The only place Ed Reed appears outspoken is on the field, where instinct, preparation and ability merge to create one of the most feared defensive players in the NFL.

Reed is one of the few Ravens stars without a radio or television show. He lockers next to the door at the team facility in Owings Mills, assuring a quick escape from the media invasion. And he performs his many charitable works out of the limelight.

But put him in the field of play and you've got an athlete whose passion for the game is unquenchable.

"I guarantee you," defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said today, "he's always been the quarterback, always been the safety, probably was a point guard in basketball.

"He runs the show -- and knows the game. Any game. He'd be a playmaker in anything he did."

Reed, in his seventh season at free safety for the Ravens, is one of the league's top playmakers. He's gone to four Pro Bowls in six years. He has 34 interceptions in 90 games.

In 2004, he registered a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and touchdown on the same play. He has scored eight career touchdowns, coming four different ways (punt return, fumble return, interception and blocked punt).

Reed, 29, is not only a playmaker, but a game changer.

Coach John Harbaugh gave his illustration of that the other day.

"Having coached a secondary, you have a good idea of the picture you look for back there," Harbaugh said. "Ed is good enough to change the picture just a little bit.

"In other words, he doesn't have to be [positioned] quite as deep or quite as wide or quite as tight as another guy would, and still be in position to make the play. You see why he's made so many plays over the years, kind of by baiting quarterbacks a little bit. He's got a real knack for that."

Reed has made his living by baiting quarterbacks. He studies opponents' tapes voraciously for hints that help diagnose plays. He has an uncanny ability to be right most of the time.

The few times he's been burned, he's worn the label of free-lancer and gambler.

Ryan, a man who ought to know, says that's a false perception.

"No," Ryan said when asked if Reed plays outside the structure of the defense.

"We don't want robots [on defense], and we don't want the offense to know exactly what we're in. Ed will move around. Ed's always in the structure of the defense. If he's not, we've missed a call or something like that. Nothing ever has been intentional where he's been out of position. I think what happens is, people see him moving around and think he's [free-lancing]."

Reed is afforded the leeway to move around because he knows the defense like a coach and understands the scheme.

"He knows the defense so well, he knows the strengths, the weaknesses of it," Ryan said. "He knows what the offense is trying to do. He's a great student of the game. When that opportunity to make a play happens, he makes it. He doesn't drop it."

Strong safety Dawan Landry was indoctrinated into the NFL by Reed. He came to appreciate the game through Reed's eyes.

"He's a real cerebral guy," Landry said. "He helped me get up to speed, watching film and learning the game."

Reed began studying game film in high school back in St. Rose, La. He became more proficient at it at the University of Miami. As a first-round pick by the Ravens in 2002, he took it to a science under teammate Ray Lewis.

"This is a full-time job, so if you want to be great ... the film study is what separates you from the guys who don't do that stuff," Reed said. "Coming here and working with a veteran team -- Ray Lewis, sitting down with him -- that's just something that keeps getting better over time."

Ravens secondary coach Mark Carrier knew about Reed's athletic prowess before he joined the staff in 2006. He didn't anticipate his intelligence.

"He has an understanding of the game," Carrier said. "A lot of guys are smart or have street smarts. This kid has both. He sees the game at a slower pace."

Reed has participated minimally in team drills through training camp because of a nerve condition in his shoulder. Harbaugh said he expects Reed to be ready for the season opener on Sept. 7.

Reed isn't so sure, acknowledging he may need surgery to resolve the problem after his career. For the past week, he has been wearing a red jersey in practice to signify he shouldn't be hit.

Even so, Reed's zeal for the game shows through.

"Look at him out on the practice field today," Ryan said. "We're short [defensive backs], so he's running at scout team corner. He's a great team guy, whether on the game field or practice field. He loves to play and compete."

(baltimoresun.com)

BEREA — Kellen Winslow Jr. treats every Browns practice as if it were a regular-season contest.

The Pro Bowl tight end wears his full uniform and pads — even when the rest of the team is running around in shorts — and visualizes game situations on every play.

Winslow’s attention to detail served him well Wednesday, when he was the recipient of a helmet-to-helmet hit by cornerback Travis Key on a crossing pattern. The collision was clean and unintentional, but it certainly put a charge into an otherwise staid afternoon session.

“I’m a Hurricane, that’s how I play,” the University of Miami product said. “I try and simulate as much of a game as I can. It’s nothing personal what happened, but it got my teammates going, so that’s a good thing.”

While Winslow made the catch, the 5-foot-10 Key bounced off him like a rubber ball, then got an earful from the tight end as a group of defensive players chanted the rookie’s last name.

“I broke a little too fast trying to make a play because I wasn’t trying to do that,” Key said. “Obviously, he thought I was trying to hit him, but I was just flying around. We did talk after practice and cleared it up.”

Making amends with one of Cleveland’s top players was a smart move by Key, who only joined the club five days ago as an undrafted free agent.
It also was a necessary gesture after what transpired one play later.

Quarterback Derek Anderson called the same pass pattern to Winslow, who caught it without a problem. Key, however, snuck up behind him and prepared to swipe at the football as the action was winding down.

But Winslow anticipated the move, forcing the ex-Michigan State walk-on to, in Key’s words, “tuck and roll” out of the way to avoid a potentially major issue.

“I realized it wouldn’t be a good idea to do that,” Key said, laughing. “Everything is good now, though.”

The sequence brought back some good memories for Browns quarterback Ken Dorsey, who played with Winslow in college and has grown to appreciate his intensity.

Though Winslow did not begin wearing a full uniform in practice until last year, the backup signal caller said his temperament and attitude have always been the same.

“Kellen has his quirks, but he’s the most loyal teammate and the most trusted target you can have,” Dorsey said. “From his first day at Miami, everything he did was full speed, full go.

“It might not always be right, but it sets a tone. Having a guy like that makes everyone better, offense and defense, because they feed off how competitive he is.”

That was the case with the Hurricanes, where Winslow faced off against All-American DBs Sean Taylor, Ed Reed, Phillip Buchanan, Antrel Rolle, Kelly Jennings, Mike Rumph and others in the South Florida sun.

It also has played out that way in Cleveland, where Winslow provides daily lessons for the team’s defensive players.

“Those Miami guys were always chirping at each other, especially when we got down to the end of practice, but it made them better,” Dorsey said. “You can see the same is true here. When Kellen is going against (linebacker) Willie McGinest, that helps Kellen and Willie because they’re not going to go up against anyone tougher on other teams.”

If that competition means more lively scenes like what happened Wednesday, all involved say so be it.

“I want to be great, I don’t want to be good,” Winslow said. “I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want to be the best.”

(medinagazette.com)

BOYNTON BEACH — Lamar Thomas walked into Boynton Beach High's main office, started in one direction, then juked left as if trying to ditch a cornerback. He paused, attempting to remember the route to his new office.

"I feel like a student again," he said, grinning sheepishly.

"You look like one, too," said receptionist Susan Pell, who pointed him in the correct direction.

Thomas, 38, is experiencing déjà vu on the football field as well, where he is reuniting with his Gainesville high school coach, Rick Swain, who is entering his first year as the Boynton Beach head coach. Thomas is expected to coach wide receivers and be one of two offensive coordinators.

He plans to bring the same fire to this job that made him one of the best receivers in University of Miami history. His enthusiasm made him an up-and-coming broadcaster, too, until it breached the conventions of live television.

Friends of Thomas, who had a modest NFL career with Tampa Bay and the Dolphins, say his personality is his greatest asset and biggest liability. It halted his career as a sportscaster two years ago when he was at the Orange Bowl to call a game between his alma mater and Florida International.

When a helmet-swinging brawl delayed the game for 24 minutes, Thomas sounded like he was rooting for the Hurricanes to beat down what he considered an overmatched, overconfident opponent.

"You come into our house, you should get your behind kicked," Thomas said from the Comcast Sports SouthEast broadcast booth high above the field. "You don't come into the OB playing that stuff ... I was about to go down the elevator to get in that thing."

Two days after Miami's 35-0 victory, Comcast Sports SouthEast fired Thomas.

"I'd hate for any of our careers to be defined by that night," said Larry Coker, who was dismissed as Miami's coach at the end of that season. "His passion got in the way, but his passion makes him who he is."

Thomas now hopes to infuse energy into a Boynton Beach team that won just nine games during the past three seasons. The school also plans to hire him as its basketball coach, but principal Keith Oswald said neither move is official yet.

Thomas, who played for Swain at Buchholz High in Gainesville in the late 1980s, spent the summer working with him and his players. Thomas also moved into an office, put UM posters on the wall and snagged green and orange folders for his files.

Leaning back in his chair behind his desk, Thomas said he always dreamed of being a coach. After he talked himself off the air, he returned to UM to finish the degree he would need to chase that goal with a high school program.

"Everything happened for a reason," Thomas said. "The Miami-FIU thing ... forced me to do what I should have done for a long time. This is my calling."

Thomas understands the irony of casting himself as an authority figure. He and Swain rarely meshed at Buchholz - Swain wanted Thomas to focus on fundamentals and keep quiet. Thomas liked to use his physical ability to simply run past people or jump over them. He also had a mouth.

"I'll do what you say, but I'm going to tell you what I think," Thomas said. "That's what drove him nuts."

They laugh about those days now, but truthfully, Swain said, their ideas did not coalesce until shortly before Thomas graduated in 1988.

They maintained their friendship, but when Thomas called this spring, it was their first conversation in several years. Swain invited Thomas to attend Boynton Beach's spring game. Thomas accepted, expecting only a casual visit, but Swain asked him to speak to the team and take notes during the game.

Afterward, Thomas mentioned his interest in coaching and Swain immediately asked him to join his staff. Two weeks later, Thomas accepted and began pursuing the basketball vacancy as well. In fact, Swain intends to serve as Thomas' assistant on the court.

"I can see it now: I'll say, 'Lamar, we ought to do this,' " Swain said, "and he'll turn to me and say, 'Shut the hell up, I'm the head coach.' "

The good side and the bad
Swain had one thought when he heard Thomas' call of the FIU-Miami brawl: "He's toast."

The media skewered Thomas, and even flamboyant UM legend Michael Irvin called for his firing, but it was not the first time a mistake hurt Thomas' reputation.

The Boynton Beach players are too young to remember his exploits on the field, but many have researched him on YouTube.

"There's three things they find: the catch in the Orange Bowl, The Strip and the FIU game," Thomas said. "Two of them are bad."

Thomas made a stunning, leaping grab for 38-yard reception in Miami's 22-0 defeat of Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl, but that play's glory is equaled by The Strip's infamy.

In the 1993 Sugar Bowl, Thomas caught what should have been a 90-yard touchdown pass, but Alabama's George Teague caught him from behind and stripped the ball, a lowlight in a 34-13 loss.

Perhaps more humiliating for Thomas was his 1996 arrest for aggravated battery of his pregnant fiancée. The charge later was dropped, but the public stain remained.

Swain said the better side of Thomas isn't always seen by the public.

Once, when Swain was coaching in the state basketball finals, Thomas drove to Lakeland unannounced, bought the entire team new game socks and paid for a post-game meal at Red Barn Steakhouse.

A few years later, Thomas was at church in Tampa when he saw a young boy put his plastic watch in the offering plate. Thomas was so touched that he handed the kid his own $10,000, diamond-studded watch.

"He's a lot like Michael Irvin - they have good and bad," Swain said. "Thank God they have enough good in them that people continue to give them a chance."

Kenny Berry, one of Thomas' former teammates, said it's possible Thomas is just now becoming an adult.

"You can stay in that childish stage for a long time," said Berry, a first-year head coach at Berean Christian. "Those struggles are learning tools, and Lamar has overcome them. He has matured, and he's a man now."

'An absolute technician'
Thomas, who was sometimes difficult to coach in high school, plans to be a disciplinarian. For players who commit careless errors in games, he has punishing workouts in mind - what he calls "The Thomas Hour."

"I've warned them," Thomas said. "If they see a guy about to do something dumb, they'll say, 'Hey, Coach Lamar is crazy. Don't do that.' "

But during informal summer sessions, Thomas was low-key, working to build relationships with players. He occasionally ran routes with them.

"He looks like he could have four more years left if he wanted to come back," quarterback Isaiah Howard said. "He's like a big kid. He makes the vibe more comfortable, but he also gets us into a working frame of mind."

While Thomas has a lot to learn from Swain, who has a 30-year head start in coaching, Thomas should be well suited to sharpen Boynton Beach's receivers.

"He was an absolute technician," said Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson, who coached Thomas from 1989-92 at Miami. "He'll teach those kids to pay attention to detail."

Swain said Thomas also should be able to reach the players in a unique way off the field as well.

"He's the role model that I can't be," Swain said. "I'm not black, I haven't played in the NFL and he's younger. He fills the gap."

Thomas said his long-term goal is to coach in college, but he now is fully committed to helping Boynton Beach redirect a floundering program. That relationship seems to be benefiting both sides.

"To be around the kids is a good thing for me," Thomas said. "Sometimes I turn my head and smile, and think, 'I can't believe they're listening.' "

(palmbeachpost.com)

FOXBORO - Thanks to the efforts of Vince Wilfork [stats], the players earned a rare night off following practice yesterday.

Every so often, Patriots [team stats] coach Bill Belichick will pose a challenge. If it’s met, there’s a reward at the end.

Yesterday, the challenge was for the 325-pound nose tackle to catch a punt, while having two footballs already tucked in his arms.

Wilfork, who returned punts in high school, came through, as he managed to coral the ball, and rolled to the ground in delight as his teammates swarmed him.

“Nothing tonight. Everyone can go home and sleep in their own bed,” a happy Tom Brady [stats] said. “Vince has been our go-to guy for the last few years. He had two balls in his hands, so he had to catch it.”

Brady said it had been a long time since Belichick had given them the night off on a practice day, but Wilfork delivered.

Zorn added that linebacker Rocky McIntosh, who had a somewhat less serious knee operation in December, will also make his 2008 debut against the Jets. Their mutual returns bode well for Rogers and McIntosh to be in the lineup for the Sept. 4 season opener at the New York Giants.


(washingtontimes.com)

Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle will likely miss the team's preseason game against Chiefs as he is still recovering from a sore foot, according to the East Valley Tribune.




(nooffseason.com)

Johnson worked out with the Texans on Tuesday for the first time since he pulled his groin Aug. 2, the Texans' official site reports.

Houston head coach Gary Kubiak said Johnson would not play this weekend against the Saints. The Texans are in no rush to bring him back, but say Johnson could play if it were a regular season game.

(rotowire.com)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — These are supposed to be the dog days of NFL training camp, but San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore must not have received the memo.

Gore is having a blast in the summer heat, learning new offensive coordinator Mike Martz's high-voltage scheme. What's more, he's just happy that the 2007 season is behind him.

"It's very fun," Gore said after Wednesday morning's practice. "Last year was tough on the field and also off the field. I'm a stronger man, especially with accepting and dealing with the passing of my mom."

A year ago, Gore still had a cast on his right hand protecting a bone he broke on the second day of training camp. He didn't play a single down during the exhibition season.

Things only got worse.

Four days before the 49ers' Week 2 game against the St. Louis Rams, Gore's mother, Liz, died at 46 after a long battle with kidney disease. After watching her go to dialysis since his junior year in high school, her death hit Gore extremely hard.

On the field, there was more bad news.

A nagging ankle injury plagued Gore for most of the season and cost him one game. As the losses mounted and the 49ers offense continued to rank at the bottom of the NFL charts, Gore's frustration grew.

"It was a tough year, man, a very tough year," Gore said.

This year, though, could be a big turnaround for him. In Martz's scheme, Gore will play the multi-dimensional role that Marshall Faulk played when the Rams boasted the Greatest Show on Turf.

"I think it's going to exploit the versatility he has and the things he's able to do," 49ers wide receiver Arnaz Battle said. "Running the ball, trick plays, mismatch opportunities. He has a great opportunity in this offense to do a lot of the things Marshall Faulk did for a lot of years."

Gore had a breakout year in 2006, rushing for a team-record 1,695 yards and catching 61 passes for 485 yards. Last year he rushed for just 1,102 yards while catching 53 passes for 436 yards.

But with Martz calling the shots on offense, Gore's numbers should improve.

"When Coach Martz came in, he told me the more I understand what he's trying to do, the more I'll like it," Gore said. "I see it. I see it. It's going to be fun this year."

Gore should be better prepared to hit the ground running when the regular season begins. Unlike last year, Gore has been able to practice full-speed, and he's getting some game action, too.

According to coach Mike Nolan, Gore should play as much as a quarter Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers.

(honoluluadvertiser.com)

Rookie QB Kyle Wright got his first extensive repetitions of training camp when he ran the scout-team offense. That is, Wright was giving his best JaMarcus Russell impersonation.



(sacbee.com)

After missing last Saturday's game with an ankle injury, Jon Beason was back at practice in time for Monday morning's work and will play in Philadelphia, Fox said.  But in his absence, the Panthers were reminded of the quality of their depth at the position -- in the form of a stellar performance from Adam Seward, who shared a sack with safety Charles Godfrey, intercepted a pass and tackled Colts running back Joseph Addai for a four-yard loss. 

(panthers.com)

Wide receiver Reggie Wayne continued to have an impressive camp, catching a series of short passes from quarterback Jim Sorgi in the morning practice.




(colts.com)

UNITED STATES-BASED sports and entertainment events producer Craig Skilling has not given up on his dream of hosting a largescale NBA-type event in Barbados.

And, in that vein, he has brought another NBA player to the island to ensure his dream becomes a reality.

In an effort to sell the idea of "the NBA in Barbados", Miami Heat forward James Jones has spent the last week in the country trying to formulate ties with corporate entities across the island.

Just last month, Skilling secured the services of starting Houston Rockets' point guard, Rafer Alston and Wali Jones, a scout with the Heat, to stage the Barbados Celebrity Basketball Charity Weekend.

But the weekend's activities were reduced to a mere coaching clinic – conducted by Wali Jones and Alston – for the island's top junior basketballers due to the lack of sponsorship.

However, Skilling, despite the initial discouraging responses, will continue to woo corporate Barbados with the help of James Jones before he returns to the island sometime next year to host another basketball-based event.

Only this time, with the help of Jones, Skilling expects to co-ordinate an event of a larger kind.

And so far, according to Jones, their efforts have been relatively successful, garnering the support of STARCOM NETWORK and the Barbados Olympic Association along with some approving nods from leading corporate entities.

Scholarship
Skilling's visit in July led to the recruitment of Combermere student Kregg Jones to an American team on the high-profiled Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) league. That then resulted in the 6-foot 6-inch Lumber Company Lakers forward/centre getting a scholarship offer from a United States-based prep school.

And Jones, who is married to Barbadian national Destiny Jones, sees further opportunities for more of Barbados' home grown talent. He believes the country has the infrastructure to develop into a regional scouting hub for overseas-based coaches and scouts in search of foreign players.

"The goal is to grow basketball here and expose the players," said the Heat sharp shooter, who had previous stints with the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and most recently the Portland Trailblazers.

"I came down last summer, played with some of the guys and was amazed by the talent . . . I mean guys 16, 17 (years old) giving me a run for my money."

(nationnews.com)

Ryan Braun experienced a "modest breakthrough" on Wednesday, and he hopes to return this weekend against the Dodgers.
He's been out with strained muscles in the back of his ribcage since Saturday. "It's definitely a lot better today," Braun said Wednesday. "This is the first day I've felt significant progress." It appears he'll be able to avoid a trip to the DL.

(rotoworld.com)

MIAMI -- Cardinals outfielder Brian Barton appears to be fully recovered from the fractured right wrist he suffered on July 6. But in order to return to the 25-man roster, the club may be forced to make a tough decision in order to create a spot.

The reason for the quandary is that Barton is a Rule 5 player whom the Cards acquired from Cleveland. Rule 5 Draft picks must stay on the 25-man roster all season (other than the disabled list or a Minor League rehab assignment) or be returned to their former team.

"Something is imminent," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said before Wednesday night's game against the Marlins, but added that he needed to discuss Barton with general manager John Mozeliak before any decision could be made.

The Cardinals presently have a full house in the outfield with Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, Skip Schumaker and Joe Mather, and recent addition Felipe Lopez has shown he can play there as well.

"That's something I can't worry about," said Barton, alumnus of nearby University of Miami. "I have to do a job. That's either cheerleading right now or out on the field playing."

Meanwhile, Barton has been doing a lot of walking in and out of the Cardinals' clubhouse, watching television on one of the four sets in the room and working out. He wanted to take batting practice on the field on Tuesday night, before a heavy rain prevented him from doing so.

"All I can do is stay ready," he said.

Before he was placed on the DL with the fracture, Barton hit .246 in 63 games this season. He had two homers and 11 RBIs in 122 at-bats, with three steals. He hit .260 with three home runs in 19 games for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.

When the Cardinals plucked Barton from Cleveland, he was coming off knee surgery which had put him "in limbo" with some teams, he said. Not the Cardinals. And now he is healthy again.

He is not lacking for confidence, whatever happens soon.

"I feel like I've worked hard to get here and it's well-deserved," he said. "But I also feel I need not stop here. I want to do more."

(mlb.com)

Before we get to the practice report, here's some of what safeties coach Dave Merritt had to say about his prized pupil:

"Whenever I'm looking at him I see a special player. I truly believe that he's going to have an impact on the Giants team as well as the community."

"Kenny, athletically, without a doubt, is one of the best ones that I have seen. The kid has unbelievable range. He can get from the middle of the field to the sideline just like that. And then for him to show up ... with the tackling ability, you just put that kid on turf he's that much quicker and faster."

There's more.

"Plaxico said something funny the other night to me. He said 'Coach Merritt, I'm going to be honest with you: I hate seeing guys like Kenny back there in the post because they're so fast and so rangy.' That intimidating factor, that there alone coming from a guy like Plaxico, means a lot. Overall, I look for great things out of him."

Merritt would not say that Phillips will be a starter in the opener on Sept. 4, but he said if he isn't it will be shortly thereafter. It's not very common to hear coaches talk about a rookie in these terms. Kenny Phillips is not a very common player.

(newsday.com)

For those UM fans trolling my blog I’d like to point out that former Hurricane receiver Jason Geathers, who starred for the AFL San Jose Sabercats, which made it to the Arena Bowl, came to Dolphins camp looking for a tryout. Geathers, who caught 37 passes for 365 yards and five touchdowns, is trying to latch onto an NFL team and left the Dolphins his game-film. I remember Geathers as a good special teams player. Maybe if the coaches have seen enough of Selwyn Lymon, who didn’t play against Tampa Bay, they’ll give him a look.

(phinsreport.com)

Andre Dyson? Ty Law? Turns out the Rams went the "other guy" route to add depth to the cornerback position, signing Tanard Davis. Davis was signed last December by the Eagles from the Carolina practice squad. Davis is fast, but has bounced around the league as, mostly, a training camp depth guy. That's most likely what he'll be with the Rams.

(turfshowtimes.com)

Reports continue to pour in about the strong camp that wide out Sinorice Moss is having for the champion Giants. In an evening practice, Moss put on a burst of speed to catch up to an Eli Manning pass for a TD catch in the teams practice. Moss is making the most of his chances with both Plax Burress and Amani Toomer banged up, and if he can get in the game on third downs this year as the teams 3rd or 4th wide out, look for Manning to not hesitate to go to him in pressure situations just based on the type of camp he’s had so far.

(giantsgab.com)

Devin Hester threw passes in the morning and evening practices out of different plays. It will be interesting to see when these plays are used in the preseason/regular season. Shotgun plays where he could run a draw and plays that get him on the perimeter where he has a run/pass option are going to be fun to watch. Teams are going to have to respect the possibility he is going to pass because he has a strong arm.

It's not a Marty Booker model cannon capable of 80-yard tosses, but Hester's arm can compete with some of the quarterbacks who have rolled through here over the last decade.

(blogs.suntimes.com)

There is certainly no one on the Broncos' defense louder than Nate Webster, but all it took was one late-night phone call in early January for everything to go silent.

His mother, Linda, was on the other end of the line. She was crying. "Your daddy's not breathing," Webster remembered her saying.

Nate Webster Sr. had suffered a major heart attack at his home in Tampa, Fla.

"At one point, he was dead," Webster said. "The paramedics brought him back."

Webster flew to Florida the next day and spent about three months there while his father recuperated. During that time, Webster lost 15 pounds from the stress.

But the ordeal gave him a new perspective once he returned to Denver for offseason conditioning in March, about he time he learned he would be switching from strong side to middle linebacker, the same position he played at the University of Miami and earlier in his career with Tampa Bay.

"My dad's been so strong and worked so hard for so many years to be a provider for us. I have never seen him at a weak point, never ever, so to see him down and unconscious, that hit me hard," Webster said. "Right then and there, I just wanted to dedicate and put a lot of focus into getting into the best shape of my life."

Coaches noticed. Mike Shanahan commented on the day before training camp started last month that Webster had never been in better condition. After almost three weeks of camp, Webster is listed first on the depth chart at middle linebacker, ahead of Niko Koutouvides, who was signed away from Seattle in the offseason with the intention he would be the starter.

Webster, who was credited with 100 tackles by the Broncos in 2007, started the preseason opener against the Houston Texans, though the battle is far from over. Koutouvides led the first-team defense Monday and Tuesday.

"It's going to go down to the wire, and that's the way it should be," Koutouvides said. "Give both players every opportunity to show what they've got."

What makes the battle more interesting is that Webster and Koutouvides are so different.

Koutouvides, a Connecticut native who went to Purdue, isn't flashy or loud. Webster, though, is impossible to ignore, from his overly baggy mesh shorts that hang nearly to his ankles to his tendency to lose his helmet in piles of tacklers.

And, of course, there is that voice.

Almost every day, he issues a guttural yell as he walks toward the practice field, and hardly a play goes by without him making some sort of comment to the offense.

"He's a live-wire kind of guy, always talking," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "He always has to be talking, has to be moving."

That kind of behavior has endeared him to teammates, though he knows he has to learn to better curb his emotions at times during games. It wasn't something he always knew how to do when he was younger.

"Back in the day, I used to be a bit dirty under the piles," Webster said. "But the cameras see everything, plus it's just part of growing up and being smarter, and not wanting to put your team in a bad situation, get a penalty, do anything that will hurt your chances of winning the game."

Webster's father has recovered enough from the heart attack to travel, and he and Linda are staying with Webster in Denver during training camp.
Linda cooks, and the three spend as much time as possible talking about when Webster and his siblings were young.

"I want to get him out here to participate, to see as much of me as he can, whether it's coming to games or practices, or just being around me, period," Webster said, "because I'm a daddy's boy."

(denverpost.com)

LAKE BUENA VISTA | Phillip Buchanon is a young man at 27 years old, but he feels he has gone through a lot in his six years in the NFL.

Buchanon went from a flashy first-round draft pick to being outright released in a little less than five seasons.

Since coming to the Tampa Bay in 2006, however, Buchanon is becoming known for his consistency at cornerback.

"He's been here two years, and he's more comfortable with me and more comfortable in the system," said Tampa Bay secondary coach Raheem Morris. "He's looking great in camp. He's looking awesome."

In college, many thought the 5-foot-11, 186-pound Buchanon was on his way to joining the long list of great University of Miami's great defensive players. He had seven interceptions in 32 games, including five his senior season. He also led the Big East with a 15-yard punt return average and had two touchdowns.

That play-making ability caught the Oakland Raiders' attention, and they traded up to take Buchanon with the 17th pick in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

Yet, after two strong seasons in which he had three interception returns and three punt returns for touchdowns, Buchanon's stock went into a nosedive.

He was sent to Houston in 2005 and played a season and a half before being benched. He was released Oct. 16, 2006. Tampa Bay signed him one day later and the change of environment rejuvenated the Fort Myers native.

The problems Oakland and Houston seemingly had with Buchanon - poor coverage skills, poor tackling - have not appeared with the Bucs.

He played in 10 games with the Bucs in 2006 but really had an impact last season. Buchanon set a career high with 63 tackles, ranked second on the team with three interceptions and ranked third on the team with a career-high 11 passes defended. He also forced a fumble and returned a team-high 16 punts.

"He was a great player coming out of Miami," said Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden. "You don't get picked in the first round unless you are. He went to Houston and actually did some good things there. But he is a very athletic, gifted athlete and he's a great kid. He's got a lot of pride and he's playing really good football for us."

Buchanon said he got a bad rap in Oakland and Houston.

"I'm in a better environment," he said. "I never figured myself to have a problem with tackling. The situations that I was put in - it was down, a lot of losing, a lot of things going on behind closed doors that people didn't know about. It was kind of depressing. But at the same time, I came here with the mind-set of coming here playing. They respect you (in Tampa). They make you feel like a man, and in certain places they didn't make you feel that way.

"People are always going to have a knock on you," Buchanon said. "They're always going to have good and bad things about you. I'm focused on doing things that I can control, and that is focus on being a better player, a better tackler, making more plays, helping my team win and doing whatever they want me to do."

He knows he can't afford to rest.

With Brian Kelly leaving for Detroit, Buchanon inherited the open starting corner spot. But the Bucs brought in Eugene Wilson from New England and drafted another flashy cornerback, Aqib Talib, with their first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

"Competition always brings out the best in everybody," Morris said. "A lot of guys in my room, they're motivated guys. I don't think anybody ever doesn't want to be great. From the bottom up in that group, they're going to fight everyday. Phil came back with that same mind-set to fight. He had a bad ending in Oakland, a bad ending in Houston, and I think he found something here he likes and wants to keep it and he's fighting for it."

For Buchanon, it's just a matter of focusing in on the game he loves.

"You've heard the commercial that says 'Believe in now?'" he asked. "I just try to take it for the now. I'm just focused on the day and let the game come to me. So when they come to me, I'll be ready to play."

(theledger.com)

BEREA, Ohio -- Recently we caught up with Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Ken Dorsey to discuss, among other things, life in Cleveland versus his native California, and what type of offense he would run as offensive coordinator.

1. Who knows Cleveland's offense better: assistant Rob Chudzinski or Ken Dorsey?
Ken Dorsey: (Laughs) It's easily Chud. He really does. He's on top of it and the wheels are always churning. Not only adding plays, but he's making things better. You can't get him out of his office. He's always studying, always doing something. It's his offense, you know what I mean? So he knows it.

2. How is a California kid like yourself adjusting to life in Cleveland?
KD: I love it. It's been great. I think the fun part for me is during the summertime where I live. You can't walk outside without talking to a neighbor for a half an hour. In California, I can go my whole life without ever talking to a next-door neighbor. It's just kind of the way that it is. And I love California, but it's kind of cool that you get that hometown feel out here.

3. It's no secret that coaching might be in your future. So what the type of offense would "Coordinator Dorsey" run?
KD: It would be a combination of this and a West Coast offense, probably. We have some West Coast philosophies here. But I think there are some other things in the West Coast offense that I like, and I'd probably incorporate. Just different route schemes and the way we read things. Stuff like that.

4. Would you be a "mad scientist" type, the way Chudzinski is at times in devising schemes and his play chart?
KD: Oh yeah, definitely I'd be that way. I think the majority of what I'd take would be from this offense. It's the ability to attack, attack, attack downfield, and then the balance in the running game. I don't think you can have success without those things, and I think that's what we do well here. And I'd definitely be the type of personality that's kind of working, working and working all the time.

5. You're the only quarterback in Cleveland that doesn't have a signature chant, such as "D.A.! D.A.!" or "Brady! Brady!" Do you feel left out?
KD: (Laughs) I'm not upset. Every once in a while I'll get a call out from the stands, and I definitely appreciate it. Usually, I'll sit there and chant with the fans as they're cheering (for Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn). I don't mind it as much. Being the third guy, you just don't get too many chants.

(espn.com)

Free safety Antrel Rolle received a chance to return a punt last week and suffered a sprained left ankle in the process.

He suffered the injury as he was tackled for a 3-yard loss. Rolle missed practice Sunday and was replaced by Francisco.

But Rolle expects to return to practice in the next day or two. Coaches also plan to give him another shot at returning punts in preseason games.

(azcentral.com)

The Arizona Cardinals have had more bad years than good ones over the past decades, perhaps in part because when they do have decent players they don’t use them right?

I’m guessing on that for the most part. But it’s definitely true in the case of Edgerrin James, whom they acquired during free agency from Indianapolis in 2006. In his two seasons in Phoenix James has caught 38 and 24 passes, the latter tying for his lowest production out of the backfield in his career.

The previous seven with the Colts he never had fewer than 44 catches in a season during which he played more than six games - and the year he hurt his knee, 2001, he was on pace to have another 64 catches for more than 500 yards.

Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley hopes to better utilize that part of James’ game, according to an ESPN blog. He’d be well served to do so. While the Cards have a great wide receiver duo in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, neither are speed burners, so utilizing an underneath option can only help open the field for bigger plays.

Getting James the ball in the flats and beyond the line of scrimmage is also a way to put it in his hands without subjecting him to monstrous hits in the trenches, never a bad thing for a running back in his 10th season and approaching the big 30.

James probably isn’t going to start producing 2,000 combined yardage seasons again as he did three times with the Colts. But a similar season to 2007 rushing the ball coupled with a doubling of his receptions and receiving yardage would put him in the mix as a solid fantasy contributor during the season ahead.

(zoneblitz.com)

WESTMINSTER -- Although he returned to practice on Saturday, the status of Ravens safety Ed Reed remains up in the air.

Reed has a problem with his shoulder that kept him out of action the first two weeks of training camp. It has been described as a strength and nerve issue.

He was allowed to return to practice on Saturday, but is wearing a red jersey, the ones the quarterbacks wear so they will not engage in any contact.

"It's a little bit more in-depth than you've been hearing about," Reed told reporters on Monday when asked about the injury. "I can't explain it at this point because I am still researching it myself. I figure it might be all right. If it's not, we will deal with it."

He wasn't sure if he would be ready to play in the season opener against Cincinnati.

"We'll see man, we'll see," he said.

Reed said it wasn't something that just happened, but something that has been building up over his 27 years of playing football.

"I'm out here moving around and loosening it up," he said. "Just seeing how it feels playing in a game situation. It's just being smart with it."

Asked about wearing the red jersey, he said, "It's just something to help the guys understand not to have any contact. That hasn't worked at all. I've still been getting bumped, still been hitting the ground, running through guys, which is a good thing because you really get to feel if you can get hit or not."

He said after his career is over he will have to get surgery on the shoulder.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh seemed more optimistic about Reed's status and felt he would be ready for the opener.

""I'm not doubtful of that at all, based on what we've been told by the doctors," Harbaugh said. "We've got plenty of experts working on it. They're making a lot of progress. I think they are confident that they are making a lot of progress. Ed wants to be right. Any great player wants to feel physically right. I think it's our job to get to that point."

He said it was important for Reed to get back in action this week.

"That's why we had the red jersey," he said. "He doesn't need to contact stuff to get ready to play. As a football player, changing direction, especially for a defensive back, backpedaling, bursting, spacing, Those things are going to be very important for him. He doesn't need the contact stuff to get ready, but the movement stuff is important.

Losing the 29-year-old Reed would be a big blow to the Ravens, even though through the draft and free agency they have added a lot of depth to their secondary this year.

Reed is a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year who is considered one of the top safeties in the league.

"I hate that guy so much because he's so good," wide receiver Derrick Mason said. "I'm glad he's on our team. He is the best free safety in the game hands down. There's nobody better than him."

"I've always heard stories about how Ed Reed makes plays, and now I'm out here witnessing it," said cornerback Frank Walker, who signed with the Ravens as a free agent during the offseason. "You'd better watch your back or Ed will take your candy, the football."

Harbaugh confirmed on Monday that running back Willis McGahee had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. He said it was a precautionary thing and he should be ready for the opener although there is a possibility he could miss it.

"We going to go in there and scope it and clean it up just to make sure he's going to be ready by opening day," Harbaugh said. "We want to make sure we know what's going on in there."

(fredericknewspost.com)

HEMPSTEAD - When Brett Favre arrived in Hempstead, most of the Jets didn't know what to expect. All but Bubba Franks.

The tight end had spent his career with Green Bay catching the tight spirals launched by Favre, and he had been a little bit wary in practice and afterward. Ever since his old teammate arrived, however, Franks has played better on the field, and has been smiling a lot more off it.

"I'm definitely more comfortable now, now that I know who's throwing the ball at me," Franks said. "He's been the only guy who's ever thrown the ball at me for eight years; let's go ahead and make it a ninth."

Franks was one of the Jets' offseason acquisitions, having been drafted by Green Bay in the first round of the 2000 draft. Favre was a veteran of the league even then, and Franks said he looked up to the quarterback to help him get used to his new team.

Now he is returning the favor. The two have lockers next door to each other, and Franks has been learning the Jets' offense since April in the offseason training opportunities and minicamp. In a game of communication, Franks can translate terms and plays, kind of a Berlitz course for football.

"If he has any questions, he knows who to ask," Franks said.

Targets such as rookie tight end Dustin Keller have been talking about how Favre's presence has changed the nature of the offense, even when it comes to being aware of the ball. When the play calls for one receiver, Favre can go to plan B without even looking.

"If you're not looking, you may get hit in the head," wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said.

"There's no such thing as a decoy route, not as long as you have Brett back there," Franks said. "It's like I tell the guys: Even when you're covered, you're not really covered. If you have two hands and two arms, you're not really covered 'cause he's going to hit one of them. If you can see him, he can see you."

Favre didn't see Kerry Rhodes, however, and the lanky safety popped up and snatched one of Favre's passes, a 40-yarder intended for David Clowney, out of the sky with one hand. It was the first 11-on-11 interception for Favre in his four practices with the Jets.

That's the downside of improvisation. But yesterday's practice featured more penalty laps than touchdown passes, a day after Favre's penalty run with center Nick Mangold found its way onto YouTube.

But even with the errors taken into account, the Jets see the Favre effect as something beyond mere stats.

"Brett breathes great emotions going into the locker room," Frank said. "That lifts up the whole team. You can see how much energy there was today. The fans got involved, which makes practice a lot easier. I think that will help with the guys learning to know him, just from his energy and his practice methods."

(lohud.com)

Trent Green is the backup quarterback for the Rams, for now. But it sounds like Brock Berlin is making a case to move up the ladder. Green played one series with the first team offensive line last weekend and completed one of three passes for 16 yeards. Berlin came in and completed 11 of 13 passes for 139 yeards. "I thought Brock was real solid," Rams coach Scott Linehan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He did some good things, he got a nice drive to get us a touchdown and a nice two-minute drive to get us another three. "He put 10 points on the board when he was in there, and that's the job of a quarterback."

(cnnsi.com)

Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache is confident that WLB Rocky McIntosh (knee) will be ready for a "large role" when the season starts.
Still, a large role may not mean an every-down role and H.B. Blades could see frequent snaps on the weak side during the first few weeks. McIntosh would be a poor bet to play 16 games because of his chronically bad knees.

(rotoworld.com)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - You would pretty much need a calculator and a half page from the NFL player register to list all the injuries that have plagued defensive end Jerome McDougle in his five seasons as an Eagle.

He didn't play a single snap last season because of a torn triceps. Two years earlier, he missed the entire season after being shot in a robbery attempt on the eve of training camp. In all, McDougle has played just 33 of 80 possible games with the Birds since he was drafted in the first round in 2003.

This training camp figures to be his final go-round. So far, the Eagles are encouraged, especially after McDougle played nearly three quarters against the host Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, his longest action in years.

"It's been a while," he said. "I can't remember the last time I played that much. It felt good to get out there, and banging heads with people and playing with the guys."

Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson pointed to McDougle as having been one of a couple of players who stood out with good pressure on the quarterback. McDougle had two tackles.

The 6-foot-2, 264-pound Miami product figures to get another long look Thursday night against the Panthers at the Linc.

"I've said it before: I think this is a big year for Mac," Johnson said. "I think he's taken advantage of it right now."

"We'll just see how he continues to progress," Johnson said. "At the least, I saw a guy who was getting upfield and getting after the passer."

McDougle has a chance to make the team, especially if another defensive end, Victor Abiamiri, who has a broken wrist, goes on injured reserve. At the same time, Darren Howard can play both tackle and end, which seemingly gives him an edge.

"He's kind of climbed the ladder, and then he had a setback," coach Andy Reid said of McDougle. "That happens. He's come out and he's played well. He's put all that behind him, he feels good, and he seems to be playing productive football.

"We'll just see how he finishes this thing out."

(philly.com)

Lifting weights, jogging on the treadmill, trudging up and down stadium stairs - that type of traditional offseason workout plan can get a little monotonous for even the most dedicated NFL athletes.

Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss was looking for an alternative way to stay in shape this summer, and a friend from his old neighborhood helped him out - using mixed martial arts.

Moss spent a few days a week with Lonny Intorn, an instructor at Punch Fitness in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Intorn showed Moss the same training techniques used by mixed martial arts fighters, which included a heavy dose of cross-training and kickboxing.

"Sometimes I go home in January and get crazy about working out and football stuff," Moss said. "I wanted to take as much time as I can off and do something different. [We did] tire squats, tire throws, a lot of boxing and a lot of kicking until we got the form down. Then some days we put all of the combinations together - 30 minutes punching, 30 minutes kicking, kneeing, abs - you name it, we did it all."

Moss was intrigued by the training regimen in part because he had taken an interest in the career of another Miami-based athlete, Kevin Ferguson - known to most as the street fighter-turned-Internet sensation-turned-MMA star Kimbo Slice.

So Moss started working with Intorn, who grew up in the same part of Miami and also went to college at The U. Intorn has worked out several NFL players, including Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and Santana's little brother, Sinorice. He also trains professional kickboxers.

"It is funny, but when I get some of these [NFL] guys for their first workout with me, after the first five or 10 minutes they are on the ground dying - literally," Intorn said. "They say, 'I've never worked out like this before.' After they are with me I can see the transformation. They are more cut, and they make it through the workouts."

Moss isn't alone with his new-wave training techniques. The team's other starting wideout, Antwaan Randle El, also incorporated some mixed martial arts training into his offseason.

How the alternative methods affect Moss and Randle El long term remains to be seen, but there have been some immediate effects.

"If it was just run, run, run - that's something I could do, but I was losing some of my muscle mass. But I'm not losing as much this year," Randle El said. "I think the grappling [helps]. When you are on the ground wrestling with a guy - that's how it is when you catch a ball and you're tussling with a guy and trying to get out."

Added Intorn: "I think it definitely gives them better movability and more flexibility. I'm one of those guys who doesn't think you have to just always lift a ton of weights."

One thing that is certain about Moss - he has been healthy during this camp. After being injured for much of last summer and slowed during camp, he is off to a much better start to the 2008 season.

Health has been an issue for Moss for the past two years. He set the team record for receiving yards with 1,483 in his first season with the Redskins in 2005 but has barely eclipsed that number in the past two seasons combined while missing a total of four games with injuries and being less than 100 percent in several others.

"This is my third camp with him, and I think this has been his best one so far," Randle El said.

There have been glimpses of the old Moss during camp - the gamebreaker who averaged nearly 18 yards a reception three years ago. In new coach Jim Zorn's offense, Moss could put his elusiveness to work and turn quick timing patterns into long gains.

A more dynamic Moss could be the difference between a solid Redskins offense and a great one.

"We feel that when we have him in the ballgame, it might just take one play," wide receivers coach Stan Hixon said. "He has proven that before. We've beat people with just one play that he made. He's a big-play receiver."

(washingtontimes.com)

Calais Campbell, DE, Miami: Campbell made two tackles at the line of scrimmage and another 15 yards downfield during the opener. He also recorded a quarterback hit. Campbell is backing up defensive end Darnell Dockett. The Cardinals expect him to become a regular part of their rotation up front.

Campbell was giving the back up linemen all they could handle. Campbell's spot on the depth chart is the only thing second string about him. He is huge at 6'8" weighing more than 280 pounds. What makes him special is the agility and speed that accompanies his strength.

He can bull rush, spin, or extend his long arms to get the job done. Trying to block him has been great experience for the Cardinals back-ups who need all the practice they can get with the injury bug going around.

(espn.com)

Sinorice Moss had a good workout, although he didn't catch everything. In 11-on-11s he ran a post route that left Pope on the ground, but the throw from David Carr was too close to the sideline and Moss was in the middle of the field. That play has a * below. He came back and connected with Carr on a post leter in 11s, beating Darren Barnett (**). Later, while going against Dockery, he did a nice job of jumping up to catch a pass from Manning and hang onto it, boxing out the DB and wrestling the ball away. It was on the far side of the field so I can't be sure Moss got in bounds (especially with the lack of a forceout call now). Dockery got some high-fives on the way back to the huddle, so he might have been able to keep Moss from coming down in the end zone. Still, nice catch.

(newsday.com)

Nate Webster gets the start at middle linebacker tonight, but Niko Koutouvides is still very much in the running for the job.

Throughout training camp, Webster and Koutouvides have taken turns practicing with the first team. Usually, each player gets two consecutive days with the first unit, and then they switch. Shanahan said they’ll take turns in the preseason games, too.

“Both of them will get a chance to play with the starting defense, and we’ll evaluate both of them,” he said. “I feel good about both of them.”

(timescall.com)

The Baltimore Sun reports Ravens ILB Ray Lewis played only a few series wearing the defensive radio helmet against New England Patriots, but he seems to like it so far. This past offseason, NFL owners approved the installation of defensive transmitters in helmets. Quarterbacks have used offensive helmet transmitters since the policy was adopted in 1994. "It's cool," Lewis said. "It gives you the same advantage our offense has had. I think you will be able to test it more once you get in front of the crowd and not have to run to the sideline every play or signal in for three or four guys. So I think that's going to be great."

(ffmastermind.com)

MILWAUKEE - Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash says leftfielder Ryan Braun could be out of action another two to four days.

Braun sat out his second straight game Monday with lower-back injury. He's listed as day to day.

Speaking on WTMJ-AM Tuesday, Ash says the Brewers don't want to jeopardize Braun's health by bring him back too soon.

Braun said he had trouble sleeping after sustaining the injury while swinging in the first inning of the Brewers' 6-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

Braun is batting .300 with a team-high 30 home runs and 84 RBIs in 114 games.

Team: Baltimore Orioles Position: Designated hitter Stats: .302 AVG, 24 HR, 76 RBIs, .550 SLG Measurements: 6'4", 235 lbs. Nicknames: None. Don't know if one is really necessary when your name is Aubrey. Signature: Returning to A-list slugging form after a three-year hiatus.
Mysteries: Where did this resurgence come from? Did anyone actually call it? What has he been doing the past couple seasons? How impressive is his 19-game hitting streak? How obvious is it that his streak will snap within 24 hours now that he is being profiled as an Unusual Suspect? How traumatizing was the "Three Little Pigs" story for him growing up? Did you know that there have been five players in the history of baseball with the first name Aubrey?

Background
Aubrey Huff used to be awesome.

Back in the early years of this millennium, before the days of the iPhone and the Montauk Monster, Huff was the one Tampa Bay Devil Ray worth drafting in fantasy leagues.

And for good reason. In 2003, the then-26-year-old hit .311 with 34 homers and 107 RBIs, which -- according to Baseball-Reference.com, earned him 24th place in American League MVP voting, roughly 400 spots better than Bobby Higginson.

Simply put, Huff had the look of a future superstar.

But it didn't exactly turn out that way. He finished his 2005 and '06 seasons with batting averages in the .260s and clubbed a pedestrian 15 home runs just a season ago. Now with a 19-game hitting streak and a whopping .550 slugging percentage under his belt, Huff is back swinging his big bat of yore and looks every bit the hitter many thought he would be.

So how did the reinvention of Aubrey Huff come about?

To the evidence!

The evidence
Cleaning up: Huff has absolutely been loving life as the Orioles' cleanup hitter this season, hitting .320 with 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 18 doubles over 70 games in the four-hole. That's a huge improvement over the .190-0-3 line he posted in his 14-game audition as the team's cleanup hitter just a year ago.

Free bird: One of the main reasons for Huff's slugging resurgence can be traced to his improved fly-ball rate. The 31-year-old primary designated hitter has been smashing the ball in the air a career-best 41.6 percent of the time, a full 10.3 percentage points better than the mark he posted in his career year of 2003. More balls in the sky means more homers. Yes, it's really that simple.

ISO good: If it looks like Huff is swinging a more powerful bat this year than ever before, it's because he is. Charm City's finest is sporting a career best .248 isolated power average (ISO), a formula created by people much smarter than me that looks something like this: 2B+3B+(HR*3))/AB. See, moms and dads? Unusual Suspects is not just some column stacked with baseball rubbish and nonsense -- it can also help your kids with their algebra homework!

Too legit to quit: As per usual, it's time to see if Huff's comeback campaign is actually legitimate or merely a result of some favorable luck. Huff is currently donning a .312 batting average on balls in play, which is a bit higher than average but surely not enough to blemish his genuinely stellar year.

Conspiracy theory
Of course, there are always alternative explanations.

In November 2007, just a couple months after the Orioles finished a disappointing 69-win season, Huff offered some disparaging remarks about Baltimore's not-so-hoppin' nightlife on the "Bubba the Love Sponge Show."

Now, as both one who grew up in the humdrum suburbs of Detroit and who's watched every episode of "The Wire," I can somewhat empathize with Huff's sentiments.

However, the Orioles' ardent fan base did not take Huff's comments lightly and busted out the boo birds (see what I just did there?) every time their starting designated hitter came up to the plate on Opening Day 2008.

Clearly, it behooved Huff to get his loyal fans back on his side. So he did what any other player would do in such a circumstance. He took a page straight out of Frank "The Tank" Ricard's playbook and started going streaking.

From the quad to the gymnasium, Huff has been streaking for 19 straight games, hitting .390 with five homers, 15 RBIs and 14 runs while becoming the toast of Baltimore in the process.

With such staggering numbers, Huff is back having an awesome time in Baltimore. In fact, I think the entire town knows Huff's having an awesome time.

And wouldn't you want those times to keep on going?

(mlb.com)

MIAMI -- Chris Perez has two saves for the Cardinals in his past three Major League games, yet neither manager Tony La Russa nor pitching coach Dave Duncan is ready to call him the team's main closer.

That is because they don't want to saddle the 22-year-old with too many expectations too soon.

"The worst thing you can do is say, 'Here, you're the closer,' then he lets some games get away from him," La Russa said. "He takes a big setback and loses confidence and starts struggling."

The manager paused a moment, then added, "We're excited by his prospects, but we want to be careful. There are days when he's available that he'll get the ball. Then there are matchups, and we might use someone else."

Duncan offered a similar sentiment. He said he is encouraged by Perez's performance, but at this point in the season, Ryan Franklin and Jason Isringhausen will continue to receive consideration for saves along with Perez.

At least it is beginning to appear that the Cardinals' closing job will be a competition among those three.

(mlb.com)

Brian Barton (hand) has rejoined the Cardinals, but the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that he's not expected to come off the disabled list for several more days.
Barton reached the 20-day limit on his minor league rehab assignment after hitting .260 with three homers in 19 games at Triple-A, but as a Rule 5 pick he must either remain on the MLB roster or the DL. "We'll work him for a day or two, get an eyeball on him for ourselves," manager Tony La Russa said. "At some point soon he'll be activated. We want to take a look at him."

(rotoworld.com)

Kelly Jennings. The team's "other" cornerback had an impressive morning in what was a bounce-back performance by the entire starting secondary after they had problems stopping the Vikings' passing game in Minneapolis.

Jennings' best play was batting away a deep pass from Charlie Frye to Nate Burleson. But it wasn't his only play. The team's right cornerback also stopped Ben Obomanu short of the needed first-down yardage in a third-down drill and did it again on a third-down pass to Maurice Morris in a record-zone drill.

(blog.seattlepi.com)

Jason La Canfora, of the Washington Post, reports Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn said LB Rocky McIntosh (knee) is progressing in practice but will not play for at least two more weeks.



(kffl.com)

The Houston Texans will be very cautious using WR Andre Johnson in the preseason according to PFW. Johnson, who had offseason knee surgery, has been bothered by a groin injury. The Texans know what Johnson is capable of, and they are not worried about preseason performance.

(ffmastermind.com)

Last time I checked in had just gotten up to Napa. It was tough up there against the Raiders because you couldn’t really hit or take people to the ground, and you want to do that when it’s a different team.

I think they have a pretty good defense in Oakland but I think our offense is going to be very high powered. Coach Martz, just being around him the last couple of months, I like him a whole lot. I think he’s a great leader, and if I think we have a great leader, I’m willing to follow him.

Coach Nolan did give us a practice off when we got back from Napa. I think he knew we needed some time to get our bodies back, and feeling good. Even though we couldn’t hit full-go, it was two physical practices against them. So, he cancelled practice and we went to the movies, and I fell sleep before it even started. I woke up for one part when Batman and the Joker were falling off a building. I don’t know if one died or not because I went right back to sleep.

I think we had one night off from meetings last week too, but I don’t remember when it was. I used my time to stop by and check on things at my house and that was it.

The Raiders game on Friday night was okay.

They told me the most I was going to get was 8 plays, and at least 3. It was three and out, so I had to get off the field after only three plays.

The first carry was a pretty good run. I almost came out of there, and I wish I would have because then I would have felt better about getting out of the game. The 3rd and 1 ticked me off because you always want to get those short yards and move the chains. Plus, if I had gotten the first down we could have kept going and I probably could have gotten more reps.

I was kind of upset because I wanted to play more. When you are in uniform and your team is going against an opponent, you are hyped up and you want to play. It’s fun and I love the game so it was tough not to be out there longer, but I understand it is just preseason and we have a long year.

I thought with the ones we did pretty good. I really believe it’s going to be a great year and we are going to have fun. We just have to see who our quarterback is going to be and then get ready to roll for what I truly believe is going to be a great year.

I won’t put my personal goals out there anymore, but I do hope to have a big year. Usually if I do well I reward myself with something nice. After my Pro Bowl year, I bought myself a Bentley. Last year, I didn’t do anything because it was a tough year, very rough.

It was good to have the day off on Saturday, but yet I was bored. I went to sleep, watched some of the Bills preseason game against the Redskins and then Moran Norris and I went to grab Applebees since it was close by. I have been on this real health kick for a while now so I’m very careful about what I eat. I don’t eat much bad food these days and since I feel so good from this diet, I think it’s important to just stick with it.

After dinner we went back to the room and I just fell asleep. I thought about going home, but I was afraid I’d fall asleep there and I wasn’t going to make my teammates have to run because of me. If you miss curfew, everyone has to run.

I also caught some of the Cardinals game the other night, but it wasn’t the one’s. I don’t watch as much preseason or check out the stats too much because guys aren’t really playing right now. When the real deal gets going, I track everything and I like to know how guys and teams around the league are doing.

I just want to keep learning this offense. I keep saying the more comfortable you are with the offense, the more productive you’ll be. I’m getting to the point where I hear the quarterback call the play and I just know it. I don’t have to think too much.

One of the funny things about training camp is that Vernon Davis has been losing at least one dred every day at practice. We keep finding them out on the field so we’re trying to get him to go on and cut them off. Zak Keasey has them too, but his are alright. They are thick and strong and he’ll have to cut them off eventually, but Vernon’s are just coming out. It’s crazy and we are really trying to get him to just get rid of them.

We’ve got practice this afternoon and I’m ready to go now. My body didn’t take too many hits the other night, but my calves were stiff yesterday from jumping up on my toes during the game. Anytime I get excited, I jump up and down on my tip-toes and man I was a little stiff.

But, I like to study my plays and then go practice them right away. That’s how I learn the best. Since I’ve been studying the last day and a half, I’m really to check my progress by getting outside on the field later this afternoon.

(49ers.com)

Maybe this is the year.

From the time wide receiver Roscoe Parrish arrived, Buffalo Bills coaches have talked about getting him more involved on offense. The plan didn’t have a chance to get implemented during his rookie year because a broken wrist robbed him of much of the season.

Parrish has been healthy the last two years, but he’s still waiting for the Bills to maximize his receiving talents.

Is this the year? Parrish hopes so.

“It’s been three years since they’ve been saying they will get me more involved,” he said after Saturday’s preseason opener against the Washington Redskins. “But I just don’t let that get into my head. I do what I can when I get my opportunities and make the best of them.”

Parrish had limited opportunities Saturday night, but he made them count.

He had three catches for a team-high 50 yards during the Bills’ 17-14 loss. Quarterback Trent Edwards said Parrish was the lone bright spot in an otherwise sputtering offensive performance.

“It was good to get back into a game situation,” Parrish said. “I wish we could have played better as a team, but we’ll get it together and make some things happen.”

Already one of the best punt returners in the NFL, Parrish led the NFL with a team-record 16.3-yard average. But he had just 35 catches for 352 yards and one touchdown. He also ran the ball three times, including a 24-yard touchdown.

Parrish believes he’s ready for a bigger workload at receiver because he is a better player than he was coming out of the University of Miami.

“As a veteran now, I have a better feel for the game and knowing coverages and running routes better,” he said. “My playing ability just steps up a little notch every year and I try to learn something new every time I come to training camp and continue to progress.”

Parrish is quick enough to break in and out of routes without breaking stride. He showed that on his first catch, gaining separation on a defender to haul in an 18-yard pass from Edwards.

Parrish’s 30-yard reception from J. P. Losman in the second quarter was the offensive highlight of the night. The pass was underthrown, but Parrish made an adjustment on the ball and pulled it in while being wrapped up by backup Redskins cornerback Byron Westbrook.

“I turned and saw the ball coming before the defensive back did,” Parrish said. “J. P. laid it up there for me, so I had to go get it.”

The Bills have been hesitant to use Parrish too much, concerned that the 5-foot-9, 168-pounder wouldn’t hold up under a heavier workload.

But head coach Dick Jauron acknowledges that Parrish has too much ability to remain off the field.

“He’s such a unique player,” Jauron said. “As we know, he’s very small for our league. But boy, he plays big. He just makes plays. He’s a great competitor and he competes all the time. He competes in practice, competes in the games and competes in the kicking game. I feel happy we have him and we’ve got to keep working with him and give him chances.”

That was music to Parrish’s ears.

“I’m always ready,” he said. “I’d love to get more playing time on offense, but that’s everybody’s goal in the National Football League.”

(buffalonews.com)

Trying to clear up doubts about two of his star players, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he expects safety Ed Reed and running back Willis McGahee to be ready for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Reed, a four-time Pro Bowl player, recently came off the physically unable to perform list but has not engaged in any contact because of a shoulder injury.

While Reed seemed uncertain whether he would be able to play at the start of the regular season, Harbaugh downplayed such a scenario, saying there has been "a lot of progress" made with Reed's injury.

"No, I'm not doubtful of [Reed's availability for the season opener] at all based on what we've been told by the doctors," Harbaugh said after today's practice. "I understand as an athlete, you want it to be right."

(baltimoresun.com)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Rams quarterback Brock Berlin was confident and controlled against the Tennessee Titans as he battles quarterback Bruce Gradkowski for the third roster spot.

“It was great to finally play in some live action,” Berlin said. “I felt comfortable out there, and we moved the chains well. Obviously, we didn’t score as many points as we’d like. I felt comfortable out there.”

Berlin entered the game about midway through the second quarter. Before the end of the first half, Berlin had led the Rams to their only touchdown drive against the Titans.

On Berlin’s second possession, the Rams had a first down at their own 49-yard-line. Berlin pump faked to the left and launched a perfect strike to wide receiver Dane Looker down the right sideline. Looker was pulled down from behind at the three-yard-line after a 47-yard gain, and a horse collar penalty was assessed.

Running back Antonio Pittman took a Berlin handoff two yards into the end zone on the next play.

“We had a little play set up for that, and it worked out,” Berlin said. “Dane ran an excellent route. He set the whole thing up. He did a good job. I just had to get it out there to him.”

Berlin finished the second half and played the entire third quarter. He completed 11 of 14 passes for 139 yards and a 108.0 quarterback rating. He connected on his first eight pass attempts before a spike to stop the clock at the end of the first half. 

“Brock I thought played great,” quarterback Marc Bulger said. “Our offense was struggling, and he went in there and gave us a little spark. He’s been doing it all camp, and I think he’ll continue to do that.”

Berlin and Gradkowski have spent training camp battling for the third quarterback spot. Gradkowski took over for Berlin in the fourth quarter, but played only one series against the Titans. He completed two of five pass attempts for six yards.

It’s too early to call the battle between Berlin and Gradkowski, but Berlin certainly helped his cause with his play against the Titans Saturday.

“For me, to finally get in there and play some live football and to be able to put some drives together, and get in a groove, it felt really good,” Berlin said. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”

(stlouisrams.com)

Willis McGahee will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee as soon as today, and will be out between two and four weeks. While new Ravens coach John Harbaugh told the Baltimore Sun that he expects his starting running back to return in time for Week 1 against the Bengals, there are reasons to be slightly concerned about McGahee.

First of all, this procedure -- termed a "cleanup" by Harbaugh -- is on the same knee that suffered catastrophic damage in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, when McGahee was rushing for the University of Miami and caught a shoulder square against the joint. Second, McGahee had already come under a bit of criticism for skipping offseason workouts with the team as Cam Cameron's new offense was being installed, for showing up to training camp a bit overweight and out of shape, and for not being completely familiar with Cameron's playbook. Third, there have been puff pieces galore in the Baltimore media about rookie Ray Rice, and how much the team absolutely adores him. And finally, in both '06 and '07, McGahee battled several minor injuries that kept him out of games and caused him to underachieve in games which he did play, leaving the question about how fast a healer he really is unanswered.

Now, Harbaugh told the media in no uncertain terms Monday that McGahee was still his starter, and that Rice's role as a supplemental back hasn't changed one iota as a result of this surgery. But I've got enough concerns that I've dropped McGahee below Ryan Grant and Jamal Lewis to 13th on my running back list. I don't think he can be considered a first-round fantasy pick in any but the very deepest of leagues, despite how well he came on late in '07 -- scoring a touchdown in seven consecutive games and catching a career-high 43 passes. In addition, it's clearer than ever that Rice has become one of the more ironclad handcuffs around: if you do wind up selecting McGahee, make sure you get the Rutgers rookie. He isn't big and he isn't a burner, but he's a tough tackle-breaker and finds holes with deceptive quickness that could help him be a legit rusher on first and second downs if McGahee can't stay healthy.

(espn.com)

Mike Duffy, of BaltimoreRavens.com, reports Baltimore Ravens LB Tavares Gooden (leg) missed the team's practice Sunday, Aug. 10.




(kffl.com)

Linebacker Darrell McClover tweaked his ankle during practice and was taken inside for treatment, allowing rookie Joey LaRocque, a seventh-round pick from Oregon, to get some reps with the second team.

(dailyherald.com)

CHICAGO -- Dolphin Stadium, named as it is for a football team, doesn't hold a place among baseball's cathedrals the way Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium and Fenway Park do. But for Cardinals rookie Chris Perez, pitching at the South Florida ballpark will be a highlight in his young career.

Perez hails from Bradenton, Fla., across the state but not far from Miami, and attended the University of Miami. He's had the Cardinals' trip to Florida circled on his calendar for a while now.

"When I got called back up, I knew I would probably make that trip," Perez sid. "It's cool. It's cool to play in front of your family, and to have a big league game a couple hours from where I grew up and close to where I went to college."

Perez's parents have come to St. Louis to see him pitch, so it won't be their first time seeing him in the big leagues. But many of his friends and acquaintances have never seen him pitch in a Major League game.

"It's going to be fun," Perez said. "I spent three years [at Miami]. I've got a lot of college friends, and my coaching staff is going to be there. My family is coming over from the west coast [of Florida]. So it's going to be fun."

In his second tour of duty in St. Louis, Perez has emerged as a key late-inning reliever. He recently notched his first Major League save, and will continue to be in the mix for closing duties for the time being.

(mlb.com)

Phillies.MLB.com's Kevin Horan reports Philadelphia Phillies OF Pat Burrell, who is hitless in his last 15 at-bats, received the day off Sunday, Aug. 10.




(kffl.com)

Derrick Morse made his NFL preseason debuts on Thursday night.

Morse, an offensive lineman who played for the University of Miami, saw time at left guard in the Browns' 24-20 loss to the Jets. Morse was playing when backup quarterback Brady Quinn was running the team. Morse was not signed by the Browns until June.

(marconews.com)

The Star Ledger reports New York Giants first-round draft pick FS Kenny Phillips is now rotating in with the first team, trading reps with FS Michael Johnson. Phillips played an awesome game against the Lions on Thursday while Johnson gave up the only touchdown.



(ffmastermind.com)

Ravens safety Ed Reed practiced for the first time this preseason, though he wore the symbolic red jersey that prevented him from contact, reports BaltimoreRavens.com.



(nooffseason.com)

Baraka Atkins is showing that he’s comfortable at defensive end, looking strong at the point of attack.



(thenewstribune.com)

Sinorice Moss claims he wasn't breathing any easier after he came down with the ball on a 46-yard pass from Anthony Wright against the Lions on Thursday. If anything, he was probably breathing heavily after sprinting down the field and leaping to make the catch.

"It's a sigh of relief just to be in the game and make some big plays for this team," Moss said. "That's what I'm supposed to do. That's why they put me out there."

And that's why the Giants traded up to draft him in the second round in 2006. Between then and Thursday, Moss hadn't made any of those big plays he's supposed to make. In fact, before he streaked past cornerback Dovonte Edwards in Detroit, Moss' longest catch in a Giants uniform was a 20-yarder with a little more than five minutes to play in last year's blowout loss to the Vikings.

So three years into an injury-riddled NFL career, players are still talking about Moss' untapped potential.

"What he did," Wright said of the catch, "was an example of some of the things he can do."

Moss had better continue doing all of those things because there's some serious competition at his position. In addition to Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and Steve Smith, there's David Tyree and rookie Mario Manningham. Plus, Domenik Hixon, claimed off waivers early last season, has had an excellent camp so far, while Brandon London, last year's undrafted free agent and practice-squad member, is much improved.

Heck, even Craphonso Thorpe, who was the last receiver added to the roster before camp, caught the team's only touchdown against Detroit. Undrafted free agent D.J. Hall has had a quiet camp. That's 10 guys for six spots, which means Moss isn't a lock to make the team.

Even if Thorpe and London are cut, there's still the question of whether or not the team would cut Tyree, the Super Bowl hero who's still on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury. If Tyree can get healthy before the start of the regular season, he would force the Giants to make a very difficult decision: cut one more player or keep an extra receiver and risk being dangerously thin at another position.

But Moss can't worry about numbers right now. He just has to keep making plays and gaining confidence.

"It was encouraging to know I'm making progress," Moss said of his catch. "And when the opportunity comes again, try to go up there and make a play again."

Moss made Thursday's play with speed and tremendous leaping ability, which helps compensate for his 5-8 frame. After running past Edwards, who was inside Moss and started with his back to him, Moss looked back and saw the ball coming his way. He then sneaked a peek at safety Greg Blue closing in on the play from his spot in the middle of the field.

Moss then turned back to the ball to see it wasn't sailing as far as it should have.

"Slightly underthrown," he said with a smile. "But hey, things happen. When the ball is up in the air, you have to go up and get it."

Not only that, but Moss had to then stick out the bottom part of his body while leaping to shield Edwards from the ball. Edwards had closed the gap when Moss slowed down to compensate for the underthrown pass. (Edwards unwisely reached up with both hands for an interception instead of knocking the ball away with one).

It was reminiscent of a play Moss made early in camp when he had to adjust to catch a ball from Eli Manning that didn't have as much on it as it should have.

"He held off the defender a little bit by jumping up to catch the ball," Wright said. "It was a good job by him to do what he did."

Oh, and then Moss had to hold onto the ball while getting drilled by Blue as he came down. Moss' reaction? No trash talk, no finger pointing and no signaling first down. Just an underhanded spiral flip to the official and a walk back to the huddle.

Yesterday he was just as nonchalant about the catch.

"It's my job, man. I'm really not impressed with it," he said. "That's what I'm supposed to do, actually. It's really behind me now. That was the other night. I'm not worried about that right now. I have to press on for this week and get ready for next week's game."

Moss has always been pretty understated, but he seems to have become even more composed after the struggles of his first few seasons. It was only two years ago he missed almost all of camp and much of the regular season with a quadriceps injury that just wouldn't heal. Last year he hurt his hamstring late in the season and was a healthy member of the inactives for the postseason.

Now, it's Manningham who's been sidelined with an equally mysterious quad injury. Though Manningham is his competition, Moss has been there to give him advice.

"I spoke to him because it's tough," Moss said. "To know he has a similar injury that I had when I first got here, that's tough, man. It's going to be hard for him. He just has to keep fighting through it every day and rehab so he can get himself back."

(nj.com)

WATKINS GLEN — After his catastrophic injury in 2007, to see former Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett walking is an inspiration.
But for some of the more than 100 fans who waited in line almost an hour to get Everett’s autograph, seeing him was more than inspirational. It was an honor and a thrill.

“I work in an emergency room and my wife is a nurse, who works with people who have had the type of injury Kevin had,” said Robert Alexander of Hornell. “It was something just to shake his hand. I’ve been a Bills fan forever, so this is really special for me. I know the whole story and I know his family has a lot of faith and they were behind him all the way through in the recovery process. I was thrilled to meet him.”

Everett, 26, was a third round draft choice of the Bills in 2005. In the opening game of the 2007 season, while making a tackle on the second-half kickoff, the 6-4, 235-pound Everett fractured and dislocated his cervical spine. It was an injury that, doctors said, threatened his life.

The young athlete from Port Arthur, Texas, who attended the University of Miami, suffered immediate paralysis from the neck down after the accident, but began to regain some movement within a couple of days. The prognosis improved, still, doctors said in the first week after the injury that he would probably not walk again.

When he began to regain movement in his hands and feet, doctors revised his prognosis to include being able to walk. Not quite a year later, he stood on pit road today as the grand marshal of the Zippo 200 and gave the command, "Gentlemen, start your engines."

“He’s amazing,” Steve Rand of Auburn said. Rand described himself as definitely not an avid NASCAR or Buffalo Bills fan. But Rand felt compelled to be the first in line at the WGI Pyramid to get his copy of “Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story” signed by Everett.

Now, every day presents and opportunity for Everett to advocate for people with spinal injuries. He says he doesn’t take anything for granted.

“It’s been a tough recovery — a lesson from God and a lot of work,” Everett said. “I still rehab three days a week, about three hours a day, and I’d say I’m somewhere around 60 percent. I’m working on endurance and trying to get stronger. But we’re trying to help people. We have a foundation and we’re doing some things together with the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis to raise money.”

Everett, who married in April, was accompanied his wife, Wiande, at WGI and he credited her with being the impetus behind the book.

“My wife is the reason for the book,” Everett said. Wiande was Everett’s fiancée at the time of the accident and she has supported him all along the road to recovery. “We thought it would be a good idea for people out there going through the same thing and need some inspiration. Just waking up every day and going to therapy seeing different people with injuries worse than mine. That’s one of the things that gave me the strength to keep trying to get better.”

(stargazette.com)

Emily Whitaker of Rogers and Buck Ortega of Miami, Fla., were married June 28, 2008, at the bride's family home in Pinedale, Wyo. Judge Mary Ann Gunn officiated the ceremony.

Parents of the bride are Linda and Larry Whitaker of Rogers. Parents of the groom are Joanne and Ralph Ortega of Miami, Fla.

The bride was given in marriage by her parents.

Matron of honor was Amy Merryman.

Best man was Caleb Ortega.

Flower girl was Elaina Barczewski. Ring bearer was Mason Merryman.

Wedding music was provided by String Quartet by Richard Brown of Houston.

Guest book was attended by Addison and Anna Barczewski.

After a wedding trip to Turks and Caicos, the couple will split their time between Miami, Fla., and New Orleans.

(nwanews.com)

With Ephraim Salaam out for three to four weeks and Scott Jackson sidelined because of a foot injury, the Texans signed veteran free-agent offensive tackle Torrin Tucker.

To make room for Tucker on the roster, running back Mike Bell was placed on waivers. Because running back Chris Brown has returned from a back injury, Bell was expendable.

Bell showed up out of shape and got hurt before he was waived. Tucker will suit up against Denver but won’t get in the game unless it’s an emergency. Left tackle Duane Brown will play the first half. He’ll be replaced by Rashad Butler.

“Everybody in the league’s working with these problems, and we’ve got to work through it,” coach Gary Kubiak said.

(chron.com)

MILWAUKEE -- All-Star left fielder Ryan Braun was pulled from the Brewers' 6-0 victory over Washington on Saturday night because of tightness in his lower back.

Braun, listed as day to day, said muscles on both sides of his ribcage tightened.

"I couldn't breathe," he said.

He said he has never had this type of injury.

"Hopefully, it's just something that's a little irritated," he said. "Whenever you experience or feel something that you haven't felt before, it's obviously a little bit scary."

Braun struck out in the first inning, spiking his helmet into the ground as Ray Durham was thrown out at second attempting to steal for a double play. He said he felt the tightness on a 2-1 pitch during the at-bat.

"I took kind of an awkward swing," he said. "I think it might be some kind of muscle spasm or something because they both tightened up on me."
Braun stayed in the game until the third inning, when manager Ned Yost sent Gabe Kapler to pinch-hit for him.

"We don't need to have any problem there," Yost said of Braun.

Braun is batting .300 with a team-high 30 home runs and 84 RBIs in 114 games.

He has had one of the best starts to a career in major league history. In 227 games since making his debut on May 25, 2007, Braun is first in the majors with 558 total bases, 133 extra-base hits, second with 64 home runs and tied for second with 181 RBI.

His 64 home runs ties him for sixth with Mark Teixeira for the most home runs after two seasons in big league history. The first five are Joe DiMaggio (75), Ralph Kiner (74), Eddie Mathews (72), Albert Pujols (71) and Frank Robinson (67).

(espn.com)

Brookfield - In his young career as an all-star leftfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun has stared down the likes of opposing pitchers Johan Santana and Brandon Webb.

On a sun-dappled Friday on the baseball field behind Brookfield East High School, Braun took on what even he admitted beforehand might be a more daunting task: trading lines with supermodel and magazine cover girl Marisa Miller in a viral video for a new Remington men’s hair-care product.

“Aren’t you baseball all-star Ryan Braun?” Miller said to Braun as cameras rolled and a large crowd of technicians, actors, aides, associates, gofers, spectators and hangers-on stood by quietly from a safe distance.

“Aren’t you supermodel Marisa Miller?” Braun answered smartly as he stood next to a fence holding the leash on his dog.

“Not bad for a first take,” yelled director Adam Rifkin of Los Angeles. “Let’s do it again.”

Which is exactly what Braun and Miller did. Over and over.

Credit Braun with a ringing double off the wall in his acting debut pitching Remington’s ShortCut clipper, which is being promoted as an error-free way to give yourself a haircut.

Braun is the spokesman for the product and signed a partnership with Remington. The video is his first film effort.

You won’t find the ad on commercial television. This being the Age of the Internet, and with a product that zeros in on the demographic represented by the 24-year-old Braun, this viral video will debut on YouTube in the fall.

The company has hopes of getting 1 million unique visitors to watch the video and, company officials hope, link to the product’s Web site to learn more.

Glenn Rhodes, a Remington marketing director based in Madison, where Remington has its North American operations, said the whole idea was to market to men where they hang out.

“That’s where they’re at,” Rhodes said of the online world. “We want to take advantage of that.”

Remington has had success with viral video in England, but the Braun-Miller video is their first in the United States.

Remington, it seems, has done its homework. They were looking for a young superstar to promote the ShortCut and gravitated toward Major League Baseball. At the same time, they test-marketed the ShortCut in clubhouses and found ballplayers liked it.

According to Remington, the ShortCut allows men to cut their hair with no worries of turning a head full of hair into a very bad haircut day. And, with Braun’s help, they determined that as many as 30% of all major leaguers cut their own hair.

With that kind of synergy, Remington signed Braun.

While happy with the reigning Rookie of the Year, Remington decided to take the product promotion further. The next stop was Miller, who was the cover girl of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, recently was on the cover of Maxim, and models for Victoria’s Secret.

With Miller supplying the sex appeal, Remington had plenty of star power to market its product.

“They are two up-and-coming superstars and they are good for our brand,” Rhodes said.

An hour or so before he was needed, Braun said he was excited about the opportunity.

“I’ve played baseball my whole life,” said Braun. “That’s kind of my comfort zone. I feel comfortable in this environment and this atmosphere. I’m not anticipating too much difficulty. But I’m sure it won’t be too easy.”

Braun said the world of endorsements and marketing interested him. “I grew up in Los Angeles and went to college in Miami,” Braun said. “My production on the field is first and foremost. But the more success you have gives you more opportunities off the field. I always envisioned myself doing something like this.”

Under nearly perfect conditions, the shooting of the video went well. The story line involves a softball tournament.

When a loose ball got to the fence, it was Miller, in a pink top, black shorts and black tennis shoes, chasing it down. Waiting in the outfield with ball in hand was Braun, dressed in an Affliction T-shirt and designer jeans, with his dog.

“Shouldn’t you be in a bikini on a beach?” Braun asks Miller.

“Shouldn’t you be signing some kid’s ball?” Miller responds.

Braun said his Brewers teammates knew about his appearance with Miller.

“I told everybody. They ribbed me some. But they are supportive. They know it’s all fun.”

(jsonline.com)