Clan-Members » keep all three backs fresh as the playoffs approach.

HARVEY, La. -- The Louisiana man who fatally shot ex-NFL player Joe McKnight during a road rage dispute was jailed on a manslaughter charge as a sheriff angrily defended the investigation Tuesday, saying authorities strategically waited for days to make the arrest because they needed to find independent witnesses.Ronald Gasser, 54, was initially questioned after the shooting last Thursday but he was released without being charged, drawing heated criticism from protesters who said race played a role in the investigation. Gasser, who is white, was arrested late Monday. McKnight was black.Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand pounded on a podium during a news conference explaining the investigation.This isnt about race. Not a single witness has said ... one racial slur was uttered, the sheriff said.The case comes at a time of intense scrutiny in the African-American community about the shootings of black men, in particular by police. While this case doesnt involve a police shooting, it has flared temperatures and drawn protests at the sheriffs department.Its not clear whether Gasser has an attorney. Attempts to reach Gassers family were unsuccessful Tuesday. McKnights grandmother, Barbara Lundy Franklin, did not want to talk about the arrest, except to say: God is going to bring us justice and god is going bring us peace.The sheriff said the dispute between the men started on a bridge and proceeded into a New Orleans suburb, with both men driving erratically and yelling at each other. Eventually, the cars came to a stop and McKnight confronted Gasser, who was still seated in his car, the sheriff said. Gasser pulled out a gun and shot McKnight three times, killing him. When deputies arrived, the sheriff said Gasser handed them his gun and said he shot McKnight, 28.The sheriff said McKnight had a gun in his vehicle but no evidence suggested he insinuated anything about it. It was his stepfathers gun, and his stepfathers vehicle, the sheriff said.During the news conference, the sheriff read aloud some of the derogatory remarks about the investigation, including racially charged comments.We have sometimes unrealistic expectations of how these things work ... you dont just run out and start slapping cuffs on people, Normand said.He noted that on Thursday, Gasser gave authorities a statement that included him being fearful and defending himself, saying that McKnight had made threatening comments. On Thursday evening, authorities had only been able to interview six witnesses, none of whom had seen the shooting. One person they talked to lied to authorities about what happened, the sheriff said.Normand said had an arrest been made Thursday, he was certain people would be afraid to come forward. Instead, authorities found more than 250 people they wanted to talk to by identifying license plates in the area at the time, and conducted more than 160 interviews. The sheriff said several witnesses made comments contradicting Gassers statements and were the key to making the arrest.He also pointed out that Gasser didnt ask for an attorney but instead sat with authorities for over ten hours of interviews in the days after the shooting and gave permission for them to search his home.Normand also pushed back against questions about whether he understood the fear that a shooting like this had brought about among some in the black community.Lets not try to make this out to be something that it is not. What we had were two adult males engaged in unacceptable behavior that did not understand how to deal with conflict resolution, he said.The sheriff did not want to go into details about why he felt Gasser should be arrested even though the state has a version of the Stand Your Ground law.Louisianas law holds that people dont have a duty to retreat and can meet force with force if they reasonably believe that using deadly force is necessary. Law experts say its not a blanket excuse.When you use lethal force, its got to be proportional, said Ken Levy, an associate professor who teaches criminal law at LSU Law Center. And the only way its proportional is if McKnight was threatening serious bodily injury or death.McKnight played three seasons for the New York Jets and one with the Kansas City Chiefs.The Jets held a moment of silence Monday night before their game against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium to honor the former running back. He most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.McKnights death was eerily similar to that of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, who was killed last April in a shooting sparked by a traffic altercation. Cardell Hayes is on trial and charged with second-degree murder.--Fuller reported from New Orleans.--This story corrects the first quote from saying not a single racial slur was uttered to not one racial slur.Jordan 1 Bred Cheap .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Cheap Jordan 1 High . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. http://www.bestfakejordan1.com/cheap-jordan-1-off-white-outlet.html . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Banned Sail Mens . 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On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- While most of the preseason spotlight for the Patriots focused on who was missing at quarterback, there was just as much uncertainty surrounding the running back position.LeGarrette Blount was re-signed in the offseason after just missing his second career 1,000-yard season because of a late hip injury. In addition Dion Lewis, the teams primary receiving option out of the backfield, was working his way back from surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee.James White filled Lewis absence admirably at the end of 2015, though he clearly was still learning in just his second year in the league.But as the Patriots (10-2) prepare to head into what should be their toughest four-game stretch of 2016, they suddenly find themselves with lots of options at a position once clouded with questions. They will be needed as New England closes the regular-season by facing three winning opponents over their final four games.All three running backs were showcased in New Englands 26-10 over the Rams on Sunday. Blount had the best day, adding to his growing highlight reel with to a juke-filled 43-yard touchdown for the games first score. It helped put the Rams in a hole they never really threatened to recover from.We always preach that we have to start fast, Blount said. If you can do that you know you can get everything else rolling, and you can open up the playbook and call the plays that we play.Blount has rushed for 957 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, which is already his most productive year in a Patriots uniform. Hes just 43 yards shy of reaching 1,000, and 51 yards from surpassing the career-best 1,007 he had as a rookie in 2010 with Tampa Bay. If he reaches 15 touchdowns, it also would set a new single-season mark for a Patriots running back.Lewis made his second start Sunday sincee returning to the active list on Nov.dddddddddddd 13. He continued to look comfortable on his surgically-repaired knee, moving well into cuts after receptions. White was also in the mix, posting his fourth straight game with at least four receptions.With the newfound depth, the Patriots coaching staff also has shown its willingness to try out some two-back sets featuring the smaller Lewis and White. It appears to be proof that New England feels it has the personnel to keep defenses guessing.I think its like anything else we do, Belichick said. Whatever formations and groupings we run and plays we run, we try to gain an advantage and where we think we can gain advantage we try to take advantage of it.That could certainly change game to game, he said, based on the looks that defenses show them. Just having that flexibility, though, should help keep all three backs fresh as the playoffs approach.It will be even more important as the Patriots make adjustments in the passing game with tight end Rob Gronkowski now on injured reserve following season-ending back surgery. Receiver Danny Amendola became the latest injury victim Sunday when he left the game with an ankle issue. He was seen afterward walking with crutches.Whatever challenges lie ahead, Blount said he and his teammates would adjust as needed.Football does start after Thanksgiving here, he said. We have to kick it into gear and we have to do all the things that we need to do and take the necessary steps to make sure that we continue to play good football.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '