NFL NOTEBOOK
Chiefs back to work after preseason stinker: Kansas City coach Todd Haley is sticking with his plan after a 25-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs on Saturday.
"I feel really good about our plan," Haley maintained, when asked Sunday whether he regretted the almost overly cautious approach the Chiefs have taken through the first two weeks of training camp.
The number of legit tackles during practice, so far, could be counted on two hands.
"I said it after the game, it's the first one, not the last one, and I'm going all the way to the last one of the season," Haley said. "I feel good about what we're doing."
Former Oklahoma Sooner and 10-year NFL vet Kelly Gregg said the team is just worried about the Chiefs.
"We didn't game-plan for Tampa Bay," he said. "We're just approaching everything as training camp. Coach Haley has a plan and that's what we're doing." Part of that plan was to limit the touches for the Chiefs' top offensive players.
Quarterback Matt Cassel played three series, one of which went three-and-out, and the other two resulting in fumbles. Running back Jamaal Charles didn't carry the ball, top wide receiver Dwayne Bowe didn't make a catch, and the offense managed a measly 137 yards.
Giants DE Umenyiora ends stalemate, will practice: A somewhat miffed Osi Umenyiora is returning to the New York Giants without a new contract.
In an email to The Associated Press on Sunday evening, the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end said he plans to practice on Monday at training camp, and that he will play this season under the terms of his current contract.
Umenyiora said the Giants offered to put incentives in his contract, which will pay him $7.1 million over the next two seasons, but he rejected them.
"No deal has been reworked," Umenyiora told the AP. "What has been offered has been unacceptable and shows they don't really respect the fact I sacrifice my health for the franchise. I will play under my current deal because I love and respect my coaches, my teammates, the fans, and myself. Not for those incentives."
Umenyiora didn't say how much money the team offered in incentives.The nine-year NFL veteran hasn't practiced since reporting to training camp on July 30, a day late.
Colts backup QBs struggle in loss to Rams: Colts coach Jim Caldwell isn't worried about his backup quarterbacks, despite their struggles in the preseason opener against the St. Louis Rams.
With Peyton Manning out because of a neck injury, reserves Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky got the early action. They combined to complete 7 of 16 passes with three interceptions in the 33-10 loss on Saturday.
Painter threw an interception on his first possession before leading the Colts to a field goal on the next one. Orlovsky threw two interceptions, but he also completed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith in the third quarter.
"We're going to be patient," Caldwell said. "We're going to develop and keep working with them. I think in both cases, it's too early to make an assessment."
2011年8月15日星期一
2011年8月12日星期五
Rout doesn't mean much, but it shows promise
KANSAS CITY, Mo. --
The Bucs began their preseason with a methodical romp Friday night over the Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
Sorry, force of habit.
There is no more lockout — just the unleashed melody of what could be for these 2011 Buccaneers.
Friday's final: 25-0.
Forget it, we already checked: they hand out the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.
Still, for starters, for practice, does it get any better than the new middle linebacker, rookie Mason Foster, coming up with a fumble in his first series in any sort of NFL game, or the same old (young) Josh Freeman scrambling for a touchdown two plays later, or a gang sack for safety for a 15-0 halftime lead?
Ah, August.
Throw in a Sabby Piscitelli sighting — but on the other team (overall, a comforting feeling).
Last season will be a tough act to follow, that stunning 10-6 turnaround season, though the tough act didn't result in any playoff games. Schedules change, expectations change, everything changes when people are on to you.
That's these Bucs.
Friday night, they didn't play any number of who they're counting on this season, from Kellen Winslow to Arrelious Benn to Gerald McCoy to Aqib Talib and so on and so on, injuries, rest, etc. It didn't matter. They romped.
Ah, August.
But there was Freeman (9-of-13, 73 yards) and there was LeGarrette Blount and there was hope, again, the idea that maybe 10-6 was just the start. And there was Foster, who is trying to replace Barrett Rudd, which I don't think will be that easy, making a third-down stop on a Chiefs runner to force a punt.
Raheem Morris remains the NFL's youngest head coach, and his team remains the youngest, too. It's nearly ridiculous: only three players over the age of 30, and 74 of 90 players in training camp 25 or younger, though the numbers are slightly skewed by those six 9-year-olds getting a look on special teams. Note: Three of them haven't passed the conditioning test yet.
Freeman led the offense to 13 first-half points, his TD run and two shouldn't-have-stalled drives that turned to field goals. The real answers lay down the road.
But you look at this offense and wonder what can stop Freeman, Blount and Mike Williams. You wonder if Benn can pick up where he left off. You wonder if Dezmon Briscoe, who had some very nice moments Friday, is ready to join the group, too. You wonder if the offensive line will carry the day, or at least hold up.
Maybe the defense will begin to catch up with the offense. The D made some splash plays in the first half: Foster's recovery, or Al Woods forcing a fumble that Sean Jones recovered, or that safety, the combined work of Dekoda Watson and Michael Bennett, with Bennett showing no signs that he intends to cede the job of starting left end to rookie Da'Quan Bowers
"We have some high expectations for this young unit, but it's encouraging, the way we played in the first half," said Ronde Barber, who also made a tackle for loss in the Chiefs' first series. Young unit that.
Still, you wonder if the Bucs can build a pass rush this season from two rookie ends, Adrian Clayborn (who made a play or two Friday) and Bowers, and second-year tackles McCoy and Brian Price, and that's in front of a rookie middle linebacker. It's a daring concept.
They're so young, and already they play so hard for Morris. But follow-up years are never easy. It's about building. It's about continuing to grow. This team could be better than last year's team and not have as good a record.
It's entirely possible. Then again, so is the moon.
The Bucs began their preseason with a methodical romp Friday night over the Kansas City Chiefs, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
Sorry, force of habit.
There is no more lockout — just the unleashed melody of what could be for these 2011 Buccaneers.
Friday's final: 25-0.
Forget it, we already checked: they hand out the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.
Still, for starters, for practice, does it get any better than the new middle linebacker, rookie Mason Foster, coming up with a fumble in his first series in any sort of NFL game, or the same old (young) Josh Freeman scrambling for a touchdown two plays later, or a gang sack for safety for a 15-0 halftime lead?
Ah, August.
Throw in a Sabby Piscitelli sighting — but on the other team (overall, a comforting feeling).
Last season will be a tough act to follow, that stunning 10-6 turnaround season, though the tough act didn't result in any playoff games. Schedules change, expectations change, everything changes when people are on to you.
That's these Bucs.
Friday night, they didn't play any number of who they're counting on this season, from Kellen Winslow to Arrelious Benn to Gerald McCoy to Aqib Talib and so on and so on, injuries, rest, etc. It didn't matter. They romped.
Ah, August.
But there was Freeman (9-of-13, 73 yards) and there was LeGarrette Blount and there was hope, again, the idea that maybe 10-6 was just the start. And there was Foster, who is trying to replace Barrett Rudd, which I don't think will be that easy, making a third-down stop on a Chiefs runner to force a punt.
Raheem Morris remains the NFL's youngest head coach, and his team remains the youngest, too. It's nearly ridiculous: only three players over the age of 30, and 74 of 90 players in training camp 25 or younger, though the numbers are slightly skewed by those six 9-year-olds getting a look on special teams. Note: Three of them haven't passed the conditioning test yet.
Freeman led the offense to 13 first-half points, his TD run and two shouldn't-have-stalled drives that turned to field goals. The real answers lay down the road.
But you look at this offense and wonder what can stop Freeman, Blount and Mike Williams. You wonder if Benn can pick up where he left off. You wonder if Dezmon Briscoe, who had some very nice moments Friday, is ready to join the group, too. You wonder if the offensive line will carry the day, or at least hold up.
Maybe the defense will begin to catch up with the offense. The D made some splash plays in the first half: Foster's recovery, or Al Woods forcing a fumble that Sean Jones recovered, or that safety, the combined work of Dekoda Watson and Michael Bennett, with Bennett showing no signs that he intends to cede the job of starting left end to rookie Da'Quan Bowers
"We have some high expectations for this young unit, but it's encouraging, the way we played in the first half," said Ronde Barber, who also made a tackle for loss in the Chiefs' first series. Young unit that.
Still, you wonder if the Bucs can build a pass rush this season from two rookie ends, Adrian Clayborn (who made a play or two Friday) and Bowers, and second-year tackles McCoy and Brian Price, and that's in front of a rookie middle linebacker. It's a daring concept.
They're so young, and already they play so hard for Morris. But follow-up years are never easy. It's about building. It's about continuing to grow. This team could be better than last year's team and not have as good a record.
It's entirely possible. Then again, so is the moon.
Former QB turns heads at tackle for OU
NORMAN - There aren't many human beings who cast an impression on someone as large as Tyler Evans.
Oklahoma's junior offensive lineman is 6-foot-5, 316 pounds, and, being a country boy from rural Missouri, he looks bigger.
But even Evans was struck when he met Lane Johnson.
"I'm like, 'Good night!' " Evans says. " 'Big quarterback.' "
That was three years ago, when Johnson weighed a paltry 250 pounds and had come to OU as a junior college quarterback from Kilgore (Texas) College. Now the 6-foot-7 Johnson clears the 300-pound mark as an up-and-coming offensive lineman.
"He's a freak," said sophomore guard Gabe Ikard. "He did it and got super strong and is still like 18 percent body fat at 305 pounds. He's pretty ridiculous."
Johnson's coach, Bruce Kittle, said this week the fourth-year junior is pushing for the starting job at left tackle. As the protector of quarterback Landry Jones' blind side, the left tackle position is arguably the most important in football.
"He's certainly big and thick enough," Kittle said. "He still runs a (40-yard dash in) 4.8 (seconds), he's 6-6 1/2 and moves really well for us."
Johnson never had any illusions of playing quarterback at OU. He came to Norman as a tight end and practiced there in 2009 while redshirting. Midway through 2010, he was switched to defensive end, where Bob Stoops said it appeared he had a bright future. Then last spring, he moved to offensive line. Now, he's alternating with returning starter Donald Stephenson as the Sooners' starting left tackle.
"Lane's doing really well," Kittle said. "Doing everything we've asked. Just hasn't had a lot of reps at that position with our zone reps and things like that. Every day he's getting better."
Johnson said he hasn't had to adjust his thinking to how the game is played - from the glory position of quarterback in high school in Groveton, Texas, and at Kilgore to the gruntwork position of offensive line - because he's always been a team player first.
"I was in Groveton. It was a small 1-A school," Johnson said. "There wasn't too much glory. You'd get your name in the paper, that's about it."
Johnson said he's just naturally big. If he eats, he gains weight. Sometimes, a lot of weight.
"I couldn't eat too much because every time I did ... my weight would go up," he said. "I kind of toned it down because coach Stoops came to me at the beginning of the spring and asked me if I wanted to play tackle. I was like, 'Nah.' So I definitely didn't eat. I stayed around 275 and played D-end."
He switched midway through spring practice, started eating normally and hitting the weights, and has put on 27 pounds.
Stoops noted that former Iowa teammate and Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowler John Alt was a tight end when he arrived in Iowa City, but moved to tackle, became a first-round draft pick and played there 13 years in the NFL.
"I love guys with that kind of range as long as they're tough and got a huge frame like that," Stoops said. "Yeah, either use him as a big tight end like we like to use, or he grows into a tackle."
Switching from tight end to O-line isn't anything new at OU. Ikard, now around 300, moved to guard after practicing as a 255-pound tight end during his redshirt year in 2009. Eric Mensik helped out in a pinch for the last two games of 2009, then gained 20 pounds and played right tackle full-time in 2010 and made first-team All-Big 12.
"I look up to him as a player," Johnson said.
Actually, everybody looks up to Johnson, both for his height and, at his position, his natural athletic ability.
"Donald's pretty athletic," Ikard said, "but when it comes to timing and testing all the combine stuff, the numbers (Johnson) puts up are pretty ridiculous.
"He's got all the physical talent and he's starting to absorb and understand the offense when it comes to running the ball and how we're identifying stuff. There's no reason he shouldn't be able to contribute a lot on Saturdays."
Kittle ticked off a handful of fine points that offensive linemen must master, but said Johnson is picking them up quickly.
"Aiming points, his footwork, blocking out, his pass (protection) is improving," Kittle said. "I feel like he's right on pace where he can help us."
"Aiming points, his footwork, blocking out, his pass (protection) is improving. I feel like he's right on pace where he can help us."
Oklahoma's junior offensive lineman is 6-foot-5, 316 pounds, and, being a country boy from rural Missouri, he looks bigger.
But even Evans was struck when he met Lane Johnson.
"I'm like, 'Good night!' " Evans says. " 'Big quarterback.' "
That was three years ago, when Johnson weighed a paltry 250 pounds and had come to OU as a junior college quarterback from Kilgore (Texas) College. Now the 6-foot-7 Johnson clears the 300-pound mark as an up-and-coming offensive lineman.
"He's a freak," said sophomore guard Gabe Ikard. "He did it and got super strong and is still like 18 percent body fat at 305 pounds. He's pretty ridiculous."
Johnson's coach, Bruce Kittle, said this week the fourth-year junior is pushing for the starting job at left tackle. As the protector of quarterback Landry Jones' blind side, the left tackle position is arguably the most important in football.
"He's certainly big and thick enough," Kittle said. "He still runs a (40-yard dash in) 4.8 (seconds), he's 6-6 1/2 and moves really well for us."
Johnson never had any illusions of playing quarterback at OU. He came to Norman as a tight end and practiced there in 2009 while redshirting. Midway through 2010, he was switched to defensive end, where Bob Stoops said it appeared he had a bright future. Then last spring, he moved to offensive line. Now, he's alternating with returning starter Donald Stephenson as the Sooners' starting left tackle.
"Lane's doing really well," Kittle said. "Doing everything we've asked. Just hasn't had a lot of reps at that position with our zone reps and things like that. Every day he's getting better."
Johnson said he hasn't had to adjust his thinking to how the game is played - from the glory position of quarterback in high school in Groveton, Texas, and at Kilgore to the gruntwork position of offensive line - because he's always been a team player first.
"I was in Groveton. It was a small 1-A school," Johnson said. "There wasn't too much glory. You'd get your name in the paper, that's about it."
Johnson said he's just naturally big. If he eats, he gains weight. Sometimes, a lot of weight.
"I couldn't eat too much because every time I did ... my weight would go up," he said. "I kind of toned it down because coach Stoops came to me at the beginning of the spring and asked me if I wanted to play tackle. I was like, 'Nah.' So I definitely didn't eat. I stayed around 275 and played D-end."
He switched midway through spring practice, started eating normally and hitting the weights, and has put on 27 pounds.
Stoops noted that former Iowa teammate and Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowler John Alt was a tight end when he arrived in Iowa City, but moved to tackle, became a first-round draft pick and played there 13 years in the NFL.
"I love guys with that kind of range as long as they're tough and got a huge frame like that," Stoops said. "Yeah, either use him as a big tight end like we like to use, or he grows into a tackle."
Switching from tight end to O-line isn't anything new at OU. Ikard, now around 300, moved to guard after practicing as a 255-pound tight end during his redshirt year in 2009. Eric Mensik helped out in a pinch for the last two games of 2009, then gained 20 pounds and played right tackle full-time in 2010 and made first-team All-Big 12.
"I look up to him as a player," Johnson said.
Actually, everybody looks up to Johnson, both for his height and, at his position, his natural athletic ability.
"Donald's pretty athletic," Ikard said, "but when it comes to timing and testing all the combine stuff, the numbers (Johnson) puts up are pretty ridiculous.
"He's got all the physical talent and he's starting to absorb and understand the offense when it comes to running the ball and how we're identifying stuff. There's no reason he shouldn't be able to contribute a lot on Saturdays."
Kittle ticked off a handful of fine points that offensive linemen must master, but said Johnson is picking them up quickly.
"Aiming points, his footwork, blocking out, his pass (protection) is improving," Kittle said. "I feel like he's right on pace where he can help us."
"Aiming points, his footwork, blocking out, his pass (protection) is improving. I feel like he's right on pace where he can help us."
2011年8月11日星期四
Pioli: Chiefs are making progress during odd camp
Associated Press
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- After the NFL lockout wiped away most of the offseason, resulting in a most unusual training camp, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli believes things are finally getting back to normal.
Just in time, too. Kansas City's first preseason game is Friday night.
"We're making progress," Pioli said after a walkthrough Wednesday morning. "It was an awkward start in terms of logistics and getting everyone organized and understanding what we could do, what we couldn't do, not having everybody at once at the beginning part. But it looks like we're finally into what appears to be a normal group."
That's especially good news to Pioli.
The entire offseason was condensed into just a couple days once the owners and players agreed on a new labor deal, so Pioli has been sequestered in his room trying to maneuver through free agency -- and the new rules governing it -- to bolster the defending AFC West champs any way he could.
Along with bringing back center Casey Wiegmann, Pioli reeled in former Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston to give quarterback Matt Cassel another option. Defensive end Wallace Gilberry and offensive lineman Barry Richardson signed free agent tenders, and former Chargers linebacker Brandon Siler came aboard.
Pioli then reached out to pluck defensive tackle Kelly Gregg and fullback Le'Ron McClain from the Baltimore Ravens, the team that sent the Chiefs packing in the first round of the playoffs. Then the Chiefs' GM made his most significant move by reaching terms on a five-year, $60 million contract with outside linebacker Tamba Hali.
"The priority is always to get players that are better," Pioli said, "or players that will improve our situation."
Pioli said he's not necessarily done making moves, though he acknowledged no one position group is due an overhaul. That includes the quarterback spot, where the two backups behind Cassel are fifth-round draft choice Ricky Stanzi and young journeyman Tyler Palko -- both almost entirely devoid of NFL experience.
"We're going to see good competition," Pioli said. "We have two good players competing really hard."
"There have been times I've been in this situation and I think there's been times where Todd's been in this situation," he added, "where sometimes it's a veteran, sometimes it's a young guy, and you figure it out. You get to a point if you're comfortable, you stick where you are. If you're not comfortable then you have to make a change."
The Chiefs aren't sure what to expect when they take the field at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday night with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the other sideline. After all, they haven't even had a scrimmage yet.
Haley has been positive in his assessment of the Chiefs just about every time he steps to the podium for his daily press briefing, though. And while he rarely gets into specifics, Haley did acknowledge that the bizarre start to the season has made it more difficult than usual to evaluate the players he puts on the field.
"Yesterday had the feel of a training camp practice, and we did that intentionally," he said. "We make decisions every day -- do we want to walk through out in the sun or inside? The quick answer is inside to get out of the heat, but we want the guys to get acclimated to the heat because we are going to have some early games that are hot. If you're ever robotic about it and set, 'This is how we're going to go about it,' you're going to miss something potentially."
Pioli said that's the key -- to not miss anything. That's why evaluation will continue through at least the first couple preseason games, and encompass everything from conditioning to attitude to the grasp of the playbook.
"I think what our coaching staff is doing in terms of altering workouts and not going too fast too hard on things, you don't get to see them play football as much," Pioli said. "So we're going to have to figure it out. The good news is, 31 other teams are in the same situation, so we have to figure it out. And we will."
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- After the NFL lockout wiped away most of the offseason, resulting in a most unusual training camp, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli believes things are finally getting back to normal.
Just in time, too. Kansas City's first preseason game is Friday night.
"We're making progress," Pioli said after a walkthrough Wednesday morning. "It was an awkward start in terms of logistics and getting everyone organized and understanding what we could do, what we couldn't do, not having everybody at once at the beginning part. But it looks like we're finally into what appears to be a normal group."
That's especially good news to Pioli.
The entire offseason was condensed into just a couple days once the owners and players agreed on a new labor deal, so Pioli has been sequestered in his room trying to maneuver through free agency -- and the new rules governing it -- to bolster the defending AFC West champs any way he could.
Along with bringing back center Casey Wiegmann, Pioli reeled in former Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston to give quarterback Matt Cassel another option. Defensive end Wallace Gilberry and offensive lineman Barry Richardson signed free agent tenders, and former Chargers linebacker Brandon Siler came aboard.
Pioli then reached out to pluck defensive tackle Kelly Gregg and fullback Le'Ron McClain from the Baltimore Ravens, the team that sent the Chiefs packing in the first round of the playoffs. Then the Chiefs' GM made his most significant move by reaching terms on a five-year, $60 million contract with outside linebacker Tamba Hali.
"The priority is always to get players that are better," Pioli said, "or players that will improve our situation."
Pioli said he's not necessarily done making moves, though he acknowledged no one position group is due an overhaul. That includes the quarterback spot, where the two backups behind Cassel are fifth-round draft choice Ricky Stanzi and young journeyman Tyler Palko -- both almost entirely devoid of NFL experience.
"We're going to see good competition," Pioli said. "We have two good players competing really hard."
"There have been times I've been in this situation and I think there's been times where Todd's been in this situation," he added, "where sometimes it's a veteran, sometimes it's a young guy, and you figure it out. You get to a point if you're comfortable, you stick where you are. If you're not comfortable then you have to make a change."
The Chiefs aren't sure what to expect when they take the field at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday night with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the other sideline. After all, they haven't even had a scrimmage yet.
Haley has been positive in his assessment of the Chiefs just about every time he steps to the podium for his daily press briefing, though. And while he rarely gets into specifics, Haley did acknowledge that the bizarre start to the season has made it more difficult than usual to evaluate the players he puts on the field.
"Yesterday had the feel of a training camp practice, and we did that intentionally," he said. "We make decisions every day -- do we want to walk through out in the sun or inside? The quick answer is inside to get out of the heat, but we want the guys to get acclimated to the heat because we are going to have some early games that are hot. If you're ever robotic about it and set, 'This is how we're going to go about it,' you're going to miss something potentially."
Pioli said that's the key -- to not miss anything. That's why evaluation will continue through at least the first couple preseason games, and encompass everything from conditioning to attitude to the grasp of the playbook.
"I think what our coaching staff is doing in terms of altering workouts and not going too fast too hard on things, you don't get to see them play football as much," Pioli said. "So we're going to have to figure it out. The good news is, 31 other teams are in the same situation, so we have to figure it out. And we will."
2011年8月10日星期三
Jags' Gabbert expected to start Thursday
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — David Garrard is out, Blaine Gabbert is in.
Jacksonville's quarterback situation got scrambled a bit Tuesday when coach Jack Del Rio ruled Garrard out of Thursday's preseason opener at New England.
Gabbert, the 10th overall pick in April's draft, will start against the Patriots. Gabbert, Luke McCown and Todd Bouman are expected to share snaps. McCown, a former Louisiana Tech star, took no repetitions in practice Tuesday night, but it was unclear whether he was injured.
Panthers: Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith injured his finger during Tuesday's padded practice, but coach Ron Rivera confirmed it's not broken and isn't anything that will keep him out of any regular season games.
Smith, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, sustained a cut near the base of his left middle finger that required stitches, but x-rays revealed no broken bones. Smith injured the finger while attempting to catch a pass in Tuesday morning's practice.
Bengals: Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton will start the Cincinnati Bengals' preseason opener on Friday night in Detroit, his first chance to show he can handle the job.
Coach Marvin Lewis said on Tuesday that Dalton and the other starters will play a little longer than a normal preseason opener as they try to make up for time lost during the NFL lockout. He said the second-round pick has shown a lot of poise while learning the offense in training camp.
The move was expected. Owner Mike Brown indicated when camp opened that he wanted Dalton to be the starter.
Dolphins: The NFL will be a bit quieter this season: Channing Crowder says he's retiring.
Crowder, one of the league's most notorious trash-talkers, said Tuesday he has decided to call it a career less than two weeks after being cut by the Miami Dolphins. The veteran linebacker made the announcement on WQAM radio, where he has been a talk-show host.
Jets: The New York Jets are still playing it safe with Plaxico Burress.
The wide receiver was held out of team drills in practice Tuesday as he recovers from an ankle injury. That comes a day after Burress had his busiest day of training camp while participating in a handful of 11-on-11 plays.
Chiefs: Tamba Hali thanked Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt and his family, then talked about getting back to work.
Kansas City's star linebacker spoke with reporters Tuesday for the first time since signing a five-year, $60-million contract last week.
The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Hali during the offseason, but there was no lengthy holdout from a player coming off of a career year.
Jacksonville's quarterback situation got scrambled a bit Tuesday when coach Jack Del Rio ruled Garrard out of Thursday's preseason opener at New England.
Gabbert, the 10th overall pick in April's draft, will start against the Patriots. Gabbert, Luke McCown and Todd Bouman are expected to share snaps. McCown, a former Louisiana Tech star, took no repetitions in practice Tuesday night, but it was unclear whether he was injured.
Panthers: Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith injured his finger during Tuesday's padded practice, but coach Ron Rivera confirmed it's not broken and isn't anything that will keep him out of any regular season games.
Smith, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, sustained a cut near the base of his left middle finger that required stitches, but x-rays revealed no broken bones. Smith injured the finger while attempting to catch a pass in Tuesday morning's practice.
Bengals: Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton will start the Cincinnati Bengals' preseason opener on Friday night in Detroit, his first chance to show he can handle the job.
Coach Marvin Lewis said on Tuesday that Dalton and the other starters will play a little longer than a normal preseason opener as they try to make up for time lost during the NFL lockout. He said the second-round pick has shown a lot of poise while learning the offense in training camp.
The move was expected. Owner Mike Brown indicated when camp opened that he wanted Dalton to be the starter.
Dolphins: The NFL will be a bit quieter this season: Channing Crowder says he's retiring.
Crowder, one of the league's most notorious trash-talkers, said Tuesday he has decided to call it a career less than two weeks after being cut by the Miami Dolphins. The veteran linebacker made the announcement on WQAM radio, where he has been a talk-show host.
Jets: The New York Jets are still playing it safe with Plaxico Burress.
The wide receiver was held out of team drills in practice Tuesday as he recovers from an ankle injury. That comes a day after Burress had his busiest day of training camp while participating in a handful of 11-on-11 plays.
Chiefs: Tamba Hali thanked Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt and his family, then talked about getting back to work.
Kansas City's star linebacker spoke with reporters Tuesday for the first time since signing a five-year, $60-million contract last week.
The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Hali during the offseason, but there was no lengthy holdout from a player coming off of a career year.
2011年8月9日星期二
Monday's Sports in Brief
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Joe Paterno was hospitalized and undergoing tests on his right arm and hip after a player ran into the 84-year-old coach during practice.
Paterno was admitted Sunday evening to Mount Nittany Medical Center after he walked away from the collision with a receiver, the school said Monday. Receiver Devon Smith was running a drill on the offensive side of the field when he blindsided the Hall of Fame coach, who was watching the defense.
"I expect to be back at practice soon,'' Paterno said in a statement. "I'm doing fine; tell everyone not to worry about me.''
Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State director of athletic medicine, said it doesn't appear surgery will be required. The school said Paterno could be released in the next 24 hours.
Doctors were evaluating his shoulder and pelvis, and there was no firm diagnosis yet on the extent of the injuries, said a person Monday night familiar with the team who requested anonymity because no one was authorized to speak about his condition.
Paterno is entering his 46th season as Penn State's head coach and is the winningest coach in the history of major college football with 401 victories.
FOOTBALL
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan has apologized to his bosses, teammates, fans and even the media for bolting training camp. He also says he left because he was upset over talks for an extension, not the personal issue he mentioned defending himself on Twitter.
Finnegan said Monday after practice he understands he was a distraction to his team that wasn't needed. He says he let emotions get the best of him when he wanted to meet with his wife and discuss contract talks that he hopes will allow him to retire with Tennessee.
The cornerback reported back for camp before curfew Sunday night, and he talked with new coach Mike Munchak on Monday.
Munchak says Finnegan will be fined, and the cornerback says he will willingly pay.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson ended his 11-day holdout and reported to Philadelphia Eagles training camp on Monday. He didn't practice in the morning, but was on the field for the afternoon walkthrough.
Jackson is slated to earn $565,000 this season, the final one of his four-year rookie deal. He caught 47 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns last year, and his 22.5 yard-per-catch average was best in the NFL. He also averaged 11.6 yards on 20 punt returns, including a 65-yarder for a TD that beat the New York Giants on the last play of a game in the Meadowlands on Dec. 19.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) - The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms with veteran running back Ricky Williams.
The Ravens announced the deal on Monday, pending Williams passing a physical Tuesday.
Williams played for the Miami Dolphins last season. The 34-year-old running back split time with Ronnie Brown in Miami and averaged 4.2 yards per carry. He rushed for 673 yards and scored two touchdowns.
With the Ravens, Williams will play behind starter Ray Rice.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Dashon Goldson is back with the San Francisco 49ers after all - despite all his tweets to the contrary.
The free agent safety agreed to terms on a one-year contract Monday to rejoin the Niners. Coach Jim Harbaugh discussed the addition of Goldson after Monday's practice in Santa Clara, but said he wasn't sure whether Goldson would be on the practice field for the first time Tuesday morning, an open workout for fans.
While the team hadn't formally announced Goldson's signing, the Niners did say they signed tight end Chris Blohm to a three-year deal.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson has a torn right biceps tendon and will try to rehabilitate the injury to avoid surgery that would sideline him for a longer period.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt would give no timetable for Wilson's return other than to say he expects the four-time Pro Bowler to play this season.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Jerry Smith, whose 26-year NFL coaching career included a stint as the Denver Broncos interim head coach in 1971, has died at age 80.
Smith had been in declining health since suffering a heart attack four years ago. He died Saturday, said his son, Jeffrey Smith, of Dallas.
Smith coached the offensive and defensive lines for 10 AFL/NFL teams from 1960-85 before serving six seasons as a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A settlement has been reached in the final lawsuit stemming from the heat stroke death of Minnesota Vikings lineman Korey Stringer 10 years ago, his family announced Monday.
Terms of the settlement between Stringer's widow, Kelci Stringer, and Chicago-based helmet and shoulder pads-maker Riddell Inc. were not disclosed, said James Gould, who was Korey Stringer's agent and serves as a family spokesman.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Ohio in 2003, alleged Riddell failed to warn players and coaches that wearing its helmets and shoulder pads in hot temperatures could be dangerous. The family reached separate settlements earlier with the NFL and other defendants.
Korey Stringer died Aug. 1, 2001, after collapsing on a sweltering day in training camp.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Backup offensive lineman Kevin Haslam will be placed on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury in Jacksonville's scrimmage.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Haslam injured the medial collateral ligament and "some other things'' in his left knee Saturday. Del Rio said "we're talking months, not days or weeks'' before Haslam will be ready to play again.
Haslam was waived/injured Monday, but is expected to clear waivers and be placed on IR. The Jaguars also waived rookie guard Troy White and signed rookie offensive lineman Rob McGill, who was cut a day earlier by Atlanta.
Haslam twisted his knee when he fell into a pile during the scrimmage.
BASEBALL
One day before their big series against second-place Cleveland, the Detroit Tigers ended months of speculation about their manager and front office.
The Tigers have extended manager Jim Leyland's contract through the 2012 season, and general manager Dave Dombrowski has agreed to a four-year extension through 2015. Both contracts were set to expire after this season, but with Detroit in first place, owner Mike Ilitch decided the time was right to work out new deals.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino is appealing a three-game suspension imposed Monday for his part in a weekend brawl at San Francisco.
A pair of Giants players who expected one-game suspensions only received fines after playing key roles in the benches-clearing brawl between NL division leaders Friday night. Nobody was injured.
Major League Baseball also fined Victorino an undisclosed amount.
Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco, Giants pitcher Ramon Ramirez and catcher Eli Whiteside were fined, as well. Victorino, Ramirez and Whiteside were ejected.
Victorino can continue to play until the appeal process is complete.
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Mets put star shortstop Jose Reyes on the disabled list with another hamstring problem and said infielder Daniel Murphy is likely done for the season because of a knee injury.
Both players were hurt during Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Reyes left in the second inning because of stiffness in his left hamstring. The NL's leading hitter was on the disabled list last month because of the same trouble.
Murphy left in the seventh inning with a sprained ligament in his left knee. He was spiked by Jose Constanza on a clean but awkward play. The Mets say Murphy probably won't need surgery.
Infielder Ruben Tejada and outfielder Mike Baxter were promoted Monday from Triple-A Buffalo.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Giants right fielder Carlos Beltran has a strained right hand and wrist that isn't considered serious.
Beltran was out of the lineup for San Francisco's 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night and underwent an MRI on the hand earlier as a precaution. Results showed inflammation in the top and side of his hand near the wrist.
Beltran received treatment all day Monday and planned to test the hand with some simulation exercises Tuesday, such as mimicking the swinging motion.
The Giants wanted to get their slugger examined before leaving town when a 10-game homestand concludes Wednesday.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has stepped up his workouts while recovering from knee surgery.
There's still no timetable, though, on when he'll rejoin the team.
Rodriguez had Monday's session moved from the Yankees' minor league complex to their spring training site at George Steinbrenner Field because of rain.
A-Rod took part in a situational hitting drill during a 57-pitch batting practice session.
TRIATHLON
NEW YORK (AP) - Two competitors died after experiencing problems during the swim portion of the Nautica New York City Triathlon, leading race organizers to consider demanding more documentation of athletes' training and experience.
Michael Kudryk, 64, of Freehold, N.J., died Sunday after he was pulled out of the Hudson River unconscious. Police say he was believed to have suffered a heart attack. A 40-year-old woman from Elmhurst, Ill., who was not identified at the family's request, died Monday. Race director Bill Burke said she was believed to have gone into cardiac arrest twice after Sunday's swim.
The deaths were the second and third at the popular triathlon in three years.
On Monday, a New York City lawmaker called for a top-to-bottom review, questioning whether rain the night before - which could have led to choppy water and strong currents - or 90-degree temperatures were factors.
Burke called the deaths "a very, very sad occurrence and tragedy,'' but characterized the weather conditions during Sunday's race as optimal, with relatively mild temperatures and good cloud cover for much of the day.
SOCCER
MADRID (AP) - Real Madrid has signed a 7-year-old soccer prodigy from Argentina who goes by the name Leo - just like Lionel Messi.
Leonel Angel Coira signed with the Spanish club and will begin training Sept. 6, Madrid spokesman Juan Tapiador told The Associated Press on Monday.
Coira told the Argentine sports daily Ole last week that his idol is Messi, the Barcelona forward who is also Argentine and goes by the name Leo. Coira said he prefers to pass rather than score. He already has a Facebook page featuring photos of his visit to Real Madrid.
Madrid reportedly made the push to sign Coira because Spanish league rival Atletico Madrid was also pursuing the youngster.
TRACK AND FIELD
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South Africa's athletics federation has selected double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius in its team for this month's world championships.
Pistorius is set to be the first amputee athlete to compete at the able-bodied worlds when he represents South Africa in Daegu, South Korea, as its only runner in the 400 meters. He has also been chosen for the 4x400 relay.
The 24-year-old Pistorius was named in a group of 26 athletes by Athletics South Africa on Monday after he smashed his personal best last month to make the qualifying time.
Women's 800-meter world champion Caster Semenya is also included and will defend the title she won in 2009 amid a storm of controversy over gender tests.
TENNIS
MONTREAL (AP) - France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 13th seed and highest-ranked player in action, beat Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the Rogers Cup on Monday.
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, the runner-up in Montreal in 2009, downed Finland's Jarrko Nieminen 6-4, 6-0.
The top eight seeded players drew first-round byes.
Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka beat Argentina's David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-4. The 14th-seeded Wawrinka will next play American qualifier Michael Russell or Spain's Albert Montanes.
TORONTO (AP) - Qualifier Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan beat No. 9 seed Marion Bartoli of France 6-3, 6-3 Monday in the first round of the Rogers Cup.
Bartoli was making her eighth appearance at the Rogers Cup and first since a first-round defeat in 2009 when she lost as the 13th seed to Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko.
Germany's Julia Goerges topped No. 15 seed Jelena Jankovic with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in an evening match.
Romanian Simona Halep - another qualifier - rallied to upset 12th-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. The 15th-ranked Kuznetsova had 50 unforced errors to send Halep to the second round in her Rogers Cup debut.
Paterno was admitted Sunday evening to Mount Nittany Medical Center after he walked away from the collision with a receiver, the school said Monday. Receiver Devon Smith was running a drill on the offensive side of the field when he blindsided the Hall of Fame coach, who was watching the defense.
"I expect to be back at practice soon,'' Paterno said in a statement. "I'm doing fine; tell everyone not to worry about me.''
Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State director of athletic medicine, said it doesn't appear surgery will be required. The school said Paterno could be released in the next 24 hours.
Doctors were evaluating his shoulder and pelvis, and there was no firm diagnosis yet on the extent of the injuries, said a person Monday night familiar with the team who requested anonymity because no one was authorized to speak about his condition.
Paterno is entering his 46th season as Penn State's head coach and is the winningest coach in the history of major college football with 401 victories.
FOOTBALL
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan has apologized to his bosses, teammates, fans and even the media for bolting training camp. He also says he left because he was upset over talks for an extension, not the personal issue he mentioned defending himself on Twitter.
Finnegan said Monday after practice he understands he was a distraction to his team that wasn't needed. He says he let emotions get the best of him when he wanted to meet with his wife and discuss contract talks that he hopes will allow him to retire with Tennessee.
The cornerback reported back for camp before curfew Sunday night, and he talked with new coach Mike Munchak on Monday.
Munchak says Finnegan will be fined, and the cornerback says he will willingly pay.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) - Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson ended his 11-day holdout and reported to Philadelphia Eagles training camp on Monday. He didn't practice in the morning, but was on the field for the afternoon walkthrough.
Jackson is slated to earn $565,000 this season, the final one of his four-year rookie deal. He caught 47 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns last year, and his 22.5 yard-per-catch average was best in the NFL. He also averaged 11.6 yards on 20 punt returns, including a 65-yarder for a TD that beat the New York Giants on the last play of a game in the Meadowlands on Dec. 19.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) - The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms with veteran running back Ricky Williams.
The Ravens announced the deal on Monday, pending Williams passing a physical Tuesday.
Williams played for the Miami Dolphins last season. The 34-year-old running back split time with Ronnie Brown in Miami and averaged 4.2 yards per carry. He rushed for 673 yards and scored two touchdowns.
With the Ravens, Williams will play behind starter Ray Rice.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Dashon Goldson is back with the San Francisco 49ers after all - despite all his tweets to the contrary.
The free agent safety agreed to terms on a one-year contract Monday to rejoin the Niners. Coach Jim Harbaugh discussed the addition of Goldson after Monday's practice in Santa Clara, but said he wasn't sure whether Goldson would be on the practice field for the first time Tuesday morning, an open workout for fans.
While the team hadn't formally announced Goldson's signing, the Niners did say they signed tight end Chris Blohm to a three-year deal.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson has a torn right biceps tendon and will try to rehabilitate the injury to avoid surgery that would sideline him for a longer period.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt would give no timetable for Wilson's return other than to say he expects the four-time Pro Bowler to play this season.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Jerry Smith, whose 26-year NFL coaching career included a stint as the Denver Broncos interim head coach in 1971, has died at age 80.
Smith had been in declining health since suffering a heart attack four years ago. He died Saturday, said his son, Jeffrey Smith, of Dallas.
Smith coached the offensive and defensive lines for 10 AFL/NFL teams from 1960-85 before serving six seasons as a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A settlement has been reached in the final lawsuit stemming from the heat stroke death of Minnesota Vikings lineman Korey Stringer 10 years ago, his family announced Monday.
Terms of the settlement between Stringer's widow, Kelci Stringer, and Chicago-based helmet and shoulder pads-maker Riddell Inc. were not disclosed, said James Gould, who was Korey Stringer's agent and serves as a family spokesman.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Ohio in 2003, alleged Riddell failed to warn players and coaches that wearing its helmets and shoulder pads in hot temperatures could be dangerous. The family reached separate settlements earlier with the NFL and other defendants.
Korey Stringer died Aug. 1, 2001, after collapsing on a sweltering day in training camp.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Backup offensive lineman Kevin Haslam will be placed on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury in Jacksonville's scrimmage.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Haslam injured the medial collateral ligament and "some other things'' in his left knee Saturday. Del Rio said "we're talking months, not days or weeks'' before Haslam will be ready to play again.
Haslam was waived/injured Monday, but is expected to clear waivers and be placed on IR. The Jaguars also waived rookie guard Troy White and signed rookie offensive lineman Rob McGill, who was cut a day earlier by Atlanta.
Haslam twisted his knee when he fell into a pile during the scrimmage.
BASEBALL
One day before their big series against second-place Cleveland, the Detroit Tigers ended months of speculation about their manager and front office.
The Tigers have extended manager Jim Leyland's contract through the 2012 season, and general manager Dave Dombrowski has agreed to a four-year extension through 2015. Both contracts were set to expire after this season, but with Detroit in first place, owner Mike Ilitch decided the time was right to work out new deals.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino is appealing a three-game suspension imposed Monday for his part in a weekend brawl at San Francisco.
A pair of Giants players who expected one-game suspensions only received fines after playing key roles in the benches-clearing brawl between NL division leaders Friday night. Nobody was injured.
Major League Baseball also fined Victorino an undisclosed amount.
Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco, Giants pitcher Ramon Ramirez and catcher Eli Whiteside were fined, as well. Victorino, Ramirez and Whiteside were ejected.
Victorino can continue to play until the appeal process is complete.
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Mets put star shortstop Jose Reyes on the disabled list with another hamstring problem and said infielder Daniel Murphy is likely done for the season because of a knee injury.
Both players were hurt during Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Reyes left in the second inning because of stiffness in his left hamstring. The NL's leading hitter was on the disabled list last month because of the same trouble.
Murphy left in the seventh inning with a sprained ligament in his left knee. He was spiked by Jose Constanza on a clean but awkward play. The Mets say Murphy probably won't need surgery.
Infielder Ruben Tejada and outfielder Mike Baxter were promoted Monday from Triple-A Buffalo.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Giants right fielder Carlos Beltran has a strained right hand and wrist that isn't considered serious.
Beltran was out of the lineup for San Francisco's 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night and underwent an MRI on the hand earlier as a precaution. Results showed inflammation in the top and side of his hand near the wrist.
Beltran received treatment all day Monday and planned to test the hand with some simulation exercises Tuesday, such as mimicking the swinging motion.
The Giants wanted to get their slugger examined before leaving town when a 10-game homestand concludes Wednesday.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has stepped up his workouts while recovering from knee surgery.
There's still no timetable, though, on when he'll rejoin the team.
Rodriguez had Monday's session moved from the Yankees' minor league complex to their spring training site at George Steinbrenner Field because of rain.
A-Rod took part in a situational hitting drill during a 57-pitch batting practice session.
TRIATHLON
NEW YORK (AP) - Two competitors died after experiencing problems during the swim portion of the Nautica New York City Triathlon, leading race organizers to consider demanding more documentation of athletes' training and experience.
Michael Kudryk, 64, of Freehold, N.J., died Sunday after he was pulled out of the Hudson River unconscious. Police say he was believed to have suffered a heart attack. A 40-year-old woman from Elmhurst, Ill., who was not identified at the family's request, died Monday. Race director Bill Burke said she was believed to have gone into cardiac arrest twice after Sunday's swim.
The deaths were the second and third at the popular triathlon in three years.
On Monday, a New York City lawmaker called for a top-to-bottom review, questioning whether rain the night before - which could have led to choppy water and strong currents - or 90-degree temperatures were factors.
Burke called the deaths "a very, very sad occurrence and tragedy,'' but characterized the weather conditions during Sunday's race as optimal, with relatively mild temperatures and good cloud cover for much of the day.
SOCCER
MADRID (AP) - Real Madrid has signed a 7-year-old soccer prodigy from Argentina who goes by the name Leo - just like Lionel Messi.
Leonel Angel Coira signed with the Spanish club and will begin training Sept. 6, Madrid spokesman Juan Tapiador told The Associated Press on Monday.
Coira told the Argentine sports daily Ole last week that his idol is Messi, the Barcelona forward who is also Argentine and goes by the name Leo. Coira said he prefers to pass rather than score. He already has a Facebook page featuring photos of his visit to Real Madrid.
Madrid reportedly made the push to sign Coira because Spanish league rival Atletico Madrid was also pursuing the youngster.
TRACK AND FIELD
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South Africa's athletics federation has selected double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius in its team for this month's world championships.
Pistorius is set to be the first amputee athlete to compete at the able-bodied worlds when he represents South Africa in Daegu, South Korea, as its only runner in the 400 meters. He has also been chosen for the 4x400 relay.
The 24-year-old Pistorius was named in a group of 26 athletes by Athletics South Africa on Monday after he smashed his personal best last month to make the qualifying time.
Women's 800-meter world champion Caster Semenya is also included and will defend the title she won in 2009 amid a storm of controversy over gender tests.
TENNIS
MONTREAL (AP) - France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 13th seed and highest-ranked player in action, beat Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the Rogers Cup on Monday.
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, the runner-up in Montreal in 2009, downed Finland's Jarrko Nieminen 6-4, 6-0.
The top eight seeded players drew first-round byes.
Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka beat Argentina's David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-4. The 14th-seeded Wawrinka will next play American qualifier Michael Russell or Spain's Albert Montanes.
TORONTO (AP) - Qualifier Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan beat No. 9 seed Marion Bartoli of France 6-3, 6-3 Monday in the first round of the Rogers Cup.
Bartoli was making her eighth appearance at the Rogers Cup and first since a first-round defeat in 2009 when she lost as the 13th seed to Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko.
Germany's Julia Goerges topped No. 15 seed Jelena Jankovic with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in an evening match.
Romanian Simona Halep - another qualifier - rallied to upset 12th-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. The 15th-ranked Kuznetsova had 50 unforced errors to send Halep to the second round in her Rogers Cup debut.
2011年8月8日星期一
Chiefs center Casey Wiegmann doesn’t want his streak snapped
ST. JOSEPH | By the time Ryan Lilja first joined the Chiefs in 2004, Casey Wiegmann’s NFL career was already something for a rookie offensive lineman to view with wonder.
Wiegmann had already put together an impressive career for an undrafted and undersized center out of Iowa. So imagine Lilja’s awe now. Wiegmann is 38 and still going strong, about to begin his 16th NFL season with a consecutive offensive-play streak of 10,141 dating to early 2001.
“He was an old-timer when I was a rookie,” Lilja said. “He’s one of the wonders of the world.”
Wiegmann may be one of the wonders of the football world, but he’s no museum piece. One of the first moves made by the Chiefs once the free-agent signing period began was to sign Wiegmann to a new contract.
He will, assuming he makes it through the preseason unharmed, start at center for the Chiefs on Sept. 11, when they open the regular season against Buffalo at Arrowhead Stadium. Coach Todd Haley wouldn’t have it any other way.
“There’s nobody more excited about Casey’s decision to come back and continue being a part of what he was such a big part of last year,” Haley said. “You don’t do what he’s done for as long as he’s done it by accident. He knows how to do it, he knows what to do.”
For that reason, Haley will use Wiegmann as a museum piece, or at least a teaching tool for his younger teammates.
“This group of (players) we have, you make sure occasionally that you say, ‘Take a look at (Wiegmann).’ ” Haley said. “He wrote the book on how to have a great career, so I’d be trying to do most of the things he’s doing.
“I think he’s the epitome of what I’ve coached for many, many years: being the same guy every day. He’ll be in the same seat (in meetings), he’ll be out on the field at the same time and not a lot changes. He’s just managed to get a little better each and every day in a lot of different areas.”
Wiegmann, 6 feet 2 and 285 pounds, acknowledged the decision to return for another season was more difficult than ever. But now that he’s made it, he said, he’s all in.
That means his snap streak will inevitably grow. The Chiefs may like to give Wiegmann some rest this season and give some playing time to Rodney Hudson, their second-round draft pick and Wiegmann’s eventual successor.
But they may have a battle getting Wiegmann out of the lineup. He refused to come out of games before, and now the streak is a prideful thing for a player told early in his NFL career that he would never make it.
“It first started just because I played with two (future) Hall of Famers (Will Shields and Willie Roaf),” Wiegmann said, recalling a couple of his teammates from his early seasons with the Chiefs.
“We only dressed seven guys, and those two were the guys that got to sit out when the game was out of control. As soon as those guys got done playing, I had the streak going, and I just kept going and going and going.
“I don’t know if it was a year or two ago, but the offensive-line coach said, ‘We’re going to take you out.’ I was like, ‘I’m not coming out, sorry.’ ”
He didn’t, not then or any other time since the streak started in 2001, his first season in Kansas City.
Haley and Chiefs offensive coordinator Bill Muir coached Wiegmann with the New York Jets early in his NFL career. His success was difficult to predict then, but Muir said that looking back, it makes sense.
“You just know when you see the right stuff,” Muir said. “He’s got over (10,000) straight snaps in the National Football League. That speaks volumes about the man and the football player.”
Asked Wiegmann’s secret, Muir said, “Genes. He has two kids. If I was a college coach, I’d give them scholarships right now.”
Haley said: “You knew he was a tough guy. I think early in ’97 or ’98, he was on a kickoff return, was in the wedge and went up in there and knocked himself out basically. You knew this guy was tough, (but) you know he’s probably too little . . .
“We formed a little connection, I would say in my opinion, and through the years every time we crossed paths it was one of those where when the game ended or before the game, you go catch up and say how are you doing, and you follow those types of guys that you’re rooting for, that maybe a lot of people are saying he doesn’t have a chance. Then as you see them have success, you enjoy following those kinds of guys.
“That’s the way it’s been with Casey, and I’m just grateful that he chose to come back to Kansas City with us and believed enough in what we were doing to be a part of it again this year.”
Wiegmann is in his second time around with the Chiefs. After playing for the Jets, Indianapolis and Chicago early in his career, Wiegmann was with the Chiefs during 2001-07. He then left for two seasons with Denver before returning last year.
He won’t be leaving again. Both sides want it that way.
“Kansas City has been good to me,” he said. “I’ve always said that. To finish my career here is the ultimate goal. I had the chance to go elsewhere, but like I said, this place has been good, and winning is happening here again, so it’s positive.”
Wiegmann had already put together an impressive career for an undrafted and undersized center out of Iowa. So imagine Lilja’s awe now. Wiegmann is 38 and still going strong, about to begin his 16th NFL season with a consecutive offensive-play streak of 10,141 dating to early 2001.
“He was an old-timer when I was a rookie,” Lilja said. “He’s one of the wonders of the world.”
Wiegmann may be one of the wonders of the football world, but he’s no museum piece. One of the first moves made by the Chiefs once the free-agent signing period began was to sign Wiegmann to a new contract.
He will, assuming he makes it through the preseason unharmed, start at center for the Chiefs on Sept. 11, when they open the regular season against Buffalo at Arrowhead Stadium. Coach Todd Haley wouldn’t have it any other way.
“There’s nobody more excited about Casey’s decision to come back and continue being a part of what he was such a big part of last year,” Haley said. “You don’t do what he’s done for as long as he’s done it by accident. He knows how to do it, he knows what to do.”
For that reason, Haley will use Wiegmann as a museum piece, or at least a teaching tool for his younger teammates.
“This group of (players) we have, you make sure occasionally that you say, ‘Take a look at (Wiegmann).’ ” Haley said. “He wrote the book on how to have a great career, so I’d be trying to do most of the things he’s doing.
“I think he’s the epitome of what I’ve coached for many, many years: being the same guy every day. He’ll be in the same seat (in meetings), he’ll be out on the field at the same time and not a lot changes. He’s just managed to get a little better each and every day in a lot of different areas.”
Wiegmann, 6 feet 2 and 285 pounds, acknowledged the decision to return for another season was more difficult than ever. But now that he’s made it, he said, he’s all in.
That means his snap streak will inevitably grow. The Chiefs may like to give Wiegmann some rest this season and give some playing time to Rodney Hudson, their second-round draft pick and Wiegmann’s eventual successor.
But they may have a battle getting Wiegmann out of the lineup. He refused to come out of games before, and now the streak is a prideful thing for a player told early in his NFL career that he would never make it.
“It first started just because I played with two (future) Hall of Famers (Will Shields and Willie Roaf),” Wiegmann said, recalling a couple of his teammates from his early seasons with the Chiefs.
“We only dressed seven guys, and those two were the guys that got to sit out when the game was out of control. As soon as those guys got done playing, I had the streak going, and I just kept going and going and going.
“I don’t know if it was a year or two ago, but the offensive-line coach said, ‘We’re going to take you out.’ I was like, ‘I’m not coming out, sorry.’ ”
He didn’t, not then or any other time since the streak started in 2001, his first season in Kansas City.
Haley and Chiefs offensive coordinator Bill Muir coached Wiegmann with the New York Jets early in his NFL career. His success was difficult to predict then, but Muir said that looking back, it makes sense.
“You just know when you see the right stuff,” Muir said. “He’s got over (10,000) straight snaps in the National Football League. That speaks volumes about the man and the football player.”
Asked Wiegmann’s secret, Muir said, “Genes. He has two kids. If I was a college coach, I’d give them scholarships right now.”
Haley said: “You knew he was a tough guy. I think early in ’97 or ’98, he was on a kickoff return, was in the wedge and went up in there and knocked himself out basically. You knew this guy was tough, (but) you know he’s probably too little . . .
“We formed a little connection, I would say in my opinion, and through the years every time we crossed paths it was one of those where when the game ended or before the game, you go catch up and say how are you doing, and you follow those types of guys that you’re rooting for, that maybe a lot of people are saying he doesn’t have a chance. Then as you see them have success, you enjoy following those kinds of guys.
“That’s the way it’s been with Casey, and I’m just grateful that he chose to come back to Kansas City with us and believed enough in what we were doing to be a part of it again this year.”
Wiegmann is in his second time around with the Chiefs. After playing for the Jets, Indianapolis and Chicago early in his career, Wiegmann was with the Chiefs during 2001-07. He then left for two seasons with Denver before returning last year.
He won’t be leaving again. Both sides want it that way.
“Kansas City has been good to me,” he said. “I’ve always said that. To finish my career here is the ultimate goal. I had the chance to go elsewhere, but like I said, this place has been good, and winning is happening here again, so it’s positive.”
订阅：
博文 (Atom)