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NEW YORK -- It was on a US Open practice court where, if you were especially intuitive, there were signs last year that Serena Williams was headed for an unhappy ending to her quest of completing the seventh calendar-year Grand Slam in the history of the game.It wasnt necessarily what she did that day, tossing and serving for well over an hour -- first from the deuce court, then from the ad and over to a different court for more of the same.It was more of what drove her there and the purposefulness with which she marched over directly after her match. Williams would later admit to being nervous during her eventual second-round victory against the 110th-ranked player in the world, a match in which she would squeak out a first-set tiebreaker 7-5, after committing eight double faults and 26 unforced errors in the opening set.She would close the match out 6-3 in the second; the match point was not accompanied by anything close to the shrieks heard that afternoon but rather utter silence, a disgusted look and an eye roll. She later characterized it as not one of my happiest moments.At that point, Williams was already tired of the questions and seemingly tired of the grind. Tired of being tired. She even all but demanded that any inquiries with the words Grand Slam in them cease. And when she lost in a semifinal shocker to Roberta Vinci, the 43rd-ranked player in the world playing her first career Slam semi, Serena blew through a four-minute news conference and left the grounds.You could hardly blame her. But back in the second round here Thursday against 27-year-old American Vania King, Williams mood was decidedly different.I think Im more relaxed, for sure, Williams said this earlier this week.While not exactly operating under the proverbial radar, Serena is trying to win just her second Slam in a row after prevailing at Wimbledon and only trying to surpass Steffi Grafs record of 22 career majors.And while King is an 87th-ranked wildcard who succumbed to Serena in their only previous meeting, 6-1, 6-0 in 56 minutes in the 2014 US Open, you suspect Williams opponent, as always, has very little to do with the outcome.While Serena is still dealing with a shoulder issue that had her going for placement rather than speed on her serves in her 6-3, 6-3 first-round win over Ekaterina Makarova, there is considerably less emotional weight on both shoulders this year.In 2015, Williams played 17 three-setters going into the Open in 10 tournaments, plus two rounds of Fed Cup; she won 16 of those three-set matches. This year, there have been five three-setters in seven tournaments, including the Olympics. She lost that third-round encounter to 20th-ranked Elina Svitolina in straight sets on Aug. 9, her last match before New York.Even with the shoulder concerns, Williams was asked, is this US Open already a more pleasant experience?I was going for something that no one has done in a really long time, she said of last year. Yeah, it didnt end wonderful for me or the way I wanted it to end. But it was all I could do. Thats all I could do.While the three-set victories were a testament to her competitive toughness, the off-court battle turned out to be a considerably tougher one. After the 2015 Open, she cited a broken heart from her loss to Vinci in addition to other injuries and subsequently announced she was withdrawing from three tournaments, including the WTA Finals.Williams coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, said the motivation just wasnt there, and it was the only sensible decision. And this year, while Serena, who is weeks short of her 35th birthday, said she would have preferred to play more coming into the final Grand Slam of the year, she is trying to be optimistic.There is nothing we can do about it, she said. You just have to make the best of every single opportunity. Thats all I can do now.Usually, thats more than enough. Jerome Brown Youth Jersey .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Wes Hopkins Eagles Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Seth-Joyner-Jersey/ .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Tommy McDonald Eagles Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Chuck Bednarik Womens Jersey . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. SCOREBOARDMonday, Sept. 12Pittsburgh at Washington, 7:10 p.m. EDT. Pittsburghs Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown will be without running back LeVeon Bell, suspended the first three games for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy. The matchup to watch is Brown vs. All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. This is the first time theyre facing each other since 2014, when Norman was in Carolina and before he became a star and signed a $75 million, five-year deal with the Redskins.LA Rams at San Francisco, 10:20 p.m. EDT. Case Keenum will start at quarterback for Los Angeles and Blaine Gabbert will go for San Francisco. Rams running back Todd Gurley was the 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year. San Francisco RB Carlos Hyde has shown bursts of stardom while battling injuries his first two seasons.---STARSPassing-Drew Brees, Saints, was 28 for 42 for 423 yards and four touchdowns in New Orleans 35-34 loss to Oakland. It was Brees 14th game with at least 400 yards passing, tying Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history.-Alex Smith, Chiefs, finished 34 for 48 for 363 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception, and added a 2-yard rushing TD in overtime in Kansas Citys 33-27 win over San Diego.-Jameis Winston, Buccaneers, was 23 for 33 for 281 yards and four touchdown passes and an interception in Tampa Bays 31-24 victory over Atlanta.-Carson Wentz, Eagles, finished 22 for 37 for 278 yards and two touchdown passes in his first regular-season start in Philadelphias 29-10 win over Cleveland. He is the first Eagles rookie to start at quarterback in a season opener since Davey OBrien in 1939.-Matthew Stafford, Lions, finished 31 for 39 for 340 yards and three touchdowns in Detroits 39-35 win over Indianapolis.-Andy Dalton, Bengals, was 23 for 30 for 366 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Cincinnatis 23-22 win over the New York Jets.-Andrew Luck, Colts, was 31 for 47 for 385 yards and four touchdowns in Indianapolis 39-35 loss to Detroit.-Jimmy Garoppolo, Patriots, went 24 for 33 for 264 yards and a TD in his first NFL start, a 23-21 win at Arizona.---Rushing-Matt Forte, Jets, had 22 carries for 96 yards and five receptions for 59 yards in New Yorks 23-22 loss to Cincinnati.-Spencer Ware, Chiefs, had 11 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, and seven receptions for 129 yards in Kansas Citys 33-27 overtime win over San Diego.-Lamar Miller, Texans, had 28 carries for 106 yards in Houstons 23-14 win over Chicago.-Melvin Gordon, Chargers, had 14 carries for 57 yards and two touchdowns in San Diegos 33-27 overtime loss to Kansas City.---Receiving-A.J. Green, Bengals, had 12 catches for 180 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown, in Cincinnatis 23-22 win over the New York Jets.-Willie Snead and Brandin Cooks, Saints. Snead had nine receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown, while Cooks had six catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including a 98-yard TD which was the longest scoring play in Saints history. However, Oakland rallied for a 35-34 win, and Amari Cooper had six receptions for 137 yards.-Jordan Matthews, Eagles, finished with seven receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphias 29-10 victory over Cleveland.-Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals, made eight catches for 81 yards and two TDs in a 23-21 loss to New England. Fitzgeralds second touchdown reception was the 100th of his career.---Special Teams-Dan Bailey, Cowboys, was 4 for 4 on field goals, including a 56-yarder and 54-yarder in Dallas 20-19 loss to the New York Giants.-Blair Walsh, Vikings, was 4 of 6 on field goals in Minnesotas 25-16 win over Tennessee.---Defense-Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter, Vikings. Kendricks returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown and Hunter returned a fumble 24 yards for a TD in Minnesotas 25-16 win over Tennessee.-Leonard Williams and Steve McLendon, Jets. Williams had 2+ sacks and McLendon added two of New Yorks seven sacks of the Bengals Andy Dalton in New Yorks 23-22 loss.-Whitney Mercilus, Texans, had two sacks and a forced fumble in Houstons 23-14 win over Chicago.-Jerry Hughes, Bills, had two sacks in Buffalos 13-7 loss to Baltimore.---BIG PLAY IN THE BAYOUDrew Brees and Brandin Cooks, Saints, connected for a franchise record 98-yard scoring play against the Raiders.ddddddddddddSeeing the speedy Cooks in single coverage on first down from his 2-yard line, Brees lofted a pinpoint pass down the left sideline that hit Cooks in stride. Cooks easily sped away from cornerback Sean Smith and free safety Reggie Nelson. The play also was Brees longest career completion. The previous longest scoring play in Saints history was a 90-yard pass from Billy Joe Hobert to Eddie Kennison against Atlanta on Oct. 10, 1999. The Saints previous longest play from scrimmage was as 96-yard passing play -- not for a TD -- from Billy Kilmer to Walter Roberts on Nov. 19, 1967, the franchises inaugural season.---JUST FOR KICKSFive teams saw their kickers miss extra points Sunday, with only one being costly. The New York Jets lost 23-22 to Cincinnati, with Nick Folk missing an extra point kick for the first time in his 10-year NFL career. It ended a streak of 312 straight made PATs; he had also set the NFL record for most extra points without a miss with 322 overall, including the playoffs. Other who missed but saw their teams win were Blair Walsh of the Vikings, Randy Bullock of the Giants, Steven Hauschka of the Seahawks, and Matt Prater of the Lions.---WORTH NOTINGFour games have been decided by exactly one point in Week 1, the most on NFL kickoff weekend. ... Houstons Will Fuller became the first player in franchise history to have 100 yards receiving in a debut with 107 yards and a touchdown in Houstons 23-14 win over the Bears. Brock Osweiler threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns in his debut with Houston after the Texans lured him from Denver with a $72 million contract. ... The Cowboys fell to 1-12 without Tony Romo since the first of two broken collarbones last season in Week 2. Because of Romos back injury, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott were the first rookie quarterback-running back combo to start an opener for the Cowboys since Roger Staubach and Calvin Hill in 1969. New York beat Dallas in an opener for the first time in nine tries. ... Tennessee is 2-15 since the start of the 2014 season on its home field, with both wins coming against Jacksonville. The Titans lost to Minnesota 25-16. ... Oakland rookie running back Jalen Richard had a 75-yard rushing touchdown on his first career carry in the Raiders victory. Richard is the fourth player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown of at least 75 yards in his NFL debut. He joined Oran Pape (78 yards, Sept. 28, 1930), Alan Ameche (79 yards, Sept. 25, 1955) and Ottis Anderson (76 yards, Sept. 2, 1979). ... The Bengals beat the Jets for the first time in 10 meetings in New Jersey with a 23-22 win.---INJURIESHouston middle linebacker Brian Cushing and San Diego wide receiver Keenan Allen left their respective games with injuries. Allen left the field on a cart after suffering what looked like a serious right knee injury with less than two minutes left in the first half. Cushings diagnosis was only slightly more optimistic. He also hurt one of his knees but walked off the field under his own power. Cushing also missed significant playing time with a range of injuries in 2012 and 2013, but started every game last season. ... Giants linebacker J.T. Thomas III was also carted off the field, after spraining a knee on a kickoff return on the final play of the first half against Dallas. ... Bucs defensive end Jacquies Smith was carted off the field with a right knee injury against Atlanta. Indianapolis defenders T.J. Green (sprained knee) and Patrick Robinson (medical evaluation) went down in the same series in the first half, and stayed out for the rest of the game against Detroit.---QUOTABLEEveryone knew about our strategy. I didnt really ask for any feedback there. I said, `When we score here, we are going to go for two and win it right here. -- Raiders coach Jack Del Rio on the decision to go for a 2-point conversion in the final minute of Oaklands 35-34 win over New Orleans.---QUOTABLE IIJoe is as tough as a $2 steak. Whats a $2 steak nowadays? -- Ravens coach John Harbaugh on quarterback Joe Flacco.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '