A torn ACL ended the MVP contender’s season Connor Williams Color Rush Jersey , but he’s doing everything he can to be supportive and help the team beat the New England Patriots.

“I don’t know anyone more competitive than myself,” Wentz said Monday night. “Wanting to be out there is definitely tough, but I get over that pretty quick and just be around these guys and things are going as well as they can be.”

Wentz spoke for about 25 minutes, answering questions about his injury, backup Nick Foles, and several queries about his faith.

“I’m super excited for these guys and for Nick. We’re so close,” he said. “He understands the pressure of not only playing in this game but playing in Philly and everything that’s involved in that. I just tell him to be yourself, play your game and when he’s done that, he’s played great. I couldn’t be happier for his success. He’s a great guy.”

Wentz didn’t want to take any spotlight off his teammates or be a distraction, but the second-year pro plans to be part of many Super Bowl weeks, so he thought it was important to see it up close.

“I’m going to use this as a learning opportunity and motivation,” he said. “Being here and seeing this all week, it’ll give me an edge to want to be back without a doubt.”

Wentz revealed last week that he tore his LCL along with his ACL in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams. He’s already walking without crutches or a cane – he was on crutches on the sideline in the divisional round against Atlanta, then used a cane while watching the NFC championship game against Minnesota – and hopes to be ready for the season opener in September.

“Ever since he went down, I don’t think he hasn’t been a part of every element of the team, coaching and working with Nick,” owner Jeffery Lurie said. “That’s just who he is. He’s someone drawn to being great, really bright and humble at the same time … and a great leader at age 24 who is incredibly popular.”

—

AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner contributed to this report.

—

AP NFL website: The clock had ticked down to zero, and Minnesota fans were already deep into a celebration like no other.

In this city’s legal sports books, though, the outcome was still in doubt.

An extra point that wasn’t needed had to be attempted anyway. New Orleans players had to be brought back from the locker room to make a token effort to defend it.

In the minutes it took for the Vikings to finally line up and take a knee Bradley Chubb Color Rush Jersey , many bettors who wagered on the point spread didn’t know whether to stand in line to cash their tickets or tear them up and toss them in the garbage.

”Millions and millions of dollars exchanged hands when they kneeled down at goal line,” said Jimmy Vaccaro, oddsmaker at the South Point hotel.

One of the most unimaginable endings in a playoff game made for some dicey moments in sports books around Las Vegas. While bettors on the money line either cursed or celebrated the final touchdown play, those who bet the point spread weren’t sure whether they were winners or losers.

If the Vikings had kicked the extra point, those who took the Saints at plus 5 1-2 points would go from winners to losers. Those who had the Vikings minus the points would swap places with them.

Just another playoff Sunday in a world where it’s not so much who wins, but which team covers the spread.

”When that play took place, the ones that knew they won were headed to the cashing line,” said Jay Kornegay of the Westgate Las Vegas sports book. ”Then the reality of the extra point came into play and everybody started talking about what they were going to do.”

The game capped a weekend that for the most part was spectacular for sports books, which won big on Jacksonville’s, win over Pittsburgh and also cashed in on Philadelphia’s home underdog win over Atlanta.

Though many books lost money on the Vikings game, they would have been even worse off without the final touchdown because so much money was bet on the Saints to win straight up on the money line.

”We did really well overall,” said Nick Bogdanovich of the William Hill chain. ”We just murdered those two games, Jacksonville and Philly.”

Things would have been even better had Tennessee not scored a meaningless touchdown in the final seconds that pushed the game against New England past the over/under and rewarded bettors who tend to favor the over in most games.

”In our world all those games came down to the last second,” Kornegay said. ”Even in the one blowout the total was hinging on the last drive by the Titans.”

Oddsmakers said they had packed houses for both games, thanks to a strong economy and the exploding popularity of sports betting. Wagering on the NFL is up again this year, and most bookies say they expect a record Super Bowl handle, no matter which teams make it to the big game.

At the South Point, Vaccaro said he judged the crowd by the line at the hot dog cart, which was 25 long most of the weekend.

”All I can tell you is the handle is through the roof,” Vaccaro said. ”We did as much on the two games each day as we do on a full plate of NFL on a regular season Sunday. It’s incredible to see.”

—

Massaquoi Cowboys Authentic Jerseys , who starred at Georgia before he was drafted by Cleveland in the second round in 2009, revealed his prosthetic and details of his misfortune in a video posted Monday on The Players Tribune.

Massaquoi was riding ATVs with friends when he said he took a turn too sharply and crashed. The 31-year-old said it felt as if an explosion had gone off in his hand, and he was initially unaware of the severity of his injury.

”What I’m seeing and what my friends are seeing are completely different,” he said, giving the first public description of his life-changing ordeal. ”They’re seeing what actually happened. I’m seeing what I think happened. I’m thinking that I just broke my hand. My friend, on the other hand, thinks my hand just went through a meat grinder or something like that. Meanwhile you can see the panic and the fear in everybody.”

Massaquoi said he was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where doctors initially tried to save his hand. However, after it didn’t heal as hoped, four fingers were amputated. His thumb was spared.

He has battled denial and fear during his recovery.

”It gives you a perspective of how precious life is,” he said. ”How fast things can change. You go from joy-riding to getting in a helicopter to find out that your hand’s going to be amputated.”

Massaquoi, who spent four years with the Browns and has been out of football since, credited his family and friends for helping him come to terms with the injury.

When Texas reached the midpoint of the regular season this week, the 23-year-old rookies were among eight position players on the roster who are 25 or younger.

While the Rangers were on a 70-win pace after a loss in the 81st of their 162 games Broncos Authentic Jerseys , they’ve had a recent uptick. They have won nine of their last 11 games while claiming four consecutive series in a stretch when veteran stalwarts Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus were finally back in the lineup together.

In the 82nd game Wednesday night, when the Rangers (36-46) started the second half of their schedule before an off day Thursday, lefty Mike Minor took a perfect game into the seventh of a 5-2 victory over San Diego. Keone Kela, the hard-throwing 25-year-old closer, got his 20th save – the most in the majors without a blown chance and a club record to start a season.

”When you take all the individual parts of the first half and you look and evaluate players of where they’re trending, they’re trending in the right direction athletically as well as mentally of how they play the baseball game,” fourth-year manager Jeff Banister said. ”We’ve gained some knowledge, and some guys have proven to themselves that they can play at this level and where they’re at and what they need to work on.”

General manager Jon Daniels has said publicly several times that the team’s priority this season is the development of its young players.

Young sluggers Nomar Mazara and Joey Gallo were already regulars in the lineup before this season, along with second baseman Rougned Odor. Speedy center fielder Delino DeShields has been a constant since returning from a broken bone in his left hand, an injury that occurred the first weekend of the season.

”Our coaches, they’ve put that development hat on,” Banister said. ”You watch them every day on the field, different players working on different things that we feel like they’re going to help these players out for the longer term, for the bigger picture.”

Kiner-Falefa was called up when Odor, the 23-year-old already in his fourth season with Texas Lions Authentic Jerseys , went on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Andrus, the shortstop in his 10th season at age 29, suffered a broken elbow when hit by a pitch just a couple of days later. Beltre had more hamstring issues.

”Everything happened so quick,” said Kiner-Falefa, who has two starts at catcher after previous starts at second base, third base and shortstop. ”I’m trying to soak it all in. … It’s been a cool experience. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from everyone here, and all the veterans.”

Guzman has 51 starts at first base, though he is on the seven-day concussion disabled list. The Rangers were batting when Guzman slammed his head into a knee on an attempted pickoff Monday.

Profar was 19 when he homered in his first big league at-bat in 2012, but he missed all of the 2014 and 2015 seasons because of right shoulder issues. He split each of the last two seasons between the Rangers and Triple-A Round Rock, but has started at all four infield positions this year in his most consistent action in the majors.

”I’ve got a really good chance to experience the big leagues, a lot of things that you want to work to be consistent on,” Profar said. ”We have very good young players here, we’re all learning. It’s going to be good for us going down the road.”

—

James contends the Crimson Tide has lifted ”ideas Madison Bowey Jersey , concepts and format” from a program on ”Uninterrupted,” the digital media platform the three-time NBA champion co-founded with business partner Maverick Carter.

Last year, ”Uninterrupted” aired ”The Shop” a forum where James, Golden State forward Draymond Green, retired player Charles Oakley and others have conversations while getting their hair cut in a barber shop.

Alabama recently released a trailer on Twitter for ”Shop Talk” that shows Tide coach Nick Saban and former Alabama star wide receiver Julio Jones in a barber-shop setting. The video says the first episode is ”coming soon.”

On Monday, ”Uninterrupted” sent a letter to Alabama, citing ”exploitation” and concerns over copyright infringement and intellectual property.

In the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press, Josh Tarnow, the head of business and legal affairs for ”Uninterrupted”, tells Alabama he would prefer not getting into a ”battle of legal letters” with the school and asks for a copy of the first ”Shop Talk” episode to be sent for a review. Tarnow hopes the sides can ”address Uninterrupted’s concerns amicably.”

A school spokeswoman told the AP that Alabama is ”in the midst of reviewing this matter, which just came to our attention this morning.”

Although James is a huge Ohio State fan, he has attended Alabama games in the past. And every year Alabama has won the national championship since 2010, James has captured an NBA title. It happened in 2012 and 2013 when James played in Miami, and again in 2016 when he guided the Cavaliers to a title, the first for any Cleveland major sports team since 1964.

Alabama won its fifth title under Saban in January.

LPGA

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) – Pernilla Lindberg plunged into Poppie’s Pond with her parents and fiance-caddie Daniel Taylor, celebrating her first professional victory in about the biggest way possible in women’s golf.

”I can’t believe that I can call myself a major champion Tramon Williams Jersey ,” Lindberg said.

It wasn’t easy.

The 31-year-old Swede needed a major-record eight sudden-death holes over two days to finish off Inbee Park in the ANA Inspiration, ending it Monday morning with a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 10th.

”I just know I’m a grinder, and I just felt: `This is mine. I’m going to do this,”’ Lindberg said. ”I just knew I could, and I just kept fighting away. I couldn’t believe when that last putt went in.”

Park’s 20-footer to match missed to the left.

”The putt Pernilla made on the last was a champion’s putt,” Park said. ”I’m really happy for her. This one was not an easy major win for her, as well. I mean, eight-hole playoff, I’ve never done something like that before, either.”

They played four holes Monday after going until it was too dark to see – and then played some more – Sunday night.

Lindberg won in her 250th start on the LPGA, Ladies European and Symetra tours, sharing the moment with father Jan and mother Gunilla. They introduced her to golf at Bollnas Golf Club about 150 miles north of Stockholm.

NFL

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – Su’a Cravens has found happiness, harmony and himself just in time for his do-over in Denver.

Elated over John Elway’s call and Von Miller’s text, the former standout safety from Southern California celebrated his trade from the Redskins to the Broncos by posting ”A Whole New World” from the Disney movie ”Aladdin” on his Twitter account.

”I felt like it was perfect,” said Cravens, who missed all of last season and even mulled retirement while dealing with the lingering effects of a head injury.

Selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, Cravens played in 11 games his rookie season but he sustained a concussion in Week 4 and later suffered an elbow injury. He said he felt off-kilter heading into training camp last year Nicklas Backstrom Jersey , and things only got worse after he underwent knee surgery in August to repair a torn meniscus.

Cravens had to be talked out of retiring in early September during a meeting with team President Bruce Allen, and the Redskins placed him on their exempt list, forcing him to miss the entire season. They sent him to see sports concussion expert Micky Collins in Pittsburgh, who had an answer for all of his mood swings, personality changes and feelings that something just wasn’t quite right: post-concussion syndrome.

”I didn’t really know what was going on until I went to see Dr. Collins and he made me fully aware of the situation,” Cravens said. ”At first I just thought that something was wrong with me, something’s not right and I didn’t feel the same. Once he explained, `This is why you feel this way,’ he’d ask me questions, I’d tell him, `Yes,’ and he’d say, `Well that’s a correlation to this.’ Everything started making sense and once we started working on it progressively I got better and better.”

HOCKEY

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter has a broken right ankle that will require surgery and end his season, right before the start of the playoffs.

The Wild announced the diagnosis before their 3-0 victory over Edmonton, when Suter’s streak of 242 consecutive regular-season games ended. That’s the third-longest in franchise hist Alex Smith is frustrating Josh Norman.

Norman likes having Smith with the Washington Redskins, but practice time against the veteran quarterback at training camp hasn't been as beneficial as the big-money cornerback had hoped. That's because Smith has been so on-point with his decision-making and throws that Norman isn't getting a whole lot of work in team drills.

"You're in great position, you get there top of the route Brock McGinn Jersey Kids , you're ready for your play to be made and it doesn't come," Norman said. "But the ones you are a little step behind on and you're almost there to make it, he throws it. It's those games, cat and mouse, man. It's cat-and-mouse games that it just sucks when you're the mouse."

Norman feels like the mouse early in camp but hopes facing a QB like Smith each day benefits him in the long run. Entering the third season of a $75 million, five-year contract, Norman is balancing the lack of work he's getting during 11-on-11 time with his usual half-hour plus of individual drills after practice as one of the last players on the field.

"That's what you've got to do to be the best, to be great like him," said undrafted rookie safety Quin Blanding, who worked out with Norman following practice Sunday. "It just shows he wants extra work no matter all the work he's done in practice. It's always find ways to get better, and that's what he's doing."

Norman is known for his post-practice regimen, whether it's going for jump balls or catching in rapid succession out of a JUGS machine. But none of that compares to team snaps, where Smith is avoiding Norman the way he would in a real game.

"I'm just staying the course and trying to understand that your technique is not flawed, continue to do what you do even though your chances are not coming," Norman said. "But when they do come, try to be better than the quarterback in making a play. He's so precise right now, so he's not making mistakes, and that's the biggest thing you've seen. Even in practice Rickard Rakell Jersey , he's not making mistakes. It's hard to try to key in on that."

Coach Jay Gruden approves. His offense is built around quick decisions and finding the right receiver to throw to, and that's not usually by challenging Norman.

"Josh is getting plenty of work," Gruden said Tuesday. "We're not going to throw a flat route out to Josh Norman and let him pick it. That's just common sense, so Josh is going to have to wait for somebody else to throw it to him."

Norman is still isolating elements of his game to work on at age 30, going into his seventh NFL season. He had no interceptions last year and dropped more than a handful of prime opportunities, so at practice he's working on the little things that turn a broken-up pass into a pick.

"Being in place is the first part, but finishing the ball should be something that already is established and ingrained in you," Norman said. "It's just that six inches from making a play to not making a play."

Trying to close the gap on those inches is what goes into Norman's extra work after practice. And in the process, he's helping young defensive backs like Blanding and Kenny Ladler develop the same kind of habits.

"You fix the mistakes and then when it comes again, you don't make the same mistake," Blanding said. "You've got to be ready to work no matter if it feels like a great day of practice or if it was a bad day of practice. You've got to put that aside and you've just got to work. You've got to keep on working, and that's what he does."

NOTES: RB Chris Thompson, who's recovering from surgery to repair a broken right fibula, took his first snaps in team drills Tuesday. ... LB Mason Foster was limited at practice by a strained stomach muscle.

The 25-year-old Snell walked Trea Turner and Bryce Harper to open the game but retired 18 straight until Rendon’s line drive. Snell had struck out 10 and thrown 80 pitches through six innings.

Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier made a nice running catch on Turner’s drive in the sixth Viktor Arvidsson Jersey , and second baseman Willy Adames then dived for Harper’s grounder and threw him out to end the inning.

Snell pitched seven innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 victory over Justin Verlander and the Astros last time out, though he walked a season-high seven.

The Rays led 10-0, keyed by Kiermaier’s grand slam in a six-run second.

—

With another dominant pitching performance, the Houston Astros didn’t need much offense – or luck – to tie a franchise record for road wins.

Lance McCullers pitched seven strong innings, Jake Marisnick homered and the Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 Thursday night for their 11th straight victory away from home.

McCullers (9-3) gave up three hits while striking out seven. The Astros have won his last six starts and have won 18 of 21 overall. Their latest win matched the club record set last May 14-June 5 on the way to winning the franchise’s first World Series title.

The Rays threatened in the eighth after Chris Devenski replaced McCullers to start the inning. Willy Adames and Kevin Kiermaier opened with singles to put runners at the corners. Matt Duffy failed to get a squeeze bunt down and then, with Kiermaier running Authentic Kevin White Jersey , hit a rocket right at shortstop Marwin Gonzalez, who turned it into an easy double play.

”You are going to line out sometimes, it’s part of the game,” Duffy said. ”Not executing (the bunt) is definitely what I’m most frustrated with.”

Jake Bauers then grounded out to end the inning with Devenski getting his 12th straight scoreless appearance.

”We were very fortunate to just get in that situation, and then Devo makes some pitches and gets out of the tnning,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.

Hector Rondon pitched the ninth for his fifth save in seven opportunities Quinton Dunbar Jersey , ending Tampa Bay’s five-game winning streak.

Marisnick’s homer in the fifth came off Ryan Yarbrough (7-4) and was his seventh of the season. It ended the Rays’ streak of 26 scoreless innings, the second-longest in franchise history.

It was the second homer and second multi-hit game in the last three days for Marisnick, who batted ninth for Houston.

”I’m just kind of relaxing and settling in, having a better idea of what I’m trying to do with each individual pitcher,” he said.

Tampa Bay ”bullpen day” starter Ryne Stanek walked two and struck out three in 1 2/3 hitless innings before Yarbrough took over. The rookie left-hander pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits while striking out four.

The Rays JK Scott Jersey , who beat Washington 1-0 on Tuesday, became the first American League team team to play consecutive 1-0 games in the same season since the Los Angeles Angels did it on June 28-29, 2008.

AWARD TIME

Rays reliever Jose Alvarado had a mini Gold Glove Award in his locker, a gift from a stadium security guard after the left-hander played one batter at first base in-between stints on the mound during the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Washington. ”It was a little bit crazy,” Alvarado said through a translator. ”I’m just happy the team won.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: SS Carlos Correa missed a third straight game with a stiff back and will be placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday. … INF Yuli Gurriel is on the paternity list but might return this weekend.

Rays: RHP Chris Archer (left abdominal strain) had a three inning simulated game and should start a minor league rehab assignment next week. The opening-day starter could rejoin the rotation around the All-Star break.

UP NEXT

RHP Gerrit Cole (9-1) will go for his eighth straight win for the Astros on Friday night against RHP Wilmer Font (1-1). Font pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the New York Yankees on Saturday, the longest outing of his career Nazem Kadri Jersey , and earned his first major league win.

—

 Youth Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys

Cleveland’s coach hasn’t had many moments to celebrate during two miserable seasons with the Browns http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/aaron-jones-jersey , so this felt like a victory over the dreaded Steelers.

A very wet, wonderful win.

Jackson took a dive into Lake Erie on Friday , delivering on a promise with a dip he hopes can help cleanse the bumbling Browns, who have gone 1-31 in two seasons with Jackson in charge.

Clad in a T-shirt and shorts, Jackson jogged into the surf holding his wife Michelle’s hand before submerging himself. He popped up, pulled up his sagging swim trunks – but not before his backside was exposed – and then splashed along with owner Dee Haslam and more than 150 team employees who turned out to support him and raise money for his charity.

”No more freakin’ losing,” Jackson hollered. ”Let’s go!”

Jackson’s plunge had been in the works for months. After the Browns went 1-15 in his first season, Jackson vowed that if the team finished that poorly again, he would jump into one of the Great Lakes. And when Cleveland staggered to a 0-16 record last season, becoming only the second team in NFL history to lose all 16 games, Jackson had no choice but to stick to his words.

”This is not something I do every day, but I made a statement, and I have to back it up,” Jackson said. ”I came here two years ago to win, and I’m going to win here. I truly believe that. But I think when you make statements, you’ve got to stand by them.”

With a TV news helicopter hovering over Huntington Beach, and an NFL Films crew recording his every move on land and sea Elias Lindholm Jersey , Jackson spent several minutes in the unusually warm 72-degree water.

After returning to shore, Jackson expressed relief to have it behind him.

This was a chance to wash off the filth from two painful, forgettable seasons.

”It feels good that it’s over with,” Jackson said. ”It’s over and done with. The page is turned, and you can see it’s not just me, it’s our organization. They are the reason why I do what I do, and our players and our fans. I know our fans have been very disappointed. I get it. But that page is closed. Hopefully they’ll give us a chance to earn back their respect, their trust, their affection for our football team and this city, because we plan on doing something special.”

Before he headed into the water, Jackson became emotional while speaking to the team’s employees. He pledged to donate $100 for every Browns co-worker who joined him, and Dee and Jimmy Haslam matched him, raising $30,000 for his foundation which raises awareness and fights human trafficking.

Jackson was fortunate to keep his job following two seasons, but Dee Haslam said the team remains confident he’ll get the Browns turned around.

”Hue’s a great coach, a great leader of men,” she said. ”The last couple years have been terrible for us and been really terrible for our fans. We take that responsibility and feel horrible about it because Northeast Ohio and the fans of the Cleveland Browns deserve so much more.”

As he prepares for his third season Kevin Hogan Jersey , Jackson said his days of making predictions are over.

”I’m not making any more guarantees,” he said. ”I’m not making any more promises.”

—

Seventy-two-year-old Susan Collesidis was never a football fan until she heard Carson Wentz talk about his faith.

Then she was hooked on the Philadelphia Eagles.

When Wentz found out his newest fan was fighting an advanced stage of cancer, he sent her an encouraging message with inspirational Bible verses.

”How much joy I get from watching him and his team play supernatural football every week,” she said after reading it.

Two weeks later, Susan Collesidis lost her battle with cancer the night before Thanksgiving.

”The message meant so much to Susan because she admired Carson as a person and believer more than a football player,” her son-in-law Doug Horton said. ”He’s the reason she started caring about sports and she couldn’t wait to watch the Eagles every week.”

Wentz isn’t playing in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots because he tore his ACL in Week 14. But backup quarterback Nick Foles is also a ”brother in Christ” and one of the leaders in a locker room filled with guys who have formed a strong bond because of their faith.

”It truly is a brotherhood,” Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz said. ”Those guys are holding me accountable. Off the field, I’m holding them accountable. We truly care about each other, we truly care about the growth that each individual has in the word, as believers, as well as friends and family. There are a lot of guys who are truly trying to boost me up and keep me focused on the main thing, which is obviously the word …”

Christian players openly expressing their faith is nothing new in the NFL: Reggie White, Kurt Warner, Tim Tebow, Ray Lewis and Russell Wilson among many others. But these Eagles are a unique, close-knit group.

”There is a stronger connection here,” said defensive end Steven Means http://www.officialsharks.com/authentic-adidas-logan-couture-jersey , who played for three other teams. ”It’s another level because we push each other in certain areas that we are flawed at and open ourselves up to each other. We text each other throughout the day making sure that everybody is on the right path and doing the right thing.”

Torrey Smith played with Lewis on the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in 2012. They had a solid core of Christian players who used their faith for inspiration during their journey. Smith also spent two years in San Francisco before the wide receiver came to Philadelphia this season. He said it’s different here.

”I’ve been lucky to be part of three organizations that do have a very strong Christian presence,” Smith said. ”The difference here is a lot of younger guys lead.”

It starts with Wentz, the face of the franchise.

Wentz went on a mission trip to Haiti last May with former teammate Jordan Matthews and a group led by Kyle Horner, lead pastor of The Connect Church. He delivered a sermon a month later at a church back home in North Dakota and launched his Audience of One Foundation in July. Wentz and several teammates even created a devotional video series for the Bible app.

Four days before the season opener, Wentz and teammates Trey Burton and Stefen Wisniewski spoke at a faith event in front of a crowd of 2,000 people who sat in the rain for a couple hours to hear their favorite players share their testimony.

But before he had an MVP-caliber season and led the Eagles from worst to first, Wentz received plenty of criticism from some media and fans because he openly talked about his faith on social media .

He wasn’t deterred.

”Jesus was persecuted everywhere he went,” Wentz said. ”So if Jesus, who is our ultimate example, endured that, then I can endure a couple tweets. I can endure a little riff-raff here and there.”

A large group of players meet for Bible study on Thursdays and hold a study for couples on Mondays. They get together for prayer and devotionals the night before games. They’ve even gathered for baptisms in some unusual places.

In October 2016, Burton and Pastor Ted Winsley baptized six players in a cold tub at the team’s practice facility.

”It was crazy,” said Winsley, the team’s longtime chaplain. ”The guys were just hungry, wanting their lives changed.”

Before a Thursday night game at Carolina last October, second-year pro Marcus Johnson was baptized in a hotel pool.

”Since I’ve come to Philly, I’ve grown in my faith so much Authentic Justin Houston Jersey ,” Johnson said. ”As a rookie last year coming in, you always hear about the locker room and how dysfunctional it can be and people playing for money and this and that, but when I got here, everyone was so supportive and I knew it was something special.”

Having strong faith doesn’t make players immune to adversity, but it helps them deal with it. The Eagles (15-3) have overcome numerous injuries to important players on their way to winning the NFC championship.

Nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, running back/return specialist Darren Sproles, special-teams captain Chris Maragos and kicker Caleb Sturgis sustained season-ending injuries along with Wentz and Jordan Hicks, the playmaking linebacker and quarterback on defense.

Instead of anger and resentment, they’ve leaned on their faith to maintain a positive attitude.

”Character is always revealed in times of testing,” said Horner, who pastors several players. ”For these men, Christ is not a crutch to lean upon, he is the foundation which their life is built upon. For them, faith is not an intellectual acknowledgement of truth, but a day-by-day expression of their love for God. This is where it all starts.& San Francisco 49ers Elite Jerseys

Administrators knew it would be a tough sell getting fans to let go of the Fighting Sioux nickname deemed offensive by the NCAA and a local American Indian tribe. But emails between the university’s president and one of its biggest benefactors show just how difficult it continues to be.

The emails between school president Mark Kennedy and Engelstad Family Foundation trustee Kris Engelstad McGarry, whose late father donated money for a $110 million hockey arena, reveal Kennedy’s frustration over the foundation’s resistance to a plan to feature the green and white Fighting Hawks logo at center court in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, where UND’s basketball and volleyball teams play. The foundation would prefer just the words ”North Dakota” instead.

McGarry told The Associated Press that the foundation only opposes featuring the Fighting Hawks emblem at center court because it believes there are longtime fans and supporters who ”do not identify with Fighting Hawks as the Hawks’ presence has been” since the logo was unveiled.

”So as to not alienate that side, we elected to put Fighting Hawks on the side of the court and to put the University of North Dakota logo on the center court,” McGarry said. ”We believe that the community should make their own decisions and that the change should happen more organically, over time, rather than have it pushed.”

The issue burst into public view earlier this month when McGarry told the Grand Forks Herald editorial board that Kennedy had been ”very passive aggressive” and ”quite hostile at times” in discussions about the university’s operating agreement with the foundation and said it could lead to fewer donations. McGarry recently backed out of a $14 million pledge to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas medical school over a leadership change.

Kennedy declined an interview request. University spokesman Peter Johnson said in a statement that the school hopes to reach a ”mutually beneficial” agreement.

Ralph Engelstad, a Minnesota native who played goaltender for UND before building a fortune as a real estate mogul and Las Vegas casino and hotel owner Patrice Bergeron Jersey , was vehemently opposed to dropping the Fighting Sioux nickname, which the Standing Rock Sioux tribe refused to endorse. At one point, Engelstad threatened to stop construction of the hockey arena if it was discontinued.

McGarry said her spat with Kennedy isn’t tied to the Fighting Sioux logo and that her family doesn’t share her father’s passionate views about the nickname.

The Ralph Engelstad Arena is currently owned and operated independently from the school and won’t be turned over to UND control until 2030. Under that 2000 agreement, the arena manager is tasked with running the facility ”in a manner that best serves UND’s needs” and cooperating with school representatives in ”furthering the interests” of the college. School officials say placing the Fighting Hawks logo at center court would do just that, by promoting the name and helping the sale of merchandise.

The Engelstad Family Foundation was created in 2002, the year Ralph Engelstad died. The nonprofit has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various causes in several states, focusing on education, health care and childhood issues. Besides donating money for the sports facilities, the Engelstad family has given a $20 million endowment and numerous other donations to UND Larry Allen Jersey , including papers of Gen. George S. Patton and portraits of U.S. Supreme Court Justices valued at nearly $127.5 million.

Kennedy also wants to update the operating agreement for the arenas, including revenue sharing. University figures show the school received less than half of the roughly $8 million profit generated by hockey, basketball, football and volleyball between 2010 and 2017.

Erik Hanson, who is set to take over as student body president, said he grew up in Grand Forks as a Fighting Sioux fan. But he said brand identity is important and the Fighting Hawks should be displayed now.

”At this point, I have to look out for the next generation of students and the students of today,” he said. ”All of the student-athletes who are going to play in that arena have been Fighting Hawks from the day they stepped on campus.”

—

The last time we heard from Chaz Green, the Cowboys offensive lineman was turning Adrian Clayborn into a household name while getting Dak Prescott killed. Clayborn made 9.5 sacks last season Mathieu Perreault Jersey , with four coming in Week 11 against Green and two others against Green’s replacement, Byron Bell.

Green took blame for the Cowboys’ 27-7 loss to the Falcons immediately after the game, and he has continued to be a stand-up guy since.

“It’s been real tough to get over, man,” Green said, via Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’d by lying if I鈥檇 sit here and said it wasn鈥檛. As a competitor, it鈥檚 tough, but it鈥檚 something that I feel like I go off on. I always keep it in the back of my head when I go out to work each and every day.

“I want to put that behind me and not have it happen again.”

He has watched the film over and over again, hoping to learn from what he calls “self-inflicted” mistakes. Green doesn’t want the performance Marshall Newhouse Jersey , which came with Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith inactive with an injury, to define him.

“That’s life. You’re always judged against your last performance,” Green said. “I don’t need sympathy, man. This game isn鈥檛 based on sympathy, so that鈥檚 the last thing I鈥檓 looking for. I own up to that. You know what I mean? I’m trying to move past that and grow.

“But the last thing I鈥檓 looking for is sympathy because my parents and how my dad raised me is much more tougher than that.”

Green, 26, faces a make-or-break season. In the final year of his rookie contract after the Cowboys spent a third-round pick on him, he has played only 18 games with six starts.

Green opened last season as the starter at left guard but lost his job to Jonathan Cooper. The Cowboys drafted Connor Williams in the second round to man the left guard spot this season.

Green worked at right guard and right tackle during the offseason program.

Cleveland has no quarterback competition. The Browns have made it clear that the starting job is Tyrod Taylor’s http://www.officialsabres.com/authentic-adidas-jack-eichel-jersey , but that hasn’t quieted the buzz around Baker Mayfield, who had a dazzling preseason debut last week.

The No. 1 overall pick will follow Taylor on Friday night and play up to two quarters against Buffalo in his first game action in front of Cleveland fans hoping he can lead them to a brighter future — just not yet.

Browns coach Hue Jackson is adamant about Mayfield learning behind Taylor and said the Heisman Trophy winner is going along with the plan.

“Baker wants to play — we all know that — but I think Baker also understands that when his time comes, the organization and myself will make the best decision when that is, and he gets that,” Jackson said. “Right now, Tyrod is our starting quarterback.”

Taylor, who went 5 for 5 in two series in last week’s win over the Giants, will get a chance to play against his former team. He said part of his drive this season comes from the Bills trading him in March despite him helping end their 17-year playoff drought last year.

“Definitely, how I think it ended there Ronnie Lott Jersey , it’s motivation for this year,” Taylor said. “Not necessarily for this game, but this year.”

Meanwhile, Bills coach Sean McDermott won’t say who’s starting for his team, but the expectation is AJ McCarron will get his turn after Nathan Peterman started in the preseason opener against Carolina last week. What’s intriguing is when Josh Allen, the No. 7 overall pick, will enter the game.

McDermott has insisted that he’s being very cautious in not wanting to rush Allen’s development. Allen went 9 of 19 for 116 yards and a touchdown in playing the entire second half against Carolina.

For Bills receiver Corey Coleman, Friday’s game will be a quick return to a place he couldn’t wait to leave. The 2016 first-round pick had two disappointing seasons with the Browns and asked to be traded when he was dropped to second-string. Browns general manager John Dorsey dealt Coleman to the Bills two weeks ago for a seventh-round pick in 2020.

Speaking of receivers, could the Browns have a new one on their roster by kickoff?

Dez Bryant was visiting the team’s headquarters in Berea Kris Letang Jersey , Ohio, on Thursday and there was a chance the meeting could lead to the three-time Pro Bowl selection signing with Cleveland. The 29-year-old receiver was released by the Dallas Cowboys after eight seasons in April and has been waiting to latch on with another team. He turned down a three-year contract offer from Baltimore, which may still have interest in him.

Elsewhere on Friday night, the Giants are at Detroit, Kansas City is at Atlanta, Miami is at Carolina and Arizona is at New Orleans.

What to look for around the league:

HEY, WE KNOW YOU

At Ford Field, both first-year coaches could have been leading the other team.

Pat Shurmur interviewed with his hometown Lions before New York hired him, and Matt Patricia was in talks with the Giants and ended up in Detroit.

“I felt like if it had worked out here J'Mon Moore Jersey , I would have been excited about the opportunity,” said Shurmur, who went to high school near the Lions’ training facility and was a Michigan State standout. “I certainly feel great about where I’m at. I couldn’t be in a better place. I pinch myself every day being the head coach of the Giants.”

Both coaches have another thing in common: refusing to provide any hints about their plans Friday night.

Shurmur wouldn’t say if rookie running back Saquon Barkley or star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will play. Barkley missed three straight practices against the Lions because of a strained left hamstring. Beckham looked healthy, but he has not played since breaking his left ankle 10 months ago and having surgery.

Patricia, meanwhile, wouldn’t say if quarterback Matthew Stafford or defensive end Ezekiel Ansah would play in their first preseason game.

LOOKING TO FLY

After being held to one first down and 34 total yards in the first half of last week’s 17-0 loss at the Jets in their preseason opener, Atlanta will try again to get its offense moving against Kansas City.

Coach Dan Quinn held out running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and wide receiver Julio Jones and limited quarterback Matt Ryan to one series against the Jets.

Starters likely will see limited action again against the Chiefs. Quinn is looking to make decisions on young players before roster cuts later in the preseason.

FOR STARTERS

Dolphins 35-year-old running back Frank Gore is expected to see his first action of the preseason as he competes for a starting spot with Kenyan Drake.

Miami will be without wide receiver DeVante Parker, who broke a finger earlier this week. Coach Adam Gase said all four quarterbacks would play, including Brock Osweiler and David Fales Dexter Manley Jersey , who are competing for the No. 2 spot behind starter Ryan Tannehill.

Cam Newton will play into the second quarter for Carolina and coach Ron Rivera said he’d like the first-team offense to run the two-minute drill if the opportunity presents itself.

GETTING AN EDGE

The Saints are trying to see which edge pass rusher can best take pressure off 2017 All-Pro end Cameron Jordan.

Alex Okafor, who started much of last season until tearing his Achilles, had another leg injury at practice this week and it’s unclear how long he’ll be out. That raises urgency to try to get first-round draft choice Marcus Davenport ready. Davenport has missed about two weeks of practices and the preseason opener with an undisclosed ailment.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals‘ first unit will play more this week after just one serie The New York Giants have released Brad Wing, who struggled as their punter last season.

The team announced his contract termination Saturday. He had been the Giants punter the last three seasons.

His 36.7-yard net average last season ranked last in the NFL among punters eligible for the final statistics. Short punts in games against Philadelphia and Tampa Bay proved costly in losses. He also had two punts blocked for the first time in his career.

Wing's best season was in 2016. His 40.9-yard net average ranked 10th in the league and was a team record for a season.

Wing was traded to the Giants in 2015 after punting for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.

The team announced the signing Monday, the day before organized team activities were to begin.

Quarterback Sam Darnold, the No. 3 overall selection, is the only player among the Jets' six-man draft class who remains unsigned.

Herndon had 86 catches for 1,048 yards and seven touchdowns in four seasons at Miami. He injured a knee late in the season and has been limited this spring with the Jets, who hope he'll be completely healthy when training camp begins in late July.

The 6-foot-4 Travis Frederick Jersey , 253-pound Herndon is one of six tight ends currently on New York's roster, joining Eric Tomlinson, Jordan Leggett, Neal Sterling, Clive Walford and Bucky Hodges.

Edwin Jackson has pitched for a lot of teams. The Oakland A’s have burned through many starting pitchers this season.

In a case of harmonic convergence, Jackson will join the A’s on Monday and immediately jump into the rotation. He will be called up from Triple-A Nashville and start Monday afternoon at Detroit.

Jackson will tie Octavio Dotel’s major-league record of playing for 13 teams, and the A’s will use their 12th different starter this season.

Oakland has five pitchers on the disabled list Authentic Khalil Mack Jersey , including four who have started a combined 26 games.

Jackson, 34, began his major-league career with the Los Angeles Angels in 2003. He started 13 games for Washington last season, posting a 5-6 record and a 5.07 ERA. He also made three relief appearances for Baltimore.

Jackson spent the first three months of this season in the minor leagues. He made 10 starts for Syracuse, the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate, and went 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA.

He opted out of his contract and signed a minor-league deal with Oakland on June 6. He posted an 0-1 record and 4.02 ERA in three starts with the Sounds before being called up.

The A’s just hope Jackson can eat some innings and give their bullpen a rest.

“He’s pitched pretty well,” A’s manager Bob Melvin told MLB.com. “The last outing was good. I think he’s had one that was not so good and a couple that were good. I don’t think it’s as much about that as it is about making sure his pitch count is there Michael Pierce Jersey , and he’s ready to go out there and give you a full complement.”

Detroit was one of Jackson’s many stops during his nomadic career. He made 33 starts for the Tigers in 2009 and finished 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA. He has faced Detroit 15 times, including 10 starts, going 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA.

He’ll be opposed in the opener of a four-game series by Jordan Zimmermann (2-0, 4.95 ERA). After a stint on the DL because of a shoulder impingement, Zimmermann gave up four runs (three earned) in five innings during a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on June 16. He’s 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in two career starts against Oakland.

The Tigers are just happy to sleep in their own beds again after flaming out during a once-promising road trip. They won three games against the Chicago White Sox, then lost two at Cincinnati before getting swept in a three-game series at Cleveland. They were blasted 12-2 on Sunday.

“We have to find a way to get back into the win column,” Tigers catcher James McCann told the Detroit News. “No one likes to lose. It’s these moments that are a true character test for what kind of team we are. Are we going to be able to bounce back and put this in the rear-view mirror Ryan Getzlaf Jersey , or is this going to have a snowball effect?”

The A’s split a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, but their power bats have continued to roll. They have homered in a major-league-record 25 consecutive road games.

NASHVILLE Alex Lewis Jersey , Tenn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans did their best to protect their starters for the regular season, letting Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota lead the cheers from the sidelines.

Rookie Daniel Carlson kicked field goals of 39 and 22 yards, and Kyle Sloter added a 24-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as the Vikings beat the Tennessee Titans 13-3 on Thursday night as the teams wrapped up the preseason.

“We’re excited to get the preseason over with and start focusing on somebody else and game planning,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.

Titans three-time Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker did not play a snap this preseason and said he’s ready for the regular season. He then shared a quote from linebacker Brian Orakpo.

“The varsity is taking the field now,” Walker said.

Carlson rebounded from missing a pair of 42-yarders wide left a week ago after beating out Kai Forbath for the job. Carlson connected from 39 yards late in the first half, tying it 3-3. He added a 22-yarder midway through the third quarter, giving the Vikings (3-1) a 6-3 lead.

The Titans finished first-year coach Mike Vrabel’s first preseason winless, though he made clear protecting starters for the regular season mattered more than notching an exhibition victory. Vrabel said he feels much better about the health of his roster than two weeks ago, and that he focused on coaching the Titans who’ve worked hard for the team against the Vikings.

What does Vrabel know about the Titans after his first preseason?

“We’ll find that out when we go to Miami Patrick Kane Jersey ,” Vrabel said. “We’ll really find out what kind of team we’ve got, how conditioned we are and how talented we are and what kind of coaches when we get done with Miami.”

The starters who did play were the kickers, and the Titans kept Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern very busy. He punted five times before his backup took over.

In the battle of the backups, the Titans dominated the first quarter, outgaining Minnesota 77-8 and holding the ball for more than 12 minutes. Rookie Luke Falk, a sixth-round draft pick out of Washington State, played the whole game. Falk outplayed Cousins’ backup Trevor Siemian at least in the first quarter, when the Vikings went three-and-out twice.

The Vikings sacked Falk four times, and he threw for 114 yards. Siemian lasted the first half and was 6 of 11 for 55 yards. Zimmer said he thought Siemian played better and helped out the Vikings’ young receivers. Siemian said it was a slow first quarter.

“You get a small sample size and you’d like to keep playing Marcedes Lewis Jersey , but that’s kind of how it goes,” Siemian said.

POSITION BATTLES

Vikings undrafted rookie Mike Boone had 15 carries for 56 yards. He also caught two passes for 53 yards. Roc Thomas, fighting Boone for the third running back slot, hurt his left ankle when tackled at the end of a screen pass early in the second quarter, and finished with four carries for 12 yards.

INJURIES

Minnesota linebacker Kentrell Brothers, suspended for the first four games of the season , suffered a concussion in the first half. Cornerbacks Horace Richardson and Craig James each hurt hamstrings.

Devin Ross, who started with a chance to push for one of the last wide receiver slots, hurt his right ankle on the first play of the Titans’ second series.

ANTHEM WATCH

No protests were seen by either the Vikings or the Titans. Even Tennessee wide receiver Rishard Matthews Max Pacioretty Jersey , who stayed in the tunnel last season after comments by President Trump in September, was on the sideline during the anthem. He was just removed last weekend from the physically unable to perform list.

UP NEXT

Vikings: Host San Francisco on Sept. 9.

Titans: Open season Sept. 9 at Miami.

Earl Thomas didn’t show up to Seahawks’ minicamp Tuesday as expected. On Sunday, the safety announced on Twitter his decision to skip the mandatory work in the absence of a new contract.

“Kind of had heard that he was making that choice,” head coach Pete Carroll said, via Curtis Crabtree of Sports Radio KJR and PFT. “I wish he was here. That would be nice. But we’re focusing on the guys that are here, and we’ll see how that goes.”

Thomas, 29, suggested he will skip training camp, too Jack Doyle Jersey , risking incurring even more fines than the $84,435 he will lose this week. Thomas is scheduled to make $8.5 million in the final year of his deal.

The Seahawks could seek to trade him again after shopping him before the draft. The Cowboys likely retain interest after not adding a free safety in the draft.

But Carroll said he still views Thomas as part of the team.

“Heck yeah, he’s under contract. Sure,” Carroll said. “. . . He gives you everything he’s got when he’s with you.”

But Thomas isn’t with the Seahawks now and sounds as if he won’t be for a long time without a contract extension.

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had a quiet rookie season Womens Marian Hossa Jersey , or quiet compared to the other two quarterbacks selected in the first round.

New coach Matt Nagy and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich are expected to demand more of Trubisky this season, and the Bears are confident Trubisky is ready to take a similar step that Jared Goff did last season in his second season.

“My little boy is becoming a man,” Bears right guard Kyle Long said Thursday, via Madeline Kenney of NBC Sports Chicago. “. . . They’ve taken the training wheels off of Mitch’s little bike, so he’s going to be able to do some things creatively and get to showcase his skills. We’re excited to see him. He’s a tremendous leader and somebody the guys look up to in the locker room.”

Trubisky, the second overall pick in 2017, started 12 games, won four and threw seven touchdowns and seven interceptions as a rookie.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Two hours of practice in the heat and humidity weren’t enough for Pete Robertson.

As dripping teammates slowly ambled to the locker room and showers Sunday, Robertson lined up on one sideline and sprinted across the field to the other sideline. Then and back http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/kevin-king-jersey , over and over again, for extra conditioning.

As the linebacker tries to make it all the way back from a debilitating back injury that threatened to take football away for good, he’s leaving nothing to chance as he tries to make the Washington Redskins.

“It’s been a long journey,” he said.

A very effective pass rusher at Texas Tech, Robertson figured to be drafted before he herniated a disk in his back while working out before the draft. The injury led to a pinched nerve, and after Robertson insisted on running at his Pro Day workout for scouts, he never heard his name called during the NFL draft.

He signed a free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks, but didn’t stick, and had been working the graveyard shift loading trucks at UPS for three months when his agent called. The Redskins were interested.

Before hanging up, Robertson told him http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/paul-richardson-jersey , “‘They aren’t ever going to let me go’ and I’ve been here ever since.”

And more and more, he seems likely to stick around for a while.

“Petey has been unbelievable,” fifth-year coach Jay Gruden said before a recent practice. “Yeah, he’s been great. Very, very athletic, and you’re talking about a guy that can possibly help on special teams, as your fourth or fifth linebacker, and he’s one because he can run.”

When the Redskins signed Robertson last December, they initially used him at running back on the scout team because of a need there. He got in four games and made two tackles late in the season. A defensive end in college, the team has since tried him at inside linebacker Patrick Roy Jersey , Gruden said, but “that wasn’t quite his cup of tea.”

“We moved him back down as an outside linebacker/defensive end in nickel. He’s done very, very well.”

And made an impression on teammates with his willingness to work.

“You know, when we had a lot of guys down and out, he got a lot of reps and you could see the burst that he has and the speed,” offensive tackle Morgan Moses said. “He brings another aspect to the game and he works hard, man.

“There’s not one thing you tell him to do that he’s not going to do it. You tell him to go get some water 50 yards down the field, he’s going to run and get water 50 yards down the field. He just has that mentality.”

It’s an appreciation of a second chance Robertson wasn’t sure he’d get.

The thought that football might be in his past “went through my mind every night, every morning,” he said. “Before I went to bed Youth Luke Kuechly Jersey , when I woke up. … I knew it wasn’t the end of the road for me. I knew it wasn’t. I never gave up on the dream, but you always have that thought in the back of your mind: ‘Is this it?'”

In the offseason, Robertson added back the 30 pounds he’d lost while away from the game during day-long weekday workouts with his cousin, Redskins star left tackle Trent Williams. Williams was rehabbing after a right knee injury, and Robertson knew he had to make a big impression once the Redskins opened training camp.

So far, he’s doing just that, and enjoying it every step of the way.

“I wouldn’t trade it for nothing,” he said.