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SAN DIEGO -- Even if the San Diego Chargers continue to struggle for an identity, Melvin Gordon isnt.For the second day in a row, coach Mike McCoy referred to the second-year running back as a bell cow.Gordon led the herd all right, running for a career-high 196 yards in helping the Chargers hold off the Tennessee Titans 43-35 on Sunday. It was the ninth-highest total in franchise history and the most since LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 198 against Oakland on Oct. 14, 2007.Gordons NFL-high 11th touchdown was a go-ahead, 1-yard run in the third quarter.The way we ran the football, that was outstanding, with Melvin being the bell cow and really just pounding it home and being the physical runner that he is, McCoy said Monday.Gordon ripped off a 47-yard run on third-and-7 in the closing minutes as the Chargers finally figured out how to close out a game when they held the lead.Thats phenomenal. It doesnt get better than that, McCoy said. Thats imposing your will on your opponent, whether its the guys up front, whether its the ball carrier making a special play like that to really seal the deal, and then to get the additional first down after that, was something special, McCoy said.McCoy said Gordon became the bell cow after Danny Woodhead was lost for the season with a torn ACL in the second game of the season.We all understood what we were dealing with, McCoy said.Its a dramatic turnaround from Gordons miserable rookie season. He failed to score a touchdown, didnt have a 100-yard game, was twice benched for fumbling and then missed the last two games with a knee injury that required microfracture surgery in January.Sunday was his second straight 100-yard game and third overall.McCoy said Gordons confidence is no different now that it was early in his rookie season.I think we saw that a lot early on last year, the first couple games of the year, the physical runner he was, McCoy said. Then from that point on, to a certain point during the season, whether it was us not blocking as well up front or him maybe making the wrong cut or guessing a little too much as the year went on last year. Weve been talking about this for a long time. We werent efficient enough.McCoy lauded Gordon for coming into the season in shape.Hes in great shape right now. Thats why hes able to do this, McCoy said.The Chargers (4-5) remain in last place in the AFC West. They host the Miami Dolphins (4-4) on Sunday.---Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Andre Dillard Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Miles Sanders Youth Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. http://www.theeaglesshoponline.com/Youth-Wes-Hopkins-Eagles-Jersey/ . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Miles Sanders Eagles Jersey . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Shareef Miller Eagles Jersey . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. NAPA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said the team would not bail on suspended linebacker Aldon Smith, who has reportedly entered an undisclosed rehab facility after a Periscope video on an account purportedly belonging to Smith surfaced last week of an unidentified man and woman showing a hand-rolled cigarette or blunt.Were going to support, our deal is to support Aldon from a standpoint of the person, McKenzie said Saturday at training camp. Whether he comes back to us or not, it has no bearing. We told him from Day 1, we care more about you than the player. So, whatever he does to ensure his health, were going to stand behind him.The Raiders could not say that Smith is in rehab because they cannot have contact with him while he is under league suspension.Smith is currently serving a yearlong ban handed down in November for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement in September, 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the suspension. The linebacker recently signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with no guaranteed money this offseason.We know his situation; its not that we have blinders, you know? McKenzie said. Going into last year, we knew the suspension was probable and it was going to be an uphill battle. Hes just going to have to fight the good fight, but were not going to bail on him. But, he has to do his part.McKenzie was speaking in the wake of his four-year contract extension, a move announced Friday night at a team alumni dinner by owner Mark Davis.I didnt want him to become a free agent, Davis told ESPN.com. It was time to honor him.Told of Davis comments, McKenzie smiled.Its a great feeling, McKenzie said. Any time people recognize the job that youre doing as good work, no matter what, its a sense of accomplishment.The guys that are in the building, all the guys that Im working with, they saw the plan. It wasnt going to be a quick fix, and Im not into quick fixes. Like I always said, theres a process and it works. It worked the way that we kind of planned. I still havent had a winning season, lets get things straight. But, we feel good about the direction its going. We feel good about the upcoming season and it starts with the players.McKenzie, who was hired in January of 2012 by Davis three months after the death of Al Davis, oversaw a rebuilding project that has seen the Raiders go 4-12, 4-12, 3-13 and 7-9 in the past four seasons. Many critics wondered if McKenziie was in over his head.ddddddddddddEven as Davis said all along the team had to be deconstructed before being reconstructed and patience was needed.One of the big things is it showed from ownership, from Mark Davis, he was committed to my plan, McKenzie said. A lot of credit goes to him. Im sure he had a lot of phone calls, a lot of people talking to him saying, Is Reggie the guy?McKenzie laughed.If youre into the quick, fast and hurry [solution], lets try to do this and that. It doesnt last long, he said. Were trying to get something that lasts. I want to be a consistent, good football team. Thats what were trying to build. We want to try to get on the other side of the .500 mark and just keep going.Our goal, ultimate goal from Day 1, we want to hold the trophy and theres a process to that. Its not a quick fix to it. And yeah, I had to dismantle the team; money played a big part of that. But, once we got it straight, we have a plan to try to keep it straight now. ... Mark being able to see what I envisioned, and he was right along with my plan [so] were in this thing together. Like I said, he rewarded me and said some good words, because hes been by my side. Thats for sure.McKenzie will have some work to do next offseason, when quarterback Derek Carr and All-Pro linebacker/defensive end Khalil Mack become eligible for new contracts.And yes, that is already on McKenzies mind.Yeah, the plan is to keep the good players, like I said, and definitely want to keep our really good players, he said. I dont foresee those situations arising. Weve been planning for those types of players. Mark would come beat me across the head if I let some Hall of Fame-type player leave the building.Im talking to them all the time. Ill take his agent out to dinner any time I see him.McKenzie laughed again.You foster good relationships, he said. But, the number one thing is you get the players that want to be here. So, thats half the battle. You present a good vibe, coaching staff, good relationships with the players and then you win. Thats what you come into, man.When you get a winning team, you dont have to work so hard. I had to work really hard those first three years, to not only keep guys, but get guys to come here. So, hopefully its easier to keep guys that want to be here. Winning cures all and thats whats expected, and thats what were going to do. ' ' '