You want to deal with things ahead of time

Five NFL players on Tuesday traveled to Capitol Hill to discuss police brutality and race issues with members of Congress, including a possible meeting with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.The meetings were conceived by Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who is known for his off-the-field community work. The group will include four other players -- Boldins teammate, safety Glover Quin; Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins; and Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown and wide receiver Andrew Hawkins.Boldin told ESPNs Jim Trotter that he asked those players because they are all guys who are well-respected in the league and who have the same goal as myself.The players are scheduled to meet with Reps. Patrick Murphy, D-Florida; Keith Ellison, D-Minnesota; and Daniel Webster, R-Florida, as well as members of the Congressional Black Caucus.The meetings were organized by Andrew Blejwas, an associate director of marketing for The Nature Conservancy who also advises players like Boldin on how they can have more influence off the field. The NFL Players Association also worked to arrange the meetings with Ryan, R-Wisconsin, and with some members of the White House staff.Boldin told Trotter theres a huge mistrust between the police and the African-American community.I want to help close that gap, he said.McCown, the only white player in the group, said hes going to listen.I dont believe we, as white people, can understand what African-Americans go through on a daily basis, because its different, McCown said. For me, first and foremost, I want to be able to acknowledge that, and say that our stories are different and our histories are different, but lets just try to be a part of making it better moving forward. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Replica Soccer Jerseys . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Soccer Jerseys China . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- In a year of constant motion, the Los Angeles Rams are making their last big move.The Rams (3-2) headed out on a 10-day, two-game road trip to Detroit and London on Friday, filling a couple of jets with several tons of equipment, several dozen players, coaches and support personnel.After their cross-country franchise relocation last winter and a peripatetic summer spent in several spots around the Los Angeles area, the Rams still have to get through a Midwest road trip and a subsequent week in England.And then this team can really unpack.Were moving the whole franchise again, for a week, coach Jeff Fisher said. But everything is in place right now. Well be fine.The Rams 2016 odyssey began in St. Louis, where the team announced plans to return home to Los Angeles in January. After relocation was approved by the NFL, they held their offseason training activities in Oxnard, California, starting in April, before moving two hours south to Irvine for training camp in late July.On Labor Day weekend, they settled into their brand-new training complex in Thousand Oaks. Oh, and they also moved into the Coliseum, their home on Sundays for at least the next three years while their billion-dollar stadium rises in Inglewood.Everything has gone remarkably smoothly thanks to extensive planning, and the Rams expect their European trip to be just as good.The operations side and the administrative side, theyve done a tremendous job of planning in advance, taking care of the players and the coaches, Fisher said. When you have to do all these things that weve been doing, thats first and foremost.After the Rams finished practice Friday, the players had blue crates in front of their lockers with their names and a Union Jack on the side. Certain pairs of cleats and playing gear are being sent ahead for the London leg of this journey, along with a personal bag for everybody on the trip.In our business, uncertainty can become a distraction, Fisher said. You want to deal with things ahead of time, so weve done that. Its like, `OK, have your bag here between this time and that time.dddddddddddd Itll be there in London when you get there. But now, lets focus on Detroit. We have all the passports locked up in the safety deposit box right now.The Rams trip to Detroit (2-3) would be challenging even without that whole England trip afterward. This is the Rams first experience as a West Coast team traveling east for a game starting at 10 a.m. Pacific time.Those early-starting games are statistically difficult for West Coast teams, but the Rams adjusted their meeting times this week. Theyll adjust even more to combat the effect of jetlag when they arrive in London on Monday morning -- which will feel like the middle of Sunday night to the players.We have a plan in place, Fisher said. Well land, and well move them around.This trip is slightly different than the NFLs previous jaunts across the pond. Instead of Wembley, the Rams will face the New York Giants in southwest London at sold-out Twickenham Stadium, Englands 107-year-old ancestral home of rugby.The Rams hotel is far outside urban London as well, which will make it more difficult to enjoy the city -- something thats just fine with Fisher and the coaches required to keep the Rams focused on winning.Theyve been emphasizing its a business trip, defensive lineman Michael Brockers said. Well play anywhere. Theyve got the same grass there as we have here. Weve done it before.Game notes Injured defensive linemen Robert Quinn, Brockers and William Hayes all returned to practice Friday after missing the rest of team workouts for the second straight week. They all sat out of last weeks loss to Buffalo. Brockers said he could play Sunday in Detroit, while Hayes said he is more likely to play in London. ... Guard Cody Wichmann (ankle) and receiver Brian Quick (calf), a new addition to the injury report, are both listed as questionable for Detroit.---AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '