Kopfgelt » AM CRYING!! #ItsAReality #Tokyo2020 #USA

DAVIE, Fla. -- Several days after the Miami Dolphins second exhibition game, coach Adam Gase was still talking about a hit by a pass rusher that flattened Ryan Tannehill as he released a throw.The play made an impression, and not just on Tannehills chest.Ryan stood in there and threw that thing, Gase said. It was a pretty vicious hit, and he popped right back up. I think I learned something there about that guy.Gase and Tannehill have spent the past eight months getting to know each other, and the relationship begins a new phase Sunday when Miami opens the season at Seattle. The Dolphins are counting on the new coach to help their holdover quarterback break through to the elite level and lead them to the playoffs, something Tannehill failed to do in his first four NFL seasons.Gase was hired because of his reputation as a quarterback guru after winning raves for his work with Jay Cutler, Peyton Manning and even Tim Tebow, who led the Denver Broncos to an improbable playoff victory in 2011 when Gase was their quarterbacks coach.At 38, Gase is young enough to be Tannehills backup, or his older brother, and so far the pair has clicked.Weve grown together over the course of the last few months, Tannehill said. Hes a fun coach to be around. Hes fun in the meetings, fun on the field.The Dolphins and Tannehill havent had much fun since they took him in the first round of the 2012 draft. He has 87 touchdown passes but only 29 victories and 35 losses, and his passer rating and completion percentage regressed last year.Everybody feels very confident and very good about Ryan, team owner Stephen Ross said at the start of training camp. He has a lot of capabilities. And you are going to have Adam, who will bring out the best in those capabilities.The toughness that impressed Gase in that exhibition game has never been questioned. Tannehill will start his 65th game in a row Sunday despite being sacked an NFL-high 184 times in the past four years.Another plus is Tannehills work ethic. He immersed himself in Gases offense, doing countless hours of homework away from the team complex and texting the coach with questions and ideas.He makes suggestions, Gase said, and when he doesnt like something, he tells me. That kind of communication is critical, because the last thing I want to do is put him in a position where he doesnt like what Im calling but doesnt say anything. I havent seen that.Tannehills athleticism, arm strength and intelligence also receive high grades, but not his accuracy or leadership.Gase said accuracy hasnt been a problem since he took over. As for leadership, teammates this week voted Tannehill to be one of their two offensive captains, perhaps a sign of the new coachs influence on his quarterback.Gase likes to talk trash, does so with Tannehill and urged the affable Texan to be more assertive in the huddle and in the locker room. Tannehill agreed its time to take charge -- and to take the next step as a quarterback.Coach is constantly pushing me and trying to push my buttons a little bit, Tannehill said. Hes an expert in pushing guys to reach their potential.To help send the signal that its Tannehills offense, Gase has given him more flexibility to change plays, a la Manning. The recently retired quarterback paid a visit to Miamis training camp, not that Gase expects Tannehill to become another Manning at the line of scrimmage.Its not as easy as the guy that I had before made it look, Gase said. You start getting into that chess game, and its mentally draining. Its a lot of work, it takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of experience. Were going to have growing pains.New offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen, who worked with Manning in Indianapolis, also pleads for patience as Tannehill learns a new offense -- his third in five NFL seasons.I always explain to Ryan, `You visit with Peyton, thats 17 years in the same offense, Christensen said. He ended up with a doctorate, but there were a lot of years of elementary school.Now Tannehills teacher is a first-year head coach. Theyll learn together, and succeed or fail together. The Dolphins biggest question is where the relationship is headed, and Gase and Tannehill believe they know the answer: to the playoffs.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wine Derrick Favors Pelicans Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Nikola Mirotic Pelicans Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. https://www.pelicanslockerroom.com/Josh-Hart-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Nickeil Alexander-Walker Pelicans Jersey . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Kenrich Williams Pelicans Jersey .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Eight years after softball made its last Olympic appearance in 2008, the sport was officially -- and unanimously -- voted back in for the 2020 Games.?Softball will make its triumphant return in Tokyo, along with baseball, surfing, karate, skateboarding and sport climbing.Needless to say, many of the sports biggest stars, past and present, were more than a little excited by the announcement. From Jennie Finch to Monica Abbott to Lauren Chamberlain, it seemed like anyone whos anyone in softball weighed in on social media with their unbridled joy.SOFTBALL IS officially BACK in the OLYMPICS!!! #Tokyo2020 @WBSC @MizunoFastpitch @TeamUSA @USASoftball #DreamBelieve pic.twitter.com/OFw9n1P0LL- Jennie Finch (@JennieFinch) August 3, 2016 Gosh I have no words.... Ive been on an emotional roller coaster for so long... And now we are back. Thank you everyone that worked for it!- Monica Abbott (@monicaabbott) August 3, 2016 My heart is soooo full pic.twitter.com/q23jCdRPef- Monica Abbott (@monicaabbott) August 3, 2016 The dream is alive and can become one for so many! Softball is back in the Olympics for 2020! This is huge!- Lauren Chamberlain (@LChamberlain44) August 3, 2016 IT IS OFFICIAL!!!!! Softball is BACK for 20020!!!!!!!!! I CANT CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT!!!!! ????????????????????- Haylie McCleney (@hayliemac8) August 3, 2016 WE ARE BACK LADIES!!! SOFTBALL IS BACK IN THE OLYMPICS AND I AM CRYING!! #ItsAReality #Tokyo2020 #USASoftball pic.ddddddddddddtwitter.com/x8twlP1JG0- Kelsey Stewart (@stewartkels7) August 3, 2016 A dream that was takin away from as athletes has now become a reality again! I cant express how happy I am! #Tokyo2020 #USASoftball ????????????- Kelsey Stewart (@stewartkels7) August 3, 2016 Its official!!!! Softball is back in the Olympics for 2020!!! ???????????? https://t.co/ev8Qfs7p4D- Amanda Chidester (@chiddy3) August 3, 2016 So many emotions going through my body, I dont know how to act! Im STOKED for this sport! We are back!!!!!! #Toyko2020 ???????????? #FlyHigh- Delaney Spaulding (@DelaneyyLyn) August 3, 2016 Big thanks to all the folks who worked their tails off to get this done!!! #Tokyo2020 #heaven- Sue Enquist (@SueEnquist) August 3, 2016See something entertaining on social media that you think deserves to be shared? Let me know on Twitter, @darcymaine_espn. ' ' '