its hard to give up the first goal," he said. "I havent played in a

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Aldon Smith might not have the intimidating and impressive sack numbers of past seasons in his abbreviated year, yet he judges his play by more than just flattening opposing quarterbacks.Smith believes he has done well applying pressure since returning from a nine-game suspension that has made it tough for him to gain much momentum on an ever-changing, beat-up 49ers defence.Ive been making plays, havent been getting sacks but getting pressure, Smith said. I feel good. Still making plays, still making it hard for the quarterback to throw and creating havoc in the backfield.Defensive co-ordinator Vic Fangio, who called Smith rusty when he returned last month, has spoken of Smiths inconsistencies on the pass rush at times. Pressuring the quarterback has regularly been a problem, and the 49ers (7-7) will have to contend with San Diegos Philip Rivers on Saturday night.Smith has 12 tackles and two sacks in five games, four starts.Theres a lot more to the job than just sacks. I mean, setting an edge, drops into coverage, physical against the run in the tackles, coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday. I think hes done a very good job and (it has) been good for everybody to have him back out there.Finishing with a winning season, not chasing a Super Bowl ring as so many of the 49ers planned, is what the season has come to with two games left.It is different, this is my first year not being in the playoffs after having an extra couple games, Smith said. So, its different, but take advantage of this time and when its time to start, be ready.Smith missed the first nine games this season for violations of the NFLs substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies. That came after a five-game absence last year to undergo treatment following his September 2013 DUI arrest. The 25-year-old Smith was also arrested April 13 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said Smith was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became unco-operative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. No charges were filed.He hopes to finally put all of that behind him. Away from the field, Smith said he believes hes now on the right track.I feel like Ive done what I needed to do, Smith said.The 49ers picked up Smiths option for 2015, though they will certainly be no-nonsense when it comes to his behaviour — or anybody elses for that matter — going forward.We talk to our players often about respect, accountability, character, what that means, general manager Trent Baalke said Wednesday. Were a big part of this community, and we expect a lot from our players. We have high expectations. And, for the most part, they live up to those expectations. In certain instances, they dont. And when they dont, you try to deal with it and help them the best you can. Sometimes, we have been judged to maybe give them too much leeway. I think thats a little bit harsh, but at the same time I understand that because I understand what the logo means, the shield means, both at the NFL level and the San Francisco 49ers.Smith, for one, hopes to be playing alongside fearsome defensive lineman Justin Smith for another year. Justin Smith hasnt said whether he will return for a 15th NFL season in 2015.I just hope we can end it on a strong note. Its good to play with him and if hes here next year, thats good, Aldon Smith said. If hes not, then Im sure hell be happy retired.Fangio has joked about flying to Missouri to talk Justin Smith into another year.If I was the D-coordinator, I would, too. ... If I was Vic Fangio, Id do the same thing, safety Antoine Bethea said. Thats his decision with his family. Obviously whatever he decides, helluva career, lot of respect for him as a player, as a man.Aldon and Justin Smith are two players opponents must consider on every snap, even with all the other mixing and matching through injuries on the defence.I still think the two Smiths, those guys are awesome players, Rivers said.Notes: Harbaugh expects RB Frank Gore to play Saturday after he has responded well following a concussion last week. ... Tony Jerod-Eddie is slated to start in place of DL Ray McDonald, who was released Wednesday amid a sexual assault investigation.___Online:AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Joe Carter Blue Jays Jersey . - Novak Djokovic beat John Isner 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-1 on Saturday to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open, where hell resume his longtime rivalry with Roger Federer. Devon Travis Jersey .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-dave-winfield-jersey/ . Scott scored a career-high 30 points, Jeff Teague added 28 and the Hawks rallied to beat the New York Knicks 107-98 on Saturday night. "We were down Paul, down so many bodies," Scott said. Billy McKinney Blue Jays Jersey . Pedroia reached the milestone with a little panache, hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning and propelling the Boston Red Sox to a 7-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. Dalton Pompey Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the As getting Jon Lester from Boston, sending Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox along with a deal involving the As and the Minnesota Twins. The Athletics Get: LHP Jon Lester, LF Jonny Gomes, OF Sam Fuld and cash.MONTREAL -- It seems that New Jersey Devils veterans Jaromir Jagr and Martin Brodeur still have some good hockey left in their 41-year-old bodies. The future hall of famers stole the show at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night, with Jagr moving into seventh place in all-time goal scoring and Brodeur stopping 29 shots as the Devils downed the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. "We talk to each other a lot about certain things," Brodeur said. "I think we have a lot in common about what our careers brought us. "Its nice to relate to a guy. Its been a while since Ive been able to do that here in New Jersey because we had so many young guys. Its been fun to watch him play. Its pretty impressive what hes accomplished." Jagr tied the game at 17:23 of the first period with his first goal in 11 games and his 14th of the season. But more importantly, it was the 695th of a career that began in 1990 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That moved him past Mark Messier into seventh place all-time in goals. It came days after he passed former Penguins teammate Mario Lemieux for seventh place in career points with 1,724. Brodeur, making his first start in four games, extended his NHL record for wins to 682, although a Max Pacioretty goal at the 7:00 mark of the first period kept his shutout record at 124. At the end, both were called onto the ice for an ovation from the 21,273 Bell Centre fans as Brodeur was named first star and Jagr got second star. "I didnt expect that in somebody elses building, but theres a little history here for me," said Brodeur, a Montreal native whose father Denis was once the Canadiens team photographer. "Its definitely nice of them to do that." Montreal had a 30-19 shot advantage, but the Devils (20-18-10) scored more than two goals for the first time in six outings and the second time in their last 11. Brodeur and some tenacious third-period checking did the rest as New Jersey stretched its points streak to five games. Canadiens coach Michel Therrien felt his team played with energy, but just couldnt score. "We competed," said Therrien. "We set the tempo, but the story of the game was Marty Brodeur. "He was phenomenal. We were the attacking team. We outshot them, but it was one of those nights when you run into a hot goaltender." Despite their age, neither Brodeur nor Jagr has decided on retirement just yet.dddddddddddd The game was billed as possibly Brodeurs last visit to the Bell Centre, but hes not ready to concede that. "It might be my last one but it might not either," he said. "I just want to play well when I play. "It doesnt matter what situation Im in. Im there to win hockey games and thats it. Ill do that as long as they let me do it." Jagr, who was chosen to play for the Czech Republic at the Sochi Olympics next months, was even more adamant about continuing his career. "Ive said many times, Im not thinking about retiring yet," he said. "Im not counting my games yet, as long as I have fun." Goals early in the second frame from youngsters Eric Gelinas and Adam Henrique were the difference. Dainius Zubrus scored into an empty net, with an assist from Jagr, in the final minute. Brodeur said Paciorettys goal on a long wrist shot that flew past his glove caused him to bear down and try to keep the Devils in the game. "Our team, were kind of goal challenged, so its hard to give up the first goal," he said. "I havent played in a while and I thought this is not good. But I picked it up after that a little bit and we played a really solid hockey game." Montreal (26-16-5) was coming off one of its best games of the season in a 2-1 win over Chicago but could not duplicate that effort. The Canadiens went 0 for 3 with the man advantage, a fifth-straight game with no power-play goals. Pacioretty struck first with his 20th of the season, but Jagr got it back when he got around Josh Gorges and used his long reach to put the puck past Carey Price and in off the far post. Gelinas scored from the point on a power play 1:20 into the second period and Henrique got his sixth goal in the last 10 games from a scramble in the Montreal crease at 4:02. The crowd booed as what appeared to be a Brendan Gallagher goal was disallowed later by video review for inadvertently kicking the puck in late in the second. Notes: David Desharnais sat out with a flu and his spot on Montreals top line was taken by Lars Eller. Francis Bouillon moved in as a seventh defenceman. . . Ryan Clowe picked up two assists and has seven points in his last five games. . . It was the third and last meeting of the season between the teams. Montreal won the series 2-1-0. ' ' '