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NEW YORK -- ?? After more than a decade as the NFLs black hole, the Oakland Raiders are back in the playoffs and filling up the Pro Bowl.The resurgent Raiders, enjoying their first winning season in 14 years, lead the league with seven players selected for next months all-star game.Quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper, center Rodney Hudson, defensive end Khalil Mack, safety Reggie Nelson, guard Kelechi Osemele and tackle Donald Penn were picked from the Raiders, who occupy first place in the AFC West going into Week 16.The Raiders (11-3) had three players selected from their sturdy offensive line, a big reason the team has finally clinched its first playoff berth since losing the 2003 Super Bowl.It means a lot. Its a great honor to be recognized for what you do, Hudson said. Its very humbling. I give a lot of thanks to our teammates because you cant do any of it by yourself.Six members of the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) were selected, most among NFC teams. Outside linebacker Vic Beasley, kicker Matt Bryant, running back Devonta Freeman, wide receiver Julio Jones, center Alex Mack and quarterback Matt Ryan were chosen from the NFC South leaders.Despite missing the first four games of the season because of his Deflategate suspension, New England quarterback Tom Brady was picked for the 12th time in his career. Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas and Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald were honored for the 10th time.Fitzgeralds 10 Pro Bowl selections are the second-most in NFL history by a wide receiver. Only Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (13) has more.Twenty-six of the 32 teams had at least one player picked. Twenty players were chosen for the first time, including three rookies: Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott from Dallas, and Kansas Citys Tyreek Hill.Among the notable omissions was Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford. The first-place Lions, who lead the NFC North at 9-5, did not have a single representative.Carolinas Cam Newton, last seasons NFL MVP, was not picked, either. Other star quarterbacks left out were New Orleans Drew Brees, Indianapolis Andrew Luck and Seattles Russell Wilson.After the Raiders and Falcons, the Cowboys, Steelers and Titans were next with five players selected.In addition to Prescott and Elliott, offensive linemen Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Tyron Smith were picked from Dallas.For the Steelers, running back LeVeon Bell, wide receiver Antonio Brown, guard David DeCastro, center Maurkice Pouncey and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were selected. Roethlisberger, Pouncey and Brown were all chosen for the fifth time.For the surprising Titans, tied with Houston for first place in the AFC South, its their most players picked for the Pro Bowl since they had six in 2008.Running back DeMarco Murray leads the group. He has 1,224 yards rushing, second in the NFL behind Elliott. Left tackle Taylor Lewan earned his first Pro Bowl honor in his third season, while linebacker Brian Orakpo earned his fourth Pro Bowl trip overall and first since signing with Tennessee in March 2015. Tight end Delanie Walker and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey also were selected.Another high-profile player chosen was wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., one of four New York Giants picked along with safety Landon Collins, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and special teams player Dwayne Harris.Beckham is tied for third in the NFL with 85 receptions and 10 touchdown catches, and is fourth with 1,173 yards receiving. He became the first Giants player to be voted to three consecutive Pro Bowls since guard Chris Snee from 2008-10.It is exciting, Beckham said. It is cool to be on a team with multiple Pro Bowlers, so it is a huge accomplishment for myself and my teammates.The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, Jan. 29, in Orlando, Florida. The game will return to the NFC vs. AFC format after three years. Former stars Jerome Bettis, Tony Gonzalez, Ray Lewis and Charles Woodson will serve as Legends Captains.The Pro Bowl players were determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each groups vote counted one-third toward determining the selections.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---This story has been updated to remove reference that Titans tight end Delanie Walker and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey were picked as starters. Grant Hill Jersey .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Kelly Oubre Jr. Jersey . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/kevin-johnson-suns-jersey/ . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Dragan Bender Jersey . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. Richaun Holmes Jersey .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Now that the suspense is over and Ohio State has secured a spot in the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes have some time to address their biggest weakness -- throwing the ball down the field.Star quarterback J.T. Barrett is the linchpin of Ohio States offense for his ability to run and improvise, and his candidacy for Big Ten player of the year is a testament to that.But too often this season, the Buckeyes receivers have struggled to get open, or Barretts passes have been off target. So even with one of the nations most dynamic quarterbacks, Ohio State hasnt had much in the way of a downfield passing game -- something that may need to change to beat Clemson on New Years Eve.Against Michigan -- the countrys top defense -- Barrett picked up more yards rushing (125) than throwing (124) in a 30-27 overtime victory. Noah Brown led all Ohio State receivers with three catches for 40 yards, and Barrett was sacked eight times.Brown looked promising early in the season but hasnt developed into the reliable deep threat the Buckeyes sought.Neither has anyone else.We have a lot of work to do in certain areas, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Sunday.The mantra around the Ohio State program is nine units strong, meaning that all position groups -- quarterback, running back, receivers, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties -- must be up to the task. Meyer acknowledged that hasnt been the case, and the next few weeks wiill give the team valuable time to work on it.ddddddddddddWere so young and theres so much improvement (needed) -- everybody in this room knows what it is -- we have to get much better, Meyer said. So the challenge has already been laid across the table in the last week with the players and coaches, that for us to compete at this level, we have to be nine strong, and at times were not nine strong. And that has to happen.Barrett has deflected criticism of the passing game, noting Ohio States success is partly linked to its ability to take what defenses provide.When pressed, though, Barrett acknowledged he needs to be better at getting the ball in his receivers hands.You get in these tight ballgames, and youre going against great DBs, he said, (receivers are) going to be open, but its not going to be by much. I think I can do a better job of ball placement to make it easier on them. Theyre getting open but theres not breakaway, which is fine. They did their job to get open, and I have to do a better job getting them the ball.Because they didnt play in the Big Ten championship this past Saturday -- Ohio State was shut out in favor of Penn State due to a tiebreaker -- the Buckeyes will have five weeks between games.I think with the time we have, Barrett said, were going to be in a good place.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy ' ' '