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ByTimBooth TheAssociatedPress The kind of parity the NFL wants has been on display in the NFC West over the past half-de- cade. San Francisco won two straight division titles in 2011- 12, following by Seattle winning the division in 2013 and 2014. And last year, it was Arizona's turn to snatch away the divi- sion crown from the Seahawks, the Cardinals' first division title since 2009. It seems inevitable that either Arizona or Seattle will find it- self back on top of the division in 2016, as both are considered among the elite of the NFC. The Rams are beginning a new chapter, returning to Los Angeles with renewed excite- ment but the same questions whether they can advance be- yond being an average franchise. And the 49ers are rebuild- ing for a second straight year, this time under new coach Chip Kelly after a failed attempt with Jim Tomsula in charge. Here's a look at the four teams: LIGHT YEARS Seattle believes it has rediscovered its swagger from the 2013 Super Bowl title season. There's no Super Bowl hangover from winning or los- ing to deal with, just the bitter- ness of an NFC divisional play- off loss to Carolina. Despite a calm offseason, Se- attle still has flaws. It's shaky on the offensive line and the perfor- mance of the blockers could de- termine Seattle's offensive suc- cess. If given enough time, Rus- sell Wilson appears ready to build on last year's evolution as a passer and his connection with Doug Baldwin, who tied for the NFL lead with 14 TD catches. The Seahawks have been the top scoring defense in the NFL the past four seasons, and that remains the expectation with NFC WEST PREVIEW SEAHAWKS, CARDS CLEAR FAVORITES ELAINETHOMPSON—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS The Seattle Seahawks have been the top scoring defense in the NFL the past four seasons, and that remains the expectation with the likes of Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Earl Thomas and Bobby Wagner still in their primes. TONY AVELAR — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The solid defense for the 49ers is led by NaVorro Bowman and recent first-round picks Eric Reid, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner. By Steve Douglas The Associated Press Darren Clarke set up a What- sApp messaging group with his Ryder Cup assistants to discuss which European players looked the best leading up to the dead- line for his three captain's picks. The name of Thomas Pieters popped up more than any other. Hitting the best form of his career at just the right time, Pi- eters made it tough for Clarke to ignore him. He was selected Tuesday as one of Europe's three wild cards for next month's showdown with the United States at Hazeltine. The 24-year-old Belgian will be one of six Ryder Cup rookies on a European team seeking an unprecedented fourth straight victory in golf's biggest team event. "He brings a bit more of the X- factor. He is going to blossom," Clarke said. "He will be a star." Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer were "very obvious" choices as two of the captain's picks, Clarke said after making the announcement at the Eu- ropean Tour's headquarters at Wentworth. He had sleepless nights over his final selection. It boiled down to Pieters and Russell Knox, players who have won events on different sides of the Atlantic this month. Pieters got the nod on the back of this hot run: Fourth place at the Olympics, second place at the Czech Masters, and then a victory at the Made in Denmark tournament where he birdied the last three holes to win on Sunday. Clarke was in Denmark to see Pieters' third win in the past year, and made sure he was grouped with him for the opening two rounds. Then came Clarke's hardest job — the phone call to Knox. GOLF Westwood, Kaymer, Pieters get captain's picks for Ryder Cup By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press NEW YORK Eugenie Bouchard wrung her hands at her post- match news conference. She rubbed her lower lip. She squeezed her left arm. While her body language screamed discomfort Tuesday, when the main topic of discussion was Bouchard's ongoing lawsuit against the U.S. Open rather than her first-round loss, her words were measured. The once rising star answered every question. A year ago at Flushing Mead- ows, Bouchard got a concussion from a fall at the facility and with- drew before playing in the fourth round, and then missed most of the rest of the season. She filed suit against the U.S. Tennis As- sociation in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn in October, and that case is still pending, putting the 2014 Wimbledon runner-up in the odd position of competing this week at an event whose organiz- ers she is suing. "If I sit down and think about it, yeah, it's definitely a strange situation. But it's something that's so far in the back of my mind. I don't think about it on a daily basis, at all. I have people, law- yers, working on that side of it," Bouchard said. "So it's really not something I think about much at all. Obviously, being here, it's crossed my mind. But besides that, I mean, it has nothing to do with my day-to-day life." Her 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 exit against 72nd-ranked Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, a player who only once has been as far as the third round at a major tourna- ment, was filled with 46 unforced errors by Bouchard, who also was treated for blisters on her feet. It represented the latest early loss for a 22-year-old Canadian who reached three Grand Slam semi- finals two years ago — and none since. In other first-round action on Day 2 at the year's last Grand Slam tournament, Serena Wil- liams started her bid for a re- cord-breaking 23rd major title by showing zero signs of trou- ble from a right shoulder she's said was sore, hitting 12 aces in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Makarova. Also under the lights later: Andy Murray vs. Lukas Ro- sol. Earlier, Williams' sister Venus got through a tougher-than-ex- pected 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win against Kateryna Kozlova. "It was great to be challenged and to be pushed," said the 36-year-old Venus, a two-time US OPEN TENNIS Bo uc ha rd out; Venus, Serena win MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has sat for every national anthem through three exhibition games in order to draw attention to racial injustice and social issues. By Cam Inman Bay Area News Group SANTA CLARA Colin Kaeper- nick's national anthem protest has made him a lightning-rod for criticism, but that doesn't have him fearing his safety when the 49ers visit the San Diego Char- gers for Thursday's exhibition- season finale. "No, because if something happened, you'd be proving my point," Kaepernick said Tuesday in an informal talk with report- ers at his locker. To draw attention to racial in- justice and social issues, Kaepe- rnick has sat for every national anthem through three exhibition games, though his protest didn't become known publicly until after Friday's home loss to the Green Bay Packers. "I knew what I was walking into," Kaepernick added. "That's why it's a sacrifice." Kaepernick's safety, and that of his 49ers teammates, will be han- dled not only through the Char- gers' stadium personnel but also the 49ers' own detail that typi- cally travels and takes a pro-ac- tive approach in such matters. A 49ers spokesman declined to de- tail any such plans. Coach Chip Kelly said Kaepe- rnick indeed will play Thursday, and that presumably will be in a starting role. Blaine Gabbert, their starter the first three exhi- bitions, will not play. "We've got a good understanding of where Blaine is," said Kelly, noting that Kaepernick missed the first two exhibitions with a sore arm and needs more snaps for evaluation purposes. San Diego's massive presence of military personnel could result in a rude welcome for Kaepernick, who's insisted that his anthem protest and anti-flag comments 49ERS Kapnotworriedabouthissafety QBisn'ttooconcernedwithpublicuproarwhenSFvisitsChargers 49ERSATSANDIEGO When: Thursday, 7p.m. TV: CBS TUNEIN 49ERS PAGE 2 NFC WEST PAGE 2 GOLF PAGE 2 DARRON CUMMINGS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Serena Williams returns a shot from Ekaterina Makarova, of Russia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tournament Tuesday. TENNIS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, August 31, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1