second. It was his third career homer, the first since 2

PITTSBURGH -- The greatest tight end in Pittsburgh Steelers history is retired, off being a dad back in his native Virginia. Heath Millers replacement, Ladarius Green, is out indefinitely while nursing health issues that wont seem to go away.In their stead are a pair of works in progress in Jesse James and Xavier Grimble and an old veteran in David Johnson who basically doubles as a sixth offensive lineman. And the Steelers have not missed a beat. At all.There Grimble was stretching over the goal line in the second quarter during Sundays win over Cincinnati for his first touchdown since his junior year at USC in 2013. There the 6-foot-7 James was reaching into the air in the third quarter for a 9-yard score of his own. There was Johnson chugging ahead of DeAngelo Williams, opening space on the edge.Who said tight end was going to be the lone weakness on one of the NFLs best offenses? Certainly not the Steelers, who are 2-0 for the first time in six years, which also happens to be the last time they reached the Super Bowl.We were never planning on our role being diluted down, James said. But we feel good about how weve developed and tried to fit into what the coaches want us to do.Namely, a little bit of everything. With periods of heavy rain turning Heinz Field into a bit of a boggy soup at times and the Bengals dead set on shadowing wide receiver Antonio Brown all over the field, James and Grimble found themselves a part of the game plan.James finished with three receptions for 29 yards and has already matched the entire output of his rookie season (eight catches) in just two weeks.Yet James has been downright prolific next to Grimble, who went undrafted in 2014 and bounced from the New York Giants to the New England Patriots to the San Francisco 49ers in search of a regular job, to little avail. Pittsburgh signed him to a futures contract last January, though he understood what he was up against after the Steelers signed Green to a four-year deal in the offseason and brought back Johnson to join James.If Green was healthy, Grimble may be out of work. Yet hes doing more than simply occupying a roster spot. Hes thriving. The player never known for having the best hands found himself lined up in one-on-one coverage in the second quarter on Sunday, beat his man to the inside, caught the ball at the 5, stepped out of a tackle and had remembered to get the ball over the goal line before his knees touched the ground.Grimble, however, hardly got caught up in the moment. He gave the ball up and headed to the sideline. Only a heads up by one of his teammates to retrieve it allowed the ball to be in display in Grimbles locker on Monday. There may be more on the way. Green hardly appears ready to return to work and Grimbles play -- he added a difficult shoestring catch in the third quarter to help set up James touchdown -- gives Roethlisberger yet another option.Bens always done a good job of working with us, Grimble said. In practice he will look for us on certain plays even if we arent the first option because he wants us to be ready. I knew when I saw the safety across from me and the coverage that there was a chance (the touchdown pass) was coming my way.Johnson even chipped in rare 5-yard reception on a day Pittsburghs tight ends proved to be more valuable to fantasy owners than Brown. Johnsons real value, however, lies in the running game and in his leadership. He spent five years in Pittsburgh from 2009-13 as a backup to Miller and has given the young guys around him someone to lean on. Individually, none of them has Miller or Greens unique skill set. Collectively, though, they believe they can be just as effective.It means a lot to our group as a tight end group to be able to make plays when were counted on, James said. It shows that were proving ourselves.---AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Scott Niedermayer Jersey . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. John Gibson Ducks Jersey . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Cam-fowler-ducks-jersey/ . 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. Ryan Getzlaf Ducks Jersey . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Jean-Sebastien Giguere Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons.BALTIMORE -- As soon as Chris Davis made contact, there was absolutely no doubt where the ball was headed: beyond the 25-foot scoreboard in right field and onto Eutaw Street. The drive also landed Davis in the Baltimore Orioles record book. Davis major league leading 46th home run helped Baltimore beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 on Wednesday night and enabled the Orioles to avoid a three-game sweep. Davis connected against Jeremy Hellickson (10-7) leading off the fifth inning to put Baltimore in front 4-2. It was the 74th homer in the 22-year history of Camden Yards to land on Eutaw Street, and one of the quickest to arrive there. "You know what? I come up here to go to the bathroom so I just heard it," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. Davis tied Jim Gentile for the third-most home runs in a year by an Oriole. Gentile hit 46 in 1961, Frank Robinson clubbed 49 in 1966, and Brady Anderson set the team mark with 50 in 1996. Davis has 25 homers at Camden Yards, tied with Rafael Palmeiro for most in one year. The single-season record for homers in Baltimore is 27, by Robinson at Memorial Stadium in 1966. "It means we put up one run on the board and we were able to get the win. Thats the biggest thing," Davis said. "Obviously team goals come before individual goals. Im happy to be swinging the bat well, Im even happier to get the win." Wei-Yin Chen (7-6) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings to help Baltimore win for only the third time in nine games. "Big win," said catcher Matt Wieters, who sealed the victory with a brilliant throw in the ninth inning. "You like to get a series, but the only thing we could do tonight was win one game. We came out here and played well." Chen was backed by three double plays, two of which he started. "How many athletic plays did he make tonight that pitchers dont make?" manager Buck Showalter said. "Its one thing to catch it, its another thing to make that accurate throw." Darren ODay worked a perfect eighth and gave up a leadoff single to Wil Myers in the ninth before Brian Matusz walked pinch-hitter James Loney. Tommy Hunter then got two straight outs, and with runners on the corners, Kelly Johnson was thrown out by Wieters trying to steal second. It was Hunnters fourth save.dddddddddddd Baltimores usual closer, Jim Johnson, didnt get up in the bullpen. Johnson had blown three straight save opportunities and surrendered three hits in a non-save situation Tuesday. "Were going to put our best foot forward every night," Showalter said. "Jimmys our best option, one of them. Im glad weve got more than one good option." Jason Bourgeois and Sean Rodriguez hit solo homers for the Rays, whose second loss in eight games left them a game behind first-place Boston in the AL East. "A division series and you win two out of three games, thats a good spot to be in," Kelly Johnson said. "Well take it. Obviously, you want to win them all, but it didnt work out." Hellickson allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 0-4 with an 8.06 ERA in five starts since July 26. The Orioles used a two-run first inning to take their first lead in the series. After Nate McLouth led off with a single to snap an 0-for-17 skid, Manny Machado singled and Davis walked to load the bases. Adam Jones drove in a run with a fielders choice grounder, and Wieters hit a sacrifice fly following a double steal. Bourgeois hit a solo shot in second. It was his third career homer, the first since 2011 with Houston. In the bottom half, the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs for Davis, who hit a routine fly to left. Jones made it 3-1 in the third with his 26th home run, a drive to dead centre that travelled an estimated 446 feet. "Oh, that one was definitely filled with helium," Maddon said. "That ball did not want to come down." Rodriguez answered in the fourth with his third homer, the first since May 26. NOTES: The Orioles had lost five straight to Tampa Bay at Camden Yards, including the first two games of this series by a combined 11-5 score. ... Rays LHP Matt Moore, who has been on the DL since July 31 with a sore elbow, threw 59 pitches during a bullpen session Wednesday. He is slated to pitch a simulated game on Saturday. ... Both teams are off Thursday. Tampa Bay resumes play Friday at home against the Yankees and the Orioles host Oakland, one of the teams they are chasing for a wild-card spot. Maddon said Chris Archer (6-5) will start Friday night. ' ' '