Scooter Tuning Pics » n back of first-place Washington -- otherwise stood

LANDOVER, Md. -- As Kirk Cousins goes, so go the Washington Redskins. Thats the way it was on the way to an NFC East title last season -- and thats the way its been on the way to an 0-2 start this season.Things did not start auspiciously for Cousins and the Redskins during a scoreless first quarter of what would become a 27-23 loss to the division rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. And things didnt finish particularly well, either, including two second-half red-zone trips that ended with field goals and, even worse, a first-and-goal at the 6 that ended with an end-zone interception .Hopefully, him, as a quarterback, hell figure it out and get us rolling as an offense. I think hes been doing a good job, just a couple of unfortunate plays out there, wideout DeSean Jackson said. Sometimes things go wrong.As for the red-zone issues, Jackson summed it up this way: Were just sticking ourselves in the foot with a knife.On third-and-7 from Dallas 37 on Washingtons opening possession, Cousins had Jamison Crowder wide open and behind the defense for what should have been an easy-as-can-be TD. But he overthrew the second-year receiver, and that bad miss ended the drive, because coach Jay Gruden chose to punt.Cousins chalked that one up to passing the ball at a slightly different angle than Crowder took.Then, in the second quarter, he had another ugly overthrow, going way too deep for even the speedy Jackson, who also had no defender near him.Just misjudged it, Cousins said.Last season, his first chance to start 16 games after sitting behind Robert Griffin III for three years, Cousins set an NFL record for completion percentage at home, set a team record with 4,166 yards passing and cut down on his propensity for picks, totaling 29 TDs and 11 interceptions.Washington decided to use the franchise tag worth nearly $20 million on him this season rather than agreeing to a long-term deal, and as Cousins attempts to prove his worth again, he has one touchdown and three interceptions in a pair of losses.To just dwell on frustration or dwell on `woulda, coulda, shoulda isnt going to get us anywhere, said Cousins, who was 28 of 46 for 364 yards and a passer rating of 84. That wouldnt be mentally tough team.Gruden opted to offer a defense of Cousins.Its a tough game. Hes got people around his feet . Hes got to make some tough throws -- usually ones he would normally hit, but he missed a few today, the third-year coach said. Well coach him up. Cant put it all on Kirk. Theres a lot of other issues that we have today, thats for sure.Now Washington faces the daunting task of going on the road to play at the New York Giants (2-0) next week, in danger of dropping to last place in the division and three full games out of first place.If the Redskins fans are panicking, the players tried to put on a happy face after losing to a Cowboys squad that has rookies starting at quarterback (Dak Prescott) and running back (Ezekiel Elliott).Were going to be all right. Its early. Everybody thinks were in the morgue or something. Were not dead, by no means, cornerback Josh Norman said. Look, weve still got 14 more games left.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich Saquon Barkley Youth Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Phil McConkey Giants Jersey . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. http://www.authenticnygiantspro.com/Mark-bavaro-giants-jersey/ . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Julian Love Womens Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Oshane Ximines Giants Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs, who face the Miami Marlins Tuesday, not only bolstered their relief corps with a Monday trade with the Los Angeles Angels, they added a completely different look.The Cubs added right-hander Joe Smith, who has a sidearm delivery that contrasts sharply with the Cubs mostly hard-throwing relievers.Hes a sidearm, ground ball guy. We dont have that look or that ability right now in our bullpen,said Jed Hoyer, the Cubs general manager. Its great to have hard-throwing guys with great breaking balls, but its nice to add a different look. Hes also a guy that Joe (manager Joe Maddon) can use to get a big double play in the right spot.The deal for the 32-year-old reliever came as the Cubs wrapped up a busy pre-deadline stretch that also saw arrivals of left-handed relievers Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery.You definitely assess your bullpen over the first half of the season and if there are areas you want to improve, you look to do that, Hoyer said. When we looked at this team that was an area that we thought we could make some changes -- adding two left-handers and adding a guy like Smith, who can be a right-handed specialist. We felt that would improve the mix of our bullpen.The Smith deal reportedly closed just before Mondays 3 p.m. Central time trading deadline. The Cubs gave up Class-A Eugene right-handed pitcher Jesus Castillo, 2/3 with a 3.27 ERA in seven minor league starts.Smith is a veteran of three teams and 10 big league seasons. He is 1-4 with a 3.82 ERA , 25 strikeouts and four saves in 38 appearances this season. Smith has a career 40-27 record with 2.94 ERA and 461 strikeouts in 623 games.He has reached 70 relief outings in each of the last five seasons, showing versatility by both closing and working set-up over the last three years.On July 25, Chicago acquired Chapman -- the left-handed closer recently clocked with a 105-miles per hour fastball -- from the New York Yankees.Five days earlier they landed Montgomery, 277, in a four-player trade with the Seattle Mariners for first base prospect Dan Vogelbach and pitcher Paul Blackburn while receiving minor-league pitcher Jordan Pries.ddddddddddddoyer said it wasnt just the Cubs looking at bullpen help this time of year.I dont want to say that almost all contenders improve their bullpen, Hoyer said, but Ill bet if you look around the league the majority of teams in contention did something to address their bullpen.The Miami Marlins made one trade prior to the deadline as they shed injured right-hander Colin Rea.But the NL East contenders -- currently 4 1/2 games in back of first-place Washington -- otherwise stood pat as the trading deadline passed and a final eight-week chase commenced.They sent Rea back to the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Luis Castillo. Miami had acquired Rea and pitcher Andrew Cashner in a seven-player deal but reportedly determined Rea was already hurting when he arrived.Most attention this week around the Marlins is on outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who is just two hits away from becoming the 30th major-league hitter to reach 3,000 career hits.He would be the third to reach 3,000 against Chicago, following Stan Musial (May 13, 1958 at Wrigley Field) and Lou Brock (Aug. 13, 1979 at St. Louis).The Mariners send one of the leagues top strikeout artists against the Cubs in Tuesdays middle game. Right-hander Jose Fernandez (12-5, 2.79 ERA) has 184 strikeouts for the season, good for second in the league.Tuesdays start will be the second of his career against Chicago.The Cubs will counter with right-hander Jason Hammel (10-5, 3.23 ERA) in his 21st start of the season. He is 2-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) against Miami. He has allowed three or fewer runs in 17 starts this year and is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts since the All-Star break. ' ' '