Oakland Raiders Should Fire Tom Walsh - Offense Is Terrible

When Art Shell was named the Raiders new (returning) Head Coach, there was speculation regarding who he would select as his offensive coordinator. Some journalists pointed to a person "lurking around" Raiders Headquaters named Tom Walsh, and whom has not coached NFL football since 1994.

Shell hired Tom Walsh (pictured), who ran a bed and breakfast and was mayor of the Iowa town it was in.

Great.

It's this long time away from the pro game that made Tom Walsh-Not-Bill a big question mark for the Raiders. I immediately wondered if Walsh was brought in because he would faithfully install the old Raiders offense of the 70s and without question -- or the desire to place in new ideas all his own. Only time would tell.

Well, time's talking and what it's saying isn't good at all. It's saying that Tom Walsh's system -- even in its watered down pre-season fashion -- is a failure and the weakest link of the team.

Why?

Well, take a look at this video summary of the Oakland Raiders this year, and pay attention to the passing game:



Watch how the Raiders offensive line pass blocks in plays that don't have play action -- where run-like blocking is used. The Raiders linemen retreat, read, then hit. That's not the style that's considered "in vogue" in today's NFL. The league's full of o-line blocking techniques where the line actually fires out as if the play were a run, when it's a five-step or even seven-step pass. Fomer Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons line coach Alex Gibb is best known for this style of blocking. A variation of it was used as far back as with Don Coryell when he coached the San Diego Chargers. And it's a basic part of Bill Walsh's offense.

The point of this style is to create separation between the quarterback and the offensive line and thus keeps the defenders off the QB. The idea is simply that the defenders don't get that running start they're used to.

Well, not so with the 2006 Oakland Raiders.

Watch the video and you will see example after example of Raiders offensive linemen retreating and having defensive line people crash into them -- and collapse the pass pocket, resulting in hurries, sacks, and interceptions. It's the reason why Raiders QB Aaron Brooks completed 2 of 9 passes and Raiders Second QB Andrew Walter was intercepted twice.

Also watch the video and you'll see the Raiders force-feed a steady diet of deep passes to the Vikings, with only the occasional pass to the running back in the flat, and even then after the wide receivers have been scanned by the quaterback. All the Viking have to do is play their zone six-yards deeper than normal -- just as opponents did against the Raiders and the LA Rams in the 70s.

It's these aspects of the Raiders offense that need to change, and before the season starts. I will go a step beyond that and assert that the Raiders need to fire Tom Walsh and hire someone like Hue Jackson, whom I've written about.

My call for Tom Walsh to be fired is not popular with some Raiders fans , (well, not all of them) but as the season wears on, I'll have a lot of voices joining me, including that of Randy Moss, himself. In fact, Adam Schefter of the NFL Network has already commented on what others in the league are saying about Walsh.

Just watch and listen.

"Macaca" - Senator George Allen Brings A Shameful New Word To American Culture

With the mere mention of one word, "Macaca" Senator George Allen introduced a new and terrible word into American Culture -- and a new personality in S.R Sidarth, the man he insulted (pictured) -- and as much as Mel Gibson will be associated with anti-semitism, Senator Allen will be joined at the hip with this new term. It's a terrible contribution to American Culture by one who should know better. Given the video, and the ease with which Senator Allen made the remark, and the fact that he's a politician, it's fair to ask if Senator Allen had a few cocktails before he got up and ran off at the mouth.

It certainly seems so.

Senator Allen issued this statement to CNN:

"I'm concerned that my comments at Breaks Interstate Park on August 11th have been greatly misunderstood by members of the media.

"In singling out the Webb campaign's cameraman, I was trying to make the point that Jim Webb had never been to that part of Virginia -- and I encouraged him to bring the tape back to Jim and welcome him to the real world of Virginia and America, outside the Beltway, where he has rarely visited. I also made up a nickname for the cameraman, which was in no way intended to be racially derogatory. Any insinuations to the contrary are completely false.


"Yesterday, I apologized to anyone who may have offended by the misinterpretation of my remarks. That was certainly not my intent. On every stop on my Listening Tour -- I have talked about one of my missions for this country -- to make it a land of opportunity for all. I have worked very hard in the Senate to reach out to all Americans -- regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity or gender. And I look forward to continuing to advocate this important mission for America's future. I never want to embarrass or demean anyone and I apologize if my comments offended this young man. Even though he has signed onto my opponent’s campaign, I look forward to seeing him on the trail ahead.

What Senator Allen doens't explain is just how he came to use the term Macaca. I'll bet he got it from someone else at a party, and I will bet that someone was using the term in a racist way. The question of what Senator Allen knew about this term and when he knew it isn't going away anytime soon...

Well, just as I wrote that, I went over to the Daily Kos and learned that George Allen's own Mom may have used the term.

Here's a taste of the over 300 comments on this matter over there:

"There's some good authority around that American good ole' boys of a certain class, such as one indubitably can find in Virginia, have been using the term privately for several centuries. Do not fall for the mush-mouth act (or assume it had to be the exotic mother). Allen took a chance in order to send a signal, thinking the plusses beat the minusses and that crypto-racism is the new order of the day. We shall see."

If Allen was doing it to "shore up his base" then why doens't that work for Mel Gibson?

Just a question.

Senator George Allen's Case Of "Mel Gibson" - Video and Washington Post

Senator George Allen may have hurt his chances for the post of President of The United States, when he decided to pick out the only person of color at one of his rallies and insult the guy, using terms others say are racial slurs. I write that because I've not heard of the term he used before.

The man at the party who was filming Allen is of Indian decent and an American. Allen pointed to this person and called him a "Meccau" and said "Welcome to America" -- and then says, "Well friends, we're in a war on terror."

What bothers me is that I know what happened: Allen got around a group of older Southern White people and thought it was ok to let his hair down. The result: another Mel Gibson style meltdown done without the aide of drink.

Have a look for yourself:



This is CNN's report on the George Allen problem:

Carolina Panthers v. Buffalo Bills Game Highlights - Video

The Carolina Panthers won this preseason game 14-13

Clinton Portis Out For Season - Questions Logic Of Preseason - Miami Herald

NFL ROUNDUP

Portis out rest of preseason
From Miami Herald Wire Services

Washington running back Clinton Portis is out for the remainder of the preseason and his status for the Redskins' opener was uncertain Monday, one day after he partially dislocated his shoulder in an exhibition game.

Portis flew to Alabama for another MRI exam and further examination of his right shoulder.



Coach Joe Gibbs said Portis' shoulder was sore, and that the back, who ran for a club-record 1,516 yards last season, would begin rehabilitation once the soreness has abated. The coach essentially ruled out the possibility of Portis playing again in the preseason and instead focused on the Sept. 11 game against Minnesota.

Gibbs also defended the use of Portis and his starters against the Bengals.

After the game and again Monday, Portis questioned why he should have been playing in the first preseason game. The starting offense was on the field for 13 plays.

''If you back off that, you hurt the preparation for your team,'' Gibbs said. ``It's the toughest thing in football. It's a balancing act.''

Portis was hurt when he launched himself into an upper body tackle of Keiwan Ratliff, who had run 52 yards down the sideline after picking off a pass from Mark Brunell.

After the game, Portis criticized the NFL's preseason. Portis said that four exhibition games were too many and that if there's one good thing to come out of his injury, it's that it ought to keep him sidelined until the regular season.

San Diego Chargers Phil Rivers Passes Against Green Bay Packers

Phil Rivers started at QB for San Diego in his first game as starter last weekend. This video is a highlight clip of his passes -- but notice the timing of the passes and the offensive line blocking. Rivers gets the pass away and there's always a good space between he and the pass rushers -- a nice pocket that does not collapse due to timing problems.

That's not something one can say for the Oakland Raiders.

Matt Leinart Signed For Six-Years And $50.8 million - ESPN

ESPN's Len Pasquarelli says the problem was the incentives in the original deal. It's important to look at the fine points before signing.

Quarterback Matt Leinart, the former Southern California star and the 10th overall selection in the 2006 draft, on Monday night reached an agreement with the Arizona Cardinals on a six-year contract that ESPN.com has learned includes a maximum value of $50.8 million.

The basic six-year deal averages about $6.75 million per season and includes $14 million in guarantees. The value of the contract, negotiated by agents Tom Condon and Ken Kremer of CAA, will increase if Leinart reaches predetermined playing time levels that will then trigger so-called escalators in the latter years of the deal.

In fact, it was a battle over escalators that stalled the progress in negotiations, even as late as Monday afternoon. Only a few hours before the agreement, both sides appeared solid in their respective stances, and it appeared the talks might break off. Clearly, there was plenty of high-stakes bargaining Monday evening.

In the end, Cardinals officials agreed to an escalator package similar to the one featured in the contract of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich, a first-round choice in the 2003 draft. That contract, also negotiated by Condon and Kremer, stipulates that the escalators were triggered if Leftwich participated in 55 percent of the Jaguars' offensive snaps for two seasons, or 70 percent of the snaps in one season.

Under the Arizona proposal sent to Condon on Sunday, Leinart could have played every snap in his first three seasons, been injured in his fourth year and unable to play, and would not have realized any of the escalators in the deal. That proposal would have made the escalator thresholds the most difficult to reach of any quarterback chosen in the top 10 since 1993.

Escalators are critical in any first-round contract, but particularly for quarterbacks, because they reward the player for becoming a starter.

The deal on Monday evening came after nearly a full a week of inertia in which the two sides did not engage in substantive negotiations. Leinart's representatives had agreed nearly a week ago to accept the six-year contract, the maximum term allowed for a player chosen in the top half of the first round, even though they preferred a five-year deal.

It is believed that the Cardinals made about three to four different proposals to Leinart before altering their stance with a Sunday offer that got the two sides talking again.

The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, Leinart, who posted a brilliant 37-2 record as the USC starter, is now expected to battle two-year veteran John Navarre for the backup job behind starter Kurt Warner. Navarre threw a pair of interceptions in Saturday's preseason opener. The consensus is that the Cardinals chose Leinart to groom him as the team's quarterback of the future.

During his celebrated college career, Leinart completed 807 of 1,245 passes for 10,693 yards, with 99 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions.

It is expected that Leinart will report to camp as quickly as possible. He had been in the Phoenix area two weeks ago, just before the Cardinals reported for camp, and was throwing with his new teammates. But when the talks broke down, and camp opened without him, Leinart returned to Los Angeles.

Oakland Raiders Offense Looks Terrible; Raiders Top Vikings 16-13

It's time to question just what offensive coordinator Tom Walsh is doing with this offense, and before it's too late.

NFL.com wire reports

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 14, 2006) -- Randy Moss wanted so badly to make a triumphant return to Minnesota.

He wanted to put on a show for the fans who supported him so steadfastly during his seven years here, and greeted him so warmly Monday in his first game at the Metrodome since the Vikings traded him to Oakland before last season.

Instead, Moss endured a frustrating night and voiced his displeasure with both coach Art Shell for the way he benched the receiver and the Vikings organization that shipped him away.

Moss had one catch for 16 yards and Aaron Brooks looked ragged again in the Raiders' 16-13 preseason victory.

"I just wanted to come in and see the fans and give them something really to scream about because I've had my fun here in this Metrodome and they've had theirs, too," Moss said. "That's one thing I really just wanted to come back and just give back to the fans. The organization? To hell with them."

Moss, who lit up the Metrodome in the first seven years of his career, started the night with a feet-stomping tantrum after Brooks didn't see him wide open in the end zone. He said he was angry because Brooks got flushed to the right while Moss was on the left and didn't fault the quarterback for not getting him the ball.

After making his only catch against second-team cornerback Dovonte Edwards in the second quarter, Moss was pulled. Moss stormed off the field and threw his helmet in disgust, stewing on the bench for the rest of the game.

"I was just more ticked because I've never in my career been taken out of a game, preseason, during a drive," Moss said with a puzzled tone. "It's funny to me. I don't call the shots. I guess I just go back to the drawing board."

That's a good plan for the entire Raiders offense.

Brooks finished 1-for-6 for 16 yards and was sacked twice by the new-look defense, which held the Raiders to no first downs and just 15 yards in one quarter of work.

Brad Childress made his debut as Vikings coach, and the West Coast offense he brought from Philadelphia is the antithesis of what Minnesota fans saw when Moss was in purple. Those teams lived off the big play, while the new Vikings will rely on short passes and a ball-control running game.

Brad Johnson was 5-of-6 for 32 yards for the Vikings, who scored their only TD in the first quarter on new fullback Tony Richardson's 3-yard run. Ryan Longwell added two field goals, but missed a 55-yarder that would have tied it in the fourth period.

Fourth-string quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan drove the Vikings to the Oakland 22 in the closing seconds and Childress elected to go for the win. Hiram Eugene intercepted O'Sullivan's desperation heave into the end zone to clinch Oakland's victory.

"I've gotten nervous before every game I've ever coached, and this was no different," said Childress, who has never been a head coach at any level. "It's nice to look out at that panorama, but you have to get right back on task."

The night was all about Moss, who made the Vikings one of the most dangerous offensive teams from the minute he arrived in 1998. Those Vikings were defined by the deep pass to Moss, which helped them reach an unprecedented level of popularity in the state.

His tenure was hardly perfect. He left the field with 2 seconds left in a regular-season loss to Washington two years ago; got in a minor scrape with a traffic enforcement officer in 2002; and verbally abused corporate sponsors on a team bus in 2001.

Not to mention his infamous "I play when I want to play" comment.

Nevertheless, plenty of fans wore his purple No. 84 jersey on Monday night, and still more donned his black No. 18.

"It makes me feel good to know that I'm still loved here, no matter what the bad blood that kind of built when I left," Moss said. "I think that they, the people in the stands with the 84s on and whatnot, I think they understand now that I'm a Raider and there's no coming back, and I don't really want to come back."

New Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin brought his version of the cover-2 defense from Tampa Bay, a scheme specifically geared toward stopping Moss' specialty, the big play.

Brooks, still looking uncomfortable in silver and black, took one shot downfield to Moss in the first quarter, but Moss caught the ball out of bounds.

Signed as a free agent from New Orleans, Brooks is just 2-for-9 for 28 yards, one TD and one interception in Oakland's first two preseason games.

"Obviously we'd like to have some more productivity out on the field, but it's still preseason, and it's a new system for pretty much all of us," Brooks said. "It's going to take time. I have patience."

Sebastian Janikowski's three field goals, including a 55-yarder in the first quarter, helped the Raiders overcome nine penalties.

The Raiders finally got into the end zone midway through the second quarter in Moss-like fashion. Andrew Walter hooked up with Johnnie Morant on a 67-yard touchdown pass for a 13-7 lead. Walter (10-for-19 for 148 yards and two interceptions) hit Morant in stride with a perfect pass down the left sideline.

Notes: Morant had five catches for 108 yards and the touchdown. ... Raiders WR Jerry Porter, who missed the opener with a calf injury, came out for warmups, but didn't feel ready to go.

Cincinnati Bengals Top Wash Redskins 19-3; Clinton Portis Hurt - NFL.com

And to add insult to injury, the Bengals used a flea-flicker in preseason.

Bengals stop Redskins; Portis injured

NFL.com wire reports

CINCINNATI (Aug. 13, 2006) -- Clinton Portis didn't even want to be on the field for the first preseason game. Now, the dependable running back isn't sure if he can be on the field when it counts.

The Washington Redskins' revamped offense took a significant jolt Sunday night when Portis partially dislocated his left shoulder during a 19-3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving him sidelined indefinitely.

"Right now, it's tough to say," coach Joe Gibbs said. "Obviously, it's going to be a while."

Portis ran for a club-record 1,516 yards last season, when Washington made the playoffs as a wild-card team, and was counted on to steady an offense retooled by assistant coach Al Saunders in the offseason.

Instead, Washington is wondering how long it will be without its best running back -- something Portis can't comprehend.

Portis opened the game with an 8-yard carry, then blocked for Mark Brunell's passes. When Brunell's sixth throw was intercepted by cornerback Keiwan Ratliff, Portis ran him down and reached to make the tackle.

His left arm was extended when he hit Ratliff, momentarily knocking the bone part of the way out of the shoulder socket. An MRI confirmed the injury.

"After that 8-yard run, I was like, 'Get me out of that game,"' Portis said. "That's what I was thinking. It's football. It can happen to anyone. It happened to me."

Standard treatment involves rest and strengthening exercises. Portis had the left arm in a blue sling after the game, when he lobbied for regulars to play less in the preseason.

"For whoever's watching: Let's get rid of some of these games," Portis said. "Four games is ridiculous. Then you play a 16-game season and the playoffs behind that."

Gibbs planned to keep Portis and his other starters in the game for only a short time.

"We wanted to have one good drive," Gibbs said. "We didn't want him to carry the ball more than one or two times."


Mark Brunell threw an interception while under pressure. Clinton Portis was injured making the tackle on the return.
Without Portis, the running game will depend upon backup Ladell Betts, who ran for 338 yards last season and missed four games because of a knee injury.

"Who knows what it is?" Portis said of his injury. "Even if it's not serious, to be nicked up for the first week of the season ..."

For Cincinnati, the opener was a chance to gauge what the offense will look like if Carson Palmer isn't ready to start the season. Palmer stood on the sideline in a white Bengals T-shirt and gray sweat pants, watching newcomer Anthony Wright make a lackluster debut.

The Bengals failed to get a first down on their first three series behind Wright, a free-agent quarterback signed less than four months ago. He was sacked twice and looked indecisive in those three drives.

He finally got going with the help of a flea-flicker -- a trick play seldom used in preseason -- that surprised the Redskins. T.J. Houshmandzadeh was unguarded downfield for a 52-yard catch, setting up Wright's 12-yard touchdown pass to Chris Henry.

"I think overall it was a good start, for the first time," Wright said. "There's a lot of complications to this offense."

Wright was 9-of-16 in the first half for 101 yards, more than half of them on the one trick play. Doug Johnson went 11-of-14 for 128 yards with a touchdown and three sacks in the second half, when both teams played their backups.

Palmer tore ligaments in his left knee during a playoff loss to Pittsburgh in January and had reconstructive surgery. He's not expected to play until at least the third preseason game, leaving his status unclear.

Bengals Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson showed up with a new look -- his mohawk was dyed blond -- but didn't catch a pass in limited action. Johnson had shaved his head for games in the past.

Receiver Chris Henry, one of six Bengals either arrested or suspended in recent months, had six catches for 61 yards. Henry is scheduled to go on trial on a gun charge in Florida later this month.

Brunell played only two series, going 4-of-9 for 66 yards with the interception by Ratliff that was Portis' final play. Backup Todd Collins finished the first half, going 6-of-13 for 68 yards with an interception. Collins also was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Matt Leinart Demands Arizona Cardinals Hold Training Camp At His House - Onion Sports

PHOENIX—Arizona Cardinals first-round draft pick quarterback Matt Leinart has stunned the team by not only holding out on signing his rookie contract but demanding that training camp be moved to the more convenient location of his house.

"I don't see why we have to go to all the way up to Flagstaff for camp. What do we need? A pool? Because I've got a pool. And some weights, and a 72-inch plasma television for, like, film study," the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback told coach Dennis Green Wednesday.

"And, oh, I just got this huge dining-room table that'd be great for drawing up plays, or even just, you know, chowing down." Football experts consider it unlikely that Cardinals management will accommodate Leinart, especially after strongly considering but ultimately rejecting his previous suggestion that the team play all its home games in Los Angeles.

Reggie Bush' 44-Yard Run - Video

In this video, New Orleans Saints Running Back Reggie Bush shows the speed that made him Heisman Trophy Winner and the second pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, during his first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.

Raiders Tyler Brayton Moved To Defensive End - Oakland Tribune

Coach Art Shell reshapes the Oakland Defense.

Raiders LB experiments have mixed results
Irons finds himself a new home, while Brayton returns to defensive end spot
By Bill Soliday, STAFF WRITER - Oakland Tribune

NAPA — When last visited, Oakland Raiders defensive ends Tyler Brayton and Grant Irons were being reinvented into linebackers — one willingly, one if not unwillingly, with at least a degree of skepticism.
One switch worked. One didn't, and change is in effect.
Brayton is back at defensive end, the position at which he was drafted in the first round in 2003. Irons, an undrafted rookie that same year, is still plying his trade as a linebacker.
Both are delighted. And, in Brayton's case, there is no longer need for defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to tell his player to keep his thoughts to himself and just play ball.
"Sometimes you have certain needs, and people have to adapt to those needs," Ryan said by way of explaining originally switching Brayton.
There has been speculation that the move took the heart out of Brayton, who was drafted largely because of his nonstop motor. Ryan would disagree.
"Tyler has always been a team player," he said. "Right now, he is working down at defensive end, and obviously that's where we think it's best for the team.
"With him, you always get hard work, and you always get 100 percent. That's all you can ask from a guy."
Irons had an impressive debut in last weekend's exhibition opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, living up to the nickname coaches and teammates have bestowed upon him — "Game Ready."
He administered a sack, forcing Jeff Garcia to fumble and threw running back Bruce Perry for a 5-yard loss.
"This is my fifth year in the NFL," Irons said, explaining that his goal is to play with what he calls aggressivefrom Sports 1
passion. "Each and every year there is more to learn, and I want to improve and get better. It's all been a learning experience and a great journey."
"He's been doing a great job," Ryan said. "He has really improved. He's another smart guy. He has great talent. His abilities really help us on defense. He can make plays. We like those kinds of guys."
There wasn't much to Brayton's first game back at end. He had one tackle, and it would be a stretch to say the starting line distinguished itself.
However, if happiness is the measure of a man's potential, Brayton's future looks bright indeed.
It was during the off-season that Brayton learned he was being reinstalled at end.
"It was still on the fence going into the off-season," he said. "I just kind of took it upon myself. I got in the weight room ... put on a few pounds. I just put it in my mind that's where I was going to be, and it turned out that's where coaches told me to be. Once I found that out, I knew I was going in the right direction."
Coach Art Shell broke the news to Brayton.
"I said 'Tyler, you're a defensive end,'" Shell recounted. "He said, 'Thanks a lot, coach. I really appreciate it. I'll show you what I can do from that position.'"
For the most part, Brayton toed the company line when he had been asked to play in the up position. However, on occasion he acknowledged the strangeness of it all.
"I had played my entire career with my hand on the ground," he said.
However, if he was fighting it, he kept it to himself.
"It was one of those deals where I'm going to do whatever they ask me to do the best I can," he said. "You can't sit there and complain about anything. My (approach) was it wasn't a position, it was a disposition. So, outside linebacker, defensive end — there wasn't a ton of difference. But it's definitely a lot more comfortable being a defensive end."
Brayton refuses to say the experiment was a total loss.
"Playing outside linebacker has given me a whole new perspective," he said. "You get to see the whole field. You know what everybody does on the defense. You understand what we're trying to accomplish with every blitz and every movement, in every defense.
"Sometimes, when you play defensive line, you get locked in and think 'I need to be here or here,' and that's it. You don't really understand why. Understanding helps you get the job done that much better.
"I don't think it was a waste at all."
Brayton wants to play at 270 pounds. Although he was being fashioned as a linebacker carrying 10 fewer pounds, the team believes he is stout enough to play on goal-line situations.
"I think 270 is an ideal weight for me," he said. 'It's just a matter of getting used to getting my pads down again, getting underneath blockers."
Getting used to being at home.

New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick's Concerned About Defense and "Reaction Plays"

Here's what may be a chnk in the armor of the New England Patriots defense: how they play against what Heach Coach Bill Belichick calls "reaction plays" like screens, boolegs, and draws.

The Coach expressed this concern in the Saturday press conference after the game against the Falcons.

As bootleg passes are becoming the norm in NFL 2006, the Patriots defense is going to have a hard time this year if they don't correct that problem.

But considering they play a 3-4, those plays will be a constant thorn in the side of the New England Defense.

Vikings Coach Brad Childress Puts Clamps On Hazing Of Rookies - ESPN

MANKATO, Minn. -- Fred Smoot couldn't wait to get rookie cornerback Cedric Griffin to training camp.

Entering his sixth NFL season, Smoot has become an expert in the time-honored tradition of rookie hazing.

"When we first got here, Smoot and some of those guys were talking about shaving my eyebrows off, cutting my dreadlocks, shaving people's legs, pouring water on me when I go to sleep," said Griffin, a second-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings.

There was a time when hazing was as much a part of Vikings training camp as two-a-days in the August heat. But new coach Brad Childress put a stop to that this year, issuing a no-hazing edict that has made life easier for his first-year players.

"Awwww, never!" Smoot recalled saying when he first heard about the rule. "But he did it. He really wanted us to focus on winning, and I respect that. I just wish he was my coach my rookie year."

Smoot was drafted by Washington in 2001, coming to a team loaded with veterans like Bruce Smith and Darrell Green who knew how to make a rookie's life miserable.

"My first practice they made me tackle everybody, then they taped me to the goal post and poured some water on me and left me there for about two hours," Smoot said. "Then ... I make it to my room and my mattress was thrown out the window. So I had to sleep with no mattress and no alarm clock. They had stole my TV and my alarm clock out of my room for like four or five days."

Ever since that tough initiation, Smoot has relished returning the favor.

Not under Childress's watch. The no-nonsense coach sees hazing not as harmless fun, but as a potentially divisive force.

"You better be inclusive," Childress told his players. "You better pull people into the pile, because if that guy can help you win and you're a seven-year player and you think that doing something to him or making him get up and sing or alienating him is going to help you, no, it's not."

Childress isn't the only one to feel that way. Across the nation, stories of hazing incidents gone wrong have grabbed headlines, most notably at the college level.

In June, Northwestern's women's soccer coach resigned and several players were suspended after photographs appeared on a Web site allegedly showing members of the team clad only in T-shirts and underwear, some blindfolded and others with their hands tied behind their back.

"Hazing is something that happened in high school, it happened in college," said Chad Greenway, the Vikings' first-round pick. "I was guessing something would happen here, but Coach Childress has been strong in that we won't have any of that and it's nice to hear as a rookie."

It's yet another stark contrast between Childress and his predecessor, Mike Tice, who in some respects was more like a bullying older brother to his players than a coach.

Under Tice, rookies had to stand up during lunch and sing their college fight song and put on a "talent show" later in camp.

Most of it was the kind of good-natured fun found at many NFL stops, including when defensive end Erasmus James had his clothes stolen out of his locker, dipped in cold water and thrown outside on a frigid December afternoon to freeze solid.

But the prank infuriated James, which is just what Childress is hoping to avoid.

"We're not a team that hazes because, hey, we want all hands on deck," Childress said. "If there's four [rookies] who can contribute, or three, we want them there if they can help us win."

Offensive lineman Chris Liwienski said his fellow veterans initially were disappointed with the policy, but they have been understanding.

"The league is competitive, and if we need rookies to step in and make plays for us then we need to start embracing them as teammates as early as we can and not alienate them," said Liwienski, who was taped to the goal post and covered in shaving cream as a rookie.

It's just one less thing to worry about for Griffin. While rookies across the league lie awake at night wondering when the vets are coming for them, Griffin dozes off peacefully.

"I'm happy about the situation," the former Texas Longhorn said. "I can actually go to sleep at night without being afraid about who is coming to get me."

Deion Branch Ready To Sit Out Most Of Season - Pats Blog

According to this post -- click title -- from Patriots blog, WR Deion Branch is prepared to sit out the majority of the season to get the contract he feels he deserves. I personally think Branch is right to do this, and the Pats are perhaps playing this in an unwise fashion.

Deion Branch's value to the organization is obvious by the role he's played in their games. From the outside looking in, this seems to be less a business decision and more of a "who's the boss" approach -- that kind of negotiating style's not only unintelligent, but serves no one well at all.

Because of it, Branch sits out, and the Pats receiver corps quality stuffers.

San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers Goes 15 for 21; LaDainian Tomlinson Sits Out - Chargers Beat Packers 17-3

I'm still not convinced Rivers is the best choice over Drew Brees. This is just the first game of preseason.

Rivers impresses as Chargers top Packers

NFL.com wire reports

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 12, 2006) -- Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer has high expectations for new quarterback Philip Rivers.

Rivers didn't disappoint in his debut, throwing for 169 first-half yards and leading two early scoring drives in a 17-3 victory over Green Bay in Saturday night's preseason opener for both teams.

"I thought he played excellent," Schottenheimer said. "He played pretty much like I expect him to."

The Chargers showed their faith in Rivers, a third-year pro, by letting Drew Brees leave for New Orleans during the offseason.

Cool in the pocket and crisp with his passes, Rivers completed 15-of-21 while playing the entire first half except for the final play. He connected on a 22-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson on the Chargers' opening series to cap a 64-yard drive, then engineered an 18-play, 86-yard scoring march the first time they had the ball in the second quarter.


Philip Rivers looked in control of the Chargers offense.
"He was standing in the pocket, stepping into his passes like he's been doing his whole life," said Keenan McCardell, San Diego's leading wide receiver last season.

"Nobody in the huddle had any doubt. He gave you all what you wanted to see," added McCardell, who had two receptions for 22 yards in the victory.

Rivers took the game in stride.

"We threw a lot of completions, threw a touchdown pass," Rivers said. "It was a good start. We had some things we didn't do well, but it's early. It's just what you want to do in the first preseason game."

Packers quarterback Brett Favre, pressured by the San Diego defense for most of the four series he played, was unable to generate much. The loss spoiled the head coaching debut of Green Bay's Mike McCarthy.

The 36-year-old Favre, who pondered retirement in the offseason but decided to return, completed 5 of 10 passes for 66 yards and was sacked twice on consecutive plays in the first quarter. He came out of the game early in the second.

"We've got a long way to go," Favre said. "We weren't very good."

McCarthy wasn't pleased with his first game at the helm.

"We leave here with a sense of reality of how we started our preseason," said McCarthy, a former assistant under Schottenheimer at Kansas City. "This isn't about me. This is about where we are as a team, and we didn't play the way we're capable of playing.

"It starts with me. I have to get prepared."

In the first half, before both coaches began wholesale substitutions, the Chargers defense held the Packers to 89 yards while San Diego's offense churned out 204 yards.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay's first pick in the 2005 draft and Favre's heir apparent, was 9-of-11 for 124 yards while playing nearly half the game.

The 24-year-old Rivers, a former North Carolina State standout, threw for more yards -- and equaled his touchdown total -- in the first half of the exhibition victory than he had during his four career appearances in the NFL regular season combined.

As Brees' backup the past two years, Rivers was 17-of-30 for 148 yards, with one touchdown.

Rivers came to San Diego after he was drafted No. 4 by the New York Giants in 2004. The Chargers took Eli Manning with the first pick, then swapped him to the Giants for Rivers because Manning did not want to play for San Diego.

The 6-foot-5, 228-pound Rivers completed a variety of passes against the Packers.

After Jackson caught a perfectly thrown ball in full stride in the end zone for an apparent 17-yard touchdown 4 minutes into the game, the Packers called for a video replay, and the pass was ruled incomplete because Jackson stepped out of bounds.

No problem for Rivers. After a 5-yard penalty moved the ball back to the 22, the Chargers' quarterback lofted another pass to a diving Jackson in the end zone for an undisputed TD.

San Diego built its lead to 17-0 on a 23-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding late in the third quarter. Green Bay's Billy Cundiff finally put the Packers on the board with a 23-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

San Diego All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who rarely plays during the preseason, sat out the game.

Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo Gies 19-25; Cowboys Beat Seattle Seahawks 13 to 3

I think too much is made of Drew Bledsoe sitting out. There are three more games and a lot of time for him to get work. This was a good move by Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells to get his backup ready.

Tony Romo goes the distance in Cowboys' win

NFL.com wire reports

SEATTLE (Aug. 12, 2006) -- Dallas coach Bill Parcells wanted to see Tony Romo play, and the quarterback was happy to oblige.

Drew Bledsoe's backup played the entire game and completed 19 of 25 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown in the Terrell Owens -less Cowboys' 13-3 win over the sloppy Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.

Owens, who stayed back in training camp with other injured Cowboys, may or may not have watched from Oxnard, Calif. Dallas' newest star is recovering from a strained hamstring.

Bledsoe watched from the sidelines wearing a full uniform and a blue baseball cap, simply because Parcells wanted to see Romo play.

And he did. Impressively.

Romo was especially sharp in the first half, going 12-of-15 for 154 yards on scoring drives of 12 and 15 plays.

He also mimicked his veteran coach afterward. When asked about Romo shining, Parcells said, "Why don't we start on the other end? He fumbled two snaps. You can't do that."

Romo's initial assessment of his most -- and most successful -- playing time since he was a Division I-AA national player of the year at Eastern Illinois in 2002?

"Honestly, I think more about the things I didn't do," said Romo, who didn't throw a pass in the regular season in his first three years in the NFL. "Two fumbled snaps ... that stuff sticks with me after a game."


Tony Romo guided the Cowboys offense to two first-half scores.
After his first dropped snap on Dallas' mistake-filled opening drive, Romo completed 12 passes in a row. Six were on Dallas' 15-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown throw to Patrick Crayton late in the opening quarter.

Crayton ran past Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu and in front of safety Mike Green, who was starting while Michael Boulware recovers from offseason knee surgery. Two other Seahawks defensive starters were out with injuries.

Crayton limped off at halftime with a sprained right ankle and did not return. Parcells said he doesn't think the injury was too serious.

Romo completed five more in row with the second-team offense on Dallas' second scoring drive. Three of those completions came in succession against Seattle's top draft pick, rookie Kelly Jennings, who is battling veteran Kelly Herndon for the starting left cornerback job.

Crayton's 33-yard juggling reception and run against Jennings set up Mike Vanderjagt's 21-yard field goal late in the first half.

Jamaica Rector made a spinning, leaping catch behind Jennings for 18 yards on a third-quarter drive. That ended with backup kicker Shaun Suisham plunking a 34-yard field goal off the center of the crossbar.

"I've got to work on that underthrown fade route," Jennings said.

Reigning league MVP Shaun Alexander rushed six times for 13 yards before leaving with the rest of the defending NFC champions' starting offensive backs and receivers early in the second quarter. Matt Hasselbeck was 4-of-6 for 43 yards passing.

His backup, Seneca Wallace, played until midway through the fourth quarter and was 11-of-17 for 117 yards. He was sacked four times.

Seattle's first-team offense, which led the league in scoring last season, gained 56 yards on 14 plays and scored three points.

"That wasn't us out there," Hasselbeck said.

Coach Mike Holmgren said: "On the whole, I thought we were a little bit sloppier than we have been in other first preseason games.

"I was a little disappointed, to be honest."

Anthony Fasano, Dallas' second-round pick in the draft, started at H-back. A Romo pass sailed high through his hands to end the opening drive.

That play included Seattle safety Ken Hamlin 's first true hit since he fractured his skull in an October street fight -- a first that Holmgren had acknowledged he was anxious to see. Hamlin came in late on Fasano and pushed his hands and head at the rookie's face.

"I'm all right," Hamlin said. "I was fooling around, having fun. This was just a tease for the regular season."

Houston Texans Rookie Wali Lundy Shines - Texans Top KC Chiefs 24-14

Rookie sparks Texans attack in 24-14 win

NFL.com wire reports

HOUSTON (Aug. 12, 2006) -- If the Houston Texans hope to justify spending their No. 1 pick on Mario Williams, he'll have to contribute more than he did against the Chiefs.

Williams assisted on one tackle in a quarter of play in Houston's 24-14 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Shuffled all around the defensive line, Williams looked tentative at times and was stood up on a couple of plays.

"I kind of got too excited and that made me get a little tired," Williams said. "But I was not nervous at all."

He finally registered his first stat late in the first, when he joined second-round pick DeMeco Ryans to stop Larry Johnson for a 3-yard gain.

In his 11 plays, Williams mostly lined up against Chiefs left tackle Kyle Turley, who was playing in his first game since 2003 because of back problems. Turley was thrust into the starting lineup when 11-time Pro Bowler Willie Roaf unexpectedly retired the night before training camp.

"I have a lot to learn," Williams said. "I was moving up and down the ball. I'm used to just coming off the edge and it's a lot different here."

While Williams' debut was forgettable, another Houston rookie -- sixth-round draft pick Wali Lundy -- had a head-turning first outing.

Mario Williams showed his inexperience at times, but the Texans prevailed.
With Domanick Davis out recovering from a lingering knee injury, the Texans started 10-year veteran Antowain Smith. Smith was ineffective early and the Texans turned to Lundy, who ran for 25 yards on his first carry and waltzed into the end zone untouched for Houston's first touchdown on a 3-yard run three plays later.

He finished with nine carries for 59 yards and had one reception for 9 yards for a performance coach Gary Kubiak said he was impressed with.

The former Virginia standout also returned one kickoff for 30 yards and a punt for 12 yards.

"I'm just happy I'm getting an opportunity to play in the NFL," Lundy said. "Anything I can do to help this team ... that's what I'm going to do."

Though it was a preseason game, Houston has to be happy with its first look at the team that was revamped after last season's 2-14 finish. The Texans had 325 yards of offense while holding the Chiefs to 172.

"I like how hard we played," Kubiak said. "I thought we were still pretty sloppy at times."

Johnson had seven carries for 30 yards with no scores for Kansas City in its first game under coach Herm Edwards. Dee Brown added 23 yards on five carries and had a 12-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

"Larry Johnson did a good job," Edwards said. "He was supposed to come out of the game, but he wanted to stay out there a couple of more times."

Trent Green was 5 of 6 for 34 yards before leaving after the first quarter. Canadian League Football star Casey Printers played the rest of the game and was 6 of 12 for 71 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.

"He was real jittery at times," Edwards said of Printers. "He kept his poise for the most part. He lost it a couple of times, but that's kind of the problem at times of having a young quarterback."

Houston's first team managed to move the ball well in its first game under Kubiak. David Carr was 3 for 5 for 23 yards and added 20 yards rushing in the first.

Carr's first two plays of the night went to offseason acquisition Eric Moulds. Carr found Moulds for an 11-yard gain on the right side of the field before hitting him for an 8-yard gain on the next play.

After being sacked more than 200 times in his career, Carr stayed on his feet in this game -- a prospect that excites the quarterback.

"We didn't have a sack in the game and it's been a while since we've done that here," Carr said. "Keeping the quarterback clean, we're going to be able to score points."

Backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels had a 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Kris Brown kicked a 22-yard field goal in the third. Damien Rhodes added a score on a 4-yard run in the fourth.

Notes: Texans TE Bennie Joppru, who had season-ending injuries the past three seasons, appeared in his first NFL game. He had a 9-yard reception in the fourth quarter. ... Michael Bennett, who was recently traded from the Saints, did not play while he struggles with a sore hamstring. ... This is the second time the Texans have played the Chiefs in the preseason, losing 19-9 in their inaugural season. ... Houston's 24 points scored was a preseason franchise record.

Dolphins Daunte Culpepper Goes 1-2; Jacksonville Jaguars Win 31-26

Marcus Vick catches two passes in game.

Jags upend Dolphins in preseason opener

NFL.com wire reports

MIAMI (Aug. 12, 2006) -- Daunte Culpepper 's teammates slapped him on the back as he came out of the game -- the only blows the Dolphins' new quarterback would absorb in his brief Miami debut.

Culpepper settled for one 2-yard completion, while the Jacksonville Jaguars completed four touchdown passes of 50 yards or more to beat Miami 31-26 in the exhibition opener for both teams.

Backup David Garrard connected on scores of 62 and 55 yards for the Jaguars, whose three quarterbacks netted 321 yards passing.

Culpepper tested his surgically repaired knee by playing one series, throwing two passes and directing his new team to a field goal.

"It felt great," he said. "You get those first little jitters out after the first play, and you're back into the game situation and game mold. It felt good to get my feet wet a little bit."

Miami's other new quarterback, Joey Harrington, completed his first pass to Randy McMichael for an 18-yard touchdown. Harrington later fumbled twice, bobbling a snap that the Jaguars' Tony Williams recovered to set up a field goal.

"We did some good things, and we did some first-game things," Harrington said.


Daunte Culpepper has shown he's ready to perform for the Dolphins.
Jacksonville's first-team offense sputtered until Miami began substituting on defense. The Jaguars' Byron Leftwich, playing for the first time since a broken ankle sidelined him for the final five games last season, threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones.

"We didn't start very well," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We settled down a little bit at the end of the half and got some things going and looked a little bit better."

Chad Owens, battling for a roster spot with the Jaguars, beat the Dolphins deep to catch a 62-yard touchdown pass. Second-round draft pick Maurice Jones-Drew caught a short pass from Garrard and wove through the secondary to complete a 55-yard TD.

Jacksonville's final score came on a 51-yard pass from Quinn Gray to George Wrighster.

Miami's first-round pick, safety Jason Allen, was on the field for Jacksonville's first three touchdown completions. He played only four days after ending a 10-day holdout.

The Dolphins mounted a strong pass rush against Leftwich and knocked him down several times, but Culpepper never came close to absorbing a hit. While he has yet to miss a practice in training camp, the game was his first exposure to contact since a knee injury ended his 2005 season with the Minnesota Vikings last October.

"I had a vision of seeing myself being ready for this first preseason game from the time I got hurt," Culpepper said. "It was very important to me to go out and show I'm ready to play."

Culpepper took six snaps, four of which were running plays. He missed Chris Chambers open over the middle on a short pattern and hit McMichael for 2 yards on third-and-7. Olindo Mare then kicked a 52-yard field goal.

Harrington played the rest of the first half and finished 10-for-19 for 99 yards.

Leftwich, who threw only five interceptions last season, was picked off on the Jaguars' second series by Eddie Jackson. Two plays later, Harrington threw to McMichael in the end zone for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead.

Leftwich played most of the first half and finished 6-for-12 for 100 yards. He connected on a long pass to Jones, who beat Dolphins newcomer Will Allen for a score in the second quarter.

"We have a lot of work to do on offense, but it was great to get that much work," Leftwich said.

He was replaced by Garrard, who went 6-for-11 for 172 yards.

With Josh Scobee sidelined by a leg strain, Seth Marler did all the place-kicking for the Jaguars and made a 21-yard field goal. Jacksonville re-signed him this week.

Cleo Lemon, Miami's third-string quarterback, directed a 15-play drive in his first series that led to a field goal and threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jason Willis.

Undrafted rookie Marcus Vick, a former Virginia Tech quarterback trying to make the transition to receiver, caught two passes from Lemon for 12 yards.

Buffalo Bills First String Lackluster; Panthers Win 14-13

Panthers hot early, beat Bills 14-13

NFL.com wire reports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 12, 2006) -- It didn't take Keyshawn Johnson long to show the Carolina Panthers are no longer a one-dimensional passing team centering around Steve Smith.

Johnson, in his first game with Carolina, caught an 18-yard pass from Jake Delhomme on the first play from scrimmage, the beginning of a game-opening touchdown drive on the way to a 14-13 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Delhomme hit Johnson twice for 27 yards on the opening series, then threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Drew Carter as Smith watched from the sideline with a strained left hamstring.

"You want to get the ball in certain guys' hands to get them off early, so they can stay in tuned to the flow of the game," Johnson said. "It's important to get off to a good start. Jake's starting to learn a little more and I'm learning him more."

Delhomme, who completed 5 of 6 passes for 64 yards before giving way to Chris Weinke, showed the Panthers could move the ball without Smith.

That wasn't the case last season. Smith led the league with 103 catches for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns, but no other Panthers receiver caught more than 25 passes.

Carter had three catches for 20 yards and Keary Colbert caught two balls for 23 yards in place of Smith, who was injured on the first day of training camp.


New receiver Keyshawn Johnson notched his first catch as a Panther.
"Naturally, adding Keyshawn is going to attract attention," fullback Brad Hoover said. "He's going to help us out a lot. But I think it's the confidence of the other guys and just how they've matured that's sort of helped out."

Carolina's reserves didn't fare as well, as Casey Cramer and Efrem Hill both lost fumbles, but the Panthers were able stop the Bills' reserves on fourth down in the final minute.

Buffalo's quarterback troubles appeared no closer to a resolution. Kelly Holcomb and J.P. Losman both struggled in Dick Jauron's first game as coach.

Holcomb, who got the start, completed 2 of 4 passes for 16 yards and one interception, a poorly thrown ball that Ken Lucas returned 23 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter to give Carolina a 14-0 lead.

"I read the coverage wrong. I thought I had something I didn't have," Holcomb said. "I'm disappointed, I wanted to play better. It just didn't seem like I could get in a rhythm."

Holcomb was sacked by Julius Peppers on the opening drive and failed to lead the Bills to a first down in three series.

"Obviously Kelly had a rough night," Jauron said. "It was a sloppy start for us. The beginning of the game wasn't anything like we wanted to have happen."

Losman took over early in the second quarter and started with three straight incompletions. But he settled down and got into a rhythm in the second half against the Panthers' second and third strings. Losman was 15 of 24 for 144 yards for the Bills.

"We started off a little rusty, especially bringing in a new offense, new players, new coaches" Losman said. "I've always said the more I play, the more I'm in there, the more comfortable I'll get. As the game went on, I saw things better, but being in the offense for the first time, it takes time, it takes trust."

Running back Lionel Gates, who didn't play a down for the Bills last season, rushed for 31 yards on eight carries, including an acrobatic touchdown early in the third quarter.

Gates was sandwiched by Nate Salley and Keith Adams and did a complete 360 in the air, but came back down on his feet at the two-yard line. He then broke Jermaine Hardy 's tackle to get into the end zone.

Bills first-round pick Donte Whitner, who began practicing with the team Aug. 7 after an eight-day holdout, led the team in tackles. Matt Bowen, who started ahead of Whitner at strong safety, injured his right leg early in the second quarter. X-rays were negative.

Panthers first-round pick DeAngelo Williams had eight carries for 21 yards.

"I'm pleased with the way we came out on offense and defense and even in the kicking game," Panthers coach John Fox said. "After that we seemed to get a little sloppy and it leaves us with a lot of things to work on."

Ben Roethlisberger Returns; Cardinals Play In New Stadium - Win 21-13 - NFL.com

The highlight of this game was the play of Steelers backup QB's Boyd and Jacobs, as well as the new stadium itself.

Cardinals open dome, top Steelers 21-13

NFL.com wire reports

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 12, 2006) -- Ben Roethlisberger didn't mind that his appearance at the grand opening of the extravagant new home of the Arizona Cardinals was as brief as it was fruitless.

After what the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has been through, simply taking the field at all was enough.

"It kind of hit me right before the kickoff," Roethlisberger said, "to sit here and say thank you that I'm able to be out here, to put on the jersey, to be in front of people and playing again two months to the day after a pretty bad accident."

Roethlisberger played one series that ended in a missed field goal.

Then his Arizona counterpart Kurt Warner took over, christening the place with a touchdown in the Cardinals' first drive, following it with another in a 21-13 preseason victory against the Super Bowl champs.

A capacity crowd of 63,400 attended the unveiling of the $455 million stadium in western suburban Phoenix.

"It's an awesome stadium," Roethlisberger said, "big, loud, very nice and the field is real good."

Roethlisberger, who lobbied his way into the starting lineup two months after sustaining serious head and facial injuries in a motorcycle crash, played one series. He completed 3 of 4 passes for 29 yards, the longest an 11-yard screen pass to Verron Haynes.

Warner played most of the first half, going 9-for-13 for 118 yards. The 35-year-old former NFL and Super Bowl MVP even ran for 5 yards.

"For the most part I thought it was really good for the first preseason game," Warner said. "We're so much farther along from where we were last year."


Ben Roethlisberger was sacked here, but walked away unhurt.
Roethlisberger drove the Steelers to the Arizona 26, but drew some shouts of caution after he escaped from a near-sack by Adrian Wilson and scrambled before throwing the ball. Coach Bill Cowher came onto the field a bit to tell him to take it easy.

"I just told him in the future that considering where we are right now, I would rather have him go down rather than trying to fight to get free," Cowher said.

The drive ended when Roethlisberger was sacked by Bertrand Berry on third down, and Jeff Reed's 54-yard field goal try was wide left.

"We came away with nothing on that first drive, but I'm glad from Ben's perspective," Cowher said. "He was able to get out there and I thought he made some plays."

Then the Cardinals drove for a touchdown on their first possession in their new home.

Warner went 5-for-6 for 59 yards, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Bryant Johnson. Four of the completions came on third down, including a 20-yarder to Larry Fitzgerald on third-and-13 to the Pittsburgh 7.

After Reed's 48-yard field goal, Warner directed an 11-play, 71-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by Johnson's one-handed grab of a 20-yard pass. The catch came on third-and-9 at the Arizona 46.

Fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo took a short pass from Warner and rambled 15 yards for a touchdown to put the Cardinals up 14-3 with 3:31 left in the half.

The arrival of star free-agent acquisition Edgerrin James had no immediate impact on what has been a woeful Arizona running game. James carried twice, once for a 2-yard loss and once for no gain.

Not to worry, said James, who would have preferred to sit out the game entirely to wait for the regular season.

"I kind of went through the motions. I just wanted to get off the field healthy," he said. "I did my job."

With rookie Matt Leinart still unsigned, Arizona backup John Navarre was intercepted twice -- both by rookie Anthony Smith.

On the first, Navarre was hit as he threw and Smith picked it off at the Cardinals 35. Third-string quarterback Shane Boyd threw 13 yards to Quincy Morgan to set up rookie Mark Brubaker's 24-yard field goal that cut the lead to 14-6 as the half ended.

Navarre completed 11 of 15 passes for 60 yards.

"Just OK," coach Dennis Green said of the quarterback's performance. "He did some good things, made one real blunder, and I think that always taints it a little bit."

Diamond Ferri ran 5 yards for Arizona's third touchdown with 9:41 to play. Omar Jacobs threw a 1-yard pass to fellow rookie Isaac Smolko for the Steelers' lone touchdown, with 1:25 to play. The Cardinals recovered the subsequent onside kick and ran out the clock.

"We got through the game with really no injuries," Cowher said. "That's the good news, but from an execution standpoint, we've got a long way to go, and I think that was very evident today."

GAME NOTES:

Many of the fans were late arrivals because of traffic jams on the surrounding streets.
The Cardinals sold out a home game for the first time since Sept. 24, 2000, against Green Bay. They are sold out for the entire regular season.
Leinart is the only first-round draft pick unsigned.
In 2003, the Steelers also opened Ford Field in Detroit.

Arizona Cardinals first game in New Stadium Draws Fans from L.A. Desperate for NFL Football, Even Without Matt Leinart

Our man, Bill Chachkes

During our arrival in Arizona for our vacation (and our visit to Cardinals training camp) we met several fans on their way to the game between the Cards and the Steelers (the first game ever in the new stadium).

There were the Steelers fans who flew in from Pittsburg, but more surprising were the large amount of Cards fans from Los Angles who flew in for the game. We spoke with one father and son duo who told us that football fans in L.A. are so desperate to see Pro Football that they bought Cardinals season tickets! "we don't have a team at home anymore so we will come here for every home game" He said. His son continued "Even without Matt signed, this is an improved team. Now lets see them get him in here".

Vince Young's 4 of 10 Most Electrifying - Bush Thrills for Saints - Saints Win 19-16

Young makes NFL debut in preseason opener
By Craig Tapper
Titans Online

Rookie QB Vince Young made his NFL debut in the Titans' preseason opener vs. New Orleans Saturday night at LP Field.
NASHVILLE, TN, Aug. 12, 2006 -- The NFL debuts of Vince Young and Reggie Bush were expected to be the big story of the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints preseason opener. But while Young and Bush compiled their share of highlight worthy moments, the game was decided by a third-string quarterback.

Todd Bouman connected with Lance Moore for a 22-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, giving the Saints a 19-16 lead that held up Saturday night at LP Field.

Young made his first appearance with about nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. At times, Young displayed the strong arm and play-making ability that led him to be the #3 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. However, the rookie quarterback was unable to establish a legitimate groove, completing 4-of-11 passes for 56 yards, including a long pass of 19 yards. Young also ran four times for 28 yards before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a mildly sprained left ankle.

Regardless, Young was enthusiastic about being back in a game situation for the first time since January’s Rose Bowl.

“It’s been a long time since the Rose Bowl game,” Young said, “I was excited and the guys on the sidelines were pushing me, saying, ‘let’s go V, it’s your turn, so I was excited and then it slowed down and got more relaxed.”

Young’s first offensive drive began with a pair of runs and ended with an incomplete pass. During his second drive, Young managed to break through with his first professional reception — a 14-yard strike to rookie tight end Jamie Petrowski. As the game progressed, Young seemed to settle in and feel more comfortable leading the offense.

“In the first series guys were flying around real fast,” Young said, “I thought in the back of my mind, ‘I’m fast too, so put your speed with those guys’ and that’s what I did and went back to just playing football. I kind of relaxed and slowed down and as you can see, the game went on.”

With the Titans leading 10-9 in the third quarter, Young effortlessly flung a 50-yard pass down the sideline intended for Roydell Williams. The pass hit Williams in stride, but the second year receiver out of Tulane was unable to corral the ball.

During the fourth quarter, Young displayed his scrambling ability by evading defenders and connecting with Courtney Roby for 10 yards. The positive gain was disallowed due to an offensive holding penalty, but Young’s ability to create helped excite the already exuberant crowd.

The Titans had a scary moment midway through the fourth quarter when Young was tackled from behind by Saints defensive end Tommy Davis. Young remained on the ground for a few seconds following the third down play with a left ankle sprain, but he was able to leave the field under his own weight.

“I guess the most notable (injury) and most curious was Vince,” Fisher said. “He’s got a mild ankle sprain. He should be fine, probably a little sore in the morning. I don’t expect him to miss much.”

Young was replaced by undrafted rookie Cody Hodges on the team’s next offensive drive, although according to Fisher, he was going to be replaced following the previous drive even before sustaining the injury.

“I didn’t take him out because of the ankle,” Fisher said. “We had intended to take him our prior to the drive, to take him out and give Cody [Hodges] and Matt [Mauck] some work. I think he could have probably finished if we had taped him up.”

While Young did not make many highlight-caliber plays, the Saints first round draft pick Reggie Bush immediately displayed the game-changing ability and pure athleticism which earned him the 2005 Heisman Trophy and helped cement him as one of the most explosive running backs in the nation.

Bush compiled 59 yards on six carries, but his night was highlighted by a 44-yard run during the first quarter. With uncanny vision, Bush first ran to his left, then changed direction and darted his way around the backside of the defense. While Bush managed to evade defenders during that run, the defense was pleased with its overall performance in containing Bush.

“We did bend a little coming out of the gate on Reggie’s one particular long run,” said linebacker David Thornton, “but all in all, I think the defense came out with some intensity and we established some things we wanted to do on the side of the ball. I’m really looking forward to the defense playing solid this year and tonight was a great start.”

During the second quarter, Bush collided with Titans cornerback Pacman Jones. Jones and Bush exchanged words and Jones was handed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Following the game, Jones was far from awestruck of Bush’s talents.

“He doesn’t run up the middle, period,” Jones said. “If you can contain him outside, you can contain him. He doesn’t want to run up the middle. He’s not very, very strong, pretty fast. That’s about it.”

Apple Sues Steven Speilberg and H.G Wells For Use Of The World "Pod"

This just in. Apple Computer's suing Steven Speilberg and H.G. Wells for the use of the word "POD" in both the original "War Of The Worlds" and the 2004 remake produced by Speilberg.

Well, almost. Read below. I personally think Apple's going the way of Major League Baseball in its questionable view of how a word they didn't create is used by others just because they decided to name their device "iPod."

Personally, Apple's legal slopiness is going to run up against someone's first use trademark rights -- and Apple will have egg on its face. Or is it pod?

One part of me just thinks this is a way for their lawyers to justify their salaries. Another part of me holds that Apple's generally crack marketing staff -- cracked.

Don't believe me? Check out this article by David Berlind of zdnet.com. Apple's going after a small business -- a family.

What's up, Steve Jobs?

Ravens Steve McNair Goes 4 of 5; NY Giants Steal Show 17-16

Giants boot the Ravens, 17-16

NFL.com wire reports

BALTIMORE (Aug. 11, 2006) -- The first quarter belonged to Steve McNair, who produced a touchdown on his first series with the Baltimore Ravens before sitting out the rest of the game.

McNair didn't get a win to savor, however, because the New York Giants dominated the fourth quarter and rallied for a 17-16 victory.

In his lone drive, McNair moved the Ravens 80 yards in 12 plays. He went 4 for 5 for 45 yards and ran for a 6-yard touchdown.

"It was what we were looking for, offensively, to start us out," McNair said. "That's the kind of drive we want to establish during the course of the season."

Baltimore built a 16-7 lead before Michael Jennings returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown with 8:44 left. The Giants then forced a punt and moved 62 yards behind third-string quarterback Jared Lorenzen before Jay Feely kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired.

"It's always nice to win, and we were very happy to come back and win the game," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Jennings, with a big punt return, kind of gave us a shot in the arm there."


Steve McNair carried three defender into the end zone on his only drive.
McNair was obtained in a June trade with the Tennessee Titans to provide direction to an offense that struggled for three seasons under Kyle Boller. The 2003 NFL co-MVP made an immediate impression, completing his first pass to tight end Todd Heap for 17 yards.

On third down from the New York 6, McNair burst from the pocket and carried Corey Webster and Chase Blackburn into the end zone.

"I had an opportunity, I got flushed out of the pocket, I saw the end zone and I just tried to make the best out of something," McNair said at halftime. "This is my style of play. I play to win, regardless of it's a preseason or a regular-season game. Once the blood gets flowing, you can't shut it off."

Unless your coach tells you to, and Brian Billick decided one series was enough for McNair -- especially after watching his star quarterback take off in the open field.

"I told him he and I are both too old to do a whole lot of that," Billick said with a chuckle. "But it's what he does. He's an incredible competitor."

Offensive coordinator Jim Fassel didn't need to see anything more, either.

"Steve managed the game well and made good decisions," Fassel said. "It was crisp for an opening drive in the first preseason game."

The Giants' No. 1 defense, conversely, was left smarting.

"I was disappointed in the way we came out defensively," end Osi Umenyiora said. "We really allowed them to make too many plays, and we weren't making any plays. We have a lot of things we need to get back to work on."

Eli Manning led the Giants to a touchdown on his third and final series, the key play a 43-yard pass to Plaxico Burress. After Derrick Martin was called for pass interference in the end zone on a third-down play, Brandon Jacobs scored from the 1.

"For the first group, we got in the end zone, which was kind of our goal," Manning said. "I would have liked to have done it on our first or second possession rather than our third, but that's just the way it goes."

Giants running back Tiki Barber, who ran for 1,860 yards and nine touchdowns in 2005, was held out by Coughlin despite being healthy. New York was also without tight end Jeremy Shockey (concussion).

Manning went 4 for 7 for 74 yards. His backup, Tim Hasselbeck, was 7 for 13 for 79 yards before leaving late in the third quarter.

Boller, now No. 2 on the depth chart, completed 12 of 18 passes for 100 yards.

Matt Stover kicked field goals of 27 and 43 yards in the second quarter to give Baltimore a 13-7 halftime lead, then added a 43-yarder in the third quarter.

Notes: Ravens LB Ray Lewis did not play (coach's decision). ... Baltimore WR Derrick Mason left after one series with a mild concussion. ... The Giants had 10 players catch passes, led by Tim Carter with three for 36 yards. ... Feely missed a 44-yard FG; Stover clicked on all three of his attempts.

Michael Vick Throws 3 of 4, Runs for 16 - Falcons Win 26-23

The real story is Michael Vick's passing and running. A short but complete game. If he does this during the season, the Falcons will march into the playoffs.

Falcons top Pats on late field goal

NFL.com wire reports

ATLANTA (Aug. 11, 2006) -- The Atlanta Falcons have been looking far and wide for a young kicker who won't count too much against the salary cap.

They may have found him -- and he's already on the payroll.

Michael Koenen, who handled the punting and kickoff duties as a rookie last season, appears ready to take on another job after booting four long field goals, including a 40-yarder as time ran out for a 26-23 preseason victory over the New England Patriots.

Coach Jim Mora said he doesn't want to overwork Koenen, but he had to be impressed with the youngster's performance. The Falcons already dumped two kickers over the summer and two more in training camp, leaving Koenen and Tony Yelk.

Yelk booted an extra point and handled three kickoffs, but Koenen did the rest. He also kicked field goals of 44, 45 and 50 yards, averaged 44 yards on four punts and kicked off three times.

"I have reservations about it," Mora said. "I can't say he won the job. I liked what I saw tonight, but I'm concerned about having a guy do all three jobs. I'll take another week or so to see how he is, see how he feels. The last thing I want to do is wear him out. But with his ability to affect the game, like he did tonight, it's something we have to think long and hard about."

If Koenen is able to handle triple-duty this season, it would give the Falcons an extra roster spot and free up more cap room to bring in a player who can bulk up the interior of the defensive line. Chad Lavalais, last year's starter at nose tackle, has fallen out of favor and played sparingly in the preseason opener.


Falcons backup quarterback D.J. Shockley excited the local crowd late.
"I've got to take care of my body," Koenen said. "I'm just as worried about it as they are. But if it happens, awesome."

Rookie quarterback D.J. Shockley, who grew up in suburban Atlanta and played for the Georgia Bulldogs, thrilled the home fans with an impressive debut in the fourth quarter.

Cheered on with barks from fans who remember him leading Georgia to the Southeastern Conference title last season, Shockley guided the Falcons on a 14-play, 56-yard drive in the final 2:06. The biggest play was a 14-yard pass to Kevin Youngblood, who made a leaping catch over the middle. After a spike and a short run, Koenen trotted on the field and kicked the winning field goal.

Shockley completed 4 of 10 passes for 40 yards, his percentage hurt by a couple of clock-stopping spikes on the final drive. He also ran twice for 12 yards.

"I wondered if I would be nervous," Shockley said. "I was pleased."

Another Falcons rookie got off to a rousing start. Third-round pick Jerious Norwood turned two short passes into long gains, fitting right in with a team that already has Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett.

Norwood rambled 37 yards down the right sideline after hauling in a pass from No. 2 quarterback Matt Schaub. Then, with the third quarter winding down, he grabbed a pass from Bryan Randall and went 34 yards for a touchdown, making a great move to lose one defender and then turning on the speed.

"Whatever it takes," Norwood said. "If I have to run over somebody, I'll do that. If I have to juke somebody, I'll do that."

Michael Vick and Tom Brady played to a draw.

Vick, who broke his leg in a 2003 preseason game, ran only one series for the Falcons. He completed 3 of 4 passes for 26 yards and broke off a 16-yard run that put Atlanta in position for Koenen's first field goal.

Brady also played one series, completing three straight passes for 24 yards before an incompletion at the Atlanta 7. The Patriots got the first of three field goals. Martin Gramatica, seeking to replace Adam Vinatieri, made kicks of 26 and 30 yards. The other candidate, Stephen Gostkowski, made a 34-yarder.

Matt Cassel went the rest of the way at quarterback for New England, trying to show he's ready to be Brady's backup. Cassel was the Patriots' third-stringer last season and he barely played at Southern California, where he was stuck behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

Cassel was stripped of the ball on his first possession, but also threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Cobbs.

In the fourth quarter, Cassel directed drives of 80 and 77 yards that helped the Patriots overcome a 10-point deficit. He finished 13 of 26 for 229 yards.

"I need to play a lot better," Cassel said. "I left a lot of throws out there."

Notes: The Patriots didn't have many of their biggest stars. LB Tedy Bruschi is expected to miss the entire preseason and maybe longer after undergoing wrist surgery. DL Richard Seymour, S Rodney Harrison and TE Daniel Graham are nursing injuries. WR Deion Branch is holding out for a new contract. ... Atlanta LB Keith Brooking went out in the first quarter with a sprained right ankle. He didn't return.

Jay Culter Does "Leinart" -- Lions New Team Wins 20-13

While Leinart sits looking for more money, Jay Cutler, who some believe is better, makes a fine start for Denver.

Cutler impressive, but Lions edge Broncos

NFL.com wire reports

DETROIT (Aug. 11, 2006) -- Rod Marinelli remembers scurrying along the sideline before The Star-Spangled Banner, making sure the Lions were standing and holding their helmets properly.

Before Marinelli knew it, his debut as a head coach at any level was over.

Each of the Lions' quarterbacks -- Jon Kitna, Dan Orlovsky and Josh McCown -- led scoring drives and Detroit's defense caused three turnovers in a 20-13 victory against the Denver Broncos.

"I love to win," said Marinelli, a former defensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "If we're playing marbles, I'm going to get you."

Third-string quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt drove Denver deep into Detroit territory in the final minute, but on a fourth-and-goal at the 9 his pass behind David Kircus was dropped.

"You couldn't have a better way to finish," Marinelli said. "I like pressure."

Kircus, a former Lions receiver competing for a spot on Denver's roster, had six catches for 76 yards and a score. But he only lamented his final opportunity.

"Any time you get a chance for the ball, have it touch your hand in the end zone on the last play of the game, it's heartbreaking when you don't bring it in," he said.

Even though his team lost, Broncos safety John Lynch was happy to see one of his former coaches get a chance to lead a team.

"This opportunity has been long overdue," Lynch said. "He was a defensive line coach with the Bucs, but he was more than that to guys on both sides of the ball. He's a special coach, and a great guy."


Damian Gregory (93) and Claude Harriott gang up on Denver's Bradlee Van Pelt.
The Lions led 10-0 early in the second quarter and, after losing the lead, went back ahead 17-13 midway through the third. Artose Pinner's 2-yard run was the go-ahead score, set up by Mike Williams' 24-yard catch from McCown. After Denver's third turnover, Matt Prater's field goal early in the fourth quarter gave Detroit a 20-13 lead.

Jay Cutler had a solid debut for the Broncos. The 11th pick in the draft was 16-for-22 for 192 yards and a touchdown.

"He played well, executed the offense," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. "Both teams were very vanilla in their approach, so you don't get too excited. But a guy's got to go out there and perform, and I thought he showed a lot of poise."

Both starting quarterbacks, Kitna and Denver's Jake Plummer, played only one series and each moved the ball about 60 yards.

Kitna, signed as a free agent to replace Joey Harrington, converted consecutive third downs with an 18-yard pass to Roy Williams and a 10-yard run to set up Jason Hanson's 36-yard field goal.

Plummer got the Broncos past midfield with a 16-yard pass to Darius Watts, then Mike Bell fumbled two plays later -- less than a week after the undrafted rookie moved past Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne to become the No. 1 running back.

"We didn't like the fumble, but that's typical of young guys in the NFL," Shanahan said. "It's similar to what Clinton Portis went through as a rookie. That's why you play those guys in these situations."

Marinelli said earlier in the week McCown would be the second quarterback to play, but Orlovsky took snaps after the coaching staff decided to change plans. The second-year pro made a 24-yard pass to Corey Bradford on his first play and ended his first possession with a good read and accurate toss to running back Arlen Harris for a 20-yard TD and a 10-0 lead.

Cutler took advantage of a turnover by threading a pass through a zone to Tony Scheffler for a 15-yard gain, which set up Jason Elam's 36-yard kick. With 44 seconds left in the half, Cutler threw three passes for 27 yards and Tatum Bell had a 15-yard run before Elam made another field goal to make it 10-6 at halftime.

Tatum Bell finished with 26 yards on five carries and Mike Bell had 20 yards on seven rushes.

Denver went ahead 13-10 early in the third quarter. Cutler looked right and threw left to a wide-open Kircus.

The Lions had 16 players inactive, including five starters on defense and two first-string linemen on offense.

Denver had seven inactives, including receivers Javon Walker (knee) and Rod Smith (hamstring), cornerback Champ Bailey -- coming off a season slowed by shoulder and hamstring injuries -- and defensive end Courtney Brown, whose latest knee surgery was Aug. 9.

GAME NOTES:

After an impressive training camp and one reception for 9 yards, Broncos rookie WR Brandon Marshall left the game in the first half with a strained right knee. Shanahan said he didn't think the injury was serious.
Detroit TE Casey FitzSimmons, who had moved past Marcus Pollard on the depth chart, might be out for two weeks with an injured left wrist.

Chad Pennington Sharp; Tampa Bay Bucs Rush For 167 - Get Win 16-3

Don't count Chad out; remember, he was injured.

Pennington plays well, but Bucs win 16-3

NFL.com wire reports

TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 11, 2006) -- Even if Eric Mangini isn't ready to say it, Chad Pennington looks like a quarterback ready to reclaim his job.

Playing for the first time since undergoing a second major operation on his right shoulder, Pennington worked two series in the New York Jets' 16-3 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"It's fun to be back out there with my teammates. That's most important," Pennington said. "You miss that when you're injured."

The seventh-year pro completed 9 of 14 passes for 54 yards and lost a fumble when he was sacked early in the second quarter. But more important for him and the Jets, his surgically repaired shoulder withstood the first hits he has taken since Week 3 of last season.

"I feel pretty good. I took a few shots, but everything worked out fine. That's what you work hard for," Pennington said. "I was pleased how everything turned out."

Whether he's officially No. 1, though, is unclear.

"That's completely up in the air," Mangini, the Jets' first-year coach, said when asked about the quarterback rotation for the next preseason game.

Rookie Bruce Gradkowski threw second-half touchdown passes of 11 yards to Paris Warren and 2 yards to third-round draft pick Maurice Stovall for Tampa Bay, which pulled its first-team defense after Pennington kept them on the field for a few more plays than the Bucs would have liked.

"We didn't give up any points," Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay's All-Pro linebacker said. "But obviously we would like to get off the field a little sooner."

Pennington completed his first five passes -- all short throws -- for 30 yards. He took his first real hit since the latest operation on his right rotator cuff when he ran for 5 yards and was tackled by cornerback Juran Bolden.


Maurice Stovall's touchdown catch closed the scoring.
The New York quarterback sustained his first drive with three third-down conversions, one a 9-yard completion to Tim Dwight. He moved the ball deep into Tampa Bay territory on the Jets' second possession, but fumbled when sacked by safety Kalvin Pearson on third-and-goal from the 5.

Mangini declined to reveal a starter for the preseason opener. Nevertheless, it wasn't a surprise when Pennington trotted onto the field to take the first snap. He has been No. 1 for parts of the past four seasons and has been having the best camp of any of the candidates for the job.

"I thought Chad did a really nice job with handling the huddle, with moving the football, with his decisions," Mangini said. "I thought he did a really good job."

The coach gave a less favorable review of the Jets' performance overall.

"Before the game, I talked to the players and said the important things were focus, communication and finish. That's what I was looking for," Mangini said.

"I think we did a pretty good job in the first half of moving the football. But we couldn't finish the drives and they could finish drives. That was the difference."

Rookie Kellen Clemens followed Pennington in the second quarter, leading a drive that produced Mike Nugent's 20-yard field goal on the last play of the half. Patrick Ramsey finished up for the Jets, who did not use Brooks Bollinger.

Chris Simms started for Tampa Bay and played one series. Tim Rattay directed a first-half field goal drive and Gradkowski, a sixth-round draft pick from Toledo, played most of the second half, completing 11 of 13 passes for 104 yards against New York's reserves.

"Of course we had some mistakes, but you expect that in the first preseason game," said Simms, who completed 2 of 3 passes for 5 yards. "We did some things well, too. It is a good building block."

Nearly all of Tampa Bay's starters were out by the second series, and three regulars on offense -- running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, receiver Joey Galloway and tackle Kenyatta Walker -- didn't play. Cornerback Brian Kelly was missing on defense after being excused to attend to a personal matter.

GAME NOTES:

The Bucs rushed for 167 yards, with Earnest Graham gaining 69 on 17 carries and Carey Davis 67 on 14 attempts.
The Jets appeared to stop the second-quarter drive that ended with Matt Bryant's 25-yard field goal when they recovered Michael Pittman's fumble at the Bucs 42. Pittman was ruled down by contact, and the Jets challenged the call. The replay review confirmed that Pittman fumbled. However, the Jets were not awarded possession because the officials couldn't determine who immediately recovered the ball.
Bucs first-round draft pick Davin Joseph started at right guard and second-rounder Jeremy Trueblood started at right tackle.
The Jets waived CB Bruce Thornton and claimed FB Jamar Martin off waivers. DT Sione Pouha was placed on injured reserve.

Alex Smith Leads 49ers Over Chicago Bears 28-14 - NFL.com

The 49ers best addition was Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner, and it showed.

49ers impress in 28-14 opening win

NFL.com wire reports

SAN FRANCISCO (Aug. 12, 2006) -- Frank Gore can see it in his quarterback's eyes. Alex Smith is ready to lead the San Francisco 49ers.

Brian Griese seems just as ready to lead the Chicago Bears -- and that might be bad news for Rex Grossman.

Smith passed for 137 yards and led the 49ers to a big early lead in their 28-14 exhibition victory over the Bears.

The 49ers had the league's worst offense and defense last season, but they were up 17-0 when Smith left after going 16 for 21 with no interceptions in perhaps the most confident performance of his short NFL career. New receiver Antonio Bryant had five receptions for 54 yards, and running back Frank Gore also caught five passes from last season's No. 1 overall draft pick.

"He's a grown man now," said Gore, who rushed for 49 yards and a score. "I looked in his eyes last year, and his eyes were like this."

Gore widened his eyes until his lids disappeared, suggesting fear and uncertainty.

"Now, he's a grown man," Gore concluded. "Alex wants it. That's what I respect about him. He wants to be great."


Alex Smith had one of his best performances as a pro quarterback.
Keeping the athletic Smith on the move with play-action and rollouts, the 49ers drove the ball with surprising ease against the defense that allowed the NFL's fewest points last season.

Smith led a 13-play scoring drive in the second quarter, pushing San Francisco 68 yards before Gore's 1-yard TD plunge.

"It was a ton of fun," said Smith, who had one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions in nine appearances last season. "I had so much anxious energy to go out and get something done. We worked really hard during this offseason and camp, and it's starting to show up."

Meanwhile, Chicago's first-team offense did nothing to erase memories of last season's bumbling unit, which was carried to the NFC North title by an outstanding defense. Grossman, who missed the first 13 regular-season games with a broken ankle, went 3 of 11 for just 47 yards while Chicago struggled to move forward.

The Niners forced two first-quarter turnovers that led to 10 points, including linebacker Jeff Ulbrich 's 32-yard TD return of Grossman's fumble.

"I just never really established any kind of rhythm," Grossman said. "I wasn't able to calm down and really feel in control of what I was doing. Tonight just wasn't a good night, and I'm glad it's over."

But Griese, signed in the offseason to give provide an alternative to the injury-plagued incumbent, led a 75-yard scoring drive late in the first half, capped by Gabe Reid 's 12-yard TD catch.

Griese did it again in the second half, guiding an 83-yard drive ending in Rashied Davis' 41-yard TD reception. Nearly 10 months after Griese's season ended in Tampa Bay with a knee injury, the veteran showed he's ready for more action.

"My biggest goal of this preseason is to make sure my knee feels good, and then show this team that I can lead them down the field and score," Griese said.

Coach Lovie Smith has insisted the Bears have faith in Grossman, but Griese -- who went 6 for 7 for 134 yards -- says he wants to start in Chicago.

When asked if a quarterback controversy was brewing, Smith smiled and said: "Rex is our starting quarterback. This is our first game. We'll go on to next week."

Gore got 10 carries and most of the first-team action in the latest indication he has passed Kevan Barlow, who got just one carry while nursing a bruised thigh, on the 49ers' depth chart.

But the 49ers' defense also did its share: Mark Bradley fumbled after a short reception on the Bears' opening drive, and Walt Harris recovered. Smith moved the 49ers into scoring range with short passes, and Joe Nedney hit a 33-yard field goal.

Grossman made the Bears' next big mistake, muffing a third-down snap and then fumbling the ball straight to Ulbrich, who returned it down the Chicago sideline for his first touchdown. Grossman then missed two open receivers on the Bears' first drive of the second quarter.

Notes: The 49ers replaced Smith with Jesse Palmer and Shaun Hill, who scrambled for a fourth-quarter touchdown. ... Chicago rested running backs Cedric Benson and Thomas Jones with minor injuries in front of a half-full Candlestick Park. ... Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher, whose NFL-record 108-yard return of a missed field goal ended the first half of Chicago's victory over the 49ers last season, was shaken up on a hit in the first quarter, but returned to the game.

Jerry Jones - Dallas Cowboys Owner Concerned About Offensive Line - Star Telegram

COWBOYS NOTES
Jones concerned with offensive line

By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

STAR-TELEGRAM/RALPH LAUER
Terrell Owens wore a Discovery Channel cycling jersey and bike helmet as he watched practice Thursday.
OXNARD, Calif. -- The offensive line is what Jerry Jones calls a "challenge."

The Cowboys owner/general manager is excited about the prospects of seeing backup quarterback Tony Romo start, which is all but a certainty when the Cowboys start their preseason Saturday night in Seattle.

Jones isn't worried about Terrell Owens, or the circus that follows him.

But he is concerned about his O-line.

"That is our biggest challenge," Jones said. "[Flozell Adams] has got to improve, and will, coming off his knee surgery.

"I look across there [and] we have a lot of ifs there, got a lot of promises there. But that doesn't surprise me because we haven't competed that much against a situation to really evaluate it. But we haven't found out a lot at right tackle, either. That's the challenge."

Jones sounds cautiously optimistic that the Cowboys may have a quarterback of the future on their team. And they have one despite not going to the top of the draft and making the financial risk of acquiring a quarterback.

Whether that quarterback of the future is Romo or Drew Henson, he's not sure. But at least there is the chance.

"I can't help, at any position, to like to see a young player," Jones said. "It's something about knowing it's not just this game, but there is a lot in the future there.

"But I don't want my enthusiasm for the future to really, in any way, color the fact that with my expectations for this year it's going to be hard to get there with a rookie quarterback. In my mind, having never taken a snap in the NFL, that's a rookie quarterback."

Jones also said the team continues to discuss a contract extension with linebacker Bradie James. James' agent, Jimmy Sexton, has been at Cowboys camp the past few days.

But a Cowboys source said no deal is imminent and might not happen at all.

Spears close

Defensive tackle Marcus Spears, who has been out since the second day of camp with a cartilage tear in his knee, said he's close to returning. And unlike last season, when he missed a great deal of training camp as a rookie because of a sprained knee, this time is different.

"Physically, I'm there. I know the playbook now," Spears said. "Last year, I got so far behind; I didn't know what defense we were in."

Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he expects fellow second-year lineman Jay Ratliff to push Spears for the job. Spears welcomes the challenge.

"It's all competition. At the end of the day you are teammates, but everybody wants to play, and I respect a guy that comes in and plays well," Spears said. "Nothing bad to say; Jay is playing great. When I come back I'll put my résumé on the table, and we'll see what happens."

SI's Mike Silver Ranks NFL Owners : Bob Kraft 1; Tom Benston 32

My long time friend Mike Silver of Sports Illustrated recently ranked all 32 NFL Owners, placing New England Patriots Owner Bob Kraft first and New Orleans Saints Owner Tom Bentson last, and he did that for Bentson's initally heartless plan to move the team in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

But I know Sil wanted to place Al Davis lower than 25th ranking just for banning him from Raiders practices years ago. Still the 25th ranking means Sil's over it, and has been treated better by the Raiders, due in no small part to the behind the scenes work of Raiders PR guy -- and former Fox Sports announcer -- Artie Gigantino.