Pirate Galaxy » dddddddddHeathcote might be a more frequent v

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Big brothers have been known to pick on little brothers from time to time.That is, of course, until that little brother grows to be a few inches taller and 50 pounds heavier.Such is the case for brothers Chris and Kyle Long, who are at different points in their NFL careers entering the season.Kyle, the Bears three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman, will be counted on at right guard to help protect quarterback Jay Cutler as Chicago looks to move on from a forgettable 2015 season.Meanwhile, on the defensive side his older brother, Chris, is trying to make the most of the one-year deal he signed with the Patriots following an eight-year stint in St. Louis.Chris, 31, has had no problem deferring to his younger sibling as the teams participate in joint practices in advance of Thursday nights preseason matchup.Hitting my brother? Not a lot. Hes like a big tree stump, so luckily Im out there on the edge and we didnt have to deal with each other much, Chris said of the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Kyle.Coach Bill Belichick said it hasnt been too hard to tell them apart.One big one and one not-so big one, Belichick said about the siblings, who are extending the legacy of a family tree first established in the NFL by their Hall of Famer father, Howie Long.The big one is the younger Kyle, the 27-year-old and three-time Pro Bowl right guard in his fourth season as a key part of the Bears offensive line.He has started all but one of Chicagos regular-season games since 2013, and will switch from tackle back to right guard.The hope is that his inside presence will help fortify a line that allowed Cutler to be sacked 29 times last season.Growing up in a rambunctious house that featured Chris and his baby brother, Howie, Jr., was never void of activity.Chris has yet to appear in the playoffs during his eight seasons. So a spot on the Patriots roster is a chance to be a part of a winner.And with the recent injury to starting defensive end Rob Ninkovich, it also could mean a chance to make a significant contribution late in his career.Kyle was drafted out of high school by the Chicago White Sox in 2008, but opted to take a baseball scholarship at Florida State. That was short-lived, though, with a DUI his first semester leading him first to a junior college in 2010 and finally to Oregon in 2012 to resume his football career.One of his biggest supporters along the way has been Chris.I just enjoy kind of watching him grow into being a man in this league, Chris Long said. I know the work that it takes and I just think, more than anything, just seeing the way hes plugged away, he grows up every year.Having a player of Kyles caliber on the field this week has also been helpful for a New England offensive line also trying to rebuild after Tom Brady was sacked 38 times in 2015.Chris has been slowed some the past two years by knee and ankle issues. But Kyle said hes expecting big things out of him this season.He looks strong, he feels strong and hes a competitor, Kyle Long said.As for Thursday night, Kyle said there will be a few more family members in the stands than usual. They include their mom, Chris wife and Kyles nephew, Waylon, who was born in March.He was definitely neutral, Kyle said. He had a blue hat on, which was also neutral. So he knows how to play the game already.Game notesPatriots TE Rob Gronkowski was absent from the practice field Tuesday, a day after he pulled up short while running a passing route and left the workout early with a trainer. ... Bears TE Zach Miller and WR Eddie Royal (concussion protocol) were both absent. ... Patriots S Nate Ebner returned after taking a leave of absence to compete for the U.S. Rugby team in Rio. He spent the day on the sideline in a jersey and shorts. ... Bears coach John Fox chatted with Patriots TE Martellus Bennett after practice, and at one point knelt to play with Bennetts daughter. The pleasantries came months after the lack of a contract extension in Chicago opened the door for Bennetts trade from Chicago to New England. ... Earlier this month Bennett tweaked his former club when he and his brother, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, made critical comments about Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler. But Fox insisted this week that there was no ill will, or anything like that toward Bennett following his departure. ... Patriots CB Malcolm Butler and Bears WR Alshon Jeffery, who were ejected from practice after an extended shoving match Monday, exchanged a high-five prior to lining up against each other in a one-on-one drill. ... Patriots C Bryan Stork was kicked out of practice after head-butting Bears LB John Timu. ... The Patriots released Brock Vereen. He was signed by the Patriots to the practice squad on Nov. 18, 2015. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder, entered the NFL as a fourth-round (131st overall) draft choice by Bears in the 2014 draft out of Minnesota.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightowerCustom Milwaukee Bucks Jerseys . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Vin Baker Bucks Jersey . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. http://www.nbabucksproshop.com/Authentic-Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar-Bucks-Jersey/ .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. D. J. Wilson Bucks Jersey . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Ray Allen Bucks Jersey . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN.In the past year, Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote has been to Melbourne, Perth, Dubai and Hong Kong but he cant remember the last time he brought a horse to Sydney.Buffering, the horse he took to those places was retired last month, and his trainer is getting used to life without the multiple Group One winner.Alpen Rose will represent the stable at Rosehill on Saturday when she competes in the Club Marconi Hcp (1200m) with Tim Clark sporting the pink and black silks of Wilf Mula which were to the fore on Flying Artie in the recent Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.I cant remember the last horse I raced in Sydney, Heathcote said.Its been a while. It might even have been Buffering when he won the Roman Consul Stakes and that was six years ago.Alpen Rose is in good form and one of the reasons she is coming to Sydney is because there is rain predicted.If that happens then her chances are enhanced. Its also great for Wilf to have his colours on show in his home town.Alpen Rose is the TABs $26 outsider of the field with Daysee Doom the $2.80 favourite.Rain is expected overnight and early on Saturday morning with Alpen Roses record on heavy tracks three wins from three attempts.She comes into the raace off a third place to I Am Invincible who has won her past four starts in a row.ddddddddddddHeathcote might be a more frequent visitor to Sydney with Hopfgarten to be aimed at the Group Two Villiers Stakes in December.He came back to the stable today after a few days off after the Cantala Stakes and Im hoping to get him to the Villiers, Heathcote said.Theres a bonus for any horse which can win the Villiers and the Bernborough Stakes up here so thats attractive.Hopfgarten finished sixth in the Group One Cantala (1600m) at Flemington two weeks ago, less than three lengths from the winner Le Romain.And while he admits he misses having Buffering around the stable, it wont be long until he is back to be prepared for a guest appearance in Queensland after spending a few weeks at Living Legends in Melbourne.Theyve named a race after him at the Gold Coast on the 31st of December so hell be back for that, Heathcote said.But there are some lovely pictures out there that people can see of him and The Cleaner at Living Legends.Its great to see these horses enjoyng themselves. 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