PITTSBURGH -- Willie James Allen was relaxing at home last Monday night. After a meal, he reviewed materials for the Will Allen Foundations Holiday Giving Program.Then he checked his phone, and the nightmare that began in April 2015 resurfaced. At least 10 messages from friends and family were alerting him that the case of mistaken identity had returned.The former NFL safety saw his playing picture plastered across the Internet next to headlines that said Will Allen was the perpetrator of a wide-ranging Ponzi scheme and had swindled many people, including former athletes, out of millions of dollars.And just like in 2015, his stricken mom was incredulous, asking him how this could happen. She was one of the first to call.And then came the hateful Twitter messages from people telling him to do your time and quit being a criminal, Allen recalled.Allen tried not to panic but admits he was devastated. The whole ordeal felt like a gut kick, he said. His stomach was uneasy. He didnt know what to say. Eventually, he prayed for guidance.Thats what makes it so difficult -- to question my character, Allen, 34, told ESPN.The man who pleaded guilty to federal fraud, conspiracy and money laundering charges is Will D. Allen, the 2001 first-round pick of the New York Giants who also played for the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. The non-criminal Allen was drafted in the fourth round in 2004 by the Tampa Bay Bucs and also played for the Dallas Cowboys and -- most recently -- the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2013 to 15.When the Ponzi story broke in April 2015, Allen estimates that more than a dozen media outlets used his image to accompany the headlines. As a result, Allen paid lawyers enough to handle various cease-and-desist letters.But when several outlets, including ESPN, featured a picture of Allen the former Steeler with its headline last week, on Nov. 21, Allen decided to sleep on the issue after saying a prayer -- and then he took a few steps to correct it. He took to Twitter to highlight the misidentification and the damage done to his reputation. He posted several pictures of himself doing community work with the message, This is who I am!! Not a criminal!!He also consulted a public relations expert on damage control. He called a few people he trusts for advice.Knowing the problem might consume him if he let it, Allen used last Tuesday to attend foundation meetings and prep for Thanksgiving. In his home, Allen was in charge of deep-frying the turkey and making the greens, for which he has a top-secret Cajun recipe. He marinated the turkey with creole butter sauce well in advance, and then greased it with peanut oil.The widespread misinformation kind of crushed me, Allen said. His life is nothing like the other Allens, yet many wont know the difference.You get all the negativity and [people] can say whatever -- I cant really do anything about that, Allen said. You kind of have to stop and pause for a minute. ... But theres no telling who reads that and how they perceive it. Were in a society where its largely about perception.Allen can handle probes from friends who knew he didnt commit those crimes. But he has also had to quell a few concerns on the foundation trail over the last 18 months, forcing him to explain things anytime someone asks if hes that guy.The Will Allen Foundations latest project is raising $30,000 for gifts for underprivileged children in Pittsburgh, where Allen still lives. The foundation aims to provide programs and resources in an effort to instill hope, remove barriers, promote education, advocate civic responsibility, and change lives in the community. Allen works on his foundation throughout the year and makes public or corporate speaking appearances. Hes staying in shape in case an NFL team calls.Through this process, Allen has learned that some people have no filter. They have jokes, too. When someone broaches the story, Allen politely clarifies. Staying measured is important to him.Ive had to answer a lot of questions, Allen said. Ive tried to do all I can to move on from that.Allen lives downtown with his wife, who tries to calm him but is upset, too. Recently Allen asked out loud around the house, Oh my goodness, what can I do? And heres the thing: Sentencing is scheduled for February. That could produce more headlines.I just want them to get it right, Allen said of media outlets. It would have been easy to look back at 2015 and know what happened.Allen still wants to play football. He tried out for the Giants in October but understands a return might not happen. If its over, Allens career ended on a strong note -- 13 starts, 80 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in 13 starts with the Steelers in 2015. The franchise got younger at safety and opted not to re-sign Allen.Talking football prompts Allens one memory of an interaction with the other Allen. Before a game, Willie once approached Will with a joke. Will the real Will Allen please stand up? Willie James Allen said. wholesale adidas nhl jerseys . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. cheap nhl jerseys . 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Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Guard Richie Incognito knew LeSean McCoys right knee was fine when the Bills running back was already gabbing in Buffalos locker room during halftime.As long as Shadys talking, hes fine, Incognito said.If knocking knees with 49ers linebacker Nick Bellore late in the first half couldnt slow down the player nicknamed, Shady, what chance did the 49ers porous run defense have?McCoy had 140 yards rushing and matched a career high by scoring three times, and the Bills extended their winning streak to four with a 45-16 victory over San Francisco and new starter Colin Kaepernick Sunday.Buffalo fans greeted Kaepernick roughly for his leadership among athletes protesting during the national anthem. They booed him loudly, sold anti-Kaepernick T-shirts and roughed up a dummy wearing his jersey.Kaepernick finished 13 of 29 for 187 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith. But San Francisco (1-5) couldnt finish drives, settling for three field goals by Phil Dawson, in losing its fifth straight game.I thought he was OK, coach Chip Kelly said of Kaepernick, whom he promoted over Blaine Gabbert following a 33-21 loss to Arizona. But overall, offensively as a group, we need to run the ball better and we need to be better at the passing game.Kelly wouldnt commit to who will start next week against Tampa Bay.Yeah, well see, he said.Tyrod Taylor threw two touchdown passes in helping Buffalo win four straight for the first time since the start of the 2008 season.The 49ers allowed 312 yards rushing -- Buffalos best outing since 1992. The defense has allowed 981 yards on the ground in its past five games.The Bills blew the game open by scoring 21 points over a span of 7:02 straddling the third and fourth quarters.Taylor completed a 30-yard pass to Justin Hunter . Then the 49ers were stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 at Buffalos 40.After McCoy put the Bills up 31-16 with 10:53 left in the fourth quarter, the Bills got the ball back on after Keshawn Martin fumbled the kickoff.Two plays later, Taylor hit Robert Woods for a 5-yard touchdown pass.McCoy scored twice on 18-yardd runs and another on a 4-yard scamper in his second meeting against Kelly.dddddddddddd McCoy expressed bitter feelings toward Kelly for trading him from Philadelphia to Buffalo.To sit here and tell you that it didnt affect me last year, I would be lying, McCoy said. But Im past that. Its a whole year later.HAT-TRICKMcCoys 3-TD game was the third of his career, and first since Philadelphias 45-19 win over the Rex Ryan-coached Jets in 2011. He became Buffalos first player to score three times rushing since Willis McGahee had four TDs against Seattle in 2004.Backup Mike Gillislee closed out the scoring with a 44-yard run. Buffalos 45 points were the most since a 49-31 win at Cincinnati in 2010.RYANS DBills LB Lorenzo Alexander extended his sack streak to six games, matching the teams longest since Aaron Schobel did it during the 2006 season. The 10-year journeyman now has eight sacks this year.With three sacks on Sunday, Buffalo upped its total to 20 -- one fewer than the team had all last season.KAEPERNICK PROTESTFans chanted USA! USA! USA! shortly before Kaepernick knelt for the anthem.To be honest, I was focused on football so I really wasnt listening to what was going on in the stands, Kaepernick said.Outside New Era Field, one vendor was selling T-shirts against Kaepernick.INJURIES49ers: RB Carlos Hyde (shoulder), CB Rashard Robinson (concussion protocol).Bills: TE Charles Clay (ankle), WR Kevon Seymour (shoulder) and WR Robert Woods (right foot).BLOWN COVERAGEBuffalos defensive backfield left Smith wide open in scoring on his 53-yard catch and run . Cornerback Stephon Gilmore let Smith blow past him at the line of scrimmage leaving Smith open up the right sideline. He easily caught Kaepernicks pass and then cut into the middle to avoid being tackled by safety Aaron Williams who was Buffalos only defender deep.NEXT UP:49ers: Host Tampa Bay on Oct. 23.Bills: Play at AFC East rival Miami on Oct. 23.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '