.Ferguson was supposed to fight Michael Chiesa in a five

NAPA, Calif. -- Even as he and Giorgio Tavecchio continue to split reps in practice, Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski doesnt seem too concerned about his job status.While coach Jack Del Rio has preached open competition at every position, Janikowski had enough motivation already. The franchises career scoring leader turned 38 in March and is entering his 17th NFL season, all of them in Oakland.Having another kicker around to compete for the starting job was no big deal.I get motivated no matter what, Janikowski said Saturday. Thats my job. I have to come in, get in good shape and kick the ball. I worked my butt off in the offseason and I tried to get in better shape. Hopefully its going to pay off.Janikowski is the longest-tenured player on the Raiders roster and the lone remaining link to the Oaklands last playoff appearance in 2002.Since then he has watched as the team has made eight head coaching changes and revamped the roster repeatedly. The one constant has been Janikowski, the 17th overall pick in 2000.It went by fast, Ill tell you that, Janikowski said. It went by fast but (its another) year and I think its going to be a great year for us.Janikowski is entering the third year of a four-year deal he signed with the Raiders in 2013. Hes due to make nearly $4 million in 2016 after converting 21 of 26 field-goal attempts last season.His age and salary could make Janikowski expendable this season, which is why Tavecchios presence in practice is so intriguing.Tavecchio has bounced around the NFL since 2002. Hes spent time with San Francisco, Green Bay, Detroit and Oakland, but has never made it onto a regular-season roster but is pushing Janikowski in camp.Hes an NFL kicker, Raiders special teams coach Brad Seely said. Will he kick for us? That remains to be seen, but its a competition and were seeing whos the best.Sebastian has done this for a long time and has been really good. Obviously hes the front-runner going in. Its like a heavyweight championship fight. You have to knock him out if youre going to take his job.Janikowski is tied with Jason Hanson for the most field goals of 50 yards or longer in NFL history. Barring injury hes almost certain to break the record early in the upcoming season after converting four of five attempts from that range last season.The Raiders bypassed a handful of kicks within Janikowskis normal range last season, raising questions about his future with the team.Janikowski sidestepped questions about that and said the option to kick or not remains with coach Jack Del Rio.I dont make those decisions, Janikowski said. Jack is making the decisions. Thats why hes the head coach. If he wants to kick it, Im out there kicking it. If he wants to go for it, hes going for it.Game notes Left guard Kelechi Osemele and defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. were kicked out of practice for fighting. The two got into multiple scuffles before Del Rio sent them off the field. ... Fourth-round draft pick Connor Cook made the play of the day when he connected with undrafted rookie wide receiver K.J. Brent on a long touchdown pass.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Austin Meadows Jersey . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Wholesale Rays Jerseys . 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. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/566i-eric-sogard-jersey-rays.html . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Tampa Bay Rays Gear . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Daniel Robertson Jersey . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. UFC bantamweight John Lineker has now won five in a row.And he looked like an absolute wrecking ball in the process.Lineker (28-7) delivered a stunning first-round knockout of?Michael McDonald (17-4) at UFC Fight Night on Wednesday, putting an end to McDonalds night with a blistering left hook at the 2:43 mark. The 135-pound bout headlined the televised event, which took place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.A former flyweight who consistently had trouble making weight, Lineker has proven to be one of the hardest hitters in his new division. Since moving up in weight, he is 3-0, with one knockout, but his power has been visible in all three fights. Saturday marked the 13th knockout victory of his career.Lineker dropped McDonald several times in the opening round, eventually forcing referee Herb Dean to step in due to the left hook.The Brazilian passionately called out current bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (22-1) in his postfight interview.Dominick Cruz, Im coming for you, baby! Lineker yelled.McDonald fought back admirably in the face of Linekers power, but he simply could not land anything that would back up?his opponent. After Lineker dropped McDonald with a right cross early on, McDonald fired back and landed two good right hands to Linekers chin.Lineker responded with heavy shots to the body, though, and continued to walk McDonald backward to the fence. McDonald crumpled under the left hook at the 2:43 mark and took a few more shots to the side of the head before the fight was stopped.ESPN.com ranked Lineker the No. 10 bantamweight in the world prior to Wednesdays victorry.dddddddddddd. Since moving to 135 pounds, he has defeated Francisco Rivera, Rob Font and McDonald.Ferguson survives early scare, chokes out VannataLightweight contender Tony Ferguson (21-3) choked out UFC newcomer and late replacement Landon Vannata (8-1) at 2:22 of the second round. But it was not easy.Ferguson was supposed to fight Michael Chiesa in a five-round bout in the headliner of UFC Fight Night, but he was downgraded to the co-main event after Chiesa was forced out with a back injury. Vannata, who fights out of Jackson-Wink MMA, agreed to step in on short notice.Despite being a massive betting underdog, Vannata hurt Ferguson with a spinning backfist in the opening round and then dropped him moments later with a right head kick. Ferguson went spilling across the cage, stumbling over in wild scrambles as he attempted to regain his composure. He eventually tied Vannata up from off his back and even finished the round in an arm bar attempt.Vannata looked a little gassed to open the second round. Ferguson started to take over with the jab and landed a brilliant Superman punch as his back was on the fence. As Vannata ducked a punch moments later, Ferguson put him in a standing guillotine and eventually transitioned to a DArce.It was Fergusons 10th submission victory overall and eighth consecutive win.When asked who he wants to fight next, Ferguson said, Whoever signs on the bottom line.ESPN.com ranked Ferguson the No. 4 lightweight coming in. ' ' '