Bewerbungen » Hahn said. "One of the positives of an

TAMPA, Fla. -- Jameis Winston can hardly wait to get started again.The No. 1 overall pick in last years NFL draft threw for 4,042 yards and 22 touchdowns as a rookie, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are counting on him to build on the promising debut and help transform the struggling franchise into winners.The Bucs, coming off a 6-10 finish that cost former coach Lovie Smith his job, have missed the playoffs eight consecutive seasons and havent won a postseason game since their 2002 Super Bowl run.The quest to end the long, frustrating drought resumes when they open their first training camp under Smiths replacement, former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, on July 28.When you win six football games, youve got a lot of stuff, to work on, Koetter said.It helps, though, to have a young quarterback with the tools of Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner who capped his rookie year with a Pro Bowl appearance.Hes smart, hes competitive, wants to win as much as we do, incoming offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. You can win a lot of games with guys like that.Koetter was promoted, in part, because of the role he played in helping the young quarterbacks relatively smooth transition to the pro game. Winstons first NFL pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. He enters his second season with a much deeper appreciation for how important it is to protect the football.Jameis is very perceptive, about not only what needs to get better, but what our offense and our team needs to get better, Koetter said.For his part, Winston talks about getting better each and every day and continuing to evolve as a leader -- on and off the field.Leadership means to serve others, Winston said. As long as I can serve the guys around me, I feel like Im doing a good job ... and I know that theyre going to want to do anything for me, just like I would for them.Some things to watch as the Buccaneers prepare to try to end a streak of five consecutive last-place finishes in the NFC South:NEWCOMERS: After using his first two drafts in Tampa Bay to address deficiencies on offense, general manager Jason Licht turned his attention to the overall team this year. First-round CB Vernon Hargreaves III is being counted on to strengthen the secondary and second-round DE Noah Spence could bolster an anemic pass rush. A lot of eyes are on kicker Roberto Aguayo after Licht felt strong enough about his NFL potential that he traded up into the second round to make sure he got Winstons former college teammate.DECEPTIVE STATS: The Bucs ranked fifth in total offense and 10th in total defense a year ago, the first time the clubs finished in the top 10 in both categories in the same season. That didnt translate into a playoff berth because Tampa Bay was 20th in points scored and 26th in points allowed. After a 6-6 start, the team went 0-4 down the stretch.ANNUAL SEARCH: One of Lichts top priorities this offseason was improving a pass rush led by Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy. DE Robert Ayers Jr. and CB Brent Grimes were added in free agency. The GM expects drafting Hargreaves and Spence will be part of the solution, too. The Bucs were tied for 14th in sacks with 38 a year ago. They havent had a player finish with at least 10 in a season since 2005, when Simeon Rice had 14. DT Clinton McDonald said its time to play another tune.After a while you hear a broken record so many times youre ready to change that record, McDonald said. It comes down to us being the players and being mature enough pros to say, `You know what? If this is what we want to be then this is what we have to go after to be. Its time for us to step up our game, bring some wins to the Tampa Bay area and have everybody around here proud of us, ready to wear that red and pewter hat.RUN DOUGIE RUN: The teams biggest move in free agency was re-signing RB Doug Martin to a five-year, $37.75 million contract. He rushed for 1,402 yards and six TDs last season, taking some of the pressure off Winston to carry an offense also relying on two other rookie starters, tackle Donovan Smith and guard Ali Marpet.BUILDING CHEMISTRY: Winston and WR Mike Evans spent a lot of time together this offseason, working out and developing a bond they hope will make them an even more productive tandem. Evans had 74 catches and topped 1,000 yards receiving for the second time last year, however he had only three TD receptions; he had 11 as a rookie in 2014.The bottom line is still wins in the NFL. And for us to win, Jameis and Mike have to become a more lethal combination, Koetter said, and Im quite confident they will.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Air Max Cheap . 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 Wholesale China Free Shipping . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. http://www.airmaxfreeshipping.com/ . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Air Max China Free Shipping . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Air Max Free Shipping . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from.The Texas Rangers were interested in Alex Rios before last weeks non-waiver trading deadline. They really needed him after losing All-Star slugger Nelson Cruz. Texas acquired the Chicago White Sox right fielder Friday after putting in an earlier waiver claim for Rios, and four days after Cruz was suspended for the final 50 games of the regular season. "Hes good for us, and we had interest in him prior to learning of Nelsons suspension and continued to have interest in, and were able to work out a deal," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said on a conference call. "We had interest either way." The Rangers also got cash while sending the White Sox a player to be named later or cash. Cruz, the 2011 AL championship series MVP, was among 13 players disciplined Monday by Major League Baseball following its investigation into the Biogenesis clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. He was leading the Rangers with 27 home runs and 76 RBIs. Going into a four-game series at Houston starting Friday night, the Rangers had won nine of 10 games. Texas, a playoff team the past three seasons, made up six games in the AL West in that span to tie Oakland for the division lead. Daniels said Rios wasnt expected to make it to Houston for the start of the series opener, but should be in the lineup Saturday. The Rangers have to make a 25-man roster move when the 32-year-old Rios reports. Rios is batting .277 with 12 home runs, 26 stolen bases, 55 RBIs and 57 runs scored. He joined the White Sox after he was claimed off waivers from Toronto on Aug. 10, 2009. "For myself, Im going to go to a team thats fighting for first place and I think thats going to be refreshing," Rios said. "Theyre trying to win the division and go to the playoffs, so lets see what happens." Another benefit for Texas is that Rios is signed for $12.5 million in 2014 with a club option of $13.5 million for 2015. Cruz and David Murphy, another corner outfielder, are both eligible for free agency after the season. "That certainly adds a layer to it for us," Daniels said. Asked how the acquisition of Rios might affect Cruzs future with the Rangers, Daniels responded, "Ones not related to the other" and that the team would make a decision on the potential returrn of Cruz at the appropriate time.dddddddddddd "Thats not now," Daniels said. "Right now, were focused on putting the best club we possibly can out there, and its an unrelated situation." White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said it wasnt easy trading Rios. "Its difficult to let a player like Alex Rios go," he said. "He in my opinion was outstanding for us on and off the field during his stay in Chicago." The Rios trade is the next step for the retooling White Sox, who went into Fridays day-night doubleheader against Minnesota last in the AL Central. "We looked so good in spring training, we actually thought we were going to be contenders," Rios said. "Its just bizarre what happened. I cant point a finger at what exactly happened. Its just one of those years." Rios departure creates an opening for Avisail Garcia, the promising outfielder acquired from Detroit as part of a three-team deal that sent Jake Peavy from the White Sox to Boston before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte, where he hit .370 in eight games. The trades also give the White Sox some economic flexibility to use on the draft, international players or free agency. "Its going to go to making the big league club better for the long haul, no doubt," Hahn said. "One of the positives of an unfortunate season like this is were going to have an opportunity to spend a lot more money on amateur talent. Thats going to be the first couple of line items next year -- what we spend on the draft and what we spend on that internationally. Even after that, given the flexibility thats opened up, there will be the opportunity whether it be via trade or free agency to perhaps take on even more money." Texas manager Ron Washington called Rios a solid outfielder and tremendous base runner. His 26 stolen bases were tied for sixth in the AL with Rangers centre fielder Leonys Martin, and four behind team leader Elvis Andrus. "What it does is just add to what the dynamic already is here," Washington said. "I dont think the void that Nelson left can be filled. (Rios) is a solid baseball player and we just want him to come in and play his game. He fits in well, extremely well." ------ ' ' '