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CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OF THE WEEKENDLeicester City v Reading Saturday 13th August 2011 3.00 Tony Kemp Jersey kick-off Last time the sides metReading 3-1 Leicester City (Saturday 16th April 2011)Kebe (19), King (79)McAnuff (21),Hunt (67) The LowdownTwo of the Championships promotion candidates go head-to-head on Saturday as Leicester entertain Reading at the King Power Stadium. Both teamsenter the game on a high as the Foxes were forced to show grit and determination to win 1-0 against Coventry. Whilst the Royals snatched a point from the jaws of defeat at home to Millwall, thanks to Mathieu Mansets impre sive late brace. Undoubtedly, Sven Goran Erik sons side will be under huge pre sure to start their home campaign with victory. This might play into Brian McDermotts hands, as he has masterminded notable F.A Cup scalps defeating Mersey giants Everton and Liverpool on their own turfs.Leicester City Transfers In: Transfers Out:Lee Peltier (Huddersfield Town) Michael Larney (Wisla Krakow)Kasper Schmeichel (Leeds United) Jack Hobbs (Hull City)Neil Danns (Crystal Palace)Sean St Ledger (Preston North End)David Nugent (Portsmouth)Matt Mills (Reading)Paul Konchesky (Liverpool)John Pantsil (Fulham)Michael Johnson (On loan from Manchester City)Gelson Fernandes (On loan from St Etienne)Michael Ball (Free Agent)When Sven Goran Erik son arrived at Leicester in October 2010, the Foxes were routed to the bottom of the Championship after Paulo Sousas reignas manager came to an abrupt end. However, the Swede turned the Walkers Stadium into a fortre s as Leicester went on an eight-game unbeaten run in January. This prompted the Foxes towards a late charge for a play-off spot, which was eventually halted by Nottingham Forest in April.Yet it is the spending power provided by Thai busine sman Vichai Raksriaksorn that has set Leicester apart from other competitors. He will demand a return however, meaning the former England manager will be under immense pre sure to win promotion this season. Yu Darvish Jersey However, Erik sons illustriouscareer demonstrates that he has never been afraid of pre sure and believes he now has the tools at his disposal to end an eight-year exile away from the top flight.Having narrowly defeated Coventry City on their own turf, Sven will believe that the Foxes can establish themselves in top spot with two winnable homefixtures. Perhaps a point this weekend wouldnt be too disastrous, providing they defeat a lowly Bristol City on Tuesday night. Given the attacking talent at his disposal, Sven is expected to change his system to 4-4-1-1, with Andy King replacing the suspended Darius Va sell in an advanced role.Expected Starting Line-UpK.Schmeichel (GK)L.Peltier (RB) M.Mills (CB) S.Bamba (CB) P.Konchesky (LB)Y.Abe (RM) N.Danns (CM) R.Wellens (CM) G.Fernandes (LM)A.King (CAM)D.Nugent (ST)Reading Transfers In: Transfers Out:Mikele Leigertwood (Queens Park Rangers) Matt Mills (Leicester City)Bongani Khumalo (On loan from Tottenham Hotspur) Scott Davies(CrawleyTown)Ivar Ingimar son (Ipswich Town)David Mooney (Leyton Orient)Julian Kelly (Notts County)Despite a number of impre sive performances last season, Brain McDermott and his Reading side may struggle to recover from an almost embarra sing play-off final defeat to Swansea City. Since then, highly-rated defender Matt Mills has departed to join this weekends opponents, whilst Shane Longeventually opted for the Premier League as he joined West Bromwich Albion. Time will tell as to whether these departures derail a potential promotion push from the Royals. Yet owner John Madejski has proved his shrewdne s in the Alec Mills Jersey past and will be delighted with the 12m recoupment of these sales.What weve got is unique really, the players really enjoy being here and working for each other. Reading manager Brian McDermott on the clubs team spirit.McDermott has created an admirable team spirit, ensuring that each player fights until the final whistle. Last season, Reading scored a total of 19 goals in the final 10 minutes. Matheiu Mansets goals in the 86th and 89th minutes last weekend, demonstrate that the Royals never know when they are beaten. Perhaps last seasons most memorable moment came at the City Ground as Simon Church scored a dramatic 90th minute winner to make the score 4-3 to the Royals. This result was embedded in the eight games that Reading won in a row, illustrating their consistency that has been typical of previous title-winning sides. If McDermott can repeat this consistency throughout the course of the season, then the Royals will push for the title.Expected Starting Line-UpA.Federeci (GK)A.Griffin (RB) B.Khumalo (CB) A.Pearce (CB) I.Harte (LB)J.Kebe (RW) J.Karacan (CM) M.Leigertwood (CM) J.McAnuff (LW)N.Hunt (ST)M.Manset (ST)Tactical Battle Where the game might be won and lostBoth managers have intriguing dilemmas with regards to their team selections for this weekends fixture. Does Sven take the promising Ghanaian striker Jeffery Schlupps performance into consideration? His Carling Cup hattrick at Rotherham United on Tuesday night should be enough to earn him a place on the bench.Will Brian McDermott replace Shane Long with goal-scoring hero Mathieu Manset or Welsh International striker Simon Church? Manset, 22, po se ses the attributes to bully defenders and hold the ball up for the Carlos Zambrano Jersey likes of Hunt, McAnuff and Karacan, but his lack of experience might go against him, particularly away from home.As the home side, the onus will be on Leicester to attack Reading from the first whistle. Yet this may play into Readings hands as they have the players in Jimmy Kebe and Jobi McAnuff to launch devastating counter-attacks from the flanks. In Mikele Leigertwood, they have an anchor who will shield the back four. Yet Leicester may also target the flanks as Ian Harte and Andy Griffin in particular, may lack the pace to deal with overlapping runs from Lee Peltier and Paul Konchesky, who both like to get forward.PredictionBoth sides have the attacking talent to produce an entertaining game so I will go for a 2-2 draw, with Reading snatching yet another point in the latter stages of the game.Recommended BetsPaddy PowerSol Bamba 6/1 (Anytime Goalscorer) The towering central defender has been linked with Blackburn Rovers this week and has the physical presence of Chris Samba. He has often been a major threat from set pieces, and Readings side isnt exactly the tallest. All of his goals have come at the King PowerStadium, so he Kyle Ryan Jersey might be worth a look at.Ian Harte 18/1 (First Goalscorer) With similar odds to Bamba, the experienced left back scored 11 goals last season. As the set-piece specialist, he is another that might have gone under the radar by Paddy Power. Whether it is first goalscorer, anytime or last goalscorer, perhaps he is seriously worth considering.

certainly remembers what transpired inside his locker room in 2018, when decided not to return to the after flirting with the idea of returning before the Week 11 deadline. And while Smith-Schuster finds himself in a similar situation now, he told reporters this week that he will not be following in his former teammates footsteps. Im not going to be the type of guy who sits out, Smith-Schuster said, . Right now, Im not worried about (a new contract) Shane Bieber Jersey . Its more so just about playing ball For me, I would love to be a Steeler, but at the end of the day, Im here to play ball and win games for the team and for the organization.Smith-Schuster appeared well on his way to receiving an extension well before the 2020 season following his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. After catching 58 pa ses for 917 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, Smith-Schuster enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2018, as he led the Steelers with 1,426 receiving yards while earning team MVP honors. Things took a turn in 2019. With mi sing 14 games with an elbow injury, and with no longer on the outside, Smith-Schuster caught just 42 pa ses for 552 yards and three touchdowns for the Steelers, who finished the season with an 8-8 record while mi sing the playoffs for a second straight season. Injuries were also an i sue for Smith-Schuster, who was sidelined for a quarter of Pittsburghs games. Smith-Schuster made several changes to his offseason training in preparation for the 2020 season. Instead of group workouts, Smith- Tyler Naquin Jersey Schuster did individual work with a high performance coach. He also arrived at the teams facility about a month earlier than he usually does. Smith-Schuster said that the alterations to his offseason has led to him being the lightest hes been since entering the NFL. And while it would be safe to a sume that he is working towards having a big season during his contract year, that isnt the case for Smith-Schuster. You always want to push yourself, Smith-Schuster said. I didnt work this offseason for a contract, its more so wanting to learn something new every year and becoming a better player for the team.Smith-Schuster was the first of four receivers the Steelers have drafted in either the second or third round. In 2018, Pittsburgh spent a second-round pick on , who led the team in receiving yards in 2019. Last spring, the Steelers used a third-round pick on , who paced Pittsburgh in catches and touchdown receptions as a rookie. He also made a splash on special teams, returning a punt 85 yards for a score in Pittsburghs late-season win over Arizona. In April, the Steelers used their second-round pick on , whose presence should allow Smith-Schuster to return to the slot after playing on the outside in 2019. The Steeler, during free agency, also signed former Pro Greg Allen Jersey Bowl tight end , who has already begun building a rapport with Roethlisberger. When asked about the Steelers bevy of receivers, Smith-Schuster said that he has no reservations as it relates to helping his younger teammates. I want succe s for everybody, Smith-Schuster said. We drafted a young guy, Chase Claypool, his Cody Allen Jersey athleticism is amazing. If I make him better, thats making me better.For a half-decade, Pittsburghs offense primarily revolved around the teams Killer B trio of Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell. While the trio was indeed prolific, Pittsburgh sometimes struggled to move the ball when forced to rely on their complementary pieces. Smith-Schuster feels that that wont be the case in 2020, as the Steelers are a deeper at the skill positions now than they were in recent seasons. We can go into no-huddle and we can have no many different plays play so many different positions, and thats the best part of it, Smith-Schuster said of the Steelers offense. With having Ben (back), and having him call in the huddle what he likes, I think thats where we can have a lot of succe s.Smith-Schuster was asked to identify what specific skillset he brings to the table that is different from the Steelers other receivers. While he could Cleveland Indians Blank Jersey have said something tangible, the still just 23-year-old Smith-Schuster instead chose a quality that made him an instant fan favorite during his first season in Pittsburgh. Just having fun, Smith-Schuster said. Im definitely the guy who is trying to make everybody laugh, enjoy their job, making the best of out it. I think there are days where were tired, were down, and we just dont feel like we wanna do it. But Im the guy who comes in and is like, Lets go. Lets have fun today, make the best of it. Like I say, were always lit.

Tactical innovation has played a gargantuan role in the development of football over the last century. Only a scarce number of people are still alive who have witne sed some of the formations used in the first half of the 20th century.These formations ranged from the incredible 2-3-5 pyramid to the intriguing WM formation used by Herbert Chapmans Arsenal in the early 1930s. These formations received plenty of accolade at the time but in todays football, managers even barely mentioning these formations Brandon Lowe Jersey would get a therapist recommendation instead of a Christmas Card for Christmas.Even though various formations came into play throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s such as the hugely succe sful 4-2-4 formation used by colo sus at the time Hungary and then the great Brazil, one man really changed the tactics of football. Rinus Michels truly developed the way of football by introducing the phenomenon of total football.Interchange-ability and flexibility were words that rarely cropped up in football dictionaries but after he applied his ideas on a global stage in 1974, it has sparked a love affair between flexible tactics and football.Even though his Dutch team can be regarded as one of the best teams to have graced this sport, with players such Cruyff, Neskeens and Krol, they were unable to fulfil their target in winning the World Cup. En route to the final, they displayed some extravagance and breathtaking movement but were left with nothing at the end of the day in a final in Munich against an unfancied German side on home soil.The German team that day was led out by icon Franz Beckenbauer whose name is synonymous of the word sweeper, which is an additional player positioned behind the defence for added security and they were very result oriented. At that time Trevor Richards Jersey a lot of teams deployed sweepers due to the succe s of various Italian teams deploying the principles of Cattenacio. The German team that day were stereotypically German, i.e extremely result orientated. This eventually led to a trend of result orientated teams holding aloft the World Cup trophy bar one or two exceptions.Four years later, on home soil, Argentina turned up with a tactical shift that caused the birth of one of the most important positions on a football pitch, the defensive midfielder. An act of astute thinking from the Argentinians saw the sweeper moved in front of the defence as opposed to behind it. Americo Gellego is accredited by many to be the first person to play in that position which is fundamental today. The Albiceleste also went on to win the competition but were probably one of the only few exceptions in the trend, as they displayed attack minded football instead of result orientated football.The World Cup in Spain 82 was won by a very resilient Italian team which fit the trend of substance over style to the T. This Italian team played a 5-3-2 formation and had the mental stability to overcome many obstacles like the Brazilian team they faced in the Jalen Beeks Jersey second round. The Selecao only needed a draw against the Italians but the Italians somehow managed to get a win in what can be regarded as one of the greatest games youll ever see.The following two World Cups were won by teams who had solid foundations but relied on the heavy influence of Diego Maradona and Lothar Matthaus. Argentinas manager in 1986, Carlos Bilardo, recognised the fact that they needed to have a strong defence to have any chance and hence shifted towards a relatively new formation at the time and placed Maradona as the enganche of the 3-5-2 formation. This formation allowed Maradona to influence games which led them to World Cup glory. Germany in 1990 used Lotthar Matthaus in a 5-3-2 formation and he was the driving force in a pragmatic system.During the 90s, a lot of teams started to employ a 4-4-2 formation including the winners of World Cup 1994, Brazil, and also the French team that won on home soil in 1998. Both these teams won the World Cup with caution being imprinted Wilson Ramos Jersey on their foreheads. 4-4-2 became the predominant formation during this period because of the balance between attack and defence that it enabled. It offered an advantage in attack and defence, as the central midfielders can drop back as defensive midfielders when defending, or they can push up as attacking midfielders when the team is on the attack. There are many variations of this formation but the fitne s levels of the players need to be really high otherwise the system tends to falter. Italy also won the World Cup in 2006 playing a variant of the Adeiny Hechavarria Jersey 4-4-2, with zone defence at its best and two impenetrable banks of four.This World Cup (2010) has seen the 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation being extremely succe sful as more teams are putting fluidity and movement high up on their list of priorities. The 4-4-2 formation is now le s succe sful as the formation is destructed with play between the lines. The 4-5-1 allows more po se sion of the ball because of extra numbers in midfield but it needs a striker upfront which can guarantee movement and all-round play. With the way football formations are changing, a 4-6-0 formation may be a formation that we may see in the near future.

Fridays health and safety news from the world of football: former NFL running back Michael Oliphant, whose youth athlete training busine s Tony Perez Jersey has skyrocketed after an idea that took root in Tom Seaver Jersey his backyard four years ago. to NFL Head Neck and Spine Committee co-chair Dr. Richard Ellenbogen about an eye-tracking device to measure the severity of Jesse Winker Jersey concu sions. that two New Mexico senators have introduced a bill to expand the states concu sion laws. on Northern Illinois Universitys push Devin Mesoraco Jersey for research dollars to a se s the Heads Up initiative by the Centers for Disease Control. at the studies. that the Connecticut city adopted a concu sion protocol to be used Matt Kemp Jersey during activities for all city fields.-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor

This is the backstory to one of the great moments of , the goal-line stand . The last-second win, as well as over the behind backup quarterback and the back-and-forth tu sle to are nominees for the GMC Troy Polamalu Jersey Never Say Never Moment of the week. .One look at the and , and youll notice that the are on the outside looking in for NFC West division title race. However, the 3-5 have done plenty to influence the NFC West race. Two of the teams three wins have come against the two combatants in last seasons NFC Championship Game. After , the went on the road and delivered a devastating setback to the , whose . The did so with a last-minute goal-line stand that preserved a tight 13-10 victory.Here are the key moments before the moment:Learn how to slide, broThe play: quarterback scrambles up the middle for 10 yards, but on the play Davis gets a scare. He slid on his braced left knee and it caught awkwardly in the Levis Stadium sod.The aftermath: Davis was forced from the game and replaced by , who promptly handed the ball off to running back for a 4-yard gain. Davis was back in after mi sing just one play, and directed the into field-goal position after two completions to tight end . That field goal tied the game up at 3-3. Rams Anthony Delpercio Jersey tie it up before halfThe play: Davis connected with a wide-open , who scampered 21 yards for a game-tying score toward the end of the first half.The aftermath: Britts touchdown knotted up the game at 10-10. It was set up by a sack from that for the first time in the game. In the game, , including six in the first half alone (the most first-half sacks in team history). The St. Louis Sack Exchange had been on hiatus for much of Braylon Sanders Jersey the season (the had just one sack entering Week 7), but has erupted lately for 13 sacks in three games. Borland goes all WWEThe play: rookie linebacker body slams for a lo s of a yard.The aftermath: With All-Pro linebacker out for the second consecutive game, Borland -- in the out of Wisconsin --- is getting extended playing time. Borland finished the game with a career-high 18 total tackles. He is the first rookie with 18 or more tackles in a game since had 20 .The momentThe play: On third-and-1 from the 1-yard line with nine seconds remaining in regulation, Kaepernick attempts to sneak up the middle. He is stonewalled by the defense and fumbles, with the loose ball recovered by linebacker for a touchback to end the game.The aftermath: Kaepernick started that final drive with 3:11 remaining at the own 12-yard line. He completed long pa ses to and . The nearly shot themselves in the foot with back-to-back pa s pa s interference and holding penalties on defensive back , Justin Ademilola Jersey who was attempting to cover . The then failed to score from five yards out on three plays, with the third being the game-deciding fumble.The came away victors after scoring the fewest points in a win since 2011, . The also gained just 193 total yards of offense, the fewest for a winning team in the NFL this season. Its also the lowest yardage total for a team against the since 1976, when the Los Angeles -- behind quarterback -- , despite gaining 146 yards of offense (the , meanwhile, gained a paltry 88 yards).The have now lost two of four games in their new home stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The team had lost just four games total in the final three seasons at Candlestick Park. This defeat to the could come Matt Aragon Jersey to haunt the if they find themselves on the outside looking in for the NFC playoff field.Follow Jim Reineking on Twitter .

In a pulsating London derby, Chelsea managed to avoid defeat and preserve a point against a rampant spurs side who had beaten all the London clubs prior to this game. It was vital Chelsea didnt lose as they couldnt afford the gap on the leaders to increase if they had any title ambitions. However just like the city game they didnt get off to the best of starts when Emmanuel Adebayor gave the hosts an early lead as Harry Redknapps side threatened to overrun Chelsea in their pursuit of Premier Switzerland Jersey League pace-setters Manchester City and Manchester United.After that goal Spurs took control and started to bo s the next 20 minutes and had looked likely to dominate the game. Italy Jersey However The Blues stood firm and recovered to equalise through Daniel Sturridge against the run of play Coles overlapping run was finished off expertly by the gifted Sturridge. However much could be spoken about the defending, schoolboy at best as A suo- ekotto switched of allowing Sturridge to get the goal side of him and nick an important equaliser. Before half-time the blues were left frustrated as Didier Drogba struck the woodwork shortly after they levelled, then Ramires wasted two perfect opportunities in the second half.The second half, Chelsea started to take control. The fact that Redknapp was also deprived of a key figure for the restart of the second half, as Rafael van der Vaart succumbed to a hamstring injury, didnt help Spurs. On the Crystal Palace Jersey flip side Roman Pavlyuchenko was given another chance after scoring the winner against Sunderland at the weekend to prove his worth.However in spite of the changes, Chelsea made the improved start after the interval as Friedel was forced into making two saves in a matter of seconds, first from Ramires as he raced through and then from Terrys header as he met the resulting corner.Adebayor also had the ball in the net again just before the hour, only to see the effort ruled out after the tightest of offside calls.in my opinion it was offside so there is no sympathy from me even though it was marginal when it came to whether it was onside or offside.In the end it was fitting that it was left to Terry to have the final say, as he blocked Adebayors shot on the line in the dying seconds to ensure Chelsea earned a USA Jersey deserved draw.And despite being subjected to taunts throughout the game from Spurs supporters, who to have their fair share of history, in my opinion shouldnt be judging, as people with gla s houses shouldnt throw stones. The defender unsurprisingly won prolonged backing from the visiting fans before throwing his Germany Jersey shirt to them at the final whistle.The deadlock isnt ideal outcome for either side, but the result was just. Spurs now stand seven points behind second-placed United with a game in hand, while Chelsea lie in fourth place. Inevitably, this could signal the end of their tittle challenge.

It was horrific to watch, not onlybecauseof Gareth Bales dolphin like dive but also the manner of Scotlands latecapitulation.Not that it was a Dillon Radunz Jersey new experience. There has been a steady stream of dreadful,disappointments in the last 10-15 years for the Tartan Army.Youwould think thefamiliaritywould le sen theeffect, but it doesnt.I watched the game with a Dutch friend, who like his countrymen has been spoiled rotten with football for the last 30 years. Since the 1974 World Cup, Holland haveregularly competed in the latter stages of International tournaments: being beaten in 3 World Cup finals and winning the Euros in 1988.The Netherlands have 4 times the population of Scotland but 20 times the football capability. The football academies of PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord and Ajax have provided the Dutch national team (and other national teams) with an endle s proce sion of quality players since 1980s.And the Eredivisie isnt only about the big 3 with AZ Alkamaar and FC Twente recently winning titles.Yet, the Dutch had to endure ten years of disaster before the succe s of the famous 1988 team of Gullit, Van Basten and Rijkaard began toemerge. From 1982 to 1986 Holland failed to qualify for thesucce Nick Dzubnar Jersey siveWorld Cups and the Euro Championships.In the end they had to turn to their old master, Rinus Michels to steady the ship.Not that he didnt have great players to work with. In addition to the the trinity of Rijkaard, Gullit and Van Basten there was Koeman, Wouters and Van Breukelen in a cla sic side.With the exception of this years poor Euros in Poland/Ukraine, Holland have consistently competed at the highest levelinternationally for thelast 25 years. In this time they have produced the De Boer brothers, Jaap Staam, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert,,,,and the magical Denis Bergkamp.If Englands underachieving generation Anthony Rush Jersey of Terry, Lampard, Gerrard etc is Golden I have no idea what precious metal this one has been.The current national team are not lightweight either. With the majority of the squad starring for the major European clubs and combined transfer price of around 250,000 Euros their World Cup qualification will be a mere formality.When they land in Rio in 2014 they will start as realistic favourites, (along with Brazil, Argentina and Spain) for the World Cup.Current Holland best 11:Currently, the Eredivsie is arguably the 7th best European League behind England, Spain, Germany,Italy, France and Portugal. Alike all the smaller Euro leagues the best players are cherry picked by the best clubs of the big 4 leagues.While the big three: PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord and Ajax can still attract Racey McMath Jersey a good level of player from Latin America or Eastern Europe their realstrengthlies in their youthdevelopment programs which have reared the likes of Robben,Van de Vaart and Huntellar for Holland and Vermaelen andVertonghen for Belgium in recent years.Current top 11 players in the Eredivisie:Somewhat surprisingly the SFA have decided to go Dutch in their future plans for development of the national game Bruce Matthews Jersey and hired a top gun from the Netherlands. However in a typical measure of underwhelming bumbling they did not splash out on statesman alike Johan Cruyff, Guus Hiddink or Frank Arnesen.Instead they opted for Mark Wotte, a journey man manager whos greatestachievementso far was a one year stint for FC Utrect then Southampton.To be fair he has made all the right noises so far and has identified the obvious weakne ses in our games development. His real succe s will be measured in 1o years time. Which is of no use to our ongoing current predicament.www,footballintheclouds.wordpre s.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- On the day before the held their final team-sanctioned offseason activity until they report for training camp July 24, quarterback delivered an eye-opening performance that will resonate, perhaps deservedly, very little.Only a few dozen spectators saw it. It happened in June. And players werent even wearing pads. So no, this isnt an attempt to make more out of something than is appropriate. But might there have been a dose of quiet foreshadowing?Hey, just to s it in the back of your mind until the season starts.(Wednesday) was about as good as Ive seen (Newton), as far as practice goes, coach Ron Rivera said Thursday, apparently still impre sed enough to mention it twice one day later.Thats about as solid an endorsement as youll get from a head coach sending his team into a five-week break. And its an example of the optimism Rivera has for the 2015 season, given everything else that he said around that single sentence.Newton, for his part, said he believes this collection Dakoda Shepley Jersey of wide receivers has been more competitive this offseason than any group he had in his first four seasons. So is his succe s in this years offseason workouts the result of having more weapons? Or does Newton deserve the bulk of Jake Luton Jersey credit for his own improvements?Both are true, for certain. But theres a good case to be made for the latter.He took some really big steps this year, Rivera said of his franchise quarterback, who .For starters, Newton is healthy. (Last year, he mi sed the whole offseason after undergoing surgery in March to repair ankle ligaments.) But beyond that obvious point, Rivera believes Newtons continued experience in the league is allowing him the opportunity to work on more nuanced improvements in the offseason.Lets not forget: Hes a young man, Rivera said. He came into this league after playing just one year of college football. He wasnt as advanced as guys like or , who played three or four seasons.While not a perfect argument, given that Newton has also had an extra year in the NFL to hone his skills, Rivera makes a point: We often expect Newton to play like a far more experienced vet than his younger counterparts. To Riveras point about collegiate experience: Newton threw 292 pa ses in college. Luck threw 1,064. Wilson threw 1,489.But before this becomes a conversation about Newton and other quarterbacks, its worth focusing instead on Newton alone. Because Riveras broader perspective is more about the idea of Newton finally graduating from the phase of his career in which he spends offseasons focused on more elementary fundamentals.Take, for example, Newtons recent focus with Carolina quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey. In two specific ways, the and Newton Blessuan Austin Jersey himself seem to be recognizing that the QBs strengths, while valuable, can also lead to potential weakne ses in his game. This translates to footwork and decision-making.Lets start with footwork. Because Newton has such incredible arm strength, he is capable of making ma sive throws downfield without setting his feet. On the surface, that sounds great -- almost like a basketball player being able to pull up for a three-point shot with no time to square to the basket. Newton, though, isnt merely to sing a football 23 feet on these occasions, and his accuracy can be hindered by those big distances.(Dorsey and offensive coordinator Mike Shula) want him to get his feet in the proper position -- then throw the ball, Rivera said. You do see the difference.Said Newton: Its all about footwork and trusting the protection.As it pertains to Newtons decision-making skills, coaches again want to make sure Newton doesnt allow his physical a sets to become handicaps. Given how often Newton looks downfield to make the deep throws, its easy to wonder why the dont add more safety valves (receivers running shorter routes) to help give Newton options. But Rivera believes those safety valves already exist. Instead, again, this is about making Newton realize there are benefits to his bulk -- and potential detriments.He wants to make the play downfield, Rivera said. He likes the splash play. And with his ability to stay upright, I think he tends to stick with a guy for too long.Hes learning, If I dont have it right now, let me give it to one of these guys John Mitchell Jersey who can catch it right now. Weve got guys who can make plays. Youve seen it during offseason practices. Hes learning and understanding that part of the offense.In past years, the and Newton were so focused on simply getting Newton up to speed for the NFL, they werent likely viewing his size/strength combo as anything more than his greatest a set. Now, with more time to work with him, and a clear willingne s on his part to buy into the proce s, this nuance could pay major dividends.So was Wednesdays excellent practice from Newton just a nice day of work in June? Or was it something greater than that -- something that perhaps suggested an offseason of increased focused might be paying off?Well have to wait a few months to find out. Once the pads are on. Once the pa s rush is coming. Once the throws really matter. But for now, consider this a good, optimistic sign for Newton. Consider it a bright spot for the .Im always trying to better myself in a way that might go noticed or unnoticed, Newton said Thursday. For me, accuracy and consistency is key. Im working with coaches and players so were all on the same page. Im not going Alex Collins Jersey to put any standards on where we are right now -- I just know we had an unbelievable camp.This was one of our better camps, I believe.In June, thats really all you can ask for.Follow Jeff Darlington on Twitter .

disappointing rookie season with the appears to be coming to an end. The Titans announced Wilson was suspended by the team for Trey Sermon Jersey violating club rules, one week after the first-round pick made his NFL debut. Wilson has played just three offensive snaps this year in a rookie season known more for what he did off the field than on it. and was spotted at a nearby Tenne see State party in August San Francisco 49Ers Jersey , violating the states no-visitor policy and the NFLs guidelines against gatherings of more than 15 people. He also has been placed on the NFLs reserve/COVID-19 list Kyle Juszczyk Jersey twice this season, not giving himself a chance to get on the field. Wilsons DUI charge was when he was on the COVID-19 list.With Wilsons suspension, the Titans elevated offensive tackle from the C.J. Beathard Jersey practice squad. Newhouse has started 81 out of 129 games in his 10-year career, including nine of 15 games with the last season.The Titans drafted Wilson with the 29th overall pick in the 2020 draft in the Trent Williams Jersey hopes he would be the long-term replacement for free agent departure . Now, Tenne see will begin to wonder if hes worth keeping on the roster at all after this latest incident.

, Benfica have now officially confirmed that they have agreed to loan Carlos Vinicius for the rest of the season.The deal also includes an option to buy the Brazilian striker for around 36m and he is Mike Person Jersey expected to be at Tottenhams Hotspur Way training complex in Enfield on Friday for his medical ahead of the move. also states that Vinicius work permit will not be an i sue and the Brazilians move to Tottenham could be completed before Sundays game against Manchester United.However, he will not be eligible to play in the game. Instead, he Tevin Coleman Jersey would be training with the team during the two-week international break before making his debut.Vinicius joined Benfica from Napoli for 15m last summer and has been a top target for Tottenham and Mourinho who have been in search for a back-up striker for Harry Kane.The 25-year-old scored 24 goals last season for Benfica and became a target for some of Europes biggest clubs, including Italian giants Juventus and Inter Milan.Asked about the deal after Tottenhams victory over Maccabi Haifa in Europa League qualifying, Mourinho chose to keep his lip sealed than give attention to unconfirmed news. that the Portuguese manager answered: No Jerry Rice Jersey , I want you to ask me that question when its confirmed.Nobody told me its done so Im going to respect the situation, respect the player, respect Benfica and wait a little bit more. Next time we see each other maybe Im in conditions to answer.Earlier Joshua Garnett Jersey he was optimistic of signing a striker before the summer transfer window closes on October 5.I am optimistic, but more than that the feeling that I like is that we are trying everything to do it, he said.You succeed or you dont succeed. Its like a football match: you win or you dont win but you give everything and try Roger Craig Jersey everything. The transfer market is the same.I like the feeling that my club is trying to do everything for us and for the team, thats the most important thing for me.If we succeed then great I believe so but if we dont then thats football.Mourinho concluded that any new arrival this week would be unlikely to play in the Premier League game against Manchester United on Sunday.

NFL free agency is called a frenzy every year for a reason. Once the legal tampering period begins on March 11, several important unrestricted free agents will strike deals with new teams. Other key players on the open market will be re-signed by their current teams for at least one more go-round in 2024. Its always Lauri Markkanen Jersey a fun exercise to play GM and try to figure out the landing spots for the unsigned players, whether theyre staying put or going elsewhere. Based on Sporting News overall FA rankings, heres making a call on the top 28 available. Note: Players who have received the franchise or transition tag are not included on this list, but they could still be traded. MORE: NFL free agency predictions 2024 (Getty Images) DT Chris Jones: Signs a long-term deal with the Chiefs With cornerback LJarius Sneed receiving the franchise tag, expect Kansas City to hammer out a pleasing deal for its indispensable defender QB Kirk Cousins: Signs a one-year deal with the Vikings The Vikings have the money to bring Cousins back, and its their best way to remain a playoff contender. They could lock him up with a fully guaranteed short-term deal, adding to his ma sive career earnings. DT Christian Wilkins: Signs with Patriots Wilkins blo somed into a reliable run-stopper with solid pa s-rushing skills under former Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, now on Jerod Mayos staff. EDGE Danielle Hunter: Signs with Buccaneers The Buccaneers just parted ways with Shaquil Barrett so this would be a solid veteran Shaquille Harrison Jersey pa s-rushing get for Todd Bowles. EDGE Jonathan Greenard: Re-signs with Texans They have the money to keep the strong bookend to Will Anderson Jr. for DeMeco Ryans. BEST FREE AGENTS AVAILABLE: | | | (Getty Images) OT Tyron Smith: Signs with Raiders The Raiders need support opposite Kolton Miller, especially in pa s protection. Smith makes the most sense given Vegas spending power. EDGE: Bryce Huff: Signs with 49ers Look for San Francisco to pluck Huff from Robert Salehs Jets scheme to replace Chase Young opposite Nick Bosa as the teams one big signing. DT Denico Autry: Signs with Giants They need to beef up the defensive line more, and the team employs former Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. DT D.J. Reader: Signs with Cowboys Another NFC East team can get defensive line help, this time in the form of a big-time run-stopper. CB Kendall Fuller: Signs with Lions The Lions need to try again for reliable veteran corner help, and Fuller is a good fit with Aaron Glenns scheme. DT Maurice Hurst: Signs with Bengals The Bengals have the cap space to steal the well-rounded interior defender from the in-state rival Browns. Hurst would be an upgrade over Reader in the pa s rush. NFL DRAFT: | (Getty Images) WR Marquise Brown: Signs with Jaguars The Jaguars need to think about replacing Calvin Ridley, and Brown would give them a younger option to help stretch the field for Trevor Lawrence, working off Christian Kirk, Zay Thaddeus Young Jersey Jones, and Evan Engram. DT Leonard Williams: Signs with Eagles Williams should be had at a relatively cheap price, helping Philadelphia boost their new-look defensive line rotation under Vic Fangio. S Kamren Curl: Signs with Eagles The Eagles cut Kevin Byard and the safety-needed Bears signed him, so it makes sense to upgrade with the former Commanders playmaker. OT Trent Brown: Signs with Giants The Giants need to addre s tackle away from Andrew Thomas, and Brown has a connection to their adjusted coaching staff. QB Baker Mayfield: Re-signs with Buccaneers Mayfield is in talks to come back for multiple years, and its likely he gets a deal done and avoids taking a bigger risk with a worse team (Patriots) or in a backup role (Panthers). OT Mike Onwenu: Signs with Kris Dunn Jersey Texans The Patriots will try to keep him, especially with Trent Browns cap space likely freed up, but Owenu could start either inside or outside well in Houston. NFL COMBINE: | | (Getty Images) WR Calvin Ridley: Signs with Jets The lobbying for the former Falcon has begun. He would be the ideal complement for Garrett Wilson should he leave the Jaguars after one season. G Robert Hunt: Signs with 49ers The 49ers can make one more shrewd veteran move here, stealing from old friend Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins. CB Steven Nelson: Signs with Dolphins Nelson is a savvy cover man who has helped a lot of teams in his career, and Miami will be next as the replacement for Xavien Howard, who might end up in Houston. CB Chidobe Awuzie: Signs with Steelers Awuzie would be a good fit leaving the Bengals for a division rival, replacing Levi Wallace opposite Joey Porter Jr. EDGE Chase Young: Signs with Bears The Bears already Justin Holiday Jersey traded for another former Commanders DE, Montez Sweat, and are projected here to get Curl. Young could also thrive under Matt Eberflus. Getty EDGE Jadeveon Clowney: Signs with Dolphins Clowney can be signed on the cheap to follow Anthony Weaver from Baltimore to Miami. RB Saquon Barkley: Signs with Chargers The Chargers want to be a run-heavier team with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman. Harbaugh is intrigued by the former Big Ten workhorse. This would be a literal Giant move. RB Josh Jacobs: Signs with Bears The Cowboys and Ravens also will be interested in the Raiders rushing champion from 2022, but in the end, he can best clean up the backfield committee in Chicago. MORE: G Kevin Zeitler: Re-signs with Ravens The Ravens want to bring him back to keep their run-blocking strong and will figure out a one-year deal just ahead of free agency. RB Derrick Henry: Signs with Ravens Henry is the odds-on favorite to land in Baltimore after his Hall-of-Fame time in Tenne see. He can replace the combination of Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins as their lead power back to help Lamar Jackson.

Eagles star Jason Kelce announced his Evgeny Kuznetsov Jersey retirement from football Monday in an emotional pre s conference. The All-Pro center is hanging up his cleats after a Hall of Fame-worthy career with Philadelphia. Kelce, 36, spent all 13 of his seasons with the Eagles. He was a constant for Philadelphias offensive line which had consistently been among the best in the league during his tenure, appearing in 193 of 211 regular season games. MORE: Kelce is undeniably one of the best centers in the history of football, being named first-team All-Pro six times. He is one of just five offensive linemen to achieve that honor, joining Hall of Famers like Jim Otto, Bulldog Turner, Dermotti Dawson and Jim Ringo. Kelce was overcome with emotion as he spoke to the media for one final time as a member of the Eagles, showing love to his brother, Travis, mother, Donna, and wife, Kylie, as he shared the news that he was stepping away from football. FanaticsBUY AUTHENTIC JASON KELCE EAGLES JERSEYSSHOP NOWEmotional Jason Kelce shows love to his family during Eagles retirement speech Kelce delivered the majority of his retirement speech fighting through tears as he projected his love for his teammates, friends, and most importantly, his family. He began with his mother, Donna, who has become an NFL icon for her devoted love for her two superstar sons. I wont forget my mother becoming mom of the NFL. A representative for all moms out there who have sacrificed so much for their children, Jason Jaromir Jagr Jersey began. . gives all the love to his mom Donna for all that shes done.A representative for all moms out there who have sacrificed so much for their Washington Capitals Jersey children. NFL (@NFL) Shortly after, he moved on to his brother, Travis, which may have been the most emotional moment of Jasons pre s conference. BUY NOW: This is where its gonna go off the rails, Jason precluded before addre sing his relationship with Travis. I wont forget falling short to the Chiefs and the conflicted feeling of a mans heartbreak, I had selfishly, for myself and for my teammates. And at the same time, the amount of pride I had for my brother, who had climbed the mountain top once again, Jason said. We have a small family. ... It was really my brother and I our whole lives. We did almost everything together. Competed, fought, laughed, cried, and learned from each other. ... There is no chance I would be here without the bond that Travis and I share. It made me stronger, tougher, smarter, and taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty, patience and understanding. Get your ti sues ready for speaking about his relationship with . NFL (@NFL) Lastly, he honored his wife, Kylie, to whom he credits so much of his career succe s. MORE: Devante Smith-Pelly Jersey I wont forget the Eagles Christmas party in 2014 and heading out afterward with a bunch of my teammates to Buffalo Billiards, where my life would change forever. That night, I would meet my future wife, Jason stated. I still remember the moment she walked through the door. The first instance is burned in my retina. It was like she glided through the opening, an aura around her. Then she started talking and I was like, Man, is this what love feels like? he continued. ... I think its no coincidence that I have enjoyed the best years of my career with Kylie by my side. Every accolade I have ever received has come with her in my life. She has brought the best out of me through love, devotion, support, honesty, intelligence and, of course, a swift kick in the a from time to time. . talking about meeting his wife Kody Clark Jersey Kylie for the first time.Man, is this what love feels like? NFL (@NFL) Kelces retirement speech was an outpouring of appreciation for the people who supported him most through what will be a Hall of Fame career as soon as he is eligible to receive his well-deserved gold jacket.