have had only two players not report on time because of a contract dispute. OOffensive tackle Sam Baker missed the first practic

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies wanted to keep Mike Conley so much that they gave their veteran point guard the richest contract in NBA history.For Conley, the basketball -- and pressure -- is in his court after signing a five-year, $153 million deal Thursday.Conleys play will be closely monitored during an upcoming season in which he will earn more than new Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, a seven-time All-Star with four league scoring titles and an NBA Most Valuable Player award. Durant signed a two-year, $54.3 million deal.Conley doesnt expect the lucrative deal to affect his play.Its amazing the opportunity Ive been given, Conley said. As far as the pressure, its hard to really gauge that because I put pressure on myself to perform regardless. The amount of money I make is not going to change how I approach the game. Im going to continue to be aggressive and do a lot better than I did last season and the season before.Conley, a 28-year-old point guard, has played nine seasons with the Grizzlies during which he has averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 assists. He led the Grizzlies to the 2013 Western Conference finals, the farthest the franchise has advanced in the postseason.Ill take the heat right now (on being the highest-paid NBA player), Conley said. Eventually, it will all die down. Two years from now everybody else will be making so much more.In Conleys non-All-Star selection defense, he has played in the Western Conference during his career with point guards Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Tony Parker and Steve Nash.Hes our All-Star, said Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace. Hes an elite point guard in this league. Its unanimous around the league that hes one of the top-tier players at his position, a very crucial position.At an on-court ceremony at FedExForum celebrating the signing, Conley announced he was donating $1 million to the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aids at-risk youth in the community. The $1 million was matched by the franchises ownership group led by majority owner Robert Pera.Conley used the press conference -- also attended by Grizzlies MVP season-ticket holders -- to address the recent tragedy in Dallas, where five policemen were killed by a lone gunman, and the nationwide protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.Im a quiet guy, Im very reserved, he said. At the same time, as much as I want to lead by example, I know when its time to speak up. Right now is that time ... Its not about money, we have to be on the forefront to set examples for the kids. We need to become mentors for the youth.Conley has battled injuries the past few seasons and appeared in only 56 games last season because of an Achilles tendon injury. He hasnt played more than 73 games in any of the past three seasons.Ive concentrated solely on (staying healthy) during the offseason, Conley said. I want to be healthy. I want to be able to be here every night and give everything Ive got. Im doing everything I can to be able to do that.Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, who has been an All-Star selection, had the previous richest contract in league history when he signed a five-year deal last year worth approximately $145 million.Others who have signed max contracts without All-Star game appearances include the Wizards Bradley Beal, Utahs Gordon Hayward and Oklahoma Citys Enes Kanter. Beal signed a $128 million deal this offseason. Utah matched an offer sheet from Charlotte for Hayward worth $63 million for four years in 2014, while Oklahoma City matched Portlands max four-year deal for Kanter last summer for $70 million.Were in the era of the point guard, Wallace said. Theres probably never been a greater collection. But we know Mikes value.We have nine years invested in him. And hes just gotten better and better. Hell thrive in (new) coach (David) Fizdales offense. We never gave a second thought other than doing what it took to get him. Marcus Mariota Jersey . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Steve McNair Womens Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. http://www.titansstoreonline.com/Black-64-Nate-Davis-Womens-Jersey/ . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. Amani Hooker Youth Jersey .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Eddie George Womens Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick.ATLANTA -- Rookie cornerback Desmond Trufant has signed a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons and was the first player to report for the start of training camp. Atlanta announced the deal Wednesday. Trufants agent, Doug Hendrickson, told The Associated Press that the contract was for $8.16 million with $4.3 million guaranteed. "Desmond is very excited to get started," Hendrickson said. "He made it clear he wanted to be in camp on time. As usual, the Falcons were great to work with, and were glad to get this deal done." Trufant was one of the first players to report to dorms at the teams training facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. Camp officially begins on Thursday with the first practice. Atlanta traded up eight spots in a draft-day deal with St. Louis to select Trufant out of Washington. He is the leading candidate to start at right cornerback but will have to beat out Robert Alford, a second-round pick from Southeastern Louisiana. In six years under general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the Falcons have had only two players not report on time because of a contract dispute. OOffensive tackle Sam Baker missed the first practice of camp in 2008.ddddddddddddVeteran wideout Roddy White missed the first eight days of 2009 before signing a six-year deal that made him one of the NFLs highest-paid receivers. Trufant was the last of eight draft picks this year to finalize a contract with the Falcons. Quarterback Sean Renfree, a seventh-round selection from Duke, signed Wednesday, too. Trufant has two brothers with NFL experience in the secondary. Marcus Trufant played his first 10 seasons in Seattle before signing with Jacksonville two months ago. Isaiah Trufant, a career reserve, is preparing for his fourth season with the New York Jets. Desmond Trufant is competing with Alford to replace Dunta Robinson, who signed with Kansas City in March after the Falcons released him to clear salary cap room. Atlanta lost former starting cornerback Brent Grimes and former reserve Christopher Owens to unrestricted free agency. The only current Falcons cornerback with substantial starting experience is Asante Samuel, a four-time Pro Bowl pick who holds the left-side job. ' ' '