a high level, rs in the league at his position.Revis and Brown

LAS VEGAS -- He was the second man to beat Muhammad Ali, breaking Alis jaw and sending him to the hospital in their 1973 heavyweight fight. Ken Norton frustrated Ali three times in all, including their final bout at Yankee Stadium where he was sure he had beaten him once again. Norton, who died Wednesday at the age of 70, lost that fight for the heavyweight title. But he was forever linked to Ali for the 39 rounds they fought over three fights, with very little separating one man from the other in the ring. "Kenny was a good, good fighter. He beat a lot of guys," said Ed Schuyler Jr., who covered many of Nortons fights for The Associated Press. "He gave Ali fits because Ali let him fight coming forward instead of making him back up." Norton is the only heavyweight champion never to win the title in the ring, and boxing fans still talk about the bruising battle he waged with Larry Holmes for the title in 1978. But it was his first fight with Ali that made the former Marine a big name and the two fights that followed that were his real legacy. Few gave Norton, who possessed a muscular, sculpted body, much of a chance against Ali in their first meeting, held at the Sports Arena in San Diego, where Norton lived. But his awkward style and close-in pressing tactics confused Ali, who fought in pain after his jaw was broken. "Ali tore up his ankle while training and we were going to call the fight off but didnt," former Ali business manager Gene Kilroy said. "Ali said its not going to be that tough." It was, with Norton breaking Alis jaw in the early rounds and having his way with the former champion for much of the night. The loss was even more shocking because Ali had only lost to Joe Frazier in their 1971 showdown and was campaigning for the title he would win again the next year against George Foreman in Zaire. "Norton was unorthodox," Kilroy said. "Instead of jabbing from above like most fighters he would put his hand down and jab up at Ali." Kilroy said after the fight Norton visited Ali at the hospital where he was getting his broken jaw wired. Ali, he said, told him he was a great fighter and he never wanted to fight him again. Ken Norton Jr., a coach with the Seattle Seahawks, confirmed his fathers death to The Associated Press before handing the phone to his wife, too distraught to talk. Norton had been in poor health for the last several years after suffering a series of strokes, Kilroy said. "Hes been fighting the battle for two years," he said. "Im sure hes in heaven now with all the great fighters. Id like to hear that conversation." Norton didnt have long to celebrate his big win over Ali. They fought six months later, and Ali won a split decision. They met for a third time on Sept. 28, 1976, at Yankee Stadium and Ali narrowly won to keep his heavyweight title. Norton would come back the next year to win a heavyweight title eliminator and was declared champion by the World Boxing Council when Leon Spinks decided to fight Ali in a rematch instead of facing his mandatory challenger. But on June 9, 1978, he lost a brutal 15-round fight to Holmes in what many regard as one of boxings epic heavyweight bouts and would never be champion again. Norton finished with a record of 42-7-1 and 33 knockouts. He would later embark on an acting career, appearing in several movies, and was a commentator at fights. Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, who visited Norton at the veterans hospital in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, tweeted: "Ken Norton was always nice to me even when I was just an amateur fighter. He always treated me like I was somebody. Remarkable man." Ken Norton Jr. was a linebacker for 13 years in the NFL, playing for Dallas and San Francisco, and coaches the position for the Seahawks. He and his father were estranged for a time in the 1990s before finally reconciling. Norton always gave his father credit for his career, saying he learned how to train hard by watching him go for early morning runs when he was a child. "Its been noted that my father and I are on speaking terms and everythings back together now," Norton Jr. said in 1995. "Its part of what I do. No matter what I do, I cant get away from boxing." Norton, born Aug. 9, 1943, in Jacksonville, Ill., started boxing when he was in the Marines, and began his pro career after his release from duty in 1967. He lost only once in his early fights but had fought few fighters of any note when he was selected to meet Ali. At the time, Ali was campaigning to try to win back the heavyweight crown he lost to Joe Frazier in 1973. After that bruising first bout, they faced off two more times, including the final fight at Yankee Stadium on a night when police were on strike and many in the crowd feared for their safety. The fight went 15 rounds and Ali won a decision. Kilroy said Ali and Norton never had any animosity toward each other and became good friends over the years. Still, Norton always thought he had won all three fights. Norton would come back in 1977 to win an eliminator against Jimmy Young and was declared champion by the WBC when Spinks was stripped of the title. His fight against Holmes in 1978 at Caesars Palace was his last big hurrah, with the two heavyweights going back and forth, trading huge blows inside a steamy pavilion in the hotels back lot. The fight was still up for grabs in the 15th round and both fighters reached inside themselves to deliver one of the more memorable final rounds in heavyweight history. When the decision was announced, two ringside judges favoured Holmes by one point while the third favoured Norton by a point. Norton was badly injured in a near fatal car accident in 1986. He recovered but never regained his full physical mobility. "The doctors said I would never walk or talk," Norton said at an autograph session in 2011 in Las Vegas, lifting his trademark fedora to show long surgical scars on his bald head. Kilroy said Norton was visited at the hospital by former fighters, including Tyson, Earnie Shavers and Thomas Hearns. Norton fought only five more times after losing his title to Holmes. His final fight came Nov. 5, 1981, when he was knocked out in the first round by Gerry Cooney at Madison Square Garden. Information on services and other survivors was not immediately released by the family. Devin Funchess Colts Jersey . Selected by the Titans in the 2007 NFL Draft, Johnson rejoined the club last season after a five-year stint with Indianapolis. Kenny Moore Colts Jersey .com) - Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh called Joe Flacco the NFLs best quarterback last week. http://www.coltsofficialstore.us/authent...s-colts-jersey/. A lawmaker is hoping the buzz from California Chromes run for the Triple Crown might build support for a bill that would place the U. Malik Hooker Womens Jersey . Niese pitched seven steady innings on a rainy Tuesday night and Daniel Murphy had three hits to lead New York to a 6-1 victory over the Phillies. Rock Ya-Sin Jersey . -- Conor Casey scored two goals, his first of the season, as the Philadelphia Union beat Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday night.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Vince Wilfork advised and encouraged teammates on the sideline during last years playoffs.Not exactly where the five-time Pro Bowler wanted to be, but a torn right Achilles tendon kept him from clogging the middle for the New England Patriots.The defensive tackle is back doing that this season, ready for the post-season after playing in all 16 games for the AFCs top-seeded team.I worked my tail off just to get back and play football like I know how to play, and I never take anything for granted, Wilfork said. Its fun to come to work with the group of guys that I have in this locker room.He missed just six games in his first nine seasons and often occupied two blockers, opening space for teammates to stop ball carriers. But he played in only four last season.As a rookie in 2004, he played every game and was part of a team that won the Patriots third NFL championship in four years. But since, theyve lost the two Super Bowls theyve reached.They might have reached a third if Wilfork had been healthy for the Patriots 26-16 loss to the Denver Broncos in last years AFC championship game. He still tried to contribute while watching.When I was coming off the field he would say, all right, theyre doing this and you go back out there and do this, said defensive tackle Sealver Siliga, a midseason pickup last year and a backup this season.Of course, Wilfork would much rather be on the field tackling runners.Thats where hell be Jan. 10 when the Patriots host Indianapolis, Cincinnati or Baltimore in an AFC divisional playoff game.Every season means a lot to me, Wilfork said. The passion I have for the game, it means a lot just being where I came from, especially last year.His presence was critical this season in victories against two of the worst teams when he made plays rare for defensive tackles.With just over five minutes left in a 17-16 win over the New York Jets, Wilfork tipped a 52-yard field goal attempt by Nick Folk in the 15th game of the season.And in a 16-9 victory in the third game, Oakland had the ball at the Patriots 12 with 59 seconds left. Thats when Wilfork intercepted Derek Carrs pass.That led safety Devin McCourty, who worked outt with him in the off-season, to dub him Air Wilfork.ddddddddddddWilfork, a remarkable athlete for a 325-pounder, had a more simple label.I just look at it as capitalizing on opportunities, he said. Throughout the course of the season, youre going to have a couple of opportunities where you can make a game-changing play and Ive been able to make a couple of them in my career.Cornerback Brandon Browner also is returning to the playoffs after being suspended for them last season when his Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl.Does that make his return sweeter?Ive talked about the Super Bowl all off-season, Browner said. Thats been my goal. I want it bad. I dont know if its sweeter, but I want it bad because I didnt get to play in it.Darrelle Revis, the other free agent cornerback signed by the Patriots before the season, was in the playoffs just twice in his previous seven seasons and none in the last three.You talk to guys who have playoff experience and guys who never, whove played 12-13 years and have never even touched the playoffs, he said. Its great.Revis also came back from a serious injury. He missed most of the 2012 season with the Jets with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and wasnt at full strength in 2013 with Tampa Bay, which missed the playoffs. But this year he was chosen for the Pro Bowl.Theres a lot of appreciation just for (Wilfork) to get back to playing at a high level, Revis said. Hes been one of the top players in the league at his position.Revis and Browner are two big reasons for the Patriots defensive improvement this season. Wilfork is a third.Hes held up well this year, coach Bill Belichick said. Hes a powerful guy. Hes very smart and instinctive. Its hard to fool him on those type of plays, screens or traps or misdirection plays, those kind of things. Hes a hard guy to block.In this years playoffs, thats what offensive linemen must face.He didnt sulk last year when he was injured. He did what he could to help make us a better defensive line by giving advice, Siliga said. Now hes back, and Im excited to go into the post-season with him.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL [u