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Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Thursday, July 28, 2016 NFL Questions abound for Super Bowl champions By ARNIE STAPLETON Associated Press ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Super Bowl champs begin training camp Thursday with major ques- tions on both sides of the ball, beginning with who will be the one throwing it. General manager John Elway declared the Denver Broncos’ quarterback competition wide open. Coach Gary Kubiak said he’ll split snaps between Mark Sanchez, Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch, beginning — but not set — in that order. “Gary is very seasoned at that position, so I know he’s going to handle it the right way and we’ll ind the right guy,” Elway said. There are also unknowns on defense such as when star corner- back Aqib Talib and pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware will be cleared to practice. Both are starting out on the non-football injury list, Ware after aggravating a bad back in the offseason and Talib after suffering a gunshot wound to his right leg. While acknowledging it’s hard to top a Super Bowl triumph, Elway said he expects his offense to be better this year no matter who wins the quarterback job. He insisted his standards don’t dip just because he doesn’t have an elite passer for the irst time in four years. “Our job is to be competitive and try to win a championship year in and year out,” Elway said. BRIEFLY Pendleton youth football camp The Pendleton Buckaroos are holding their annual youth football camp in early August and registration is now open. The camp, which will run Aug. 8-11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Pendleton High School ield, is open to any kids entering the third through eighth grades and costs $50 per camper. The camp features a free camp t-shirt, lag football games, Punt, Pass, Kick, and Run competitions as well as a total of six hours of instruc- tion by Buckaroo players and coaches. Registration forms can be picked up at Dean’s Athletic, PendletonYouthFootball. com, or you can arrive at 5 p.m. and register the day of the camp. Forms and payment must be returned to Deans Athletic, Pendleton High School ofice. Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller responds to a ques- tion during news conference before the team’s opening of train- ing camp Wednes- day, July 27, 2016 in Engle- wood, Colo. AP Photo/David Zalubowski Kubiak has said “we should know a lot more in about a week” about who has the inside track to the job, but he declined to say how deep into camp he’s willing to hold open the audition. The winner gets to direct an offense that Elway reconstructed this offseason following Denver’s 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50 and the departures of Peyton Manning to retirement and Brock Osweiler to free agency. The Broncos have just four offensive starters from the Super Bowl returning to their same posi- tion: center Matt Paradis, running back C.J. Anderson and wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. “I think we can be better offensively,” Elway said, citing the return to health of some players and better familiarity in Year 2 under Kubiak, who no longer has to operate a hybrid offense to accommodate Manning. “As much as we like to say that we did the right things offensively (last season), we HUNG ON offen- sively,” Elway said. Led by linebackers Von Miller and Brandon Marshall, both of whom signed big contracts this summer, the defense returns all but two starters. Elway said he trusts the Broncos have the depth to seamlessly replace Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan, who followed Osweiler out of Denver in free agency. Kubiak said Talib should be back in action “real soon.” But even if he is, possible NFL punishment and legal ramiications hang over the star cornerback who was shot in his right leg in Dallas on June 5. Police are investigating whether Talib accidentally shot himself. “When I heard the news, I was just thankful that he was OK,” Elway said. The GM met face-to-face with Miller on Wednesday for the irst time since protracted contract negotiations that grew contentious before Miller signed a deal that guarantees him $70 million, a record for a nonquarterback. Elway said he wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings, and Miller said there weren’t any. Elway said he also told Miller that standards soar commensurate with his weightier wallet. “I’m aware of the expectations,” Miller said. “But we have high expectations on all of us.” The sides signed off on the $114.5 million, six-year contract about two hours before the July 15 deadline. “I was expecting it to be a day or like a couple of hours,” Miller said before dodging a question about reports he and his agent sought permission to seek a trade at one point. “Ultimately, I wanted to be a Denver Bronco for life and I feel like we got that done,” Miller said. “The business is the business, but ultimately I wanted to be a Denver Bronco at the end of the day.” Notes: The Broncos waived RB Cyrus Gray and signed former Ravens WR Marlon Brown, a fourth-year pro who has seven TD catches among his 87 career receptions. ... Team president Joe Ellis said the Broncos’ stadium will continue to be called Sports Authority Field until a new naming rights partner is found. The sporting goods retailer is going through bankruptcy. NFL Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick inally agree to 1-year deal By DENNIS WASZAK JR. Associated Press NEW YORK — The New York Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpat- rick agreed to terms on a one-year deal Wednesday night. The deal, worth $12 million guaranteed and could increase to $15 million in incentives, ends months of specu- lation and uncertainty at the team’s most vital position. Fitzpatrick set the franchise record with a career-high 31 touchdown passes last season while helping lead the Jets on a playoff push in Todd Bowles’ irst season as coach. The well-traveled 33-year-old veteran appeared to be a certainty to re-sign in the weeks leading to the start of free agency, but Fitzpatrick and the Jets became locked in a contract stalemate over inancial terms. A deal appeared to be a better possibility two weeks ago, when New York signed defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson including $12 million to a ive-year contract guaranteed in the irst extension. That deal year, but there were some created about $5.7 million questions about the guar- in salary cap space, giving anteed money in the last the Jets some more room two years. to work out a contract While waiting for with Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, the Jets also With the Jets reporting explored other options, to camp on Wednesday including bringing in and their irst practice Fitzpatrick Robert Grifin III, who scheduled for Thursday, later signed with Cleve- both sides worked to hash out the land, and Brian Hoyer, who signed long-expected deal. with Chicago. Bowles and general manager Maccagnan also told reporters Mike Maccagnan repeatedly said the Jets had contingency plans in all offseason that they’d like to case Fitzpatrick didn’t come back, have Fitzpatrick back, with the and former starter Geno Smith coach saying the veteran would and second-year quarterback enter camp as the team’s starter if Bryce Petty were believed to be he re-signed. among those options. New York Several players, including wide also drafted former Penn State star receivers Brandon Marshall and Christian Hackenberg in the second Eric Decker, also expressed their round, but he is viewed more as a desire to be reunited with Fitzpat- project for this season. rick. In the end, though, New York In March, the Jets made an offer has the quarterback who nearly of three years for $24 million, led them to the playoffs last season back under center. A strong market for Fitzpatrick never developed as age, previous performance and the fact he has never reached the playoffs in 11 NFL seasons all likely played roles. With the irst postseason spot of his career on the line in the regu- lar-season inale at Buffalo, Fitz- patrick struggled while throwing interceptions on each of New York’s inal three drives in a 22-17 loss. The Jets inished 10-6 and missed the playoffs, but Fitzpatrick established himself as a leader on and off the ield in New York. Barring injury or an unforeseen situation, it appears Fitzpatrick will be under center against Cincinnati in Week 1 on Sept. 11. Fitzpatrick has thrown for 23,178 yards with 154 touchdowns and 116 interceptions in 11 NFL seasons. A seventh-round draft pick by St. Louis out of Harvard in 2005, he has also played for Cincinnati (2007- 08), Buffalo (2009-12), Tennessee (2013) and Houston (2014). MARINERS: Off day Thursday before 3-game series with Cubs on Friday Continued from 1B on the Pirates’ all-time list. McCutchen, who also doubled, had gone 4 for 29 with eight strikeouts in his previous seven games, drop- ping the 2013 NL MVP’s batting average to .241. “I felt something (good), that’s for sure,” McCutchen said. “I’m just going to stick with this and keep going. It was a good day for me as far as the feel goes, and had the results with it. Hopefully, it can propel me into these last couple of months of the season.” McCutchen and Jung Ho Kang, who hit a three-run double to inish a four-run seventh inning, each had AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar Seattle Mariners’ Robinson Cano is hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole during the irst inning of Wednesday’s game in Pittsburgh. four RBIs to help the Pirates win for the sixth time in nine games. Jordy Mercer also had three of the Pirates’ 14 hits and David Freese and Starling Marte added Baseball 8-8), 7:05 p.m. MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE East Division W L Pct GB Baltimore 58 42 .580 — Toronto 57 45 .559 2 Boston 55 44 .556 2½ New York 52 49 .515 6½ Tampa Bay 39 61 .390 19 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 57 42 .576 — Detroit 54 48 .529 4½ Chicago 50 51 .495 8 Kansas City 49 51 .490 8½ Minnesota 37 63 .370 20½ West Division W L Pct GB Texas 58 44 .569 — Houston 55 46 .545 2½ Seattle 51 49 .510 6 Oakland 47 55 .461 11 Los Angeles 45 56 .446 12½ ——— Wednesday’s Games Washington 4, Cleveland 1 San Diego 8, Toronto 4 Detroit 4, Boston 3 Tampa Bay 3, L.A. Dodgers 1 Colorado 3, Baltimore 1 Pittsburgh 10, Seattle 1 Chicago Cubs 8, Chicago White Sox 1 Oakland 6, Texas 4 Houston 4, N.Y. Yankees 1 Kansas City 7, L.A. Angels 5 Thursday’s Games Baltimore (Jimenez 5-9) at Minnesota (Gibson 3-6), 4:10 p.m. Chicago White Sox (Sale 14-3) at Chicago Cubs (Lackey 7-7), 5:05 p.m. Kansas City (Ventura 6-8) at Texas (Hamels 11-2), 5:05 p.m. Boston (Price 9-7) at L.A. Angels (Weaver NATIONAL LEAGUE East Division W L Pct GB Washington 59 42 .584 — Miami 55 46 .545 4 New York 53 47 .530 5½ Philadelphia 46 57 .447 14 Atlanta 35 66 .347 24 Central Division W L Pct GB Chicago 60 40 .600 — St. Louis 54 47 .535 6½ Pittsburgh 52 48 .520 8 Milwaukee 43 56 .434 16½ Cincinnati 40 61 .396 20½ West Division W L Pct GB San Francisco 59 42 .584 — Los Angeles 57 45 .559 2½ Colorado 49 52 .485 10 San Diego 44 58 .431 15½ Arizona 42 59 .416 17 ——— Wednesday’s Games Miami 11, Philadelphia 1 Washington 4, Cleveland 1 San Diego 8, Toronto 4 Tampa Bay 3, L.A. Dodgers 1 Cincinnati 2, San Francisco 1 Colorado 3, Baltimore 1 Pittsburgh 10, Seattle 1 St. Louis 5, N.Y. Mets 4 Chicago Cubs 8, Chicago White Sox 1 Arizona 8, Milwaukee 1 Atlanta 9, Minnesota 7 Thursday’s Games Colorado (Anderson 3-3) at N.Y. Mets (deGrom 6-5), 10:10 a.m. Arizona (Ray 5-9) at Milwaukee (Davies 7-4), 11:10 a.m. Philadelphia (Nola 5-9) at Atlanta (Wisler 4-10), 4:10 p.m. St. Louis (Wacha 5-7) at Miami (Fernandez 12-4), 4:10 p.m. Chicago White Sox (Sale 14-3) at Chicago Cubs (Lackey 7-7), 5:05 p.m. Washington (Roark 9-6) at San Francisco (Cueto 13-2), 7:15 p.m. two each as the top four in the order went a combined 10 for 17. Kang greeted reliever Nathan Karns with his double that pushed the Pirates’ lead to 7-1. Kang also earlier hit a sacriice ly off James Paxton (3-5) to inish a three-run third inning that broke a scoreless tie. Paxton gave up three runs and six hits in ive innings, striking out six and walking one. Drew Storen made his Mariners debut and was charged with four runs in a 1 1/3 innings a night after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade for fellow reliever Joaquin Benoit. Norichika Aoki hit a pair of doubles and scored the Mariners’ lone run in the sixth inning on Robinson Cano’s sacriice ly. Seattle had won ive of its previous seven games. “Cole threw the ball really well,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Tip your hat to him.” TRAINER’S ROOM Mariners: DH/OF Nelson Cruz was not in the lineup after fouling a ball off his left foot Tuesday night, though manager Scott Servais said he held the slugger out primarily because the designated hitter rule was not in effect in an NL park. ... RHP Taijuan Walker (right foot tendi- nitis) pitched a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, the irst time he had faced hitters since going on the disabled list July 6, and will likely make a minor league rehab start this weekend. ... RHP Nick Vincent (mid-back strain), on the DL since June 27, will throw off a mound for the irst time Friday since being injured and is likely to go on a rehab assignment next week. UP NEXT Mariners: Open a three- game series against the Cubs at Chicago on Friday with RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (11-6, 3.96 ERA) facingvet- eran LHP Jon Lester (10-4, 3.09). SCOREBOARD MiLB NORTHWEST LEAGUE North Division W L Pct. GB Spokane (Rangers) 21 19 .525 — Everett (Mariners) 20 20 .500 1 Tri-City (Padres) 19 21 .475 2 Vancouver (Blue Jays) 16 24 .400 South Division W L Pct. GB Eugene (Cubs) 29 11 .725 — Hillsboro (Diamondbacks) 21 19 .525 Salem-Keizer (Giants) 18 22 .450 Boise (Rockies) 16 24 .400 13 ——— Wednesday’s Games Everett 6, Vancouver 5 Spokane 7, Tri-City 5 Hillsboro 4, Boise 0 Eugene 4, Salem-Keizer 1 Thursday’s Games Tri-City at Spokane, 6:30 p.m. Boise at Hillsboro, 7:05 p.m. Salem-Keizer at Eugene, 7:05 p.m. Vancouver at Everett, 7:05 p.m. Soccer MLS EASTERN CONFERENCE W L T Pts NYC FC 9 7 6 33 New York 9 9 4 31 Philadelphia 8 7 6 30 Montreal 7 5 8 29 Toronto FC 7 7 6 27 New England 6 7 8 26 Orlando City 4 5 11 23 D.C. United 5 8 7 22 GF 35 36 35 35 25 27 32 19 GA 39 28 33 30 23 33 35 25 5 8 11 Columbus 3 7 10 19 26 32 Chicago 4 10 5 17 17 25 WESTERN CONFERENCE W L T Pts GF GA FC Dallas 12 6 5 41 35 31 Colorado 10 2 8 38 23 14 Los Angeles 9 3 8 35 34 19 Sporting KC 9 10 4 31 27 25 Real Salt Lake 8 6 7 31 30 31 Vancouver 8 8 6 30 33 35 Portland 7 7 8 29 33 33 San Jose 6 6 8 26 22 23 Seattle 6 12 2 20 20 27 Houston 4 9 7 19 23 26 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. ——— Saturday’s Game Colorado at New York City FC, Noon Sunday’s Games Portland at Sporting Kansas City, 11 a.m. Los Angeles at Seattle, 1 p.m. Vancouver at FC Dallas, 3 p.m. Montreal at D.C. United, 3:30 p.m. New York at Chicago, 4 p.m. Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Columbus at Toronto FC, 4:30 p.m. New England at Orlando City, 4:30 p.m. 593 573 552 545 542 525 520 507 496 472 462 461 458 450 449 421 397 397 373 363 359 317 310 305 278 Golf PGA Tour Schedule July 28-31 — PGA Championship, Baltus- rol GC, Springield, N.J. Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Schedule Sunday, July 31 — Pennsylvania 400, Long Pond, Pa. (TV: NBCSN) Aug. 7 — Cheez-It 355 at The Glen, Watkins Glen, N.Y. (TV: NBCSN) Points Leaders Through July 24 1. Kevin Harvick 2. Brad Keselowski 3. Kurt Busch 4. Joey Logano 5. Kyle Busch 6. Carl Edwards 7. Martin Truex Jr 8. Jimmie Johnson 9. Matt Kenseth 10. Denny Hamlin 11. Chase Elliott 12. Austin Dillon 13. Ryan Newman 14. Jamie McMurray 15. Kyle Larson 16. Kasey Kahne 17. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 18. Trevor Bayne 19. Ryan Blaney 20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 21. AJ Allmendinger 22. Greg Bifle 23. Paul Menard 24. Danica Patrick 25. Aric Almirola 26. Clint Bowyer 27. Tony Stewart 28. Casey Mears 29. Landon Cassill 30. David Ragan 671 647 627 606 601 Rodeo PRCA Standings All-around 1. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. $71,956 2. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. $71,521 3. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. $66,831 Bareback Riding 1. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa $97,519 2. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. $86,070 3. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah $83,630 Steer Wrestling 1. Jason Thomas, Benton, Ark. $61,199 2. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. $60,179 3. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas $53,927 Team Roping (header) 1. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas $71,142 2. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. $64,477 3. Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, Alberta $63,115 Team Roping (heeler) 1. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. $67,797 2. Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo. $65,766 3. Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore. $57,764 Saddle Bronc Riding 1. Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas $100,974 2. Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah $98,359 3. CoBurn Bradshaw, Beaver, Utah $82,069 4. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah $61,533 5. Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah $61,225 Tie-down Roping 1. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. $74,451 2. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas $69,075 3. Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas $68,271 Steer Roping 1. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas $49,757 2. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. $48,320 3. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla. $36,880 Bull Riding 1. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. $95,225 2. Scottie Knapp, Albuquerque, N.M. $76,690 3. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah $68,508 Barrel Racing 1. Mary Burger, Paul’s Valley, Okla. $175,416 2. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas 91,003 3. Ivy Conrado, Hudson, Colo. $89,921