Gästebuch » dhen he finally walks away from the game

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Turning around a franchise that has been the NFLs worst over the past two seasons requires an infusion of talent and an attitude change. The Tennessee Titans believe theyve done just that on both counts.New general manager Jon Robinson has sifted through the roster, adding 22 new players, revamping the offense through a handful of trades, and showing the door to some high draft picks from the previous regime. His biggest moves landed DeMarco Murray for coach Mike Mularkeys run-oriented offense, and trading the No. 1 overall selection, which netted more picks that helped add Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.Mularkey has taken care of instilling a physical approach on the field while demanding attention to detail in meeting rooms.Now the Titans have to start proving they arent the franchise that went 5-27 the past two seasons. Safety Rashad Johnson, one of nine veteran free agents signed this offseason who made the roster, knows just how quickly a team can turn from losers to winners from his experience in Arizona.Each and every year this league turns around so much theres so many guys in and out of every locker room, its always a new team, Johnson said.The Titans still around from last years 3-13 squad also expect a big improvement from themselves.Were going to do our best to live up to those expectations, including myself, quarterback Marcus Mariota said. I hate just meeting the expectation. Id rather go above and beyond. Hopefully as a team we can continue to come together and do that this year.Other things to know before the Titans open the season Sunday hosting Minnesota:LOADED BACKFIELD: Tennessees 32-game drought of not having a running back rush for 100 yards should end quickly. Mularkey has made it very clear the Titans will run the ball, and they led the AFC in yards rushing per game in the preseason. Murray looks decisive and strong, with his season in Philadelphia a distant memory. He wont have to carry the entire load, which means he might not near the 1,845 yards he ran for with Dallas in 2014 to earn Offensive Player of the Year. Henry has shown a shiftiness to go with his power, along with very good hands that should make him a reliable target for Mariota.PROTECTING MARIOTA: The No. 2 pick overall turned in quite the rookie season. Mariota had a 91.5 passer rating that was second in franchise history to the late Steve McNair during his co-MVP season in 2003 and Hall of Famer Warren Moon. He also had the NFLs longest run from scrimmage, an 87-yard TD. But he missed two games after spraining each of his knees when hurt in the pocket.Robinson tinkered with the offensive line, signing veteran center Ben Jones away from AFC South rival Houston. After trading away the top pick, Robinson traded back up to select right tackle Jack Conklin at No. 8 out of Michigan State.WHOS CATCHING: Developing a young quarterback means giving him better targets for his passes. Tight end Delanie Walker led Tennessee with a career-year with 94 receptions for 1,088 yards. Nobody else caught more than 36, so Robinson signed Rishard Matthews from Miami and drafted Tajae Sharpe with the first pick of the fifth round; both are set to start. They also signed veteran Andre Johnson whos shown this preseason he still knows how to catch passes.LEBEAU IN CHARGE: Tennessee made huge strides last season with Dick LeBeau assisting defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Now LeBeau is the coordinator after Horton left for Cleveland after losing the head coaching job to Mularkey. A unit that ranked 12th in yards allowed still has plenty of room for improvement after being 27th in points allowed. Depth behind the starters has improved. Johnson was signed to take over at free safety for Michael Griffin, who was released in February. Both starting cornerbacks, Jason McCourty and Perrish Cox, finally are healthy and should be together on the field for the first time for Mularkey in the opener.PENALTY WATCH: The Titans ranked second last season in fewest penalties, and nobody in the NFL was flagged less than Tennessee in the final eight games after Mularkey became interim head coach. Determined to keep the Titans from hurting themselves, he had officials working practices since the offseason program.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker Dean Lowry Super Bowl Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Marcedes Lewis Super Bowl Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Marquez-Valdes-Scantling-Packers-Jersey/ . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Bryan Bulaga Super Bowl Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Clay Matthews Super Bowl Jersey . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. BALTIMORE -- Rick Porcello and the Boston Red Sox appear poised to extend their late-season charge deep into October.Porcello pitched a four-hitter for his major league-high 21st victory, David Ortiz and Mookie Betts hit two-run homers and Boston beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Monday night to pad its lead in the AL East.Coming off a four-game sweep of the Yankees, the Red Sox extended their surge in the opener of an important four-game series for both clubs. Boston has won 10 of 13 and stands atop the division by a season-high four games.Its never over until its over, but were definitely going to try to increase the gap between us and them, Porcello said.Adam Jones homered and Mark Trumbo picked up his 102nd RBI for the second-place Orioles, who started the day with a one-game lead over Toronto for the top AL wild card.Weve got three more here against (the Red Sox), Baltimores Manny Machado said. Well just put it on a track where we need to be.Bostons goal over the next three days will be to put away the Orioles for good.Were going to try, Ortiz said.Porcello (21-4) struck out seven and walked none in his third complete game of the year. Five days earlier against Baltimore, the right-hander gave up one run in eight innings but took the loss.In this one, he threw only 89 pitches -- 65 in the strike zone.When its his day on the mound, he sets the tone for us, manager John Farrell said. Did once again.Porcello has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 straight starts and is sure to receive strong consideration for the AL Cy Young Award after going 9-15 last year.All of us are honored to be mentioned for those awards, he said. But Ive been saying it all year, our focus is winning and what we want to accomplish as a team.Playing his final regular-season series in Baltimore, the 40-year-old Ortiz connected against rookie Dylan Bundy (9-6) with a man on in the fifth for a 5-1 lead. It was his 35th home run of the season and the 53rd of hiss career against the Orioles.ddddddddddddhen he finally walks away from the game, Ortiz will certainly miss taking his cuts at Camden Yards.Yeah, man, its just super nice. I like it, he said, especially when its warm like it is.Betts put Boston up 2-0 with his 31st homer in the third. It was his eighth home run in seven games at Camden Yards -- most in a season by a Red Sox in a visiting ballpark since Jimmie Foxx hit eight in St. Louis in 1939.Porcello retired the first 11 batters before hitting Machado with a pitch in the fourth. Trumbo followed with an RBI double.The Red Sox responded with a three-run fifth. Dustin Pedroia snapped an 0-for-12 skid with a run-scoring single before Ortiz launched a 1-1 pitch over the 25-foot scoreboard in right field.Jones homered in the eighth, his 28th.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: RHP Steven Wright (shoulder) has started a throwing program at the teams spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, but Farrell did not give an estimated date for his return. Wright (13-6, 3.33 ERA) last pitched on Aug. 31. . Farrell said OF Andrew Benintendi has been cleared to play in back-to-back games. He returned from a left knee sprain last Tuesday.Orioles: OF Steve Pearce will have surgery to repair flexor tendons in his right forearm in New York on Wednesday and is expected to be out 4-6 months. Baltimore placed Pearce on the 60-day DL on Sunday. . LHP Wade Miley threw Monday and is feeling much better after leaving Sundays start with a strained muscle in his back, manager Buck Showalter said.UP NEXTRed Sox: Former Oriole Eduardo Rodriguez (2-7, 4.98) makes his fourth start this season against Baltimore on Tuesday night. Hes 1-1.Orioles: Kevin Gausman (8-10, 3.43) seeks his sixth straight victory. The right-hander blanked Boston over eight innings to beat Porcello last Thursday night. ' ' '