LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears took a gamble when they drafted Kyle Long.It has paid off in a big way, and they rewarded him with a four-year contract extension.The Bears locked up their star right guard and three-time Pro Bowl lineman through the 2021 season on Wednesday.Ive known since Day 1 that I wanted to be a Chicago Bear for life and get an opportunity to play for the best franchise in football in the best city in America, said Long, who had two years remaining on his contract.When the talk started about it, I said, `Look, I dont want to be a part of the talks, but what I do want you guys to understand is that I want to be here forever and get it done, so thats what they did.Its an important step for a team last in the NFC North at 6-10 in its first season under general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox.Long is one of seven Bears to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons, a list that includes Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka and Brian Urlacher.With the signing of Josh Sitton on Sunday following his surprise release from Green Bay, Chicago has two elite guards to help protect quarterback Jay Cutler and open holes for running backs.The moves on the line combined with the overhaul to the front seven on defense have the Bears aiming higher this season, starting with the opener Sunday at Houston.Kyle is extremely talented, a great teammate and more than deserving of this contract, Pace said. He is a big piece of the foundation we are building and we only expect him to continue to get better. We are excited to announce this long-term commitment to Kyle.Fox echoed that, saying, He brings the right mindset every day to work. I think hes a leader in that locker room, so obviously an important cog of hopefully what well be about moving forward.Long was seen as something of a gamble when former general manager Phil Emery drafted him out of Oregon with the 20th pick in 2013. After all, he had limited experience in college and a history that included a DUI and academic issues that nearly derailed him.The son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, Kyle Long was drafted in 2008 in the 23rd round as a left-handed pitcher out of high school in Virginia by the Chicago White Sox.He went to Florida State on a baseball scholarship rather than turn pro, lasted one semester because of grades and got a DUI in January 2009. He failed academically at Piedmont Community College in Virginia before heading west to Saddleback Junior College in Southern California.Long decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and brother Chris, an NFL defensive end, but found he was better suited to block than tackle.Despite playing just one season at Oregon and appearing in 11 games, Long quickly blossomed into a standout lineman and one of the most popular players in Chicago.I found something that I can improve every day on, help those around and have that 8-year-old mentality where youre flying around at recess the whole time with your buddies, he said. Thats what its about.Long made the Pro Bowl his first two years as a right guard, and he made it again last season after being switched to right tackle when the Bears cut Jordan Mills just before the opener.The offseason signing of right tackle Bobby Massie cleared the way for Long to move back inside. And with the addition of Sitton -- a player Long helped recruit -- on the left side, the guard spots could be a strength for the Bears for the next few years, barring a position switch or unexpected decline.A healthy and effective Long figures to take the load off Massie and the center -- be it veteran Ted Larsen or rookie Cody Whitehair. Long suffered a shoulder injury in the second preseason game at New England that kept him out of practice until Monday. But he said he feels great, ready to roll.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Yeezy Boost 350 España . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Yeezy Boost 350 Rebajas . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. http://www.baratasyeezy350.es/ . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Yeezy 350 Baratas España .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Yeezy Boost 350 Baratas . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. PHOENIX -- In two seasons, D.J. Humphries has gone from perpetually inactive to versatile and essential.He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round out of Florida, the 24th pick overall after leaving school early. And he did not dress for a single game as a rookie.At first, Humphries was ridiculed by coach Bruce Arians with the nickname Knee Deep, reflecting how far the coach said his foot needed to be in Humphries posterior to get the 6-foot-5, 307-pound tackles attention.Humphries wasnt offended.I think thats just how he works, he said. I kind of stopped worrying about it. I knew what I had to do on my end for the rest of the year.So he went to work.By late in the season, going against the likes of Dwight Freeney in practice, Humphries had gained a measure of confidence.I kind of started smelling myself a little bit, he said. I knew for sure I could play in this league, as good as our defense is.By the end of last season, Arians said he would have no qualms inserting the rookie into the lineup.He worked hard, Arians said. It was just a growth and maturation process, and just maturing as an individual. He was so young, and this is a grown man sport. Those young guys that have had all that success, never failed, and now all of a sudden theyre failing and they dont know how to handle it.His days of being on the Sunday inactive list were over. Right tackle Bobby Massie left for free agency and the job went to a far more mature Humphries.He had always played left tackle, though, so the switch required some adjustment.It was just like trying to go out and write with your left hand, Humphries said, because the first-year minicamp was the first time of my playing right tackle. Making that switch, I had to mentally tell myself I could do this.Humphries played good enough at the start of the season and steadily improved. Run blocking was his strengtth -- a great run blocker, running back David Johnson said -, and he was getting better against the pass rush.ddddddddddddThen left tackle Jared Veldheer, the anchor of the offensive line, went down with torn triceps against Carolina on Oct. 30. Little-used John Wetzel started there the next two games. Two weeks ago at Atlanta, the job went to Humphries.He was going back to his natural position.I was actually a little nervous, to be honest, he said, because I had kind of got settled in at right tackle.But it a smooth transition.Its pretty clear thats what was natural for me, what Ive always played, Humphries said. I really didnt expect the mechanics to come back as fast as they did, so now I can actually work on fine-tuning the technique, kind of how I was fine tuning on the right tackle side.Quarterback Carson Palmer has had a close view of Humphries development and his switch from right tackle to left.Hes obviously gifted, Palmer said. There arent many guys that can make that transition so seamless, especially being a young guy. It is not like he is in year nine and the first three to four years he played on the right side and then he transitioned to left. To do it in week 13 like he did was pretty special.Arians now says the team has two left tackles.A great problem to have, Humphries said.He may be Arizonas left tackle of the future. Next season, though, barring some major personnel move, Veldheer will be back in his old spot.Humphries understands.I think its pretty clear that I love left tackle. Thats all Ive ever played, Humphries said. But Im willing to do whatever. If next year Im back at right tackle, Ill be a right tackle playing my butt off again.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '