THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Todd Gurley seemed all set to become one of the NFLs most prominent running backs when he moved west with the Los Angeles Rams.So far, his numbers arent looking good under the Hollywood spotlight.Gurley is halfway through an unimpressive season on an offense apparently incapable of getting him room to run. While his coaches praise his work ethic and mental approach, Gurley acknowledges hes simply trying not to get frustrated.Just got to stay consistent, Gurley said Friday before the Rams flew to New York. Just stay patient.Gurley is 18th in the NFL with 451 yards rushing, but his 3.1 yards per carry are the worst among the NFLs top 45 ball carriers. He hasnt broken a run longer than 33 yards all season, and his carries are declining to just 41 over the past three games.With little respect for the Rams passing game, defenses have loaded up to stop Gurley all season long -- and its working. He hasnt topped 85 yards in any game this year, and he has scored just three touchdowns.The Rams (3-5) have lost four straight as they head out to face the Jets (3-6), who have one of the NFLs best run defenses. Gurleys wait to get rolling could easily last another week, but the Rams cant afford to wait much longer for results from the leagues 31st-ranked offense.The biggest challenge for us offensively is running the football, coach Jeff Fisher said. Todd is not getting enough carries. Our passing numbers are skewed. ... His touches and his numbers need to increase significantly. Thats what we discussed, and what were working on right now.But when Gurley gets those touches, he hasnt been able to do much with them, which leads to an offense that fell behind and required Case Keenum to throw 99 passes over the last two games.The Rams are desperate for any consistency in their offense, but offensive coordinator Rob Boras realizes a steady running game would make it easier for Gurley to find the rhythm he has lacked all season. Gurley and Los Angeles offensive line simply cant execute it against those run-focused defenses.For any runner, and especially a guy like Todd ... the more carries they get, the more that theyre going to settle in, Boras said. Not only as a runner, but as the blockers, the O-line, the tight ends. Part of that is staying on the field and sustaining some drives and eliminating three-and-outs. Thats obviously what were trying to get done.Gurley and the running game seemed to be the Rams greatest offensive strength heading into this homecoming season. The Georgia product romped to 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, impressing the entire NFL with his speed and tenacity. The 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft was the Offensive Rookie of the Year despite starting just 12 games, making up for it by averaging 4.8 yards per carry.But Gurleys production hit another trough last weekend when he got 48 yards on a season-low 12 carries against Carolina. He even watched the final drive from the sideline in favor of Benny Cunningham, the Rams favored back in two-minute drill situations.The struggles have prompted Gurley to go back to the elemental foundations of his position. While his coaches havent criticized his performance, Gurley clearly has been discussing the importance of patience when hitting holes or reading blockers.Even when the hole is not there, (whats important is) still being able to just read it the same, and dont try to do nothing outside of the play, Gurley said. Just making sure youre on the same track as everybody else, because once you start to predetermine stuff, thats when you know youre not on the same page as your linemen. You try to bounce it outside. You get holding calls. You just want to stay consistent.Gurley missed two practices this week with a thigh injury, but returned at full strength Friday. He plans to play in New York, and his body feels much better than it did last season, when he missed training camp while recovering from knee surgery.You just have to stay patient, stick to the plan, keep going out there and work hard, Gurley said. Just hope that things open up, and Im pretty sure they will.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCustom Saints Jerseys .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Wholesale Custom Saints Shirts . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/ . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Custom Erik McCoy Jersey . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Custom Saints Jersey China . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. NFLLONDON -- The NFL placed Josh Brown on paid leave hours after coach Ben McAdoo struggled to answer questions about how the New York Giants might discipline the kicker for abusing his wife.In a letter to the 14-year veteran, NFL senior vice president of labor policy Adolpho Birch said Brown was being placed on the leagues exempt list while the league investigates whether he should be suspended as punishment for several alleged acts of spousal abuse. Birch said the move does not represent a finding that you have violated the personal conduct policy, but does pave the way toward potential further sanctions.Being placed on Commissioner Roger Goodells exempt list means Brown cannot attend practices or Giants games but can go to Giants headquarters for meetings and workouts.HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Former NFL Alumni Association President George Martin told a concussion conference the injury is a scourge in contact sports with long-term consequences still widely underestimated.Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including concussions.Martin was the keynote speaker at the Ultimate Concussion Conference, a gathering of experts and policymakers in sports administration, law, education and health, including neuroscience and neuropsychology. About 80 people were expected for the three-day event.NBAMIAMI -- A woman performing the national anthem before an NBA preseason game in Miami did so while kneeling at midcourt, and opening her jacket to show a shirt with the phrase Black Lives Matter.The singer was identified by the Heat as Denasia Lawrence. It was unclear if she remained in the arena after the performance, and messages left for her were not immediately returned.Heat players and coaches stood side-by-side for the anthem, all with their arms linked as has been their custom during the preseason. Many had their heads down as Lawrence sang, and the team released a statement saying it had no advance knowledge that she planned to kneel.NEW YORK -- This season hasnt started and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver already has good news about next season.It appears theres no chance it will be affected by a work stoppage.Silver said Friday the league and players have made tremendous progresss toward an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, saying he hoped a deal would be completed soon.ddddddddddddSilver said the process was far different than the contentious negotiations of 2011, which led to a lockout and a 2011-12 season that was shortened to 66 games.This time, the sides have been meeting for a few months and seem eager to make a deal long before Dec. 15, when either side can notify the other of its intention to opt out of the 10-year pact, which expires in June 2021.WNBANEW YORK -- For the second time in a week during the WNBA Finals, the league acknowledged a late officiating mistake.The WNBA said the officials missed a shot clock violation in the deciding Game 5 on Thursday night in which the Los Angeles Sparks beat the defending champion Minnesota Lynx 77-76.After reviewing postgame video, we have determined that Nneka Ogwumikes shot with 1:14 remaining in regulation time should not have counted due to a shot-clock violation, and that the referees improperly failed to review the play under the instant replay rules, Renee Brown, WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations, said in a statement Friday.Ogwumikes jumper with 3.1 seconds left, off the rebound of her blocked shot, won it for the Sparks.AUTO RACINGAUSTIN, Texas -- The Mercedes duel is hitting full throttle at the U.S. Grand Prix.Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg put more pressure on teammate and rival Lewis Hamilton by posting the fastest lap in Fridays practice sessions as he seeks to tighten his grip on a potential first title.Hamilton led the morning session before Rosberg came back in the afternoon with a lap of 1 minute, 37.358 seconds. Hamilton was third in the afternoon session, but his morning lap of 1:37.428 was second-quickest on the day.FIGURE SKATINGHOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- American Ashley Wagner won the Progressive Skate America short program with a score of 69.50, building on her second-place finish in the world championships.Japans Mai Mihara, making her Grand Prix Series debut at 17, was second at 65.75, and U.S. champion Gracie Gold third at 64.87. The free skate will determine the champion Saturday at Sears Centre Arena. ' ' '