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The last time the NFL ventured into Mexico was in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers in Estadio Azteca. Top-level American football is returning to the same venue in Mexico City on Monday night, when the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders will face off in a contest that has been sold out since July.Just dont assume the 11-year gap is related to a lack of interest. In reality, Mexico is the top international hotbed for American football, with the largest NFL fan base of any country outside the United States. There are more fans of the league in Mexico City than in most actual NFL markets.But the sports popularity in Mexico goes well beyond NFL fandom. From youth leagues that are overtaking soccer in popularity in some parts of the country to a new pro league, American football is a major player south of the border. With that in mind, heres a closer look at where the sport stands on every level in Mexico and how fans there consume the game.YouthYouth leagues have sprouted across Mexico, especially in the northern half of the country, where football has firmly planted itself as the second-most popular sport behind soccer. In the northeastern city of Monterrey, the youth leagues total about 2,000 participants, estimated Alex Olivas, the commissioner of CONADEIP, one of the countrys two major college football leagues.Its actually the No. 1 student sport in whole Mexico, Olivas said.And youth football is taken very seriously. Some fields are covered with FieldTurf, the synthetic grass some college and NFL teams use. There are also Pop Warner programs in Mexico.There is a youth league in Monterrey that actually uses a $300,000 replay system, and an overturned call played a key role in one championship game for 8-year-olds. Yes, replay is used for 8-year-olds. The initial call that a player was down was challenged, and the replay review determined the ball had been fumbled and lost.According to Jorge Orobio, commissioner of the Mexican Federation of American Football, the communal nature of the sport has helped it grow. Families invest money into equipment, travel to games and are generally involved in their childs football career.Its like a culture or a lifestyle, said Hugo Lira, coach of the Tech Puebla college team. Thats why it spread all over the country.Lira, who played as a wide receiver in NFL Europe and took part in Carolina Panthers training camp in 2005, added that he thinks itd probably be bigger than it is now if local games were on TV.Orobio said another way the game could get even bigger would be if the NFL got involved at the grassroots level. As a promotion, the NFL makes a great deal, makes a great platform, but no actual development here in Mexico, he said. Promoting football here in Mexico has been great, but not actually developing it.CollegeMajor college football in Mexico is sanctioned by two organizations: ONEFA, which has been around since 1978, and CONADEIP, a private-school offshoot which was founded in 2010.Most college football games average 2,000 to 3,000 fans, with some of the bigger games drawing crowds of 15,000 to 20,000. Olivas says he has seen crowds reach 40,000, depending on whats at stake and the matchup.The Monterrey Institute of Technology might be considered Mexicos version of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Or, perhaps, Alabama is the Monterrey Tech of the United States. The Borregos Salvajes (Wild Rams) have won 21 national championships, including the 2015 CONADEIP title.The quality of college football in Mexico has been compared to the Division III level of the NCAA. Monterrey Tech has taken on teams throughout Texas, including a victory in a 2009 scrimmage against Blinn College -- a team that happened to have Cam Newton?at quarterback.It has been difficult for players from Mexico to break into major college football north of the border. University of Colorado kicker Diego Gonzalez was thought to be the only Mexican native at the FBS level in the U.S. heading into the 2016 season. Gonzalez enrolled at Monterrey Tech as a college freshman before transferring to Colorado, and he became the Buffaloes regular place-kicker in 2015. He had some tough luck this year, suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Colorados third game.ProfessionalPro football is just getting off the ground in Mexico. The Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional, based in Mexico City, concluded its first season in April, and reports said attendance exceeded 5,000 fans per game for the inaugural four-team campaign. The Mayas, Raptors, Eagles and Condors each played six regular-season games, and the Mayas claimed the championship by defeating the Raptors 29-13 in the first Mexico Bowl (Tazon Mexico). The league recently announced plans to expand to six teams and venture beyond Mexico City for the 2017 season, which begins in February.Perhaps the LFA can someday play a role in developing NFL-caliber talent. There have been only two Mexican-born players on 53-man NFL rosters since 2001, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Both were offensive linemen: Rolando Cantu, who played one game for the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 (becoming the first player to play college football in Mexico on his way to the NFL), and Victor Leyva, who played 10 games for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002. Others have taken part in training camp, been on practice squads and played in NFL Europe.Historically, the Mexico natives who have made the largest impact in the NFL have been kickers, notably Efren Herrera, Rafael Septien, Raul Allegre and members of the Zendejas family: Tony, Max and Luis.FansNFL weekends in Mexico look at lot like NFL weekends in the United States. Fans are consumed by the games from Thursday night through Monday night. Jerseys are worn. Allegiances are upheld. Fantasy rosters are checked. Smack is talked.NFL football here in Mexico is pretty, pretty big, Olivas said. We have a lot of Cowboys fans, Steelers fans. Im a Raiders fan. There used to be a lot bigger Raider fan base here.Bars dedicated to individual team fan bases are strewn throughout Mexico City. Olivas estimated that NFL fans with cable TV can watch as many as nine games a week. According to NFL.com, nine different networks, including ESPN and Fox Sports Latin America, broadcast NFL games in Mexico.For followers to further develop their fandom for their favorite teams, theres an NFL store in a mall in Monterrey, outfitted with jerseys, apparel and other merchandise.Its just a coincidence, but Mexicos Constitution Day national holiday is observed the first Monday in February, often the day after the Super Bowl. That allows revelers to cut loose during the big game without having to worry about work the next day. Its a big-time party, Olivas said of Super Bowl Sunday in Mexico.Large house parties, with plenty of beer and carne asada, are common, and beer companies sponsor gatherings that draw hundreds of fans. Olivas said the game is televised on four different channels, widening the scope of who can watch it. As in the U.S., streets are barren in many cities and towns, especially in the northern half of the country. That stops a lot of what you do on Sundays, he said of the Super Bowl. Your day is all about football. Cheap Tigers Jerseys . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Detroit Tigers Gear . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Custom Detroit Tigers Jerseys . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Tigers Jerseys 2019 . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans proved they were serious about upgrading their offense this offseason by luring Brock Osweiler from Denver with a four-year, $72 million contract. Now its time to see if the quarterback was worth it.All eyes will be on Osweiler when the Texans begin training camp on July 31 -- especially with star defensive end J.J. Watt sidelined by a back injury.Im impressed with Brock, probably most of all in his ability to learn our system, our operation, coach Bill OBrien said. Its not easy to come in here and learn how we operate as an offense, how we meet, how we call plays at the line of scrimmage, how we teach defense ... were really happy with his progress.On Thursday night, a person familiar with Watts condition said the star defender has had back surgery and will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. The person spoke to The Associated Press on on condition of anonymity because the team hasnt confirmed the surgery or Watts roster status.Watt, the NFL sacks leader last season with 17 1/2, will miss the start of training camp, but is expected to be ready for the season opener. Watt spent most of the offseason recovering after having surgery to repair a groin injury in January.Watts still looking to do more in 2016 and said he never watches his highlights, instead viewing his bad plays to figure out how to get better.Theres so many great players in this league, and you want to learn and grow as much as you can and gain as much information as you can so that you can improve your own game, Watt said.Osweiler has started just seven games in his four-year NFL career and they were all last season. He was presumed to be Denvers starter this season after Peyton Mannings retirement, but he signed with Houston for megabucks instead.He joins an offense highlighted by star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who finished third in the NFL with 1,521 yards receiving last season, and that added running back Lamar Miller in free agency, then got receivers Will Fuller and Braxton Miller in the draft.The Texans overcame quarterback woes last season to finish 9-7 and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2012. They were ousted in the wild-card round by Kansas City after Brian Hoyer committed five turnovers in the 30-0 loss.Now Osweiler takes over and hhe feels good about his grasp of Houstons offense after the work he got in practices and minicamp this spring and early this summer.dddddddddddd Hes looking to take his understanding to another level in camp.Its just focusing on the details of our offense, he said. Theres a lot of things that go into it -- formations, motions, shifts, different cadences, different route concepts, run checks, pass checks -- and so its just focusing on the details and focusing on the line-of-scrimmage operation.Some things to know about the Texans, who open the season Sept. 11 against the Chicago Bears:EXPECTATIONS FOR CLOWNEY: Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is entering his third NFL season and so far the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft has failed to live up to expectations during two injury-plagued seasons. Clowney played just four games as a rookie before having season-ending microfracture surgery. He recovered from that for the start of last season, but missed three games and Houstons playoff match with various ailments. He did show flashes of the potential he displayed in college, though, and finished with 4 1/2 sacks and forced a fumble.Its frustrating. It feels like youre letting the team down when youre not out there, Clowney said. Injuries happen, youve just got to be mentally tough to come back and show the guys you are ready to play.MILLERS POTENTIAL: The Texans snagged an intriguing player when they drafted Braxton Miller in the third round. Miller was the two-time Big Ten offensive player of the year in 2012 and 2013 after throwing from more than 2,000 yards and rushing for more than 1,000 in both of those seasons. He sat out for a season with a shoulder injury before moving to receiver last year, when he finished with 26 receptions for 341 yards.Miller is happy with his progress since making the move.NEW CENTER: The Texans will likely have rookie second-round pick Nick Martin at center after Ben Jones, who started every game the last two seasons, signed with Titans. He is the younger brother of Zack Martin, a first-round pick by the Cowboys in 2014 and a two-time Pro-Bowler at guard.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '