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NEW YORK -- Michael Vick has watched Geno Smith every day for nearly two weeks. Every snap and every throw. Sure, Vick would like to be the New York Jets starting quarterback. But, from what he has seen, theyre already in pretty good hands with Smith. "Hes going to be great," Vick declared. "Hes going to be 10 times better than where he was last year and Im looking forward to it." Thats quite an endorsement from a guy who still believes he can be a star in the NFL. As it stands, Vick is a big-name, veteran backup who can step in if needed and push Smith to be better in his second season. Some fans and media wonder when -- not if -- Vick will replace Smith under centre. The doubters arent sold on Smith being able to improve that dramatically from a rookie year in which he threw 21 interceptions and just 12 touchdowns. Smith gets a chance to show everyone where he stands Thursday when the Jets -- with newcomers Eric Decker and Chris Johnson -- play their preseason opener at home against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. "Execution. Its always about execution," Smith said. "Its always about us doing the right things on the field. We want to execute to the best of our ability. Go out there and be sharp mentally, be sharp physically, be accurate, be sharp with the reads, and get good plays in." Sounds simple, huh? Smith found out last year that the leap from college to the pros isnt always without some stumbles. He has used the off-season and training camp to try to make the game slow down a bit. "I felt it coming at the end of last season," he said. "Its still a work in progress. Im still getting better. Im still fine-tuning a lot of things. Still need to focus on the mental aspect of it and all the small things that will make me better." As far as Rex Ryan is concerned, having Vick around can only help Smith -- which, in turn, will help the Jets determine if theyve got their quarterback of the future. "I think that if you have Mike Vick come in here, you better be on top of your game, and obviously Geno is," Ryan said. "Whether he needed Mike Vick to be here or not, Im not sure. But probably not because I know Geno wants it in the worst way to be a great quarterback and the preparation that he did in the off-season, the things he did. "But certainly, with Mike Vick in there, that does push him." Ryan expects the starters to play into the second quarter Thursday night, with Smith opening the game and Vick perhaps getting the final series before backups come in. Chuck Pagano was unsure how much Luck and the Colts starters will play. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne, still recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, will not suit up but is expected to be ready for the season opener at Denver. "Youd love to see in a perfect world, them go out there and have a six-, seven-, eight-play drive, score a touchdown, kick a PAT, and make a decision there, get them out of the game and whatnot," Pagano said. That wont be in the game plan for Ryans defence, which expects to be among the leagues best this season. "As luck would have it," a grinning Ryan said, with a pause punctuating his attempt at humour, "we play a heck of a quarterback. ... I think its going to be a good test for our defence and a good test for them, too." Whether its one series or a handful, Luck has a few goals of his own set for the preseason opener. "Take care of the football, convert third downs and score touchdowns," he said. "Positive, positive plays." Thats exactly what Ryan and Smith expect. "Im excited about it just like, shoot, no different than our fans," Ryan said. "Lets see where this team is at. Lets see how Decker fits in, lets see how this defence looks. So, Im excited to watch us play against somebody else." Tony Oliva Twins Jersey . The flanker began his comeback from a right shoulder injury by coming off the bench on Saturday when Wales opened with a victory over Italy. Warburton replaces Justin Tipuric, one of three changes announced on Tuesday by coach Warren Gatland. Joe Mauer Jersey . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year. https://www.cheaptwins.com/1812t-byron-b...y-twins.html.ca. In Sundays Blackhawks-Penguins game, Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik laid a huge hit on Chicagos Jonathan Toews. Now in my view, Orpik can be clearly seen leaving his feet while delivering a moderately high hit. Jonathan Schoop Twins Jersey . Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Fiorentina levelled on aggregate in the 14th minute when Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez headed back a long ball from David Pizarro and Pasqual smashed home an angled volley. Ian Miller Jersey . -- Athletics manager Bob Melvin is already starting to run out of superlatives to describe Scott Kazmir.PHOENIX -- Josh Collmenter was locked in, throwing strikes, watching his teammates make spectacular plays and turn double plays. As the game wore on, he started to notice that the same hitters kept coming up every three innings. Not quite perfect, but not that far off. Turning in the most dominant start of his career, Collmenter joined Randy Johnson as the only Arizona pitchers to face the minimum in a nine-inning game, tossing a three-hitter in the Diamondbacks 4-0 win over the light-hitting Cincinnati Reds Thursday night. "In the eighth I looked up just to see and at that point youre kind of cognizant of what you have to do," Collmenter said. "You get those guys, then you set yourself up for seven, eight and the pinch hitter." Collmenter got those final three hitters and plenty of help from his teammates. Aaron Hill, who went 1 for 10 in a three-game series against San Diego, had three hits, including a solo homer in the sixth inning off Tony Cingrani (2-5). A.J. Pollock had a double, a triple and scored two runs from the leadoff spot, and Martin Prado added a late run-scoring single. The defence was stellar, making a handful of spectacular players and erasing the runners who did reach base. Collmenter (4-2) was sharp from the first pitch, breezing through his first career complete game by mixing speeds and hitting both sides of the plate. He didnt quite match Johnson, who had a perfect game in 2004 against Atlanta, but faced the same number of hitters. Collmenter also becomes the 13th player since 1914 to allow three or more hits and face the minimum 27 batters in a nine-inning game. "He was just kind of in the zone, throwing his pitches right where he wanted them," said Arizona manager Kirk Gibson, whose team has won five of seven. The Reds have had trouble converting with runners in scoring position this season. They had one against the Diamondbacks, Brayan Pena in the third inning, and he was thrown out at third after tagging up on a flyball to centre. Cincinnati has lost five of six after being shut out for the sixth time this season. "We didnt barrel many balls," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "In part credit to him and in part a testament to the fact that we havent been swinging the bats very well.dddddddddddd" Collmenter has been on a roll over the past month, going 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in six starts. The over-the-top-throwing right-hander kept it going against the Reds, with help from his defence. The Diamondbacks turned three double plays behind him, including a catch-and-throw by Pollock in centre to get Pena at third in the second inning. Hill also had a diving stop up the middle to rob Todd Frazier of a hit in the seventh inning and made a tough stop on a grounder by Pena in the ninth. Collmenter struck out five and walked none to win his third straight start and fourth straight decision. "He made quality strikes and got bad contact," Diamondbacks catcher Tuffy Gosewisch said. "They hit a few balls hard and we played great defence and turned a double play here and there." The Reds ended a four-game losing streak on Wednesday, when Homer Bailey outpitched two-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw in a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers. Cingrani wasnt quite as good, though managed to limit the damage. The left-hander had struggled a bit since coming off the disabled list (shoulder), allowing four runs in each of his past two starts. Arizona scored a run off Cingrani in the first inning, when Pollock led off with a double, stole third and scored when catcher Devin Mesoracos throw bounced into left field for an error. Hill hit a solo homer to left in the fourth inning, his fifth of the season, and chased Cingrani with a run-scoring single up the middle in the sixth. Cingrani allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings. "I was just trying to get my rhythm going and build off each outing and try to find my groove," Cingrani said. "I will hit it sooner or later." Collmenter certainly has. NOTES: Diamondbacks C Miguel Montero, who leads the majors with 48 games caught, was given the night off. ... The error by Mesoraco in the first inning was the 24th by the Reds, still fewest in the majors. ... Arizona RHP Bronson Arroyo, Fridays starter against the Reds, played the previous eight seasons in Cincinnati. He is 3-1 with a 1.90 ERA his last six starts. RHP Mike Leake will start for Cincinnati after allowing two runs in six innings of a 2-0 loss to St. Louis his last start. ' ' '