NFL Team Capsules: Eagles, Redskins both happy with McNabb's place
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Donovan McNabb likes to crack jokes, play loose and be silly.
His act wore thin in Philadelphia, even though he was the best quarterback in franchise history. In the nation's capital, McNabb is a welcomed addition. It begs the question: Are the Philadelphia Eagles better off without No. 5? Are the Washington Redskins better with him?
The answer could be yes to both questions.
McNabb went to six Pro Bowls and led the Eagles to eight playoff appearances, five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl in 11 seasons.
But he didn't win the big one, and the organization decided to move on with Kevin Kolb.
Though Kolb has started just two games in three seasons, he's received high praise from coaches, teammates and analysts. He's considered a born leader who is perfectly suited to run Philadelphia's offense.
"He's not like a first-time starting quarterback," wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. "He knows what he's doing out there. On the field, you see him directing guys where to go and what adjustments to make. It's like he's been doing this for years."
While McNabb did his thing in Philly, the Redskins had a revolving door at quarterback. They used 10 different starters in 11 years and only one made a Pro Bowl — Brad Johnson in 1999. Washington won only two playoff games in that span.
So, McNabb brings stability and a strong pedigree to a critical position.
"I think it's more psychological for the team, because everybody knows what he's done," fullback Mike Sellers said. "There's no guessing, no questioning. He's proven. Just coming out with that mindset makes everything a lot better."
McNabb's success in Philadelphia is tarnished somewhat by off-field issues. He was a model citizen and class act throughout his tenure with the Eagles, but seemingly always found himself in the middle of odd controversies.
There was the famous booing on draft day, which he never forgot. There was Rush Limbaugh's critical comments in 2003, the feud with Terrell Owens in '05, the halftime benching in '08, vomiting incidents in the huddle and three regular season-ending injuries.
McNabb's personality sometimes rubbed people the wrong way, too, especially when he portrayed himself as a sympathetic figure or promoted his leadership skills. His critics say true leaders don't talk about it, they just do it.
McNabb angered his younger teammates last year when he said the Eagles showed their youth after a costly loss. The final straw for many fans and some radio talk-show hosts was McNabb's air-guitar entrance onto the field before his final game — a 34-14 loss at Dallas in the playoffs. Would Drew Brees, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady act that way before a big game?
Kolb, the son of a football coach, takes a serious approach. He also leads in a quieter way.
"I've always tried to be a leader, even in the backup role," Kolb said. "There are some things that do change, but I don't want to go outside of my comfort zone or do anything that's not expected of me. I want to be myself and do the things that are asked and expected. I know there won't be any problem with it, and the guys will respond well."
Teammates love Kolb's confidence and intensity. They also relate better to him because he's just 26 and the average age of Philadelphia's projected starters on offense is 25.3.
"Kevin reminds me of exactly what he is, that quarterback from Texas that you know is like, 'Let's kick some butt, take some names and have a good time doing it,'" wide receiver Hank Baskett said. "It's good. He has genetic leadership in him and I like it.
"We're going to miss Donovan," Baskett said. "Donovan had a lot of intangibles that come with the years that he spent here and I wish Donovan the best, but right now I'd say Kevin is doing a really good job out here."
The Redskins say glowing things about McNabb. They've bought into everything he brings to the table. Why not? McNabb certainly is an upgrade from what they've had over the years.
"It's his swagger. Donovan comes in and he knows he can win a game for you," center Casey Rabach said. "You know he can do great things. We have obviously seen a lot of him in the past from playing in the same division, and everyone is just as confident in his ability. It's nice to have a guy like that around."
McNabb's presence in a burgundy and gold uniform should make the Redskins-Eagles rivalry more interesting, too. Both teams hate the Dallas Cowboys more, and the Giants are a natural rival for the Eagles because of proximity. But now the most-anticipated game in the NFL this season is McNabb's return to Philadelphia on Oct. 3.
It'll be strange to see McNabb in different colors and he'll certainly hear some boos. But it's likely he'll also get a loud ovation because most fans seem to have appreciated his performance for 11 seasons.
They were just ready to move on. Obviously, so was management.
"You have to develop young quarterbacks in their prime and the best way to do it if you can is to pinpoint the player, develop him while you have the quality quarterback we had in Donovan," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. "Kevin is more than ready to play. Donovan had a good season. There wasn't the feeling that we would drop off in any way. Having a new quarterback, there's a risk. There's obviously an unknown involved there, but there wasn't a sense that this is a drop-off situation. This was a perfect opportunity for the developing player to take the reigns of the team and maximize his capabilities."
Larry Johnson gets start as Redskins host Ravens
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Last week, it was Clinton Portis. Now Larry Johnson has a turn at the feature role in the crowded competition for playing time in the Washington Redskins backfield.
Johnson will start Saturday night's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens as coach Mike Shanahan continues to sort out how best to handle a trio of older running backs out to prove they're not past their prime.
"Larry's been very consistent," Shanahan said, "but I do see a sense of urgency this week. He's going to get an opportunity to showcase his talents."
The third back in the veteran mix is Willie Parker, who will get to run with the first unit in next week's game against the New York Jets.
"We will get a chance to see these guys in game situations," Shanahan said. "We have had a chance to evaluate them in practice, but it is always a little hard to evaluate backs when people are not tackling them."
Johnson will turn 31 in November, Parker will turn 30 in November, and Portis hits 29 on the first day of September. Johnson's last 1,000-yard season came in 2006, when he piled up 1,789 yards with Kansas City. Parker last hit the four-digit mark in 2007, gaining 1,316 with Pittsburgh. Portis ran for 1,487 with the Redskins two years ago, but he missed half of last season with a concussion.
The additions of Johnson and Parker have put Portis on notice that he's not irreplaceable. Although he entered training camp at the top of the depth chart, he had to play more than his usual token amount in the first preseason game, carrying six times for 22 yards.
Johnson and Parker sat out the first game, waiting their turns. For Johnson, it's a chance to show he still has something left after declining performance and off-the-field issues led to his departure last year from the Chiefs.
"My body's still fresh and young," Johnson said. "People who sit on the couch, when they hit their 30s, they give up on the things that they can do (or) they used to do when they were 21. Being an athlete, you're year-round working out and doing the things you need to do to keep yourself that way, and so being 30 doesn't really change anything."
Both the Ravens and Redskins got off to good preseason starts last week. Joe Flacco led two scoring drives in Baltimore's win over Carolina, and Donovan McNabb threw a touchdown pass in his Washington debut in a victory over Buffalo.
The second game is usually more telling, with starters on both sides seeing more action. There's also the annual debate as to whether these two teams have an actual rivalry — or if they're just neighbors who get together every now and then. The Redskins barely broached the topic this week, but Baltimore coach John Harbaugh tried to talk it up a little.
"When you get on the field and you look over there and you see the burgundy and gold, and you see that that's the team you're playing, the competitive juices start flowing," Harbaugh said, "and I'm sure they will for them, too."
-- Joseph White
WR Cruz has become an instant success for Giants
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Just a couple of weeks ago, Victor Cruz was one of 80 players practicing with the New York Giants at training camp.
When workouts were over and he headed toward the locker room, few people recognized him. He was simply No. 3, as in, "Hey, No. 3, can I have your autograph?"
A little more than two weeks later, Cruz has become an instant celebrity. It's the byproduct of catching three touchdown passes in a 31-16 preseason victory over the rival Jets in the first game at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
The anonymity is gone for the free agent wide receiver from the University of Massachusetts, via Paterson, N.J. "Hey, Cruz give us your autograph!" Or even better: "Victor!" Just like the other stars that fans call on a first-name basis, like Eli and Osi and Justin.
"I am still humble," Cruz said. "I am still a rookie. Those guys (the veterans) still kick me around and stuff like that. I just want to take it day by day and stay consistent. I am just happy I got the opportunity to go out and show what I could do."
What Cruz did is extraordinary. No Giants receiver had caught three touchdown passes in a game since Plaxico Burress in a loss against Dallas on Sept. 9, 2007.
The last time a Giant did it in a win was Dec. 22, 2002, when Amani Toomer had three in a win over the Colts.
"Whatever comes, I'll just take it in stride," Cruz said. "I don't want it to stop here. I want it to continue and get better as the practices and games go on. I want to prove I belong in this league and move forward."
Cruz will get a chance to do that on Saturday night when the Giants play their first home game in their new $1.6 billion stadium against Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Roethlisberger is excepted to play for the first time since drawing a six-game suspension.
Cruz just hopes to do his own thing.
"I wouldn't call myself a star just yet," Cruz said with a big smile. "It feels good. It's about being consistent and going out to practice every day and just continue making plays and catching everything thrown my way."
Cruz didn't show a lot in the first week of training camp, but he caught three or four long passes in the week leading up to the Jets game. His play was so good that coach Tom Coughlin singled him out after one workout.
Then came the game in which Cruz exceeded all expectations. He caught six passes for 145 yards against the Jets, highlighted by a one-handed grab with his left hand on a 64-yard scoring pass from Jim Sorgi. Cruz also had TD catches of 34 yards from Sorgi and 5 yards from Rhett Bomar. All three scoring pass came on fade patterns.
The one-handed catch with cornerback Dwight Lowery in great coverage was spectacular.
"I stuck my hand out the last minute and he dove and missed, and I just trucked it in and took it into the end zone," Cruz said. "I couldn't believe it. I was smiling. I was like, 'Did I really just like grab it with one hand?' It was surreal when I got in the end zone. It was one of the happiest moments in my life to date."
The other was seeing his mother Blanca crying her eyes out in the stands after the game.
Getting to the locker room was also interesting. Cruz had 182 text messages on his telephone and was stunned to hear that NBA superstar LeBron James had tweeted about his performance.
Cruz said he returned 90 percent of the texts, including about 70 from telephone numbers that he did not recognize.
"It meant a lot for me for everything to come together that way, especially being at home and having 20 of your friends in the stands," Cruz said. "It was definitely one of the craziest moments in my life."
The performance definitely will go a long way in helping Cruz make the Giants roster, but a spot is not guaranteed with veterans Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Derek Hagan, Ramses Barden and Sinorice Moss all competing for spots.
"I hope it helps a lot," Cruz said. "But you know I have no control over that. Those guys on top make that decision. I'm on the field making plays and running around."
If he keeps running around like last game, he'll be on the Giants roster for the regular-season opener against Carolina.
-- Tom Canavan
Vikings shrug off Favre, Harvin distractions
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have had an eventful week.
Brett Favre finally showed up, prompting the second annual helicopter pursuit and gawker gathering outside team headquarters upon his arrival. Then two days later, in a much more somber scene, Percy Harvin had a severe migraine headache attack at practice that sent him to the hospital.
But the Vikings are accustomed to the attention. It's what happens around here.
"I don't see why it would be any more distractions than it was last year," wide receiver Bernard Berrian said. "I think we're the best-conditioned team on distractions, beside Cincinnati."
The Bengals, of course, employ two of the NFL's most famous flamboyant players in Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. With Favre and the other Pro Bowl picks, the Vikings don't lack for star power, either. The franchise's history of off-the-field problems might even put them in the lead when it comes to the league's top media circuses.
"It's just how well you handle it, and I think we showed we can handle it all well last year," Berrian said.
Said coach Brad Childress: "We've got great guys with great resolve. They can stay focused. They're good guys, and they're all in."
Harvin has been unable to practice more than a handful of times, and fellow wide receiver Sidney Rice is out with a hip injury that he acknowledged Friday has his availability "still up in the air" for the season opener on Sept. 9.
Berrian, however, shrugged off the impact of their absences.
"You're always concerned, because a rep missed is a valuable rep that you weren't in, that you weren't able to learn or catch and get," said Berrian, who missed several weeks of practice himself last season while struggling with a hamstring injury. "But ... they're all veteran guys so they're all up to speed and they'll be fine as soon as they get back."
The attention sure helps the marketing and sales department. According to the team, in the first 48 hours following Favre's arrival, the Vikings sold 800 season tickets. Their 94 percent renewal rate was the team's highest since 2001, and there are less than 1,000 single-game tickets available for each game except for Green Bay on Nov. 21, which is completely sold out.
Favre will play a series or two in Sunday's game at San Francisco, ideally about 10 snaps.
"That's about all he needs right now and all he's ready for right now," Childress said.
By all accounts, Favre has looked fine moving around on his surgically repaired left ankle.
"I think he's doing a good job of rounding into it," Childress said. "We haven't chased him around yet. We're saving that for later."
Starting center John Sullivan, who has been out most of the last two weeks with a strained right calf muscle, should be back at practice Tuesday, Childress said.
Asher Allen and Lito Sheppard, fighting for a starting spot at right cornerback while Cedric Griffin works his way back from a left knee injury, will rotate series against the 49ers. Allen will start.
Rookie Chris Cook will replace Antoine Winfield after one series at left cornerback.
And most importantly, linebacker E.J. Henderson will play the first quarter with the starting defense, his first game action since badly breaking his leg in December.
His comeback, lost a little in the shuffle of another Favre-a-palooza, has surpassed even the most optimistic prognosis for his return — other than his own.
"First time back out there in the real action, back in the uniform, back out there with the guys, I'm sure there will be some chills," Henderson said. "But after the first couple snaps I think I'll be back into the swing of things."
-- Dave Campbell
Packers keep blitzes under wraps for preseason
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — As far as the Green Bay Packers are concerned, bland is the new blitz — at least when it comes to the preseason.
Entering their second year in defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme, the Packers are facing a far more gentle learning curve to get ready for the regular season.
So unlike last year, when the defense was new and Capers felt players had to practice everything under game conditions, he's now keeping his most exotic blitzes under wraps and off of game film.
Capers said he intentionally went conservative in the Packers' first preseason game, a loss to Cleveland. He expects to do more of the same in Saturday's game at Seattle.
"I think your first four teams you're playing, you're giving them a lot of things to work on in practice," Capers said. "So you'd rather not do that, I think."
Not every team played it that way in its first preseason game. According to reports out of Chicago, the Bears pulled quarterback Jay Cutler out of their game at San Diego earlier than planned because the Chargers were blitzing so aggressively.
But as much as defensive players would like to run wild and get after the quarterback every game, Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews said saving their best stuff for the regular season is a smart play.
"Obviously you don't want to show too much with the initial opponents we're going to face the first half of the season," Matthews said. "You don't want to put too much on tape. But we're running our base defenses and a few pressures here and there."
With Matthews sitting out because of a hamstring injury and the Packers keeping most of their pressure packages in their back pocket for now, it wasn't time to panic when Green Bay's defense didn't look particularly sharp against Cleveland.
Still, the Packers did give up three first-half touchdowns to the Browns.
"We have to do a better job of getting pressure, and that falls on everybody," Matthews said. "It's not just outside linebackers or D-linemen. We can't rely on the blitz to bail us out, especially this early in preseason (when) we're trying not to show our cards right now. We do need to put emphasis on getting pressure. That's how it is."
Vanilla defense or not, the Packers still want better results against the Seahawks.
"To me, that's part of the evaluation process," Capers said. "Those are the things you have to find out right now in preseason. Like I say, you might be able to camouflage some things by blitzing every down, but that isn't going to work. Once you get into the regular season, that can catch up with you in a hurry."
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he would prefer to use the preseason as a chance for players to show sound fundamental play than use it to experiment with the most complex portions of the playbook.
The Packers only brought a lot of pressure in the preseason last year because they felt they had to.
"Last year was a totally different mindset for us because we were going from a totally different defensive scheme to more of a pressure scheme," McCarthy said. "It wasn't the schematic volume that was important in preseason, it was the ability to play pressure football in live game. That's why we pressured as much as we did last year."
Capers said he doesn't want to blitz all the time in the regular season, either, making the preseason a valuable platform for the defense to show what it can do without really turning up the heat.
"If you go into the season feeling you've got to rely on the blitz all the time, sooner or later it catches up with you," Capers said. "I think now's a time we can see how well we can play base fundamental football."
And as always, the Packers' defensive philosophy starts with stopping the run.
"The most helpless feeling is if you're trying to play your base defense and they're running the ball for 5 or 6 yards a crack in there," Capers said. "If we can stop the run, people are going to try to spread us out, and we have to be able to put a group out there where we can match up and play good football that way. I don't worry about the blitz stuff right now as much as I do us playing sound fundamental football and get a basis to build on."
-- Chris Jenkins
Moore, Panthers hope for better offensive showing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers quarterback Matt Moore has collected praise from all directions in the preseason.
Teammates have staunchly defended him and squashed any talk he might lose the starting job to rookie Jimmy Clausen. Coach John Fox thinks he's more comfortable than a year ago. General manager Marty Hurney describes Moore's performance in training camp as "excellent."
Moore, longtime starter Jake Delhomme's replacement, has seemingly done everything except get the Panthers in the end zone. Sustained drives are a priority for Carolina as it hosts the New York Jets Saturday night in the second preseason game.
"Where are we? I'm sure we can still get better," said Moore, expected to play the entire first half against the Jets. "We can still improve on some things as a whole. There are still steps we need to take, but I think we're where we want to be."
That's despite the offense's struggles in a team scrimmage and then again in the opening exhibition game against Baltimore. The Panthers were held without an offensive touchdown in the 17-12 loss to the Ravens, with Moore finishing 4 of 7 for 32 yards. He was sacked once and fumbled, which Carolina recovered.
Fox blamed much of the struggles on poor pass protection and penalties. With right tackle Jeff Otah (knee) still sidelined and Mackenzy Bernadeau and Duke Robinson competing for the open right guard spot, the offensive line seeks a better performance when it faces a tough Jets defense.
New York will be without star cornerback Darrelle Revis, who is holding out in a contract dispute. While receiver Steve Smith (broken arm) practiced in full Friday for the first time, he's not expected to play.
Moore's targets will be Dwayne Jarrett, Kenny Moore, Brandon LaFell and Wallace Wright. No receiver has jumped to the front in the competition for the starting job opposite Smith.
"I think it's still shaking out," Hurney said. "We feel like we've added speed to the position. We've added guys there. We've got some guys who have been here that have had very good camps in Dwayne Jarrett and Kenny Moore. And then we have some guys. We'll see how it plays out."
Running back DeAngelo Williams will play some, while Jonathan Stewart is expected to sit out again as he slowly recovers from offseason heel surgery.
With Moore far ahead of Clausen, the more intriguing competition for starting jobs is on defense as the Panthers rebuild their line after Julius Peppers signed with Chicago.
The line is further jumbled with defensive end Tyler Brayton, the only returning starter, to miss Saturday's game with a sprained left ankle.
Free safety Sherrod Martin (groin) is also likely out after missing practice again Friday. Marcus Hudson, the free-agent signing in the offseason from San Francisco, is expected to start in a secondary that gets cornerback Chris Gamble (knee) back after he missed the Baltimore game.
"I feel like we're growing every day," Hudson said Friday. "There's a lot of talent out there. I haven't seen this much competition in different positions in a while. As far as I know, from what I've seen in camp, we're a pretty good team. But we still have youth we need to get out of us, as far as growing up, maturity."
-- Mike Cranston
Rested Hasselbeck having unique Seattle summer
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Matt Hasselbeck wasn't standing around quite as much during Seahawks practices this week. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback was working with the first team, like he's been since 2001.
At least it seemed that way. Who knows, in this training camp run by preservation- and competition-minded new coach Pete Carroll?
"The schedule might be different too, so it might just feel like I'm getting more reps," Hasselbeck deadpanned. "Or it's just hotter."
Yes, the heat is on.
Carroll knows Hasselbeck turns 35 next month. He knows the trigger man Mike Holmgren brought from Green Bay in 2001 to lead a Seattle football renaissance has had two of his worst seasons while enduring injuries to his back, ribs and shoulder the last two years. The Seahawks have slumped to 9-23 in that time.
Carroll also knows Hasselbeck is in the last year of his contract.
Plus, he and his new staff like what they see in heir Charlie Whitehurst, the former Chargers third-stringer who threw for two touchdowns in last weekend's preseason opener against Tennessee. Whitehurst has been getting the first-team snaps that Hasselbeck has been watching.
Yet Carroll has repeatedly said "Matt is our starting quarterback" and has praised how great his offseason has been.
Hasselbeck figures to play more Saturday night in Seattle's home exhibition against Green Bay. Perhaps the entire first half.
"Yeah, I would expect to," he said this week. "But the coaches haven't really said anything.
"There are probably lessons to be learned there. You can come out and mentally not be ready to really perform. It's all part of the preseason. I think I fall into that category."
Speaking of Green Bay, Hasselbeck says this mini summer hiatus reminds him of his days backing up Brett Favre from 1998-2000 as Holmgren's sixth-round draft pick with the Packers.
"I wasn't getting a lot of reps and was I just sort of watching practice. You almost get spoiled getting all the reps and it's not much fun to go back to that," he said. "But that's just part of it and it's part of how we're doing things. It's probably the smarter way to go."
Less practice did not translate into more effectiveness against the Titans last week. In three series, Hasselbeck was 4 for 10 and was sacked once. Tennessee knocked down four of his passes, two of them at the line.
Aaron Rodgers had no such opening issues in Green Bay. He completed his first nine passes and finished 12 for 13 for 159 yards with no interceptions, no sacks and a touchdown for a passer rating of 143.3 against Cleveland, before giving way to backup Matt Flynn after roughly 20 snaps.
"I felt pretty good," Rodgers said, sounding opposite of Hasselbeck.
Rodgers looked particularly sharp against the blitz, and his next practice test is against a Seahawks defense searching for a pass rush. So Rodgers' summer carry-over from his first Pro Bowl appearance last season may continue.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy says Rodgers and fellow starters are likely to again play into the second quarter in Seattle.
Hasselbeck's tepid start isn't all because of inactivity. New offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates cited the key to Seattle's season — the protection provided by a changing offensive line, anchored by rookie left tackle Russell Okung instead of retired All-Pro Walter Jones — as a factor.
This is also Hasselbeck's third offensive scheme in three seasons. Bates and line coach Alex Gibbs are installing a more pure zone-blocking scheme upon which the entire offense is based.
"There are some things that he'd want to take back, but it's the first time in this offense," Bates said of Hasselbeck. "We have to protect him and help him out a little bit, but we're going to keep growing.
"We'll go as far as they take us," Bates said of the blockers. "It's up to those guys to take us to victories."
Hasselbeck sounded humbled.
"I got graded pretty tough, like I would expect to. And I should have finished the day probably six of 10, or seven of 10, could have been cleaner, a little bit more crisp," Seattle's Super Bowl quarterback in 2006 said. "I probably lacked a lot of enthusiasm and energy when I was out there, which that's something that I have to bring to the table."
-- Gregg Bell
AFC
Changes all around for Titans on linebacker unit
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — No unit on the Tennessee Titans has seen more changes, or gone through more turmoil, than the linebacking corps this year.
And the changes aren't over yet.
One starter from last year is now with the New York Giants. Another is recovering from shoulder surgery and a hip problem and still on the physically unable to perform list. There's the new veteran starter, learning the nuances of the Titans' defense, and a potential starter who will be sitting out the first four games under a league suspension.
Despite the turnover, Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch — the one sure returning starter — sees a strong unit filled with fast, athletic players.
"Once they pick it up mentally, this linebacking corps can be something special," he said.
One thing's certain. It will be very different from last season when the Titans ranked 28th in yards allowed per game, including next to last in yards passing per game.
Outside linebacker Keith Bulluck started 127 straight games during his 10 years here before tearing his left ACL. His contract was up, and both he and the Titans disagree over whether the team that drafted him in the first round in 2000 over how much interest they ever had in bringing him back.
Gerald McRath said a player like Bulluck can never be replaced.
"He has made his mark in this community and on this team and in this organization. Take away his leadership and his traits and the way that he played the game and hope to live by the standards that he set. You can only hope to push better and create your own identity. Be the best person that you can be," McRath said.
Bulluck signed with the Giants late last month, and his locker finally was given to Will Witherspoon. He's a veteran going into his ninth NFL season after spending last year with St. Louis and Philadelphia. He sees a hard-working group of linebackers.
"Everybody's always on the same page, and we communicate well no matter if you have a question about what you should do, what you shouldn't do, how you see something? We spend a lot of time in our meeting room ... just trying to get the little details together," Witherspoon said.
Thornton said in June he expected to be ready sometime during training camp. Well, the Titans wrap up camp Aug. 26, and Thornton is doing more without being cleared yet to join the active roster. Last season ended early for him, and he had surgery to repair a shoulder and pectoral problem.
He is a key veteran for this defense. But Thornton's due $4.35 million this season, which might make him too expensive to keep considering McRath appears ready to start in his spot. The Titans' biggest problem there, however, is McRath must sit the first four games after dropping his appeal for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.
"With Gerald's situation if Dave's not ready, it's going to be different," coach Jeff Fisher said Friday of his linebacking group.
Fisher called the suspension difficult for both McRath and the Titans. They have been working McRath both with the first-team defense and the backups through camp to make sure other potential starters like Colin Allred and Jamie Winborn get enough work as well before McRath rejoins the team Oct. 5.
"Based on the type of worker he is, I don't anticipate having any problems," Fisher said.
Then there's Tulloch, the team's leading tackler in 2009.
He worked out on his own in Miami, including trying to sharpen the pass coverage skills that had been seen as an area for improvement. He wanted a long-term deal going into his fifth season, but the final year of the league's labor agreement allowed the Titans to give him a one-year tender at $2.52 million.
Tulloch has refused to dwell on the business side, determined to earn that new contract with his play this season. He arrived on time for camp and said he expects great things this season.
If the linebackers needed added incentive, Fisher wrote the defense's stats on the board at the start of training camp.
"It was sickening to see where we finished last season. Our run defense was top 10 but our pass defense wasn't where it needed to be," Tulloch said. "As linebackers and a unit, we have to work on the small things to get our defense where it needs to be. We've got to carry our weight, and this team could be something special."
Notes: CB Ryan Mouton (groin) returned to practice Friday after sitting out the last four days. ... WR Justin Gage (thumb) sat out again along with CB Cortland Finnegan (groin). CB Tye Hill, who left early Thursday, was back on the field and had an interception. DE Jacob Ford didn't finish and had ice wrapped on the back of his right leg for soreness.
-- Teresa M. Walker
Colts seeing improvement in sluggish ground game
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jim Caldwell has done just about everything to give the Colts' running game a tuneup.
Now he wants to see results.
After finishing the last two seasons ranked 32nd and 31st in yards rushing per game, there are finally signs of progress. In Thursday night's loss at Buffalo, four players had runs longer than 10 yards and the Colts averaged 4.7 per carry behind their makeshift offensive line.
No, they didn't win, but it is a start.
"I think you can see we ran the ball a little bit better," Caldwell said Friday. "Joe (Addai) had a couple of nice runs, Donald (Brown) had a couple of nice runs, Devin (Moore) had a couple of nice runs. But we still have a long way to go."
With four-time league MVP Peyton Manning in charge of the offense, the Colts will always be a pass-first team.
Given the results, it makes sense.
Indy's last two title runs were derailed because of an inability to convert short-yardage plays.
Twice in January 2009, the Colts had chances to put away the Chargers in a playoff game and twice they failed. San Diego wound up rallying to force overtime and then eliminated the Colts in Tony Dungy's final game.
Caldwell wasted no time putting his stamp on the team when training camp opened last year.
He announced that Charlie Johnson would replace Tony Ugoh at left tackle and then made a midseason change by moving Arena Football2 vet Kyle DeVan ahead of former second-round pick Mike Pollak at right guard.
The Colts responded by going 14-2 and winning the AFC title, but in the Super Bowl, the same old problem was back. When Indy failed to convert on third-and-1 late in the first half, New Orleans drove for a 44-yard field goal that cut the halftime lead to 10-6.
After the game, team president Bill Polian publicly criticized the offensive line and sent a clear message about what the Colts were going to do in the offseason — improve the ground game.
"There are things you have to do better," Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday said this summer. "Our goal is to be three-fourths of a yard better (rushing) than we were last year. You know it's always tough when you're the one getting criticized, but we have got to get better."
Indy's overhaul began with the planned promotion of Pete Metzelaars to offensive line coach after Howard Mudd retired. Polian signed free agents Andy Alleman and Adam Terry in an effort to give the Colts' line more size, then tried to reinforce the unit by drafting guard Jacques McClendon in the fourth round and blocking tight end Brody Eldridge in the sixth.
How have all the changes worked? It's been a mixed bag.
Alleman was cut during the first week of training camp after hurting his back, Terry entered Thursday night's game midway through the second quarter and McClendon has been slowed by an undisclosed injury.
Indy's 3.5 yards-per-carry average in the first two preseason games matches last year's regular-season average, and Addai has scored Indy's only rushing touchdowns. But two starters — Johnson (sprained right foot) and Saturday (knee surgery) — have not played in either game, and DeVan was out Thursday with a hamstring injury.
So Caldwell is getting a good look at how some other guys might be able to help.
"They have handled themselves fairly well," Caldwell said. "The pass protection was fairly solid. We ran the ball a lot better than the first week, and that's what we expect."
Caldwell expects the progression to continue.
It's not as if the Colts offense can't produce proficient runners. Edgerrin James won NFL rushing titles in 1999 and 2000, behind Manning, and the Colts had three different 1,000-yard runners between 2000 and 2007.
Nor is it devoid of talent.
Saturday and Diem started when James was running and are still there, and Ugoh and Pollak are former second-round picks who Colts' coaches still believe in.
Addai, a first-round pick in 2006, opened his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons but failed to top 600 yards in 2008 and barely reached 800 last season. Brown, Indy's first-round pick in 2009, has battled injuries and averaged only 2.1 yards on nine carries in the preseason.
But to win a Super Bowl, Caldwell knows this: Indy's offense has to be running on all cylinders.
"I think you can certainly evaluate and make a comparison between last week and this week, and we got better," Caldwell said. "That's our goal. We expect to be better than we were today."
-- Michael Marot
Jaguars confident Nelson can rebound from woes
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Reggie Nelson looked around the field and wondered why he was still in the game. He never questioned it, though.
A former Florida star, a first-round draft pick and a three-year starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Nelson played as much as anyone in the team's preseason opener last week. He was in early and late, playing alongside undrafted rookies and little-known veterans.
Nelson figured coaches were sending him a message. Actually, they were trying to bolster his confidence — which has taken a big hit after two sub-par seasons.
"What he's doing right now gives him a chance," coach Jack Del Rio said.
Nelson, the 21st selection in the 2007 draft, is trying to find his way after too many missed tackles and too many blown assignments. The Jaguars aren't ready to give up on him, either. Not even close.
Del Rio believes Nelson still has a chance to become a defensive playmaker and provide the kind of presence that made him a first-team All-American and national champion with the Gators. His next opportunity comes Saturday night against Miami.
"He's had some tough games, and when that happens, it can crush your confidence," Del Rio said. "We're trying to build him back up right now."
That certainly didn't seem to be the case in Philadelphia. Nelson played nearly every snap against the Eagles, getting looks with the starters and the long shots.
Nelson thought the worst.
"It's crystal clear. I played the whole game," he said. "I don't know if it's a message or what. I'm not going to sit there and argue with anybody. I'm just going to play football. Wherever I fall on the depth chart, I'll just fall into it.
"In their eyes, I'm not starting anymore. You've just got to accept that."
True, Nelson is no longer running with the first-team defense. He's behind Gerald Alexander, Anthony Smith and maybe even Sean Considine on the depth chart.
How did Nelson fall so far so fast?
He had 82 tackles, 12 pass breakups, five interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack as a rookie. He has just nine breakups and two picks since, and his tackles also have dropped.
Some blame Nelson's struggles on having three defensive coordinators — Mike Smith, Gregg Williams and Mel Tucker — in four seasons.
Others point to Nelson shuffling positions. He started out as a roaming safety, then was asked to stay home and read opposing quarterbacks. He also spent time playing cornerback and working only in nickel situations.
Del Rio has a different take. He says what Nelson did so well as a rookie — reading quarterbacks and then reacting to the football — simply doesn't work anymore because teams know they can take advantage of him with pump-fakes and look-offs.
"Everybody has what-ifs," Nelson said. "I can't sit here and say, 'What if they didn't do this or what if they didn't do that.' They asked me to do some things. I did it with no questions asked and went out there and did it to the best of my abilities. Learned corner within a week, learned nickel. Whenever my number's called, I just go play football."
It hasn't always been pretty, though.
The same guy who made bone-bruising hits, touchdown-saving tackles and game-changing interceptions for the Gators struggled all over the field for the Jaguars. He missed tackles near the line of scrimmage, allowed receivers to blow by him deep, and more often than not, left coaches and teammates scratching their heads.
Nelson never sulked, though.
He could have pouted, pointed fingers or pleaded for more stability. Instead, he took the blame.
"He owns up to everything," cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "If he doesn't know it, he says he doesn't know. If he misses a tackle, he says he missed a tackle. If he makes the wrong read, he says he made the wrong read. For him to be as young as he is and to handle it like a true professional, I tip my hat to him and tell him to stay on the grind and stay positive.
"If he's out there, he's going to make plays."
That was evident in the preseason opener.
On three consecutive plays in the first quarter, Nelson made two open-field tackles and tipped away a pass in the end zone. Later in the game, though, he whiffed trying to tackle Michael Vick on a 10-yard touchdown run and was out of position on two passing plays.
"Everybody's got their opinion," Nelson said. "You've got to make the plays you can make, and if you don't make one, you've got to move on from it. You can't hold onto the last play. You've got to move on. You're not going to do everything right.
"You can't let the pressure bust the pipe."
-- Mark Long
Orton's deal might benefit Tebow, too
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Kyle Orton swears he never saw the arrivals of Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow as a sign of disrespect from the Denver Broncos, only another challenge to embrace.
"I think that's the case for 26, 27 teams in the NFL. They're always trying to replace the quarterback," Orton said Friday, about 15 hours after signing a one-year extension that shows how strong his hold is on the starting job.
"That's just life in this league, life at this position. They're going to try to bring in somebody better and younger and all that stuff," Orton said. "But ultimately, as long as the decision is made on the field and based on play, you really can't have any gripes about it. Fortunately, that's been the case and I've played well."
Orton has made great strides in both his grasp and execution of coach Josh McDaniels' intricate offense in his second season in Denver. Plus, he's not dealing with two bum ankles as he was last season.
As a result, Orton, who threw two TD passes in his three series during the preseason opener at Cincinnati, now is signed through 2011 with more than $8 million guaranteed.
The deal not only gives Orton some of the security he's long sought but also provides Tebow, the former Florida star, with some time to develop into a pro-set passer and offers Quinn time to learn the complex system after three up-and-down seasons in Cleveland.
McDaniels said Tebow and Quinn shouldn't view this development as a dialing down of the pressure because he wants them to continue pushing the incumbent for his starting job.
"I hope there's pressure on all our players to try to compete to play as soon as they can," McDaniels said. "I think the fact of the matter is Kyle's the starter, has played like the starter, is playing very well and playing at a different level than Tim or Brady both play at. ... So, maybe it's a challenge for them, Brady and Tim both."
Orton, who is 29-19 as a starter in Chicago and Denver, has shown no hint that he's ready to relinquish his starting job, and now he's got the contract to prove it.
"I hope my play is what tells the team that I'm the guy," Orton said. "I think I've elevated my play, I've elevated my leadership, I've elevated my understanding of the offense. So, I think we've got a lot of guys in the huddle that have seen that and I hope that's what really gives them that comfort."
All offseason and especially during training camp, McDaniels not only saw how far Tebow and Quinn have to go but how far Orton's come.
"He's certainly a different player, there's no question about it," McDaniels said. "There's things that he does now every day that there's no way he was ready to do last year in our system: his ability to communicate with our players, to change plays, to get out of a bad play. I think the trust that the players have in him ... That's something that comes with time, experience, knowledge, hard work and just repetition.
"And I think that Kyle came back in the spring and was a different player, and we didn't have any practices between January and May. So, he was different right from the get-go. He carried that all the way through the spring and then certainly has come into training camp ready to go and has improved there, too."
Not that Orton was lost after coming over in the Jay Cutler trade — after all, he had his best statistical season last year, setting career highs in nearly every passing category, including throwing for 3,802 yards — but his bad ankles messed up his throwing mechanics and the Broncos lost eight of their last 10 to finish at .500.
When he watches Tebow and Quinn struggle to understand or direct Denver's complex offense, Orton feels their frustration, having been there himself not that long ago.
"There's always growing pains when you're coming in," Orton said.
With a year under his belt, a season's worth of plays to look back on and his ankles no longer ailing, Orton was able to vastly improve his play.
"I feel like I've come a really long way in three months and feel like there's still a ton of room for exponential growth," he said.
Orton, who signed a $2.621 million tender in the spring, said he was resigned to playing out the 2010 season as a lame duck quarterback before his agent, David Dunn, and Broncos general manager Brian Xanders came up with the one-year extension Thursday that's worth about $9 million with $5.5 million guaranteed.
"I just went into the whole camp saying nothing's going to get done, I'm going to have the best year of my career and have to wait until next year," Orton said. "And I was fine with that. If something came about that we thought was fair, we were going to take it, and it kind of came about pretty quickly."
McDaniels said the one-year extension "wasn't the only thing discussed. But I think everybody kind of felt this is a good alternative, a good option for all of us, something we both wanted to do."
-- Arnie Stapleton
