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CINCINNATI -- Linebacker Vontaze Burfict ran out of the tunnel and into the fog that the Bengals generate for their pregame introductions.He emerged from the cloud to a great cheer at Paul Brown Stadium.After sitting out three games on an NFL suspension, Burfict was back. And so was the Bengals stingy defense.The defense gave up a lot of big plays and got little pressure on the quarterback during a 1-2 start. It was back in character during the previous game with its volatile, playmaking linebacker in the middle of things once again.Cincinnati had by far its best defensive showing during a 22-7 win over the Dolphins last Thursday. The victory got Cincinnati (2-2) back to break-even and eased many of the concerns over how long it would take the defense to regain its edge.Absolutely, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. What I expect to see -- thats how I envision it. Hopefully well continue on that trend. Thats the group Im used to seeing.The Bengals kept the core of the defense intact in the offseason. The biggest loss was Burfict, whose hit to Antonio Browns head helped the Steelers get in range for the winning field goal and an 18-16 victory in the first round of the playoffs. That hit, along with previous other infractions, prompted the NFL to suspend the linebacker for three games.Burfict isnt only their leading tackler; hes also the one who helps everyone get lined up in the right spots for plays.He adds a lot of different elements as far as knowing the defense, lining guys up, getting the (play) calls, all of the adjustments you have to, and then just the energy he brings to the group is really big, Guenther said.Burfict was on the field for 34 of the defenses 45 snaps, more than any other linebacker. Coach Marvin Lewis used the lopsided game to get Burfict back into playing shape.I hadnt had any practices or anything like that and having to play the full game, I was a little sore, Burfict said. But its kind of a mind-over-matter thing.Hes expected to play a lot again on Sunday in Dallas (3-1) against an offense thats among the best in the league at running the ball. The Cowboys rank second in the league in both offense and yards rushing. Rookie Ezekiel Elliott leads the league with 412 yards, averaging 4.4 per carry.If you go back and look at some of the film, some of the holes are so wide open that my little girl could run through there, cornerback Adam Pacman Jones said.I think a couple teams they played were very undisciplined when it comes to gaps. But I take my hat off to the guy. Hes been playing pretty good.The Bengals defense had trouble stopping the run in the first three games, but improved at that, too, against a Dolphins team thats among the worst at running the ball.Now they get to see whether that was a one-time improvement or if theyve corrected those problems as well.Its going to be a really good battle, end Carlos Dunlap said. They have a really good running game, and we pride ourselves on stopping the run.Game notesCB Dre Kirkpatrick had a second full day of practice on Thursday, an indication hes ready to start against Dallas after missing one game with a hamstring injury. ... TE Tyler Eifert missed a second straight day of practice with a sore back in addition to his recovery from ankle surgery in the offseason. Hed miss his fifth game on Sunday. ... RT Cedric Ogbuehi also missed practice with an illness, and reserve tackle Jake Fisher sat out with a bad back. ... G Clint Boling (shoulder) and RB Jeremy Hill (chest) were limited again.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap NCAA Jerseys China . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Authentic NCAA Jerseys . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. https://www.cheapncaajerseysjustwholesale.com/ . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. College Jerseys . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. NCAA Jerseys . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs.Newcomers dont take long to impact college basketball -- not in this world of one-and-dones and transfers. Over the next two weeks, we will look at the top five newcomers in each of the 10 biggest conferences. Next up is the Big East.When the Big East rebooted with a new alignment in 2013, conference commissioner Val Ackerman told those gathered at the leagues first media day in New York City of her vision to create a powerhouse conference. She didnt preach patience or the future. She preached now. And three years later, the Big East finished third in KenPoms conference rankings, ahead of the Pac-12, Big Ten and SEC.Five of the leagues 10 members reached the NCAA tournament. And Villanova won the national championship via one of the tourneys most memorable finishes. With an abundance of talented newcomers entering the mix, expect the same success from college basketballs newest power conference. Most of this leagues best newcomers are seasoned transfers who missed last season and cant wait for another chance in 2016-17.Marcus Foster, Creighton BluejaysWe thought Fosters story ended when Kansas State coach Bruce Weber dismissed him from the program and stopped the turbulent tenure of a young man who ended his freshman season in 2013-14?as an NBA prospect (15.5 points per game, 39.5 percent from the 3-point line). His numbers fell the following season and Weber suspended him before he dismissed him.But Foster landed at Creighton, where hes now a strong contender to win Big East Newcomer of the Year and vie for the leagues player of the year award if he avoids the off-court drama that ruined his time in Manhattan, Kansas.Creighton gains a player who can excel against any team in the conference. He scored 23 points in a four-point loss to a top-five Arizona squad in 2014-15. His 6-for-11 clip helped Kansas State defeat Oklahoma and Buddy Hield that season, too. And Foster played even better as a freshman.But its this line from Weber after he dismissed Foster that still haunts him:We felt we had to make some changes. Its pretty obvious why we had to make the changes. All we can do now is move forward and worry about the guys we have.We know about his talent. But can he avoid the problems that interrupted the first chapter of his collegiate career? Thats still the question.Omari Spellman, Villanova Wildcats This entry earns an asterisk. Per ESPNs Dana ONeil, Spellman has been cleared by the NCAA to practice but not compete. For most squads, the possible loss of the top recruit in the league (18th in the Class of 2016 per RecruitingNation) would incite fear and worry. Nova returns enough talent from last seasons national championship roster to compete for another crown without the five-star recruit.Per coach Jay Wright, the issue is tied to the start of Spellmans high school career.Once you start [high school] you have four years to complete it, Wright told ONeil. When they started counting his four years, thats whats at question.But the addition of a 6-foot-9, 275-pound big man would help. Hes a force with a grown mans body who can rumble in the paint with the games veterans, but hes also versatile and capable of knocking down shots from 17 feet and out.Villanovas push for a second consecutive championship will demand another balanced season. Because Kansas just added a lottery pick in Josh Jackson. Dukes team, on paper, is more talented than the 2014-15 squad that won a national title. Kentuckys Isaiah Briscoe, Malik Monk and?DeAaron Fox?form the nations most promising backcourt.So the Wildcats dont need Spellman. Yet every contributor could help them reach their goal. Thats why Wright hopes his talented fresshman earns clearance to compete before the season begins.ddddddddddddMyles Powell, Seton Hall PiratesIsaiah Whitehead charged through last season and led Seton Hall to the NCAA tournament. But the Pirates were embarrassed in a lopsided opening-round loss to Gonzaga, the result of Seton Halls 4-for-21 mark from beyond the arc.That was Seton Hall in 2015-16, a strong defensive unit that played pickup ball on offense. You can play that style when you have a player like Whitehead, who had the strength, skill and athleticism to get to the rim when he wanted. Yet that approach comes with risks. And we witnessed that in Seton Halls loss to the Zags.Although they lost the gifted underclassmen to the NBA, they gained Myles Powell, an elite shooter who could help the program rise beyond its mediocre offensive marks (72nd in adjusted offensive efficiency per KenPom). Powell, No. 81 in the ESPN 100, is a pure shooter whom Kevin Willard will utilize often in 2016-17.Coach Willard told me he wants me to shoot, Powell told USA Today after he committed in 2015.His addition could transform, stretch and enhance an offense that, at times, became a black hole with Whitehead dominating the ball.RaShid Gaston, Xavier MusketeersXavier coach Chris Mack returns enough talent to make another run at the Big East crown. Hell also boast depth that few programs can match. The additions of top-100 prospects Quentin Goodin?(No. 92) and Tyrique Jones?(No. 94) give the coach two youngsters, along with Florida A&M graduate transfer?Malcolm Bernard, who will boost his bench. But Gaston, the coveted Norfolk State transfer who sat last year, is the programs most game-ready, experienced newcomer.And perhaps the most important addition, too. Xavier had few flaws last season. But the team surrendered a 48.6 percent mark inside the arc (160th per KenPom.com) last season. Gaston earned the MEACs Defensive Player of the Week honor four times in 2014-15.No, he didnt play the competition hell see in 2016-17. But hes a big body who can impact the game on both ends.The 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward averaged 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 2014-15. His 63.1 percent clip from the 2-point range and 13.9 percent offensive rebound rate were both top-30 marks that season.Xaviers depth was its strength last season. The second unit maintained the mojo and rhythm. Gastons arrival ensures another solid rotation for Macks opponents to deal with.Kethan Savage, Butler Bulldogs The Bulldogs reached the NCAA tournament last season but then lost key players Kellen Dunham (16.2 PPG) and Roosevelt Jones (13.8 PPG). That hurts.But the return of Kelan Martin and Andrew Chrabascz should position Butler to stay in the hunt for a tournament berth.Savage, a former starter at George Washington, helps too. The guard averaged 11.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 2.3 APG with George Washington in 2014-15 (25 starts that season). Hes sporadic (43 percent inside the arc, 30 percent from the 3-point line), but hes also an aggressive finisher who should help Chris Holtmanns squad regain some of the offense the team lost when Jones and Dunham departed.Savages 12 points (5-for-11) helped GW defeat a top-15 Wichita State squad in 2014. But its the 1-for-13 effort in a double-overtime win over Richmond a few weeks later that should worry Butler fans. Savage must take smart shots in 2016-17 and avoid that shooters shoot mentality that led to some reckless performances. Still, hes a scorer, and thats what Butler needs. Hell make an immediate impact. ' ' '