NEU » oronto rookie sensation Auston Matthews rem

Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Wednesday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EST:- For every Peyton Manning who survived a rough rookie year on his way to NFL stardom, theres a much longer list of players rushed onto the field too early or with not enough help before being discarded in the continuing search for the franchise quarterback. Not even being picked first or second overall is a guarantee, but the first 24 games of a career are a pretty good measure of future success -- or failure.- BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens understand how embarrassing it would be to lose to the winless Cleveland Browns on national television. They would rather focus on the benefits of a victory, which would thrust them into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.- The Cleveland Browns are winless, 0-9 for the first time in franchise history. They are ranked dead last at No. 32 in the AP Pro32. And now they must play on a short week at their hated rival, the Ravens -- who used to be the Browns before fleeing to Baltimore in 1996.- Nick Saban is on the verge of another milestone victory, another number that gives a glimpse at how dominant his teams have been at Alabama. A victory by the Crimson Tide against Mississippi State on Saturday in Tuscaloosa will be Sabans 40th when Alabama has been ranked No. 1, matching Bobby Bowden and Woody Hayes for the most by a coach.- While offensive stars like Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson more often than not command the lions share of the ACC limelight on game day, there are plenty of stars on the other side of the ball who have helped elevate the conference to new heights.- There is no Heisman hype for the Big 12 Conference, even with some impressive performances this season from players like Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook and Texas running back DOnta Foreman. Still, the Big 12 isnt likely to have a player in New York next month for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Maybe next year.- COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&Ms Trevor Knight is the highest profile graduate transfer in the Southeastern Conference this season, jumping in to fill a major void at quarterback for the 10th-ranked Aggies. However, teams across the league are sprinkled with players who moved into the SEC as graduate students after careers at other schools.- PHOENIX -- On the last full day of the annual general managers meeting, Major League Baseball goes over possible rules changes.- MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade will play Thursday in Miami for the 525th time, and for the first time in some other teams uniform. When the Chicago Bulls visit the Heat, itll be a homecoming for the three-time NBA champion.- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Some of Americas best soccer players returned this week to central Ohio, where a 20,000-seat stadium named for its insurance company sponsor is considered a spiritual home of the mens national team.- East Kilbrides players are the talk of Scottish soccer and beyond thanks to a 27-match winning run that has the tiny community-led club from the outskirts of Glasgow dreaming big. Steve McNair Jersey . 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. A.J. Brown Jersey . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. http://www.authentictitanspro.com/Marcus-mariota-titans-jersey/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Kevin Byard Youth Jersey . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. Derrick Henry Womens Jersey . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. TORONTO -- Connor Brown is having fun playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.On Thursday night, the 22-year-old rookie came through with the best game of his career in from of the home fans.Brown had two goals and two assists for a career-high four points to lead the Maple Leafs to a 6-1 victory over the Florida Panthers for their seventh win in nine home games.It really is a dream come true playing in your home city, Brown said. I was a Toronto Maple Leaf fan my whole life. Its a pretty awesome experience.Mitch Marner had another impressive goal, and Leo Komarov, James van Riemsdyk and Jake Gardiner also scored for the Maple Leafs. Nazem Kadri had two assists and Frederik Andersen stopped 27 shots.All but one of Torontos eight wins this season have come at home.I think every time you step on home ice you still cant believe it, said Marner, who grew up in nearby Thornhill, Ontario. A hundred years of this team and luckily enough were part of that now.The win spoiled Florida goalie James Reimers first start in Toronto since leaving the Maple Leafs in the offseason. Reimer finished with 24 saves an d Aaron Ekblad scored the lone goal for the Panthers.The Maple Leafs got to their former goalie quickly, scoring three times in the first period -- including two by Brown.Brown deflected Morgan Riellys point shot past a surprised Reimer nearly six minutes in. The goal was initially ruled off for a high stick, but was later overturned on video review.After Ekblad evened the score at 1-1 with only his fourth point of the season -- all goals -- Brown scored again. This time, he eluded a check along the boards by Ekblad, continued a hard drive down the right side of the ice and then flung a shot on goal as he avoided a diving Jason Demers.Brown crashed into the boards and popped up with a visor full of snow after the shot beat Reimer, who was taken aback by the goal once more.Signed to a five-year, $17 million deal in the summer, Reimer is 2-3-1 record in his first seven games with Florida.ddddddddddddarner padded the lead to two as he gained control of the puck just inside the Florida blue line, took a step on defenseman Michael Matheson and then made a series of dekes to beat Reimer.He was still fighting off the advances of Matheson prior to scoring, waiting until the last possible moment to slide the puck from backhand to forehand, tucking it just around the left pad of the goalie.I was really committed on going to the backhand, Marner said. Last second, I kind of just wanted to try and make a move and see what happens.Marner now has six goals and 10 points in his last seven games, trailing only Winnipeg winger Patrik Laine in rookie scoring (16 points).Brown added his third point when he lofted a pass to Komarov on a Toronto rush, the Finnish winger flipping a shot past Reimer for the 4-1 lead. He notched his fourth point on Gardiners third of the year late in the third.The line of Brown, Komarov and Kadri not only managed to score a bunch but shut down the Panthers top unit, which features Aleksander Barkov and 44-year-old Jaromir Jagr.We can play him against real good players, which is positive, Leafs coach Mike Babcock said of Brown, who was playing in only his 24th game.Van Riemsdyk, coming off his first hat trick as a Leaf on Tuesday, got the Leafs fifth goal late in the second. He picked off a flubbed pass by Dylan McIlrath in the Florida zone and beat Reimer.Game notes Van Riemsdyk has a team-leading eight goals and 17 points. ... Toronto rookie sensation Auston Matthews remained without a goal for the 11th consecutive game. The 19-year-old has only two assists in that span. ... Browns previous career high of three points also came against Florida late last season. ...UP NEXTPanthers: At Ottawa on Saturday night.Maple Leafs: At Montreal on Saturday night. oronto rookie sensation Auston Matthews rem ' ' '