WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The future is now for the United States' forward-in-waiting Josh Sargent.

"Josh [Sargent] will start the game tomorrow so he has a great opportunity," head coach Gregg Berhalter said during a Thursday afternoon news conference ahead of Friday's CONCACAF Nations League opener against Cuba at Audi Field. "It will be nice to see how he can perform tomorrow in the context of the team performance."

- CONCACAF Nations League: All you need to know

It will be the 19-year-old Werder Bremen player's second-straight start -- he went 75 minutes in a 1-1 friendly draw against Uruguay in September -- and his third straight appearance for the American side.

While some, including former U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, have downplayed the value of Nations League competition, Berhalter believes the match against Cuba, and Tuesday's game versus Canada in Toronto, have real value in preparing his side for World Cup qualification.

"It's important to mix in friendlies against high caliber opponents but it's also important for us to play our part in CONCACAF and understand that this is a competition," he said. "It's an opportunity for us to go out on the road and compete. And there's a trophy up for grabs. In general, I think this is good preparation for World Cup qualifying. And good experience for the group at this stage of its development.

"For us, it's important in a way that we get to compete against CONCACAF teams. We get to play away games. We get to prepare our group for the rhythm of what World Cup qualifying looks like. For us, these games are important."

Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie agreed with his coach about the importance of the games.

"It's good preparation for us to get used to World Cup qualifiers," he said. "Playing home and away, I think it's really important for us to know how important home games are for us and to get the wins while we are here. And when we do go play an away game, I think it's important for us to go in with the idea of winning it.

"We're playing for something: to be first and to be best in CONCACAF."

Chris Silverwood's first reaction on hearing that he was England's new head coach was a one-word exclamation: "Wow". He was sitting in his lounge as Ashley Giles' name flashed up on his phone, and recalls falling rather silent as the enormity of his new role washed over him. It was left to his wife Victoria to do the handstands on his behalf, after a silent fist-pump had conveyed everything she needed to know about the conversation - in the short term at least.

"I was immensely proud, and very humbled to be given the opportunity, and very grateful that I will get to live the dream again in a coaching capacity," said Silverwood. "But equally I am very, very, very excited about what can be achieved with two teams that can be very successful. For me to be able to play a part in that, and help guide that, is fantastic."

There is clearly a huge amount to like about Silverwood the man, let alone Silverwood the coach. As Giles pointed out in introducing him, he took an Essex team that had previously been a "rabble" and delivered not only promotion and the Championship in consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, but the framework for this season's double as well.

From stalwarts such as Alastair Cook to Ravi Bopara, to the young guns, Aaron Beard and Dan Lawrence, on whom the club's future success will hinge, no-one at Essex has a bad word to say about "Spoons", and the same is clearly true of an England camp that has just come through the most stringent acid test in recent memory. "He couldn't have worked in a more pressurised environment this summer," noted Giles, "whether as head coach or one of the assistant coaches."

All of which is hugely laudable. And yet, it's not being unfair to suggest that the public reaction to Silverwood's appointment has been somewhat underwhelming - more "meh" than "wow", you might say, although, as any student of global politics would recognise in these troubled times, there is actually a blessed relief to be found in genuine, unequivocal indifference.

Also read: Ashes win is top priority for Silverwood

Silverwood can therefore expect to be judged, for the time being, by what he is not. He is not a glamorous overseas appointment, with a proven international track record and a wealth of impressive contacts on speed-dial. He is not a man in high demand on the T20 franchise circuit and therefore constrained by availability (and affordability). He is, instead, a thoroughly good egg who can join a few dots between an England team which, as Giles admitted, has had a tendency to exist as an "island" in recent years, and the county system in which his career has been invested and upon whom England's Test team will rely if it is to get back to the levels to which it aspires.

"People are the centre of my coaching philosophy," said Silverwood. "Seeing them do well with their dreams, and what they're trying to do, makes me smile. That's why I do it. I want to create self-thinking, self-sufficient cricketers that will be successful, and if we can do that, you know what, it'll make me smile."

By any stretch of the imagination, Silverwood's actual unveiling was an undeniably low-key event. For starters, it took place three days after the announcement itself, and in being staged in a cosy back-room at Lord's, rather than the pavilion or one of the ground's grander suites, it conveyed a sense of continuity rather than change. A desire to slip the new man into his role with as little splash as possible.

Perhaps that's understandable. After all, it's not as if the structures that Trevor Bayliss put in place in his four-year tenure require purging - quite the opposite in fact. He delivered on his most fundamental promise in winning this summer's World Cup and, in walking away with his stock as high as he could have hoped it to be, he is arguably the first England coach since the very first - Micky Stewart in 1992 - to leave the role on his own terms and at a time of his own choosing.

But as Giles, England's director of cricket, intimated in the final weeks of the interview process, there will be a necessary focus on Test cricket in the coming four-year cycle. For that is the format that suffered the most while England's white-ball boy-racers were throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of their ultimate goal.

And, now that an Ashes summer has ended, for the first time in 18 years, without the urn being retained or recaptured on home soil, that is the format that is going to matter above all others in the build-up to England's return series in Australia in 2021-22. Therefore, in trusting the CV of a man with a brief, if proven, track record in first-class team-building, Giles is adamant he's found his man for the moment, irrespective of whether the field of genuine contenders was restricted by the job's specifications.

There are obvious advantages to having a single head coach to oversee all three formats - ones that Giles himself knows only too well from his short and frustrating stint as one-day coach in 2012-14 - but as Bayliss demonstrated with his lackadaisical approach to the rigours of the Test role, the pitfalls are also plain.

On that note, however, Silverwood will begin his active role in just over a week's time when England set off for New Zealand for the T20 leg of their winter, with few expectations. He will, however, travel with an abundance of goodwill, and with a captain, Eoin Morgan, whose desire to carry on after nailing his ultimate achievement was influenced, in no small part, by his recognition of the need for continuity.

He can expect, therefore, to have his hand held for the early weeks of his reign - which is no bad thing, given the apparent desire to use Silverwood's insider status, both within the England squad and the wider England game, to foster links within the system.

Tellingly, Giles suggested that "winning" was not even the most important aspect of his appointment. Of far greater importance, and in keeping with the tone of the ECB's recent strategy document, "Inspiring Generations" was the need to create "the most respected team in the world".

What does that even look like? Silverwood had a stab at an answer: "Ultimately, you want to be successful, but it's how you are successful as well," he said. "So it's winning in the right spirit of the game. Winning with a little bit of class, and respecting your opposition as well.

"Respect is a big word. It's very easy to talk about, but we're going to make sure that we respect everything around us, everybody around us, and the game, and make sure that we carry that through with us."

It's a huge task. And it's a daunting one, not least given the fate of the last Englishman to coach England across all formats. Peter Moores, like Silverwood, was declared to be the "outstanding candidate" when he was pitched into the role (on the first occasion) in 2007 at the end of Duncan Fletcher's historic but over-long tenure.

The significant difference, however, was one of expectation. Moores was, to all intents and purposes, the only man for the job on that occasion, as the ECB felt obliged to reward the star graduate of their own fledgling academy. With Silverwood it is reassuringly different. He is a perfectly good candidate, without being held up as some sort of messiah. That in-built wriggle room, not to mention his existing relationships, may be exactly what he requires to make a low-key success of the highest profile role.

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Frustrated by his stat line against the Denver Broncos last week, Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen took to social media to voice his displeasure.

Allen said the following in the comments section of an Instagram post from a fan account of Broncos cornerback Chris Harris: "Now, y'all know damn well that boy can't hold my jockstrap. Stop it."

Allen confirmed those comments to reporters in the locker room Thursday.

"Go watch the tape, man," Allen told reporters. "It's not a secret."

Allen finished with a season-low four catches for 18 yards on six targets in the 20-13 loss to the Broncos last week. The Chargers (2-3) failed to score a touchdown on offense for the first time this season.

"I guess it was a tough day ... for the offense," Allen said when asked about the team's struggles. "... Turnovers in the red zone a couple times, couldn't get it done. It was turnovers. It was self-inflicting wounds."

It's not the first time Allen has criticized Harris and the Broncos. He also did it last season after the Chargers' 23-22 loss to Denver.

"No, I don't think they played well at all," Allen said after the 2018 loss. "We dominated the game. Turnovers. We gave them some points and that's what happened. They suck."

Allen leads the Chargers in receptions (38) and receiving yards (470) through five games. He also has three touchdown receptions.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets safety Jamal Adams is enjoying his first win of the season -- an off-the-field victory over the NFL.

Adams, who called the league "a damn joke" after he received a $21,056 fine for a Week 2 hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, won his appeal and enjoyed the moment.

"Ha-ha! I told you if you just listened to me," Adams told reporters Thursday after practice. "I'm going to be completely honest and I'm going to tell you straight up: I knew I was going to win it because it was legal.

"Ha-ha! Yep, I got that -- what was it, like 22? -- back in my pocket. Oh my god. ... I'm just happy it wasn't taken out [of my paycheck] because now I can spend that lovely money on my mother for her birthday. I'm excited about that."

Adams was penalized for roughing the passer after hitting Mayfield with his left forearm just after the Browns quarterback threw a pass well outside the pocket. For two nights, Adams ripped the NFL on social media, insisting it was a legal hit and accusing the league of wanting the players to play two-hand touch.

On Thursday, Adams acknowledged the league is trying to protect players, but he vowed never to change his playing style.

"As a safety, I don't agree with a lot of things, but it happens," he said. "We had to adjust our level of play and how we play the game of football.

"... I've never been a dirty guy, but I am full throttle when I'm on the field. I'm never trying to take cheap shots at anybody, but at the same time I'm all about playing fast football. That's never going to change for me."

The Jets (0-4), off to their worst start since 2003, host the Dallas Cowboys (3-2) on Sunday.

Representatives for Colin Kaepernick say they have reached out to all 32 NFL teams about possible opportunities for the free-agent quarterback but have received "little to no response."

This update was part of a lengthy statement released Thursday by agents Jeff Nalley and Jasmine Windham, with the headline "Facts to Address the False Narratives Regarding Colin Kaepernick."

Kaepernick's representatives say he has not demanded a specific salary and that he still wants to play in the NFL.

"Not a single team has brought Colin in for a workout," the statement said. "Seattle brought Colin in for a visit but did not work him out. ... No other NFL team has interviewed or worked out Colin in the past three seasons, despite other false statements to the media to the contrary.

"... In 25 years, I have never seen anything like it."

Kaepernick, who turns 32 on Nov. 3, has not played in the NFL since 2016, when he began protesting police brutality and racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. He opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017.

Within the past two years, Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid filed grievances against the league through the National Football League Players Association, alleging collusion among league owners to deny them jobs.

"There have been so many false narratives in the media regarding Colin, we believe it's important to set the record straight, again." Please read this!! Don't believe the lies being told about my brother .@Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/n7J384bT96

— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) October 10, 2019

In February, it was announced that both players had reached a settlement with the NFL. Terms were not disclosed.

Reid has since landed a job with the Carolina Panthers.

Kaepernick's representatives said he has been "working out five days a week, for three years, in preparation to play again" but that the opportunity hasn't presented itself.

"The idea he doesn't fit a team's system does not mesh with how teams have adjusted their offensive schemes to fit the skill set of their quarterbacks," the statement said. "Colin has the same skill set as many of the young mobile quarterbacks flourishing in the NFL right now.

"... It is difficult to think of another young player in NFL history with statistics and character as impressive as Colin's not being given an opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster after what he's accomplished."

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green does not believe either he or his teammates will stop speaking out on causes they believe in, despite the backlash the NBA has received over the past week in the wake of Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's tweet in support of Hong Kong.

"I think any issue that touches you, per se, guys are going to speak out about it, as Daryl did with this situation," Green said after Thursday's shootaround in advance of a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. "When you speak out on an issue, it's America, so you have freedom of speech. You've never really seen a reaction like this because we all understand that it's America, and whatever your position is on certain things, if you want to take that position, you take that position."

Like Warriors teammate Stephen Curry said Wednesday, Green said he intends to learn more about the situation in China before commenting in more detail.

The usually outspoken Green also did not offer an opinion when asked about President Donald Trump calling out Warriors coach Steve Kerr on Wednesday while discussing the situation between the NBA and China.

"I don't really react to things of that nature," Green said.

Green said he thinks the NBA has handled the ongoing situation in China "well," as Chinese companies continue to announce that they are halting sponsorship deals with the league. Green specifically pointed out the way NBA commissioner Adam Silver is dealing with the situation.

"The way Adam has acted in this situation is no different than he's acted in any other situation that's taken place over the course of his tenure," Green said. "He stayed true to exactly who he is, who he's been, and I have a respect for that."

Green's statements echo what Curry expressed in the immediate aftermath of Trump calling out Kerr. Curry said he did not believe the backlash from the situation in China would preclude him or his teammates from speaking out.

"It's a league-wide situation," Curry said. "Our presence in China, it's just a different conversation than what we normally [have] -- Coach talking about gun violence or gender equality or things that for us, being spokespeople for people who can't speak for themselves within our community is that that makes a huge impact. ... I'm sure this [story] is not going away, so we'll come back to it."

Kerr is expected to address the media for the first time since Trump's comments prior to Thursday's game.

PHOENIX -- Police arrested San Diego Padres minor league pitcher Jacob Nix after he was accused of breaking into a suburban Phoenix home through a doggie door and was shot with a Taser by the homeowner.

Nix, who is facing two counts of criminal trespassing, was released this week from the Maricopa County jail on $100 bond.

Charging documents indicate the 23-year-old Nix was under the influence of either alcohol or drugs during Sunday's incident.

Police say Nix tried to crawl through the doggie door of a Peoria home shortly before 4 a.m.

The homeowner discovered Nix and kicked him in the face.

According to the complaint, Thomas Cosgrove, a minor league pitcher for the Padres, was there and pulled Nix out of the door. The homeowner fired his Taser, hitting Nix in the back.

The documents indicate Nix told responding officers he thought he was entering his house.

But he would not elaborate when asked why he tried to go inside when his own house has no doggie door.

The Padres said in a statement Thursday that the team is aware of the incident and has been in contact with authorities and the commissioner's office.

Online court records show Nix does not yet have an attorney. He has a preliminary court hearing scheduled for Oct. 16.

Nix is currently playing for the Peoria Javelinas, an Arizona Fall League team.

HOUSTON -- Eric Sogard is in Tampa Bay's lineup for the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series at Houston, the first start in nearly a month for the second baseman who has dealt with lingering right foot discomfort.

Sogard's only appearance this postseason before Thursday night's game was as a pinch-hitter in Game 1 on Friday, when he had an RBI single.

The Rays acquired Sogard in a trade from Toronto on July 28. He hit .266 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 37 games for the Rays during the regular season after hitting .300 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 73 games for the Blue Jays.

Sogard's last start was Sept. 14, and he made his final appearance in the regular season the following day as a pinch-hitter.

TOLEDO, Ohio – The ARCA Menards Series will race 20 times at 20 different venues in 15 states in 2020, providing an all-encompassing slate of races across the country.

ARCA’s 68th season will take the green flag at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 8 as part of Daytona Speedweeks. The ARCA Menards Series champion will be crowned at Kansas Speedway on Friday, Oct. 16.

The road to the 2020 ARCA Menards Series crown is highlighted in the inaugural ARCA Showdown, a 10-race series set to attract the top teams in the ARCA Menards Series as well as the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West.

The overall schedule features a mix of superspeedways and historic short tracks, as well as a pair of dirt tracks and a pair of road-course events, that will provide exciting racing for the fans and an exceptional test of teams and drivers.

“We are very proud of the quality of our 2020 schedule. There are many traditional ARCA Menards Series races blended with races that have been very strong components of what is now the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “We are also working on the schedules for the East and West divisions, and we think our drivers, teams, and fans all over the country will be pleased with the way everything has come together.”

The first race of the ARCA Showdown will be the second event in the overall schedule and marks an historic first trip to ISM Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., on Friday, March 6. The ARCA Showdown will culminate with the inaugural championship race at Memphis Int’l Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Other schedule highlights include:

– Salem Speedway on Sunday, April 19, will mark the ARCA Menards Series’ 107th trip to the .555 mile oval in Indiana. The event will be the series’ annual throwback race.

– The ARCA Menards Series will visit Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Friday, May 29, the first visit there since Ohio’s Jack Bowsher scored the victory in 1965. The series will also make another road-course visit, to Watkins Glen Int’l in upstate New York on Friday, Aug. 14, as part of the ARCA Showdown.

– In addition to Daytona and Phoenix, the ARCA Menards Series will be part of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekends at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, April 24; Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 21; Michigan Int’l Speedway on Friday, June 5; Chicagoland Speedway on Thursday, June 18; Pocono Raceway on Thursday, June 25; and Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday, Sept. 17.

– The ARCA Menards Series will once again open NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, just a few miles up the road, with a short-track battle at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Ind., on Friday, July 3.

– A pair of upper Midwest short tracks: Minnesota’s Elko Speedway, the shortest venue on the schedule at .375-miles, and Wisconsin’s half-mile Madison Int’l Raceway, will be on Saturday, July 11 and Friday, Aug. 7, respectively. They will book-end ARCA Showdown events at Iowa Speedway (Friday, July 17) and World Wide Technology Raceway (Saturday, Aug. 1).

– The traditional Illinois state fair dirt miles will provide a different test for drivers. Springfield Mile at Illinois State Fairgrounds on Sunday, Aug. 23, is followed by another Saturday night race at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Sept. 5.

– The 10 races that make up the ARCA Showdown will be held: Phoenix, Salem, Mid-Ohio, Lucas Oil, Elko, Iowa, Gateway, Watkins Glen, Bristol and Memphis.

All 20 races are scheduled for live television coverage; eight races will be televised by FOX Sports on FS1 and FS2, and 12 races will be televised on MAVTV. The complete television schedule, including broadcast times, will be released at a later date.

2020 ARCA Menards Series Schedule

Feb. 8 – Daytona Int’l Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.

March 6 – ISM Raceway – Avondale, Ariz.*

April 19 – Salem Speedway – Salem, Ind.*

April 24 – Talladega Superspeedway – Talladega, Ala.

May 21 – Charlotte Motor Speedway – Concord, N.C.

May 29 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, Ohio*

June 5 – Michigan Int’l Speedway – Brooklyn, Mich.

June 18 – Chicagoland Speedway – Joliet, Ill.

June 25 – Pocono Raceway – Long Pond, Pa.

July 3 – Lucas Oil Raceway – Clermont, Ind.*

July 11 – Elko Speedway – Elko, Minn.*

July 17 – Iowa Speedway – Newton, Iowa*

Aug. 1 – World Wide Technology Raceway – Madison, Ill.*

Aug. 7 – Madison Int’l Speedway – Oregon, Wis.

Aug. 14 – Watkins Glen Int’l – Watkins Glen, N.Y.*

Aug. 23 – Illinois State Fairgrounds – Springfield, Ill.

Sept. 5 – DuQuoin State Fairgrounds – DuQuoin, Ill.

Sept. 17 – Bristol Motor Speedway – Bristol, Tenn.*

Sept. 26 – Memphis Int’l Raceway – Millington, Tenn.*

Oct. 16 – Kansas Speedway – Kansas City, Kan.

* – ARCA Showdown Championship Event

GLENDORA, Calif. – NHRA officials have released the 2020 schedule for the Mountain Motor Pro Stock category, which will compete at six of the 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

The category participated in four national events during the 2019 season and delighted fans with their dynamic paint schemes, throwback hood scoops, and impressive wheel stands that go on for the first 100 feet of a launch.

Adding two more events for the 2020 season means even more fans will get the opportunity to check out what makes Mountain Motor Pro Stock so special.

NHRA’s two nitro categories – Funny Car and Top Fuel – will participate at all 24 national events in the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

2020 Mountain Motor Pro Stock Series Schedule

Date – Event – Location

April 24-26 – NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals – Concord, N.C.
May 29-31 – Virginia NHRA Nationals – Richmond, Va.
July 9-12 – Route 66 NHRA Nationals – Joliet, Ill.
July 17-19 – Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals – Morrison, Colo.
Aug. 13-16 – Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals – Brainerd, Minn.
Oct. 2-4 – AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals – Madison, Ill.