PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger believes his right arm feels as good as it has at any point in his 15-year career. Maybe too good.
While the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback threw for 114 yards and a touchdown in his brief preseason cameo during a 16-6 victory over Tennessee on Saturday Womens Lamar Jackson Jersey , the 36-year-old admits it’s the throws he didn’t make that will stick with him as the defending AFC North champions get ready for the Sept. 9 season opener at Cleveland.
“I wasn’t real happy with the way I threw the ball tonight,” said Roethlisberger, who completed 11 of 18 passes in three series. “I was kind of sailing some passes.”
Blame it on a combination of rust and the adrenaline rush that comes when facing an opposing pass rush for the first time in eight months.
Still, there was plenty to like from Roethlisberger and the starting offense even without star wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell, including a 32-yard rainbow from Roethlisberger to Justin Hunter in the first quarter for Pittsburgh’s lone touchdown.
“I wanted to leave one in play for him and I’m glad he made the play,” Roethlisberger said.
New offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner allowed Roethlisberger to do a little bit of everything. They dabbled in no-huddle, earned at least two first downs on all three drives and Roethlisberger managed to spread the ball around even as he tried to get a handle on his accuracy.
“A lot of guys caught passes and guys made plays,” Roethlisberger said. “So when you don’t have those big names out there, I like it because it showed to everybody that we can do it.”
MARIOTA OFF THE MARK
Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota’s hot start to the preseason — he’d led the Titans to touchdowns on two of the three drives he worked coming in — came to an abrupt halt against a defense that led the NFL in sacks last season.
Mariota completed just 5 of 8 passes for 43 yards while playing most of the first half. He missed a wide-open Corey Davis for what would have been a long touchdown on Tennessee’s opening drive and his afternoon ended late in the second quarter when Steelers rookie safety Terrell Edmunds picked off a floater intended for Taywan Taylor.
“Should’ve made that throw on third down, give Corey a chance to score,” Mariota said. “They busted the coverage. We should’ve made the most of that one.”
Davis took the blame for the incompletion, calling it a “miscommunication.” Either way it was as close as Tennessee’s first-string offense came to a big play. Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis combined for 23 yards rushing on eight carries. Tennessee’s lone touchdown came on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Blaine Gabbert to tight end Anthony Firkser in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve shown flashes of stuff we can do, we show flashes of potential, but potential means nothing Womens JuJu Smith-Schuster Jersey ,” Mariota said. “You’ve got to go out there and continue to get better and looking at this game, this past game, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”
BACKING UP BELL
While Bell remains away from the team while waiting to sign his franchise tender, James Conner and rookie Jaylen Samuels impressed against the Titans. Conner ran 10 times for just 18 yards but also caught six passes for 52 yards, a portion of his game that has not been a strong suit.
Samuels, a fifth-round pick trying to earn a roster spot, was a workhorse in the second half. He ran 11 times for 41 yards and caught four passes for another 36.
“I’m not even happy,” Samuels said. “I’m not satisfied yet. I had a good game but there’s still work to do, still improvement to do.”
MADE MEN
The Steelers signed inside linebacker Vince Williams to a new four-year deal on Thursday just hours after inking Pro Bowl kicker Chris Boswell to a new five-year contract. Both showed why they’re worth the money. Williams took down Mariota in the second quarter for the first of Pittsburgh’s six sacks while Boswell converted all three of his field-goal attempts.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
There were no outward signs of protest during the national anthem.
POSITION BATTLES
The Steelers remain in search of a punt returner. Pittsburgh gave second-year safety Cam Sutton a shot in the first half. He ended up fumbling on his first return (though it was recovered by teammate Rosie Nix) and making a fair catch on another. Rookie wide receiver Quadree Henderson, an All-American as a return specialist at Pitt, returned two punts for 14 yards.
Landry Jones appears set as the primary backup behind Roethlisberger. He completed 6 of 9 passes for 44 yards and a pick. Rookie Mason Rudolph hit on 7 of 11 passes for 65 yards. Second-year quarterback Josh Dobbs did not play.
INJURY WATCH
Titans rookie linebacker Harold Landry, in the midst of an impressive first camp after being taken in the second round of the draft, left with an ankle injury in the first half and did not return. Tennessee remains without Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker, who is out after getting hurt during a joint practice with Tampa Bay. Linebacker Brian Orakpo (shoulder) missed his third straight game.
Pittsburgh rookie wide receiver James Washington left in the second half with an abdominal injury. Wide receiver Marcus Tucker went down with an ankle issue and tight end Jesse James has a contusion on his back.
UP NEXT
Titans: Finish up the preseason when they host Minnesota on Thursday.
Steelers: Play their annual exhibition finale against Carolina on Thursday when the Panthers visit Heinz Field.
Josh Gordon's troubled tenure with the Cleveland Browns has ended.
The team isn't going to help him any longer. He let them down for the final time.
The Browns announced Saturday night that it intends to release the former Pro Bowl wide receiver Youth Ben Roethlisberger Jersey , whose immense talent has been overshadowed by substance abuse that has derailed a promising career.
The stunning news came just hours after the Browns said Gordon would miss Sunday's game in New Orleans with a mysterious hamstring injury. Gordon has been suspended by the NFL for most of the past four seasons because of multiple drug violations, and the Browns have been supportive of the 27-year-old for years as he tried to get his life together.
Not anymore.
"This afternoon we informed Josh Gordon and his representatives that we are going to release him on Monday," general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. "For the past six years, the Browns have fully supported and invested in Josh, both personally and professionally and wanted the best for him, but unfortunately we've reached a point where we feel it's best to part ways and move forward. We wish Josh well."
The team provided no specifics about what prompted their decision to part ways with Gordon. He reported to the team's headquarters earlier in the day, and spokesman said Gordon was evaluated by doctors and the decision was made to keep him home because of the hamstring.
Gordon posted a message on his Instagram account thanking the city of Cleveland.
"This place will always feel like home to me," Gordon said. "''I'm extremely honored and blessed to grow up and start a life amongst such a passionate and motivated group of individuals. It's been a hell of a journey with you guys. I wish all of you nothing but the best."
Gordon went on to thank the Browns "for having me. I'll never forget me time here. Same book, next chapter."
He ended the post with, "P.S. Anybody need a deep threat WR??"
It's unclear what his imminent release means for Gordon's playing future. Gordon was in the league's substance-abuse program and if he failed another drug test, he could be facing more discipline.
It's possible the Browns will try to trade Gordon before Monday so they can recoup something for a player whose has wasted his massive potential. If Cleveland releases Gordon, he'll be a free agent and can sign anywhere.
Losing Gordon is a major blow to Cleveland's offense. The Browns have receivers Jarvis Landry, rookie Antonio Callaway and Rashard Higgins, but none of them poses the same deep-field threat as the 6-foot-3 Womens Landon Collins Jersey , 225-pound Gordon who has breakaway speed.
The Browns have had negotiations with former Dallas star Dez Bryant, but the sides have not been able to work out a deal.
Gordon missed three weeks of training camp this summer to undergo counseling and treatment, and he recently said he was in a good place mentally and physically.
Gordon played in last week's season opener against Pittsburgh, his first appearance in a Week 1 game since 2012, when he was a rookie.
On Wednesday, Gordon, who played 69 snaps last week, said he was glad to have the opener behind him and was looking forward to playing the Saints.
"Physically I felt great," he said. "It was good to get that experience and that feeling underneath me, especially an overtime game, the weather and everything, the amount of snaps and reps, it's good for my body to feel that. I feel great now. I felt great during the game, it was just good to see that my motor was at a decent point at that late in the game."
Gordon was expected to have an expanded role this week against the Saints after being targeted just three times in a 21-21 tie against the Steelers. He caught a game-tying http://www.jaguarscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-blake-bortles-jersey , 17-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but was mostly used as a decoy.
Gordon started the opener despite coach Hue Jackson saying he wouldn't be on the field for the first snap as punishment for missing camp. Jackson blamed Gordon's appearance on the first play a "mistake" and "miscommunication," and Gordon said he was shocked to be on the field.
Jackson refused to elaborate on the situation this week, saying he and the coaching staff wanted to "move on."
Gordon emerged as one of pro football's most dynamic players in 2013, when he led the league with 1,646 yards receiving and scored nine touchdowns. However, he's been in a downward spiral since and Gordon by Commissioner Roger Goodell for the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons.
He sat out the first 11 games last year before returning for Cleveland's final five games, and caught 18 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown.
His teammates had been encouraged by Gordon's commitment to staying clean and turning his life around. Other than his unexpected absence from training camp, Gordon had been a solid teammate and there was hope he had finally turned the corner after so many setbacks.
The Browns selected Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft despite his background of drug use in college.
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27.09.2018 03:10
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