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For now anyway Tyron Smith Jersey , Jamar Taylor seems the odds-on favorite to win the cornerback job opposite Patrick Peterson, a chore that's loaded with action since that's the direction most opponents decide to throw.

Last week, the Arizona Cardinals sent a 2020 sixth-round draft pick to Cleveland in exchange for Taylor, who started 29 games for the Browns the past two seasons.

"It means another opportunity," Taylor said after he practiced Wednesday, the second day of the Cardinals' voluntary workouts this week. "Obviously, they (the Browns) didn't have me in their plans up there. It is what it is. I felt like I did what I needed to do up there as far as help change the culture. I was very loyal to the Browns, but letting me go, it definitely puts another fire in my gut to come out here and ball out."

First-year coach Steve Wilks said Taylor might be the leading candidate but he has to earn the job.

"I think when you look at what he's done on paper, I think you can say that," Wilks said, "but once we get out on the field, it's a clean slate for everybody."

Taylor said he understands that.

"I've always got 100 percent confidence in myself," he said. "But at the same time, you've got to put the work in. You can't just come in here and be like oh, you're going to be the guy. There's a ton of guys in here that are really good. I've been watching the last couple of days. I just have to come in here and make sure I'm doing my job so I get that opportunity."

The Cardinals think highly enough of Taylor that they released another veteran cornerback 49ers Authentic Jerseys , Marcus Williams, on Monday.

Wilks is known for his work with cornerbacks. He was cornerbacks coach of the Carolina Panthers before being promoted to defensive coordinator there last season.

"I'm excited," Taylor said. "I've watched his defenses a lot. I'm a big film guy. Just seeing him when he was with Carolina, knowing him when he was with San Diego. I had some old friends that played for him. I've heard what type of coach he is and then seeing out there the past couple of days, it's amazing. This whole organization is a great organization."

Asked what he thinks of Taylor, Wilks said, "When you look at him over the time, particularly a couple of years ago when he had his best season on the other side of (Joe) Haden, to make plays on the ball, extremely smart. He's physical and I love the way he tackles. We take a lot of pride in that, of course I do, in making sure our cornerbacks tackle."

Taylor's three career interceptions came in that 2016 season opposite the longtime standout Haden and he said he welcomes the challenge of playing opposite Peterson.

"It's just more plays for whoever's over there," Taylor said. "More plays, that's how you've got to look at it. More opportunities for you to get picks. When I went to Cleveland, I played opposite Joe Haden. That meant more plays that year. I made a lot of plays on the ball. Playing opposite from a guy like Pat, it's a huge deal Cheap Brandon Parker Jersey , you've got to hold your own."

The Browns went 1-31 in Taylor's two seasons there, but the losing didn't wear him down, he said.

"I've always felt like I was a winner," he said. "I rarely lost in high school, didn't really lose in college. My mindset was just worry about what I can do on the field. If that meant staying late and making sure I had my job right, that's what it meant. I just always tried to keep the other guys together, because in the NFL you could win or lose by three points, two points, one point. Every Sunday is different."

Taylor, and especially his wife Mackenzie, are happy to be moving out West. She grew up in suburban Phoenix. He was a second-round draft choice by the Dolphins out of Boise State in 2013.

"She's more of a topic than I am," he said. "We're both excited. I've been waiting to play on the West Coast my whole career. I went to Miami and all the way north to Cleveland. So I'm happy to be kind of close to home. I know she's happy to be around her family. We're going to definitely have way more support at games now."

If his right arm isn’t healed in time for his next start, maybe Vince Velasquez can pitch with his left.

Ambidextrous, indeed.

Hit on his pitching arm by a line drive, Velasquez made a dazzling throw with his left hand, and Philadelphia overcame an early injury to its starting pitcher to beat the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Saturday night.

”It is well-known he is one of our best all-around athletes Cheap Baker Mayfield Jersey ,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. ”You just would never predict that.”

Velasquez was struck in the forearm by Adam Eaton’s liner in the second inning. He dropped his glove, hustled to retrieve the ball as it deflected toward third base, and unleashed a strong toss with his opposite arm that nipped the speedy Eaton at first for the final out.

”I tried to finish the play,” Velasquez said.

The Phillies pitcher actually spent his junior season in high school as a lefty-throwing center fielder due to bone chips in his pitching arm that prevented him from taking the mound.

And on Friday night, Velasquez startled Phillies first baseman Carlos Santana by throwing a ball to him left-handed from the dugout in between innings.

”Kind of warmed up for that play today,” Velasquez joked.

So, Velasquez knew he could throw left-handed – he just didn’t know if he could make an accurate toss.

”I actually surprised myself throwing a strike right there,” he said.

After completing the play, Velasquez then dropped to the ground, writhing in pain and clutching his right arm. He was pulled from the game with a bruise, having allowed one run and three hits.

X-rays were negative, a better result than he anticipated.

”I thought something was broken,” he said. ”Thanks to God, nothing is severe.”

Kapler said Velasquez would be further evaluated on Sunday. The pitcher said it was ”up in the air” whether he would be able to take his next turn in the rotation.

”We’ll see how it feels,” he said.

Victor Arano (1-0) followed Velasquez with two scoreless innings.

Odubel Herrera homered and Jorge Alfaro and Aaron Altherr had RBI doubles as the Phillies bounced back from a 17-7 loss. Anthony Rendon homered for the Nationals, who went deep seven times in Friday night’s romp at Citizens Bank Park Cheap Rasheem Green Jersey , but managed just eight hits against six Philadelphia pitchers.

”I thought we were going to score more than two runs after yesterday’s performance,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. ”We had our chances.”

Yacksel Rios kept Philadelphia in front by getting out of a jam in the eighth. After Adam Morgan allowed the first two runners to reach on a single and a walk, Rios entered and got Rendon to line out to right, Juan Soto to pop out and Mark Reynolds to ground out.

Rookie Seranthony Dominguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in his eighth chances. Dominguez retired the first two batters before pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy doubled to right, but the right-hander retired Eaton on a flyball.

”Cool as a cucumber,” Kapler said. ”A special performance.”

Jeremy Hellickson (2-1) returned to the mound for Washington after being sidelined since June 4 with a right hamstring strain. The veteran right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

RED-HOT RENDON

Rendon is batting .396 in his last 13 games, with hits in 12 of those contests. His 85 career hits against Philadelphia are tied for his most against any opponent.

WHAT A THROW

Alfaro upped his major-league lead to 15 base runners caught stealing when he nailed the swift Trea Turner for the final out in the fifth. Turner entered second in the majors with 22 steals, but was easily out.

”Alfaro threw a bullet,” Martinez said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (right shoulder inflammation), out since June 10, threw a bullpen session on Saturday. … Washington transferred 1B Ryan Zimmerman, who has been out since May 10 with a strained right oblique, to the 60-day DL.

UP NEXT

The teams close out the four-game series on Sunday afternoon with Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-5, 3.68) facing Phillies RHP Jake Arrieta (5-6, 3.54).

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