percent just yet, Clady has felt pretty good throughout training camp. He dropped a few pounds from his 6-foot-6, 315-pound frame to take some pressure off his knees, and Clady likes how hes m

MIAMI -- As Tony Parker arrived at the podium for an interview session Wednesday in Miami, he crossed paths with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, who was just departing. Popovich made a joke, and Parker laughed. A few years ago, that might not have happened. Several summers ago, the Spurs were trying to sign Jason Kidd, which in some circles was incorrectly perceived as Popovich deciding that he no longer wanted to have Parker around. That couldnt have been more wrong, since what the Spurs were actually thinking was that a veteran like Kidd would have been the perfect mentor for Parker as he was continuing to mature and learn the NBA game. Kidd never joined San Antonio. Parker ended up just fine without him. Even in a year where Tim Duncan was able to turn back the clock and post one of the best seasons in his long career, Parker is probably the biggest reason why the Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the fifth time. And hell be the focal point of the Miami Heat defensive gameplan on Thursday night, when the teams get together for Game 1 of the title series. "It seemed to me that it would be a great move if we could get Jason to help mentor Tony," Popovich said. "My illustrious NBA career ended after a week and a half. So what the hell am I going to teach him about being a point guard? ... Tony did not love that idea at all. But we still tried to do it." Parker -- one of four former Finals MVPs in the series, joining Duncan, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James -- doesnt need much help anymore. Hes averaging 23 points and 7.2 assists in these playoffs, playing at even a higher level than he did during an outstanding regular season, and is coming off a Western Conference finals performance against Memphis in which he shot 26 for 43 and averaged 31.5 points in the Spurs two road wins that finished off a four-game sweep of the Grizzlies. "Against Miami, its the last step," Parker said. "Its going to be the hardest one, because winning a championship is very hard. Especially against a very good team in and LeBron, four-time MVP, its going to be really tough. But its a great opportunity for us to try to beat them." The Spurs love him, and the Heat rave about him, so much so that Miami may offer Parker what they would consider to be the ultimate compliment on Thursday night. They may have James guard him at times. Mario Chalmers will start off against Parker, but if the Heat want a different look or if their starting point guard gets into foul trouble, Miami will not hesitate to give James a chance to guard the Spurs star. After all, Miami calls James "One through five" for a reason, a nod to how he can guard all five positions on the court. "Im looking forward to it a lot," Chalmers said of the assignment against Parker. "Itll be a matchup with one of the great point guards in the game right now and its going to be my job to contain him." But the Spurs will be ready to see James standing in Parkers way. Its not uncommon for teams to try to put someone bigger against Parker; in fact, the majority of the league does so fairly regularly. But its rare that someone 6-foot-8, 250 pounds and possessing the combination of size and speed goes up against a point guard. "No matter what they do, we just have to live with it and play," Popovich said. "At this point in the season were not going to change very much what we do. Theres no time for it. And as far as anticipating what people might do, I try to stay away from that, because you can drive yourself crazy. Thats what the game is for. You make adjustments during the game, hopefully to help your team. But whatever is presented is what has to be dealt with." Parker is not the Spurs only offensive option, of course. At times, Duncan is the key to everything. Other times, Manu Ginobili is the catalyst. But more often than not, how Parker fares in a game pretty much is the right indicator to show if the Spurs won that night or not. The Spurs are 42-8 this season when he scores 20 points. When he plays and doesnt score 20, theyre just 17-13. And Duncan doesnt see any comparison between Parkers game now and the game he had when he was good enough to be Finals MVP in 2007 after San Antonio swept James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. "I think hes a lot better," Duncan said. "I think hes a lot better player. He is asked to do a lot more. I think he has a lot more responsibility for making our team go than he did then. And I think hes a lot more prepared to do that. So as good as he was then, I think hes even better now." Thats basically because the Spurs demanded he be that way. Parker was issued a challenge two years ago. The Spurs watched what he did with the French national team and were duly impressed. He controlled the games. He was his national teams unquestioned leader. And it didnt take long for Popovich and the rest of the Spurs organization to decide that the time was right for him to assume an similar role in San Antonio. Parker has more than responded. Its no coincidence that the Spurs are back in the finals. "He was the best player in the Western Conference playoffs each game, and were well aware of that," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Every time he stepped on the court, he was the best player, the most impactful player, and he was driving their success. Now, they have obviously Hall-of-Famers and a well-oiled system. ... But hes a great player, an MVP candidate each year."Ryquell Armstead Womens Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Marqise Lee Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. http://www.officialjacksonvillejaguarspro.com/Ryquell-armstead-jaguars-jersey/ . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Jalen Ramsey Youth Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Josh Allen Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Ryan Clady knew he was nowhere close to being done with football.Not when he tore the ligament in his left knee for his second major injury in three seasons. Not when he spent the Super Bowl as a spectator, rooting on his Broncos teammates.And, not when Denver brought in a player to replace him, effectively ending his tenure with the team and casting his future in doubt.It was a little bit stressful, Clady acknowledged. I cant deny that.The veteran left tackle, acquired by the New York Jets in a trade from Denver in April, is healthy again.Hes also eager to show everyone that hes still the immensely talented player who has made four Pro Bowls and been considered one of the best at his position.Yeah, no question, Clady said. A lot of this game is about pride and respect. Thats what some guys play for, outside of money and whatnot. Its a great motivator, I feel like. I definitely feel that. Its one of the things thats driving me, to prove those guys in Colorado wrong.They got rid of me. All players, when they get shipped off, they want to show, `Yo, Ive still got it.After being eased in during offseason workouts, Clady has been a full participant in practice throughout training camp. He has been working extra to get in sync with center Nick Mangold and left guard James Carpenter.Ryans a true professional, offensive line coach Steve Marshall said. The guys been in this league a long time, and hes picked right up and melded very well next to Carp and done a great job.Most of all, though, his body is feeling good.Thats something Clady hasnt been able to say much during the past few years while missing 30 of 48 regular-season games since 2013. That year, he missed all but two games because of a Lisfranc foot injury. The Broncos made the Super Bowl that season, when they lost to the Seattle Seahawks -- with Clady on the sideline.He bounced back the following year, playing in every game and making the Pro Bowl. But the injury bug struck again during organized team activities in May 2015, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.And, the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl without him again -- and this time beat Carolina.Its definitely tough and no one wants to be on the sidelines when your guys are out there playing ball, Clady said.But that was just the beginning of what would be a hectic offseason for the lineman, who turns 30 in two weeks.Denver signed left tackle Russell Okung in March, despite Clady telling The Associated Press during the Suuper Bowl that he was willing to restructure his contract to be a lifetime Bronco.dddddddddddd The team and Cladys representatives had met in March to talk about that, but things cooled once Okung was signed.Thats when Clady knew he was on his way out.I hadnt been in that position before, he said, insisting hes not bitter about the divorce. There was the opportunity with the potential to stay, which didnt end up happening. And then there was the opportunity for new beginnings, which I kind of had put in the back of my mind once I tore my ACL.I thought there was a pretty good chance that Im out of there after the season, so it wasnt like it was a complete surprise for me.The Jets reached out to the Broncos when DBrickashaw Ferguson, a durable and popular left tackle, opted to retire after 10 seasons.A day after Ferguson made his decision official, the Jets had his replacement by sending a fifth-round pick to the Broncos.The trade was originally stressful basically because of all the unknowns, Clady said. You dont know the guys and how theyll embrace you and how the knee will hold up and stuff like that. But once I got here, I felt at home.He knew there would be some pressure to try to slide into a spot that had been anchored by Ferguson, a guy who had never missed a game or practice his entire career.Living up to his own reputation, though, was even more important to Clady.I think it was more me feeling good out there and me playing at the level I want to play at, he said. With an injury, you have to get into that mindset, like, `I can still be a good player. I can still do this.So far, so good.While he says his knee isnt 100 percent just yet, Clady has felt pretty good throughout training camp. He dropped a few pounds from his 6-foot-6, 315-pound frame to take some pressure off his knees, and Clady likes how hes moving around.Overall, he said, I think Im right where I need to be.Clady has aspirations of being selected for the Pro Bowl again, this time as a member of the Jets. He hopes hes not playing in it, though. Hes got bigger plans for the perfect capper to his comeback.The main goal is to win ballgames and make it to the Super Bowl, Clady said. I want to be out there, on that field, playing with the fellas in Houston. Thats what I want more than anything.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '