hotel stays from 12.5 percent to 16.5 percent to pay for

TAMPA, Fla. -- Jameis Winston has to play better for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to realize their potential. So does the supporting cast around the young quarterback.The second-year pros inconsistency has been a focal point during a slow start thats concerning not so much because of a 2/3 record as the way the team performed during a three-game losing streak that followed a season-opening win over the Falcons.Injuries have been a factor. So have an offense thats turned the ball over too much; a defense that hasnt generated enough pressure on opposing passers; and rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo (4 of 8 on field goals, one missed extra point), whos done little to stop lingering questions about whether it was a mistake to draft him in the second round.All that said, coach Dirk Koetter feels good about where the team sits in the NFC South race after beating the first-place Falcons (4-1) and three-time defending division champion Carolina Panthers (1-4) on the road in the first five weeks of the season.Now, this weekends bye offers an opportunity for several injured starters, including running back Doug Martin and defensive linemen Gerald McCoy and Robert Ayers Jr., to get healthy.It probably couldnt be at a better time for us, Koetter said of the break, which comes of the heels of a skid-ending 17-14 win over the Panthers.The momentum factor is one thing, the first-year coach added, but we have a chance to get several key members of our team back.Tampa Bay has missed the playoffs eight consecutive seasons, finishing last in the NFC South the past five.Martins return from a hamstring injury could be essential to Winston, who threw seven interceptions and lost two fumbles during the three-game skid, ending that trend.With the two-time Pro Bowl running back sidelined for three games and most of a fourth, the Bucs have been unable to run the ball consistently. Martin rushed for 1,402 yards a year ago, finishing second in the NFL behind Adrian Peterson. Through five games, Tampa Bay is averaging 3.3 yards per carry rushing.Thats placed a heavier burden on Winston, whos completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,327 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.In Tampa Bays two victories, the Bucs attempted 62 passes. In losses to Arizona, Los Angeles and Denver, Winston threw 145 times.The importance of a productive rushing attack was evident last Monday against Carolina, the first time this season the Bucs ran the ball more (37 carries, with Jacquizz Rodgers gaining 101 yards on 30 attempts) than Winston threw it (30 times without an interception).I feel like Ive improved a lot from my first year to my second year, said Winston, who threw for more than 4,000 yards as a rookie. I just have to protect the football -- thats the main thing. Just put us in better situations to win football games.A healthy Martin can make a difference.Despite getting a big night against Carolina from Rodgers, who wasnt on the roster when the season began, Martins versatility was a huge part of Tampa Bay ranking fifth in total offense last season.Im excited for him to come back, Winston said. But I just think overall, as an offense, protecting the football is the main thing.Koetter also entered the bye week encouraged about the progress of the defense, which he says has not been nearly as bad as statistics might suggest.Tampa Bay is tied for 28th in points allowed (142), although Koetter notes opponents have benefited greatly from the Bucs turning over the ball and leaving the defense in bad situations.In addition, two of Winstons nine turnovers have been returned for touchdowns.Youre going to be judged as a defense ultimately by how many points youve given up, defensive coordinator Mike Smith said. Weve given up way too many points. And it doesnt matter where the drive starts, how it happened -- weve got to go out and stop them, and we havent shown the resiliency that we need to.The hope is the return of Ayers from an ankle injury thats sidelined him since Week 2, as well as a healthy McCoy -- who missed last Monday nights game after injuring his calf the previous week -- will bolster a defensive line that had to rely in part on an undrafted rookie and other backups in expanded roles.I think were a lot closer than we are away ... I can assure you that, Smith said. And, really theres one guy to me thats got to do a better job, and thats Mike Smith. Hes the guy thats got to make sure that these guys understand what were trying to get accomplished, what were trying to get done.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Deandre Ayton Suns Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Leandro Barbosa Suns Jersey . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/charles-barkley-suns-jersey/ . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. Kevin Johnson Suns Jersey . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Shaquille ONeal Jersey . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. SAN DIEGO -- San Diego voters will decide in November on the Chargers proposal to raise local hotel taxes for a downtown stadium and convention facility.City Clerk Liz Maland announced Saturday that the football team had secured enough valid signatures to qualify the measure for the 2016 ballot.If approved, the proposal could keep the team from moving to the Los Angeles area, where it has been approved by NFL ownership to join the Rams in a new stadium being built in Inglewood.Chargers chairman Dean Spanos expressed appreciation to those who signed petitions. We gathered more than 110,000 signatures in less than six weeks, an extraordinary result that demonstrates the high level of community interest in a new multi-use stadium and convention center facility downtown, Spanos said.The initiative would raise the citys tax on hotel stays from 12.5 percent to 16.5 percent to pay for a $1.8 billion stadium and convention center in downtowns East Village, next to Petco Park, the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper reported (http://bit.ly/29AAOdEH).ddddddddddddThe Chargers would contribute $650 million for the stadium portion of the project, using $300 million from the NFL and $350 million from the team, licensing payments, sales of stadium-builder ticket options to fans, and other private sources.The city would raise more than $1.1 billion by selling bonds that would be paid back with the higher hotel tax revenues. That $1.1 billion would cover the citys $350 million contribution to building the football stadium, $600 million to build the adjoining convention-center annex, and $200 million for land, the newspaper reported.A coalition of opponents that includes politicians, business organizations and neighborhood groups has vowed to defeat the initiative.Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican, has raised many questions about the measure, but he hasnt yet taken a position.---Information from: The San Diego Union-Tribune, http://www.utsandiego.com ' ' '