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 Despite undergoing significant change on the offensive side of the ball - the Giants are potentially looking at fielding new starters at every position except for quarterback and running back - New York is far from being in a rebuilding state.The biggest turnover for the Giants is on the offensive line, which will feature unrestricted free agent acquisition David Baas for Shaun O'Hara at center; and on the left side with Will Beatty for David Diehl at tackle, and Diehl at guard for Rich Seubert.Only Baas is coming in from the outside, and he has no concern about having to learn a new playbook.I know I'll be able to pick it up, he said. In San Francisco I had six different coordinators in six years and six playbooks. It's a new playbook, but you transfer things and it should be a smooth transition.As for Beatty, who last year was projected to win the starting left tackle job, offensive line coach Pat Flaherty said that the third-year player has been responding well to the accelerated teaching that the coaches have put him through.We still have to get the cobwebs out a little bit, Flaherty said of Beatty. When he's here and we have our hands on, there is nobody that works harder in the classroom or the football field.Meanwhile at tight end, New York is currently auditioning second-year man Bear Pascoe and third-year veteran Travis Beckum as potential starters for Kevin Boss, who signed with the Oakland Raiders as an unrestricted free agent. Key to that position will be someone who can continue to deliver Boss' production as a receiver, while the runner up in that battle is probably going to be given most of the blocking responsibilities.The guys that are here are going to have to prove to us that we can continue and run the offense we want to run, said coach Tom Coughlin, who also mentioned Jake Ballard as being in the mix.At fullback, the Giants had to part with Madison Hedgecock and are instead hoping for undrafted free agent Henry Hynoski, the only fullback in camp, to become their new battering ram.That's the thing that we're encouraging him to do, Coughlin said. We haven't been in pads a lot, so he's not been doing much of that. He does have to do that and clear the path and get people out of the way and that kind of thing. Hopefully, he'll be the physical presence that we need.Finally, at receiver, the team is hoping that Mario Manningham is ready to assume a larger role in the offense. With top receiver Steve Smith bolting for the Eagles, the Giants will want to have a strong vertical threat who also excels in downfield blocking.Obviously Mario and Hakeem Nicks have done a great job and proven to be big-play guys, said receivers coach Sean Ryan, adding that he'd like to see both receivers continue to work on polishing their respective games.I'm talking about body language, that the quarterback knows exactly where they're going to be.Copyright C 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.                                PrintEmail a FriendFacebookTwitterStumble UponGoogleYahooDiggDeliciousShare
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Running back Adrian Peterson is entering the final season of his contract and while he has no plans to holdout he also sounds like a guy who would be willing to explore the market.Let the chips fall where they may, he said. The only thing I can do is control what I can control, and that's coming out and making sure that I'm prepared.Obviously, if the Vikings did not work something out with Peterson he would be given the franchise tag for 2012.Peterson caused a stir in March when just before the lockout, he compared the players' place in the game to modern-day slavery, during an interview with Yahoo Sports! I regret using those words because obviously there is nothing, absolutely nothing that you can compare to slavery, Peterson said. It stands alone. It was something that I should have used better wording to put that out there. But it's spoiled milk, it's old and it's over with.QB Christian Ponder is definitely learning on the job. He had a good day of camp on Thursday but then threw two interceptions on Friday in seven-on-seven drills. Both were intended for seventh-round wide receiver Stephen Burton, but Ponder refused to blame the picks on Burton's route running.WR Jaymar Johnson has looked good early in camp, something that doesn't come as a surprise considering he spent most of his offseason working out with Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr.LT Charlie Johnson, who is taking over for the recently released Bryant McKinnie, had a rough first day of practice. Of course, he was going against Pro Bowl right end Jared Allen. It was ugly, man, Johnson said. You could tell I hadn't done anything since January. You can do as much blocking as you want against air, but it's a whole different thing against live bullets.LB Chad Greenway and TE Jim Kleinsasser got into a brief exchange after a play during camp but quickly separated. It almost appeared as if when they realized whom they were pushing they ended it.DE Jared Allen described last season's 6-10 finish as gross and said he worked hard this offseason.Vikings owner Zygi Wilf remains optimistic the state legislature will call a special session for September and approve a new stadium for the team in Arden Hills, Minn. The Vikings have been trying to get a stadium approved for several years.QUOTE TO NOTE It's called being a rookie in the National Football League. There's going to be some other days like that. That's part of it. He's going to have a lot of good days, too.  Coach Leslie Frazier when asked about Christian Ponder's struggles in a recent practice.Copyright C 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.                                PrintEmail a FriendFacebookTwitterStumble UponGoogleYahooDiggDeliciousShare
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As the deadline for the ratification of the league's collective bargaining agreement was approaching last Thursday, it seemed it was getting to the point where the Rams had more players watching practice than participating.Obviously, that wasn't the case, but at one point after a flurry of signings, the Rams had 16 players ineligible to practice. But that didn't stop them from continuing to add players considered important to improving units throughout the roster.Entering the free-agency signing period, it was clear the Rams had prioritized the positions of safety, guard, defensive tackle, linebacker and running back as the biggest needs. Wide receiver and cornerback help would also be welcome.After moving quickly on the first day agreements could be reached and coming to terms with safety Quintin Mikell, there were a few days of quiet. But that ended with a consistent storm of signings at all the positions on the wish list.The most significant after the addition of Mikell was the signing of right guard Harvey Dahl from the Atlanta Falcons, a move that solidified the line and resulted in Adam Goldberg being a super sub again after he was re-signed. Goldberg started 16 games at right guard last season and the season before started games at every position on the line except center.Last year's line of left tackle Rodger Saffold, left guard Jacob Bell, center Jason Brown, Goldberg and right tackle Jason Smith missed only one start all season when Smith was out. But Goldberg would sometimes be overmatched physically. That won't happen with Dahl. The Rams also signed Quinn Ojinnaka to vie for a backup job on the line.Also on offense, the Rams signed wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker and running back Jerious Norwood and Cadillac Williams. Sims-Walker has shown promise in Jacksonville, but not consistency. Seeing what offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was able to accomplish last season with Brandon Lloyd in Denver, Sims-Walker could be headed for a breakout season.Defensively, with the need to add power inside, two defensive tackles were signed: Justin Bannan, who was with McDaniels in Denver last season, and Daniel Muir of the Colts. They will be added to a rotation that includes Fred Robbins, Gary Gibson, who was re-signed and Jermelle Cudjo, who was an undrafted free agents last season.During 2010, the Rams started four different players at weak-side linebacker: Larry Grant, Chris Chamberlain, David Vobora and Bryan Kehl. Grant is now with the 49ers. Newcomer Zac Diles, who was with Houston last season, is expected to win the job, although the competition will be strong with the other three, who are also special teams contributors.Na'il Diggs, the starter on the strong side last season until suffering a torn pectoral muscle, will be challenged by Brady Poppinga, who missed time with the Packers last season because of a knee injury.Mikell and cornerback Al Harris both have experience in coach Steve Spagnuolo's defense from their time with the Philadelphia Eagles. Mikell is expected to start because of the February departure of Oshiomogho Atogwe. Harris provides depth at a position that has questions beyond starters Ron Bartell and Bradley Fletcher.Copyright C 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.                                PrintEmail a FriendFacebookTwitterStumble UponGoogleYahooDiggDeliciousShare
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UpdatedAug 7, 2011 12:24 AM ETCharlie Batch never knew there was such a thing as a 6 a.m.flight up until a couple months ago.The Steelers' veteran backup quarterbackquickly got familiar with early morning plane rides to New YorkCity and Washington in his role as a member of the NFLPA'sExecutive Committee during the near five-month NFL laborstrife.Batch has been one of the 11 player-appointed toprepresentatives made up of current and former players for the pastfour years, and worked tirelessly over the last five monthsalongside some of the most powerful businessmen in the world toensure a fair deal to his fellow teammates.The new collective bargaining agreement was finally ratified bythe players Thursday, even though the Steelers were the one team thatcasted a no vote."He went through hell dealing with this stuff," 15-year veteranJames Farrior said. "He had a lot of responsibility and a lot ofstuff to do over that last five months. I know it was hard forhim."whether it was in New York City or Washington, Batch was frontand center at every marathon meeting during the criticalnegotiations last month between the owners and players"It was a busy, busy five months, let's put it that way," Batchsaid. "There were times that you were drained, and your body saidenough is enough, and it shuts down on you. That happened a coupleof times."Batch is very involved with his Best of the Batch Foundation,especially during the summer, when he runs the largest program inhis foundation, Project C.H.U.C.K, a six-week basketball league foryouth in his hometown of Homestead.The league took place during the crunch time of the labornegotiations in June and July. Still, Batch was able to be therefor his foundation and even find time to attend some summerfootball camps held by some of his teammates, including Ryan Mundyon July 23, two days before the owners approved a new CBA."There were times that I had to split my time," Batch said. "Iwas here doing my camp, but I always want to support everybody elsebecause the support they give me here in Pittsburgh. When it comesdown to it, they understood that I had to leave, but it was toughtrying please everybody."Batch gained an interest in the financial and labor part of thegame when he was in Detroit and wasn't able to participate inintellectual conversations about pension plans or even the CBA withhis elder teammates."It caught my interest right away," Batch said.Batch soon took on the unofficial role of player rep in Detroitbehind Robert Porcher. He did the same when he came to the Steelers in 2002.Batch was appointed Steelers players rep in '06. He thenwas nominated by teammate Ryan Clark two years later to be a partof the executive committee."You have 32 guys that have to vote for you and unanimouslyvoted for me, from a respect factor, it means a lot," Batchsaid.Farrior said: "We voted him that guy for a reason, and that'sbecause we knew he could do the job. He has it in his blood."So much so that teammate Willie Colon believes Batch would be agreat NFLPA head in the future, a job currently held by DeMauriceSmith."To hear that, that means I am doing my job," Batch said. "Itook my job very seriously."Batch didn't rule out even more involvement with the NFLPA afterhis playing career is over."I'll see what happens down the line," Batch said. "Goingthrough it gives you a different perspective. You are sittingacross from the owners when you are going through this fight. It'snot hearsay. You are right there and I was able to relay that to myteammates. I enjoyed that part of it."Terms & Conditions |Privacy |Copyright |? 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Rickey Jackson Throwback Jersey, Lawrence Taylor Throwback Jersey, John Hannah Throwback Jersey, Irving Fryar Throwback Jersey, Paul Krause Throwback Jersey, fanzz jerseys store, Harry Carson Throwback Jersey, Bobby Hebert Throwback Jersey, Morten Andersen Throwback Jersey, John Randle Throwback Jersey, Andre Tippett Throwback Jersey, Archie Manning Throwback Jersey

UpdatedAug 7, 2011 11:20 AM ETLATROBE, Pa. (AP)John Clay kept waiting for the phone to ring during the NFLDraft in April.One round passed. Then a day. Then three.The former Wisconsin running back never saw his name pop up onthe ticker through seven excruciating rounds and 224 picks.He didn't anticipate not getting selected, not after running formore than 2,500 yards and 32 touchdowns during his sophomore andjunior seasons at Wisconsin, his 6-foot-1, 248-pound frame servingas a battering ram behind the team's massive offensive line.He left school a year early, figuring he was a lock. He wasn'tand going undrafted hurt. In a way, Clay says it may be the bestthing that happened to his career.Otherwise, he wouldn't be in camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers,the ''perfect'' place for him to prove the doubters wrong.''You definitely want to use that as motivation,'' Clay said.''You want to show that you can play at this level.''Playing in the NFL and staying in the NFL are two differentthings. The defending AFC champions appear to be just about set atrunning back. Rashard Mendenhall is firmly entrenched at the topafter consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Isaac Redman and third-downspecialist Mewelde Moore are next.After that, things get murky. At 5-11 and 235 lbs., second-yearman Jonathan Dwyer would seem to fit the mold of the ''big'' back,yet didn't exactly distinguish himself last year.There appears to be room for a rookie to make some headway,although the newcomer creating the biggest buzz during the firstweek of camp isn't Clay but Baron Batch.Though Batch's college numbers were ordinary next to Clay's, hedid manage to get drafted. The Steelers chose Batch in the finalround, intrigued by his versatility.Batch ran for 816 yards and five touchdowns last year whileadding 32 receptions and three more scores. He's comfortableoperating in a complicated offense thanks to former Texas Techcoach Mike Leach's complex attack.He's held his own while competing in the ''backs on backers''drill that pits a running back against a hard-charging linebackercoming on the blitz.Still, Batch isn't exactly ready to call himself the rookie tobeat. Sure, he's looked good in one-on-one drills. However, thegame is played with Batch and 10 teammates working as a unit. Heknows he's not as sharp as he needs to be when it comes to learningwhere to go and when to get there.''You guys see that stuff, `God, he did good in backs onbackers' but to me stuff like that doesn't really matter muchbecause if I get in team and I miss on a blitz, that's all it takesto get a quarterback hurt,'' Batch said.Batch understands that because of his size - he's just 210pounds and he played in a system in college that relied heavily onthrowing the ball - he's considered soft.''The fans that saw me in college, they would say, `He runshard, he's tough,''' Batch said. ''I'm just going to show (theSteelers) what they saw when they drafted me.''What the coaches have seen from Batch is an ability to stick hisnose in uncomfortable places. He's been eager to contribute onspecial teams and aggressively worked between the tackles during agoal-line competition on Saturday.The exercise pits the goal-line offense against the goal-linedefense. The offense gets a point if it scores a touchdown from twoyards out. The defense gets a point if it stops the ball short ofthe end zone.Coach Mike Tomlin likes to play the series best-of-seven. Batchand Clay both had opportunities to show what they can do.Batch made it to the end zone at least once, while Clay wasstuffed at the doorstep on the final play.It was the ''welcome to the NFL'' moment for both.Though he didn't come through on the last snap, in truth therewas little room for him to maneuver. Clay, who ran a painfully slow4.8 40-yard dash before the draft, has displayed nimble feet attimes.He spent the NFL lockout trying to get into ''football shape,''and though he hasn't lost weight, he'd like to think he'sredistributed it a little better.Clay understands he'll never be confused with a breakaway back.He's hoping to get the tough yards he's always gotten.His teammates want to see it happen. Moore said he's hoping fora glimpse of ''that Wisconsin style of running'' from Clay.''You know, I just want to pound it, pound it, pound it and getthat home run in the end,'' Clay said. ''If I keep working at it,I'll get a shot.''
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 He added that he holds no grudges against the Ravens and praisedthe fans in Baltimore for supporting him during his time there.Mason just acknowledged that it was simply time for him to moveon.And, he had a feeling he would land with the Jets after sittingdown with Ryan at the team's facility.''I felt like I was in college again,'' he said with a laugh.''When you have someone sitting across from you that understands orknows your work and knows you can play this game and still play itat a high level and respects that, that means a lot. ... That's allit took.''Mason arrived on the field Sunday near the middle of New York'safternoon practice wearing a gray long-sleeve Jets T-shirt andgreen shorts. He shook the hands of both Tannenbaum and owner WoodyJohnson, high-fived a few of his new teammates and then stood nextto Holmes, who pointed things out about the offense.Mason anticipates being able to practice for the first timeMonday and thinks he'll be able to pick the offense up quicklybecause it is a similar system to that run by Baltimore.''Had I not taken two flights in the last four days, I probablycould've been out there today,'' he said.Mason has 924 catches - 12th-most in NFL history - for 11,891yards and 66 touchdowns in a consistently productive career. Hebriefly retired before training camp two years ago, but returnedand appeared rejuvenated. He caught 73 passes - the eighth time inhis career he had at least that many receptions - and posted hiseighth 1,000-yard receiving season before another solid performancea year ago.He'll be wearing his familiar No. 85 after rookie Jeremy Kerley,the Jets' fifth-round draft pick, gave it up before Mason evensigned and took No. 11 instead.''It's something out of respect for a veteran in the game,''Kerley said, ''and Derrick Mason is obviously a great footballplayer, so he deserves the number. It's his number.''Mason understands that Holmes is Sanchez's go-guy and Burresswill serve as the big goal-line presence, and that all suits himjust fine.''We will mesh, and mesh quickly,'' Mason said. ''I'm cominginto a situation that's tailor-made for me.''
UpdatedAug 7, 2011 7:04 PM ETFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP)Jason Snelling has returned to the Atlanta Falcons, agreeing toa one-year deal.Snelling rushed for more than 900 yards while backing up MichaelTurner the last two years. Snelling, who was a restricted freeagent, participated in the team's walkthrough practice on Sundayafternoon.Snelling had 324 yards rushing and two touchdowns and 44 catchesfor 303 yards and three TDs last season, all in a reserve role. Hismost productive season came in 2009, when he started two games andhad 613 yards rushing.Former Falcons backup Jerious Norwood signed with the St. LouisRams after talking with Snelling.Atlanta added running back Jacquizz Rogers in the fifth round ofthe draft. Rogers will compete with Snelling for playing timebehind Turner.official sports jerseys shop, Barry Sanders Throwback Jersey, Troy Aikman Throwback Jersey, Tom Jackson Throwback Jersey, Shannon Sharpe Throwback Jersey, Brett Favre Throwback Jersey, John Elway Throwback Jersey, Bart Starr Throwback Jersey, Dennis Smith Throwback Jersey, Tony Dorsett Throwback Jersey, Terrell Davis Throwback Jersey, Steve Atwater Throwback Jersey