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UpdatedAug 19, 2011 6:26 AM ETTAMPA - They should forget the score. It means Saints Jeremy Shockey Jersey nothing.They should ignore the groans from the bleachers, and the angryventing of the message boards. At this point in August, it's allless than frivolous.What the Buccaneers should take from Thursday night's preseasondud against New England was the utter helplessness they must havefelt.The shock. The frustration. The sting.Now that is worth remembering.For this is a team that has come far on confidence and swagger.A Premier Lance Moore Jersey team that defied expectations a year ago, Replica Jeremy Shockey Jersey and embraced itsgrowing celebrity in training camp."We needed to face a team like that in the second preseasongame," defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. Cheap Lance Moore Jersey "It shows us where we'reat, and now we can judge ourselves accordingly."In this case, the verdict is not favorable.The first-string Bucs did not Replica Lance Moore Jersey block and did nottackle. They did not run, did not cover, and when it was over theyprobably did not floss.If you think a 28-0 halftime score sounds bad, I'm telling youit looked worse. Tampa Bay's defense gave up an average of 7.9yards a play in the first quarter. As a counter argument, the Bucs offense gained an average of1.6 yards on its plays.And when they weren't getting humiliated by the Patriots, theywere getting Authentic Lance Moore Jersey browbeat by the officials with 10 penalties in thefirst half alone.It was Premier Jeremy Shockey Jersey about as thorough as a 30-minute beating can get. And bythe time it was over, the one true casualty was hope."I don't know if it was a slap in the face, but it was a realitycheck," guard Davin Joseph said. "When you don't convert on thirddown, you're not going to win many games. When you get a lot ofpenalties, you're not Lance Moore Stitched Jersey going to win many games. When you can'tprotect your quarterback and keep him standing up straight, you'renot going to win Jeremy Shockey Jersey Outlet many games. And that was the sum of our offensetonight."Just to reiterate, the final result is inconsequential. Thatgoes without saying in the preseason. The object of these games isnot to take a snapshot of the scoreboard, but to get a glimpse ofthe NFL Lance Moore Jersey future.So game plans, substitutions and motivations have nothing incommon with what goes on Jeremy Shockey Stitched Jersey in the regular season.Still, it was the breadth of the beating that was so disturbing.This wasn't a question of the Bucs pulling their starters after ahandful of plays. And it wasn't turnovers or flukes.Josh Freeman was in the huddle for five possessions, and nevergot the Jeremy Shockey Jersey On sale ball past midfield. The drives, if you want to call themthat, went 1, 2, 13, minus-9 and 10 yards.The defensive starters stuck around for about four drives, andsurrendered three touchdowns to Tom Brady and Co.When your punter is in the running for MVP, you know it was along night.So does this wipe out all of the good will created by NFL Jeremy Shockey Jersey lastweek's 25-0 Free Shipping Lance Moore Jersey trampling of Kansas City? Not at all. It is simply theflip side - or perhaps the downside - to youngry. For, sometimes itcan turn yugly. Or yawful. Or yelpless."If we're going to be a contender, we can't go from a great gamelike we played last week to a game like this," Reebok Lance Moore Jersey Joseph said. "That'swhat we've got to learn. We have to be consistent from week toweek. It's not a big deal in the preseason, but we can't afford todo this in the regular season."This team Authentic Jeremy Shockey Jersey is still as young and hungry as last week. It stillhas more weapons on offense than a lot of teams, and more potentialon defense than we have seen in quite some time.The thing you have to remember is that most of Tampa Bay'sdefensive linemen still have student IDs in their wallets. And thatthe 25-year-olds are considered old-school.A team as young as this one Reebok Jeremy Shockey Jersey is bound to have growing pains. Alinebacker will lose a tight end in coverage. A defensive linemanmight overpursue at times. A running back will miss a block, and aquarterback will hold the ball too long.That doesn't cheap Jeremy Shockey Jersey mean the Bucs are heading for a fall, it'sjust a reminder that there will be moments when this team plays asyoung as its birth certificates.Take the defensive front seven, for instance. A week ago theywere physical. They were active. They were flying into the KansasCity backfield.And yet, six days later, they looked befuddled.As for Jeremy Shockey Jersey Free shipping the Bucs offense, that might have beeneven more disappointing. This unit is practically intact from lastseason. The offensive line is expensive and experienced.And yet there were defensive ends and Jeremy Shockey Jersey 88 linebackers coming left,right and straight up the gut. There were no holes for LaGarretteBlount, and no open receivers for Freeman.The good news is this game does not have to mean Lance Moore Jersey 16 a thing in thestandings.Just as long as the Bucs do not forget the lessonslearned on this night.John Romano can be reached at romano@sptimes.com

UpdatedAug 19, 2011 4:40 AM ETHOUSTON (AP)Gary Kubiak is facing another tough special teams decision intraining camp.This time, the Texans coach is deciding between punters, notkickers.Rookie Brett Hartmann and Brad Maynard are vying for the jobafter the Texans lost Matt Turk in free agency. Hartmann had a52-yard punt Jeremy Shockey Jersey Outlet in Monday's preseason opener, but Maynard, a 14-yearveteran had a better net average Replica Jeremy Shockey Jersey - 38.3 yards to Hartmann's31.8.''Maynard can directional punt and is a really good`inside-the-20' kind of guy,'' Kubiak said. ''Hartmann, the youngman has got a bigger leg, has hit some of the bomb-type punts, buthe has been inconsistent.''Houston, meanwhile, is set with its kicker.Neil Rackers connected from 47 and 49 yards in Monday's game,and has been reliable Cheap Lance Moore Jersey since beating out Kris Brown for the job lastyear. Rackers went 27 for 30 and was perfect inside 40 yards in2010.Houston has no other kickers in camp this year, but Premier Lance Moore Jersey Rackersstill feels pressure to produce.''I compete with me,'' he said. ''I expect to go out and makeevery kick. I've got to make `em all. You've got 20 guys working toget the ball down the field, and it's my job to get three points onthe board. If I Authentic Jeremy Shockey Jersey go out and miss a bunch of kicks, trust me, therewill be somebody else in here tomorrow.''Kubiak says Rackers will also have some input in the puntingcompetition. Maynard and Hartmann both took turns holding forRackers at the end of Thursday's practice, and Kubiak said thatwill factor into the final cut.''We have to make sure he feels good about who's holding for himon kicks,'' Kubiak said.Maynard was Authentic Lance Moore Jersey Robbie Gould's regular holder in Chicago for thepast six seasons, and Gould's 85.9 percent career accuracy rate istops Jeremy Shockey Stitched Jersey in Bears' history and third on the NFL's career list.''You've got to be consistent for him (the kicker), he's got totrust that you're going to get the spot down, even if there's a badsnap,'' Maynard said. ''You've just got to be able to get the jobdone.''Maynard held many of Gould's kicks in frigid, blustery weatherand says holding will be much easier in Premier Jeremy Shockey Jersey the controlled climate ofReliant Stadium, which has a retractable roof.He's also looking forward to punting in warmer temperatures, andwithout the Replica Lance Moore Jersey swirling winds he frequently dealt with in SoldierField. Maynard averaged a career-low 40.1 yards for Lance Moore Jersey 16 the Bears lastseason.''Kicking the ball here in December versus kicking the ball inChicago in December? It's night and day,'' he said. ''I've lookedat my career in Chicago and know the number of Jeremy Shockey Jersey Free shipping punts Jeremy Shockey Jersey On sale that I hadthat were affected by the NFL Lance Moore Jersey wind or the cold. I'm not going to havethat problem here, so I expect to have a lot better numbers Reebok Lance Moore Jersey herethan in Chicago.''My entire career, I looked at guys who played in domes, and Ialways wanted cheap Jeremy Shockey Jersey that opportunity,'' the 37-year-old Maynard said.''The control I have with the football, I think it'll be excitingto see.''Hartmann, an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan, wasalso attracted to the warm climate and kicking conditions inHouston. He said he talked to a few teams when Jeremy Shockey Jersey 88 free agency opened,but always had the Texans at the top of his list.''Something drew me to coming here,'' Hartmann said. ''The warmweather, kicking indoors, that had a lot to do with it.''Hartmann and Maynard have developed an easy rapport, despite thecompetition.Last year, Brown acknowledged that he treated Rackers rudely inoffseason workouts because he only saw Rackers as a threat to hisjob. But Free Shipping Lance Moore Jersey by the end of the training camp, the two had become closefriends.Hartmann says he's Reebok Jeremy Shockey Jersey encountered no animosity from Maynard.''It's been fine, it's been professional,'' Hartmann said. ''Wecompete on the field. When we're punting, we're focused onourselves. But off the field, it's not NFL Jeremy Shockey Jersey like there's any tension. Wekind of go our separate ways, but we talk about things.''Maynard has been through similar competitions before, and isopen to answering Hartmann's questions and offering advice.''I've done this several times, Lance Moore Stitched Jersey and I know how to handle it,''Maynard said. ''Obviously, this is his first time going through it.There's nothing I wouldn't tell him. I'm here. He can use me as aresource if he wants, so it's fine.''Kubiak says he'll be looking for more consistency Saints Jeremy Shockey Jersey from Hartmannduring the Texans' second preseason game against New Orleans onSaturday. He's also considering Hartmann on kickoffs.

UpdatedAug 19, Jeremy Shockey Jersey Outlet 2011 6:26 AM ETThe campus of Northern Arizona University is noisy withconstruction this summer. Away from the cement trucks, quarterbackKevin Kolb and the Arizona Cardinals also Premier Lance Moore Jersey are laying afoundation.Minus retired star quarterback Kurt Warner, the Cardinals went 5-11 in 2010. Theycut 2006 first-round pick Matt Leinart before the regular seasonand started veteran Derek Anderson Replica Lance Moore Jersey and rookies John Skelton and MaxHall.Kolb, a Lance Moore Stitched Jersey fifth-year veteran, was acquired in a trade with thePhiladelphia Lance Moore Jersey 16 Eagles for Pro Bowl cornerback Jeremy Shockey Jersey 88 DominiqueRodgers-Cromartie. A concussion in last season's opener cost Kolb ashot Jeremy Shockey Jersey Free shipping to succeed Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia. Michael Vick tookover, and Kolb never Jeremy Shockey Stitched Jersey regained the starting role.Now, he is getting to know a new NFL Jeremy Shockey Jersey offense and targets such asformer Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap and superstar widereceiver Larry Fitzgerald.In Arizona's preseason opening win against the Oakland Raiders,Kolb connected on four of seven passes for 68 yards, including a43-yarder to Fitzgerald. His next test comes today at the SuperBowl champion Green Bay Packers."After the (Oakland) game, we came back for our first practiceand I felt totally comfortable," he says. "Then came the nextonslaught of installs and plays and different packages. So my mindgot a little twisted there the first couple of days. But that'spart of the process."Heap signed as a free agent after 10 seasons with the Ravens.The Arizona native welcomes the Flagstaff climate. On a 100-degreeday in Phoenix, it's in the low 80s or high 70s here. But Reebok Lance Moore Jersey at 7,000feet, the air is thinner. "When we go to do the conditioning test... you can feel the wind sucked Saints Jeremy Shockey Jersey out of you," he says.Heap also is adjusting to a new offense and Kolb. "Obviously,we're both young in this Free Shipping Lance Moore Jersey offense, and we're both learning Authentic Lance Moore Jersey quickly,"he says. "But to see his progression in such a short period of time... he looks like he can be a really good quarterback in thisleague."Fitzgerald, five-time Pro Bowler, knows the offense. He isgetting to know Kolb, and vice versa. Authentic Jeremy Shockey Jersey Because of his ability to goup and snatch Cheap Lance Moore Jersey balls, Fitzgerald can be open when others NFL Lance Moore Jersey arenot."He creates some mismatches that aren't like anywhere else inthe NFL," Kolb says. "If Jeremy Shockey Jersey On sale it's one-one-one, he's open, so you haveto teach yourself to throw into those type situationssometimes."He and Fitzgerald are working on that."Every day, I'm going to go out there and Premier Jeremy Shockey Jersey show Kevin that he cantrust me, he Reebok Jeremy Shockey Jersey can rely on me to go make tough catches in tightcoverages and that he can use me as a security blanket, a safetynet, so to speak," Fitzgerald says.Kolb also is adjusting to the new language of Arizona'soffense."If you speak English and you're trying to speak Spanish, atsome point in the progression you'll start to hear it in Spanishand think of it in Spanish," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhuntsays."I think he's made a lot of progress, that he hears cheap Jeremy Shockey Jersey it in ourterminology and sees the concept in our terminology."Kolb expects fluency in all facets of the offense by theregular-season opener."Besides the game-planning part of it, we're pretty much donewith the core install Replica Jeremy Shockey Jersey of the offense now, and I understand it all,"he says.That includes the lingo."I'm thinking Cardinals," Kolb says. "As long as Idon't pick up the phone and talk to anybody with the Eagles andstuff, I'm fine."

 UpdatedAug 19, 2011 4:42 AM ETSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)David Akers is still trying to get comfortable in his Authentic Jeremy Shockey Jersey newsurroundings after spending the past 12 seasons in Philadelphia,and coming to the San Francisco 49ers isn't exactly an easyadjustment.Even Reebok Jeremy Shockey Jersey for a five-time Pro Bowl kicker, there NFL Jeremy Shockey Jersey might not be atougher NFL stadium for field goals than Candlestick Park - wherethe swirling wind, damp grass and constant weather changes alongthe bay provide a whole new set of challenges.That makes San Francisco's preseason home opener Saturday nightagainst the cross-bay rival Oakland Raiders all the more importantfor Akers, marking his first chance to crack Candlestick's code ina 49ers uniform."I've played in a lot of windy conditions. I would hope that Icould figure it out," Replica Lance Moore Jersey Akers said Thursday. "As a kicker, you enjoythat challenge."Akers already Free Shipping Lance Moore Jersey has been scouring the Bay Area for tips.The best guidelines came from his predecessor, Joe Nedney, themost accurate kicker in franchise history. Nedney, alsoleft-footed, couldn't return because of recurring knee injuries,although he was eager to pass on his knowledge."He told me that you feel the Reebok Lance Moore Jersey wind, and then once it gets to theend zone it dies, so the Jeremy Shockey Jersey Outlet ball doesn't turn as Jeremy Shockey Jersey On sale much," Akers said."Would have been nice to know before."The Stick always has been an adventurous place for Premier Jeremy Shockey Jersey kickers, andAkers has experienced it in person.In a 2008 game at Jeremy Shockey Jersey 88 San Francisco, the 49ers blocked one of hisfield-goal attempts Authentic Lance Moore Jersey and returned it for a touchdown. He also hashad a second attempt partially tipped and another in which he hadthree different holders because of injuries.With an offense that has struggled to put up points, the 49ersare counting on Akers to find his old Premier Lance Moore Jersey groove.Akers set Eagles franchise records for points, field goals,extra points, games played in the regular season and in theplayoffs. He was selected to the NFL's All-Decade team for the2000s, and only Morten Andersen (seven) and Jan Stenerud (six) havemade more Pro Bowls among placekickers.The 36-year-old is coming off consecutive Pro Bowl seasons andshowed no signs of slowing down last year, setting a career highwith 23 touchbacks. But the Eagles drafted kicker Alex Henery inthe fourth round, making Akers expendable."It was tough to leave, sure," he said. "Even just looking atthe different color schemes on the jersey now is weird. But that'spart of the business, so you Jeremy Shockey Jersey Free shipping move on."Akers signed a three-year deal with San Francisco, but he hasyet to kick at Candlestick since joining the team. He missed theonly practice at the stadium Sunday because he traveled to Texas totestify Saints Jeremy Shockey Jersey in a case against Triton Financial.Prosecutors are accusing the company's NFL Lance Moore Jersey chief executive ofbuilding a $50 million Ponzi scheme. Akers testified he lost $3.7million from 2007-2009, but declined to talk about the case outsidethe courtroom.Although the climate at the team's Santa Clara training facilitysome 40 miles south of the stadium can Cheap Lance Moore Jersey be entirely different -drier, 15 to Lance Moore Stitched Jersey 20 degrees warmer and less windy - new coach JimHarbaugh isn't concerned about Akers' lack of experience on thefield."Nobody knows the wind better than the punters or kickers,"Harbaugh said. "They know cheap Jeremy Shockey Jersey the wind better than anybody could teachit to them. So it's a matter of just going out and doing ithere."Akers doesn't believe his new home stadium will be all thatdifferent than one in his early playing days.He kicked in Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium before the Eaglesleft following the 2002 season, and the franchise's longtime homehad its own share of windy conditions. After making Lance Moore Jersey 16 a 59-yarder inthe preseason opener at New Orleans, he's confident Jeremy Shockey Stitched Jersey he can kick nomatter where he's at."It's not like you're playing a round of golf and you get thelayout of the course," he said. "Each day's different, each Replica Jeremy Shockey Jersey courseis different. I think your comfort level just kind of builds."---Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at:www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP

UpdatedAug 19, 2011 12:25 PM ETTAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Tom Brady showed midseason form in Cheap Lance Moore Jersey hispreseason debut.After sitting out New England's preseason opener in Week 1, thereigning NFL MVP tossed a pair of touchdowns and completed 11 of 19passes in the New England Patriots' 31-17 win over Authentic Jeremy Shockey Jersey the TampaBay Buccaneers last night.Brady threw for 118 yards in one Authentic Lance Moore Jersey half Replica Lance Moore Jersey of work, NFL Lance Moore Jersey and connected onscoring strikes from 16 yards to Aaron Hernandez, and 8 Jeremy Shockey Jersey Outlet yards outto Chad Ochocinco, who also Lance Moore Jersey 16 both made their debuts.BenJarvus Green-Ellis also got in on the act, Premier Lance Moore Jersey rushing 11 timesfor 51 yards and Jeremy Shockey Jersey Free shipping two Replica Jeremy Shockey Jersey touchdowns.Patriots coach Bill Belichick calledthis a big week for his team in regards to position battles androster spots. Free Shipping Lance Moore Jersey It Jeremy Shockey Jersey On sale included three straight days of full-padpractices, creating what some players characterized as aregular-season atmosphere.The pace seemed to be there as Brady and the rest of the firstunit played all six offensive series of the first half, failing toscore on only two. They scored on four of their first fivedrives.Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris had a tough time finding anyfault with his team's effort in a 25-0 rout at Kansas City Jeremy Shockey Jersey 88 lastweek. But this week was more than Lance Moore Stitched Jersey a small reversal of fortune.Third-year quarterback Josh Freeman, who was Brady-like againstthe Chiefs, misfired on his first three passes of the night to seta bad tone the Bucs never got Premier Jeremy Shockey Jersey over.He was done after five series, connecting on 5 of 10 passes forjust NFL Jeremy Shockey Jersey 33 yards. The Buccaneers had more than that in penalty yardsin the first half. They were Reebok Jeremy Shockey Jersey whistled 10 cheap Jeremy Shockey Jersey times for 85 yards, as NewEngland built a 28-0 halftime lead.Freeman was Saints Jeremy Shockey Jersey also sacked twice by the Patriots, who held Reebok Lance Moore Jersey Tampa Bay Jeremy Shockey Stitched Jersey to just73 total yards and four first downs in the opening half. Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo gotcredit for both sacks.

UpdatedAug 16, 2011 8:14 PM ETDENVER (AP)Until this week, sporting goods retailer Sports Authority Inc.has had its name Free Shipping Darren Sharper Jersey on community stadiums in suburban Denver andDouglas County schools. Saints Chris Ivory Jersey On Tuesday, it won a deal to have its nameon the stadium where the Denver Broncos play.Invesco Field at Mile High will now be known as Sports AuthorityField at Mile High, after the board of the Metropolitan FootballStadium District unanimously agreed to have Sports Authority takeover the last 10 years of Invesco Ltd.'s $120 million, 20-yearnaming rights agreement.The Invesco Replica Chris Ivory Jersey deal had called Chris Ivory Jersey 29 for Invesco to finish paying roughly$32 million through July 31, 2021.The board will decide later whether to allow Englewood,Colo.-based Sports Authority to extend the naming agreement and forwhat price. Sports Authority had originally proposed a 25-year dealto assume the rest of Invesco's term and also lock up naming rightsthrough 2035 for Authentic Darren Sharper Jersey $150 million, but the district board wanted tomake sure Chris Ivory Jersey On sale the extension was competitive.Dozens of Sports Authority employees planned to start workingaround the clock Wednesday to put the new name on the stadium intime for the Broncos' regular season opener NFL Darren Sharper Jersey at cheap Chris Ivory Jersey home Sept. 12against the Oakland Raiders Darren Sharper Stitched Jersey for Monday Night Football.''We're excited,'' Sports Authority chief marketing officer JeffSchumacher said after the vote.''My head of construction is on an IV right now,'' he joked.The stadium district oversaw construction of the facility, whichreplaced Mile High Stadium and was financed with private andtaxpayer funds.Polls showed fans preferred keeping the Mile High name, but in2001, the district sold 20-year naming rights to Invesco for $120million, with the stadium Premier Chris Ivory Jersey district and the Broncos splitting thoserevenues equally.The district's share of naming rights Cheap Darren Sharper Jersey revenues helps defraytaxpayers' $300 million share of the $400 million cost of thestadium.Longtime season ticket holder Karl Stecher Chris Ivory Stitched Jersey of Centennial said hewas disappointed the Mile High NFL Chris Ivory Jersey name was shoved aside in 2001. Heurged Reebok Chris Ivory Jersey the district Premier Darren Sharper Jersey Tuesday to consider a name Darren Sharper Jersey 42 of ''Mile HighStadium, courtesy of Sports Authority,'' but no one on the boardtook up his idea.Board member Jack Hilbert said he was among those who wanted tokeep the Mile High name in 2001, but he supported SportsAuthority's proposal after hearing the retailer's plans to engagefans with cheeky slogans painted in areas that are now largelywhite, video booths where fans can Chris Ivory Jersey Free shipping record messages to players, andinvitations for high school teams Saints Darren Sharper Jersey to hang their helmets inside thestadium.''It's the `and then somes' I'm really liking,'' Hilbertsaid.''What this does is help bring this building to life,'' BroncosPresident Joe Ellis said.Doug Kidd, managing director for corporate affairs at Invesco,said the Sports Authority agreement allows Invesco to refocus itsmarketing resources now that its business model has changed. In2001, Invesco was selling mutual funds directly to the public.These days, it sells mostly Reebok Darren Sharper Jersey through financial advisers and doesn'thave as many employees in Denver any more.''We looked at this offer as presented by the Broncos and SportsAuthority as a win for all the parties,'' Kidd said. Invesco Replica Darren Sharper Jersey stillplans to have a suite and some signs at Chris Ivory Jersey Outlet the stadium, though farless than before, Kidd said.