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PITTSBURGH -- At first glance, it didnt look like much, centre Maurkice Pouncey taking his spot in the middle of the offensive line and snapping the ball to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. But for Pouncey, more than eight months removed from tearing both the ACL and MCL in his right knee during the Steelers season opener last September, it was a big step. Pouncey joined his teammates Tuesday for the first time after knee surgery cost him all but eight snaps of the 2013 season. "Yeah, it was my first time doing live action," Pouncey said. "I didnt have any restrictions. It was pretty neat to dry-block some guys and finish on some plays, it was pretty awesome. So, it was great. There were no problems at all." The three-time Pro Bowler was expected to anchor a young offensive line last season. It never happened. Minutes into the opener against Tennessee, Steelers guard David DeCastro dived into the back of Pounceys legs, derailing the direction of an entire season. "Ive never been hit like that," Pouncey said, quickly adding that he hoped to leave all the injury talk in the past. "I think it was more mental than anything, getting my confidence back. Theres only so much you can do to be ready, but then you have to go out and do it." Maybe its why Pouncey was even more fired up than usual as he took the field with his teammates. The sight of Pounceys No. 53 jersey in front of him was certainly a welcome one for Roethlisberger. "It was great," Roethlisberger said. "As a friend and a guy who has worked so hard to get back out here, it was fun to see him back in the pads." Second-year running back LeVeon Bell missed the opening three games last season due to a foot injury during training camp, so the opening OTA practice was his first time running behind a Pouncey block. "Maurkice is one of the more athletic centres in this league," Bell said. "He can run a little better, so were going to try to get back to where we started last year, with more of an outside, zone running game. Its something he can do, and hes also a leader for the front guys. So were looking forward to having him back." Bell and bruising back LeGarrette Blount, acquired as a free agent during the off-season, are counting on Pouncey and an offensive line now under the guidance of former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak. "Weve been building since last year," Pouncey said. "We finished the season pretty well, and a lot of the guys played great. Now, to get a new coach, a Hall of Fame player like that, its awesome. Its going to be great for the group." Roethlisberger believes Pounceys return and the continued improvement of the offensive line could make the Steelers among the most potent offences in the league. Pittsburgh ended 2013 on a 6-2 run while thriving in the no-huddle put together by co-ordinator Todd Haley and Roethlisberger. "Thats a big part of running the no-huddle, because you get those guys working together," Roethlisberger said. "Theyre comfortable. Theyre familiar, and theyve got another off-season of training and continuity and learning from each other. And, so, theyre whats going to drive this team and this offence." NOTES: Inside linebacker Sean Spence, who missed the past two years after sustaining a gruesome left knee injury during the preseason in 2012, said he was thrilled to complete a practice. Spence tried to return at midseason last year, but sustained a hand injury. ... Cornerback Ike Taylor and safety Troy Polamalu did not attend the voluntary workout while training elsewhere. ... The Steelers signed two draft picks to four-year deals on Tuesday, offensive lineman Wesley Johnson (fifth round) and linebacker Jordan Zumwalt (sixth round). Zumwalt cannot attend OTAs until his class at UCLA has graduated. Mookie Wilson Jersey . "After consultation with the Team USA medical staff and officials, it was determined that he should return to Winnipeg as a precaution due to his previous injury history," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday in a statement. Yoenis Cespedes Jersey . The NFLs Defensive Rookie of the Year will be named at the NFL Honours Award show on February 1. The 23-year-old 2013 second-rounder out of Oregon becomes the third Bills linebacker to win the honour after Jim Haslett (1979) and Shane Conlan (1987. http://www.metsrookiestore.com/Mets-Lenn...s-Jersey/.Gasol had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and the Bulls beat the winless Orlando Magic 98-90 on Tuesday night.Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 21 points and Taj Gibson added 16 for Chicago, which finally pulled away in the final minutes of a game that was tied after three quarters. Noah Syndergaard Jersey . -- Creighton apparently has Villanovas number. Steven Matz Jersey . The Opening Day starter played 53 games this season hitting .192 with nine home runs and 25 RBI. Red Sox manager John Farrell has decided to start Jose Iglesias at third base as of late instead of Middlebrooks.OAKLAND, Calif. -- The San Francisco Giants have dominated the baseball headlines in the Bay Area since winning the World Series in 2010 and 2012. The Oakland Athletics have swiped most the attention back after taking over the best record in the majors this summer. And when the two teams met for the first time this season, both continued to head in opposite directions. Jesse Chavez matched a career high with nine strikeouts in six innings, and three relievers pitched scoreless ball to lead the As past the Giants 5-0 on Monday night for their fifth straight win. "Its exciting to be part of the Oakland Athletics right now," said third baseman Josh Donaldson, one of six As players named to the AL All-Star team. The As have been among baseballs best and most consistent clubs all season. Then they made a surprising trade to get right-handers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs on Friday for three minor leaguers, including top prospect Addison Russell. Oakland also leads the majors with their All-Star selections, the clubs most since 1975. Sundays announcement didnt even include Samardzija, who was selected as a National League All-Star but is ineligible to play. The banged-up Giants, on the other hand, had lost 18 of 23 to fall out of first place in the NL West -- where they once held a 9 1/2-game lead over the Dodgers -- but showed signs of coming out of their slump by winning two in a row at San Diego over the weekend. Instead, the two-time defending AL West champion As put together the kind of all-around effort theyve had most of the season in the Bay Bridge Series opener. Alberto Callaspo hit a two-run double, and three others drove in a run to power the As in front of an announced sellout crowd of 36,067 festive fans at the Coliseum. The worn-down stadium had a colorful sprinkling of green and gold from Oakland revelers mixed with the orange and black of San Francisco supporters -- many of whom left before the final out. Chavez (7-5) allowed four hits and two walks to help extend the As record to a major-league best 56-33. Fernando Abad, Dan Otero and Ryan Cook shut down San Francisco the final three innings. "We all like to feed off each other," Chavez said. "Were just playing good baseball, and were excited to be back home.dddddddddddd" Ryan Vogelsong (5-6) lost his third straight start for the Giants, who had just five hits. The right-hander gave up five hits and three runs in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out four, walked two and hit a pair of batters, leading to the As first two runs. Oakland started its scoring surge after home plate umpire Paul Nauert ruled Craig Gentry was hit by a pitch on his hand leading off the fifth. Giants manager Bruce Bochy challenged the play, which was upheld after a video review. Gentry stole second, advanced to third on Coco Crisps bunt single and scored on John Jasos groundout for the As first run. Josh Donaldson also was hit by a pitch by Vogelsong on his left hand leading off the sixth. Nauert originally called it a strike before seeing Donaldsons hand swell. Then Nauert asked first base umpire Angel Hernandez if Donaldson, who said his hand was just sore afterward, swung at the pitch. Hernandez signalled no, and Bochy came out and had a heated conversation with Nauert after the call, wondering how it could be reversed. "Then it got ugly," Bochy said. Callaspo came through later in the inning with a two-run double off Juan Gutierrez to extend Oaklands lead to 3-0. Brandon Moss and Donaldson each drove in a run off Gutierrez in the seventh after Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford committed two throwing errors. The teams will play in Oakland again on Tuesday night before the series shifts to San Francisco for the final two games. NOTES: Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval, who left Saturdays game because of a bruised left elbow after he was hit while swinging at a pitch, sat out for the second straight game. ... Athletics RF Josh Reddick took batting practice and fielded fly balls for the first time since re-aggravating his right knee injury June 28 at Miami. ... Giants 2B Marco Scutaro (back) went 1 for 3 with an RBI single in his first rehab assignment for Triple-A Fresno on Monday night at Sacramento. ... Giants CF Angel Pagan was sent to Arizona to resume his rehabilitation from a nagging back injury. ... Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner (9-6, 3.09 ERA) takes the mound opposite Oaklands Sonny Gray (8-3, 3.08) on Tuesday. ' ' '