practice, and threw two touchdown passes during a lat

MONZA, Italy -- Valtteri Bottas thinks Williams can challenge Ferrari for the podium after qualifying fifth for the Italian Grand Prix.Bottas split Ferrari and Red Bull on Saturday afternoon to put himself in the mix the race. The Finn says Williams pace so far this weekend has suggested it can compete with the Ferraris over a race distance.Asked what he could achieve from fifth, Bottas said: I think we might have an opportunity here to challenge some cars in front. Not the Mercedes but maybe the Ferrari - that will be nice. But we dont know how much more pace they have compared to practice. From our numbers there could be the possibility for fighting with them, and if it is possible then we will try.Williams dropped behind Force India in the battle for fourth at the Belgian Grand Prix. With Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg having to settle for eighth and ninth on the grid, Bottas sees Italy as a perfect opportunity to shift the momentum back in favour of Williams.Its going to be very important in the battle with Force India. Now I have two cars between them and me, which is a great opportunity. With Felipe starting from 11th on a free tyre choice it could help in that battle. I just hope we make the right calls and things turn out well.When asked why Williams had seen such an upswing in performance between Spa and Monza, he replied: Theres nothing new in the car for Spa and Monza. I think this track suits our car better, thats most of it, and also the weekend started really well.The gaps are very, very small and if you get everything perfect you can gain a couple of places. Its the race that counts so we need to improve. Elie Okobo Suns Jersey . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. Penny Hardaway Suns Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. https://www.thesunslockerroom.com/Marquese-Chriss-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Mikal Bridges Suns Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Shaquille ONeal Suns Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. By JOEDY McCREARYAP Sports WriterDURHAM, N.C. -- Shortly after quarterback Daniel Jones arrived on Dukes campus last year, his teammates nicknamed him the Future.For the redshirt freshman, the future is now.A season-ending injury setback to starter Thomas Sirk makes Jones the first Duke freshman QB to start an opener since 1997, and just the fourth in 65 years, when he leads the Blue Devils against North Carolina Central on Saturday night.Jones wants to make the most of the opportunity he received because of mentor was hurt.I was just heartbroken for him, being such a hard-working guy that I have so much respect for, Jones said Tuesday of Sirk. That was tough to see him go down. Hes been a great resource for me since Ive been here. ... Im excited to get out there and play.The Blue Devils are putting their offense in the hands of the soft-spoken Jones, a late addition to their 2015 recruiting class from Charlotte who figured to be headed to Princeton or another Ivy League schools before Duke eventually showed interest.At 6-foot-5, Jones is an inch taller than Sirk and while he has the frame of a pocket passer, coach David Cutcliffe said he is going to be a threat to run the football.Its a job that Daniels won right nnow, Cutcliffe said.ddddddddddddJones took most of the first-team snaps during preseason practice, and threw two touchdown passes during a late scrimmage, while Sirk -- who led the team in rushing and passing last year and was the co-MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl victory over Indiana -- worked on rehabbing the Achilles tendon he tore in February.Reps are huge things when youre playing quarterback, seeing the defense, and you need to play the game to get better at it, Jones said. That was huge for me.The question about whether Sirk would make it back for the opener was answered decisively -- but not the way Duke would prefer -- last week when he partially tore that same tendon during a practice.Now comes the latest test of Dukes next-man-up philosophy, with Jones taking over and trying to live up to the nickname he picked up last year while running the scout team. He brushed off questions about that name Tuesday with an embarrassed laugh.Hes a pretty good quarterback -- weve known that since he got here, safety DeVon Edwards said. A lot of guys called him the Future ... from the very beginning. ' ' '