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How LeBron James, Lakers Can Convince Anthony Davis to Stay in LA Long-Term

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Some may scoff at the notion of Anthony Davis playing anywhere other than Los Angeles in 2020-21, but he can and will turn down his $28.8 million player option, exercise his right to meet with other organizational leaders in free agency and weigh each pro and con next summer. nfl cheap nike jerseys

“When that time comes around next year, you can ask me that question, we can revisit it,” Davis said when asked about a long-term commitment at his introductory press conference with the Los Angeles Lakers. “Right now, I’m focused on this year and how I can help this team and help the organization become a championship team.”
His agent, Rich Paul, has already addressed the question. As he told Sports Illustrated’s S.L. Price before the trade that moved Davis off the New Orleans Pelicans:new nike nfl jerseys for sale cheaphi-res-31c46aebfb0461f120df711940edd97c_crop_north

“Where he’s going to land? I have no idea. And it don’t matter. We’re going into free agency. Why does it matter to me where he goes? Earth: We’re going into cheap wholesale nike nfl jerseys free agency. He has a year; he has to play. But after that, I can’t say it no bigger: WE ARE GOING INTO FREE AGENCY. 2020: ANTHONY DAVIS WILL BE IN FREE AGENCY.”cheap nfl nike jerseys free shipping

The Lakers paid a steep price this offseason to acquire the best player in the NBA (at least by his standards), giving up Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and multiple first-round picks. Regardless of his ranking among the NBA’s elite, Davis is in his prime at 26 years old and is one season removed from a top-three finish in the races for both Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year.cheap nike jerseys nfl

But what if he walks away for nothing?

The Lakers can and should do everything within their power to retain Davis and keep him happy. But that requires five key steps.

LeBron, the ambassador of the Lakers organization both on and off the court, will be critical in securing Davis long-term.cheap nfl jerseys from china nike

Before injuring his groin on Christmas, coincidentally just three nights after meeting with Davis for dinner in L.A., James had never missed more than 13 games in any previous season of his 16-year career. That would change in 2018-19, a year in which he sat out of 27 games. The Lakers lost 18 of those contests and were 8.3 points per 100 possessions worse with him off the floor.

That 33.3 win percentage would make Los Angeles a 27-win team over the course of a full season.cheap new nike nfl jerseys

LeBron’s teams haven’t been perfect without their King in the more distant past, either. The Cleveland Cavaliers went just 4-23 in contests James missed during his most recent four-year stint, which put them on pace for 12 victories over an 82-game season.cheap nfl jerseys nike china

Even in brief stints without his team’s other superstar, nike jersey nfl cheap Davis is unlikely to change that. He probably can’t be blamed for the Pelicans’ 3-12 record without Jrue Holiday on the floor in 2018-19, as he played in only five of those games. But the Pelicans did go 3-15 with Davis playing and Holiday out during the three prior campaigns, which prorates to just 14 wins in a full season.

If the Lakers are to retain Davis, James’ health with be paramount.cheap youth nfl jerseys

They cannot afford to lose either superstar for extended periods with a supporting cast unlikely to parade them through a ruthless onslaught of opponents in the Western Conference, but James has proved he can do more with less. Should the Lakers lose youth nfl jerseys cheap Davis for more than 15 games (his average over seven seasons), James would need to shoulder the burden in his stead. If he cannot, the Lakers risk missing the playoffs, which would be a costly blow in their quest to win over their new star.

Matt Harvey, SP, Los Angeles Angels

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Stats: 4 GS, 0-2, 9.64 ERA, 26 H, 8 BB, 14 K, 18.2 IP

Potential Replacement: Dillon Peters

How many chances does an $11 million investment buy someone?nfl jersey on sale

The Los Angeles Angels gave Matt Harvey that much on a one-year deal this offseason in an effort to shore up the starting rotation. He’s essentially been pitching batting practice to this point, though, with little reason for optimism.nfl nike jerseys for sale

Here’s a quick rundown of how his four starts have played out:hi-res-15eaaa1e4b33a811ce827514b829aa5b_crop_exact

Mar 29 vs. OAK: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
April 4 vs. TEX: 4.0 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
April 9 vs. MIL: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
April 17 vs. TEX: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

All of that adds up to a 9.64 ERA that is the worst in the majors among 92 qualified starting pitchers.cheap baby nfl jerseys

Left-hander Dillon Peters was recently promoted from Triple-A to serve as a long reliever out of the bullpen. With one more rough start from Harvey, he could find himself in the rotation.

Stats: 61 PA, .098/.203/.176, 2 XBH, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 13 K

Potential Replacement: Denard Span

The Baltimore Orioles are thin on potential franchise cornerstones in the early stages of a full-scale rebuilding effort.jersey nfl wholesale  Center fielder Cedric Mullins was viewed as one of the few promising young players on the MLB  nfl china jerseyroster at the start of the season, but he’s looked completely overmatched in the early going.

After hitting .235/.312/.359 with nine doubles and four home runs in 191 plate appearances last season in his first big league action, Mullins has managed just five hits and four walks in 61 trips to the plate so far this year.genuine nfl jerseys

“It’s been the longest two weeks of my life,” Mullins told reporters Wednesday. “But I’m just slowing everything down and remembering that it is the first two weeks and that there are guys that are struggling as well out there, but they’ve turned it around within a few days.”jersey cheap nfl

The 24-year-old also has the sixth-highest soft-contact rate at 29.3 percent, and he’s turned in below-average defensive metrics in center field (minus-1 DRS, minus-5.9 UZR/150) despite a reputation as a strong defender.authentic nfl jerseys for sale

With no clear replacement in-house, the Orioles should consider signing veteran free agent Denard Span to serve as a stopgap in center.authentic nfl jerseys sale

The 35-year-old hit .261/.341/.419 with 40 extra-base hits and nine steals in a 1.9-WAR 2018 season split between the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners.nike jersey nfl

Pacman Jones Opposed to Kneeling During Anthem: ‘Find Another Way to Protest’

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Longtime NFL cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones said players who want to kneel during the United States national anthem should “figure out another way” to protest racial injustice because social issues “don’t have nothing to do with the national anthem.”

On Saturday, TMZ Sports provided Jones’ comments about the hot-button topic. In May, the NFL announced new guidelines forcing players to either stand for the anthem or remain in the locker room until “The Star-Spangled Banner” is complete.new nike nfl jerseys cheap

“I’m all for standing for the anthem,” Jones said. “… I have a couple of family members that have been over to Iraq.”

The NFL Players Association filed a non-injury grievance against the league Tuesday regarding the new anthem guidelines. The union argues the policy is “inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights.”

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the movement in August 2016.buy nike nfl jerseys cheap

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he told NFL Media at the time. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Many athletes, both in the NFL and around the sports world, followed his lead.cheap nfl nike jerseys china

Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the Niners in March 2017 and has remained a free agent ever since. He’s involved in an ongoing collusion grievance against the NFL, alleging he’s been kept out of the league for non-football reasons.

The anthem issue has frequently drawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested in September that owners should fire players who don’t stand, per Sophie Tatum of CNN.

“For a week, (that owner would) be the most popular person in this country,” he said. “Because that’s a total disrespect of our heritage. That’s a total disrespect for everything we stand for.”nfl nike jersey cheap

In October, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters the league and its owners “believe everyone should stand for the national anthem.”

American League Central

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Chicago White Sox: RHP James Shields

The Chicago White Sox are clearly a year or more away from contention in the American League Central, despite their stable of young talent. They employ the 36-year-old James Shields, a useful pitcher for a contender but a disposable asset for a rebuilding squad.nfl online store

The ChiSox won’t be able to command a king’s ransom for Shields, who owns a 4.53 ERA. The veteran posted a 3.38 ERA in May and a 3.82 ERA in June, however, and has extensive postseason experience with the Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City Royals.

Chicago won’t net any blue chips for Shields, but a contender looking for back-of-the-rotation buttressing will answer the phone.

Cleveland Indians: 3B Nolan Jones

The Cleveland Indians ought to run away with the AL Central without any additions. At the same time, they could add to a bullpen that ranks 28th in baseball with a 5.13 ERA.

Enter a move for the Padres’ Hand, the Baltimore Orioles’ Zach Britton or any number of other late-innings arms.

The Tribe should resist dealing catcher and top prospect Francisco Mejia or right-hander Triston McKenzie but could leverage Singe-A third baseman Nolan Jones to strengthen a squad that hasn’t hoisted a Commissioner’s Trophy since 1948.

Detroit Tigers: SS Jose Iglesias

The Detroit Tigers are in unambiguous rebuild mode even after a decent start. Shortstop Jose Iglesias is a pending free agent who’s hitting .272 and would be a solid role player for multiple buyers.

The 28-year-old won’t light the world on fire, but he hit .304 in June and could add depth for clubs such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals.

Kansas City Royals: 3B Mike Moustakas nike nfl store

The last-place Royals have already traded outfielder Jon Jay to the Diamondbacks and swapped reliever Kelvin Herrera to the Washington Nationals.

Next up could be third baseman Mike Moustakas, who has 17 home runs in 86 games and could interest contenders from the Atlanta Braves to the Cardinals with his combination of pop and postseason experience.

The 29-year-old would also be a minimal obligation with a $15 million mutual option and $1 million buyout left on his contract.wholesale nfl

Minnesota Twins: 2B Brian Dozier authentic nfl football

The Minnesota Twins lost 103 games in 2016 and won the American League’s second wild-card berth in 2017. This year, they’re stuck somewhere in the middle.

Yes, Minnesota could contend in the anything-goes AL Central, but more realistically, the small-market Twins should stock up for next season.

As such, they could move second baseman Brian Dozier, who’s hitting only .223 but boasts 18 doubles and 13 home runs and has drawn interest from the Dodgers, per Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan.

Dozier would be a rental, but his power pedigree from the middle infield will elicit a look-see from virtually every contender.nfl store online

Cincinnati Bengals

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Key assistants: Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, offensive line coach Frank Pollack

Lewis is a respected defensive mind whose defenses have almost always been strong in Cincinnati, and he deserves credit for getting to the playoffs in seven of his 15 seasons as the Bengals’ head coach. However, he’s failed to win a playoff game in a decade-and-a-half there, and he’s won just 13 total games the last two seasons with a talented team. nike jersey nfl cheap

Among six head coaches who have been in their current roles at least 10 years, Lewis is the only one without a Super Bowl victory, let alone a playoff win.

At Head Coach Ranking, only Jackson ranked lower in terms of clock management, while only Jackson, Chuck Pagano and Steve Spagnuolo ranked lower when it came to in-game adjustments.

Lazor’s offense performed terribly last season and didn’t fare much better when he held the same title in Miami. There are high expectations for Austin, but he didn’t exactly put together championship defenses in Detroit. cheap youth nfl jerseys

They do get a little credit for recently stealing the well-reputed Pollack from the Cowboys, but that doesn’t make this a good staff.

Head coach: Adam Gase (16-16)youth nfl jerseys cheap

Key assistants: Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, defensive coordinator Matt Burke

Gase’s offenses performed exceptionally well in Denver, but that was with Peyton Manning under center.
And the Bears ranked in the bottom dozen in terms of scoring and yardage during his only season there. He does deserve some love for getting a strong run out of quarterback Ryan Tannehill before injuries cost the veteran the end of his 2016 campaign and all of 2017, but the Miami offense still ranked poorly both seasons.youth nfl jerseys

In terms of game-planning, only Joseph fared worse at Head Coach Ranking.

The 37-year-old Loggains might be considered a bit of an up-and-comer, but he didn’t deliver in two seasons as Chicago’s offensive coordinator, and the jury is still out on Burke after his first season running things on the other side of the ball.

There’s at least room for this staff to grow, but it’s hard to get too fired up about any of the primary coaches in Miami.

Head coach: Jon Gruden (95-81)

Key assistants: Offensive coordinator Greg Olson, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, offensive line coach Tom Cable

This is a tricky one because Gruden has been out of football so long. He still deserves some credit for winning a Super Bowl 16 years ago, but let’s keep in mind that he went 45-51 while failing to win another playoff game during the six seasons that followed that championship campaign.

Has the game passed him by? It’s a fair question to ask, especially considering some of the odd moves he’s made this offseason.

Olson is a retread who hasn’t run a high-ranking offense since he was in St. Louis in 2006, and Cable didn’t do much to fix the Seahawks’ offensive line, but at least Guenther joins the fray with a strong resume from his time in Cincinnati.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding this staff, but it might be tremendously overrated.

Manny Machado Trade Rumors: Dodgers, Phillies Among 7 Potential Suitors

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Seven teams have reportedly made the Baltimore Orioles trade offers for shortstop Manny Machado.

According to Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun, where can i get cheap nfl jerseys a source said the offers rank in the following order from best to worst: Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs.

Encina also noted that all the offers are “very close” in terms of how the Orioles view them.

The 26-year-old Machado is in the midst of an All-Star-caliber season, as he is hitting .310 with 21 home runs and 60 RBI. He is currently on pace to set career highs across the board.

Machado can become a free agent during the offseason, and with no contract extension coming together, the O’s have a great deal of motivation to trade him.

Baltimore is the worst team in Major League Baseball this season at 24-64.official nfl jerseys wholesal

Machado is one of the best young players in baseball from a hitting perspective, and he is also capable of playing great defense at shortstop or third base, which adds to his value.nfl china jerseys cheap

Six of the seven teams rumored to have made offers for Machado are from the National League, which suggests Machado could significantly shake up the NL race down the stretch.

That is especially true in the NL West since the Dodgers and D-backs reportedly have the two best offers on the table.best prices on nfl jerseys

Arizona holds a one-game lead over L.A. in the NL West, but the Dodgers have been making steady progress since a slow start to the season.cool nfl jerseys

Despite reportedly having the best offer, the Dodgers reportedly have not included outfield prospect Alex Verdugo or pitching prospect Yadier Alvarez, per Encina.

The Orioles rank 28th in Major League Baseball with a team ERA of 4.82, which suggests they may value young, talented pitchers in a Machado trade.

Any team that deals for Machado will be taking a significant chance since he can leave for nothing next offseason in free agency.

He is an elite player, however, and acquiring him could mean the difference between making the World Series and falling short, especially in the wide-open NL.

The non-waiver trade deadline is on July 31, meaning Machado will likely be on the move before that date.nfl jersey authentic

Green Bay Packers: Kenny Clark, Nose Tackle

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Kenny Clark was a 2016 first-round pick, and he somehow will start the 2018 season at just 22 years old. It’s simply rare for a 22-year-old to have 30-plus games under his belt, no matter his quality of play on the field.

Luckily for Green Bay, Clark is one of the best penetrating nose tackles in the league, earning 4.5 sacks last season despite predominantly taking up double-teams in the middle of the line. According to Bleacher cheap nfl jerseys for women Report’s NFL1000 project, Clark was the 17th-best defensive tackle in the league.

At the deepest position in the NFL, Clark is standing out. For the Packers, receiving what should amount to six or seven years of in-prime play from a penetrating nose tackle is a massive hit on a 27th overall pick.

Last year, Houston’s Deshaun Watson posted a 9.3 percent touchdown percentage as a passer. To put that into perspective, only 2004 Peyton Manning (9.9 percent) was able to post a better mark with at least 100 passes thrown since the merger. nfl jersey online Carson Wentz, with 7.5 percent, was second behind Watson in 2017.nike nfl womens jerseys

If Watson throws for three touchdowns a start, he will have some of the best stats in an NFL career. Will his numbers regress from his six-start sample in 2017? Almost certainly. Is there room for concern about the long-term health of his knee? Yes. Would Houston trade him for any non-Aaron Rodgers player in the league right now? Doubtful.

The Texans caught lightning in a bottle last year after trotting out Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage as potential answers to their issues. If Watson continues the pace that he’s on, he can quickly emerge as a top AFC buy nfl jerseys in bulk quarterback, something the conference has desperately needed with the aging of Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers.womens nike nfl jerseys

Quenton Nelson is football’s version of Bane. Against LSU, he drove a linebacker into the dirt with more force than I can ever recall seeing. Against Georgia, he picked up a field blitz outside the right tackle as a left guard.best deals on nfl jerseys

You can’t often make a highlight reel out of an offensive lineman’s career, but Nelson could be the closest that we’re going to get. As a college guard drafted sixth overall, Nelson comes into the league with nearly unprecedented expectations, cheap real nfl jerseys but there are no flaws in his game, at least ones college defenses could have diagnosed.

Nelson, rookie second-round pick Braden Smith, Ryan Kelly returning from injury, Jack Mewhort returning from injury and Anthony Castonzo will look like a completely different offensive line than what the Colts had to start in Week 17 last year.nike nfl jersey differences  With the protection of quarterback Andrew Luck as the team’s top priority, Indianapolis has embraced the value of a quality line.

Kansas City Chiefs: Cornerback

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In Marcus Peters, the Kansas City Chiefs had the NFL’s preeminent ball hawk at the cornerback position. Since he entered the NFL in 2015, no player has more interceptions than Peters’ 19.

But Peters isn’t in Kansas City anymore. He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams after the Chiefs tired of his antics between interceptions.nike nfl cheap jerseys

It was a surprising move—one that leaves Kansas City’s secondary very much in flux.

The trade that sent Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins gave the Chiefs Kendall Fuller, who is one of the league’s better young slot corners.

But without Peters, the outside might be a problem. In five years, free-agent addition David Amerson has less than half the interceptions that Peters piled up in just three seasons. Steven Nelson, like Peters, entered the pros in 2015.nfl nike jerseys for cheap

His next NFL interception will be his first.

The Chiefs added some corner help on Day 3 of the draft and afterward in rookie free agency, but anything the team gets from that group is going to be found money.

Kansas City’s pass defense was already a mess. The Chiefs allowed 247 yards a game through the air last year. Only three teams gave up more.

Don’t expect that to improve in 2018.nike nfl jerseys wholesale cheap

The Los Angeles Chargers have the makings of a sneaky-good contender in 2018. The team rebounded from an awful start last season to narrowly miss the playoffs, and problem areas like the offensive line and interior defense were bolstered in free agency and/or the NFL draft.

Third-round defensive tackle Justin Jones was brought in in the hopes of fortifying a run defense that was terrible last year, surrendering 131.1 yards per game on the ground—most in the AFC.

There’s still an issue in the middle of the defense, however.nike cheap nfl jerseys

The Chargers drafted a potential starter on the outside of Gus Bradley’s 4-3 in USC’s Uchenna Nwosu, but the “Mike” linebacker spot is still up in the air.

That’s the middle, in case your vernacular needs work.

Jatavis Brown, who logged 76 stops for a second straight year in 2017, was in and out of the lineup last season. That was partly due to nagging injuries, but he also appeared to lose favor with the coaching staff.

When on the field, Denzel Perryman’s been a more consistent performer than Brown. But there’s a big caveat—Perryman has missed 15 games in three years (including over half of last season).

It’s not hard to imagine another carousel where Perryman gets hurt, Brown bounces in and out of the starting lineup, and Hayes Pullard plays like the seventh-round pick he is.

In other words, an unwanted repeat of last season.

Indianapolis Colts: Edge-Rusher

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Prior to the NFL draft, there was essentially a tie for the Indianapolis Colts’ biggest problem area in 2018.

Both the offensive and defensive lines needed work—quite a lot of it.

The former got a big boost on April 26 with the selection of Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, whom some pundits considered the top overall prospect in this year’s class.

The defensive line, on the other hand, didn’t get a ton of assistance. The Colts added some help in the form of second-round pick Tyquan Lewis, but the former Ohio State star was a rotational player with the Buckeyes who will probably need time to get his sea legs in the NFL.

That leaves Jabaal Sheard and Denico Autry as the front-runners to start on Indy’s new four-man front. Sheard’s the more proven of the two. Twice he’s notched at least eight sacks in a season, but he’s never hit double digits. Autry had five sacks for the Oakland Raiders a year ago, but that’s the high-water mark of his career.

If you can’t pressure the quarterback in today’s NFL, you’re going to get carved up.

Right now, it doesn’t look like a Colts team that was last in the AFC in sacks last year is going to make a leap forward in that regard.

Prior to the NFL draft, there was essentially a tie for the Indianapolis Colts’ biggest problem area in 2018.

Both the offensive and defensive lines needed work—quite a lot of it.

The former got a big boost on April 26 with the selection of Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, whom some pundits considered the top overall prospect in this year’s class.

The defensive line, on the other hand, didn’t get a ton of assistance. The Colts added some help in the form of second-round pick Tyquan Lewis, but the former Ohio State star was a rotational player with the Buckeyes who will probably need time to get his sea legs in the NFL.

That leaves Jabaal Sheard and Denico Autry as the front-runners to start on Indy’s new four-man front. Sheard’s the more proven of the two. Twice he’s notched at least eight sacks in a season, but he’s never hit double digits. china nike nfl jerseys cheap Autry had five sacks for the Oakland Raiders a year ago, but that’s the high-water mark of his career.

If you can’t pressure the quarterback in today’s NFL, you’re going to get carved up.

Right now, it doesn’t look like a Colts team that was last in the AFC in sacks last year is going to make a leap forward in that regard.

Oh yeah. I went there.cheap nfl nike jerseys from china

As the Jacksonville Jaguars showed in advancing to the AFC Championship Game, this is a team that is equipped to challenge for a berth in Super Bowl LIII.

The Jaguars possess a punishing ground game and one of the best defenses in football—maybe the best. That defense added even more pieces in this year’s draft in interior lineman Taven Bryan and safety Ronnie Harrison.

There’s just one problem. One sticking point. One issue looming over the squad.

Robby Blake Bortles.

Bortles isn’t necessarily a terrible quarterback. But among legitimate Super Bowl contenders, it’s hard to argue Jacksonville doesn’t have the worst player at football’s most important position—with very little behind him.cheap nike nfl jerseys free shipping

If Andrew Luck’s healthy this year, Bortles is probably the worst starting quarterback in the AFC South.

It’s somewhat understandable that the Jags committed to Bortles moving forward. He did, after all, lead the team to the cusp of its first Super Bowl. The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t and all that jazz.nfl cheap jerseys nike

But Bortles’ shortcomings as a quarterback are very real. And they may well come back to bite the Jaguars in 2018.

Spurs can say goodbye to Wembley with Champions League mission accomplished

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Mauricio Pochettino stood on the edge of his technical area, arms folded, waiting, as the clock ticked down. Just get over the line, Tottenham. That had been the order of the night. Securing Champions League football, a precious housewarming present to take back to N17 for next season, was at the forefront of everybody’s mind.

The outpouring of elation at the final whistle was all about that, all about a marker to help Tottenham in this period of seismic change for the club. Champions League qualification is always a boon, but it was especially appreciated when the news was confirmed at Wembley thanks to Chelsea hitting the brakes at Stamford Bridge because it feels like it’s about something bigger than one campaign in everybody’s favourite European competition.
Harry Kane purges Spurs of Champions League nerves with win over Newcastle
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The idea that an elite club’s ambitions live or die by the Champions League is a bit hysterical at a time when the old top four have turned into a high-ambition six who rightly enter each season thinking they ought to be a contender for a Champions League position. But Tottenham’s prospects seem tangled up in the chase more intensely than the others because of their stadium rebuild.

The what-ifs can go away for a while. What if Tottenham didn’t make the Champions League and missed out on both revenue and pull as they begin a new era in a new home? What if Daniel Levy had to consider bids for the most coveted talent mindful of the costs of debt repayment? What if Pochettino found his head could be turned now he is used to an environment where his team can make high-impact memories like beating Real Madrid or drawing at Juventus? Those what-ifs evaporated when Harry Kane found one of his accomplished finishes to decide a tensely fought game where a high-energy Newcastle caused umpteen scares.
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For some perspective, in the pre-Pochettino era Tottenham had only ever made it to the Champions League once, and at the end of the night they assured themselves a third successive season in the competition. They were desperate not to cheap nike nfl jerseys free shipping  lose status that had been a long time coming.

Spurs’s form had been fluffy going into this final week of the season, with points frittered away, allowing doubts to gnaw away. Having been in a comfortable top-four position all season, the fear began to take hold. Don’t mess it up. Now is not the time. The noise of crackling urgency shuddered through the home crowd early on as Jonjo Shelvey’s thumping free-kick clipped the outside of a post. The Newcastle midfielder thrust his head in his hands. He knew it was fractions from perfection. Tottenham’s stress began to show.

Some of the twitchiness stemmed from a reorganised midfield, with Moussa Sissoko and Victor Wanyama paired to compensate for the absence of Eric Dier and Mousa Dembélé. Newcastle were boxing clever, a performance with sufficient focus to suggest nfl cheap jerseys nike this team were playing to impress for next season rather than minds wandering to the beach.

Tottenham needed to find some rhythm but it didn’t come easily. Half an hour gone a sign that they were off key came when Ben Davies received the ball, looked up to build some kind of a move and just lumped the ball forward to nobody. That was not the style Tottenham aspire to. Kane’s sureness of touch eluded him when he was in for a one-v-one. It was nervy.

Kane rediscovered his touch to unshackle Tottenham from their anxiety in the second half with one of those unerring moments of striking clarity. He sidefooted the ball with crisp curl. The team’s body language changed in that instant. nfl nike jerseys for cheap uddenly they were all calling for the ball, pointing for it, wanting it.

Tottenham will finish as the top London club for the first time in 23 years. The last time they had the capital’s bragging rights dates back to 1994‑95, when they finished seventh (just above QPR and Wimbledon), since the season Blackburn won the title. Modern Tottenham want to continue to look up. Levy has not historically used Champions League qualification as essential to the sums for the season, but there is no doubting how easy it is to get used to all this.nike nfl cheap jerseys

It was hardly a great performance but the result meant so much. Now Chelsea and Liverpool go into the final weekend of the season with fourth place on the line – Antonio Conte’s team hoping that they can up their game and that Liverpool might just be put off theirs with the Champions League final over the horizon. Tottenham can turn up on Sunday, turn out the lights and hand the keys back to Wembley without looking back.nike nfl jerseys wholesale cheap
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