a mater since 2002, serving as Buckeyes de

CINCINNATI -- When the games on the line, Bengals and Steelers fans know where the balls most likely going.Both teams have dynamic duos with years of experience making the game-turning, highlight-reel plays.For the Bengals, its Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. For the Steelers, its Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. In their season openers, the duos were at their dynamic best.Green had 12 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown during Cincinnatis 23-22 win at the Jets. Brown had eight catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburghs 38-16 win at Washington.Theyll share the stage on Sunday in Pittsburgh, where both defenses know what its all about: Stopping those two.First off, Ben and I both have really talented receivers, said Dalton, who came into the NFL along with Green in 2011.And then it just comes with time. Ive been with A.J. my whole career, hes been with Antonio for seven years now. So its just part of the chemistry and building it.When youve got talented players, you get that chemistry. When youre both trying to be good at what you do, youre going to have big plays.Each does it their own way.Brown has a sense of what Roethlisberger is going to do when the elusive quarterback escapes the rush. Thats when the two get creative and use an instinctiveness developed during many hours of practice.You put in a lot of time and a lot of hard work, a lot of film, a lot of communication, Brown said. Were always looking to get better. We never dwell on what we did in the past.Brown has caught 375 passes in the past three seasons, an NFL record for a three-year span.Hes just got a motor, Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said. You rarely see him tired. Ive played him for five years, and Ive never seen him bent over or nothing like that. That shows you what type of shape hes in and what condition he has. I just feel like the guy is a great player, man.Brown was in the middle of the ugly ending to the teams playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium last season. Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict hit him in the head after an incompletion, leaving Brown with a concussion.The personal foul helped move the Steelers in range for a last-minute field goal and an 18-16 victory. Brown had to miss the Steelers next playoff game, a loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Denver.He looked as good as ever in the opener.After the play breaks down, he breaks off on the other side of the field and Ben sees him, Kirkpatrick said. Now, thats a 20-yard gain, where you had him stopped if it was a normal play.The Bengals duo gets it done a different way. Dalton gets rid of the ball quickly and looks to Green in the biggest moments, knowing that as long as he gets the ball near him hes likely to come down with it.My nickname for A.J. Green is Inspector Gadget, Brown said, referring to his ability to make acrobatic catches.Hes got those long arms, almost to his knees. Theres no catch he cant make. He always can change the outcome of a game with his big-play ability.Dalton and Green form the most productive quarterback/receiver duo in NFL history for the first five seasons of a career. They had 395 completions for 5,789 yards, the most for any tandem in the first five seasons together. Their 40 touchdown connections are tied with Miamis Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the most to start a career.From day one, it starts with me and Andy, Green said.Game notes Steelers LB Ryan Shazier (knee) was limited in practice Thursday, but defensive coordinator Keith Butler was optimistic that Shazier will play. WR Markus Wheaton (shoulder) practiced for the second straight day and should make his season debut after sitting out the opener. ... The Bengals acquired rookie CB KeiVarae Russell off waivers from Kansas City and waived G Trey Hopkins.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Mets Jerseys 2019 . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. Gary Carter Jersey . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/2140l-corey-oswalt-jersey-mets.html .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Keith Hernandez Jersey . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Wilson Ramos Jersey . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. The Cincinnati Bearcats have hired?Ohio State?defensive coordinator Luke Fickell as their next head coach, the school announced Saturday.Fickell and the school reached agreement on a six-year deal late Friday night. The contract is pending approval from Cincinnatis board of trustees during a special meeting Sunday.Its with much pride and humility that I accept the awesome honor of becoming the head coach at the University of Cincinnati, Fickell, 43, said in a statement. This city, this school and my family are all Ohio. Its a tough blue-collar state with hard-working, blue-collar people that respect an honest and complete effort. Thats what they will get from me personally and what they should expect from this football program.Fickell replaces Tommy Tuberville, who resigned after going 4-8 in his fourth season and 29-22 overall at Cincinnati. Fickell interviewed with Cincinnati athletic director Mike Bohn on Thursday.Fickell will remain with No. 3 Ohio State for the remainder of the season, starting with the Buckeyes upcoming matchup with No. 2 Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.We targeted a number of criteria we wanted in our head football coach and we were looking for the coach who was the best fit for our program, our University and our community and we have found that leader in Luke Fickell, Bohn said in a statement. His extensive ties to the state of Ohio, experience at a championship-level program in Ohio State, ability to evaluate and develop talent, energy and leadership are all qualities which set him apart.Above all else, hes a model of integrity and a great family man and we look forward to partnering with him to continue to build upon our winning tradition.Fickells biggest challenge wwill be to fix Cincinnatis issues on offense.ddddddddddddThe Bearcats scoring offense (19.3 points per game) ranks 120th out of 128 FBS schools this season.A Columbus native and former Ohio State defensive lineman, Fickell has coached at his alma mater since 2002, serving as Buckeyes defensive coordinator in some capacity in all but one season since 2005. He also coaches Ohio States linebackers.Fickell was Ohio States head coach during the 2011 season following the Memorial Day resignation of Jim Tressel amid an NCAA investigation. Ohio State went 6-7 that season and then hired Urban Meyer. Fickell interviewed for the head-coaching vacancy at Pitt before remaining with the Buckeyes as co-defensive coordinator.Today is a proud day for Ohio State and Buckeye Nation with the news of Luke Fickell becoming head coach at the University of Cincinnati, Meyer said Saturday via statement. Few have invested as much time and effort and passion into Ohio State and its football program than Luke. We all knew this day was coming. Now that it is upon us, I want to thank Luke for being such a terrific coach, mentor and person. And I wish him, Amy and their young family all the best as they begin this new journey.Sources say Cincinnati also had targeted Jeff Brohm and P.J. Fleck for its opening. Brohm opted to leave Western Kentucky for Purdue, and Fleck didnt have interest in the Cincinnati job and likely will remain at Western Michigan, where hes expected to receive a restructured contract.Fickell is the third assistant from Ohio States 2014 national championship team to land a head-coaching job, joining Tom Herman and Chris Ash. ' ' '