Mack ranks third in quarterback pressures among

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MILWAUKEE -- Its been a busy summer for Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond. Air Max 270 Offerte . After hiring a new coach, Hammond set his sights on the NBA draft, then got to work rebuilding the roster, eventually bringing 11 new players to Milwaukee. Last week, however, Hammond made sure one of those players still around after last season stays in Milwaukee for a while. He signed centre Larry Sanders to a four-year extension worth approximately $44 million. "Weve talked about moving forward as an organization and building around young players on our roster," Hammond said. "Hes one, if not the, key, core piece for us moving forward. This is a great step for us for who we want to become." The extension comes after a breakout year for 24-year-old Sanders, who led Milwaukee in rebounds (9.5 per game) and averaged 9.8 points, both career highs. His 2.83 blocks per game were second in the NBA to Oklahoma Citys Serge Ibaka. "Hes one of the top defenders in the NBA," Hammond said. "Hes one of the top shot-blockers in our business and hes only going to get better defensively, get better on offence and were really excited to have him be a part of our organization long-term." Offensively, Sanders is still a work-in-progress, but has shown marked improvement over his first three seasons and shot a career-best 50.6 per cent from the field. Free throw shooting is something of a concern -- hes 58 per cent from the line in his career but -- but he connected at a 61.8 per cent clip a year ago while averaging 8.5 attempts. Milwaukee selected Sanders with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He was set to enter the final year of his four-year rookie-scale contract, which will pay him $3 million this season. Getting better on offence is a key goal for Sanders and new coach Larry Drew. "Not just going to the basket but trying to facilitate more, open the court and understand the offence more," Sanders said. "Theres a lot on the offensive end Im working on." Sanders emotional play has made him a crowd-favourite at the Bradley Center, but has also made him a target for officials, who ejected him a league-leading five times last season, including three in a span of 10 days. He finished fifth in the league with 3.3 fouls per game and was third with 14 technicals. "My focus needs to be on winning the game," Sanders said. "I know coach hates when we talk to the officials ... so Ill just watch him." Not long after taking the job, Drew sat down with Sanders and made it clear that things had to change. "We went to dinner and talked," Drew said. "It was a very frank and candid conversation; he realized he had to get better and its something Im going to expect of him." Balenciaga False .com) - The New York Rangers hope to punch their ticket to the second round when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for a Game 6 battle at Wells Fargo Center. Vans Outlet Italia . -- So much for concern that running back Marshawn Lynch would be absent from the Seattle Seahawks minicamp. http://www.yeezyscarpeitaliaoutlet.it/scontate-saucony-online.html . The New York State Supreme Court only partially dismissed the lawsuit, meaning the case could be headed for trial. The tour announced a year ago that Singh would be suspended for saying in a Sports Illustrated story that he took deer antler spray, which was believed to contain the banned substance IGF-1.ALAMEDA, Calif. - Fifteen years of wasted or traded away first-round draft picks have laid the foundation for a dismal decade for the Oakland Raiders.From busts such as JaMarcus Russell to reaches such as Darrius Heyward-Bey, mistakes on draft day led directly to losses on the field as the Raiders have gone 12 straight years without a winning record or playoff berth.General manager Reggie McKenzie might finally have found a player to help end that slide this year in linebacker Khalil Mack. The fifth overall pick out of Buffalo has been an impact player right from the start.He is dominating against the run, a relentless pass rusher and an eager learner who is part of the foundation for what the Raiders hope will eventually be a resurgence.He jumps out on film every week, safety Charles Woodson said. So to us its no surprise what hes doing out there. We know the other team, whether its the quarterback or whether its the tackle or tight end trying to take him on, theyre feeling him. And thats every week. Thats every play, man. This guys going to be special.Since drafting Woodson fourth overall in 1998, the Raiders made 15 first-round picks the following 15 years and dealt three more away in ill-fated trades for Randy Moss, Richard Seymour and Carson Palmer.Only two of those 15 ever made a single Pro Bowl — cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and kicker Sebastian Janikowski — and many were colossal failures such as Russell.Mack appears to be a full-fledged success.Hes continuing to grow and hes continuing to improve. Each week hes gotten a little bit better, interim coach Tony Sparano said. Hes getting better and better and thats all we can ask for our young players right now is to continue to improve.Macks play has put him in contention to win the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Mack is one of the leading contenders for the honour, along with St. Louis Aaron Donald and Baltimores C.J. Mosley.The Raiders havent had a player win a major post-season award since quarterback Rich Gannon was MVP backk in 2002. Vans Outlet. I cant listen to it, he said. Ill listen to it at the end of year, but not now. The grind is all Im focusing on, and going out and getting better every week.He has done just that. Mack is the top-graded 4-3 outside linebacker, according to Pro Football Focus, just edging out Denver star Von Miller.While many outside linebackers make their names by sacking the quarterback, Mack has been at his best against the run where he fights off blocks to make plays in the backfield every week. Mack is second in the NFL to Houstons J.J. Watt with 11 1/2 tackles at or behind the line against the run, according to STATS.Mack is no slouch rushing the passer despite seeing more than his share of double-teams. He is tied for sixth among all linebackers with 51 quarterback pressures and has four sacks on the season. Mack ranks third in quarterback pressures among linebackers over the past 11 weeks.Its been pretty cool to see the transition from the game moving fast to it starting to slow down, and Im starting to key a lot of different things and read a lot of different things and see how people are scheming, and pretty much knowing how the game works at this level, Mack said.Macks growing comfort level has led to more ways he can be used by defensive co-ordinator Jason Tarver. After starting the season mostly as a strongside linebacker, Mack now moves around the defence to get the best possible matchup and to confuse opposing quarterbacks.Buffalos Kyle Orton appeared flustered by the constant pressure Mack applied this past week from all different areas of the field.Weve been able to move him more and more, Tarver said. But whats great about Khalil is hes a one-time correction young man. He can see it once he does it. Hes very conscious of what hes doing, so when he sees it he remembers the play and you say, Hey, what did you feel here? or, What did you do? Next time you feel that, do this. Hes got it.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '