04-18-2019, 06:54 AM
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Mannings never-ending quest to hone his game and Nick Sabans desire to decipher fast-paced offences led to a recent meeting that the Crimson Tide coach called mutually beneficial. It also might have violated NFL rules because, according to Saban, Denver Broncos offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase also was in attendance. The league doesnt allow players and their coaches to meet before the start of off-season workouts, which for the Broncos begin Monday. On-field instruction wont start until mid-May. The Associated Press left messages with the team and the NFL on Friday seeking comment. Gase, one of the rising young stars in the NFL coaching ranks, and Saban go way back. Gase worked under Saban at Michigan State in the late 1990s and followed him to LSU as a graduate assistant in 2000. Saban also has known Manning for a long time and is friends with his father, Archie. Saban said after Thursdays practice that Manning and Gase were "making some visits" and stopped by Tuscaloosa, Ala., a couple of weeks ago. "To be honest with you, he was just trying to learn so he could be a better player," Saban said of the five-time MVP who led the Broncos to the Super Bowl, where they were soundly beaten by Seattle. With Gase calling the shots, Manning set NFL records by throwing for 55 touchdowns and 5,447 yards in 2013 as the Broncos became the first team in league history to score more than 600 points in a season. Saban picked their brains about the no-huddle, something Alabama has had trouble with, and Manning picked up pointers from one of the brightest minds in coaching. "Since theyre a no-huddle team, we had a lot of questions for them, in terms of what gives them problems and what defensive teams do that gives them problems," Saban said. "That was kind of a mutual, hopefully beneficial -- I know it was a benefit to us. I hope it was a benefit to them, as well." The Broncos gather Monday for whats called Phase One of the voluntary off-season workout program. During the first two weeks of the off-season program, activities are limited to strength and conditioning and rehabilitation before any on-field work and instruction are allowed. Before giving the keynote address at the Boy Scouts of America Sports Breakfast in Denver on Wednesday, Manning said hes going to use Denvers 43-8 loss to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl as motivation for the upcoming season: "We have to try to find a way to build off that, and try to take it a step farther, try to finish," he suggested. Andrei Vasilevskiy Jersey .C. Lions 35-14, was named the CFLs offensive player of the week Tuesday. Sheets recorded his ninth 100-yard rushing performance of the season to tie the Riders club record. Mikhail Sergachev Jersey . "I love the game, its the best job you can have," he explained Tuesday as the players left Joe Louis Arena for the summer. "Ill sit down with my wife and well go from there. http://www.lightninghockeystore.us/Customized/. -- The Orlando Magic finally are showing the patience in critical moments that coach Jacque Vaughn has been waiting for all season. Nikita Kucherov Jersey . The 21-year-old Canadian earned a spot in his third career ATP final on Saturday thanks to his first Top 10 victory of the new tennis season, a 6-4, 6-4 win over world no. 10 Nicolas Almagro of Spain. Brayden Point Jersey . -- Maxence Parrot of Bromont, Que.ATZENBRUGG, Austria -- Mikael Lundberg ended a six-year title drought with a gutsy 40-foot putt in a playoff against Bernd Wiesberger to win the Lyoness Open on Sunday. The Swede birdied the first playoff hole to deny Wiesberger a second victory at his home event after 2012. It was Lundbergs third European Tour title after winning the Russian Open in 2005 and 2008. "It feels fantastic, it was very nice. I made a fantastic putt," said Lundberg, who was six strokes off the lead overnight. "I knew I was far behind and I even didnt think I was going to win. I was just hoping to play well." Lundberg, who made three birdies in a row on his way to a 65, and Wiesberger, who shot 69, were tied at 12 under after the fourth round. Defending champion Joost Luiten, who teed off the final day with a two-shot lead over Wiesberger, carded a par 72. The Dutchman finished third, one stroke off the lead. "I didnt play great," Luiten said. "Nothing went my way, really ... If you are two clear, you want to win, you want to finish it off. If you dont do that, you are disappointed." Englands Lee Slattery, who was second after Fridays play, scored 66 to finish another stroke back in fourth. Lundberg topped the leaderboard for the first two days but looked to have squandered his chances with a 4-over 76 on Saturday. "I felt a little bit more pressure going into the third round since I was leading," Lundberg said. "Today was slightly better, not the long shots, but my short game was very goood.dddddddddddd That changed everything." Lundbergs improved short game helped him overcome several disappointing seasons that left him wondering if he was ever going to win a title again. Just weeks ago, he started working with coach Neil Jordan, and said he has been gaining confidence from the co-operation. "I have been struggling," said the 40-year-old Lundberg, who came through Q School for the last three years. "We started working on a few things. Not very different things, just basics ... I worked a little bit more on my short game which is now starting to pay off." It was Lundbergs second win in a playoff after the Russian Open in 2005 . With a victory, Wiesberger would have become the first Austrian to qualify for the U.S. Open. He can still make it but is now dependent on results from the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee, later Sunday. Wiesberger was loudly cheered through the sun-soaked day by a large home crowd. He soon overtook Luiten with birdies on the first and third hole and stayed ahead of the Dutchman almost throughout. However, he lost a one-stroke lead over Lundberg with three holes to play. "I had it in my hands," Wiesberger said. "He had a great putt, he deserves it but I lost it a bit. I didnt play great." Daniel Im of the United States carded the lowest score of the tournament with a 8-under 64 despite double-bogeying the par-4 fifth. Im had 10 birdies including five on the final six holes to finish 7 under for the tournament. ' ' '