вторник, 13 марта 2012 г.

NFL NOTEBOOK Chargers make Tomlinson NFL's highest-paid RB

The San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson signed the richestcontract for a running back in NFL history Saturday, a deal worthnearly $60 million.

The star back will receive $21 million in guaranteed money in theeight-year deal.

Tomlinson's contract surpasses that of the Washington Redskins'Clinton Portis, whose eight-year deal is worth $50.5 million.

"This is a momentous occasion for the Chargers and all Chargerfans," said team president Dean Spanos. "LaDainian representseverything you want from a player. He is our role model."

Tomlinson credited Spanos' involvement in the negotiations as akey to settling on the deal.

"It means a lot," he said. "To me, it meant that he cared about itand that he wanted to get [the contract] done.

Last season, Tomlinson became the first player in NFL history torush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in one season. InTomlinson's three years in the NFL, he has rushed for 4,564 yards and37 touchdowns.

COWBOYS SHUT DOWN: David Carr was 7-for-8 for 89 yards and atouchdown in the Houston Texans' 18-0 victory over the Dallas Cowboysin their preseason opener. The game featured the debuts of VinnyTestaverde, Eddie George and Keyshawn Johnson as Cowboys.

Testaverde, the nominal starter after the Cowboys cut incumbentQuincy Carter on Aug. 4, was 4-of-7 for 34 yards, including one 13-yard completion to Johnson. George ran for 12 yards on five carries.

Leading the Cowboys reserves onto the field in the second quarterwas quarterback Drew Henson, the former Michigan star and New YorkYankees prospect.

Henson, who went 8-for-11 for 94 yards, showed his promise on hissecond series when he completed his first four passes and drove theCowboys to the Houston 9-yard line. Then Henson, who hadn't played afootball game since the 2001 Citrus Bowl, fired a ball directly toTexans safety Jason Simmons near the goal line.

QB BATTLE BEGINS: Jay Fiedler and A.J. Feeley battled to a draw intheir quarterback competition, with both helping the host MiamiDolphins beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 16-5 in the first preseasongame for both teams.

In the absence of Ricky Williams, the Dolphins won without arunning game. Miami totaled 30 yards on 22 carries until undraftedrookie Fred Russell burst up the middle for an 88-yard gain in thefinal minute.

Fiedler was 7-for-11 for 89 yards. He started, played three seriesand led Miami to two field goals.

With second-team players on both sides, Feeley went 8-for-12 for105 yards with an interception on a pass tipped at the line. Oneincompletion was a spike to stop the clock, and another wasintentional grounding.

Feeley played three series and led the Dolphins to one score,moving them 66 yards in the final two minutes of the first half for afield goal.

FEELING GREEN: Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green's return toMinnesota -- and to coaching -- was marred by penalties and a flatoffense, and the Vikings beat the Cardinals 23-6 in their preseasonopener.

Green coached his first NFL game since the Vikings, the team heled for 10 seasons, fired him in 2001. He has a lot of work ahead ofhim.

The Cardinals were flagged nine times for 72 yards. Startingquarterback Josh McCown went 4-for-6 for 29 yards in limited action.Green also limited rookie receiver Larry Fitzgerald and running backEmmitt Smith, who both sustained mild injuries.

The Vikings' starting offense, the league's best last season,started slowly before quarterback Daunte Culpepper hit receiver RandyMoss for a 48-yard score to start the second quarter. Culpepperfinished 8-for-10 for 120 yards with one touchdown and oneinterception.

DUO DYNAMIC: Joey Harrington completed passes to Charles Rogers onthree of the Lions' first seven plays, and host Detroit held on for a27-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the preseason openerfor both teams.

Brian St. Pierre, the Steelers' third-string quarterback,converted a fourth-and-28 on the final drive, and with the clockrunning out, his pass into the end zone was deflected by cornerbackJeff Sanchez.

Rogers, the No. 2 overall pick in 2003, played for the first timesince missing the final 11 games last season with a brokencollarbone. He had three receptions, all first downs, for 56 yards toset up Harrington's one-yard touchdown pass to Casey FitzSimmons atthe end of the first quarter.

Harrington, the third pick overall two years ago, was 5-for-7 for68 yards and a touchdown in his only drive.

ELSEWHERE: Chris Brown ran for 46 yards on six carries, and SteveMcNair threw for a touchdown as the Tennessee Titans beat theCleveland Browns 24-3. ... John Kasay kicked a 52-yard field goalwith 7:31 left in overtime as the Carolina Panthers spoiled JoeGibbs' homecoming with a 23-20 victory. ... Sebastian Janikowskikicked four field goals, including the winning kick from 39 yards astime expired, as the Oakland Raiders beat the San Francisco 49ers 33-30.

GAME CHANGE: The exhibition game between the Cincinnati Bengalsand Tampa Bay Buccaneers was rescheduled for 6:30 Monday night atRaymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., following its postponementSaturday because of Hurricane Charley.

AP

Комментариев нет:

Отправить комментарий