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Mike Tirico no longer is behind the microphone doing NFL play by play. That hasnt diminished his passion for the sport.Indeed, while many observers were belittling the 6-6 tie between Seattle and Arizona last Sunday night, Tirico, a host of NBCs telecast after making the move from ESPN this summer, was enthralled.I was in the stadium and had to find a place to sit somewhere near the (production) trailer or in the booth. I didnt want to leave the booth, I just sat and watched up there, he says. I thought it was a compelling game.If you are not nuanced in current football, maybe you didnt appreciate the efforts of the defensive ends who ruined the game for Seattle. And every level on defense that ruined everything Arizona wanted to do.Hey, the Browns, the poorest team in the league, score touchdowns. Arizona went nine quarters without giving up a TD. It was two really good defenses, although I dont think the offenses were particularly good. To the naked eye, I found myself watching the defensive ends and linebackers on every snap.Tirico has become more nuanced in the sport thanks to working side by side with Jon Gruden on Monday night telecasts. Hes now getting a similar education from Cris Collinsworth.Jon helped teach me football and I learned so many things about the game and how to watch the game, and we were able to share it with viewers, Tirico says. At end of the day if you as a viewer want to expand your knowledge base, I think we can make a connection. It was one of the fun parts of that experience and I feel some of the same with Cris. They just want to teach people about football. So were learning from them and letting the American public get the knowledge.One of Americas most versatile broadcasters, Tirico headed to NBC in great part because of the networks sports portfolio, particularly the Olympics, which he worked in Rio. He also will get the chance to do golf again, and next weekend he hosts the Breeders Cup races at Santa Anita.Should Tirico be asked to play a role in NBCs hockey or soccer or auto racing coverage, hes ready, calling it a chance to hit the reset button on my career.---HELPING THE KIDS: Jon Gruden is taking the Sports Matter initiative to the kids.The Super Bowl-winning coach and current Monday Night Football analyst is combining with DICKS Sporting Goods and the NFL to support youth and high school sports. They are providing football teams in the cities of Monday games with resources and sports equipment to address barriers to access, and enable more youth to participate.Gruden hosts chalk talk events with youth and high school football players and coaches to provide mentorship and discuss the value of sports participation.Football is a great game and a great teacher, Gruden says. Kids learn lessons on the field -- work ethic, teamwork, sportsmanship and mental toughness -- that will help them off the field for the rest of their lives.But like all youth sports programs, theres not enough funding to go around. ... We invite you to join us and do what you can in your own community to support youth sports and create more opportunities for kids.ESPN has donated $100,000 to DonorsChoose.org and will make additional donations to youth sports teams over the course of the 2016 season. The NFL Foundation, together with USA Football, the sports national governing body, has matched ESPNs $100,000 donation. USA Football will also host Heads Up Football clinics for participating teams in select markets.Through the Sports Matter campaign, DICKS Sporting Goods and its Foundation have made a $50 million multi-year commitment to support youth athletic programs, including donations to community sports leagues.---GOING THE DISTANCE: The Eagles are the only team in the NFL to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season and theyve done it in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.Josh Huff had a 98-yard TD return in a 21-10 win over Minnesota last week. Wendell Smallwood had an 86-yard TD runback in a 27-20 loss at Washington a week earlier.Theyre really beginning to click, and great blocks, coach Doug Pederson said. (Special teams coordinator) Dave Fipp really has those guys ready every single week. You need those things. You need special teams scores. You need defensive scores. All that helps you, especially late down the stretch. It was just great to see it two weeks in a row.Philadelphia is at Dallas in an NFC East showdown Sunday night.---TAKING BLAME: At least one website blamed Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell for getting burned last week on a 67-yard touchdown pass to the Buffalo Bills Marquise Goodwin. Soon after the game, safety Michael Thomas took to Twitter to take the blame.I cant let my boy B Max take that bullet, Thomas tweeted. That bomb was on me.Thomas later said he was trying to disguise the coverage and wound up out of position. He said he fessed up on social media mindful of his defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph.He wants to create a culture about truth, Thomas said. Every man has to be accountable for his actions. He made the perfect call right there, and I let disguise jeopardize my responsibility. It was important to me because as a leader on this team, I want to make sure every player, and especially the DBs, know Ive got their back and Ill never let me hang out to dry.---GETTING THE TIMING DOWN: Kirk Cousins has never played in England, but two offseason visits made him adjust his weekly routine going into the Washington Redskins game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium.Coach Jay Gruden opted to practice at home and fly the team over on Thursday, but his starting quarterback got a jump start on adjusting to the time difference. Cousins went to bed Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m. and woke up Wednesday morning at 5:15 a.m. with the goal of being ready for a 9:30 a.m. EDT start Sunday.Knowing his own experience from his travels, Cousins talked to sleep professionals to get advice on what to do.When I went over there this offseason, I had a hard time adjusting, Cousins said. I was only there for about three days and it was tough. I was sleeping in until noon or 1 oclock just because of how tired I was, so I want to make sure that doesnt happen.---AP Pro Football Writers Barry Wilner and Rob Maaddi, and Sports Writers Steven Wine and Stephen Whyno contributed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Romelu Lukaku Belgium Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Simon Mignolet Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Simon-Mignolet-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Dedryck Boyata Belgium Jersey .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Axel Witsel Belgium Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Diana Taurasi and the U.S. womens basketball team opened their Olympics with a record rout.The Americans were not expected to be challenged on Sunday by Senegal, and the only real suspense was how many records they would set. When it ended, they had set three Olympic marks: Points scored in a game, margin of victory and assists.The players and the US coaching staff were happy with how the team set the records.With a team of WNBA MVPs and All-Stars, the Americans constantly made the extra pass on offense that led to open shots or layups in the 121-56 victory. Sue Bird had eight of the teams US record 36 assists.When we move the ball like that and the ball doesnt get stuck and the defense has to guard us at all five spots on the floor, thats just a tough task for anybody, U.S. coach Geno Auriemma said. Especially in the first half we shot the lights out, we shot great. ... It was really fun.Well, maybe not for everyone.The Brazilian fans tried to spur on the African country, cheering loudly every time they scored and booing the U.S. when the Americans had the ball. The fans even shouted down a brief U.S. chant with a Senegal one. The Americans were used to that having last played in Brazil in 2006 when they lost in the semifinals of the world championship. Thats the last time the U.S. lost a game in a major tournament.We played in Sao Paolo in the world championships and we played against Russia, Bird said. And it was in Brazil again and we lost that game, and the entire place was chanting Russia. I mean every single person. Were used to that.It showed. The American reached the 100-point mark for the 15th time in Olympic history early in the fourth quarter and Breanna Stewart hit a 3-pointer with 3 minutes left to top the Olympic record 114 points the Americans had against China in 2012. They also broke the largest margin of victory in US history which had been a 60-point win over Zaire in 1996 .When you think about it, its really cool to know that history it went that far back and we were able to break it today in our first game, Stewart said. We hope to play even better in our next one.The Americans were a 57.5-point favorite coming into the contest. Taurasi swished her early 3-pointers as the U.S. raced out to a 27-5 lead. The Americans led 35-9 after the first quarter and by 43 at thee half en route to a 42nd consecutive Olympic win.ddddddddddddBoth US basketball teams opened with dominated victories. The womens performance came less than 24 hours after the mens team opened with a 57-point rout of China.More than anything, regardless of the score, its beautiful basketball. Were sharing the ball, Bird said. I dont even know how many points we scored, 100 and whatever. ... We share the ball, we move the ball, we make the right plays at the right time, and that to me is a great brand of basketball.First-time Olympians Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne and Stewart all had their first taste of the Games. Griner had 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Stewart, who won four titles under Auriemma at UConn, scored 15 points, tied for the team lead with Taurasi and Sylvia Fowles. Stewart also had two on a nifty alley-oop layup from Bird. Delle Donne added 11.We looked around and said that the three of them played like they were Olympic veterans, Auriemma said. It didnt look at all like there was any sign of nervousness or tentativeness or deferring to the other players. I was thoroughly impressed and really, really happy the way it played out for them. The perfect way for this to start.Senegal was playing in its second Olympics. The African nation lost all six of its games in 2000. Nigeria is still the only African country to win an Olympic contest, getting a victory in 2004.I dont think were really disappointed, said Senegal guard Aya Traore, who played at Purdue on the 2005-06 Sweet 16 team. This is the second time for Senegal to be in the Olympics, and for our group, this is the first time. So playing against the U.S., whos been here every Olympics and world champions and last Olympic gold medalists, what can you expect more? For us, were just happy to be here. We learned a lot of things today and hopefully, were going to take the things with us moving forward.The Americans could face a little stiffer test Monday when they take on Spain. The Spaniards beat Serbia 65-59 in their opener. In other games on Sunday, Australia edged Turkey 61-56 and France topped Belarus 73-72 on a last-second shot.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg ' ' '