externer Bereich der Breath of the Dragon » TEST: DeMarco Murray is seco

BEREA, Ohio -- When Josh McCown was asked by Browns wide receivers Terrelle Pryor and Josh Gordon -- players who are much younger than him -- to join them and watch Monday Night Football, Clevelands quarterback didnt pass up the chance.When the invite is there, I will go hang, McCown said.The curious trio of teammates will be huddling again Sunday.McCown, who stayed steady this summer as trade speculation swirled, will replace an injured Robert Griffin III and start Sundays home opener against Baltimore. Griffin broke a bone in his left shoulder last week in Philadelphia and will miss at least eight games.So the Browns (0-1) will turn their offense back over to the capable McCown, whose future in Cleveland seemed tenuous for several months. However, despite fielding several offers for the 37-year-old, the Browns chose to hang on to McCown, a decision that looks shrewder after Griffin went down.Josh is a pros pro, said Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas. You dont survive 15 years in the NFL without knowing how to take care of your business, even in the face of adversity.McCown is relishing another chance, knowing better than anyone he doesnt have many left. His first season with Cleveland was sabotaged by injury, and time is running out on a career that began in 2002 -- when many of his current teammates were still in grade school.For my age, these opportunities, I dont take them lightly, he said. The opportunity to get out there, certainly when that is taken away, it eats at you. Throughout the offseason, it is always in the back of your mind, and the next opportunity you have to make the most of it because you do not know. That is my plan this time around.McCown experienced extreme highs and lows last season against the Ravens (1-0). He passed for a team-record 457 yards and led the Browns to one of their three wins, a 33-30 overtime thriller at Baltimore on Oct. 11. When the teams met again six weeks later, McCown broke his collarbone and missed the final five games.When Cleveland signed RG3 as a free agent in March and then selected rookie Cody Kessler in the third round of Aprils draft, it appeared McCowns days with the Browns were numbered. He blocked out the trade rumors and did what he has always done: whatever the team needed.Even before he was beaten out by Griffin for the Browns starting job in training camp, McCown selflessly stepped aside and offered his snaps so RG3 could have more time with the starters.Its that selflessness that has endeared him to teammates past and present. And its why the Browns, who have 17 rookies on their roster, are grateful to have him to teach their young players, to lead them, and, to hopefully win with them.Im full speed ahead with Josh, coach Hue Jackson said. I think he will go out and play extremely well, and help lead our offense and get us to playing football the way we need to play, and give us an opportunity. We expect him to do that. That is why we kept him here.For all the positive testimonials about McCowns character, theres no escaping that hes just 2-17 in his last two seasons as a starter for Tampa Bay and Cleveland. Although he was on the way to his best statistical season in 2015, McCown was 1-7 for the Browns.Pryor, the QB-turned-wide receiver who spent part of the offseason working out with McCown, said focusing on McCowns record is unfair. Theres more than meets the eye.Last year, he lit a lot of teams up, Pryor said. The guy knows how to play. What we love about Josh is that hes the ultimate competitor. You can see it in his eyes and the way he talks in the huddle.McCown was with Pryor and Gordon, who is serving another four-game drug suspension, when Browns owner Jimmy Haslam called to discuss Griffins injury and offer him support.Which made me feel good for a lot of different reasons, Haslam said. Josh McCown is as good a person as Ive ever met anywhere. Hes just incredible.McCown never thought twice about whether his being with much younger teammates appeared odd.It is good to be around those guys, he said. It keeps me young. Ive been the `old guy for the past five years.Game notesJackson said he doesnt have a problem with his players celebrating following a big play, as long as they keep it within reason. I want our guys to have a little swagger to them, he said. If that is what makes us play good, more power to them. As long as the dances dont turn into something Ive never seen before, we will be OK.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLAdidas X_Plr Canada . JOHNS, N. NMD R1 Canada . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/ . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. NMD Canada Online . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Stan Smith Shoes Canada . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A two-game skid has whittled away any margin for error the Green Bay Packers had in the NFC North, and now they hit the road for three straight games starting in Tennessee.Its a crucial moment for a franchise that has reached the playoffs each of the past seven seasons.Every game from this point forward in November and December are very important games for us, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. Tough stretch right now with three on the road back-to-back-to-back, but weve just got to take it one at a time and figure out a way to put a better performance on the field on Sunday.This marks Green Bays first three-game road trip since 2012 , and the timing couldnt be worse for a franchise that has lost three of four by a combined nine points. The tight losses have stuck Green Bay (4-4) behind both Minnesota and Detroit in the NFC North after being stunned 31-26 at Lambeau Field by Indianapolis last week.The Titans (4-5) find themselves trying to keep pace in the AFC South. They need one more win to match the victory total for the past two seasons combined and are coming off a 43-35 loss in San Diego , where Marcus Mariota outdueled Phillip Rivers by throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns while running for another score.The second-year quarterback also cost Tennessee 17 points off three turnovers, and Mariota knows he has to protect the ball better.Weve continued to preach finishing some of these games, but you know what, thats part of it, Mariota said. Thats part of how we have to learn, how were going to get better. Eventually, well turn these around and be on the right side of these things.Here are some things to know about the Packers and Titans:ENERGIZED PACK?: Coach Mike McCarthy says his Packers energy level wont be an issue in Tennessee. Like the presidential election, energy became a buzzword immediately after last weeks loss to Indianapolis after the Packers looked lethargic early. But McCarthy says it was more an issue about not being detailed and consistent enough in adverse situations. Whatever the root of the issues, Green Bay doesnt want to spend the whole game again playing catch-up.PROTECT THE BALL: Turnovers have been the Titans biggest issue in losses this season, something Mariota had improved on in helping Tennessee win three of four in October.dddddddddddd Over his past three games at home, Mariota has thrown seven touchdowns with only one interception. Even with two interceptions in San Diego, Mariota ranks fourth in the NFL with a 111.8 passer rating over the past five games.Rodgers says hes been a fan of Mariota since the fellow Pac-12 quarterback was at Oregon. He can do it all on the field, Rodgers said. Hes extremely gifted athletically, and hes doing a good job of throwing it efficiently. Im definitely impressed with him with the way he comes off and the way hes playing.TO THE QB: The Packers pass rush has slowed down the last few games. Green Bay managed to sack Andrew Luck just twice last week despite the Colts porous offensive line. The front seven has been missing linebacker Clay Matthews the last couple weeks because of a sore hamstring, and its unclear when he might return.Mariota is less experienced than Luck, though he can be just as elusive. Tennessee has allowed Mariota to be sacked only 12 times this season and not at all the past two games, a huge improvement from last year, when the Titans surrendered a league-worst 54 sacks.RUN TEST: DeMarco Murray is second in the NFL with 807 yards rushing, and the Titans rank third in the NFL, averaging 144.2 yards per game. That will be seriously tested against Green Bay, the leagues stingiest run defense. The Packers are allowing 75.8 yards per game, and Tennessee could be without Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. Murrays backup strained his calf last week.WATCH RODGERS: With Eddie Lacy recovering from ankle surgery and on injured reserve, Rodgers is carrying the load as Green Bays leading rusher. The two-time MVP is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and his 199 yards rushing are second only to Lacy. But Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Green Bay has been very creative, finding ways to run with a variety of players such as Ty Montgomery.---AP Sports Writer Genaro C. Armas contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '