METAIRIE, La. -- Hardly two years removed from playing college football on a 12-man defence in western Canada, Akiem Hicks is primed to emerge as a full-time starter on an NFL defensive line. Just dont tell him that, because he wont even admit to being encouraged by the fact that he played with the starting unit in the New Orleans Saints preseason opener and is regularly practicing with the first team. "Not yet, because theres so much more to go," said Hicks said, referencing a metaphor defensive line coach Bill Johnson uses about each day of good work amounting to nothing more than a bean in a jar, which has to be full to represent a good season. "I dont have enough beans to be encouraged yet." Maybe not, but his effort in practice on Tuesday certainly seemed worthy of another bean. He was a force in 11-on-11 drills, registering what would have been a sack on Drew Brees if he were allowed to touch the quarterback. Later, during a 2-minute drill, he had two more standout moments. First he batted down one of Brees passes, then he perfectly read a screen pass to Darren Sproles, who Hicks wrapped up for a 4-yard loss in a 2-minute drill. The 6-foot-5 Hicks, who said he now weighs about 330 pounds, is currently playing the left defensive end in co-ordinator Rob Ryans new 3-4 defence (three linemen, four linebackers). Last year as a rookie, drafted in the third round out of the University of Regina (Saskatchewan), Hicks played reserve defensive tackle in a 4-3, then made the transition this year to what Johnson calls "the most physical position on our defence." It wasnt clear whether Hicks would emerge as a starter when 2013 training camp opened because the Saints had signed 11-year veteran defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman, who had played the past two seasons in Ryans 3-4 defence in Dallas. Last week, however, Coleman tore a pectoral muscle, which has likely ended his season. Third-year pro Tom Johnson also is in the mix to start at that spot, though he has missed more than a week of practice with a hip injury. Johnson conceded that Hicks is in position to win the starting job, but stressed that three weeks of evaluation remained. "Thing Ive said all along about Hicks is that hes raw but he has a lot of versatility," Johnson said. "I thought our scouting people did a great job watching him in Canada to know." Hicks, who grew up near Sacramento, was recruited by LSU out of the community college ranks, but an NCAA violation related to financial help provided by an assistant coach left him ineligible to play in the United States, hence his move to Canada, where he thrived as a stand-up defensive end. "What was hard was to evaluate him versus the people he was against," Johnson said. "It wasnt like if he had went to LSU and stayed. You could evaluate him against guys who would potentially be in this league. It was like guys that were just little kids and he was obviously dominating up there." Big NFL offensive tackles can find him tough to block as well. "Hes a good athlete that weighs (330 pounds) that moves like hes 300 or 290," said Saints right tackle Zach Strief, who has to block Hicks in practice. "Thats something pretty God-given thats pretty hard to find." NOTES: RB Pierre Thomas (left leg), OLB Martez Wilson (left elbow) and OLB Junior Galette (left leg) all returned to practice from injuries, participating to varying degrees. Thomas did the most, taking part in seven-on-seven drills. Wilson participated in a "walk-through" and Galette mostly watched. ... Courtney Roby, a veteran special teams leader and reserve receiver, needed help off the field after apparently hurting his left foot. Payton said Roby had a toe injury. He did not get more specific. ... Jerry Romig, who has been the public address announcer for Saints home games since 1969, and who also handled P.A. announcing for the first four Super Bowls in New Orleans, said his last game on the job will be this Fridays home preseason game against Oakland. Romig, 83, said his voice is fine but back problems have made it tough to get around. His 57-year-old son, Mark, who will take over, said his father wants him to show his own personality. But Mark Romig added, "My mother told me I have to do it just like my father." Mens Under Armour Scorpio Running Shoes . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Under Armour Shoe Clearance Sale . LOUIS -- St. http://www.stephencurryshoe.com/under-armour-shoes-on-sale.html . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Under Armour Curry One Low . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Under Armour Curry One Basketball Shoes . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. SOELDEN, Austria -- Racing on home snow in Sundays season-opener, Marcel Hirscher will start his quest for an unprecedented achievement in the 50-year history of the Alpine skiing World Cup.No skier, male or female, has ever won the overall title six years in a row.Hirschers illustrious compatriot Annemarie Moser-Proell is the only six-time champion the sport has seen, but her triumphs in the 1970s were not consecutive.Hirscher is the obvious favorite again -- although he sees it differently.I am not sure I am ready, the Austrian said Friday, two days before the first of 37 races this season.I think nobody is really ready for Soelden. Its too early in the season, he said. There is always a point in your preparation for the season that you think everything is wonderful. Then different conditions come up and you find out nothing is perfect.Hirschers dominance increased over the past three years, with a Norwegian rival finishing runner-up each time.He won the 2013-14 title leading Aksel Lund Svindal by 131 points. The following year, he beat Kjetil Jansrud by 160. And last season, Henrik Kristoffersen finished 497 behind.My energy levels are not unlimited. There is no certainty that it will always go on like this, Hirscher said, adding that the prospect of setting another record doesnt unsettle him.I dont think there is extra pressure on my shoulders, he said.Along with the Norwegians, Frenchman Alexis Pinturault is likely to be among Hirschers closest challengers.Last season, Hirscher trailed Svindal until the former two-timme overall champion injured his right knee in a downhill crash in Kitzbuehel, rupturing a cruciate ligament and damaging his meniscus and cartilage.ddddddddddddSvindal returned to training on snow in August but wasnt sure when, or even if, he could race again.Its a slower process than it would have been if it were up to me, said Svindal, who has twice before returned from serious injuries.I am still somewhat skiing, but not the amount or at the level I want to, he said. I skied with Kjetil and (Aleksander Aamodt) Kilde in South America, but they started at the top and I started halfway down the hill.He expects Hirscher to defend his title.Behind him you have Pinturault and hopefully one of us (Norwegians), Svindal said.Jansrud said he will need to improve in giant slalom in order to keep up with Hirscher, who usually scores heavily in the technical events and earns additional points in super-G.Physically I am in a way better shape than last year when I had some back problems, Jansrud said.Kristoffersen, a slalom specialist, became a surprise overall contender last season after winning six races in his strongest discipline, but he failed to score big points in other events.Pinturault, who has been in the top 10 for the past five years, had a similar issue.He finished third overall, getting most of his points from GS, but didnt add enough from other disciplines to become a real threat to Hirscher. 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