Die Macht » Its easy to see why Roger Goodell

TEMPE, Ariz. -- No one has played better defense for the Arizona Cardinals through two games than Tony Jefferson.The 24-year-old safety has 21 tackles, 18 of them unassisted. He has three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and a recovered fumble.Not bad for a guy who scraped his way onto the Cardinals roster as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma in 2013.I feel like Ive had to fight every year to be on the team and to make a statement, he said after practice Wednesday. I always have a big chip on my shoulder. I never get complacent, just try to take advantage of every opportunity I get.Most of the time, Jefferson is playing in the box, near the line of scrimmage, where he can blitz the passer, defend the tight end or just race to the middle of the play as it develops. Tyrann Mathieu spent a lot of time in the box last year, too, leading to an All-Pro selection. But Mathieu has played only free safety thus far while he works his way back from knee surgery.Jefferson acknowledges that its a position that allows him to make many plays.A lot of it has to do with scheme, he said. Coach Boettch (defensive coordinator James Boettcher) does a great job finding ways to use guys strengths. Hes let me be aggressive, attack, be physical if I want to be. And at the same time play man on tight ends and stuff. Im actually having a really good time. Im enjoying it right now. Its just all coming together.Jefferson had 10 tackles in the opener against New England and matched his career high with 11 tackles in Arizonas 40-7 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday.After the game, he mentioned the fact its a contract year for his improved play. But he downplayed that in the Wednesday interview.Obviously, I speak for anybody, you play well, you want to get paid, Jefferson said, but thats just a small portion of it. Obviously I want to win a championship. Obviously I want to be one of the best safeties in the league. It may sound crazy to other people ... but I have my own goals.Coach Bruce Arians has been around a long time and has seen how playing in a contract year seems to rev up a players performance.They always see those dollar signs, he said. Its an amazing thing.When Jefferson was a restricted free agent last summer, the Cardinals tendered him the lowest possible offer -- about $1.7 million a year. Nobody matched it and he was left in a take-it-or-leave-it situation.Teams dont even like messing with the restricted stuff, Jefferson said. They can low-ball out and you either take it or you dont. I hated that whole process. Hopefully things work out to where Im here and dont worry about hitting free agency.Jefferson has played in every game since he made the roster three seasons ago, but only sporadically as a starter.When the Cardinals chose not to re-sign Rashad Johnson this offseason, the starting safety job was his.It means a lot. Ive always wanted to be a starter, Jefferson said. Thats why Im here. Im not going to not take advantage of the opportunity. Im going to do what I can to keep it, do what I can to build from it.Mathieu has watched Jefferson develop through the years.Ive always thought Tony played well, even going back to our rookie year, or second year, him just continuing making strides, Mathieu said. Ive always thought he was a good tackler. Ive always thought he was underrated in coverage. I think hes just really putting it all together this year. Hes been really focused. Its a big year for him, a contract year.When Mathieu returns to his do-everything role, Jefferson doesnt expect his playmaking to slow down.I dont ever fathom the fact of me being on the field, Im going to make less plays, he said. When Im on the field, Im looking to make the most plays I can and have the same mindset whether Im playing d-line, d-end, safety, corner. It doesnt matter. When Im on the field, I expect to make plays.The Cardinals (1-1) are at Buffalo on Sunday.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Tyreek Hill Super Bowl Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Tyrann Mathieu Super Bowl Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth-Demarcus-Robinson-Chiefs-Jersey/ . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Chris Jones Super Bowl Jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Anthony Hitchens Super Bowl Jersey . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee.Jennifer Welter has welcomed commissioner Roger Goodell’s move to create a version of the Rooney Rule for women, ensuring female candidates are interviewed for executive positions in the NFL. Goodell made the declaration at the NFLs first ever Womens Summit ahead of Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco last weekend.Welter, who coached Arizona Cardinals linebackers during pre-season, believes the measure will ensure talented females have an opportunity to establish a career in American Football. They have the most amazing women working in executive roles in the NFL league office, Welter told Tuesdays Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ.Its easy to see why Roger Goodell wants to take that a step forward and say we need to open up these executive coaching jobs to the most qualified candidates.Often the best man for the job is a woman, so why not?In April, line judge Sarah Thomas became the NFLs first female full-time official, while last month Kathryn Smith became the leagues first female full-time assistant when the Buffalo Bills appointed her special teams quality control coach. Kathryn Smith is a full-time assistant at the Buffalo Bills Welter, who played American Football for a number of Texas-based teams, recounted her own experience of coaching last summer, insisting she did not face the obstacles that many thought she would.dddddddddddd.The biggest pressure going in was would guys in the NFL take coaching from a woman, and what we did was prove that the answer was absolutely yes, she said.They established my credibility before I even walked in the door essentially. The guys had all watched my game film, they knew who I was and what I was about as a player, and they were excited.There are always more chances for things to develop, she added. I hope people realise that women know, love and play the game of football. Also See: Super Bowl 50 countdown LIVE! Ten memorable Super Bowls 10 stars not called Peyton or Cam How to watch Super Bowl 50 ' ' '