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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kemba Walker has seen NBA basketball in Charlotte at its worst. Hes willing to stick around to see it at its best. The diminutive point guard said thats why he agreed to a contract extension Thursday which allows him to remain with the Hornets instead of testing the free agent market. Now that were a good team, I want to keep us good, Walker said Thursday at a press conference at the teams downtown arena. I want to be in the middle of that. Walker signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Hornets, a person familiar with the deal said Tuesday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the deal had not been announced publicly. The Hornets drafted the 6-foot-1 Walker with the ninth pick in 2011. He has started 180 games in three seasons and averages 16 points, 5.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. After agreeing to the contract late Tuesday night, Walker immediately began paying dividends for the Hornets. He hit two huge shots, including the game-winner with 5 seconds left in overtime to propel the Hornets to a 108-106 win over the Bucks in the season opener on Wednesday night. Its been unbelievable, Walker said of the past few days. It wasnt always so great. Walker endured a 7-59 season as a rookie, the worst winning percentage (.106) in NBA history after leading Connecticut to the national championship as a senior. But things have turned around in Charlotte and he and centre Al Jefferson — one of the players Walker helped recruit to the team — are two of the big reasons why. Charlotte won 43 games last season and reached the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. They were swept by the Miami Heat, but are expected to better this season with the addition of another top free agent in Lance Stephenson. From day one we werent so good and you see us now, Walker said. Everyone is talking about us and we come into the season with high expectations. A few years ago it wasnt like that. Im happy to say Ive been a part of this whole rebuilding process. Cheap Authentic Air Max . Smiths former Atlanta teammates were glad to hang on for an ugly win. Cheap Air Max Free Shipping . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Latvia won a four-man World Cup bobsled race Sunday, while the U. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ . -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday. Air Max Sale . -- The defending Canadian womens curling champions squandered an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the standings Tuesday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Cheap Air Max . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Darcy Kuemper, Minnesota (5): He was calm, poised, and looked comfortable all game.BEREA, Ohio - Quarterback Brian Hoyer is positive he should be the starter for the rest of this season. He should be the one leading his team to the playoffs. Hes convinced.The Browns arent as certain.A day after he was benched by coach Mike Pettine in the fourth quarter of a loss at Buffalo, Hoyer said Monday that he hasnt lost any of his confidence despite three straight poor performances and believes he should keep his job over rookie Johnny Manziel.You dont get to 7-5 in the NFL just lucking into it, Hoyer said. Its been a lot of hard work, and I think Ive proven that Ive gotten us to this point. I feel like I can carry us through the next four games.Hoyer was replaced by Manziel in the fourth quarter of Sundays 26-10 loss to Buffalo after throwing two interceptions, continuing a pattern of bad games over the past month.In his past three games, Hoyer has thrown just one touchdown pass, six interceptions and the Browns have scored just 36 points.Pettine has not yet decided who will start this week against Indianapolis. Hell meet with his staff — and general manager Ray Farmer — on Tuesday and intends to inform Hoyer and Manziel of his decision Wednesday. Pettine said hes not leaning in either direction, and insists the choice comes down to one standard.Ive said it a million times, he said. Who gives us the best chance to win this weekend? Period.The Browns (7-5) remain in the thick of the AFC playoff race, but Pettine said Clevelands post-season hopes wont affect whether he sticks with Hoyer or switches to Manziel, who came in and sparked a stagnant offence on Sunday.For us involving the playoffs, we have to win and thats the bottom line, Pettine said. Its not like anything beyond that would influence the decision. Its Who gives us the best chance to win this weekend? Its that simple. It makes it easy when you look at it like that and shut out everything else.As Hoyer has done all season — after a win or loss — he was at his locker Monday to discuss the previous days game.For the first time since September, he walked away not knowing if hell be doing it again next week. Hoyer, though, isnt worried about anything other than getting ready for the Colts.Hes the starter, and thats the starters duty.Im studying my tape on Indy, and I would do the same if I wasnt, he said. Thaats just the way Ive always prepared.dddddddddddd. For me, nothings changed. I go about my business the way I handle it every week, and thats his right. Hes the head coach. He gets to make those decisions.Pettine acknowledged the Browns discussed making a move at quarterback following a 23-7 loss to Houston on Nov. 16. Hoyer threw a franchise-record 30 incompletions that day while being harassed by J.J. Watt and the Texans defensive front.In his first season as an NFL head coach, Pettine hasnt been faced with a tougher decision than the one hes about to make. Hes conflicted.I dont know where I want to go, and its certainly important, he said. Well spend a lot of time on it. Ill lean on the people I trust to help make it.Up until his recent slide, Hoyer had earned the trust of Pettine and his teammates. He hasnt completely lost it, and Clevelands issues are not specific to the quarterback position. Hoyer has spent the season trying to hold off the immensely popular Manziel, whom the Browns drafted in the first round to be their future quarterback.Hoyer may have finally lost the fight.Browns right guard John Greco appreciates what Hoyer has been up against.Give the guy credit. Hes got a lot of things hes battling, Greco said. He feels like hes the guy and we do, too, and its his job. And hes been our leader all year, but decisions are out of our hands, and were going to roll with it no matter what they choose.For Hoyer, theres a bottom line, too. Hes helped get the Browns, who had lost at least 11 games in each of the past six seasons, back in the playoff hunt. No, he doesnt run like Manziel or have as strong an arm, but hes won and that should mean something.Were 7-5 here, he said. We won three games last year here when I started, so 10-5 as a starting quarterback, thats not bad.NOTES: Browns WR Miles Austin remains hospitalized in the Buffalo area with a kidney injury sustained Sunday. Pettine doesnt know when Austin, who had seven catches for 86 yards, got hurt. ... Pettine said the team is waiting for the rib injury to TE Gary Barnidge to quiet down before its known how long hell be out. Pettine was drilled in the side by the helmet of a Bills defender after making a catch in the first quarter.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '