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| | bout over. Ramon Sessions (23rd Jul 16 at 9:36am UTC) | | | MINNEAPOLIS -- Tennessee coach Mike Munchak gambled by playing much of his starting offence in the final preseason game. Steve Bartkowski Jersey . Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier wanted no part of that, and was reminded just how dangerous the NFL can be when one of his backups was carted off the field in the second quarter. Jake Locker went 3 for 5 for 31 yards and led the Titans to a field goal on the opening drive of a 24-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. For Locker, it was chance to get one last bit of work in and build on a solid preseason before they open the regular season at Pittsburgh on Sept. 8. "I feel really comfortable with this group," Locker said. "I like what were doing offensively and Ive got a lot of confidence in what were doing, so Im excited." Hoping to avoid a spot on the practice squad, Rusty Smith completed 13 of 21 passes for 178 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Titans (1-3). Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was 5 for 5 for 61 yards and a touchdown. Marcus Sherels returned a kick 109 yards for a touchdown and intercepted a pass in a last-ditch effort to make the team for the Vikings, who were thankful that a scary collision involving offensive lineman Seth Olsen only resulted in a concussion. Sherels entered the game with a heavy heart, having recently lost his father, and fighting for one of the final cornerback spots. "Its been tough, but with my teammates and the organization and the coaches, theyve all helped me tremendously," Sherels said. "Theyve made it a lot easier." Olsen was taken off the field on a stretcher after linebacker Scott Solomons knee collided with Olsens helmet. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and gave a thumbs-up with his left hand as he was wheeled off the field. A few hours later, Olsen was walking around in the locker room and speaking with teammates. Munchak took the unusual approach of playing his starting quarterback, starting offensive line and several of his most important skill position players in the fourth preseason game. One of the few offensive starters who did not see action was star running back Chris Johnson. But Munchak felt the risk of injury just over a week away from the season opener was outweighed by the desire to get Locker as much work as possible to prepare him for his second full season as the starter. Locker missed five games last season because of a shoulder injury and many consider this year make-or-break for the 2011 first-round pick. So Munchak threw him out there in a game that traditionally calls for coaches to rest starters, especially at the games most important position. Locker led an 18-play drive in the first quarter that ended with a 28-yard field goal by Rob Bironas. The drive did come against the Vikings second-team defence, but it was enough for Munchak, who sent in Fitzpatrick after that. "Were glad it was just one drive and not a few," Munchak said. "We thought wed have that group in for 12 plays with that offensive line group, and they went about (18) plays. "We didnt finish the drive. We got a field goal, but it was all we wanted, to break a sweat and get a workout, have a little success with that group again." Many Vikings fans wanted to see Frazier take the same approach with Christian Ponder, also about to enter his second full season as the starter. Ponder was unimpressive in the first three preseason games, completing 62 per cent of his passes for 184 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Vikings will no doubt ride MVP Adrian Peterson in pursuit of a return to the playoffs, but Ponders development into a consistent playmaker may be the biggest key to their chances. But after watching starting defensive tackle Kevin Williams go down with a knee injury in the third quarter last week at San Francisco, Frazier wasnt about to take any chances with the opener at Detroit so close. "From my standpoint, in todays NFL with the depth issues that you have, its not worth the risk," Frazier said. Titans second-round pick Justin Hunter had four catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 19 of 26 passes for 187 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and Blair Walsh kicked a 25-yard field goal with 1:38 to play to help the Vikings avoid going 0-4 in the preseason. NOTES: Vikings CB Bobby Felder left the game in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle, but Frazier said it wasnt serious. ... If the Vikings wouldve lost, it wouldve been just the second time in franchise history that they went winless in the preseason. The only time was in 1961, when they went 0-5. ... Titans TE Delanie Walker made his preseason debut. He had had arthroscopic knee surgery in June and missed the first three games. ... TE Jack Doyle led the Titans with five catches for 48 yards, including a 2-yard TD from Smith. Sean Weatherspoon Jersey . Sam Carrick and Jerry DAmigo, with an empty-netter, also scored as part of a three-goal third period that broke the game open for Toronto. Josh Leivo, Spencer Aboott and Jerrod Smithson collected two assists apiece in front of an announced crowd of 6,399 at Ricoh Coliseum. Alex Mack Jersey . Here are some of the best from Week Three and players to watch for Week Four: TOP PERFORMERS Andrew Harris, RB, British Columbia (203 YDS, 1 TD, 23 touches at Saskatchewan) - 27-year-old Canadian runner had compiled 3341 yards and 22 touchdowns from scrimmage over the previous two seasons and he burst through with a monster game against the Roughriders last week. http://www.authenticfalconsteamstore.com/Youth-Jalen-Collins-Elite-Jersey/ . Five-time cup winner Sevilla became the nights only topflight team to be upset by a lower-division team when third-tier Racing Santander won 2-0 in Seville to overturn a 1-0 first-leg loss.MILWAUKEE -- Chris Bosh scored 14 points, LeBron James had 13, and the short-handed Miami Heat wrapped up their three-game trip through the Midwest with an 88-67 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. James Jones added 10 for Miami in place of star guard Dwyane Wade, sidelined a second straight game with a sore hamstring. The Heat also played without Ray Allen and Mario Chalmers. It didnt matter against the team with the NBAs worst record. Milwaukee tried to match Miamis energy, but couldnt keep with the more talented opponent -- even one without two All-Stars. Defence keyed Miamis win. The Heat led 46-29 at halftime and held the Bucks to a season low for points in a half and in a game. John Henson had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Milwaukee. On paper, this was a mismatch from the opening tip -- the two-time defending NBA champions against a young, undermanned squad that fell to 14-59 on the season. But the Heat at times played a bit disheveled, perhaps a little worn from their third straight road game and fourth in five contests. James extended his consecutive-game streak of double-digit scoring to 564, the fourth-longest run in NBA history. But James only got to 10 with about 5:16 left in the third quarter on a 3. Fresh off recording a triple-double in a 110-78 blowout win Friday night in Detroit, James had nearly as many turnovers (three) as points (four) in the first half. His two early buckets, though, came off open dunks that thrilled the crowd, a few of whom were wearing James jerseys. Miami opened the game 3-of-14 from the field. The shooting improved, and the Heat clamped down on the other end and held the Bucks to 12-of-39 shoooting (30 per cent) in the first half, and 34 per cent for the game. Tony Gonzalez Falcons Jersey. The Heat held an opponent under 40 per cent shooting for the fourth straight game, and ended their road trip with two straight wins after losing Wednesday in Indiana. Just like Friday night, James spent the fourth quarter on the bench with a victory well in hand. The only drama in the second half when James would get to double digits in scoring. A dunk with 6 minutes left in the third gave Milwaukee a 54-38 lead. Khris Middleton missed a jumper, and James corralled the rebound before spotting up at the wing for his 3 to get to double figures. Zaza Pachulia and Udonis Haslem exchanged buckets before Pachulia missed a jumper with about 4 minutes left. James got the rebound and then threw a long outlet pass to streaking Haslem down court for a layup. James clapped, slapped his right hand on his thigh and waited down court on defence. His night was just about over. Ramon Sessions had a game-high 15 points for Milwaukee, while Toney Douglas and Rashard Lewis each added 13 for the Heat. Bothered by a sore hamstring, Wade watched in a grey suit and white sneakers in returning to the arena in which he played college ball at Marquette. NOTES: Allen, sidelined with a stomach virus, played in Milwaukee from 1996 through part of the 2002-03 season. He holds the franchise record for most 3-point field goals in a game at home with 10. ... Chalmers missed the game with a bruised quad, and Greg Oden was also sidelined by back spasms.... The Bucks have yet to win consecutive games all season. They were coming off a 108-105 win Thursday over the Lakers. Cheap China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China ' ' ' | |
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