The bum's 2016 nfl preseason schedule along with picks and news !!

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BC-AP Sports Preview ******
August 20, 2016

Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Saturday. A full Sports ****** will be sent by about 3 p.m. A full Olympic ****** has been sent. All times EDT:

- RIO DE JANEIRO - The U.S. women's basketball team tries for a sixth consecutive gold medal as it faces Spain. The Americans most likely will have starting point guard Sue Bird back in the lineup after she missed the semifinals because of a sprained right knee capsule. Game starts 2:30 p.m.

- RIO DE JANEIRO - Nothing easy. That pretty much sums up the Rio Games for the U.S. men's basketball team. They have been challenged and criticized while marching into Sunday's gold medal game after a string of single-digit wins, including a three-point victory against Serbia in the preliminary round. The Americans will have to take down the Serbs again to capture their third straight Olympic title.

- RIO DE JANEIRO - With Usain Bolt done, the Americans try to crack 30 medals in the final day of track at Olympic Stadium. Allyson Felix could get career gold No. 6 in the women's 4x400 relay. Race at 9 p.m.

- ROCHESTER, Ind. - Five Notre Dame football players have been arrested after Indiana State Police say a trooper found marijuana and a loaded handgun in their car.

- NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers visit the Tennessee Titans in the second preseason game for both teams. The matchup with the reigning NFC champions represents one more audition for Tennessee's new-look rushing attack featuring DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. Game starts 3 p.m.

- ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Giants quarterback Eli Manning and receiver Victor Cruz are set to make their preseason debuts when New York travels to play the Buffalo Bills. They'll face a Rex Ryan-coached defense that's been thinned by injuries. Game starts 4 p.m.

- INDIANAPOLIS - Andrew Luck is expected to make his first start in more than nine months when the Indianapolis Colts host the Baltimore Ravens in a preseason game. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not expected to play much. Game starts 7 p.m.

- DENVER - Trevor Siemian, locked in a competition with Mark Sanchez for the Broncos' starting quarterback job, will get his turn to start when Denver hosts the 49ers. Game starts 9 p.m.

- Other preseason NFL games: Tampa Bay at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.; New Orleans at Houston, 8 p.m.; Kansas City at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

- CLEVELAND - Following their once-in-a-century, walk-off win on Tyler Naquin's inside-the-park homer, the Indians resume their series against Toronto with Josh Tomlin (11-6, 4.14 ERA) starting against Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez (12-2, 2.84). Game time 7:10 p.m.

- ATLANTA - Max Scherzer (12-7, 2.95), who lasted only four innings in his last start at Colorado, his shortest of the season, will look to get back on track when the Washington Nationals try to continue their success against the Braves. Atlanta sends Tyrell Jenkins (2-3, 4.89) to the mound. Game starts 7:10 p.m.

- MASON, Ohio - Angelique Kerber tries to advance to the finals of the Western & Southern Open, where she could overtake Serena Williams for the WTA's No. 1 ranking. Andy Murray leads the men's bracket. Women's semifinal matches start 1 p.m., men's 7 p.m.

- LONG POND, Pa. - Penske drivers Simon Pagenaud and Will Power - 1-2 in the standings - vie for the pole in IndyCar qualifying at Pocono Raceway. Qualifying starts 1:30 p.m.

- BRISTOL, Tenn. - Carl Edwards, the spring winner here, looks for a Sprint Cup season sweep at Bristol Motor Speedway. He'll have to outrun a trio of Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, all of whom will start in the top five. Race starts 8 p.m.

- GREENSBORO, N.C. - Si Woo Kim takes a two-stroke lead into the third round of the Wyndham Championship. Kim shot a 60 in the second round and nearly became the second PGA Tour player this month to break 60.

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Preseason Record All Opinions

ATS Picks 8-17-0 32.00% -5350

O/U Picks 10-13-2 43.48% -2150


SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CAR at TEN 03:00 PM

CAR -1.5

U 40.0


NYG at BUF 04:00 PM

BUF -3.0

O 41.0


BAL at IND 07:00 PM

IND -3.0

U 41.0


TB at JAC 07:30 PM

JAC -3.0

O 40.5


NO at HOU 08:00 PM

NO +2.5

O 41.0


SF at DEN 09:00 PM

SF +6.0

O 39.5


KC at LA 09:00 PM

LA +1.5

U 39.0

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Bad-Beat Bears nab Preseason Week 2 cover

With the clock about to slip inside 10 seconds, Connor Shaw dove head-first to get a first down on 4th-and-10, extending a drive that had no business being extended by sacrificing his body to gain 11 yards at New England in the closing seconds of a game most would describe as “meaningless.”

The Bears had already picked up one fourth-down conversion on the drive, the final one in a 22-13 game that the Patriots backups gained control of after Chicago won the first quarter 11-0. In that sense, they were already feeling good about themselves, which made what happened at the end greedy.

Chicago called timeout following the Shaw scramble, set up a short out route to get closer for the final play with four seconds left and scored when Shaw hit converted quarterback B.J. Daniels on a 22-yard heave that was placed perfectly enough that he made two defenders look bad.

The play didn’t make the initial AP recap, which covered Tom Brady’s absence, Jimmy Garoppolo’s work and Jay Cutler’s improvement from the preseason opener. For bettors, the swing meant just as much as Malcolm Butler’s pick of Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX. New England laying three, or Chicago plus-3 if you’re feeling blessed, was decided by Shaw finding rookie Darrin Peterson for a 2-point conversion (!) with no time on the clock.

'Under' bettors were also toast, as the 'over' came in on the final touchdown.

One day, that type of bad beat will be the lead of every game recap distributed around the world, but we’re still at the point where people will admonish you and say “you shouldn’t bet on the preseason.”

And miss this?

Miss a two-point conversion being returned the other way to swing the winner in Baltimore-Indianapolis with minutes left to play?

Over the next decade-plus, I expect we’ll see references to the line and total continue to gain acceptance as a significant part of the action. The day is coming where we’ll see those colorful USA Today charts documenting national profits and losses is inevitable. Ironically, the fact the NFL continues to turn its nose up at the impact wagering has on its product while embracing fantasy is moronic since it makes the preseason far more watchable.

Here’s a look at Thursday and Friday’s games in Week 3 of the NFL exhibition schedule, the one that matters most since it’s utilized as a dress rehearsal and typically features starters working into the second half:

Thursday

Falcons at Dolphins: Pressure for Ryan Tannehill to finally get it this year leaves first-year coach Adam Gase with no real grace period. Thus far, Miami has looked rough in the red zone and it comes off a blowout loss at Dallas that had few bright spots. We could see boos early at the newly-renamed Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida. The Falcons are 2-0 thus far and will unleash Matt Ryan for at least a half.

Cowboys at Seahawks: Rookie Dak Prescott has been the preseason’s breakout star, so it will be fun to see how he fares up in Seattle, where the 12th Man will be in midseason form with Dallas in town. Wilson has gotten in a nice amount of work over the first two games, but it’s an important test for TCU’s Trevone Boykin. The rookie faces his hometown team hoping to keep Seattle for looking elsewhere for a veteran backup quarterback.

Friday

Patriots at Panthers: Brady was excused from Monday’s practice due to a personal issue, so don’t hold your breath on seeing him here either. Rob Gronkowski’s last preseason game came in 2012, so this one will be heavy on Carolina starters against New England backups. Garoppolo may get a full three quarters, although Bill Belichick is liable to give rookie Jacoby Brissett an extended look since he tends to march to his own drum this time of year.

Bills at ‘Skins: After taking last week’s game off, Kirk Cousins is expected to play into the third quarter here. Buffalo has been besieged by injuries this offseason, but comes off a 21-0 win over the Giants and typically pulls no punches defensively in any preseason game, much less the third one.

Browns at Bucs: Cleveland is excited that Robert Griffin III has done some really nice things this preseason, hitting big plays and showing it is possible for him to slide early enough to avoid unnecessary contact. The Bucs are debuting at home this preseason and are 7-23 at Raymond James Stadium over the past three years including exhibitions.

Steelers at Saints: Veteran Ben Roethlisberger has yet to play this preseason but will get his first taste of action in New Orleans. The Saints have lost a pair of road games thus far, so they’ll be looking for improvement against a Pittsburgh squad that went 0-2 at home over the first two weeks, getting shut out by Philadelphia last Friday.

Packers at 49ers: In a significant development, Aaron Rodgers opened the week taking all the snaps with the rest of the starters, which means it’s likely he’ll line up under center for the first time since last year’s playoff loss at Arizona. Blaine Gabbert has built a nice lead on Colin Kaepernick in the race to start at QB for San Francisco, but Chip Kelly is expected to get his first look at Kap in game action here. He’s been resting a “dead arm” thus far.

Saturday

Chiefs at Bears: The last time Chicago played at Soldier Field, it was manhandled by the Denver defense and failed to score. Jay Cutler got his first group going in New England and will work into the second half here, so if the Bears fail to score again, there will be serious cause for concern. The Chiefs are 0-2, but have lost a pair of one-point game and seen Alex Smith look terrific thus far, directing a pair of touchdown drives while going 12-for-16 for 173 yards and two TDs. Although Andy Reid doesn’t put much stock in preseason results, Kansas City went 4-0 last year and continues to answer the bell with a competitive approach.

Eagles at Colts: Rookie Carson Wentz started throwing again after being sidelined by a rib fracture, but he’s not playing here and may not get another chance this preseason. Chase Daniel hasn’t really pushed Sam Bradford, so this second half will be important for him to make some inroads. Andrew Luck played for the first time since last November on Saturday, completing all eight of his passes. Philadelphia has been stingy thus far, allowing just nine points over eight quarters and forcing numerous turnovers.

Lions at Ravens: Baltimore has won four of its last five preseason home games, but the Lions might be happy to be playing this one at M&T Bank Stadium since they were booed mercilessly by their own fans last week. Between turnovers and penalties, Detroit gave the paying customers plenty of ammo, so they’ll look for a better effort here as Matthew Stafford tries to continue operating at a high level despite shoddy offensive line play. The Ravens have held Joe Flacco back and were snake-bit by injuries last year, so they’ve picked up wins despite taking the cautious approach thus far.

Giants at Jets: This year’s Snoopy Bowl will be the first without Tom Coughlin since 2003, and although Ben McAdoo is right to downplay its significance, he’s coming off a 20-0 loss up in Buffalo and is in the wrong city to preach patience in. New York has been outscored 37-10 and its offensive line has often looked inept. The Jets have had their issues too, but Bryce Petty’s dramatic improvement to push Geno Smith for the No. 2 job has been an interesting development. If nothing else, it cements how shaky Smith is and how important it was to team stability to re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will be joined in the backfield by Matt Forte for the first time. Todd Bowles won this annual battle as a rookie head coach, 28-18.

Titans at Raiders: After spending the first two weeks of the exhibition season on the road, Oakland will debut at home and should again showcase Derek Carr, who played the bulk of the first half in Green Bay. Jack Del Rio has taken a long look at his regulars thus far, so Tennessee should get a great indication of where it stands after this one. Although they’re just 1-1, the Titans have seen Marcus Mariota go 14-for-15 with an interception his lone mistake. Rookie Tajae Sharpe, a fifth-round pick out of UMass, has been the team’s leading receiver. Reigning Heisman Trophy recipient Derrick Henry has also looked sharp in tandem with DeMarco Murray. What’s real and what isn’t? We should get a better indication in what looks to be one of this week’s most compelling matchups given the young talent all over the field.

Rams at Broncos: Unheralded second-year QB Trevor Siemian is getting another chance to start, which bodes well for his chances of ultimately winning this three-man to find Peyton Manning’s successor. Mark Sanchez has disappointed with familiar-looking turnovers, while rookie Paxton Lynch has displayed flashes of brilliance but ideally wouldn’t immediately be thrown into the fire. Los Angeles looks like it will also play it safe with its investment, likely turning to Case Keenum, who has started 10-for-12 in running with the starters. Jarred Goff will take the reins eventually, but hasn’t looked ready. Oddsmakers have Denver as this week’s biggest favorite (-5).

Sunday

Chargers at Vikings: Minnesota sat Teddy Bridgewater last week due to a sore shoulder and he didn’t throw a pass on Monday, so it isn’t likely that we’ll see him here. Mike Zimmer managed to improve to 10-1 in exhibition play and is 4-0 in Minneapolis, so don’t be surprised if the Vikings ride veteran Shaun Hill and rookie Joel Stave to another win. Philip Rivers has led the Chargers to a score on his only drive this season, took last week off and may not see the normal extended action here. Kellen Clemens is trying to hold off Zach Mettenberger and rookie Mike Bercovici for the backup gig and may wind up seeing the most action. Despite Bridgewater’s likely absence, the Vikings (-4) still opened as the third-heaviest favorite this week.

Cardinals at Texans: The Carson Palmer-led first-team offense came up empty on three drives in San Diego last week and is just 7-for-13 this preseason with an interception. He may not have all his weapons again here with Larry Fitzgerald (knee) and John Brown (concussion) just getting back in the mix, so it remains to be seen how long Bruce Arians exposes him and that first group. J.J. Watt won’t play at all this preseason after back surgery, but the defense has allowed an average of 11.0 points per game in wins over the 49ers and Saints. Brock Osweiler made his home debut last week, throwing a touchdown and interception while going 12-for-19, so Texans fans should get another long look at their new QB here.

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Week 3 Preseason Trends
August 23, 2016


Preseason Coaching Records

Week 3 of the NFL Preseason kicks off Thursday and concludes Sunday with 16 games on tap.

The third week is often called the "Dress Rehearsal" week as teams are expected to give extra minutes to starting units.

Handicapping exhibitions isn’t easy but veteran NFL Handicapper Marc Lawrence is here to help again as he breaks down Game 3 records of the preseason.

Looking at the below table from Lawrence’s PLAYBOOK magazine, you can view the Against the Spread records for all 32 teams from 1983.

Along with the overall ATS marks, Lawrence has identified Most Recent ATS trends for each team as well.

Best Game 3 Overall ATS Records (Week 3 Opponent)

New York Jets 21-11 (vs. N.Y. Giants)

Seattle Seahawks 24-9 (vs. Dallas)

San Francisco 49ers 20-13 (vs. Green Bay)

New England Patriots 19-13 (at Carolina)

Worst Game 3 Overall ATS Records (Week 3 Opponent)

Oakland Raiders 9-23 (vs. Tennessee)

Chicago Bears 13-20 (vs. Kansas City)

Dallas Cowboys 10-21 (at Seattle)

Most Recent Game 3 ATS Trends to Watch (Week 3 Opponent)

-- Oakland Raiders 1-7 ATS last eight (vs. Tennessee)

-- Philadelphia Eagles 6-0 last six (at Indianapolis)

-- Miami Dolphins 0-5 last five (vs. Atlanta from Orlando)

-- Detroit Lions 6-2 last eight (at Baltimore)

-- Washington Redskins 8-1 last nine (vs. Buffalo)

-- Kansas City Chiefs 2-7 last nine (at Chicago)

Listed below are all of the Game 3 ATS Preseason Trends for all 32 NFL teams.

GAME 3 ATS PRESEASON RECORD (1983-2015)

Team ATS Record Most Recent ATS Trend

Arizona Cardinals 15-17 1-3

Atlanta Falcons 19-13 6-3

Baltimore Ravens 17-16 0-1

Buffalo Bills 17-15 1-3

Carolina Panthers 9-11 0-2

Chicago Bears 13-20 0-2

Cincinnati Bengals 14-18 2-0

Cleveland Browns 8-9 1-5

Dallas Cowboys 10-21 0-3

Denver Broncos 13-18 1-4

Detroit Lions 16-17 6-2

Green Bay Packers 16-15 0-1

Houston Texans 7-7 2-0

Indianapolis Colts 19-14 1-0

Jacksonville Jaguars 13-8 1-4

Kansas City Chiefs 14-17 2-7

Los Angeles Rams 18-14 7-1

Miami Dolphins 17-14 0-5

Minnesota Vikings 15-17 2-0

New England Patriots 19-13 2-0

New Orleans Saints 16-16 7-2

New York Giants 12-20 1-6

New York Jets 21-11 1-0

Oakland Raiders 9-23 1-7

Philadelphia Eagles 18-15 6-0

Pittsburgh Steelers 14-18 1-0

San Diego Chargers 18-12 3-1

San Francisco 49ers 20-13 7-2

Seattle Seahawks 24-9 4-1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-13 4-1

Tennessee Titans 19-14 3-1

Washington Redskins 18-15 8-1

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Thursday's Preseason Tips
August 24, 2016


Falcons at Dolphins (-2 ½, 43 ½) – NBC, 8:00 PM ET
(Game played at Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL)

Atlanta
Head Coach: Dan Quinn (4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Sean Renfree, Matt Simms
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: D. Orlando Ledbetter

Atlanta improved to 2-0 both straight up and against the spread in the preseason last Thursday as it dropped Cleveland 24-13 as a two-point road underdog. Even though the margin was only 11 points, the Falcons racked up 498 offensive yards and an eye-opening 31 first downs on the Browns while dominating the time of possession (39:59). If it wasn’t for a pair of RG3 deep touchdown bombs for Cleveland, this game would’ve looked much worse.

Atlanta is averaging 428.5 yards per game offensively in the preseason, which is ranked first in the NFL. The team has converted 48 percent of its third downs and only turned the ball over twice. Defensively, the Falcons haven’t created a turnover in either of their first two exhibitions but the unit has been stout with just 238.5 YPG.

Despite winning last week at Cleveland, the Falcons have recently struggled in road exhibition games. Including the Week 2 result, Atlanta is 3-9 SU (25%) in its last 12 as preseason visitors but it has managed to cover six of those games. Atlanta owns a 19-13 record in Game 3 of the preseason and is 6-3 in the last nine seasons, according to VegasInsider.com handicapper Marc Lawrence.

Miami
Head Coach: Adam Gase (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Brandon Doughty (Rookie), Zac Dysert
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Chris Perkins

After cruising past the Giants 27-10 in Week 1, the Dolphins were humbled 41-14 by the Cowboys. The defense was diced up for 433 total yards and that’s been a common theme this August. Miami’s run defense has looked awful in the preseason, surrendering 164 YPG and four rushing touchdowns in two games.

Fortunately, the first-team offense under quarterback Ryan Tannehill (162 yards, 2 TDs) looked very sharp. The unit had four possessions with Tannehill and he posted two touchdowns while another drive stalled inside the Dallas five-yard line due to a dropped touchdown pass by his tight end Jordan Cameron.

This game will be played in Orlando since Miami’s stadium is still completing renovations for the upcoming season. It’s technically a home game for the Dolphins and bettors could note that Miami is 4-1 in its last five home exhibitions but all five games were decided by five points or less.

The Dolphins have gone 17-14 overall in Game 3 since 1983 and are 0-5 the last five years.

Cowboys at Seahawks (-6, 44 ½) - NFL Network, 10:00 p.m. ET
(Joined in Progress at 11:00 p.m. ET)

Dallas
Head Coach: Jason Garrett (9-14 SU, 8-14-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Tony Romo, Dak Prescott, Jameill Showers
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Todd Archer

The Cowboys are coming off an impressive 41-14 victory over Miami last Friday at home. Dallas led 27-14 at the break and outscored the Dolphins 14-0 in the second half. It was the second consecutive preseason game where Dallas scored 20-plus points in the first 30 minutes as it built a 24-7 lead over Los Angeles in Week 1 of the preseason.

Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott impressed in Week 1 versus the Rams (10-of-12, 139 yards, 2 TDs) and followed up that effort by accounting for four touchdowns in Week 2 versus the Dolphins. Tony Romo is expected to receive more minutes in Game 3 which will leave the clean-up duty to Prescott.

Including the loss at Los Angeles in Week 1 of the preseason, the Cowboys have dropped eight straight road games (2-6 ATS) in the preseason. The defense has surrendered 22.3 PPG during this span and this year’s unit hasn’t looked sharp in their two exhibitions, allowing 343.5 yards per game.

Dallas has been one of the best fades in Game 3 of the preseason (10-21 ATS) and they enter this Thursday with a three-game losing skid.

Wide receiver Dez Bryant (concussion) has been ruled 'out' while rooking running back Ezekiel Elliott is expected to see his first action of the preseason for Dallas.

Seattle
Head Coach: Pete Carroll (27-16 SU, 29-13-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin, Jake Heaps
Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Bob Condotta

The Seahawks fell to 1-1 in the preseason after dropping an 18-11 decision to Minnesota last Saturday as 2 ½-point home favorites. The Vikings posted the game-winning score late on the fourth quarter with an interception return for a touchdown. The ‘under’ (38.5) connected for the second straight preseason game for Seattle.

The Seahawks offense has only managed to post 28 points in two games and none of those points have come from the first-team offense. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said that the starters will play the entire first half and at least one series in the third quarter on Thursday. Running back Thomas Rawls (ankle) is expected to sit out this game.

Despite losing last week to the Vikings, the Seahawks have gone 16-4 in their last 20 preseason games at home and have posted an impressive 14-5-1 ATS mark during this span. Dating back to 1983, Seattle has gone 24-9 ATS in Game 3 of the preseason and is 4-1 ATS the last five seasons.

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A look at Thursday night's preseason matchups
August 24, 2016

A look at Thursday night's preseason matchups (all times EDT):

Atlanta vs. Miami at Orlando, Florida, 8 p.m.

No NFL games have been played in the Citrus Bowl in nearly two decades. But with the Pro Bowl scheduled there in late January, the Dolphins moved this one from South Florida to the central part of the Sunshine State and the newly renovated Camping World Stadium.

The City of Orlando and Orange County put $207 million into updating the aging stadium in hopes of being able to lure NFL action back to Orlando. It's the first time since 1997 the NFL has played a preseason game in Orlando.

''It's a very strong tie to the Pro Bowl,'' said Peter O'Reilly, the NFL's senior vice president of events. ''It provides us an opportunity to test the game presentation, the game operations and the stadium operations in the tremendously renovated Camping World Stadium.''

Moving the game from Miami allows the Dolphins another week to prepare their stadium, which is in the final phase of a $500 million renovation that includes a canopy. The first game there will now be the preseason finale Sept. 1.

The Falcons' substitution plan may not follow the usual flow for the third week of preseasons, which are considered the most important for starters. Coach Dan Quinn is still hoping to give full quarters to backups competing for spots at wide receiver, running back, offensive guard, and linebacker, among other spots.

''I wish there were more quarters to play, because we want to take a look at a number of guys,'' Quinn said.

Expect such established starters as quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman to see less time than others, as Quinn plans to substitute individuals instead of full units.

Backup running back Terron Ward will miss his second straight game with an ankle injury, opening the way for Cyrus Gray, Brandon Wilds and Gus Johnson to make gains in bids for a roster spot.

Dolphins coach Adam Gase said it will be a game-time decision whether four-time Pro Bowl DE Cameron Wake plays for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon last season.

Wake was asked if he thinks he needs the work Thursday.

''I always need work,'' he said. ''If you're not getting better, you're getting worse. Then you need to retire.''

Also coming off Achilles tendon surgery is veteran RB Arian Foster, who carried twice for minus-5 yards last week.

''We didn't have much to evaluate,'' Gase said. ''The couple of carries that he had, there wasn't much there. He tried to create a couple things on his own. Hopefully we can get him going a little bit this week. Obviously I don't want to overdo it with him, but I'm pretty sure his resume speaks for itself.''

Gase wants to see better tackling from his defense and special teamers.

''It's a race to see who becomes the best tackling teams in football as you go throughout the season, because the only live work you really get nowadays are in games. Unless we want to start doing live out here and taking a chance of somebody getting hurt in practice, I mean it's really not something that's going to happen. We have to make sure we're great on technique. We have to get tight to them. We got to run our feet. Those are some things that we have to do a better job of.''

First-round draft pick Laremy Tunsil will likely start and get a lot of work at left guard. Second-year CB Tony Lippett, who is trying to secure a starting job, will also get a long look.

Backup QB Matt Moore is out with a concussion, which may mean lots of playing time for rookie Brandon Doughty.

Dallas at Seattle, 10 p.m.

Cowboys rookie Ezekiel Elliott is expected to make his preseason debut and get quite the initial test against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Most of the attention will be on Elliott and another rookie, promising young quarterback Dak Prescott. While Elliott is the presumed starter at running back in Dallas, he has veteran help in Alfred Morris, who is having a strong preseason. Prescott could wind up as Tony Romo's backup for the regular season.

The Cowboys will be minus wide receiver Dez Bryant due to a concussion suffered in practice.

Seattle's focus will be on the offensive line and trying to settle on a group of five up front heading into the season. Game 3 of the preseason schedule always is the most significant dress rehearsal for the real stuff.

So the Cowboys game will also be the most extensive playing time of the preseason for Russell Wilson.

However, the Seahawks will hold out running back Thomas Rawls for another week as he recovers from last year's broken ankle.

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Injuries, suspensions plague Bills
August 24, 2016

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) As if the series of headline-grabbing suspensions and injuries weren't enough, Bills coach Rex Ryan couldn't get through one of his final news conferences at training camp without distraction.

Ryan was explaining what Buffalo needs to improve when he was drowned out by someone on the public address system announcing a fan promotion occurring on the nearby field.

Pausing in mid-sentence, Ryan said: ''Maybe I should scream real loud or something.''

Who could blame him?

After holding a closed walk-through session Wednesday, the Bills wrapped up one of their most tumultuous camps in 17 years in suburban Rochester. It began on July 29, when nine players - including six projected starters - opened camp on various inactive lists due to injuries or illnesses.

By the time camp ended, Buffalo lost starting inside linebacker Reggie Ragland and backup outside linebacker IK Enemkpali to season-ending knee injuries.

Starting defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy for a second consecutive season, and announced he was entering a rehab facility. The league is also investigating whether to suspend starting linebacker Manny Lawson for violating the personal conduct policy.

Then there was backup running back Karlos Williams, who reported to camp out of shape a year after scoring nine touchdowns as a rookie. Williams never got an opportunity to serve his four-game suspension in Buffalo because he was cut on Saturday.

And Buffalo couldn't close camp without someone getting hurt. On one of the final plays of practice Tuesday, injury-prone fourth-year receiver Marquise Goodwin sustained a possible concussion.

''It's been a piece of cake, really,'' Ryan said with a distinct roll of his eyes, when asked how taxing camp had been.

Sarcasm aside, Ryan was defiant in saying he can look beyond the distractions and see a team showing signs of resilience.

''You know what, we'll deal with whatever happens,'' he said, noting how pleased he was with Buffalo's performance in a 21-0 win over New York Giants on Saturday. ''I've been impressed with the focus and work ethic. And I think you're seeing it a little bit of it on the field.''

Indeed, not all the news has been bad.

The Bills signed quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a contract extension. Receiver Sammy Watkins has resumed practicing since having surgery in April to repair a broken left foot. Buffalo added experienced depth by signing running back Reggie Bush and linebacker Brandon Spikes.

Concerns, however, remain for a team that sorely lacked focus during Ryan's first season as coach. Led by defensive end Mario Williams, several Bills players openly questioned whether Ryan's defensive philosophy fit the personnel.

Williams was cut in March, and Ryan has emphasized the team adopting an ''All-In'' approach.

So far, the Bills are buying in.

''No detractors. It's kind of just one team, one voice right now,'' guard Richie Incognito said. ''We've lost some huge players for us that have contributed a lot. Everybody's got to step up. Everybody's got to pull their weight.''

LeSean McCoy is on board, too. The outgoing running back has been energetic on the field in showing his support for teammates, while mostly avoiding media interviews in an effort to stay out of the spotlight.

''Last year, it was different. I mean, there were a lot of players going back and forth, a lot of finger pointing,'' McCoy told The Associated Press. ''This year is more accountability. Everybody's more accountable. Everybody's focusing in, taking ownership.''

It's not lost on McCoy that he caused stirs last year with an ongoing feud with former Eagles coach Chip Kelly. And McCoy became a distraction in February, when he was investigated for his role in bar fight involving off-duty police offers in Philadelphia. No charges were filed against him.

Distractions, McCoy said, are part of football. What's important is how everyone responds.

''I was in that same predicament, so I can't sit here and act like every player on this team is innocent and perfect. Sometimes things just happen you can't control,'' he said. ''I can only speak for myself. I've been working hard. I'm a little calmer person overall.''

Pausing, McCoy added with a smile, ''Especially in my looks,'' referring to his unshaven face.

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Patriots' Garoppolo preps for 'a good test' against Panthers
August 24, 2016

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Jimmy Garoppolo entered training camp last month knowing that for the first time in his two-year career he was preparing for his first NFL regular-season start.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick has repeated throughout the preseason that New England's priority at quarterback is to get Garoppolo ready for it.

As that clock winds, so too does the one ticking toward the start of Tom Brady's four-game ''Deflategate'' suspension. Brady has yet to see the field during the preseason, but as the Patriots approach Friday's third preseason game at Carolina - a game that traditionally brings extended playing time for starters - it will be the best dry run that Garoppolo will have prior to the Sept. 11 season opener at Arizona.

Whether Brady plays or not this week, the game clearly carries more importance for his understudy the past two seasons.

''This will be a good test,'' Garoppolo said. ''It's pretty much the closest thing we'll get to Week 1 and we'll see how it goes.''

Belichick acknowledged there has been at least some shift toward preparations for the Cardinals.

''We definitely have an eye on them,'' he said. ''We'll tighten the focus going forward, but we're certainly aware that is where we're headed on opening day. I don't think we want to get into a situation early in the season where we're knowingly doing something or dealing with something on a high-percentage basis that we haven't even talked about up until that point.''

Brady made his first appearance at practice this week on Tuesday, days after his scheduled preseason debut against the Bears was scrubbed before kickoff when he accidentally cut his right thumb on scissors.

The positive from Brady's mishap was it allowed Garoppolo to get extra snaps, and he showed progress from his first start against New Orleans. He played the entire first half and one series in the second half against the Bears, finishing 16 of 21 for 181 yards and a touchdown. He was 11 of 18 for 168 yards the week before against the Saints.

He also seemed more comfortable in the pocket and throwing into tighter passing windows. The best example came on his lone touchdown throws, when he threaded a ball to tight end A.J. Derby in the back of the end zone.

Garoppolo said he hasn't been told who will start Friday night, but his approach hasn't changed.

''We'll find out together, I guess,'' Garoppolo said. ''I'm preparing like I'm gonna be the starter. You never know. Last week was a good example. You never know what's gonna happen.''

Brady said the rapport and dialogue between he and Garoppolo has been good, noting ''there's always a good back and forth in our room.''

It is a unique situation for Garoppolo. Though he will have the starting reins and be expected to fill the leadership role for the first month of the season, this is Brady's offense.

Garoppolo is approaching it by focusing on his tasks on the field.

''It's a tough situation at times, but you can't worry about that too much,'' he said. ''It's one of those things where if you start worrying about that, then you can't focus on whatever it is: your reads, your checks, whatever it may be. You just have to go about your business the same way you always have. I'm not trying to do something crazy and do something I've never done before, I'm trying to be myself and do what I do.''

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Preseason Opinions Picks

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

ATL at MIA 08:00 PM

MIA -2.0

U 42.5


DAL at SEA 10:00 PM

DAL +6.0

O 44.0

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Thursday's Sports in Brief
August 26, 2016

BASEBALL

LOS ANGELES (AP) San Francisco lefty Matt Moore lost his no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning on a soft, clean single by Corey Seager, and the Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0.

Moore's try ended on his 133rd and final pitch - he missed most of the last two seasons after Tommy John surgery. He was immediately pulled after Seager's hit plopped onto the grass in shallow right field.

Giants center fielder Denard Span sprinted for two outstanding catches, including a leadoff grab in the ninth, to give Moore a chance.

Moore earned his first win for the Giants since they got him in a trade with Tampa Bay on Aug. 1.

Moore nearly gave San Francisco a major league record five straight years with a no-hitter. And he almost became the first Giants pitcher to no-hit the archrival Dodgers since 1915, when New York's Rube Marquard stopped Brooklyn.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Carlos Ruiz from Philadelphia in a trade of backup catchers, getting a popular player with a world of postseason experience.

The Phillies also sent $1 million to the Dodgers for A.J. Ellis, minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named or cash.

The 37-year-old Ruiz was hitting .261 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 48 games, playing behind Cameron Rupp. Ruiz has done well lately, batting .340 (16 for 47) since the All-Star break.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Nationals acquired reliever Marc Rzepczynski from Oakland, giving the NL East leaders another lefty in the bullpen.

Oakland also sent $500,000 to be paid on Sept. 30 to the Nationals for minor league infielder Max Schrock.

The Nationals have reshaped their relief corps in the last month. They added closer Marc Melancon, traded Felipe Rivero, cut Jonathan Papelbon and put Sammy Solis on the disabled list.

The 30-year-old Rzepczynski was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 56 games this season.

RYAN LOCHTE

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Brazilian police charged American swimmer Ryan Lochte with filing a false robbery report over an incident during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

A police statement said Lochte would be informed in the United States so he could decide whether to introduce a defense in Brazil. The indictment will also be sent to the International Olympic Committee's ethics commission, the statement said.

The swimmer's spokeswoman, Melissa Nathan, said Lochte had no comment.

During the games, Lochte initially said that he and fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen were robbed at gunpoint in a taxi by men with a police badge as they returned to the Olympic Village from a party Aug. 15. However, security video suggested the four actually faced security guards after vandalizing a gas station restroom.

NFL

SEATTLE (AP) - Three plays were all it took for Dallas to get yet another injury scare surrounding Tony Romo.

The quarterback lasted just 90 seconds into the Cowboys' 27-17 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks before leaving with what appeared at first to be a potentially significant injury, but ended up being minor.

Romo was tackled from behind by Seattle's Cliff Avril on the third play from scrimmage as Romo scrambled from the pocket. He immediately grabbed at his back, crumpled on the field while trainers sprinted from the Dallas sideline and images of Romo's injury problems from last year immediately flashed to mind.

Turned out it was all just a scare. Romo walked off the field without assistance, threw passes on the sideline and lobbied for a return to the game.

NEW YORK (AP) - Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison and Green Bay Packers defensive players Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers met this week with NFL investigators looking into allegations linking them to performance-enhancing drugs.

Matthews and Peppers met with league representatives on Wednesday, while Harrison did so on Thursday, according to the NFL Players Association.

Last week, the league threatened Harrison, Matthews, Peppers and free agent Mike Neal with indefinite suspensions if they did not meet with investigators. All of them were mentioned in an Al-Jazeera television interview with Charlie Sly, who worked as an intern at an anti-aging clinic. In the December report, Sly made claims of PED use by several athletes, including Harrison, the now-retired Peyton Manning and the three others, but later recanted his claims.

SOCCER

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrived for a marathon appeal hearing against a six-year ban from football, pledging to accept the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport

The 80-year-o;d Blatter declined to speculate on the verdict which is expected within several weeks. He could challenge it in a further appeal to Switzerland's supreme court.

GOLF

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) - Patrick Reed didn't break anything Thursday except par.

Two days after Reed broke the gavel during the ceremonial closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, the American kept a clean card and shot 5-under 66 to share the early lead with Martin Laird at The Barclays.

Laird also played bogey-free at Bethpage Black.

They had a one-shot lead over Emiliano Grillo and a pair of Ryder Cup hopefuls, Rickie Fowler and Kevin Chappell. Defending champion Jason Day, the No. 1 player in the world, shot a 68.

HOCKEY

DENVER (AP) - Joe Sakic had to rush his coaching search after the abrupt resignation of Patrick Roy. He doesn't believe the Colorado Avalanche rushed their hire.

After interviewing candidates with varying degrees of NHL coaching experience, Sakic ultimately chose Jared Bednar as the team's new coach. Bednar spent the past 14 seasons as a minor league coach, most recently winning the American Hockey League's Calder Cup with the Lake Erie Monsters, and the previous nine as a minor league player,.

While Roy, who resigned as coach and vice president of hockey operations on Aug. 11, is a Hall of Fame goaltender with a firebrand personality, the 44-year-old Bednar is a ''demanding'' coach whom Sakic said players respect and play for. He paid his dues as a journeyman minor league defenseman in his playing days and did the same in coaching before Roy's departure made for a surprise NHL opening.

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Friday's Preseason Tips
August 26, 2016

Patriots at Panthers (-3 ½, 44 ½) – 7:30 PM EST

New England
Head coach: Bill Belichick (48-39 SU, 43-37-7 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Tom Brady (?), Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett (rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Mike Reiss

Brady's availability may as well be a nationally-guarded secret, but his participation really doesn't matter. Garoppolo will play the bulk of this one as Belichick attempts to get his QB for the first four games prepared to hold the fort down.

Carolina
Head coach: Ron Rivera (12-10 SU, 12-10 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Joe Webb
Beat Twitter Follow: Joe Person

Newton has gotten a lot of seasoning already this postseason, so beyond re-establishing a rapport with Benjamin, there's little to prove. Vets will follow, which combined with their great defense, makes Carolina among Friday's top plays.


Bills at Redskins (-3, 43) – 7:30 PM EST

Buffalo
Head Coach: Rex Ryan (14-16 SU, 14-16 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Tyrod Taylor, E.J. Manuel, Cardale Jones (rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Mike Rodak

This is going to be a fantastic test for Taylor, who was awarded with a contract extension before the preseason began but is still basically working year-to-year. With former first-rounderManuel also set to get time and Jones looking impressive, the Bills should have impressive QB play.

Washington
Head coach: Jay Gruden (7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, Nate Sudfeld (rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Mike Jones

You like that? Cousins will see extended action for the first time this preseason and should provide more room for optimism at home. With the rest of the NFC East struggling, this is a huge opportuntiy for the 'Skins to see growth from the key to their franchise.

Browns at Buccaneers (-3 ½, 42) – 8 PM EST

Cleveland
Head coach: Hue Jackson (0-6 SU, 0-6 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Austin Davis, Cody Kessler (rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Mary Kay Cabot

Although Jackson still hasn't even covered a preseason spread, much less win outright, he's got RG III playing like he's at Baylor, throwing deep and looking comfortable in the pocket. McCown has looked solid too, but there hasn't been much depth behind the top two.

Tampa Bay
Head coach: Dirk Koetter (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Jameis Winston, Mike Glennon, Ryan Griffin
Beat Twitter Follow: Jenna Laine

Tampa Bay turned it over five times in the preseason opener and looked much sharper last week, so you can expect the coaching staff to unleash their weapons in an effort to see consistency in addition to firepower. There's too much talent at the QB position for ths group to struggle, which means Koetter is losing his mind at this point. Beyond Winston, he has to develop depth. On the bright side, Glennon hasn't played well enough to become trade bait.

Steelers at Saints (-2, 45) – 8 PM EST

Pittsburgh
Head coach: Mike Tomlin (21-19 SU, 16-23-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones, Bryn Renner
Beat Twitter Follow: Gerry Dulac

Although Roethlisberger will debut, Tomlin has never been one to push the envelope this time of year. With Bruce Gradkowski and Dustin Vaughan ailing, this will certainly be Jones and the unproven Renner wrapping up maaters. Renner, a former standout at UNC, needs to prove he's a pro.

New Orleans
Head coach: Sean Payton (19-20 SU, 21-18-1 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Drew Brees, Luke McCown, Garrett Grayson
Beat Twitter Follow: Mike Triplett

This is the highest total we've seen to date. While these teams will undoubtedly be among the highest-scoring and fastest-paced during the regular season, it will be interesting to see how the two veteran coaches handle this preseason test. Brees looks great now that he's healthy, so Payton may not need to see much from him, which could open the door for Josh McCown to get a longer look. Roethlisberger will debut and probably play a half, but you'll be pulling for Jones again if on the Steelers since Bruce Gradkowski and Dustin Vaughan are both likely out.

Packers at 49ers (-2, 46 ½) – 10 PM EST

Green Bay
Head coach: Mike McCarthy (22-20 SU, 22-20 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan (rookie), Marquise Williams (rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Rob Demovsky

McCarthy has never been big on the preseason, so there's a huge possibility that Rodgers' first appearance ends up being nothng more than a cameo, especially since Hundley has missed time with an ankle injury. Being out there is invaluable for him in a way that is irrelevant for Rodgers. The rookies have also shown signs. If Rodgers finishes the first half, I'd be shocked. He won't play next week so this will be it for him. It remains to be seen how long he goes, especially since Hundley needs work after missing the early portion of preseason due to an ankle issue.

San Francisco
Head coach: Chip Kelly (8-6 SU, 8-6 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback rotation: Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick, Cristian Ponder, Jeff Driskel (rookie)
Beat Twitter Follow: Cam Inman

Unless Kaepernick sets the world on fire, he looks like Gabbert's backup, so it will be intriguing to see how he fares. Tempo is obviously crucial to Kelly’s philosophy and the 49ers ran 52 offensive plays and racked up over 300 yards in the first half of the preseason opener against the Texans, so Kaepernick really has his work cut out for him as he tries to keep pace. Ponder impressed in his debut while Driskel has looked like he doesn't belong at this level, so all four 49ers quarterbacks have a lot to prove.

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Cowboys' Romo leaves after getting pulled down awkwardly
August 26, 2016

SEATTLE (AP) Dallas quarterback Tony Romo lasted just three plays in Thursday's preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks after getting pulled down from behind by Cliff Avril.

Romo was forced from the pocket by a blitz from K.J. Wright. As Romo scrambled and was about to begin his slide, he was pulled down by Avril chasing in pursuit.

Romo immediately grabbed at his back and was tended to by trainers for a few minutes before popping up and walking off the field without any assistance.

Turned out it was all just a scare. Romo walked off the field without assistance, threw passes on the sideline and lobbied for a return to the game. Dallas coach Jason Garrett opted to play it safe and Romo donned a baseball hat as a spectator the rest of the night.

''I was just in shock and had my mind on just, `C'mon, Tony. Get up,''' Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the team's TV broadcast.

''Said a few prayers right there in the middle on the spot. Really just couldn't imagine getting that hand dealt to us. We're pleased that it's in good shape. We obviously don't need to see what Tony can do out there.''

Dak Prescott took over and Jones said Romo was upset with the decision not to let him go back in.

''We don't think it's a serious thing, and we just felt better keeping him out,'' Garrett said.

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PRESEASON OPINIONS RECORD:

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 13-21-0 38.24% -5050

O/U Picks 14-17-3 45.16% -2350

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BUF at WAS 07:30 PM

WAS -2.5

U 42.5


NE at CAR 07:30 PM

CAR -3.0

U 44.5


PIT at NO 08:00 PM

NO -3.0

O 44.5


CLE at TB 08:00 PM

CLE +3.5

O 43.0


GB at SF 10:00 PM

GB +1.5

U 46.5

[StarDust Bum]

NFL

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - After just two drives, Aaron Rodgers is ready to begin the season for the Green Bay Packers. San Francisco coach Chip Kelly still needs a bit more time to figure out who his starting quarterback will be once the games count next month.

Rodgers made the most of his only appearance of the preseason, throwing a touchdown pass to Randall Cobb in the Green Bay Packers' 21-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Colin Kaepernick did not fare as well as he looked extremely rusty in his first game action since last November. He completed 2 of 6 passes and generated one first down on three drives. Blaine Gabbert led the Niners to a touchdown on one of his two drives/ Still, Kelly said he's not ready to pick a starter for the season opener against the Rams on Sept. 12.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Josh Gordon showed why the Cleveland Browns are so happy to have him back on the field.

The talented receiver with a history of suspensions for drug violations caught everything thrown his way in his preseason debut, scoring on a 43-yard reception and also hauling in another pass from Robert Griffin III for a 44-yard gain that led to a first quarter field goal in a 30-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Griffin completed 8 of 14 passes for 119 yards, one TD and no interceptions before being replaced by Josh McCown at the start of the third quarter.

Jameis Winston threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns in one half of work for the Bucs.

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Jets saluted the U.S. military by helping throw a green-and-white flag football game in Afghanistan.

Service members from the 10th Mountain Division, 518th Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade and the 25th Signal Battalion of the U.S. Army took the field Friday at Bagram Air Base with custom-made jerseys donated by the Jets.

The green game jerseys had ''Resolute'' sewn on the back, while the white ones sported ''Support'' as part of the New York-themed sports day at the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan, which was dubbed ''Mission Resolute Support.''

The military service members competed in an 8-on-8 game. The Jets also provided footballs, coaching clipboards, kicking tees and awards for team MVPs.