become fans of the punter.Lachlan Edwards may only be a punter, but hes going to be a damn good one in the NFL, New Jerseys Star-Ledger told readers last week.AUSTRALIANS IN WAITING

LOS ANGELES -- Mikaela Mayer knew she was better than the high school burnout that she was in danger of becoming.She had attended four schools in three years, repeatedly getting in trouble for fighting and bad grades. She was a 17-year-old occasional model with the self-awareness to realize she had no clear direction or future outside the San Fernando Valley.All I cared about was my friends, and going out and partying, and being a young, cool teenager, Mayer said. I was looking for something, but I had no idea what.One summer day, she realized something was calling her to the humble storefront kickboxing gym in an unassuming strip mall down the street from her divorced dads apartment. Instead of driving past it again, Mayer and a friend went inside.The first thing she asked the trainer was: Do you think Im too old to start competing?I was hungry for success in something at that time, because I wasnt doing well at anything, Mayer said. I was like, `I want to be good at something. Its always been inside me. Ive always had that fire. I didnt have anywhere to direct it.Almost nine years to the day after that wild child learned how to throw her first punch, Mayer will fight at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, joining gold medalist Claressa Shields as the only U.S. women boxers in Brazil.Mayer still doesnt know exactly why she first decided to punch people after a youth spent participating in everything from soccer to motocross to snowboarding. Nobody in her self-described family of hippies had been anywhere near a boxing gym.After her first workout, she knew three different ways to throw a proper punch. And she liked it.I poured all my energy into it, Mayer said. It wasnt ever just a part-time thing for me. From the day I walked into this gym, within two months, all I thought was, `I want to be the best female fighter in the world.Mayer took lessons in muay thai and kickboxing, but she dedicated herself to boxing after a back injury temporarily stopped her from throwing kicks. She became a Golden Gloves champion just a few years later -- and when the Olympics added a womens tournament in 2010, Mayer and her father, Mark, decided to chase medals.They heard about a boxing scholarship program at Northern Michigan University under revered amateur coach Al Mitchell, who has taught three U.S. Olympic teams. Before she had time to think, the LA native had been accepted to the program on Michigans Upper Peninsula.So I quit my job, said, `Later, to my boyfriend at the time, and hopped on a plane, Mayer said. I had never been to Michigan, let alone the U.P., which is a `nother thing on its own. I remember flying in there and seeing all the pine trees and 10 feet of snow and just thinking, `Where the hell am I?Mayer warmed to her cold new home, and Mitchell developed his first female pupil into a world-class fighter. Her bond with Mitchell and his fiancee became so tight that she had Mitchells initials tattooed on her right hand.The thing that makes Mikaela different is her commitment, Mitchell said. When she walked in here, I broke her down and rebuilt her. She never believed it was too hard, and she never gave up. She has toughness that got her this far, and now its getting her all the way to the Olympics. Its an incredible thing to do in that amount of time.A year after moving to Northern Michigan, Mayer fell just short of a spot on the first U.S. womens team, losing a decision to Queen Underwood at the 2012 trials. She only became more determined to catch the next wave in the evolution of her sport.Mayer made the Rio team last fall only after fending off a ferocious challenge over three qualifying fights from teenage prodigy Jajaira Gonzalez, a fellow LA-area native with a wealth of junior titles.The competition is so much tougher now than it was when I started, Mayer said. Back in 2009, if you went to a tournament and even got to have two fights, it was worth the money.With an artfully bent nose from boxing, she still takes occasional modeling work, particularly for a handbag company that sponsors her. Although she still lives in Michigan, Mayer returned to her original Valley gym last month, joyfully greeting her first coach -- and Coconut, the adorable dog she gave up when she moved.She wants an Olympic medal out of her journey, but she also wants her success to bring more attention to womens boxing. Although she has thought about turning pro, good money is scarce for female fighters outside the octagon -- but that only makes Mayer more determined to succeed in Rio.Ive always believed Id be here, but I also knew that the chances of being here were going to be slim, Mayer said. This was my dream before I knew it was possible. Joe Thomas Youth Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Greedy Williams Jersey . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-Sione-Takitaki-Jersey/ . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Baker Mayfield Womens Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Sheldrick Redwine Browns Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. The Jarryd Hayne sideshow has departed the NFL, but a potential Australian-grown star has emerged in his place.His name is Adam Gotsis, a 193cm tall, 130kg rookie defensive tackle from the Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford who has bulldozed his way onto the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos 53-man squad.Not only that. The 23-year-old Gotsis earned his spot in the Broncos defensive unit - the top-rated and most feared in the NFL - while overcoming a torn left anterior cruciate ligament.Adam Gotsis is looking incredible out there,?Broncos Super Bowl MVP Von Miller recently told reporters.The NFL regular season opens on Thursday (Friday AEST) when the Broncos host the Carolina Panthers in a re-match of Denvers 24-10 Super Bowl victory.A few months ago Australia had a record 10 players in contention to play in NFL this season.With Hayne returning to the NRL and other hopefuls failing to make rosters, it appears Gotsis, offensive lineman David Yankey (Carolina Panthers) and punters Brad Wing (New York Giants), Jordan Berry (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Lachlan Edwards (New York Jets) will be representing Australia.However, injuries and the cut-throat nature of the NFL, where players are fired for a misguided punt, fumble or just to save money, opens up the likely prospect other Australians will receive a call from a team.AUSTRALIANS IN THE NFL ADAM GOTSIS (Denver Broncos) Position: defensive endAge: 23Height: 193cmWeight: 130kgBorn: Melbourne With the lack of American football leagues in Melbourne, Gotsis was forced as a 14-year-old to play 18-year-olds and then, in his later teenage years, battle grown men.He scored a scholarship to Georgia Tech, but in last years fourth and final season tore up his knee. The Broncos, particularly defensive line coach Bill Kollar, was not deterred and the team made a surprise move by taking the Australian with their valuable second round pick at Aprils NFL draft.DAVID YANKEY (Carolina Panthers)Position: guardAge: 24Height: 198cmWeight: 145kgBorn: Sydney After being drafted in 2014 by the Minnesota Vikings and then cut, the Panthers threw Yankey a lifeline but then waived him last week.He received another chance when the Panthers signed him to their practice squad.BRAD WING (New York Giants)Position: punterAge: 25Height: 191cmWeight: 93kgBorn: MMelbourne After a making headlines for good and bad reasons at Louisiana State University, being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles and last year losing an Aussie vs Aussie battle with Jordan Berry at the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wing has found a home at the Giants.ddddddddddddLast season he tied the Giants franchise record of 33 punts inside the 20-yard line and in the just finished pre-season topped all punters by averaging 47.3 yards a punt.JORDAN BERRY (Pittsburgh Steelers)Position: punterAge: 25Height: 196cmWeight: 88kgBorn: Melbourne The Steelers have had a revolving door at the punter position, but the consistent Berry who is skilled at directional punting has become an integral member of the team.LACHLAN EDWARDS (New York Jets) Position: punterAge: 24Height: 196cmWeight: 97kgBorn: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria To make the Jets squad Edwards went head to head in the off-season and beat the most heralded Australian punter in US college history, Tom Hackett.The Jets are high on Edwards, using a seventh round draft pick on him, and the local press have also become fans of the punter.Lachlan Edwards may only be a punter, but hes going to be a damn good one in the NFL, New Jerseys Star-Ledger told readers last week.AUSTRALIANS IN WAITING- Tom Hackett made history when he won back-to-back Ray Guy Awards for best college punter at the University of Utah. But his crafty, rugby style punting apparently was not as attractive to the Jets as Edwards more traditional style. Theres a good chance an NFL team will take a punt and sign Hackett in coming weeks.- Blake Muir, another giant Sydney-born offensive lineman, spent the off-season at the 49ers before being cut. There are reports he worked out with the Green Bay Packers at the weekend so could end up with the coveted gig of protecting star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.- Adelaide goal kicker Brad Craddock, after a record-setting stint at the University of Maryland, was signed by the Cleveland Browns, but in May the team cut him.- Former AFL player Joel Wilkinson was hoping to use his athletic 186cm tall body in the defensive cornerback position at the Arizona Cardinals, but the team released him in May. ' ' '