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TheAssociatedPress NEWYORK FormerWashing- ton Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann isn't happy with the San Francisco 49ers' deci- sion to give Colin Kaepernick an award for "inspirational and courageous" player. Kaepernick sparked a na- tional debate by kneeling dur- ing the national anthem be- fore games as a way of pro- testing racial injustice and police brutality. Kaepernick received the Len Eshmont Award last week. The prize is described as the team's most prestigious honor; its recipient is decided by players. Theismann noted the team's 2-14 record during an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday and questioned what Kaepernick has inspired. He said, "Everybody has the right to express their opinion, but not in the workplace." Theismann called on the NFL to adopt a policy requir- ing players to stand for the anthem. Theismann slams 49ers for giving Kaepernick top award NFL Fromle ,San Francisco 49ers' Eli Harold, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid kneel during the national anthem before an Oct. 2game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara. MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE By Jimmy Durkin Bay Area News Group ALAMEDA Connor Cook will be nervous Saturday. Jack Del Rio may be a little, too. In truth, neither knows what's quite in store when Cook makes his NFL starting debut as the Oakland Raiders face the Houston Texans in an AFC wild-card playoff game. "I think there's a lot of un- known there," Del Rio said Wednesday when he an- nounced Cook as the starter. "Honestly, we haven't seen him a lot." Cook, 23, a rookie from Michigan State, will become the first quarterback of the Su- per Bowl era to make his ini- tial NFL start in a playoff game when he hits the field for the 1:35 p.m. kickoff at NRG Sta- dium. "I'm just embracing the op- portunity," Cook said. "Going to go out there and have fun, just let it all hang out and ob- viously prepare my butt off. Do what I've been doing all season long and just go out there and have fun with my teammates." With starter Derek Carr out with a broken fibula and backup Matt McGloin nurs- ing a sore left (non-throwing) shoulder, Del Rio said it was an easy call to make Cook his starter after watching him NFL Raiders'Cooktostart forwild-cardplayoffs FirstquarterbackinSuperBowlerato make starting debut in a playoff game DUSTIN BRADFORD — GETTY IMAGES Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Connor Cook will make his first NFL start Saturday in the AFC wild-card game at Houston. JACK DEMPSEY — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Oakland Raiders quarterback Connor Cook passes against the Denver Broncos in the first half Sunday in Denver. Saturday: Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans, 1:35p.m., TV on ESPN, ABC, radio 93.9FM. TUNEIN By Curtis Pashelka Bay Area News Group SAN JOSE The continued evolu- tion of the San Jose Sharks' ros- ter was all too apparent early Wednesday. Heralded rookie Timo Meier was on the Sharks' top line dur- ing Wednesday's practice with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. Fel- low rookie forward Kevin Labanc, who has been one of the Sharks' most pleasant surprises so far this year, resumed his spot on the sec- ond line. In the locker room, Matt Nie- to's equipment was untouched af- ter the Sharks placed the 24-year- old forward on waivers. With Labanc and Meier mak- ing a noticeable impact, Nieto, a speedy forward who was the first California native to be drafted by the Sharks, had an increasingly tough time cracking the lineup. The issue would only have been compounded when Tomas Hertl, out for the last six-plus weeks with a right knee sprain, returns, possibly later this month. "It's not what he didn't do. It's a testament to the depth here," Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said of Nieto. "We've got young guys that have progressed faster than maybe we anticipated and have come in and basically taken jobs." The Sharks fully expect Nieto to be claimed by another NHL team by Thursday at 9 a.m., bringing to an end Nieto's tenure in San Jose after 221 regular sea- son and 23 playoff games. "It gives him the opportunity to play in the league that he de- serves," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said of Nieto. DeBoer added that Meier's spot on the Sharks' top line, which be- ganinthethirdperiodofTuesday's 2-1overtimelosstotheLosAngeles Kings, is hardly set in stone. NHL Nieto waived by San Jose as evolution of roster goes on Staff Report Post 167 Bulls American Legion baseball is preparing for the sum- mer 2017 season and are looking for managers and coaches who are available to coach teams from May through August. All prospective coaches need to have experience in coaching youth players in baseball funda- mentals, running practices and managing games. Bulls players range in age from 14-19 years old. The Bulls play an extensive schedule of games and out-of- town tournaments against some of the finest American Legion and travel baseball teams in the state. Anyone interested in coach- ing or managing a Post 167 Bulls team needs to prepare a coach- ing resume and submit it to the Post 167 American Legion Base- ball Board of Directors at the Jan. 9 meeting at the Lariat Bowl at 6:30 p.m. Resumes can be submitted via e-mail at rbbullspost167@gmail. com. For more information call Mark Chrasta at 524-2058. BASEBALL American Legion Bulls seek coaches, managers Staff Report The Chico Heat will host the 2017 Great West League All-Star Game, the marquee event of the season to be played at Nettleton Stadium at 6:35 p.m. Monday, July 24. "We're proud to have been se- lected by the league to host this great game," said Heat General Manager Hunter Hampton. "This is a salute to our organization, our fans and the city of Chico." A number of exciting events, including a home run derby, will take place surrounding the game. "The Heat led the league in at- tendance in our first season and won the GWL Championship," said league President Ken Wil- son. "Chico is the perfect choice to host this sensational event." Participants in the game will be selected by the league manag- ers and Major League Baseball scouts. "This is a terrific showcase for our league's top players and a wonderful opportunity to bring folks to Chico and give them a taste of the excitement of base- ball at Nettleton Stadium," said Heat co-owner Pat Gillick. The 2016 All-Star Game was played in front of a crowd of 2,467 in Medford, Oregon, as the North All-Stars defeated the South All- Stars 6-5. The Great West League is a summer collegiate wood bat league, providing a professional, minor league-like atmosphere for top college players seeking profes- sional baseball careers. Teams in- clude the Chico Heat, Lincoln Pot- ters, Marysville Goldsox, Med- ford Rogues, Portland Pickles and Yuba City Baseball. BASEBALL Chico to host GWL all-star festivities Heat won title in 2016, selected by league RAIDERS PAGE 2 SHARKS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, January 5, 2017 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1