Dein erstes Forum » drich, and Sports Writers Joe Kay, Kyle Hightowe

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri has a rich history when it comes to the tight end position.From the days of Kellen Winslow, a consensus all-American taken 13th overall in the 1979 NFL draft, to more recent draft picks like Chase Coffman and Michael Egnew, some of Missouris greatest pass-catchers have been tight ends. The latest crop wants to restore some luster to the position.We all want to be great, sophomore Kendall Blanton said. I want to be one of the best tight ends in the nation if not the best tight end in the nation. Our tight end group as a whole ... we all are pushing each other.It would appear the pushing has paid off and the position is a bright spot in a down year for Missouri (2-5, 0-3 SEC), which hosts Kentucky (4-3, 3-2) on Saturday.In 2014, Missouri tight ends caught 21 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. Last season, tight ends combined for 33 catches, 279 yards and a touchdown.This season has been even better: Tight ends Sean Culkin, Jason Reese, Tyler Hanneke and Blanton have combined for 28 catches totaling 321 yards and four scores, 25 percent of the Tigers receiving touchdowns.Reese, who has eight catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns in five starts, attributed his improvement to his confidence level.If I know what the defense is doing and Im fully confident in what I know I can do, then thats just going to make my game excel, he said.Blantons confidence appears to be growing, too.In the 51-45 loss to Middle Tennessee State last Saturday, Blanton turned heads at Faurot Field with a diving, one-handed touchdown catch. His 6-foot-7, 260-pound frame was fully extended and he maintained possession as he hit the turf, giving the Tigers a 14-13 lead late in the first quarter.It was an awesome play he had, Culkin said of the 15-yard score. Its awesome to see a guy just develop. Hes got a lot of raw talent thats starting to be seen on Saturdays.Missouri coach Barry Odom joked that Blanton possesses the stature of an offensive lineman, but is pleased with his production at tight end.I think hes been a huge upside, Odom said. Hes 6-7 and hes got great skills. Hes gotten a lot better over the past couple months.Blanton has eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns.As you can see, hes a physical specimen, Reese said of Blanton. That guy has been great since the day he stepped on campus. Hes been focused. Hes been waiting for his chance. I knew once his chance came, he wasnt going to let that go to waste.Reese sustained a rib injury against Middle Tennessee State, and his status for the game against Kentucky remains unknown. If he is unable to play, look for Blanton and Culkin to pick up the slack.Air Max 720 Saldi . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Air Max Scontatissime . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. http://www.airmaxoutletscontate.it/vapormax-scarpe-nike-scontate.html . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Air Max Scontate Uomo . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Air Max 720 Scontate . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization.Vikings running back Adrian Peterson knows what Green Bay receiver Jordy Nelson is going through.The Packers star has returned from a right ACL injury that forced Nelson to miss the 2015 season. Peterson tore his left ACL late in the 2011 season, then came back the following year to rush for nearly 2,100 yards in an NFL MVP campaign. Petersons recovery might be considered the gold standard now for recovery from such an injury.Nelson has to mentally understand that his ACL, that ligament in particular, is stronger than the one he didnt tear, Peterson said in a conference call this week after being asked if he had any advice for the receiver. Youve got to play fast, youve got to have that confidence to understand that piece of it, and know that `I can go out and not be impotent, and Im still going to be good.` AIR BENNETT: If its ever cost effective one day, count Martellus Bennett in if anyone starts offering commercial space flights.For the second straight week the quirky tight end was spotted in the Patriots locker room wearing a NASA hat, which he said was in celebration of his love of all things in space.Bennetts affinity began as a kid growing up outside of Houston. He told The Associated Press that he owns eight NASA caps and is working on a space-themed childrens book. He recently released the first of a series of childrens books based on his family and daughter, Austin Jett.He joked that space was even playing a role in his preparations for the Miami Dolphins this week.I do like outer space a lot. After watching `The Martian, Im trying to science the (stuffing) out of this game plan, Bennett said, playing off a Matt Damon line from the film.While Bennett might have fantasies of space, it doesnt translate into love for fantasy football. Bennett was used mostly as a blocker in the Patriots season-opening win at Arizona last week, but hes not concerned about pleasing fantasy owners.No, I dont care about those at all, Bennett said. Only if its a game of Quidditch. Im always rooting for Harry (Potter).SILENT TREATMENT: It didnt take long for Washington Redskins rookie linebacker Sua Cravens to get into his teams rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys.Hes giving Mom the silent treatment this week.Cravens mother is a fan of the Cowboys, the NFC East archrival Washington is hosting Sunday, so he refused to chat with her until after the game.Really?I havent spoken to her. Im serious, said Cravens, a second-round draft pick out of Southern California. She called me this morning. I havent spoken to her. I dont talk to Cowboys fans.He said his mother called his cell phone and he simply refused to talk. His father is not pulling for Dallas, so he gets to converse with Cravens.My dad called me. I was like, `Hey, whats up, Pops?` She was kind of jealous, Cravens said.SPOT THE BALL: Teams practice for unusual situations and hope players remember when they happen. One of those sessions helped the Bengals get a decisive field goal against the Jets for a 23-22 win.Out of timeouts, they snapped the baall with 18 seconds left in the first half Sunday.dddddddddddd Rookie receiver Tyler Boyd made a third-down catch and was tackled at the Jets 3-yard line as the clock kept running.The Bengals had to get their field goal team set up with less than 10 seconds to go. Boyd helped move matters along by placing the ball at the spot where he was tackled instead of tossing it to an official.The Bengals got off the kick with 1 second left.Cincinnati had practiced such a scenario two days earlier.It was just the situation we practiced, Boyd said. I put it right on the spot. I just wanted to keep the ball in the closest position to where everybody could get it out there and get it hiked.Mike Nugent was good from 21 yards.ON THE JUICE Up on a shelf, atop Marvin Jones locker stall with the Lions, is a sight you dont often see in an NFL locker room.A jar of pickles, unopened.Whats up with that?Jones explained he did some research on how to avoid cramps during training camp when he played for the Bengals and read that drinking pickle juice would help. So, he tried it and insisted it helped him recover.Jones said he drank pickle juice straight out of the jar, and went through as many as four containers during one training camp with the Bengals. He said he didnt need the pickle juice to help him get through training camp with the Lions.And, Jones said, he turned down a chance to make money as a pickle pitchman.Im not going to be the one who says, `Hey, eat these pickles! Jones said with a grin.AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE: The U.S. Army and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have extended their partnership for their Award for Excellence. The program is accepting nominations and is open to all sophomore, junior and senior high school student-athletes in the United States.The Award for Excellence program will recognize 25 student-athletes who will be chosen as finalists based on their excellence in academics, athletics and community service.These student-athletes, like our soldiers, understand the importance of leadership and teamwork, and they use key skills like adaptability, versatility and innovation to achieve in any environment, be it in the classroom, on the playing field or in the local community, said Mark Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing.Next spring, each finalist will be honored by Army soldiers and a Pro Football Hall of Famer during an event at his or her high school. The finalist will be presented a plaque, and the Hall of Famer will discuss the importance of striving for excellence, and what it has meant during his illustrious career.Next August, all 25 finalists will convene in Canton, Ohio, for Hall of Fame enshrinements.---AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner, Dave Campbell and Howard Fendrich, and Sports Writers Joe Kay, Kyle Hightower, Larry Lage and Genaro C. Armas contributed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL[url=http://www.authenticwhdrich, and Sports Writers Joe Kay, Kyle Hightowe