the visitors. Nigel Hayes and Sam Dekker scored 15 po

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rookie linebacker Devon Kennard impressed the New York Giants in training camp with his speed, athleticism and ability to hit.The only things that held back the fifth-round draft pick from Southern California was that instinctiveness that comes from playing and a hamstring injury that happened in the season opener.It took almost a month for Kennard to get over the injury. The playing smarts took a little longer, and Kennard now is showing what he can do now that he understands the game.Earlier this week, Kennard became the Giants first rookie defensive player to win the NFC player of the week award after posting two sacks for the second straight week and forcing a fumble in the Giants 36-7 win over Tennessee.I came in with the mindset that I wanted to help my team, Kennard said Thursday after the Giants (4-9) finished practice for Sundays game against the Washington Redskins (3-10) at Metlife Stadium. I wanted to show the coaches and teammates that I could help them win games the best way I can, and any way I can.With recent injuries to linebackers Jacquian Williams and Mark Herzlich, Kennards playing time has increased and he has been outstanding, getting to opposing quarterbacks on the blitz.We knew he was a big, strong, powerful man, defensive co-ordinator Perry Fewell said Thursday. I think he is displaying that in his play.Fewell said Kennard also is a smarter player. He always had a good grasp of what was going on in the meeting rooms, but there was a slight hesitation on the field.A lot of times when they are out there on the field and it happens fast, as a ball coach, you can see them thinking, Fewell said. He is starting to use his athleticism and executing those moves that we have talked about in the classroom. That is why I say he has become a smarter player.Fewell said the Giants had wanted to use Kennard more in blitzing situations but the opportunities didnt always present themselves.The chances have been there the past two weeks, and a sack and forced fumble by Kennard led to a touchdown return by defensive tackle Markus Kuhn.Fellow linebacker Jameel McClain said Kennard is sponge-like in the meeting room. The 23-year-old is not overly talkative but tends to ask the right questions when he speaks, McClain said.Kennard is a phenomenal kid, McClain said. Kennard is focusing on his game and he focuses on details. For him to be so young and be such a professional, it is amazing.NOTES: Giants special teams co-ordinator Tom Quinn apologized for his run-in with punter Steve Weatherford during Sundays game. The coach grabbed Weatherford after the player walked past him following a bad punt. It was an unfortunate incident that transpired obviously, that we both wish we could have back, Quinn said. We are fiery, were competitive, and it escalated way too far. ... Odell Beckham Jr.s jersey from his one-handed TD catch is in the Hall of Fame. What an honour for it to be in there, Beckham said. Definitely something to be proud of, but it is just the beginning for me. ... QB Eli Manning (back) was again limited at practice Thursday, but coach Tom Coughlin said he did everything he needed to do. ...McClain (knee) returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday. Custom Seattle Mariners Jerseys . DeGrom outpitched Jake Peavy in a tantalizing hitless duel that carried into the seventh inning Saturday night before the New York Mets broke loose and beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2. Seattle Mariners Store . They showered him with "MVP! MVP!" chants. In many ways, it seemed like hed never been gone. https://www.cheapmariners.com/ . The deal will pay Hainsey $3 million for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and $2.5 million in 2016-17. Mariners Jerseys 2020 . The 28-year-old lefty made his MLB debut in 2013, making 10 starts and going 2-5 with 4.05 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Albers was named the Twins organizations minor league pitcher of the year for 2013. Seattle Mariners Gear . He will be practicing with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) on a conditioning assignment. - @AnaheimDucks Corey Perry has a knee sprain and will miss the next three to four weeks.Madison, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - Coming off their first Big Ten Conference loss of the season, the seventh-ranked Wisconsin Badgers will attempt to start anew as they play host to the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Kohl Center on Thursday night. Nebraska was considered one of the favorites to challenge for the Big Ten title prior to the season beginning, but after a 5-1 start, the losses have piled up to the point where the team comes into this fray at 10-6 overall and an even 2-2 in conference. The good news is that the Huskers have won two in a row, beating the likes of Rutgers (65-49) and Illinois (53-43), both at home, to run their record in Lincoln this season to 7-3. Wisconsin had been ranked in the top-five for much of the campaign, but a shocking 67-62 loss at Rutgers last Sunday put an end to the teams eight-game winning streak. As a result, the Badgers currently sit at 15-2, the other loss coming at home to Duke on Dec. 3, and 3-1 in conference. They are 8-1 at home this season, and theyve won four straight in Madison. Nebraska owns a narrow 11-10 lead in the all-time series with Wisconsin, but the Badgers have won five of the last six meetings, including four of five since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten. Nebraska held its second straight opponent below 50 points in the recent win over Illinois, after doing so just once in the first 14 games. The Fighting Illini were frustrated to the point of only 27.3 percent field goal efficiency, which included a woeful 6-of-29 showing from 3-point range. Conversely, the Huskers knocked down 6-of-17 3-point tries as part of a 42.9 percent shooting effort overall. They also converted all five of their free throws while logging a 38-30 edge on the glass. Terran Petteway led all scorers with 18 points, while Shavon Shields finished with 11 to go with eight rebounds and five assists. Petteway and Shields have been as potent a one-two punch as there is in the Big Ten this season, posting scoring averages of 18.dddddddddddd9 and 17.1 ppg, respectively. No other player nets more than 7.7 ppg for the Cornhuskers, who produce just 65.9 ppg due in large part to their rather anemic 30.9 percent performance from beyond the arc. As for Nebraskas effort at the defensive end, it has been on par with some of the top teams in the league as foes are putting up just 60.7 ppg in hitting 37.7 percent of their total shots, which includes a 27.6 percent effort out on the perimeter. The usually defensive-minded Badgers had an off night in their recent matchup with Rutgers, as they allowed the Scarlet Knights to shoot 54.3 percent from the floor in what turned out to be a five-point loss for the visitors. Nigel Hayes and Sam Dekker scored 15 points apiece for Wisconsin, which also got a double-digit effort from Bronson Koenig with 12 points. The Badgers struggled from distance in the game, netting only 5-of-21 3-point attempts, and they went just 9-of-16 at the charity stripe as well. Both teams took very good care of the basketball, combining for only 12 turnovers. Wisconsin lost more than the game against Rutgers, as starting guard Traevon Jackson (9.4 ppg) suffered a fractured right foot and is expected to undergo surgery this week. All-America candidate Frank Kaminsky (16.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg) did not play against Rutgers due to a concussion, but he is expected to be back in the lineup on Thursday night. Wisconsin allows the fewest points of any team in the Big Ten, and it ranks seventh nationally with an average yield of only 54.9 ppg. The teams effort at the offensive end typically generates 73.5 ppg, but with some of its stars ailing, guys like Dekker (12.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and Hayes (12.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg) will be asked to do even more. ' ' '