ORCHARD PARK, N. Archie Manning Authentic Jersey .Y. -- Running back Fred Jackson immediately waved off the Buffalo Bills training staff once the cart pulled up along the sideline. "Yeah, I knew it was out there," Jackson recalled Monday. "And I knew I didnt need it." Sore as his sprained left knee felt a day earlier, Jackson had no intention of being carted off during a game at Miami for the second time in two years. Rather than climb aboard, Jackson grabbed his helmet and headed back on the field, where he proceeded to play a key role in a 23-21 win over the Dolphins. "Oh yeah, I was motivated," said Jackson, still stung by the memory of breaking his right leg at Miami in November 2011. "That was something that ran through my mind yesterday. And I wanted to be out there." Wearing a brace hes had on since first hurting his knee three weeks ago, Jackson persevered in producing a gutty performance that continued to solidify his position as the Bills vocal and inspirational leader. He scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter after aggravating the injury a series earlier, when teammate Scott Chandler rolled into the side of Jacksons knee on the sideline. And he was still at it in the final minutes. Jackson gained 16 yards on three consecutive carries -- including a 10-yard run to convert a third-and-4 at the Dolphins 28 -- to set up Dan Carpenters game-winning 31-yard field goal with 33 seconds left. He finished with 36 yards rushing and 49 yards receiving in helping the Bills (3-4) snap a two-game skid and win a road game for the first time since Oct. 14, 2012, at Arizona. And dont be surprised to see Jackson playing this Sunday at New Orleans (5-1). "Its definitely sore today," Jackson said. "But I expect to be out there. Ill do everything I can." His teammates would expect nothing less from the seven-year veteran. "Hes got a lot of heart. Hes one of those guys whos a natural leader," guard Kraig Urbik said. "When we need a little pick up or need a little extra, hes always the guy to provide it. Hes one of those guys that we always rally behind." Jacksons resilience is beginning to reflect the identity of a young team that has shown no signs of quit this season despite a series of injuries to key regulars -- including rookie quarterback EJ Manuel (sprained right knee). Buffalos three wins have been determined by a combined 6 points, and four losses determined by a combined 25. And the Bills have either led or been within a score of the lead in all seven games. Thats well ahead of the modest expectations that came with a team that underwent a near top-to-bottom overhaul this off-season and hasnt been to the playoffs in 13 seasons -- the NFLs longest active drought. "Im extremely proud," rookie coach Doug Marrone said. "Were fighting, fighting, fighting. And thats what were going to keep doing. ... Granted, were not happy with the record or where were at, but were working on changing that every single day." Marrone singled out Jackson for the leadership hes provided. "I think Fred is an outstanding pro, and he leads by example," Marrone said. "Theres a lot of youth in him which were very happy with." Youth is a relative term for Jackson. At 32, hes not sure how many more seasons hes got left, or how much longer his wobbly left knee can hold up this season. That leaves him focusing on short-term objectives, such as doing everything he can to turn the Bills into winners this season. "Weve got a great opportunity in front of us right now. And I want to be a part of it," Jackson said. "The confidence in this locker room is sky-high in here. We believe in ourselves. And theres nothing more powerful than a locker room that has confidence in itself." NOTES: Bills LB Manny Lawson (hamstring) is expected to be limited in returning to practice this week after he was hurt Sunday. ... Buffalo has allowed two TDs rushing this season, the teams fewest through seven games since allowing two in 1982, according to STATS LLC. ... The Bills and Broncos are the NFLs only two teams to have scored at least 20 points in each game this season. Tavon Rooks Jersey . Hudson pitched into the eighth inning after having eight days between starts, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Saturday night. Jonathan Goodwin . Entering the day in second place behind overnight leader Vincenzo Nibali, the 41-year-old Horner pulled away from the Giro dItalia champion over the final meters of the uphill ascent to turn a three-second deficit into a three-second lead with just two days to go.SAN ANTONIO -- Family vacations, scouting, free agency, rest and relaxation, playing in the European Championships. The staff and players of the San Antonio Spurs had a hectic off-season, but not even the busiest day this summer could make them forget what might have been just three months ago. San Antonio was five seconds away from winning its fifth NBA title only to watch the Miami Heat rally for an improbable 103-100 overtime victory in Game 6. Almost as heartbreaking was a 95-88 loss in Game 7 that gave the Heat their second consecutive title and handed the Spurs their first series loss in the NBA Finals. "Suffice to say Ive thought about it every day," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "Im wondering if it will go away, Im anxious for it to happen, but it hasnt happened yet." Returning to the court as a team should help ease the pain. Thats what the players and coaches are hoping for. The Spurs open a four-day training camp in Tuesday at the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colo. "As time goes on, as we all know in our lives, you get back to the day-to-day stuff pretty easily, because its the nature of life," Popovich said. "Basketball might be like the 11th- or 12th-most important thing on your list. So, its time to get over it." Thats the mentality the veteran Spurs take into their 18th season under Popovich, but its one that will be different in a number of ways. San Antonios Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili return to a roster basically unchanged from last season. Still, the bench is going to look vastly different after assistants Mike Budenholzer and Brett Brown left to become head coaches at Atlanta and Philadelphia, respectively. "We really dont know yet (what impact the departures will have)," Ginobili said. "But, for sure, were going to miss them. If any of us had a doubt during the game we would go bother Brett probably before Pop because Pop is doing so many things and controlling other stuff that if you have a question you go to them because you knew they were going to think the same as Pop." Jim Boylen, formerly of the Pacers, was added to the coaching staff along with former Spurs player Sean Marks. Popovich joked he may turn over player instruction during training camp to his Big Three because he will be too busy "coaching the coaches." The Spurs have added Marco Belinelli, Corey Maggette, Sam Young and Jeff Ayres, who changed his surname from Pendergraph in the off-season, through free agency. Drew Brees Authentic Jersey. . Maggette and Young will compete to spell Kawhi Leonard, the talented third-year forward who is expected to take on a bigger role in the teams offence after a breakout campaign last year. Leonard averaged 11.9 points and 6.0 rebounds last season and had a career playoff-high 22 points as well as 11 rebounds and three steals in Game 6 against Miami. "I think Kawhi is the new Parker, Ginobili and Duncan kind of guy," Popovich said. "Hes going to take over as the star of the show as time goes on. Hes been phenomenal. Hes improved more quickly than any other player weve ever had because his mindset is such that he wants to be great and he has all the reasons to be so we have to put him in position where he can be a great player." Leonards development will be needed on a veteran team that many thought was too old to make it past the first round let alone to fall in a heartbreaking defeat in the Finals. Can San Antonio overcome that disappointment for another improbable run? The Spurs can look to their French teammates to see a rebirth is possible. Parker, Boris Diaw and Nando De Colo took some of the sting out of their Finals loss by defeating Lithuania on Sept. 22 to claim Frances first title in the European Championships. "I had a great summer," Parker said. "Obviously it was worth it. Big win for France, first win in history. That last week it was an experience that you only live once in a lifetime; it was crazy in France." Popovich was proud of his players, but jokingly said he wasnt going to take it easy on Parker during training camp even though his All-Star point guard spent most of the off-season playing for Frances national team. "No, what does he make, like $200 million a year?" Popovich said with a wry smile. Still, the jovial mood didnt quite hide the disappointment he said he continues to feel. A former player and assistant coach with the Air Force Academy, Popovich said holding training camp in a new environment should quicken the team bonding. "Its going to be a lot of fun, just to do something different," Popovich said. "Take them to altitude, take them to mountains; get them away from everything. It will help the coaches. And look at the players that have been her for a while, it will be good for them to meet the new coaches. Weve got some new players in camp, so its a good camaraderie thing." ' ' '
