gars have struggled this season, too, with losses in their first two games against lower-division Eastern Washington and Bois

Oregon players held a team meeting without their coaches this week following back-to-back losses.Veteran players addressed their teammates on a practice field Monday, two days after the Ducks 41-38 loss at home to Colorado. The Buffaloes had not defeated Oregon since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.Those kind of things are almost always positive in the end, good in the end coach Mark Helfrich said, referring to the players meeting during his weekly news conference. And like a lot of things, there are words, and then there are actions and commitments that come out of things.Oregon, which played in the national championship game following both the 2010 and 2014 seasons and which has won at least nine games in each of the last nine seasons, was ranked No. 24 in the preseason and climbed to No. 22 with wins against UC Davis and Idaho State.But the Ducks fell 35-32 on the road to Nebraska before last weekends loss to the Buffaloes. It is the first time in nine seasons that Oregon has dropped consecutive regular-season games.There was some talk following the Colorado game that suggested players had grown complacent because Oregon has been among the nations elite teams for the better part of the past decade and because of the spoils that have followed that success -- including flashy new uniforms every week.Weve talked about that every year for many, many years here, I think going back to even coach Bellotti. We have a lot of great stuff here and a lot of great people here, and we have to earn it every single day. That entitlement, that whatever, cannot exist, Helfrich said.Receiver Dwayne Stanford told reporters he was encouraged about the state of the team following the players-only meeting.I feel its good. Guys are hungry. Upset about the loss and upset about their performance. Guys came out practicing hard, trying to change the outcome, he said Tuesday.He emphasized that it isnt just the young players who should be chastised. They arent out there by themselves, Stanford said. There are 11 guys out there.Quarterback Dakota Prukop, who threw an interception on the Ducks final series of the Colorado game, said hed characterize the Ducks as resilient.Its how you choose to respond. Do you let it bring you down or do you use it as a springboard to propel you forward? Prukop said. We came out today and we threw that exact ball that was the last play last game -- a fade in the end zone -- and we had a lot of success with it. So that felt good, kind of like officially wiping the slate.Cornerback Ugo Amadi said the players message harkened back to the Ducks mantra from the Chip Kelly era: Win The Day.Thats what we want to do every day, is Win The Day. Just go hard, give effort, he said.Up next is Washington State on Saturday in Pullman. The Cougars have struggled this season, too, with losses in their first two games against lower-division Eastern Washington and Boise State, before a 56-6 victory over Idaho on Sept. 17. The team had a bye last weekend.The Ducks could see the return of running back Royce Freeman, who left the Nebraska game early and watched the Colorado game from the sidelines because of a lower leg injury.The depth chart for the game listed Freeman or Tony Brooks-James. Freeman needs 96 rushing yards to move into second on Oregons all-time list.Oregon has won the last three in Washington, but the Cougars upset the Ducks 45-38 in double overtime at Autzen Stadium last season. Jose Ramirez Jersey . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Trevor Bauer Indians Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. http://www.indianssale.com/indians-jose-ramirez-jersey/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Omar Vizquel Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Danny Salazar Indians Jersey . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns has been cleared to play after spending the week in the NFLs concussion protocol.The team said Sunday that Hurns has been removed from the program. He is expected to make his 13th consecutive start when the Jaguars (2-6) host AFC South-leading Houston (5-3).Hurns, who suffered a concussion in last weeks loss at Kansas City, practiced on a limited basis Thursday and Friday. He was listed as questionable on the injury reportt.ddddddddddddHurns has 31 receptions for a team-leading 443 yards and two touchdowns this season.The Jaguars will be without Bryan Walters (concussion), but fellow receiver Rashad Greene is expected to return after missing three of the last four games with an Achilles injury.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '