NFL Team Capsules: Titans running back wants MVP, more NFL history
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The ink starts at Chris Johnson's neck, with wings tattooed just above his collarbone, reminding the world that he is the NFL's most recent member of the very rare club of 2,000-yard rushers. The Tennessee running back also has "Cause IM A Star" perched just above a red star in the middle of his chest.
Dream big, then run faster than anyone else in the NFL.
Johnson used that combination to rush his way to NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2009, becoming only the sixth man in league history to run for at least 2,000 yards. He's back for his third season with goals set even higher than a year ago: Run right past Eric Dickerson's NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards all the way to 2,500.
That would make him the first ever to run for 2,000 yards twice in a career with the added twist of doing it back-to-back. Dickerson didn't do it. Neither did Barry Sanders, Jamal Lewis, O.J. Simpson or Terrell Davis.
Johnson calls it his chip on his shoulder.
"It gives me something to look forward to. People might be like, 'Oh you run for 2,000 yards so he's content or whatever like that.' I haven't broken the record, so I still have something on my shoulder and something to work hard for," Johnson said.
Being voted the Offensive Player of the Year? Nice, but MVP is his target again. If he runs for 2,000 yards again, he reasons voters can't deny rewarding such a historic performance.
"I feel like I'm never satisfied," Johnson said. "I'm coming back in with the same mindset that I haven't done anything yet."
Brash statements coming from a guy so soft-spoken that reporters have to push to get microphones close enough to hear him. But Johnson has the tools to back them up.
A native of Orlando, Fla., he finished second in the 100-meter dash in a state meet to eventual 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix.
Only one college want him to play his preferred position of running back, but in his senior year at East Carolina he led the nation with 227.7 all-purpose yards a game. He posted a 4.24-second time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, believed to be the fastest electronically measured time at the event dating back to 1982. When the draft started, four running backs were taken before the Titans grabbed Johnson at No. 24 overall.
He's been nearly unstoppable ever since.
He ran for 1,228 yards in 2008 and gave a glimpse in the Titans' second game last season how he planned to live up to his preseason boasts of running for 2,000 yards. He ran for 197 yards on 16 carries against Houston, a game featuring a 69-yard touchdown catch where he lined up wide left with no defender nearby so he waved at Kerry Collins to make sure the quarterback saw him.
No one's left him that wide-open since.
Johnson finished 2009 with 11 straight games of 100-yards rushing and needs only three more to match the NFL record for consecutive 100-yard games set by Barry Sanders in 1997. He set the NFL record for yards from scrimmage with 2,509 yards and became the league's first player to rush for at least 2,000 yards (2,006) and have 500 yards receiving. He also was the only unanimous pick to the All Pro team.
Only Dickerson and Edgerrin James had more yards from scrimmage through their first two seasons than Johnson (3,997).
Johnson immediately started lobbying the Titans to make him the highest paid offensive player in the NFL and stayed away from the team during the offseason. With the NFL's labor deal in its final year, he didn't get his wish.
The Titans did shuffle incentives Johnson already had satisfied but wasn't due to be paid for until 2012 into this year, adding approximately $1.5 million to his base salary of $550,000 — enough for Johnson to report to training camp on time. He knows another big season will force the Titans to pay him the more than $30 million in guaranteed money that he really wants.
Johnson followed the same workout plan that he used to reach 2,000 the first time. He stuck around the Orlando condo he shares with Jaguars receiver Mike Sims-Walker, a friend since grade school. In their free time, they stayed busy adding tattoos and even flew an artist up from Miami. Neither knows how many he has.
"Just a matter of liking tattoos and liking art," Sims-Walker said. "They're kind of like addictive. Once you get one, you want another and you keep going from there."
Another of Johnson's ambitions: be as well known as Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. He shot commercials with his Nike and Powerade endorsements and has been on 17 different magazine covers now and counting. Johnson doesn't feel he should change his dreadlocks, gold teeth or tattoos just to fit what others think companies want.
"As long as you the best running back in the league and perform on the field, it's going to be hard for companies to shy away from you," Johnson said.
Coach Jeff Fisher likes how his running back performs on the field. He also doesn't mind that Johnson sets big goals because he knows how tough it is for defenses to catch the 5-foot-11, 191-pound back. Not only is he amazingly fast, Johnson is even more dangerous because he can change direction in the blink of an eye.
"It causes them to adjust their angles and flatten out," Fisher said. "When they flatten out, then they subject themselves to being vulnerable to the cutback. If you protect yourself from the cutback, he will run by you."
Arizona cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie trained some with Johnson before the draft, and the two friends visit often in the offseason. He thinks Johnson can break Dickerson's record.
"He's patient, and he has the ability to explode real fast," Rodgers-Cromartie said.
Titans tight end Bo Scaife has watched defenses try to prepare for Johnson's speed, which Scaife calls impossible because no one is as fast as the running back. Scaife never thought anyone could rush for 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons until being around Johnson.
"I do think he has a legitimate shot of going for 2,000 again, separating himself from all the other players is his speed. He can take one from 99, 100, so I don't know too many guys in the history of the league that have been able to do that like he can. I'm very confident he can do it," Scaife said.
Titans fullback Ahmard Hall, who has the locker right next to Johnson, believes topping Dickerson's mark is within his teammate's reach. He noted the Titans spent so much time passing during their 0-6 start that Johnson didn't get as many carries as he might in the first few weeks this season. He also thinks Vince Young will keep defenses from focusing solely on Johnson.
And all the big talk? Hall firmly believes in the ability to speak something into existence.
"I don't think anybody can stop him from getting 2,000 yards again this year," Hall said.
Colts look to recover from big loss, face Bengals
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Don't let the record fool you — preseason scores matter to Colts coach Jim Caldwell.
Caldwell said he was embarassed by the 59-24 loss at Green Bay last Thursday, saying the team should have too much pride to perform so poorly. The franchise allowed its highest preseason point total since surrendering 70 to the Los Angeles Rams in 1950, when the Colts were still in Baltimore.
"It never sits well," Caldwell, who has a 1-6 record in preseason games, said. "To think that we don't pay attention to the scoreboard — we do. We have some pride in how we play. That just shows us we have a lot of work to do."
Indy will try to improve in its preseason finale on Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
While the Green Bay debacle resonated throughout the past week, reserve players will be focused simply on making the team. Caldwell gave them extra incentive on Wednesday, reminding them that past players such as Jeff Saturday, Aaron Moorehead, Dominic Rhodes, Gary Brackett, Melvin Bullitt and Jamie Silva made the team based on their performances late in the preseason.
"This morning, we went through a couple of scenarios and showed a few film clips of guys that had gotten to the last couple games of the preseason and made everyone stand up and take notice," he said. "We kind of worked our way back through the years through the archives.
"Often times, you can talk about it, but a picture's worth a thousand words."
Reserves are expected to play most of the game. Caldwell wouldn't say how many positions are up for grabs, but he said Thursday's performances will be key factors in determining who stays.
"Anytime you have an opportunity to take the field in this league, it's one that individuals have to relish and take advantage of," he said. "I think there are a lot of men out there that are going to be jockeying for position for jobs and opportunities. We are assessing them and seeing where they fit in. It is very, very important for them, this particular ballgame."
The Colts would like to see a bit more offense from their reserves. Indy has scored on 7 of 15 possessions this preseason with Peyton Manning leading the way, but on just 3 of 26 without him.
The Colts entered training camp looking for punt and kickoff returners. Devin Moore, Sam Giguere and rookies Brandon James and Ray Fisher have battled for the spots.
Moore has averaged 32.3 yards on four kickoff returns and 25.5 yards on two punt returns. James, a rookie from Florida, has averaged 24.3 yards on 10 kickoff returns and 6.6 yards on five punt returns. Giguere averaged 20.4 yards on five kick returns. Fisher, a rookie from Indiana, has a 58-yard kickoff return.
The Colts haven't named a front-runner for either job, but they like what they're getting overall. Indy is averaging 25.3 yards on kick returns and 9.8 yards on punt returns in the preseason.
"I can tell you overall we have improved," Caldwell said. "I think that's quite evident, just in terms of return yardage and things of that nature. The battle between the individuals that have been doing those duties for us continues, and Thursday night will be another night to assess and see where they are."
The Colts also will try to figure out which new running backs to keep. Caldwell has been pleased with Moore and Javarris James and says both will get significant action against Cincinnati.
Moore has 52 yards on 10 carries, while James, cousin of former Colts star running back Edgerrin James, has 53 yards on 15 carries.
Caldwell isn't sure how many backs he'll keep behind Joseph Addai, Donald Brown and Mike Hart.
"A lot of that depends on what happens the next couple of days or so," he said. "Those guys (Moore and James) have certainly shown some spurts. They maybe have not been given the opportunity to get an extended amount of work, but they certainly will tomorrow night. That will be a part of the evaluation process. Both of them are very capable."
-- Cliff Brunt
Roethlisberger plays last game before suspension
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers will get one last glimpse of Ben Roethlisberger playing quarterback before he begins his NFL-mandated suspension.
They can only wonder what kind of shape they'll be in when Roethlisberger returns to the field in October.
While the starters usually play only a couple of series in the final exhibition game, Roethlisberger is lobbying to take snaps in the no-huddle offense Thursday night against Carolina. New center Maurkice Pouncey and right tackle Flozell Adams haven't worked with Roethlisberger out of that formation except during practice, and the quarterback doesn't want to wait until the games count before getting in the work.
Especially since Roethlisberger will miss at least four of those games.
"We have new guys, so I think it will be good if we can hopefully get it in and do that," Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger's brief time under center will come only a few hours before he travels to New York on Friday to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. There is every indication Goodell will shorten the quarterback's suspension for bad behavior from six to four games, but the Steelers are taking a low-key approach and aren't publicly lobbying on Roethlisberger's behalf.
The Steelers were encouraged last month when Goodell said Roethlisberger was going "above and beyond" what the league has asked him to do since the two-time Super Bowl winner was accused of, but not charged with, sexually assaulting a Georgia college student. The quarterback has stayed out of trouble since the March incident, and he spent considerable time during training camp interacting with the team's fans.
The big question, of course, is what the Steelers will do without their $102 million quarterback. They open at home against Atlanta on Sept. 12, then play Tennessee and Tampa Bay on the road and Baltimore at home. It's a challenging schedule, but not an exceedingly demanding for a team that started 6-2 each of the last two seasons.
For now, coach Mike Tomlin hasn't officially named Byron Leftwich as his season-opening starter, although that has been seen as a mere formality since Leftwich returned to Pittsburgh in an April trade. Veteran backup Charlie Batch has gotten little work during camp or in the preseason, and third-year QB Dennis Dixon threw two interceptions during a brief and unimpressive audition with the starters Sunday during a 34-17 loss in Denver.
While Batch showed his first glimpse of unhappiness at being the left-out quarterback while talking with reporters on Tuesday, Roethlisberger thinks all four QBs have handled the unique situation well.
"I think everybody has done a great job," Roethlisberger said. "I think everyone is looking pretty good. Everyone is a professional in the group and everyone is ready to go."
If Roethlisberger gets all the playing time with the starters Thursday, Leftwich could find himself playing with backups for the second game in a row. That's not an ideal situation for the man who is expected to be the opening day starter, but Leftwich isn't complaining.
"To be honest, we'd all love to play, but it's a unique situation that we're in," he said.
As usual, the last preseason game will be exactly that for nearly two dozen players — their last game. The Steelers must cut their roster from 75 to 53 by Saturday.
Among those looking to make a lasting impression are running back Jonathan Dwyer, a disappointment during camp before he ran for 89 yards and a touchdown in Denver; cornerback Keenan Lewis, who was yanked by Tomlin after drawing two personal foul penalties against the Broncos; and cornerback William Gay, a starter last season who is trying to beat out Bryant McFadden to keep his job.
It will also be an important game for Dixon, whose snaps will likely come with the second unit; rookie wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown, who had two catches apiece against Denver; and running back Isaac Redman, who is trying to become Rashard Mendenhall's backup.
-- Alan Robinson
NFC
Vikings backup quarterbacks still aspire to start
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Once again, Brett Favre has stolen the show — and all the playing time — in Minnesota and relegated the backup quarterbacks to irrelevance.
So Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels try to take advantage of every throw in practice and preseason games, soaking up as much of the playbook as they can in case Favre's record-setting consecutive-games streak suddenly ends.
They're still unproven, one big reason why the Vikings pursued Favre so hard to play for a second straight year. They're each confident in their ability to be a reliable starter in the NFL, though, stuck in that age-old status quo that transcends pro sports into just about every industry in the world.
Can't get the job without the experience.
Can't get the experience without the job.
"I chose to play football for a living, so it is what it is. Of course I'd like to get more reps," Jackson said, adding: "I still get better by watching, but it's not the same. I feel like it's time. I'm not getting any younger."
Jackson has 19 career starts, plus one forgettable playoff game. Rosenfels has 12 career starts with Miami and Houston.
Favre? He has started 24 career games in the playoffs alone. Plus, oh, about 285 regular-season games.
"This is a difficult situation knowing ... I want to start in this league, but it's the situation I'm in," Jackson said.
Both Jackson and Rosenfels have, for the most part, kept any frustration to themselves or out of the public realm. But the 32-year-old Rosenfels is 5 years older than Jackson. He's feeling antsy, too, even if he does his best not to show it.
"Every quarterback wants to play. Every player wants to play in this league," Rosenfels said. "There's things you can control, and there's things you can't control. All I can control is myself and do my best to control the other 10 guys I'm on the field with."
So he takes some inspiration from former quarterbacks Rich Gannon and Trent Green, who didn't get much of a chance in the first half of their careers before blossoming in their mid-30s.
"I'm just going to keep working and keep fighting and do the best I can," Rosenfels said.
Jackson smiled this week when asked if late-blooming guys like Gannon and Green give him hope for a brighter future. He talked about watching old highlights on the NFL Network and seeing clips of then-coach Mike Holmgren on the sideline chewing out Favre for bad decisions he made early in their time together in Green Bay.
"He got a chance to make those mistakes, though, to get better," said Jackson, who was drafted in the second round, like Favre. "It was a different situation for me. I feel like I wasn't able to keep playing through my mistakes."
Jackson was yanked after two games in the 2008 season, only taking the job back when Gus Frerotte got hurt. Injuries in 2007 were the main reason Jackson was limited to 12 starts.
Jackson, who could become an unrestricted free agent after the season, depending on what happens with the league's labor situation, at least has a firm hold on the No. 2 spot should Favre get hurt. Rosenfels was acquired in a trade with the Texans last year as the assumed front-runner for the job, but after Favre was wooed to Minnesota and he found himself a third-stringer.
This year, Rosenfels has looked a lot more comfortable with the offense, and he has some sparkling preseason statistics to prove it, even if almost all of the playing time has come against backups and players destined to be cut this weekend. His 118.4 passer rating is third in the NFL during the preseason, with four touchdowns, no interceptions and 392 yards.
"Anytime you're in a system for that second year and beyond, it's going to feel a whole lot better," said Rosenfels, who should get plenty of playing time in Thursday's final exhibition game against Seattle.
The Vikings face a dilemma this weekend, whether to keep flashy rookie Joe Webb and have four quarterbacks on the active roster or try to slip him on the practice squad and take the risk the sixth-round draft pick might be claimed on waivers. Rosenfels is also considered a candidate to be traded.
So could they keep four?
"Is it a possibility? Obviously it is. A lot of teams go with three and some teams go with two, so we've seen it all," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said.
-- Dave Campbell
Big preseason game for Panthers QBs Cantwell, Pike
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina's starters will barely break a sweat Thursday night in Pittsburgh. Some may not play at all to avoid injury.
But while the final week of the NFL preseason has been called everything from a sham to a snoozer as fans pay full price to watch the stars stand on the sidelines wearing baseball caps, it could define several players' careers.
It could end some, too.
"It's a big game," Panthers rookie quarterback Tony Pike said. "For me, it's like going into a Super Bowl or something."
Long after starter Matt Moore plays part of the first quarter against the Steelers and backup Jimmy Clausen perhaps makes a brief appearance, Pike and Hunter Cantwell will take the reigns of Carolina's struggling offense. The guy who plays better could end up with the No. 3 job. The other could be unemployed on Saturday when the Panthers trim 22 players from the roster.
"You don't really know what the coaches are thinking and the decisions they've already made," said the undrafted Cantwell, who spent most of last season on Carolina's practice squad and hasn't played in a regular-season game. "You just know that every rep is important, not only for the Carolina Panthers in evaluation, but other teams around the league."
Cantwell entered training camp as Moore's backup, but was quickly overtaken by Clausen, Carolina's second round pick. Cantwell's work in practice then reduced significantly. While the second-year player out of Louisville has a strong arm, the Panthers didn't use a draft pick on him like they did Pike, a sixth-round choice from Cincinnati.
Neither has had much of a chance to do anything in the first three preseason games in which Carolina has yet to score an offensive touchdown. Cantwell is 6 of 17 for 68 yards. Pike has thrown one pass, an incompletion.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson said, "I wouldn't know what to tell you right now," when asked last week who will be the No. 3 QB.
"Both of those guys have gotten minimal reps," coach John Fox said. "This will probably be the most significant playing time they'll both get. We'll evaluate that during the game, after the game, and go from there.
"I think for a lot of guys, especially the bottom half of the roster, this is a big weekend."
There are other crowded races. Kenny Moore, David Gettis, Trent Guy and Charly Martin are likely fighting for the final one or two receiver spots on the 53-man roster. There may only be room for one of Carolina's seventh-round picks at cornerback, R.J. Stanford or Robert McClain. There's uncertainty with backups on both lines.
But quarterback will be one of the toughest calls. The 6-foot-4 Cantwell may have the best arm on the team. The 6-6 Pike is even bigger, but fell behind in his transformation from a spread offense QB when wasn't allowed to participate in June's organized team activities because classes were still in session at Cincinnati.
"It was kind of hard because the first day I got here we were installing 2-minute and no-huddle," Pike said. "You're just playing catch-up. But once OTAs broke and you got the chance to go back and look at everything and then start fresh at camp, you really get back up to the level you want to be at."
Yet Pike has appeared in just one preseason game. Cantwell played briefly in the first two, but sat out Saturday's win over Tennessee.
Fox on Wednesday said Moore and the starters will play up to a quarter against the Steelers before the reserves take over. Cantwell said it's important not to press when he finally gets significant playing time.
"You can't try to go out and create something out of nothing. That's when you get yourself in trouble," he said. "The coaches don't want to see that, they just want to see you run the offense, that you're efficient with the ball and you can move the offense up and down the field. That's what they're looking for."
It's possible the Panthers may try to stash the quarterback they cut on the practice squad. But that player could also sign with another team. Getting some good tape from Thursday night would help.
"Your last test is Thursday's game," Pike said. "For a third-string quarterback, that might be the last action you see for the year."
Notes: Fox said WR Steve Smith (arm) and RB Jonathan Stewart (heel) will be "game-time decisions" against the Steelers. ... DE Tyler Brayton (ankle), CB Richard Marshall (knee), CB Captain Munnerlyn (calf), RT Jeff Otah (knee), RB Tyrell Sutton (shoulder), G C.J. Davis (head), S Aaron Francisco (hamstring), WR Trent Guy (hamstring) and DB C.J. Wilson (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday and weren't scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh.
-- Mike Cranston
49ers' Davis, Crabtree in altercation
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Mike Singletary had to separate tight end Vernon Davis and wide receiver Michael Crabtree after the players got into a heated discussion at practice Wednesday.
Singletary didn't provide details about the incident, but said it was non-football related and is closed. He met with both players immediately in the locker room and they returned to practice separately.
"How many of you guys have families?" Singletary said to reporters. "You mind raising your hands? You scared to raise your hands? So you have kids and every now and then your kids have some misunderstandings or what have you and they forget that there is a father at home.
"I will not talk about the issue. But I will talk about this: They were both wrong. And we will not have distractions on this team. Vernon just forgot temporarily, and that is not allowed."
Neither Crabtree nor Davis spoke about the incident. Both have been sidelined this preseason because of injuries and Singletary ruled out Davis for Thursday night's preseason finale against San Diego.
Crabtree's status is uncertain. The second-year receiver is nursing a neck injury and hasn't addressed it or spoken formally since the start of camp Aug. 1, declining multiple media requests. Yet the 49ers' website posted a lengthy story quoting him Tuesday afternoon.
"I appreciate Vernon speaking from his heart, but it was just wrong," Singletary said. "But he indeed is every bit the reason why I made him captain. He's not going to sugarcoat things. He doesn't know how to sugarcoat things. But I appreciate what he was striving to do, but it was just wrong."
Davis had developed a reputation for scuffling in training camp, but was determined not to have any issues this year. He's coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he tied Antonio Gates' touchdown record by a tight end with 13. The 26-year-old Davis is still a captain.
Crabtree has long been known as a diva dating to his Texas Tech days. He was the Niners' 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, then didn't sign until October following a 71-day contract stalemate.
Singletary felt the incident between Davis and Crabtree made the 49ers stronger.
"We didn't get better on the field in practice, but we got better as a team," Singletary said. "There are no elephants in the room. The elephant was exposed."
Preseason Games
No Brees, little Chris Johnson in Saints, Titans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Drew Brees will be watching from the sideline for the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
Vince Young? He may play into the third quarter for the Tennessee Titans.
Welcome to the NFL's final preseason game where timing is everything, and the clock already has started ticking toward the Saints' regular season opener on Sept. 9. That's why New Orleans coach Sean Payton will be protecting his key starters by keeping them off the field Thursday night when the Saints (2-1) wrap up the preseason against the Titans.
"In our case, the very first game being the following Thursday, there's not additional time if you get a player nicked," Payton said. "So we're going to be pretty smart about how we approach it because we play seven days later in a game that means something."
That's exactly what Titans coach Jeff Fisher expects. He went through the same timing a year ago when Tennessee concluded the preseason on a Thursday night and opened the NFL's regular season a week later at Pittsburgh.
"They're going to have 11 on the field, and that's what is important to us and we're getting ready to play hard," Fisher said.
The Titans (1-2) will have two defensive starters making their preseason debut with tackle Tony Brown back from offseason surgery on his right knee and cornerback Cortland Finnegan recovered from a right groin injury that limited him for three weeks. Jason McCourty is likely to start opposite Finnegan, which could be a clue he has won that starting job.
Fisher has been using the final preseason game as his team's dress rehearsal for the past few years as a way to avoid his starters becoming too rusty in a nearly two-week layoff between the third preseason game and the regular season opener. Some of his starters, like All Pro running back Chris Johnson, likely won't play into the third quarter.
This game is crucial for players still trying to earn roster spots.
Brees won't be playing, but Patrick Ramsey will start and play the first half with Chase Daniel playing the second in the final chance to back up a quarterback who has taken every meaningful snap the past four years. Payton usually keeps only two quarterbacks.
New Orleans running back Ladell Betts also should play, though rookie Chris Ivory may be valuable enough at an injury-depleted position that Payton keeps him on the sideline as well.
Fisher said he plans to play all four of his quarterbacks. Veteran Kerry Collins appears safe as Young's backup despite being scheduled for a $5.5 million salary this season, leaving most of the second half as Chris Simms' last chance to show he deserves to stick around over rookie Rusty Smith.
Even if most of the Saints' starters are sidelined, Fisher insists that won't affect the Titans' evaluation of their own starters. Young was sacked four times in last week's 15-7 loss at Carolina with the first-team offense shut out of the end zone for the first time this preseason. The Titans managed 50 yards on 25 plays in the first half.
"We're going to play hard, we're going to play a lot of people, we're going to play the starters and we'll continue to play guys who are working to earn a spot on this roster," Fisher said. "We've got a lot of things we need to accomplish special teams wise."
That includes seventh-round pick Marc Mariani, who will be handling kick returns for Tennessee in the first half, and Tennessee rookie Myron Rolle.
The Rhodes scholar from Florida State was the final pick of the sixth round in April, and the safety has been working to learn special teams in the NFL after playing only on the punt block unit in college. He said he takes his mind off the pressure of Saturday's final roster cuts by reading his Bible and trusting in God.
"He's taken care of me for 23 years, and hopefully He will this week. That's the way you have to approach it. If you don't, then you'll drive yourself crazy and won't sleep at night, and you won't perform well when you need to," he said.
-- Teresa M. Walker
Rams QB Bradford looking to improve against Ravens
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Sam Bradford is ready to show his first start was not a fluke.
After playing like a rookie quarterback in the first two preseason games, Bradford got a chance to start Thursday in New England and played like the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Bradford went 15 for 22 for 189 yards and two scores — all in the first half — in leading the Rams to a 36-35 victory.
"Any time you step on the field, you want to play well; you want to help your team win," Bradford said Tuesday after practice. "I felt like I did that last week. Going into this game is no different. I want to do the same thing. When I'm out there with this offense, I want to do everything I can to get the ball in the end zone and help this team win."
He'll get another chance to do that Thursday when the Rams host Baltimore in the team's final preseason game.
Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo is also looking to see if Bradford will continue to progress.
"I think we all agree he had a good game last week," Spagnuolo said. "But in the NFL, you got to do it week in and week out. So, we'll be looking for him to pick up right where he left off last Thursday. "
Despite his showing last week, Bradford knows that he is far from a finished product.
"There are so many things I can get better at," Bradford said, citing footwork, play fakes and making quicker decisions.
Bradford got his shot to play with the starters when A.J. Feeley went down with an injured right thumb in the team's second preseason game at Cleveland. Bradford went into the game, which was played in a steady rain and less than ideal conditions, and went 6 for 14 for 24 yards.
With a short week and Feeley's thumb injury still recovering, Bradford was given the start against New England and made the most out of it. Perhaps most important, he felt comfortable for the first time.
"It definitely helped (my confidence)," Bradford said. "The first few games, I felt like I was in the right place with the ball. I was able to get some completions at times. But to go out there and have a game like I did last week definitely helped. It seemed like things finally slowed down a bit and I felt really good out there."
No decision has been made as to whether Bradford will start when the Rams open the regular season at home against Arizona. In fact, Spagnuolo is unsure how long Bradford will play on Thursday against Baltimore and its physical defense.
Typically, coaches play the first team only a series or two. But rookie QBs are sometimes looked at differently.
"We just want to see him get in the groove," Spagnuolo said. "When you think in terms of first offense, first defense, you think somewhere in that 15-play range. But don't hold me to that."
Bradford said he expects to be nervous making his first home start. However, that comes with the territory.
I think I'll always have butterflies," Bradford said. "The day the butterflies go away, there's something wrong. The first start in St. Louis, obviously, it's exciting. But any time I get an opportunity to start and opportunity to help this team win, it's really exciting for me."
Behind Bradford, Keith Null and Thaddeus Lewis will compete to see who wins the No. 3 quarterback spot.
"They're in competition just like a lot of people," Spagnuolo said. "Certainly, this game's important for them."
No chances for Lions, Bills in last preseason game
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Matt Stafford has a simple goal for the Detroit Lions' final preseason game: lead his team to some points.
He won't get long to do it.
While Lions coach Jim Schwartz wouldn't even verify that he planned to play Stafford on Thursday against the Buffalo Bills, Stafford said he expects to start the game.
"I don't know anything for sure, but I think I'll at least get one series," the quarterback said. "I want to make sure we get some points out of it, a field goal or a touchdown or something."
Veteran defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch also expects to have a short stint.
"We're not going to be out there long, and I want to make sure we get ourselves off the field as quickly as possible," he said. "In the last couple games, we've given up long scoring drives, and we don't want to do that again."
Limiting playing time for starters in the final exhibition game is nothing new — no team wants to risk injuries to key players a week before the regular season begins — but Schwartz isn't willing to turn the game into a farce, either.
"We've got a game to play, and we're going to try to win the game," said Schwartz, who put his team through regular-season level preparation despite the short week. "You can't go into an NFL game with the thought of protecting your players. As soon as you start doing that, things go wrong."
While most of the game will be devoted to figuring out who wins the final spots on the 53-man roster, the Lions also have to try to get some game action for their overhauled defense. The defensive line is set, but injuries and inexperience have meant that Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham haven't been able to put their first-choice linebackers and secondary on the field at the same time.
On Thursday, Detroit will still be missing starting middle linebacker DeAndre Levy, who could also miss the Sept. 12 season opener in Chicago with a groin injury, but hopes to have the rest of the unit intact.
"Obviously, that group needs some game action together, and they aren't going to get as much as they need," Schwartz said. "But that's why you have offseason workouts and training camp. It's not ideal, but they have been on the field together for a lot of reps."
Things aren't much different for Buffalo, although the Bills' defense is trying to adjust to a new 3-4 scheme, not a new group of players.
Still, head coach Chan Gailey isn't planning to keep his first string in the game for very long.
"Unless our plans change, I don't seem them playing much past the first quarter," he said.
On offense, Marshawn Lynch is expected to play after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. The plan is for him to serve in a three-back rotation with rookie C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, but Jackson remains sidelined with a hand injury and could miss the opener against Miami.
"Marshawn has taken quite a few reps and looked good, so we're looking forward to seeing him out there Thursday night," Gailey said. "Fred hasn't done much of anything, and has a hard time handling the ball properly."
Unlike Stafford, who is Detroit's clear starter after an impressive rookie season, Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards has struggled in his three-year career.
As a result, he wants to perform against the Lions, even if it is only for two or three series.
"We've got to prepare like this is a regular-season game," he said. "We need to stay in a rhythm and execute our offense. If we don't do that Thursday, I'm going to be disappointed with the direction we're taking and the progress we've made."
Gailey wouldn't tip his hand about who will play after Edwards, with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm battling for the No. 2 spot. He did stress that neither one would be working from a complicated game plan.
"To be honest, with a short week like this, you are just doing your basic stuff," he said. "We didn't game-plan for this game hardly at all. We'll save that for the season."
