TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay first-round draft pick Vernon Hargreaves III has a lasting memory of the first time he matched up against Oakland Raiders receiver Amari Cooper.Nothing the young cornerback saw on film before the two met in college two years ago prepared him for what would be one of the most humbling days hes had on a football field.Thats the first time I played against somebody that was better than me, that I felt like was significantly better than me, and he knows that, Hargreaves said, recalling Cooper catching 10 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns to pace Alabamas 42-21 victory over Florida in 2014.For me, I was young. I was a sophomore, and at that point he was already playing like he was in the NFL, the rookie cornerback added. So covering him, after the game I kind of sat down and thought: `Wow, he really got me better in a way, if that makes sense. And he knows that.Cooper, a junior at the time, went on to become the fourth pick in the 2015 NFL draft.Hargreaves, selected 11th overall this year, gets another shot at one of the games budding stars when the Bucs (3-3) host the Raiders (5-2) on Sunday.Ive talked to him before ... and he knows were going to get after it, Hargreaves said. Im excited to see him again.Cooper leads the Raiders with 40 receptions for 614 yards, but has only gotten into the end zone once this season. Teammate Michael Crabtree has 39 catches for 461 yards and is tied with Bucs receiver Mike Evans for the league lead in TD receptions with six.Its going to be exciting to go against those guys and see where we really are, said Hargreaves, whose transition to the NFL has been helped by the presence of four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes, who signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent last spring.Hargreaves gives Cooper credit for helping prepare him for the type of receivers hes facing in the pros.He was already an NFL player in college. So seeing the routes he ran, getting to cover him, when you play against good players you just naturally get better, the rookie said. I dont why that is, how that works, I just know thats how life works, in all aspects. And Im glad I got to see that early in my college career, somebody of his caliber, because it prepared me well.Some other things to watch for when the Raiders visit the Bucs:NOT SO SWEET HOME: The Raiders are aiming for their fifth straight road win. The Bucs are 0-2 at home, 3-15 since the start of the 2014 season, and at a loss to explain why. Oakland won 33-16 at Jacksonville last Sunday, then remained in Florida to prepare for Tampa Bay instead of returning to the West Coast. The extended trip also provides coach Jack Del Rio an opportunity to watch his son, Luke, play for the University of Florida this weekend.FILLING IN: The Bucs have won two straight, beating Carolina and San Francisco on the road, to climb to .500 after a 1/3 start. RB Jacquizz Rodgers is one of the biggest reasons why , posting career highs rushing with 101 yards against the Panthers and 154 against the 49ers while standing in for the injured Doug Martin, out since Week 2 with a sore hamstring.PROTECT THE PASSER: Ever since watching his brother David get sacked 76 times as a rookie in Houston in 2002, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has known how important an offensive line can be. Hes always had good protection in three years in the NFL, and this season might be the best. The Raiders have allowed a league-low seven sacks, led by left tackle Donald Penn, who was cut by Tampa Bay following the 2013 season.When you got guys that it means that much to them to do their job and it means that much to them that it makes them sick, not only to have a sack but for those guys to even touch you, you know you have the right person protecting you,Carr said.FAMOUS JAMEIS: Bucs QB Jameis Winston threw eight interceptions and lost two fumbles during Tampa Bays 1/3 start. With Rodgers keying an effective rushing attack, the second-year pro has only turned over the ball once in the past two games.BIG PLAY PUNTER: Raiders punter Marquette King has played a big role in the teams success this season. He leads the NFL with 19 punts of at least 50 yards, is second in gross average at 50.6 yards and is tied for second with 15 punts inside the 20. He delivers even when things dont go right, as evidenced by his 27-yard run for a first down after a low snap last week in Jacksonville. That run was longer than the any this season for top backs such as Frank Gore, Todd Gurley and Lamar Miller.---AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow in San Francisco contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Raptors Jerseys . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Cheap Raptors Jerseys . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. http://www.cheapraptorsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-alfonzo-mckinnie-jersey .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Cheap Swingman Raptors Jerseys .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Lucas Nogueira Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. CALGRY, Alberta -- Brian Elliott was eager to get back in the rink on a hot summer day. After years of fending off challengers in St. Louis, the goalie has big expectations entering next season as the unquestioned No. 1 in Calgary.This is a big one for me so Im really looking forward to it, Elliott said when introduced to the media Wednesday. Sometimes you want that extra bit of summer to relax and enjoy your downtime but now Ive gotten really excited to get the pads back on and ready to get back at it.The Flames acquired the 31-year-old Elliott from St. Louis on the night of the NHL draft for a second-round pick. Elliott and his wife were on vacation in Croatia at the time.When I got the news, it was 2 oclock in the morning and I saw my phone lighting up, Elliott said. I didnt go back to sleep after that, I was so excited.Elliott has the second-highest save percentage in the league among goalies who have played at least 50 games over the past five seasons at .925, just behind New Jerseys Cory Schneider (.926).Yet as well as he has performed over that five-year period in St. Louis, he never seemed to fully gain the trust of the coaching staff that kept trying other options. He gave way to Jaroslav Halak in one playoffs, Ryan Miller was brought in to be the guy in another. Two years ago, the Blues turned to Jake Allen in the postseason.To have that good of numbers and not get the opportunity to be the No. 1 guy, sometimes its frustrating, Elliott said. But Ive always believed if you worked hard, put your head down and plowed through it, opportunitiees will pop up for you.ddddddddddddLast year, the Flames trio of Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo and Joni Ortio collectively ranked last in the NHL in goaltending.Calgary will turn to two new goalies. Veteran backup Chad Johnson was signed as a free agent.Elliott was selected by 291st overall by Ottawa in the 2003 draft and has played 323 career games (165-99-32) with the Senators, Blues and Colorado Avalanche. He said hes ready for this next chapter.Its talked about a lot with goaltenders. It just takes longer to develop. You have to go through those experiences just to be able to be that consistent player and not really feel the ups and downs and the roller coaster of a season, he said. Just stay calm. Trust your game, trust your work and just go out and play. It takes time to learn that.Flames general manager Brad Treliving said while Elliotts on-ice performance was important, they also really liked the fit off the ice.The numbers speak for themselves but a big part of us going out and getting Brian is also the person, he said. We talked to players that played with him, teammates that have had him, coaches that have coached him. The work ethic, the type of person that he is in the locker room, the teammate stood out as much as the goaltender stood out.Also on hand at the Saddledome was Elliotts wife, Amanda, who is pregnant with the couples first child, due at the start of the season.A little cowboy on the way, Elliott said. ' ' '