Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- The FedEx Cup playoffs begin at The Barclays, with Jason Day the No. 1 player facing one of the strongest fields of the year at Bethpage Black.- Les Miles was nearly run out of LSU last season and if the ffth-ranked Tigers fall short of lofty expectations this season expect Miles future again to be a hot topic in Baton Rouge. Around the country several other coaches enter the 2016 in need of some wins and a change of trajectory to keep their jobs.- Nick Saban entered the decade armed with a national title and a promise. The Alabama coach, fresh from the 2009 national championship, told thousands of Crimson Tide fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium that he was just getting started. Eds: Part of a series.- ORLANDO, Fla. -- The NFL returns to Orlando for the first time since 1997 when the Falcons and Dolphins play in their third game of the preseason at Camping World Stadium. Game starts 8 p.m.- SEATTLE -- Rookie Ezekiel Elliott is expected to make his debut for Dallas as the Cowboys travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks. Starters for both teams are expected to play into the second half. Game starts 10 p.m.- Various stories from NFL training camps and college football practices.- TORONTO -- Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ (17-3, 3.05) goes for his 18th win in a game against the Angels. Happ is 11-0 with a 2.53 ERA in his past 12 starts and has emerged as one of the best free agent acquisitions of last offseason after signing a $36 million, three-year deal. Jered Weaver (8-11, 5.47) is up for Los Angeles. Game starts 7:07 p.m.- ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Cleveland Indians open a four-game series at Texas, with Josh Tomlin (11-7, 4.39 ERA) facing Rangers lefty Cole Hamels (13-4, 2.80). Both clubs lead their division -- the last time these teams met so late in a season with both in first place was 1999, according to STATS. Game starts 8:05 p.m.- NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Three-time Champion Petra Kvitova faces Olympic doubles champion Ekaterina Makarova in the quarterfinals of the Connecticut Open.- MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin attacks the ban on his country from the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics as immoral and inhumane.- LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrives for his appeal hearing against a six-year ban from football, pledging to accept the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The courts verdict is expected within several weeks. Alex Okafor Jersey . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Christian Okoye Jersey . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Cameron-Erving-Elite-Jersey/ . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Jared Cook Jersey . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. Chris Jones Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Saquon Barkley believes he can score a touchdown every time he takes a handoff.Dont mistake the Penn State running backs confidence for arrogance. Hes put plenty of evidence on tape in just 15 games to earn a growing reputation as one of the countrys most dangerous backs in space.But with each game this season, Barkleys discovering that space isnt always there in Penn States new zone-read rushing attack that ranks near the bottom of every major statistical category. Barkleys sure if he remains persistent, more of those highlight-reel runs will come, however.Weve got to be patient, Barkley said Wednesday. Stuff will open up and Ive got to step up as a player and make more guys miss and break more tackles and weve really got to start getting our run game going because if we get the run game going, that can open up the passing game even more.Barkley leads the Big Ten with six rushing touchdowns but Penn State ranks last in the conference and 122nd in the nation with just over 101 rushing yards per game. Those sagging rushing numbers can be traced to the big-play back being bottled up before he even gets going.Usually Barkleys first step is backward in Joe Moorheads zone-read rushing attack. A delayed handoff follows and Barkley or quarterback Trace McSorley have at times been swallowed up quickly as defenders converge on the mesh point. Although his 55-yard score against Temple came on an inside zone run, Barkleys average on such plays over the last three games falls to jjust 1.dddddddddddd4 yards without it.Its a cause for concern for Penn States offensive staff, which is committed to finding more ways to get Barkley the ball as the team prepares to face Minnesota (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) on Saturday.Shovel passes and pitches have made brief appearances. Barkleys also caught 10 passes thus far and direct snaps may show up in the future.Eliminating inside zone reads isnt an option, though.Theres a lot of different ways, Penn State coach James Franklin said.Penn State has had success on the outside. Even with a delayed start, Barkleys done most of his damage over the last three games when hes been able to flank defenders. Hes averaging 10.8 yards per carry on those plays, further evidence of his skill on the edge.Hes a game-changing player, center Brian Gaia said.But one thats not comfortable lobbying his coaches for more touches or criticizing a young offensive line that will likely start two freshmen guards this weekend. Like Franklin, Barkley believes a little more early physicality coupled with his own patience will open things up in the middle.I would say the thing that we really need to improve the most is just coming out stronger, coming out faster and starting fast, Barkley said. Physically, I think were there. Mentally, weve really got a good grasp of the system but, especially in away games, weve been starting out really slow. ' ' '