02-15-2020, 07:20 AM
Muhammad Wilkerson will be ready for the regular season.Who says? Mo says.Fresh off signing a new multiyear contract, Wilkerson expressed his confidence on Wednesday that he will be on the field for the New York Jets season opener against Cincinnati on Sept. 11.I will be ready for Week 1, the defensive end said. He is recovering from a broken right leg suffered in last seasons finale and couldnt predict when he would be available in training camp, which begins next week.Rehab is going well, he said. Im running four times a week and just taking it day by day. Im focusing on my leg and rehabbing each and every day. When the coaches feel it is time for me to get out there on the field and I am ready to go, I will be out there.Wilkersons deal is worth more than $85 million, including $37 million in guarantees through the first two years. Through three years of the deal, Wilkerson will be paid $54 million in guaranteed money.Asked if he was surprised that the last-minute deal came together when there was so much pessimism surrounding his contract situation, Wilkerson preferred to look forward.Im happy to get a deal done and glad this part of the situation is over with, and now I can just focus on football and get ready for the season, he said.I am glad my agent got a deal done for me and ... everybody in my support system. Were ready to get things rolling. I dont have to focus on my contract situation and can concentrate on my rehab.He also believes the Jets, who finished 10-6 last season, are a playoff team if they build off that performance in their first season with Todd Bowles as coach. But they are missing a key piece from the defense with tackle Damon Harrison now making his living at Met Life Stadium for the Giants.We could be the sky is the limit, we can be as good as we want to be, as long as were all putting in the work day after day and pushing each other to be great, Wilkerson said. We had a good record last year and just have to build on that.The 26-year-old Wilkerson had a career-high 12 sacks last season and was selected for his first Pro Bowl, but was unable to play because of the injury. A 2011 first-round draft pick out of Temple, Wilkerson sought a new deal for the past two years.Meanwhile, he saw Philadelphias Fletcher Cox sign for six years and $103 million, with little to no movement from the Jets this offseason.Until last week.Despite the uncertain contract situation, Wilkerson spent time at the Jets facility during the offseason while working his way back from the injury.Wilkerson, from Linden, New Jersey, gets to stay home to play for at least five more years after compiling 36 1/2 sacks through his first five NFL seasons. He has 372 total tackles, seven forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 77 games.I definitely wanted to be here, he said. Im from New Jersey ... wanted to raise my children here, and Im really excited to be here.---AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Neil Smith Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Custom Chiefs T-shirts . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom...1036n.html . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Emmitt Thomas Jersey . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Ed Podolak Jersey . 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. SEATTLE -- Matt Ryan dissected the best defense in the NFL for 15 memorable minutes. Richard Sherman unloaded on his teammates with an intense sideline tirade rarely seen in public. And Russell Wilson led another fourth-quarter comeback.Eventful would be one way to describe Seattles 26-24 win over Atlanta on Sunday.But it was also validating. At this point of the season, the Falcons and Seahawks are clearly among the handful of contenders in the NFC.Yes, both have flaws that were displayed at times in Seattles win. Both also showed they have the ability to overcome them.I like where our team identity is now, so badly that I want the identity to happen right away, Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said. Its growing stronger, that toughness, that resolve where we can attack in all three phases. That identity, I am pleased we are starting to become.That sounds like something Seattle coach Pete Carroll might say . But the Seahawks identity has been proven over time and was shown once again against the Falcons. Wilson led Seattle on a 70-yard touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter to pull within 24-23. Then it was Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas teaming up to intercept a pass that slipped through Julio Jones fingers and set up Steven Hauschkas 44-yard field goal that proved the game-winner.The victory was Wilsons 20th fourth quarter or overtime comeback. Seattles been down the path of being in close games in the fourth quarter against good teams and finding a way to pull out a win beginning in Wilsons rookie season. Sunday was the second time in five games this season Wilson led the Seahawks to a go-ahead score in the final 2 minutes.That would seem to be the next step for the Falcons to learn.We had a really nice first half. Then came back when we needed to in the fourth quarter to get the stops we needed to get it done, and we made the one kick we needed to make, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. Very difficult game. Dans team is playing like crazy. They were hard to beat today.Heres what else to know from Seattles victory:RIPPING RYAN: Ryans third quarter was stunning. He was 13 of 17 for 220 yards and three TDs. Ryan found Jones for a 36-yard score on the first drive of thee second half; found Mohamed Sanu on a 10-yard TD; and later connected with Levine Toilolo on a 46-yarder as the Falcons rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to lead 24-17 going to the fourth quarter.ddddddddddddThey started making catches, started making deep throws and they made some good plays you have to give them that. Thats a real good team over there, Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said.HERES JIMMY (AGAIN): Jimmy Graham continues to show his importance to Seattles offense.Graham finished with six catches for 89 yards, his third straight game with six receptions. He nearly became the first player in team history to top 100 yards receiving in three straight games, but fell just short.Its the first time Graham has caught five or more passes in three straight games since early in the 2014 season, when he was still in New Orleans. And he has discovered a rhythm with Wilson that hasnt required the throws to be forced.He just believes it. He puts that back foot in the ground and just lets it go, Graham said. Its just going to get better and better for the whole offense, for all of us.RUNNING NOWHERE: While Ryan had a big day throwing the ball, Atlantas run game had no success.Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman combined for 52 yards rushing and averaged just 2.9 yards per carry. Freeman had 40 yards on 12 carries, but that included an 18-yard run.Perhaps more important, Seattle didnt allow the duo to be part of the passing game. Freeman had three catches for 10 yards and Coleman one reception for 7 yards. A week ago, Coleman had four catches for 132 yards and a touchdown against Denver.NO FLAG: Atlanta probably has a right to be upset with the decision not to flag Sherman for pass interference on its final offensive play. Replays showed Sherman clearly pulling at Jones arm on the deep throw before the ball arrived. The Falcons sideline screamed begging for a call, but no flag ever appeared.Sherman did not believe he got away with one.No. I felt like we won the ballgame, he said.---AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '