#1

e is no reminder needed of how patient the

in Allgemein 13.01.2020 13:58
von MJL456 • 2.720 Beiträge

INDIANAPOLIS -- Reggie Wayne used the story of a young injured man to send his teammates an emphatic message Saturday. There are no boundaries when you dream big. The Pro Bowl receiver who always makes a grand entrance to start training camp asked Indiana University Healths LifeLine helicopter to give him a lift and invited Matt Sercer, a Colts fan who severely injured his leg and foot in a farming accident in December, to come along for the ride. When they landed on an intramural field at Anderson University, Wayne stood side-by-side to be photographed with Sercer. "A lot of things were not expected of Matt to be able to walk again and things of that nature. But as you can see, hes here standing with me. Got out the chopper, he walked over," Wayne said. "Guys like Matt and stories like Matts, theyre the real heroes. It inspires you to go out there and do great and prove people wrong. A lot of people didnt think Matt would be able to walk again, and hes out here moonwalking with me." For Wayne, the special arrivals -- and the themes that come with them -- have become a regular part of the training camp routine. Last year, Wayne dressed in military fatigues and arrived as part of an Indiana National Guard convoy. He wanted his new teammates to take a page from the military manual by being supportive, selfless warriors who could overcome all obstacles, even those unforeseen. It turned out to be a fitting message as one of the NFLs youngest teams improved form 2-14 to 11-5 and reached the playoffs despite losing Chuck Pagano for 12 games as he battled leukemia. This years message was short and sweet. "I sat back and thought we got a pretty good team. I really think our team this year is better than last year. If we dont hurt ourselves, the skys the limit for us," Wayne said. "I really sat back and thought skys the limit, skys the limit, why not come in through the sky?" Guessing Waynes mode of travel to training camp has become a favourite game among teammates and coaches. It all started in 2002 when Edgerrin James Florida drivers license was suspended, so James and Wayne, teammates in college at Miami and then with the Colts, hired a taxicab to take them from Indianapolis to training camp about 75 miles away in Terre Haute, Ind. The cost was $200. The next year, Wayne and James drove a bus full of children onto the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology campus. When James left as a free agent for Arizona in 2006, the torch was passed to Wayne, who began his solo act by wearing James new Cardinals jersey to training camp. Since then, hes shown up in myriad ways and costumes. Until Saturday, though, he had not arrived through the air. This time, Wayne wore a black Lifeline flight suit, a red Washington Nationals cap and red high-tops but said emphatically that he did not fly the helicopter. Now that the fun part of camp is over, its time to get back to business. Indianapolis will hold the first of three weeks of workouts Sunday on the Division III campus about 25 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The early days are sure to come with some reminders about expectations and not just from Wayne and the veterans. Over the past month, three players ran into trouble off the field. Receiver LaVon Brazill and tight end Weslye Saunders were both suspended by the NFL for violating league policies -- and backup safety Joe Lefeged was arrested in Washington on a gun possession charge. Saunders was cut by the team Thursday after receiving an eight-game suspension for failing a performance-enhancing drug test for the second time in 18 months. Brazill will miss the first four games after violating the leagues substance-abuse policy. "I think youre always concerned and disappointed with problems, but at the same time, you have to realize that its an impossibility that youre going to have zero problems. Thats just not realistic, thats not the way life works," team owner Jim Irsay told The Associated Press earlier this week. "So were disappointed, but at the same time, we deal with it, and we move on and do the best you can to try and avoid any of those problems." Pagano is hoping the immediate focus will be on the field. The Colts are hoping a rebuilt offensive line will better protect Andrew Luck, a revamped defence will be a better fit with Paganos version of the 3-4 defence and that another year of maturation will help the Colts make a deeper playoff run. Meanwhile, Luck flew to South Florida for workouts with Wayne, Brazill and T.Y. Hilton, and returned to California so he could throw with Darrius Heyward-Bey and others before coming to Anderson. Lucks goal? "To get better and try to be the best quarterback for this team and what we need to put ourselves in chances to win games," he said. "Thats what we want to do." Sammy Watkins Super Bowl Jersey .S District Court against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner and his own union, the MLBPA. Darrel Williams Super Bowl Jersey . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. http://www.officialkcchiefspro.com/Derrick-thomas-chiefs-jersey/ . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Marcus Allen Super Bowl Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Chiefs Super Bowl Jerseys . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle.Eddie Jones has had a whirlwind start to his tenure as England coach. Three wins from three games, a self-imposed media ban, and the selection of a captain who missed the World Cup after head-butting a current England team-mate. Its unpredictable and a far cry from the measured Stuart Lancaster, but even if its refreshing, its easy to see why his actions have been met with trepidation by some of the Twickenham faithful.However, those concerns arent shared by fly-half George Ford. The Bath man is enjoying life with live-wire Jones at the helm, with particular appreciation for how frank the Australian is with his players. He fills the lads with great confidence, Ford told Sky Sports. He wants to play the game in an attacking style. He wants to go at teams and a lot of the lads have responded brilliantly to that.Hes very honest with feedback he gives you on what you need to do in a game and what he expects of you, but he also makes the weeks and days of training very enjoyable at the same time. Within rugby youre always going to get on with some people more than you do with others, but to have that relationship and to respect your team-mate and want to go out there and win, and do as well as you can for every single team-mate, is important to me. George Ford I think the honesty has made a huge difference because you understand where you stand, you understand what you need to do, what you need to get better at, and you can go away and work at it.Jones frankness is rooted in his desire to improve his current stock. Soon after arriving in England he swept through the country to watch a host of Premiership matches, and his comments upon assembling his first England squad was that England simply lacked world-class players.The key, Jones said, was helping his players understand their own potential to help them become world class.Thats all a player wants, said Ford. Some honest feedback on their game and what they can do to get better.One aspect on which Jones will be continually judged - largely against his wishes - is Englands style of play. After the Lancaster era of pragmatism, there was hope that Jones would introduce a free-flowing game to Twickenham. Former Wales International Jonathan Thomas joins James Gemmell on Rugby Club Agenda to share his thoughts on how Wales should match up against England The Australian has moved to temper the expectation of the England fans, with reminders of how much time hes had with the team and how important the basics are, and the latter is a sentiment shared by Ford. A lot of people are saying that were playing a lot more expansive and free but were under no illusions that the foundations of our game have got to come first.That, first and foremost, comes from having a strong set-piece and dominance there. I think the boys in the forwards have done great with the lineout and scrum.On top of that, looking after the breakdown as well in terms of attack and trying to get quick ball.From there you can go at teams and hopefully put teams under a bit of pressure and trouble, and score some tries. Ford is enjoying playing alongside Owen Farrell Spearheading the front-foot attack will be Ford and his backline troops, and the 22-year-old is grateful to have a familiar face next to him.During the latter stages of Lancasters time there was plenty of debate around who should start at fly-half between Ford and Owen Farrell. Rather than separating the two, Jones has opted to play bboth, utilising the play-makers in the 10 and 12 positions - and its a combination Ford is enjoying.ddddddddddddWeve only played three full games together; I think theres more to come. Its great to have that similar mind-set as a 10 outside of you on the pitch.We pretty much think about the game similarly, we want to drive the team in a particular way and to have the conversations with him and have someone like him outside you as a 10 is great, so were looking forward to carrying that on. Jones says Wales are a step up from their previous Six Nations opponents. In a recent Real Madrid press conference, footballer Christiano Ronaldo rubbished the idea that players need to be on good terms with each other in order to play well together, but Ford says the understanding he has with Farrell and the rest of his England team-mates is vital to him.It always helps if youre good mates and you have a good relationship with all your team-mates, to be honest.Within rugby youre always going to get on with some people more than you do with others, but to have that relationship and to respect your team-mate and want to go out there and win, and do as well as you can for every single team-mate, is important to me. Danny Care (left) and Ben Youngs are supportive of each others claim for a starting place, says Ford Fords belief is that the player relationships have been strengthened by the honesty of Jones, and that individuals have become more supportive of their jersey rivals in the wake of transparent feedback.One example of the healthy competition for a starting place is the one between Danny Care and Ben Youngs. Both are looking to cement their place in the No 9 jersey, but Ford says their mutual respect for one another benefits the pair.Both are brilliant. Theyre threats themselves; they know when to speed the game up and when to slow it down a little bit.Theyre really good mates as well, they get on really well.Obviously theyre both very ambitious and determined and want to start, but they fully respect when one or the other is starting and back him 100 per cent. Ford, Elliot Daly and Dan Cole apperaed at Oldfield Old Boys RFC as part of the NatWest RugbyForce Throughout the Six Nations, Jones has maintained that he wants to be judged on the teams results in three years time rather that this year, giving himself a window to bring about the changes necessary to turn England into a world-beating team.For Ford and the rest of the England squad there is no reminder needed of how patient they need to be in order to stake their claim as the best in the game, there is an understanding that those changes will take time.As players we take each session to try and become a better player, we dont really focus on anything too far in the future.We just want to focus on the here and now and understand the areas of our games we need to work on.Wherever that takes us in the future, it takes us, but we just want to train as well as we can and look to get better every day.England Rugby Union players George Ford, Elliot Daly and Dan Cole were appearing at Oldfield Old Boys RFC, Bath as a part of the NatWest RugbyForce, an initiative that supports grassroots rugby. Register at www.englandrugby.com/natwestrugbyforce Also See: Wales must kill the king WATCH: Rugby Club Agenda Jones: Wales a step up Sky Sports Rugby podcast ' ' '

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