Robots are invading NFL training camps.Actually, they are the love children of robots and tackling dummies, and they are not technological fads.The Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens have placed orders for a batch of Mobile Virtual Players for their camps later this month, according to MVP president John Currier. Each robot, costing about $8,000, weighs between 160 and 180 pounds, runs a 5-second 40-yard dash and cuts in the open field.In May, the Steelers showcased their experiment with the MVPs on their website, while the rival Ravens tested theirs in secret. The Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears also have inquired about using them in the future.What started as an experiment at Dartmouth College football practices to promote safe tackling is now a full-fledged business that is penetrating the highest levels of football.The NFLs flirtation with technology can be fickle. Remember the drone experiment? Exactly.This seems different, though. At the least, teams see functionality and the chance to rest players.They have a future, said one NFL assistant coach whose team has tested the robots. A few kinks to be worked out, but you can find ways to make them work for you.To separate gimmick from game-changer, lets dive into some questions about the robots and their viability at the NFL level. For guidance, we consulted the people from the MVP company and a few NFL observers who have tested the product.So what is it exactly?The MVP is a tackling dummy made of foam rubber thats controlled by a remote, which teams can operate. The engine, built into the base of the dummy, is protected by a cushion. It runs on two small skateboard-like wheels. The dummies birthplace is the Dartmouth campus in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens and former player Elliot Kastner were the catalysts for developing the technology. Now the dummies are manufactured at Rogers Athletic in Farwell, Michigan, and transported by truck to your NFL doorstep, usually two or three at a time.How did teams find out about this?Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stumbled across a YouTube video of the dummies and inquired about them to staffer Dan Rooney, who played quarterback for the Big Green. The Ravens declined comment on the MVPs, but word of mouth was spreading. Teevens first heard from now-49ers coach Chip Kelly about potentially using the robots over a year ago.Whats the appeal?The dummy is relatively easy to use and requires less manpower to run a practice. Most spring rosters are 90 players, and everyone can get more reps if the dummies are doing the dirty work, such as simulating scout-team formations. Picture a set screen play, with the defensive players taking their angles and the dummy streaking down the sideline. The dummy is perfect for such a noncontact setting, Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats said. It has good speed on it, so youre not running your players to death, Moats said. Youre not going to want to run that fast all practice. It saves players legs.But isnt the point of a tackling dummy for ... tackling?Yes. In fact, the Dartmouth staff implemented the use of the dummies mostly to eliminate helmet contact. Falcons media relations director Brian Cearns said his coach, Dan Quinn, is interested in using the robots for the same reason. The MVPs are forgiving but take a little force to move because of the weight, Teevens said.Where does concussion prevention come into play?Well, this area is harder to evaluate, because NFL teams dont hit much in practices anymore, and the dummies dont have sensors to track where on the body players routinely hit. Dartmouth is exploring the addition of accelerometers that would measure the magnitude of hits, Teevens said. But even with the base model, the concept of hitting a soft moving target could help mitigate potential damage. Medical science is becoming aware that [the brain disease] CTE is related to a history of many subconcussive hits and not just the bell-ringers that make the highlight reel, Currier said. Its that reduction -- hopefully near elimination -- of the repetitive, subconcussive hits in practice that may be the greatest contribution of MVP.Whats the downside?Once he got over the paranoia of rolling an ankle when tackling engine-powered machinery, Moats had one concern upon first glance -- the dummy cant truly simulate player movements and reactions of a shifty player. It looks different, feels different and isnt all that natural, Moats said. You know, a dummy is standing straight up -- a running back or receiver wont be standing that way, Moats said. So its not really a football play. They can advance the technology to simulate the real play, perhaps. So as far as straight line, its really good. Side to side is the issue.But problems can be fixed, right?Yep. The product can improve its authenticity on the field. It also has some goofy arms that can be attached to the sides with Velcro. After gathering feedback from the Steelers and Ravens, MVP transported its dummies to the Rogers lab for tweaks. MVP wants the dummies to maintain high-level speed while simulating open-field cuts. We want it to be evasive, Currier said. Thats part of its value. We want it to shift directly sideways for elusive purposes.What about quarterback play?If a coach is creative and wants to buy, say, 11 robots, perhaps he can disguise blitzes at the line of scrimmage to confuse a young quarterback in offseason work. That would require deft remote work from the sidelines, but thats sort of the point -- Tomlin says the experimental options are endless. You just really put it on the field and watch the guys and they show you the applications, he said. They say, Hey, get it to do this.Five years from now, will most teams be using these?We wont know that answer until after this years training camps, but heres what we do know: Teams are meticulous about player usage. Many teams track every step of practice. Now the dummies can do some of the running for you.Clelin Ferrell Womens 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. Jim Plunkett Raiders Jersey . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. http://www.shoptheraidersonline.com/Elite-Dave-Casper-Raiders-Jersey/ . 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Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round.SEPANG, Malaysia -- Daniel Ricciardo won a dramatic Malaysian Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen after Lewis Hamilton retired from the lead of the race with an engine failure on lap 41.For 40 laps everything was going Hamiltons way as he led the battling Red Bulls by over 20 seconds and title rival Nico Rosberg recovered through the field following contact with Sebastian Vettel at the first corner. But as Hamilton approached Turn 1 for the 41st time a lick of flame from the exhaust signaled a problem before the engine lost all power and ground to a halt on the exit of the corner. With smoke still coming from the rear of the car, the reigning world champion came to a halt with his head in his hands, knowing that his pursuit of a fourth world title had just become significantly more difficult.Up until the Mercedes engine failure, the Red Bulls had been in a thrilling battle for second, with Verstappen attacking Ricciardo using a younger set of tyres. The pair duelled at high speed through Sepangs sweeping Turns 5 and 6, but Ricciardo just held on to the position. At the time it appeared as though they were fighting over second place behind Hamilton, but just one lap later the pair came across the yellow flags for the smoking Mercedes and moved up to second and third.A Virtual Safety Car was deployed to clear Hamiltons stricken Mercedes and both Red Bull drivers were called into the pits at the same time for new tyres. The decision eliminated any advantage Verstappen had from his younger rubber as he had to stack behind his teammate to take on a set of new soft tyres of similar age to Ricciardo. However, in neutralising the race, Red Bulls pit wall made sure they secured their first 1-2 finish since Sebastian Vettel finished ahead of Mark Webber at the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix.Despite being tipped into a spin at the first cornner by Vettel and receiving a 10-second time penalty for causing contact with Kimi Raikkonen while overtaking on lap 38, Rosberg battled back to take a significant third place.dddddddddddd The result gives him a 23-point lead in the drivers standings over Hamilton, putting him in a strong position with just five races left to run this year. Rosberg said he thought his race was over at Turn 1 when Vettel made an ambitious move on the inside of Verstappen and ended up tagging the Mercedes into a spin. The impact broke Vettels front left suspension, resulting in the Ferraris retirement on lap one while Rosberg had to fight back from the back of the field.Raikkonen finished fourth after failing to stay within 10 seconds of Rosberg in the final stint to take advantage of the penalty hanging over the Mercedes diver. The incident in question saw Rosberg take the outside line in Turn 1 and then dive up the inside of the Ferrari at Turn 2, slapping his right rear wheel against the sidepod of Raikkonens car in the process. It meant Rosberg had to push at the end of the race to ensure a 10-second lead over Raikkonen and the final place on the podium.After starting 11th, Vatteri Bottas made use of a one-stop strategy to rise to fifth by the finish ahead of Sergio Perezs Force India in sixth. Fernando Alonso put in an incredible performance to go from last to seventh over the 56 laps and was as high as tenth on lap six. 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