But watching her work so hard setting up others and defendin

The NFL, through its foundation, has pledged a minimum of $300,000 to aid in international and domestic relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Matthew.The NFL Foundations contributions will support relief organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and UNICEF. A total of $100,000 will go to the Salvation Army and UNICEF to support relief efforts and assist victims in impacted areas of the Caribbean, including Haiti and the Bahamas. An additional $100,000 will go to the American Red Cross to aid in relief and recovery efforts in impacted areas of the United States.Also, the foundation will help restore youth and high school football programs in impacted areas of the Southeast. Together with USA Football, the NFL will replace damaged or lost equipment and uniforms, as well as address other needs, spending at least $100,000.Six NFL teams have pledged to support Hurricane Matthew relief efforts, as well: Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, Miami and Washington.---BAD LOSS: Losing a bet anytime is painful. Having to pay up by wearing gear from a college rival is much worse, at least according to Tennessee Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo .The Texas alum bet with teammate DeMarco Murray on last weeks Red River Showdown and lost big when Oklahoma beat Orakpos Longhorns 45-40. Orakpo showed up Monday wearing a Sooners hoodie.I fought it hard, but Im a man of my word, Orakpo said. Im going to pay my bets and I got to wear this trash, but Ill burn it when Im done after the week.Betting on college games is very popular in NFL locker rooms, with friendly wagers made almost weekly. Orakpo said many players simply wager with money, which is easily dismissed.We kind of wanted to make it sink in a little further with hoodie for the week for that particular team, and obviously you know what the outcome was, Orakpo said.Adding to the pain, Orakpo said he knows a photo of him in the Oklahoma hoodie will make the rounds, particularly back home in Texas. A native of Houston, Orakpo said he never considered attending Oklahoma.Im a man of my word. I pay my debts, and Ill burn it when Im done, Orakpo said.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8A3YScPOwc---POPULAR BRADY: Tom Brady not only got a win in his first game back from his four-game Deflategate suspension, he earned offensive player of the week honors in the AFC with his 406-yard, three-touchdown performance.The Patriots quarterback also was No. 1 elsewhere: Bradys jersey became the top seller this week, according to DICKs Sporting Goods Jersey Report.Bradys popularity also moved New England to the top spot in overall jersey sales. One of his favorite targets, tight end Rob Gronkowski, came in sixth, according to DICKs.Brady outdid Steelers running back LeVeon Bell who served a three-game suspension to start the season. Pittsburgh has won twice since Bell returned and he is at No. 16 in jersey sales, an improvement of 40 spots from when he was suspended.Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz was the only rookie in the top 30, landing fifth overall.---RODGERS ON PRESCOTT: Aaron Rodgers waited for three years behind Brett Favre in Green Bay, and figures Dak Prescott will soon be in a similar position behind Tony Romo even though the Dallas rookie has the Cowboys at 4-1 without their injured 10-year starter.From Rodgers point of view, its first a matter of Prescott accepting the economics.You have to understand that the team has a lot invested in the guy in front of you most of the time, and youre going to get an opportunity, said Rodgers, a two-time MVP. Youve just got to be patient.Even with Prescott on the verge of an NFL record for pass attempts without an interception to start a career (second at 155 behind Tom Bradys 162), Rodgers says the 23-year-old former Mississippi State standout will have to accept that it may soon be his team -- just not now.Maybe soon, maybe in a couple of years, Rodgers said. Hes doing nothing but helping himself right now the way hes shown those guys his leadership style and his play and his consistency.Prescott sounds as if he never had to adjust his thinking in the first place.This is Tonys team, he said. I knew that going into the situation. I think everybody knew that. Im just trying to do the best I can to give my team a chance to win week in and week out.---POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: Former NFL players Riki Ellison, Chris Naeole, Maa Tanuvasa and ex-CFL player Junior Ah You have been selected for the Polynesian Football Hall of Fames Class of 2017.Ellison has Maori ancestry, Naeole has Hawaiian, Tanuvasa and Ah You Samoan.Also selected as a contributor is John Manumaleuna (Samoan ancestry), whose foundation seeks to use the unique perspective of Samoan and Polynesian cultures to promote education and a healthy lifestyle through sports.The class of 2017 has won five Super Bowls, two Grey Cups and a college football national championship, says former NFL offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame co-founder and chairman. They represent the very best of our Polynesian people.The class of 2017 will be honored during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame enshrinements Jan. 21-22 in Hawaii. Inductees will also be recognized at the inaugural Polynesian Bowl, a senior high school all-star game featuring players of Polynesian heritage and other ancestries.---AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner and Teresa M. Walker, and Sports Writer Genaro C. Armas contributed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Air Max Plus Store . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Air Max Plus Tn Sale . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.airmaxplusstoresale.com/air-max-plus-tn-cheap/tns-black-discount.html . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Air Max Plus Tn Cheap .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Ultra Sale . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. You wonder if the WNBA participants in the Summer Olympics feel like theyve just starred in a multi-episode run of the old Super Friends cartoon -- especially the romp-to-the-gold U.S. team members -- and now are headed to an episodic run of Survivor.The Americans kept the drama low and the quality of basketball high as they won their sixth consecutive Olympic tournament. But kudos also to Spain (silver) and Serbia (bronze) as they medaled in the Summer Games for the first time in womens hoops.Condolences to Australia, which is in transition mode as Penny Taylor will be joining Lauren Jackson in retirement. The Opals werent expecting their time in Rio de Janeiro to end in the quarterfinals, but it was another example of how competitive the Olympic tournament was -- aside from the U.S. dominance, that is.Now its back to the WNBA, which resumes play Friday. Los Angeles (21-3) and Minnesota (21-4) already have clinched playoff berths. Theyll focus on securing the top two spots, which come with a bye into the best-of-five semifinals in the WNBAs new playoff format.New York (18-8) is the only other team with a realistic shot of grabbing one of those two spots. Tina Charles leads the league in scoring and rebounding, and the Liberty are getting back guard Epiphanny Prince, who has been out all season with a knee injury. But unless the Sparks or Lynx have really lost their steam, its a long shot for the Liberty, who dont have any games left against L.A. or Minnesota.After those three teams, its a pretty big drop record-wise to what will be a free-for-all for the final five playoff berths. Other than 5-18 San Antonio, which is probably left to the role of spoiler, every team is still in the postseason hunt. Atlanta has the best record of that remaining group at 13-12.So as we enter the final three weeks of the regular season -- and close in on the career finishes of great players and fan favorites Taylor, Tamika Catchings and Swin Cash -- here are five questions to ponder.1. Will the Olympics help turn around the Mercury?Before the Rio Games, we examined the disappointing season?Phoenix has had. But the struggles of May, June and July wont matter much if the 10-14 Mercury can play up to their potential the rest of the way. (Admittedly, if has been a tormenting word for the Merc this summer.)Four players bring Olympic medals back to Phoenix, with Diana Taurasis and Brittney Griners golds, a silver for Spains Marta Xargay and a bronze for Serbias Sonja Petrovic.Taurasi had an outstanding Olympics, leading the U.S. team in scoring (15.6 points per game) and minutes played (24.3 per game). She was deadly from behind the arc (33 of 57, 57.9 percent) and played with trademark Taurasi zest and leadership.The latter part might be what most excites Mercury fans. Taurasis WNBA stats this season have been very good (18.9 PPG, 4.3 APG), but she hasnt always seemed ... well, Taurasi-like on court.As for Griner, she tied with Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles to lead the Americans in rebounding (5.6 RPG) and was the top shot-blocker with 11. Griner averaged 9.8 points per game, third best on the team.In WNBA play this season, Griner?is averaging 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, numbers down a bit from her previous two years. She needed the energy jolt the Olympic seemed to give her.Competitive consistency has been a thorny issue with Phoenix this season, but the potential is still there for a big finish. Lets put it this way: If the Mercury close out the regular season strong, they could be very scary in a one-game elimination format, which is now in place for the early rounds.2. Can Seattles young guns get the Storm back in the playoffs?Breanna Stewart turns 22 on Saturday. Jewell Loyd doesnt turn 23 until October and tweeted Monday with mock irritation that shed been asked twice that day if she was older than 15. The Storms two super babies still look like kids, but they dont play that way.Gold medalist Stewart averaged a very efficient 8.1 points while playing 10.9 minutes per game for the United States in Rio. She is averaging 19.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for Seattle and has the 2016 WNBA rookie of the year award already locked up.Loyd won that honor last season and now is second on the Storm in scoring at 16.5 points per game, while also getting 3.0 assists per game.Seattle is tied with Washington at 9-15 for the eighth-best record in the league. For the Storm to get back to the playoffs after a two-year absence, theyll need a strong closing surge from Stewart and Loyd.Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that Sue Birds knee injury at the Olympics wasnt serious enough to keep her out of the gold-medal game. Shhes having a very good WNBA season, too, leading the league with 6.dddddddddddd0 assists per game. The Storm point guard has done so much to help Seattles two rising stars mature, and shell continue to push them and her team to try to get back where Bird is used to being: the postseason.3. Can the Mystics salvage their season?No team needed the Olympic break more than the Mystics, who went into a tailspin and lost all seven of their games in July. Yet they are 9-15 and still battling to make the playoffs.Emma Meesseman (15.7 PPG) and Tayler Hill (14.7 PPG) are scoring well; its a breakthrough for Hill in her third full season in the league and fourth overall.But overall, this isnt a strong offensive team -- only San Antonios 72.2 points-per-game average is lower than Washingtons 79.6 -- so its hard to see the Mystics getting to the postseason if they cant clamp down more defensively in their remaining 10 games. Washington is allowing its foes 83.3 points per game.?It should help the Mystics to get back veteran forward LaToya Sanders, who missed the first part of the season while with the Turkish national team.4. Who has more on her shoulders: Elena or Angel?They both have plenty. But Chicagos Elena Delle Donne might have a heavier load to carry to get her team to the postseason because Atlantas Angel McCoughtry -- who has done a ton of heavy lifting in her WNBA career -- seems to have a little more help this year.Both players came off the bench during the Olympics and did their jobs well, providing energy for the U.S. team. Now, they go back to being their WNBA teams respective superstars.Delle Donne is the reigning WNBA MVP and is averaging 21.2 points per game for the Sky, who are 11-13. Cappie Pondexter and Allie Quigley are the other Chicago players who are scoring in double figures. Those two, Courtney Vandersloot and Jamierra Faulkner provide a solid perimeter core, but the Skys ability to score consistently inside other than with Delle Donne remains a concern.McCoughtry is averaging 18.2 points per game for the 13-12 Dream, who have three other players scoring in double figures: Tiffany Hayes, Elizabeth Williams and Layshia Clarendon. The Dream initially thought in July they might have lost veteran post player Sancho Lyttle for the season to a foot injury, but she is expected back. Her 8.5 rebounds per game are especially very valuable to the Dream.5. Who will be the No. 1 seed?The Sparks and the Lynx have split their two meetings thus far, with each winning on the others home court. They have one matchup left: Sept. 6 at Los Angeles.The Sparks havent played at Staples Center since July 10. They ended the first part of the season with five straight road games and open the second part with four more on the road. When they finally return to Staples Sept. 4, nearly two months will have passed between home games -- which is ridiculous.However, that means the Sparks will play five of their last six at home, so that might help down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Lynx have nine games left, and only one of their final five is at home.The teams were total contrasts in terms of the Olympics. Los Angeles had just one player competing: reserve guard Ana Dabovic for Serbia. Meanwhile, it seemed like everyone with the Lynx except mascot Prowl was in Brazil.OK, slight exaggeration. But with four starters -- Moore, Fowles, Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus -- on the U.S. team along with coach Cheryl Reeve as one of Geno Auriemmas assistants, there was a lot of Lynx green and blue amid the American red, white and blue.All the Lynx players performed well in the Olympics, but Moore deserves a special shout-out. She was spectacular, which is not new. But watching her work so hard setting up others and defending -- she led the Americans with 34 assists and 16 steals -- while still being the second-leading scorer (12.0 PPG) and tying for the lead in rebounding (5.6 RPG) epitomizes why U.S. womens basketball has been unbeatable: truly great players happily putting the team first.Will the effort expended for the Olympics end up costing the Lynx a little in fatigue? Will the Sparks be extra motivated for a title because they dont have any 2016 gold medals among them?The Lynx are three-time champions trying to win back-to-back titles, which no WNBA team has done since the Sparks in 2001-02. How can you pick against Minnesota? But ... this is a different Sparks team than weve seen in a long, long time. They dont just have talent, they have resolve and chemistry and willpower.Its going to be quite a finish. ' ' '