TAMPA, Fla. -- At the risk of riling some critics who insist hes too nice on the football field, Tampa Bays Gerald McCoy concedes he has a deep admiration for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.The four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle stresses, however, that sportsmanship should never be mistaken for a lack of commitment to do whatever is necessary to win.When the Buccaneers (3-4) host the NFC South-leading Falcons (5-3) on Thursday night, McCoy intends to do everything he can to make the NFLs passing yardage leader uncomfortable.Matty Ice is Matty Ice. I love the guy, said McCoy, whos been criticized at times by fans who feels he often shows too much reverence for opposing players.The seventh-year pro is unapologetic about saying kind things about star players or occasionally helping another teams quarterback to his feet after a sack.Hes a nice guy, hes a great player, so what? I love football and I respect him. Hes a great player and he makes you go play a lot harder, McCoy said. Ill shake his hand before and after the game, and during the game Ill try to kill him. ... It is what it is. Weve just got to stop him. Its OK to be nice. Its OK to be a nice guy.Ryan leads the league in both yards passing (2,636) and touchdowns (19). The Falcons, though, have lost three straight to the Bucs, including 31-24 in the season opener, and are hoping to tighten the division standings Thursday night.Former Atlanta coach Mike Smith, now Tampa Bays defensive coordinator, said the Falcons are not the same team the Bucs faced in Week 1.With Ryan and receiver Julio Jones leading the way, Atlanta leads the NFL in scoring and total offense. And, the defense has progressed since Jameis Winston had one of his best games of the season against the Falcons in the opener.I dont think theyre a lot different, scheme-wise, coach Dirk Koetter said. I think theyre playing with more confidence, and you would expect that. Theyve won some big games.Some things to know about the Falcons and Buccaneers:DEFENSELESS: The Buccaneers arent making excuses about allowing a franchise-worst 626 yards, including a club record 513 passing, during last weeks 30-24 overtime loss to Oakland. The team defines long plays as runs of 10-plus yards, as well as receptions of 20-plus yards. The Raiders had 12 for 374 yards, including Seth Roberts 41-yard scoring reception in OT.Totally unacceptable, Smith said.McCoy expects the unit to rebound against Atlanta.OK, lets say that they did all that and we won. Would we care? I think we care more about the fact that we lost, McCoy said. The yards, it is what it is. Ive seen teams throw for a whole bunch of yards and lose the game. We lost the game, thats what matters. Well fix that. ... We need to get a win.STOPPING THE RUN: Atlantas defense hasnt allowed an opposing player to rush for 100 yards in 13 consecutive games. With ex-Falcon Jacquizz Rodgers sidelined by a left foot injury, Tampa Bay will line up with its fourth different starting running back -- possibly Antone Smith or rookie Peyton Barber.Koetter said whoever plays, hes confident the Bucs can move the ball on the ground.If a guys here, the coach said, hes good enough.UNDER THE LIGHTS: The biggest drawback to playing twice in five days is the physical toll it takes on players. The Falcons and Bucs , however, welcome the opportunity to showcase their division rivalry to the rest of the nation.This is our chance again to play against another great team and kind of make a statement, Winston said. Just not really a statement, just to prove to ourselves that we are a good football team.Atlanta coach Dan Quinn doesnt mind the short preparation time.There is a little bit of pre-planning that goes into it, but I do like it. Id like it better if it was always a home game, but honestly I do like it, playing night games and having them as division games, Quinn said. Honestly, its a lot of fun.HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE?: Not at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs have one of the worst home records (3-16) in the NFL over the past three seasons. They are 0-3 at home this season, compared to 3-1 on the road. The Falcons are 3-1 on the road, the lone setback a two-point loss at Seattle on Oct. 16.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Soccer Jerseys .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. http://www.chinasoccerjerseys.com/ . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Wholesale World Cup Jerseys . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Cheap Borussia Dortmund Jerseys . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Miami Hurricanes freshman Dewan Huell learned the day before Wednesdays game against Rutgers that he would be making his first collegiate start.I went to sleep happy, he said, and woke up even happier.Huell was still smiling after the game. The 6-foot-11 Miami native had 14 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes, and the Hurricanes scored 17 consecutive points in the second half to beat previously undefeated Rutgers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, 73-61.With more than 20 friends and relatives in the crowd, Huell scored in double figures for the fifth time this season and had a couple of baskets worthy of video replays.I was very impressed with Dewans acrobatic, athletic ability to score near the rim, Miami coach Jim Larranaga said.Huell had five offensive rebounds. Another freshman, Bruce Brown, had nine rebounds and 11 points, including a 3-point play with less than two minutes left to stop a late Rutgers run.Teammate Davon Reed totaled 18 points and six rebounds for Miami (5-2), which bounced back from consecutive losses last week.The Scarlet Knights (6-1) had been off to their best start since their Final Four season in 1975-76, but they hadnt faced a team with the Hurricanes talent.Are we ready for this kind of game? Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. Probably not.The Scarlet Knights came into the game third in the nation in rebounding margin, but the Hurricanes outrebounded them 44-30.The emphasis to this game was to rebound the ball, Brown said. We just wanted it more.Rutgers trailed by 15 points early, rallied to within 36-32 and then went nine minutes without a point. The Scarlet Knights went 0 for 11 with five turnovers during the drought while Miami pulled out to a 53-32 lead.The Hurricanes took leads of 15-4 and 25-10, and then scored two points over the next eight minutes while coommitting a flurry of turnovers that allowed the Scarlet Knights to climb back into the game.ddddddddddddMiami led 34-28 at halftime.BIG PICTURERutgers: Rutgers was outrebounded 14-2 in the first 10 minutes. The Hurricanes grabbed 15 of the 32 rebounds when they missed a shot.Their length bothered us, Pikiell said. That team is as good a rebounding team as were going to face.Before the game, Larranaga stressed Rutgers rebounding ability.We made a strong emphasis to the team that if we dont rebound, were not going to be in the game, he said.Miami: The Hurricanes are especially young and inexperienced inside, but Huell showed his potential to provide a foundation for the future.His most impressive play might have been a graceful, high-flying layup leading a fast break for a 49-32 lead. He also drove the baseline from the left corner for a dunk, prompting a big cheer from the small crowd.I like the breakaway layup to show my ball-handling skills, Huell said.The Rutgers coach was among those impressed.Huell, I love him, Pikiell said. Hes going to be terrific.CLAMPDOWNIt was another strong defensive effort by the Hurricanes, who came into the game ranked 12th in scoring defense at 58.7 points per game. Mike Williams led Rutgers with 16 points off the bench in 19 minutes.BAD RATIOThe Hurricanes had nine assists and 19 turnovers.It really should be the opposite, Larranaga said. Were a little young and dont have team chemistry on offense yet.UP NEXTRutgers: The Scarlet Knights return home to play Morgan State on Saturday.Miami: All six of the Hurricanes games in December will be in South Florida, beginning Saturday against Wofford.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Cheap Stitched Jerseys China Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2019 Jerseys Wholesale Discount NFL Jerseys Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Throwback Cheap NFL Gear Cheap NFL Jerseys Throwback Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Wholesale NFL White Jerseys ' ' '