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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Jalen Ramsey sprinted onto the field to celebrate a deep touchdown pass as though the Los Angeles Rams finally ended the longest end zone drought.

“It was cool for him to be out there celebrating with me,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said after passing for his first touchdown in L.A. in a Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears. “I was having fun, he seemed like he was having a good time, too.”

He’ll also light up social media if inaccuracies are tweeted his way.

“Sometimes I feel like you’ve got to set the record straight,” Ramsey said.

And this season, Ramsey is not only coming for the NFL’s best receivers, but is after every last player on the opposing team. Perhaps consider this a warning.

“Ain’t no player like him in the National Football League,” three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald said. “He can do it all.”

In his sixth NFL season, Ramsey’s confidence remains firmly intact and perhaps has been taken to a new level with a transition from cornerback to all-around defensive back. Bored and discontented for so many seasons standing on an island, watching opposing quarterbacks play keep away as he locked down their top targets, this season Ramsey wants to shut down the entire offense.

In his unique Ramsey style.

“He plays corner, plays safety, plays nickel, plays basically an outside linebacker spot at times,” Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said. “I’m glad he’s wearing No. 5. We can find him now.”

On Thursday, Russell Wilson will be the quarterback scanning across the line of scrimmage trying to locate Ramsey when the Rams (3-1) play the Seattle Seahawks (2-2) in an NFC West matchup at Lumen Field (8:20 p.m. ET, Fox/NFL Network).

“He can really obviously cover guys, he can make plays on the ball, he’s a physical tackler, he’s really intelligent too; you can tell on film. But they’ve mixed him around,” Wilson said. “They’ve put him outside, obviously, which is his normal thing. But also they have him inside playing some slot and he’ll pressure off the edge some too.”

“Wherever he lines up and whoever he is covering,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said, “you’re in for trouble.”

An admirer of Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, Ramsey’s game boasts many similarities to the former Oakland Raider and Green Bay Packer.

“The physical nature, the off-the-charts football awareness and intelligence,” said secondary coach Ejiro Evero, a former teammate of Woodson’s in Oakland. “I think that’s one thing that Jalen doesn’t get enough credit for is he is one of the smartest football players I have ever been around.”

But Ramsey, who turns 27 this month, wants to make his own name in his own way.

“I wouldn’t say I model my game after anybody just because I like to be unique in my own ways, make a name for myself,” Ramsey said. “But [Woodson] is, in my opinion, the best defensive back to ever play the game.”

A longtime lockdown cornerback, last season defensive coordinator Brandon Staley — now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers — altered Ramsey’s role so he could make a greater impact, seemingly hard to fathom when he already took away half the field. But the move was a success, as he played part-time lockdown corner on the outside and part-time disruptor on the inside.

This season, first-year defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, a 19-year NFL coaching veteran, and Ramsey — a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection — have taken the move a step further.

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound Ramsey has lined up in the slot on 149 snaps and has played 98 snaps on the outside. As the nearest defender, he’s allowed 17 catches on 29 targets.

“Last year was sprinkled in here and there, but this year it’s kind of no boundaries to where I may be during the game. I have no limits to a specific game plan,” Ramsey said. “I don’t know where I’m going to be playing each week.”

He’ll take on offensive linemen, will lock down on the outside, affect, influence and disrupt on the inside. Ramsey can drop into coverage, he can blitz and there’s no doubt at some point this season he’s bound to record his first NFL sack.

“This guy absolutely embraces it and loves it and wants it,” Morris said. “He’s able to go in and mix it up with the big boys, is able to go out and play with the skilled guys and match skill with those guys.”

In the Week 1 rout of the Bears, Ramsey asserted himself with three tackles for a loss in a single series, including a play in which he powered through a block to drive receiver Darnell Mooney deep into the turf for a two-yard setback.

“There’s a difference between tackling and hitting, and I like to hit,” said Ramsey, who was taught the fundamentals of tackling from his dad and youth football coaches. “It’s just sometimes a will and a want to.”

The following week, Ramsey was deep in coverage when he stared down Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Jacob Eason, then jumped a route to intercept a pass and effectively end any chance of a game-winning Colts drive in a 27-24 Rams win.

“They can never kind of figure out when I was moving, when I was going to be inside, outside, wherever I was at during the game,” Ramsey said, chuckling. “And honestly, I’m right there with them because I don’t know either.”

After a statement victory over quarterback Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers in Week 3, Brady met Ramsey at midfield. The two shared a mutual admiration, and the seven-time Super Bowl champion smiled as he told Ramsey how close he came to taking him down.

“You played great,” Brady told Ramsey, who had eight tackles and pressured Brady twice. “You were — inches.”

“I was, right?” Ramsey responded. “Hold it just a little bit longer next time!”

And in Week 4, despite a Rams letdown in all three phases in a blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Ramsey remained a problem for receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who caught four passes for 67 yards on seven targets — though with Ramsey as the nearest defender on three of those targets, Hopkins caught only one pass.

“He’s probably been the defensive MVP thus far when you look at the impact he’s had on games,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said before the win that moved his team into first place in the NFC West. “He’s as versatile of a player as there is and it’s been really impressive to watch the physicality that he’s playing with this season.”

“He likes to be challenged, he likes to move around and likes to do different things,” Morris said. “He is certainly a challenge for me when it comes to finding different ways to keep him motivated and keep him that active.”

Ramsey has 24 tackles this season, tied with teammate Darious Williams for second among NFL cornerbacks. Williams’ presence allows Ramsey to roam as much as he does.

“I just tell D-Will, ‘Let’s switch or let’s move’ or whatever the case may be,” Ramsey said. “Him being able to do that allows me to like play more freely and be able to do it more.”

For Ramsey, this role is part of who he has always been. He just hasn’t previously been in a position to show it. At Florida State, the Seminoles needed him to play cornerback. Then he saw more of the same when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with the fifth overall pick in 2016. In his first season with the Rams after he was traded midway through 2019, he locked down the outside. Then, Staley and Morris empowered him to do more.

“I don’t view myself as just a corner, that’s just what I’ve been playing out of necessity of whatever team I’ve been a part of and how I’ve been viewed in the league,” Ramsey said. “I feel like I’m just a defensive back, so I could play anywhere on the field and it’s just part of my game.”

“If you just watched him the whole game,” McVay said, “you’d say that guy is a unique, special talent that plays with great energy and passion every single snap.

“He’s kind of one of one.”

ESPN’s Brady Henderson contributed to this report.

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Knights score with 0.4 left to stun Oilers in Game 3

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Knights score with 0.4 left to stun Oilers in Game 3

EDMONTON, Alberta — Reilly Smith scored with 0.4 seconds left on a shot that deflected in off Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl‘s stick to give the Vegas Golden Knights a stunning 4-3 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night.

Smith’s goal is tied for the latest game winner in regulation in Stanley Cup playoffs history along with Nazem Kadri‘s goal for the Colorado Avalanche in 2020 and Jussi Jokinen’s goal for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2009, according to ESPN Research.

“Honestly, I’ve seen [Vegas forward William Karlsson] use that play a few times where he forechecks and spins it out in front of the net, jumping off the bench,” Smith said when asked about the play. “I think there was around seven seconds. I just tried. And being first on it. … So I thought there was a chance. And once it popped out I saw a lot of guys sell out. So I just hope that I had enough time to kind of pump-fake and find a lane and, you know, worked out.”

The game-winning goal came after Oilers star Connor McDavid tied it with 3:02 to go with a centering pass that went in off defender Brayden McNabb‘s skate.

“We didn’t sort it out very well to let the puck get into the slot. After that, it’s unlucky, it’s unfortunate,” Draisaitl said of the game-winning goal. “It goes off my stick, and I’m just trying to keep it out of the net. It’s just a bad bounce.”

After Corey Perry gave Edmonton an early 2-0 lead, Nicolas Roy and Smith tied it with goals in a 54-second span late in the first period. Karlsson put the Golden Knights in front with 2:55 left in the second, beating goalie Stuart Skinner off a give-and-go play with Noah Hanifin. And Adin Hill made 17 saves for Vegas.

The Golden Knights’ win Saturday cut Edmonton’s lead to 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinal series. Game 4 is Monday night in Edmonton.

“Before the series starts, if you were to tell us that we were gonna be up 2-1 after three, we’d be happy,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. “We’d be pleased with that, not only up 2-1, but Game 4 at home.”

Vegas rallied in the first period after Golden Knights forward Mark Stone left because of an upper-body injury.

“Big win for our team,” Smith said. “We need to use the momentum in front of us to push forward, but focus one game at a time. That’s kind of always been the mindset for this group. We have a lot of resiliency. So as long as you focus on that next game and get a little bit better every night.”

Roy, playing a day after being fined but not suspended for cross-checking Trent Frederic in the face in overtime in Game 2, cut it to 2-1 off a rebound with 4:43 left in the first. Smith then slipped a backhander through Skinner’s legs with 3:49 to go in the period.

Skinner stopped 20 shots, taking over in goal for the injured Calvin Pickard. Pickard appeared uncomfortable and was seen shaking out his left leg after Vegas forward Tomas Hertl landed on his left pad in Game 2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Rockies GM backs Black before 21-0 loss to Pads

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Rockies GM backs Black before 21-0 loss to Pads

The Colorado Rockies fell to 6-33 after a 21-0 drubbing at the hands of the San Diego Padres on Saturday night in Denver, matching the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the worst 39-game start in the majors since 1900.

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts hit home runs in the fifth inning, part of a five-homer game for San Diego, while Stephen Kolek (2-0) tossed a shutout in his second major league start. It was the biggest shutout win in Padres franchise history and tied for the third-biggest shutout win in MLB since 1901.

The Rockies have lost eight straight games and are headed to their seventh consecutive losing season and a possible third straight 100-loss season with manager Bud Black at the helm.

Despite the struggles, Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt backed Black before Saturday night’s game, telling The Denver Post that he believes the season still can be turned around.

“I think our guys are still playing hard, and that’s what I look at,” Schmidt told the Post. “Guys are working hard every day, they come with energy, for the most part. I don’t think we are [at that point of firing Black]. Guys still believe in what we are doing and where we are headed. We are all frustrated.”

Colorado has lost its past four games by at least eight runs each and is the first team to allow 10 or more runs in four straight games since the 2021 Orioles.

Schmidt said he’s looking for “growth” as the season goes along.

“I feel for the fans, I feel for the people around here,” he said. “I know we are better than we have played, but we are not good right now. We have to battle through it and get to the other side.

“There are still a lot of games left. I think we can turn it around, but it’s going to take a whole group to do it. The guys are working to get better.”

The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed to this report.

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McCullers: Family got death threats during loss

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McCullers: Family got death threats during loss

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. said he and his family were the subjects of death threats made on social media after he allowed seven runs as part of a 10-run first inning for the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.

A team spokesperson said the Astros notified the Houston Police Department and Major League Baseball security about the threats.

“I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,” McCullers said. “So just as a father I think there have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly, and I think actually one or two people from other issues around baseball actually had to go to jail for things like that. But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public, they’re gonna stab my kids to death, things like that, it’s tough to hear as a dad.”

McCullers and his wife, Kara, have two young daughters.

McCullers (0-1) was making just his second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series after battling a series of right arm issues. An All-Star in 2018, he has spent all eight of his big league seasons in Houston.

A visibly upset manager Joe Espada addressed the threats at his postgame news conference.

“There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance,” Espada said. “It is very unfortunate that we have to deal with this. After all he’s done for this city, for his team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office — I got kids too and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad, very, very sad.

“Listen, he hasn’t pitched in 2½ years. … It’s going to take a little bit of time to get him going. And that’s fine. But this can’t happen. I’m really upset that this can happen to athletes.”

McCullers struggled with his command from the start Saturday. He walked leadoff hitter TJ Friedl before plunking Matt McLain on the backside. Elly De La Cruz then smacked an opposite-field, three-run homer to left to make it 3-0.

McCullers walked two more batters with one out before Tyler Stephenson hit an RBI single. Will Benson followed with an RBI double to make it 5-0 and chase McCullers.

He was replaced by Logan VanWey, but the Reds kept piling on, sending 15 batters to the plate before Santiago Espinal finally struck out to end the inning.

It was Cincinnati’s most runs in a first inning since August 1989, when they scored 14, also against the Astros.

“If you fail you fail on a very large stage [with] a lot of eyes and there’s nowhere to hide,” McCullers said. “At the end of the day, I just want to do my job. I just want to be a good pitcher for the Astros and I believe I’ll get there, but like I said I just think that having to worry about that, worry about leaving town and leaving them and things like that or dropping her off at school, I just think … there should be some type of decency.”

The Reds went on to win Saturday’s game 13-9 as Houston lost for the fourth time in the past six games.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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