METAIRIE, La. -- The mere opportunity to drill a tackling dummy with the full force of his 6-foot-2, 305-pound frame represented an invigorating change of pace for New Orleans Saints first-round draft choice Sheldon Rankins.The defensive tackle hopes hell be menacing offensive linemen in games that count in just a couple more weeks.Rankins practiced on Wednesday for the first time since fracturing his fibula in his left leg during training camp. He emerged from practice eager to talk about how good he felt.I definitely was kind of anxious to go through that, Rankins said. Little things like tackling drills and hitting sleds and football movements was fun for me today, just to see how my body would react to it, how my leg would react to it. It was good.Drafted 12th overall out of Louisville in last springs NFL draft, Rankins was a projected starter. Coaches have raved about not only Rankins ability to stuff the run, but also to make quarterbacks uncomfortable on pass plays by destabilizing the front of the pocket.After getting hurt in August, he started the regular season on injured reserve, but coach Sean Payton said Rankins would be the one player this season that the team is permitted to designate for return in midseason. Under NFL rules for players with such a designation, they may start practicing in Week 7 but may not play until Week 9. This season, that means Rankins will return at the earliest when New Orleans travels to San Francisco on Nov. 6.Barring any setbacks, I think were on schedule for that timeframe, Rankins said.Rankins did not appear limited physically in the portion of practice open to reporters. In one drill, he accelerated to his left while keeping his hips low and then drove his shoulder through a large, soft, wheel-shaped tackling target that coaches were rolling across the field. Rankins leveled the target, crashing down upon it. He then sprang to his feet and trotted back to the players in his position group to prepare for the next drill.Still, Rankins said he sees the logic in NFL rules allowing him to practice a couple weeks before he is eligible to play, figuring hell need a couple weeks to get his timing, technique and conditioning as refined as it should be for live action.Timing is everything, Rankins said. And conditioning -- being able to run to the ball, play hard, things like that. I think those are the real things these few weeks are going to allow me to do and be a big help.New Orleans, which ranked second-to-last in the NFL defensively the past two seasons, made bolstering its defense a priority this offseason, and Rankins was a central piece of that.In his last two seasons at Louisville, Rankins registered 14 sacks and 26 + tackles for losses.He was showing so much potential on the interior rush. We were looking forward to having him, Saints defensive end Cam Jordan said. When you have a rookie who is not trying to find himself, thats something that you automatically find special. He came in being a good push in the interior. ... He could get off blocks, great with his hands, great with his feet. He just knew who he was.But Rankins absence has been one of several to regulars on the Saints defense, which continues to rank 31st, allowing with 419.4 yards allowed per game. New Orleans also is allowing a league-worst 33.6 points per game.Thanks to the elite production of quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints passing game, New Orleans has managed to win two straight after a 0-3 start, but Brees predicted Rankins return would be tremendous for the team.Rankins will not only add depth, obviously, but hes an explosive player, Brees said. We got to see three weeks of him with pads on and he was impressive.Game notes Saints top cornerback Delvin Breaux, who also has a broken fibula and has not played since Week 1, stretched with the team before practice but did not participate in drills. ... Other players missing practice on Tuesday included OT Andrus Peat (hamstring), LB Dannell Ellerbe (quadriceps), CB Sterling Moore (abdomen), DE Paul Kruger (back) and DT Nick Fairley (non-injury related).---AP NFL websites: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL David Silva Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Marc Bartra Jersey . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. http://www.spainsoccerpro.com/Jordi-Alba-Spain-Jersey/ . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Sergio Ramos Jersey . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Kepa Arrizabalaga Jersey . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. BASEBALLARLINGTON, Texas -- Proponents of Arlington taxpayer funding for a $1 billion retractable-roof Texas Rangers stadium have won approval.With 98 percent of the vote counted, voters approved by a 60-to-40-percent margin the extension of a half-cent sales tax, 2 percent hotel-occupancy tax and 5 percent car-rental tax for a new home for the Major League Baseball team. That revenue now goes to defraying Arlingtons $155 million debt on its share of the cost of the NFL Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium, which opened in 2009.The vote also allows a 10 percent admission tax and a $3 parking tax for the Rangers use, the same deal reached for the Cowboys.Although the Rangers hadnt publicly threatened to leave, a team representative held preliminary talks with Dallas officials about a covered stadium there.NEW YORK -- First baseman Anthony Rizzo and right fielder Jason Heyward from the World Series champion Chicago Cubs have won Gold Glove awards.San Francisco star Buster Posey was picked at catcher in the National League, ending Yadier Molinas eight-year reign with St. Louis. Posey was joined by a pair of Giants teammates, the double-play combination of shortstop Brandon Crawford and second baseman Joe Panik.Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado won for the fourth consecutive year, and Arizona pitcher Zack Greinke took his third straight Gold Glove. Other winners in the NL were Atlanta center fielder Ender Inciarte and Pittsburgh left fielder Starling Marte.Young shortstop Francisco Lindor from AL champion Cleveland was a first-time winner, along with Texas first baseman Mitch Moreland, Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler, New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner and Boston right fielder Mookie Betts.Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez won his fourth Gold Glove in a row, Houston pitcher Dallas Keuchel took his third straight and Tampa Bay center fielder Kevin Kiermaier repeated from last year.Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre was rewarded for the fifth time overall.COLLEGE FOOTBALLWashington moved into fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings, putting the four remaining unbeaten teams from the Power Five conferences at the top of the selection committees second top 25.Alabama, Clemson and Michigan still hold the top three spots.The committees first ranking of the season caused a bit of a stir because the unbeaten Huskies were behind Texas A&M last week. The Aggies then went out and lost at Mississippi State to clear up the mini-controversy.Ohio State is behind Washington at fifth.COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight will miss the rest of the reggular season with a right shoulder injury.ddddddddddddKnight was injured on Saturday in the 10th-ranked Aggies loss to Mississippi State. Coach Kevin Sumlin announced that he wouldnt return for the regular season, but says they expect him to return for Texas A&Ms bowl game. Sumlin added that Knight does not need surgery, but did not provide further details on his injury.With Knight out the Aggies will go with Jake Hubenak, a junior who has appeared in three games this season. Hubenak was 11 of 17 for 222 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Texas A&Ms 35-28 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday.Knight is in his first season with the Aggies after transferring as a graduate student from Oklahoma. He threw for 1,911 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran for 583 yards and 10 more scores.The Aggies host Mississippi on Saturday.SOCCERNike and Cristiano Ronaldo have extended their long-term sponsorship deal.The Portuguese soccer star has had a contract with Nike since 2003 and wears its Mercurial cleats. In a video released by the Beaverton, Oregon-based apparel maker, he suggested the deal was for life, although terms werent released.Ronaldo said in a statement released Tuesday by the company: I have a great relationship with this brand, I have great friends here in the company. We work as a family, too. This is my brand.Ronaldo, a three-time world player of the year, is captain of the Portuguese national team that won the European Championship this year.On Monday, the 31-year old signed a new five-year contract with Real Madrid that runs through June 2021. Ronaldo has scored 372 goals in 360 matches for Real Madrid, helping the team to two Champions League titles and the La Liga crown since joining it in 2009.BASKETBALLNEW YORK -- Indiana Pacers forward Paul George has been fined $15,000 for inadvertently kicking the ball into the stands during a victory over Chicago.The NBA announced the fine.George appeared to be upset Saturday night when no foul was called after he took a shot. He kicked the ball after drawing a foul on the Bulls ensuing possession. The ball went into the stands with 1:42 left in the third quarter. The officials called a technical foul and immediately ejected the three-time All-Star.After the game, George said he intended to kick the ball into the basketball stanchion and joked that his soccer skills were not as good as he thought. George also said he apologized to the fan who was hit by the ball. The fan was not injured. 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