Gästebuch » Its all about preparation

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. doesnt see any reason to lament his lot in life right now. Despite dealing with a torn left ACL that sidelined him for the Super Bowl and probably cost him $1 million in salary next season, the Denver Broncos most versatile cornerback was thrilled to sign his one-year restricted free-agent tender Tuesday. It will pay him $2,187,000 next season — or more than 1,000 times the $2,000 signing bonus he received four years ago as an undrafted college free agent. "Ill take it," Harris told The Associated Press. "Im definitely happy with it. Im excited to go back out there, get back healthy and lead this team back to the Super Bowl." Had Harris not gotten hurt in the playoffs, the Broncos would have probably had to use the highest tender on him — a one-year deal worth more than $3.1 million that carried a first-round pick as compensation. Instead, they were able to use the second-highest tender available. With the Broncos able to match any offers, no suitors came calling for Harris, whos been rehabbing at the Broncos facilities since shortly after undergoing surgery in February following Denvers loss to Seattle in the Super Bowl. "Teams were not going to give up a second-round pick. We realized that," Harris said. "We know that next year is a big year for me." Harris ligament in his left knee wasnt completely torn when he got hurt against San Diego in the playoffs and he and the Broncos are optimistic hell be ready by the start of training camp in July and will resume his role as a leader on Denvers defence. If that happens, the Broncos are expected to work toward a longer-term deal for Harris after next season when he hits unrestricted free agency. "I definitely think Ill be close to 100 per cent by the start of training camp," Harris said. "You never know with this type of injury, but the ligament wasnt completely torn and right now Im feeling great. The treatment is going great and Im improving each week." Harris is coming off a monster year in which he posted 65 tackles, 58 of them solo, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups while allowing the fifth-fewest yards receiving (25 a game) and tying for the eighth-fewest completions allowed (35) in the NFL among players targeted at least 60 times. His emergence and versatility playing both the slot and on the outside helped the Broncos decide to bid farewell to star Champ Bailey this off-season after he played sparingly last year. Then, the signing of fellow University of Kansas alum Aqib Talib led to the departure of free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. "Champ and I always talked and we kind of understood this would probably happen. We werent surprised" by Baileys exit, Harris said. "Losing Champ, I feel I can take over his role on the field and also I can take over his leadership role. If you look at it, I was the starting corner pretty much the whole season last year. "You see my production and you see Talib, me and him have played together before, so were familiar with each other communication-wise, chemistry-wise, and thats a big thing." Harris was a freshman at Kansas in 2007 when Talib was an All-American his junior year before being drafted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that following spring. "Weve always been pretty tight. And friends always joke around saying, What if you and Talib play together now?" Harris said. "Now, its kind of crazy. I was just a freshman. I was young and still learning the game. Now, Im in my fourth season in the NFL and with all Aqibs experience, weve got a pretty solid duo. Its going to be great." ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ___ Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Cheap Air Max Outlet . - Kentucky freshmen Stanley Boom Williams, Dorian Baker, Drew Barker and Tymere Dubose have been charged with disorderly conduct for their involvement with air pistol shots being fired near a residence hall on the South campus Sunday night. Cheap Air Max 90 . Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for 756 yards and a career-low 3. http://www.cheapairmax2018.us/. Power had a two-lap average of 218.896 mph in qualifying Friday at the high-banked, high-speed 1 1/2-mile track for his 34th career pole. 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And he said Sunday that players believe nobody in Sterlings family should be able to own the Los Angeles Clippers if hes gone.Before most television cameras start rolling and fans enter the stadium, Odell Beckham Jr. practices making acrobatic, one-handed catches in pre-game warmups.It paid off for the rookie receiver.Beckhams spectacular, leaping, right-handed grab while falling backward and drawing an interference penalty was the talk of the NFL and the Internet on Monday.Everyone from LeBron James to Hollywood celebs Elizabeth Banks and John Cusack marveled at Beckhams touchdown catch in the New York Giants loss to Dallas on Sunday night.The greatest catch Ive ever seen, said James, who was an All-Ohio wide receiver in high school.Banks tweeted: Just back from the #AMAs and seeing replay of that Odell Beckman Jr. catch. OMG that was sick.Cusack compared it to David Tyrees helmet grab in the Super Bowl and Lynn Swanns diving reception in an earlier Super Bowl.Beckham, however, does it every day in practice and before games. This catch just happened to be in front of a national television audience against the Cowboys. His teammates, coaches and anyone who watched him play werent surprised.He practices that one-handed snag, said Eli Manning, who also threw the pass to Tyree that helped the Giants beat New England. Hes got big hands and great concentration and he can make those plays. That was a pretty great one.Beckham made several stunning catches at LSU, including a diving, one-handed grab against Iowa in the Outback Bowl.I saw him and Jarvis (Landry) do things like that on the practice field all the time. I mean all the time, LSU coach Les Miles said. They finally caught one on camera, I guess. Its something that we would have expected.NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth, a three-time Pro Bowl receiver in the 80s, repeated: That might be the greatest catch Ive ever seen.When asked about working on one-handed catches recently, Beckham said: Its something you just have to practice. The opportunity sometimes presents itself and you know you want to be prepared. That is one of those things that I have been doing for a long time. Jarvis Landry and I would always do that every day in practice. We wouldnt compete, but we would see who could make the most ridiculous catch.Many players work on one-handed catches in practice and afterward on the JUGS machine. Its not just receivers, either.Two-time All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt catches balls one-handed before games, too. Of course, Watt has actually lined up as a receiver and has two TD catches this season.Its partially just hand-eye co-ordination before the game and its partially to warm up the hands a little bit, partially for fun, Watt ssaid.dddddddddddd The more you can do, the better athlete you can (be), the better youre going to be on the field. Its all part of it.San Franciscos Stevie Johnson said you can practice the one-handed catches by tossing the ball in the air and out of view and then trying to catch it, but when it comes to games, its a natural instinct for a soft-handed wideout — with a little assist from those sticky receiver gloves they wear, too.Its a little bit of both, the gloves and his talent, Johnson said. It was a solid catch.Several players have made amazing one-handed catches this season, including Carolinas Kelvin Benjamin, Chicagos Brandon Marshall, New Englands Rob Gronkowski, Philadelphias Jeremy Maclin and Miamis Mike Wallace.Buffalos Robert Woods got into the act Monday night against the New York Jets. Woods appeared to get his left arm tangled a bit with a defender, so he reached up with his right, gently bobbling the ball at first before controlling it with that one hand for a 27-yard gain.Benjamin rated Beckhams grab a 9.0 and joked that he only gets a 10 if he wouldve caught it with his eyes closed. Unlike Beckham and others, the Panthers rookie doesnt practice one-handed catches.One-handed catches are just reaction catches, he said. You just go to that zone at the moment. Its entertainment.Swann put Beckhams catch into perspective.I dont know how many times you throw that pass and how many times you actually catch it, the Hall of Famer said. He threw it to him one time, he caught it, and for a touchdown. There are a couple of things that make it phenomenal. Fact he caught it with two fingers and a thumb and didnt use all of his hand. He stopped that baby with two fingers and his thumb, thats hard to do.Colts veteran Reggie Wayne often draws a large crowd when he practices one-handed catches on a JUGS machine. His coach, Chuck Pagano, encourages players to work on it.If you make them in practice, youll make them in games, Pagano said. And thats what we talk about all the time. Its all about preparation.Wallace catches 100 balls per hand each day. He also thinks those super-sticky gloves are helping guys make these plays.Anything you do, if you practice it, youll get better, Wallace said.___AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner and AP Sports Writers Kristie Rieken, Will Graves, Steven Wine, Janie McCauley, Michael Marot, Tom Withers, Howard Ulman, Tom Canavan, Noah Trister and Steve Reed contributed to this report.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi ' ' '