anteed of finishing minor premiers on this ladder. T

LATROBE, Pa. -- Mike Tomlin tried to sound resolute. The look on his face however, suggested otherwise. Asked if he was sending a message by having rookie running back LeVeon Bell take snaps with the first team at the end of his third practice as a professional football player earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach failed to fight back a smile as he answered. "None," Tomlin said before quickly adding "but Im sure you guys will run with it so go ahead." Hey, why not? The battle for the right to replace the departed Rashard Mendenhall has been simmering since the moment the Steelers selected Bell with the 48th overall pick in the NFL draft. Even though the team signed restricted free agents Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman to one-year tenders, theres little doubt the 21-year-old Bell has a future lining up behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Redman and Dwyer are simply hoping to hold off that future for as long as they can. The duo combined for 1,033 yards while splitting carries with Mendenhall in 2012 but couldnt stay healthy, leaving their ability to become a true feature back in question. Each worked aggressively in the off-season to shed weight, hoping slimmer waistlines would lead to a heavier workload. Dwyer estimates he dropped 25-30 pounds while Redman cut 15 pounds off his 6-foot frame. "This is definitely the best shape I have ever been in since I have been in the league," Dwyer said. "I just want to continue to be like this the rest of my career." A career that will likely continue elsewhere next season if he fails to gain any traction this fall. The same goes for Redman, who rushed for a 121 yards in a loss to Denver in the playoffs two years ago and has shown flashes of brilliance but cant seem to stay out of the training room. The issue isnt necessarily production, but persistence. Every step forward for both players has been met by a step back. Dwyer posted consecutive 100-yard games last October only to go down with a hamstring injury. Redman responded by piling up a career-high 147 yards in a victory over the Giants but was ineffective a week later against the Chiefs and collected just 26 carries total over the final seven games. Dwyer wasnt the same after his hamstring healed. A pair of ill-timed fumbles didnt help matters. While the Steelers hardly batted an eye when the enigmatic Mendenhall opted to sign with Arizona in free agency, they also left little doubt Redman and Dwyer little wiggle room when they picked up Bell in the second round in April. Bell is younger, taller (6-2) and more versatile than either of the two players hes competing again. In addition to leading the nation with 383 carries last fall at Michigan State, he also caught 32 passes. After spending most of the last four years sending Mendenhall on the field on first and second down and bringing him out in true passing situations, Bell gives the Steelers a well-rounded option. One that is humble but well aware of the expectations. "Im just going to compete," Bell said. "Ive been competing from day one. Just make those other guys better, make the other running backs better, and at the same time theyre going to make me better. Im going to help this team the best that I can and get a Super Bowl." Bell played at around 245 pounds during his final year at Michigan State but arrived at Saint Vincent College more than a dozen pounds lighter. His height has him resemble something more akin to a safety than a feature back and theres more than a little bit of tenacity beneath his shoulder pads. Each year, in full gear includes a "back on backers" drill that pits a running back and a linebacker against each other designed to simulate what happens when a back is required to pick up a blitz. On Monday Bell found himself lined up against first-round pick Jarvis Jones. Four times Jones hurtled his 245-pound frame at Bell. The fact they fought to a draw didnt go unnoticed. "Im sure theyll continue to see more of each other," Tomlin said. At least in camp. Things could change in the regular season if Bell and Jones both work their way into starting roles since the guys at the top of the depth chart typically practice against the backups. While Tomlin appears to be impressed by Bells quick grasp of the offence, he is serious when he says hell wait to see how things play out before anointing a starter for Week 1 against Tennessee. Then again, if Tomlin has his way, he wont have to name one. Itll become self-evident. "You would like a known feature guy," he said. "I think everybody is of that mentality, but its got to be something thats taken by someone. " Edwin Cardona Colombia Jersey . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Robinson Zapata Jersey .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. http://www.nationalcolombiafootball.com/cristian-zapata-colombia-jersey/ . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Carlos Sanchez Moreno Colombia Jersey .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Carlos Valderrama Colombia Jersey . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. THE MOST FEARSOME FINALISTS?North Melbournes win over St Kilda means the AFLs top eight is all but finalised. However, competition for the right to host finals and a coveted top-four berth is ongoing and fierce. To come up with a form guide as September approaches, AAP has ranked the contenders based on results against fellow top-eight teams (despite the protests of coaches, beating Essendon is probably less meaningful than beating Hawthorn).1. GEELONG (W:8 L:2, 126.5 per cent)2. SYDNEY (W:5 L:4, 112 per cent)3. HAWTHORN (W:5 L:3, 92.9 per cent)4. GWS (W:4 L:3, 116.5 per cent)5. ADELAIDE (W:4 L:5, 101.2 per cent)6. WESTERN BULLDOGS (W:3 L:5, 86.2 per cent)7. NORTH MELBOURNE (W:2 L:5, 83.5 per cent)8. WEST COAST (W:1 L:5, 91.8 per cent)WHAT ELSE?*Geelong are guaranteed of finishing minor premiers on this ladder. The next time they face a top-eight side will be in week one of the finals*Sydney are the only top-eight team to have tackled both Hawthorn and GWS twice.dddddddddddd Theyre 1-1 against each premiership contender*Hawthorns defeats came in rounds one, six and nine. Two of them were at the MCG*The Giants are yet to drop a game at home against fellow top-eight sides*Discounting two defeats to Geelong, Adelaides average losing margin against fellow top-eight clubs is nine points*The Bulldogs average winning margin in their three triumphs listed here is also nine points*North have lost their past five matches against top-eight teams, a slump that started with their first defeat of the season (against Sydney in round 10)*West Coasts sole win over a fellow top-eight side was in round 16 at home against North. They face GWS, Hawthorn and the Crows in a tough run to September. ' ' '