UpdatedAug 17, 2011 5:15 PM Premier Louis Murphy Jersey Black ETSPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP)Top draft pick Cam Newton will start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers in their second preseason game Friday.FOOTBALL IS BACK!FOX Sports has everything you need to kick off the season.Get official team gearBuy football ticketsPlay FOX Fantasy Football Coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Jimmy Clausen, who started last week against the New Raiders Richard Seymour Premier Jersey York Giants, would get snaps Raiders Louis Murphy Jersey with the first-team offense against the Miami Dolphins.''It's pretty much following the line Authentic Louis Murphy Jersey Black of Customized Philadelphia Eagles Jersey what we had planned throughout training camp, and that's to go back and forth and back and forth with our guys,'' Rivera said. ''It's a good opportunity.''Rivera said the Authentic Oakland Raiders Jersey first-team offense would play Authentic Richard Seymour Jersey about a half.''We'll do like we did last week where Cam came in and played with the first Reebok Louis Murphy Jersey group in the second quarter,'' Rivera said. ''Again, we want to make sure everybody gets a chance to play and Richard Seymour Authentic Jersey work with the Richard Seymour Jersey Authentic guys to keep that competition going.''Rivera said he would likely announce next week which player will start in the opener Sept. 11 against Richard Seymour Stitched Jersey Arizona.''People do want to read into it, but just know that we have a plan and we're sticking to it,'' Rivera said of Newton starting this week. ''As we Raiders Jersey go through the process sometime next week we'll have a Raiders Richard Seymour Authentic Jersey real good feel for what we're going to do as we go into the regular season.''
UpdatedAug 17, 2011 1:36 PM ETPITTSBURGH (AP)Steelers cornerback William NFL Jason Campbell Jersey Gay understands the buzz surroundingthe Philadelphia Eagles. Turn the frenzied NFL free agency periodinto your own high-end shopping spree the way the Eagles did, andit's hard not to notice.Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Quarterback Vince Young.Defensive linemen Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin. Running backRonnie Brown. The list of impact signings goes on and on.Impressive? Yes. A guarantee the Eagles, who visit the defendingAFC champions on Thursday, will play into February?Hardly.''When have you known talk to win a Super Bowl?'' Gay said.''You can't worry about that. You've got to let the media do allthat.''Not that the Eagles haven't done a little Authentic Louis Murphy Jersey chirping of their own.Young dubbed Philadelphia the ''Dream Team,'' a moniker Pittsburghsafety Ryan Clark Authentic Jason Campbell Jersey Black politely called ''interesting'' even if it's justAugust.''You're talking about one of the best college players of alltime, a No. 3 draft pick and he's the backup,'' Clark said. ''Lookat the talent they have lined up, it's all over the place. Thoseguys feel that way and if Vince wanted to say it he has everyright.''Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has remained quiet, mainly because therehasn't been much to talk about following a lethargic 16-7 loss toWashington last Friday in the preseason opener.The defense couldn't get off the field - giving up 452 yards oftotal offense - and the offense couldn't stay on it - convertingjust 2 of 11 third downs.''That was a wake-up call and it's time to start playingfootball,'' defensive tackle Chris Louis Murphy Jersey Authentic Hoke said. ''I don't thinkanybody was happy with the way they played on Friday night.''Asked whether he's looking for more intensity or executionagainst Philadelphia, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said ''all of theabove.''The return of defensive stars James Harrison and Troy Polamalushould help. The duo sat out the preseason opener for precautionaryreasons. They're fresh and ready to test themselves at fullspeed.''I feel great now,'' said Polamalu, who spent the end of lastseason nursing a nagging Achilles injury. ''Coach has given me alot of rest and allowed me to do the things I need to do to gethealthy.''Polamalu and the rest of the starters will play between 20-25snaps, which should give the Steelers plenty of face time withPhiladelphia quarterback Michael Vick.Though Pittsburgh led the NFL in scoring defense Raiders Jason Campbell Jersey and was secondin total defense a year ago, the Steelers had trouble Official Eagles Jersey whenopponents spread the field. Green Bay did it with ease in the SuperBowl, and the Eagles could be just as tricky to defend now thatwide receiver DeSean Jackson is back in the fold after ending hisholdout.''They've got great skill offensively,'' Tomlin said. ''They'rea great football team.''One that looked Custom Eagles Jersey pretty good during a 13-6 victory over Baltimorelast week. Vick led the offense to a touchdown while the defensekept the Ravens out of the end zone. Coach Andy Reid is impressedwith how quickly the free agents have assimilated, yet knows histeam will get a Jason Campbell Jersey Black better barometer of where it's at when Louis Murphy Authentic Jersey it stepsonto Heinz Field.''You're playing a Super Bowl team, a Super Bowl caliber team,''Reid said. ''(This game) allows you to get good work against thebest, and I welcome that.''Even if some of the best on both teams will be watching from thesideline due to injury. Cornerbacks Ike Taylor and Bryant McFaddenare out for Pittsburgh while wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, tackleWinston Justice and defensive tackle Trevor Laws will sit for theEagles.Gay and third-year man Keenan Lewis will start at corner for theSteelers, and they'll be tested while facing Vick, who was theNFL's Comeback Player of the Year last fall.Now confidently in command after Kevin Kolb was traded toArizona, Vick is embracing his role as a leader.''I think he's putting pressure on himself to be a betterfootball player,'' Reid said. ''I think he's putting pressure onthe guys around him to be a better football player and at the sametime, rallying them to try to bring out the best in them. I thinkhe's doing an excellent job Reebok Jason Campbell Jersey of that.''Vick will have to for the Eagles to meet their sky-highexpectations. If they take some of the shine off the Steelers inthe process, Clark says all the better.''Those Louis Murphy Jersey Black guys can Philadelphia Eagles Jersey deal with the limelight and the pressure ofcalling themselves the 'Dream Team' and that's a lot of pressure,but when you have the guys that they have together, why not?'' hesaid. ''They probably have the most exciting quarterback infootball, cornerbacks you can play all over the field man-to-man.Why not be excited about that? Why not accept that pressure? As forus, Raiders Jason Campbell Replica Jersey you can't pay attention to that.''We're just going to keep going about our work.''
UpdatedAug 17, 2011 6:06 PM ETALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP)Ndamukong Suh has been fined a third time for roughing up threedifferent quarterbacks in less than a year.The Detroit Lions defensive tackle doesn't plan to change hisgame.''Not by any means,'' he said Wednesday after he was fined$20,000 by the NFL for a hit on Cincinnati quarterback Andy Daltonlast week. He didn't like it much, tweeting:''$20,000REALLY???!!!''The former Nebraska star said he plans to appeal the fine.''Who wouldn't?'' Suh asked.The reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year grabbed Dalton andthrew the rookie to Raiders Jacoby Ford Replica Jersey the turf after he had gotten rid of the balllate in the first quarter Authentic Jacoby Ford Jersey Black of Friday's preseason game. Suh wasflagged for unnecessary roughness.''The Jacoby Ford Jersey Free Shipping league puts it on the defensive player to know when theball is gone,'' Lions coach Jim Schwartz said.Suh was fined twice last year for hits on Chicago's Jay Cutlerduring the regular season and Cleveland's Jake Delhomme in apreseason game.Suh's checking account can absorb the latest hit. His five-yearcontract is worth $40 million guaranteed and as much as $68million, though the NFL has increased the fine each time.''Twenty grand? For the preseason? They're trying to send amessage,'' teammate Nate Customized Cowboys Jersey Burleson said.Suh was fined $7,500 for what he did to Delhomme, grabbing hisface mask, twisting it and slamming him to the ground. He wasdocked Jacoby Ford Replica Jersey $15,000 for shoving Cutler hard and high in the back frombehind during a game last December.Detroit's second exhibition game is Friday at Cleveland. Brownsoffensive tackle Joe Thomas said he Jason Campbell Authentic Jersey and his teammates are mindfulof Authentic Jason Campbell Jersey what Suh can do.''Everybody sees it and it's the back of your Replica Jacoby Ford Jersey head, but it's notreally something you worry about,'' Authentic Jacoby Ford Jersey White Thomas said. ''Most of ourfocus Jacoby Ford Jersey Premier and attention is between the whistles and it seems Custom Dallas Cowboys Jersey he'sgetting a name for himself for what happens after thewhistle.''Suh, though, likes the comparison that has been made between himand former NBA great Shaquille O'Neal, whose size and power madehim simply stronger than opponents, some of whom fell or floppedafter he touched them.''Shaq had the same problem when he was in the NBA,'' Suh said.''He kept playing. NBA Hall of Famer soon to come, one of thegreatest big men I've ever seen, so I hope to follow in hisfootsteps.''Suh has some sympathy for the officials, trying to determine ifhe's playing within the rules.''I really feel like I put the refs Jacoby Ford Premier Jersey in a tough situation becauseof my strength,'' he Cowboys Jersey said.But it's not going to stop his relentless pursuit of playerswith the ball?''I'm not going to stop playing hard,'' he said. ''I owe it tomy fans, my teammates, the coaches. That's one of the reasons whyfootball is football. It's physical contact, aggression that ismade exciting.''---AP Sports Writer Tom Withers contributed to this report.
UpdatedAug 17, 2011 2:06 PM ETARLINGTON, Texas (AP)Phil Costa is already being touted by Dallas Cowboys owner JerryJones as a possible starter, even though the second-year centerplays the same position as a five-time Pro Bowler.While Costa filled in for injured Andre Gurode in the preseasonopener and Personalized Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey could get a look at left guard, there were also twodrafted rookies who started in that game for Dallas.There is suddenly some significant youth blocking for TonyRomo.''We're just moving guys around, trying to see what we can do,''offensive line coach Hudson Houck said.It became clear when veteran starters Leonard Davis and MarcColombo were released before training camp that Dallas would haveto depend on some young blockers. Costa was already in the mixbefore the Cowboys used three of their eight draft picks in Aprilon offensive linemen.Tyron Smith, the ninth overall pick, is already set as thestarter at right tackle.Fourth-round pick David Arkin started at left guard againstDenver since Montrae Holland (back) was hurt, and still is. KyleKosier was switched from left to right guard Jacoby Ford Jersey Authentic so the Cowboyswouldn't have two rookies starting on the same side.Then in practice this week, rookie center and seventh-round pickBill Nagy got some snaps with the first-team offense at leftguard.''I've got most of them down,'' Romo responded with a smile whenasked if he knew the names and numbers of all the youngsters.''We obviously needed a few young guys to step up to really helpthis football team this year,'' Romo said. ''Without the offseason,it's been kind of a Jacoby Ford Authentic Jersey crash course. Authentic Darren McFadden Jersey White Mistakes are going to happen.That's part of the growing curve. We obviously need them to step upquickly and they're doing a good job battling every day.''The Cowboys had the day off Wednesday. There will be workoutsThursday and Friday with the San Diego Chargers ahead of Sundaynight's Premier Jacoby Ford Jersey preseason game.Costa made his first NFL start Reebok Darren McFadden Jersey at left guard Authentic Darren McFadden Jersey Black last season in agame when Kosier and Holland were both hurt. Raiders Darren McFadden Jersey After Costa startedlast week, Jones was glowing in his review, saying the undraftedplayer was having Premier Darren McFadden Jersey Black one of the best preseasons so far.''He's very good at quarterbacking, so to speak, in theoffensive line. He's quick with his reads. He's clear with the restof the offensive line, and it's a big plus,'' Jones said. ''Andthen he's just, physically, as well as technique, he's just playingoutstanding.''While Gurode returned to practice and immediately his spot asthe first-team center in the first practice Authentic Jacoby Ford Jersey after the preseasonopener, Costa has certainly made an impression.''Since he got here, he's been kind of a bulldog,'' coach JasonGarrett said. ''He scratches, claws, fights and battles in allareas, plays from the snap to whistle.''Houck said Costa has a better understanding of the offense andthe angles the Cowboys want linemen to use.''He reacts a little quicker because he's more confident,''Houck said. ''Actually, I think he's probably a little bit strongerthan he was.'''Backup quarterback Authentic Dallas Cowboys Jersey Stephen McGee found out early how fanaticalCosta was about practicing shotgun snaps. McGee recalled being in ameeting one day with Romo, Garrett (then only the offensivecoordinator) and quarterbacks coach Wade Official Dallas Cowboys Jersey Wilson when Costainterrupted them.''Phil had just gotten here from Maryland, they didn't even knowhis name probably. ... `Excuse me guys. McGee, you about ready toget some snaps?' We're just dying laughing,'' McGee said. ''That'sPhil Costa. He doesn't care who you are, if you're Jay Ratliff orwhoever. He's going to fight his butt off. That's how he plays thegame. That's how he works. He's a winner.''Costa has heard about the comments by Jones and the stories toldby McGee.While that's all nice, Costa knows he can't be content withwhat's being said. He has to keep performing on the field.''Just keep working from there, and building off that,'' Costasaid. ''You have to have an edge out there Premier Darren McFadden Jersey White to be a lineman. Youhave to be smart, and you have to be physical. ... Last year, youcome in with more the mentality that you want to make the team, andyou want to play. This year, you come in with the same idea andhave high goals.''
UpdatedAug 17, 2011 6:25 PM ETOn the day the NFL lockout ended, there was great rejoicing.On ESPN.The owners sent letters to their fanbases, and the playerstweeted about getting a great deal and fans everywhere stood andcheered. Didn't they?No, they did not.The return to football, Customized Steelers Jersey a concept we were asked to embraceMonday night, was a trumped-up advertising campaign that theworldwide leader bought into, or rather created, and thrust uponsports fans across the airwaves.Breathless sportscasters NFL Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey included us in their assessment of theprocess, using Authentic Darren McFadden Jersey the pronoun "we" to celebrate the return of footballto the American conscience.In July.Please.We didn't NFL Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey miss any football. None. Zero. The silliest lockout inthe history of sports labor negotiations ended before practice evenbegan. There was one loser in the entire process.Canton, Ohio.There will soon be another.Charlotte, N.C.The poor Panthers' front office needed toretool Authentic Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey their team in the offseason, but instead they watched ESPNlike everyone else as their owner Jerry Richardson led the moneymen in a consolidated effort to Eagles Michael Vick Authentic Jersey weaken the players' union andretake the controlling share of profits from the annual haul theNFL brings in.While he should've been opening his checkbook for free agentsand extra coaches, he was instead seen walking on New Yorksidewalks, grim-faced, trying to destroy the union and take backthe league the owners foolishly gave away in the last collectivebargaining agreement in 2006.Monday night, he sent a letter to fans and didn't say he wassorry. He did make a promise to open up his checkbook now,though."I have learned timetables can be tricky, but I can promise wewill continue to make a total commitment to building thechampionship team you deserve," he wrote.That means he better hurry Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey Authentic and find somebody who can playfootball this year because right now the Panthers are the worst team in theleague. By far.He needs a veteran quarterback. Cam Newton is not now nor willhe be ready to play anytime soon. Maybe not for years to come.Jimmy Clausen might never be ready. Richardson needs a Nnamdi Asomugha Authentic Jersey coachdevoted to teaching Newton how to play in the NFL. There's notenough time for that now.They're about to lose their Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey Black best running back. They have no ideawhat Steve Smith wants to do. They have a porous defense with noapparent talent waiting in the wings, and they're about to open aseason in which they'll be trying to win in the best division infootball.The lockout was a diversion. Now we can see what's real andwhat's not. What's real is the league will start up this week withno Hall of Fame game. No one cares about that except Canton. Theleague is about to open training camps Personalized Steelers Jersey all over the country. No onecares about that, either. They never have; they never will.The noise about missed football and anguished fans and breakingnews and developments and rumors and all that other stuff we heardfor 136 days on ESPN was just that: noise.We didn't miss anything. Darren McFadden Jersey Black Nobody even knows what OTA means. ESPNshould be ashamed. In the final days of the lockout coverage, itsreporters were interviewing each other.No, Premier Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey this wasn't about football. This was about profits. Itwasn't about the fans. It was about their money.There were no winners other than the lawyers and a few of thecheaper owners who will make even more money now. The losers werethe young players coming into the league and the retired playerswho needed real help.On the field, we won't see much difference. Last year's bestteams will be this year's best teams. And last year's worst teamswill be this year's worst teams. The Panthers will likely go 1-15 againif they can find one team to beat.The reality of the end of the lockout hit Panthers' fans almost immediately,though. Their PSL payment is due.Now.Contact Ed Hardin at 373-7069 or ed.hardin @news-record.comTerms & Eagles Nnamdi Asomugha Authentic Jersey Conditions |Privacy |Copyright |? 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
In 2010, the Panthers ended the NFL regular season with a record of 2-14. In 2011, it doesn't appear that they'll be doing much better. After they released the depth chart for their preseason opener against the New York Authentic Cardinals Jersey Giants, I'm a bit worried that they're headed down a path similar to last year's.The first and most-noticeable Customized Ravens Jersey thing on the depth chart is the fact that second-year quarterback Jimmy Clausen(notes) is No. 1. There was a reason that the Panthers drafted Auburn quarterback Cam Newton first overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, and I thought it was so that Clausen didn't have to start anymore. Clearly, head coach Ron Rivera had something else in mind. This may just be a way of giving Clausen one Authentic Ravens Jersey final shot at earning the spot, but I expect Newton to be starting by the time the 2011 NFL regular season begins.
The next thing that caught my attention was former San Diego Chargers' wide receiver Legedu Naanee(notes) in the third-string spot at the No. 2 wide receiver. He may not have been a game-breaker with the Bolts, but he definitely has more potential to offer whoever's quarterbacking than David Gettis(notes) or Brandon LaFell(notes) do right now. Hopefully he moves up the depth chart sooner rather than later.Possibly an even bigger concern for the Panthers than Clausen starting at quarterback is the defensive tackle position. According to their depth chart, their starting big men in the middle of the defense are rookie Sione Fua(notes) and second-year Corvey Irvin(notes). Fua has potential as a solid defensive tackle in the NFL, but clearly has a long way to go before he's at that point. Irvin played in only two games last year, racking up four tackles in the process. Both of these guys earned starting spots over Nick Hayden(notes), who started 10 games at defensive tackle for the Panthers last year. Opponents are going to love running the ball on the Carolina defense in 2011.It's going to be a long next few months for the Panthers unless this depth chart undergoes an extensive overhaul before the regular season starts. Apart from the defensive tackles, the defense looks good. Unfortunately, a weak front four usually makes the rest of the defense that much worse. We'll see how the rest of this team improves throughout the Authentic Bills Jersey preseason, but I would advise Panthers fans to not hold their breath.Too bad they don't need another quarterback, because they'll be one of the leading candidates to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes as the season Customized Bills Jersey wears on.Gil Alcaraz IV has been a diehard NFL fan Customized Cardinals Jersey since the age of nine. From the NFL Draft to the Customized Falcons Jersey Super Bowl, and everything in between, he never misses a beat when it Authentic Falcons Jersey comes to the NFL. Make sure to follow him on Twitter GilAlcarazIV as he keeps you up to date on everything inside the world of football.Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.