Gruden accepts some blame for 1-4 start

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Head coach Jon Gruden says his fingerprints are all over the bad parts of the Raiders in their 1-4 start. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Gruden-Says-His-Fingerprints-Are-on-Raiders-Problems-496258511.html

Shanahan isn't waving the white flag

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Despite a 1-4 start and serious, key injuries, the 49ers will win games this year, says Kyle Shanahan. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Despite-Losses-Injuries-Shanahan-Remains-Focused-on-2018-496245091.html

Next time, Gruden may give the ball to Lynch

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: It proved to be a disaster not to use Marshawn Lynch at the Chargers goal line in a loss to LA Sunday. Now head coach Jon Gruden says next time, Lynch will get the ball. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Next-Time-Gruden-May-Give-the-Ball-to-Lynch-495900961.html

49ers hoping Breida injury isn't serious

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Running back Matt Breida will get an MRI today to determine extent of ankle injury. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Losing-Breida-Could-be-Painful-for-Limping-49ers-495888941.html

Niners turn the ball over five times in loss to Cards

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: It's hard to win an NFL game when you cough the ball up five times, and the opponent has zero turnovers. That's what happened in 49ers' loss to Arizona. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Fumble-Away-a-Game-to-Cardinals-495550821.html

Raiders are almost lifeless in loss to Chargers

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Raiders go flat in L.A. to lose to host Chargers. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Follow-First-Win-by-Falling-Flat-in-Los-Angeles-495529611.html

Raiders' D giving up way too many long plays

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: This matchup doesn't look good. No team has made more long plays on offense than the Chargers through four games. The Raiders have allowed the most big plays. Uh Oh ... https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/NIners-Secondary-is-a-Primary-Concern-495273281.htmlhttps://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Defense-is-Allowing-Too-Many-Long-Plays-495277141.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_BAYBrand

49ers' secondary is a primary concern

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Injuries and subpar play have hurt the 49ers' pass coverage. With Richard Sherman out, it's only worse. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/NIners-Secondary-is-a-Primary-Concern-495273281.html

After first Olympics, media onslaught and high school graduation, teen speedskater Maame Biney is back from a break and ready to go

This year and last have been a long, hard grind for short-track speedskater Maame Biney, who went to her first Olympics in February. She finally was able to find her equilibrium again after giving herself permission to take a 4 1/2-month break ... and graduate from high school. My story about her for TeamUSA.org: https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/October/04/After-A-Heck-Of-A-Year-And-A-4-Half-Month-Break-Maame-Biney-Returns-To-Speedskating

Kittle looks like 49ers' next great tight end

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: George Kittle could be headed to join the likes of Russ Francis, Ted Kwalick, Vernon Davis and Brent Jones as the best tight ends in franchise history. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/In-Second-Year-Kittle-is-on-Track-to-Joining-49ers-Best-Tight-Ends-495169241.html

Penn's injury opens door to Brandon Parker

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: A groin injury to starting tackle Donald Penn means rookie third-round pick Brandon Parker will get his shot as a starter for the Raiders. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/With-Penn-Out-Raiders-Will-Go-With-Two-Rookie-Tackles-495174001.html

Former Egyptian modern pentathlon standout Amro Elgeziry is fulfilling a dream, having become a U.S. citizen

Amro Elgeziry went to three Olympics for Egypt as a modern pentathlete, but now he's a member of the U.S. national team after an interesting four years in which he moved to the U.S., married, became a citizen and joined the United States Army. My story on him for TeamUSA.org: https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/October/03/Pentathlete-Amro-Elgeziry-Is-Now-Living-The-American-Dream

Not an athlete? Kristine Entwistle certainly fits the description, no matter what she says

Kristine Entwistle runs, cycles, does yoga and has run marathons and completed triathlons, yet the executive at the Challenged Athletes Foundation doesn't believe she merits being called an athlete. My story on her for the Union-Tribune's Active San Diego series. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/sd-he-active-entwistle-20181001-story.html

For now, Mullens is 49ers' only backup QB

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Nick Mullens has never thrown a pass in the NFL, but if C.J. Beathard goes down in 2018, Mullens will be the 49ers' QB. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/For-Now-49ers-Are-Going-With-Mullens-as-No-2-Quarterback-494922371.html

Marshawn Lynch is still in "Beast Mode"

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: He may be 32, but running back Marshawn Lynch of the Raiders is still running over defenders the way he did in Seattle. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Marshawn-Lynch-is-Running-Over-and-Around-Defenders-494925681.html

Olympian Alexi Pappas is taking the high road to the Sierra Nevada to her first marathon start

Alexi Pappas has run everything from 1,500 meters to a half marathon, but the 2016 Olympian is now moving on to the marathon, eager for her debut at Chicago this week -- after training in Mammoth. My story for Competitor: https://running.competitor.com/2018/10/chicago-marathon/alexi-pappas-on-chasing-the-marathon_175157

Ex-couch potato comes through for Raiders

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: Kicker Matt McCrane was out of a job, just sitting on his couch when the Raiders called. Now he's this week's hero after hitting a game-winning kick. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Matt-McCrane-Goes-from-Couch-to-Hero-494805221.html

Niners can't afford to lose Staley

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Tackle Joe Staley was knocked out of Sunday's game with the Chargers. The team doesn't know how severe his injury is. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Niners-Cant-Afford-to-Lose-Joe-Staley-494808821.html

Beathard plays fine, but 49ers fall to Chargers

Daily 49ers blog for NBC Bay Area website: Backup QB C.J. Beathard plays well, but 49ers lose to Chargers anyway. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Beathard-and-49ers-Battle-but-Fall-to-Chargers-494746841.html

Raiders go OT with Browns to get first win

Daily Raiders blog for NBC Bay Area website: After starting 0-3, the Raiders beat the Browns 45-42 in overtime for Win No. 1 for Jon Gruden. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Raiders-Rally-to-Tie-Then-Beat-Browns-in-OT-494747461.html