COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Jadeveon Clowney believes hes the NFLs No. 1 draft pick and says he took a big step toward that goal during South Carolinas pro day workouts Wednesday. The 6-foot-5, 266-pound defensive end did position drills in front of dozens of NFL personnel, including Houston head coach Bill OBrien and Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley. And Clowney thinks he elevated his already elite status during the 40 minutes or so of running through cones, jumping over hurdles and catching tennis balls in workouts he passed on at the NFL combine in February. "Yes, I do feel like I should be the first pick," Clowney said after the session. Clowney did not lift weights or run the 40-yard dash, standing on his combine showings when he did 21 reps at 225 pounds and clocked a 4.53-second time. He also felt he eased anyones concerns about his work ethic. He was considered by many the No. 1 pick after his sophomore season in 2012, when he had 13 sacks and closed it with his helmet-jarring hit on Michigans Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl. The footage of the hit was seemingly shown daily on highlight shows and Clowney immediately became a Heisman Trophy favourite, analysts projecting record-setting sack numbers. But Clowney couldnt live up to the expectations as injuries and opponents schemed him out of plays. He finished with a disappointing three sacks. A midseason tiff with coach Steve Spurrier -- Clowney pulled himself out of the Kentucky game with a rib muscle strain without following proper protocol -- intensified questions about Clowneys work habits and going hard every play. "I think my work ethic is pretty good. I think I proved that today, but Ive still got a lot of proving to do," he said. There were 30 of 32 NFL teams represented with Tennessee and Cleveland opting to pass on South Carolinas pro day. Clowney spent Tuesday night at dinner with the Texans, including OBrien, defensive co-ordinator Romeo Crennel and general manager Rick Smith. Clowney thought the visit went well and he answered their questions about what hed bring to the Texans if they took him with the top selection in Mays draft. Houstons leaders liked what they saw of Clowney on the field. "I thought he had a good day. He worked hard and did a bunch of different drills, which was good to see," said OBrien, the Texans first-year coach. Smith was happy to see Clowney move easily in space should the Texans draft him and use him at outside linebacker spot. Clowneys got a quick first step that lets him fly past offensive lineman, but hes also got sustained speed that allows him to chase down opponents other defensive lineman cant. "He could absolutely play outside linebacker for us," Smith said. Clowney wasnt the only former Gamecock player working out. Leading receiver Bruce Ellington, offensive lineman Ronald Patrick and quarterback Connor Shaw -- all projected to go in the draft -- also worked out for NFL scouts and leaders. But the show, as its been since he packed a high-school auditorium on Valentines Day 2011 for his college selection, was the easygoing, hard-charging Clowney. Several hundred fans that turned out cheered his every move and gave him a loud farewell when the defensive linemen wrapped up their portion of drills. "I just wish I had pads on and could hit somebody," Clowney said with a smile. Clowney has individual workouts scheduled with the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons. Houstons Smith says Clowney will also visit the Texans complex before next months draft. While OBrien said his teams draft plans were still wide open -- the Texans traded starting quarterback Matt Schaub this off-season -- Clowney hopes hes made himself a bit harder to pass up. Clowney thought a defensive line that included himself and All-Pro end J.J. Watt would be unstoppable. "Id be great, a great fit for them," Clowney said. Clowney acknowledged it was a point of pride for him that he arrived at South Carolina as the No. 1 high school prospect and leaves as the NFLs top choice. "Im just going to keep on pushing," he said, "all the way to the draft." China Shoes Store . It was a day that saw England slump off a World Cup field once again battered and bruised. This time there was no red card to wonder about, no goalkeeping error or individual mistake. They were thoroughly beaten by something they have nothing of – genuine world class ability. China Shoes To USA . The above paragraph could be rewritten, verbatim, with Marcus Stromans name in place of Romeros. 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Yeezy From China .com) - Semyon Varlamov more than earned his third shutout of the season as he made a career-high 54 saves to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.TORONTO - Shortly after Raptors rookie Lucas Bebe Nogueira returned to the locker room following his NBA pre-season debut Wednesday, he received an emotional phone call from back home. His family and friends had watched the game live from Brazil. His mother was first on the line. My mom, shes so emotional, the 22-year-old Nogueira said after scoring eight points and blocking three shots in the Raptors 92-85 victory over Israeli club, Maccabi Haifa. She [was] crying a lot. She cries about everything, but I understand why she is crying, because they adopted me. Nogueira went on to praise his family and his upbringing. They gave me all the support to be, not [only] a basketball player, but a good person and a good human, he continued. I think the most important thing about making money and playing basketball is that you get to be a good person. They gave me a whole education and support so right now to see her son in the NBA, shes so proud. So I understand why shes crying. Leave it to Nogueira, a player who has already become known for his trademark afro and infectious positivity, to make the best of a three-week delay to the start of his first-ever NBA training camp. The seven-foot Brazilian has been a spectator for most of the fall, sitting out practices and the teams first six preseason games with a couple lingering injuries, most notably a hamstring ailment that forced the coaching staff to play it safe with the young centre. Not the ideal start to anyones career, let alone someone who has been waiting a long time for his first NBA opportunity - one of the reasons he could barely hide his excitement when he learned hed be in uniform and available for Wednesdays contest. I was nervous because it was my first game, he admitted when it was all over. I had just two practices with the team, so I was a little bit nervous. Nogueira waited anxiously, standing in front of his locker just over an hour ahead of tip-off. James Johnson, his neighbour and one of his biggest supporters on the team, came over to give him a pep talk. He didnt have to wait long to get his feet wet, checking into the game with fellow rookie and countryman, Bruno Caboclo, midway through the second quarter. He didnt look out of place but, as he pointed out before the game, hes not the typical first-year player. Its my first year in the NBA, [but] it’s not my first professional year, said Nogueira, who has been playing pro ball in Spain since he was 16-years-old. If I have a chance to play, Ill try to show the skills I learned in Spain: protect the rim, rebound [and] I can score sometimes. Less than a minute after entering, Nogueira drained a pair of free throws after he was fouled around the rim. Later in the quarter, he blocked shots on back-to-back possessions, a brief glimpse into the defensive presence the Raptors hope he can become with some added strength and seasoning. With their foreign visitors on a 16-0 run to begin the fourth quarter and take a five-point lead, the Raptors turned to both rookies, Nogueira and Caboclo, to close out the game. Down by one with two-and-a-half minutes remaining, Johnson found Nogueira wide open under the rim for an easy dunk. Moments later, he followed up a missed Caboclo jumper with a put-back lay-up to give Toronto a five-point advantage. Lucas came in and deterred some shots and thats what he should do, coach Dwane Casey said of his young centre. I was really impressed with the way he came in and played. The original timetable for Nogueiras absence - nursing what he called a fatigued hamstring muscle - was six-to-eight weeks.dddddddddddd Asked how long he had been out, he knew instantly. Yesterday was six weeks. We worked so hard, he said. Three weeks ago, I was not 100 per cent, but I was, like 80 per cent, because we worked so hard. Sometimes, it was two sessions a day. So its not surprising to me [to be back]. Maybe if you stay home and do nothing, maybe it’s surprising. But I worked hard to come back early. Even in the middle of the game, during timeouts, Nogueira worked with team trainers to keep his hamstring loose. Given the amount of time hes spent with Alex McKechnie, Raptors director of sports science, of late, one would think they might be tired of each other by now. But thats not in Nogueiras makeup. As Casey says, hes never met a stranger. He’s my guy, the chatty Brazilian said of McKechnie. He’s an amazing guy, an amazing professional. We are friends. I hope I’ll have that friendship all my life. Its that uniquely positive approach that helped him bare the lay-off while he watched the rest of his teammates bond on the court throughout camp. Its also what hes relying on as he plays catch-up. I’m a young player, he said. I dont have problems adapting. Of course, the guys ahead of me are in better shape than me because they didn’t stop working the whole summer. I worked the whole summer too, except right now, my six weeks out. Maybe I’m a little bit [behind], but I don’t have a problem of [getting back into] shape. With the preseason winding down, Nogueira returned just in time to get some run. Wednesday was likely the final opportunity for Casey to get an in-game look at his younger players - and those who are in contention for the teams final roster spot - before he goes back to his regular rotation in Fridays exhibition finale. If all goes right once the season begins for real next week, Nogueira - like Caboclo - will have to develop on the sidelines, in practice and, perhaps, in short stints with the D-League affiliate in Fort Wayne, but hes well aware of what his role will be in year one and doesnt seem remotely fazed by it. I’m okay because I’ve played six years professionally, he reiterated. The first three years, I didn’t play. I stayed on the bench the whole year. Sometimes, the [centre] got hurt, coach put the shooting guard in the post, but didn’t [play] me. I’m okay if I don’t play 82 games. The good thing about it is the D-League, said Casey. We can see [Nogueira and Caboclo] playing in real games against players there if theyre not playing here. Thats going to be very beneficial to both of them, getting those minutes in the D-League and learning in game situations there more so than here. Our goal is totally different now, along with developing them, winning is as important as the development, Casey continued. Theyre going to get their opportunities in practice and, knock on wood something doesnt happen [with injuries], but right now, theyre kind of down on the totem pole as far as rotation is concerned. Wherever Nogueira finds himself - whether its the bench, the D-League, or elsewhere - hell be wearing a smile across his face and perhaps the newest addition to his wardrobe. [Kyle Lowry] gave it to me, he said of the fluffy pink rabbit hat sitting in his locker, a form of rookie hazing. I have a rabbit, [Will Cherry] has a wolf, Bruno has a rabbit too, but a white [one]. ' ' '