We finally got something to chew on this week as the starters for most teams played a whole half. A lot of players are looking good and others need to drastically improve. I'm not going to put too much stock into it though, it's still the preseason.
Here are your NFL power rankings heading into Week 3 of the preseason.
1. Green Bay Packers—Matt Flynn is having a hell of a preseason so far. Could he possibly be next offseason's Kevin Kolb?
2. New England Patriots—Breaking news: The lockout hasn't effected Tom Brady; he is ready for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins.
3. Atlanta Falcons—The Falcons are ready for Week 1.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers—Pittsburgh is probably the last team that looks like they're in regular-season form right now. James Harrison did hit Michael Vick though; he can't possibly go two weeks without a fine.
5. Philadelphia Eagles—Wow. Could this team have played any worse? With only a couple of weeks left before the regular season starts, the "Dream Team" looked more like a nightmare.
6. New York Jets—The Jets have two receivers that have caught Super Bowl-winning touchdowns on their team. Both are looking good.
7. New Orleans Saints—The prettiest pass I've seen all season was a 56-yard touchdown by Chase Daniel to Joseph Morgan. It's only been two weeks, but still.
8. Baltimore Ravens—Lee Evans looked great in a Ravens uniform. Maybe the underrated receiver will finally be respected on a better team.
9. San Diego Chargers—Ryan Matthews actually looked like that player that was drafted in the first round. Hopefully he can keep it up.
10. Dallas Cowboys—Every time I want to believe in Tony Romo, he throws an interception into triple coverage. Jeez!
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Rookie Mason Foster's hit on Chad OchoCinco was probably the only highlight for Tampa against New England. He'll receive a letter from the NFL, but that's one way to stand out.
12. Indianapolis Colts—Can Peyton Manning please come back? There's just something about seeing three points next to the Colts' name that doesn't seem right.
13. Houston Texans—Last year it was Arian Foster. This year it's Ben Tate? It's only one game, but he reminded me a lot of Maurice Jones-Drew.
14. New York Giants—Boy, if Eli Manning only played as well as Jon Gruden described him, the Giants would be fantastic.
15. Chicago Bears—What will happen this season for the Bears offense? More 3-and-outs or more first downs?
16. Oakland Raiders—I didn't like the Raiders quarterback situation as it was. If Jason Campbell misses time, it would get worse with Kyle Boller or Trent Edwards under center.
17. Detroit Lions—Detroit looked good, but anytime you have 14 penalties calls for extra laps during practice this week.
18. Kansas City Chiefs—The Dummy of the Week goes to rookie wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin. After getting in a fight with a teammate, he will miss the remainder of the preseason due to an injured hand.
19. St.Louis Rams—Is it just me or is everybody overrating the Rams? Yes, they may be the best team in their division, but that's not saying much.
20. Miami Dolphins—Reggie Bush looked just how I imagined. Fast, aggressive and playing with a chip on his shoulder. If he can carry this play into the regular season, the Dolphins could actually have a chance in the AFC East.
21. Minnesota Vikings—Marcus Sherels is one of the few Vikings to earn a roster spot with his nice pick six.
22. San Francisco 49ers—Funny how Braylon Edwards goes to the west coast and catches passes with one hand. He couldn't catch with two in Cleveland or New York.
23. Tennessee Titans—O Chris Johnson, where art thou?
24. Cleveland Browns—Oh, Colt McCoy, you're really growing on me.
25. Arizona Cardinals—Tim Hightower had more rushing yards than both of the Cardinals' starters combined. Maybe they let the wrong running back go.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars—David Garrard or Blaine Gabbert? The last two weeks really haven't determined much.
27. Washington Redskins—I always liked Tim Hightower in Arizona, despite his fumble problem. If he can run like he did last week, the Redskins will have one less thing to worry about. But then again, it was the Colts.
28. Seattle Seahawks—It doesn't matter how many weapons you add to the offense if you don't have a quarterback to give them the ball.
29. Denver Broncos—Forget Tim Tebow. For what it's worth, Willis McGahee has always had a nose for the end zone and could be a valuable asset to this team.
30. Carolina Panthers—Other than the fact that Cam Newton can run, the Panthers have two of the same quarterbacks.
31. Buffalo Bills—Any way Brad Smith could be the Bills' starting quarterback? He was 4-for-4 with 8.5 yards per pass. I'll take that.
32. Cincinnati Bengals—Serious question: Could the Bengals beat any team in the AP Top 25?
2011年8月22日星期一
Chiefs trying to build team chemistry in camp
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- On one practice field at the Kansas City Chiefs' training facility Sunday, veteran running back Thomas Jones caught passes out of the backfield along with the rest of the team.
Over in the corner of an adjacent field, about as far away as possible, first-round draft pick Jonathan Baldwin slowly rode a stationary bicycle, his right hand heavily bandaged. The wide receiver did not accompany the Chiefs to Baltimore for their preseason game on Friday night, and coach Todd Haley has refused to discuss Baldwin besides acknowledging that he was injured during training camp.
When asked about a reported locker room fight between Baldwin and Jones that caused the injury, Haley referred to it as a "family issue" and declined to reveal any details.
"What I do know, as I've conveyed the last three years, most everything that happens within these walls is family business," Haley said. "And I just think that's the best thing for our team, and to become a real good team, I think you have to have those areas that are off limits."
While Jones took part in the Chiefs' entire practice Sunday, their first full workout since breaking camp in St. Joseph, Mo., Baldwin wore only his jersey and shorts while working out with a trainer.
He wandered the sideline during the opening drills, and then retreated to the stationary bike in the corner of the practice field, which he alternated with dragging a weighted sled up from end zone to end zone.
While Haley would not address Baldwin specifically, he remains optimistic that all of Kansas City's draft picks will be able to contribute at some point -- its marquee selection included.
"As I've said much of this camp, this entire group of guys, I have a really good feeling about this young group of guys," he said. "We're not there yet, we're still developing, and I have belief, and I believe in really all these guys that are here. And he falls into that group."
The fact that Baldwin is missing key practices doesn't help that development.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound wide receiver was chosen with the 26th overall pick to help take some of the pressure off Dwayne Bowe. His imposing size and physical nature seemed like the perfect fit for the Chiefs' system, but he came into the NFL with considerable baggage. He was arrested in 2009 for allegedly groping a female student, though charges were later dropped, and had run-ins with his coaches at Pittsburgh.
The Chiefs under Scott Pioli have been reluctant to draft players with character issues, but the general manager said upon selecting Baldwin that they were comfortable with their decision.
"We vetted this player and many other players that had situations in their past," Pioli said at the time of the draft. "We talked to a lot of people on this, and we feel very confident."
Baldwin and Jones were unavailable in the locker room after practice Sunday, and teammates sidestepped every question posed to them about the alleged altercation.
Wide receiver Jerheme Urban acknowledged the importance of building team chemistry, though, particularly this season. The NFL lockout wiped away the chance for teams to meet during the summer, and it caused a condensed training camp in which veteran free agents couldn't even practice the first week.
"We look at ourselves as a family and we try to protect that," Urban said. "The biggest thing is having that camaraderie, and you have to be together to build that. We missed the entire offseason."
Fullback Le'Ron McClain said that the Baltimore Ravens, where he spent the first four years of his career, had one of the closest-knit groups of players in the league. That's one of the reasons they've been consistently successful as a franchise, winning at least 10 games six of the past 11 seasons.
He believes the Chiefs will be able to develop a similar feeling over time.
"These guys welcomed me with open arms, I can't say enough about them," said McClain, who signed with Kansas City as a free agent. "But it's true. It's harder to build some team unity when you missed 40-some odd days of offseason work because of the lockout."
Over in the corner of an adjacent field, about as far away as possible, first-round draft pick Jonathan Baldwin slowly rode a stationary bicycle, his right hand heavily bandaged. The wide receiver did not accompany the Chiefs to Baltimore for their preseason game on Friday night, and coach Todd Haley has refused to discuss Baldwin besides acknowledging that he was injured during training camp.
When asked about a reported locker room fight between Baldwin and Jones that caused the injury, Haley referred to it as a "family issue" and declined to reveal any details.
"What I do know, as I've conveyed the last three years, most everything that happens within these walls is family business," Haley said. "And I just think that's the best thing for our team, and to become a real good team, I think you have to have those areas that are off limits."
While Jones took part in the Chiefs' entire practice Sunday, their first full workout since breaking camp in St. Joseph, Mo., Baldwin wore only his jersey and shorts while working out with a trainer.
He wandered the sideline during the opening drills, and then retreated to the stationary bike in the corner of the practice field, which he alternated with dragging a weighted sled up from end zone to end zone.
While Haley would not address Baldwin specifically, he remains optimistic that all of Kansas City's draft picks will be able to contribute at some point -- its marquee selection included.
"As I've said much of this camp, this entire group of guys, I have a really good feeling about this young group of guys," he said. "We're not there yet, we're still developing, and I have belief, and I believe in really all these guys that are here. And he falls into that group."
The fact that Baldwin is missing key practices doesn't help that development.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound wide receiver was chosen with the 26th overall pick to help take some of the pressure off Dwayne Bowe. His imposing size and physical nature seemed like the perfect fit for the Chiefs' system, but he came into the NFL with considerable baggage. He was arrested in 2009 for allegedly groping a female student, though charges were later dropped, and had run-ins with his coaches at Pittsburgh.
The Chiefs under Scott Pioli have been reluctant to draft players with character issues, but the general manager said upon selecting Baldwin that they were comfortable with their decision.
"We vetted this player and many other players that had situations in their past," Pioli said at the time of the draft. "We talked to a lot of people on this, and we feel very confident."
Baldwin and Jones were unavailable in the locker room after practice Sunday, and teammates sidestepped every question posed to them about the alleged altercation.
Wide receiver Jerheme Urban acknowledged the importance of building team chemistry, though, particularly this season. The NFL lockout wiped away the chance for teams to meet during the summer, and it caused a condensed training camp in which veteran free agents couldn't even practice the first week.
"We look at ourselves as a family and we try to protect that," Urban said. "The biggest thing is having that camaraderie, and you have to be together to build that. We missed the entire offseason."
Fullback Le'Ron McClain said that the Baltimore Ravens, where he spent the first four years of his career, had one of the closest-knit groups of players in the league. That's one of the reasons they've been consistently successful as a franchise, winning at least 10 games six of the past 11 seasons.
He believes the Chiefs will be able to develop a similar feeling over time.
"These guys welcomed me with open arms, I can't say enough about them," said McClain, who signed with Kansas City as a free agent. "But it's true. It's harder to build some team unity when you missed 40-some odd days of offseason work because of the lockout."
2011年8月20日星期六
Ravens rally for victory over Chiefs
Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor directed two fourth-quarter touchdown drives as the Ravens rallied for a 31-13 victory over the winless Chiefs at Baltimore.
Kansas City's Tyler Palko completed 8 of 13 passes for 95 yards and produced 10 points in his three drives - a tying 4-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Copper late in the second quarter and a 12-play march culminating in a tiebreaking 30-yard field goal by Ryan Succop with 6:58 left in the third quarter.
Chiefs starting quarterback Matt Cassel was 6 for 14 for 73 yards. But Kansas City, blanked 25-0 by Tampa Bay last Thursday, clicked on offense once Palko entered midway through the second quarter.
Dolphins 20, Panthers 10: At Miami, Fla., Cam Newton lofted a long pass that fell incomplete on the final play of the first half, and that's the closest he came to reaching the end zone.
Newton played the entire first half, when the Panthers managed only three first downs, had the ball for less than eight minutes and fell behind 17-0. Newton went 7 for 14 for 66 yards, and he ran four times for 18 yards.
Packers 28, Cardinals 20: At Green Bay, Wis., Aaron Rodgers topped off a sharp performance with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Rodgers played into the second quarter, completing 9 of 12 passes for 97 yards and a TD. Matt Flynn took over for Rodgers and led the Packers to another touchdown before halftime, a 2-yard run by rookie Alex Green.
Jaguars 15, Falcons 13: At Jacksonville, Fla., David Garrard did little to solidify his starting spot, and rookie Blaine Gabbert was equally unimpressive for the Jaguars.
Garrard completed 7 of 12 passes for 99 yards, with an interception in three series. Gabbert, the 10th pick in the April draft, completed 11 of 23 passes for 96 yards in seven series. Gabbert was plagued by several drops, including three on one second-half series that forced the Jaguars to settle for a 54-yard field goal.
Redskins 16, Colts 3: At Indianapolis, one week after Rex Grossman's impressive performance, John Beck answered by leading the Redskins to four straight scores in the first half.
Grossman was 19 of 26 for 207 yards in a 16-7 win over defending AFC champion Pittsburgh last week. Beck's answer: 14 of 17 for 140 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions against the defending AFC South champs.
Lions 30, Browns 28: At Cleveland, Ohio, Colt McCoy threw three touchdown passes - two to tight end Evan Moore - in the first half, but Cleveland blew a 15-point lead in a penalty-filled exhibition.
Kansas City's Tyler Palko completed 8 of 13 passes for 95 yards and produced 10 points in his three drives - a tying 4-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Copper late in the second quarter and a 12-play march culminating in a tiebreaking 30-yard field goal by Ryan Succop with 6:58 left in the third quarter.
Chiefs starting quarterback Matt Cassel was 6 for 14 for 73 yards. But Kansas City, blanked 25-0 by Tampa Bay last Thursday, clicked on offense once Palko entered midway through the second quarter.
Dolphins 20, Panthers 10: At Miami, Fla., Cam Newton lofted a long pass that fell incomplete on the final play of the first half, and that's the closest he came to reaching the end zone.
Newton played the entire first half, when the Panthers managed only three first downs, had the ball for less than eight minutes and fell behind 17-0. Newton went 7 for 14 for 66 yards, and he ran four times for 18 yards.
Packers 28, Cardinals 20: At Green Bay, Wis., Aaron Rodgers topped off a sharp performance with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Rodgers played into the second quarter, completing 9 of 12 passes for 97 yards and a TD. Matt Flynn took over for Rodgers and led the Packers to another touchdown before halftime, a 2-yard run by rookie Alex Green.
Jaguars 15, Falcons 13: At Jacksonville, Fla., David Garrard did little to solidify his starting spot, and rookie Blaine Gabbert was equally unimpressive for the Jaguars.
Garrard completed 7 of 12 passes for 99 yards, with an interception in three series. Gabbert, the 10th pick in the April draft, completed 11 of 23 passes for 96 yards in seven series. Gabbert was plagued by several drops, including three on one second-half series that forced the Jaguars to settle for a 54-yard field goal.
Redskins 16, Colts 3: At Indianapolis, one week after Rex Grossman's impressive performance, John Beck answered by leading the Redskins to four straight scores in the first half.
Grossman was 19 of 26 for 207 yards in a 16-7 win over defending AFC champion Pittsburgh last week. Beck's answer: 14 of 17 for 140 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions against the defending AFC South champs.
Lions 30, Browns 28: At Cleveland, Ohio, Colt McCoy threw three touchdown passes - two to tight end Evan Moore - in the first half, but Cleveland blew a 15-point lead in a penalty-filled exhibition.
2011年8月19日星期五
Patriots win second exhibition game behind Brady
Tampa, Fla. - Tom Brady showed midseason form in his preseason debut.
After sitting out New England's preseason opener in Week 1, the reigning NFL MVP tossed a pair of touchdowns and completed 11 of 19 passes in the New England Patriots' 31-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.
Brady threw for 118 yards in one half of work, and connected on scoring strikes from 16 yards to Aaron Hernandez, and 8 yards out to Chad Ochocinco, who also both made their debuts.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis also got in on the act, rushing 11 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick called this a big week for his team in regards to position battles and roster spots. It included three straight days of full-pad practices, creating what some players characterized as a regular-season atmosphere.
The pace seemed to be there as Brady and the rest of the first unit played all six offensive series of the first half, failing to score on only two. They scored on four of their first five drives.
Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris had a tough time finding any fault with his team's effort in a 25-0 rout at Kansas City last week. But this week was more than a small reversal of fortune.
Third-year quarterback Josh Freeman, who was Brady-like against the Chiefs, misfired on his first three passes of the night to set a bad tone the Bucs never got over.
He was done after five series, connecting on 5 of 10 passes for just 33 yards. The Buccaneers had more than that in penalty yards in the first half. They were whistled 10 times for 85 yards, as New England built a 28-0 halftime lead.
Freeman was also sacked twice by the Patriots, who held Tampa Bay to just 73 total yards and four first downs in the opening half. Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo got credit for both sacks, to go along with five tackles.
The Buccaneers didn't get on the board until early in the third quarter when cornerback Elbert Mack intercepted Ryan Mallett and returned it 69 yards for the score.
Their lone offensive score came early in the third quarter when third-string running back Allen Bradford capped a 12-play, 84-yard drive with 2-yard touchdown run. They were just two of the Bucs' 64 yards rushing.
But, by then it was seemed clear to the already thinning Raymond James Stadium crowd that it was not Tampa Bay's night.
After sitting out New England's preseason opener in Week 1, the reigning NFL MVP tossed a pair of touchdowns and completed 11 of 19 passes in the New England Patriots' 31-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.
Brady threw for 118 yards in one half of work, and connected on scoring strikes from 16 yards to Aaron Hernandez, and 8 yards out to Chad Ochocinco, who also both made their debuts.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis also got in on the act, rushing 11 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick called this a big week for his team in regards to position battles and roster spots. It included three straight days of full-pad practices, creating what some players characterized as a regular-season atmosphere.
The pace seemed to be there as Brady and the rest of the first unit played all six offensive series of the first half, failing to score on only two. They scored on four of their first five drives.
Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris had a tough time finding any fault with his team's effort in a 25-0 rout at Kansas City last week. But this week was more than a small reversal of fortune.
Third-year quarterback Josh Freeman, who was Brady-like against the Chiefs, misfired on his first three passes of the night to set a bad tone the Bucs never got over.
He was done after five series, connecting on 5 of 10 passes for just 33 yards. The Buccaneers had more than that in penalty yards in the first half. They were whistled 10 times for 85 yards, as New England built a 28-0 halftime lead.
Freeman was also sacked twice by the Patriots, who held Tampa Bay to just 73 total yards and four first downs in the opening half. Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo got credit for both sacks, to go along with five tackles.
The Buccaneers didn't get on the board until early in the third quarter when cornerback Elbert Mack intercepted Ryan Mallett and returned it 69 yards for the score.
Their lone offensive score came early in the third quarter when third-string running back Allen Bradford capped a 12-play, 84-yard drive with 2-yard touchdown run. They were just two of the Bucs' 64 yards rushing.
But, by then it was seemed clear to the already thinning Raymond James Stadium crowd that it was not Tampa Bay's night.
2011年8月18日星期四
CSU freshman running back Donnell Alexander "a big-time talent"
FORT COLLINS — At three high schools near Kansas City, Mo., where his late father once starred for the NFL's Chiefs, running back Donnell Alexander earned four varsity letters, amassed more than 7,000 yards rushing, averaged 8.8 yards per carry and scored 95 touchdowns.
The Colorado State true freshman was to offense what his biological father, legendary linebacker/defensive end Derrick Thomas, was to defense.
He was a dominant game-changer.
"He's a big-time talent," Rams coach Steve Fairchild said of Alexander, one of two true freshmen looking to avoid a redshirt season and contribute to an experienced Rams' backfield. "Just coming in the way he does, he's not like a normal kid out of high school. He's over 200 pounds and can run. We're lucky to have him, and he's going to have a good career."
Alexander, 18, is learning the offense behind seniors Derek Good and Raymond Carter and sophomore Chris Nwoke. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Alexander or former Abilene, Texas, star Davon Riddick (6-0, 205), also a true freshman, will likely be asked to redshirt after Saturday's Ram Club scrimmage, although Fairchild said both might spend the season on the practice squad if Good, Carter and Nwoke remain healthy halfway through the year.
"I'm on the sideline and when I'm called on I'm going to go out there and do my job," Alexander said. "If I was to be redshirted, I'll just take that as a time for me to train — get bigger, faster, stronger. . . . Either way, I'm willing to do whatever to make the team better."
Back in 2000, a day before Alexander's seventh birthday on Jan. 24, Derrick Thomas suffered a severe injury and permanent paralysis when he was thrown from his sport utility vehicle in a one-car accident on a Kansas City highway. Thomas died two weeks later, on Feb. 8, from a blood clot that traveled to his lungs.
Alexander doesn't remember much about his father, primarily because he was mostly raised by his mother, Kim Alexander, and maternal grandfather Jack Williams.
Williams died from a prolonged illness in 2009 — the same year Thomas was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Williams' illness partly explains why Donnell attended three high schools. He and his mother wanted to be close to where Williams was being treated.
"I really wasn't around my dad as much as a younger child, so (Williams) basically took the role," said Alexander, who has a tattoo on his neck that reads "RIP DaDa" in Williams' honor. "He taught me how to be a man and grow up to be a good man. He helped me develop good character and helped me get to where I'm at now."
Alexander, who finished high school with a 3.2 grade-point average, still has plenty of support. His mother recently moved from Kansas City to Aurora to be closer to her son.
"I have a good mother, but a mother . . . can't teach you how to be a man," Alexander said. "It's tough at times. I wish I could be able to talk to my dad about issues I have here at school or on the field and stuff like that. But my mom does the job. She plays all those roles pretty well."
The Colorado State true freshman was to offense what his biological father, legendary linebacker/defensive end Derrick Thomas, was to defense.
He was a dominant game-changer.
"He's a big-time talent," Rams coach Steve Fairchild said of Alexander, one of two true freshmen looking to avoid a redshirt season and contribute to an experienced Rams' backfield. "Just coming in the way he does, he's not like a normal kid out of high school. He's over 200 pounds and can run. We're lucky to have him, and he's going to have a good career."
Alexander, 18, is learning the offense behind seniors Derek Good and Raymond Carter and sophomore Chris Nwoke. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Alexander or former Abilene, Texas, star Davon Riddick (6-0, 205), also a true freshman, will likely be asked to redshirt after Saturday's Ram Club scrimmage, although Fairchild said both might spend the season on the practice squad if Good, Carter and Nwoke remain healthy halfway through the year.
"I'm on the sideline and when I'm called on I'm going to go out there and do my job," Alexander said. "If I was to be redshirted, I'll just take that as a time for me to train — get bigger, faster, stronger. . . . Either way, I'm willing to do whatever to make the team better."
Back in 2000, a day before Alexander's seventh birthday on Jan. 24, Derrick Thomas suffered a severe injury and permanent paralysis when he was thrown from his sport utility vehicle in a one-car accident on a Kansas City highway. Thomas died two weeks later, on Feb. 8, from a blood clot that traveled to his lungs.
Alexander doesn't remember much about his father, primarily because he was mostly raised by his mother, Kim Alexander, and maternal grandfather Jack Williams.
Williams died from a prolonged illness in 2009 — the same year Thomas was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Williams' illness partly explains why Donnell attended three high schools. He and his mother wanted to be close to where Williams was being treated.
"I really wasn't around my dad as much as a younger child, so (Williams) basically took the role," said Alexander, who has a tattoo on his neck that reads "RIP DaDa" in Williams' honor. "He taught me how to be a man and grow up to be a good man. He helped me develop good character and helped me get to where I'm at now."
Alexander, who finished high school with a 3.2 grade-point average, still has plenty of support. His mother recently moved from Kansas City to Aurora to be closer to her son.
"I have a good mother, but a mother . . . can't teach you how to be a man," Alexander said. "It's tough at times. I wish I could be able to talk to my dad about issues I have here at school or on the field and stuff like that. But my mom does the job. She plays all those roles pretty well."
2011年8月17日星期三
Chiefs trying to get handle on kickoff conundrum
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs have a kicking conundrum, just like the rest of the NFL.
New rules putting kickoffs at the 35 yard line were designed to prevent injuries caused by high-speed collisions in the return game, but moving the placement five yards nearer midfield also took much of the drama out of special teams. Just about every kicker in the NFL now has the ability to boom the ball into the end zone.
The decision that coaches face is whether to actually do that.
Kansas City has been toying in training camp with a variety of popup and directional kicks, hoping speed in the coverage unit will allow it to trap opposing teams inside the 20. While they didn't have much of a chance to try out their plan in the preseason opener against Tampa Bay -- the Chiefs were shut out, so they only kicked off once -- they are likely to experiment more Friday night at Baltimore.
"There may be games where we say, 'Hey, we can hang this ball up and try to get it to come down and the goal line and maybe we feel comfortable trying to get them inside the 20,'" Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop said. "And then there may be times -- obviously every returner is dangerous -- but there may be times where, 'You know what? We don't want to mess with this guy. Let's try to line drive it out of the end zone.'"
The new rules should be helpful to Succop, who managed a touchback on just 10 percent of his kickoffs a year ago. League leader Billy Cundiff of the Ravens put the ball in the end zone without a return on 50.6 percent of his tries.
There's a good chance that kind of discrepancy won't exist anymore.
"I don't know if it negates the advantage; I think it equalizes it somewhat," said Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg. "Guys can now do what Billy did very, very well, and they can do it much easier."
There'll be more decisions to make than simply taking into account who is returning kicks, though, and therein lies the chess game for the coaches.
First, they will have to decide whether having the ball at the 20 is a win for the offense or defense -- or neither side. Kansas City head coach Todd Haley said he would normally consider it a win for the team kicking off, but that may change with new ways in which they can bottle teams up closer to the goal line.
That was evident on the first kickoff last Friday night against Tampa Bay, when Quentin Lawrence decided to bring out a ball kicked about 5 yards deep in the end zone. He was brought down at the 8, giving Kansas City some lousy field position to begin its first preseason game.
"It's very tempting to bring the ball out," Chiefs returner Dexter McCluster said. "It's up to the off returner to slow us down, but as a competitor, as a kickoff returner, we're going to want to be bringing it out sometimes."
Another decision coaches will have to make concerns personnel.
Wide receivers and cornerbacks who might otherwise have returned kicks could be pulled off special teams duty entirely, because the number of chances they'll have to impact the game has dwindled to the point where it's not worth the injury risk. By the same token, a young player may find it harder to break into the league because they no longer have the same chances to distinguish themselves on coverage.
"One of the ways I would try to make that team is I would show up on kickoff coverage and go make tackles and be the first guy downfield," Rosburg said. "That's an age-old method. They really don't have that opportunity right now, other than the fact that they're running through the end zone and trying to look fast."
Rosburg is among numerous coaches and players who are unhappy with the rule change, while most kickers seem to be in favor of it. Besides making it easier to kick touchbacks, it could make it easier to land a job.
Even though Succop is firmly entrenched as the Chiefs' starter, they felt compelled to sign free agent Todd Carter to ramp up the competition. He's known for the hang-time on kickoffs and his directional kicking ability.
"When you think about what the NFL is trying to do, and that is really reduce the number of injuries and the big-time collisions on kickoffs, I think they're getting what they wanted out of that," Succop said. "Right now a lot of people are thinking it's going to be touchbacks every single time you kick off, and I think early on you'll see a lot of that. As the weather turns and it gets cold and guys' legs wear out, it won't be a touchback every time.
"It's definitely going to be a lot different," he added, "but we're going to adjust for it."
New rules putting kickoffs at the 35 yard line were designed to prevent injuries caused by high-speed collisions in the return game, but moving the placement five yards nearer midfield also took much of the drama out of special teams. Just about every kicker in the NFL now has the ability to boom the ball into the end zone.
The decision that coaches face is whether to actually do that.
Kansas City has been toying in training camp with a variety of popup and directional kicks, hoping speed in the coverage unit will allow it to trap opposing teams inside the 20. While they didn't have much of a chance to try out their plan in the preseason opener against Tampa Bay -- the Chiefs were shut out, so they only kicked off once -- they are likely to experiment more Friday night at Baltimore.
"There may be games where we say, 'Hey, we can hang this ball up and try to get it to come down and the goal line and maybe we feel comfortable trying to get them inside the 20,'" Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop said. "And then there may be times -- obviously every returner is dangerous -- but there may be times where, 'You know what? We don't want to mess with this guy. Let's try to line drive it out of the end zone.'"
The new rules should be helpful to Succop, who managed a touchback on just 10 percent of his kickoffs a year ago. League leader Billy Cundiff of the Ravens put the ball in the end zone without a return on 50.6 percent of his tries.
There's a good chance that kind of discrepancy won't exist anymore.
"I don't know if it negates the advantage; I think it equalizes it somewhat," said Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg. "Guys can now do what Billy did very, very well, and they can do it much easier."
There'll be more decisions to make than simply taking into account who is returning kicks, though, and therein lies the chess game for the coaches.
First, they will have to decide whether having the ball at the 20 is a win for the offense or defense -- or neither side. Kansas City head coach Todd Haley said he would normally consider it a win for the team kicking off, but that may change with new ways in which they can bottle teams up closer to the goal line.
That was evident on the first kickoff last Friday night against Tampa Bay, when Quentin Lawrence decided to bring out a ball kicked about 5 yards deep in the end zone. He was brought down at the 8, giving Kansas City some lousy field position to begin its first preseason game.
"It's very tempting to bring the ball out," Chiefs returner Dexter McCluster said. "It's up to the off returner to slow us down, but as a competitor, as a kickoff returner, we're going to want to be bringing it out sometimes."
Another decision coaches will have to make concerns personnel.
Wide receivers and cornerbacks who might otherwise have returned kicks could be pulled off special teams duty entirely, because the number of chances they'll have to impact the game has dwindled to the point where it's not worth the injury risk. By the same token, a young player may find it harder to break into the league because they no longer have the same chances to distinguish themselves on coverage.
"One of the ways I would try to make that team is I would show up on kickoff coverage and go make tackles and be the first guy downfield," Rosburg said. "That's an age-old method. They really don't have that opportunity right now, other than the fact that they're running through the end zone and trying to look fast."
Rosburg is among numerous coaches and players who are unhappy with the rule change, while most kickers seem to be in favor of it. Besides making it easier to kick touchbacks, it could make it easier to land a job.
Even though Succop is firmly entrenched as the Chiefs' starter, they felt compelled to sign free agent Todd Carter to ramp up the competition. He's known for the hang-time on kickoffs and his directional kicking ability.
"When you think about what the NFL is trying to do, and that is really reduce the number of injuries and the big-time collisions on kickoffs, I think they're getting what they wanted out of that," Succop said. "Right now a lot of people are thinking it's going to be touchbacks every single time you kick off, and I think early on you'll see a lot of that. As the weather turns and it gets cold and guys' legs wear out, it won't be a touchback every time.
"It's definitely going to be a lot different," he added, "but we're going to adjust for it."
2011年8月16日星期二
NFL Capsules - AFC North and West: With advice from Favre, McCoy dazzles for Browns
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Colt McCoy showed up for his postgame news conference wearing a T-shirt endorsing a fishing tackle company.
Maybe best to reel in the expectations right away. After all, McCoy may have a tough time topping his exhibition debut.
Looking poised and comfortable in Cleveland's new West Coast offense, McCoy outshined Super Bowl star Aaron Rodgers and was nearly flawless as the Browns beat the Green Bay Packers 27-17 on Saturday night, making Cleveland rookie coach Pat Shurmur a winner in his first NFL preseason game.
McCoy completed 9 of 10 passes for 135 yards, one touchdown and compiled a 152.1 passer's rating — just a few points shy of perfection. The Browns, who have spent the past decade in a frustrating search for a franchise quarterback to lead them back to respectability, are hoping McCoy, may finally answer their prayers.
He's off to a nice start.
"Pretty good," McCoy humbly said in assessing his performance. "We understand we have a long way to go."
No doubt. But for the first time in ages, the Browns, who have just one playoff appearance since 1999 and lost at least 10 games in seven of the last eight seasons, seem to be headed in the same direction. And, they're counting on McCoy to lead the way.
Needing to get up to speed on the complex offense during the off-season, McCoy sought advice from a West Coast master.
Brett Favre was happy to help.
As the league's labor lockout dragged on, McCoy went to Hattiesburg, Miss., and spent a few days with the three-time NFL MVP, who learned the West Coast system while playing for Browns president Mike Holmgren in Green Bay. McCoy gleaned all he could from the-retired-at-the-moment Favre, who won a Super Bowl with Holmgren in 1996.
"Since I couldn't get coached, it was a great opportunity to pick the brain of a guy who played in the system for 20 years," McCoy said through a team spokesman. "It was a chance for me to get a lot of questions answered. We worked on footwork, progressions, reads and things like that. It was definitely a positive trip."
McCoy is expected to offer more on the Favre visit Tuesday.
Shurmur was encouraged by McCoy's first outing in the passer friendly system the first-year coach brought from St. Louis, where he taught it to Rams quarterback Sam Bradford. Shurmur knows it can work, and is pleased with how quickly McCoy has picked it up in training camp.
"He was efficient," Shurmur said after Monday's practice. "He saw what was going on extremely well. He was pretty accurate with his throws and pretty solid with his decision making. But again, once you have what would be considered a solid performance, then it's all about consistency and he was right back on the stick this morning, getting better at some things."
McCoy will get a chance to build off his impressive debut on Friday, when the Browns host Detroit.
After dissecting the Packers, who were without star cornerback Charles Woodson and are currently thin in the secondary, McCoy was careful not to make too much of his strong game. He also made sure he spread the praise around to his teammates.
His night didn't start well.
On Cleveland's first snap, McCoy couldn't find an open receiver, and in a panic, lateralled to rookie fullback Owen Marecic, who recovered his fumble. McCoy regrouped and completed five straight passes, the last a 27-yard TD strike to Josh Cribbs.
When he came to the sideline, McCoy acknowledged his early mistake to Shurmur.
"He said, 'Coach, I should of just ran with it,'" Shurmur said. "He knows what he's looking at. As we get more and more comfortable with one another, as he gets more and more comfortable with his players and the system, I hope he will progress next week."
As for his progress during the game, McCoy showed he's able to make the Xs and Os in Shurmur's playbook spring to life.
On a crossing pattern to wide receiver Brian Robiskie, McCoy looked off the safety to the right, creating a slim opening over the middle. He waited for Robiskie to clear the coverage and threw him a low dart for a 15-yard reception.
"One of my favorite plays of the night is Robo," he said of the play to Robiskie. "We run a little play-action deep slant. Normally, you hit that ball in the first window but they rolled the safety down and Robo converted over the top and I hit him in the second window. It was a nice job by him of staying alive. There were some good things, there really were."
McCoy certainly made a strong impression on the Packers.
"You can tell he definitely studied us some," nose tackle B.J. Raji said. "They did some things as far as getting him on the move and rollouts and quick West Coast stuff to get his confidence up there. And he did a good job and made the right decisions."
Raji believes McCoy has all the skills to win as a pro.
"An NFL quarterback's all about winning, and if memory serves me correctly, he was the winningest quarterback in NCAA history," he said. "The guy can play, he can win games, he knows what it takes. He has a bright future, there's no question about that."
The Browns are counting on it.
Notes: RB Montario Hardesty participated in contact drills for the first time in more than two weeks. The Browns have been taking it slow with the second-year back, who is coming back from knee surgery. "It was fun to get back in football mode again," Hardesty said. Shurmur wouldn't commit on Hardesty facing the Lions. ... The Browns placed OG Billy Yates on the reserve/retired list. The versatile nine-year veteran showed up Monday and told a surprised Shurmur he was done. Yates started three games last season. He does not count towards the club's 90-man roster limit. ... Safety T.J. Ward didn't practice because of an issue with his tooth. "If you didn't know better, you would have thought he got punched in the chin," said Shurmur, noting Ward's face was swollen. ... WR Mohamed Massaquoi is finally out of the walking boot. Massaquoi hasn't practiced because of a leg injury, but he's getting closer. ... LBs Scott Fujita (thigh), Chris Gocong (neck), TE Ben Watson and S Usama Young didn't practice. ... Former Packers general manager Ron Wolf visited Holmgren.
Steelers C Pouncey makes quick rise to line leader
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — With all the injuries, position battles and chaos of shuffling players around the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line, the team considers itself fortunate to have a stable Pro Bowl anchor in the middle.
Even if this pillar of stability is only three weeks removed from his 22nd birthday.
Taken with the 18th pick of last year's draft, Maurkice Pouncey so impressed the Steelers early during training camp of his rookie year that he won the starting job at center. Almost immediately, Pouncey developed into one of the best of the league at his position.
Forget the sophomore slump, his teammates say. Still the second-youngest of the 90 players in Pittsburgh's camp, Pouncey has gone from 20-year-old draftee to respected, reliable team leader in a matter of 16 months.
"He's the spark on our offensive line," guard/center Doug Legursky said. "He's going to lead us."
He's being depended on to do just that for a unit that will have different starters at three of the four other positions from last season's Super Bowl team.
"There's a lot of pressure on me this year," Pouncey said, "so I'm ready for it. We've got some older guys, but I definitely want to be part of the anchor of the offensive line and contribute my part."
A three-year starter before leaving school after his junior year at Florida — his twin brother, Mike, was a first-round pick of the Dolphins this year — Pouncey appears to be the next in the line of great Pittsburgh centers.
The Steelers had just four starting centers between 1964-2006. Three were selected to multiple Pro Bowls, Mike Webster is already in the Hall of Fame and Dermonti Dawson has been a finalist for induction.
Yes, it's only been one full season. But Pouncey is giving the Steelers reason to believe he can join that lineage after being the best lineman, at age 21, on a team that won the AFC championship. The only down note from last season, is that Pouncey did not play in the Super Bowl due to a high ankle sprain.
"He's incredible," said Rashard Mendenhall, who was fifth in the AFC in rushing yards and tied for second in rushing touchdowns running behind Pouncey last season. "Maurkice is just a very smart player, very athletic, and he's just a dog. He's not going to back down from anything. You see that everyday when you watch film, you see it everyday in practice."
Pouncey's tenacity has helped endear him to his teammates, more than one of whom affectionately uses the word "nasty" to describe his demeanor on the field. Already this preseason, the young center rushed to the defense of a teammate who was on the wrong end of some jawing by a Washington Redskin on Friday.
Two days later, during an afternoon practice at St. Vincent College, Pouncey stepped in between a scuffle involving Jonathan Scott and Cameron Heyward.
Such an attitude is in stark contrast to the easy-going, quiet persona Pouncey has off the field. He might be developing into a fiery leader for a traditional powerhouse. But, in reality, he's still a smiling, happy-go-lucky college-aged kid.
"You catch yourself sometimes looking at him going, 'Wow, he's 21,'" Pittsburgh offensive line coach Sean Kugler said. "When you're talking football with Maurkice sometimes, it's like he's a 30-year-old. And then when you start talking things off the football field, it's then you realize, 'Yeah, he's 21.'
"A great kid, mature football-wise beyond what he is right now."
Considering Pittsburgh cut the two most senior members of its offensive line from last season, they're going to need some of that Pouncey maturity.
Max Starks started the first seven games of 2010 at left tackle before sustaining a neck injury that ended his season. Flozell Adams started all season at right tackle. Both were released last month.
Scott assumed Starks' spot and is the presumptive left tackle this season. Willie Colon, who started from 2007-09 but missed all of last season due to an Achilles injury, returns to his starting right tackle job.
Due to injury and competition, the guard spots have been even more in flux. Chris Kemoeatu, a four-year starter at left guard, was just activated from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday and still has not performed through a full practice.
No fewer than four players have seen time with the first team at right guard. Ramon Foster ended last season as the starter at the position, but he was limited early in camp due to a concussion. Legursky started four games there last season, and also was a capable fill-in at center when Pouncey was out. Chris Scott started at right guard Friday in Washington, but his performance was such that fourth-year pro Tony Hills has been working with the first team at the position these past two days.
"We know there's an open job out there and we're just competing for it," Foster said. "When you have competition, guys seem to get better. So, maybe it won't be a musical chair thing next year."
Chiefs' Wiegmann to extend consecutive snap streak
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Not playing in the Kansas City Chiefs' preseason opener didn't count against Casey Wiegmann's streak. Still, the 38-year-old center probably didn't care much for remaining on the sidelines during the 25-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night.
Wiegmann was lured back to Kansas City for one more season by coach Todd Haley, and he admitted one of the reasons was his streak of 9,078 consecutive snaps — in games that count, at least. Wiegmann has started 159 of 160 possible regular-season games since 2001, when he arrived in Kansas City from Chicago.
"It's just a streak," said Wiegmann, who also played two seasons in Denver. "I take pride in it, but it's just a number."
Wiegmann and Haley worked together early in the NFL career with the Jets, when Wiegmann — an undrafted free agent from Iowa — was attempting to find a place in the league. He was considered undersized at 6-foot-2, 285 pounds, but Haley believed in him and that has stuck with Wiegmann through 15 seasons.
"There's nobody more excited about Casey's decision to come back and continuing to be a part of what he was such a big part of last year," Haley said. "This guy's a phenom. He's a phenom. You don't do what he's done for as long as he's done it by accident."
Over his career, Wiegmann has put together a consecutive snaps streak that would make any lineman jealous. He's not left any game regardless of score or outcome, even though coaches have tried to rest him late in the season. Wiegmann's run appeared to be in jeopardy last year before he came into training camp and beat out a much younger Rudy Niswanger for the starting job.
The Chiefs made it a priority to bring Wiegmann back this season, while Niswanger signed with Detroit.
"He was already an old-timer when I was a rookie. He's one of the wonders of the world," said Chiefs guard Ryan Lilja, entering his seventh NFL season and second with Kansas City.
Wiegmann will continue to hold the top spot on the depth chart, delivering the ball to quarterback Matt Cassel like clockwork.
Consider it a courtesy to the veteran, who is almost certainly in his final go-round.
Wiegmann brings a veteran presence to a youthful offensive line, and his leadership has become even more important after the Chiefs let veteran guard Brian Waters go. Second-year guard Jon Asamoah will likely start at guard, and backup center Rodney Hudson needs to learn the trade before he's ready to start.
Who better to learn from in the middle of the line than Wiegmann?
"He wrote the book on how to have a great career," Haley said. "So I'd be trying to do most of the things he's doing."
Haggan back at linebacker, tutoring rookies
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Mario Haggan's role this year is part mentor, part tormenter.
The versatile ninth-year pro opened the Broncos' training camp at defensive end as new coach John Fox reinstalled the 4-3 scheme that Josh McDaniels had ditched during his short stint in Denver.
Within a week, though, the Broncos had signed former first-round pick Derrick Harvey to serve as a swing backup defensive end to Robert Ayers and Elvis Dumervil.
That sent Haggan back to linebacker, where he's tutoring rookie Von Miller at his natural strongside position and rookie Nate Irving on the inside.
Haggan has started all 16 games during his two seasons in Denver after spending five years in Buffalo as a special teamer. In 2009, he was the left outside linebacker and in 2010 he was the right inside linebacker.
So, it's no surprise that the rookies are picking his brain.
"Once in the NFL, you're here for a reason and you got physical ability. The rest is knowing the game," Haggan said. "And it's not just about knowing the plays, it's about knowing what other people are doing and just slowing the game down. Everybody pushes upon knowing your own defensive plays. It's more than that. It's about knowing what's coming, how you're being attacked. And so those are the things that young guys have to learn."
Haggan remembers when he was in their cleats and seeking the sage advice of the veterans, hoping they'd share their knowledge and not shut him out.
"I had two of the best veterans ever in Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher," Haggan said. "I mean, I got drafted in Buffalo, third round, they showed me how to stay, they showed me how to play the game. They showed me how to look for different things. And right now we're the best of friends and we still talk about different things. They're a big impression on me still."
So, Haggan is the go-to guy in the linebacker meeting room even though Miller is already starting ahead of him on the strong side and a bulked-up Joe Mays is the starting middle linebacker.
"And my thing is, if I can help them, I'll help them," Haggan said. "I'm not one of those guys (who won't help), even if he is at my position and I have to take a back seat to him, I'm going to do whatever I can to make him successful."
Haggan plans to get plenty of snaps himself. After all, he was Denver's most productive defender last season, setting career highs with 75 tackles and five sacks.
But if his role ultimately is to back up everyone and give advice on the side, then so be it.
"I personally feel that I'm a good football player and if a guy beats me out, he's going to have to work pretty damn hard to get it, so he deserves it," Haggan said. "And if he's in front of me, he'd better be a pretty damn good football player, too, because I'm going to make him work."
Haggan took Miller under his wing from the moment the Broncos selected the powerful pass-rusher out of Texas A&M with the second overall pick in the draft. They got to know each other while training together in Dallas during the lockout.
"He's more than just a football player. He has a great family," Miller said. "That's something I want to have in the future. He's an awesome husband, awesome father, he's somebody who I can get some points from. So, it's just bigger than football. He's an amazing dude."
Miller was thrilled when Haggan was moved back to linebacker.
"It's good to have a dude that I can see do it first, because it's all new," Miller said.
Haggan couldn't hide his smile over the switch, either.
"I'm definitely in love with being a linebacker. That's what I've played my whole life and that's what I've been playing my whole career in the NFL," Haggan said. "Personally, they see I have the ability to do different things and if they ask me to do different things, then that's what I'm going to do."
Haggan prepared during the lockout for the switch to defensive end but he never strayed far from his linebacker roots. In addition to muscling up in the weight room, he worked on agility drills on the football field to maintain his speed and quickness.
"I actually prepared for both," Haggan said. "It made my work double-time. I figured once I got here, at some point they would ask me to play linebacker. That opportunity has come faster than I thought.
"I never gave up on it. I was going to always put my heart into defensive end if that's where I was going to be, but now that I'm back at linebacker, I'm going to put my heart back there. And my goal is to be coming out of that tunnel on Sunday with the first 11."
And if he's not a starter, he'll gladly serve as a tutor.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Things get testy at Broncos training camp
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos lost two defensive tackles to injury Monday and their rookie safety got into a brief fight with Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd.
The severity of the injuries to Ty Warren (arm) and Marcus Thomas (chest) were unknown.
"Hopefully, it's not serious," coach John Fox said.
Warren, who spent all of last season on injured reserve with a hip injury, signed an $8 million, two-year deal with Denver following his release from New England last month. He's one of three former first-rounders — the others are Brodrick Bunkley and Derrick Harvey — that the Broncos brought in to augment their defensive line.
Neither Rahim Moore nor Lloyd were hurt during their fisticuffs, one of three skirmishes Monday.
Fox said he wasn't surprised things got heated on a hot day with camp winding down.
"This game is a tough game, physical game and when you're banging on each other every day it can get chippy," Fox said. "So, it's pretty typical of camp this time of year."
But it's not every day you see a rookie stand up to a Pro Bowler like this.
Lloyd politely declined to discuss the altercation after practice and Moore, a second-round draft pick from UCLA who already has grabbed the starting free safety job opposite Brian Dawkins, said Lloyd felt he cut him off in the end zone on a fade pass that fell incomplete.
"He decided I did something wrong and I didn't think I did," Moore said. "He shoved me. I shoved him back."
On the next play, Kyle Orton hit Lloyd for a short touchdown pass with Moore in coverage.
Moore said he and Lloyd talked things over a minute later and resolved their differences.
"So, it's all love," Moore said.
Denver's defensive coaching staff had to like Moore's moxie.
"I have nothing against Brandon, but I take flack from nobody," Moore said. "This is a physical game. So, if I let him push me, everybody would say, 'Oh, Rahim let him push him.' It's just the competitive nature that I have. It's like if he beat me on a touchdown, I'm going to try to pick the ball off the next time. If he pushed me, I'm going to push him back.
"But at the end of the day, we're family."
Moore said Lloyd has given him tips about covering NFL receivers and he expects those lines of communication to remain open even after their disagreement.
"He has been a mentor to me, so it's all good," Moore said. "Tomorrow we're going to get back at it and work hard and get each other better."
NOTES: The Broncos waived DT Louis Leonard and LB Derek Domino. ... Rookie MLB Nate Irving returned from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the preseason opener and grabbed an interception. ... WR Eddie Royal (hip), also returned to action Monday. "I felt good out there," he said. "Running around, my routes felt good. The rhythm and timing were there, so it was a good day."
-- Arnie Stapleton
Raiders rookie CB gets rude introduction to NFL
NAPA, Calif. (AP) — DeMarcus Van Dyke got quite the introduction to the NFL. The rookie cornerback from Miami was lined up against Arizona superstar receiver Larry Fitzgerald on his first series of his exhibition debut and the Cardinals went right at him.
Van Dyke allowed a long completion to Fitzgerald on the first pass his way even though he did have tight coverage. He stayed with the five-time Pro Bowler on the next deep pass, leading to an incompletion.
But the debut got progressively worse after that with Van Dyke allowing an 18-yard touchdown to Stephen Williams late in the first half and several other completions to Arizona's less accomplished receivers.
"As a DB, you've got to have amnesia," Van Dyke said. "You get beat one time, you can't let it keep building, that feeling. They got me. They're not going to beat me again.
The Raiders are hoping for much steadier play this season from Van Dyke, a third-round pick out in April who could get plenty of opportunities to play against multiple receiver packages this season.
Van Dyke started just three games at Miami as a senior but blossomed at the NFL combine, where he ran a 4.25 40-yard dash. Along with the sprinter speed that made him so attractive to the Raiders, coach Hue Jackson has praised his loose hips, 6-foot-1 size and makeup as attributes that should help in man coverage.
"When I talk to the young man, there is no fear in him at all," Jackson said. "Fitzgerald makes those plays on everybody. I've seen him make them on the best in this league. He made one on that young man. But the young man came back and stayed with him the next time and that's what this is all about."
Van Dyke received encouragement after the game from fellow former Miami cornerbacks Antrel Rolle and Sam Shields, veterans who have been through the rough transition from college to the pros.
That only got harder when Van Dyke saw himself lined up against Fitzgerald as soon as he got on the field. He stayed with Fitzgerald stride for stride on the first pass but was outmaneuvered for the ball at the end, giving the Cardinals a 43-yard gain.
"It's a pretty good way to go out there and judge yourself on a guy of his caliber and see what I can get better at," he said. "I just have to finish on plays, that's about it."
Van Dyke gets to learn the trade from a pair of Hall of Famers in assistant coaches Willie Brown and Rod Woodson. Woodson, in his first year as a coach, compares Van Dyke to one of his former teammates in Baltimore, Duane Starks, and expects big things from his young player.
"He's going to be good. It's the little things that he has to work on," Woodson said. "He has to learn how to finish. He's still learning the little things about playing corner in this league, playing the different coverages, when to do certain things, when not to do certain things. But if he keeps progressing in the positive manner like he has in the first week or so, he'll be a decent player."
The question for the Raiders is how long that process will take. With All Pro Nnamdi Asomugha gone to Philadelphia in free agency, the Raiders have no experienced cornerback behind starters Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson.
Oakland drafted a pair of cornerbacks a year ago in Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware, who both struggled in limited time as rookies and have been victimized in training camp and in the exhibition opener. The Raiders also drafted Ohio State cornerback Chimdi Chekwa in the fourth round in April, but he has not been able to practice much this summer because of a shoulder injury.
Arizona quarterbacks combined to go 17-for-27 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions at a 137.4 passer rating once the starting cornerbacks sat after the first series.
"It's so blown out of proportion," Routt said. "They're young. People are going to make mistakes. It's preseason. Everybody wants to act like if you do bad in one preseason game, you should be crucified or whatever. It is what it is, the first preseason game. We got three more. Mistakes happen. Veterans make mistakes."
The Raiders did add some help in the secondary at safety, signing Josh Bullocks and Matt Giordano. Oakland needed to make the moves with backups Hiram Eugene (dislocated hip) and Zac Etheridge (knee) getting hurt in the exhibition opener and Stevie Brown injuring his ankle at practice Sunday.
Bullocks, a second-round pick by New Orleans in 2005, has six interceptions, 27 passes defensed and four forced fumbles in 90 career games with the Saints and Chicago Bears.
Giordano, a fourth-round pick by Indianapolis in 2005 out of California, had three interceptions in 55 games for the Colts from 2005-08. He played as a reserve the past two seasons with Green Bay and New Orleans.
Notes: Jackson gave many of the players age 30 and over a day off from practice. ... The Raiders will take Tuesday off before returning to practice Wednesday.
-- Josh Dubow
Crayton happy in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The moment Patrick Crayton was asked about Dallas, a big smile appeared on his face.
"I'm definitely ready," the Chargers receiver said. "I can't wait until Wednesday."
Crayton played six years for the Cowboys and still lives near Dallas, where he grew up. Despite asking for his release twice in 2010, he has fond memories of his time with the Cowboys, an 82-game stint, before being traded to San Diego 10 days before the opener last year.
He'll get a chance to face them this weekend. The Chargers fly Wednesday to the Dallas area, where they'll practice with the Cowboys before playing them Sunday night.
"It was a wonderful experience," Crayton said. "Made a bunch of friends. They'll be lifelong friends. Loved the fans. It's home, so it was a dream to play at home."
But it will be Chargers garb that Crayton's wife and two sons wear in Texas, not the silver-and-blue apparel that Crayton favored as a boy.
Nor will Crayton root for the Cowboys this year, although he will pull for several of his pals on the team.
He has found a new home with the Chargers, averaging 18.4 yards per catch last year before a dislocated wrist ended his season in the 10th game.
"Everything about Dallas was great, but so was coming out here," Crayton said.
The Chargers acquired him for a seventh-round draft pick, also the round in which Dallas drafted him in 2004.
Crayton requested his release after the Cowboys drafted receiver Dez Bryant in the first round.
"Dez Bryant, that was almost like the icing on the cake," Crayton said after a recent practice. "A lot of people think it was just that, but there were other issues. There was other stuff that led up to that, where we almost tried (to get a release) before that."
He declined to elaborate but said it wasn't easy to ask out, which his agent did again shortly before the trade. He hadn't caught a pass in the preseason.
"I would have loved to have played the rest of my career there," he said. "But sometimes things run their course. At that point, it was time to move on."
He wrist injury, sustained when he landed in the end zone while scoring a touch down, is healed.
He is in sync with quarterback Philip Rivers and the offense of coach Norv Turner, which is similar to the Cowboys offense of coach Jason Garrett, a quarterback under Turner with Dallas in 1993.
As Turner saw more of Crayton, he found ways to accentuate the 6-foot 205-pound receiver.
"I love the slot," Crayton said, "because I love working the middle and the underneath stuff."
Crayton has found the team's culture hospitable, too, impressed that the Chargers is made up of several veterans.
"We almost have a few more leaders in this locker room, which helps," he said. "When it's time for business, it's time for business. When it's time to hang out and have a little fun, they do that here. That's what you love about it, being able to separate the two."
San Diego remains something of a mystery to him, however.
"I haven't been to the beach once, haven't been to the zoo, haven't been to Sea World," he said.
Texas humidity, a far cry from the breezy comfort the Chargers have enjoyed this training camp, along with what Crayton calls "genuine Southern hospitality" will not be the only reminders that he's back home. Football-mad fans will give him another clue.
"There are movies made about football in Texas," he said. "Out on the West Coast, it's a little bit different. We have passionate fans. But I haven't seen a Chargers tattoo on anybody yet."
News & Notes
Browns safety Ward misses practice with tooth problem
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns starting safety T.J. Ward missed practice to visit the dentist because of a "crazy" tooth problem.
Ward showed up at the team's training facility Monday with a swollen face. Coach Pat Shurmur joked that it looked as if Ward had been punched. Shurmur did not know how long Ward, who led the team with 105 tackles as a rookie last season, would be out.
Running back Montario Hardesty took part in drills after being sidelined most of the past two weeks in his comeback from knee surgery. Hardesty does not if he'll be able to play Friday against Detroit.
Shurmur said tight end Ben Watson (hamstring) and linebacker Scott Fujita (thigh) were kept out for precautionary reasons. Also, Shurmur said offensive guard Billy Yates may retire. He made two starts in 2010.
-- Tom Withers
Browns pick up defensive back
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have been awarded defensive back Brett Johnson off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks. The club is thin in the secondary with rookie safety Eric Hagg scheduled for knee surgery Monday.
Johnson was signed as an undrafted free agent by Buffalo last season. He also spent time with Philadelphia and St. Louis but was released before the start of the regular season. He was signed to the Bills' practice squad on Dec. 22 and spent the rest of the season there.
The 6-foot-1, 194-pound Johnson played in college at California.
Maybe best to reel in the expectations right away. After all, McCoy may have a tough time topping his exhibition debut.
Looking poised and comfortable in Cleveland's new West Coast offense, McCoy outshined Super Bowl star Aaron Rodgers and was nearly flawless as the Browns beat the Green Bay Packers 27-17 on Saturday night, making Cleveland rookie coach Pat Shurmur a winner in his first NFL preseason game.
McCoy completed 9 of 10 passes for 135 yards, one touchdown and compiled a 152.1 passer's rating — just a few points shy of perfection. The Browns, who have spent the past decade in a frustrating search for a franchise quarterback to lead them back to respectability, are hoping McCoy, may finally answer their prayers.
He's off to a nice start.
"Pretty good," McCoy humbly said in assessing his performance. "We understand we have a long way to go."
No doubt. But for the first time in ages, the Browns, who have just one playoff appearance since 1999 and lost at least 10 games in seven of the last eight seasons, seem to be headed in the same direction. And, they're counting on McCoy to lead the way.
Needing to get up to speed on the complex offense during the off-season, McCoy sought advice from a West Coast master.
Brett Favre was happy to help.
As the league's labor lockout dragged on, McCoy went to Hattiesburg, Miss., and spent a few days with the three-time NFL MVP, who learned the West Coast system while playing for Browns president Mike Holmgren in Green Bay. McCoy gleaned all he could from the-retired-at-the-moment Favre, who won a Super Bowl with Holmgren in 1996.
"Since I couldn't get coached, it was a great opportunity to pick the brain of a guy who played in the system for 20 years," McCoy said through a team spokesman. "It was a chance for me to get a lot of questions answered. We worked on footwork, progressions, reads and things like that. It was definitely a positive trip."
McCoy is expected to offer more on the Favre visit Tuesday.
Shurmur was encouraged by McCoy's first outing in the passer friendly system the first-year coach brought from St. Louis, where he taught it to Rams quarterback Sam Bradford. Shurmur knows it can work, and is pleased with how quickly McCoy has picked it up in training camp.
"He was efficient," Shurmur said after Monday's practice. "He saw what was going on extremely well. He was pretty accurate with his throws and pretty solid with his decision making. But again, once you have what would be considered a solid performance, then it's all about consistency and he was right back on the stick this morning, getting better at some things."
McCoy will get a chance to build off his impressive debut on Friday, when the Browns host Detroit.
After dissecting the Packers, who were without star cornerback Charles Woodson and are currently thin in the secondary, McCoy was careful not to make too much of his strong game. He also made sure he spread the praise around to his teammates.
His night didn't start well.
On Cleveland's first snap, McCoy couldn't find an open receiver, and in a panic, lateralled to rookie fullback Owen Marecic, who recovered his fumble. McCoy regrouped and completed five straight passes, the last a 27-yard TD strike to Josh Cribbs.
When he came to the sideline, McCoy acknowledged his early mistake to Shurmur.
"He said, 'Coach, I should of just ran with it,'" Shurmur said. "He knows what he's looking at. As we get more and more comfortable with one another, as he gets more and more comfortable with his players and the system, I hope he will progress next week."
As for his progress during the game, McCoy showed he's able to make the Xs and Os in Shurmur's playbook spring to life.
On a crossing pattern to wide receiver Brian Robiskie, McCoy looked off the safety to the right, creating a slim opening over the middle. He waited for Robiskie to clear the coverage and threw him a low dart for a 15-yard reception.
"One of my favorite plays of the night is Robo," he said of the play to Robiskie. "We run a little play-action deep slant. Normally, you hit that ball in the first window but they rolled the safety down and Robo converted over the top and I hit him in the second window. It was a nice job by him of staying alive. There were some good things, there really were."
McCoy certainly made a strong impression on the Packers.
"You can tell he definitely studied us some," nose tackle B.J. Raji said. "They did some things as far as getting him on the move and rollouts and quick West Coast stuff to get his confidence up there. And he did a good job and made the right decisions."
Raji believes McCoy has all the skills to win as a pro.
"An NFL quarterback's all about winning, and if memory serves me correctly, he was the winningest quarterback in NCAA history," he said. "The guy can play, he can win games, he knows what it takes. He has a bright future, there's no question about that."
The Browns are counting on it.
Notes: RB Montario Hardesty participated in contact drills for the first time in more than two weeks. The Browns have been taking it slow with the second-year back, who is coming back from knee surgery. "It was fun to get back in football mode again," Hardesty said. Shurmur wouldn't commit on Hardesty facing the Lions. ... The Browns placed OG Billy Yates on the reserve/retired list. The versatile nine-year veteran showed up Monday and told a surprised Shurmur he was done. Yates started three games last season. He does not count towards the club's 90-man roster limit. ... Safety T.J. Ward didn't practice because of an issue with his tooth. "If you didn't know better, you would have thought he got punched in the chin," said Shurmur, noting Ward's face was swollen. ... WR Mohamed Massaquoi is finally out of the walking boot. Massaquoi hasn't practiced because of a leg injury, but he's getting closer. ... LBs Scott Fujita (thigh), Chris Gocong (neck), TE Ben Watson and S Usama Young didn't practice. ... Former Packers general manager Ron Wolf visited Holmgren.
Steelers C Pouncey makes quick rise to line leader
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — With all the injuries, position battles and chaos of shuffling players around the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line, the team considers itself fortunate to have a stable Pro Bowl anchor in the middle.
Even if this pillar of stability is only three weeks removed from his 22nd birthday.
Taken with the 18th pick of last year's draft, Maurkice Pouncey so impressed the Steelers early during training camp of his rookie year that he won the starting job at center. Almost immediately, Pouncey developed into one of the best of the league at his position.
Forget the sophomore slump, his teammates say. Still the second-youngest of the 90 players in Pittsburgh's camp, Pouncey has gone from 20-year-old draftee to respected, reliable team leader in a matter of 16 months.
"He's the spark on our offensive line," guard/center Doug Legursky said. "He's going to lead us."
He's being depended on to do just that for a unit that will have different starters at three of the four other positions from last season's Super Bowl team.
"There's a lot of pressure on me this year," Pouncey said, "so I'm ready for it. We've got some older guys, but I definitely want to be part of the anchor of the offensive line and contribute my part."
A three-year starter before leaving school after his junior year at Florida — his twin brother, Mike, was a first-round pick of the Dolphins this year — Pouncey appears to be the next in the line of great Pittsburgh centers.
The Steelers had just four starting centers between 1964-2006. Three were selected to multiple Pro Bowls, Mike Webster is already in the Hall of Fame and Dermonti Dawson has been a finalist for induction.
Yes, it's only been one full season. But Pouncey is giving the Steelers reason to believe he can join that lineage after being the best lineman, at age 21, on a team that won the AFC championship. The only down note from last season, is that Pouncey did not play in the Super Bowl due to a high ankle sprain.
"He's incredible," said Rashard Mendenhall, who was fifth in the AFC in rushing yards and tied for second in rushing touchdowns running behind Pouncey last season. "Maurkice is just a very smart player, very athletic, and he's just a dog. He's not going to back down from anything. You see that everyday when you watch film, you see it everyday in practice."
Pouncey's tenacity has helped endear him to his teammates, more than one of whom affectionately uses the word "nasty" to describe his demeanor on the field. Already this preseason, the young center rushed to the defense of a teammate who was on the wrong end of some jawing by a Washington Redskin on Friday.
Two days later, during an afternoon practice at St. Vincent College, Pouncey stepped in between a scuffle involving Jonathan Scott and Cameron Heyward.
Such an attitude is in stark contrast to the easy-going, quiet persona Pouncey has off the field. He might be developing into a fiery leader for a traditional powerhouse. But, in reality, he's still a smiling, happy-go-lucky college-aged kid.
"You catch yourself sometimes looking at him going, 'Wow, he's 21,'" Pittsburgh offensive line coach Sean Kugler said. "When you're talking football with Maurkice sometimes, it's like he's a 30-year-old. And then when you start talking things off the football field, it's then you realize, 'Yeah, he's 21.'
"A great kid, mature football-wise beyond what he is right now."
Considering Pittsburgh cut the two most senior members of its offensive line from last season, they're going to need some of that Pouncey maturity.
Max Starks started the first seven games of 2010 at left tackle before sustaining a neck injury that ended his season. Flozell Adams started all season at right tackle. Both were released last month.
Scott assumed Starks' spot and is the presumptive left tackle this season. Willie Colon, who started from 2007-09 but missed all of last season due to an Achilles injury, returns to his starting right tackle job.
Due to injury and competition, the guard spots have been even more in flux. Chris Kemoeatu, a four-year starter at left guard, was just activated from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday and still has not performed through a full practice.
No fewer than four players have seen time with the first team at right guard. Ramon Foster ended last season as the starter at the position, but he was limited early in camp due to a concussion. Legursky started four games there last season, and also was a capable fill-in at center when Pouncey was out. Chris Scott started at right guard Friday in Washington, but his performance was such that fourth-year pro Tony Hills has been working with the first team at the position these past two days.
"We know there's an open job out there and we're just competing for it," Foster said. "When you have competition, guys seem to get better. So, maybe it won't be a musical chair thing next year."
Chiefs' Wiegmann to extend consecutive snap streak
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Not playing in the Kansas City Chiefs' preseason opener didn't count against Casey Wiegmann's streak. Still, the 38-year-old center probably didn't care much for remaining on the sidelines during the 25-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night.
Wiegmann was lured back to Kansas City for one more season by coach Todd Haley, and he admitted one of the reasons was his streak of 9,078 consecutive snaps — in games that count, at least. Wiegmann has started 159 of 160 possible regular-season games since 2001, when he arrived in Kansas City from Chicago.
"It's just a streak," said Wiegmann, who also played two seasons in Denver. "I take pride in it, but it's just a number."
Wiegmann and Haley worked together early in the NFL career with the Jets, when Wiegmann — an undrafted free agent from Iowa — was attempting to find a place in the league. He was considered undersized at 6-foot-2, 285 pounds, but Haley believed in him and that has stuck with Wiegmann through 15 seasons.
"There's nobody more excited about Casey's decision to come back and continuing to be a part of what he was such a big part of last year," Haley said. "This guy's a phenom. He's a phenom. You don't do what he's done for as long as he's done it by accident."
Over his career, Wiegmann has put together a consecutive snaps streak that would make any lineman jealous. He's not left any game regardless of score or outcome, even though coaches have tried to rest him late in the season. Wiegmann's run appeared to be in jeopardy last year before he came into training camp and beat out a much younger Rudy Niswanger for the starting job.
The Chiefs made it a priority to bring Wiegmann back this season, while Niswanger signed with Detroit.
"He was already an old-timer when I was a rookie. He's one of the wonders of the world," said Chiefs guard Ryan Lilja, entering his seventh NFL season and second with Kansas City.
Wiegmann will continue to hold the top spot on the depth chart, delivering the ball to quarterback Matt Cassel like clockwork.
Consider it a courtesy to the veteran, who is almost certainly in his final go-round.
Wiegmann brings a veteran presence to a youthful offensive line, and his leadership has become even more important after the Chiefs let veteran guard Brian Waters go. Second-year guard Jon Asamoah will likely start at guard, and backup center Rodney Hudson needs to learn the trade before he's ready to start.
Who better to learn from in the middle of the line than Wiegmann?
"He wrote the book on how to have a great career," Haley said. "So I'd be trying to do most of the things he's doing."
Haggan back at linebacker, tutoring rookies
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Mario Haggan's role this year is part mentor, part tormenter.
The versatile ninth-year pro opened the Broncos' training camp at defensive end as new coach John Fox reinstalled the 4-3 scheme that Josh McDaniels had ditched during his short stint in Denver.
Within a week, though, the Broncos had signed former first-round pick Derrick Harvey to serve as a swing backup defensive end to Robert Ayers and Elvis Dumervil.
That sent Haggan back to linebacker, where he's tutoring rookie Von Miller at his natural strongside position and rookie Nate Irving on the inside.
Haggan has started all 16 games during his two seasons in Denver after spending five years in Buffalo as a special teamer. In 2009, he was the left outside linebacker and in 2010 he was the right inside linebacker.
So, it's no surprise that the rookies are picking his brain.
"Once in the NFL, you're here for a reason and you got physical ability. The rest is knowing the game," Haggan said. "And it's not just about knowing the plays, it's about knowing what other people are doing and just slowing the game down. Everybody pushes upon knowing your own defensive plays. It's more than that. It's about knowing what's coming, how you're being attacked. And so those are the things that young guys have to learn."
Haggan remembers when he was in their cleats and seeking the sage advice of the veterans, hoping they'd share their knowledge and not shut him out.
"I had two of the best veterans ever in Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher," Haggan said. "I mean, I got drafted in Buffalo, third round, they showed me how to stay, they showed me how to play the game. They showed me how to look for different things. And right now we're the best of friends and we still talk about different things. They're a big impression on me still."
So, Haggan is the go-to guy in the linebacker meeting room even though Miller is already starting ahead of him on the strong side and a bulked-up Joe Mays is the starting middle linebacker.
"And my thing is, if I can help them, I'll help them," Haggan said. "I'm not one of those guys (who won't help), even if he is at my position and I have to take a back seat to him, I'm going to do whatever I can to make him successful."
Haggan plans to get plenty of snaps himself. After all, he was Denver's most productive defender last season, setting career highs with 75 tackles and five sacks.
But if his role ultimately is to back up everyone and give advice on the side, then so be it.
"I personally feel that I'm a good football player and if a guy beats me out, he's going to have to work pretty damn hard to get it, so he deserves it," Haggan said. "And if he's in front of me, he'd better be a pretty damn good football player, too, because I'm going to make him work."
Haggan took Miller under his wing from the moment the Broncos selected the powerful pass-rusher out of Texas A&M with the second overall pick in the draft. They got to know each other while training together in Dallas during the lockout.
"He's more than just a football player. He has a great family," Miller said. "That's something I want to have in the future. He's an awesome husband, awesome father, he's somebody who I can get some points from. So, it's just bigger than football. He's an amazing dude."
Miller was thrilled when Haggan was moved back to linebacker.
"It's good to have a dude that I can see do it first, because it's all new," Miller said.
Haggan couldn't hide his smile over the switch, either.
"I'm definitely in love with being a linebacker. That's what I've played my whole life and that's what I've been playing my whole career in the NFL," Haggan said. "Personally, they see I have the ability to do different things and if they ask me to do different things, then that's what I'm going to do."
Haggan prepared during the lockout for the switch to defensive end but he never strayed far from his linebacker roots. In addition to muscling up in the weight room, he worked on agility drills on the football field to maintain his speed and quickness.
"I actually prepared for both," Haggan said. "It made my work double-time. I figured once I got here, at some point they would ask me to play linebacker. That opportunity has come faster than I thought.
"I never gave up on it. I was going to always put my heart into defensive end if that's where I was going to be, but now that I'm back at linebacker, I'm going to put my heart back there. And my goal is to be coming out of that tunnel on Sunday with the first 11."
And if he's not a starter, he'll gladly serve as a tutor.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Things get testy at Broncos training camp
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos lost two defensive tackles to injury Monday and their rookie safety got into a brief fight with Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd.
The severity of the injuries to Ty Warren (arm) and Marcus Thomas (chest) were unknown.
"Hopefully, it's not serious," coach John Fox said.
Warren, who spent all of last season on injured reserve with a hip injury, signed an $8 million, two-year deal with Denver following his release from New England last month. He's one of three former first-rounders — the others are Brodrick Bunkley and Derrick Harvey — that the Broncos brought in to augment their defensive line.
Neither Rahim Moore nor Lloyd were hurt during their fisticuffs, one of three skirmishes Monday.
Fox said he wasn't surprised things got heated on a hot day with camp winding down.
"This game is a tough game, physical game and when you're banging on each other every day it can get chippy," Fox said. "So, it's pretty typical of camp this time of year."
But it's not every day you see a rookie stand up to a Pro Bowler like this.
Lloyd politely declined to discuss the altercation after practice and Moore, a second-round draft pick from UCLA who already has grabbed the starting free safety job opposite Brian Dawkins, said Lloyd felt he cut him off in the end zone on a fade pass that fell incomplete.
"He decided I did something wrong and I didn't think I did," Moore said. "He shoved me. I shoved him back."
On the next play, Kyle Orton hit Lloyd for a short touchdown pass with Moore in coverage.
Moore said he and Lloyd talked things over a minute later and resolved their differences.
"So, it's all love," Moore said.
Denver's defensive coaching staff had to like Moore's moxie.
"I have nothing against Brandon, but I take flack from nobody," Moore said. "This is a physical game. So, if I let him push me, everybody would say, 'Oh, Rahim let him push him.' It's just the competitive nature that I have. It's like if he beat me on a touchdown, I'm going to try to pick the ball off the next time. If he pushed me, I'm going to push him back.
"But at the end of the day, we're family."
Moore said Lloyd has given him tips about covering NFL receivers and he expects those lines of communication to remain open even after their disagreement.
"He has been a mentor to me, so it's all good," Moore said. "Tomorrow we're going to get back at it and work hard and get each other better."
NOTES: The Broncos waived DT Louis Leonard and LB Derek Domino. ... Rookie MLB Nate Irving returned from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the preseason opener and grabbed an interception. ... WR Eddie Royal (hip), also returned to action Monday. "I felt good out there," he said. "Running around, my routes felt good. The rhythm and timing were there, so it was a good day."
-- Arnie Stapleton
Raiders rookie CB gets rude introduction to NFL
NAPA, Calif. (AP) — DeMarcus Van Dyke got quite the introduction to the NFL. The rookie cornerback from Miami was lined up against Arizona superstar receiver Larry Fitzgerald on his first series of his exhibition debut and the Cardinals went right at him.
Van Dyke allowed a long completion to Fitzgerald on the first pass his way even though he did have tight coverage. He stayed with the five-time Pro Bowler on the next deep pass, leading to an incompletion.
But the debut got progressively worse after that with Van Dyke allowing an 18-yard touchdown to Stephen Williams late in the first half and several other completions to Arizona's less accomplished receivers.
"As a DB, you've got to have amnesia," Van Dyke said. "You get beat one time, you can't let it keep building, that feeling. They got me. They're not going to beat me again.
The Raiders are hoping for much steadier play this season from Van Dyke, a third-round pick out in April who could get plenty of opportunities to play against multiple receiver packages this season.
Van Dyke started just three games at Miami as a senior but blossomed at the NFL combine, where he ran a 4.25 40-yard dash. Along with the sprinter speed that made him so attractive to the Raiders, coach Hue Jackson has praised his loose hips, 6-foot-1 size and makeup as attributes that should help in man coverage.
"When I talk to the young man, there is no fear in him at all," Jackson said. "Fitzgerald makes those plays on everybody. I've seen him make them on the best in this league. He made one on that young man. But the young man came back and stayed with him the next time and that's what this is all about."
Van Dyke received encouragement after the game from fellow former Miami cornerbacks Antrel Rolle and Sam Shields, veterans who have been through the rough transition from college to the pros.
That only got harder when Van Dyke saw himself lined up against Fitzgerald as soon as he got on the field. He stayed with Fitzgerald stride for stride on the first pass but was outmaneuvered for the ball at the end, giving the Cardinals a 43-yard gain.
"It's a pretty good way to go out there and judge yourself on a guy of his caliber and see what I can get better at," he said. "I just have to finish on plays, that's about it."
Van Dyke gets to learn the trade from a pair of Hall of Famers in assistant coaches Willie Brown and Rod Woodson. Woodson, in his first year as a coach, compares Van Dyke to one of his former teammates in Baltimore, Duane Starks, and expects big things from his young player.
"He's going to be good. It's the little things that he has to work on," Woodson said. "He has to learn how to finish. He's still learning the little things about playing corner in this league, playing the different coverages, when to do certain things, when not to do certain things. But if he keeps progressing in the positive manner like he has in the first week or so, he'll be a decent player."
The question for the Raiders is how long that process will take. With All Pro Nnamdi Asomugha gone to Philadelphia in free agency, the Raiders have no experienced cornerback behind starters Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson.
Oakland drafted a pair of cornerbacks a year ago in Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware, who both struggled in limited time as rookies and have been victimized in training camp and in the exhibition opener. The Raiders also drafted Ohio State cornerback Chimdi Chekwa in the fourth round in April, but he has not been able to practice much this summer because of a shoulder injury.
Arizona quarterbacks combined to go 17-for-27 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions at a 137.4 passer rating once the starting cornerbacks sat after the first series.
"It's so blown out of proportion," Routt said. "They're young. People are going to make mistakes. It's preseason. Everybody wants to act like if you do bad in one preseason game, you should be crucified or whatever. It is what it is, the first preseason game. We got three more. Mistakes happen. Veterans make mistakes."
The Raiders did add some help in the secondary at safety, signing Josh Bullocks and Matt Giordano. Oakland needed to make the moves with backups Hiram Eugene (dislocated hip) and Zac Etheridge (knee) getting hurt in the exhibition opener and Stevie Brown injuring his ankle at practice Sunday.
Bullocks, a second-round pick by New Orleans in 2005, has six interceptions, 27 passes defensed and four forced fumbles in 90 career games with the Saints and Chicago Bears.
Giordano, a fourth-round pick by Indianapolis in 2005 out of California, had three interceptions in 55 games for the Colts from 2005-08. He played as a reserve the past two seasons with Green Bay and New Orleans.
Notes: Jackson gave many of the players age 30 and over a day off from practice. ... The Raiders will take Tuesday off before returning to practice Wednesday.
-- Josh Dubow
Crayton happy in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The moment Patrick Crayton was asked about Dallas, a big smile appeared on his face.
"I'm definitely ready," the Chargers receiver said. "I can't wait until Wednesday."
Crayton played six years for the Cowboys and still lives near Dallas, where he grew up. Despite asking for his release twice in 2010, he has fond memories of his time with the Cowboys, an 82-game stint, before being traded to San Diego 10 days before the opener last year.
He'll get a chance to face them this weekend. The Chargers fly Wednesday to the Dallas area, where they'll practice with the Cowboys before playing them Sunday night.
"It was a wonderful experience," Crayton said. "Made a bunch of friends. They'll be lifelong friends. Loved the fans. It's home, so it was a dream to play at home."
But it will be Chargers garb that Crayton's wife and two sons wear in Texas, not the silver-and-blue apparel that Crayton favored as a boy.
Nor will Crayton root for the Cowboys this year, although he will pull for several of his pals on the team.
He has found a new home with the Chargers, averaging 18.4 yards per catch last year before a dislocated wrist ended his season in the 10th game.
"Everything about Dallas was great, but so was coming out here," Crayton said.
The Chargers acquired him for a seventh-round draft pick, also the round in which Dallas drafted him in 2004.
Crayton requested his release after the Cowboys drafted receiver Dez Bryant in the first round.
"Dez Bryant, that was almost like the icing on the cake," Crayton said after a recent practice. "A lot of people think it was just that, but there were other issues. There was other stuff that led up to that, where we almost tried (to get a release) before that."
He declined to elaborate but said it wasn't easy to ask out, which his agent did again shortly before the trade. He hadn't caught a pass in the preseason.
"I would have loved to have played the rest of my career there," he said. "But sometimes things run their course. At that point, it was time to move on."
He wrist injury, sustained when he landed in the end zone while scoring a touch down, is healed.
He is in sync with quarterback Philip Rivers and the offense of coach Norv Turner, which is similar to the Cowboys offense of coach Jason Garrett, a quarterback under Turner with Dallas in 1993.
As Turner saw more of Crayton, he found ways to accentuate the 6-foot 205-pound receiver.
"I love the slot," Crayton said, "because I love working the middle and the underneath stuff."
Crayton has found the team's culture hospitable, too, impressed that the Chargers is made up of several veterans.
"We almost have a few more leaders in this locker room, which helps," he said. "When it's time for business, it's time for business. When it's time to hang out and have a little fun, they do that here. That's what you love about it, being able to separate the two."
San Diego remains something of a mystery to him, however.
"I haven't been to the beach once, haven't been to the zoo, haven't been to Sea World," he said.
Texas humidity, a far cry from the breezy comfort the Chargers have enjoyed this training camp, along with what Crayton calls "genuine Southern hospitality" will not be the only reminders that he's back home. Football-mad fans will give him another clue.
"There are movies made about football in Texas," he said. "Out on the West Coast, it's a little bit different. We have passionate fans. But I haven't seen a Chargers tattoo on anybody yet."
News & Notes
Browns safety Ward misses practice with tooth problem
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns starting safety T.J. Ward missed practice to visit the dentist because of a "crazy" tooth problem.
Ward showed up at the team's training facility Monday with a swollen face. Coach Pat Shurmur joked that it looked as if Ward had been punched. Shurmur did not know how long Ward, who led the team with 105 tackles as a rookie last season, would be out.
Running back Montario Hardesty took part in drills after being sidelined most of the past two weeks in his comeback from knee surgery. Hardesty does not if he'll be able to play Friday against Detroit.
Shurmur said tight end Ben Watson (hamstring) and linebacker Scott Fujita (thigh) were kept out for precautionary reasons. Also, Shurmur said offensive guard Billy Yates may retire. He made two starts in 2010.
-- Tom Withers
Browns pick up defensive back
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have been awarded defensive back Brett Johnson off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks. The club is thin in the secondary with rookie safety Eric Hagg scheduled for knee surgery Monday.
Johnson was signed as an undrafted free agent by Buffalo last season. He also spent time with Philadelphia and St. Louis but was released before the start of the regular season. He was signed to the Bills' practice squad on Dec. 22 and spent the rest of the season there.
The 6-foot-1, 194-pound Johnson played in college at California.
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