Dein erstes Forum » That is kind of a strange

TAMPA, Fla. -- Jameis Winston can hardly wait to get started again.The No. 1 overall pick in last years NFL draft threw for 4,042 yards and 22 touchdowns as a rookie, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are counting on him to build on the promising debut and help transform the struggling franchise into winners.The Bucs, coming off a 6-10 finish that cost former coach Lovie Smith his job, have missed the playoffs eight consecutive seasons and havent won a postseason game since their 2002 Super Bowl run.The quest to end the long, frustrating drought resumes when they open their first training camp under Smiths replacement, former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, on July 28.When you win six football games, youve got a lot of stuff, to work on, Koetter said.It helps, though, to have a young quarterback with the tools of Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner who capped his rookie year with a Pro Bowl appearance.Hes smart, hes competitive, wants to win as much as we do, incoming offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. You can win a lot of games with guys like that.Koetter was promoted, in part, because of the role he played in helping the young quarterbacks relatively smooth transition to the pro game. Winstons first NFL pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. He enters his second season with a much deeper appreciation for how important it is to protect the football.Jameis is very perceptive, about not only what needs to get better, but what our offense and our team needs to get better, Koetter said.For his part, Winston talks about getting better each and every day and continuing to evolve as a leader -- on and off the field.Leadership means to serve others, Winston said. As long as I can serve the guys around me, I feel like Im doing a good job ... and I know that theyre going to want to do anything for me, just like I would for them.Some things to watch as the Buccaneers prepare to try to end a streak of five consecutive last-place finishes in the NFC South:NEWCOMERS: After using his first two drafts in Tampa Bay to address deficiencies on offense, general manager Jason Licht turned his attention to the overall team this year. First-round CB Vernon Hargreaves III is being counted on to strengthen the secondary and second-round DE Noah Spence could bolster an anemic pass rush. A lot of eyes are on kicker Roberto Aguayo after Licht felt strong enough about his NFL potential that he traded up into the second round to make sure he got Winstons former college teammate.DECEPTIVE STATS: The Bucs ranked fifth in total offense and 10th in total defense a year ago, the first time the clubs finished in the top 10 in both categories in the same season. That didnt translate into a playoff berth because Tampa Bay was 20th in points scored and 26th in points allowed. After a 6-6 start, the team went 0-4 down the stretch.ANNUAL SEARCH: One of Lichts top priorities this offseason was improving a pass rush led by Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy. DE Robert Ayers Jr. and CB Brent Grimes were added in free agency. The GM expects drafting Hargreaves and Spence will be part of the solution, too. The Bucs were tied for 14th in sacks with 38 a year ago. They havent had a player finish with at least 10 in a season since 2005, when Simeon Rice had 14. DT Clinton McDonald said its time to play another tune.After a while you hear a broken record so many times youre ready to change that record, McDonald said. It comes down to us being the players and being mature enough pros to say, `You know what? If this is what we want to be then this is what we have to go after to be. Its time for us to step up our game, bring some wins to the Tampa Bay area and have everybody around here proud of us, ready to wear that red and pewter hat.RUN DOUGIE RUN: The teams biggest move in free agency was re-signing RB Doug Martin to a five-year, $37.75 million contract. He rushed for 1,402 yards and six TDs last season, taking some of the pressure off Winston to carry an offense also relying on two other rookie starters, tackle Donovan Smith and guard Ali Marpet.BUILDING CHEMISTRY: Winston and WR Mike Evans spent a lot of time together this offseason, working out and developing a bond they hope will make them an even more productive tandem. Evans had 74 catches and topped 1,000 yards receiving for the second time last year, however he had only three TD receptions; he had 11 as a rookie in 2014.The bottom line is still wins in the NFL. And for us to win, Jameis and Mike have to become a more lethal combination, Koetter said, and Im quite confident they will.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLZack Kassian Oilers Jersey . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Jesse Puljujarvi Oilers Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. http://www.hockeyoilersshop.com/ryan-smyth-jersey/ . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Matt Benning Oilers Jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Paul Coffey Oilers Jersey . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.One of the most, if not the most, iconic smaller weight fighters in mixed martial arts history intends to hang up his gloves at the end of the year.Former WEC featherweight champion and four-time UFC title challenger Urijah Faber, 37, announced on Monday he plans to retire following a Dec. 17 fight against Brad Pickett in Sacramento, California.Faber (33-10) is a longtime Sacramento resident and the founder of Team Alpha Male gym, which currently houses Chad Mendes, Cody Garbrandt and Paige VanZant, among others. A former collegiate wrestler, Faber made his professional fighting debut in 2003 and is universally credited for drawing early attention to smaller weight classes.Ive been teetering with [retirement] for a long time, said Faber during an appearance on The MMA Hour. The thing that Im lucky [about], I have my health and I really love what Im doing, but just as far as the passion goes -- I have passion for what Im doing still, but it doesnt get the same emotion that it has in the past.My favorite fighter of all time is Roy Jones Jr., and I remember them talking about him kind of feeling that -- where he was playing little basketball games the same day as a boxing match. [My last couple fights] II havent found that emotional rise and fall.dddddddddddd That is kind of a strange thing for me. I still love what Im doing and thats the reason why Im doing it, but I just feel like this is going to be something thats going to be an emotional thing for me.Faber was the face of the WEC earlier in his career. He won the championship at 145 pounds in 2006 and went on to defend it five times. His title reign included a submission win over now-UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in 2007.Between 2011 and 2016, Faber appeared in four UFC bantamweight title fights but came up short in each one. He suffered a close decision loss to Cruz at UFC 132 in a fight he since has said he thought he won. He also took a TKO loss against Renan Barao in 2014, even though he was showing a thumbs-up to referee Herb Dean at the time the bout was called.In 2012, Faber coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series.Faber will face a fellow veteran in Pickett (25-12), who also fought in the WEC prior to joining the UFC. The televised event will take place at Sacramentos Golden 1 Center. ' ' '