Press he believes it is unfair to characterize a process that will

IRVINE, Calif. -- Cornerback E.J. Gaines said early in training camp that the Los Angeles Rams could have the best secondary in the league, even after losing starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod in free agency.That certainly has not been the case through the Rams first two preseason games, but the addition of Gaines to the first unit could mark a turning point toward that goal.Working extensively with the starters Monday, Gaines was able to build on his productive outing against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. Gaines played most of the second quarter with the second unit and finished with four tackles.It felt good, man. It was exciting to get out there, Gaines said.A pulled hamstring limited Gaines activity during the first few weeks of practice at UC Irvine. His return to game action Saturday nearly one year after he suffered a season-ending Lisfranc fracture in his foot was nearly derailed by a sprained ankle, but Gaines felt as if he could go after participating in pregame warmups.E.J.s first time back, I was really pleased with what we saw out of E.J., coach Jeff Fisher said. He went out and made some really big-time tackles, which was kind of reminiscent of the E.J. we had a couple years ago.Gaines, who had 70 tackles and two interceptions as a rookie in 2014, was expected to start opposite Jenkins last season. Trumaine Johnson replaced the injured Gaines and had a team-high seven interceptions, leading the Rams to use their franchise tag on him.Jenkins signed with the New York Giants, leaving Gaines, nickel back Lamarcus Joyner and free-agent addition Coty Sensabaugh competing for the vacancy at corner.The resulting uncertainty has been evident so far in the preseason. Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott was 10 of 12 for 139 yards and two touchdowns starting in place of Tony Romo in the opener.And Kansas Citys Alex Smith went 9 of 12 for 137 yards and one touchdown last week. Both quarterbacks took advantage of open receivers. Joyner and Sensabaugh were unable to make plays on the scoring throws.The defense hasnt allowed a point in the second half so far, allowing the Rams to stage second-half rallies to win both preseason games, but has yet to intercept a pass.Is the glass half-full or is it half-empty? Well Id rather see no points given up in the first half than I would the second half because your starters are playing in the first half.Too many big plays, too many explosive plays. Not enough plays on third down, not enough turnovers by our standards, Fisher said.We need to get better. The corner position still is up in the air, the other side, be it Lamarcus or Coty or E.J.Gaines didnt try to deflect the criticism aimed at the secondary. When asked how much better they can be, Gaines said: Man, a million times better than we have shown in the preseason so far.The focus for the secondary this week will be on starting fast, Gaines said, while he is still trying to adjust to the speed of the game.You cant really simulate that out here on the practice field, but getting out there in the preseason will do me good, Gaines said.Game notes Linebacker Mark Barron returned to practice. Fisher had previously attributed Barrons absence last week to rest. ... Defensive end William Hayes met with a fan dressed as Ariel from the Disney animated film The Little Mermaid after practice. Hayes was featured on the HBO series Hard Knocks last week, stating his belief in the existence of mermaids.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Authentic Custom Sharks Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Sharks Jerseys China . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. http://www.customsharksjersey.com/ . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Custom Sharks T-shirts . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Cheap Custom Sharks Jersey . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. ST. LOUIS -- A group seeking to build a new soccer stadium in St. Louis postponed its Tuesday meeting with a state finance board, one day after Missouris governor-elect expressed strong opposition to public financing for the project.Principles of the group SC STL were to meet with the Missouri Development Finance Board over a request to approve $40 million in state tax credits for the proposed $200 million downtown stadium, the centerpiece of the effort to attract a Major League Soccer expansion team.The postponement followed a statement released by Republican Gov.-elect Eric Greitens on Monday in which he called public funding for the stadium nothing more than welfare for millionaires.SC STL chairman Paul Edgerley said the group hopes to meet with Greitens to fully understand his position and outline the projects benefits.While we were disappointed in the statement yesterday by Governor-Elect Greitens, we respect that he and others may differ from our views, Edgerley said in a statement. We continue to believe in the substantial economic and other benefits of this project to the State and to the City of St. Louis.Greitens said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the groups decision to withdraw, at least for now, the request for state financing is great news for Missouri taxpayers.As I said yesterday, Im opposed to taxpayer funding for the soccer stadium, something I view as welfare for millionaires, Greitens said. Im looking forward to meeting with the ownership group to discuss a plan to bring private investment and jobs to Missouri.Outgoing Goov.dddddddddddd Jay Nixon has expressed support for public funding, as has St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, a fellow Democrat. In addition to state tax credits, the stadium is contingent on St. Louis voters approving $80 million in public funding in an April vote. The city would own the stadium and lease it to the MLS team in a 30-year agreement.Nixon told The Associated Press he believes it is unfair to characterize a process that will involve at least three public votes as backroom deals, as Greitens did in his statement on Monday.I dont consider being a partner in capitalism where it can make a difference -- especially on site preparation -- to be welfare for anybody, Nixon said. I consider it economic development.Edgerley cited a study that suggested the stadium project would produce a net positive economic impact for the state, creating more than 400 permanent jobs and generating tax revenue that would exceed the states investment, while adding an important element to help revitalize downtown.Were hopeful that Gov. Elect Greitens, who campaigned on a pro-business platform, will welcome the opportunity to learn more about the upside of the project for the state and city alike, Edgerley said.Plans for the downtown stadium were announced in November. The MLS has expressed interest in St. Louis as a potential expansion site, but only if a stadium is built.---AP reporter David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report. ' ' '