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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Geno Smith was surrounded by a throng of reporters, a crowded scene usually more appropriate for a No. 1 draft pick than a second-rounder. But Smith, of course, isnt your ordinary No. 39 selection. And, the New York Jets are certainly used to their quarterbacks -- and backup quarterbacks, for that matter -- getting this type of attention. "I just come out," Smith said Friday, "and be my natural self." Who that is, exactly, has been open to some debate in recent weeks as Smith has taken lots of criticism for his abilities on the field -- despite a record-breaking career at West Virginia -- and his attitude off it. Various published reports painted Smith as an immature diva who didnt always take football seriously enough. "Maybe I dont know what the diva behaviour looks like," coach Rex Ryan said. "I never saw that at all." Smiths free fall from potential top-10 pick, and his reported decision -- and later, change of heart -- to leave New York rather than return to the draft site at Radio City Music Hall added to the perception. As did Smith firing his two agents shortly after the draft. Hes done with all that. Still without an agent, Smith is ready to move on to football again. "I think its been a more eventful few weeks for the media," Smith said. "My only job is to focus on what I have here and get better." And theres plenty to do, if you ask Smith, who said all the right things after his first practice of rookie minicamp. "Im going to be tough on myself," Smith said. "Ill let the coaches do the grading, but if I say it, its an F because I want to be an A-plus. "Hey man, thats just the way I do things." Despite the tough self-evaluation, the quarterback looked pretty good during practice. Smith appeared to have a solid working knowledge of the playbook, and zipped many of his passes -- mostly in short yardage -- around the field. "Ive been studying my butt off, learning formations, learning protections," said Smith, wearing No. 7 because his old No. 12 from his college days is Joe Namaths retired number. "I think I did a good job overall today. There were some bumps in the road. Those are things I think I can clean up." He also worked under centre most of the time, something he wasnt used to doing during his time at West Virginia. Smith hesitated a few times on some throws, and was even yelled at by offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg for failing to pull off a play-action bootleg pass. Rookie jitters? Smith wont go there. "There are no excuses here," Smith said. "Weve all got to study our playbooks and be prepared for practice. If he felt like I needed to pick things up, then hell get on me, which he did. Im receptive to that, and I did what he asked of me." Yes, the man some outside the Jets organization anonymously labeled as not very coachable said all the right things after practice, appearing humble and clear of his role on the team. While many assume that will be to someday become the Jets starting quarterback, Smith refused to look too far ahead. "I have a job to do as of right now, and thats to come in and compete," he said. "Right now, theres a long ways to go in that process. This is only Step 1, Day 1, but it was fun to get out here on the practice field and enjoy my teammates and coaches." The plan is to have Smith compete for the starting job this summer with Mark Sanchez and David Garrard, as well as Greg McElroy and Matt Simms -- although those two likely have no realistic shot at winning it. Smith said he was told that Sanchez will get "the majority of the reps" in training camp. "I know Mark is a competitor, and I understand Mark wants to win the job," Smith said. "We all do. But at the same time, Im going to learn from him and David and Greg." He already impressed his fellow rookie teammates on offence by getting together with several of them at the players hotel Thursday night and going over the playbook. "I think thats great," Ryan said. "Its unusual the way he commanded the huddle. And the fact hes already telling guys (instructions), thats pretty sharp." Smith has also studied former quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, trying to get an even better handle on Mornhinwegs West Coast offence. So, Smith says, the critics can keep on talking about him. He has better things to worry about. "I dont resent any of it," Smith said. "I dont pay attention to any of it. I just focus on what I can control and thats being a Jets quarterback, being a great teammate and just getting better as a quarterback daily." ------ NOTES: CB Dee Milliner, the teams top draft pick at No. 9 overall, didnt practice as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. He expects to be ready in time for training camp in late-July. ... Ryan said he was "disappointed" in Quinton Coples work in the weight room Thursday. "If Quinton doesnt do a better job in the weight room," Ryan said, "hell have to compete like anyone else for a job," Ryan said. It was a clear motivational ploy since Coples, the teams first-rounder last year, is a rising star for the defence and will move from the line to outside linebacker this season after leading the team in sacks with 5 1/2. "Hes been doing a great job, but any chance I have to get him, Im going to," Ryan said. "I expect so much from him and if he lets up a little bit, were going to make sure he knows it."Nike Air Max Shoes 2017 China .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Cheap Air Max China .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. http://www.cheapairmaxchina.us/ . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Cheap Air Max Shoes China .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Wholesale Air Max Shoes China .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not.BOSTON -- The way Tuukka Rask is playing, the Boston Bruins just need a little bit of scoring from their top offensive players on the power play to be in good shape.They got both on Monday night.Rask rebounded from his first loss with 32 saves for his second shutout, Brad Marchand and David Krejci scored power-play goals in the second period, and the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-0.David Pastrnak had a power-play goal and Riley Nash scored for the Bruins, who won for the fourth time in five games. Rask recorded his 32nd career shutout after losing 5-2 against the New York Rangers on Saturday. He improved to 7-1 this season.If you just look at the stats probably its got to be one of the best starts because I think usually the starts are the worst part of my season, Rask said.The Bruins allowed two short-handed goals on Saturday.Weve just got to keep taking it easy. I thought we did a better job of finding the seams at the net and jumping on those loose pucks and rebounds, said coach Claude Julien, who collected his 400th career victory with the Bruins.Robin Lehner made 38 saves for Buffalo, but he fell to 3-7-3 lifetime against Boston. It was just the Sabres second loss in six games.Following a scoreless opening period that lacked many quality scoring chances, the Bruins moved ahead on Marchands goal 5:44 into the second. Matt Beleskey got the rebound from the edge of the crease and passed it to Marchand, who fired a wrister that hit off Lehners mask and top of his stick before going into the net.Skating with a two-man, power-play advantage midway into the period, Boston increased its lead when Krejci one-timed a shot from the top of the left circle that slipped inside the left post for his first goal of the season.Weve got to keep our cool -- no matter whats going on out therre, Sabres captain Brian Gionta said.dddddddddddd Youve got to stay composed, whether youre mad at it or not and dont agree with it.Zemgus Girgensons was in the penalty box after getting a double-minor for high-sticking Beleskey, and defenseman Jake McCabe joined him for tripping and added to the Sabres trouble after getting a two-minute misconduct for banging the glass on his way into the box.It was tough to battle back from that, Buffalo center Ryan OReilly said of the 2-0 deficit.The Sabres had an excellent scoring bid after falling behind 1-0 and were still short-handed, but Rask robbed Gionta on a clean breakaway by making a blocker save on a backhander.Nashs shot from along the boards deflected in off defenseman Dmitry Kulikovs stick, making it 3-0 at 14:41. Kulikov banged his stick at the glass in frustration after the goal.Pastrnak scored on a rebound after Lehner mishandled Austin Czarniks shot from the point.Game notes Julien smiled and said of his milestone victory: Another number, I move on from those. Like I always say, its something I can cherish down the road. Right now Ive just got to keep plugging away. . Buffalo LW Tyler Ennis and Kulikov both missed the pre-game practice and were game-time decisions, but played. ... Bruins RW Jimmy Hayes was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. ... Former Boston University star and Hobey Baker award winner Jack Eichel hasnt played this season for the Sabres, missing his 12th game with a high ankle sprain.UP NEXTSabres: Host the Senators on Wednesday in a rematch from Saturday that Buffalo won 2-1 in Ottawa.Bruins: At Montreal on Tuesday for the second meeting between the longtime rivals. ' ' '