Former Collingwood premiership-winning captain Nick Maxwell has lauded the growth of his former Pies backline colleague Heath Shaw, after being reunited with him at emerging AFL power Greater Western Sydney.The two played together at Collingwood for nine seasons between 2005 and 2013 and were part of the 2010 flag-wnning side.Shaw then headed to GWS, where he has played the last three years and and Maxwell retired following the 2014 season.Half-back Shaw has gone from strength to strength at the Giants, earning back-to-back All Australian honours and plenty of plaudits for being director of the mainly youthful GWS backline.They were reunited late last year when Maxwell joined the Giants on a part-time time basis to help with their leadership group, of which 30-year-old Shaw is vice-captainMaxwell is assisting Giants backline coach Nick Walsh and has watched Shaw flourish in his massively influential role at the club, which will play Western Bulldogs in a preliminary final on Saturday .Ive seen Shawy grow really well, Maxwell told AAP.I played a lot of footy with him, but having been away from him a couple of years (Ive been) watching externally.But now being inside seeing his growth and how much he understands his role and how important it is and he understands that hes got to be doing that for us to be at our best.Its been good to see his improvement. As a footballer, you hit your peak when you get to those mid-to-late 20s, that was where he came in (to GWS).I think (Giants head coach) Leon Cameron has been great for him.Maxwell agreed Shaws organisational role, in which he barks instructions to his less experienced defensive colleagues about where to go, was akin to having a coach out on the field.And thats what we expect of him., Maxwell said.Part of his role is not just about beating his man and getting the ball.Its about setting up, not just in the backline, but also seeing whats happening in front of him and making sure that hes educating the midfield and the forwards about whats happening. Mike Richter Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Jeff Beukeboom Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. http://www.cheapnewyorkrangersjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-mike-gartner-jersey . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Paul Carey Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Ondrej Pavelec Jersey . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. CLEMSON, S.C. -- He doesnt flash that easygoing smile as frequently. His play gets scrutinized and picked apart more, because many of the folks who gushed about Deshaun Watsons game a season ago now focus on the overthrows and critical interceptions.Still, Clemsons junior quarterback is back in the same spot -- a Heisman Trophy finalist.The journey this time has not been as smooth. He apologized in September after two closer-than-expected wins for not bringing the same joy into his game as he had the first two years. Hes led prime-time, fourth-quarter comebacks against No. 16 Louisville and No. 12 Florida State and thrown three interceptions that helped Pitt pull off a stunning upset, a 43-42 victory that was Clemsons first home loss since Watson was in high school.Watson believes he is in part tagged with matching the success he had in 2015 when he became the first player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000. He capped it with a virtuoso performance against Alabama in the national title game, accounting for four touchdowns and 478 yards in a 45-40 loss.Its easy for people to say that Im not having the type of season I had last year, because to be honest, a lot of people didnt really know me until the end of the season, Watson said. So theyre just living off the national championship game, and all the success I had in that.Once last season ended, Watson was elevated to the face of college football, a favorite for the Heisman who would command a deep, talented Tigers attack that had potential to be the best in the game. When that did not happen immediately, Watson became ripe for criticism, no matter how much success he and his teammates had.Personally, I dont really care about anybody elses opinions and expectations. I understand what Im doing, and my teammates do, too, he said.Watson has dealt with more difficult things in life. His mother, Deann , was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue while he was at Gainesville (Georgia) High. Deann Watson spent six months in the hospital after her glossectomy, an operation to remove her tongue that takes breast tissue to rebuild the tongue.Watsons mother was declared cancer-free in 2012, although she needs to use a feeding tube for the rest of her life.Its something I kind of grew up on, especially coming from the environmment I grew up in and the situation with my mom, Watson said.dddddddddddd Its a blessing to be able to play the game of football, because one step later it can easily be taken away from me.Watsons numbers this season belie the eye test. Hes thrown for 3,626 yards and 34 TDs, up from 3,223 and 27 touchdowns during the regular season in 2015. His rushing numbers have dropped, but so have Watsons carries. He was most effective running in the postseason, getting 68 carries and 349 yards in the ACC title game and the teams two College Football Playoff games last season.Hes the best player in college football, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. I mean, just that simple. He has done a fantastic job leading this football team.---BEST GAME: Watsons best may have come in an early-season, 42-36 showdown win over Louisville and Heisman Trophy front-runner Lamar Jackson. Watson helped the Tigers to a 28-10 halftime lead, then dug down in the fourth quarter after Jackson had rallied the Cardinals to a 36-28 edge. Watson threw a 20-yard TD pass to Mike Williams to begin the rally with 7:05 to go and directed an 85-yard drive he finished with a 31-yard scoring pass to Jordan Leggett. Watson ended the night with 306 yards and five touchdown passes.WORST GAME: It seems crazy to label an ACC-record-setting performance as Watsons worst game, but his 580 yards passing against Pitt were offset by three interceptions -- and the last two led to Panthers touchdowns in their 43-42 victory at Death Valley last month. The final pick at the Pitt goal line with Clemson driving for a potential clinching score sprung Pitt linebacker Saleem Brightwell for a 70-yard return that led to a crucial TD. Watson has 15 interceptions in 13 games this season after throwing 15 in 23 games his first two seasons.PRO PROSPECTS: Watson will be one of the first quarterbacks taken in next springs NFL draft, but he might have to rebuild his stock some to show he is a top-of-the-first-round player. Clemsons last ACC player of the year quarterback, Tajh Boyd, saw his stock go from early-round prospect to a sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '