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ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Reggie McKenzie took a methodical approach to rebuilding the Oakland Raiders when he was hired as general manager in 2012.He spent most of his first two seasons dismantling the roster to get the salary cap in order after years of mismanagement by late owner Al Davis before building the team back up again starting with the 2014 draft that netted franchise quarterback Derek Carr, elite pass rusher Khalil Mack and other key pieces.The process has paid off handsomely. McKenzies Raiders are off to a 9-2 start this season and stand in first place in the AFC West and tied for the top record in the conference with New England. Oakland is assured of its first winning record since 2002 and is closing in on clinching a playoff berth for the first time since that season, when the team went to the Super Bowl.We feel good about where we are, McKenzie said Thursday. We think we built this thing to last.But the speed of the turnaround from an 0-10 start in 2014 to possible Super Bowl contender two years later is somewhat staggering and a credit to the job McKenzie did building a roster and hiring Jack Del Rio as coach in 2015.All but three of the teams starters were added since 2014 with McKenzie using successful high draft picks like Carr, Mack and Amari Cooper, key free agents like Michael Crabtree, Donald Penn, Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin and Sean Smith, and numerous finds late in the draft and off the street like David Amerson, Seth Roberts, Jalen Richard and Perry Riley Jr., to build a team able to compete with just about anybody.We knew we had some pieces to develop and if we could just add on that, we felt like wed win some ballgames, McKenzie said. We had those guys in 2014, they were young, being 0-10 is no fun, but we were 3-3 at the end of that stretch and we were moving in the right direction.It has all paid off this season as a franchise that seemed to always find a way to lose is pulling out close games. Carr has led five fourth-quarter comebacks already this season as the players and management are confident each week that they will find a way to win.McKenzie said that started when Del Rio decided to go for a 2-point conversion and a win instead of playing for overtime in a season-opening 35-34 win at New Orleans.As many heart attacks as Ive had, absolutely, McKenzie said. It goes without saying, the players, you can feel it. They have an air about them that they know theyre going to win and its good to be around.The next step for McKenzie will be figuring out a way to keep all his young stars. He has structured most of his free-agent contracts with a pay-as-you-go philosophy meaning that the salary cap shouldnt hinder the teams chances of retaining Carr, Mack and Cooper. Carr can negotiate an extension this offseason and become a free agent in 2018, while Mack wont hit free agency until the following year and Cooper in 2020.The premiere players will get paid and we try to keep everything intact as much as we can, McKenzie said. But thats what happens when youre talented players, play well and their contract comes up a certain time to where they can benefit from it, thats what free agency is all about.In other topics, McKenzie said defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. resumed workouts on the field Thursday for the first time since injuring his hip in the preseason opener on Aug. 12.Edwards was placed on injured reserve with hopes that he would be able to come back after about eight weeks but the injury has taken longer to heal than originally thought. The next step will be to see how Edwards responds to the workout before deciding whether to allow him back to practice.Its a day to day thing for him now, McKenzie said. See how he comes in in the morning after he did some work today. Hes been working out. Hes had a good week.McKenzie also had no update on the status of suspended pass rusher Aldon Smith, who is waiting to be reinstated by the league after serving a one-year suspension for violating the substance-abuse policy.Theyll let us know in due time, McKenzie said. Im sure theyre in communication with each other with that. But they dont fill us in on anything in that process.McKenzie still believes Smith could contribute this season despite being out so long as long as he is in good shape physically and in a good state of mind.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Vans Shoes Canada . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Wholesale Old Skool Vans . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. http://www.cheapoldskoolcanada.com/ . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Vans Old Skool On Sale Canada . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Old Skool Vans Canada . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. The last time Sean Dempster was in an AFL team beaten by Melbourne he was playing in a Sydney side that would go on to win the flag.It was round five, 2005, and the Demons comfortably beat the Swans by 34 points at the SCG.Brock McLean got the three Brownlow Medal votes and a 21-year-old Dempster, in just his third AFL game, played on high-flying forward Russell Robertson.Russell took a massive hanger on my head in the goal square, Dempster told AAP.He was at the peak of his powers and he was taking hangers on everyone. During that week everyone had been getting into me, telling me to watch out he doesnt step on my head, and it still happened.Eleven years, a premiership flag and 212 games later, the versatile defender is part of a St Kilda side looking to continue a 13-game winning streak against Melbourne.The Saints are 12th and the Demons 10th with identical 7-8 records heading into Sundays clash at Etihad Stadium, with Paul Roos side keen to rid themselves of another hoodoo.I think once you get a bit of a roll-on (against a team) I guess a bit of pride starts to kick in that you want to keep it going, Dempster said of the impressive run that started in round oone of the 2007 season.ddddddddddddBut theyve been a big improver this year, which comes as no surprise to me having played under Roosy.They can bring a really high-pressure game and, probably like us, if they dont bring that (intensity) thats when they can come undone a bit ... as we can with us also having quite a few younger players.But we go in expecting their best pressure, which well need to match then hopefully put them on the back foot.Saints youngsters Jack Billings and Jack Sinclair return for the clash, while the Demons included Angus Brayshaw for his first game since round five after he overcame lingering concussion symptoms.St Kilda prevailed by 39 points in an entertaining affair the last time the teams met back in round six. Nick Riewoldt starred for the Saints, while Jesse Hogan kicked seven goals for Melbourne.Generally the bigger blokes arent that mobile - hes a special talent, Dempster said of Hogan.I daresay all three tall defenders down there might have to play on him at some stage ... hes a pretty dynamic player. ' ' '