always easy, but were going to stick with our decision.Game notes Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said WR Victor Cruz looked great during practice Wednesday. Cruz has been out for most of the las

METAIRIE, La. -- Veteran linebacker Craig Robertson, who emerged as a surprise starter in his first season with New Orleans, uses words like confidence and trust when he describes the Saints transformation from an 0-3 team to a resurgent playoff hopeful that has won four of five games.As important as improved chemistry was bound to be for a team with its share of young players and recently acquired journeymen, it might take more than that to see the Saints through an upcoming two-game stretch that could either validate their recent run of winning form, or send them stumbling back to the ranks of playoff long shot.New Orleans hosts defending Super Bowl champion Denver on Sunday, then plays the following Thursday night at defending NFC champion Carolina, which has won two straight since a surprising 1-5 start.You know what it is -- you have two physical teams, two physical battles, Saints running back Mark Ingram said. You just know mentally you have to be prepared and physically you have to be prepared.For the third straight season, and the fifth time since 2007, New Orleans is 4-4 following a start of 1/3 or worse.On the four previous occasions the Saints rallied from a poor start to climb back to .500, they were unable to sustain their mid-season momentum and faded down the stretch.But coach Sean Payton and his players sound dismissive of any attempt to compare the 2016 Saints to those of failed seasons past.Its a new year, a new team, said Ingram, who rushed for 158 yards, including a 75 yard touchdown, and also caught a short TD pass in a 41-23 victory at San Francisco on Sunday. Weve got a lot of guys with great character, a lot of guys with resilience. I feel like our teams getting closer. We all love each other.Halfway through its season, the Saints have at least produced the resume of a competitive team. Of the four teams that have beaten New Orleans, two (Atlanta and Oakland) are division leaders, while the other two (Kansas City and the New York Giants) are second-place teams with winning records. Only New Orleans loss to Atlanta was by more than six points. The other three came down to the final possession.Yet, of the four teams New Orleans has beaten, only one -- Seattle -- has a winning record. Three of their victories were by five or fewer points. New Orleans double-digit defeat of the Niners was only the latest of several lopsided losses for San Francisco.I dont try to look at the quality of wins or losses, Payton said. Its in the rear-view mirror, really, and weve just got to learn from the mistakes.And the Saints made mistakes in San Francisco, particularly on defense. Niners QB Colin Kaepernick had his best performance this season with 398 yards passing -- second most of his career -- including touchdown passes of 47 yards to DuJuan Harris and 65 yards to Vance McDonald. If the Saints defense hadnt come up with four turnovers, including Robertsons early interception that set up a New Orleans TD, Sundays game could have been much tighter.Their explosive plays were mistakes on our end, Robertson said Were still growing as a defense, week by week, mixing together, and youre going to have that where you just have mistakes like that. But its our job as a defense to limit those mistakes because mistakes in this league go for touchdowns.In the meantime, the Saints have managed to reduce pressure on their defense by keeping their offense on the field with time-consuming drives that have featured an improving ground game. In a victory over Seattle two games ago, Tim Hightower became the Saints first running back this season to rush for more than 100 yards. On Sunday, Ingram became the second as New Orleans finished with 248 yards on the ground. And quarterback Drew Brees still managed to pass for 323 yards and three TDs.This team is playing complementary football, Robertson said. Our offense did a great job of running the ball, controlling the clock and letting us have time to rest. And when you have that, you have a chance to be good when its time for you to get back on the field again.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Custom Pistons T-shirts . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Custom Pistons Jerseys . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. http://www.custompistonsjersey.com/custom-allen-iverson-jersey-large-75n.html . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Cheap Custom Pistons Jersey . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. Custom Pistons Jersey China .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A visibly shaken Giants owner John Mara said Wednesday he was fine with the NFLs suspension of placekicker Josh Brown for one game, despite allegations Brown abused his ex-wife as many as 20 times prior to the Giants signing Brown to a two-year extension last spring.Based on the facts that were placed in front of us, were comfortable with our decision to re-sign Josh and the leagues suspension, Mara said in an emotional address to the media while his team practiced. The easiest thing for us to do would be to get a new kicker. Were trying to be fair to Josh. The easiest thing would be to say, `Terminate him, get rid of him. Were trying to do the right thing. Its not always easy.The 37-year-old Brown was arrested in May 2015, when he allegedly grabbed his ex-wife Molly by the throat and held her down with his knee in their Woodinville, Washington home. Brown was charged with fourth-degree domestic assault. Five days later, the King County prosecutors office dropped the charges because of insufficient evidence. It was reported that Browns ex-wife dropped the charges.After the NFL hit Brown with a one-game suspension instead of the six games mandated by the leagues new personal conduct policy, Molly Brown told media she was physically accosted at least 20 times, including once when she was pregnant in 2009.Mara said Wednesday he was aware of the entire situation -- and still sticks by his embattled kicker.When we made the decision to re-sign Josh, we were certainly aware of the arrest, Mara said. We were also aware of the circumstances involved. The charges were dropped. Nothing has happened to make us change our position. We did our due diligence.Brown signed a two-year, $4 million contract last spring, one that included a $500,000 signing bonus and $1 million guaranteed. Mara said he was privy to the information the NFL had collected on Brown.Were aware that there were allegations against Josh, Mara said. We knew that the NFL would conduct an investigation. Were well aware that there were other (incidents). One of the things you learn is that there is a big difference between allegations and convictions. Its important to sort all those things out. Were not going to get into the number of conversations we had with a number of people. We will live with the results of the (NFL investigation) and move forward.A lot of time, people try to make it black and white, Mara added. There are two sides to everything. Very rarely you have a Ray Rice video.Mara referred to the video of the former Balltimore Ravens running back punching his now-wife in the face and knocking her out in an Atlantic City casino elevator, a punch that has essentially ended Rices football career.ddddddddddddara said he was reluctant to even address the situation, but felt the need.I hesitated to get into it, because it is such a sensitive and difficult decision, Mara said. We had a lot of facts presented to us. We did our homework here. Nothing is going to be said to change that decision.The Giants signed former Jets and Titans kicker Randy Bullock to a one-year contract Monday after a tryout. Bullock will be the kicker while Brown serves out his suspension against Dallas in the season opener Sept. 11. Mara didnt want to speculate what happens when Brown is ready to return.Its going to be a football decision, Mara said. Its going to be decided on the field.Special teams coordinator Tom Quinn said he was fond of Bullock.We always liked him when we faced him, Quinn said. Were always open for competition.Quinn said Brown was stoic in his approach, even after the Giants brought in Bullock.Josh has been the same type of guy, Quinn said. He doesnt seem different.Brown had a Pro Bowl season last year, connecting on 30 of 32 field goals and 44 of 45 extra points for a career-high 134 points.Mara said that Brown has handled the situation well.Josh knows whats expected of him, Mara said. Hes been going to counseling. Hes been a good citizen since hes been here. Hes going to conduct himself in a professional manner. Were an organization that has always tried to do the right thing. Its not always easy, but were going to stick with our decision.Game notes Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said WR Victor Cruz looked great during practice Wednesday. Cruz has been out for most of the last two seasons with an assortment of injuries, the latest a calf. Hes had two strong days in a row. It has worked out well. Hes responded well. Hes certainly had a lot of reps the last two days. Cruz is expected to play against the Jets on Saturday night, his first game action since October 2014.Bennett Jackson, who was seeing time at safety, has been moved to cornerback because of a rash of injuries at that position. The former Notre Dame receiver missed most of the last two years due to injury. Hes going to stay there for now, said defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '