2012 » son. Peat was drafted as a tackle, but the Saints hope he has the v

PITTSBURGH -- Running back LeVeon Bell promises to walk away from the latest clash with Vontaze Burfict and the Cincinnati Bengals with two healthy knees.Bell has suffered injuries in each of the past two matchups with Cincinnati, tearing two knee ligaments in Week 8 of last season after Burfict tackled him by the sideline. The hit ended his season.Now leading the Steelers late-season playoff push and earning MVP consideration, Bell isnt backing down from a reunion with Burfict.Im pretty sure they are going to do whatever they got to try to get me off the field. It is what it is. I understand that, Bell said. The last two times Ive played them, its been that way. Im obviously not going to let it happen a third time. Im going to be prepared for everything. Got to, because with my mindset I have to be smart about it.Bell said during the offseason that he believed Burfict -- who served a three-game suspension for several egregious hits -- intentionally tried to hurt him. Since that Bengals game, Bell has been averaging 161.6 total yards per game and broke a franchise record with 236 rushing yards in Week 14 against the Buffalo Bills.Bell also hurt his knee from a Reggie Nelson hit in Week 16 of the 2014 season, causing him to miss the playoffs that year. The injury did not require surgery.Bell, who missed the first three games of 2016 for a substance abuse violation, said of course he expects the Bengals to draw the Steelers into after-the-whistle play. Ignoring the chatter wont be a challenge at all, said Bell, who added Burfict looks like the same player to him.Im pretty sure [Burficts] going to do whatever he has to do -- Im going to go out there and play football, Bell said. Thats what Im going to do. Im going to go out there and try to beat those guys with my football play. Im not necessarily worried about trying to be dirty or doing anything to try to hurt those guys.Bell said his knee recovery has been a long journey, but hes held up well after the heaviest of workloads. Bell has touched the ball 166 times in the past five weeks, including 118 rushes in his past four games -- all wins.His dynamic play has prompted teammates, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger,?to push his MVP case publicly.Its an honor. Ive been hearing it, Bell said. I want to do whatever it takes to win these three games. Im not really worried about an award. Ive got to do whatever it takes to help us win a Super Bowl.Will Butcher Jersey .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. Kyle Palmieri Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.devilssale.com/authentic-mirco-mueller-devils-jersey/ . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Travis Zajac Devils Jersey . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Miles Wood Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2.NEW ORLEANS -- Unabashed optimist that he is, Drew Brees might be the last person to downgrade expectations for a New Orleans Saints squad coming off a winless preseason.Ive been part of plenty of preseasons where, man, we looked like rock stars ... and then we had a slow start to the regular season, Brees said. Ive also been on teams where we looked awful in the preseason and we jumped out to a fast start. So does preseason perfectly indicate whats going to happen at the start of the season? No.The Saints are coming off two straight 7-9 campaigns -- their first consecutive losing seasons since Sean Payton became coach in 2006.Other than Brees, right tackle Zach Strief, punter Thomas Morstead and safety Roman Harper (reacquired in free agency), the current Saints bear little resemblance to the 2009 team Payton coached to a Super Bowl title. There is now lots of youth in key positions, which can be a liability, but also can mean theres considerable potential for improvement.Weve been able to win a lot of games here with a certain formula. I felt like we lost that formula a little bit for the last two years and hopefully were back on track, Brees said. I like our team. I like the work ethic. I like the approach of these guys. ... You want toughness, character, guys that love football and that love to compete and I feel like we have those elements, and now its got to all come together.At 37, Brees skills do not appear diminished; he led the NFL in yards passing last season. He also is highly motivated because he is entering the final season of his contract. If his offensive line holds up -- which is no guarantee given its preseason form -- Brees should have the talent he needs at receiver, tight end and running back to move the ball -- particularly with the addition of tight end Coby Fleener.But that wont necessarily produce victories if the defense, which has ranked second-to-last two years running, doesnt improve under coordinator Dennis Allen, who took over last November when Rob Ryan was fired.Allen has put a premium on organizational details in an effort to eliminate confusion with substitutions and pre-snap alignment which dogged the unit a year ago. New Orleans also has a number of new players on that side of the ball, but first-round draft choice Sheldon Rankins, a projected starter at defensive tackle, might not be available for a couple months because of a brokeen fibula suffered during training camp.ddddddddddddAllen said he saw his unit trending in the right direction during the preseason, but also stressed, I do not think you ever really 100 percent for sure know until you start playing real games.Here are some things to watch as Saints try to become relevant in the NFC playoff race again:LINE ITEMS: Highly regarded left tackle Terron Armstead has sat out numerous recent practices and preseason games with nagging injuries, so he enters the season with his durability in question. Payton planned to start 2015 first-round choice Andrus Peat at right guard, but moved him to left guard later this preseason. Peat was drafted as a tackle, but the Saints hope he has the versatility to thrive at guard while veterans Armstead and Zach Strief occupy the tackle spots. Veteran Max Unger remains at center and young linemen Senio Kelemete and Tim Lelito are competing at right guard.DEFENSIVE TURNOVER: After pass rusher Paul Kruger was released by Cleveland, he became the latest addition to a revamped defense whose new faces also include linebackers James Laurinaitis, Craig Robertson and Nathan Stupar; defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins, Nick Fairley and David Onyemata; and defensive backs Vonn Bell, Erik Harris, DeVante Harris and Ken Crawley.Meanwhile, projected starting cornerback P.J. Williams is a 2015 draft pick who is new to the active roster because he spent his rookie season on injured reserve.TOUTING THOMAS: Michael Thomas, a rookie receiver drafted in the second round out of Ohio State, has made a slew of spectacular plays in practice and preseason games. Payton wasnt inclined to downplay the hype surrounding his newest threat in the passing game. I dont follow fantasy football, but, shoot, Id try to have him, Payton said.YOUTH MOVEMENT: A number of players with no regular-season experience are expected to start or contribute regularly this season. They include Thomas, Rankins, Williams, Bell, Tull, DeVonte Harris, Erik Harris and Crawley. Onyemata also could emerge. Starters or regulars with only one full season of experience include Peat, cornerback Delvin Breaux, linebacker Stephone Anthony, and receivers Willie Snead and Brandon Coleman.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '