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Topics this week include the rookie running back the Seattle Seahawks are excited about, the money and draft stock poured into the leagues best offensive lines and renewed debate about the deadline for underclassmen to declare intent to turn professional.Seattles third-round stamp of approvalWhen the Seattle Seahawks abruptly waived Christine Michael, it surprised many who follow the NFL.Yes, Thomas Rawls returns this week from the fractured fibula that has sidelined him for much of the season, but he will be eased back into action.Michaels release was about Michaels regression as a runner, and it was a statement about rookie C.J. Prosise, who is expected to remain the starter for the immediate future.In many ways, Prosise makes the Seahawks an even more dangerous and unpredictable offense, which was evident in Sunday nights win over the New England Patriots. Frankly, thats a development few saw coming.Maybe we should have seen it or dug deeper to realize it. When Pete Carroll and Seahawks general manager John Schneider selected Prosise out of Notre Dame in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, it was a declaration in itself. The Seahawks, like most teams, dont reach in the third round. Thats the same round in which they patiently, albeit nervously, targeted Russell Wilson in 2012.When Prosise caught a 38-yard, over-the-shoulder pass from Wilson to set up a fourth-quarter field goal for the 25-24 lead Seattle wouldnt surrender to the Pats, it came very naturally to the rookie. No shock. After a redshirt freshman season, Prosise played his first two seasons as a receiver for the Fighting Irish. It was only after injuries to three running backs in 2015 that Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly and staff looked for a solution in the backfield and asked Prosise to change positions.Internally, there was some hesitation about the move because even though Prosise had unique size, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, the Fighting Irish wondered whether he had the toughness for the position. After all, he was a converted receiver. He was a soft-spoken, young man. Kelly and his offensive staff had no clue Prosise would deliver the tough yards between the tackles. Well, there was one clue: Prosise excelled in special-teams coverage.Prosise finished his junior season with 1,032 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 156 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and 26 catches for 308 yards and a touchdown. Kelly and staff believed he needed a senior season to fully mature as a back, but Prosise decided to declare for the 2016 NFL draft.When the Seahawks evaluated him, they saw a unique guy. His upper body was narrow and not fully developed, but his lower body was thick, muscular and strong. If he looked different running the football, its in part because he is left-handed. But those special-teams tackles and the manner in which he ran belied his soft-spoken personality in the eyes of Schneider and Carroll.When those two men put a third-round stamp on a player, pay attention.-- Chris MortensenPutting money on the lineDallas built the NFLs best offensive line through the draft, one pick at a time. Oakland built one of the leagues best lines through free agency, one dollar at a time.In March 2014, Oakland gave right tackle Austin Howard a deal that included $14.8 million guaranteed. In March 2015, Oakland gave center Rodney Hudson $20 million guaranteed. This past March, Oakland gave left guard Kelechi Osemele a deal that included $25.4 million guaranteed and, one week later, gave left tackle Donald Penn a deal that included $5.5 million guaranteed.As a result, the Raiders now have the NFLs highest paid guard and center, and their offensive line has the highest cap value in the league this season, at $37.7 million.So far, it has been well worth it. Oakland has morphed into Dallas West -- or the Cowboys of the AFC. The Raiders line has protected franchise quarterback?Derek Carr while opening holes for running backs such as Latavius Murray. Theirs is probably the best line in the AFC and second only to the Cowboys in the NFL.The strength of these lines is why Dallas is vying for the NFC East title and Oakland is doing the same in the AFC West. The Raiders and Cowboys each have allowed a league-low 11 sacks.The Raiders are getting a return on their investment. The big men up front are the bulldozers, paving the way through the season to the postseason -- and maybe even to Houston, site of this years Super Bowl. For now, the Raiders are more focused on the Houston Texans, their opponent Monday night in Mexico City.As Dallas drafted a bully, the Raiders paid for theirs -- and that is paying off.--?Adam SchefterDeadline extensionThe decision of Oklahoma defensive tackle Charles Walker to leave his team immediately to prepare for the 2017 NFL draft is likely to reignite the occasional sensitive relations between the NFL and the American Football Coaches Association.Walkers decision could take the discussion down familiar yet different paths.Alabama coach Nick Saban has spoken publicly and privately about the NFLs Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen to declare their intent to turn professional. Saban and other coaches would like to see the date pushed back because many underclassmen become consumed with getting their draft projections from the NFLs college advisory committee. College coaches say they have seen players distracted during their bowl season preparation and believe moving the deadline closer to the end of the month would be healthy for all involved. Its not as if underclassmen are allowed to participate in all-star bowl games. They arent.Then there is the presumption that player agents drive some of these distractions and occasional poor decisions for underclassmen. That always has been a hot-button topic among colleges, the NFL and the NFL Players Association, which certifies agents with some restrictions on interaction with underclassmen.That dynamic is balanced by the logical debate that a player might jeopardize his NFL draft standing, and possibly his future earnings, by playing in a bowl game and risking injury. Even though it is a rare occurrence in an injury-risk sport, the most recent case came in January, when Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith, who was arguably the best player in the 2016 draft, suffered a devastating knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl. Smiths injury cost him around $25 million, as he went from being a top-five projection to a second-round pick by the Cowboys. For many teams, the second round might have even been a reach because Smith is not expected to play this season. Some teams medical reports raised doubts about his future in general.Back to Walkers case. This could be a fork-in-the-road moment for a player projected as a first- or second-round pick. Walker has not played since Oct. 1, when he suffered a reported third concussion. Thats a fairly radioactive red flag in the new era of treating brain trauma injuries.Whether or not teams flag Walker as somebody who quit on his team, as Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops framed the decision, will be worth monitoring.-- Chris MortensenAnother accidental acquisition paying offJust like the Dallas Cowboys couldnt fumble fate when they failed to trade up for Paxton Lynch or?Connor Cook?and wound up settling for Dak Prescott, the Miami Dolphins have their own version.Two years ago, the Dolphins were devastated when Todd Gurley went No. 10 to the Rams, four spots ahead of Miami. The Dolphins were disappointed they couldnt re-sign running back Lamar Miller, then lost out on free-agent running back C.J. Anderson when Denver matched Miamis offer sheet to him. They ended up signing Arian Foster as a last-minute, pre-camp addition to try to lead their running back corps.Foster retired in October and the Dolphins had no choice but to turn to Jay Ajayi, whom Miami picked in the fifth round of the 2015 draft -- the same draft in which the first round did not go the way they wanted.Now Ajayi is the AFCs fourth-leading rusher -- behind only Tennessees DeMarco Murray, San Diegos Melvin Gordon and New Yorks Matt Forte -- but there is one distinction. Ajayis 5.7 yards per carry average is significantly higher than that of any other leading rusher in the NFL. Ajayi has given Miami productivity and hope. Whats more, the Dolphins are entering a portion of their schedule -- at Los Angeles, home for San Francisco -- in which Ajayi can take aim at the AFCs rushing title.Ajayi fell to the fifth round of the 2015 draft as the 149th overall pick in part because teams worried how long his knees would hold up. He has held up fine. The Dolphins didnt get the other running backs they wanted, but Ajayi is a reminder that accidental acquisitions and fall-back finds sometimes have far greater impact than anyone expects.-- Adam SchefterCoughlins chances in CantonWhen Tom Coughlin was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor Monday night, it reintroduced the question of whether he will one day be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Coughlin refused to discuss his eventual candidacy. He won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants, but that is not an automatic pass to Canton. Former Raiders coach Tom Flores and Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson havent been honored, even though some voters believe they will eventually be elected.Coughlins résumé shines especially brightly when one factors in his work as the coach and general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He built a team that competed for two AFC championships, a remarkable achievement for an expansion franchise.One of those title runs occurred in the Jaguars second season and included one of the greatest upsets in NFL playoff history on Jan. 4, 1997. The Jaguars were 14.5-point playoff underdogs when they stunned the Denver Broncos 30-27 at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos had an 11-game win streak in that 1996 season, and their 13-3 record marked them as Super Bowl favorites. In retrospect, the John Elway-led Broncos might have won three consecutive Super Bowls (they won the following two seasons), but Coughlins Jaguars spoiled the party.--?Chris MortensenEmptying the notebookAlthough?Case Keenum will move into a backup role behind top draft pick Jared Goff, it is very possible he will be relegated to No. 3 and game-inactive if the Rams fall out of contention. Sean Mannion, last years third-round pick who opened the season as the No. 2, could move up on the depth chart, especially with Keenum headed to free agency next year.Almost two weeks after resigning as offensive coordinator of the Vikings, Norv Turner is decompressing in Del Mar, California, and preparing to go to his granddaughters first birthday party this week, then spend Thanksgiving with wife Nancys family for the first time in 25 years. But he does have an interest in continuing to coach. Turner said that after his Vikings contract runs out this winter, he would be interested in coaching for a team on which he would have a chance to mold a young quarterback and make a difference, as he has done throughout his career. I just enjoy it too much, Turner said this week. I really enjoy teaching the players. Turner is now 64 years old, but he said hes fitter than he was a decade ago and 20 pounds lighter. He is spending some of his time walking on the beach, as he did this past week, and already contemplating his next move. It would have to be the right team in the right city with the right quarterback; otherwise, it might not be appealing enough. But even though hes finished as the offensive coordinator of the Vikings, Turner is not finished coaching.When coaches and players say, Its tough to win a game in the NFL, it might sound like a cliché, but consider this: The last time the Browns won a game was Dec. 13, 2015, when Johnny Manziel was the starting quarterback in a 24-10 win over the 49ers. That ended a seven-game losing streak.Seattle is a scary team right now. Only one of its remaining six opponents -- Philadelphia, which the Seahawks host this Sunday -- has a winning record. Combined, those six remaining opponents have a 16-28-1 record. The schedule sets the Seahawks up to start eyeing January and their postseason run.Theres no better division in football right now than the AFC West, where it looks like the 7-2 Chiefs, 7-2 Raiders and 7-3 Broncos are all headed to the playoffs. That would mean only the division winners from the AFC East, AFC North and AFC South will go to the postseason.With the Thanksgiving games Nov. 24, both the Cowboys and Vikings play three games in 12 days. Dallas hosts Baltimore on Sunday and Washington on Thanksgiving, while Minnesota hosts Arizona on Sunday and travels to Detroit on Thanksgiving. Then the two teams meet for the Thursday Night Football matchup in Week 13.The 49ers are assured of being a team in transition; theyre scheduled to have 21 free agents this offseason.When Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery returns next month from his four-game suspension, he will have three more games to make one final strong statement before he becomes a free agent. NFL teams know that until this suspension Jeffery never has been in trouble or had issues. He still is expected to be the top free-agent WR. Its also hard to say the Bears are totally de-incentivized to bring him back because of this suspension. Imagine asking a young QB or a free agent to succeed in Chicago if Kevin White is best weapon in the passing game. Its a tough call for that front office.-- Adam Schefter and?Chris Mortensen Discount Air Jordan . 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. Air Jordan 19 For Sale . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. https://www.wholesalejordanshoeschina.com/ . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. Cheap Jordan From China .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Cheap Air Jordan Online . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. BOULDER, Colo. -- In seasons gone by, the Colorado Buffaloes would be playing for nothing more than a little pride at this stage of the year.How those times have dramatically changed for the once downtrodden program. The rise of the No. 21 Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12, No. 15 CFP ) has been one of the more intriguing story lines in college football this season. They were considered a fringe bowl team at best heading into the year and their coach, Mike MacIntyre, on the hot seat.Just look at the Buffaloes now: In control of the Pac-12 South race as they face UCLA (3-5, 1-4) on Thursday night.When I first got here I knew that Colorado was on the up and this year weve proven that were on the rise, senior defensive lineman Jordan Carrell said. We do control our own destiny. We just have to stick to that one-game mindset.No time for slip-ups. Not with so much at stake. First, a Bruins team the Buffaloes havent beaten since joining the conference in 2011. Then, at Arizona, followed by two home games against No. 25 Washington State and No. 16 Utah. After that, a possible trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game.But thats too far down the road to even entertain. UCLA has Colorados undivided attention.I think being ranked is also going to give extra incentive for teams to come out there and give us their best shot, senior quarterback Sefo Liufau said. So each game is critically important. Each game is like a championship game because destiny is in our hands.On offense, the Buffaloes have fared well against UCLA the last two seasons, rolling up 1,054 total yards. It netted them exactly this: A 40-37 double-overtime loss in 2014 and a 35-31 defeat last season in Pasadena.I remember those games vividly, Liufau said. I dont use them as extra motivation.With UCLA standout quarterback Josh Rosen likely sidelined with a shoulder injury, the Colorado defense is bracing for Mike Fafaul, who threw the ball 70 times for 464 yards and five TDs in a 52-45 loss to Utah on Oct. 22.A formidable challenge for a Buffs defense thats ranked 30th in the country against the pass.They will stretch us for sure, so were going to have to play really good coverage, MacIntyre said.Meanwhile, the Bruins are trying to finish up strong aafter dropping three straight.ddddddddddddTo get a four-game win streak (to close out the season), weve got to go 1-0, Bruins tight end Austin Roberts said. Weve got to get it started this week. Who better than against a great team like Colorado?Things to know in a series the Bruins lead by a 9-2 margin:CLOSING TIME: All five of UCLAs losses this season have been by nine points or less. The Bruins had the ball on the final possession with a chance to tie or take the lead in each of them, including the game against Stanford when Rosens fumble was returned for a TD on the final play. Weve got to be more consistent on offense, Roberts said. We cant start off the game hot with two touchdowns, then go three possessions in a row with three-and-outs and have our defense out there getting tired and gassed.RUNNING ROOM: The Bruins are trying to get the running game on track. Theyre averaging 85.5 yards per game. If you look at our numbers, or our record, it doesnt define who we are, tailback Bolu Olorunfunmi said. Just keep working.KICKING WOES: Colorado kicker Davis Price took over for Diego Gonzalez after Gonzalez tore his Achilles tendon earlier in the season. But Price is still dealing with mono and may not play Thursday. That leaves Chris Graham as option No. 1, followed by punter Alex Kinney. We definitely would like to score more touchdowns than kick field goals, MacIntyre said.ANOTHER RECORD: Liufau will tie the school record for most starts by a Colorado quarterback on Thursday. Hes already set or tied 81 school records. Its a blessing to be able to play so long in college football, Liufau said. But sadly that also means that its almost over.LINDSAY UPDATE: Phillip Lindsay, the tailback with the wild hair and fitting nickname of Tasmanian Devil, is steadily recovering from a tweaked ankle. He leads the Buffaloes in yards rushing (745) and all-purpose yards (998). Hes 100 percent healthy. His hair looks good, too, MacIntyre said. I told him dont cut it.---AP freelancer Dan Greenspan in Los Angeles contributed.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '