FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Dee Milliner knows what people are saying about him, and most of it is far from flattering.Expectations were high for the 2013 first-round draft pick, but injuries have hindered his career and led to some questioning his heart, his ability to stay healthy and garnered plenty of negative reactions from fans and media. The New York Jets cornerback couldnt disagree more with the doubters.No, I wont say a bust, Milliner said after a recent training camp practice. I aint been on the field. Injuries here and there. Ive just got to stay at it and when the opportunity comes, hopefully I make the best of it.This is likely a make-or-break year for Milliner, who could be a free agent after this season since the Jets did not pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.He has been healthy so far this summer and had a solid offseason, providing a glimmer of hope that perhaps he could make an impact on Todd Bowles defense this season.Its just a year that Ive just got to go out there and play, Milliner said. I cant be injured, cant be on the sideline. Ive got to go out there and try to compete for a job.Staying on the field has been no easy task for Milliner, who has played in just 21 out of 48 games over his first three NFL seasons.Im trying, Im trying to do my best, he said. Im praying, hoping that I can stay healthy.Milliner tries to laugh off the negative chatter about him and use it as motivation.I might be at home, doing something and my brothers might say, `Somebody called you a bust, he said. He knows that Im going to pop (off) the couch and probably go work or something. They take it as a joking matter, but at the same time I take it serious. I just want to be out there and be able to play.He came to the Jets as the No. 9 overall pick after a terrific college career at Alabama, where he helped lead the Crimson Tide to two national championships. The laundry list of injuries has been lengthy, though, in a short amount of time.Milliner started his NFL career slowly during the offseason of his rookie year while recovering from shoulder surgery. In 2014, he suffered a high ankle sprain during training camp and played just three games after tearing the Achilles tendon in his right leg.He made it back for training camp last summer, but then injured a tendon in his right wrist and needed surgery that kept him out for half the season. When Milliner came back, he was used exclusively on special teams -- something that was frustrating at times for him.But guys on our team were playing great and making great plays, so you keep those guys out there because theyre doing great things, he said. And when I get an opportunity to get out there and do it, or if I can help on special teams, Ill help them.Milliner, whose three career interceptions came when he was a rookie, hasnt played on defense in a game since tearing his Achilles on October 12, 2014.I want to be back out there, he said, and get a chance to be on defense and play.With Darrelle Revis working his way back from offseason wrist surgery, Milliner has been getting lots of snaps on defense this summer, including with the starters. While Buster Skrine and Marcus Williams are expected to be in the rotation to start opposite Revis, a healthy Milliner could give Bowles something else to consider.Hes playing fast, hes healthy and hes running around out there, Bowles said. I just look forward to him improving.Milliner credits taking some yoga classes to improve his flexibility while focusing on getting into even better shape while sticking to a healthy diet.While watching mostly from the sideline during practices this offseason, Revis has liked what he has seen from Milliner.You can tell hes very motivated this year, and thats great, Revis said. Hes been set back by a lot of injuries throughout his career and now hes healthy, so its good. Hes making a lot of strides.Milliner insists he has no doubts about his abilities and believes he can still be a regular NFL starter. He also said he wasnt angry that the Jets didnt pick up his fifth-year option, knowing that he hasnt done much on the field -- yet -- to warrant faith from the team.They took a chance on me as a high pick, so Ive got to live up to it, he said. My expectations are much higher than some things that coaches or players expect of me. 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Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Rodrigo Perrone, wearing a blue water polo cap, deftly made his way through the packed stands at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre. The 8-year-old Perrone then settled into his fathers lap to watch his uncle and Brazil take on world champion Serbia on Wednesday.I love soccer, the bubbly little boy said through a translator, and its like soccer in the water.Sure enough.Rodrigo is still on the fence -- I will play one day and the next day I will not, he said matter-of-factly -- but Brazils mens and womens water polo teams are hoping the excitement of the Olympics will help them grow the sport in their soccer-crazy country.Winning helps, of course, and Brazils mens team has been the tournaments most pleasant surprise so far. Playing in front of another big crowd -- with green-and-yellow-clad fans waving flags, singing and cheering right to the final horn -- the home country posted an impressive 6-5 victory over the gold-medal favorites. It leads Group B with a perfect 3-0 record.I think all the work we did for this Olympic Games already change a little bit the water polo in Brazil, said driver Gustavo Guimaraes, who connected on a tiebreaking penalty shot with 46 seconds left. The media, the person like `Oh, whats the water polo? A lot of people doesnt know whats this sport, and its an expensive sport.But the most important thing is that if you are able to do always better and do a good example inside the water, its going to change this, and I hope water polo in Brazil becomes like volleyball, soccer, something like this.Brazils players celebrated the victory by waving their caps and applauding to the roaring crowd from the center of the pool.We had to do this. The crowd was amazing, so we have to go there and say thank you for everybody, smiling center back Felipe da Costta E Silva said.ddddddddddddBrazil qualified for the Olympics as the host country. Its the first Olympic appearance for the mens team since 1984, and the debut for the womens squad -- underlining water polos status on the sporting landscape in Brazil.While Olympic success is new for Brazil, its more of the same for its coach, Ratko Rudic, who has guided three different countries to a total of four gold medals. It also has the talented Felipe Perrone and big Josip Vrlic, who combined for three goals against Serbia, but its clear the countrys success begins with its veteran coach.Ratko is the best coach in the world, Guimaraes said. He won everything.U.S. captain Tony Azevedo, a Rio native who plays professionally for Sesi in Sao Paulo, also is hoping Brazils success leads to more water polo players in the country.Swimmings a huge sport here. So is water polo, Azevedo said, and now finally they have a team that they can cheer for. They have a team thats good. They have one of the best players in the world with Felipe Perrone. Its exciting, and I think Brazilians, and youll see, its not just water polo, its all sports out there, especially Brazilian sports, but water polo is finally getting its name out there in the country and I love that.Before Brazils win over Serbia, the United States beat France 6-3 for its first victory of the tournament. Josh Samuels scored three times and McQuin Baron made 11 saves.Also Wednesday, Australia edged Japan 8-6, Greece and Hungary played to an 8-8 draw and undefeated Italy earned a 6-5 win against Montenegro. In the final match of the day, Spain beat Croatia 9-4.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '