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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Ryan Fitzpatrick showed up at the New York Jets practice facility with just a few minutes to spare.The quarterback had just agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal Wednesday night, ending a contract stalemate that dragged on for months.Finally getting the OK from his agent, Fitzpatrick wanted to rejoin his teammates in time for their 7 p.m. team meeting with coach Todd Bowles to kick off training camp.One problem: His security code to the building no longer worked.So, he had to text wide receiver Brandon Marshall to borrow his code to get inside the building. Then, Fitzpatrick hurried into the auditorium to the surprise of some Jets players and coaches.I might have been 3 seconds late, which is a minute late, I guess, Fitzpatrick said after the Jets first camp practice Thursday, but I wasnt technically under contract, so I dont think they can fine me.Fitzpatrick quickly apologized to Bowles for his ever-so slightly tardy arrival.He said, `Im sorry Im late, Coach, Bowles said before smiling. I told him, `Thats a $12 million fine.Fitzpatrick officially signed his new contract about 10 minutes before practice began. Then, he headed out to the field and was greeted by the theme song to the 1970s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter blaring through the speakers lining the sideline.Smiles and laughs. Fitz is back, and the Jets have their starting quarterback under center again.I always thought this day would come, Fitzpatrick said. I just had no idea it would take this long and then when it took so long, I wasnt sure how long it would exactly take. But Im glad we got it done for that first team meeting.It was just like old times when Fitzpatrick hit Marshall down the left sideline for a long touchdown pass that drew some loud cheers from a small group of fans. The quarterbacks bushy beard was nothing new, but his over-coiffed hairdo drew some razzing from his teammates.Full beard, mini `fro, wide receiver Eric Decker joked. It looked like he just got off the golf course.Added a smiling Marshall: He didnt look the best right now. Actually, I thought he looked pretty good out there today, but I dont know whats going on with the hair and beard. I thought we got past that last year.The Jets certainly wouldnt mind a repeat of Fitzpatricks statistical performance from last season, when he set the franchise record with 31 touchdown passes and helped lead New York within a victory of the playoffs.It appeared Fitzpatrick would be a shoo-in to re-sign with the Jets, who made it clear that he would be the starter if and when he came back.But the team made an offer that included three years, but little in guarantees beyond the first year. He wasnt pleased about it and made that clear to the Jets, and the weeks turned into months with Fitzpatrick still unsigned.How could I look myself in the mirror every morning and say, `Yeah, Ill try to play good this year and then next year Ill just collect some checks and teach the young guys? Fitzpatrick said. Thats not who I am. Thats not in my nature. But Im doing OK financially, so it was just a risk I was willing to take.New York set a deadline of Wednesday night to get a deal done or it would move in another direction. So, the two sides worked throughout the day and finally ended the contract stare down.Fitzpatrick essentially bet on himself to have another good year, and could potentially become a free agent after the season.I mean, I have something to prove every year. I wasnt the first pick overall in the draft, said Fitzpatrick, a seventh-rounder by the Rams in 2005. Nothings ever really been handed to me, so I just go out and try to prove it every year.While Geno Smith has had a solid offseason, Bowles made it clear that there is no quarterback competition. Fitzpatrick will be the starter against Cincinnati in Week 1 unless something drastic happens.Its his job, Bowles said of Fitzpatrick. Based off what he did last year, hes earned it.Fitzpatrick stepped into the starting job last August when Smith was punched by a teammate and left with a broken jaw. The veteran quickly established himself as a leader on and off the field.Throughout the offseason, both Marshall and Decker proclaimed their desire to see Fitzpatrick return. That touched Fitzpatrick, who feels indebted to those teammates who supported him while his contract situation played out.I put a lot of pressure on myself, but the pressure that I feel is, I have guys like Brandon and Deck who stuck their necks out and they were in my corner all offseason, Fitzpatrick said.So, for me, Ive got to go out and perform for those guys. Ive got to go out and perform for all of those guys in that locker room.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL USA Soccer Shirts . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. USA Soccer Jerseys China . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. USA Soccer Jerseys 2020 .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Custom USA Soccer Jerseys . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. NORTON, Mass. -- One week into the Ryder Cup auditions for the captains picks, Davis Love III should have no trouble identifying the hot player.Trouble is, Rory McIlroy plays for the other team.The Deutsche Bank Championship, where McIlroy rediscovered his putting stroke, was the first of two big tournaments that essentially allow Love and the Americans to buy time so they can decide how to use three captains picks that will be announced Monday.Love will get a fourth pick after the FedEx Cup ends on Sept. 25, presumably before the boarding door closes on the flight to Hazeltine.But is this really an audition?Not according to Phil Mickelson, the senior member of the U.S. team who serves on the Ryder Cup Task Force.I think the picks are fairly obvious, Mickelson said before the first shot was struck at the TPC Boston. If theyre not, or if we get a guy like Billy Horschel who just gets a hot hand and we need that hot hand to give us the best chance to win, then we have that option. For the most part, I think its fairly obvious who the picks would be without even naming them.Maybe its obvious to Mickelson, and perhaps to Love.But not to everyone.I cant name them, either, said Steve Stricker, an assistant captain and task force member. I dont know who they are, I swear. I could put five guys down that are obvious. I dont think I could do three.Matt Kuchar would seem logical. He finished 12th in the standings, has the right game for match play because he is rarely out of position, and he likely played his way onto the team with that 63 on the final day to win the bronze medal at the Olympics.Rickie Fowler makes sense, even though he has never won a match in two Ryder Cup appearances. Fowler is well-liked, he paired nicely with PGA champion Jimmy Walker at Gleneagles and tied for seventh at The Barclays in the final qualifying event. Then again, he squandered a chance to play his way onto the team at Bethpage Black by making a mess of the last four holes. He wound up 11th in points.After that, the obvious becomes opinions.Bubba Watson finished at No. 9 in the standings and he is No. 7 in the world. However, the two-time Masters champion hasnt had a top 10 on the PGA Tour in six months. Jim Furyk is under consideration, mainly because he finished at No. 15 in the standings despite missing four months att the start of the year to recover from wrist surgery.dddddddddddd He also shot 58. But he didnt make it beyond the second stage of the FedEx Cup playoffs.J.B. Holmes was No. 10 in the standings. Holmes is a power player and one of the few active Americans to have never been on a losing Ryder Cup team. His only appearance was in 2008 at Valhalla. He went 2-0-1.Thats five options, and there might be more.But lets say the initial three captains picks really are obvious.Why wait?Europe filled out its team with three captains picks last Tuesday, two days after qualifying ended. Too soon? It might look that way with Alex Noren winning in Switzerland and moving up to No. 27 in the world. At least it has a team of 12 for a month leading to the opening shot on Sept. 30.The Americans wont have a full team until they arrive at Hazeltine.They were giddy about their trip to Gillette Stadium last week, even though only two-thirds of the team was there. It led to one awkward moment when someone asked Kuchar how he liked the home of the New England Patriots and the speech from 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey captain Mike Eruzione. Kuchar wasnt there. Neither was Fowler. Or the other obvious pick.As for the final pick, Love is thrilled with the idea that someone could get hot and reach the Tour Championship and have a shot at winning the FedEx Cup and I get to pick him on Sunday night.That sounds great, as long as its the right guy who wins.Of the 70 players moving on to Indiana for the third playoff event, eight are Americans who have never won a PGA Tour event and, according to Love, still on his radar.Love asked a question in New York last week that he couldnt answer, and neither can anyone else.Is it easier for that guy to stay hot -- or for that other guy to get hot? he said.The Americans are looking for any edge they can find. Its hard to blame them since they have only won the Ryder Cup twice since 1995. But would it take anything away from the Ryder Cup if both teams had the same qualifying system? Start it one year out, take 11 players and give the captains one wild-card pick.And then go play.Because golf is supposed to be a sport that rewards a good score, not a good relationship. ' ' '