Athletic Conference, also have lost to Temple, 88-67, on Nov 20. They edged Detroit 84-81 in double-overtime on Saturday behind 32 points by guard Zavier Turner. The 5

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Reggie McKenzie took a methodical approach to rebuilding the Oakland Raiders when he was hired as general manager in 2012.He spent most of his first two seasons dismantling the roster to get the salary cap in order after years of mismanagement by late owner Al Davis before building the team back up again starting with the 2014 draft that netted franchise quarterback Derek Carr, elite pass rusher Khalil Mack and other key pieces.The process has paid off handsomely. McKenzies Raiders are off to a 9-2 start this season and stand in first place in the AFC West and tied for the top record in the conference with New England. Oakland is assured of its first winning record since 2002 and is closing in on clinching a playoff berth for the first time since that season, when the team went to the Super Bowl.We feel good about where we are, McKenzie said Thursday. We think we built this thing to last.But the speed of the turnaround from an 0-10 start in 2014 to possible Super Bowl contender two years later is somewhat staggering and a credit to the job McKenzie did building a roster and hiring Jack Del Rio as coach in 2015.All but three of the teams starters were added since 2014 with McKenzie using successful high draft picks like Carr, Mack and Amari Cooper, key free agents like Michael Crabtree, Donald Penn, Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin and Sean Smith, and numerous finds late in the draft and off the street like David Amerson, Seth Roberts, Jalen Richard and Perry Riley Jr., to build a team able to compete with just about anybody.We knew we had some pieces to develop and if we could just add on that, we felt like wed win some ballgames, McKenzie said. We had those guys in 2014, they were young, being 0-10 is no fun, but we were 3-3 at the end of that stretch and we were moving in the right direction.It has all paid off this season as a franchise that seemed to always find a way to lose is pulling out close games. Carr has led five fourth-quarter comebacks already this season as the players and management are confident each week that they will find a way to win.McKenzie said that started when Del Rio decided to go for a 2-point conversion and a win instead of playing for overtime in a season-opening 35-34 win at New Orleans.As many heart attacks as Ive had, absolutely, McKenzie said. It goes without saying, the players, you can feel it. They have an air about them that they know theyre going to win and its good to be around.The next step for McKenzie will be figuring out a way to keep all his young stars. He has structured most of his free-agent contracts with a pay-as-you-go philosophy meaning that the salary cap shouldnt hinder the teams chances of retaining Carr, Mack and Cooper. Carr can negotiate an extension this offseason and become a free agent in 2018, while Mack wont hit free agency until the following year and Cooper in 2020.The premiere players will get paid and we try to keep everything intact as much as we can, McKenzie said. But thats what happens when youre talented players, play well and their contract comes up a certain time to where they can benefit from it, thats what free agency is all about.In other topics, McKenzie said defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. resumed workouts on the field Thursday for the first time since injuring his hip in the preseason opener on Aug. 12.Edwards was placed on injured reserve with hopes that he would be able to come back after about eight weeks but the injury has taken longer to heal than originally thought. The next step will be to see how Edwards responds to the workout before deciding whether to allow him back to practice.Its a day to day thing for him now, McKenzie said. See how he comes in in the morning after he did some work today. Hes been working out. Hes had a good week.McKenzie also had no update on the status of suspended pass rusher Aldon Smith, who is waiting to be reinstated by the league after serving a one-year suspension for violating the substance-abuse policy.Theyll let us know in due time, McKenzie said. Im sure theyre in communication with each other with that. But they dont fill us in on anything in that process.McKenzie still believes Smith could contribute this season despite being out so long as long as he is in good shape physically and in a good state of mind.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLAlvin Jones Jersey . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Terrell Bonds Jersey . 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"His juice; his aggression all night long.MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- No. 25 West Virginia left the championship game of the NIT Season Tipoff with a loss and multiple teaching points.We didnt guard, coach Bob Huggins said after Fridays 81-77 loss to Temple in Brooklyn. We didnt guard the way were capable of guarding. Our help defense was atrocious. We fouled too much. We didnt make free throws. We missed open shots. We missed 17 layups -- 17 point-blank at the rim.The Mountaineers (4-1) trailed 45-25 at the half, reclaimed the lead with eight minutes left and then failed to finish a game in which they were heavily favored.On Monday night, when Huggins team returns to action against Manhattan (2-3), hes hoping for more consistent defense -- not just the suffocating spurt WVU showed during the second half against Temple. Hes also bothered by 60 percent foul shooting and the Mountaineers penchant for committing too many turnovers themselves. They forced 19 by Temple only to give back 16.Thats a formula for disaster, Huggins said.If there was a positive from the defeat, sophomore forward Esa Ahmad scored a career-high 19 points, becoming the offensiive force many fans envisioned.ddddddddddddNathan Adrian (13.2 points, 7.8 rebounds) and Ahmad (12 points, 5.4 rebounds) give West Virginia versatile forwards. Jevon Carter (9.6 points, 4 assists, 3.6 steals) and Tarik Phillip (9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds) lead a rotation of five guards that figures only to grow stronger with Daxter Miles (5.5 points) regaining his conditioning after a three-game illness absence.The Jaspers, picked fourth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, also have lost to Temple, 88-67, on Nov 20. They edged Detroit 84-81 in double-overtime on Saturday behind 32 points by guard Zavier Turner. The 5-foot-9 Ball State transfer averages 19.4 points and three assists per game.Forward Zane Waterman (11.4 points, 7.4 rebounds) and freshman guard Aaron Walker (10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds) could be key if Manhattan is to stop West Virginias trend of blowing out mid-majors in Morgantown. The Mountaineers have won three home games by an average of 40 points.Cheap Jerseys [url=http:s