Pirate Galaxy » a much better place than we were when

RICHMOND, Va. -- Kirk Cousins unloaded on a throw down the right sideline and watched as receiver DeSean Jackson and cornerback Josh Norman raced after the ball.When Jackson got a step to beat Norman and finished off the play with a touchdown catch, Cousins sprinted down the field to celebrate as fans wowed and cheered.Jackson versus Norman is the must-watch matchup at Washington Redskins training camp, whether its during 1-on-1 drills or 11-on-11s. The two stars revel in the competition and put on a show they hope will pay dividends by the time the games begin.Were here to get better, make each other better, Jackson said. Both guys are out there doing it, just trying to help each other get better and just strive for greatness. Have a little bit of fun, talking, just kind of communicating, going back and forth a little bit.The Redskins have Pierre Garcon with Jackson on offense and DeAngelo Hall and Bashaud Breeland with Norman on defense, so theres no shortage of chatter on the practice fields at training camp.Breeland has impressed with some highlight-reel interceptions and pass breakups, but all eyes are on Jackson and Norman when they are matched up.Jackson is in the final year of his contract, while Norman is in the first of his $75 million, five-year deal. Jackson has gotten the better of Norman so far, but the All-Pro cornerback who was part of the Carolina Panthers NFC champion defense considers practice a game in his own head.Being able to match up with a guy like that each and every time posted one-on-one is only going to make me better because if he beats me, he beats me, Norman said. If he beats me on this play, Im coming back trying to find out how he beat me that first play. So I can come back and look at it like, `Let me beat him now.Even coach Jay Gruden is excited to see the chess match.It will be great competition, Gruden said. When you go out and land a free agent of (Normans) caliber with the success that he had in Carolina and with the playmaking ability that he has and the leadership qualities that he has -- its only going to help your football team.Norman thinks itll help him to work 1-on-1 against Jackson because itll help him adjust to receivers in the East. When the games start counting, itll be Norman vs. Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants and Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys, so this is prep time.Coming from the (NFC) South where we face giants, its a bit different, Norman said. Now just being better with that and understanding to use my tools where I can be physical and where I cant be. Knowing that, D-Jax is going to help me.Its a work in progress as Jackson has what Norman accurately referred to as blazing speed and said his elusiveness is like the Flash. Norman doesnt have stars in his eyes, but is still adjusting to facing Jackson.Ive got to be patient in that and work that patience because hes one of those guys that hell want to see a defender strike first and wait on him to make a move and then he react off of the defender, Norman said.Ive got to be better at being patient, and once Im patient and understand what he wants to give me, then I can play to my strengths and use my tools to combat that. But how many guys do we see in the NFL to try to go against like that?Jackson can say the same about Norman, whose presence has given him incentive to go hard early in training camp.Its a mutual admiration society, even if there might be some fireworks along the way because Jackson wants to get the Redskins back to the playoffs and considers Norman a big piece of that puzzle.He has the work ethic, the enthusiasm to go out there every time, be the same guy and expect nothing but greatness from himself, Jackson said.Vice versa on the other end on my side: I feel like every time I get to go out there to get a rep versus him, Im going to try to play my best game as well, too.Were just trying to feed off each others energy, feed off of each others playmaking skills and just really push each other to both get better and to use this time to get ready for the season.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Jaromir Jagr Bruins Jersey . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Tuukka Rask Bruins Jersey . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. http://www.thebostonbruinshockey.com/ray-bourque-hockey-jersey/ . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Tuukka Rask Jersey . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Cam Neely Bruins Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. BOSTON -- The names that Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge didnt mention said all anyone needed to know about how he views the teams future. After trading up three spots to get Gonzaga 7-footer Kelly Olynyk in the NBA draft on Thursday night, Ainge described him as a complementary player who will fit in well with Rajon Rondo, Avery Johnson and Jeff Green. No mention of the teams biggest stars, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. "Cant talk about it," Ainge said when the omission was pointed out to him. But asked if there were any untradeable players on the roster, he said, "If Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were traded, I guess everybodys tradable." According to a person with knowledge of the talks, the Celtics and Nets were nearing completion of a deal that would send Garnett and Pierce to Brooklyn in exchange for a package that included three first-round draft picks. The person confirmed the talks to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details were to remain private. Although the details were not final -- the deal cannot be submitted to the NBA office until next month -- the Celtics were expected to get Gerald Wallace, the expiring contract of Kris Humphries and one other player while sending Jason Terry to Brooklyn. The deal would complete the breakup of the core that brought Boston its NBA-record 17th championship in 2008. The process began earlier this week when the Celtics traded coach Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers for a first-round draft pick in 2015. Boston and Los Angeles had discussed a deal for Garnett, who has a no-trade clause but was expected to waive it to remain with Rivers. But NBA commissioner David Stern said coaches could not be dealt for active players -- as opposed to draft choices -- and nixed any future deals between the Celtics and Clippers. Instead, the Celtics talked to Brooklyn. The inclusion of Pierce, who is due $15 million next season, and the possibility of swapping a rebuilding team for a contender was expected to encourage Garnett to go along. "Thats what Danny wants to do is rebuild," Rivers said from Clippers draft headquarters. "Its sad to see everybody leave Boston. You just want them to go someplace where they have a chance to win, and they have." After winning five straight Atlantic Division titles, the Celtics tumbled down the Eastern Conference standings this season, dropping all the way to thee No.dddddddddddd 7 seed before being eliminated by the New York Knicks in the first round. Ainge has said he wanted to avoid the precipitous fall and long rebuilding process in the 1990s that followed the aging of the original Big Three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish -- his teammates on the teams that won it all in 1984 and 86. The Celtics were no closer to a title -- and in the midst of the longest championship drought in franchise history -- when Ainge arrived in 2003. He rode them into the draft lottery, and when the ping pong balls failed to deliver a star, he traded for Garnett and Ray Allen to join Pierce in a New Big Three that won the NBA title in its first year and returned to the finals two years later. But the team regressed after losing in the 2010 finals in seven games, and in the first-round loss to the Knicks this spring, Pierce and Garnett looked worn down. That convinced Rivers that his future was elsewhere, and Garnett and Pierce arent far behind. Instead, the Celtics begin their rebuilding around Rondo, the one player Ainge said he was not looking to trade. They also have Bradley joining him in the backcourt and Green to fill Pierces role, and now Olynyk to join Jared Sullinger at power forward after Garnetts gone. "I think were in a much better place than we were when I got here 10 years ago," Ainge said. "Our objective is to do it less painfully and to do it with more speed." Ainge sent the No. 16 pick and two future second-rounders to the Dallas Mavericks to get Olynyk, who was fifth in voting for the Wooden Award. Olynyk averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 63 per cent from the field while leading Gonzaga to a 32-3 season. Ainge said Olynyk was athletic, playing quarterback for his high school football team. "I dont know too many players who played quarterback in high school as a 7-footer," Ainge said. The Celtics entered the night without a second-round pick, but they bought the No. 53 overall selection from the Indiana Pacers for cash and used it to pick centre Colton Iverson from Colorado State. A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed the transaction Thursday night on condition of anonymity because it was not yet official. Iverson is a 7-foot, 255-pound centre who started his career at Minnesota. Last season, after transferring to Colorado State, he led the team in scoring with 14.2 points and rebounding at 9.8. ' ' '