NEU » second highest among all rookie cen

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos are working to plug the rushing lanes and escape routes that have fans missing Malik Jackson or at least his replacement, Vance Walker, who blew out his right knee in training camp.If the Broncos can keep running backs and quarterbacks from breaking free, they should have a shot at fulfilling safety T.J. Wards vision of becoming the best defense ever.No team since the Chicago Bears of the mid-1980s has followed up a transcendent season with such sustainability.Flaws and all, Denvers defense remains the gold standard around the NFL these days.The unit that corralled Cam Newton and the Lombardi Trophy has reached the point where it even draws high praise from opponents star defenders, Tampa Bay tackle Gerald McCoy being the latest.The Buccaneers (1-2) host the Broncos (3-0) Sunday and McCoy has his hands full cramming for Trevor Siemian, the AFCs Offensive Player of the Week after becoming the first QB in NFL history to throw for 300 yards and four TDs without an interception in his first road start.Yet, when asked about his teams early defensive struggles, McCoy used the Broncos as the Buccaneers barometer.Inexperience and a lack of discipline have been the Bucs bugaboos, and that results in too many players trying to compensate for the guy next to you. But this defense is one where you have to trust each other -- how Denver plays defense, McCoy said Wednesday in a conference call with Denver media.The Broncos, he said, never seem to get out of their lane or make silly mistakes.They all work together and thats why their defense is almost flawless, I mean with the guys they got rushing the passer and how they play the run and arguably the best secondary in football, McCoy said.The Broncos began building a solid reputation on defense in 2014 when GM John Elway picked through the rubble of his teams Super Bowl blowout loss to Seattle and signed free agents Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and Ward. That trio filled holes on the roster that were the result of poor draft decisions during the Josh McDaniels era.Denvers defense blossomed last season when Gary Kubiak was hired as coach and brought aboard coordinator Wade Phillips. The Broncos staked their claim as one of the best units ever , right up there with the Steelers Steel Curtain in the 1970s and the Bears of the mid-80s, with their shutdown of the high-scoring Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.They hit elite status a while back, McCoy said. Its just a lot of great players, man.Then, he made the case like a seasoned lawyer working the courtroom in his closing argument:-Chris Harris ... Im so happy for him because, man, I remember when he wasnt drafted and now look at him: one of the best DBs in football.-Aqib Talib was here. So, I know Aqib well and hes always been a dominant corner, always been a shutdown guy.-T.J. Ward, hes just an animal out there, man, and I love to watch him play.-Von Miller is Von Miller. Ive been a fan of his since he was at A&M.-Derek Wolfe is a wolf out there.-DeMarcus Ware, when hes healthy, is DeMarcus Ware. Hes a first ballot Hall of Famer.-Shane Ray, hes coming along. That performance he put on last week was very good.The Broncos, who love to point out they dont get the respect they deserve despite their diamond-encrusted rings and White House visit over the summer, really couldnt have said it better themselves.Theyve got a lot of pieces to that defense that make them who they are, but the best thing about them is theyre very disciplined, they play as one heartbeat, McCoy said. And thats what were working to get to.Harris wasnt surprised to hear of McCoys compliments.Well, I feel like were the standard in the league, Harris said. Everybodys trying to get to where were at and he sees that.Game notesHarris was happy to hear former teammate Tim Tebow had homered on the first pitch he saw in his instructional league debut: Im glad he found another career that hes good at, Harris said. When the crowd of reporters left his locker, Harris turned to his teammates and exclaimed, Man, Timmy hit a homer? Theyll talk about that for the rest of the day.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapletonGeorge Kittle 49ers Jersey . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Nick Bosa 49ers Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Jimmy-Garoppolo-Jersey/ . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Dante Pettis Jersey . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Steve Young Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. CLEVELAND -- For the second straight year, the Cavaliers have the NBAs top rookie class. Guard Dion Waiters was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team and forward/centre Tyler Zeller was named to the All-Rookie second team on Tuesday. Last year, Kyrie Irving (first) and Tristan Thompson (second) were also honoured in voting by the leagues 30 coaches, who were not allowed to select players on their team. The Cavs are the only team to have more than one player picked in each of the past two years. Detroit had two second-team selections this season. Waiters received 21 first-team votes and eight second-team votes. Zeller received three first-team votes and nine second-team votes. The No. 4 overall selection in last years draft, Waiters averaged 14.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists this season. Among all rookies, he ranked second in points, fourth in assists and fourth in steals per game. "Im honoured to receive an award like this and it makes me hungry to keep working hard and focus on taking the next steps to improve my game," Waiters said. "I cant wait to get back to work with my teammates and coach (Mike) Brown, though, because Im excited about what our potential caan be as a group.ddddddddddddquot; Waiters was joined on the first team by Portlands Damian Lillard, the leagues Rookie of the Year, Washingtons Bradley Beal, New Orleans Anthony Davis and Golden States Harrison Barnes. Zeller averaged 7.9 points and 5.7 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game. He also shot .764 from the free-throw line, second highest among all rookie centres. "My rookie year gave me a great opportunity to learn and grow and understand what it takes to be a pro, so this is a very nice honour," Zeller said. "Im excited to keep working and improving with my teammates because we know we can grow as a team next season and thats the most important thing." Zeller was joined the on the second team by Detroits Andre Drummond and Kyle Singler, Torontos Jonas Valanciunas and Charlottes Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Clevelands rookies were honoured one week before the NBA Draft Lottery. The Cavs, who lost 58 games this season and fired Byron Scott, are guaranteed to pick no lower than sixth and with a little luck could get the No. 1 overall pick. Cleveland also has the No. 19 pick and two of the first three picks in the second round -- No. 31 and 33. ' ' '