ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Getting waived by the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars for what seemed like the hundredth time, linebacker Brandon Marshall took a drive down I-95 South toward St. Augustine, Florida.Alone with his thoughts, Marshall wondered what had gone wrong and if hed ever get another chance in the NFL.After being cut so many times you start to kind of question your abilities, said Marshall, whos taken a twisting, turning road to become Denvers top tackler.He hit the highway that afternoon in search of himself.I took some time for myself to really think. You know, what am I doing wrong? Or, is it me? Or, why is it happening? Because, Ive never been cut before. Ive always been someone that the team could count on. So, for that to happen, I was just wondering what was wrong.He couldnt come up with an answer but he did find some perspective.The only answer I came up with was just control what you can control, Marshall said. Just keep working no matter what the circumstances are because I feel like we all go through hard times in life, football, with jobs, whatever. I feel like a lot of people dont reach their potential or at least their peak because they give up too soon. Or they dont push through the hard times.I think thats what makes a successful person, because if you keep pushing through the rough times you know then its almost like a cocoon phase. You come out a better version of yourself.That is the story of Marshalls journey from the guy who couldnt even carve out a job for himself on one of the worst teams in the NFL to one whos an every-down linebacker and arguably the defensive MVP on one of the leagues best teams.I would say hes playing at a Pro Bowl level for an inside backer in this league, defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio said. Hes very productive, very active. He does a lot, doesnt come off the field. Hes had a Pro Bowl kind of year.Marshall was humbled by such high praise.Hes been around a lot of Pro Bowl guys, Ray Lewis, hes been around a bunch of Pro Bowl guys. So, for him to say that about me it means a lot. I guess Im in pretty good company, Marshall said Friday.Marshall is both a tale of perseverance and overnight success.A third-round draft pick out of Nevada in 2012, he was cut three times by the Jaguars. The Broncos signed him to their practice squad last season, and coach John Fox approached him during a blowout of the Eagles.He came up to me on the sideline and we were winning big — and Im a practice squad guy; he doesnt have to say anything to me. And he came up and said, Brandon, keep working because youre going to get your opportunity, Marshall said. It gave me extra motivation to keep working.Marshall was promoted to the active roster on Christmas Eve and played in the season finale and the playoffs.Last summer, he earned a job in the nickel defence alongside Danny Trevathan and was thrust into a much bigger role with Trevathan missing most of the season with two fractures in his left leg. Marshall leads the team with 106 tackles.Trevathan is eligible to come off IR this weekend when the Broncos (10-3) visit San Diego (8-5), but that doesnt mean Marshall will relinquish the defensive play-calling duties. Hell once again play alongside Trevathan in the nickel.Im real eager. Were both playmakers. We both have great instincts. We both can make plays. So, to have him back will be tremendous, Marshall said.Although he admits he still wonders at times why he couldnt find a spot in Jacksonville, Marshall also knows getting jettisoned by the Jaguars helped him become the player he is today.If you quit, theyre right and then where are you? Youre stuck where you were at and you have nowhere to go, he said. So, no matter what, I decided I was going to keep pushing through.Notes: With all their success, the Broncos could lose Del Rio and OC Adam Gase to head coaching opportunities in the off-season. I think every year when you have good team success individuals get recognized, whether its players or coaches, Fox said. I think its a very positive thing. Weve had guys get opportunities before and Im sure we will again.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Tzu-Wei Lin Red Sox Jersey . Mission accomplished. Now the Royals will take the field on Saturday with a World Series lead for the first time in team history when they play Game 4 of the Fall Classic against the Giants at AT&T Park. Cheap Red Sox Jerseys .C. -- Theyll remember the OT from the first Syracuse-Duke game -- and the Ts that decided Round 2. https://www.cheapredsox.com/1041z-josh-t...ey-red-sox.html. -- Mike Shanahan gave Robert Griffin III a rest, and may have turned up the pressure on himself, too. Gorkys Hernandez Jersey . Ozuna hit Reeds 2-2 pitch off the batters eye far above the 407-foot sign in straightaway centre. It was the fifth blown save in 25 tries for Reed (1-5) and the ninth home run the closer has allowed in 38 appearances. Nuno, acquired in the deal that sent Brandon McCarthy to the New York Yankees, gave up three hits, struck out a career-high seven and walked one in seven innings. Colten Brewer Jersey . Josh Mazzola drove in five runs to lead the Goldeyes (20-12) past the Capitales 11-5 Friday night at Le Stade Municipal in Quebec City.PHILADELPHIA -- In an unexpected defensive tussle, the depleted Dallas Cowboys delivered the knockout punch. Tony Romo threw for 317 yards and one touchdown, a banged-up defence shut down Chip Kellys prolific offence and the Cowboys overcame a sluggish start to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 17-3 on Sunday to take sole possession of first place in the NFC East. At least there wont be a quarterback controversy in Philadelphia after this one. Nick Foles was awful leaving with a head injury. "Obviously, our defence was outstanding," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "That offence challenges you in so many ways. They have a really good scheme. Our defence played sound, played together. They were physical and our tackling was outstanding." Two teams that averaged a combined 58.2 points per game and allowed a combined 55.2 totalled 13 punts in a first half that ended with Dallas (4-3) leading 3-0. It was more two inept offences than two dominant defences. A Cowboys defensive line missing three of its projected starters pressured and harassed Foles until putting him out on the final play of the third quarter. With Michael Vick inactive because of a hamstring injury, Matt Barkley made his NFL debut and threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter. "I was maybe a little too aggressive on some of those throws, trying to advance the ball down the field and help our team win," Barkley said. "I learned a lot today. Ill learn even more watching the tape." The Eagles (3-4) have lost a franchise-worst nine straight games at home. Their last win at the Linc was over the New York Giants on Sept. 30, 2012. Dallas played without four-time All-Pro defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who missed the first game in his nine-year career because of a quadriceps injury. Anthony Spencer, the end opposite Ware, is out for the season after knee surgery. Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Jay Ratliff was released during the week after failing a physical. George Selvie had 1 1/2 sacks and combined with Jarius Wynn on the hit that forced Foles out of the game. Wynn was signed last Tuesday after being released by San Diego. "Its a testament to how hard and committed these guys are to practicing," Romo said. "Its neat for themm to have a game like this.dddddddddddd They wouldve won it by themselves." Foles, coming off an impressive performance at Tampa Bay last week that earned him NFC Player of the Week honours, had his worst game since his first career start at Washington last November. He finished 11 of 29 for 80 yards and was sacked three times. Foles misfired on several throws to open receivers, including a low throw to Jason Avant in the end zone in the third quarter. "All of us on offence, our decision making wasnt very good," Kelly said. "It was all of us on offence. Its not just one guy." Kelly is hopeful Vick will return this week. There was no word on the extent of Foles injury. The Eagles sorely missed Vicks scrambling ability. Also, Vicks presence makes LeSean McCoy more dangerous because teams have to be wary of both in Kellys read-zone offence. McCoy, the NFLs leading rusher, was held to 55 yards on 18 carries. "We knew it was going to be an extreme challenge coming in, and I felt we answered the bell," said linebacker Sean Lee, who had one of the picks on Barkley. Cowboys rookie Joseph Randle had 65 yards rushing filling in for injured running back DeMarco Murray. Phillip Tanner scored on a 1-yard run. Romo was 28 of 47 and threw two picks. The first 11 possessions resulted in 11 punts before Dan Bailey kicked a 38-yard field goal to give Dallas a 3-0 lead with 3:17 left in the first half. Alex Henery missed wide left on a 60-yard attempt with 9 seconds left in the second quarter. DeMeco Ryans intercepted a poor pass by Romo and returned it 36 yards to the Cowboys 30 to set up Henerys 31-yard field goal that cut it to 10-3. But the Cowboys answered with Romo tossing a 9-yard TD pass to Terrance Williams to make it 17-3. At Oregon, Kellys teams scored 150 points in three meetings against Monte Kiffin when he was defensive co-ordinator for USC. Kiffin now holds that position with the Cowboys, so the defensive mastermind wins their first matchup in the pros. NOTES: The Cowboys got their first road win and are 3-0 in the division for first time since 2007. ... The Eagles were the fourth team in NFL history to have 400 yards of offence in each of first six games. They were held to 278. ' ' '