When Andros Townsend fired the ball past Alisson at Anfield on Saturday afternoon www.thetopsoccer.com/national-team-kit/portugal , it was not just Crystal Palace fans who were celebrating. Supporters of Manchester City, who began the weekend four points behind leaders Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title, were also full of cheer as they contemplated a repeat of the upset which saw Roy Hodgson’s men win 3-2 at the Eithad Stadium last month.In the end, another odds-defying away win proved a step too far for Palace. Townsend may have given them the lead after some excellent work by Wilfried Zaha down the left flank, but goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino early in the second half put Liverpool back in control. Palace were not done there, though, levelling the scores in the 65th minute after James Tomkins headed home his first goal of the season from a Luka Milivojevic corner.Salah then took advantage of a mistake from stand-in goalkeeper Julian Speroni to make it 3-2, before Sadio Mane doubled the hosts’ lead in stoppage time after James Milner had been dismissed for a second bookable offence. There was still more drama to come as Max Meyer converted Palace’s third in the dying stages, but Liverpool held on to temporarily move seven points clear at the summit of the standings ahead of City’s clash with Huddersfield Town on Sunday.It was a thrilling match which was not in keeping with how Liverpool’s season has gone up to now. Prior to the weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s men had conceded only 10 goals in 22 games, which was comfortably the best record in the top flight, and kept a league-high 13 clean sheets. Unlike Liverpool teams of previous seasons, the 2018/19 version have demonstrated an ability to control and manage games, rather than simply outgun opponents in end-to-end encounters.Saturday’s game was a throwback to the Liverpool sides of 2017/18 Cheap Russia Soccer Team Uniform , whose results in all competitions included a 4-3 win and three 3-3 draws, and 2016/17, which opened with a 4-3 victory at Arsenal and also featured a 4-3 loss to Bournemouth, a 4-2 defeat of Palace and a shock 3-2 reverse against Swansea City.The signings of Alisson and Virgil van Dijk last year are a big reason for Liverpool’s improved solidity, but Klopp also deserves credit for making structural changes to his team. It is significant that the Merseysiders no longer have to play at 100 miles per hour to win games, although they do retain the capacity to blow teams away in short bursts if the situation calls for it.It is that ability which helped them reach the Champions League final last term, but a more measured style was always likely to be necessary if Liverpool were going to end their long wait for a 19th league title. Klopp will therefore hope that Saturday’s helter-skelter success against Palace was a one-off; although another 14 4-3 victories would guarantee Liverpool the championship crown, it is not really a sustainable way to triumph in a title race.Hodgson, meanwhile, will take great encouragement from his team’s display, even if they ultimately left Anfield empty-handed. As well as Speroni’s error, Liverpool relied on good fortune for two more goals, with deflections playing a helping hand in Salah’s first strike and Firmino’s effort too. The home side were the better team overall, but Palace certainly gave them a scare with their counter-attacking threat.The performance of Wilfried Zaha was perhaps the biggest positive for the south Londoners. The Ivory Coast international has not been at his best in recent weeks www.thetopsoccer.com/national-team-kit/spain , when he has often been deployed alongside Andros Townsend up front. Zaha remains most dangerous when he can square up to full-backs in wide areas, and it was no surprise to see him give makeshift right-back Milner a torrid time on Saturday afternoon.“This was a good performance, in many ways. It was a good performance in both halves. In the first-half our defensive organisation and discipline was excellent, we went in 1-0 thanks to a couple of good counter attacks, one of which presented a goal,” Hodgson told reporters in his post-match press conference.“I’m extremely proud of the players’ performance. I thought it was a really good team performance in every respect and we are playing against a team that don’t lose at home anyway and have got a lot of very talented players.“They have a wealth of talent which has been put together over a period of years and has cost a fair degree of money into the bargain. I thought that for large periods of the game we held our own – more than held our own – against then towards the end of the game.” CAIRO (AP) — Riyad Mahrez scored from a free kick in the fifth minute of injury time as Algeria beat Nigeria 2-1 on Sunday and progressed to the African Cup of Nations final against Sadio Mane’s Senegal.Mahrez thundered his left-footed match-winner into the net in effectively the last kick of the game to stunningly settle the semifinal at Cairo International Stadium.Algeria will play for a second African title and first in nearly 30 years in Friday’s final. Senegal goes for its first African Cup title after 54 years of trying.The teams met in the group stage at this tournament when Algeria won 1-0.The final will also feature an intriguing Premier League subplot as Manchester City’s Mahrez comes up against Liverpool’s Mane.Senegal went through after beating Tunisia 1-0 in an extra-time thriller at the 30 June Stadium across Cairo.Both semifinals had dramatic VAR moments, with the referee video review system being used for the first time at the African Cup this year. The referees made good use of it in the semis, with two drawn-out decisions.Algeria led Nigeria through a first-half own-goal by William Troost-Ekong. Mahrez’s cross deflected off another Nigerian defender, then hit Troost-Ekong in the midriff and went in.Algeria was pegged back when Nigeria was given a penalty for handball after a long VAR referral by Gambian referee Bakary Gassama, who initially didn’t award the spot-kick. A shot by Oghenekaro Etebo hit his own teammate Odion Ighalo and the arm of Algeria defender Aissa Mandi at just about the same time. Gassama didn’t give it at first, then referred to the TV screen on the sidelines more than a minute later and went back for the penalty.Nigeria took its opportunity — contentious as it was — to level at 1-1 from the spot through Ighalo.But Algeria captain Mahrez won it at the very death, hammering his free kick into the net and sprinting half the length of the field to celebrate with teammates on the bench.“This free kick arrived and, with the quality of a player like Mahrez, it’s a massive chance at a goal Cheap USA Soccer Team Uniform ,” Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi said. “Thank God we made it.”There were tense moments off the field at Cairo International also as Algerian fans and local Egyptian spectators began throwing plastic bottles at each other over a fence that separated them. Some of the Egyptians had started to cheer for Nigeria over Egypt’s North African rivals.Lines of yellow vested security personnel were brought into the stands to stand between the supporters.Senegal won the first semifinal with an own-goal in the 100th minute when Tunisia goalkeeper Mouez Hassen pushed a free kick onto the head of defender Dylan Bronn and the ball bounced back into the goal.It was another game of high drama.On a day when the sports world was treated to epic contests at the Wimbledon men’s tennis final and the Cricket World Cup final, the African Cup held up its end of the bargain.Senegal and Tunisia both missed penalties within a few minutes of each other in regulation time.Tunisia was then given another penalty late in extra time only for referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa to check the VAR TV screen on the sidelines and dramatically reverse his decision — to the dismay of the Tunisians.Tunisia should have gone ahead after winning the first penalty in the 73rd, when Ferjani Sassi’s shot hit the upper arm of Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly as he threw himself in the way to block it.Sassi took the penalty himself but Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis saved easily.Senegal had its chance almost straight after, with Ismaila Sarr hacked down in the area.Henri Saivet took the spot-kick instead of Mane, who missed two penalties earlier in the tournament. His penalty was low and hard to the bottom right corner, but Hassen dived full-stretch and brilliantly deflected it away with his left hand.Hassen was responsible for deciding Tunisia’s fate, though.In extra time, he went to punch away a free kick but only forced it onto Bronn’s head and it rebounded into the net.The most contentious moment came right near the end after Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye was initially penalized for another handball in the area. The ball was headed down by a teammate and struck Gueye’s hand as he tried to pull it away at the side of his body.Ethiopian referee Weyesa awarded the penalty, then decided to make the long run over to the sidelines to check with the VAR.After another long delay, he ran back onto the field waving his arms to signal no penalty.Senegal has made it to just one final before, in 2002. Current Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was a member of that 2002 team and he dropped to his knees with arms held aloft in celebration at the final whistle.

CHARLOTTE https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Daryl-Williams-Jersey , N.C. (AP) — The Panthers agreed to terms with six-time Pro Bowl free agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy on a one-year contract worth up to $10.25 million with incentives, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.McCoy, who was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a salary cap move, will receive a $4 million signing bonus.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he has not yet signed his contract.McCoy chose Carolina over Baltimore and Cleveland.The addition of McCoy gives the Panthers a formidable trio of defensive tackles that includes Kawann Short and Dontari Poe, who have each been to the Pro Bowl twice https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Donte-Jackson-Jersey , and Kyle Love.The 31-year-old McCoy has started 123 games during his nine seasons with the Buccaneers and posted 296 tackles and 54 1/2 sacks.He had 28 tackles and six tackles last season for Tampa Bay in 14 games. He has had at least six sacks in each of the last six seasons.The Panthers are incorporating some 3-4 defensive looks into their scheme this year, which means the 6-foot-4, 300-pound McCoy could be lined up alongside Short, who will move to defensive end in those situations. Or, the team could move the versatile McCoy to the other defensive end spot in the three-man front.The Panthers struggled to apply pressure to the quarterback last season and also lost defensive end Julius Peppers to retirement this offseason.McCoy’s best statistical season came in 2013 when he had 50 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks.Along with a $4 million signing bonus Greg Olsen Jersey , McCoy can earn incentives for sacks, as well as making the Pro Bowl and the playoffs. The Carolina Panthers defense looked a little better for parts of Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers, but that’s not saying much. They’ve been among the worst units in the league over the last several weeks. Bill Barnwell of ESPN wrote about teams collapsing out of the playoff race, and he had several stats that illustrate that reality. There’s more to the Panthers than that. Those are just a few highlights on the defensive side of the ball. The group has been horrible, and it led to Ron Rivera shaking up the coaching staff on that side of the ball. The first test for this newly coached defense is a Cleveland Browns team coming off a brutal loss to the Houston Texans. They fell behind 23-0 in the first half while generating just 74 yards of offense while rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield turned the ball over three times. They piled up yardage and added a couple scores in the second half Fozzy Whittaker Color Rush Jersey , but they were never close to being in the game. In the Browns previous three games, they averaged 386 yards of total offense and 28 points, both of which would rank seventh in the league if maintained for a full season. All of those games were against bad defenses, but the Panthers are a bad defense, so the comparison is apt. Rookies Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb are making waves Rashaan Gaulden Jersey , and that brings us to our keys. Keep Nick Chubb bottled up. The scintillating rookie has wowed with his big play ability this season, but he’s been rather inefficient outside of the big plays. Since taking over as the full time starter six games ago, Chubb has averaged over four yards per carry just twice. He’s still managed to find the end zone seven times over that stretch with one of those visits at the end of a 92 yard jaunt against the Falcons. The Panthers need to keep him contained and force him to grind out yards. Force Baker Mayfield into mistakes. Baker is having a fantastic rookie season. He’s averaged over nine yards per pass in each of his last three games and has tossed eight touchdowns in that time. He has all the makings of a future star. But he’s still a rookie. He threw three picks against the Texans last week and still has moments where he tries to make plays that aren’t there. Asking this defense to force a turnover may be asking too much, but we can try. Take away the underneath passes. The appointment of Freddie Kitchens to offensive coordinator has given new life to the Cleveland offense. He’s placed more of an emphasis on quick throws to keep his quarterback clean and make his decisions easier. Running backs Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson Jr. have hauled in 26 passes since Kitchens took over. Wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Antonio Callaway and tight end David Njoku all have the ability to turn short passes into big gains as well. This Browns team is young and full of promise, but they’re not good yet. The Panthers need to win this game Thomas Davis Color Rush Jersey , and they should win this game. With Ron Rivera now acting as the de facto defensive coordinator, it’s all on his shoulders now. Let’s see how the team responds.

The first-rounder has been a disappointment in Dallas." Dallas Cowboys GeneralIf the Cowboys were trying to trade Taco Charlton Robert Newhouse Jersey , what would be a reasonable return?New,113commentsThe first-rounder has been a disappointment in Dallas. CDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:If the Cowboys were trying to trade Taco Charlton, what would be a reasonable return?TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesBack in the 2017 draft, the Cowboys were desperate for some help on the defensive line. DeMarcus Lawrence had yet to break out in a major way, and their sack leader for the previous season was Benson Mayowa with six. The team was bolstered on offense by rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott and ended up with a 13-3 record. Because of that record, their first-round pick wasn’t until #28, so they had to wait and see who was available after most of the blue-chip talent was off the board.When their time came around, they settled on Taco Charlton Daryl Johnston Color Rush Jersey , a defensive end out of Michigan who produced an impressive season in 2016 including 10 sacks. He wasn’t your classic bend-around-the-edge pass rusher, but more of a big man with all kinds of physical traits that the Cowboys hoped they could turn into a legit threat. Fast forward to now and Charlton has certainly disappointed in his first two years. In those years, he’s amassed a measly four sacks and with eight TFLs. Last year he was slowed down with a shoulder injury but also seemed to incur the wrath of his coaches when he was not even active one week when healthy.Unlike 2017 when they drafted Charlton, the Cowboys now have some legitimate options on the defensive line. Of course there is DeMarcus Lawrence who has found his stride and Robert Quinn has been brought on to bookend Lawrence. There is depth with Tyrone Crawford, Dorance Armstrong, and Randy Gregory if he gets another chance like the Cowboys believe he will. Dallas also signed Kerry Hyder and drafted a couple of defensive ends this year. There is a full house at the end position and Charlton may not make his way into the regular rotation. Charlton is still young, and he still has a lot of physical gifts that could one day click into a player who can help a team. At this point, we just haven’t seen it with any kind of consistency. His first-round pedigree and physical stature may make him enticing to another team who is desperate for help at defensive end like the Cowboys were in 2017. Given all that https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Leighton-Vander-Esch-Jersey , what would you accept as a trade for Charlton? The Cowboys will never get back the first-rounder they spent on him, but what would be a reasonable return? Vote in the poll and hit the comments to let us know your opinion. The GOAT is in for some stiff competition at the safety position."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Dallas Cowboys NewsDallas Cowboys GeneralWill Jeff Heath keep his spot as a starter at safety?New,96commentsThe GOAT is in for some stiff competition at the safety position.CDTShareTweetShareShareWill Jeff Heath keep his spot as a starter at safety?Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY SportsIf nothing else, Jeff Heath is a survivor. From his entry into the NFL as an undrafted free agent to his rise to a starting safety, he has survived all challenges. Now he has to do it again. He formed one half of the Cowboys safety duo last year, but Xavier Woods is the one whose job is safe while Heath will have to fight for his playing time once again. Same as it ever was for Heath.Heath’s main competition is going to come from George Iloka. Like Heath, he is a versatile safety but would seem to be more comfortable in the box than back as a single-high free safety. Fortunately for Dallas, Woods seems more than comfortable playing the free position https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Connor-Williams-Jersey , leaving Heath and Iloka to battle for the primary box safety spot. In the Cowboys scheme, though, the safeties often switch roles so they need interchangeable players. They have that, to some extent, in Woods, Heath and Iloka.Heath is a brilliant athlete who shines on special teams, but his penchant for bad angles and reads have led to him being out of position far too often. Pro Football Focus saddled Heath with the most missed tackles against the run by a safety in the NFL during the 2018 season. That would seem problematic for a player who is in the box as often as Heath is during a season.On the other hand, Iloka is a solid tackler. We turn to our friend John Owning for this:This is setting up to be a pretty good camp battle. But competition is nothing new for Heath. It seems every year he’s being talked about in terms of being replaced. Heath does have a penchant for making big plays in key situations https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Darren-Woodson-Jersey , leading to his somewhat derisive nickname as the GOAT. Crucial interceptions and his forced fumble on Derek Carr a couple of years ago are examples of how Heath comes up big at times, but it is the consistency of the every-down play that plagues Heath. The missed tackles and bad angles have led the Cowboys faithful to ask for his benching on more than one occasion. Sixth-round pick Donovan Wilson could also find himself in this mix. He’s already become a pet cat for some. Training camp and the preseason games will be the test for Wilson to see if he can nudge his way into the competition, but a betting man would put his money on a competition between Heath and Iloka for the starting spot. One thing Heath has in his favor is the backing of the Cowboys front office. They have always believed in Heath more than the fanbase. Still, the fact they brought in Iloka and added Wilson in the draft would lead one to think there is a competition at the position. Who ya got BTB as the starter opposite Xavier Woods?

Today’s matchup against the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals showcased two 5-6 teams on the outside looking in with respect to the AFC playoffs race. The victor of today’s game would take a big step forward in their postseason pursuit https://www.broncosfanstore.com/Derek-Wolfe-Jersey , with the loser likely falling out of the race all together. It was good news for Broncos Country, as Denver defeated Cincinnati by a score of 24-10. Here are five things we learned from today’s big victory.1. Broncos keep pace in pursuit of AFC wildcard playoff berthThe Broncos did their part with a win over the Bengals, but they got some help elsewhere in several other games. The good news is that the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans notched a huge win over the Cleveland Browns. The bad news is that the Baltimore Ravens beat the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins were able to hold off the Buffalo Bills.Next week the Broncos head on the road to play the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs next weekend. Meanwhile, the Colts will take on the Texans which will both have huge playoff implications. Hoping for a Broncos’ win against the 49ers is a must, but you will want to be cheering for the Chiefs and Texans to take care of business against the Ravens and Colts. You will also want to cross you fingers and hope the New England Patriots can take care of business against the Dolphins as well.Even with all that mentioned, it’s likely that the wildcard spot is going to come down to the last game of the season before it is finalized. Denver just needs to take care of business and win out. If they do, the odds are great that they will make the dance.2. Broncos continue their streak of takeawaysEarlier this week, I discussed the major reason the Broncos had won two huge games over the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers — takeaways. The Broncos continued that recipe for success against the Bengals with three key takeaways in the second half. Backup safety Dymonte Thomas secured a fumble on an Alex Erickson muffed punt and Justin Simmons was able to intercept an errant Jeff Driskel throw in the third quarter. Not only that, Bradley Chubb was able to get a strip-sack of Driskel in the final moments of the fourth quarter to put the final nail in the coffin. All of those turnovers resulted in points on the board for Denver and changed the overall tide of the game. While the team might be giving up some big yards in recent weeks, the fact that they can take the ball over and score points off those takeaways has been paramount. You have to love that!3. Broncos’ offense ignites in the second halfI was extremely optimistic that the Broncos’ offense would be able to make some big plays against a Bengals’ defense that ranked worst in the National Football League in almost every category. After two quarters of play that didn’t seem likely to transpire considering how out of sync the offense was. That being said some things just take time and thankfully the Broncos’ offensive fortunes changed in the second half.After an inconsistent first half, Case Keenum was able to connect with Courtland Sutton on a beautiful 30-yard touchdown pass that gave Denver an eleven point lead. It was nice to see Sutton make a handful of clutch plays after his worst game of the season last weekend. He finished the game with four receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown. On their next offensive possession, rookie phenom Phillip Lindsay sped by and torched the Bengals’ defense on a 65-yard touchdown run that left everyone inhaling dust off his cleats. Those two plays were absolute game-changers and gave the Broncos the momentum necessary to achieve victory. Lindsay embarked on another impressive game totaling 157 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. He became the eighth rookie in team history to amass 1,000 all-purpose yards. 4. The Broncos dialed up the heat on Jeff DriskelWith the Bengals’ offensive line being decimated by injuries throughout the season Todd Davis Color Rush Jersey , today’s game provided an opportunity for the Broncos’ arsenal of pass rushers to get after the inexperienced Jeff Driskel. After a game-clinching interception last weekend, Shelby Harris continued to prove how valuable he is for the franchise and had a great game against the Bengals notching 1.5 sacks. The same goes for Von Miller who was able to down Driskel just as much as Harris and earned himself 1.5 sacks as well. Chubb’s aforementioned strip-sack in the fourth quarter was also crucial in this regard. Let’s hope the Broncos’ defense can keep the heat turned up high the last four games of the season.5. Broncos’ defense loses Chris Harris Jr. and Derek Wolfe to injuryDuring the first quarter on a key third down play going up against A.J. Green one of the worst things imaginable could have happened when Chris Harris Jr. left the game with a lower right leg injury. He was assisted by trainers and wasn’t able to put any weight on his right leg, subsequently carted off the field and did not return to the game. According to Mike Klis, the Broncos have confirmed that Harris Jr. suffered a fractured fibula.Additionally, starting inside linebacker Josey Jewell left the game early on with an ankle injury and was replaced by Joe Jones. Things got worse for the Broncos when Derek Wolfe suffered a rib injury halfway through the second quarter and did not return for the second half. In the midst of a wildcard playoff berth pursuit, the last thing the Broncos needed was a handful of key players on defense going down with injuries. We will continue to update Broncos Country on the status of these players as more information develops.So Broncos Country, what were your five big observations from today’s game? Sound off in the comments section and make your voice heard! The Broncos have weathered the offseason and look to be an improved 2019 squad." Denver Broncos NewsJuly finds the Denver Broncos poised for success in 2019New,106commentsThe Broncos have weathered the offseason and look to be an improved 2019 squad.MDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:July finds the Denver Broncos poised for success in 2019TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Joe Amon/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty ImagesHappy training camp month!In just a little over two weeks the men who will ultimately comprise the 2019 Denver Broncos will report to training camp. After disappointing seasons following the 2015 Super Bowl, Denver enters 2019 without the drama of year’s past, improved personnel, and a new coaching staff with a refreshing get-to-work mentality that emphasizes accountability.Don’t look now (and not to jinx Denver or anything), but it would appear that the Broncos have made it through the offseason without any of the boneheaded slip-ups that downtime traditionally brings. Nobody tripped over a dog in Terrell Davis’ driveway, nobody got stabbed by their girlfriend Brendan Langley Jersey , nobody slipped on a fast food wrapper, putting their hand through an entertainment center, no flying beer mugs at strip club bartenders, and, at least that we know, no arrests. Kareem Jackson, Bryce Callahan, and Joe Flacco headline the Broncos 2019 free agent class. Combined with draftees Noah Fant, Dalton Risner, and Dre’Mont Jones, Denver added folks that it hopes can contribute immediately. Beyond 2019? The building blocks of the future lie within the draft acquisition of quarterback Drew Lock. Could the end of musical chairs at the quarterback position be at an end? Watching these new Broncos is going to be a ton of fun.Of all the improvements made during the 2019 offseason, none will have a more substantial impact than the hiring of Vic Fangio and his staff. Gone is the empty rhetoric of “great practices” replaced with emphasis on details to avoid “death by inches”. Throughout OTAs and mini-camps, accountability https://www.broncosfanstore.com/Justin-Simmons-Jersey , effort, and focus have emerged as defining principles that will guide Fangio’s Broncos this season. While most talk surrounding past Broncos teams in July is usually optimistic, it needs to be said that the buzz this season feels a little different.Fangio’s no-nonsense approach to football is one that I wouldn’t want to mess with and I’m sure that the players feel that even more so. In just over two weeks, the Broncos will walk out onto pristine practice fields and begin training camp. The failures of previous seasons will melt away under the promise of the beating July heat. What does 2019 hold for the Denver Broncos? Half the fun of football is finding out. The other half? Doing something amazing when you finally do know.Horse TracksMason's Mailbag: Don't forget about Alexander JohnsonWhen the pads go on, Johnson could have his best opportunity to make an impression in the scrum for playing time at inside linebacker.LOOK: Phillip Lindsay gets massive 'undrafted' tattooDo you think Phillip Lindsay's Pro Bowl season erased the chip on his shoulder?Smith, Trevathan lead a talented, aggressive corps | SaukValley.com’Backers look even better for next yearGiovani Bernard, Bengals 'buying in' with Zac Taylor - NFL.comWith rookie coach Zac Taylor implementing his offense, Bengals running back Giovani Bernard could see his versatility showcased in hopes of rebounding from a 2018 full of career-lows.Will Hernandez key to Giants' O-line improvement - NFL.comAll-Rookie Team pick Will Hernandez at left guard is a key to the Giants' improvement on the offensive line and poised for an even bigger second season.Police use stun gun in arrest of ex-Cowboys DTAccording to police, Josh Brent was observed to be sitting in the grass and talking to himself in a Wendy's parking lot in Coppell, Texas.Randall Cobb says the Packers are 'like the ex-girlfriend that broke up with you' - CBSSports.comCobb feels like the transition to the Cowboys is going wellHere's why Patriots star Julian Edelman didn't talk to his father for 81 days - CBSSports.comEdelman's father did not agree with how he planned to handle his PED suspension

Bears vs. Dolphins: Snap counts https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Khalil-Mack-Jersey , stats, and more All statistics and snap counts are taken directly from the NFL’s Game Statistic and Information System, as we’re the snipped pics with the snap counts. The Chicago Bears lost a game that they could have, and should have, won. The Miami Dolphins kept plugging away at the Bears and they came back for a 31-28 win in overtime. Head coach and play caller, Matt Nagy, was inconsistent with his decisions. He was aggressive, but then conservative. He showed faith in his young offense, but then he got cautious. Nagy is five games into his job, and we’re going to have to deal with his growing pains too.With that being said, the offense still put up 467 yards. They still racked up 23 first downs. Their offense was 8 for 12 (67%) on third down conversions. Did they do enough to win?I guess that depends on your perspective. The Bears were shut out in the first half, there were some missed opportunities, and they only had 124 total yards in the first two quarters. Football is a 60 minute game https://www.thebearsfanshop.com , and if the offense was better in the first 30 minutes, there would have been no overtime. Chicago’s defensive coaches had an extra week to prepare for the ex-Bear think tank of Adam Gase (head coach), Dowell Loggains (offensive coordinator), and Jeremiah Washburn (o-line coach), yet they couldn’t figure out a way to slow down the Dolphins’ offense. The Dolphins sent extra help to their tackles and the Bears only manged 4 quarterback hits, and zero sacks. With so much extra attention going to Chicago's edges, where was the inside blitz? The heat and humidity got to the Bears (more on that later), and Chicago allowed 541 yards in the game. Miami also picked up 23 first downs while converting on 8 of 17 third down tries (47%). The Fins had the time of possession edge 36:35 to 33:25. The Bears were flagged 6 times for 58 yards, while the Dolphins got hit with 7 penalties for 67 yards. None of which were offensive holding. Let’s take a closer look at the playing time break downs for the Bears, and also some individual stats.OFFENSEThe playing time trend for Jordan Howard continues to shrink. The heat could have been a factor, but we won’t know until this next Sunday when the Bears host the New England Patriots. If it shrinks again, that’s a problem. Howard had 14 rushes for 69 yards, and a crucial fumble on the goal line. Tarik Cohen also had a crucial fumble in the game Chicago Bears Customized Jerseys , but he also had a rushing TD on 5 runs for 31 yards. He caught 7 of 9 targets for 90 yards. The other Bears’ turnover was a Mitchell Trubisky red zone interception on a horrible decision, but if you’re looking to blame this loss on him, then you might have some built-in biases that is leading you to an idiotic conclusion. He ended up throwing 31 passes while completing 22 of them for 316 yards and 3 TDs for a passer rating of 122.5. He fought back after a slow start (9 of 14 for 89 yards), which is what you need your quarterback to do. Trubisky completed 5 passes to Allen Robinson II and 5 to Taylor Gabriel. Robinson had 64 yards and a TD, while Gabriel had 110 yards. Gabriel also added a 9 yard run. Rookie wide out Anthony Miller was targeted 4 times and he caught one for a 29 yard TD. Tight end Trey Burton caught Trubisky’s other TD on a shovel pass. He had 4 receptions for 23 yards. Right tackle Bobby Massie was flagged twice for an illegal formation, but if you’re blaming him for those flags then you might be football-stupid. The Bears allowed 2 sacks, and 3 QB hits, and their overall yards per carry average was 5.3.DEFENSESo this happened yesterday...Could it be possible that this (Jahns’ tweet below) had an affect on that (Bowen’s tweet above)?I think so. Miami had 387 total yards in the second half and 154 total in the first. All that YAC helped Miami’s Brock Osweiler to a 94.9 passer rating. Roquan Smith led the Bears with 13 tackles. Fellow inside backer Danny Trevathan had 8 and a QBH. Leonard Floyd had 4 tackles, and 2 penalties. One for throwing a receiver to the ground that didn’t want to be tackled, and the another for grazing Osweilers helmet. Khalil Mack hurt his ankle early, and he ended up with 2 tackles.Defensive end Akiem Hicks, who finished with 7 tackles, 1 QBH Chicago Bears T-Shirts , and a forced fumble, played too many snaps in my opinion. In that heat, at his size, that number should have been south of 75%. Eddie Goldman had 2 tackles and a fumble recovery and Jonathan Bullard had 3 tackles. Bilal Nichols had a tackle and Roy Robertson-Harris had a pass defended. Corner Kyle Fuller had 2 interceptions and 7 tackles. Prince Amukamara, who left after re-injuring his hammy, had 2 tackles, and nickleback Bryce Callahan had 7 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a QBH. Safety Adrian Amos had 9 tackles and a pass defended, and Eddie Jackson had 6 tackles. SPECIAL TEAMSThe above players listed only appeared in the third phase. Cody Parkey missed one kick on the afternoon; a 53 yard field goal in overtime. Pat O’Donnell punted twice for a 39.5 average and he put one inside the 20 yard line. To see the full statistical breakdown of the game, check out the ESPN box score and game recap. There are plenty of instances of coaches complaining about officials for perceived slights, including coaches being fined for those complaints.Bears coach Matt Nagy took a different tack this week, apologizing to officials after he yelled at them for one they got right.Via Colleen Kane of the https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/hats , Nagy said his emotions got the better of him when he screamed about not being able to pull off a quick-change in the second quarter. The Bears were trying to get the punt team off the field and the offense back on, and it might have worked if tackle Bobby Massie hadn’t knocked over line judge Carl Johnson, leading to an official timeout.Nagy lost it for a second, going on the field to argue, before regaining his composure at halftime.“It would have been nice [for Massie] to avoid him so that didn’t happen,” Nagy said. “At that point in time, that’s such a crucial part of the game, my emotions [took over]. … I talked to those guys. I apologized to them. I told them that they did the right thing and we need to coach that play better so that our guys don’t do that.”Whoa, that’s almost like graciousness. And personal accountability. This is going to take a moment to get used to.

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan and Inter Milan formally want to build a new stadium. The 2026 Olympics looks set to lose its intended opening ceremony venue.The storied Milan soccer clubs jointly asked city officials Wednesday for permission to go ahead with a 60 TheTopSoccer ,000-seat stadium replacing the iconic, publicly owned San Siro.The clubs said they plan to pay for a $1.35 billion project to become a “sports, entertainment, and shopping” hub creating 3,500 jobs.“This is a comprehensive project that foresees private investments of over 1.2 billion euros,” the clubs said, adding it was “essential in bringing Milan’s football back to the elite of the European and global football arena.”A new stadium would be a symbol of regeneration after periods of decline since AC Milan won the last of its seven European titles in 2007, and Inter won its third and most recent European title in 2010.After years of speculation and analysis about the 80,000-capacity San Siro’s future, the clubs decided building a new arena next to the city-owned Guiseppe Meazza stadium is a better option. Playing through Cheap Dortmund Soccer Team Uniform , and paying for, a complete stadium renovation offers less certainty.The technical and economic study submitted Wednesday comes 16 days after Milan was picked as the 2026 Winter Games host in a joint bid with Alpine ski resort Cortina d’Ampezzo.San Siro was proposed by bid leaders to the International Olympic Committee to stage the opening ceremony.Still, there are more stages to pass before this feasibility study becomes a detailed stadium plan.The clubs said their formal request “aims at obtaining the declaration of public interest from the Municipality of Milan.”A detailed architectural design would follow later that “honors Milan’s reputation for innovation and internationalization.”“The proposal to the local institutions marks a first official step by the clubs,” they said, “beginning a shared journey together with the Municipality toward constructing a modern, sustainable and accessible urban district in the San Siro area, built around a new world-class stadium. LONDON (AP) — Chelsea made a complaint to UEFA about racist abuse being aimed at one of its players by Dynamo Kiev fans during a Europa League match, the English club said Monday.The abuse — reportedly targeted at Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is black — took place near the end of its 5-0 win in the round of 16 on Thursday and was reported to the referee at the final whistle.Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck and club secretary David Barnard then spoke to UEFA’s match delegate.“We wholeheartedly condemn such abhorrent behavior,” Chelsea said in a statement. “We expect UEFA to conduct a fulsome investigation.”Chelsea didn’t specify which player was the target of the racist abuse. The club made the statement hours before England called up Hudson-Odoi for upcoming European Championship qualifiers.“It’s a dream come true www.thetopsoccer.com/club-team-kit/chelsea ,” said the winger, who replaced the injured Luke Shaw and did not comment on the apparent racist abuse in Ukraine. “Now I’ve got to work hard, enjoy every moment and keep working to just hopefully make an impact when I get the opportunity.”Britain’s Press Association reported that monkey chants were heard from a small group of Dynamo Kiev fans in the corner of the end Chelsea was attacking.That part of the stadium is home to the Rodychi fan group, which displays far-right symbols and was accused of involvement in several violent attacks last time Dynamo hosted Chelsea.In 2015, Dynamo fans attacked at least eight Chelsea supporters during a Champions League game. Most of the victims were black, and some were white who tried to protect the black fans.UEFA’s anti-discrimination monitoring partner, Fare, which sends observers to major European games, captured video of four black men being chased through the crowd. The incidents all occurred in and around the Rodychi sector, though the group denied wrongdoing.Dynamo was ordered to play two matches behind closed doors and fined 100 Cheap Inter Milan Soccer Team Uniform ,000 euros (then $110,000). Both punishments were halved on appeal.Earlier that year, UEFA fined Dynamo and closed part of the stadium for racist fan behavior at a Europa League game against Everton.Last month, UEFA ended an investigation into anti-Semitic chants by Chelsea fans at a Europa League game against Vidi in Hungary. Chelsea had condemned the behavior of its supporters, apologizing and saying it is “abhorrent to this club,” but did not face a sanction.

The 17 year veteran is still in the running for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomJulius Peppers finishes third in Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity ChallengeNew Carolina Panthers Customized Jerseys ,9commentsThe 17 year veteran is still in the running for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. ESTShareTweetShareShareJulius Peppers finishes third in Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity ChallengeBob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsCarolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers finished third in the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity Challenge. The eighteen year veteran finished behind Kyle Rudolph and Robbie Gould. His third place standing earns him a $5,000 donation from Nationwide to the charity of his choosing. This challenge is not to be confused with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award itself. This challenge is the hashtag that floods your Twitter in the last month or so of the season. The actual award will be given out on the eve of the Super Bowl at the NFL Awards Show and is decided on by a special panel of judges.Peppers has a legitimate shot to win the award thanks to the part he played in relief efforts after Hurricane Florence devastated the Carolina coastlines this fall. He donated $100 Carolina Panthers T-Shirts ,000 of his own money and dedicated a couple of his off days during the season to visit the afflicted areas. His good deeds resemble those that won J.J. Watt the award last year, albeit without the gaudy donation numbers. If Peppers does win https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/hats , he’ll join Thomas Davis as the only Carolina Panthers to ever receive the honor. According to our latest FanPulse survey, a majority (83% Carolina Panthers Hoodie , in fact) of Panthers fans believe our biggest rival is the Saints. The Falcons came in a distant second place with just 17% of the votes. It was a two horse race as the Buccaneers and Seahawks received no votes in our poll.Note: This really isn’t much of a surprise, but I believe if we asked this question in 2015 the Seahawks would have received a decent amount of votes. Probably not enough to overtake the Saints/Falcons Ryan Kalil Color Rush Jersey , but enough to be noteworthy.Aside from being division rivals, I thought it would be interesting to find out why Panthers fans hate the Saints more than any other team. There’s no better place to get this information than Twitter Luke Kuechly Color Rush Jersey , so I conducted an informal survey to get a feel for what Panthers Nation really thinks about New Orleans. Below is a collection of the best responses.What about you, CSR? Why do you hate the Saints? Do you think they are our biggest rival? Why or why not? Share your thoughts below!

They play in another conference. It’s been a while since they’ve been really good. They sometimes seem to toil in anonymity as far as NFL franchises go. And they are the Cowboys next opponent. The Tennessee Titans come into the game against the Cowboys with many similarities to their host. Both teams are 3-4. Both teams play outstanding scoring defense. Both teams struggle to put points on the board on offense. Both have young quarterbacks who have at times looked like the future Trysten Hill Jersey , and at other times have struggled. So what’s going with the Titans? Let’s check in and see since it’s not a team that is a natural rival and the Cowboys haven’t played the Titans in four years.The Titans come in on a downturn in their fortunes after the starting the season hot. Additionally, they didn’t make a move at the trade deadline.As you can imagine, some of the fanbase is not happy with the team doing nothing at the deadline.The Cowboys fanbase got a little injection of hope when the team traded for Amari Cooper and fired Paul Alexander. We’ll have to wait and see if that pans out or was fool’s gold, but the Titans fanbase Amari Cooper Color Rush Jersey , or at least some of it, seemed resolved to a mediocre fate.So what are some of the issues for the Titans? Well, the play of quarterback Marcus Mariota has been in question. He has been dealing with an injury but seems to be healed up now.One of the biggest concerns for the Titans is their inability to score touchdowns. Mariota was asked what they needed to improve on.It might be tough for them again this week as the Cowboys defense is excelling in the redzone.On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys need to have one guy on their mind.On the back end of their defense Emmitt Smith Color Rush Jersey , they have another pretty good player.Some quick nuggets about the Titans.They don’t run the ball particularly well. They also struggle with passing downfield.You do have to keep an eye on Mariota as he can beat you with his legs like Dak Prescott.The Cowboys and Titans definitely come into this game with a lot of similarities. One difference is the Cowboys made big moves during their bye week, the Titans stood pat after putting out feelers but not liking the prices required to grab a player. The Cowboys are favored by a range of 4 to 6.5 points through various oddsmakers. If Dallas is going to have any chance of making a playoff run, it starts on Monday night. Michael Gallup had no time to celebrate a homecoming victory over the Falcons a week ago. His sister informed the Cowboys receiver after the game that their brother, Andrew https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Roger-Staubach-Jersey , had taken his own life.鈥淭hat was by far the toughest thing I had to do was hear news like that,鈥?Gallup said Sunday in his first public comments about his brother, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know how to think. Just sit there and cry. I just cried. I got in the car with my sister and cried the whole way home.鈥滸allup stayed in Georgia with his family before returning in Jerry Jones’ private plane for Thursday’s game against Washington. He flew back to Georgia in Jones’ plane after the game to attend the funeral Friday.Gallup played 36 of 70 snaps and made two catches for 19 yards.鈥淚t was more of the fact that I need to be there for my team,鈥?Gallup said. 鈥淭hey have always been there for me. I was there for my family. I sat down with my mom and I asked if I was good to come back and play. She said of course https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Tony-Dorsett-Jersey , 鈥榞o have fun鈥? It was very important to me to make that game.鈥

DENVER (AP) — First Domata Peko Color Rush Jersey , Emmanuel Sanders wagged his right index finger in the face of Rams cornerback Troy Hill . Now, he’s pointing it right at himself after Denver’s fourth consecutive loss.After his taunt came back to haunt the Broncos, Sanders accepted the blame for Denver’s latest loss in a monthlong tailspin that has fans in the Rocky Mountains bracing for back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1971-72.“I guess this loss is on me,” Sanders said after the Rams escaped frigid Denver as the league’s lone unbeaten team following a 23-20 win Sunday over the Broncos (2-4), who became the first team in NFL history to allow a 200-yard rusher in back-to-back games.Sanders thought he had a 44-yard TD catch from Case Keenum as he tumbled into the end zone in the first quarter. He sprung to his feet and wagged a finger at Hill.Side judge Brad Freeman threw the flag, calling a personal foul on Sanders for taunting.Ordinarily, the flag wouldn’t have mattered much because the 15-yard penalty would have been enforced on the ensuing kickoff and Brandon McManus, after giving Denver a 7-6 lead with an extra point, undoubtedly would still have booted the ball out of the end zone for a touchback.Upon review, however, it turned out Hill had the last laugh, having touched Sanders before he crossed the goal line.That put the ball at the 1.The penalty pushed them back to the 16.After runs of 1 and 5 yards, Keenum’s throwaway on third-and-4 brought in McManus for a field goal instead of an extra point and his 28-yarder cut Denver’s deficit to 6-3.They never did get the lead and those four points would have made the difference in a three-point loss.“Me, honestly, I feel like the league is getting soft,” Sanders said. “I’m having fun. I didn’t do anything crazy to the guy besides say, ‘Hey, I got you on that play.’ I pointed my finger at him. And they threw the flag.”Sanders said he’s done that his whole career and has never been flagged for it.“It was a great throw by Case, I came down with it, big play, emotions are high. It’s not like I walked up to him and head-butted him or something,” Sanders said. “But it cost my team. We lost by three points. I feel like we could have easily punched that ball in and gotten four (more) points. I guess this loss is on me.”Vance Joseph Demarcus Walker Jersey , who fell to 7-15 as head coach, talked to Sanders on the sideline.“He can’t do that,” Joseph said. “He knows that.”Well, he does now.“I don’t think I did anything too crazy besides point a finger and tell the guy, ‘Hey I got you on that play.’ I don’t see the penalty in that,” Sanders said. “But I learned from it and like I said, it cost my team. I’ve just got to keep chugging along and don’t do it again.”The costly foul from a nine-year veteran came one week after Sanders’ fellow SMU alum, rookie receiver Courtland Sutton , chased down Marcus Maye at the 1 following a 104-yard interception return at game’s end, leaving the Jets safety with the longest such play without a score in NFL history.“We played two of the best teams in the league, the Chiefs and the Rams, and the games came down to crunch time. And that just shows you what kind of team that we are,” linebacker Shane Ray declared. “We’re a great football team.”Not at 2-4 they aren’t.Even Fox play-by-play man Dick Stockton dissed the Broncos by beginning the telecast saying, “the undefeated Rams take on the Denver Nuggets.”Other takeaways from Week 6 included:CUTTING OUT COLINThe 49ers posted dozens of photos on its website of past games against the Packers in advance of their Monday night game without at first including any of Colin Kaepernick, who set an NFL record for QBs by rushing for 181 yards in a playoff win against Green Bay on Jan. 12, 2013, threw for 413 yards in a season-opening win against the Packers in 2013, and led a winning drive in a playoff game in Green Bay on Jan. 5, 2014.“We have fond memories of those games and that should have been displayed on our website,” the team said in a statement after adding images of Kaepernick. “This oversight does not properly reflect the appreciation our ownership and this team have for Colin.”GRONK HONKTom Brady made light of yelling at Rob Gronkowski in an Instagram post following the Patriots‘ 43-40 win over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.In the second quarter, the sideline microphones picked up Brady yelling at Gronkowski to stand up out of his stance, and Brady ended up calling a timeout on the play.Gronk came up big in the fourth quarter with a stiff-arm that helped him gain 42 yards and set up a field goal that gave New England a 40-33 lead.“Gronk https://www.broncosfanstore.com/Chris-Harris-Jr-Jersey , you can line up however you want if you keep stiff-arming people like that,” Brady said.MISSED CALLSAl Riveron, the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating, acknowledged for a second straight week that officials goofed in not calling a running back for lowering his head and barreling into a defender.In his weekly video, Riveron said Patriots rookie Sony Michel should have been flagged for lowering his head to initiate contact with Colts safety Clayton Geathers in Week 5.A week earlier, Riveron noted that Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt should have been flagged for doing the same thing to Broncos safety Justin Simmons.Although Hunt got away without a penalty, his illegal hit did result in a $26,739 fine.NO EXCEPTIONSRiveron defended referee Clete Blakeman’s crew, which didn’t flag Steelers receiver Justin Hunter for blocking Bengals DB Tony McRae beyond 1 yard past the line of scrimmage on Antonio Brown’s 31-yard TD catch from Ben Roethlisberger with 10 seconds left that gave Pittsburgh a 28-21 win on Sunday.“The contact is initiated by the defender,” Riveron said on Twitter , “and therefore the receiver is not responsible for this contact.”NFL rule 8, Section 5, Article 4 states: “Blocking more than 1 yard beyond the line of scrimmage by an offensive player prior to a pass being thrown is offensive pass interference.”The rule book, however, doesn’t specify an exception for defenders initiating contact. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Mike Shanahan attended a Denver Broncos practice for the first time since he was fired as coach on New Year’s Eve 2008.“I was glad he was here,” new head coach Vic Fangio said after practice Saturday. “I think it’s good he’s here. Mike’s got a big part in the rich history of this franchise and he’s welcome to come here anytime he wants.”Fangio said he and Shanahan go back a long way “as competitors but not long as friends. We’ve just gotten to know each other the last” several years.In addition to chatting with Fangio, Shanahan spent time talking with team president and CEO Joe Ellis and new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, who worked for Shanahan’s son, Kyle, in San Francisco, as well as assistant offensive line coach Chris Kuper Shaquil Barrett Color Rush Jersey , a draft pick of Shanahan’s in 2006.Rookie guard Dalton Risner, who grew up in Wiggins, Colorado, said Shanahan’s visit was a treat.“When I grew up watching the Broncos, I watched Mike Shanahan constantly,” Risner said. “To see him out there, I wanted to shake his hand after practice. I didn’t get a chance to and I think he’s gone already. So, big bummer, but I still saw him watching me practicing out there, which was pretty cool.”Shanahan spent 14 seasons in charge of the Broncos, guiding them to two Super Bowl titles in the late 1990s with John Elway at quarterback. His 146 wins, including the playoffs, are the most in club history.Elway, now the Broncos general manager, toyed with the idea of bringing Shanahan back as head coach last year but stuck with Vance Joseph, whom he fired after a 6-10 season. Fangio replaced Joseph on Jan. 10.Shanahan attended the dedication of the Pat Bowlen Field House adjacent to the team’s practice fields a couple of years ago and was on hand when the Broncos honored their first Super Bowl-winning team during a game against Green Bay in 2015. But this marked his first visit to the main football facilities and practice in 11 years.After leaving the Broncos, Shanahan coached the Washington Redskins from 2010-13.Also on hand for Saturday’s practice was Lloyd Pierce, coach of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.“He’s a friend of mine and him and his staff happened to be in Colorado on a two-day junket and he called and wanted to come down and watch us practice and he’s going to sit and visit with us a little bit,” Fangio said.Notes: TE Troy Fumagalli sat out the Broncos’ first full pads practice with a sore hip and is day-to-day and WR River Cracraft will miss at least a week with an unspecified muscle strain.

BOURBONNAIS https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Jonathan-Bullard-Jersey , Ill. (AP) — When NFL officials visited Bears camp to show a film on rule changes aimed at player safety, inside linebacker Danny Trevathan realized he’d have to alter his style.“Shoot,” Trevathan said. “I was on the film.”One of last season’s most physical and controversial plays landed Trevathan a one-game suspension, and joined several other incidents of brutality in causing the NFL to curtail the use of helmets in tackling.Trevathan’s helmet-leading hit knocked Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams out of a Sept. 28 game and resulted in a two-game suspension — later reduced to one on appeal.Possibly more than any other Bears player, Trevathan must now keep his physical, aggressive style in check.“I’ve got to be able to move on from it and learn the new techniques,” Trevathan said. “The game is constantly changing. That’s what we get paid to do, I guess. I’ve got to take that in my play.”Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio believes it’s a matter of accepting change for all defensive players, and eventually they’ll adjust as with other rules.“One of the most non-football rules ever put into football was the 5-yard illegal contact rule,” Fangio said. “If coaches from the 60s rose from the dead today they would want to go back in their grave with that rule.“And we’ve adjusted.”Bears coach Matt Nagy is seeing signs of Trevathan controlling his play.“There’s a leadership element, which goes without saying,” Nagy said. “There’s a physicality that he brings.”The Bears had what Nagy called their most physical practice of camp Sunday, complete with a full-contact red-zone period. And Nagy noticed Trevathan pulling back at one point when he could have easily smashed rookie wide receiver Anthony Miller.“There was a play today where he could have knocked (Miller) into the stands and he decided not to, and that was in a live period,” Nagy said. “So to me Akiem Hicks Color Rush Jersey , when you see that, I’m going to point that out to the team tonight because that wasn’t stupidity. That was a veteran being smart, not taking out one of our guys.“He knows it’s live, he knows he doesn’t have to prove anything, so just play smart.”Trevathan also views playing under control as a benefit to his own health. This is important because Trevathan has missed 10 games the last two seasons due to injuries, and the defense suffered then without its field general.The effect on the Bears’ defense without him is obvious.In 2016, the Bears allowed 152 yards rushing a game without Trevathan starting seven games, and 98.4 yards in nine games when he started. Last year they allowed an average of 97.5 yards rushing in 11 games with Trevathan and 140 yards a game in five without him.“It’s imperative that I be on that field,” Trevathan said. “I’m not going to let my team down anymore. That comes with a responsibility: just taking care of yourself.“You know plays happen; you get injured. It’s only going to make the defense better when I’m out there because I’m going to push and I’m going to work my tail off and I’m not going to let anybody beat me.”Like the rest of the Bears, Trevathan watched former Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame over the weekend. Trevathan gained insight from Urlacher’s speech, particularly in regards to overcoming adversity and being a good teammate.“That’s one of the main reasons why I came here — the tradition at linebacker,” said Trevathan, who left Denver as a free agent after 2015. “It’s not an easy job, but like he (Urlacher) said, it’s like the tough stuff makes you grow.“I’m here for a reason Bobby Massie Jersey , and I like playing linebacker for the Chicago Bears.”NOTES: Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel missed Sunday’s practice after suffering a foot injury in Saturday’s session. Nagy called it “day to day” and not serious. It’s "sack a Viking" week here in the Den! Purple hasn’t done much to improve their OL, sacking them is still a thing"BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!BEARRRSSSS / FREE AGENCY / DRAFTFinley: Jarrett Payton on his father Walter and raising his own kids in the spotlight - Sun-Times - The WGN-TV and CLTV sportscaster opens up about the long shadow of his famous father, former Bears star Walter Payton:Finley: Will Bears pick a kicker to fix their specialist slide? - Sun-Times - Fixing the team’s field goal woes is about more than excising one player from the team and believing they’ve exorcised their demons.George Taliaferro, a Gary native, Bears draft pick and the first black player drafted by an NFL team, dies at 91 - Post-Tribune - Roosevelt graduate and Indiana University legend George Taliaferro, the first black player drafted by an NFL team, has died at age 91.Making The Case: Running Backs The Bears Should Draft (Ryquell Armstead) - Club Dub Bears Blog - Ryquell Armstead has incredible speed for guy his size. Standing at 5′-11″ and weighing 215 lbs, he ran a blistering 4.45 40-yard dash at the Combine last month. His 40-yard dash time was second to Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill (4.40). The Temple Owls’ offense featured 9 guys who carried the ball at least 10 times in 2018, so it’s amazing that Armstead still was able to get 210 touches for 1,100 yards (5.2 ypc) and 13 TD’s. He also caught 8 passes out of the backfield for 52 yards.Making The Case: Running Backs The Bears Should Draft (Alexander Mattison) - Club Dub Bears Blog - Alexander Mattison came from San Bernardino High School, where he excelled in football, wrestling https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Adrian-Amos-Jersey , and track. Scouts have compared him to Mike Gillislee. During his three years at Boise State, he collected over 2,800 rushing yards on 581 carries for 33 TD’s. Mattison is arguably the best pass catching running back in this draft. In his sophomore and junior years, he caught 28 balls for 284 yards and 27 balls for 173 yards, respectively.Making The Case: Running Backs The Bears Should Draft (Bruce Anderson) - Club Dub Bears Blog - Bruce Anderson is one more of the more underrated running backs in this draft. He didn’t get as much national media coverage because he played at an FCS school. That being said, the dude is a beast. He regularly split carries with fellow all-conference teammate, Lance Dunn. In 2017, Dunn was lost for the season to injury after the 8th game and Anderson got the carry the load.NFL Network analysts have Bears drafting a running back in 3rd round - Bears Wire - Maurice Jones-Drew and Curtis Conway are in agreement that the Chicago Bears will draft a running back int he third round of the NFL draft.POLISH SAUSAGEJamaal Charles: My numbers should put me in the Hall of Fame – ProFootballTalk - Jamaal Charles hasn't officially retired from the NFL, but at age 32, and after playing just two games in 2018, it seems unlikely he'll play again. If he's done, he'll be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024. He thinks he should get in.Chiefs sign cornerback Keith Reaser of AAF's Apollos - NFL.com - Veterans of the recently deceased Alliance of American Football are starting to trickle back onto NFL rosters. One of the first to re-join the NFL is Keith Reaser, who is signed with the Chiefs.KNOW THY ENEMYPackers WR Jake Kumerow signs exclusive-rights tender, per report - Acme Packing Company - The young wideout will officially be back for another go in 2019.Report: Minnesota Vikings signing QB Sean Mannion - Daily Norseman - Why? Hell, I don’t know.Report: Ford Field to replace turf in 2019 - Pride Of Detroit - It looks like the Lions will be making some changes to their playing surface for the first time in six years.IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRONWiltfong: USA Today confused on their latest NFL Power Rankings - Windy City Gridiron - It’s okay. It happens to the best of us. We all make mistakes from time to time. I remember one time I thought that Dion Sims was going to be a fine addition to the tight end room of the Chicago Bears...WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong Jordan Howard Color Rush Jersey , Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - iTunes - Robert Zeglinski - The Blitz NetworkTHE RULESWindy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.The Bear’s Den Specific Guidelines – The Bear’s Den is a place for Chicago Bears fans to discuss Chicago Bears football, related NFL stories, and general football talk. It is NOT a place to discuss religion or politics or post political pictures or memes. Unless otherwise stated, the Den is not an open thread, and profanity (including profanity only stated in pictures) is prohibited.Click on our names to follow us on Twitter:WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter;Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Like us on Facebook.

Argentine fans can rest easy: Lionel Messi will officially return to their national team.The blue and white side is expected to have a couple of friendly games in the upcoming FIFA International Break Cheap Barcelona Soccer Team Uniform , and sources close to Messi have confirmed that coach Lionel Scaloni will invite the superstar to join them in preparation for the 2019 Copa Am茅rica.According to Goal.com, Messi will return to the South American side with the help of some of his closest friends, including Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi.La Albiceleste will face Venezuela and the Czech Republic in the only International Break prior to the competition, which will be held in Brazil.Messi's return to the national team will put an end to all speculation that saw "La Pulga" turning his back on La Albiceleste due to his lack of success. The last disappointment for Messi with his national team came in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where the team barely made it to the KO stage, with would-be champions France kicking them out of the competition.Messi is Argentina's all-time top scorer with 65 goals in 128 games www.thetopsoccer.com/club-team-kit/bayern-munich , but he's failed to win a single trophy with the senior squad. Football fans around the world have made a habit out of criticizing players around the world.Those who are often referred to as the best in the business tend to get a lot of heat, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But when it comes to the latter, no critic around the world will be as harsh as one that lives in his own home: his first-born, Thiago.Speaking in an interview with World Soccer magazine, Messi revealed that his first two children, Thiago and Mateo, are quite fond of the beautiful game. With that in mind TheTopSoccer , it is no surprise to learn that Thiago likes to discuss details of what goes on in his father's career, sometimes with the young boy providing some of the harshest comments ever heard by his famous father."Yes, we talk about it. Let me tell you I've received my fair share of criticism! He follows Barcelona, La Liga games and UEFA Champions League matches. He likes it, he asks questions about it and he is sure to let me know what he thinks when we are not doing so well on the pitch," Messi said.The all-time top scorer in the Spanish top flight went on to reveal how things have changed at home, since football was a forbidden subject whenever his teams lost. The international superstar admitted that Thiago's desire to know everything about the game has forced him to change that "rule"."We tried to avoid talking about it Cheap Dortmund Soccer Team Uniform , but it's not possible anymore. It's always hard to digest a tough loss or a bad performance, but Thiago forces me to comment on what happened. He demands explanations on why we did not win. Now, we talk way more about what happened in all of our games," Messi added.聽

The Panthers have engaged in a public debate regarding quarterback Colin Kaepernick Brian Burns Jersey , sort of.Six days after lawyer Mark Geragos suggested that the Panthers may sign Kaepernick, Bill Voth of Panthers.com addressed the issue in a Q&A column. One specific comment caught the attention of Panthers safety Eric Reid.“Kaepernick hasn’t been on a field in two seasons,” Voth initially wrote, “he lost his starting job at Blaine Gabbert at the start of 2016 and is 32-32 all-time as a starter.”Reid correctly pointed out the flaw in Voth’s logic regarding Kaepernick: “He didn’t lose his job to Blaine. He was coming off of three surgeries and needed more time to heal. Once healed, he started again. No more false narratives in 2019 please.”Reid is right Ryan Kalil Color Rush Jersey , and the fact that Voth passed along one of the various false Kaepernick narratives demonstrates how deeply rooted they’ve become. To the team’s credit, the language in question was later revised to say that Kaepernick “briefly saw his starting job go to Blaine Gabbert after dealing with shoulder soreness ahead of the 2016 season.”While the revision still understates the impact of a trio of surgeries on Kaepernick’s preparedness to start in 2016, it’s better than sticking with the incorrect characterization that Gabbert, who remains gainfully employed by an NFL franchise, won an open competition with Kaepernick. Gabbert definitely didn’t.None of this changes the fact that Kaepernick has been shunned by the NFL’s 32 teams Graham Gano Jersey , or that the shunning likely will continue. Regardless of whether the Panthers or any other team accurately or inaccurately lists the reasons for his unemployment, it would be a surprise if the Panthers or any other team gives him a job. The Panthers will travel to London in Week 6 to face the Buccaneers." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteCat Scratch Readera Carolina Panthers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsAboutPanthersOddsShopStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomCarolina Panthers 2019 schedule released; Panthers get one prime time gameNew,91commentsThe Panthers will travel to London in Week 6 to face the Buccaneers.EDTShareTweetShareShareCarolina Panthers 2019 schedule released; Panthers get one prime time gameThe 2019 NFL schedule has been released and the Panthers now know the dates/times of their slate of opponents this season.Panthers 2019 regular season scheduleWeek 1 — vs Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m.Week 2 — vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:20 p.m. (Thursday)Week 3 — at Arizona Cardinals Julius Peppers Jersey , 4:05 p.m.Week 4 — at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. Week 5 — vs Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.Week 6 — at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9:30 a.m. (London)Week 7 — BYE WEEKWeek 8 — at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m.Week 9 — vs Tennessee Titans DJ Moore Color Rush Jersey , 1 p.m.Week 10 — at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. Week 11 — vs Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.Week 12 — at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.Week 13 — vs Washington, 1 p.m.Week 14 — at Atlanta Falcons James Color Rush Bradberry Jersey , 1 p.m.Week 15 — vs Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m.Week 16 — at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.Week 17 — vs New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.Panthers 2019 preseason scheduleWeek 1 — at Chicago BearsWeek 2 — vs Buffalo BillsWeek 3 — at New England PatriotsWeek 4 — vs Pittsburgh SteelersThe big ticket item here is that Week 6 trip across the pond to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. As expected, the Panthers have a bye the following week to help them recover from the long trip back and forth.A few notable things about the schedule are that the Panthers only have one prime time game this year (Thursday night against the Buccaneers in Week 2) and only four games at a time other than 1 p.m. ET (Week 2 Ian Thomas Jersey , Week 3, Week 6 and Week 8).The Panthers don’t have any long road trips in back-to-back weeks, and only have one back-to-back set of road games with no break in between (Weeks 3 and 4).All in all, there’s not a lot to complain about with this schedule.What do you think about the schedule, Panthers fans? Do you like it? Share your thoughts with us Curtis Samuel Color Rush Jersey , and stay tuned for more analysis of the 2019 schedule in the future.

The Dallas Cowboys have made it a bit of a habit to groom their former players on their coaching staff. Just take a look at Marc Colombo https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Demarcus-Lawrence-Jersey , Kellen Moore, or even Jason Garrett if you need an example.Somebody who the Cowboys have kept on their staff for a bit now has been former wide receiver Miles Austin. Austin spent the majority of his playing career with the Cowboys and started his path as a coach there. His path has now grown and spread off into a new direction as he’ll be joining the staff of the San Francisco 49ers.It’s not the first time that the Cowboys have lost one of their former players to a different coaching staff, such was the case last year when DeMarcus Ware joined the Denver Broncos. For whatever reason it just hasn’t worked out for the team to have had the openings necessary for these former players at that particular time.Miles Austin is joining a staff in San Francisco led by Kyle Shanahan who’s regarded as one of the smarter offensive minds in the NFL. Hopefully Austin develops into a fine coach, but just not against the Cowboys. Check out today’s latest and greatest news surrounding America’s team!"Cowboys invoke predictable tactics in Dak Prescott negotiations - Patrik Walker Ibraheim Campbell Jersey , 247 SportsWhich side will present the best case to “win the deal”?Dallas Cowboys will win offseason by not overpaying Dak Prescott - Richard Ball, Fansided.comWhat dollar figure would it take to make you reconsider signing Dak Prescott?Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence Continues Trolling Giants for Keeping Eli Manning - Joe Price, Complex.comNever change DeMarcus... never change.Early Guess At The 2019 Starters On Offense - DallasCowboys.comIs it too early to start predicting the starting lineup for the Cowboys? Never! The mothership has us covered.Film room: Here are the best- and worst-case scenarios for the Cowboys in Round 2 of the NFL draft - John Owning, SportsDayJohn Owning gives us a look at the best and worst case scenario for the Cowboys second-round draft pick.State your case: who do you want to be Cowboys a week from today? - RJ Ochoa Allen Hurns Color Rush Jersey , Blogging the BoysWho do you hope the Cowboys draft next Thursday? We’d love to hear from you!Dallas Cowboys: 7-Round 2019 NFL mock draft goes heavy on defense - Randy Gurzi, FansidedHere’s a defensive heavy view of a Cowboys 7-round mock draft.Finding 58: Drafting A CB For The Future? - David Helman, DallasCowboys.comCould the Cowboys go cornerback with their first pick in 2019 NFL draft? COWBOYS LOOK TO BE IN FOR BRUTAL DECEMBER SLATE IN 2019 - Kevin Brady, Inside the StarA look at a tough stretch of games for the Cowboys.

NASHVILLE https://www.broncosfanstore.com/Steve-Atwater-Jersey , Tenn. (AP) — The only question about Tom Brady as quarterback in New England is when Father Time finally wins before the five-time Super Bowl champ decides he’s done with the NFL.Same for Drew Brees in New Orleans or Philip Rivers with the Chargers.Aaron Rodgers is expected back at his usual level returning from injury for Green Bay, and Deshaun Watson tantalized before his own injury cut short a very promising rookie season. Even though it’s been a while since Andrew Luck threw a pass in an NFL game, his resume gives him plenty of cushion as he recovers from shoulder surgery.Not every quarterback has the same grip on a starting job as Brady, Brees or Rodgers, and a poor game or sloppy start can lead to a spot on the bench. Add a promising rookie into the mix, the leash can be even shorter.Here’s a look at some quarterbacks who need to play well to remain starters as training camps open around the league:JAMEIS WINSTON, BUCCANEERSYes, Marcus Mariota must prove he can play all 16 games in a season, but the Tennessee Titans already have picked up Mariota’s fifth-year option for 2019. Same for Tampa Bay for Jameis Winston, the quarterback taken a spot ahead of Mariota in 2015. Both are due $20.9 million in 2019 at what could be a bargain the way the market is booming for quarterbacks.On the other hand, Winston will miss the first three games this season with the quarterback suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after a league investigation of an accusation that the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner groped a female Uber driver during a ride in Arizona in March 2016. That’s not a great combination when Bucs coach Dirk Koetter’s job security already is at risk after a 5-11 record last season. Tampa Bay brought back veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started three games in Winston’s place last season, for an experienced backup.JIMMY GAROPPOLO John Elway Jersey , 49ERSJimmy G could do no wrong for the 49ers last season, winning five straight games after finally moving into the starting lineup. San Francisco wasted little time signing the young quarterback to a five-year contract worth $137.5 million at an average of $27.5 million per season. The 49ers also re-signed receiver Marquise Goodwin to keep a top target around.As good as Garoppolo looked, there’s now plenty of game tape of him running coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Defensive coordinators, especially those in the NFC West, have had all offseason to figure out how to slow down Garoppolo.TYROD TAYLOR, BROWNSHelping the Bills stop a seemingly endless playoff drought wasn’t enough to keep Taylor on the job in Buffalo. The Cleveland Browns traded for Taylor on the eve of free agency, and that’s normally a sure sign a team is heavily invested in a player. Then the Browns went quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, selecting Baker Mayfield. Keeping Mayfield on the bench depends mostly on how long Taylor plays well.JOE FLACCO, RAVENSThe 10-year veteran has missed a mere six games since being drafted by Baltimore in 2008, all in 2015, and led the Ravens to a Super Bowl in 2012. But the Ravens last reached the playoffs in 2014, and general manager Ozzie Newsome made sure to give himself options in his final year in charge. Not Robert Griffin III, who last started a game in 2016 with Cleveland.Newsome traded to get the final pick of the first round in April to select Lamar Jackson . Yes Karl Mecklenburg Color Rush Jersey , the Ravens insist they want to develop Jackson and be patient. If Flacco struggles, Jackson, who threw 57 touchdown passes over the past two seasons in college at Louisville and won a Heisman Trophy, could start looking really good much sooner.CASE KEENUM, BRONCOSComing off the bench and leading Minnesota to the NFC championship game is one thing. Playing quarterback under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer John Elway in Denver is quite a different challenge. Keenum comes in as the starter after the best season of his career . He’ll need to pick up where he left off to stop the Broncos’ quarterback carousel , with backup Paxton Lynch, the 26th pick overall in 2016, sitting on the bench and, thus far, showing little when he has played.PATRICK MAHOMES IIWith Alex Smith traded to Washington , all the pressure now is on Mahomes in Kansas City after he was the target of all those longing looks to the bench by fans during his rookie season. He looked good winning his first NFL start in last year’s regular-season finale . That won’t help with expectations remaining high for the Chiefs, who won the AFC West before blowing a wild-card game to the Titans at Arrowhead Stadium in the playoffs. The 1st & 10 at 10 crew on Orange and Blue 760 caught up with Raiders Head Coach, Jon Gruden Shannon Sharpe Jersey , who is coaching down at the Senior Bowl this week. Throughout the interview, it was clear Gruden has tremendous respect for Atwater and what he accomplished as a Pro, even when he was teasing him a bit about the Raiders rivalry. As the conversation wound down, host Ryan Edwards asked if Gruden would like to see Atwater make into the Hall of Fame, now that he’s a finalist. Here was Gruden’s response: “If the voters really know football, Atwater’s in there. I mean look at him, he still could play. He and Dennis Smith were the most feared safety combination that I can remember playing together and I hope to see them both in Canton.”Darnit, Jon Gruden! You’re the Raiders’ Head Coach, I am duty bound to dislike you, but this was a classy move by a rival. He also praised the Broncos recent hire of Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell, calling Donatell a “really well kept secret”. Gruden said having them coaching the defense together will be good for Denver and bad for the Raiders. Check out the interview above.

LAKE FOREST https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Taylor-Gabriel-Jersey , Ill. (AP) — Defensive end Akiem Hicks refers to the Chicago Bears‘ defense as dominant.Resilient might be a more appropriate description.The NFC North champion Bears (11-4) keep bouncing back from difficult situations to bring the heat on defense, and are within sight of achieving one major goal they set before the season as they head to Minnesota for Sunday’s regular-season finale with the Vikings (8-6-1).“Dominant, that’s it,” Hicks said. “We are aggressive. We like to hit.“All the stuff that I was telling (media) before the season started, we’re everything that we said we were. And hopefully we can get to another level for these playoffs.”It hasn’t been a solid, steady rise for coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense, yet they rank fourth in the league and are No. 1 at taking away the ball with 36 turnovers forced.Prior to this season, Hicks and many Bears spoke openly about trying to get into the top five in overall league rankings. Whether it’s pass-rush pressure from Khalil Mack or a secondary that plays tight coverage, the defense is making it difficult for offenses at the right time.“It’s just that we’ve continued to play better, we’ve avoided the self-inflicted bad plays that we had in the Giant game, which contributed to our failings in that game,” Fangio said.The Bears’ defense struggled and gave up 23 of the Giants’ 30 points Dec. 2 in a 30-27 overtime defeat. Since then, they have allowed a touchdown only once: a 9-yard run around end against Green Bay. They beat the Rams 15-6, the Packers 24-17 and Trey Burton Color Rush Jersey , last week, the 49ers 14-9.They bounced back in a similar way earlier this year after allowing more than 30 points in back-to-back losses to Miami and New England.“When we have a team like that, we’re scary to other teams,” linebacker Danny Trevathan said. “We haven’t even played our best ball, but it’s getting there.”Trevathan has taken to calling this a classic bend-but-don’t break defense because the Bears can get into trouble, then come up with a big turnover like his interception in the red zone to help beat the 49ers.“It looks a little gloomy out there, but we never stumble over ourselves, we never think twice,” Trevathan said.If there was a time this season for the Bears to take a step back on defense, this could have been it. They lost safety Eddie Jackson to an ankle injury and it’s possible he’ll miss a second straight game Sunday. Nickel defensive back Bryce Callahan had his strong season cut short three weeks ago by a broken foot.However, the defense flourished with Deon Bush at safety and Sherrick McManis at nickel corner.“Since I’ve been here, we’ve been losing a lot of players every year,” safety Adrian Amos said. “It’s just next man up, stay to our assignments Cody Parkey Jersey , everybody going to practice and everybody doing well.”The Bears finished with eight key defensive players on injured reserve last year and six the previous season. But this year they’ve been relatively healthy.“We lost two key pieces a little bit the last couple weeks, but it’s just about how we respond. Don’t flinch,” Amos said. “We just are a close-knit team, a good team, and good teams overcome adversity. In an NFL season, there is going to be adversity.”The Bears lead the league in interceptions (27), fewest points allowed to opposing offenses (16.8 per game) and lowest opposing quarterback passer rating (72.5).Individually, Kyle Fuller is tied for the NFL interceptions lead with Miami’s Xavien Howard at seven, and Mack is tied for the league lead with six forced fumbles.Defense is setting off a Chicago fan fervor, as it always has — from Lovie Smith’s units to the 1985 champions to the Dick Butkus era.Fangio is from the New York-Philadelphia area and said he didn’t quite realize how much defense meant to Bears fans when he came to Chicago in 2015, although he’d been told once by the late Jim Finks, a former Bears general manager.“Jim Finks, my good buddy, told me way back when that if I ever had a chance to come to Chicago https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Khalil-Mack-Jersey , I needed to because it’s a good sports town,” Fangio said. “They love the Bears, they love defense and we’re starting to feel that.“Hopefully, we’ll continue it this Sunday and into the playoffs.”Fangio said it surprised him when even the defensive coordinator got recognized in public like Mack, even if it was a bit of a rarity.“I got recognized one time in the four years here when I was out in public. I think that’s it,” Fangio said. “Just in a gas station paying for my gas.”NOTES: Jackson (ankle), wide receiver Allen Robinson II (ribs) and linebacker Aaron Lynch (elbow) missed practice for the second straight day Thursday. … Defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson missed Thursday’s practice due to illness. It always seems like this team finds new ways to win throughout the week. When the Chicago Bears hired Matt Nagy in January of this year, we all expected for improvements to place beginning in year one. With all respects being paid to the history of this franchise, Matt Nagy’s debut season in Chicago was not only successful, it was unprecedented. So much so, that the writers for the Associated Press have named Matt Nagy as their Coach of the Year for 2018 so far. The story was originally published by Josh Dubow of the Associated Press in his article titled, Chicago’s Matt Nagy picked by AP writers top coach in 2018. EDITOR: The title of the article make sit seem like this is the actual award, but the body of his article is more vague, so we’re not really sure... {Insert shrug emoji here}A panel of 10 AP writers voted on which head coach was doing the best job in 2018 https://www.thebearsfanshop.com , and Nagy received 7 of the 10 first place votes. The actual award will be revealed in February at the NFL Honors show. Seattle’s Pete Carroll was second in this mini-poll for having the 8-5 Seahawks in prime position for a wildcard spot in the NFC. If coach Nagy does win the real award, he’ll be the first Chicago Bears head coach since Lovie Smith in 2005 to be named for this honor. Nagy would also be the fifth coach in franchise history to winfollowing these gentlemen: George Halas (‘63, ‘65) Mike Ditka (‘85, ‘88)Dick Jauron (‘01) Lovie Smith (‘05) Considering that two of those coaches have gone to the Super Bowl (Smith and Ditka) with another pair being members of the Hall of Fame (Halas and Ditka), that is some good company to be included with (if he were to win the award in February). Also, all those coaches won the NFC North during the season they were named to the award, which bodes well as an omen for the Bears this coming Sunday. Oh, and we can’t forget about Club Dub: Hopefully, Nagy wins the real deal the night before the Super Bowl, and hopefully general Manager Ryan Pace wins the NFL’s “Front Office Exec of the Year” award as well.