ALAMEDA, Calif. - When George Atkinson IIIs name went uncalled through seven rounds of the NFL draft, there was no doubt where he would end up signing as an undrafted free agent. Despite offers from several teams, Atkinson ultimately signed with the team he was always destined to join, following his famous fathers footsteps to the Oakland Raiders. Now more than a quarter century after George Atkinson Jr. terrorized Lynn Swann and dozens of other NFL wide receivers as a hard-hitting safety with the Raiders, his son is trying to make the team as a backup running back and special teams contributor. "I had to turn a lot of teams down," the younger Atkinson said. "Right out of the gate, they were like, Dont go to the Raiders. I know you want to follow your heart but, weve got a spot for you here. But I know without a doubt this is the spot for me." Father and son knew this was a distinct possibility as the fifth round of the draft ended and no team had called. With two rounds remaining, they believed it might be better if the younger Atkinson wasnt drafted so he could make sure he could sign with the Raiders. While some sons might prefer to blaze their own trail in an organization with no connection to their father, the younger Atkinson had been waiting to put on a Raiders uniform ever since he was a kid. "Ive looked up to this organization and this club for a long time and there was no part of that going on with me," he said. "Ive looked up to my dad and wanted to follow in his footsteps but also lead my own trail at the same time. Youve got to find that balance and thats what Im trying to do right now." The elder Atkinson is a beloved member of the organization for his hard-hitting play that epitomized Oaklands style of play in the 1970s. He had 30 career interceptions and helped Oakland win its first Super Bowl following the 1976 season. He was most famous for his hits on Swann, which led former Steelers coach Chuck Noll to refer to him as part of the "criminal element" in football. He is now a broadcaster for the team but made a point of staying away from rookie minicamp last weekend. "He doesnt need that added pressure," the elder Atkinson said. "Hes learning a new game altogether. The pro ranks are a little bit different from high school and college. He needs time to focus on getting adjusted to the NFL. I dont need to be around. Its his time. I dont want to be a distraction to him and the team." The opportunity to play with the Raiders took out much of the sting of going undrafted after skipping his senior season at Notre Dame. In three years in college, the younger Atkinson rushed for 943 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also returned two kickoffs for scores as a freshman. "Its not all about how you come in, but how you leave," he said. "How you set your mark here in the league. You still have to make a team, drafted or undrafted." Atkinson is part of a crowded group of running backs that includes free-agent acquisition Maurice Jones-Drew, returning starter Darren McFadden and last years sixth-round pick, Latavius Murray. But Oakland is searching for a returner and Atkinson III brings one attribute none of the other players competing for a roster spot have. "I think hes a talented athlete and hes got a lot of speed," coach Dennis Allen said. "He has the ability to help us on special teams also. So, I think anytime a chance to get a legacy, somebody who has the Raider blood lines, ... those guys understand what it means to be a Raider. We were pleased that we were able to bring him in here." NOTES: The Raiders signed seventh-round S Jonathan Dowling and CB T.J. Carrie to four-year contracts. ... Oakland also signed free agent DE Denico Autry and waived DT David Carter. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Ray Nitschke Packers Jersey . The third-seeded Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was coming off a semifinal appearance at the French Open. She took the opening set before the unseeded American came back for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. Rashan Gary Womens Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins (5) – He had a brilliant game; it was a huge response for his average games before. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Rashan-Gary-Jersey/ . Unlike last year when nobody got in, there have been estimates of as many as five getting voted in this time around and as few as one, Greg Maddux. Jace Sternberger Womens Jersey . Lineup news, Fantasy tips and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES Blake Comeau – The Penguins winger had a hat trick in a 4-3 overtime win against Toronto. Mike Daniels Packers Jersey .com) - Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is set to return Tuesday against Nashville after sitting out the past two games because of a minor upper body injury.TORONTO - Corey Hirsch and the rest of his 1994 Canadian Olympic teammates were so focused on Swedish stars Mats Naslund and Hakan Loob that they didnt pay much attention to 20-year-old Peter Forsberg.He just kind of hid in the shadows of those guys, Hirsch said. As far as us, Canadians, we didnt know much about him.By the time Forsberg scored in the shootout to give Sweden the gold medal, he had put his stamp on hockey very early in a career that has led him to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Two years later Mike Modano helped the United States win the World Cup of Hockey, and then in 1998 Dominik Hasek willed the Czech Republic to gold at the Nagano Olympics.On Monday night those three Canada killers go into the Hall of Fame together, along with the late Pat Burns, longtime Canadian defenceman Rob Blake and referee Bill McCreary. To Hirsch, its no shock that this class excelled internationally at Canadas expense.Thats why theyre Hall of Famers because theyve done everything and theyve been able to succeed in high-pressure situations, Hirsch said by phone Friday. Thats what great players do. They do amazing things at opportune times.Haseks domination in Nagano was the most amazing. He shut out Finland earlier in the tournament and then blanked Russia for gold, but before that he took his place in Canadian hockey history.After receiving his Hall of Fame ring Friday, Hasek said he and his teammates started to believe this was a special run after beating the U.S. in the quarters. Then Hasek shined as the Czechs pushed Canada to a shootout.I remember knowing that you had Dominik Hasek in the other net, said Blake, who was named the top defenceman in those Olympics. Theres no gimmes, we knew that going into the game, and then finally when you come down to kind of a one-on-one showdown and you got one of the greatest goalies to play at the other end, it makes it tough.Before the shootout Hasek left his crease to ask McCreary if Wayne Gretzky was shooting.Once I told him I didnt know who was shooting, he went back into his net and as he always did, he stopped everybody, McCreary said.As everyone knows now, Gretzky didnt shoot. Hasek stopped Theo Fleury, Ray Bourque, Joe Nieuwendyk, Eric Lindros and Brendan Shanahan.I probably saw him play the best that he could, Blake said.Hasek said winning gold in Nagano was the top accomplishment of his career, slightly ahead of winning the Staanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings.ddddddddddddWe won the gold medal, we flew with a charter our president sent for us and we came back to Prague and we spend one night in Prague and this night I will never, ever forget, Hasek said.Hasek at that time was in the midst of arguably the best stretch of any goaltender in NHL history. Eleven years earlier at the 1987 Canada Cup, he showed the potential to grow into that.You realized how good he was then, said Canadas starter in that tournament, Grant Fuhr. Its just hed never had a chance to show it because the Czechs werent going to beat the Russians and they couldnt beat us because both our teams just happened to be better teams overall.Like Hasek in 1998, Forsberg helped Sweden dispel that at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer, Norway. With the gold medal on the line, Hirsch did what he thought was his best to stop him in the shootout.As he took me to his left — my right — I really took everything away from him, Hirsch said. I had him. I had him in the sense that he had nothing. The only thing he could do was what he did, and at that point in time was something that nobody had ever really seen before.Forsberg went the other way with a move so memorable its image made it onto a stamp in Sweden.It was kind of a lucky shot, he was so close to saving it, Forsberg said. I was fortunate to be on the better part of that shootout. Fantastic moment. First time Sweden ever won the Olympic gold. It was a great kick-start for me to come over to the NHL right after. For me it was a fantastic moment.Patric Hornqvist of the Pittsburgh Penguins was 7 at the time but recognized the historical importance of Forsbergs goal.After that he became famous all over our country, Hornqvist said. It jump-started his career. He was such a great player and great person. He really deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.Modano didnt have a moment of his own to personally crush Canada. But he was a big part of the 1996 U.S. World Cup of Hockey team that came back to beat Canada to win the three-game final.Canada won Game 1 in Philadelphia before the U.S. bounced back to win Games 2 and 3 in Montreal.You look at Canadas roster and it was the best guys Canada has ever put together in 20 years from top to bottom, Modano said. Our backs were against the wall, it was two (games) in Montreal. Everything there was perfect.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter ' ' '