Dein erstes Forum » sprained right big toe, the Timberwolve

METAIRIE, La. -- Now entering his second NFL season, Delvin Breaux has played more regular-season snaps with the Saints defense than any other cornerback on New Orleans roster.The question now facing the Saints is the extent to which their relative youth and inexperience at a critical defensive skill position will be a liability.On the flip side, New Orleans really doesnt have far to fall on that side of the ball; the Saints have ranked second-to-last in the NFL in yards allowed the past two seasons.I like the fact that were young, but I also like the fact that were improving back there, Saints coach Sean Payton said of the secondary after practice Monday evening.What we try to do is really evaluate what were seeing on a daily basis and that is the production -- how theyre performing on one-on-ones, how are they doing in the team (drills) and seven-on-sevens and constantly grading that type of film.The Saints went into last season with two experienced veterans -- Keenan Lewis and Brandon Browner -- as their top cornerbacks. Browner, a free-agent bust in New Orleans, was released in the offseason.Lewis, who has been limited by a hip injury, was released on Monday after being informed of the move on the eve of New Orleans preseason game at Houston on Saturday.Against the Texans, P.J. Williams, who hasnt made his regular-season debut yet, moved into a starting role. He gave up a touchdown, but responded later with an interception in which he twisted in the air to snag an attempted back-shoulder throw in the end zone.A 2015 third-round draft pick out of Florida State who spent his rookie year on injured reserve, Williams said he welcomes the prospect of starting in his first regular-season game against Oakland on Sept. 11. He expects opponents to test him with looks or moves he might not have seen before, and he expects to adjust as needed.If they make a play on me, my thing is to come back stronger and not let it happen again. Its definitely a mental thing and I think Im mentally tough to do it, Williams said. Youve got to bounce back and focus up and do what the coach is teaching you and also just play off instincts.Shortly before releasing Lewis, whod been the Saints top cornerback in 2013 and 2014, the Saints added a veteran to the roster in free agent 11-year veteran Cortland Finnegan, although his roster spot is not necessarily assured. He is competing for snaps with young players such as Damian Swann, DeVante Harris and Ken Crawley.Swann, a 2015 fifth-round draft choice, showed promise as a nickel back as a rookie, but missed much of last season because of multiple concussions. Harris and Crawley are undrafted rookies, but both have made plays.Harris, out of Texas A&M, made an interception Monday of Drew Brees pass that was bobbled by tight end Josh Hill. Crawley, out of Colorado, has had several interceptions in 11-on-11 drills, including a difficult, leaping interception of Brees on a deep pass along the sideline earlier in camp.In a good way, weve got some young free agents that each day I feel like theyre making improvements, Payton said.Payton said the team needed to move on from Lewis because he hadnt been available for about a year and it was unclear when he would be, if ever.By releasing Lewis, it allowed him to avoid going on injured reserve and sign with another club rather than missing the entire season. Payton also noted that he doesnt view Breaux as a typical second-year player because he played in the CFL after returning from a neck injury that prevented him from playing in college with LSU.The Saints are more experienced at safety with Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro as starters, but the next two safeties behind them are rookie Vonn Bell and first-year NFL player Erik Harris, who came from the CFL on Breauxs recommendation.Payton said he expects both Bell and Harris to play, and Bell said he doesnt see a problem with the Saints entering the regular season with as many as five defensive backs on the roster whove never taken a meaningful NFL snap.Theres going to be some growing pains with everything you do, Bell said. Its just having some confidence out here, believing in yourself, believing in everyone around you to do their job and everythings going to take care of itself.Game notesSeveral Saints players who sat out against the Texans on Saturday night were back at practice on Monday. They included linebacker Stephone Anthony, defensive tackle John Jenkins, fullback Austin Johnson, and receivers Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFLStephon Gilmore Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Drew Bledsoe Patriots Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. https://www.patriotssportsgoods.com/Womens-Tedy-Bruschi-Inverted-Jersey/ . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Kevin Faulk Womens Jersey .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Steve Grogan Jersey . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said.MINNEAPOLIS -- Andrew Wiggins career-best, 47-point outburst on Sunday for the Minnesota Timberwolves flashed the immense potential and the continuing growth in the third-year swingman.With Wiggins leading the charge, Minnesota has been among leagues best offensive teams. The Timberwolves are ninth in the league in scoring, averaging 107.9 points per game.The Charlotte Hornets have their own breakout star emerging in point guard Kemba Walker. Walker is a sixth-year pro whos had plenty of big moments in the NBA, but hes taken his scoring to another level by averaging a career-best 25.3 points per game.Wiggins, who begins the week as the NBAs ninth-best scorer at 26.3, and Walker (12th in the league in scoring) will lead their teams against each other Tuesday at Minnesota.With Wiggins setting career bests in points in two of the past four games, the Timberwolves (3-6) have won two of their past three games. Wiggins has asserted himself more on the offensive end this season and picked up the scoring slack in Saturdays 125-99 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.Hes smart. Hes driven, Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said. I think sometimes mistakenly people take him as laid back. Hes competitive. I think hes just scratching the surface. I think he can do a lot more.Wiggins shot 14 of 21 in Sundays win, hit two 3-pointers and went to the line 22 times, knocking down 17 free throws. One of Wiggins weaknesses in the past had been his 3-point shooting, but he leads the league hitting 54.8 percent of his 3-pointers.Im finding myself; finding the things Im good at, the things I need to work at, Wiggins said. The games just kind of slowed down for me a little bit. Im able to read a lot of different defenses and how people are playing me, the defensive set.Walker isnt exactly new to his role as Charlottes go-to man. He averaged more than 20 points per game last season but hes expanded his impact this year. Walker is also averaging 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while hitting a career-best 47 percent of his 3s.The Hornets started the season 6-1 but have lost two in a row to the favorites in the Eastern Conference in Toronto annd Cleveland.dddddddddddd Walker scored a season-high 40 points in a loss to Toronto on Thursday before going extending his streak to eight games with at least 20 points with 21 in Saturdays loss to the Cavaliers.Walker was so frustrated by the loss on Saturday that he sat in front of his locker in his uniform shorts for more than 20 minutes.We just let the game get away from us, he said. They made some great plays and just found guys when they needed to. They were just making big plays down the stretch.Charlotte forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist returned to the lineup after missing a game with a strained back to notch 11 points and 10 rebounds while defending LeBron James. Kidd-Gilchrist could see much of Wiggins on the defensive end on Tuesday, but Minnesotas injury situation bears watching for matchups.Wiggins big game on Saturday came without starting shooting guard and third-leading scorer Zach LaVine, who was held out with a sore right knee. Thibodeau wasnt sure about the status of LaVine or backup swingman Shabazz Muhammad, who also missed the game with a sore right knee. With Brandon Rush also dealing with a sprained right big toe, the Timberwolves depth is being tested.The 6-foot-8 Wiggins moved to shooting guard against the Lakers with 6-10 Nemanja Bjelica getting his first start and playing small forward. Kidd-Gilchrist stands 6-7 while starting shooting guard Nicolas Batum is 6-8.Bjelica responded well to the unexpected assignment, scoring a career-high 24 with five 3s.The only thing, here everything is possible and you have to be ready every night, Bjelica said. I think I needed this game, especially for myself, because I had, last summer, many issues. First my injury, then I miss the Olympic Games, then I put lots of work. Thats it. I just played the best game so far that Im here.Charlotte will still be without guard Jeremy Lamb, but the hope is he could return by Friday against Atlanta. Center Roy Hibbert has soreness in his right knee and is expected to have his minutes limited. ' ' '