ook at any sporting club, any organisation, theres always a kick in th

ASHBURN, Va. -- As long as he has been coaching the Washington Redskins, Jay Gruden has never had to think about life without Pierre Garcon.The veteran wide receiver hasnt missed a game in four seasons and is as sure a bet to catch the ball when its thrown to him as he is to be in the lineup. Garcon has 64 catches without a drop this season, providing the rock-solid consistency to go along with DeSean Jacksons speed and sizzle in Washingtons passing attack.I think he is our most consistent player, Gruden said of Garcon. The best thing about Pierre is his durability and availability. Hes always there. He can run every route in the route tree. Hes a tough guy that can catch balls across the middle (with) strong, physical hands.At 30, Garcon isnt producing like his younger days, but in an offense with Jackson and tight end Jordan Reed he doesnt have to. He still has 773 yards and three touchdowns and is a reliable weapon for quarterback Kirk Cousins, who needs 122 yards Monday night against a young Carolina Panthers secondary to break his own single-season franchise passing record.Cousins believes Garcons versatility sets him apart.He can do it all, Cousins said. Youve seen him catch the deep ball and run by people. Youve seen him catch intermediate routes. You see him catch screens. You see him block in the run game. You see him make contested catches. You see him run over people once he catches the ball.Cousins also said Garcons consistency shouldnt be taken lightly. Since a foot injury cost him six games in 2012, his first season with the Redskins, Garcon has stayed healthy and been an important possession receiver for the Redskins.Garcon brushes off the consistency as nothing to think about, nothing to worry about because its his job. His start with the Indianapolis Colts playing alongside Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne paved the way for Garcons approach, which starts in practice.I think there was a standard of excellence there that he knows no other way to do it, Cousins said. Hes always done it at that high level, but hes a very explosive athlete so theres also some natural ability there that you cant coach that when he does run his routes, he gets in and out of cuts in a very powerful, explosive way that is unique to him.Garcon, a pending free agent, serves as an example to young Redskins receivers like Jamison Crowder and Maurice Harris. He wouldve been a perfect tutor for first-round pick Josh Doctson, but the rookie appeared in only two games and may not have enough experience to adequately replace Garcon next season if that situation arises.If anything, this season has been a reminder of how valuable Garcon is to the Redskins as the guy to get the call on the must-catch pass.Its a great comfort to me -- hes just a phenomenal competitor, Cousins said. He works really hard, prepares really hard. Hes a difference maker on our team. He has been now for several years. Hes a guy that youre glad hes been able to stay healthy and continue to contribute.Speed could fade for Garcon in his 30s, but his hands continue to make him a go-to receiver in his ninth NFL season.At the end of the day if you do something over and over youll get good at it regardless of what it is, Garcon said. If you swim every day, youll get better at swimming. If you run a mile every day, youll get better running a mile. If you catch the ball every day, you get better at catching the ball.Game notes Linebackers Will Compton (knee) and Sua Cravens (elbow) did not practice Thursday. ... Punter Tress Way was limited with an ankle injury, but Gruden said he didnt expect the team to bring in insurance in case he wasnt ready for Monday night.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Blank Jersey .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Amy Rodriguez USA Jersey . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. http://www.officialsocceruswntshop.com/adrianna-franch-usa-jersey/ . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Amy Rodriguez Jersey . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Lynn Williams Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers season has been a kick in the backside after their miserable 2016 campaign ended with the biggest AFL loss of his seven-year tenure.The gulf between the minor premiership-winning Sydney and the 13th-placed Tigers was painfully obvious at the SCG on Saturday night, when Richmonds season finished with a 113-point loss.It was their first three-digit defeat in five years and their heaviest loss since a 157-point caning by Geelong nine years ago.You look at any sporting club, any organisation, theres always a kick in the backside at some stage and this is our kick in the backside, Hardwick said.The important thing for us is what we learn from this year, from a coaching point of view, from a playing list point of view, from a football club point of view.Its going to be a big off-season for us.Weve got to improve our list, improve our talent, theres no doubt about that.While expecting Richhmond will be active in the trade period, Hardwick was reluctant to lose any of the handful of top-quality players at the club.ddddddddddddWe dont have a lot of really, really good players, so those players as far, as Im concerned, will be staying, Hardwick said.He doubted Saturdays massive loss would discourage potential recruits, saying they would understand the Tigers emphasis on giving younger players a chance.Hardwick conceded some of the youngsters were not ready.Among them was Sudanese-born Mabior Chol, who became the eighth Tigers debutant of the year when he was pitched into battle against a rampant Sydney side.But its going to be a good stepping stone for Mabs to actually understand what it takes to play the rigours of AFL footy, and that was the whole exercise going forward, Hardwick said. 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