PROFILES » Sergei Starodoubtsev experienced the NFL was by watching

LONDON (AP) — For the past three years http://www.coltsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-ben-banogu-jersey , the only way highlights of JuJu Smith-Schuster and other players on Instagram.That the 17-year-old found himself sharing a field with the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver — he was the one in workout clothes, not Smith-Schuster — was a little more than even he could comprehend.“He’s a different athlete and such an amazing player,” Starodoubtsev said, awe-struck and struggling to find his words as Smith-Schuster addressed a group of fellow teenagers nearby. “I’m trying to succeed in this career and be on the big TV and play in the NFL and be in the same situation as JuJu.”At 6-foot-3 and 238 pounds with eye-catching quickness, Starodoubtsev is, in many ways, exactly what football coaches and recruiters across the United States desire. His only disadvantage? He lives in East London, where opportunities to play the American game are difficult to find.That’s why Starodoubtsev was at soccer power Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium earlier this month, one of 150 hopefuls trying to land one of 80 spots in the inaugural class of the NFL Academy this fall. The league, which has been playing regular-season games in London since 2007, wants to maintain a more lasting presence in the city beyond those few weekends a year. It believes it can do that — and grow the sport — by identifying and cultivating young British talent.“In the last two or three years, this has been about, whilst being quintessentially American, could we be more British (and) locally relevant?” said NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood. “(Can we) have grassroots and a commitment to having British players who look like you and talk like you, and then at the same time have younger kids playing the game right down to flag football?”Players in the United States have a well-developed path to playing professional sports, progressing from youth leagues to high school and college. The setup in Europe differs significantly. It’s far more common for prospects to join a sports club’s academy at a young age and receive coaching in a structured environment all the way through to a senior-team debut.Kirkwood wants to follow that model — with a twist. By partnering with Barnet & Southgate College in north London, those who have been selected to enroll in the NFL Academy will begin classes in September with up to 12 hours of football practice added on each week.The initial enrollment will include boys ages 16-18. Kirkwood speculated about plans to target other age groups, and even girls, at other locations over time.“I’d be taking over the world by now if I had this opportunity,” said Carolina Panthers defensive end Efe Obada, who was raised in London, played in several local leagues and made his NFL debut last season. “For it to now be real Khari Willis Jersey , and to be getting kids who are 15, 16, introduced to the sport and having them surrounded by some major role models and real NFL players … it’s crazy. It’s amazing.”More than 1,500 prospects applied for a spot in the academy, with 150 finalists drawn from that pool after two months of workouts and interviews. Those finalists, invited to join Obada, Smith-Schuster and other program ambassadors at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, were put through a final round of combine-style workouts, including the 40-yard dash, the broad jump, the vertical leap and the 20-yard shuttle run.Nearly half the participants were from London, the rest from other parts of Britain — a few traveled from elsewhere in Europe, including Poland’s Kacper Jaszewski, who completed the fastest shuttle run in 4.3 seconds.Tony Allen, who will serve as the academy’s head coach, believes applicants’ backgrounds aren’t important as long as they show some degree of athletic ability. Starodoubtsev, for example, plays rugby. David Ani, a 16-year-old from Manchester who is already 6-foot-2, has a basketball background. Some said they are sprinters, a few play handball and one even said he plays water polo.“I just don’t think it’s fair to bring in a kid with a rugby, soccer or cricket background and run them through positional drills because they’re going to look like Bambi the first time around and be falling over the bags Josh Allen Jersey ,” said Allen, who was formerly the NFL’s director of international player development and a coach with the London Monarchs of NFL Europe.“I don’t know where we’ll start from. It could be, ‘This is a center and this is a guard,’ in all honesty, but we’ll give them bespoke training, in class, film analysis, kind of fast-tracking them so that when they get on the field, they know what drills to do.”The finalists will be put through another round of character assessments before the initial class is decided in late July. Although Kirkwood and Allen both said they’d be pleased for the program’s graduates to obtain Division I scholarship offers, the goal, for now, is personal development.Still, nearly all who tried out harbor that NFL dream. Starodoubtsev, who thinks he’ll be a defensive end, was reassured he’ll have a place in the initial class once a coach saw him run the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds. Ani, who plays in a league in Manchester as a tight end, wants to be back at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which begins hosting NFL games in October.“Hopefully, when I’m older, I’ll be here,” Ani said, gesturing toward the field. “I’ll be here balling out for everybody.” ORLANDO Parris Campbell Jersey , Fla. (AP) — The Pro Bowl has long been considered a laughable representation of the NFL game.It reached a new level of comedy Sunday as several players swapped positions during the annual all-star game.Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey caught a touchdown pass in the final minute, capping a dominant performance for the AFC defense in a 26-7 victory over the NFC in steady rain. It was the third consecutive victory for the AFC, all of them at Camping World Stadium.The last two were played in sloppy weather, with the latest one also coming amid temperatures in the mid-50s. It was far from ideal conditions, raising speculation about the game’s future in Orlando, but fairly fitting considering the effort players provided. It was two-hand touch most of the day, with officials blowing plays dead at the slightest hint of contact.“Who cares, man?” New York Jets safety Jamal Adams said. “At the end of the day, we’re like little kids out there just playing in the mud, playing in the rain.”Regardless of the elements, the AFC made the plays the NFC didn’t.Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Indianapolis’ Eric Ebron on the opening possession, helping Mahomes earn the offensive Most Valuable Player award. Mahomes pleaded with voters to give it to Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman, who caught three passes for 92 yards and ran for a score.“Sherman had my vote. Sherman had my vote,” said Mahomes, who completed 7 of 14 passes for 156 yards. “I thought I told everybody on the camera. He made some plays out there. For a fullback, we have one of the best in the league so I’m always happy to try to get him a little vote like that.”Adams, who made headlines for sacking the New England Patriots mascot during a Pro Bowl skills competition, was named the defensive MVP thanks to an interception and a sack.“It’s a great achievement, but the main thing was to come out here and get the victory,” Adams said. “That was the main thing, just to get the money, man. That’s what we wanted.”Mahomes and Adams each got a luxury vehicle.AFC players will get $67 http://www.coltsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-bobby-okereke-jersey ,000 each for the victory, $8,000 more than the guys who lose the Super Bowl next week in Atlanta. The Pro Bowl losers will get $39,000 each.The AFC defenders earned their share of the pot. The conference allowed the NFC 148 total yards and 10 first downs while intercepting three passes and notching seven sacks.Ramsey got in on offense late, catching a 6-yard slant pass from Houston’s Deshaun Watson with 19 seconds remaining. Los Angeles Chargers rookie safety Derwin James failed to haul in the 2-point conversion.“Man, me and Deshaun, that’s my brother from another mother,” Ramsey said. “We’ve been plotting and scheming all week, manifesting, and it just came about.”New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott, Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans and New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara all got in on defense for the NFC. Evans notched an interception.The AFC led 20-0 early in the fourth quarter, looking like it might record the first shutout in Pro Bowl history. But Dallas’ Dak Prescott found Atlanta’s Austin Hooper for a 20-yard score on fourth down with 9:09 remaining.The NFC had plenty of chances before that. The conference failed to score on a fourth-and-goal run early. Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky, Minnesota receiver Adam Thielen and Prescott threw interceptions.Trubisky was sacked by Adams on a flea flicker, and Dallas’ Amari Cooper had a wide-open touchdown pass bounce off his face mask.Seattle’s Russell Wilson also was sacked four times.MASCOT MADNESSAdams’ hit on the Pats mascot went viral, leading to false reports about the guy being hospitalized.“It’s dying down now,” Adams said. “He never went to the hospital. They blew it up. It was all for the fans. I gained some fans and I gained some enemies, put it like that.”IN-GAME HIJINKSIndianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron had his phone tucked into the pocket of his sweatshirt and used it between the third and fourth quarters. Ebron took pics with opposing players, working his way around the entire NFC defense.ANOTHER NO-CALLAdams hugged a line judge who didn’t throw a flag on an obvious pass interference play against Green Bay receiver Davonte Adams. Davonte Adams dropped to the ground in disbelief, and several NFC teammates protested.Players from both conferences spent the week lamenting a now-infamous no-call in the NFC title game.INJURIESPittsburgh Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen left the game with bruised knees. Neither was considered serious, although Smith-Schuster was limping on the way to the bus and declined comment. Allen caught four passes for 95 yards before sitting out.UP NEXTNew England and the Los Angeles Rams play in the Super Bowl next Sunday.