OXNARD, Calif. -- Even though Ezekiel Elliott is not at training camp, the Dallas Cowboys' goal is to sign the two-time NFL rushing champion to a long-term deal along with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper.

The order of who signs does not matter to executive vice president Stephen Jones, who heads up the team's negotiations. Jones said there are planned negotiations between the representatives for the players, either face-to-face or over the phone, while the team is in California.

"Certainly we'll be working on it behind the scenes and we feel optimistic that when we're all said and done here that things will usually work themselves out," Jones said during the state-of-the-Cowboys news conference in Oxnard, California, on Friday.

Elliott's absence does not help the process, but the Cowboys view the running back's absence more as a hiccup than something that will become protracted.

"Zeke is an outstanding player. I don't want to seem cavalier about it, but I also don't want to be unrealistic being alarmed about it. This is what we do. This is the air we breathe," owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "And if you flared and knee-jerked ... just because you have parts of it that need addressing, you wouldn't be able to manage. You wouldn't be functioning."

The Cowboys have had talks with the representatives for all three players, including within the last week with Elliott's. In the spring, they traded proposals with the agent for Prescott.

"All three have solid offers in front of them," Stephen Jones said.

But not solid enough to get deals done yet.

Prescott, who is set to make $2.02 million in the final year of his rookie deal, is looking at a substantial raise. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Carson Wentz to a four-year extension worth $128 million in the offseason that included $107 million in guarantees.

"You'd love to get a deal done that he's happy with that the team can work with to surround him with great players on offense and to have a great defense and special teams," Stephen Jones said. "If we can get all of that done, then we've done well. Who's to say exactly what that number is today or the length or what plays into that, but that would be the goal."

New Orleans' Michael Thomas and Atlanta's Julio Jones are in negotiations with their teams regarding long-term contracts, which Stephen Jones said could affect the talks with Cooper, whom the Cowboys acquired in a trade at midseason in 2018 for a first-round pick from the Oakland Raiders. Cooper is set to make $13.8 million on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal.

"Obviously some guys do want to see the full market play out before they make a decision," Jones said. "Could that be one of the reasons there's not necessarily a lot of urgency to get the deal done yet? It very well could be. But for me, no. We could do the deal tomorrow and we feel comfortable doing something."

Unlike Prescott and Cooper, Elliott is under contract through 2020 with the Cowboys picking up his $9.09 million fifth-year option in the spring. The Los Angeles Rams signed Todd Gurley to a four-year extension that included $45 million in guaranteed money last season, prior to his fourth year, and Jones said at the scouting combine in February that the Gurley deal would be the starting point for a new contract.

Fitting it together is a challenge but not impossible.

The Cowboys have roughly $24 million in cap room at the moment, according to ESPN Stats & Information. They are well budgeted for 2020 as well, but Stephen Jones said the lack of a collective bargaining agreement beyond 2020 plays a role because of rules involving contract structure.

"We are pretty good at it of where you are going to be projecting down the way," Jerry Jones said. "One thing we know how to do is figure. We can figure and we can anticipate what the cap is going to be and what the revenues are going to be and what's going to be available."

In April, the Cowboys signed Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence to a five-year, $101 million deal that included $65 million in guaranteed money. They know they will have to make Cooper, Prescott and Elliott among the highest-paid players at their positions, but they want to be smart.

"I think these guys want to be here. They want to get it done, but they also want to be diligent. It's a big deal," Stephen Jones said. "You all know what a second contract means to these guys. It's a big one for them, and it usually is the big one for most of them. Not necessarily for quarterbacks. But for most guys that second contract is big and they want to get it right, and of course, we want to get it right too."

New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday that he won't accept the invitation to join the depleted USA Basketball roster for the FIBA World Cup in September.

Redick, who spent the past two seasons in Philadelphia, said Thursday he was eager to be a part of USA Basketball's training camp, tour and World Cup in China, but he said he was weighing his family's offseason transition to a new city in his decision to make the six-week offseason commitment.

The Team USA training camp starts Aug. 5 in Las Vegas.

USA Basketball has lost multiple top players for the FIBA World Cup, including several guards -- James Harden, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Eric Gordon. Kyle Lowry wants to play but is rehabilitating after surgery on his left thumb.

Only a few minutes into his introductory news conference, Russell Westbrook said something Friday that would've caused a collective spit take around the NBA just a few weeks ago.

"I only care about one team," Westbrook said, "and that's the Houston Rockets."

After spending his first 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook officially embarked on a new chapter Friday. It was a somewhat surreal image, Westbrook dressed in Rockets colors with general manager Daryl Morey sitting to his right.

"To get something great, you've got to give up something great," Morey said.

The Rockets traded Chris Paul and future draft compensation to Oklahoma City on July 11, reuniting Westbrook with former Thunder teammate James Harden.

"We've been friends for many, many years," Westbrook said of Harden. "Since I was 10, actually. So we've played with each other in Oklahoma City, and to be able to win something, you've got to be willing to sacrifice some parts of your game, and we both understand that.

"We both understand that we have one common goal and that's to win a championship. We understand what we have to do. I'm not worried about it, and I know James isn't worried about it. I can play off the ball; I don't have to touch the ball to impact the game. That's the best way for me to come in and impact this team. I can do other things on the floor to make sure we have a better chance to win."

Westbrook and Harden played together for three seasons in Oklahoma City, culminating in 2012. Harden, who won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award that season, was traded to the Rockets before the beginning of the 2012-13 campaign. Westbrook was already an All-Star at the time, but both players established themselves as franchise players, winning MVPs and making NBA history along the way.

Westbrook and Harden share confidence about making the pairing work in Houston because of their familiarity with each other, but they were significantly different players when they last were teammates.

"I'll fit right in, personally," Westbrook said. "Floor spread, it gives me the opportunity to attack, penetrate, kick. Defensively, it'll give me an opportunity to switch and guard and rebound at a high level. Push the break, get us out on the break. A lot of different things.

"I think the style of play is great, something I'm looking forward to, just getting out in space in the open floor, shooters all around and playing that way."

Westbrook and Harden are two of the most ball-dominant players in NBA history. Both primarily have handled the ball and dictated offense for their teams while also affecting the game with scoring and rebounding. Westbrook has won two scoring titles and led the league in assists the past two seasons; Harden has won the past two scoring titles, last season averaging 36.1 points per game.

"The biggest strength, I think, of Coach [Mike] D'Antoni and his staff is taking what guys are good at and putting them in ways to succeed, but not saying that they need to change, but figuring out how to utilize their strengths," Morey said. "That's what Mike's done better than any coach I've ever worked with. When you've got two MVPs, it's a lot to work with."

The trade sending Westbrook to Houston came together quickly and was a direct ripple effect of Paul George requesting a trade from the Thunder a few days into free agency and joining Kawhi Leonard with the LA Clippers.

After the Thunder moved George, they accelerated conversations with Westbrook about his future with the franchise, and both sides agreed that the best outcome was a trade this summer. Houston was the primary desired destination for Westbrook, mainly because of Harden, who played a part in advocating for the deal.

"James is persistent if he wants something done, and we had conversations and we always talked throughout the season, so it was definitely a process, an easy process for me," Westbrook said. "Not a hard decision at all."

Morey laughed when Westbrook mentioned Harden's persistence.

"You guys said it came together quickly, but it didn't happen quick enough for James," Morey said.

Westbrook had been seen as a likely lifer in OKC, especially after pledging his loyalty following the 2016 departure of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook signed an extension that summer to provide stability to the franchise, and then he re-signed a new five-year supermax extension the next summer, planting his flag seemingly for the long term.

Westbrook and the Thunder had engaged in conversations about his future after the 2018-19 season, with an understanding that a change may be necessary at some point -- though the expectation was that the talk would be tabled until at least after 2019-20.

But with circumstances changing, Westbrook and the Thunder were both ready to move on.

"It's tough," Westbrook said. "It's something that will stay with me the rest of my life. Because I basically grew up there, in Oklahoma City. Eighteen years old in Oklahoma City and the people, the organization, never done me wrong. They always stood up for me and my family -- always had my back -- and I'm very, very grateful and I don't take that for granted.

"Like I said, Sam and Mr. [Clay] Bennett [OKC's owner], Coach [Scott] Brooks, Coach [Billy] Donovan, the whole staff, everybody over there always had my best interests, and I can't do nothing but be thankful and grateful for what they did for me and my family."

The Westbrook-Rockets partnership is ironic, since he has been ridiculed and despised by the Houston fan base perhaps more than any other. Westbrook and Harden went head-to-head in 2016-17 for the MVP award, with Morey loudly campaigning for Harden and against Westbrook.

On Friday, however, in a nearly 20-minute opening news conference, Westbrook flashed his trademark charm, affirmed his commitment to play hard every night and spoke openly about the desire to win a championship.

But there was one more thing he wanted his new fans to know.

"That I'm a nice guy," Westbrook said with a smile. "Obviously when I play the game, I'm going out to compete. I'm going out to win. And I don't care how that looks."

Travis Shaw has been recalled from Triple-A San Antonio and is playing first base Friday night for the Milwaukee Brewers as they take on the visiting Chicago Cubs.

The onetime slugger was sent down in June after hitting .164 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 57 games.

Shaw had averaged 32 homers and 94 RBIs in his first two seasons in Milwaukee, after coming over from the Boston Red Sox in a trade for Tyler Thornburg.

He seemed to find his swing in San Antonio. In 28 games, Shaw hit .286 with nine homers and 22 RBIs with an OPS of 1.039.

Shaw, used mostly as a third baseman in his first two seasons with the Brewers, has split time between first and third in San Antonio.

The roster spot opened when the Brewers put right-hander Jhoulys Chacín on the injured list with a right oblique strain.

WASHINGTON -- Nationals ace Max Scherzer received a stem cell shot to treat his strained back and hopes to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against Atlanta.

Scherzer returned from the injured list Thursday and in his first start since July 6 allowed three runs and four hits over five innings during an 8-7 loss to Colorado. He had been sidelined by inflammation under his right shoulder.

An MRI on Friday revealed the mid-back strain. Scherzer will not throw for two days.

"He has a strain of his rhomboid,'' Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "He's going to get shut down for two days, then we'll see how he feels from there. Right now, he wants to make his next start.''

A three-time Cy Young Award winner, Scherzer was 7-0 with a 0.87 ERA in his previous seven starts before Thursday.

"I'm not happy,'' Scherzer said. "But on the other hand, we're talking minor strain.''

Scherzer initially began to experience back problems after his start in Detroit on June 30.

ST. LOUIS -- Carlos Correa was in the Houston Astros' lineup on Friday night for the first time since May 26.

The shortstop was set to bat fifth against the St. Louis Cardinals.

He missed 50 games with a broken rib, an injury suffered in an accident at home. He was 7-for-21 during a minor league injury-rehabilitation assignment.

Correa was activated from the injured list by the Astros, and outfielder Tony Kemp was designated for assignment. Correa had 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 50 games before getting hurt. He batted .239 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs in 110 games last season.

The Chicago Cubs, in the market for a left-handed reliever, acquired Derek Holland from the San Francisco Giants for cash, it was announced Friday.

The team also recalled versatile Ian Happ from Triple-A Iowa, and he will start in left field against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

As part of the Holland trade announced Friday, San Francisco agreed to send Chicago $1,846,505 to cover all but $425,000 of the $2,271,505 remaining in Holland's $6.5 million salary this year. San Francisco also agreed to a conditional $500,000 payment for Holland's buyout if the Cubs decline his $6.5 million option for 2020.

Holland, 32, was designated for assignment by the Giants on Monday after allowing four earned runs in an inning during Saturday's loss to the New York Mets. In his previous 10 appearances dating to late June, he had a 0.68 ERA.

On Friday, Holland, who does Harry Caray impressions, tweeted a picture of his dog, who is appropriately named Wrigley.

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/AP209FFhfl

— Derek Holland (@Dutch_Oven45) July 26, 2019

The 10-year veteran began the season as the No. 2 starter in the Giants' rotation but was moved to the bullpen in mid-May. He appeared in 31 games for the Giants this season, posting a 2-4 record with a 5.90 ERA and 71 strikeouts.

After he was moved to the bullpen, Holland publicly criticized the Giants, saying the front office had him fake an injury when he spent a stint on the injured list with bone bruise on his left index finger.

"To be honest, I have no idea what they're doing," Holland said. "I don't mean that by Boch [manager Bruce Bochy] and them, it's more from the front office. We keep changing a lot of things. I did a fake injury, so I'm not happy about that. But at the end of the day, I'm going to do whatever they ask me to do."

Holland had signed a one-year, $7 million contract in January to return to San Francisco for a second year.

Among all NL pitchers against left-handed hitters this year, Holland has allowed the second-lowest slugging percentage (.195), third-lowest OPS (.471) and seventh-lowest batting average (.182). He also has limited lefty batters to a .276 on-base percentage.

Holland has been a starter for the majority of his career and has a 78-77 lifetime record over 221 starts with a 4.51 ERA in 275 big league appearances with the Texas Rangers (2009-16), Chicago White Sox (2017) and Giants (2018-19).

The 24-year-old Happ, who has played every defensive position except catcher and shortstop, will be making his 2019 debut with Chicago after spending parts of the past two seasons with the major league club. He was hitting .242 with 16 home runs and 53 RBIs in 99 games with Iowa this season.

To make room for Holland on the 40-man roster, the Cubs designated left-handed pitcher Tim Collins.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A look ahead to the MK5000 PB Special and 5000m Track Challenge

Strong fields are expected for the England Athletics 5000m, which will be held as part of the MK5000 PB Special this coming Saturday (July 27) at Milton Keynes.

Entries include Jess Judd (pictured), Jenny Nesbitt, Claire Duck, Mhairi Maclennan, Louise Small, Hayley Carruthers, Adam Hickey, Richard Allen and Jack Gray.

READ MORE: Jess Judd wins World University Games gold

Judd is the defending champion, having won at last year’s edition in 15:37.23 ahead of Emily Hosker Thornhill (15:58.31) and Emelia Gorecka (16:06.30).

“I think I’ll probably do Milton Keynes as a training event now,” Judd told AW after her 15:16.47 PB at the recent Anniversary Games in London. “I think it will be nice to keep in there and keep British fields competitive.”

Interview with a delighted @jessjuddxx following her 5000m PB and @IAAFDoha2019 qualifying time of 15:16.47 in London, which came after a 5000m win at the World Uni Games. “I still can’t quite believe I got a time. I think my dad’s probably right that I can be a 5km runner!” pic.twitter.com/2T7MQM3t2m

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) July 22, 2019

Jack Crabtree won the men’s race in a PB of 14:07.74, with Oliver Fox second, also in a PB time of 14:11.20.

Last year organisers announced that 59 per cent of athletes ran a PB, including 40 per cent of athletes in the elite races.

The volunteer-run event offers prizes of £250, £150 and £100 for men and women.

In the lead-up to the main event there are 10 races with around 30 athletes in each race and organiser Elliot Hind tells AW the popular meeting sold out months ago.

A race timetable and further information can be found at mkac.org.uk/mk5000, while an entry list is here. The elite women’s race is at 20:10, while the men’s is at 20:35.

Over at Nottingham’s Harvey Hadden Stadium, fast times will again be the aim as the 5000m Track Challenge is also taking place on Saturday.

GB international Sam Stabler is among the organisers and will also be racing as part of an elite men’s field which features 19 athletes with sub-14 minute personal bests.

READ MORE: Sam Stabler’s double with a difference

Luke Caldwell, Dewi Griffiths, Philip Sesemann, Emile Cairess, Kristian Jones, Mahamed Mahamed, Petros Surafel and Alex Teuten are also among those set to race.

The women’s entry list includes 13 sub-16 minute runners, including Kate Avery, Charlotte Arter, Sarah Inglis, Elinor Kirk, Calli Thackery, Verity Ockenden and Hosker Thornhill.

Elite entry lists can be found here, while further details on the meeting are at 5ktrackchallenge.co.uk. The elite women’s race is at 19:40, while the men’s is at 20:05.

The Manchester Regional Arena stages the England and Inter-Counties Championships this weekend

The historic Inter-Counties, which were first staged in 1927, are again incorporated into the England Athletics AAA Senior and Disability Championships, which will see a mix of experienced internationals and up-and-coming athletes in action.

Shot-putter Sophie McKinna, who has the World Championships qualifying mark, continues her build-up for next month’s British Championships, where she hopes to secure selection for Doha.

Meanwhile, one athlete who already has his name on the team sheet, 50km race walker Dominic King, will go over the 3km here.

European indoor heptathlon silver medallist Tim Duckworth (pictured) is entered for the high jump, shot put, long jump and pole vault.

Also likely to have a busy couple of days is European junior heptathlon fourth-placer Holly Mills, who is down for the 200m, long jump and shot.

European triple jump silver medallist Naomi Ogbeta is due to defend her title and continue her quest for the 14.20m Doha mark.

Twice Olympian Nathan Douglas will be in action in the triple jump, where he meets Michael Puplampu and Nathan Fox. Also on the jumps runway, eight-metre long jumper Jacob Fincham-Dukes will be seeking to continue his good form.

The men’s shot put will see the UK’s top two this year, Scott Lincoln and Youcef Zatat, go head to head.

In the pole vault, Harry Coppell, after his recent PB of 5.61m, wants to go 10cm higher to gain the Doha standard as he faces Joel-Leon Benitez.

World University Games 5000m winner Jess Judd is listed for both 800m and 1500m but she is also set to race over 5000m at the MK5000 PB Special on Saturday evening.

Jacob Paul and Efe Okoro are the ones to watch in the 400m hurdles.

Under-20 pole vaulter Molly Caudery will be seeking her eighth England title in various age groups.

Also in action will be UK discus No.2 Nick Percy and world indoor 60m semi-finalist Andrew Robertson, who is entered for both sprints, plus sprint-hurdler Alicia Barrett.

A timetable can be downloaded here, with Saturday’s action taking place from 10:55 until the men’s 400m semi-finals at 16:05 and Sunday’s events starting at 10:30 and finishing with the men’s mile at 16:10.

Live results will be available here, with a live stream provided by Vinco Sport here.

Reigning world champions Jonathan Albon and Charlotte Morgan among athletes selected for Argentina event

Two reigning world champions headline the British team set to compete at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Villa La Angostura, Argentina, on November 16.

Charlotte Morgan won the women’s race at the 2018 edition of the championships, becoming the second British woman to win the race in two years following Annie Conway’s success in 2016. Meanwhile, Jonathan Albon (pictured) was crowned the IAU/ITRA trail world champion in June, also winning team silver, and he leads the men’s squad.

READ MORE: Jon Albon – the greatest runner you’ve never heard of

Both will head to Patagonia as part of two strong quartets who will face the world’s best long-distance mountain runners over 42km.

Morgan is joined by Victoria Wilkinson, who was also part of the world silver medal-winning team in 2018.

Kirsteen Welch, winner of the Snowdonia Marathon – which also acted as the trials for this championship – and Sara Willhoit both earn their maiden call-ups to a GB & NI team.

In the men’s team, Albon will be joined by winner of the trials, Nick Swinburn, the 2009 world mountain running silver medallist.

Seb Batchelor earns a call-up to his third British team of the year following the European mountain running championships and trail worlds, as does Tom Evans, last year’s IAU/ITRA trail world championships bronze medallist.

READ MORE: How Tom Evans prepared for Western States

Team leader, Anne Buckley, said: “I’m really pleased that we have selected eight athletes to represent the country at this challenging championship in Patagonia. We have seen some really encouraging performances over the long distances in mountain running this year, so we have plenty of depth in the teams.

“We have experienced members of the team who have won individual and team medals for GB & NI in the past, and it is great to welcome Kirsteen and Sara into the team for the first time.”

British team for the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships

Women
Charlotte Morgan
Kirsteen Welch
Victoria Wilkinson
Sara Willhoit

Men
Jonathan Albon
Sebastian Batchelor
Tom Evans
Nick Swinburn