Steelers 2nd-year QB Dixon shows off arm and maturity in ...prod.static.steelers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/imported/MediaCon… · 15/08/2009 · not a novelty for any "wildcat"

SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL

Steelers 2nd-year QB Dixon shows off arm and maturity in strong outing vs. Cardinals Saturday, August 15, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Backup quarterback Dennis Dixon throws against the Cardinals in the fourth quarter Thursday at Heinz Field. Dixon completed 10 of 19 for 112 yards.

Young Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon swears he did not think much about Michael Vick other than he hoped he would get another chance to play in the NFL.

No one said anything to Dixon, even as false reports persisted that the Steelers might be in the running to sign Vick. The Steelers' hierarchy ignored the rumors and "reports," as they most surely ignored Vick because they never had an interest in him other than the curiosity everyone had about what might become of the fallen quarterback.

The Steelers long ago came to the quick conclusion that the negatives far outweighed the positives for any match with Vick.

Plus, the Steelers like what they have in Dixon, who has many of the attributes of a Michael Vick, none of the baggage and has his career ahead of him. Dixon, as he showed publicly on one dynamic 47-yard touchdown run in a rookie preseason game and as he did in college, has the ability to run and throw.

Dixon was a Heisman Trophy candidate at Oregon before his ACL tore late in his senior season. He is over that and appears to have made great strides since his rookie year.

Statistics from a preseason game do not mean much -- Dixon completed 10 of 19 for 112 yards Thursday night, including a perfect strike on a slant over the middle to rookie Mike Wallace. He did not have a run from scrimmage.

"I was looking to stay in the pocket more," said Dixon, who the Steelers regard as a quarterback and not a novelty for any "wildcat" offense. "As a quarterback, your initial reaction is to throw the ball first. I look at myself as a quarterback; if the pocket breaks down, I'll use my God-given talent, but I'll throw the ball first."

Coach Mike Tomlin's reply was a typical understatement about a young player when asked Thursday night about Dixon.

"He had some good moments and he had some moments where you would like to see him make a few more plays," Tomlin said. "I thought we had a couple guys deep down the field on some play actions that you would like to see one or two connected on. I liked his presence and I thought he handled the group very well."

The Steelers did not go after Vick for many reasons, and one of them is Dixon.

Let's take a look at some other fallout from the Steelers' first exhibition game:

Running back

Notes

• The opening preseason telecast of ESPN's "Monday Night Football," a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII between the Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, earned a 3.6 rating, representing an average of 3,567,000 households (4,755,000 viewers). It was ESPN's most-viewed non-Monday preseason game since in 15 years (Dallas-New Orleans Aug. 25, 1994).

• The Steelers' six Lombardi trophies will be on display at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum from Monday through Aug. 30. Also on display in the fourth-floor Campbell Gallery is a photo exhibit, Behind the Scenes with the Pittsburgh Steelers by Mike Fabus, the team photographer That exhibit

Page 1 of 3Steelers 2nd-year QB Dixon shows off arm and maturity in strong outing vs. Cardinals

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Isaac The Tank does not rhyme, but Isaac Redman has one big thing going for him -- production. While still early, Redman has gotten the job done every time he has been in a goal-line situation -- twice Thursday night from 3 and 5 yards as well as twice in the goal-line drill in practice Sunday.

Again, statistics are not the thing here -- Redman led the Steelers with 10 carries and 32 yards. They are not looking for Redman, an undrafted rookie from Bowie State, to carry a load or to snap off 40-yard runs. They want someone to cross the goal line from the 2. It's something they have not had consistently since Jerome Bettis retired after the 2005 season.

Redman is 6 feet, 230 pounds and seems to have a knack for finding the hole, breaking an early tackle and picking up those tough yards.

Thursday night, Rashard Mendenhall was kept in the game on first-half short-yardage situations with Carey Davis as the fullback. By the time Redman entered the game, Frank The Tank Summers (5-10, 240) joined him -- as the fullback.

Later, Redman moved up to fullback, even though he has played little there in training camp, and Summers played halfback.

Summers did not get the chances that Redman had and carried twice for 3 yards.

"Hopefully we will get some more looks at him against some varsity guys, if you will," Tomlin said of Redman after the game. "He did a nice job with what he was faced in front of tonight. We are not going to make too much out of it."

Receiver

Veteran receiver Shaun McDonald is said to be too small and slight to fit well with the Steelers. Yet all he does is produce. He catches everything thrown near him, as he did Thursday night when he led the Steelers with six receptions and 69 yards.

McDonald is only 5-10, 183 pounds and is competing for a fifth spot on a roster that likely will have five wide receivers. Four already have secured their roster spots -- Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed and Mike Wallace. There are other prospects for No. 5 such as Dallas Baker, Brandon Williams and Martin Nance.

But, on a team that has only two experienced receivers, McDonald, with seven years in the league, seems like a nice fit. He also has been durable, playing 84 games over the past four seasons with St. Louis and Detroit. He led the pathetic Lions with 79 receptions for 943 yards in 2007.

And the Lions, for all their problems, helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls by providing many a supplementary player and a Pro Bowl center in Jeff Hartings.

Cornerback

Maybe the Steelers finally found their niche on the fifth round of the draft. For the third consecutive year, they appear to have hit it big after drafting only one player of any significance on the fifth round in this century -- Verron Haynes in 2002.

In 2007, though, they drafted William Gay of Louisville who has become their starting left cornerback. In '08, they drafted Dixon. This year, they drafted cornerback Joe Burnett on the fifth round.

Burnett intercepted a pass and returned it 42 yards to the 3 to set up their first touchdown Thursday night. He looked as though he knew what he was doing while running.

He also is getting the main opportunity to return punts. While he did return one for 13 yards Thursday night, he had a bit of trouble when he fumbled after running into a teammate.

But, all in all, Burnett looks like not only a keeper but a potentially dynamic player for the Steelers.

Special teams

If Daniel Sepulveda keeps punting the way he did against Arizona, those who criticized the Steelers for using draft picks in the fourth and sixth rounds in 2007 to get him will be proven wrong.

The Steelers won a Super Bowl despite their punting woes last season, which Sepulveda missed after ACL surgery in August. Combined with the improved punt coverage that saved that unit last season, their punting game could rank among the stronger parts of the team.

The Position Battles:

runs through January.



Running Back • Isaac Redman

The undrafted rookie from Bowie State (pictured) had 10 carries for 32 yards Thursday night, but more important, two of those carries went for scores. The Steelers haven't had an effective goal-line back since Jerome Bettis. Could Redman be The Man in the end zone?

Receiver • Shaun McDonald

The previous time the Steelers signed a former Lions player, it worked out well as center Jeff Hartings helped bring home the franchise's fifth Lombardi Trophy. McDonald, a seven-year veteran, spent the past two seasons with Detroit and caught everything that was thrown his way Thursday when he led the Steelers with six catches for 69 yards.

Cornerback • Joe Burnett

The Steelers look like they have found another fifth-round gem in Central Florida's Joe Burnett. He had one of the biggest plays of the game Thursday when he intercepted a pass and returned it 42 yards to set up the Steelers' first touchdown.

Ed Bouchette can be reached at [email protected].

First published on August 15, 2009 at 12:00 am




Eagles coach understands Vick deserves 2nd chanceCompassionate after difficulties with 2 sons Saturday, August 15, 2009 The Associated Press

Matt Rourke/AP

New Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was a 3-time Pro Bowl pick in Atlanta.

PHILADELPHIA -- Andy Reid knows all about second chances. That's why Michael Vick is getting one in Philadelphia.

Reid lived through the nightmare of having two sons jailed on drug charges. The Eagles coach felt the wrenching pain of standing in court, hearing a list of serious charges against his boys. Reid stood by his sons, vowing to use the lessons to help others whose lives were derailed by horrible mistakes.

It was an experience Reid couldn't help but ponder when he saw a disgraced young man looking for someone to believe he had changed.

"I've followed Michael's situation very close with the things that my boys went through," Reid said. "They were right around the same time. I've had a chance to kind of follow that, and I know the things that Michael has gone through. On the other side of that, I know the changes that can be made."

At his news conferences, the usually guarded Reid likes to keep the focus on football, not family or much of anything else. Not long after his sons ran into legal trouble in separate incidents on the same day in 2007, Reid threatened to walk out of his media obligations if he was pressed about his personal life.

Two years later, a more open Reid voluntarily discusses the devastating impact his son's crimes had on him and his family. He has seen up close how Garrett and Britt Reid are progressing on the changes they needed to make to get on with their lives.

He believes Vick, with the right support system, can do the same and move on from his animal cruelty past.

"I know some people will not agree, but on the other hand, I think the majority will," Reid said yesterday as the Eagles introduced Vick a day after signing him to a contract. "Fortunately, in this country, if we handle ourselves properly, we are given an opportunity for second chances. I think people understand."

Dressed in a gray, pinstriped suit, Vick called his offenses "a horrible mistake" and vowed to crusade for animal rights.

"I think everybody deserves a second chance," a somber Vick said yesterday, a day after signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. "We all have issues, we all deal with certain things and we all have our own set of inequities. I think as long as you are willing to come back and do it the right way and do the right things and that you're committed, then I think you deserve it. But you only get one shot at a second chance, and I am conscious of that."

A three-time Pro Bowl pick in six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Vick served 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring and was reinstated just a month ago by the NFL after being out of action since 2006.

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The superstar said he wanted to play for a team with strong ownership, a solid coaching staff and an established starting quarterback. He signed a one-year deal for $1.6 million with a team option for a second year at $5.2 million. None of the money is guaranteed, so the Eagles face no financial risk if Vick doesn't make the team.

"I want to be part of the solution and not the problem," Vick said during a half-hour news conference. "I am making conscious efforts within the community, working with the Humane Society. Hopefully I can do that locally and continue with my disciplined efforts in bringing awareness to animal cruelty and dogfighting in the inner cities and our communities."

Reid insisted he did his homework on Vick. Giving second chances is something Reid knows all about: He endured a family crisis in 2007, when his sons were arrested on drug charges.

Britt and Garrett Reid are trying to make the most of their second chances.

Britt Reid is out of prison and has graduated from a drug court program. His older brother, Garrett, is serving a two-year sentence in a state program for drug treatment after he pleaded guilty to smuggling prescription pills into the Montgomery County jail.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Page 2 of 2Eagles coach understands Vick deserves 2nd chance



NFL Roundup: Sanchez sharp in debut as JetBut St. Louis fights back for 23-20 win Saturday, August 15, 2009 The Associated Press

Mark Sanchez needed one play to get his NFL career off to a rousing start.

Sanchez completed a 48-yard pass to David Clowney on his first NFL play, and the Jets' rookie engineered an early scoring drive in New York's 23-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams last night at East Rutherford N.J.

Thomas Jones' 1-yard touchdown dive capped Sanchez's only series of the game, but the Rams rallied in the fourth quarter to make a winner of Steve Spagnuolo in his head coaching debut.

Sanchez, selected with the fifth overall pick, came in to a loud ovation with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. He took the snap and lofted a pretty pass down the right sideline into Clowney's hands for a big gain.

Seven plays later, Jones took the handoff and leaped over the pile, the ball crossing the goal line before Todd Johnson knocked it out of Jones' hands. Spagnuolo challenged the call, but it was upheld by video review.

Sanchez, with several family members in attendance, completed three of four passes for 88 yards in Rex Ryan's first game as New York's head coach.

"To hear the roar of the crowd when we run out of the tunnel and to complete a big play on your very first NFL pass ever," Sanchez said, "that was pretty fun, and I'm glad it finally came together."

Other game

n Vikings 13, Colts 3: Sage Rosenfels led Minnesota to scoring drives on the first two series, helping the visiting Vikings beat Indianapolis. Rosenfels completed 10 of 13 passes for 91 yards to take the early lead in the team's quarterback duel. Chester Taylor scored the game's only touchdown on a 5-yard run in the first quarter. Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota's starting quarterback last season, completed seven of 15 passes for 39 yards and led the Vikings to a field goal. Peyton Manning took only six snaps and was sacked three times, and the Vikings outgained the Colts, 147-0, in the first quarter.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Page 1 of 1NFL Roundup: Sanchez sharp in debut as Jet



NFL Notebook: WR Smith unexpectedly rejoins Carolina His injured shoulder not as bad as feared Saturday, August 15, 2009 From wire dispatches

Four days after kicking his helmet in disgust and climbing into a golf cart thinking his shoulder was broken, Carolina's superstar wide receiver, Steve Smith, was smiling and throwing tight spirals.

Fittingly, Smith's surprisingly quick return to practice yesterday ended with a throw-and-catch session with inexperienced receiver Kenny Moore. They spent much of the offseason working out together, an experience that conflicted with the Panthers star's loner persona -- and renewed his enthusiasm.

"It gave me those childhood memories of what I grew up with. I really liked how I felt, falling back in love with the game," Smith said. "So getting hurt, that's why I took it out on my helmet. Seven months of working hard, and then in seven seconds you're back in the same position.

"But, in hindsight, it's not broken."

X-rays Monday night revealed no breaks and, after a day in a sling, Smith had progressed to an exercise bike. It was still thought he would miss most, if not all, of the preseason.

So the sight of Smith running with his teammates in full pads yesterday morning at training camp shocked onlookers. Saying he suffered just a "pretty good bone bruise," Smith participated in individual drills before sitting out the team work and avoiding contact.

"It doesn't hurt as much. Sleep is kind of difficult, but it's all right," said Smith, who wore a wrap under his shoulder pads. "I wouldn't say I woke up and said, 'OK, I'm healed.' But it's getting more tolerable."

Smith had 78 catches for 1,421 yards and six touchdowns last season.

Cardinals

Wide receiver Steve Breaston (Woodland Hills High School) was expected to have a precautionary MRI yesterday because of soreness and stiffness in his knee. Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt also said he was hopeful that rookie running back Chris Wells, who had a sprained an ankle in his first practice, will be able to play in the Cardinals' next preseason game a week from tonight against San Diego.

Packers

Green Bay signed first-round draft pick B.J. Raji yesterday, ending the defensive lineman's nearly two-week training camp holdout. Citing two unidentified NFL sources, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Raji signed a five-year, $28.5 million deal that included just less than $18 million in guaranteed money.

Jaguars

First-round draft pick Eugene Monroe ended a 12-day holdout yesterday, signing a five-year contract with Jacksonville. Monroe, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive left tackle from Virginia, joined his teammates for practice last night. No financial terms were disclosed.

Giants

New York rookie running back Andre Brown has a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg and will miss the season. The fourth-round pick from North Carolina State was running a pass route when the injury occurred.

Broncos

An Atlanta jury found Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall not guilty of misdemeanor battery against his former girlfriend, announcing its verdict yesterday after about an hour of deliberations. Marshall had faced two counts of simple battery stemming from a March 4, 2008, argument with at the Atlanta condominium the couple shared.


Page 1 of 1NFL Notebook: WR Smith unexpectedly rejoins Carolina


Steelers' Sepulveda returns to form By Joe Starkey TRIBUNE-REVIEW Saturday, August 15, 2009

One of the biggest cheers at the Steelers' preseason opener Thursday was reserved for punter Daniel Sepulveda, who missed last season because of a knee injury.

Sepulveda was surprised when a loud roar accompanied his trot onto the field at 11:08 of the first quarter. It was his first live action since the playoff game against Jacksonville two seasons ago.

"I was sitting there thinking, 'Wow, there's enough pressure as it is,'" Sepulveda said. "I'm just glad I hit a good one for 'em."

He hit several good ones, booting six punts for a robust 49.5-yard average and a 43.8 net average.

As Sepulveda came off the field after his first kick - a moon shot that sailed 46 yards - defensive starters James Harrison, Ike Taylor and Casey Hampton slapped hands with him. Coach Mike Tomlin then came over and tapped him on the shoulder pads.

"It was a welcome-back kind of thing," Sepulveda said.

Those defensive players weren't just happy for Sepulveda. They were happy for themselves because an improved punting game might make them even better.

"Oh, man, he definitely can help our defense," linebacker James Farrior said. "We were looking for him last year to be a big weapon. We know what he's capable of. This is going to be a big year for him. I know he's going to help us out with field position."

Without Sepulveda last season, the Steelers' punting game suffered. Paul Ernster and Mitch Berger combined for a net average of 35.6, more than two yards lower than Sepulveda's rookie-year figure of 37.9, which was the Steelers' best in nine years.

Last season's net of 35.6 placed the Steelers 12th in the AFC, as compared to fourth in 2007.

On Thursday night, Sepulveda placed two punts inside the Arizona 20 and ripped a majestic, 49-yarder out of his own end zone with 46 seconds left in the first half.

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"He can change the field, change the game, and that's a help for the defense," Taylor said. "He's a special guy. I see why we got him so high in the draft."

Games like Thursday's make it easy to understand why the Steelers selected Sepulveda, a left-footed punter, in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. They took him with the 112th pick, ahead of several players who've become NFL regulars, including Baltimore running back Le'Ron McClain, Steelers cornerback William Gay and Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston.

This time last year, the Steelers had to wonder if they'd gotten damaged goods.

On the first day of 2008 training camp, Sepulveda tore the ACL in his right knee for the second time in three years. The first injury occurred the spring before his senior year at Baylor, during a pick-up basketball game.

Sepulveda acknowledged he probably came back too early from his first surgery, though he went on to have a banner senior year and a fine rookie season in the NFL.

All that time, he felt looseness in his right knee. Now, he says, the knee is fine, though he wore a brace Thursday as a "precautionary measure."

With 2:24 left and the Steelers' leading, 17-10, Sepulveda lined up on his 18 and unleashed a 49-yard rocket that was returned only four yards.

All in all, it was a pretty special night, even if it was just an exhibition game.

"I obviously had a long time to think about it," Sepulveda said. "It was important for me to come out there and show I'm still going to be the guy for years to come."

Joe Starkey can be reached at [email protected] or 412-320-7810.

Images and text copyright © 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.

Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

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Rivers officials contend police didn't provide enough manpower after Steelers game By Matthew Santoni TRIBUNE-REVIEW Saturday, August 15, 2009

Representatives of the Steelers weren't happy with the traffic after Thursday night's preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, insisting the Rivers Casino didn't hold up its end of a pre-approved traffic plan — a charge the casino contests.

Thursday was the first test of how traffic from the new Rivers Casino would affect fans headed to and from Heinz Field, and Steelers Business Director Mark Hart gave it a failing grade.

"People (were) getting stuck in traffic; cars and pedestrians fighting for intersection space; just long waits to get in and out of lots that really shouldn't have happened to the degree they happened," Hart said. "That's just a result of not properly planning and not following through on what we thought was going to happen."

Under the traffic plan, the casino is to get 10 off-duty city police officers on game day, said Rivers Casino President and CEO Ed Fasulo. It only got two.

"We ordered 10, as we do every week, but we were told that because (former President Bill) Clinton was packing them in at the Convention Center, and Keith Urban was filling Mellon Arena, no more were available. ... They just flat ran out of manpower," he said.

Fasulo said the game-night traffic was a "nonevent."

The traffic plan directs the extra officers to turn one of the eastbound lanes of Beaver Avenue into a westbound "contra-flow" lane, he said. That couldn't be done Tuesday night with only two officers.

Police Chief Nate Harper said off-duty police normally would volunteer for casino traffic duties, but there weren't enough available due to the other events in town, summer vacations and officers out for training. Harper agreed with Fasulo that traffic was no worse than it is for a normal Steelers game, if not better.

"I noticed a lot of activity well after the game as people were visiting establishments along the North Shore," Harper said. "Those added attractions kept people around rather than having everybody make a mad dash to their

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cars and leave at the same time."

The fact that Thursday's game was a preseason one — with 58,300 people in attendance, it was short of a sellout — and not a regular-season matchup might have eased the crush, Hart said.

"We're very fortunate that traffic and the difficulty of getting to the North Shore wasn't worse than it was," he said. "Our fans sort of came in in a spread-out fashion and left pretty evenly throughout the game. Had this been a regular Steelers game with a fully jam-packed crowd, traffic would have been a real mess."

Fasulo said the casino did not experience a surge in gambling before or after the game, so it was difficult to tell whether any Steelers fans stopped in to play the slots. About 2,400 vehicles used the casino garage Thursday, but only one ended up paying the full $50. People who gamble at least $80 receive a voucher.

Matthew Santoni can be reached at [email protected] or 412-380-5625.



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Steelers outside linebacker Davis improves play By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Bruce Davis sighting in Thursday night's 20-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals had to be a welcome one for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Davis, a third-round pick in 2008, logged significant time at outside linebacker and had an interception as well as a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. Davis played in just five games last season and didn't record a tackle. "I make no bones about the pressure I apply to second-year men so that they jump forward in a big way," Tomlin said. "We expect this class to distinguish themselves if they want to be a part of this thing." Second-year running back Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 24 yards on nine carries against the Cardinals. Said Tomlin on the play of the Steelers' first-round pick in 2008: "I thought he made some nice runs. I would like to see us control the line of scrimmage a little better as a unit."

Rookie defensive end Ziggy Hood showed why he had gotten good reviews through the first two weeks of training camp as he notched a sack against the Cardinals. But it was what Hood did after dropping quarterback Brian St. Pierre for a 7-yard loss early in the fourth quarter that needs some work. Hood, a first-round pick, did a shoulder shimmy in celebration, and it looked a little forced if not awkward. "I thought his shoulder was hurting when he did that," Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley said with a smile. "It was definitely something he didn't think about at home. He just made that up when he was out there on the field."

The Steelers' rookie class that has had a strong training camp didn't disappoint in its first preseason game. The first-year players combined for both touchdowns, an interception and one-and-a-half sacks Thursday. They were also solid as a group in special teams play. "Everyone was out there handling our business, and I'm proud of our class," rookie wide receiver Mike Wallace said. A third-round pick, Wallace had two catches for 35 yards and also returned a kickoff 35 yards. The speedster from Ole Miss also got behind the Cardinals secondary in the third quarter but Dennis Dixon underthrew Wallace, and he couldn't come down with a jump ball in the end zone. "I feel like I should have come back and made the catch," Wallace said. "I've got to make that play next time."

Starting defensive end Brett Keisel could return to practice today after missing Thursday night's game with a minor calf injury. Keisel got kicked in the lower leg during practice last Wednesday morning, and the Steelers held him out of the first preseason game as a precaution. "He ran on it prior to the game and was still feeling it," Tomlin said. "Hopefully, we can get him back out there running (today). We do not expect that (injury) to be serious."

Page 1 of 2Steelers outside linebacker Davis improves play - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


Digits

0 -- Sacks the Steelers allowed against the Cardinals

4 -- Sacks the Steelers recorded against the Cardinals

13 -- First downs for Steelers in Thursday night's preseason opener

22 -- First downs for the Cardinals in the game

Scott Brown can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.



Page 2 of 2Steelers outside linebacker Davis improves play - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


Young Steelers shine bright Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - An NFL preseason game is mostly for the rookies and the retreads, players who haven't been heard from since college and some whose colleges, as well as their players, are barely known themselves.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin calls it "August football."

September? That's the time for Ben Roethlisberger, Jeff Reed and Ryan Clark, players who will make only a few cameo appearances when the games mean nothing but will be counted on to win big games - and, yes, perhaps the Super Bowl - during the season.

That's why Tomlin made little of a 20-10 exhibition victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night that resembled the Super Bowl only because the Steelers and Cardinals were on the same field again. The players and the atmosphere, the intensity and the tempo, weren't nearly the same.

"We have a lot of work in front of us," Tomlin said.

To Tomlin, it's not always what a coach sees in August that helps him build a roster and decide who he can count on in October and November. It's also what he doesn't see.

Tomlin saw the Cardinals throw 49 times with four quarterbacks, yet not get into the end zone until the game was nearly over. He saw Roethlisberger make some crisp throws while looking relatively sharp in brief playing time. He didn't see any turnovers or indecision from his starters.

He saw Charlie Batch complete a long pass to Limas Sweed. He didn't see Batch get hurt and be finished for the season like he did in last year's preseason opener.

Tomlin also watched yet another undrafted rookie free agent make an impression, just as Willie Parker and James Harrison once did in similar roles before becoming Pro Bowl players and winners of multiple Super Bowls.

What Tomlin doesn't know is whether former Bowie State star Isaac Redman's two touchdown runs signaled that he's a player to watch for the rest of camp, or whether he merely took advantage of going against third- and fourth-stringers.

If the Steelers' published depth chart is accurate, Redman is seventh and last among their running backs.

"Hopefully we will get some more looks at him against some varsity guys," Tomlin said. "He did a nice job with what he faced. We are not going to make too much of it. We will continue to work and move forward."

Redman wasn't running against Cardinals regulars Darnell Dockett, Clark Haggans or Karlos Dansby, but rather the guys who back up the backups. No matter, Redman understands that all a player in his role can do is take advantage of every carry, every opportunity, every moment he's still wearing a uniform and drawing an NFL paycheck.

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Especially when a running back goes into a game backing up Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore and Justin Vincent, Stefan Logan and Frank Summers.

"When you are an undrafted free agent, you've got to do whatever they tell you to do and you've got to impress somebody," said Redman, the career rushing leader at Bowie State with 3,300 yards. "I know if I didn't impress anybody, there was a good chance I wouldn't even make it to the first game. I just wanted to make an impression any way I could."

He's already done that twice in a week. He gained the starters' attention by scoring twice during goal-line drills on Sunday and by serving as the lead blocker on a third TD run.

"I just wanted to make the most out of every opportunity I had, whether it was running the ball or going down on kickoffs and punts," said Redman, who scored the game's first two touchdowns on runs of 3 and 5 yards during the fourth quarter. "They put me in on goal line and I tried my best to get in."

Tomlin also had to like Daniel Sepulveda's 49.5 average on six punts; last season, with Sepulveda hurt, that represented about two games' worth of Steelers punting production. There also was first-round draft pick Ziggy Hood's sack and the pressure he created that led to fellow rookie Joe Burnett's 42-yard interception return, plus Sweed's two catches.

Wide receiver Hines Ward, who caught a couple of passes before joining the other starters on the bench by the end of the first quarter, predicts Sweed "is going to grow as a receiver and make some big plays for us."

Tomlin just hopes they're in November and December, not only in August.

Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

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08/15/2009

Nothing super, but new Steelers make impression

PITTSBURGH (AP) - An NFL preseason game is mostly for the rookies and the retreads, players who haven't been heard from since college and some whose colleges, as well as their players, are barely known themselves. Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin calls it "August football." September? That's the time for Ben Roethlisberger, Jeff Reed and Ryan Clark, players who will make only a few cameo appearances when the games mean nothing but will be counted on to win big games - and, yes, perhaps the Super Bowl - during the season. That's why Tomlin made little of a 20-10 exhibition victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night that resembled the Super Bowl only because the Steelers and Cardinals were on the same field again. The players and the atmosphere, the intensity and the tempo, weren't nearly the same. "We have a lot of work in front of us," Tomlin said. To Tomlin, it's not always what a coach sees in August that helps him build a roster and decide who he can count on in October and November. It's also what he doesn't see. Tomlin saw the Cardinals throw 49 times with four quarterbacks, yet not get into the end zone until the game was nearly over. He saw Roethlisberger make some crisp throws while looking relatively sharp in brief playing time. He didn't see any turnovers or indecision from his starters. He saw Charlie Batch complete a long pass to Limas Sweed. He didn't see Batch get hurt and be finished for the season like he did in last year's preseason opener. Tomlin also watched yet another undrafted rookie free agent make an impression, just as Willie Parker and James Harrison once did in similar roles before becoming Pro Bowl players and winners of multiple Super Bowls. What Tomlin doesn't know is whether former Bowie State star Isaac Redman's two touchdown runs signaled that he's a player to watch for the rest of camp, or whether he merely took advantage of going against third- and fourth-stringers. If the Steelers' published depth chart is accurate, Redman is seventh and last among their running backs. "Hopefully we will get some more looks at him against some varsity guys," Tomlin said. "He did a nice job with what he faced. We are not going to make too much of it. We will continue to work and move forward." Redman wasn't running against Cardinals regulars Darnell Dockett, Clark Haggans or Karlos Dansby, but rather the guys who back up the backups. No matter, Redman understands that all a player in his role can do is take advantage of every carry, every opportunity, every moment he's still wearing a uniform and drawing an NFL paycheck. Especially when a running back goes into a game backing up Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore and Justin Vincent, Stefan Logan and Frank Summers. "When you are an undrafted free agent, you've got to do whatever they tell you to do and you've got to impress somebody," said Redman, the career rushing leader at Bowie State with 3,300 yards. "I know if I didn't impress anybody, there was a good chance I wouldn't even make it to the first game. I just wanted to make an impression any way I could." He's already done that twice in a week. He gained the starters' attention by scoring twice during goal-line drills on Sunday and by serving as the lead blocker on a third TD run. "I just wanted to make the most out of every opportunity I had, whether it was running the ball or going down on kickoffs and punts," said Redman, who scored the game's first two touchdowns on runs of 3 and 5 yards during the fourth quarter. "They put me in on goal line and I tried my best to get in." Tomlin also had to like Daniel Sepulveda's 49.5 average on six punts; last season, with Sepulveda hurt, that represented about two games' worth of Steelers punting production. There also was first-round draft pick Ziggy Hood's sack and the pressure he created that led to fellow rookie Joe Burnett's 42-yard interception return, plus Sweed's two catches.

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Wide receiver Hines Ward, who caught a couple of passes before joining the other starters on the bench by the end of the first quarter, predicts Sweed "is going to grow as a receiver and make some big plays for us." Tomlin just hopes they're in November and December, not only in August.

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SPORTS

Sweed impresses in Steelers’ scrimmage

Published: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:29 PM CDT

PITTSBURGH, Penn. - Brenham High School graduate Limas Sweed continued to impress in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first preseason scrimmage of the season against the Arizona Cardinals Thursday night at Heinz Field. Sweed, a second-year player out of the University of Texas, caught two passes for 56 yards, including a 45-yard reception down the right sideline in which the 6-foot-4 Sweed caught the ball over Arizona cornerback Michael Adams. Earlier in the game, Sweed caught an 11-yard pass for a first down. “He made a couple nice on a couple contested catches,” Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Bruce Arians told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I knew he was going to have a great preseason this year,” veteran receiver Hines Ward told the paper. “What happened last year was last year. He is going to grow as a wide receiver and make some big plays for us.” Sweed is competing with Mike Wallace and Shaun McDonald for the Steelers’ third receiver position. Thursday’s exhibition was televised on ESPN.

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August 16, 2009

TELEVISION

Big Enough to Take on the Sports World

By JOE RHODES

SANTA MONICA, Calif

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, whose Twitter page self-description is “Very Quotatious,” was holding court earlier

this month at a poolside news conference at the Loews Santa Monica Beach hotel, doing what he does best —

talking about himself for fun and profit.

With the beach, breaking waves, palm trees and strategically placed “Shaq Vs.” logos behind him he

drummed up interest for his latest self-promotional adventure, an ABC reality show that has its premiere on

Tuesday. Answering questions, some of them planted by the show’s producers, Mr. O’Neal explained the

concept behind “Shaq Vs.,” in which a certain loquacious basketball player attempts to beat some of the

highest-profile athletes in the world at their own games.

On the show Mr. O’Neal, 37, will play 7-on-7 football against the quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the

Pittsburgh Steelers, swim against Michael Phelps, get into the ring with the former boxing champion Oscar

De La Hoya, take on the St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols in a home run derby and, in the

competition he was promoting this day, play beach volleyball against the Olympic gold medalists Misty May-

Treanor and Kerri Walsh. The moderator of the news conference winkingly called it a battle of the sexes.

“I’ve been putting sand in my salad; I eat sand, “ Mr. O’Neal said, with a mock-menacing mumble, asked how

he’d been preparing. “I want to thank both these beautiful ladies for accepting this challenge. I hope they

don’t mess up their nails too much.”

The beach volleyball players were up to the trash-talking throw down. “To beat Shaq, which we plan on

doing, will be a good thing for all women,” Ms. Walsh said, adding that if Mr. O’Neal loses, he had agreed to

walk two miles through Santa Monica wearing nothing but a pink Speedo, “three sizes too small.”

“So I hope he’s doing some lunges,” she said, “to get those buns in shape.”

“Don’t worry,” he replied. “I’ll do it. Two miles.”

Earlier, sprawled on the floor of an empty hotel conference room, not yet in full huckster mode, Mr. O’Neal

explained that he had indeed concocted the show himself, egged on by his buddy-bodyguard-“uncle,” Jerome

Crawford, an adviser and confidant since he was a teenager.

“Every male has a little bit of couch potato bravado when they’re watching sports on television,” Mr. O’Neal

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said. “They see someone make a mistake and think, ‘I could do better than that.’ And me, as a superb athlete,

I see Ben Roethlisberger throw a pass in the corner, and I think, if I had the same blocking, I could make that

pass.”

“If I’m racing Lance Armstrong 10 miles on a bicycle, and I get a 4-mile head start, I’m going to beat him.

That’s what I think,” He continued. “And Jerome said, ‘You’re out your damn mind.’ ”

Mr. O’Neal said the show had also served as a way to spice up his off-season training regimen, after being

traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and going into what may be his final season in the National Basketball

Association. He pitched the idea to Media Rights Capital, a production company (“Brüno,” “The Goode

Family”), which formed a partnership with Dick Clark Productions and sold the series to ABC. It will run for

at least five episodes and maybe six if Mr. Armstrong can rearrange some prior commitments.

“It not only addresses that classic sports-radio argument of who would beat who if athletes tried different

sports,” Modi Wiczyk, the co-chief executive of Media Rights Capital, said of the show, “but Shaq is such an

incredibly compelling personality.”

The challenge, Mr. Wiczyk added, was to make sure that the athletes involved not only had marquee value

but that the competitions be handicapped so Mr. O’Neal would have a reasonable chance of winning. For the

volleyball challenge, for example, he will have the professional volleyball player Todd Rogers as a teammate.

“We wanted to generate genuine competitions that were intense and required a lot of effort without

endangering him,” Mr. Wiczyk said, adding that particular care was taken with the Oscar De La Hoya

challenge.

Much of the preshow attention has centered not on Mr. O’Neal’s opponents, but on the one athlete, the

soccer star David Beckham, who declined to participate, citing scheduling difficulties. Mr. O’Neal responded

by using his Twitter page and an appearance on the celebrity news Web site TMZ.com, to accuse Mr.

Beckham of being scared. At the news conference he referred to him as “Davina Beckham.”

But Mr. O’Neal isn’t really angry at Mr. Beckham: “If I didn’t like the guy, I’d just go to his house and go,

‘David you got something to say, say it to me.’ But the fans love it. It’s free marketing. Everything I do is

planned.”

If “Shaq Vs.” is a hit, Mr. O’Neal said, there are athletes who would like to be part of a second season. He’d

love to run against the sprinter Usain Bolt and play tennis against Serena Williams, who was one of his

coaches for the volleyball match. He said that if he does retire after next season, which would be more likely

if he wins a championship with the Cavaliers, he would be free to try riskier challenges.

“I’d love to race a car, but right now I don’t think David Stern would allow it,” he said, referring to the N.B.A.

commissioner. “But if I retire, there’s a lot of things I could do. Maybe next year it’ll be Shaq vs. China or

Shaq vs. Russia. There’s many places we can go with this.”

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baltimoresun.com Bowie's Redman scores twice to lead Steelers on Thursday Sports Digest

August 15, 2009

Seventh-string running back Isaac Redman, an undrafted rookie from Bowie State, scored on 3- and 5-yard runs in the fourth quarter Thursday night to help the host Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals, 20-10, in a preseason opener. "This team prides itself on being able to find those free agents that are capable of playing," Redman said, referring to finds such as the undrafted Willie Parker and James Harrison. "Hopefully I can be that next free agent." Redskins: Coach Jim Zorn said Friday that he was disappointed with his team in Thursday's 23-0 loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. "We scored zero points," the coach said, carefully enunciating each syllable. "It's irritating." Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun

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August 15, 2009

From Vick, Gratitude and Remorse

By JUDY BATTISTA

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles’ owner, Jeffrey Lurie, said he wanted to see self-hatred in

Michael Vick, wanted to know that the player his head coach and quarterback both wanted for the Eagles

could grasp the “cruelty, the torture, the complete disregard for any definition of human decency” that

disgusted Lurie. This week, in a one-on-one meeting, Lurie, who called himself an “extreme dog lover” who

thinks every day about two family pets who have died in the last two years, said he came away convinced that

Vick could do more than just provide a dynamic element to his offense. Vick, Lurie said, had so completely

transformed his life that he could complete what has become his new mission: to help save more animals

than he had harmed.

On Friday, in a delicately handled reintroduction to the league and the public, Vick began trying to convince

everyone else, too. While a small clutch of protesters stood outside the gates of the Eagles’ training complex,

a subdued Vick, flanked by Coach Andy Reid and Tony Dungy, who has become an informal mentor since he

visited him in prison, rejoined the National Football League as a member of the Eagles. Vick answered a half-

hour of questions in his first news conference since his conviction for his role in a dogfighting ring two years

ago.

Vick spoke quietly, thanking the Eagles, Dungy and Commissioner Roger Goodell for helping him redefine

himself. At one point he offered a flicker of a smile to his 4-year-old daughter nearby. But Vick acknowledged

that if he will have a sympathetic audience in the locker room — Donovan McNabb, an old friend from when

Vick was being recruited to Syracuse, had lobbied for the Eagles to sign Vick — he will most likely face a far

more contentious reception among fans, even if he somehow quickly regains the derring-do playing style that

made him a phenomenon.

Reid said he thought a majority of fans wanted Vick to do well. If that’s true, it may take a while. The

conversation on Philadelphia’s sports talk radio programs was often heated Friday, with many fans making

clear that they did not believe Vick deserved a second chance.

“Having committed an act that was cruel and unethical and inhumane, I understand to a certain degree,”

Vick said. “Our country is a country of second chances. I paid my debt to society. I spent two years in prison.

Away from my fiancée. Away from my two kids. That was a humbling experience. I can’t explain how deeply

hurt and how sorry I was, once everything went down and I had to explain to my kids what had happened.

And it was because of Daddy’s fault. I asked them for a second chance to be a better father, to do the right

things and show them the way.”

The signing stunned the N.F.L. in part because the Eagles were one of the teams that had earlier said they

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were not interested. But when the backup Kevin Kolb sustained a minor injury early this week, the Eagles

began to pursue Vick. Reid, who is close to Dungy, was one of a dozen coaches who had spoken to him about

Vick in the two weeks since he was reinstated. Reid was moved, in part, by the second chances offered to his

troubled sons.

Vick said he had known, even before the animal cruelty accusations came to light, that what he was doing was

wrong.

“Just when I was trying to turn the corner, it was too late,” Vick said. “For the life of me, I can’t understand

why I was involved in such pointless activity. Why did I risk so much at the pinnacle of my career?”

Later, he added: “It’s surreal feeling right now. I couldn’t envision it two years ago. I was optimistic it would

happen one day but I knew it was going to be a long process. We fear the unknown. I’m just glad I have the

opportunity now. I’m glad I got opportunity and have a second chance. I won’t disappoint.”

Lurie spoke of Vick’s crimes in often-harsh language and said Vick had “disgraced” the league. Lurie indulged

in considerable soul searching, and sought to learn all the details of Vick’s troubles, before giving the go-

ahead to sign Vick, who will make $1.6 million this season. Lurie said he would measure Vick’s success not in

yardage but in whether he can create social change and diminish the level of animal cruelty, particularly in

the inner city.

Two years ago, Lurie said he would never allow someone involved with dogfighting on the Eagles. Without

naming Vick, he alluded to two former Eagles who were charged with animal cruelty and not convicted.

Vick will return to practice Saturday, although he is not eligible to play for the Eagles until the final two

preseason games. Then Vick must wait for Goodell’s final decision about when to allow him to participate in

regular-season games. That decision will be made before Week 6.

McNabb is sure to be compared with Vick, especially if he has a poor performance. But when Reid talked to

Lurie about Vick, he emphasized that Vick could give the offense a dimension that could be used in

unpredictable ways. Translation: look for Reid, one of the N.F.L.’s most creative offensive minds, to deploy

Vick in Wildcat-style plays.

The Eagles used them sparingly last season, with receiver DeSean Jackson as the Wildcat. But Vick could

expand the playbook with his running and passing — and perhaps even receiving — abilities.

Vick said he and McNabb had already spoken about watching film and studying the playbook together. Kolb

is still viewed as McNabb’s heir apparent, so Vick could be used to throw curveballs to opponents.

“I think we know Michael Vick two years ago was one of greatest quarterbacks in the N.F.L.,” Reid said. “He

has tremendous athletic ability. Michael will contribute. I’m not going to tell you how he’s going to

contribute. He will contribute. You can ask the defensive coordinators on other teams if they’re worried

about that.”

The Eagles also hold an option for a second year on Vick. That means if he performs well, he can be traded to

another team. But that decision is a long way off, and for the Eagles there is still the initial decision to bring



him in to digest.

Dungy has known Vick since their teams, the Colts and the Falcons, played a preseason game in Japan. They

spoke of wanting to go fishing together. Dungy says he regrets that they did not, and wondered if they had

spent more time together if he might have learned about Vick’s lifestyle and been able to help him.

“I really got the sense that he wanted to do some great things, he wanted to be a positive role model for young

people, and he wanted to get back to his family,” Dungy said.

“I feel he can be such an impacting person for our young people,” Dungy added. “Michael Vick resonates with

young people. Him saying, ‘Be careful who you hang out with,’ is going to resonate much more than me

saying it.”

The Eagles hope they never have regrets about Vick. On Saturday, with No. 7 on his jersey, Vick will begin

trying to rebuild a career and a life that was harrowingly close to ruin.

“There is no room for error,” Lurie said. “There is no third chance. If it isn’t fulfilled the way we expect it to

be, that will be the end.”

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By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer can breathe again.

It was hold-your-breath time last season before 21/2 months of rehabilitation helped heal a torn ligament in his elbow and allowed him to avoid worrisome surgery.

"I've been throwing a ton and I haven't had any issues," says Palmer after a recent training camp practice at Georgetown College. "My arm is fine. There is a little scar tissue, but I've probably got scar tissue all over."

The elbow problem that limited him to four games and did not allow him to compete after Week 5 represented his second major injury in the last four years. After leading Cincinnati to the playoffs in 2005 — its first appearance since the end of the 1990 season — he tore the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee when he was leveled on the second snap of his team's 31-17 wild-card loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

PHOTOS: Bengals training camp

He made a full recovery to throw for 4,035 yards and 28 touchdowns and reach the Pro Bowl in 2006. He was the MVP of that game. His younger brother, Jordan, in his second season as a backup quarterback with the Bengals, anticipates another strong response to adversity.

"His arm strength is better than ever," he says. "He's as accurate as he's ever been. He's in the best shape I've ever seen him in."

After being taken by Cincinnati with the top pick in the 2003 draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at USC, Palmer never let the franchise's bleak history dim his enthusiasm.

Yes, the Bengals finished 4-11-1 last year. Yes, they have had one winning season since 1990. Yes, ownership's willingness to spend what it takes to be successful is a perennial question.

But Palmer refuses to be discouraged. He sees hope everywhere.

"We have high expectations," he says. "We don't talk about it a ton, but there is a different feel than in the past for those who have been around."

After being forced to deal with more off-field issues than most teams, Palmer welcomes a change in attitude in the locker room.

"There is more professionalism. There are more guys who are dedicated to their trade," he says. "We had a lot of young guys, a lot of immature guys in the past. We just have better people, so that part has been different and it's been exciting."

Jordan can barely contain his excitement and pride in his older brother, saying, "He's preparing to be in the Super Bowl this year, to go to the Pro Bowl and for this to be the best Bengals year yet."

There is reason to believe Cincinnati can make significant improvement. Mike Zimmer, in his second year as defensive coordinator, expects even more from a unit that ranked 12th in the NFL in allowing 325.5 yards per game despite key injuries.

The 6-5, 235-pound Palmer, again flashing the arm strength that helps set him apart from most passers, has a variety of weapons if a suspect offensive line can come together. Running back Cedric Benson excelled for the Bengals after failing to meet high expectations with the Chicago Bears. Hard-nosed wideout Laveranues Coles was signed to compensate for the free agent loss of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Chad Ochocinco looks to prosper again with the return of Palmer, who holds franchise records for completion percentage (63.7), passer rating (88.9) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (1.6-to-1).

Everything, of course, will depend on how well Palmer's elbow holds up.

"It's just something I have to stay on top of as far as strengthening the muscles around that ligament," he says. "It's something we'll keep an eye on, and they have me on a bit of a pitch count during camp."

Seventh-year head coach Marvin Lewis sees it as part of his job to protect Palmer from himself.

"Carson likes to take all the plays," he says. "With him, we have to back him out of plays. We want to make sure he doesn't overwork himself so he stays fresh."

Now healthy, Palmer ready to propel Bengals back to playoffs

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ATLANTA (AP) — A jury in Atlanta found Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall (FSY) not guilty of misdemeanor battery against his former girlfriend, announcing its verdict Friday after about an hour of deliberations.

Marshall had faced two counts of simple battery stemming from a March 4, 2008, argument with then-girlfriend Rasheedah Watley at the Atlanta condominium the couple shared.

Marshall said after the verdict in Fulton County State Court that he had some butterflies in his stomach when deliberations began, but was confident in the work of his lawyers.

"I'm just happy now that legally and emotionally we can move past this," he said, adding that he appreciated the support of teammates and fans. He said he planned to celebrate Friday night by watching his teammates in an offseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.

His lawyer Harvey Steinberg expressed gratitude to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for waiting for the verdict before deciding whether to take any league action. Marshall was suspended for last year's season opener after a series of domestic disputes, and Goodell had said a conviction in the Atlanta case could have led to a second suspension.

Before the verdict was announced, the judge cautioned that no outbursts would be tolerated and asked anyone who might not be able to comply to leave the courtroom. Watley, who was sitting with her family, got up and left. Her family was visibly disappointed at the verdict but declined comment.

Steinberg closed by characterizing Watley as aggressive and volatile, saying she lied to avoid losing the way of life to which she had become accustomed.

"She needs Mr. Marshall. She needs him in her life because she had these dreams and hopes, because she cannot let go," Steinberg said. "When is she going to leave him alone?"

Steinberg told the jury that Watley lied to police about how she got a knife wound in a scuffle with Marshall. He cited a letter she wrote to Goodell in July 2008 saying Marshall hadn't beaten her, but that her family had pressured her to say he did for monetary reasons.

Watley acknowledged under oath that she had lied in both instances to protect Marshall from getting in trouble and being suspended from the NFL.

"Is this the kind of person who is capable of lying when it matters?" Steinberg asked the jury.

Prosecutor Jamie Mack said in closing that Marshall exerted control through force and financial dependence and that Watley exhibited classic symptoms of battered woman syndrome.

"I don't have a good answer other than I just loved him," Watley said during testimony when asked why she stayed with Marshall after he allegedly beat her on multiple occasions.

The jury heard Friday from a domestic violence expert who testified that battered women frequently have difficulty leaving their abusers.

The March 2008 incident was not the first time Marshall had faced domestic violence charges involving Watley.

Marshall was arrested after Watley said he used his vehicle to block her taxi as she tried to leave after an argument at his home in Highlands Ranch, Colo., in March 2007. The case was dismissed.

He pleaded guilty last September to driving while ability-impaired and was sentenced to a year of probation. He was originally charged with driving under the influence after an October 2007 arrest.

Marshall, recuperating from hip surgery last spring, has asked to be traded from the Broncos.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Broncos' Marshall found not guilty of battery in Atlanta case

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Friday, August 14, 2009

49ers miss deadline to trade Crabtree

Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco 49ers still expect to sign top draft pick Michael Crabtree.

Team president Jed York acknowledged that the deadline passed Friday for the franchise to trade the unsigned holdout receiver, the 10th overall draft pick who wants money comparable to the higher picks. Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 pick, signed a five-year contract late last month that will guarantee him at least $23.5 million.

On Friday, Jacksonville Jaguars top pick Eugene Monroe -- taken eighth overall -- signed a five-year, $25 million contract that includes $19 million guaranteed.

York said before the 49ers' exhibition opener against the Denver Broncos that the team would get it done, but he's just unsure how soon.

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