WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg thinks relying too much on his new slider put stress on his pitching arm and contributed to the injury problems that sidelined him during the second half of last season and the playoffs.I fell in love with it, the Washington Nationals right-hander said Sunday at the teams annual fan festival, because it was working, especially the first half. I mean, it was a quick out.Strasburg threw sliders on 17.1 percent of his pitches last season, according to Fangraphs, more than changeups (13.1 percent) or curveballs (12.6). He said that because the slider was not a pitch he was used to throwing, he had trouble delivering it exactly the same way each time.That altered his motion, and the fact that he went with the slider more often than he should have, he believes, led to a tendon issue in his right elbow -- although one that is now resolved, he said.I had a new pitch, and I probably abused it. So I need to go back to what Ive thrown much longer, said Strasburg, sporting a thick beard.The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft, now 28, had Tommy John surgery in 2011, then was shut down by the Nationals late in 2012 to protect his repaired elbow. This season, he started 13-0 with a 2.51 ERA, and in the midst of that stretch signed a $175 million, seven-year contract.He went on the DL with elbow soreness in August, then made one more start before being out again.Strasburgs final 2016 numbers: 15-4 with a 3.60 ERA and 183 strikeouts in only 147 2/3 innings.His biggest takeaway? He said he plans to do everything I can to make the adjustments to stay healthy for the whole season next year.To that end, pitching coach Mike Maddux mentioned that he thinks Strasburg might opt for a tweaked between-starts throwing program in 2017.Were going to sit down with him and discuss it, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said, noting that Strasburg had been in town to meet with the teams medical staff and strength and conditioning staff.Through spring training, Rizzo added, well devise a workout program to handle the forearm soreness.Strasburg will start his offseason throwing, as usual, in late December or early January. Until then, strengthening his forearm is key.I did stuff like that in the past, but it wasnt as much as Im doing right now, he said. When you get older and youve had Tommy John, youve got to kind of tweak it a little bit, because the muscles in your arm are just going to maybe change a little bit. Ive just got to make more of an emphasis on slowing everything down and just making the most of the exercises.Game notes Rizzo did not offer much insight or information on where things stand on a closer for 2017. The GM said he has spoken to the agent for free agent Kenley Jansen several times, but did not directly answer when asked whether the Nationals had made an offer. Were looking for back-end-of-the-bullpen help -- and were looking for bullpen help, in general, Rizzo said. ... Trea Turner spoke Sunday about the trade that sent 2016 starting SS Danny Espinosa to the Los Angeles Angels for two minor league pitchers, allowing Turner to return to his natural position, shortstop, after learning to play center field last season. Excited to have an opportunity to go back there. Thats where Im more comfortable, where Ive played the majority of my career, Turner said. I look forward to trying to prove I can play there at a high level and be consistent. Espinosa would most likely have been a reserve and utilityman with Washington, and Rizzo said: I knew hed be frustrated with the bench role. Manager Dusty Baker called the deal, made late Saturday night, definitely good for Danny, because he deserves to play every day.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich Cheap Air Force 1 China . LOUIS -- St. Cheap Nike Air Max 97 China . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/jordan-wholesale-china.html .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Yeezy Boost China Cheap . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Nike Air Max Plus Discount .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. If one thing in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, its that you can kill anyone. -- Michael CorleoneJeff Fisher was supposed to have more job security than any coach in the league. No one could ever figure out why, but Fisher proved resistant to strings of losing seasons long enough to do in far more successful coaches. Tom Coughlin got fired from the Giants after three straight losing seasons. Fisher on Sunday ensured his fifth straight losing season as Rams coach, and a little more than a week ago it was revealed that he had received a contract extension.And then, Monday, the Rams fired Fisher with three games left in the season. And everything you thought you knew about NFL coaching job security disappeared into a Southern California rush-hour traffic jam. If Fisher cant survive a losing season anymore, who can?The coaching seats in places such as Jacksonville, Buffalo, San Diego and Cincinnati cant feel any cooler than they did 24 hours ago. Fishers surprise in-season firing was a reminder that the ugly January coaching-change season is just a few weeks away now. Speculation about who and where is risky business at this point -- heck, 19 percent of the season remains to be played. But there are always changes, and theres no way Los Angeles will be the only one. Here are two nuggets of info Ive gathered from making calls the past couple of weeks:Los Angeles will be an attractive job to the top candidates. Big market, clean slate, patient ownership, a quarterback who was the No. 1 overall pick, a star-caliber running back, playmakers on defense. Whats going to come open that looks better? Maybe Jacksonville, if you like Blake Bortles and not having to pay state income tax. The Rams arent on the cusp of greatness or anything, but few of the teams that hire coaches ever are. And they have a few things going for them.Josh McDaniels, Kyle Shanahan, Teryl Austin, Jim Bob Cooter, Sean McDermott ... these are the candidate names youve heard and will hear again. Jim Schwartz can get back into the cycle if Philadelphias defense finishes strong. Rising young stars such as Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay and Miami defensive coordinator Vance Joseph could get calls. Dallas offensive coordinator Scott Linehan could potentially parlay the success of his rookie-driven offense into a return to the interview circuit. But a surprise name to watch is Mike Smith, the former Falcons coach whos now running a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense thats keying a potential playoff run. Smith was 56-24 and made the playoffs four times in his first five seasons as Falcons head coach, then flamed out to the tune of 10-22 in the final two. He got some attention last year -- the Giants and Dolphins interviewed him for their head-coaching jobs before turning elsewhere -- and hes well-regarded around the league.So yeah, it may feel early to be talking about this. But a month from now, the non-playoff NFL world will be consumed by it. And Mondays news let everyone know that it has already begun.What else did we learn in Week 14?The New York Giants killed it in free agencyWe hear all the time that free agency isnt an instant fix. But for the Giants defense, the 2016 free-agent class is an all-time winner. The Giants identified the players they wanted in free agency and then made sure to spend literally whatever they needed to spend to sign them. All three of the guys they brought in from other teams have performed up to their contracts so far. Janoris Jenkins has been a lockdown cornerback. Damon Harrison remains, as he was with the Jets, the best run-stopping defensive tackle in the league. And Olivier Vernon has rejuvenated the pass rush with his relentless motor and versatility.Add in Jason Pierre-Paul, a free-agent re-sign who was playing very well before groin surgery sidelined him last week, and the breakout of second-year safety Landon Collins, and the Giants have a defense capable of winning a game by itself. They made every play but one against the Cowboys on Sunday night, and so when their offense finally made its one pllay -- an electrifying 61-yard Odell Beckham Jr.dddddddddddd catch-and-run touchdown -- it was enough to end Dallas 11-game winning streak.The Cowboys are 11-2, and the Giants have beaten them twice. That defense has a chance to be the Cowboys biggest January roadblock. Its the only thing Dallas hasnt been able to overcome.The Denver Broncos are in real troubleThe loss to Tennessee was, on paper, the defending Super Bowl champions best chance to win a game the rest of the season. That doesnt mean theyre going to lose the rest of their games and finish 8-8, but they absolutely could lose at home to the Patriots, at Kansas City and at home to the Raiders to close out the season. Denver is running an increasingly distant third in the AFC West and playing around on the fringes of the wild-card race. And while, yes, the Broncos did finish strong last season when it looked as if they might not get in, the schedule is not in their favor this season.If Tom Brady is in the MVP conversation, LeVeon Bell should be tooMy feelings on Brady as an MVP candidate should be well known by now. He may be the best player in the league, playing the most important position on the best team. But the fact that he missed one-quarter of the season means his performance needs to be clearly better than those of the other candidates if hes to win the award. So, same thing with Steelers running back Bell. But if you disagree with me, and you think that missing a chunk of the season shouldnt be a disqualifying factor, then you have to consider Bell, who right now is the Steelers offense. He had 298 of the Steelers 460 yards and all three of their touchdowns Sunday. In Pittsburghs past four games -- all wins -- Bell has 53.9 percent of the teams total yardage and five of its 11 touchdowns. The Steelers are working him hard, in the running game and in the passing game, and making up for time lost to the three-game drug suspension with which he began the year. What remains to be seen is whether they sign him to a long-term deal after this season or keep him around on the franchise tag and keep working him this way.Matt Barkley may not be just some placeholder jokeMuch was made last week of the Browns running Robert Griffin III out there the final four games to see if he can be part of their quarterback solution next season. So far, it looks drastically otherwise. But over in Chicago, Barkley has looked remarkably competent the past two weeks starting for the Bears in place of the injured Jay Cutler and Brian Hoyer. And with Cutler likely on his way out and no obvious instant-helper solutions in the draft, Barkley may have a chance to position himself to compete for the job next summer. Barkley will get a boost from the return of top receiver Alshon Jeffery?from suspension this week, and if he finishes with three strong games, dont be surprised if hes in the mix. There arent any Peyton Manning-level solutions kicking around on the market.The Kansas City Chiefs have players who can elevate them above very good come JanuaryKansas City has won 21 of its past 25 games. But there long has been a sense, since Andy Reid got there in 2013, that the Chiefs would be good but would struggle to be great. Alex Smith is a steady quarterback, but not the kind of downfield dazzler you need to elevate past the other top teams in the playoffs. But the return of pass-rusher Justin Houston from injury has made it clear that Kansas City has a Von Miller/Khalil Mack-type difference-maker on defense. (Can the Steelers or Patriots, for example, say the same?) And the breakout of rookie receiver Tyreek Hill gives the Chiefs an offensive difference-maker the likes of which Reid hasnt had since he coached DeSean Jackson in Philadelphia. If the Chiefs keep winning, theyll get a good seed in the AFC playoffs -- maybe even the best one. And they have the kinds of difference-makers on either side of the ball that you need to have if you want to win those games. ' ' '