tting .255 overall to start the month. For his career, he is a .324 hitting in September, fourth best among active players. He had tw

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- His paycheque may look like Peyton Mannings tip money. Still, theres at least one area where Manning and his newest Broncos teammate, defensive back Quentin Jammer, arent nearly so far apart. "When youre forced to, you have decisions to make," Jammer said Thursday, his first day of practice with his new team. "The next decision that you have to make is you have three to four more years left in you. What are you going to do with your life? I want to win a championship. I think Denver gives me that opportunity." After spending his first 11 seasons without a title in San Diego, Jammer signed a one-year deal worth around the veteran minimum to join Manning, Champ Bailey and the Broncos, who are assembling veteran pieces to make a run at the Super Bowl. Jammer played safety back in his college days at Texas, but after picking him fifth in the 2002 draft, the Chargers moved him to cornerback, where he started 161 games over his 11 years. After making Jammer the third ex-Charger theyve signed in free agency this year, the Broncos touted the veterans flexibility in the defensive backfield. They plan to try him at safety. Time will tell whether hell compete for a starting spot with Rahim Moore, he of the infamous Joe Flacco touchdown debacle, or simply add depth to Denvers defensive backfield. The Broncos sometimes use up to four safeties in obvious pass situations. "At the end of the day, youre trying to create competition and thats why you make moves in the off-season," coach John Fox said. "Its never the same faces from year to year. Well try to improve our football team by making it more competitive and that makes us more competitive on game day." Jammer, at 6-foot, 205 pounds, also has shown he can cover tight ends and other big receivers -- an area the Broncos struggled with last season. "I think Im that type of player, where I can come in, I can cover (tight ends), I can cover wide receivers, I can pretty much cover anybody on the field," Jammer said. "Ive been doing it for 11 years. Why stop now?" In Denver, at least, Jammers decision to sign with the Broncos stands in contrast to that of another defensive back, Charles Woodson, who visited the Broncos but decided on a more lucrative offer from the Raiders, who are not considered Super Bowl contenders. Jammer didnt have a problem with his salary, which is about $19 million less than Manning will make this season, but for that money, he wanted a chance at a ring. "I didnt want to go anywhere where I couldnt compete to have a chance to win a championship," Jammer said. In the first meeting between the Broncos and Chargers last year, Jammer returned an interception off Manning for a touchdown. Manning was, of course, ready for the obligatory questions about that play. Mostly, though, he said he was glad to see the Broncos add yet another seasoned veteran to a team that has signed receiver Wes Welker, offensive lineman Louis Vasquez, pass rusher Shaun Phillips and a handful more this off-season. "He is a veteran corner. Hes seen it all," Manning said. Notes: First-round draft pick DT Sylvester Williams was involved in a minor scrap with OLs Zane Beadles and Manny Ramirez during the teams non-contact, non-pads practice Thursday. ... Fox said TE Joel Dreessen had a minor procedure on his knee and will miss the rest of off-season workouts. ... Manning said hes spending extra time with second-round draft pick, RB Montee Ball, anticipating Ball will be thrown into the mix early. RB Willis McGahee is still a no-show at these voluntary workouts. Asked about that, Manning said: "Whether there is a business decision being made on Willis part on his side or on the Broncos side, that is kind of to be determined. Ill say this: Willis was a great help to me last year."Aaron Ramsey Jersey . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Nacho Monreal Arsenal Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. http://www.footballarsenalstore.com/Women-Shkodran-Mustafi-Arsenal-Fc-Jersey/ . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Bernd Leno Arsenal Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Arsenal Jerseys . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit.SEATTLE -- Seth Smith powered Seattle past Houston and put the Mariners closer in the wild card chase.He hit a pair of home runs and drove in four runs on Sunday to help the Mariners beat the Houston Astros 7-3. His effort backed up a strong performance by lefty Ariel Miranda as the Mariners remained in the thick of the congested wild-card race.The Mariners (79-70) are one game behind Toronto, which holds the second wild-card spot.Smith had a solo shot in the third and a three-run shot in the fourth, both on 3-1 pitches from Doug Fister (12-12). Smith had been 0-for-10 in his career against Fister but the eight-year veteran had a plan.Guys know what theyre doing when they are pitching and able to pitch to the corners, Smith said. You try to take the close ones, try to get into a good hitters count when they come after you.Smith, who now has 16 home runs on the season -- one short of his career high -- was patient enough to work both into hitters counts then connected on fastballs into the right-field seats.Youre constantly learning, how to approach at-bats, knowing what kind of swing you have going into a game, knowing what the pitcher is trying to do to you, Smith said. Over the course of a career you kind of fit the pieces a little better together.Fister said, I was just trying to attack with my sinker; he put a couple good swings on balls -- clearly.I just didnt execute today, thats what it comes down to. Balls down, balls up, all over the place. I let my team down.Miranda (5-1), acquired in a trade with Baltimore on July 31 for lefty Wade Miley, went seven innings -- his longest outing in 10 starts with Seattle -- allowing two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out eight.Heck of an outing, Mariners manager Scott Servais said. Hes on a heck of a roll. We certainly needed it. Hes gained so much confidence. You can certainly can see it.Miranda has won all four of his starts in September. The Cuban defector said, through an interpreter, its been a dream of mine (to be in a playoff chase) but never been there. Its really great to get there. Im happy with the work Ive been doing and happy to help the team.Houston manager A.J. Hinch said Miranda has a good fastball and a good spplit-change thing that he throws.dddddddddddd. Our guys hadnt seen a ton of him. ..He did a good job challenging us, but just above the zone and we swung under today and hit a lot of pop-ups in the infield, a few balls to the outfield. A couple balls to the track that could have changed the game a little bit. He kept enticing us with fastballs.The Mariners have won nine of their last 11 games.RECORD WHIFFSWith Jandel Gustaves strikeout of Shawn OMalley in the sixth, the Astros staff established a club record for strikeouts with 1,283. Theyve done it without even a 200-strikeout pitcher. For the most part we have a few guys who can spin their breaking balls when they need to, manager A.J. Hinch said. and the changeup is a big component of our pitching staff.SLOW START; FAST FINISHNori Aoki, who was sent to the minors twice this season to work on his offense, has found his batting eye this month. Entering the game, he was hitting .387 in September, fifth best in the American League. He had been hitting .255 overall to start the month. For his career, he is a .324 hitting in September, fourth best among active players. He had two hits Sunday.TRAINERS ROOMMariners: 1B Adam Lind had not played since Sept. 12 with a sprained finger in his right hand but was back in the lineup Sunday, missing five games.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Brad Peacock (0-0, 2.70) will make his third start, seventh appearance, in his effort to win his first game since 2014. Last time ou, Sept. 13, he was solid, going six innings and allowing just three hits and one run in a 3-2 loss to Texas. Now the Astros are counting on him to step up at the most critical stage of the season. He is 1-4 with a 4.97 ERA in nine career appearances against Oakland.Mariners: RHP Taijuan Walker (6-10, 4.28) is coming off his best starting effort of his career (59 starts). He allowed just three hits and no runs -- first career shutout -- in an 8-0 win over the L.A. Angels. He had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings. He is 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA in three career starts against the Blue Jays but has not faced them this season. ' ' '