ooking forward to a big game this week. I felt like we had

The milestone came and went, chronicled with a blurb that got second billing to the news that his team actually won a game.So much has happened between the time Michael Vick came into the NFL, with the promise of a man who might change offence forever, and a week ago Sunday, when he led the Jets to their second win of the season while also becoming the first quarterback to reach 6,000 yards rushing in his career.People would tell me that I could revolutionize the game, Vick said of the reaction he received when he was drafted No. 1 out of Virginia Tech in 2001.In the 13 years since his arrival as the fastest man on the field who also happened to have the strongest arm, Vick may not have changed the game completely. But his impact has been palpable — most notably, in the way quarterbacks and offences have evolved in high school, college and the pros.Robert Griffin III, Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick are among those who can thank Vick for clearing their path into the NFL.There have been plenty of others like us, and plenty more to come, Vick said.But while Wilson has a Super Bowl ring and Kaepernick has been to the big game, they have not, by any means, redefined success at the quarterback position. This seasons five highest-rated quarterbacks are Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady. All of them pocket passers who have a total of 4,920 career yards rushing among them; heading into Week 12, all their teams were leading their respective divisions in wins, too.Being able to run the ball is nice, says mobile Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who played receiver for a good chunk of his college career. But at the end of the day, a quarterbacks job is to get the ball to the receivers.Now 34 and in his 12th NFL season, Vick has spent most of his career trying to find a comfort zone in the pocket. That transformation started before he ever took an NFL snap, and kept progressing after his forced two-year hiatus while he was in prison for running a dogfighting ring.Vicks first NFL coach, Dan Reeves, had worked with a mobile quarterback named John Elway through the 1980s and also played with Roger Staubach in the 1960s and 70s. Reeves was well aware of the way a running QB could alter a game plan.I dont know that (Vick) changed anything, Reeves said. The thing that was different about Mike was that, in a lot of instances, he was the fastest guy on the field. You could put a spy on him and still not have anyone be able to catch him. You went in hoping he could use that to his advantage, but also get more comfortable going through progressions and being able to deliver the ball on time.The project has had mixed results. Vick accomplished a lot of firsts, among them the first to throw for 250 yards and run for 100 in a game, and first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. But his career passer rating sits at 80.7. He has a 61-52-1 record as a starter. Hes won only two playoff games.Clearly, though, his impact is measured in more than wins, losses and statistics.Without Vick, many of the wide-open college schemes seen today wouldnt have gained acceptance as quickly to best exploit the talents of RG3, Tebow, Newton, Kaepernick, Johnny Manziel and, most notably this year, Marcus Mariota at Oregon and Dak Prescott at Mississippi State. Those quarterbacks, and eventually, the high-octane offences they run, filter from college to the pros. Now, high school quarterbacks are being taught how to line up in the pistol and throw from a five-receiver set.I didnt realize it then, but now it makes me feel great, Vick said. Im like, I started this. I started this trend.Among those still finding their way is Newton, who has been asked to tailor his game to what works in the NFL, not at Auburn. He was sacked nine times two Sundays ago in a loss to the Eagles.Griffin has been injured or ineffective through most of Years 2-3 in the league after winning the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year award.Tebow, famously, is out of the NFL, in large part because he couldnt master the pocket pass.Wilson has been a success, though whether its because of his mobility or in spite of it is up for debate. He has rushed for 100 yards in four games; the Seahawks are 2-2 in those contests. Kaepernicks critics are quick to point out his career 93.2 passer rating — pedestrian in an era when 100s and 110s win the most.Then there are the quarterbacks who were doing what Vick does well before he became a force. Among his most-cited predecessors: Steve Young and Randall Cunningham.I was Randall times 10, Vick said. Im not boasting about it. Its just what God created.Young led the 49ers to the 1995 Super Bowl title during a season in which both his rushing attempts and yardage went down about 33 per cent from the three previous years. Also that season, he completed more than 70 per cent of his passes for the only time.The closest Cunningham got to a Super Bowl was during the 1998 season with Minnesota, when he ran only 32 times for 132 yards and had a passer rating of more than 100 for the only time in his career.In other words, both before Vick and since, mobile quarterbacks who made it their first priority to throw have enjoyed the most success.The game has changed, Reeves said. But youve still got to be able to throw the football.___AP Sports Writer Dennis Waszak Jr., in New York contributed to this report.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Custom Minnesota Twins Jerseys . -- D. J. Williams finally has his packing strategy down. Fake Twins Jerseys . Right-hander Todd Redmond took the loss. Jose Bautista hit his second home run of the spring. Here are a handful of tidbits from around camp: Hutchison impressive The Blue Jays are being cautious when talking about their young arms but internally, excitement is building over the way Drew Hutchison is looking and performing this spring. https://www.cheaptwins.com/1012t-luis-arraez-jersey-twins.html .com) - Damian Lillard poured in 40 points on 11-of-21 shooting to go along with 11 assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-111, in overtime on Tuesday. Frank Viola Jersey . LOUIS -- St. Byron Buxton Jersey . -- Byron Scott is taking over the Los Angeles Lakers with the vocal support of his fellow Showtime greats.CALGARY -- The unbeaten Calgary Stampeders appear to have a favourable matchup this Friday when they host a winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats team missing its starting quarterback, but middle linebacker Juwan Simpson is taking nothing for granted. Watch the Stampeders vs. Tiger-Cats live tonight on TSN and TSN GO at 10pm et/7pm pt. "Everybody asks us if were going to take this game lightly and we cant because its the field of unknown," said Simpson in regards to the Ticats (0-2), who will be without several key starters including quarterback Zach Collaros. Jeremiah Masoli will make his first career CFL start at quarterback for the Ticats in place of Collaros, whos out of the lineup with head and back injuries after being flattened by a helmet hit to the chin by Eskimos linebacker Odell Willis in the second quarter of Hamiltons 28-24 road loss to Edmonton on July 4. "I dont feel like Im just being thrown in there," said Masoli, whos in his second CFL season. "Ive been preparing for this for a while now. I feel prepared and confident." Hamilton coach Kent Austin has confidence that Masoli can get the job done. "Hes excited," Austin said. "We have really high expectations for our quarterbacks like other teams do, and Jeremiah knows that and understands that and he embraces that. Its not like he hasnt been in big situations before. Hes a pretty laid back player and has a great perspective. Hes very endearing to his teammates." Masoli took over for Collaros in Edmonton and completed 5-of-15 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown to go with three turnovers -- an interception and two fumbles. "He had a tough outing, but hes a very accurate thrower, can move in the pocket, has good vision down the field, can extend plays - all the things you want in a quarterback," said Calgary coach and general manager John Hufnagel. "They do have changes especially at the quarterback position, but they have done creative things with their quarterbacks in the past and theyve substituted in and out." Hufnagel praised his defensive co-ordinator Rich Stubler for doing his homework to prepare the Stamps (2-0) for whatever the Ticats will throw at them. "Hes tried to prepare the football team defensively to see all kinds of things," Hufnagel said. "You just have to play your scheme and react to what they present to you." Both teams have key injuries as Hamiltton will be without linebackers Simoni Lawrence and Rico Murray along with left tackle Joel Figueroa (all lower body), while running back Jon Cornish is still out of Calgarys lineup with a concussion along with linebacker Deron Mayo (groin strain), defensive back Keon Raymond (thigh bruise) and receiver Maurice Price (broken hand).dddddddddddd "You just fill in and reload," Simpson said. "When you get to this level, everybodys capable no matter how deep you go on the depth chart. Its not like high school where if one player goes down, thats it for the team. Were very fortunate to have depth." Due to the injuries to Raymond and Mayo, Lin-J Shell and Glenn Love will be elevated to starter status for the Stamps. "I expect good things from both of them," Simpson said. "Theyre both smart guys and good football players." Receiver Jeff Fuller is coming off his best outing with Stamps during Calgarys 34-15 win over the Argonauts in Toronto and hes looking forward to continuing his progress against Hamilton. "It was a good win, but weve just got to keep building on it," said Fuller, who hauled in a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell against the Argos. "Im looking forward to a big game this week. I felt like we had a good week of preparation, even though it was a short week." Mitchell commended offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson for getting the Stamps ready to take on the Ticats. "Dicky is one of those guys whos not going to hold anything back," said Mitchell, who had an impressive outing in Toronto when he threw four TD passes. "He makes sure that were all ready to do anything that we can do on offence. We have a lot of things that we can do - a lot of misdirection. We have a lot of guys to throw to. We dont ever focus on one person." For the Ticats to be successful against the Stamps, theyll have to concentrate on stopping Mitchell, who completed 16-of-24 passes for 267 yards against the Argos. "Bo definitely brings some energy to the field," said Hamilton nose tackle Brian Bulcke, who played two years for the Stamps before signing with the Ticats prior to last season. "Thats something I noted my years here. As a defensive line, having guys like (Eric) Norwood and (Brandon) Boudreaux on the edge to chase him down I think is really important, so were just trying to get those guys fired up." ' ' '