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METAIRIE, La. Patrik Nemeth Jersey . -- Nick Fairley hopes a combination of experience, good health and happiness in his personal life helps him realize his yet-to-be-fulfilled potential as an NFL defensive lineman.If so, it could provide a considerable boost to a New Orleans Saints defensive front trying to bounce back from a dismal showing in 2015.Fairley grew up rooting for the Saints in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, about a two-hour drive east of New Orleans on Interstate 10. He said he gets chills thinking about playing for the Saints in the Superdome for the first time on Friday night, when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit New Orleans in both clubs third preseason game.Now, being back (in the South), it feels good. Im close to the family. Im just in a good state of mind, said Fairley, a former Auburn star and 2011 first-round draft pick by Detroit who is now on his third team in three years.The 6-foot-4, 308-pound Fairley has already demonstrated this preseason that he can disrupt an opponents ability to run and throw. His performance last Saturday night was among the bright spots in New Orleans 16-9 exhibition loss at Houston. Fairley sacked projected Texans starting quarterback Brock Osweiler and ended the night with four tackles.With Nick, it is all about the consistency, Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said after practice this week. He has had the athletic ability and the ability to be a playmaker. You saw that in college. But the consistency is where he has to continue to work to improve. But the last week to 10 days, I have seen a lot more consistency with him.The recent stretch Allen referenced also overlaps when rookie defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, whom New Orleans drafted 12th overall, fractured his fibula in his left leg during practice -- an injury that could take about two months to heal. Rankins injury means Fairley, who was expected to rotate into the defensive line as a regular reserve, is now on track to start when the regular season opens against Oakland in the Superdome on Sept. 11.Fairley said coaches have told me I was going to have to take up a little more of the load.Im ready for it, the 28-year-old Fairley added. Ive just got to get in better shape and keep going.Fairley doesnt necessarily have to be fantastic to help the Saints improve. New Orleans ranked 31st in the NFL against the run last season and 27th in sacks per opponent passing attempt.Fairley was widely considered the most dominant defensive lineman in college in 2010, when he and quarterback Cam Newton led Auburn to a national championship. He set Auburn single-season records with 24 tackles for losses and 11.5 sacks. During the national title game against Oregons prolific, high-flying offense, Fairley had a sack and forced fumble while registering five tackles -- three for losses.A few months later, the Lions drafted Fairley 13th overall, but he never had more than six sacks in a season with Detroit. He also struggled with injuries at times, as well as off-the-field distractions -- namely, a pair of arrests.Last season, Fairley played for the Rams in a reserve role for 15 games. He was credited with 29 solo or assisted tackles and half a sack.But his new Saints teammates say his talent remains apparent.We know that hes a talent that can change games, defensive end Cam Jordan said.Still, Fairley is quick to acknowledge he hasnt yet become the player he expected to be when he turned pro.Far from it, Fairley said. Ive still got a lot of improving to do.Game notes The Saints completed their final full practice of training camp on Wednesday. They have a closed walk-through scheduled on Thursday, and after Friday nights game against the Steelers, the Saints will shift to a regular-season schedule for the final week of the preseason. ... Head coach Sean Payton invited two fans attending the last camp practice -- a man and a woman -- to be honorary captains for the coin toss preceding a place-kicking competition in between Connor Barth and Kai Forbath. Payton said the decision to pick fans as captains was spontaneous. The two fans then posed with players and coaches for a photo. Payton added that there is no clear leader between the two kickers heading into the final two preseason games. Weve got to continue in the next two weeks, the next two games, try to put them situations where something jumps out. Both of them are handling it well.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Mikko Rantanen Jersey . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Erik Johnson Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. http://www.cheapavalanchechinajerseys.com/ . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. MORAGA, Calif. -- Before the game, Scott Cross reminded his UT Arlington players they had a chance to make their mark on program history.He was like, `This would be the biggest win in school history, guard Erick Neal said. That just added fire to it and made us want to play harder.Kevin Hervey scored 15 points and UTA beat a Top 25 team for the first time, shocking previously unblemished No. 12 Saint Marys 65-51 on Thursday night just more than a week after another special and emotional win at Texas.The Mavericks (8-3) had gone 0-28 against ranked opponents dating to their first try in February 1967 after becoming Division I in 1959-60. Then, they pulled off their big upset at McKeon Pavilion, where the Gaels had won eight straight and 23 of 24, and cheers were heard from the visiting locker room.But Saint Marys (6-1) never clicked against the scrappy UTA team while returning from a break for final exams for its first game since a win at Stanford on Nov. 30. The Gaels were held to 31.4 percent from the field and shot 8 of 27 on 3-pointers.I thought we got outplayed. Pretty simple, Saint Marys coach Randy Bennett said. I thought they beat us at every phase.The speedy Neal added 13 points and eight assists in UTAs seventh straight victory.It was definitely an unbelievable game for us, Cross said. Our guys probably played as good of basketball as we could have, especially defensively, because watching them on video I honestly thought it was the best offensive team I think Ive ever seen in my entire life.Jock Landale had a rare poor shooting performance, limited to 14 points on 3 of 10 from the floor and the Gaels had a season-low 11 assists to go with 16 turnovers.Saint Marys trailed 49-30 with 11:50 to play, then used an 11-3 spurt to get back to 52-41. UTA kept answering on both ends with key baskets and rebounds -- such as a contested 3-pointer from the top by Drew Charles with 7:42 remaining.The Mavericks, from tthe Sun Belt Conference, used quick, crisp passing to create open looks from the perimeter and the paint to outplay the Gaels early. Cheap Avalanche Jerseys. Three times this season -- their lone three previous losses -- squandered double-digit halftime leads in road losses at Minnesota, Florida Gulf Coast and Arkansas.They used those defeats as learning moments that have carried UTA during this run of early season success.Its a humongous deal, Hervey said. Were excited and hopefully we can build on this.Hervey hit his first three shots as UTA jumped to a 21-12 lead midway through the first half and led 36-23 at the break.Saint Marys fell behind 21-12 and 27-15 late in the first half making just 6 of its first 18 shots and 2 of 6 by the typically spot-on Landale.Defensively we werent good, offensively we werent good, Bennett said. Taking care of the ball we were bad. Rebounding we were bad.MOMENT OF SILENCEA moment of silence was held before the national anthem for the victims of the deadly warehouse fire last week in nearby Oakland.BIG PICTUREUTA: UTA held a 36-30 rebounding edge. ... The Mavericks have led at halftime in all of their games. ... UTA followed up a 99-49 victory against Division III UT Dallas by outplaying one of nations top programs in all aspects.Saint Marys: Calvin Hermanson, 21 of 40 from 3-point range coming into the game, went 1 for 7 from beyond the arc. ... Landales shooting percentage dropped from 76 percent to a 70-percent clip (54 for 77).UP NEXTUTA: Off until playing Dec. 16 at Bradley.Saint Marys: Host UC Irvine on Sunday after the Anteaters lost last month in overtime at California. Seventh-year Irvine coach Russell Turner is a former Golden State Warriors and Stanford assistant.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '