Villanueva, who played at Army and served in Afghanistan before forg

WHY YOUR NRL TEAM CAN WIN THE NRL PREMIERSHIP* MELBOURNEThe purple wall. Melbournes defence has been peerless this season and, having conceded an average 11.5 points per game, they are on track to go down as the best defensive team in the NRL era. They also miss the fewest tackles (19.1) and concede the fewest linebreaks (2.4).* CRONULLAThe best all-round team in the competition. Cronulla mixes defensive steel with real attacking power, and is ranked second for points scored (25.7 per game), tackle busts (28.5) and offloads (12) as well as sitting third for run metres (1489m) and line breaks (5.5).* CANBERRAThey have strike power like no other side. There is plenty to like about Ricky Stuarts backline, which boasts two of the competitions top four try scorers in Jordan Rapana and Jarrod Croker (both 15) while Croker is the comps highest point scorer. Rapana leads the league for line breaks (22) and tackle busts (111) while Joey Leilua is second for tackle busts (97).* CANTERBURYThe best pack in the competition. Going into round 23, David Klemmer had made more metres than any other forward (170m per game) while James Graham was fifth with 153m. Also, Graham (18.4 per game) and fellow prop Aiden Tolman (16.6) led the league for most runs.* NORTH QUEENSLANDNo one is better at controlling field position. On the back of the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Matt Scott and James Tamou rolling up their sleeves, the Cowboys make more metres than any other team. Paul Greens side then leads the way in forced drop outs (2.5 per game) and is second in tackles inside opposition 20 (30.6 per game).* BRISBANEThe Wayne Bennett factor. The Broncos are in a slump, having won four of their past 12, but they have come from a similar position to win the title before. In 2006 Brisbane had a run of five wins from 13 mid-season before recovering to win the title. If anyone can get them to lift, its the mastercoach Bennett.* PENRITHUncertainty. No team is better at creating second phase play. Penrith boasts more offloads than any side this year, with hulking five-eighth Bryce Cartwright (56) leading the league and in-form back-rower Trent Merrin is fifth and combined they give the Panthers a real x-factor.* WARRIORSShaun Johnson. Theres no way the Warriors can win their maiden title without their No.7 firing. He leads the league for try-assists and is just 15 points away from surpassing Stacey Jones as the sides all-time leading points scorer.* WESTS TIGERSTheyve turned their defence around. There hasnt been anything wrong with their attack this year while fullback James Tedesco is in form reminiscent of Jarryd Hayne in 2009. Importantly, the Tigers have turned around their horror defensive record, conceding conceded the fewest points and the second fewest linebreaks in their past four matches.* GOLD COASTAsh Taylor. While Jarryd Haynes shaping as the ace up the sleeve, the rookie halfback has been their most important player all year and has been a big reason why the Titans are surpassing all expectations. He leads the league for most drop outs forced (21) and looks the complete package.Source: Fox Sports Stats Akiem Hicks Bears Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Dan Hampton Jersey . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. https://www.bearssportsgoods.com/Womens-Jim-Mcmahon-Inverted-Jersey/ . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Roquan Smith Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Gale Sayers Jersey . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. SAN FRANCISCO -- From the White House to San Francisco police union headquarters, Colin Kaepernicks name came up Monday as his decision to sit down during the national anthem reached far beyond football.And many arent thrilled with the 49ers quarterbacks strong words about why he is doing it : To instigate change and challenge authority when it comes to race relations and what he considers police brutality.Even his former coach, outspoken Michigan leader Jim Harbaugh, chimed in from afar in disagreement with Kaepernicks tactics -- clarifying some earlier remarks that questioned the quarterbacks motivation.I apologize for misspeaking my true sentiments. To clarify, I support Colins motivation. Its his method of action that I take exception to, Harbaugh posted on Twitter.A day after Kaepernick called Donald Trump openly racist, the Republican presidential candidate fired back on Seattles KIRO radio.I have followed it, and I think its personally not a good thing. I think its a terrible thing, Trump said. And you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him. Let him try, it wont happen.Kaepernick, who has sat through the anthem for all three 49ers preseason games so far, is prepared to keep fighting for what he believes in -- even alone.The fact that it has blown up like this, I think its a good thing. It brings awareness, Kaepernick said Sunday. Now, I think people are really talking about it. Having conversations about how to make change. Whats really going on in this country. And we can move forward. ...There is police brutality. People of color have been targeted by police.Martin Halloran, the San Francisco Police Officers Association president, sent a letter Monday to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and 49ers CEO Jed York denouncing Kaepernicks ill-advised statements and a naivete and total lack of sensitivity toward police, along with an incredible lack of knowledge about officer-involved shootings.There is some depth and some truth to what he was doing, Seahawks star Richard Sherman said of Kaepernick. I think he could have picked a better platform and a better way to do it, but every day they say athletes are so robotic and do everything by the book and then when somebody takes a stand like that, he gets his head chopped off.The police union invited Kaepernick or anyone else from the league to visit the San Francisco police academy to build communication and understanding about the profession.I only wish Mr. Kaepernick could see the emotional and psychological challenges that our officers face following a fatal encounter, Halloran wrote.Some are so affected they never return to the streets. In short, Mr.dddddddddddd Kaepernick has embarrassed himself, the 49er organization, and the NFL based on a false narrative and misinformation that lacks any factual basis.At the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, top-ranked American John Isner spoke of Kaepernick after winning his first-round match Monday.I thought that was pathetic from him. The cause he was going for, fine by me -- but dont do it in that fashion, Isner said. For him doing it in that way really irked me. Im a big Blaine Gabbert fan now.Gabbert and Kaepernick are competing for San Franciscos starting QB job.White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he was confident President Barack Obama is aware of Kaepernicks actions, but hadnt spoken directly with the president about it.In general, what I can say is that I certainly dont share the views that Mr. Kaepernick expressed after the game in explaining his reasoning for his actions, but we surely would all acknowledge and even defend his right to express those views in the settings that he chooses, Earnest said. Thats what hes done, and even as objectionable as we find his perspective, he certainly is entitled to express it.Kaepernicks stance, which he further explained Sunday after he was shown sitting on the bench for The Star-Spangled Banner before Fridays preseason loss to the Packers, was still the chatter around the NFL, too.Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who played at Army and served in Afghanistan before forging a job in the NFL, said he agrees that the U.S. is not perfect but insists it is the best country and he is unsure how he would react if one of his teammates sat down for the anthem.I just know that I am very thankful to be an American. I will stand very proudly, and I will sing every single line in the national anthem every single time I hear it, Villanueva said. I will stop whatever I am doing, because I recognize that I have to be very thankful to be in this country.As some of Kaepernicks teammates noted Sunday, many are offended by his bold move -- one he plans to continue indefinitely.The American flag and our national anthem stand for something, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States salutes all who stand with us, said Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander Brian Duffy.---AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich, AP Sports Writers Will Graves and Larry Lage, and Associated Press Writers Kevin Freking and Paul Elias and AP freelance writer Curtis Crabtree contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '