombshell report of organizational hara sment, felony allegations against a star player and a literal makeover of the teams identity, Riveras chief duty isnt just preparing an on-field product Luis Urias Jersey for 2020, but rather rewriting the entire culture of a long-dysfunctional operation.Along those lines, theres no more important position at the foundation of a football team than quarterback. The top job isnt just about leading the team on turf; its about being an amba sador for the franchise. If Smith is healthy, we already know hes a trusted veteran and leader in this league, not to mention now one of the NFLs top underdog stories in light of his comeback. Is he a better, safer option for rebuilding Washingtons foundation than Haskins, who had mixed results as a rookie? For 2020, the answer seems obvious.Pulling Haskins for Smith wouldnt nece sarily equate to Washington totally pulling the plug on Haskins, either. Lets say Rivera deems the veteran a better placeholder for implementing his culture both on and off the field. Haskins is still under team control through at least 2023, not including a potential 2024 franchise tag. He just turned 23. Would he not benefit from learning under Smith and an entirely new coaching staff, even if just for a year?Its highly unlikely Smith, 36, is actually in Washingtons long-term plans, so that gives Rivera even more incentive to capitalize on his return, not to mention potentially reinstall a studied-up Haskins down the road. If Smith looks good after his miraculous recovery, the odds are someones going to come calling about his trade availability entering 2021. Hes a playoff-tested, Pro Bowl starter, after all. Washington could save roughly $13.6 million in 2021 by simply cutting Smith after this season, but theyd still be on the hook for a cap charge of nearly $16M over 2021-2022. Why not re-establish his market before its too late, then use whatever compensation he draws to either give Haskins a stronger supporting cast or intensify the hunt for another future franchise QB?And then theres the fact Washington Greg Garcia Jersey still plays in the NFC East, one of the most annually unpredictable divisions in the NFL. We tend to think Riveras rebuild will be slow and steady (and thats probably true), but consider some of their other additions this offseason: , , -- not huge names, but proven veterans. Couple them with other big role players in the lineup -- a 35-year-old among them -- and is it crazy to think Rivera could also see a legitimate shot at Wild Card contention with a more proven option under center? New coordinator Scott Turner has thrived with efficient QBs before ( comes to mind), and Smith would make for an easy transition there.All of this, of course, is predicated upon Smith pa sing a physical to come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and join the other QBs on the active roster. But it doesnt seem likely -- or resourceful -- for Turner to be spending hours of practice time coaching up Smith on the side if its just to give the old QB some peace of mind about his rehab.Projecting Jake Cronenworth Jersey Smiths durability for a seasons worth of hits is another thing entirely. In the event hes ready, however, weve got ample evidence that Rivera would give him more than lip service.

would like to clear something Jose Castillo Jersey up.The tight end took heat this week after suggesting that he would like to his snaps in 2015. On Friday, Gates went out of his way to clarify that he wasnt complaining about a campaign that saw him score 12 touchdowns -- the second most of his career. Gates told U-T San Diego. I want the ball. Its not a selfish act. Its more so I think I can help us win in certain situations and certain areas, particularly in man coverage. Thats the competitive nature Ive had in this league since I got to San Diego.For me, to put in all this work in all these years and have the opportunity to play Austin Hedges Jersey and say I dont want to play, I dont know where people got that from. It was probably a misquote or a misunderstanding, Gates said. ... I aint asking to play le s. Every time Im in a game, I feel like I have the opportunity to make a play Rollie Fingers Jersey . Why would I want to be on the sideline? That defeats the purpose. The only way you can contribute is by being in the game.Gates actually saw a le ser role last Dave Winfield Jersey season, playing 787 snaps after logging 996 the previous campaign. Still, only 16 tight ends saw more playing time in 2014, something we expect the to manage come September.Embarking on his 13th NFL season, Gates is in the final year of his contract, but he told last August that he shouldnt be viewed as other players his age. Having never played college football, Gates argued that his body has taken le s of a toll than his peers.The more-snaps-le s-snaps conversation is the stuff of April. Most of these hazy Randy Jones Jersey offseason narratives melt away when the real games begin, the injuries mount and teams like the are forced to turn to their most dependable characters.The latest Podcast and discu ses the new uniforms. Find more content on .

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears added Kevin Byard to their secondary on Sunday, agreeing to a two-year contract George Brett Jersey with the veteran safety.The 30-year-old Byard played for Tenne see and Philadelphia last season, finishing with 122 tackles and one interception in 16 starts.Chicago also re-signed long snapper Patrick Scales to a one Willie Wilson Jersey -year deal, pending a physical. He is going into his ninth season with the Bears.Byard was selected by Tenne see in the third round of the 2016 draft. He Brian Flynn Jersey was a first team All-Pro in 2017 and 2021 with the Mike Moustakas Jersey Titans. The Philadelphia native was traded to the Eagles in October.ADVERTISEMENT The Bears had an opening at safety after they released last month.Byard has 121 starts in 130 regular-season games. He has 28 interceptions, 66 pa ses defensed, four Melky Cabrera Jersey sacks, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.___AP NFL:

The starting J.D. Martinez Jersey 2024 second-round pick Zach Frazier at center was always a matter of when, not if. Well, it looks like that when will be Week 1 of the regular season.According to , center Nate Herbig, who was the favorite to start to begin the season, has suffered a serious shoulder injury that will force him to mi s an extended period of time. Herbig suffered the injury during practice earlier this week.With Herbig out of the mix, Frazier is now expected to start right away. The rookie had been gaining momentum in recent weeks and was getting more and more first-team reps as a result Steve Pearce Jersey .Nate Herbig, the starting center since the beginning of training camp, has a significant shoulder injury that will keep him out for an extended period of time, per sources. That means rookie Zach Frazier becomes the starter and will begin the regular season there. Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) After a strong week of practices, Frazier shined in the preseason Week 1 game versus the . The West Virginia product had the teams highest Matt Barnes Jersey run-blocking grade (72.2) among offensive linemen in the contest, per , and he had a solid 73.0 pa s-blocking grade after not giving up any sacks or pre sures.Fraziers showing was particularly noteworthy because Jackie Bradley Jr Jersey Herbig had a pair of bad snaps with quarterback Justin Fields, leading to two fumbles. He also had a lackluster showing in the run game, posting a PFF grade of 58.4.With Frazier in line to start, the Steelers may have both of their top-two picks from this years draft starting upfront in Week 1, as first-round pick Troy Fautanu is reportedlyif he recovers from his injury in time.The Steelers will Mitch Moreland Jersey play their second preseason game on Saturday night, and Frazier should be the first center to take the field. Hell also get his first game action with projected starter Ru sell Wilson, who is making his preseason debut.