lingzi
1454 posts
|
NASHVILLE —The Tennessee Titans arent waiting any longer: Jake Locker is their
starting quarterback. Ziggy Hood Jersey . Titans coach Mike Munchak
said Monday that Locker will start this season over veteran Matt Hasselbeck,
choosing to go with the passer Tennessee hopes to build around after drafting
Locker out of Washington in April 2011. Munchak announced the decision after
practice, saying Locker gives the Titans their best chance to win the AFC South
as their quarterback this season and hopefully for many seasons to come. “By no
means has this job been given to him,” Munchak said. “Hes earned it.” The Titans
(No. 21 in the AP Pro32) had let the quarterbacks compete through the
off-season, with each starting a game this preseason and splitting snaps in
practice. Munchak says Hasselbeck was way ahead of Locker last season, but
Locker caught up and won the job with his ability to move the team and score
points. The eighth pick overall in 2011, Locker will play 40 to 50 snaps
Thursday night against Arizona (No. 23) with three weeks to prep for the opener
Sept. 9 against New England. “Its really cool,” Locker said of the decision.
“Its something Im proud of, but its not going to change my approach on how I
practice or my preparation for a game. That will still all be the same, but it
is cool to be given this opportunity.” Locker also said the competition with
Hasselbeck allowed both to push each other in a positive way. “It forced you to
come back and try to rebound or build on what you had done before,” Locker said.
Munchak said giving Hasselbeck the news was a tough conversation. Munchak helped
talk the veteran into signing a three-year deal with the Titans last July after
the NFL lockout ended, and Hasselbeck turned in the fourth-best season in yards
passing in franchise history. Only Hall of Famer Warren Moon had thrown for
more. Hasselbeck also helped Munchak go 9-7 in his debut season as head coach,
just missing a playoff berth on a tiebreaker. Munchak said Hasselbeck was
exactly what they needed with his leadership and experience. The veteran said
hes been in Lockers shoes and knows its an exciting move for the young
quarterback. “I had the chance to help lead a franchise and help build a
program, and I had a chance to be the guy under centre, and hes got that chance
right now,” Hasselbeck said. “As hard as it was, Munch made his decision, and as
hard as it was for me to hear that, Im also excited for Jake. Ill help and
support him any way I can, and Ill be happy to do it.” Locker has the mobility
Hasselbeck is lacking going into his 14th season. Combined with his toughness
and strong arm, Locker started 40 games for the Huskies, throwing for 7,639
yards with 53 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. With the Titans, Locker threw for
542 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions coming off the bench in five
games as a rookie. “When Jake did get a chance to play last year, he was ready
to go,” Munchak said. “He played well and handled situations. He moved the team.
He brought excitement and energy, and when the season ended, we thought we had
something special, like we did when we drafted him.” In his NFL debut as a
starter last week—a 30-7 win at Tampa Bay—Locker struggled and was
intercepted on his second pass. He was just 4 of 11 for 21 yards but also ran
twice for 24 yards, including a long scramble of 21 yards. Its that mobility
paired with a revived Chris Johnson that the Titans hope will rev up an offence
that was next to last in rushing last season. Maurkice Pouncey Jersey . LOUIS —Even
Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez was starting to lose focus in the later
stages of the Pirates 6-3, 19-inning win over the St. Troy Polamalu Youth Jersey . Danny Boyle, the
artistic director for the games July 27 opening ceremony, on Tuesday unveiled a
model of the set, which will transform the Olympic Stadium in gritty, urban east
London into a rural idyll. http://www.pittsburghsteelersforsale.com/hines-ward-jerseys
. Goals werent a problem for Fulham and Swansea, with both teams enjoying 5-0
routs, while former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas made a miserable return to
English football as Tottenham lost 2-1 at Newcastle. But there were happier
returns to the Premier League for West Ham and Reading, with both teams avoiding
defeat in their first matches since gaining promotion. Ike Taylor Jersey . The rookie will be
sidelined for a while anyway because of a concussion. Mesoraco was placed on the
seven-day disabled list for concussions before Wednesday nights game against San
Diego. Rashard Mendenhall Jersey . —The Metrodome
always felt like a rental property for Zygi and Mark Wilf, two New Jersey real
estate developers who purchased the Minnesota Vikings in 2005 with the hopes of
moving out of the place as quickly as possible.OAKLAND, Calif. —While the
stability of Stephen Currys right ankle remains uncertain, his financial footing
with the Golden State Warriors has never been more secure. Curry signed a $44
million, four-year contract extension before Wednesday nights season opener at
Phoenix that will keep the point guard with the Warriors through the 2016-17
season. It was the final day Golden State could sign Curry to an extension or he
would become a restricted free agent next summer. “I just thought the deal was
too good to pass up right now,” Curry said before the Warriors season opener
against the Suns. “Obviously Ive been through a lot of injuries the last year
and a half with my ankle, but its back strong and ready to go.” Curry missed 40
of 66 games last season and sprained his twice-surgically repaired right ankle
again in the preseason, sitting out the final two exhibitions at the request of
second-year coach Mark Jackson. New Warriors general manager Bob Myers and
owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber felt the point guard was still worth the risk
given his production when healthy. “This is an exciting day for the Warriors and
our fans and it certainly exemplifies the commitment of Joe Lacob and Peter
Guber,” Myers said in a statement. “Were extremely pleased that we have reached
an agreement that will enable Stephen to remain a vital part of our team long
term. His contributions over the last three years, both on the floor and in the
community, have been invaluable to our organization. We certainly expect him to
be an integral part of our future success as he continues to evolve as a player
in all facets of the game.” The 24-year-old Curry averaged career lows of 14.7
points, 5.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds last season. He has still proven to be one
of the NBAs most prolific scorers when hes on the court, shooting 47 per cent
from the field and 44 per cent from 3-point range in his first three seasons.
Curry said he believed in the direction the team is heading. “Ive just seen the
difference from my rookie year of where the organization is going,” he said.
“Its definitely promising and Im optimistic about where we can go, especially
with what we did over the summer and even last year in getting such a deep
roster, them making moods and putting a good product on the floor. Its up to us
now to go out and play. James Harrison Jersey. ” The Warriors are
counting on Curry to form half of the new franchise tandem. Curry is expected to
team with centre Andrew Bogut, who didnt play in the preseason. The team has
said Bogut has not had any setbacks on his surgically repaired left ankle, which
he fractured on Jan. 25 while with Milwaukee and missed the rest of the season.
Bogut came to Golden State in a swap for guard Monta Ellis, among others, before
last seasons trade deadline. Bogut had hoped to return for the season opener,
but the team never set any deadline, and even if the 7-footer from Australia
played it likely wont be for extended minutes. Curry sat out the last two
exhibitions after he sprained his right ankle at Portland on Oct. 19. The former
Davidson star and native of Charlotte, N.C., drafted seventh overall by the
Warriors in 2009, had arthroscopic surgery in April and had surgery to repair a
tendon in the ankle in the summer of 2011. Golden State signed Curry at somewhat
of a discount. Ty Lawson signed a four-year, $48 million extension with the
Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Without the ankle concerns, Curry wouldve likely
commanded at least that much. “Right now, for them to offer me what they did
after what Ive been through says a lot about, one, where my ankle is now, but,
two, just their faith in what I can do,” Curry said. “Obviously things would
have been different playing out the year, me playing well, next year I dont what
the number would have been, but thats not even a question Im asking myself now.
” The Bogut-Curry combo has enough support around it for the Warriors to believe
they have a strong shot to make the playoffs for only the second time since 1994
—if all can stay healthy, which hasnt been the case in recent seasons. Power
forward David Lee, who has averaged close to a double-double most of his career
and missed the end of last season following surgery to repair a torn abdominal
muscle, will start along with second-year shooting guard Klay Thompson and
seventh overall pick Harrison Barnes of North Carolina at small forward. Golden
State is deeper than in recent years, too. Brandon Rush, Jarrett Jack,
Carl Landry and Richard Jefferson fill out a veteran bench complementing rookies
Draymond Green and Festus Ezeli. ’ ’ ’
|
Home
2 posts, 2 voices
waleed20100
909 posts
