The man who brought as much value to the position as anyone in football history, Smith is the career rushing leader with 18,355 yards. DeMarco Murray, the guy currently toting the ball for the team Smith helped win three Super Bowls, the Dallas Cowboys, isnt faring too poorly this season. Murray has rushed for at least 100 yards in all eight games, an NFL mark, and is on pace to gain 2,000 yards on the ground.Further proof, Smith says, that the running back is an important cog, even in todays pass-happy NFL.That the league has drifted to becoming a quarterback-focused league, the demands for a running back have been neutralized a bit, Smith says. Everyone wants to get that quarterback.But there are not that many Aaron Rodgers or Peyton Mannings or Tom Bradys or Philip Rivers. Its been proven through time that to have success in the NFL, you have to have that balance.Look at the teams who have won Super Bowls recently. Seattle last year could run the ball. Pittsburgh, Baltimore. Even San Francisco when you go back, could run the ball. And we could run it. You have to have that running game to win championships.Smith believes Murray can crack the 2,000-yard barrier, but only if he and everyone around him can stay healthy. Thats already in question with quarterback Tony Romo nursing a back problem.Smith plans to attend the Super Bowl and has hopes the Cowboys will get there for the first time since he helped them win the 1995 NFL title. First, hell be attending the college football championship at the Cowboys home stadium, which he calls Jerrys World.As part of a contest sponsored by Keurig (www.Tailgate.Keurig.com), fans can win a trip to the game to spend time with Smith — and not just brewing coffee.Its a chance for me to engage with the fans up close and personal, Smith says. We can talk football and anything else they want to talk about.___LYSTEDT LAW: The Brain Injury Alliance of Washington will celebrate this weekend the passage of youth sports concussion laws in all 50 states.The NFL and USA Football, the governing body for the sport, have played roles in helping get the Lystedt Law passed throughout the nation. Commissioner Roger Goodell will accept the organizations 2014 Leadership Award on behalf of the NFL at a gala in Seattle.Such laws were inspired by Zack Lystedt. In 2006, Lystedt suffered a brain injury following his return to a middle school football game after sustaining a concussion. Zackery, his family and a broad range of medical, business and community partners lobbied the Washington state legislature for a law to better protect young athletes in all sports.In 2010, Goodell sent letters to the governors of 44 states that did not have concussion laws urging them to pass something similar to the Lystedt Law. The NFL advocated for the laws until every state had one.That has happened.The passage of the Lystedt Law in all 50 states is an important step for all young athletes and their parents, says Goodell, whose teenage twin daughters have played soccer and lacrosse. The Lystedts and the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington should rightfully be proud of all that they did to make the nationwide passage a reality. We are honoured to support their work to protect all young players, no matter what sport they play.We will continue to focus on making our game better and safer and setting the right example on health and safety in sports.VACATION OR SUIT UP?: The New York Giants cost cornerback Mike Harris a vacation.A member of the Lions practice squad, Harris was on his way to the airport for a flight home during Detroits bye week when he got a call that the Giants had signed him on Tuesday.Vacation over.Harris changed his plans and planes, went to New Jersey and practiced with the team on Thursday for its game against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night.Harris, who spent the 2012-13 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and made seven starts in 31 games, is ready to play.You have to be ready, Harris said. You never know when your number is going to be called.In Harris case, you also never know where you are going to be when your phone number is called, and what it might cost you.I would rather lose the bye week rather than spend another week on the practice squad, he said.JERSEY REPORT: As the league approaches the halfway point for all 32 teams, who has the hottest-selling jerseys?Who else but the quarterbacks?Denvers Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Andrew Luck and Seattles Russell Wilson rank at the top according to sales at Dicks Sporting Goods stores. Four other QBs make the Top 10: Baltimores Joe Flacco is sixth, Carolinas Cam Newton is eighth, New Englands Tom Brady is ninth and — even though he is a backup who rarely gets on the field — Cleveland rookie Johnny Manziel is 10th.Only one defensive player is in the Top 10, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 5.Fifth is Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, and seventh is Bears receiver Brandon Marshall.The defending champion Seahawks top the team sales chart, followed by Denver, Carolina, Chicago and Baltimore.___AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner and Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed to this story.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFLAuthentic Buffalo Bills Jerseys .ca. Kerry, In the first period of Saturdays Montreal-Ottawa game, Brendan Gallagher is called for goaltender interference. Craig Anderson is outside the blue paint trying to make the save. Custom Bills Jerseys . -- Mississippis Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot. http://www.cheapbills.us/.J. -- Kyle Palmieri thrilled his personal rooting section with an overtime winner that sent the Anaheim Ducks to their seventh straight win. Cheap Buffalo Bills Jerseys Online . Curlings version of the Ryder Cup will introduce a new format beginning with the 2015 event, set for Jan. 8 to 11 in Calgary, as itll be Team Canada taking on Team Europe this season and in the 2017 event, while itll be Team Canada against Team World (including the U. Discount Buffalo Bills Jerseys . -- Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno was admitted to the hospital Friday for observation due to minor complications from cancer treatments, his family said.(SportsNetwork.com) - The San Antonio Spurs are one win away from another trip to the NBA Finals, and theyll try and take that step Saturday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final. Follow all the action live on TSN and TSN GO beginning at 8:30pm et/5:30 pm pt. The series shifts back to Chesapeake Energy Arena Saturday night where the Thunder have won nine straight against San Antonio, including two in this postseason. "Its a tough place to play, and weve lost however many in a row there, and theyre going to be fighting for their lives. All those factors altogether is not going to make it an easy game for us," said Spurs forward Tim Duncan. "But we feel we play the right way." The Spurs moved within a game of a repeat appearance against the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals thanks to a 117-89 blowout in Thursdays Game 5. The Heat prevailed last year, but San Antonio owns four titles since Duncan and head coach Gregg Popovich united in Alamo City. For the Thunder, this is the third time this postseason theyll face an elimination game. Since theyre playing on Saturday, their success thus far has been unquestioned. "We just have to worry about the next game," Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant said. "Were guaranteed 48 more minutes. Its been an up-and-down series but we have to find a way to come with it in Game 6." They didnt "come with it" in Game 5. The Spurs made 13 3-pointers and had six players score in double figures in Game 5s drubbing. Duncan led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Manu Ginobili carried a bench attack that outscored Oklahoma Citys reserves by a wide 55-26 margin. Ginobili scored 19 points, fellow reserve Boris Diaw netted 13 annd Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard each had 14 for the Spurs.dddddddddddd After holding the Spurs to under 40 percent shooting in Games 3 and 4, the Thunder watched helplessly as San Antonio made 51.3 percent of its shots. "We didnt have the defensive disposition that weve had the last two games," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. "We have to regroup and come back better in a few days." Durant and Russell Westbrook finished with 25 and 21 points, respectively, for Oklahoma City, a far cry from the duos superb 71-point dual effort in Tuesdays victory. Serge Ibaka was limited to six points and just two rebounds in the loss. The Spurs tweaked their starting lineup for Game 6, inserting sharpshooter Matt Bonner in place of Tiago Splitter, a traditional center. Bonner was not a factor, but the rest of the Spurs usual reserves were instrumental in the strong start. "It worked for a while," Popovich said. "Im not too interested in talking to you about specifics about why things worked or didnt work. Id rather have other people figure that out." Three-pointers from Patty Mills and Green tied the game at 32-32 heading into the second, and Ginobili led the way in a one-sided second quarter with nine points on 4-of-4 shooting. Ginobilis layup and 3-pointer had the hosts ahead by as many as 13 late in the half before Westbrook beat the buzzer with a deep make to pull Oklahoma City within 65-55. The Spurs owned a 16-2 advantage in the paint in the second quarter, then capped the third on a 12-4 run to essentially put the game away. With the score at 94-74 entering the fourth, both teams emptied their benches with Game 6 on the horizon. If needed, Game 7 would be Monday in San Antonio. 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