acquired him from the Eagles on March 11, Sanc

Forward Nicolas Batum?is back with the Charlotte Hornets.The forward has agreed to a five-year deal worth $120 million, according to ESPN and multiple reports on Friday.Batum had scheduled a Friday meeting with the Dallas Mavericks, but he struck a deal hours into free agency to stay in Charlotte.The Hornets were widely considered the front-runners for Batum because they owned his Bird rights, allowing Charlotte to offer a fifth year on the contract.?The fifth season of the contract is a player option, a source said.Verbal commitments are non-binding. Free agents can officially sign contracts on July 7.The versatile Batum, 27, gradually solidified himself as a superb two-way player in his first six seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. But his seventh saw a major drop-off in production, and Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey shipped him to Charlotte for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson before last season.Playing for Hornets coach Steve Clifford, Batum was reborn, averaging career highs in points (14.9) and assists (5.8). He also grabbed 6.1 rebounds a game for the surprising Hornets, who won 48 games before losing to Miami in seven games in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.Batum rediscovered his two-way, do-everything mold in Charlotte, meshing with Kemba Walker, Al Jefferson and Marvin Williams to give the Hornets some energy and edge, pushing them back into the playoffs for the second time in Cliffords three seasons.Batums defense on the wing was a huge part of Charlottes success, and his ability to guard multiple positions helped the Hornets match up against a variety of opponents.As the season came to a close, Batum made no secret of his desire to remain in Charlotte. He was widely viewed as one of the most coveted free agents on the market, the kind of versatile veteran who could make a huge difference on any team he joined.Hornets GM Rich Cho made it clear from the start that the feeling was mutual, and owner Michael Jordan said he would spend the money necessary to help the team continue to build on the momentum of last season.Rather than entertain a number of suitors and mull leaving for another offer, Batum made the decision to stay put about four hours after the market opened.The contract will carry Batum, who turns 28 in December, right through his prime and give the Hornets a much-needed veteran presence to build alongside of the dynamic Walker.With Batum in the fold, the Hornets can now turn their attention to other free-agent matters. Williams, Jefferson?and shooting guard Courtney Lee are all free agents as well, and the Hornets are also in the market for more shooting, depth and toughness to compete in the East.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Sheldrick Redwine Browns Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Bernie Kosar Browns Jersey . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-Jarvis-Landry-Jersey/ . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Baker Mayfield Browns Jersey . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. Sheldrick Redwine Womens Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Players joining a new NFL team say that digesting their new playbook is a lot like learning a new language.Then that goes double for Mark Sanchez, who isnt just absorbing the parlance of Gary Kubiaks West Coast offense in Denver but also mastering the tongue of his Mexican-American roots.I think its important to learn Spanish, Sanchez said. One, because its my heritage and two, because Im fortunate enough to live in a country that celebrates where you come from. And I think when you learn another language like that, I think its good for your brain. You just continue to advance in knowledge. And then the most important thing was to be able to connect with those fans.Sanchez said his parents spoke Spanish to each other, just not to me, while he was growing up in Mission Viejo, California, and his only real exposure to the language came in the classroom.When the New York Jets drafted him out of USC in 2009, Sanchez said he was embarrassed when fans would speak to him in Spanish and all he could respond with was, Gracias.So, he started listening to language tapes in his car on the way to work as his career took him from New York to Philadelphia. He also vacationed in Mexico every summer.Sanchez said his philosophy with a new team is three-fold: quickly get to know your teammates, devour the playbook and become invollved in the community.ddddddddddddAfter the Broncos acquired him from the Eagles on March 11, Sanchez figured that with Colorados large Latino population, it was time for some advanced language lessons.So, every day at team headquarters he peppers one of the teams chefs, Alfredo Gonzalez, with questions in Spanish.I try to talk to him as much as I can about whatever I can, whether its ordering food or just asking questions about his family and listening to what he says and asking him more questions just to continue to practice, Sanchez said.With training camp underway, Sanchez, who is vying with Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch for the starting job, is clearly comfortable both in his communication on the football field and in his bilingual abilities away from it.Sanchez is so capable in Spanish now that he conducted this interview with The Associated Press in both Spanish and English.Im just happy that I took the time and effort to be able to communicate with fans, Sanchez said. I felt so embarrassed my first couple of years that I couldnt.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '