FOXBORO - The NFL's new rule on kickoffs plays right into the hands - or more accurately, the right foot - of Patriots' kicker Stephen Gostkowski.
Now, all the veteran kicker needs to do is actually start to kick them.
In two preseason games, Gostkowski has yet to attempt a kickoff. It's all part of his continuing rehabilitation from a thigh injury, suffered prior to the Patriots' game at Cleveland midway through last season, that landed him on the injured reserve list.
Kickoffs have been handled thus far this preseason by rookie Chris Koepplin of UMass-Amherst. But when Gostkowski, a sixth-year veteran out of Memphis returns to those chores, he may find it's just too darned easy.
Kickoffs are now from the 35-yard-line, five yards closer to the opposing end zone. The NFL moved them up this year in an attempt to promote player safety by increasing the number of touchbacks and reducing the number or returns teams will attempt.
Some believe just from two weeks of preseason play that the league has taken one of the most exciting plays in the game and replaced it with the most boring play on the books.
"The rules are the rules and you've got to play them," said Gostkowski, who had 80 touchbacks (from the 30-yard-line) out of 421 career regular-season kickoffs entering this season. "It's definitely going to be an adjustment period, especially early in the year where you could have five or six kickoffs that are touchbacks in a row, then you don't hit one as well and it's not a touchback and all of a sudden they've got to cover, after the teams have been running down four or five times and not getting any action."
As Gostkowski said, not every kickoff is going to sail out of the end zone because of the new rule. Wind and weather conditions will play a role, especially later in the season. There will also be situations when a touchback, with the ball automatically brought out to the 20-yard-line to start a possession, won't be the proper strategy for the moment.
"We haven't really talked about it too much," Gostkowski said last week after practice at Gillette Stadium, where its characteristic gusty winds have helped keep the ball in play regardless of how well it was struck. "Whatever the coach wants to do if the coach wants me to kick it high and to the goal line, I'll do that. Whatever makes the team better. But if they want me to blast it, and get a touchback, I'll try to do that, too."
Limiting a team's return capability has made Gostkowski even more valuable over the years, above and beyond his accurate placement kicking. It appears that he's back to 100 percent in that area, having converted all three of his attempted field goals (all longer than 40 yards) and all nine of his conversion kicks in two preseason games.
It's not known yet if he will attempt kickoffs Saturday at Ford Field when the Patriots take on the Detroit Lions (8 p.m.; Ch. 4, 12) in what's generally regarded as the dress rehearsal for the regular season. But Gostkowski believes he's ready to accept that challenge. It will just be a matter of returning to what he already did well, regardless of where the ball is placed, and following the proper routine.
"It's kind of a really rhythmical thing, like a golf swing," he said. "When you try to adjust and make adjustments, you're more prone to missing it. So I try to do the same thing every time. I make slight adjustments whether it's into the wind or something like that."
He probably could kick the ball out of the end zone on almost every try from the 35, given his proven capabilities. But Bill Belichick may want him to improve his situational kicking.
"I would work on it and I'm sure I could figure out a way to get it done," Gostkowski said. "If they want me to see how far I can kick it, I'll do that, too."
It's not the easiest thing in the world for a kicker to put a kickoff exactly where he wants it, distance-wise. But Gostkowski thinks a key to being able to do that on a relatively consistent basis is in how he usually kicks a football.
"I always try to hit it as high as I can," he said. "That's never an issue. I feel like I do a pretty good job of hang time. I'd put myself up there for hang time; that's one of the things that I pride myself on."
Past experimentation that went awry taught the veteran kicker a valuable lesson.
"After kicking the ball out of bounds a couple of times and Bill yelling at me, I just try to kick it as high as I can now," he said. "But it helped me out in the long run. Most of the time, the smoother I am the better I hit the ball, and the farther it goes.
"The specialty kicks, those are things we work on, and whatever happens, happens," he added. "If they want me to do it, I'll do it, and if not, then no complaints out of me. My job is to kick the ball and that's all I'm going to do."
2011年8月23日星期二
2011年8月22日星期一
Lions tackle Backus returns to practice
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions activated left tackle Jeff Backus on Sunday and the 11-year veteran practiced with the team for the first time this season.
Backus, who's started 160 straight games, suffered a partially torn chest muscle during the offseason and spent the first three weeks of training camp on the active/non-football injury list.
It's not clear whether he'll play in Saturday's exhibition game against visiting New England.
"Physically, I just have to get back the timing," he said. "The rest of these guys have three weeks on me. I've just got to play a little catch-up."
The 2001 first-round draft pick said the injury kept him from the full use of his left arm for a few weeks. Coach Jim Schwartz wouldn't say if he'll use Backus on Saturday but the lineman said he'll approach this week as if he is going to play.
Backus' return completes the Lions' regular starting offensive line from last season.
Fellow tackle Goder Cherilus, guards Rob Sims and Stephen Peterman and center Dominic Raiola started 12 games together in 2010.
Jahvid Best left Friday's exhibition game after being hit on the Lions' third offensive play and was removed from the game after complaining of a headache. Schwartz said the second-year tailback felt better a day later.
"By the next day he was clearing up," the coach said. "We'll be very cautious with him but we should have him back on the practice field pretty soon."
Losing Best for an extended period would have further depleted a group of backs that already lost rookie Mikel Leshoure to a season-ending injury and still is waiting for Maurice Morris to return from a hand injury.
Best led the Lions with 555 yards on the ground and had 487 more as a receiver last year. Morris, who added 336 yards and scored five touchdowns last season, took part in some drills Sunday and his status for Saturday's game is uncertain.
Rookie receiver Titus Young (muscle tightness) participated in seven-on-seven drills during Sunday's practice and Schwartz said the team hopes to have him participating fully soon.
The Lions also released tackle Isaac Sowells and moved safety Randy Phillips to injured reserve.
Backus, who's started 160 straight games, suffered a partially torn chest muscle during the offseason and spent the first three weeks of training camp on the active/non-football injury list.
It's not clear whether he'll play in Saturday's exhibition game against visiting New England.
"Physically, I just have to get back the timing," he said. "The rest of these guys have three weeks on me. I've just got to play a little catch-up."
The 2001 first-round draft pick said the injury kept him from the full use of his left arm for a few weeks. Coach Jim Schwartz wouldn't say if he'll use Backus on Saturday but the lineman said he'll approach this week as if he is going to play.
Backus' return completes the Lions' regular starting offensive line from last season.
Fellow tackle Goder Cherilus, guards Rob Sims and Stephen Peterman and center Dominic Raiola started 12 games together in 2010.
Jahvid Best left Friday's exhibition game after being hit on the Lions' third offensive play and was removed from the game after complaining of a headache. Schwartz said the second-year tailback felt better a day later.
"By the next day he was clearing up," the coach said. "We'll be very cautious with him but we should have him back on the practice field pretty soon."
Losing Best for an extended period would have further depleted a group of backs that already lost rookie Mikel Leshoure to a season-ending injury and still is waiting for Maurice Morris to return from a hand injury.
Best led the Lions with 555 yards on the ground and had 487 more as a receiver last year. Morris, who added 336 yards and scored five touchdowns last season, took part in some drills Sunday and his status for Saturday's game is uncertain.
Rookie receiver Titus Young (muscle tightness) participated in seven-on-seven drills during Sunday's practice and Schwartz said the team hopes to have him participating fully soon.
The Lions also released tackle Isaac Sowells and moved safety Randy Phillips to injured reserve.
2011年8月20日星期六
Brian Dulik: Browns show fans why preseason is waste of time
When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell finally gets his way and expands the regular season to 18 games, he can cite Friday night as a prime example of why.
The Browns’ 30-28 loss to the Detroit Lions was an unwatchable debacle, even by the low standards of preseason football.
There were myriad mistakes, misplays and miscommunications, again proving exhibition games are a waste of time - and money - for all fans forced to pay full price as part of their season-ticket packages.
How bad was it? One longtime NFL official, now working as a game-day observer for the league, said he had never run out of room on his penalty/turnover/stoppage spreadsheet until Friday.
“I’m disappointed with how sloppy it was,” Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur said. “Every mistake out there, you tend to see it.
“It’s the way an NFL game goes, it’s push and pull, and give and take. Everybody is playing hard, nothing is different that way. (But) those things that beat teams showed up, and we have to get them corrected.”
That was the case for both squads, giving Shurmur and Lions counterpart Jim Schwartz plenty of film to scold their players about in the days ahead.
The annual “Great Lakes Classic” featured 26 penalties, six fumbles and only 4-of-22 successful third-down conversions. It also had a ton of points - most of them set up by turnovers and rung up by lousy defense.
“We got a couple of short fields, and when that’s the case, you have to punch them in,” said Shurmur, who kept his first-string offense on the field for 34 plays. “We did a good job there, but the efficiency, I don’t think we were quite as efficient (overall) as last week.”
There were some highlights for the home team, many courtesy of quarterback Colt McCoy, tight end Evan Moore and wide receivers Greg Little and Joshua Cribbs.
That quartet led the Browns to 21 points in the first 26 minutes, despite not having the services of starting running back Peyton Hillis, tight end Benjamin Watson or guard Eric Steinbach.
McCoy completed 10 of 18 passes for 96 yards, three touchdowns and a passer rating of 110.2, continuing his rapid growth in the new West Coast Offense.
Even more encouraging, the second-year pro wasn’t intimidated by Detroit’s scary pass rushers. McCoy absorbed - and played through - hard hits to the chest by Cliff Avril, Caleb Campbell and Stephen Tulloch, along with a cheap shot to his left knee by Quinn Pitcock.
Moore hauled in two of McCoy’s three scoring strikes before being “dinged,” while Little had the other. Cribbs chipped in two receptions and drew a 27-yard pass interference call by blowing past Nathan Vasher on a bomb down the right sideline.
“When you put up 21 points in the first half, you’re going to win a lot of football games,” McCoy said. “When we got a short field, we punched it in, which was a good thing.”
The bad, though, far outweighed the good for Cleveland, which blew a 28-13 lead in its home preseason finale.
Lions quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Drew Stanton shredded its defense for three touchdowns and 165 yards on just 18 combined throws. The Lions outgained the Browns 407-271 and held a 6-4 advantage in scoring drives.
Cleveland guard Shawn Lauvao and safety Brett Johnson were each called for late hits, while offensive linemen Pat Murray and Brian Smith committed holding penalties on the same fourth-quarter play.
Little also spoiled his first NFL touchdown by booting the ball into the stands, but avoided a flag when the officials somehow missed seeing him do it.
Worst of all was the plight of Browns running back Armond Smith - an undrafted rookie from Union College - who ripped off an 81-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put himself in the mix for a roster spot.
Less than a half hour later, Smith had punched his ticket to the waiver wire by losing two fumbles that Detroit turned into two touchdowns.
“Those fumbles in the second half directly led to points, and those were killers,” Shurmur said. “There is a lesson in that, and we’ll clean it up.
“Fortunately, it’s the preseason, so we have time to correct it. We’ve got a lot of things to correct after tonight.”
The Browns’ 30-28 loss to the Detroit Lions was an unwatchable debacle, even by the low standards of preseason football.
There were myriad mistakes, misplays and miscommunications, again proving exhibition games are a waste of time - and money - for all fans forced to pay full price as part of their season-ticket packages.
How bad was it? One longtime NFL official, now working as a game-day observer for the league, said he had never run out of room on his penalty/turnover/stoppage spreadsheet until Friday.
“I’m disappointed with how sloppy it was,” Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur said. “Every mistake out there, you tend to see it.
“It’s the way an NFL game goes, it’s push and pull, and give and take. Everybody is playing hard, nothing is different that way. (But) those things that beat teams showed up, and we have to get them corrected.”
That was the case for both squads, giving Shurmur and Lions counterpart Jim Schwartz plenty of film to scold their players about in the days ahead.
The annual “Great Lakes Classic” featured 26 penalties, six fumbles and only 4-of-22 successful third-down conversions. It also had a ton of points - most of them set up by turnovers and rung up by lousy defense.
“We got a couple of short fields, and when that’s the case, you have to punch them in,” said Shurmur, who kept his first-string offense on the field for 34 plays. “We did a good job there, but the efficiency, I don’t think we were quite as efficient (overall) as last week.”
There were some highlights for the home team, many courtesy of quarterback Colt McCoy, tight end Evan Moore and wide receivers Greg Little and Joshua Cribbs.
That quartet led the Browns to 21 points in the first 26 minutes, despite not having the services of starting running back Peyton Hillis, tight end Benjamin Watson or guard Eric Steinbach.
McCoy completed 10 of 18 passes for 96 yards, three touchdowns and a passer rating of 110.2, continuing his rapid growth in the new West Coast Offense.
Even more encouraging, the second-year pro wasn’t intimidated by Detroit’s scary pass rushers. McCoy absorbed - and played through - hard hits to the chest by Cliff Avril, Caleb Campbell and Stephen Tulloch, along with a cheap shot to his left knee by Quinn Pitcock.
Moore hauled in two of McCoy’s three scoring strikes before being “dinged,” while Little had the other. Cribbs chipped in two receptions and drew a 27-yard pass interference call by blowing past Nathan Vasher on a bomb down the right sideline.
“When you put up 21 points in the first half, you’re going to win a lot of football games,” McCoy said. “When we got a short field, we punched it in, which was a good thing.”
The bad, though, far outweighed the good for Cleveland, which blew a 28-13 lead in its home preseason finale.
Lions quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Drew Stanton shredded its defense for three touchdowns and 165 yards on just 18 combined throws. The Lions outgained the Browns 407-271 and held a 6-4 advantage in scoring drives.
Cleveland guard Shawn Lauvao and safety Brett Johnson were each called for late hits, while offensive linemen Pat Murray and Brian Smith committed holding penalties on the same fourth-quarter play.
Little also spoiled his first NFL touchdown by booting the ball into the stands, but avoided a flag when the officials somehow missed seeing him do it.
Worst of all was the plight of Browns running back Armond Smith - an undrafted rookie from Union College - who ripped off an 81-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put himself in the mix for a roster spot.
Less than a half hour later, Smith had punched his ticket to the waiver wire by losing two fumbles that Detroit turned into two touchdowns.
“Those fumbles in the second half directly led to points, and those were killers,” Shurmur said. “There is a lesson in that, and we’ll clean it up.
“Fortunately, it’s the preseason, so we have time to correct it. We’ve got a lot of things to correct after tonight.”
2011年8月19日星期五
Duff book chronicles he legend of Howard
Desmond Howard, the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Michigan, will serve as grand marshal for Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway.
Howard will give the order to the 43 racers to start their engines, and will also be promoting his new book I Wore 21: The Legend of Desmond Howard, co-written with Bill Roose and Windsor Star sports columnist Bob Duff.
The 190-page book, published by Champions Press, LLC, features unique stories and hundreds of photos never seen before from the Howard family collection.
The book is slated for release Sept. 10 at the Michigan-Notre Dame game in the Big House at Ann Arbor, and Howard, who will be there as part of ESPN's College Game Day crew, will be signing copies.
The book will sell for US$20 that day, but can also be preordered through MDen.com for US$21.
Howard, recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, said he was excited about his upcoming appearance at the Wolverines-Fighting Irish game.
"This is going to be one of those days when I will need to constantly try and keep my emotions in check," he said.
"It's one of those types of experiences because of everything that has been going on so far, the hall of fame induction and the book is coming out."
While at the University of Michigan, Howard's acrobatic catches made him one of the most electrifying players ever to play the game.
He became the first receiver in Big Ten history to lead the conference in scoring, as he set or tied five NCAA records and 12 single-season Michigan records.
The All-American won the Heisman by the second largest margin of victory in the trophy's history.
He was also awarded the Walter Camp Trophy and the Maxwell Award that year before graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications.
Howard played 11 seasons in the NFL for five teams, including two with the Detroit Lions.
While playing for the Green Bay Packers, Howard was voted the most valuable player of Super Bowl XXXI and is the first and on ly special teams player to win the award.
He is one of only four players to win both the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP.
His post-football career achievements include joining the College Football Hall of Fame and being inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame, the University of Michigan Hall of Honor, State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.
Howard will give the order to the 43 racers to start their engines, and will also be promoting his new book I Wore 21: The Legend of Desmond Howard, co-written with Bill Roose and Windsor Star sports columnist Bob Duff.
The 190-page book, published by Champions Press, LLC, features unique stories and hundreds of photos never seen before from the Howard family collection.
The book is slated for release Sept. 10 at the Michigan-Notre Dame game in the Big House at Ann Arbor, and Howard, who will be there as part of ESPN's College Game Day crew, will be signing copies.
The book will sell for US$20 that day, but can also be preordered through MDen.com for US$21.
Howard, recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, said he was excited about his upcoming appearance at the Wolverines-Fighting Irish game.
"This is going to be one of those days when I will need to constantly try and keep my emotions in check," he said.
"It's one of those types of experiences because of everything that has been going on so far, the hall of fame induction and the book is coming out."
While at the University of Michigan, Howard's acrobatic catches made him one of the most electrifying players ever to play the game.
He became the first receiver in Big Ten history to lead the conference in scoring, as he set or tied five NCAA records and 12 single-season Michigan records.
The All-American won the Heisman by the second largest margin of victory in the trophy's history.
He was also awarded the Walter Camp Trophy and the Maxwell Award that year before graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications.
Howard played 11 seasons in the NFL for five teams, including two with the Detroit Lions.
While playing for the Green Bay Packers, Howard was voted the most valuable player of Super Bowl XXXI and is the first and on ly special teams player to win the award.
He is one of only four players to win both the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP.
His post-football career achievements include joining the College Football Hall of Fame and being inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame, the University of Michigan Hall of Honor, State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.
2011年8月18日星期四
No cancer for Eagles' Maclin
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who still hasn’t practiced this preseason, has been cleared to return to the team after a cancer scare, trainer Rick Burkholder said Wednesday.
Burkholder said, barring a setback, Maclin will return to practice within 10 days and should be able to play in the Sept. 11 opener at St. Louis.
Burkholder said Maclin began experiencing symptoms – night sweats, fever, loss of weight, loss of appetite – in March, synonymous with lymphoma, a form of cancer. But five months of testing to determine the cause were inconclusive.
Burkholder said in a conference call from Pittsburgh, where the Eagles face the Steelers in an exhibition game tonight, that Maclin’s symptoms disappeared at some point before late July. He said the cause of the symptoms remains “vague.”
“We’re confident that the life-threatening stuff is out of the mix,” Burkholder said. “Right now, we’re going to look at him as having an inflammatory condition that caused him to have the symptoms and the abnormal blood studies.”
Maclin underwent a laparoscopy procedure last Thursday so doctors could get a clearer biopsy than previous tests had provided. The results came back Wednesday, and were negative for cancer.
Maclin, 23, caught 70 passes for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
$20,000 HITS TO WALLET
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Jacksonville Jaguars rookie linebacker Mike Lockley have been fined $20,000 each for respective hits during the exhibition season.
Suh, the NFL defensive rookie of the year last season, grabbed Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton high last week and threw the rookie to the turf in the first quarter of a game. Suh was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Lockley also was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter for a hit leading with his helmet on New England Patriots receiver Taylor Price.
Because Lockley is not getting paid a regular-season salary, he will have to pay the fine only if he makes Jacksonville’s roster or lands with another team.
EXTRA POINTS
The 49ers signed veteran quarterback Josh McCown to a one-year deal for the league minimum of $810,000. The 32-year-old was with the United Football League’s Hartford Colonials last year. … Former Bills first-round pick Aaron Maybin, waived by Buffalo on Monday, agreed to terms with the New York Jets on Wednesday morning, passed his physical a few hours later and then signed with the team. … The Chargers signed tight end Charles Davis to a one-year contract and released linebacker James Holt. … The Jets have confirmed that versatile offensive lineman Robert Turner has a broken right leg that will require surgery later this week, and running back Joe McKnight has a concussion. … Safety Randy Phillips, one of the former Miami Hurricanes to whom ex-booster Nevin Shapiro told Yahoo Sports he gave improper benefits from 2002 to 2010, has been waived injured by the Lions. … Authorities in Charlotte, N.C., say the apartment of Panthers defensive tackle Corvey Irvin was hit by burglars while he was away at the team’s training camp in Spartanburg, S.C. The missing items include a $1,000 pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses, a $500 television, and an Xbox 360.
Burkholder said, barring a setback, Maclin will return to practice within 10 days and should be able to play in the Sept. 11 opener at St. Louis.
Burkholder said Maclin began experiencing symptoms – night sweats, fever, loss of weight, loss of appetite – in March, synonymous with lymphoma, a form of cancer. But five months of testing to determine the cause were inconclusive.
Burkholder said in a conference call from Pittsburgh, where the Eagles face the Steelers in an exhibition game tonight, that Maclin’s symptoms disappeared at some point before late July. He said the cause of the symptoms remains “vague.”
“We’re confident that the life-threatening stuff is out of the mix,” Burkholder said. “Right now, we’re going to look at him as having an inflammatory condition that caused him to have the symptoms and the abnormal blood studies.”
Maclin underwent a laparoscopy procedure last Thursday so doctors could get a clearer biopsy than previous tests had provided. The results came back Wednesday, and were negative for cancer.
Maclin, 23, caught 70 passes for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
$20,000 HITS TO WALLET
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Jacksonville Jaguars rookie linebacker Mike Lockley have been fined $20,000 each for respective hits during the exhibition season.
Suh, the NFL defensive rookie of the year last season, grabbed Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton high last week and threw the rookie to the turf in the first quarter of a game. Suh was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Lockley also was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the fourth quarter for a hit leading with his helmet on New England Patriots receiver Taylor Price.
Because Lockley is not getting paid a regular-season salary, he will have to pay the fine only if he makes Jacksonville’s roster or lands with another team.
EXTRA POINTS
The 49ers signed veteran quarterback Josh McCown to a one-year deal for the league minimum of $810,000. The 32-year-old was with the United Football League’s Hartford Colonials last year. … Former Bills first-round pick Aaron Maybin, waived by Buffalo on Monday, agreed to terms with the New York Jets on Wednesday morning, passed his physical a few hours later and then signed with the team. … The Chargers signed tight end Charles Davis to a one-year contract and released linebacker James Holt. … The Jets have confirmed that versatile offensive lineman Robert Turner has a broken right leg that will require surgery later this week, and running back Joe McKnight has a concussion. … Safety Randy Phillips, one of the former Miami Hurricanes to whom ex-booster Nevin Shapiro told Yahoo Sports he gave improper benefits from 2002 to 2010, has been waived injured by the Lions. … Authorities in Charlotte, N.C., say the apartment of Panthers defensive tackle Corvey Irvin was hit by burglars while he was away at the team’s training camp in Spartanburg, S.C. The missing items include a $1,000 pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses, a $500 television, and an Xbox 360.
2011年8月17日星期三
NFL notebook: Supplemental draft on hold
NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed Tuesday that the draft will not be held as planned and that teams have been told a new date has not yet been set.
At least five players are known to be eligible for the supplemental draft, including former Georgia running back Caleb King.
Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor gave up his final season with the Buckeyes following an NCAA investigation at OSU. He wants to get into the draft but as of Tuesday afternoon had not yet been declared eligible for it.
Garrett Mills released: Former Jenks High School and University of Tulsa standout Garrett Mills was released by the Bengals. Mills, 27, has been with four teams since being drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round in 2006. The tight end was claimed off waivers by the Bengals in December.
Lions' Fairley walking in boot: Detroit rookie defensive lineman Nick Fairley is making progress as he recovers from surgery on his left foot.
Fairley was walking around Tuesday with a protective boot on the injured foot. The defensive tackle missed the Lions' first preseason game last week, but at least now he's able to move around and be with the team out on the field during practice.
Saints add Tecumseh graduate: The Saints have added running back Patrick Cobbs, a Tecumseh graduate, to their roster, three days after running back Joique Bell left New Orleans' preseason opener with a knee injury.
Cobbs, who starred in college at North Texas, has spent five seasons in the NFL, appearing in 54 games with Miami.
Cobbs has made three NFL starts. His best season was 2008, when he carried 12 times for 88 yards and had 19 receptions for 275 yards.
McDaniels' system off to fast start: By design, Josh McDaniels' offense in the St. Louis Rams' preseason opener was not a radical departure from last season. It's no time to be unveiling the playbook.
The small portion the Rams used while scoring 33 points in a victory over the Indianapolis Colts was effective enough, even without Steven Jackson. They'll ease the Pro Bowl running back into action in Week 2 of the preseason Saturday against Tennessee.
McDaniels said Tuesday that players have been introduced to most of his system.
The former Broncos coach, fired last December, said it's been enjoyable concentrating on one side of the ball and getting a chance to work closely with former Oklahoma star quarterback Sam Bradford.
St. Louis averaged 18.1 points last year, tied for 26th in the NFL, and was 26th in total offense.
At least five players are known to be eligible for the supplemental draft, including former Georgia running back Caleb King.
Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor gave up his final season with the Buckeyes following an NCAA investigation at OSU. He wants to get into the draft but as of Tuesday afternoon had not yet been declared eligible for it.
Garrett Mills released: Former Jenks High School and University of Tulsa standout Garrett Mills was released by the Bengals. Mills, 27, has been with four teams since being drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round in 2006. The tight end was claimed off waivers by the Bengals in December.
Lions' Fairley walking in boot: Detroit rookie defensive lineman Nick Fairley is making progress as he recovers from surgery on his left foot.
Fairley was walking around Tuesday with a protective boot on the injured foot. The defensive tackle missed the Lions' first preseason game last week, but at least now he's able to move around and be with the team out on the field during practice.
Saints add Tecumseh graduate: The Saints have added running back Patrick Cobbs, a Tecumseh graduate, to their roster, three days after running back Joique Bell left New Orleans' preseason opener with a knee injury.
Cobbs, who starred in college at North Texas, has spent five seasons in the NFL, appearing in 54 games with Miami.
Cobbs has made three NFL starts. His best season was 2008, when he carried 12 times for 88 yards and had 19 receptions for 275 yards.
McDaniels' system off to fast start: By design, Josh McDaniels' offense in the St. Louis Rams' preseason opener was not a radical departure from last season. It's no time to be unveiling the playbook.
The small portion the Rams used while scoring 33 points in a victory over the Indianapolis Colts was effective enough, even without Steven Jackson. They'll ease the Pro Bowl running back into action in Week 2 of the preseason Saturday against Tennessee.
McDaniels said Tuesday that players have been introduced to most of his system.
The former Broncos coach, fired last December, said it's been enjoyable concentrating on one side of the ball and getting a chance to work closely with former Oklahoma star quarterback Sam Bradford.
St. Louis averaged 18.1 points last year, tied for 26th in the NFL, and was 26th in total offense.
2011年8月16日星期二
High school football players, coaches to visit Detroit Lions training camp practice session
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Some coaches and players from local high school football teams that will play their season-opening games in the Big Day Prep Showdown series are set to visit a Detroit Lions training camp practice.
Representatives of Detroit Cass Tech, Detroit Martin Luther King, Birmingham Brother Rice and Ann Arbor Skyline are to appear at the Lions' Allen Park facility on Tuesday.
The Big Day Prep Showdown gets under way Aug. 25 at Eastern Michigan University with Clinton vs. Manchester and Sterling Heights Stevenson vs. Howell.
The Aug. 26 schedule features Skyline vs. Hartland and Chelsea vs. Novi.
And on Aug. 27, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central plays Plymouth; Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard takes on Lake Fenton; Martin Luther King faces Brother Rice; and Cass Tech goes up against Farmington Hills Harrison.
Representatives of Detroit Cass Tech, Detroit Martin Luther King, Birmingham Brother Rice and Ann Arbor Skyline are to appear at the Lions' Allen Park facility on Tuesday.
The Big Day Prep Showdown gets under way Aug. 25 at Eastern Michigan University with Clinton vs. Manchester and Sterling Heights Stevenson vs. Howell.
The Aug. 26 schedule features Skyline vs. Hartland and Chelsea vs. Novi.
And on Aug. 27, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central plays Plymouth; Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard takes on Lake Fenton; Martin Luther King faces Brother Rice; and Cass Tech goes up against Farmington Hills Harrison.
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