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When it comes to football Dolphins Elite
Jerseys , Saquon Barkley has a knack for doing what might sound
impossible.
Whether it’s his freakish feats in the weight room, or his game-breaking plays during a three-year career at Penn State (during which he scored a
school-record 53 touchdowns), the 6-foot, 233-pounder earned another distinction
when he was selected second overall by the Giants in the draft last month
instead of a quarterback.
In a QB-driven league where an every-down back is an endangered species, Barkley was the highest running back drafted in more than a decade.
The next hurdle for the Bronx, New York, native? Tempering expectations that he’ll become the Giants’ hometown hero.
”I don’t see them,” Barkley said. ”I know a lot of people try and set expectations for me. No offense to you guys, but I set my own expectations.”
Which will start by using the same mentality he’s always had.
”I have to believe in myself, set goals for myself, set expectations for myself and continue to work for those goals every single day,” Barkley said.
”Just to continue to come in, be humble. I don’t want to be that guy that thinks
he is a high draft pick and that he has it all. Nothing is given to you.
Everything is earned. You have to have that mindset that you have to work every
single day. Learn every single day. Be a student of the day, learn from the guys
and the coaches. The Elis (Manning) and the Odells (Beckham Jr.) on the field
and off the field. Just work. Hard work got me here.”
Like the highest running back taken since Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush in 2006, Barkley is more of a do-everything player than a conventional running
back, returning kicks, including two for touchdowns last season, one of which
was 98 yards.
Citing Ezekiel Elliott and Le’Veon Bell as examples Authentic
Marcus Davenport Jersey , Barkley talked about how valuable versatile
running backs can be.
”I am not a guy that just lines up in the back field and is going to bang his head, bang his head, bang his head,” he said. ”I am a guy that is willing to do
anything for his team. Whether it be a kick returner or a punt returner, running
down on kickoffs, lining up in the slot, running a dummy play or a fake play,
whatever it takes. I want to be an athlete, not just a running back. Obviously,
I play the running back position, but I want to be an all-around guy and an
all-around player.”
While coach Pat Shurmer senses the Giants drafted a quick study, he knows Barkley has to dive into the playbook before he can truly assess that.
”He needs to be everything he thinks he can be and then we’ll worry about that (expectations) later,” Shurmer said, adding: ”I’m certainly high on Saquon
. If you ask him, he’ll tell you he wants to learn what he’s doing and compete
at a high level and regardless of what my expectations are for him.”
The expectation among fans and some in the media is that Barkley makes an immediate impact, which would result in a potent offense featuring wide
receivers Beckham and Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram, as long as
37-year-old Eli Manning can return to his two-time Super Bowl MVP form.
For now, Barkley Adidas
Ryan McDonagh Jersey , along with the other players at the Giants’
three-day rookie minicamp this weekend, will get the first taste of what NFL
practices are like, and what it’s like to not only be an NFL player but a New
York Giant.
”We’re going to put them through the paces for three days here and try and teach them,” Shurmer said. ”I think what’s important is and I’ve talked to the
staff, I’ve talked to our current players, we want to teach our rookies the
right way from the very beginning – here is your iPad, here is your locker, here
is where you need to be, here is how you need to dress, here are the fields,
`please’ and `thank-you’ work, push in your chair. We want to really train these
guys in the New York Giants’ way and I think it’s every facet of their life and
then, certainly what is most obvious, football.”
A mentality to which the well-polished Barkley is looking forward.
”It is an honor to play for this franchise. Right when you walk in the building, you see the four Lombardi Trophies and you already know what the
standard is for this team and this program,” Barkley said. ”I am just happy to
be a part of it.”
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Joel Embiid expects his first playoff game in Philadelphia to be quite a scene.
”It’s going to be lit,” Embiid said.
And if the 76ers win, there will be more games like it next week.
The 76ers can become the first team into the Eastern Conference semifinals when they host the Miami Heat on Tuesday in Game 5 of the only East series that
isn’t tied.
Also Tuesday Authentic
Connor Williams Jersey , the Golden State Warriors get their second chance
to eliminate San Antonio, and the Celtics and Bucks return to Boston for Game 5
of a series in which the home team has won every game.
Embiid was still sidelined while recovering from a broken orbital bone around his left eye for the first two games in Philadelphia, then returned to help the
76ers win Games 3 and 4 in Miami.
Now the 76ers, who just two years ago lost 72 games in one of the worst seasons ever while the Warriors were winning an NBA-record 73, can join the
defending champions in the second round on the same night. The 76ers have
advanced to the East semis just twice since reaching the NBA Finals in 2001.
Golden State missed its first chance to move on when San Antonio won 103-90 on Sunday. The Warriors were disappointed, though far from devastated.
”We lost and we got another opportunity to try to close this thing out back at the crib,” Kevin Durant said, ”so no, we’re good.”
Ettore Messina will coach the Spurs again in place of Gregg Popovich, who will miss his third straight game following the death of his wife.
Some things to know about Tuesday’s matchups:
BUCKS AT CELTICS
Series tied 2-2. Game 5, 7 p.m., NBA TV.
NEED TO KNOW: Milwaukee has shot 52 percent or better in the last three games and outscored Boston 433-427 in a series in which the Celtics won the opener in
overtime and the Bucks took Game 4 by two points on Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘s
follow shot with 5 seconds remaining.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Jaylen Brown. He’s scored 30 or more in two of the last three games, and his 11-point outing in Game 3 was the only game in the series Boston
didn’t have a chance to win. ”I want to just continue to keep helping my team
and shooting the ball well,” Brown said. ”It’s something that’s on and I want to
continue to do that.”
INJURY UPDATE: The Celtics are listing guard Marcus Smart, sidelined since mid-March because of right thumb surgery, as questionable. Bucks starting center
John Henson has missed the last two games with a sore lower back.
PRESSURE IS ON: Jabari Parker and Thon Maker. Parker’s 16.5 points and Maker’s 5.0 blocks per game off the bench were huge keys in Milwaukee, but they
have to prove they can take their show on the road. They managed all of two
points in Boston, where Maker didn’t even get in Game 1.
HEAT AT 76ERS
Philadelphia leads 3-1. Game 5 Sylvester
Williams Jersey Lions , 8 p.m., TNT.
NEED TO KNOW: Philadelphia is averaging 116.8 points in the series, tops among postseason teams, and the 76ers have outscored the Heat 127-85 in the
fourth quarter of the four games.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Dwyane Wade, because it might be the last time to watch him play. The Heat star hasn’t committed to playing next season, so this could be
the final game of his career if Miami loses.
INJURY UPDATE: Forward Josh Richardson is questionable with a left shoulder sprain, and the Heat are also dealing with injuries to fellow starters Tyler
Johnson (left thumb) and Goran Dragic (sore right knee). If Johnson is limited,
the Heat could insert Rodney McGruder for defense or give Wayne Ellington more
minutes in hopes of getting his shot going.
PRESSURE IS ON: Miami’s starters. In what should be a raucous atmosphere in Philadelphia, the Heat have to make sure they aren’t run off the floor before
Wade even gets off the bench.
SPURS AT WARRIORS
Golden State leads 3-1. Game 5, 10:30 p.m., TNT.
NEED TO KNOW: Another loss would give the Warriors more in this postseason then they had all last year. Golden State was 16-1 (an NBA-record .941 winning
percentage) in storming to its second championship in three years.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Manu Ginobili. The 40-year-old Argentine may have extended not only the series but also his career when he scored 10 of his 16 points in
the fourth quarter of Game 4, so there’s at least one more chance to enjoy his
brilliant style of play.
INJURY UPDATE: Ginobili was kneed in the thigh late in Game 4 and will be hoping to be pain-free after a day off. Also, the Spurs have ruled Kawhi Leonard
out for Game 5.
PRESSURE IS ON: The Warriors, if only to avoid the aggravation of the old reminders about their big lead blown in the 2016 NBA Finals if they lose again
and the series is prolonged while New Orleans, who they would play in the second
round, continues to rest.
—
AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami and AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower in Boston contributed to this report.
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