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Two-By-Four As Starters Return, Backup Line Get Reps Too

IRVING, Texas - In just the nick of time, it would seem, starting offensive linemen Marc Colombo and Kyle Kosher returned to practice on Wednesday, each back from rehabbing knee injuries.
Practice is not the game, of course. While players who return to the field at Valley Ranch are typically cleared to participate in game situations, the Cowboys will have to monitor how their first-tamers respond over the next three days before making an official ruling on their status for football jersey
the weekend.
With that in mind, offensive line coach Hudson Houck admits the team will have to get four linemen ready to play two spots. Montréal Holland got first-team reps again at left guard on Wednesday, and, with Sunday's final play hardly forgotten, Alex Barron took some starting snaps at right tackle.
Both Colombo and Kosher were listed as having full participation, however.
"We'll see how sore they are, and if they're inhibited from playing or practicing, we'll know that," Wade Phillips said. "So we'll just have to wait and see. We brought those guys back and they practiced, but they didn't practice every snap. But they don't practice every snap when they're working with the first team; we work the other guys so we can have them ready too.
"They're two experienced players that have played a lot for us. And that's valuable, although we have confidence in our backups players too, and some of them played pretty well."
Coming out of Sunday's loss at Washington, the general consensus is Holland performed well at left guard, and Barron held his own except for a handful of plays, some of which just happened to be the most significant in the game. Since Barron is still going to be in the team's contingency plans, coaches have to find a way to eliminate the weaknesses that led to him committing three holding penalties, including the one that negated a game-winning touchdown pass.
Houck, who's aimed to give the former St. Louis Rams first-round pick a fresh start, said Barron's issues could be caused by reverting to bad habits developed over five seasons as the league's most penalized player.
"We've identified the issue," Houck said. "And we know how to correct it, so that's the direction we're going. I haven't lost any faith in him. It's all technique. It's not athletic ability, it's not want-to, and it’s not preparation. Some of the issues on how he sets and what he does, we'll address. We've got the answer; we've just got Dallas Cowboys jersey
to now get it where it's a habit."
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Barron also vowed to correct his mistakes. As the backup to two positions his improvement is important. What's even more critical is for the Cowboys to get better production from their starter, presumably a now-healthy Colombo. A tough, smart guy viewed as a leader on the offensive line, Colombo played well enough in 2008 to earn himself a rather lucrative four-year contract extension.
He kept up the strong play into 2009, but suffered a broken fibula and high ankle sprain in the ninth game of the year. He worked hard to come back in time for the playoffs, and performed well in the wild card win against Philadelphia. He gave up three sacks the next week in Minnesota, however, and this summer Phillips admitted he felt it was too soon to bring him back. Despite months to heal last season's injuries, Colombo still wasn't at his best in the preseason.
On Aug. 15, early in the Oxnard, Calif. portion of training camp, he had to come out of practice early, and required surgery to clean up loose particles in his knee. According to someone with knowledge of the injury, Colombo had a feeling something was wrong with his knee during camp, but after hearing criticism all off-season, wanted to get in as many practice reps as possible.
"All these loose bodies he had in his knee, he's had in there for quite a while," Houck said. "So it's been bothering him. Now it's cleaned out there, and the only thing bothering him is the incision. As far as that's sealed up, we're ready to go. … The guy is as mentally tough as any guy I've ever been around, so he will play hard. If he's not playing well he'll know it and we'll talk about it. But I anticipate that he'll be better than ever."
With Kosher also returning to practice from the MCL he sprained just three days after Colombo went down, the Cowboys had all five of their starters together for the first time in a month. Houck said he'll know by Friday if they're ready to go.
"I think if the quickness is there, the readjusting to movement, lack of Chargers jersey
swelling, all those types of things, I anticipate that the mental part of it will be very easy for them," Houck said. "They'll be tough. They won't be afraid to move because of the injury - they've both had injuries before, so they know how you come back from them. Many times you're a little cautious if it's your first injury."

Poole: Quarterback switch now for Oakland Raiders would reek of panic

Bruce Gradkowski is earnest and attentive, a scrappy underdog and designated backup who can come off the bench like a shot of adrenaline.
He's easy to root for and easier to support -- even if football jersey
you couldn't care less about the Raiders. The smallish bundle of kinetic energy that is Gradkowski has gone from prep legend in Pittsburgh to the University of Toledo, to an undated rookie. He has worked and willed his way into an NFL career.
A 27-year-old playing for his third professional team, Gradkowski is downright irresistible as quarterback insurance.
But promoting him to starter six quarters into a season? After one successful half against the hapless St. Louis Rams?
That would be a sign of panic.
The starting job for the Raiders should still belong to Jason Campbell, and not just because owner Al Davis hired Campbell and believes he's reminiscent of two-time Super Bowl winner Jim Plunkett.
Truth be told, Campbell still is the best overall QB on the roster.
There are sound reasons Campbell, 28, was a good acquisition for Oakland. He entered the season with quality statistics, including an 82.3 rating and 55-38 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has great size, unquestioned toughness and a strong, accurate throwing arm. His grace in the infernal asylum that passes as the NFL franchise in the nation's capital was exemplary.
Campbell arrived as a proven starter who, frankly, had not proved he could win in the league. He was the starter the instant the trade was completed, according to Coach Tom Cable. Coaches and teammates have been impressed with Campbell's professionalism, dedication and ability to direct a team. He's accustomed to this role, having started 52 games in Washington.
A first-round draft pick out of Auburn in 2005, Campbell was promoted to starter in November 2006 and has never, ever come off an NFL bench.
Gradkowski, by contrast, specializes in coming off the bench.
Summoned in the second half Sunday, he led the Raiders to victory over a young and grotesquely defective team bound to struggle on the road. He energized the Oakland Coliseum crowd, engaged his teammates and moved the offense with more rhythm and consistency than Campbell had in the first half. Bears jersey
In what likely was a must-win for Cable, Gradkowski brought it home.
But are two unimpressive starts -- one at Tennessee and the other on Sunday -- enough to deem Campbell unfit for the job with his new team? Well, no, unless Cable and his staff never had any real confidence in Campbell.
And if that were the case, why was Cable so consistently emphatic about Campbell being the starter?
Two starts rarely are enough to get anybody demoted simply on the basis of merit. It's what sports scouts refer to as a "small sample size," another way of saying there isn't enough data to reach an intelligent, meaningful conclusion.
The situation in Oakland is not like those in Buffalo and Carolina, where both teams decided this week to replace their starting quarterbacks. The Bills and Panthers are both 0-2 and have chosen to panic.

More to the point, neither opening-game starter, Buffalo's Trent Edwards nor Carolina's Matt Moore, held a secure grip on the position. Furthermore, neither Edwards nor Moore has Campbell's league wide credibility the pecking order in Oakland is clearly established. It's Campbell, then Gradkowski, then Kyle Boiler. No changes were considered even as the Raiders went through monocarps and a four-week training camp.
Gradkowski is valuable because he knows the system and is fiercely competitive. He's like a good pinch-hitter in baseball, or sixth man in basketball, in that as his best work comes in short bursts.
But how Gradkowski would do over time, assuming he holds up physically, is a mystery -- and should remain so, at least until Campbell has been given a reasonable chance to show he can't hold the job. Like, say, six games. Or a couple more horrid first halves that open the door for the backup.
Gradkowski was the right call last Sunday because the Raiders needed a jolt of something and Cable realizes nobody on the roster can jolt quite like Gradkowski. That's not to say he suddenly became the best QB on the team, or that he earned the starting job on the basis of effective relief.
What Gradkowski earned was increased support within the fan Bills jersey
base, closer proximity to the starting job and additional chances to come off the bench and work his magic.
There is comfort in knowing Gradkowski is there and capable of putting out fires, but it's too soon to name him the starter under the presumption he could summon his "magic" on a weekly basis.

24 sep 10 Remember me? Batch will be Steelers’ QB at Tampa

PITTSBURGH (AP)—The forgotten quarterback is now the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter.
Charlie Batch(notes), a longtime backup who was relegated to No. 4 status as the Steelers dealt with Ben Roethlisberger’s(notes) off-field problems, will make his first start since 2007 at Tampa Bay (2-0) on Sunday.
Coach Mike Tomlin picked Batch over Byron Leftwich(notes), who is nfl jerseys
recovering from a sprained left knee ligament that occurred Sept. 2. Dennis Dixon(notes) started the first two games, but he underwent surgery Wednesday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and is out indefinitely.
The Steelers (2-0) apparently decided they couldn’t wait until the end of the week to determine if Leftwich’s still-healing knee would hold up to the stress of playing. Batch has gotten little work since last season, and Tomlin wanted to give him as much time as possible with the starters during the most important practices of the week Wednesday and Thursday.
He’s certainly had enough rest time while throwing only two passes since 2007.
“It feels good,” Batch said Wednesday. “I never imagined it would turn out this way, but here we go.”
The Steelers were so crowded with quarterbacks after they reacquired Leftwich in April—with the intent of starting him during Roethlisberger’s four-game suspension—that the 35-year-old Batch took only a few snaps with backups during voluntary spring practices and training camp.
Because the Steelers didn’t plan to carry three quarterbacks while Roethlisberger was out, Batch likely would have been cut if Leftwich hadn’t gotten hurt during the final exhibition game.
Now, with Dixon out and Leftwich not quite ready, Batch Steelers jersey
will make his first start since an essentially meaningless end-of-season game against Baltimore in 2007. Before that, he hadn’t started since the 2006 opener, which Roethlisberger because of appendicitis.
Batch, the Lions’ starter from 1998 until midway through the 2001 season, has been a Steelers backup since 2002, although he missed the 2004 and 2008 seasons due to preseason injuries. He threw only two passes in his lone game last season before injuring his wrist.
“He’s been with the starters, he’s been with the second team, he’s been with the third team,” wide receiver Hines Ward(notes) said. “He understands all the wide receivers. He probably understands this offense better than anybody. We feel good, we’ve just got to protect Charlie.”
Batch’s durability was cited by Tomlin as a factor in choosing Dixon to start the season. Still, Batch is known for his intimate knowledge of the Steelers’ system, and is often seen conferring with Roethlisberger between series to discuss strategy.
“For me, there won’t be many more opportunities, Batch said. “You’re starting to get up there in years, obviously you’re just blessed to be out there in that situation. … I was a little disappointed because I didn’t get that opportunity, but here I am again. All I can do is be ready and go out and take advantage of that opportunity.”
Batch played the final three quarters after Dixon was hurt during a 19-11 victory at Tennessee on Sunday, completing 5 of 11 passes for 25 yards. He was sacked twice.
Many teammates expect Batch to be an NFL quarterbacks coach someday soon. First, he has another game or two to play.
“Charlie’s been in the game a long time and he knows how to play the game,” left guard Chris Kemoeatu(notes) said. “I don’t think we will have any problem with Charlie stepping in there.”
To Batch, the biggest challenge—especially after playing so Vikings jersey
little for so long—is getting accustomed again to game speed. He has thrown 1,472 passes in the NFL, but only 146 over the last nine seasons, an average of 16 per season.
“You try to simulate as much as possible on the practice field,” he said. “I think for me, going against our defense every week, it kind of allows me to go out there and work the pocket a little more in practice and be able to shift that into an actual game situation.”
While Batch is replacing Roethlisberger, his off-field reputation is much different from that of the Steelers’ troubled star. Batch runs a much-praised youth sports program—the Best of the Batch—in his hometown of Homestead, a few miles from Pittsburgh, that has been modeled by much-larger cities.

San Francisco 49ers Frank Gore Says Of Saints: "We Whooped Their Behind"

Following last night's 25-22 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore told ESPN, "We whupped their behind up and down the field. They couldn't stand up with us. We beat ourselves. We beat ourselves for the second week in a row. We have got to change."
Gore gashed a shoddy Saints run defense for 112 yards on 20 carries, and he nfl throwback jerseys
caught seven passes for 56 yards and scored two touchdowns. He beat his former team-mate at the University of Miami LB Jonathan Vilma to the end zone on one of his TD runs.
San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary was calm and resolute after his emotional television outburst last week.
After guaranteeing on a San Francisco TV station last Wednesday that his 49ers would "stop Drew Brees," Singletary told the San Francisco Chronicle that it was probably a mistake to make such comments following the Saints' 25-22 win on Monday Night.
"In terms of reining myself in, there was one interview that took place last week that was a little bit off the chart. Should I have reined myself in? Probably so," Singletary told the Chronicle.
"One thing that I've learned about this job, I have to be who I am. I'm not a politician. I'm not a tap dancer. I say things that I feel...The biggest thing that I've learned is it's important to look at how you're wired, and you've got to go with that—until the day I die. I have to continue to learn wisdom in certain instances San Diego Chargers jersey
and learn what to stand for and what not to get upset about. Last week was tremendous for me, matter of fact it was tremendous for our staff."
When asked last week by San Francisco TV sports anchor Dennis O'Donnell about his plans for stopping Drew Brees, Singletary became combative saying, "We will not try to stop Drew Brees, we will stop Drew Brees. Next question."
The next question from O'Donnell was "How about trying to move the ball against the New Orleans defense?"
Singletary responded, "We will not try to move the ball against the New Orleans defense, we will move the ball and we will score."
The San Francisco 49ers nearly made good on Singletary's promises against a Saints team that looked out of sync at times offensively.
The Saints defense was not much better, displaying shoddy tackling while trying to bring down Gore.
San Francisco turnovers and a late power surge by Brees and the Chicago Bears jersey
offense helped the Saints avoid what would have been an embarrassing defeat on national television against a 49ers team that was pummelled by the lightly regarded Seattle Seahawks, 31-6, in their season opener.
However, the win proved to be a costly one for New Orleans as they lost Reggie Bush for at least six weeks with a leg injury.

Peyton Manning: Is He The Smartest Quarterback In History?

The question of the "greatest" is bandied about a lot. Personally, I think it's a hard, if not impossible question to answer because everyone seems to have different criteria and priorities.
However, there's another question which might not be as difficult or subjective is, "Who is the smartest quarterback ever?"
Peyton Manning may very well be the answer to football jerseys
that question.
Certainly there are a handful that would take their place in that discussion. Fellow Colt Johnny Unitas invented the 2-minute offense, and is doubtless among the most innovative of all field generals.
Joe Montana was possibly the greatest ever at reading plays. When Ron Jaworski is doing is previews I'm always impressed with his intellect and grasp of the game.
Steve Young, Roger Staubach, Tom Brady and Donovan McNabb are pretty sharp tools too.
However, watching Peyton Manning play last Sunday night, I started to consider if he's just at a different level than anyone has ever been in his grasp of the game.
A lot of quarterbacks can dominate a game with their arm. Manning dominates them with his brain.
There were a few things that got my attention. First, I don't know if I've ever seen a quarterback dominate a game by handing the ball off the way Manning did through most of the second quarter.
He wasn't throwing but he was calling the plays, and this was beyond reading defenses and reacting to them. He didn't anticipate Giants' adjustments, he forced them. And after forcing them, he exploited them.
It was as if I was watching a chess master play a fifth-grader who was still learning how the pieces moved.
After one Colts touchdown late in the first half, the cameras panned to the Giants, and they looked confused, as though they were still trying to figure out what happened in the first quarter.
Manning wasn't just calling the next play, he was calling plays thinking about what he wanted to do on the next series.
Don't get me wrong, he was reading defenses just as well. At one point he literally called an audible which involved bringing in a change of wide receivers from the sidelines—for the purpose of blocking for the runner. The play ended up gaining about eight or nine yards. It was possibly the smartest called game I've ever seen.
He's had some great receivers to throw to, sure. Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison are both in the conversation for Hall of Fame worthiness. Most Hall of Fame quarterbacks have Hall of Fame targets.
When you start making guys like Austin Collie or Pierre Garcon look unstoppable though, there's something more than just the receivers at work. His audibles are putting receivers in place and telling them which routes to run.
I honestly believe that if you give Manning any reasonably capable receiver and he will use them.
Plain and simple, whether they are throwing the ball or running it, what makes the Colts offense work is the mind of Peyton Manning.
Manning might yell a lot at the line, and some of 49ers jersey
that might be gibberish, but don't think for a second that he's not saying anything that's not worth hearing, either.
When he wasn't calling audibles, he was running plays without a snap count at all and beating the Giants mentally that way.
Then there was the drive to close the first half. It was eight plays and took 31 seconds. During it all, Manning never even looked rushed.
Manning gets nowhere near the credit he deserves for his absolute mastery of the two minute offense.
Scott Kacsmar at has done an amazing series on fourth quarter comebacks and game winning drives, where he has done painstaking research to standardize what constitutes a "game winning drive" and has essentially come up with every game winning drive by every quarterback since 1950.
If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It's one of the best things I've ever read on the Internet. But I digress.
The point of this is that Manning is second all time with in game winning drives with 35. He has more than John Elway (34) or Joe Montana (31). The leader, just so you know, is Dan Marino with 36.
(As an aside I know there are other numbers that have been assigned to these players, but if you have an argument, read the link. I'm just saying, it's tough to argue with a guy who literally studied the game log of every close game over the last 60 years. He makes his case.)
In all likelihood Manning will retire as the all time leader in game-winning drives. Fellow Colt Unitas might have invented the 2-minute offense, but Manning has perfected it.
Finally there was one point where Manning was explaining something to the offensive coordinator, Tom Moore.
It occurred to me that Moore probably has the easiest job in pro sports. He merely needs to give Manning suggestions. Most coordinators just hope for a QB that can execute the game plan. Tom Moore has a QB who can improve on it.
There was one throw that little brother Eli made during the game which I don't even know if Peyton could have made. When I saw it, it sealed the deal for me.
If anything, according the physical attributes they possess, Eli may be Saints jersey
superior to Peyton. The difference between them is not physical, it's mental, and Eli is no dummy.
Peyton is just at another level. He understands the game arguably better than any QB that has ever played, and that's his claim to greatness.

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith Flashes Potential, Gives Hope to the Bay Area

After the most entertaining football game thus far into the season, the San Francisco 49ers found themselves on the short end of the stick Monday night. The Niners were defeated by the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints in a thrilling 25-22 game.
San Francisco is now 0-2 to start the season after previously losing the nfl jerseys
week before to the division rival Seattle Seahawks 31-6. Against Seattle this team looked hopeless, heartless and their quarterback Alex Smith was already facing heat from the media and fans.
The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings have also started 0-2. Yet, those two teams have faced much more scrutiny and disappointment then the favorite’s to win the NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers. Why after two games is there very little panicking in San Francisco like we find with these other organizations?
The answer is simple. On national television, on Monday Night Football, on the greatest primetime stage of all of sports, quarterback Alex Smith finally flashed brilliance. Yes, the 49ers didn’t win, and it’s hard to give a lot of credit to anyone in a losing effort, but we can’t ignore what Smith did.
After being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, Smith has been a disappointment in the NFL and labeled a ‘bust.’ San Francisco even thought of abandoning their top pick in favor of backup Shaun Hill, but in the last six games of the 2009 season Smith went 4-2 with the 49ers. Heading into this season he was pronounced the starting quarterback.
Almost every so-called expert has penciled in the 49ers for the NFC West crown, some even consider them a trendy Super Bowl pick. However, everyone agreed in the preseason that Smith was the X-factor and he had to be solid for them to win.
In the first quarter against the Saints the quarterback went 2-4 passing, for 28 yards and an interception. The rest of the game he completed 21/30 passes, for 247 yards and a touchdown. That’s a vast improvement in the last three quarters, but what he did on his last drive was the most impressive.
With 2:12 left in the fourth quarter and the ball placed on their own 18 yard line, the 49ers faced a 22-14 deficit. At this point in the game, there is no way in hell that you can tell me you actually expected Alex Smith to drive down the field, score and successfully complete a two point conversion.
But here is what happened play-by-play:
1-10-SF 18. (2:08) (Shotgun) A.Smith pass short middle to V.Davis to SF 34 for 16 yards .
1-10-SF 34. (2:00) (Shotgun) A.Smith scrambles Bears jersey
left end pushed ob at SF 46 for 12 yards.
1-10-SF 46. (1:52) (Shotgun) A.Smith pass short right to J.Morgan ran ob at NO 39 for 15 yards.
1-10-NO 39. (1:47) (Shotgun) A.Smith pass incomplete deep middle to V.Davis
2-10-NO 39. (1:42) (Shotgun) A.Smith pass short right to F.Gore pushed ob at NO 21 for 18 yards
1-10-NO 21. (1:34) (Shotgun) A.Smith left end ran ob at NO 9 for 12 yards
1-Goal-NO 9. (1:26) (Shotgun) A.Smith pass short left to D.Zeigler pushed ob at NO 7 for 2 yards
2-Goal-NO 7. (1:23) (Shotgun) F.Gore up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. A.Smith pass to V.Davis is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
NO 22 SF 22, 8 plays, 82 yards, 0:53 drive

With his back against the wall, Alex Smith led an improbable drive down the field to tie the ball game.
In the final drive he threw for three first downs, ran for two and then completed the drive with a successful two-point conversion throw to tight end Vernon Davis. Also, he only threw ONE incomplete pass. Smith showed incredible playmaking ability with his feet, great decision making and delivered perfect throws. Just to remind you, this is on the biggest regular season stage against the defending Super Bowl champs.
The Saints would go on to finish Monday night with a game winning drive and successful field goal attempt that ironically was tipped by a 49ers player, yet still went through the uprights. At this point in the NFL, there is no better head coach/quarterback combo than Sean Payton and Drew Brees.
Still, we can’t ignore what Smith accomplished. In a brilliant final game Bills jersey
drive he came through constantly in the clutch. At the beginning of the season he was asked to just manage games, not make mistakes and let the running game and defense win ball games.
On Monday Night Football, against the best team in the NFL, Smith put his team in a situation to win and instilled hope for the franchise moving forward.

Giants end skid in Philly

PHILADELPHIA The Giants sure are a confounding bunch.
Just when they looked ready to print postseason ticket strips, they started playing some of their worst baseball of the season. And just when everyone started to switch the channel, they jumped on Cole Hamels, one of the league's hottest pitchers.
Jonathan Sanchez, a punchline last weekend, was football jerseys
back to collecting punchouts, too.
A week after his big talk backfired against the San Diego Padres, Sanchez took a one-hit shutout into the ninth inning in an eventual 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday night. The outcome saved the Giants in many respects, the least of which was preventing a sweep at Citizens Bank Park.
The Giants moved within a game of the Phillies for the NL wild card lead, while also remaining six games back of the irrepressible San Diego Padres in the NL West.
And they finally reestablished their winning pattern, getting a victory from a starting pitcher for the first time in 15 games. Sanchez had the previous one, Aug. 3 at Colorado.
A loss would've buried the Giants three back in the wild card picture.
"The last thing you want to do is start digging yourself too big a hole," Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. "So this was a big game for the guys, to get this last one, against a very tough pitcher."
Hamels hasn't gotten any run support he was responsible for the Phillies' only hit in his last outing at New York's Citi Field but he had a 2.14 ERA in his previous six starts.
The Giants bit him for a three-run first inning, with Freddy Sanchez setting the table and Buster Posey, Jose Guillen and Juan Uribe following with run-scoring hits. Posey added another second RBI double in the third inning.
Jonathan Sanchez outpitched Hamels while nearly throwing his first complete game since his no-hitter July 10 of last year. Paired with catcher Eli Whiteside again, Sanchez retired 15 consecutive and entered the ninth with just 97 pitches, but Bochy took no chances after Sanchez gave up a leadoff single to Shane Victorino and missed badly on consecutive pitches to Placido Polanco.
Mike Sweeney hit a two-run double off Sergio Romo before Brian Wilson entered Indianapolis Colts jersey
to pick up his 34th save.
Did Sanchez finally back up some of his bluster from a week earlier, when he guaranteed a division title?
"Maybe a little bit," Bochy said. "He'd like to probably take that back, but you can't once you say it. With all the struggles getting a win from our starters, it's big. That's the only way you'll beat these guys go out and pitch well.
"He looked determined tonight to get us back on track. He knew our situation."
The Giants backed him with solid defense, snapping a streak of five consecutive games with an error. Aaron Rowand nearly reacquainted himself with the center field fence while catching Jayson Werth's deep drive in the fourth, and Pablo Sandoval made a diving stop at third base to rob Jimmy Rollins in the fifth.
Sandoval had an eventful game.
He hit his first home run from the right side all season, yanking a solo shot off Hamels in the fourth inning. It was the switch hitter's 122nd at-bat from the right side.
Prior to the game, Bochy said Sandoval's right-handed batting practice was the best he'd seen all season.
"I'm starting to get the feeling back," Sandoval said. "I told Bochy,
Watch out. Something is going to happen tonight.' I've been jumping out. I'm not waiting for the pitch. That's the same left-handed. My hands don't load at the right time."
But Sandoval also had to make a public apology and pay the fine box after he didn't run out a pop-up that was dropped on the infield, leading to an embarrassing double play in the ninth.
"That's my fault," Sandoval said. "You learn every day. I finished the inning and apologized to him. I have to run hard, every moment."
Sandoval grounded into a double play to end the first inning, too; he regained the NL lead with 22 double-play grounders, one more than Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
But for once, the Giants did more right than wrong against a Dallas Cowboys jersey
quality opponent starting with the guy on the mound.
"It's not going to be an easy road to get there," Bochy said. "We know it. But these guys have shown how resilient they are. You can't get down, and these guys came out ready to go today."
Giants 5, Phillies 2 •Today: at St. Louis, 5 p.m. •TV/Radio: KOTR (Ch. 11)/KNBR (680), KIDD (630)

A-ROD LOOMS AS YANKS GO BOOM! THAMES' BLAST DELIVERS EIGHTH STRAIGHT, JAVY UNHAPPY WITH HOOK

Marcus Thames' latest clutch homer and another sensational effort from the bullpen resulted in an uplifting Yankees' victory.
Yet, at a crucial point of nfl jerseys
yesterday's 7-5 Yankees win over the Blue Jays in front of 47,478 at Yankee Stadium, Javier Vazquez wasn't pleased.
With two outs, runners on the corners and the Yankees ahead by two runs in the fifth, Joe Girardi emerged from the dugout. With his left hand touching the right arm, Dustin Moseley was being summoned from the bullpen.
Vazquez's reaction was to put his arms in the air. Clearly, the veteran right-hander wasn't ready to be removed from the game.
"I don't mind guys being competitive and wanting to stay in games," Girardi said after his club extended its season-high winning streak to eight games and hiked the best record in baseball to 86-50. "I would have a problem if Javy was calling me out to take him out. That, I would have an issue with. If I feel a need to talk to someone I will talk to them, but that will be something that stays in our clubhouse."
Vazquez, who gave up five runs, four hits and walked four in 42/3 innings, didn't ignore his feelings.
"I'm not the manager. Sometimes as a player you don't agree with the decision the manager makes, but he's still the manager and you have to respect it," said Vazquez, who according to Girardi remains in the rotation. He was making his first start since Aug. 21, having pitched very well in long relief in his Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
last two outings.
"I really don't remember what I did," Vazquezs said of his reaction on the mound. "But if I did I guess it was in surprise."
Dustin Moseley, whom Vazquez replaced in the rotation, allowed the two runners he inherited to score in the fifth to tie the score, 5-5.
That's the way it stayed until the seventh when Robinson Cano (2-for-4, two RBIs) singled with two outs and Thames killed a 0-1 pitch from right-hander Jason Frasor.
"I was just trying to hit the ball hard," said Thames, whose drive easily cleared the left-field wall. "I have always said that if I hit a two-run homer when we are losing 10-1, it doesn't mean anything. I would rather hit them with something on the line."
Thames has homered in six of his last 10 games and is hitting .314 (11-for-35) with seven homers and 13 RBIs in that stretch.
After Moseley allowed the inherited runners to score, Boone Logan, Joba Chamberlain, Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera (29th save in 31 chances) shut the Blue Jays out across the final 41/3 innings.
Vazquez retired the Blue Jays in order in the first, gave up three runs (two homers) in the second, worked around a leadoff walk in the third and a one-out single in the fourth.
With two outs and the bases empty in the fifth and the Yankees ahead, 5-3, Vazquez walked Jose Bautista and gave up a single to Vernon Wells.
That prompted Girardi, who did the same thing to neophyte Ivan Nova Friday, to hook Vazquez one out away from qualifying for a win.
"It's tough because players want to win, but I thought it was time," Girardi said.
Did Vazquez take it as a sign that his manager's confidence in him had Minnesota Vikings jersey
slipped?
"I don't know. I really don't want to get into it because I know I've got nothing to win here," Vazquez said. "Sometimes as a player you don't agree with your manager's decision but he's still the manager, still the boss.

San Francisco Giants bidding for hot September

J.T. Snow is unique among those who wear a Giants uniform these days. He actually remembers what a winning September feels like.
Of course, Snow is no longer on the active roster. cheap nfl jerseys
He's a batting practice pitcher, minor league instructor, front-office adviser and part-time broadcaster.
And maybe, for the next few weeks, a life coach, too.
As the Giants begin the pennant stretch with two plausible routes to the playoffs, it's worth noting that the club hasn't posted a winning record in September since 2005 -- the last year Snow was the club's first baseman.
Matt Cain, the Giants' longest-tenured current player, was a 20-year-old rookie during that 15-13 September run that got the Giants nowhere. They finished 12 games under .500 that year.
For the Giants to halt their playoff drought at six seasons, they'll likely have to finish like the 2002 World Series team, which went 18-8 in September. Or the 100-win club in '03 that also went 18-8 in the final month. The Giants were at their September best in 2000, when they went 20-9 to complete a 97-win season.
"It was the personality of those teams," Snow said. "We had a bunch of guys who didn't panic. We didn't get caught up in what they were saying on the talk shows or in the paper. And now, with all the wall-to-wall coverage, I don't know how guys do it. But that's the challenge."
It's a brand-new challenge for the younger Giants as well as veterans like Aubrey Huff and Freddy Sanchez who have played for losing teams their entire careers.
"It's different for guys who haven't been there before," Snow said. "It's a pressure cooker. Each inning is big. Each defensive play is big. You want to make those situations even bigger than they are, but you have to stay away from that."
There is another factor that no contender can escape: Those little, colored boxes that remain on the schedule.
For instance, the Giants have 12 games remaining against teams under .500; the NL West-leading San Diego Padres have just four.
But that can be misleading. Ask anyone who's played the surging Arizona Diamondbacks or Houston Astros lately.
"You don't want to play those teams that have no chance," Giants shortstop Edgar Renteria said. "They have nothing to lose. I'd rather play a contending team. You're always motivated to play teams in the race. And you need to beat the best."
Spoilers present problems for the coaching staff, too.
"They can do unpredictable things to beat you," Giants third base coach Tim Flannery said. "They've called up young guys. They can play reckless. They don't care if they lose. So when somebody looks at the schedule like that, it doesn't mean as much as you think."
So where is the true advantage in the remaining schedule?
"Oh, home games, without a doubt," said Giants special assistant Colts jersey
Shawon Dunston, a member of the '02 World Series team who went through pennant races with the Cubs and Giants. "You have your family with you. You have your fans with you. You sleep in your own bed. What more could you want?"
The final at-bat? You get that, too.
"Ask the Angels about home-field advantage," Dunston said. "They beat us twice when they had to in 2002."
The Padres are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, their first serious funk in more than a year, but they are about to begin a 10-game homestand. The Padres pitch and play well at Petco Park, and their 17 home games are the most remaining among NL contenders.
But the Padres also have just one more day off the rest of the season; the Giants, along with several others, have three.
"This time of year," said Snow, "one day off feels like two or three for your body and mind."
The Giants will play just 12 of 28 games at home, but the schedule will get a lot friendlier if they can survive their 10-game trip that begins today. They play three-game series at Dodger Stadium and Arizona's Chase Field before a four-game showdown with the Padres at Petco Park.
As a player, Snow recalled tricking himself into feeling he had the upper hand on the road, too.
"You don't have to entertain anyone," he said. "Your family isn't there. You're checked in under an alias, and you unplug your phone. Nobody can get to you. No distractions."
But if you lose a tough one, a few distractions might be a good thing -- anything to help turn the page and come out with confidence the next day.
"As coaches, that's our job," Flannery said. "Don't let these guys get caught up in anything negative. Keep one game from affecting the next one.
"You have to remind yourself: If it takes 95 games to win the division, it doesn't matter where you get 'em."
Well, a few of those seven remaining head-to-head matchups with the Padres Cowboys jersey
wouldn't be a terrible idea, even if the Padres' 9-2 record against the Giants thus far doesn't inspire confidence.
"Don't care," Renteria said. "The team that gets hot today, that is the team. It doesn't matter what you did four months ago. This is the time."

Browns getting Seneca Wallace ready to start

With starting quarterback Jake Delhomme(notes) hobbled with an ankle injury, the Cleveland Browns are getting Seneca Wallace(notes) ready to start Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
"Seneca has been practicing all week, Jake has been out," Brownsnfl throwback jerseys
offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said in remarks distributed by the team. "He hasn’t been ruled out yet, so if he’s ready to go and Eric (Mangini) and the doctors deem him ready to go, then he will be ready to go.
"But Seneca has practiced all week. I feel comfortable with where he’s at, both in his approach and understanding the game plan. He’s excited and if he gets the chance to play, I expect him to go out there and do well.”
Wallace has started 14 games, going 5-9 overall.
He completed 65 percent of his throws last season for 700 yards, three Chicago Bears jersey
touchdowns and two interceptions with the Seattle Seahawks.
Two years ago, Wallace passed for 1,532 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
He has rushed for 214 career yards and one touchdown.
Wallace is known for his mobility, which Daboll hasn't worked with in the past.
"A running-type, moving guy? No. I’ve been around Tom (Brady), Chad Pennington(notes), Kellen (Clemens) and Jake," Daboll said. "He’s a little bit more of a mobile guy. “I think the unique thing about Seneca is he can move, but he can also drop back and get in the shotgun and operate in the pocket making throws New Orleans Saints jersey
like a traditional guy.
"He just has a little bit more athleticism than some of the guys where he can maybe escape and make a play with his feet or make a play scrambling and keeping his eyes down the field.”

Eagles still tweaking DL rotation

The Eagles were a pressure team when former coordinator Jim Johnson was calling the defensive signals, and they should remain one under the guidance of current coordinator Sean McDermott. Last season featured inconsistent pressure, and one of the team's goals heading into 2010 was finding a football jerseys
better mix of upfield players to complement star pass-rushing DE Trent Cole(notes).
Through one game, the results remain unclear.
First-round DE Brandon Graham(notes) had some nice moments in the preseason, but he registered nary a tackle nor a sack in the opener, although one pressure he provided did result in Nate Allen(notes)'s interception. Graham is being moved around the defensive line, from his end spot to inside in obvious passing situations.
McDermott said Graham's role will change from week to week, but the coach plans on putting Graham in different spots to take advantage of mismatches and his ability to get to the quarterback. "The presence inside, it's important to have a push, when you have speed on the outside. And Brandon gave us that Saints jersey
push on the inside," McDermott said.
As it has been for the past few seasons, starting DTs Mike Patterson(notes) and Brodrick Bunkley(notes) will remain primarily first- and second-down players. That also means they could see fewer snaps against teams that throw the ball a significant number of times, even on early downs. McDermott stressed, however, that they both remain a vital part of every defensive game plan the Eagles put together.
Ideally, Philly would like to find one more pass-rush threat — from the inside or the edge — who can prevent the team from having to blitz too much.
That player was expected to be Darryl Tapp(notes), who was acquired from the Seahawks to be an outside-inside rush player but who currently sits fifth on the DE depth chart.
Ahead of him are Antwan Barnes(notes), who came over from the San Diego Chargers jersey
Ravens prior to the first week of the season, and rookie Daniel Te'o-Nesheim(notes). Barnes got the nod over both Tapp and Te'o-Nesheim in Week One, but McDermott said he plans on getting Tapp more involved soon.

Britt not making expected impact for Titans

Here are some whispers we've been hearing from around the AFC South:
• Some expected Titans WR Kenny Britt(notes) to nfl jerseys
become a starter and perhaps the club's top target in his second season, but for now, he's coming off the bench. Britt was not thrown to in Week One, something head coach Jeff Fisher chalked up to Tennessee throwing just 17 times, not a lack of focus, an issue Fisher said the club was working on with Britt at the end of the preseason.
• There's no doubt Arian Foster(notes) is the Texans' featured back, but there remains a role for former starter Steve Slaton(notes), who showed a nice burst in the season opener and could be an effective change-of-pace back with speed and pass-catching ability.
• The biceps injury to SS Bob Sanders(notes) and problems with special-teams Bills jersey
coverage in Week One have magnified the loss of S Jamie Silva(notes). Silva, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in the second preseason game against the 49ers, was valuable because he can play both safety positions if needed, in addition to his key special-teams contributions. Third-year DB DaJuan Morgan(notes) is the most experienced backup safety after joining the Colts on Sept. 15.
• The struggles of second-year CB Derek Cox(notes) in Week One could be related to a foot injury he suffered during the preseason, the way we hear it. Cox never appeared to get in the groove against the Broncos, and after being benched in favor of CB David Jones(notes), who played very well considering he has been with the team for such a short time, Cox's confidence took a hit.
• Although Jaguars WR Tiquan Underwood(notes) was impressive returning kicks in Week One — Underwood averaged 38.3 yards on three returns — we hear the team will likely feature rookie Deji Karim(notes), who they feel is a bit more instinctive and does not run as straight up as Underwood, in that role once 49ers jersey
his thumb injury is no longer an issue.

Cruz Azul bruises Arabe Unido 6-0

PANAMA CITY (AP)—Javier Orozco scored a hat trick to lead Mexico’s Cruz Azul to a 6-0 win at Panama’s Arabe Unido in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday.
Emmanuel Villa scored twice and nfl jersey
Maxi Biancucchi added another as Cruz Azul, the leader in Mexico’s Apertura tournament, improved to six points from three matches to top Group A on goal difference from Real Salt Lake.
Arabe Unido stayed on three points, below Toronto on goal difference.
Orozco scored in the 10th, 22nd and 27th minutes to seal the early hat trick. Villa added his in the 69th and 81st and Biancucchi scored in the 87th.
Mexican teams have won the past five Champions League Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
titles.
SANDY, Utah (AP)—Kyle Beckerman and Jamison Olave scored on headers off first-half corner kicks and Real Salt Lake beat Toronto FC 4-1 on Wednesday night in CONCACAF Champions League play to extend its all-competitions home unbeaten streak to 28 games.
Alvaro Saborio scored on a penalty kick in the 69th minute—minutes after Toronto’s Miguel Angel Ferrer received a red card—and Paulo Araujo Jr. completed the scoring in the 80th minute in his first game for RSL.
Salt Lake, the defending Major League Soccer champion, is 2-1-0 with three games remaining in Group A play. Maicon dos Santos scored in the eighth minute for Toronto (1-2-0).
Toronto played its first game under interim coach Nick Dasovic, a day after firing coach Preki Radosavljevic and general manager Mo Johnston.
After dos Santos opened the scoring, Beckerman headed home a Dallas Cowboys jersey
corner kick off the head of Toronto’s Julian de Guzman in the 21st minute to tie it. Olave gave RSL the lead in the 40th minute, when his header off a corner kick beat goalkeeper Stephen Frei low at the near post.

Real Salt Lake 4-1 Toronto FC: Salt Lake Offense Awakens in Drubbing of Toronto

SANDY, Utah—Real Salt Lake fell behind early but then scored four unanswered goals to post a decisive victory over Toronto FC in front of 11,579 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Maicon Santos scored for the visitors, while Kyle Beckerman, Jamison Olave, Alvaro Saborio, and Paulo Araujo Jr. did the damage for the home side. Andy Williams registered two assists for RSL while Mista was red-carded for TFC.
First Half
Toronto came out of nfl throwback jerseys
the gate much brighter than Salt Lake, and it paid dividends for them nearly immediately. In the 8th minute, under pressure from O’Brian White and Santos, Nat Borchers misplayed a backpass to Nick Rimando, leaving the ball motionless at the top of the penalty area. With the two TFC forwards alone against Rimando, White took the ball and drew Rimando off his line before slotting a pass across the six-yard box where Santos tapped it into the open net to give the visitors the early 1-0 lead.
White nearly doubled the advantage just a few minutes later as he slid onto a pass across the goalmouth from Santos, but he poked it just wide.
But with the visitors buzzing, in the 21st minute Real struck back against the run of play. Pressure by Robbie Findley earned RSL a corner on the left side that was taken by Williams. Williams swung a corner in close to goal where Beckerman out jumped the defense and put it on frame. Julian de Guzman tried to clear it off the line with his head, but he could only knock it into the top of the goal, and just like that Salt Lake had leveled the match 1-1.
The next 20 minutes were played fairly even until the 40th minute when Real took the lead off another set piece. After a foul on the right side of Minnesota Vikings jersey
the box, Williams whipped the restart into the box where RSL inexplicably had at least four players at the far post completely unmarked. The lucky recipient was Olave who easily headed the ball low to the post to give RSL the 2-1 lead going into the break.
Second Half
Toronto came out of the locker room keen to equalize, and they nearly did so in the 51st minute as Dwayne De Rosario was dangerous on the attack for the first time in the match. A slow pass from the right wing somehow found its way across the top of the box to De Rosario, who had a clean look but couldn’t beat Rimando’s diving save.
Real were quick to answer back with a near-goal of their own thanks to Saborio in the 56th minute. Displaying some clever footwork to get himself free on the right side of the box, he drove a low, hard shot toward the near post. But Stefan Frei did well to deny Saborio his sixth career CONCACAF Champion’s League goal. Then in the 60th minute, Findley missed a golden opportunity when he had 1-on-1 with Frei, but he shot into Frei’s legs.
Toronto’s chances of leveling the match got a whole lot more difficult when Mista was red-carded for hitting Beckerman in the face in the 66th minute. He only lasted six minutes after coming on as a sub.
RSL effectively put the match out of reach just three minutes later when Will Johnson was taken down in the penalty area while running onto a pass. Saborio stepped up and confidently buried the penalty kick to Frei’s right to give Salt Lake a nearly-insurmountable 3-1 lead.
But Real kept pouring it on, and in the 80th minute newcomer Paulo Araujo Jr. made history by scoring his first goal just six minutes into his RSL career. Findley did the hard work to win the ball on the left wing, then sent a pass clear across the goal where Paulo did well to punch it home, sealing the offensive onslaught for RSL.
Both teams now head south of the border as they continue CONCACAF Champions Indianapolis Colts jersey
League play. Toronto will pay a visit to Mexico City to take on Cruz Azul next week, while Real have an even longer journey to Panama where they will face Arabe Unido. Meanwhile, both teams have an MLS contest between now and then: Salt Lake host the Chicago Fire while TFC remain on the road at Houston this Saturday.

Chiefs LB Sheffield gone for year with neck injury

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Kansas City Chiefs rookie linebacker Cameron Sheffield(notes) is gone for the season after being placed on injured reserve.
The Chiefs said Wednesday the club has signed linebacker Charlie Anderson(notes) to replace Sheffield, who was hospitalized with a neck injury after hurting his neck while making a tackle during an Aug. 27 preseason game against Philadelphia.
Sheffield was drafted in the fifth round out of nfl jersey
Troy and was competing for a job as a backup.
Anderson, a 2004 draft pick by Houston, has played in 92 games with the Texans and Dolphins.
The Chiefs announced on Wednesday that they have signed veteran LB Charlie Anderson(notes). The team also placed LB Cameron Sheffield(notes) on injured reserve. Sheffield had suffered a neck injury late in the preseason.
Anderson, a seventh-year veteran, has played in 92 games (seven starts) with the Texans (2004-07) and Dolphins (2008-09) and has also played in one postseason contest. The 6-4, 250-pounder has recorded 62 tackles (42 solo), 7½ sacks, two passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Sheffield was a fifth-round selection (142nd overall) of Minnesota Vikings jersey
Kansas City in the 2010 draft.
The way we see it
The Chiefs were hoping Sheffield's injury would clear up and held a roster spot for him. However, it appears that wasn't happening and the team moved quickly to sign the veteran Anderson, who will bolster the LB depth and add valuable experience on special teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed former Miami Dolphins linebacker Charlie Anderson(notes) and placed rookie linebacker Cameron Sheffield(notes) on injured reserve with a neck injury.
Anderson is a 6-foot-4, 250-pound former Houston Texans 2004 sixth-round draft pick.
He has played in 92 games with seven starts with Houston and Miami and has also played in one postseason contest. He has recorded 62 tackles , 42 solos, 7 1/2 sacks, two passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Anderson played collegiately at Ole Miss.
Sheffield was a fifth-round selection of Kansas City this spring. He started 37 games at Troy, registering 161 tackles, 15 sacks, 55 QB pressures, two fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles, eight passes defensed and an interception.
It's clear to those in Atlanta that some Falcons fans are growing impatient with QB Matt Ryan(notes), who has yet to take the big step some were expecting after an impressive rookie year in 2008. While GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith(notes) would no doubt like to see more production from Ryan, we hear they are not disheartened when it comes to the third-year veteran's long-term prospects. Ryan threw 11 interceptions in a six-game span last season — he threw 11 picks in 16 starts as a rookie — and struggled vs. the Steelers in Indianapolis Colts jersey
Week One, telegraphing a pass toward WR Roddy White(notes) that resulted in an interception late in the fourth quarter. It wasn't an ideal start for a team that is expected to compete for the NFC South title. We're told the Falcons believe Ryan is learning from his mistakes, and the young QB doesn't seem to be losing any confidence.

I don’t know if everybody understands, but defenses can dictate that some,

The Carolina Panthers weren’t able to get their running game untracked in their opener, but that wasn’t the case last year in a season sweep of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Panthers look to notch their seventh straight NFC South home victory nfl throwback jerseysSunday when they take on a Buccaneers team entering off an opening-week victory for the first time since 2005.
Carolina (0-1) fell 31-18 on the road to the New York Giants last Sunday as DeAngelo Williams(notes) was held to 62 yards on 16 carries and Jonathan Stewart(notes) 12 yards on five attempts. Williams and Stewart each went over 1,100 yards last year as the Panthers led the NFC in rushing with 156.1 per game.
The Panthers led 16-14 at halftime but only rushed the ball five times over the final 30 minutes. That decision was curious given the struggles of Matt Moore(notes), who completed 14 of 33 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
“I don’t know if everybody understands, but defenses can dictate that some,” coach John Fox said. “It’s not all just that we want to throw. Sometimes the situation in a game, in a fourth quarter down 15 points, ripping off a 4-yard run is not really conducive to trying to win the game.”
The running game keyed Carolina’s two victories over Tampa Bay (1-0) last year. Williams had 152 yards and two touchdowns while Stewart added 110 and one score in a 28-21 road win Oct. 18, then Stewart made up for an injured Williams’ absence by running for 125 yards and one TD in a 16-6 home win Dec. 6.
Josh Freeman(notes) turned in possibly the worst game of his young career in the December meeting with a career-high five interceptions - two by linebacker Jon Beason(notes).
Freeman looked like an improved player in last Sunday’s 17-14 victory over Cleveland, completing 17 of 28 passes for 182 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Both quarterbacks are dealing with injuries.
Freeman is still bothered by a broken thumb suffered in Tampa Bay’s second preseason game.
The second-year quarterback was held out of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
practice for two weeks before returning last Tuesday, when he took snaps for the first time since Aug. 21. The Buccaneers claim he came through the season opener OK.
Moore was knocked out of the Giants game and sent to the hospital for evaluation following a blind-side hit by Osi Umenyiora(notes) in the final minutes. He will have to pass numerous mandated tests under stricter concussion rules to be allowed back on the field.
Second-round draft pick Jimmy Clausen(notes) finished the game by taking Carolina’s final two snaps, and he will start if Moore can’t.
“I’m ready to go,” Clausen said. “Obviously, Matt is day to day right now. I’m going to prepare just like I prepared last week.”
The Bucs - losers of 11 of 14 to the Panthers - rallied from an 11-point deficit in their opener. Tampa Bay started 0-7 last year in coach Raheem Morris’ first season.
“We really enjoy wins, and we want to get them,” Morris said. “But we’re not going to go out there and get our first win and get all giddy and be all excited. … Our job is to get better and get ready for our next opponent.”
Neither team played particularly well on defense in Week 1.
The Panthers gave up 376 yards and a pass rush that produced 19 sacks in the preseason only managed one against New York.
“We’re a young defense and we have to learn from it, learn from our mistakes, and come out next week and get better,” linebacker Dan Connor(notes) said.
The Bucs allowed 340 yards and failed to record a sack, but they did force three turnovers and were satisfied with their effort.
“When you win right off the bat, it builds confidence and guys know what they have to do Indianapolis Colts jersey
to win,” veteran linebacker Barrett Ruud(notes) said. “It certifies that what you’re doing works.”
Tampa Bay has dropped its first road game the previous four years, but won its final two on the road last season - including a 20-17 overtime win over eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans in its last one.

Randy’s rant; was almost a Packer (twice)

The strange ranting of Randy Moss this week takes me back to the weekend of the 2007 Draft; much of it spent trying to sign Moss. It was a brief but intense negotiation that fueled some fire with Brett Favre(notes) when, for the first of two times, the Packers couldn’t agree with Moss on football jerseys
a contract.
Moss for sale
The Raiders bold experiment with Moss – they had traded Napoleon Harris(notes) and the 7th pick in the 2005 Draft for him – ended after two seasons when Moss could be had for a mid-round pick. Ted Thompson surprisingly had some interest, having been impressed with the way Moss handled himself at a charity event that he happened to be at in Texas. And Brett, of course, was extremely jazzed about the idea.
Now there were two parts to the deal to make it happen. First, there had to be agreement with the Raiders on draft pick compensation. We were offering a fifth-round pick and the Patriots later came up with a fourth. That, however, was the not the key to the deal.
One-year deal breaker
Moss was scheduled to make $9.75 million for 2007 and $11.25 million in 2008. Those amounts may well have been $100 million and $200 million; he was not making what was on the contract. We needed to bring in Moss, coming off a year with a pedestrian 43 receptions, at a more reasonable number with upside. The Patriots were also showing interest.
I negotiated with Moss’s agent while the recruiting from the alpha dogs – Brett and Tom Brady(notes)—intensified. Moss was getting texts and calls throughout the weekend from both Favre and Brady both imploring him to come and form a powerhouse duo.
The offers from both teams were very similar for 2007, both around $3 million with additional incentives. Our proposal allowed Moss to make more than the Patriots proposal, although we had significant money tied to 45-man active roster bonuses, protecting us from injury if he could not play.
Our offer, however, required a second year in 2008. Moss and his agents were adamant that he wanted only a one-year deal. Having lost market value from his Raider experience, Moss would agree to a massive pay reduction for 2007 but wanted to hit the open market in 2008 coming off what he expected to be a big season.
The feeling in our discussions was that we did not want to rent Randy for a year only to have him shop to highest bidder in a few months trying to recoup some of his lost earnings in 2007. We discussed different ideas, but in the end we were insistent on a two-year deal. While we haggled about an appropriate roster bonus to activate the second year of Dallas Cowboys jersey
the deal, the Patriots relented on the length and agreed to a one-year deal. That was it; he was going with Brady.
Mississippi burning
Brett was livid. The rest of the weekend I was fielding calls from Bus Cook about what went wrong in trying to sign Randy. Ted did not want to deal with Bus, so I listened patiently to their rancor and tried to explain our position.
I truly empathized with Brett. He had befriended and admired Randy for years and the two of them had dreamed of playing together. Here was an opportunity for us to make it a reality. But ultimately, we stood on our principles requiring more than a one-year commitment.
I told Brett to trust what we had at the position; that Greg Jennings(notes) would be a star in a couple years. He said he didn’t have a couple of years. Brett offered to give up some of his salary for the following season – although that was his last season with the Packers (see below)—to bring in Randy. I told that was much appreciated but we would never take his money away from him to sign another player.
Brett was forever wanting a more aggressive attitude by the front office toward player acquisition than the present regime. My constant message that our method of drafting and developing talent rather than acquiring proven commodities only served to infuriate him and his resentment of a general manager that showed him none of the compassion and welcomed input of previous regimes.
Patriot games
Fast forward to 2008. After a wonderful year for the Patriots, catching 98 balls for 1493 yards and 23 touchdowns, Moss was a free agent as he designed, now with interest from several teams to cash in on his one-year deal. And cash in he did, re-signing with the Patriots for a three-year, $27 million deal with over $14 million guaranteed.
And guess what team showed some decent interest again in 2008? Yes, the Packers (along with the Eagles and Cowboys). But again, despite getting Brett's hopes up again, the Packers bowed out of the bidding (I had left the Packers at that point but heard the anger and frustration from Brett’s camp). Moss re-signed with the Patriots on March 3rd. Favre retired from the Packers on March 4th. Coincidence?
Whither Randy?
Now Moss is coming to the end of that deal with deafening silence from the Indianapolis Colts jersey
Patriots about re-signing for the third time. A lot can change between now and March, but it appears he has had his run wit the team, and it’s been a successful and lucrative one. And one that found the Packers in second place for his services twice.

49ers WR Ginn Jr. to miss at least two weeks

49ers WR Ted Ginn Jr.(notes) sprained his MCL in the team's season-opening loss to the Seahawks last Sunday and will likely be out at least two weeks.
Ginn Jr. had one catch for 19 yards nfl jersey
before leaving the game with the injury. The 49ers signed WR Jason Hill(notes), who spent the last three seasons in San Francisco before being cut prior to this season.
Ginn Jr. was brought in to be a deep threat and return Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
specialist for the 49ers after a disappointing season with the Dolphins.
The way we see it
QB Alex Smith threw for 225 yards but also tossed two interceptions in a brutal 31-6 loss to the Seahawks. Ginn Jr. is expected to help a passing offense that clearly still needs work. Hill did haul in 30 catches for 317 yards and two touchdowns in 2008, so he has some experience, but he is a Minnesota Vikings jersey
big drop-off from Ginn Jr.'s big-play abilities.

NFL Capsules

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)—The Baltimore Ravens’ defense grabbed the spotlight from the New York Jets’ D in a 10-9 victory Monday night.
The Ravens held New York to 176 yards and six first downs, allowed Mark Sanchez(notes) just 74 yards passing and kept Rex Ryan’s crew out of the end zone.
Billy Cundiff’s(notes) 25-yard field goal in the third nfl jerseys
quarter provided the winning points in the Jets’ opener in $1.6 billion New Meadowlands Stadium. Anquan Boldin(notes), Baltimore’s main offseason acquisition, gained 65 yards on two passes against first-round draft pick Kyle Wilson(notes) in the drive. Boldin finished with seven receptions overall for 110 yards, at times toying with the Jets’ vaunted secondary.
Tight end Todd Heap(notes) caught six passes from Joe Flacco(notes) for 72 yards.
The Jets drew 14 penalties for 125 yards and were 1 for 11 on third downs.
Baltimore’s touchdown came on an impressive 11-play, 76-yard drive for a 7-6 halftime lead. Willis McGahee(notes) ran in from the 1.
Flacco finished 20 for 38 for 248 yards. Sanchez was 10 of Indianapolis Colts jersey
21. Chiefs 21, Chargers 14
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Jamaal Charles’(notes) 56-yard touchdown run and Dexter McCluster’s(notes) team-record 94-yard punt return gave Kansas City a two-touchdown lead and the Chiefs held San Diego on four downs inside the 6-yard line in the final minute.
Philip Rivers(notes) thoroughly outplayed Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel(notes) and drove the Chargers to a first-and-goal from the 4. But a pass was incomplete, a run lost 2 yards, another pass sailed high and, with 39 seconds left, Rivers missed again.
Rivers was 22 for 39 for 298 yards and two touchdowns, several times victimizing a young Chiefs secondary for long gains. Cassel was 10 for 22 for 68 yards, including a 2-yard TD pass following a San Diego turnover.
Charles, a 1,000-yard rusher who was beaten out in training camp by veteran Thomas Jones(notes), broke through a hole and sped 56 yards with 37 seconds left in the first quarter to tie the game 7-7.
Brandon Carr(notes) scooped up a fumble and ran 16 yards to the San Diego 12 and Cassel made it 14-7 with a 2-yard TD pass to rookie tight end Tony Moeaki(notes).
McCluster returned a punt 94 yards to put KC on top 21-7 late in the half. Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
The return broke Dante Hall’s(notes) team record by one yard.
Legedu Naanee(notes) of the Chargers hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-14 with 2:23 left.

Ravens spoil Jets home opener

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP)—The Baltimore Ravens’ defense grabbed the spotlight from the New York Jets’ defense in a 10-9 victory in Monday night NFL action.
The Ravens held New York to 176 yards and six first cheap nfl jerseys
downs, allowed Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez(notes) just 74 yards passing and kept Rex Ryan’s crew out of the end zone. It was a less than sparkling home opener for New York, in its first game in the $1.6 billion New Meadowlands Stadium.
Billy Cundiff’s(notes) 25-yard field goal in the third quarter provided the winning points. Anquan Boldin(notes), Baltimore’s main offseason acquisition, gained 65 yards on two passes in the drive. Boldin finished with seven receptions overall for 110 yards, at times toying with the Jets’ vaunted secondary.
Ravens tight end Todd Heap(notes) caught six passes from quarterback Joe Flacco(notes) for 72 yards.
The Jets drew 14 penalties for 125 yards and were just 1 for 11 on third downs.
Baltimore’s touchdown came on an impressive 11-play, 76-yard drive for a 7-6 halftime lead. Willis McGahee(notes) ran in from the 1-yard line.
Flacco completed 20 of 38 passes for 248 yards. Sanchez was 10 of 21.
Chiefs 21, Chargers 14
In Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City held San Diego on Minnesota Vikings jersey
four downs inside the 6-yard line in the final minute, clinching a tight win.
Jamaal Charles’(notes) 56-yard touchdown run and Dexter McCluster’s(notes) team-record 94-yard punt return had given Kansas City a two-touchdown lead but the Chiefs had to cling on for victory.
San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers(notes) thoroughly outplayed Chiefs counterpart Matt Cassel(notes), and drove the Chargers to a first-and-goal from the 4. But the pass on first down was incomplete, a run lost 2 yards, another pass sailed high and, with 39 seconds left, Rivers missed again.
Rivers was 22 for 39 for 298 yards and two touchdowns, several times victimizing a young Chiefs secondary for long gains. Cassel was 10 for 22 for 68 yards, including a 2-yard TD pass following a San Diego turnover.
Charles broke through a hole and sped 56 yards with 37 seconds left in the first quarter to tie the game 7-7.
Brandon Carr(notes) scooped up a fumble and ran 16 yards to the San Diego 12 before Cassel found rookie tight end Tony Moeaki(notes) with a touchdown pass from the 2 to make it 14-7.
McCluster returned a punt 94 yards to put the Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Chiefs on top 21-7 late in the half. The return broke Dante Hall’s(notes) team record by one yard.
The Chargers cut the gap to 21-14 when Legedu Naanee(notes) hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass with 2:23 left.

Jets get knocked in foul mouth

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – This summer, HBO broadcast five episodes of “Hard Knocks,” which served to further flame the hype of the New York Jets season. The Jets, in turn, opened the season with a hideous 10-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, exposing the football jersey
bold Super Bowl talk as HBO’s biggest plot reach since Turtle started landing hot chicks.
You never want to bomb on opening night in New York and the Jets did it in spectacular fashion. Credit the Ravens’ defense for playing with its expected ferocity. The story of the night, though, was New York’s inept play: 14 penalties, 1-of-11 on third down, just six first downs and an inability to throw the ball downfield.
It was so ugly that Jets fans showed no faith in their team. They began filtering out of the new Meadowlands Stadium with four minutes left and New York trailing by a single point. This was the first insurmountable one-point lead in NFL history.
“You could say we played a stupid game,” linebacker Jason Taylor(notes) said.
This was the exact opposite of nearly every bit of chatter that came from the show. And apparently “Hard Knocks” had plenty of viewers in Baltimore.
“You’ve got to write a check you can cash and starting 0-1 doesn’t cash it,” Ravens running back Ray Rice(notes) crowed.
Understanding “Hard Knocks” uses creative editing to fashion a story, we are here to apply the best quotes from the highly entertaining show to the reality of the actual season-opener.
“Let’s go eat a [expletive] snack.” – coach Rex Ryan, after delivering a poignant rant about the team not playing up to expectations.
That was on the eve of Dallas Cowboys jersey
the third preseason game. Ryan sensed there was trouble on both sides of the ball and mostly didn’t like the frat-house intensity his team was displaying. Some players had been eating McDonald’s hamburgers while warming up for a scrimmage.
“You can be a world champion, but not like this,” he said. “We won’t win it. We’ll sit back and say, ‘Why didn’t we do it?’ We didn’t do it because where was our [expletive] priorities?”
So where were the Jets’ priorities? This week they dealt with complaints from a female television reporter who said that while at practice Saturday she dealt with cat calls, whistling and sexual harassment. Among the offenders was an assistant coach, who allegedly threw a football in her direction during a practice drill.
Regardless of what you think of the situation, it’s not exactly indicative of a disciplined team.
“No. 1, we never want anyone around our team to be uncomfortable,” Ryan said in a brief comment. “And you know we’re cooperating with the NFL. And we’ll get down to it.”
“Well the [expletive] details are slipping right now.” – running back coach Anthony Lynn to rookie Joe McKnight(notes), who was struggling in camp.
Not moving the ball on Ray Lewis(notes) and company is one thing. Playing bend-but-don’t-break defense is admirable. Allowing the Ravens chance after chance with 14 penalties – six of which resulted in first downs are the slipping details.
“That’s not who we are,” Ryan said. “We pride ourselves on being one of the least penalized teams in the league. Today was a joke.”
Details? How about tight end Dustin Keller(notes) catching a fourth-down pass on the Jets’ final drive and inexplicably running out of bounds one yard before the first-down marker rather than turn upfield and get the actual first down.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Ryan said when asked what happened. “I was shocked.”
Said Keller, “I had a quick glance, I thought I was at the sticks, I thought I was there for the first down.”
It’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian.” – backup quarterback Mark Brunell(notes) to starter Mark Sanchez(notes).
Sanchez has commercials, magazine covers and all the name recognition a second-year player could hope for. He did a fine job at times last year putting together the offense. What appeared to be a regression during the preseason, though, became an all-out concern Monday.
He went 10 of 21 for 74 yards and rarely threw downfield. That allowed the Ravens to set up a series of blitzes, especially on the familiar third-and-long. Ray Lewis said they game-planned against what they expected would be a plethora of Jets check-down passes.
Whether the blame goes to Sanchez’s arm or the play-calling of Brian Schottenheimer (who may feel Sanchez can’t handle more), it allowed the Ravens to tee off.
“Their offense [is] not the Saints’,” Lewis said.
[Expletive], he’s pretty [expletive] good. He’s pretty good, OK? But you know what, guys? It isn’t about one guy.” – Ryan on Darrelle Revis(notes), who was holding out during training camp.
The signing of Indianapolis Colts jersey
Revis last week was supposed to solidify the defense. He’s a brilliant cover man. And the Ravens scored just 10 points and struggled plenty in their own right. However, as Ryan noted, he’s just one guy.
There was little doubt that up in Massachusetts, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady(notes) watched in glee as the Ravens feasted on the Jets’ other defensive backs – Antonio Cromartie(notes) and rookie Kyle Wilson(notes). Revis is good. He can’t cover Randy Moss(notes) and Wes Welker(notes) at the same time Sunday. And Joe Flacco(notes) is no Tom Brady.
“New England looked pretty darn good,” Ryan said.
The only thing worse than 0-1 is 0-2.
“Last year, hey, we were under the radar. That’s a good place to be. [Expletive] that, the best place to be is when expectations are high.”
“We know we’re better than you, we don’t give a [expletive] if you know it or not. We don’t give a [expletive] if you give us your best game, were going to give you our best game and were going to beat the [expletive] out of you.” – both from Ryan among about a million over-the-top quotes.
Here’s where the “Hard Knocks” experiment could haunt the Jets. While it’s not as if Ryan was going to be bland and boring and not express great confidence in his team, putting it on a big reality show only drew national attention to the trash talk. The show wasn’t about the Jets’ preparation for the season. It was about the Jets talking about how they were going to dominate this season.
Ravens players, who quietly prepared and in turn looked great, admitted it motivated them. The Patriots and everyone else likely will feel the same.
“HBO is not going to win the Super Bowl,” Rice mocked.
Ryan wanted that bull’s-eye. He still does. He always figured that in New York, the attention is always big. So why not embrace it? Big stage, big talk.
“I want to lead the league in [expletive] wins.” – Ryan offering his simplified offensive and defensive goals
So here’s the good news for the Jets. They still can go 15-1, which likely would lead the league in wins. The team was a mess but they did play the Ravens, who can make anyone look that way. And despite all of that, they lost by one point.
“This is a long season,” Ryan said. “It is one game. And I will Dallas Cowboys jersey
say this: I’ve got confidence, as everyone knows, in every man in our locker room. There’s no question. … I know we can get better. We have to get better. And I believe we will.”
It’s notable he said all that without a [expletive]. Perhaps that counts as progress. Perhaps not. There is no doubt the Jets are the NFL’s most colorful team this season. The question is whether they’ll be any good.

Mike Modano: ‘It’s like you’re starting over’

DETROIT—Mike Modano spent Wednesday evening out on his deck, enjoying a crisp fall Michigan night after arriving from Dallas. It was quite a contrast, because this is the time of year the weather in Texas doesn’t exactly get you excited for hockey.
“It’s been just brutal in Dallas, 100-something (degrees),” he said.
On Thursday morning it got even nfl jersey
better. It was his first informal practice with the Red Wings, and he got his first taste of taking outlet passes from Nicklas Listrom and finding Pavel Datsyuk(notes) on a two-on-one.
It was an easy fit for the 40-year-old center, who signed a one-year contract to potentially finish his career with the Red Wings.
“It’s nice to see him in red and white,” Henrik Zetterberg(notes) told Sporting News. “He was flying out there. It’s great to have him as part of the team.”
The coaching staff was watching from Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
the Joe Louis Arena stands as Modano took part in his first practice, but Mike Babcock had to like what was developing on the ice in front of him. The Red Wings were hurt by injuries and a lack of depth last season, and the addition of Modano helps address that.
He’s coming off a season in which his numbers dropped to 14 goals and 16 assists in 59 games with the Stars. So Modano looked for an infusion of energy by joining a new team late in his career.
He got it.
“It’s a big change. It’s like you’re starting over. Dallas Cowboys jersey
You get a little enthusiasm, excitement getting out there,” Modano said. “This is probably what I thought it would be, pretty easy. (It’s) a talented group of guys—carefree, puck-moving guys who enjoy the game and have fun. It’s all I can ask for.”

Hockey-World-Holders Dutch to meet Argentina in final

* Netherlands beat England in penalty shootout
* Argentina win 2-1 in semi-final against Germany
* Final repeats July’s Champions Trophy decider (Recasts after second semi-final)
ROSARIO, Argentina, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Olympic nfl jerseys
and world champions Netherlands will meet hosts Argentina in the women’s hockey World Cup final on Saturday.
It will be a repeat of the Champions Trophy final in Nottingham in July when Argentina beat the Dutch 4-2 for their third successive title.
The Dutch, six times World Cup winners, reached their fourth successive final when they beat England 4-3 on penalty strokes after a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Argentina, who won the 2002 final against Netherlands in Australia, went through with a 2-1 victory over Germany in the second semi-final.
Netherlands, who scored 25 goals in five pool matches compared to only seven by England, were held scoreless in the opening half for the first time in the tournament.
A hard-working English side went ahead in the 56th minute with a Minnesota Vikings jersey
goal by Hannah McLeod from a cross from the right by Crista Cullen.
The Dutch, who had more possession but were kept out by a stern English defence, equalised within five minutes when top scorer Maartje Paumen converted a penalty corner to take her tournament tally to 11.
Dutch goalkeeper Joyce Sombroek made two saves from penalty strokes to one by her opposite number Beth Storry before Kim Lammers converted the stroke that decided the match for the Netherlands.
AYMAR LEAD
Argentina went ahead in 25th minute when captain Luciana Aymar, six times world player of the year, ran through from midfield, went right and shot low across goalkeeper Kristina Reynolds for her fifth goal of the tournament.
Rosario Luchetti added to the lead with seven minutes remaining when, on her knees close to goal, she diverted the loose ball past Reynolds after the keeper had blocked a shot.
Germany’s top scorer Maike Stoeckel pulled one back with less than two minutes remaining, the first goal conceded by Argentina in five matches since their opening 5-2 win over South Africa.
England and Germany will play for the bronze medal on Saturday, also a repeat of the Nottingham third place playoff won by England.
Earlier, Japan beat Spain 2-1 in the playoff for 11th place in Indianapolis Colts jersey
the 12-nation tournament. Kaori Chiba scored the winner two minutes from time.

NHL veteran Park joins Swiss club Geneva-Servette

GENEVA (AP)—NHL veteran Richard Park(notes) has signed a three-year contract with Swiss club Geneva-Servette.
Coach Chris McSorley says the 34-year-old winger chose nfl jersey
Geneva-Servette over NHL and European teams.
Park has played 722 games in 16 seasons in the NHL, Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
including the past four with the New York Islanders.
McSorley tells The Associated Press he spoke with the Islanders’ Swiss defenseman Mark Streit(notes) about Park before making him the top offseason acquisition. The club lost to Bern in the Swiss playoff finals last season in game seven.
Park previously played in Switzerland with Langnau in Indianapolis Colts jersey
2004-05 during the NHL lockout season.