Neo Workxx » suddenly the spark disappeared. It w

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor wasnt sure what lay ahead some 19 months ago, when he left Baltimore after four seasons seeking a chance to prove himself outside the shadow of being Joe Flaccos understudy.On Sunday, Taylor will be reminded how far hes come when the Bills open their season at the Ravens.Definitely. When I left there, I was looking for an opportunity to get a chance to compete, Taylor recalled this week. Two years later, Im going there as a starter with a year under my belt.The usually understated Taylor might be selling himself and his ascendance in Buffalo short based on what hes accomplished since signing with the Bills as a free agent in March 2015.In that time, he beat out EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel to earn Buffalos starting job. Taylor went 8-6 last season, while displaying signs of his dual-threat ability as a strong-armed passer and dynamic runner in which he set the franchise record for quarterbacks with 568 yards rushing.His production and offseason commitment to further assert himself as both an on- and off-field leader led to the Bills rewarding Taylor last month. They signed him to an incentive-laden, five-year contract extension , which included a $6-plus-million raise in the final season of his deal this year.There is plenty on the line still before Taylor cements the job long term, considering the Bills can opt out of the deal in each of the next two offseasons.Offensive coordinator Greg Roman doesnt see a need to place added pressure on his starter.I just need Tyrod to be Tyrod, Roman said. He was a winner last year. And hell be a winner this year.It helps that Taylor should be more comfortable with his teammates and Romans philosophy entering his second season overseeing an offense that essentially returns intact.The details of his new contract or the prospect of facing his former team matter little to Taylor.Its not about me, he said. My focus is on winning.Though his loyalties are now rooted in Buffalo, Taylor bears no hard feelings toward Baltimore, where he experienced winning a Super Bowl in 2013.It was the Ravens who, after all, took the chance on selecting him in the sixth round -- 180th overall -- in the 2011 draft.Taylor was the 11th of 12 quarterbacks drafted despite a four-year career at Virginia Tech, where he set school career records for wins (34), yards passing (9,213) and yards rushing (2,196) by a quarterback and broke the previous mark established by Michael Vick.The questions focused on his size -- at 6-foot-1, Taylor is comparatively small by NFL quarterback standards -- and whether his scrambling ability could translate to the pro game.Ravens coach John Harbaugh overlooked those concerns in seeing glimpses of Taylors potential in Baltimore.I can remember many times fending off criticism over the years that was unwarranted and stating many times that hes an NFL quarterback and hes going to prove it, Harbaugh said. I felt like there was no question in my mind that he was going to be a starter.If it were up to Harbaugh, Taylor would still be in Baltimore.I would have kept him forever, he said.Flacco isnt surprised by what Taylor has done so far in Buffalo.I didnt have a doubt in the world that when he got a shot, he would make the most of it, Flacco said.Taylor credits Flacco for helping him learn how to handle himself as a starter, whether it was his off-field preparation or the even-keeled approach he had among teammates.Taylor has shown similar traits.Hes very consistent, Roman said. I cant really think of a time where he has really got unglued.Guard Richie Incognito recalled the time late last season when Taylor had big-screen TV sets delivered to the lockers of each of his offensive linemen.It showed he gets it, Incognito said. It showed him solidifying himself as a veteran leader of this team.Game notes Without going into detail, coach Rex Ryan acknowledged DT Marcell Dareus is taking part in team meetings while serving a four-game NFL suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. Im happy that he seems to be doing well, Ryan said. ... S Colt Anderson (foot) and CB Kevon Seymour (hamstring) missed their third straight days of practice.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Adidas Superstar Discount .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Cheap Adidas Superstar Trainers UK . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. http://www.superstarukdiscount.com/ .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Adidas Superstar Sale Uk . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Adidas Superstar Wholesale Uk . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda.Michael van Gerwen is dominating the world of darts and Rod Studd recalls when he first took notice of the precocious Dutch teenager. The world No 1 recently broke the record for the highest average in a televised match and has already won six PDC events this year.Sky Sports commentator Studd casts his memory back to one of Van Gerwens early TV appearances and admits he was not always certain that Mighty Mike would rule the sport... The first time I saw him play on the telly was at the BDO World Masters in October 2006. He was just 17-years-old back then and the PDCs long-serving PR man Dave Allen told me to keep an eye out for him after his appearance in the Holland Open, which he won by beating Colin Osborne in the final. He looked like a teenager, but he played like a master. Rod Studd on Michael van Gerwen Michael, who was a skinny little blonde kid at that time, knocked out a few good players like Darryl Fitton, Mark Webster and he would play Martin Adams in the final. It was immediately evident that this kid was playing like he had been on a professional darts stage for all his life. He looked like a teenager, but he played like a master.Wolfie Adams was 5-2 ahead and Michael went on to beat him, taking Eric Bristows record as the youngest ever winner of the BDO World Masters. I think that really says it all - when you think of the calibre of the man whose record he had taken. Adams would go on to win the World Championship at Lakeside a few months later, so Michael had beaten the best player in the BDO, and in my opinion one of the top players in the world. Micchael van Gerwen set a new highest average in the history of televised darts.dddddddddddd. He ended on 123, breaking the previous record of 118, set by Phil Taylor The following year, Van Gerwen played in a Dutch event featuring BDO and PDC players called the Masters of Darts, and was still only 17 when he defeated Phil Taylor 3-0 in a group match. Michael famously hit a nine-darter in his semi-final against Raymond van Barneveld, in front of a televised audience in Holland, eventually losing 6-4.But then inexplicably this magical talent that he had - suddenly the spark disappeared. It was if he had lost his wand somewhere. Michael had that terrible run for up to four years really, disappeared off the darts radar, and couldnt win a game.I must admit I was a doubting Thomas and thought we had seen two years of brilliance and that it was gone. But the Van Gerwen loyalists, including PDC referee George Noble, Dave Allen, and Richard Ashdown, MC at the Lakeside, all told me how wrong I was. The debate has started. Is Michael van Gerwen the greatest darts player ever? Suddenly he burst back in 2012 and boy those people have not let me forget it either! I hold my hands up, I was totally, utterly wrong and Im absolutely delighted I was wrong. There are few greater pleasures in darts than seeing Michael van Gerwen in full flight. Watch Michael van Gerwen return to action in the Premier League tonight, from 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Or watch live for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Bully Boy reveals MVG awe Is MVG better than Taylor? Sky Live: PL night six WATCH: Is MVG the best ever? ' ' '