49ers' Garnett has had a rocky beginning

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: First-round pick Joshua Garnett is having some trouble adjusting to the NFL over his first two starts. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-are-Eager-to-See-Garnett-Play-and-Improve-399330291.html

Raiders' Carr throws himself into MVP race

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Derek Carr suddenly is being touted as an NFL MVP candidate. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Carr-Has-Thrown-Himself-Into-NFL-MVP-Race-399325761.html

Raiders set penalty record but fight to beat Bucs in OT

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Raiders beat Tampa Bay 30-24 in overtime to finish the first half of the season 6-2, despite setting an NFL record with 23 penalties. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Persevere-in-Overtime-to-Beat-Buccaneers-399239891.html

Niners' roster quickly devolved from super to cellar

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Four seasons ago, the 49ers were in the Super Bowl, but the roster since then has been made over ... and not in a good way. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Roster-Depletion-Happened-Quickly-399042191.html

Oakland's Road Warriors ready for Bucs

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Raiders are 4-0 on the road this year, and Derek Carr is playing better away from home. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Road-Warriors-Ready-for-Buccaneers-399035041.html

Kelly eager to self-scout the 49ers this week

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Chip Kelly says the bye week is a great time for he and his staff to do some self-scouting. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Kelly-and-Staff-Will-Take-a-Hard-Look-at-Team-During-Bye-Week-398887241.html

Even with 5-2 start, road to playoffs is rocky for Raiders

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Oakland's path to the playoffs may be difficult, even after 5-2 start. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Road-to-Playoffs-is-a-Tough-One-398882071.html

New Paralympic swimmer has record-setting debut

Tim Pierce was surprised his son, Jonathan, was eligible for the Paralympics. But when Jonathan, who is autistic, swam in his first Paralympic meet, he set seven U.S. records. My story for TeamUSA.org: http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2016/October/25/Jonathan-Pierce

Buckner is a bright spot in 49ers' dark season

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: No. 1 pick DeForest Buckner is having a solid rookie season. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Buckner-is-one-of-49ers-Few-Bright-Spots-398361951.html

Raiders getting big games from NFL's King of punters

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Marquette King has become a difference-maker as a punter. http://running.competitor.com/2016/10/news/pete-kostelnick-sets-new-record-running-across-us_157778

Pete Kostelnick averages more than 72 miles per day in shattering cross-USA running mark by four days

Pete Kostelnick crushed the 36-year-old record for running across the United States, finishing Monday in New York City in 42 days, six hours and 30 minutes. It was four days sooner than Frank Giannino Jr.'s record run in 1980. My story for Competitor.com: http://running.competitor.com/2016/10/news/pete-kostelnick-sets-new-record-running-across-us_157778

Report: 49ers may try to trade Staley for a No. 1 pick

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Would 49ers trade Joe Staley? Reports are that franchise might let go of Pro Bowl tackle in exchange for a No. 1 pick. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/With-Season-Now-Lost-49ers-Ponder-Trading-Staley-398198961.html

Raiders get the win, but Carr not satisfied

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Raiders improve to 5-2 with win over Jags, but Derek Carr says the offense must be better. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Carr-Not-Satisfied-With-Offensive-Efficiency-vs-Jags-398195941.html

49ers lose again, this time to Bucs, to fall to 1-6

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: San Francisco keeps sliding farther and farther downhill. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Knocked-Out-For-Sixth-Straight-Week-398122961.html

Raiders rebound with nice performance over Jaguars

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The defense is stronger in Oakland's rebound victory over Jacksonville. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Rebound-With-Victory-Over-Jaguars-398111421.html

Can Kaepernick get sharper in second start?

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Chip Kelly says Colin Kaepernick will be better in second game vs. Bucs. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Kelly-Expects-to-See-a-Sharper-Kaepernick-in-Second-Start-397922521.html

Sunday matchup features Carr vs. Bortles

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Derek Carr and Blake Bortles will forever be compared because of their spots in the draft. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Jaguars-Matchup-Features-Carr-vs-Bortles-397914581.html

Can Mike Davis step up in absence of Carlos Hyde?

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: So far, Mike Davis hasn't shown much. But the running back will get his chance vs. Bucs. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/With-Hyde-Out-Davis-and-Draughn-Will-Need-to-Produce-397767111.html

Cooper has been super in his past two games

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Amari Cooper has been a prolific receiver the past two games and ranks as one of the NFL's best this season. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Amari-Cooper-is-Coming-on-Strong-397761671.html

Raiders are missing Latavius Murray

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Oakland offense is missing running back Latavius Murray. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Offense-is-Feeling-the-Absence-of-Latavius-Murray-397609061.html

Media and fans uniting in "Baalke must go" belief

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: As this season spirals out of control, it's obvious the 49ers roster has a dearth of talent. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Critics-Starting-to-Zero-in-on-GM-Trent-Baalke-397604271.html

Niners say defensive performance vs. Bills was "embarrassing"

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: In falling to 1-5, San Francisco allows Bills to run all over the field at will. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Defense-Calls-Performance-Embarrassing-397319871.html

Despite loss, Raiders tied for first in AFC West

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: It appears the Raiders will be involved in a wide-open AFC West race. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Despite-Loss-Raiders-Remain-in-Thick-of-AFC-West-Race-397314961.html

Chiefs stop Raiders winning streak

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Alex Smith picks Oakland defense apart to put a stop to Raiders' three-game win streak. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Stumble-and-Fall-to-Chiefs-26-10-397247821.html

49ers are defenseless in loss to Buffalo

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Bills run for more than 300 yards in easy win over San Francisco. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Are-Defenseless-in-Fifth-Straight-Loss-397241721.html

Pete Kostelnick on the verge of shattering 36-year-old record for fastest crossing of the United States

Back in 1980, Frank Giannino Jr. ran across the U.S. in a little over 46 days. Since then, many have tried to break that mark, but came up short. Now Pete Kostelnick, an ultra runner in his prime, is almost to New York and on track to come in at 44-45 days. My story for Competitor.com: http://running.competitor.com/2016/10/news/pete-kostelnick-on-the-brink-of-record-breaking-run-across-the-u-s_157463

Through the years, Alex Smith has dominated Raiders

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: When the Raiders host the Chiefs Sunday, they'll need to find a way to beat Alex Smith, who has a great record against them. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Hope-to-Keep-Rolling-vs-Chiefs-on-Sunday-397088371.html

Kaepernick, 49ers' D will be on the hot seat in Buffalo

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: All eyes will be on Colin Kaepernick Sunday, but the real test for the 49ers vs. Bills will be if the defense can stop Buffalo's ground game. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Kaepernick-49ers-Defense-Need-to-Shine-in-Buffalo-397092561.html

Now that he's starting again, will Kap be any better?

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Will the 49ers see the Colin Kaepernick of 2012-13 or the one of 2014-15? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Can-49ers-Kaepernick-be-a-More-Accurate-Passer-396952511.html

Raiders' Carr has become terrific clutch passer

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: This season, Derek Carr has the best QB stats in the NFL when his team is behind. He's also 4-1. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/With-Games-on-the-Line-Carr-Has-Been-Mr-Clutch-396947041.html

Fifty years ago, a former Hungarian soccer player named Gogolak became an NFL game-changer for the New York Giants, opening the door to kickers from across the globe

When Pete Gogolak started kicking field goals "soccer style" at Cornell in the early 1960s, few people noticed. But soon, after signing with the AFL and then moving to the NFL's Giants in 1966, Gogolak sparked a revolution -- and an evolution -- in place-kicking that led to big changes and opened the door to soccer-style kickers from all parts of the globe to make a difference in the All-American NFL. My story for ESPN.com: http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17704991/how-pete-gogolak-other-european-soccer-style-place-kickers-started-revolution-50-years-ago

Raiders' weakest links are being exposed

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Even though they are 4-1, the Raiders have some weak spots. Like defense. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-May-be-4-1-but-Their-Weak-Spots-Are-Showing-396663001.html

Kelly has experience with rough starts

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Chip Kelly has experienced rough starts before, with the Eagles, and his teams have bounced back. Will it happen in 2016? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Despite-1-4-Start-49ers-Kelly-is-Staying-Positive-396657891.html

Fearlessness of Del Rio is carrying over to his team

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The go-for-it attitude of Jack Del Rio is reflected by the 4-1 record of the Oakland team. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Del-Rios-Fearlessness-is-Reflected-in-Raiders-Results-396529821.html

So far, 49ers D has been defenseless vs. the run

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: In four straight games the 49ers have allowed opposing backs to run for 100 or more yards. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Defense-Has-Been-Run-Over-the-Past-Four-Games-396526971.html

Opportunistic, aggressive Raiders deal Chargers a loss

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: When the Chargers stumbled, the Raiders rolled to their fourth win in five games. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Resourceful-Opportunistic-Raiders-Beat-Chargers-396473421.html

Kelly may be ready to make changes, including at QB

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Chip Kelly, after another loss, says he's ready to make some lineup changes. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Frustrated-Kelly-May-be-Ready-to-Make-Some-Changes-396300051.html

Raiders' Del Rio taking Chargers very seriously

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Any team with Philip Rivers is an explosive one, says Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Del-Rio-Raiders-Arent-Looking-Past-Struggling-Chargers-396295691.html

With Smith out, Raiders will lose tough blocker at tight end

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: The Raiders will miss Lee Smith's gritty work at tight end. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Smiths-Dirty-Work-Will-be-Missed-by-Raiders-396159961.html

Alana Nichols' final blog after Rio Paralympic Games

The fourth and final blog by Alana Nichols, with my help, from the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro: http://www.teamusa.org/News/2016/October/06/Alana-Nichols-Once-An-Athlete-Always-An-Athlete

For avid hiker and backpacker Liz Bergeron, it's a dream come true to be the executive director of the Pacific Crest Trail Association

Liz Bergeron loves to get into the outdoors to hike, backpack and camp. So to be the executive director of the Pacific Crest Trail Association is a dream job. My story on her for the Cool Jobs series on ESPNW.com: http://www.espn.com/espnw/voices/article/17672360/liz-bergeron-cool-sports-job-pacific-crest-trail-association-executive-director

49ers will try to rebound against struggling Cardinals

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The 1-3 49ers meet the 1-3 Cardinals Thursday night at Levi's Stadium. Which team can get back on track? http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Hope-to-Rebound-vs-Struggling-Cardinals-396015421.html

As Bowman leaves, Lynch returns to 49ers defense

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: The loss of inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman for the season is a crippling blow to the 49ers defense. At the same time, outside linebacker Aaron Lynch returns from suspension. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Go-On-Without-Bowman-But-Add-Lynch-395830651.html

Raiders' Cory James is showing he's a defensive gem

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Linebacker Cory James was just a sixth-round pick by Oakland, but he's having the impact of a first-rounder. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Excited-About-What-Cory-James-Brings-to-Defense-395825131.html

Vanessa Williams stays fit, active and healthy through her lifelong love of dance

Vanessa Williams has never liked to exericse. Yet when she discovered dancing, it changed her life. Today she dances competitively and teaches dance. It keeps her fit and active, yet it doesn't feel as if she's exercising. My story about her for the Active San Diego series in the Health section of the San Diego Union-Tribune: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/health/sd-he-active-williams-20161003-story.html

Raiders defense is starting to become formidable

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: After a rough start, the Raiders defense has turned the corner. It's made game-saving stands the past two games. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Defense-is-Starting-to-Come-Together-395646281.html

In first start, Rashard Robinson is strong at cornerback

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Almost nothing went right vs. the Cowboys, yet rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson shined in his first start. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Rashard-Robinson-a-Rare-Bright-Spot-for-49ers-395649771.html

Raiders rally, then hold, to beat Ravens in Baltimore

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Oakland rallies for a 28-27 victory over the Ravens. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Rally-to-Beat-Ravens-in-Fourth-Quarter-395572421.html

49ers build lead but let it slip away in loss to Cowboys

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Even at Levi's Stadium, where the 49ers play much better, they couldn't pull out a win vs. the Cowboys. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Even-at-Home-49ers-Let-One-Slip-Away-395581951.html