Hundemarkt » Corp.KKangaroos coach Mal Meninga has since backed the Cowboys

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- When Saints offensive lineman Andrus Peat talks about his NFL ambitions, hes humbled by how his first season went after New Orleans made him the 13th overall draft pick in 2015.Peat started four games at guard, three at tackle and one as an extra blocking tight end last season.It was definitely tough at first and just a lot of learning, being a rookie. But I felt like I improved throughout the season and Ive tried to carry that on through (offseason training), minicamp and this training camp, just continually getting better, Peat said after a recent practice at Saints training camp at the Greenbrier Resort. I feel more comfortable having a whole year of experience and kind of knowing what to expect.For now, signs point toward considerable improvement for Peat in Year 2. But the good reviews hes getting from coaches and teammates still have to translate during games that count. And Peats got more on his plate than the typical lineman because hes preparing to be a starter at either offensive tackle -- which is his natural position -- or offensive guard.Hes going to be fine, Saints coach Sean Payton said, noting that the 6-foot-7, 320-pound Peat is in better physical shape than he was a year ago. I like where hes at. Hes extremely talented.His versatility, athleticism, and size is really something that is a gift for him athletically, Payton added. It gives him some ability to move.When the Saints first drafted Peat, Payton said the club viewed him as a tackle, a position at which he thrived at Stanford, where he played until his junior season before turning pro. Peat also had the benefit of learning how to block from his father, Todd, who was an NFL offensive lineman for six seasons, playing mostly at guard.Payton said the Saints knew they were drafting Peat, if he was available.You rarely see that (combination of) size and athleticism. He was a junior coming out; we knew he was young. He was big, smart, played in a pro offense. His father played (in the NFL), said Payton, noting that he and Todd Peat both played high school football in Illinois and took recruiting visits at the same time to Northern Illinois, where the elder Peat wound up playing. (Payton wound up at Eastern Illinois)This vision for him when we selected him certainly was that of a tackle, yet to his credit, with his athleticism, he can play guard, Payton said. He may very well start for us at guard.Since training camp opened last week, Peat has been working in practice as a first-team left tackle because incumbent starter Terron Armstead is listed as physically-unable-to-perform with an undisclosed ailment that Payton has said is not expected to sideline Armstead more than a month. But Peat is also getting snaps at guard, often with reserve units.I dont think its difficult, Peat said. I like getting as many reps as I can and just being versatile and being able to help any way I can.Peat is aware that coaches and teammates have raved about his talent and complimented his improved fitness, but he said, I really dont think about that.His experience on the field, both in his eight starts last season and in practice now, is what he said gives any player confidence, just knowing you can go out and compete.Right tackle Zach Strief, entering his 11th NFL season, said Peats progress is evident.Its obviously a big jump for him from last year. Hes in good shape, Strief said. Theyre moving him around, but fortunately when you have a guy thats that talented, hes making those transitions pretty easily and thats a good sign.Itll certainly be fun to see how he develops as camp goes on. I think Andrus is going to be a really good player.Game notes WR Brandin Cooks missed practiced on Thursday, as did CB Damian Swann, who watched from the sideline. Meanwhile, FB Austin Johnson left practice early. Payton declined to discuss injuries. Also among those absent was CB Keenan Lewis, who practiced for the first time this training camp a day earlier. Payton said Lewis was just resting and there was no setback -- just the schedule, the way were operating right now.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Baltimore Ravens Jerseys .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Cheap Ravens Jerseys . Radwanska, making her debut in the Seoul tournament, hit eight aces in a match that lasted 1 hour, 4 minutes at Olympic Park tennis stadium. "It was definitely a very good match -- I was playing really good tennis," Radwanska said. http://www.cheapravensjerseysauthentic.com/ . 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North Queensland football manager Peter Parr says the Cowboys are proud of their player management after Kalyn Pongas father claimed the club was neglecting the NRL prodigys welfare.Pongas dad Andre told News Corp that North Queensland should do the right thing and release the teenager from the final year of his Cowboys contract after falling out with the club.The Cowboys have stated they have no intention of releasing Ponga next year after the youngster recently signed a lucrative four-year deal with Newcastle from 2018.We are proud of our club, of how we look after our people both internally and externally - thats all I have to say, Parr said.The Knights have remained hopeful that Ponga will receive a release after snapping up the 18-year-old with just two NRL games experience on a deal reportedly worth $700,000 a year.And Newcastle looked closer to getting their wish after Pongas father claimed things went pearshaped at the Cowboys after his son knocked back a two-year extension in April.He claimed he now had concerns for his sons welfare because the club had made it hard for the teenager to continue his university studies.Its left Kalyn disillusioned because they are not offering any encouragement to him, he told News Corp.KKangaroos coach Mal Meninga has since backed the Cowboys, saying Ponga would receive the development needed to handle the intense Newcastle spotlight with another year at North Queensland.ddddddddddddMeninga even said Newcastle must get it right with Pongas welfare.They need to ... try to protect him as much as they can from the pressure and expectations that are going to be on him, he told Queensland Former Origin Greats website.Meninga admitted it was a brave move to sign with wooden spooners Newcastle but was just glad Ponga had stuck with the NRL.We all know that the (AFLs) Brisbane Lions and (rugby unions) Queensland Reds were chasing pretty heavily for him, and it would have been the worst case scenario to see Kalyn go to another code, he said.I guess a lot of people were surprised that he ended up signing with Newcastle.I think it is a brave move, because they are obviously a club that has a lot of rebuilding to do after the mess of the past few seasons.As a club, the Knights had to do something.And in Kalyn, they can obviously see a young guy that they can build a club around for the future. 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