Baseboard Cadet

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NFL Week 3 picks and predictions

Since realignment in 2002, 55 of the 96 playoff teams (57.3 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2. Four of the past nine Super Bowl champions began their seasons with a 1-1 or 0-2 record. The ’93 Cowboys dropped their first two games, only to rebound and win a Super Bowl five months later (signing Emmett Smith sort helped, too). The ’06 Giants gave up 80 points in their first two games of the season and started the year in a 0-2 hole. They pulled themselves together in time for a playoff run, beat three division winners in the football jersey
postseason and took down an undefeated Patriots squad in the Super Bowl.
The bottom line is the season is still very young and there’s still plenty of reason for hope.
Except, of course, if you’re a fan of the Bills. In that case, well, you might as well start scouting Andrew Luck and Ryan Mallet on Saturdays from here on out. One will most likely be your quarterback come April.
As for the games at hand? Let’s dig into the Week 3 Cheat Sheet and get to the picks.
Tennessee at New York Giants: Stat of the weekend? Disgruntled Giants running back Brandon Jacobs had just 7 more rushing yards than he did helmets tossed into the crowd on Sunday night. And he allegedly wants to be traded? Though I haven’t polled all NFL general managers, I severely doubt there are many lining up for the chance to acquire an overpaid, malcontent running back that runs like an offensive guard and can’t go anywhere other than straight ahead. The Colts — the NFL’s 32nd-ranked rush offense in 2009 — ran all over the Giants last weekend in Indy. It’s scary to think what Chris Johnson and the Titans might do on Sunday.
Cincinnati at Carolina: Well, so much for the Matt Moore era in Carolina, huh? That sure lasted long. All we heard after Jimmy Clausen was drafted in the second round last April was Moore was still “the guy” and Clausen was merely the best player left on the board. Sure enough, it’s not even October and Clausen has been given the gig. He’s in for a long day on Sunday. After being embarrassed opening week in New England, the Cinchy D intercepted Joe Flacon four times en route to a 15-10 victory. Defensive team captain and world-class globetrotter Dhabi Jones may have very well been the best defensive player on a field not named Clay Matthews last Sunday. Look for Mike Zimmer’s defense to swallow the rookie whole in his first NFL start this weekend.
Atlanta at New Orleans: Before Week 1’s Texans-Colts bout, I said it was Houston’s biggest game of the season. I feel exactly the same about the Falcons' Week 3 trip to New Orleans. Dreadful against the Steelers in Week 1, the Atlanta offense found its wings and flew all over the Georgia Dome in a 41-7 blowout of Arizona in Week 2. The defense has been solid, but is about to face a Saints offense ready to explode. Losing Reggie Bush hurts, but Sean Payton and Drew Braes find a way. They always do. Give me the defending champs in a shootout on Minnesota Vikings jersey
Sunday.
Buffalo at New England: Back in August, I wrote, “Edwards, Fitzpatrick and Broom sounds more like a law firm that advertises on city benches and subway cars than an NFL quarterback depth chart. The fact that not one of Buffalo’s three quarterbacks has done a thing in their pro careers scares me. The fact that not one has done a thing to distinguish himself from the other two in training camp is downright horrifying.” Well, one down, two to go — as Chan Gaily announced Monday that Trent Edwards is out as the starter and Ryan Fitzpatrick is in. He said the Bills are looking for a “spark.” I’d hardly call Fitzpatrick the “fire starter.” If ever there was a time to ride the Patriots in your survivor pools, now is the week. And then whomever the Bills are playing next week. And the week after that. And so on. And so on.
Detroit at Minnesota: Maybe Brett Fare wanted it this way all along. What a story it would be — after going 9-0 in games played in the Metronome in ’09, Fare starts the season 0-2 in 2010, with a grueling 14-game slate up ahead. He wakes up one September morning, puts on his Wrangler jeans and saves his coach’s job and a city’s faith with a masterful four-month Super Bowl run. Or he just fades quietly into the sunset with a ho-hum final season, similar to the ones Troy Airman, Steve Young and Rich Gannon have all had before him. At this point, it looks like the latter is far more likely than the former. Either way,

Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay: A few days before the start of the regular season, I told Warren Sapp I had Tampa Bay as one of three NFL teams I could see finishing with the worst record of the 2010 season. His response? Verbatim: “Really? Wow. (Disgusted glance at me.) Hey, say what you want, but as long as they have that defense, they’ll always have a chance to win at least eight games.” I listened to Sapp, nodded my head politely, then proceeded to write the young Bucks off as not one, not two, but still three years away from being competitive. Sure enough, three weeks into the regular season, Tampa Bay is 2-0 and looking as feisty as ever on defense. The lesson? You should probably listen to a future Hall of Farmer when he gives you his opinion on a franchise he happens to know quite well. The offense will struggle at times vs. the Steelers D on Sunday, but it will limit the turnovers and keep it close. I smell an upset special here. Josh Freeman finds a way. Break up the Bucks!
Cleveland at Baltimore: What’s up with Joe Flacon and Ray Rice? Everybody’s preseason fantasy football darlings have struggled in two games against elite defenses; leading the Ravens offense to just 20 combined points in two outings. Look for the dynamic duo from Baltimore’s ’08 draft class to break out of their respective funks on Sunday in the Ravens’ home opener. Expect a lot of Josh Cribs out of the wildcat, too. Don’t expect Ray Lewis and Co. to be fooled one bit by it. Angina starts the season 0-3? Ah, and the hot seat gets even warmer. Does that new HBO show Boardwalk Empire need a cameo? The Man genius might be available soon.
San Francisco at Kansas City: How about the job Romeo Crenel has done in K.C. this year? Through two weeks, the Chiefs defense — ranked 30th in the league in 2009 — have given up an average of just 14 points and have already scored one game-winning touchdown. Oh Romeo, my Romeo! San Indianapolis Colts jersey
Francisco is coming off a short week, traveling to Kansas City just six days after getting its heart broken in a Monday night thriller with the Saints. All the team meetings, terse radio interviews and evil glares from Mike Singletary have netted zero wins for the Inners so far. Game Todd Haley — a guy who was criticized for his coaching styles last year — and the upstart Chiefs in this one. A former Mr. Irrelevant, kicker Ryan Succor, hits a game-winner in the closing seconds.

24 sep 10 Morton gets win as Pirates beat Cardinals 11-6

PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pittsburgh Pirates waited until they were 50 games below .500 before playing their best baseball of a miserable season.
Charlie Morton(notes) pitched effectively over six innings to win for the first time in 4 1/2 months, Pedro Alvarez(notes) homered and drove in four runs and the Pirates extended the St. Louis Cardinals’ late-season collapse by winning 11-6 on Wednesday night.
John Bowker(notes) homered among three hits as the football jerseys
Pirates won their fifth straight, their longest streak since an identical run in August 2009.
“We want to finish the season strong and, next year, we’ve got to start the season like that,” Pirates shortstop Ronny Cedeno(notes) said. “When we play like that, you see your pitchers getting better.”
It can’t get much worse for St. Louis, which was assured of its eighth consecutive series loss against a losing-record opponent. The Cardinals have dropped 25 of 37 since they led the NL Central on Aug. 13, including the first two of this three-game series.
Any combination of losses by St. Louis or wins by first-place Cincinnati totaling three will put St. Louis out of a division race it led much of the season. The Reds lost 13-1 in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
Morton (2-11), on the brink of having one of the worst seasons by any starter in Pirates’ history, won his second in 15 starts and his first since beating the Cubs 4-2 on May 5.
The right-hander began September with a 10.03 ERA that was the second-worst in modern major league history of any starter with at least 10 decisions, but he’s lowered that to 8.11 by allowing no more than three earned runs in any of his last four starts.
“I never once thought about it,” Morton said of possibly ending his season with a lone victory. “I think if I go out and pitch well, I’ll get a win. That’s the attitude I have to have.”
Until now, the Pirates hadn’t seen results from a pitcher with a strong assortment of pitches yet one who never seemed to put it together. Until this month, he had allowed five earned runs or more in seven of 11 starts.
“He’s got great stuff, great stuff,” Cedeno said. “I think San Francisco 49ers jersey
he’s the best pitcher we’ve got with that stuff. Now we’ve got to keep it going.”
Morton worked effectively off his fastball with a sharp-dropping breaking ball. He struck out five and walked one, giving up two hits and four runs.
St. Louis didn’t put up much of a fight, falling behind 10-1 while losing its fourth in its last five games in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates are within two losses of their first 100-loss season since 2001 yet could finish with a winning record at home by taking three of their final four in PNC Park.
Only one major league team, Tampa Bay in 2006, had a winning record at home while losing 100 games, according to STATS LLC. The Rays were 61-101, 41-40 at home and 20-61 on the road. The Pirates, 48-98 before starting their winning streak, are 38-39 at home and 15-59 on the road, where they play their final seven.
Jose Tabata’s(notes) second RBI triple in as many games made it 2-0 in the first. Alvarez had a two-run double as the Pirates scored three times in the third against Kyle Lohse(notes) (4-8) to go ahead 6-1, and he added a two-run homer in the fifth against reliever P.J. Walters(notes).
“Six runs in three innings I think explains it,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “I don’t know how to define it better than that.”
Lohse began the game with a 5-0 record and 2.26 ERA against Pittsburgh only to surrender six runs and seven hits in three innings.
“Nothing against those guys, but it’s a team I’ve had good success against,” Lohse said. “To go out there and perform like that is really frustrating.”
Notes: Matt Holliday(notes) doubled in the sixth, extending Buffalo Bills jersey
the Cardinals’ longest hitting streak this season to 14 games (22 of 51, .431). … Alvarez’s rookie season high is five RBIs, against Milwaukee on July 20. … Alvarez’s homer was his 12th and his second in 142 at-bats since his game-winning, three-run homer in the 10th inning beat Colorado on Aug. 7. … Cardinals rookie Daniel Descalso doubled for his first career hit.

Duane Brown suspended four games

The NFL later announced that Brown has been suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
“We are disappointed that Duane Brown has been suspended. football jersey
This is a significant blow to our team. Our players have to understand that they are responsible for what goes into their bodies and that they take risks anytime they use a supplement not approved by the NFL,” Texans GM Rick Smith said. “Our head athletic trainer, head strength and conditioning coach as well as our team nutritionist have had many meetings and presentations constantly reminding our players about the dangers of the supplemental industry and risks associated with taking non-approved products.
(Head coach) Gary (Kubiak) and our coaches are game planning for Dallas and he will be available for comment tomorrow after practice. I am confident in our coaches and our players that we will work through this adversity and continue to play winning football.”
Brown’s suspension begins immediately. He will be eligible to return to Dallas Cowboys jersey
the Texans’ active roster on Monday, October 18 following the team’s October 17 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“First off, I want to personally apologize to Mr. McNair, Coach Kubiak and the rest of the coaching staff, my teammates, family and to all the great and loyal Texans fans,” Brown said. “I take full responsibility for putting myself in this situation. I unknowingly took a supplement tainted with a banned substance and now have to deal with the consequences. After reviewing the appeal process and speaking with legal counsel, I have decided not to appeal my suspension. I understand the rules and accept my punishment.
I vow to learn from this mistake and be a better player and teammate because of it.”
Backup OT Rashad Butler is expected to fill in for Brown. The team was expected to re-sign OT Ephraim Salaam, according to his marketing company.
Brown was selected in the first-round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Texans. Brown has started 34 straight games since being drafted.
The Texans are already without Cushing, the star linebacker who was suspended for four games for the same infraction.
Cushing, the reigning Associated Press Defensive Rookie of Chargers jersey
the Year, was suspended in May for testing positive for HCG, a fertility drug that is on the NFL's banned substances list. Cushing claims that he has a unique medical condition that triggered the positive test, but his appeal was denied.

Jets GM: Edwards to play despite arrest

General manager Mike Tannenbaum told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the star wide receiver will be active Sunday night despite being arrested for drunken driving Tuesday morning.
Tannenbaum said that after speaking with Ryan and owner Woody Johnson, the team determined that Edwards won't start but will play in Miami.
''Braylon's actions clearly come under the purview of nfl jerseys
the league's substance abuse policy,'' Tannenbaum said. ''This is going to have to run its course through the legal system, and any discipline that occurs will be by the league under that program.''
Edwards was arraigned on drunken-driving charges after a breath test showed he had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit after he was stopped on Manhattan's West Side around 5 a.m. Tuesday, prosecutors said.
The Jets had few options in terms of discipline due to the rules of the collective bargaining agreement. Any punishment they would dole out other than what the NFL eventually decides, would violate the CBA. That means the Jets could not suspend or deactivate him without risking a violation. Keeping him active and not playing him could also be perceived as punishment, also a violation.
Edwards will practice with the team this week as the Jets, coming off a huge victory over New England, prepare to play the undefeated Dolphins (2-0). He produced a solid performance against the Patriots, making five catches - including a touchdown - and had a 2-point conversion.
But, he angered Ryan when he was penalized for taunting after the touchdown catch - he briefly danced in the end zone in front of the defensive back covering him - and then danced again, but wasn't penalized, after the conversion.
''I told him that he played a great game and we would have given him a game ball, but we didn't because of those things,'' Ryan said Monday. ''I love the way he played. He was really into it, but you're killing us. You can't put the team in that kind of jeopardy.''
Tannenbaum said he and Ryan were extremely angry when they Minnesota Vikings jersey
heard the news Tuesday morning.
''Obviously, we're very disappointed with Braylon's actions,'' Tannenbaum said. ''We take player conduct very seriously here.''
Edwards was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and driving while impaired, a violation. He's due back in court Nov. 9. If convicted, he could face up to a year in jail.
He was released without bail in a case that could compound his legal troubles while he's on probation after a fracas in Cleveland last year. Edwards was traded from the Browns to the Jets two days later, and fined a game check - about $200,000.
Authorities said there were four other people in the SUV, and the Jets confirmed that starting left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and defensive end Vernon Gholston were among them. Neither of those players was charged.
Tannenbaum said he and Ryan met with the two players, and based on their conversations, determined there was no punishment warranted.
It's the latest embarrassing incident for a team that was featured on HBO's ''Hard Knocks'' this summer and declared itself a true Super Bowl contender. They were investigated by the NFL last week for their treatment of a female reporter at a recent practice. Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled that the Jets' conduct was unprofessional but there was no sexual harassment, and Johnson apologized to TV Azteca reporter Ines Sainz.
The league also said it would implement a training program - underwritten by Johnson - for all 32 teams on proper conduct in the workplace.
''They're really two separate issues and we're really Indianapolis Colts jersey
disappointed at what happened yesterday with Braylon,'' Tannenbaum said. ''We're going to hold him accountable for what happened. As for last week, it's something we can all learn from and we're looking forward to working with the league in creating an educational and awareness program.''

Buzz: Latest from the NFL

Week 2 was packed with spectacular plays and record-breaking days, and the NFL has released its air and ground player of the week nominees. Here’s a look at the air NFL player of the week finalists:
--Mark Sanchez battled back from a lackluster Week 1 performance with a winning day against a division rival. Sanchez completed 21 of 30 passes and threw for 3 TDs, sparking a win over the Patriots.
--Jay Cutler and the Bears faced the daunting task of nfl jersey
playing against an angry Dallas Cowboys team on the road. Cutler seemed comfortable in Mike Martz’s new offensive system throwing 3 TDs and 227 yards in a win over the ‘Boys.
--The Texans were behind 17 points in the third quarter and QB Matt Schaub didn’t blink. The quarterback threw for a franchise-record 497 yards and 3 touchdowns, leading Houston to an overtime win over the Redskins.
Here’s a look at the ground NFL player of the week finalists:
--Second year player LeSean McCoy has been given the full-time running back responsibility in Philadelphia. McCoy made the most of his opportunity in Week 2, running for 120 yards and three touchdowns over the Lions.
--Raiders running back Darren McFadden was given a heavy workload, carrying the ball 30 times for 145 yards in a win against St. Louis.
--The Falcons’ Jason Snelling stepped up big when Atlanta’s two leading backs, Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, both went down with injuries. Snelling ran for 129 yards and scored 3 TDs in the Falcons’ beat down against Arizona.
—Ross Jones
DeAngelo Hall changes stance on defense comments — 9:06 p.m.
Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall says he has met with the coaching staff to explain his comments about the team's defense.
Hall was so upset on Monday by the Redskins' 30-27 loss to Houston that he declared that he would cover the opposing team's top receiver every week from now on — no matter what the coaches say.
Hall backpedalled from that stance when he appeared on ESPN980 on Tuesday. He said he will cover the top receiver as long as it doesn't ''throw something out of whack'' with the defense that's been called.
Hall said the coaches aren't upset with him. He said defensive coordinator Jim Haslett understood that Hall didn't mean exactly what was said. Hall says head coach Mike Shanahan told him: ''I love your passion.''
—Associated Press
Browns lose LB for season; sign replacement — 7:02 p.m.
The Cleveland Browns have lost reserve linebacker Kaluka Maiava (My-ah-vah) for the season with a leg injury.
The Browns placed the second-year player on injured reserve Tuesday. Maiava was credited with one tackle before suffering the injury in Sunday's 16-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Browns re-signed linebacker Titus Brown off Denver's practice squad. Brown was waived by Cleveland on Sept. 9.
Cleveland selected Maiava in the fourth round out of Southern Cal in 2009. He made three starts last season and appeared in all 16 games, finishing with 40 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and one forced fumble.
Maiava missed just one game in four years at USC, where he was part of Cowboys jersey
a heralded linebacking tandem that included Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews Jr.
—Adam Caplan
Jacobs fined $10K for helmet toss — 6:22 p.m.
New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for tossing his helmet into the stands against the Indianapolis Colts.
In a statement released by the Giants on Tuesday, Jacobs apologized again for tossing the helmet during the third quarter of the Giants' 38-14 loss on Sunday night.
Jacobs said he had ''no business tossing my helmet'' and he's ''thankful that nobody was hurt.''
General manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin asked to speak with him on Monday.
Jacobs lost his starting job to Ahmad Bradshaw earlier this season.
Jacobs said he has ''no plans to demand a trade.'' The only demand he's making is ''to be the best player I can be and to help this team win.''
—Associated Press
Redskins release veteran RB — 5:42 p.m.
The Washington Redskins have released veteran RB Larry Johnson, a source confirmed.
Johnson signed a three-year, $3.5 million contract with Washington back in March. The deal also included up to $6.75 million in incentives. His contract did not include a signing bonus.
Johnson’s release leaves the Redskins with just two running backs on their 53-man roster. The team worked out free-agent RB Chad Simpson on Tuesday, so it’s possible that the team signs him to replace Johnson.
—Adam Caplan
Falcons still in good shape at RB — 5:01 p.m.
As first reported by FOXSports.com, Atlanta Falcons RB Jerious Norwood suffered a torn ACL during Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals and will be placed on injured reserve.
While the loss of the speedy Norwood shouldn’t be taken lightly, the Falcons have perhaps the best backup running back in the NFL in Jason Snelling.
A pro personnel source said Snelling could easily start for at least a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
dozen teams because of his ability and versatility. He’s done a very solid job when being asked to fill in for starting RB Michael Turner over the past two seasons.
The Falcons also have first-year RB Antone Smith on their 53-man roster, so depth at the position isn’t really a concern.

Howard leads Phillies' offensive charge

PICK AN adjective, any adjective. Bruised. Battered. Weary. Worn. All of the above were supposed to describe the Phillies on this glorious day of rest. Three weeks ago, when they embarked on a supposedly brutal stretch of 24 games in 23 days, you might have envisioned them limping into their off day nfl jerseys
today with their muscles stretched and their endurance taxed.
And that still might be the case.
But you wouldn't have known it last night. No, the Phillies team that battered lefty starter Andrew Miller and his Marlins teammates in a 10-6 win at Citizens Bank Park looked so fresh they might have been Italian Market produce.
"You get to this point in the year, it's like everything just blends together," said Ryan Howard, who hit his 28th home run of the season and finished 3-for-5 with six RBI. "Sometimes I don't even know what day of the week it is. You get to this point in the season, you're out there, you're playing and everything else kind of goes into blur and whatnot."
You could argue that it ended with more suspense than it should have, provided a six-run rally against a defense full of reserves is the type of thing that keeps you up at nights. And you could dwell on the two negatives that came out of the evening: Jimmy Rollins leaving with hamstring soreness in the third inning (he's listed as day-to-day), and an already overworked Ryan Madson being forced into the game with one out in the ninth inning and a runner on first.
But right up through the seventh inning, when Cole Hamels and his resurgent lineup said their good-nights with a 10-0 lead, this Phillies team looked every bit the National League front-runner they were billed to be so many months ago.
They made contact, tying a season-high with 18 hits, every regular finishing with at least one, five of them with at least two. They drove the ball, Howard hitting a backbreaking three-run home run in the fourth that put them up 7-0. They enjoyed production from the leadoff spot, with Shane Victorino finishing 3-for-6 with three runs and an RBI, and the heart of the order, with Howard and Chase Utley combining to go 5-for-8 with three runs and eight RBI.
And, yet again, they received a standout performance from the slender lefty on the mound, as Hamels held the Marlins to four hits and one walk in seven scoreless innings to improve his scoreless innings streak to a career-best 25.
"It doesn't mean anything, just for the fact that I need to go out there and get one guy Colts jersey
out my next game, and then it eventually goes to another guy, and another guy," said Hamels, whose streak is the longest for a Phillies starter since Randy Wolf went 27 straight scoreless innings in 2002. "It's just being able to keep the team in the game. Ultimately, it's the wins that really matter right now. If you can keep the game within reason and get the wins, that is ultimately going to get you to the playoffs."
For the last three games, the Phillies have looked exactly like the team many predicted would cruise through the NL to its third straight title. Since a 7-1 loss to the Marlins in the first game of a doubleheader Monday, they've scored 25 runs in three games, improving their win total to a league-leading 81. They entered last night with a .571 winning percentage, .001 behind the Reds for the best in the NL. Now, with 21 games to play, that mark stands at a league-best .574, as the Reds lost to the Rockies last night and slipped to 79-60 (.568).
The Phillies will spend their second straight day in first place, a half-game ahead of the Braves, who beat the Pirates last night and start a four-game series against the once-mighty Cardinals today.
Their hope now is that they carry the offensive momentum they have built over the last 3 days into this weekend's series against the Mets at Citi Field, where they have mustered just seven runs in six games this season.
"I definitely feel like we've got a good run in us," said Manuel, whose team went 15-9 in its 24-game-in-23-day stretch. "I feel like we can play better than we have at any time this year because we have all of our players back. We are more equipped to do that."
Phillers
Righthander Brad Lidge, unavailable the last two games with elbow soreness, said he felt Cowboys jersey
fine after playing catch yesterday. He remains on target to return tomorrow . . . Outfielder Domonic Brown (sore quad) was unavailable to play last night, although he took batting practice prior to the game. He remains day-to-day . . . Shane Victorino is 7-for-16 with six runs and four stolen bases in three games in the leadoff spot . . . Cole Hamels improved to 10-10 and lowered his ERA to 3.06, the lowest it has been since he was 12-8 with a 3.01 ERA on Sept. 2, 2008.

BASEBALL NOTES;AL MVP CONTEST A DOUBLEHEADER

The American League MVP race seems to be down to two horses -- Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton and Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
While some may suggest Twins catcher and two-time and nfl jersey
reigning winner Joe Mauer deserves consideration, he's having a down year offensively, particularly when compared to last year's monster breakout. And had Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano maintained his first-half performance, he'd be in the picture, too.
But it's probably going to come down to one of the two young sluggers. The Red Sox have had their fill of each player this year, particularly Hamilton.
There's been a push in Texas for the five-tool player to win his first MVP honor, and if there's one club that won't argue, it's the Red Sox. Hamilton absolutely murdered them last weekend in Texas, going 6-for-11 with two homers, six runs and a handful of outstanding catches in center field.
He entered a weekend series at Baltimore batting .356 with 26 homers and 81 RBI, but that might not be what most impressed Red Sox manager Terry Francona.
''He does everything,'' Francona said. ''When you've got a guy with those kinds of tools that's hot and feels good about himself, that's a bad feeling. And then the way he plays the game -- I've never seen a center fielder back up second base on stolen-base attempts as aggressively as him. That's not going to be his legacy. The balls he hits are. But when you see a player that's that good play the game that way, it's impressive. I've seen enough of him.''
Before the Sox-Rangers series finale in 100-degree heat last Sunday, Francona joked that Texas should rest him. Told he was at least being used as the designated hitter and couldn't rob the Red Sox of any hits or homers in center, Francona deadpanned, ''That's not quite good enough.''
Hamilton's chief competition is Cabrera, a player who has actually struggled mightily against the Sox since entering the league in 2003. His lifetime average of .214 against them is his second-lowest against any club, higher than only his .194 mark against the Astros, dating back to his Marlins days.
This year, however, Cabrera is hitting .286 against the Sox with a titanic homer, and has walked five times in 27 plate appearances for a .444 on-base percentage. Cabrera has received lots of love nationally all season.
''You can add me to that list,'' Francona said earlier this month when the Sox faced the Tigers. ''He's an unbelievable hitter. Just an unbelievable hitter. I mean the (homer) he hit (against the Red Sox), I could have picked it up on the way home.
''He plays every day. He's an offensive force. He's the kind of guy who makes you nervous when he feels good about himself. You make a good pitch and he hits a ball up the middle. You make a bad pitch, and he hits it two streets over, so he's one of the best hitters in the game.''
Cabrera has hung on the periphery of the Triple Crown race all season. He has certainly answered any questions that stemmed from last year's unfortunate drinking and domestic altercation allegations that marred Detroit's playoff push and called into question his own professionalism.
And now he's taken his game to another level, carrying .341-31-100 numbers into a weekend series vs. Cleveland.
''The numbers kind of say that,'' Francona said. ''We don't play Detroit that much, because of the quirks of the schedule, but he's one of the elite hitters in the game. There's no doubt about that.''
Whether the MVP ends up with Hamilton or Cabrera remains to be seen, but this much is certain: The Red Sox won't argue with either choice.
Suffering by comparison
Ryan Kalish arrived at Fenway with the requisite Trot Nixon comparisons, thanks to his Dirt Dog style and similar football build.
One area of Kalish's game that was supposedly a bit lacking was his arm, but it has looked strong and accurate thus far in his Red Sox career. Asked about Baseball America rating his arm as merely average, Kalish said he's probably suffered by comparison from playing next to Che-Hsuan Lin in the minors.
''Having him out there downplays everything else you see, he's so spectacular,'' Kalish said. ''Whatever. It's people's judgments. It's OK to be overshadowed by an arm like that. He's so special.''
Lin was named Futures Game MVP in 2008, which is often a harbinger of future big league success, with past winners including Alfonso Soriano, Sean Burroughs, Jose Reyes, Grady Sizemore, Aaron Hill and Billy Butler.
The Taiwanese-born Lin, who turns 22 in September, has always been touted as one of the best defensive outfield prospects in baseball, with fluid strides and that powerful arm that measures a 70 on the scouts' 20-80 scale. He's also an intriguing prospect at the plate, with a good approach, as evidenced by his .385 on-base percentage at Double-A Portland. It's unclear if the 6-footer will ever develop more than line drive power.
Few power brokers
Some in the Red Sox organization have contended that a perceived lack of power in the minor league system is a function of two factors: a) most of the organization's best power prospects are young for their levels; and b) many players don't find the seats until they reach the majors.
Kevin Youkilis is the example most often cited to support the latter. He never hit more than eight homers in the minors, yet has blasted as many as 29 for a season in the majors.
But is he the rule or the exception? An examination of the current Red Sox roster suggests that players who become good big league sluggers hit homers in the minors, too, regardless of their age or level.
Of the nine players on the roster to hit at least 15 homers in a big league season, virtually all of them had big homer years in the minors.
Infielder Bill Hall, whose big league high is 35 homers, blasted 18 between Single and Double A as a 21-year-old in 2001. Catcher Victor Martinez hit 22 homers at age 23 for Double-A Akron in '02. Disabled outfielder Mike Cameron found his power stroke at Double A in 1996 with 28 homers. Mike Lowell combined for 56 homers over his final two seasons in the minors.
Then there are the true outliers. Outfielder J.D. Drew hit 16 homers in just 75 games between Double A and Triple A after signing with the Cardinals in 1998. At age 21, David Ortiz began his debut year at Single A, finished it at Triple A, and along the wau mashed 31 homers. Third baseman Adrian Beltre hit an amazing 26 homers as a 17-year-old debuting in Low and High A in '96. He hit another 26 homers at High A as an 18-year-old a year later.
Even Dustin Pedroia smacked 13 homers between Double A and Triple A as a 21-year-old in '05. And Jason Varitek hit 16 in two-thirds of a season at Triple A in '97.
By that criterion, keep an eye on Double-A first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo just turned 21 and entered the weekend with 23 homers between High A (five) and Double A (18). He's the best hope for power in a system that has already produced the pleasant surprise known as Kalish this year.
It's getting a bit salty
Getting acquainted to a new pitching staff is never easy, particularly late in the season, but Jarrod Saltalamacchia has some good tutors.
In Martinez, Varitek and Kevin Cash, Saltalamacchia has no shortage of places to turn for advice, and the early returns have been solid. John Lackey authored one of his best starts of the season against the Jays before closer Jonathan Papelbon blew it in Saltalamacchia's starting debut, and Daisuke Matsuzaka followed up three days later by leaving with a 2-0 deficit in the seventh inning of a loss to the Rangers.
''It's been a mixture of everybody,'' Saltalamacchia said before being placed on Steelers jersey
the disabled list with a leg infection last week. ''(Varitek) has been great. Victor's been great and even Cash. Those guys have all caught these guys before, so everyday we all sit down, and if I'm playing that day, we'll go over what they've got and what they like to do. Lately Victor has been catching all these guys, so I've been listening to him. Obviously, Tek, the guy's the best.''
(Non)confessions of a fool
Can we all agree that Roger Clemens is getting exactly what he deserved ever since the moment he first told Congress he had never used steroids or human growth hormone?
Thursday's news that Clemens was indicted for perjury and could face up to 30 years in prison is yet another sad turn in the tale of an athlete so deluded by his own fame, he risked his reputation as a player and person.
A grand jury has found that Clemens obstructed a congressional inquiry during his testimony in 2008. Among the 15 statements in question: that Clemens never used steroids or HGH, despite accusations to the contrary by his former trainer, Brian McNamee, who Clemens unwisely sued for defamation (the case was recently thrown out and McNamee has a countersuit pending).
Clemens now has a lot bigger problems than whether his seven Cy Young Awards and 354 victories will gain him access to the Hall of Fame. And for this, he has no one to blame but himself.
He wasn't even subpoenaed, after all, to appear before Congress in 2008. He did that on his own in an attempt to clear his name. But by following the Barry Bonds course of deny, deny, deny, he basically guaranteed he'll remain a pariah for the rest of his life.
You'd think athletes would have learned by now from the lessons of people like Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi and Rodney Harrison. We live in a forgiving society. Fess up to whatever you've done, accept the consequences, and move on. If Clemens ever learns that lesson at all, it will still be too late. ...
The Red Sox aren't the only team facing catastrophic injuries this year. The Phillies, jockeying for a playoff spot in the NL East, have been hit just as hard.
They were without All-Star second baseman Chase Utley for nearly two months because of a thumb injury. Infielder Placido Polanco missed almost a month. Outfielder Shane Victorino just finished a two-week stint on the DL, and slugger Ryan Howard hopes to return after a three-week absence tomorrow.
There's more. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has already had two DL stints. Closer Brad Lidge Vikings jersey
missed time, along with starters Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ (since traded to the Astros) and Jamie Moyer.
That's some of the Phils' best players, but they've managed to rise above it and keep pace with the Braves in the NL East while compiling a record very similar to the Red Sox. The Phillies, of course, have the luxury of not sharing a division with the

Manuel For Success;Phillies' Boss Still Believes His Team Is Series-Worthy

PHILADELPHIA - Charlie Manuel, the son of a preacher man, is keeping the faith.
Walk into the office of the Phillies skipper and you'll find a variety of nfl throwback jerseys
inspirational quotes printed, framed and adorning the walls. The one that best suits the current state of his squad comes from former Dodgers field boss Walter Alston:
"Look at misfortune the same way you look at success. Do your best and forget the consequences."
Words to live by? Perhaps. Particularly for a man who, even while facing a seemingly endless series of setbacks and challenges, may be having the best of his six seasons at the wheel.
Prior to Sunday's 6-2 loss to Milwaukee at Citizens Bank Park, Manuel summed up this campaign and his expectations for the playoff push in an interview with Lancaster Newspapers.
"We have 26 (now 25) games left, so we still have a lot of work to do," he said. "(Chase) Utley and (Ryan) Howard are getting there. It takes a while to get your swing back, but they're getting there. And Jimmy Rollins has missed some time (due to injuries), so his swing comes and goes.
"We haven't been scoring a lot of runs, but we've been getting runs when we need to. And that's what you have to do, especially at this time of the year.
"But," he added, "this lineup can score a lot of runs, and everybody in baseball knows it."
Everybody in baseball also knows about the Phils' Big Three, the starting rotation of aces Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt - "H2O," as it's been called. Over the past month, dating back to Aug. 8, the Big Three have won 10 of their 14 decisions and hurled six shutouts. Of their four losses, two came when the Phils failed to score.
"Last year we picked up Pedro Martinez and (Cliff) Lee and we thought that was pretty good," Manuel said of the mid-summer acquisitions that led to a second straight World Series appearance.
"This year we picked up Halladay and Oswalt, but we also have Hamels back to where New Orleans Saints jersey
he was two years ago during his MVP season when we won the World Series. You have to have pitching to win, and pitching has definitely been a big part of our team."
What has also been a big part of this team in recent summers is its September success. Over the past four seasons, the Phillies lead the league in wins (55) and winning percentage (.632) during September. Only the Yankees (59 wins; .694) have been better.
"I think it shows that we stay at it, we play the whole season," Manuel said. "Our philosophy is, 'Play every day, play in this moment, this day.'"
He paused, then nodded to his right, toward the locker room.
"It goes back to the people we have in there," Manuel offered. "Our team knows how to play in close moments. We stay on an even keel, and that's the way we've been the past two, three years."
The Phils have won 17 games each of their last three Septembers, and they're already nearly one-third of the way toward reaching that number again, having started the month with four straight victories. The most recent, a 5-4 comeback Saturday night, raised their record in games decided by two runs or less this season to 38-23, giving them a .623 winning percentage in such circumstances, the best in baseball.
They'll need more of the same down the stretch, since it's unlikely the Braves are going to San Francisco 49ers jersey
fade in the East -witness Sunday's startling rally from a 6-0 deficit against Florida - or that the Giants will falter in the wild-card chase.
"We're in a good race right now," Manuel said, his eyes brightening. "The Braves aren't going to fade. You look at their pitching, it's right there at the top of the league.
"The bottom line is, we want to win our division, get home field advantage. But it's better to get the wild card than not get in. Teams have won the wild card and the World Series."

NFL: Jets conduct toward reporter unprofessional

NEW YORK (AP) —The NFL chastised the New York Jets on Friday for unprofessional conduct but found no evidence that a female television reporter was “bumped, touched, brushed against or otherwise subjected to any physical contact” by any member of the team or coaching staff.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said while the “conduct of football jersey
the Jets clearly should have been better” team owner Woody Johnson and his staff acted promptly to correct the situation that arose last weekend when TV Azteca reporter Ines Sainz said she felt uncomfortable in the team’s locker room.
Goodell said that, as a result of the incident, the league will implement a training program for all 32 teams on proper conduct in the workplace and that the program would be underwritten by Johnson, who personally apologized to Sainz.
The NFL came to its conclusion after interviewing 17 people who were present - including Sainz - when she visited practice on assignment for her Mexican TV network.
In a letter to Johnson, Goodell said that while “there seems little doubt that passes were thrown in Sainz’s direction at last Saturday’s practice, it is also clear that she was never bumped, touched, brushed against, or otherwise subjected to any physical contact by any player or coach.
“Sainz herself was unequivocal in saying both that no physical contact occurred, and that no player or other Jets staff member made any comment or gesture that could be construed as threatening, demeaning or offensive,” he said.
Sainz said on her Twitter account last Saturday that she felt “very uncomfortable!” in the Jets’ locker room, where a few players made catcalls as she waited with two male co-workers to interview quarterback Mark Sanchez(notes), who is of Mexican descent.
“Of course you feel it when you are being stared at and when you are being spoken of in a certain way,” Sainz told The Associated Press. “I opted to ignore it … I tried to not even pay attention.”
She tweeted in Spanish on Saturday night that she tried “not to look anywhere!!”
Goodell said Sainz explained that her postings on Twitter while in Chargers jersey
the locker room reflected her “general lack of comfort in that setting, and were not related to any specific act, comment or gesture directed to her by any member of the Jets organization.”
He said she also told the NFL she had not seen or heard any catcalls, sexually explicit or offensive comments or gestures directed at her, “and did not believe she was subjected to any improper conduct.”
Goodell’s letter said Sainz “did not believe that the activity in the locker room interfered with her ability to do her job (namely, obtaining an interview with Sanchez), and did not identify any member of the Jets organization who did anything that was in her view improper. That being noted, Sainz did state that the locker room environment ‘could have been better.”’
The letter said other reporters in the locker room described the atmosphere as “juvenile, immature, high school,” but “not over the top.”
“Others agreed that the atmosphere was not hostile, that no obscene or lewd comments or gestures were made and that nobody had physical contact with Sainz, that Sainz did not appear concerned, disturbed or troubled by what was going on around her, and that nobody had difficulty doing his or her job.”
However, the letter also said the atmosphere in the locker room was described as “unprofessional, uncomfortable, and disappointing.”
The new training program will also be given to NFL rookies next year to help them deal professionally with news media and others in the workplace. The training program and related set guidelines for reporters, will be developed by the NFL in consultation with the Association for Women in Sports Media.
“Any debate over whether women reporters belong in the locker room Bears jersey
was settled long ago, and this incident offers no occasion to reopen that antiquated discussion,” Goodell said.
Johnson said the team had “learned from what happened last Saturday, and have reaffirmed our commitment to treat all members of the media with professionalism and respect.”

Friday’s Sports In Brief

NEW YORK (AP) —Joe Torre will retire as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of the season, and will be replaced by hitting coach Don Mattingly.
Torre took over the Dodgers for the 2008 season following 12 years and four World Series titles with the New York Yankees. Mattingly followed Torre to California as his heir apparent.
Torre is in his 29th season as major league manager. He nfl jerseys
turned 70 in July.
NEW YORK (AP) - The NFL chastised the New York Jets for unprofessional conduct but found no evidence that a female television reporter was “bumped, touched, brushed against or otherwise subjected to any physical contact” by any member of the team or coaching staff.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said while the “conduct of the Jets clearly should have been better,” owner Woody Johnson and his staff acted promptly to correct the situation that arose last weekend when TV Azteca’s Ines Sainz said she felt uncomfortable in the locker room. Goodell said that, as a result of the incident, the league will implement a training program for all 32 teams on proper conduct in the workplace and that the program would be underwritten by Johnson.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - NFL Players Association spokesman Carl Francis confirmed in an e-mail to The Associated Press that Indianapolis, Dallas, New Orleans and Philadelphia have voted unanimously to decertify the union. He said union leaders were still collecting voting cards from other teams.
Decertification would strip the union of its collective bargaining rights on behalf of the players, so the move might seem counter-intuitive. But because antitrust laws exempt NFL owners from being sued by unions negotiating CBAs, decertification would in essence eliminate the union and allow players to sue the NFL in the event of a lockout - giving them potential leverage.
NEW YORK (AP) - The Team Marketing Report said average ticket prices for NFL games increased 4.5 percent to $76.47, up from a 3.9 percent hike last season.
The New York teams had the steepest increases after moving into the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Jets non-premium tickets went up 31.8 percent to $114.64 on average, and the Giants rose 26 percent to $111.69. New Orleans raised its average 20.5 percent to $74.99 after winning the Super Bowl. New England’s prices stayed flat, but it still had the highest average cost - $117.84.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Michael Vick(notes) will start for Philadelphia at Detroit, the first time he’s been under center at the start of a game since his time with Atlanta - long before the world learned about his cruel world of dogfighting. Eagles coach Andy Reid made it official when he ruled out Kevin Kolb(notes) because of a concussion.
ATLANTA (AP) - The NCAA turned Indianapolis Colts jersey
down Georgia receiver A.J. Green’s appeal, letting stand the four-game suspension for selling an Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000 to a person deemed to be an agent.
TENNIS=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Santiago Giraldo beat Sam Querrey 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 to give Colombia a 1-1 tie with the United States in their three-day Davis Cup playoff match for a World Group spot.
In the opener, Mardy Fish edged Alejandro Falla 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
In the World Group semifinals, France led Argentina 2-0, and the Czech Republic and Serbia were tied 1-1.
In Lyon, France, Michael Llodra beat Juan Monaco 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, and Gael Monfils had 27 aces in a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over David Nalbandian. In Belgrade, Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic beat Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (5) to square the match after Radek Stepanek topped Viktor Troicki - playing after second-ranked Novak Djokovic withdrew - 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
AUTO RACING=
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) - Brad Keselowski crashed the party at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, winning the pole for the first race in the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
Keselowski broke Juan Pablo Montoya’s year-old record with a lap of 133.572 mph to earn the top starting spot Sunday. Clint Bowyer was second, followed by fellow Chase driver Tony Stewart(notes).
Keselowski is 26th in the standings.
HOCKEY=
PHOENIX (AP) - The city of Glendale says a prospective buyer of the NHL-owned Phoenix Coyotes, “in a show of good faith,” has deposited $25 million in an escrow account.
The figure is equal to the amount of city funds Glendale had deposited, at the NHL’s insistence, to cover potential losses for the coming season while a local buyer was sought. Glendale, in a news release Friday, said the buyer has asked for confidentiality because negotiations are ongoing, but there have been multiple reports the city has been in talks with Chicago investor Matthew Hulsizer.
SAILING=
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Dodge Morgan, who became the first American to sail solo around the globe without stopping - and did it in record time - has died of complications from cancer. He was 78.
Morgan, who died Tuesday in Boston, set a world record in 1986 when he Dallas Cowboys jersey
completed the solo sail in his 60-foot American Promise in 150 days, 1 hour, 6 minutes.
GOLF=
ATZENBRUGG, Austria (AP) - England’s John Parry shot a 5-under 67 in the Austrian Open to take the second-round lead at 8 under. U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell (68) was a stroke back along with Pelle Edberg (68) and Jose Manuel Lara (71).

Saints expect another test of run defense

METAIRIE, La. (AP)—Saints linebacker Scott Shanle(notes) contends that familiarity breeds a better run defense.

Based on New Orleans’ season-opening performance against Minnesota and star running back Adrian Peterson, Shanle might be on to something. Another test comes Monday night at San Francisco, where the Saints will try to contain Frank Gore(notes).

“When you look at the personnel we had coming back, we have a better understanding of nfl jersey
what we’re doing in this defense,” Shanle said. “What you’re seeing over the past year is a growing knowledge of where we’re supposed to be.”
Now in their second season under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and with most regulars back from last season, the Saints expect to have more success slowing down the NFL’s top rushers than they had last year. New Orleans ranked 21st in rushing defense in 2009, allowing 122 yards per game.
The Saints opened the season with eight returning starters on defense. Two of the new starters, linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar(notes) and safety Malcolm Jenkins(notes), were with the team last year. Only defensive end Alex Brown(notes) is new.
Peterson—who ran for 1,383 yards during the 2009 regular season and had 122 yards and three touchdowns against the Saints in the NFC title game—was held to 87 yards and no scores in New Orleans’ Week 1 14-9 win.
That encouraged Saints coach Sean Payton, who described himself as “anxious” to see how New Orleans front seven would respond not only to the loss of veteran linebacker Scott Fujita(notes) in free agency, but also the recent season-ending foot injury to expected starting linebacker Jonathan Casillas(notes).
“You’re anxious to play that first game to see where you’re at in a lot of areas … specifically, how were we going to hold up against the run,” Payton said.
It was “a good test if you see a team like Minnesota and Adrian Peterson that rushes the ball so well and this week will be another one,” the coach continued. “We’re seeing yet another elite running back. Those are big challenges, especially on the road where we’re going to have to tackle well. I thought we tackled very well last week. Here we are again and we’re going to get a very good test.”
Shanle wonders whether the Saints’ defensive front is in for a bigger challenge at Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
San Francisco than it faced against Minnesota. The Vikings, Shanle said, gave quarterback Brett Favre(notes) more opportunities to throw after the Saints had some early success slowing Peterson.
“(The 49ers are) more consistent running the ball,” Shanle said. “Any time you have a guy like Brett Favre at quarterback, if the run maybe doesn’t work one or two plays, you’re more likely to try to do something in the air. But San Fran has been a team that has made their money running the ball. Especially after (losing) last week, they want to come out and establish who they are. And their identity is being physical and trying to run the ball.”
Last season, Gore averaged nearly 5 yards per carry, finishing with 1,120 yards rushing. His longest run went for an 80-yard touchdown. The Saints, meanwhile, gave up their share of long runs in 2009. New Orleans yielded 11 rushes of 20 yards or more, including runs of 66, 67 and 68 yards.
The longest run the Saints allowed against Minnesota last week was a 14-yarder by Peterson.
“Last year I just think it was just a lot of misfits. It was miscommunication on those long runs,” Saints defensive tackle Remi Ayodele(notes) said. “It wasn’t that we were just getting dominated on the front. So what we’ve been working on this whole offseason is being on the same page.”
Saints defensive players would like to believe their run-stuffing performance against Minnesota was the beginning of a season-long trend, but said they know better than to get too comfortable after one solid performance.
“That was just one game,” Ayodele said. “It was easy to be up for last week. It was the opening game, everybody’s watching you and you got something to prove. This is a real test coming up, being on the road on Monday night.”
NOTES: LB Anthony Waters(notes) (hamstring) hasn’t practiced since the Minnesota Vikings jersey
game against Minnesota. Also missing practice were reserve LT Zach Strief(notes) (right knee) and RB Chris Ivory (left knee). … The Saints said the team’s Gulf Coast Renewal Fund has donated $500,000 to local charities responding to the BP oil spill.

Houllier to take charge at Aston Villa next week

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP)—Gerard Houllier will officially take over as Aston Villa manager after Saturday’s Premier League match against Bolton.
Houllier was hired by Villa last Wednesday on football jersey
a three-year deal, but was still under contract as the French Football Federation’s technical director and had not agreed to a departure date.
But Villa now expects Houllier to be in charge for the League Cup match against Bolton next Wednesday.
Speaking on French television Wednesday night, Houllier said that he will leave the FFF toward “the end of the week” and confirmed that he expects his first game in charge to be against Blackburn.
The FFF would not comment on whether it had agreed to release Houllier from his contract.
Kevin MacDonald, who has been Villa’s caretaker manager since the resignation of Martin O’Neill before the start of the season, will be in charge against Bolton. He will then return to his role as reserve-team coach but has said he is considering his options.
The 63-year-old Houllier returns to English football after a six-year absence. He managed Liverpool between 1998 and 2004, winning six trophies.
Houllier may also be hiring former France fitness coach Robert Duverne to his backroom staff. Duverne worked with Houllier when he won two successive titles with Lyon in 2006 and ’07.
“It’s true that we are in contact,” Houllier said. “I had him Dallas Cowboys jersey
two years at Lyon and he is competent.”
Duverne was at the heart of France’s World Cup fiasco when he clashed angrily with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in training before angrily storming off the field.
CLUJ, Romania (AFP) - Romanian side CFR Cluj defeated Basel 2-1 in their Champions League clash on Wednesday despite having undergone a coaching change just two days earlier.
Sorin Cartu replaced Andrea Mandorlini on Monday but Cluj, who first played in the group stage two years ago, were unaffected by the behind-the-scenes drama as they raced into a 2-0 lead by the 12th minute.
Ionut Rada headed his team in front in the ninth minute, powerfully meeting an inswinging corner from the left.
Three minutes later, Juan Culio crossed for Lacina Traore to Minnesota Vikings jersey
head past goalkeeper Franco Costanza.
Basel, whose last Champions League group stage campaign ended with them reaching the last 16 in 2003, grabbed a lifeline in first-half injury time when Valentin Stocker headed past Nuno Claro from an Alexander Frei corner.

Bayern beats Roma 2-0 in Champions League opener

MUNICH, Germany (AP)—Late goals by Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose gave Bayern Munich a 2-0 win over AS Roma Wednesday to start their Champions League campaign.
Last season’s runners-up were clearly missing the creative impulses of nfl jersey
injured Arjen Robben and suspended Franck Ribery in a lackluster first half. But Bayern attacked continuously after the break before finally breaking through in the 79th minute with Mueller’s goal. Klose then put the game beyond doubt with his tally in the 83rd.
“That is our game. The fans need to realize that it takes time for us to make the opponents tired,” Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said. “It’s not always fantastic, just passing the ball around. But that’s how you beat a defensive team.”
The game started with very few highlights as Bayern could not find its way through Roma’s defense. The Italians hardly ventured forward offensively in the first 40 minutes but had the first serious chance of the game five minutes from the break. Aleandro Rosi’s cross into the middle found Marco Boriello, whose deflection attempt forced a strong save by Bayern keeper Hans Joerg Butt.
“We want to offer our fans attractive football,” Van Gaal said. “And it’s more difficult to attack than defend. You need to be creative. And then we play a game like that without Robben and Ribery and I can only say ‘great.”’
Ribery was serving the last game of his three-match suspension for getting sent off in last season’s semifinal.
Bayern fans sent their team into the locker room with whistles of Indianapolis Colts jersey
dissatisfaction and the hosts came out more aggressive in the second half.
Ivica Olic’s shot was wide at the 53-minute mark before Roma keeper Julio Sergio made a fine save against Toni Kroos two minutes later and stopped Mueller in the 56th.
Looking for the final touch up front, Bayern coach Louis van Gaal brought on forwards Klose and Mario Gomez with 22 minutes remaining. And the Germans remained in control though Kroos’ shot went wide right in the 70th minute and Klose struck wide left four minutes later.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was the next Bayern player to narrowly miss in the 76th with a hard blast before Klose’s header hit the left post with 12 minutes to play.
Mueller finally broke through in the 79th minute with a superb volley into the far left corner after a headed pass from Daniel van Buyten for his fourth Champions League goal.
“In the first half it was really difficult for us because they stood really defensive,” Mueller said. “We moved the ball around a lot and made them tired that way. We just had to remain patient.”
Munich nearly gave up a counter attack goal just two minutes later but Butt fended away Borriello’s one-on-one attempt.
And Klose then doubled Bayern’s lead in the 83rd minute, poking home a Minnesota Vikings jersey
free kick by Holger Badstuber with a volley in front of Sergio.
Bayern’s second match in Group E is at Basel on Sept. 28 while Roma hosts Romanian club Cluj.

Patriots still strong despite preseason forecasts

The New England Patriots ended last season badly - Tom Brady with a mediocre stretch of games, Wes Welker with a knee injury and the Baltimore Ravens with a lopsided first-round playoff win over Bill Belichick's team.
The New York Jets reached the AFC title game, then grabbed the nfl jersey
offseason spotlight by adding big-name veterans, making ''Hard Knocks'' must-see TV and signing, after a long holdout, the only player who coach Rex Ryan says can cover Randy Moss, Darrelle Revis.
Then this season's games began.
Patriots 38, Bengals 24.
Ravens 10, Jets 9.
So the national sports magazine that had New York quarterback Mark Sanchez on the cover when it picked his team to win the division over New England put Brady there this week for the 12th time, with Moss by his side.
The Patriots are off to a good start in pursuit of their seventh AFC East title in eight years, but one game doesn't make a season. How these teams compare will be clearer Sunday when they meet at the New Meadowlands Stadium, where Revis will try to shut down Moss.
''I look forward to the matchup,'' Moss said. ''I have a lot of respect for Darrelle Revis. He's a young player who definitely matured faster than most young players do. I'll get the best from him. He'll get the best from me. The only thing I can say is, collectively as a team, hopefully we get the best of the Jets.''
Three-time Super Bowl champion New England dominated Cincinnati, another team that got offseason hype when it signed Terrell Owens to join Chad Ochocinco as a dangerous wide receiving duo who also happen to be reality TV stars.
''Hype doesn't come from us,'' Patriots running back Sammy Morris said. ''We're just focused on going and playing the game.''
Brady was sharp in the opener, completing 25 of 35 passes for 258 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions just three days after he was ''scared out of my mind'' but unhurt in a two-car crash. He wasn't sacked as the Patriots overcame the absence of two-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins, an unrestricted free agent who hasn't reported.
Welker had eight catches for 64 yards and two TDs less than eight months after surgery for a torn knee ligament. Moss, despite feeling unappreciated by his lack of a contract for 2011, had five receptions for 59 yards before voicing his concerns at a postgame news conference.
Add in touchdowns on interception and Minnesota Vikings jersey
kickoff returns and the dominance was thorough.
''We put it all together,'' nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. ''We were flying around. There were times when it was like we were on another planet.''
Now they're back down to earth, where Belichick likes it.
''I don't think there's anything that carries over into the next game, per se,'' he said. ''It doesn't really matter how you did last week or who you did it against. It's different people. It's a different scheme. It's different the next time you do it. You have to prove it every week in this league. Last week doesn't mean anything.''
The Jets hope he's right.
Against the Ravens last Monday night, they gained just 176 yards with six first downs and no touchdowns. Sanchez threw for 74 yards.
Brady has said he ''hates'' the Jets and wouldn't watch ''Hard Knocks.'' On Sunday, he'll get a closeup view of the defense that was ranked first in the NFL last year.
New England's defense is rebuilding with speed and athleticism. Only four defenders who started the 33-14 playoff loss to Baltimore started against Cincinnati. The first-string cornerbacks are rookie Devin McCourty and second-year pro Darius Butler. And two reliable veteran starters, defensive end Ty Warren and cornerback Leigh Bodden, are out for the season.
''We wanted to contain them and limit the big plays,'' Butler said of the Bengals. ''You can be more aggressive and take your shot because even if you miss your tackle, there's three or four more guys coming to back you up, so it gives you more confidence when you have speed out there.''
The defense lost four mainstays before last season - Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison to retirement and Richard Seymour and Mike Vrabel in trades. The current Patriots have just eight players from their last championship team that won the Super Bowl after the 2004 season.
While television viewers' eyes were on the Jets training camp and their ears on Ryan's salty language, the tightlipped Belichick kept the Patriots out of the spotlight.
''Who knows what's right or wrong?'' Brady said. ''Our style has worked for us and that's what's most important. We're not trying to be the Jets and they're not trying to be the Patriots.''
Those two styles will clash on Sunday - a loudmouthed team whose coach talks about winning the Super Bowl and a quiet club that focuses on the next game, not the next title.
''As a team, I can honestly tell you we're Indianapolis Colts jersey
not riding high,'' Moss said. ''The Jets were the Super Bowl favorites to whoever's eyes and we respected that. And I think that the only motivation that you can have as a player or coach is to go out here and just work harder every day.''

Cowboys coordinator takes blame for botched play

Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is taking the blame for trying an ill-fated play at the end of the first half against Washington instead of having Tony Romo take a knee.
''I called the play,'' Garrett said Wednesday. ''It's my fault.''
Garrett called for a Hail Mary when Dallas was at its own 46-yard line with 4 seconds left and trailing 3-0. Before the snap, a penalty pushed the Cowboys back 10 yards. Romo ended up shoveling the ball to running back Tashard Choice. He fumbled and the Redskins returned it for nfl jerseys
their only touchdown in a 13-7 victory.
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Monday he was ultimately to blame because he could've overruled Garrett. The offensive coordinator realizes he should've done it on his own.
''In hindsight, it should have been called off. Absolutely,'' Garrett said. ''We've had an aggressive style here, really throughout our football team and on the offensive side of the ball, for the last three years and it's served us well. Having said that, you have to manage situations better.
''That was a situation where we should have just taken a knee and should have gone into the locker room.''
The play loomed so big because Garrett's offense Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
cored only one touchdown, despite producing 380 yards. It's a problem they had last season, too.
''You look at our third downs, we got into some third-and-12s, third-and-13s, -14s, -15s that were all on drives after penalties,'' Garrett said. ''You have to be able to sustain your concentration and focus throughout a drive. Obviously making some big plays and having some of the drives be shorter (would) help too, but we'll continue to address it individually and collectively and make sure we get that right going forward.''
Things could change Sunday, at home against Chicago, because Dallas may have right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier back in the lineup. Both missed the opener, but practiced Wednesday.
Colombo's return would mean sitting Alex Barron, whose three holding penalties included one on the final play that wiped out a potential game-winning touchdown catch by Roy Williams.
''We emphasize the importance of Indianapolis Colts jersey
working hard each and every day in meetings and practice and rectifying some of the things that have gone wrong and going forward,'' Garrett said. ''The Bears are going to be here on Sunday. It's going to be a great challenge for us.''

NFL Injury Report

The National Football League injury report, as provided by the league (OUT - Definitely will not play; DNP - Did not practice; LIMITED - Limited participation in practice; FULL - Full participation in practice):
SUNDAY
PITTSBURGH STEELERS at TENNESSEE TITANS - STEELERS: DNP: WR Arnaz Battle (knee), DE Nick Eason (not injury related), LB James Farrior (not injury related), NT Casey Hampton (hamstring), DE Aaron Smith (not injury related), T Max Starks (ankle), WR Hines nfl jersey
Ward (not injury related). LIMITED: QB Byron Leftwich (knee), WR Emmanuel Sanders (quadricep), LB Jason Worilds (shoulder). TITANS: DNP: DT Tony Brown (not injury related), DE William Hayes (knee), T Mike Otto (knee).
BALTIMORE RAVENS at CINCINNATI BENGALS - RAVENS: Practice not complete. BENGALS: DNP: DE Jonathan Fanene (hamstring), LB Keith Rivers (foot). LIMITED: RB Cedric Benson (shoulder). FULL: WR Andre Caldwell (groin), CB Brandon Ghee (head), RB Brian Leonard (foot).
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at DETROIT LIONS - EAGLES: DNP: LB Stewart Bradley (concussion), QB Kevin Kolb (concussion). FULL: LB Antwan Barnes (wrist), RB Mike Bell (toe), DT Brodrick Bunkley (ankle), G Nick Cole (knee), G Todd Herremans (ankle), T Austin Howard (back), DT Trevor Laws (oblique), LB Ernie Sims (wrist, quadriceps). LIONS: DNP: DE Cliff Avril (knee, finger), S Louis Delmas (groin, biceps), LB DeAndre Levy (groin), QB Matthew Stafford (right shoulder). LIMITED: S C.C. Brown (forearm). FULL: RB Jahvid Best (toe).
ARIZONA CARDINALS at ATLANTA FALCONS - CARDINALS: DNP: S Hamza Abdullah (hamstring), WR Early Doucet (groin), DE Kenny Iwebema (knee). LIMITED: RB Beanie Wells (knee). FULL: WR Larry Fitzgerald (knee), RB Jason Wright (toe). FALCONS: DNP: S Erik Coleman (knee), WR Michael Jenkins (shoulder). FULL: T Tyson Clabo (ankle), G Joe Hawley (hip), CB Christopher Owens (knee), CB Dunta Robinson (ankle), CB Brian Williams (hamstring).
MIAMI DOLPHINS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS - DOLPHINS: DNP: LB Ikaika Alama-Francis (illness), LB Channing Crowder (groin), DT Jared Odrick (ankle). VIKINGS: LIMITED: CB Chris Cook (knee), CB Cedric Griffin (knee), WR Percy Harvin (hip), DT Jimmy Kennedy (knee), T Bryant McKinnie (finger). FULL: QB Brett Favre (ankle/back), RB Toby Gerhart (knee), C John Sullivan (calf).
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at CLEVELAND BROWNS - CHIEFS: DNP: DE Tyson Jackson (knee). LIMITED: DE Wallace Gilberry (back), LB Tamba Hali (foot), T Ryan O'Callaghan (groin). BROWNS: DNP: QB Jake Delhomme (ankle), LB D'Qwell Jackson (chest), T Shawn Lauvao (ankle), CB Derrick Roberson (hip), DT Shaun Rogers (ankle, hip). LIMITED: LB Marcus Benard (shoulder), C Ryan Pontbriand (ankle), S Nick Sorensen (head), G Floyd Womack (knee).
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at CAROLINA PANTHERS - BUCCANEERS: DNP: DT Roy Miller (illness), TE Kellen Winslow (knee). LIMITED: RB Kareem Huggins (groin). FULL: QB Josh Freeman (right thumb), G Davin Joseph (quadricep). PANTHERS: DNP: DE Tyler Dallas Cowboys jersey
Brayton (ankle), WR Brandon LaFell (hamstring), DT Louis Leonard (elbow), T Jeff Otah (knee). LIMITED: WR Charly Martin (concussion), QB Matt Moore (concussion), LB Jordan Senn (ankle), RB Tyrell Sutton (shoulder).
BUFFALO BILLS at GREEN BAY PACKERS - BILLS: DNP: C Geoff Hangartner (ankle), S Cary Harris (hamstring), LB Paul Posluszny (knee). FULL: LB Antonio Coleman (hamstring), LB Reggie Torbor (chest). PACKERS: DNP: LB Desmond Bishop (hamstring), DE Mike Neal (side, rib), CB Charles Woodson (toe). LIMITED: T Chad Clifton (knee), DE Cullen Jenkins (hand), LB Clay Matthews (hamstring), CB Brandon Underwood (shoulder). FULL: S Derrick Martin (ankle).
CHICAGO BEARS at DALLAS COWBOYS - BEARS: DNP: LB Lance Briggs (ankle), LB Nick Roach (hamstring). LIMITED: WR Devin Aromashodu (knee), RB Matt Forte (knee). FULL: WR Earl Bennett (hamstring). COWBOYS: DNP: RB Deon Anderson (knee), LB Sean Lee (hamstring), LB DeMarcus Ware (head), T Sam Young (knee). FULL: T Marc Colombo (knee), G Kyle Kosier (knee).
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at DENVER BRONCOS - SEAHAWKS: Practice not complete. BRONCOS: DNP: T Ryan Harris (ankle), G Chris Kuper (knee, ankle), S Darcel McBath (forearm), WR Eddie Royal (groin), LB Wesley Woodyard (hamstring). FULL: WR Demaryius Thomas (foot).
ST. LOUIS RAMS at OAKLAND RAIDERS - RAMS: OUT: LB Chris Chamberlain (toe), TE Michael Hoomanawanui (ankle). DNP: CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring), RB Steven Jackson (knee), CB Justin King (hamstring), WR Laurent Robinson (ankle). LIMITED: LB Josh Hull (knee), DT Fred Robbins (foot). RAIDERS: Practice not complete.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - JAGUARS: DNP: S Anthony Smith (foot). LIMITED: RB Deji Karim (thumb), CB Scotty McGee (shoulder). CHARGERS: Practice not complete.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at NEW YORK JETS - PATRIOTS: DNP: T Nick Kaczur (back), CB Terrence Wheatley (back). LIMITED: WR Julian Edelman (foot), RB Fred Taylor (toe). FULL: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder). JETS: OUT: LB Calvin Pace (foot). LIMITED: S Brodney Pool (ankle).
HOUSTON TEXANS at WASHINGTON REDSKINS - TEXANS: LIMITED: S Dominique Barber (shoulder), T Duane Brown (hamstring), TE Owen Daniels (knee), RB Vonta Leach (neck), CB Antwaun Molden (ankle), DT Amobi Okoye (ankle), DE Mario Williams (groin), S Eugene Wilson (back). FULL: WR Kevin Walter (hip). REDSKINS: DNP: S Kareem Moore (knee). LIMITED: DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle), LB Perry Riley (foot). FULL: QB Donovan McNabb Indianapolis Colts jersey
(ankle), RB Clinton Portis (wrist).
NEW YORK GIANTS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - GIANTS: OUT: T William Beatty (foot), TE Kevin Boss (concussion). DNP: LB Chase Blackburn (knee), LB Phillip Dillard (hamstring), CB Bruce Johnson (knee), S Michael Johnson (not injury related), WR Hakeem Nicks (ankle), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee). FULL: CB Aaron Ross (foot), LB Gerris Wilkinson (groin). COLTS: DNP: WR Anthony Gonzalez (ankle), S Bob Sanders (biceps), LB Clint Session (hamstring). LIMITED: T Charlie Johnson (foot). FULL: LB Cody Glenn (hamstring), CB Jacob Lacey (head), C Jeff Saturday (knee).

Bolts off to another slow start under Turner

SAN DIEGO (AP)—The San Diego Chargers picked up right where they left off in January.
Eight months after stumbling out of nfl jerseys
he playoffs against the New York Jets, the Chargers lost 21-14 as road favorites against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.
It’s another slow start during Norv Turner’s tenure as head coach.
Before the season, Turner said he thought this team can be the best in his four seasons as head coach.
The Chargers were without holdout left tackle Marcus McNeill(notes) and Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson(notes). Even if Jackson had signed the contract he was tendered as a restricted free agent, he would have been sidelined due to a three-game NFL suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Another player the Chargers clearly missed was Kassim Osgood(notes), a three-time Pro Bowl special teams player who was allowed to leave as a free agent. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who visit on Sunday for the Chargers’ home opener.
Osgood caught the game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass from David Garrard(notes) in the Jags’ 24-17 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. It was Osgood’s first TD catch since 2004. Although Osgood was a star wide receiver at San Diego State, Turner never gave him a chance to Dallas Cowboys jersey
play the position while he was the Chargers.
“You can get into that,” Turner said when asked Tuesday if the Chargers missed Osgood. “A year ago, when we lost all the guys throughout the year, we were able to replace them. I believe we can replace anyone who’s not here. I’m not going to spend a lot of time talking about people who aren’t here.”
The Bolts’ big breakdowns Monday night were on special teams, including rookie Dexter McCluster’s(notes) team-record 94-yard punt return for a 21-7 halftime lead.
“The disappointing thing, obviously, was our coverage game,” Turner said. “I don’t know if they were affected by the footing, the weather, they became tentative. But we had a number of guys, six or seven guys, who have been stellar special teams players here over the last two to three years, have tough plays and tough production on the coverage teams. It’s obviously something that we have to address and we have to address quickly and get better at.”
To put the loss in perspective, the Chargers did more in three months last year—they won their final 11 regular-season games—than the Chiefs did in three years. Kansas City won only 10 games combined the last three years.
Accustomed to scoring more than 30 points a game, the Chargers have scored 28 Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
combined in their last eight quarters. They lost 17-14 to the Jets in the playoffs.
The Chargers have nearly 10,000 tickets available for their home opener, including more than 7,000 general admission tickets needed to be sold to lift the local TV blackout. The Chargers have been able to lift the blackout for 48 straight regular-season and playoff games.

1 down, 3 to go for Roethlisberger-less Steelers

PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pittsburgh Steelers realize it could have been a whole lot worse.
Dennis Dixon(notes) could have easily thrown another couple of nfl jerseys
interceptions. The defense could have allowed a single touchdown. Jeff Reed(notes) could have missed that 52-yard field goal.
If any one of those had happened, the Steelers might be staring at a possible 1-3 or 0-4 start without suspended quarterback Ben Roethlisberger(notes). Instead, they played just well enough to beat the Atlanta Falcons 15-9 in overtime on Sunday—a victory that told them that, unlike many NFL teams, they’re good enough to win with their No. 3 quarterback.
That was one big sigh of relief exhaled by an entire football team after Rashard Mendenhall’s(notes) 50-yard touchdown run won it.
For more than five months, the Steelers knew they must get by for a month or longer at the start of the season without the quarterback who was good enough to win two Super Bowls in four seasons. They were convinced they had enough left to win without him but, until they actually did it, there was always that lingering doubt.
After all, the Steelers hadn’t won a game without Roethlisberger at quarterback since Charlie Batch(notes) started and won the 2006 season opener against Miami, a few days after Roethlisberger had an appendectomy.
Now, they might have to win for a couple of Indianapolis Colts jersey
weeks without left tackle Max Starks(notes), who has a high ankle sprain in his left leg and seems certain to miss at least one game. Such injuries commonly sideline a player for multiple weeks. He was replaced by former Bills tackle Jonathan Scott(notes).
“We’ve got some things to work on, absolutely, like all 31 other teams do,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “But we get to do it while we’re 1-0.”
Winning at Tennessee (1-0) on Sunday will be more difficult. Still, the Steelers believe if their defense can keep performing at a 2008-like level, Roethlisberger will be trying not to save the Steelers’ season once he returns Oct. 17 against Cleveland, but to keep it going.
“Obviously, we seized the moment,” said Dixon, who had a relatively rough start yet still managed the offense well enough to lead four scoring drives.
For this game, it wasn’t about who was missing but who was back—safety Troy Polamalu(notes) and end Aaron Smith(notes) on a defense was No. 5 overall in the league last season but didn’t really play up to such a level. There were too many long completions, too many blown leads in the fourth quarter, too many wide receivers who got loose downfield only a season after the Steelers had one of the best years statistically by any NFL defense since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.
One of the big question marks about these Steelers was how a defense loaded with players who are 30 or older would respond after such a season. Whether a defense that has been one of the NFL’s best for years was getting too old and fragile to play at a top-of-the-league level. Whether Polamalu and Smith would hold up after being injured and out much of last season.
For one game, this was the answer: The Falcons moved the ball inside the Steelers 20 on only one of 13 possessions.
“That was a great way for our defense to start,” James Farrior(notes) said.
This week, that defense will be challenged by Titans running back Chris Johnson, who ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns Sunday in Tennessee’s 38-13 victory over Oakland. Johnson is the NFL’s leading rusher since the start of the 2008 season, and is the only Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
running back during that time to average more than 100 yards per game (105.5 yards).
However, only the Vikings have allowed fewer yards rushing than the Steelers during that period. Since 2005, the Steelers have given up only four 100-yard games.
“That’s a great defense over there,” Falcons coach Mike Smith(notes) said.

Self-promoting Bengals get pummeled

CINCINNATI (AP)—Chad Ochocinco(notes) and Terrell Owens(notes) already have plenty of material for their soon-to-air reality show.
First topic: How could they have gotten so totally aired out in the season opener?
The Cincinnati Bengals were pushed around during a 38-24 loss at cheap nfl jerseys
New England on Sunday that brought back memories of the bad old days when such things happened regularly. Their season opener was an eye opener for the defending AFC North champs.
“We just didn’t play how we normally play,” safety Chris Crocker(notes) said Monday. “It’s just a sick feeling because we feel like we have a lot to prove, and we just got embarrassed yesterday. They just beat us in all phases.”
Even their self-styled superheroes were irrelevant.
Ochocinco had Tweeted to his 1.2 million followers that he and Owens—who are working on a reality cable show to air next month—would perform a “symphony” for the Patriots. Instead, New England did a number on them.
In the first half, the Bengals managed only 105 total yards before the final play, a desperation throw by Carson Palmer(notes) that Jordan Shipley(notes) caught at the 3-yard line as time ran out. That play became the defining moment of the dynamic duo’s debut.
Neither one was involved in the Bengals’ longest play of the day.
Ochocinco had left the field to get fluids intravenously to prevent cramping in the second half. Owens had joined him in the locker room, leaving the backups to pull off the last play. After the game, Owens declined to say why he left the field. Coach Marvin Lewis said only that Owens went to get checked out, declining to say anything more.
A day later, Lewis said TO’s absence involved a problem with his shoes.
“Well, the guy had shoes that just got here on Saturday,” Lewis said. “Again, we don’t need to get into all of Minnesota Vikings jersey
that. It’s over. It occurred, but it’s not that big a deal. We were ready to go with the (other) guys. We knew he had gone in.”
Neither receiver was available during the open locker room time on Monday. Ochocinco was headed off to host a wrestling show. Owens was promoting his fantasy football challenge on Twitter.
Both had already apologized—through their Twitter feeds, of course—for a debut that could best be described as unreal.
“Yes!! WE played bad!!” Owens tweeted. “No excuses!! There, u happy? I said it! Batman (stunk) & so did Robin! Nt how u start but how u Finish!!”
Ochocinco’s take?
“Apologies to Cincy fans, tough loss today, only week 1, we’ve a long season ahead, all of you be blessed,” he tweeted after the game.
TO and Ochocinco put up big numbers in the second half against a defense that seemed to ease up after the Patriots got ahead 31-3. Ochocinco finished with 12 catches for 159 yards. Owens had seven catches for 53 yards. Palmer passed for 345 yards, throwing it 50 times overall.
“We are playing down by a number of scores, so we had to take some shots and run some plays we normally wouldn’t run in those situations,” Palmer said Monday. “I was throwing some balls I normally wouldn’t throw in those situations, just to make touchdowns fast.”
The drubbing was complete. Palmer had an interception returned for a touchdown. The Patriots ran back the second-half kickoff for a touchdown. The defense had no sacks—Tom Brady(notes) was hit only twice during the game—and gave up 248 yards in the decisive first half.
A defense that finished No. 4 in the NFL last year had one of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
its worst days during Lewis’ eight seasons.
“We’ll just take a step back, humble ourselves, realize that we aren’t as good as we think we are and think we can be,” Crocker said. “But we still have to get where we’re going. We can’t live off last year’s defense and how good we played because it’s a new year.
“We just have to go out there and continue to try to prove that we are good, prove to ourselves now—because we (stunk) as far as what you saw yesterday.”