Sonstiges » Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis has been m

TAMPA, Fla. -- There are no more lingering questions about whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are relevant again.The teams four-game winning streak not only has catapulted Jameis Winston and his supporting cast into playoff contention, but the Bucs (7-5) also are tied for first place in the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons.Winston has cut down on mistakes that hindered the offense earlier in the season, Doug Martin has returned from an injury that sidelined him seven weeks to give the team at least the threat of a productive running attack, and a defense that has been a liability at times has rebounded from a shoddy two-game stretch to do its part in the turnaround.I just think were one of those teams that is starting to believe, coach Dirk Koetter said. It is crazy what confidence can do when you start making plays. It seems to build on itself.The winning streak is Tampa Bays longest since 2012, when the Bucs got off to a 6-4 start before losing five of their final six games to finish 7-9. The team is two games over .500 this late in a season for the first time in six years and sitting atop the division standings through Week 13 for the first time since 2008, when a 9-3 start was followed a four-game season-ending slide that cost former coach Jon Gruden his job.The Bucs have missed the playoffs the past eight seasons and havent won a postseason game since their 2002 Super Bowl run.It feels great, but we have not arrived. We have to keep playing one game at a time, Winston said after Sundays 28-21 win over San Diego improved Tampa Bays record to 5-1 on the road, compared to 2-4 at home, where the Bucs will host division rival New Orleans on Sunday.We have to take advantage of the opportunity. We cannot stop now, Winston added. We have to keep going. We have to keep playing. I believe we will because were playing so well as a family right now, and its really inspiring.The surge begins with the play of Winston, who threw seven interceptions and lost two fumbles during a three-game losing streak that dropped Tampa Bays record to 1/3 a month into the season. He has thrown for 15 touchdowns with just four interceptions and two lost fumbles while the Bucks have won six of the last eight to fuel the push for their first playoff berth since 2007.The No. 1 overall pick from last years draft has emerged as the teams unquestioned leader in the locker room, too.I think theres definitely something to that, Koetter said Monday of the second-year quarterbacks ability to command the attention and respect of teammates.And theres different styles. Im sure Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, and were seeing one of the best in Drew Brees this week, they all have their own style, Koetter added. Leadership can take on many forms, but you also have to be able to back it up with your play. And, Jameis has done that.The Bucs are 4-0 since Martin returned from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him since Week 2. And even though, the leagues second-leading rusher from last season hasnt run for the impressive numbers the team is accustomed to getting, hes clearly taken some of the burden off Winston and receiver Mike Evans to carry the offense.Martin rushed for 45 yards on 17 attempts against San Diego, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. He also scored his second touchdown of the season.Doug makes our offense go. All youve got to do is look at all the tape for last year, Koetter said. We spin a lot of stuff off of how Doug plays.Meanwhile, the defense has made strides since yielding over 1,000 yards during losses to Oakland and Atlanta within a five-day span last month. The have at least two takeaways in four consecutive games, and a rejuvenated pass rush sacked Russell Wilson six times during a 14-5 win over Seattle and two more against Phillip Rivers on Sunday.Coach Dirk is harping on playing complimentary football. Special teams, offense, and defense, and that is what we are doing, Evans said. Everybody is giving it all that theyve got. We are just trying to find a way to win.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL.Clearance LeBron James Shoes . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. LeBron James Shoes Deals . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. https://www.cheapshoeslebronjames.com/ . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. LeBron James Shoes Free Shipping . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. LeBron James Shoes Outlet . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2.New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis has been medically cleared to play and participated in his first scrimmage on Wednesday, according to the teams official website.Pelicans general manager Dell Demps also told a group of fans at a season-ticket holder event Wednesday night that the 23-year-old All-Star is expected to start the 2016-17 NBA season with no restrictions.Davis underwent an ultrasonic debridement and an injection of his own bone marrow March 25 to correct a stress reaction and tendinopathy in his left knee that ended his 2015-16 season after a career-low 61 games.He was initially expected to undergo surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, but the procedure was determined to be unnecessary after evaluation and consultation by his surgeon.Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told the teams in-house podcast last week that Davis will be ready to go,, 100 percent, when we start the season.ddddddddddddAnthony is still a little bit banged up, but hell be able to play pickup games and everything, Gentry said.Demps also told fans that Quincy Pondexter, who missed all of last season after undergoing two surgeries to his left knee, had his first full-go workout on Wednesday.Jrue Holiday is expected to miss the start of the season to be with his pregnant wife, former U.S. womens national team soccer player Lauren Holiday, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Tyreke Evans is also not expected to be available for the start of the season, Gentry said in July.The Pelicans (30-52) missed 351 games to injury and illness last season, the second most in the past decade according to InStreetClothes.com. ' ' '