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ByJoshDubow TheAssociatedPress ALAMEDA After13straightsea- sons without a winning record, playoff berth or even much hope most years, the Oakland Raid- ers head into training camp this year with an unfamiliar burden: expectations. Two strong draft classes that brought in core players such as quarterback Derek Carr, pass rusher Khalil Mack and re- ceiver Amari Cooper followed by a productive free agent shopping spree have put the Raiders into position to contend for the first time in years. "It's a great thing that people are talking about us in that light because when I first got here, they weren't," Carr said. "So it's a credit to where we've come from and that's about it. It's a credit to what we've done. Last year on the field was im- provement, it was better than my rookie year, obviously. As a team, we were better. That's the same kind of thing we want this year. We need to be better than 7-9." The Raiders more than dou- bled their win total last season in the first year under coach Jack Del Rio, improving from 3-13 to 7-9. Now they will try to ignore all the praise and make that even harder next step from medioc- rity to legitimate contender. "It's easy to get caught in that trap," Mack said. "That's not what we're about. We're about the grind. We're about work- ing hard, committing ourselves to excellence and going out and winning. That's what it's really NFL Raiders have high expectations this year A er13straightseasonswithoutwinning record, Oakland looks to contend for playoffs ERICRISBERG—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE Receiver Amari Cooper has helped put the Oakland Raiders into position to contend for the first time in years. By Janie McCauley The Associated Press SANTA CLARA Colin Kaeper- nick is back following three sur- geries and last season's bench- ing, determined and ready to prove himself as a starting quar- terback again. Blaine Gabbert insists he is prepared to keep the San Francisco job going into this season. Chip Kelly's first training camp as new 49ers coach will likely be defined by an intense quarterback competition — not to mention fierce fights for spots at several other key positions, such as wide receiver, corner- back and on the defensive line. After months of specula- tion that Kaepernick would be traded, and a high-profile meet- ing with Broncos general man- ager John Elway, the mobile, strong-armed QB is staying put after all. "What Chip and the coach- ing staff, my teammates have re- ally done this offseason and the work they put in and how every- thing's been going, I'm very ex- cited to be here," he said, not- ing this will be a welcome fresh start. "We know what we're do- ing when we step on the field, so we can go out and play with a clear mind. Chip brings a lot of excitement with this offense and what he's been able to do in the NFL. And I think every- body on the team is excited to play for him." Last month, the 28-year- old Kaepernick vowed to be at full strength and much heavier come Day 1 of training camp. He is recovering from surger- ies on his right thumb, his left knee, and on his non-throwing left shoulder to repair a torn labrum, which landed him on season-ending injured reserve after he lost his job last fall to 2011 first-round draft pick Gab- bert. Kaepernick was especially lean during the offseason and not as filled out through the up- per body given rehab limited his time in the weight room. "We're in the meetings to- gether, we're in the locker room together, we're out there work- ing on getting better together," Gabbert said of working along- side Kaepernick. Here are some things to watch for with the 49ers: THIN RECEIVING CORPS The 49ers lost No. 1 wideout Anquan Boldin, leaving them with only Torrey Smith as an experienced receiver in the unit. With tight end Vernon Davis also gone, San Francisco must figure out the depth chart for its receivers. Bruce Ellington and Bruce Miller are expected to take on bigger roles. Miller has been primarily a key blocker at fullback but now is transitioning to tight end in Kelly's scheme. QUIET IN FREE AGENCY General manager Trent Baalke hardly made a splash in free agency a year after adding Smith on a $40 million, five-year contract with $22 million guaranteed. Baalke acquired guard Zane Beadles af- ter Alex Boone departed to the Vikings in free agency. SPLITTING THE REPS Kelly doesn't envision any problems getting Kaepernick and Gabbert enough turns with the first team during training camp. "We have enough reps. We get enough reps during the course of training camp and during the course of our training where it's never been a concern for us in terms of, 'Geez, we're not going NFL 49ershavequarterback competitionthiscamp Kaepernick prepared to prove himself as starter again, Gabbert ready to keep job PHOTOS BY MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is back following three surgeries and last season's benching, determined and ready to prove himself as a starting quarterback again. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert insists he is prepared to keep San Francisco's starting quarterback job going into this season. By Andrew Baggarly Bay Area News Group NEW YORK Ask San Francisco Giants executive vice president Brian Sabean to profile the kind of relief acquisition that the club will to target to bolster the bull- pen down the pennant stretch and into the playoffs, and he de- scribes a dominant presence with strikeout stuff. He describes a pitcher who could handle a full inning, with- out regard to matchups. He de- scribes "not just the average Joe," but a "meaningful piece" who amounts to much more than "just a body." He can't mention Aroldis Chap- man by name. That would be tam- pering. But as the Giants arrive at Yankee Stadium to begin a three- game interleague series on Friday, and with the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline 10 days away, every subliminal message tells you that the front office would like noth- ing more than to add the Yankees left-hander and his very genuine 103 mph fastball to their bullpen stable. "I don't know how things will shake out," said Sabean, indicat- ing that GM Bobby Evans is op- erating off "the premium list and the next list." BASEBALL Sabean has ideal in mind for relief help Giants VP wants pitcher who can get clean inning ADAM HUNGER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. PETER DEJONG — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Supporters cheer Britain's Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey as he wins the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday. By Andrew Dampf The Associated Press MEGEVE, FRANCE Take it from cycling great Eddy Merckx: no- body can beat Chris Froome in this Tour de France. Riding with the poise and pur- pose of the Tour's undisputed leader, Froome won a mountain time trial in Stage 18 on Thurs- day and opened up a seemingly insurmountable lead of nearly four minutes over his closest chal- lenger, Dutch rider Bauke Mol- lema. Only two Alpine stages remain before Sunday's mostly ceremo- nial finish on the Champs-Ely- sees in Paris. "He deserves his win. He's the strongest," said Merckx, a five- time Tour winner. "I can't see what could prevent him from keeping this yellow jersey until Paris. His opponents just stay on his teammates' wheels. Barring an incident, nobody can beat him in this Tour." Riding in a yellow bodysuit and yellow aerodynamic helmet, Froome pumped his right fist af- ter clocking slightly more than half an hour over the 10.5-mile TOUR DE FRANCE Merckx says Froome can't be beaten this year in Tour 49ERS PAGE 2 RAIDERS PAGE 2 CYCLING PAGE 2 GIANTS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, July 22, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1