right sideline on a third-and-4 before walking off.The Patriots ar

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Tony Bradley Jr. knows the opportunity awaiting him this fall at North Carolina.The freshman big man will suit up for a fast-paced offense that looks to get the ball inside. And the Tar Heels could use some help up front after losing a pair of big men -- including Associated Press first-team All-American Brice Johnson -- from an NCAA finalist.Im not trying to say Im coming in to score, Bradley said in an interview with The Associated Press. I dont know what to expect. Im just going to come in and work my hardest and see where it goes from there.The 6-foot-10, 235-pound McDonalds All-American from Bartow, Florida joins a team looking to replace Johnsons nightly double-doubles and at-the-rim finishes. With Johnson and reserve Joel James gone, the Tar Heels are left with two experienced big men in seniors Kennedy Meeks (6-10, 260) and Isaiah Hicks (6-9, 235).The other members of UNCs recruiting class -- scholarship guards Seventh Woods from Columbia, South Carolina and Brandon Robinson from Lithia Springs, Georgia, along with preferred walk-on Shea Rush of Kansas City, Missouri -- bolster a deep perimeter led by returning double-digit scorers Joel Berry II and Justin Jackson.That leaves Bradley in line for a potentially significant role, especially with Hicks having a history of foul trouble.Its just help keep up the production, Bradley said of his focus. Thats my goal.Terrence McGriff, Bradleys high school coach, describes Bradley as a big, wide body with good hands. He also said Bradleys passing and decision-making was good enough that he also used him as a halfcourt distributor from the top of the key.All those big guys Carolina has had since Roy (Williams) has been there, he fits right in with the way they want to play perfectly, McGriff said.Bradleys father, Tony Sr., said his sons drive to play college basketball took off after attending the McDonalds All-American Game as a youngster. He told his father he wanted to play in that game, then kept a program and T-shirt from the game as a reminder as he worked on his game and with a trainer to get stronger.The result: Bradley entered college as Scout.coms No. 26 national prospect.He kept working and I guess that motivated him, Tony Bradley Sr. said. When he got that call that he made McDonalds All-American, he pulled the program out and he pulled the shirt out. He said, `See Dad, my name will be on there. I said, `Its all about work. You worked to get it. You earned that.Rising junior Theo Pinson has seen the benefits of Bradleys work in pickup games since the freshman arrived on campus last month, adding that Bradley was unafraid to call for the ball inside.I think its very important that he gets confidence early, Pinson said. I think the college game is more about confidence than a lot of stuff. If he feels like he can fit in and play at this level, hell be fine.He has such a willingness to learn and try to get better, so I dont see a problem with that at all. He came in, hes asking questions . hes taking all that in and doing a good job.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap and the APs college basketball site at http://collegebasketball.ap.org Mike Riordan Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Washington Wizards Gear . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. https://www.cheapwizardsonline.com/1169k-phil-chenier-jersey-wizards.html . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Otto Porter Jr. Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Garrison Mathews Jersey . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. The New England Patriots and Rob Gronkowskis family released a joint statement Thursday night confirming that the star tight end will undergo back surgery Friday, while saying, We do not expect that he will be able to play for the remainder of the 2016 season, but will await the results of tomorrows surgery before making a final determination.The statement further clarified Gronkowskis injury status, which initially was traced to the big hit he absorbed from Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas on Nov. 13.Rob sustained a hit to the chest that resulted in a pulmonary contusion to his lung. Rob was examined by several specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital as directed by the team, as well as an independent physician, the sides said in the statement.He received medical clearance to return to play two weeks later for the New York Jets game on November 27. After a hit early in the Jets game, Rob began to experience significant back and leg pain. This injury forced him to leave the game, and he did not return.This marks the second straight season that the team and Gronkowskis family have released a joint statement on his injury status. The club has seldom, if ever, done so with other players.The statement also said, With the help of the Patriots medical staff, along with the consultation of several medical experts, it has been determined that it is in Robs best long-term interest to undergo surgery to address his lower back injury.Rob has always been one of our hardest workers and was voted captain for the leadership he provides on our team. We are deeply saddened any time a player is lost to injury. We are committed to assisting Rob throughout his recovery and look forward to his return to playing football for the New England Patriots.Earlier Thursday, a source told ESPNs Adam Schefter that Gronkowski has been diagnosed with a herniated disk. The need for surgery was first reported by The Buffalo News.This will be Gronkowskis third back surgery. He has had two previous surgeries to repair herniated disks in his back -- in 2009, when he was at the University of Arizona and missed the entire season, and in 2013, his fourth season with the Patriots, when he underwent surgery in June and didnt return until Week 7.This season, Gronkowski returned to action Sunday after missing the teams game against thee Niners the week before because of a chest injury.ddddddddddddObviously were all disappointed, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday. Nobody has worked harder than Rob and been a better teammate. So hopefully things will work out positively as possible with him. All the information we gave you is really all we have for now. Im sure there will be more coming in as we go through the next few days. So well just take it as it comes. Its an unfortunate situation for him.Gronkowski played seven snaps in the 22-17 win over the Jets, leaving the game late in the first quarter as he walked off under his own power while accompanied by members of the teams medical staff. The team later announced he had sustained a back injury during the game and would not return.It was unclear on what play Gronkowski was hurt. It could have happened on a third-and-7 with 9:04 remaining in the first quarter; Gronkowski was the intended receiver on a deep pass down the middle of the field as he dived for the ball. But Gronkowski played one more series after that play, and he was the intended receiver on an incomplete pass down the right sideline on a third-and-4 before walking off.The Patriots are nearly two-touchdown favorites for Sundays home game against the Los Angeles Rams.It doesnt help losing great players, and to not have Gronk out there -- one of our best players and one of our most dependable, consistent players -- makes things challenging for us, quarterback Tom Brady told Westwood One Radio on Thursday night. But thats what the NFL season is about. Its about overcoming challenges, adversities.Brady, who is listed as having a knee injury, returned to the field Thursday after missing practice the previous day. He told Westwood One, Im feeling so much better today. Im excited about this weekend, going out there and playing against a great Rams defense ... Ill be feeling a lot better than I was feeling last week.The Patriots used their injured reserve/return designation on quarterback Jacoby Brissett on Wednesday, so the team wouldnt be able to place Gronkowski on injured reserve and activate him if it makes a deep playoff run. Each team is allowed to designate only one player to return. ' ' '