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METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints fans have seen this act before, and previously it hasnt ended well for them.The Saints are once again on the verge of climbing back to .500 and into the NFC playoff picture after opening the season with three straight losses.Similar stories played out in 2007, 2012, 2014 and last season after starts of 1/3 or worse. Each time, New Orleans got back to .500 and played well enough to keep its games meaningful into December, but missed the playoffs.Time will tell if this season will be different; coach Sean Payton and his players certainly would like to think it will be. There are some good reasons for optimism based on the way theyve played in their past four games, going 3-1 with the lone loss a close, competitive game at Kansas City.New Orleans has played better defense during that span, and on Sunday in the Superdome, the Saints found balance for their prolific passing offense from an unlikely source in a 25-20 victory against Seattle.Reserve running back Tim Hightower had the first 100-yard rushing game by a New Orleans player this season, finishing with 102 yards on 26 carries.Hightower, who missed the 2012 to 2014 seasons because of injuries, said his experience in resurrecting his career was helpful as he watched the Saints resurgence after the slow start this season.I keep going back to those three years that I was away from football, Hightower said Monday. There was light at the end of the tunnel. We had high hopes going into the season but we didnt start off well. We got on a roll then we got knocked down. When you go through tough times you use some of those parallels.The Saints defense had one of its best performances of the season against Seattle, allowing just one offensive touchdown and withstanding a final drive that ended with an incomplete pass in the end zone on the games final play.At the end of the game we stood up and made plays when we had to, said linebacker Nate Stupar, whose second-quarter interception led to the Saints first touchdown.Seattle had taken an early 7-0 lead when safety Earl Thomas picked up Mark Ingrams fumble and ran 34 yards for a touchdown. It was the second critical fumble by Ingram in two weeks and came on what wound up being his final play in the game.Ingrams benching was meant to be more temporary than it was, but lasted the whole game, coach Sean Payton said, because the way Tim was running, he was getting into a pretty good groove.The Seahawks offense never got into a good groove against a New Orleans defense that has methodically improved from No. 31 to No. 28 in the NFL. And that was without key defensive players who could return as early as Sunday when the Saints visit struggling San Francisco. Cornerback Delvin Breaux and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, the teams rookie No. 1 draft choice, both have practiced recently and Rankins is eligible to come off of injured reserve this week.His progress has been good, Payton said. Well see how practice is day to day and go from there.The defense has allowed fewer than 400 yards in three of the last four games after allowing more than 400 in each of the first three losses.We struggled a little bit against the run at first, but weve really started to jell, Stupar said. Weve really been playing good up front.With Drew Brees continuing to operate one of the perennially elite passing games in the NFL, the improved running game and defense have New Orleans making the kind of comprehensive progress they hoped to see heading into the second half of the season.On offense, weve had pretty good time of possession and done pretty well on third downs and thats helped us, Payton said of the three victories. Conversely, defensively, our numbers in those wins have been good. Our ability up front to hurry the quarterback or apply some pressure to the quarterback has helped as well.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Odell Beckham Jr Browns Jersey . 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At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Jarvis Landry Youth Jersey . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. A cloud was hovering over Sidney Crosby?this time last year.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain had six goals and 13 assists for 19 points through the first 28 games of the 2015-16 season, an uncharacteristically slow start. Whispers circulated that his elite talent level was fading. Was he on the downswing of his career?When the Penguins fired coach Mike Johnston and replaced him with Mike Sullivan on Dec. 12, 2015, they were ninth in the Eastern Conference.And Crosby was reborn.He kicked it down and finished the regular season with 36 goals and 49 assists for 85 points in 80 games -- which means he had 30 goals and 66 points in his final 52 games. He led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He celebrated briefly during the summer in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, before preparing to represent Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey -- which he also won, earning tournament MVP honors as captain.Two championships, two awards as the best player in those championships.Unparalleled, a Western Conference GM said of the accomplishment.At the start of this season with the Penguins, he suffered a concussion and missed the first six games -- but hes still leading the league in goals. He has 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points in 26 games. He had the most goals by an NHL player in his first 23 games in the last 20 seasons.You could say he has silenced the critics and responded with one of the best calendar years by any pro athlete. And there are no signs of him slowing down.When he is skating and hes determined, you cant stop him, a Western Conference scout said.He is the greatest hockey player in the world today.My whole time here, I drive home at night and say, Im glad hes on our bench, Sullivan said. Im glad hes on our team, because hes one inspiring guy when he plays the game the right way. Hes got a whole nother level. Hes been dynamic.Crosby, 29, is smiling a lot these days. He wants to win it all again, and the Penguins are in the race for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Hes not one to focus on the past, but he should be proud of what hes accomplished.Its been fun, Crosby said with a smile. You work hard, and you hope to be in those situations and be rewarded. As a team, to win last year and then to be part of the World Cup and finish that off the way we did, yeah, its fun when you win. Theres not a lot of time when you think about that, necessarily, but looking back quick at it, its been fun to be able to do that.Humility is also one of his stronger qualities. When asked if hes playing the best hockey of his career, Crosby shied away from the notion.I dont know. I feel good, he said. Its hard to compare, because certain things change. Ultimately, we won, and thats probably the biggest difference. Theres still a lot of season left. You look at last year, the first few months, it can change pretty quickly, so you cant sit on anything. Youve got to make sure you continue to improve.Crosby is focused and committed to playing the game the right way. And his peers notice.Hes the best player in the world, theres no question about that, said Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand, who was Crosbys linemate during the World Cup.When Crosby was injured, his teammates got a taste of what its like to play against opposing teams best players, which is something Crosby faces every game. It was further reinforcement to those around him -- and those watching from afar, too -- as to how focused and committed he is this season.What I always go back to is his work ethic, Sullivan said. He is a tireless worker. Hes the hardest-working player I have ever been around, and Ive been aroound a lot of players.dddddddddddd He, without a doubt, has the highest work ethic that Ive seen. ... Hes not as good as he is by accident. Hes a very talented player, but his work ethic is tremendous. Its relentless.Crosby is on an amazing run. His body of work and practice habits make him this good. And defensively, theres no reason Crosby shouldnt be considered for the Selke Trophy. His defense, which tends to go unnoticed, is just as good as his offense.Most elite players tend to lean towards the one-dimensional side, Sullivan said. If you go through the league of superstars, the challenge for coaching staffs is to get those guys to be a little bit more committed away from the puck. I dont have that conversation with Sid.During the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, he wasnt on the score sheet every game, but he was a beast every single night and had a huge impact on the teams ability to win. Thats why he won the Conn Smythe.Hes one of those guys that wants to be better, wants to improve his game, wants to be the best at all times, and that speaks volumes, said Bruins forward and Team Canada linemate Patrice Bergeron. Last year, a lot of people were talking about him struggling. Then after Christmas he goes on a tear and brings his team to win a Stanley Cup. Its amazing to see. Hes definitely the face of the league, and this year hes even more lethal. Its always a huge challenge to play him, and I cant say enough about Sid.So how does the best player in the world get better?Simple: practice.Crosby spends time before and after practice every day shooting as many as 80 extra pucks.During the summer in Cole Harbour, he worked out with Bergeron, Marchand and the Colorado Avalanches Nathan MacKinnon. Bergeron said Crosby is always thinking the game and trying to find ways to improve his game, both on and off the ice.Hes a brilliant hockey mind, Bergeron said.In the Cup finals against the San Jose Sharks, for example, he had winger Conor Sheary move so Crosby could win the draw back to defenseman Kris Letang, who was to pass to Sheary for the scoring chance. The play was completely drawn up on the fly, and it worked to perfection, largely because the Sharks hadnt seen it before.When the World Cup began, Bruins coach Claude Julien, who served as an associate coach under Mike Babcock for Team Canada, learned firsthand what its like to coach the best player in the world.It was pretty awesome, Julien said. This time around, I saw him at his best. Hes been one of the best players for a long, long time, but in my opinion, the fact that hes had some concussion issues has covered how good this guy is, because you didnt always see him at his best. And when he is healthy and at his best, you can see how dominant a player he is, and theres no doubt hes the best player in the world right now.Julien is also quick to point out that Crosby seemingly doesnt have any weaknesses.He has everything you would want out of a player -- from the skill level, his shot, his vision, his skating, hes strong, creative and hes everything you would ever want in a player. I dont think he lacks anything right now, Julien said. The thing that makes him great is his love for the game. He loves the game. Hes not looking to cut corners. He loves coming to the rink. He loves being on the ice.After winning his Cup, a weight seems to have been lifted off his shoulders. But you just know the fire still burns.Im thrilled for him, and hes deserving of everything hes got, Sullivan said. This kids been on a whole nother level. ' ' '