内容摘要：New York closer Luke Weaver wasn’t able to pitch at all because of a sore hamstring.

New York closer Luke Weaver wasn’t able to pitch at all because of a sore hamstring.

that takes it through the 2027 season — that he can help make the franchise at least competitive again.Three AFC West teams made the playoffs last season. The Raiders, who went 4-13, were the only ones taking early vacations, meaning hopes of ending a playoff victory drought that dates to the 2003 season would continue. Smith also has the burden of trying to win in a division with fellow quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix.

But Smith also takes over an offense that includes tight end Brock Bowers, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and running back Ashton Jeanty.Bowers comes off a rookie season in which he was named an AP All-Pro after catching 112 passes for 1,194 yards. Meyers, who took over as the top receiver after Davante Adams, broke the 1,000-yard barrier for the first time. Jeanty was

this year out of Boise State after finishing second in the Heisman Trophy balloting.“Winning is something that we want to do right now,” Smith said. “Just seeing the direction everything’s going and how hard these guys are working and just how bad everyone wants to win, I’m fortunate to be a part of this thing. I just want to continue to build it, to continue for this thing to grow. The sky’s the limit for this team, this organization. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.”

At 34, Smith provides a veteran presence at sports’ ultimate leadership position, and Kelly said he even has impacted how the coaches go about their business.

“He’s just been emblematic of what a leader should be, by his habits and by the way he brings himself every day,” Carroll said. “He’s the first guy out here, he’s the last guy to leave.”So, just as he did after the Round 2 win over Toronto, Maurice and his staff shook hands with Brind’Amour and other members of the Carolina staff. That happened near the benches, while the players partook in the traditional handshake line down the center of the ice.

Maurice said several weeks ago that he isn’t sure when the post-round handshake expanded to include coaches, and figures someone years ago did it just to either be seen or grab some television time. He said when he started coaching, people in the suits weren’t in those handshake moments.This season, he’s been trying to amend the tradition. And he thanked Brind’Amour for taking a risk, as Maurice said, in agreeing with him.

“There’s something for me visually, with the camera on just the men who played, blocked shots, fought for each other, it’s end of one’s season, it’s excitement for the other,” Maurice said. “The last thing that a player on the Carolina Hurricanes deserves is 50 more guys in suits, they have no idea who they are and that’s not a negative. There’s something really kind of beautiful about just the camera on those men who played shaking hands. And we should respect that.”OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Before Baltimore