BREWERS NEWS

ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH: --RHP LaTroy Hawkins (shoulder weakness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 11. --OF Carlos Gomez (concussion) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 3. He was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Aug. 13 with Class AAA Nashville. --LHP Doug Davis (left elbow tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 10. He had made only one start after missing two months with inflammation of the heart lining. --RHP Marco Estrada (right shoulder fatigue) was recalled from the minors and placed on the Brewers' 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 1. He reported to the Brewers' training facility in Phoenix on July 21 to continue his rehab program. --C Gregg Zaun (torn labrum in right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 21, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 12. He had season-ending surgery June 16. ROTATION: RHP Yovani Gallardo LHP Randy Wolf RHP Dave Bush LHP Chris Narveson LHP Chris Capuano BULLPEN: RHP John Axford (closer) RHP David Riske RHP Trevor Hoffman LHP Manny Parra LHP Zach Braddock RHP Kameron Loe RHP Todd Coffey RHP Mike McClendon CATCHERS: George Kottaras Jonathan Lucroy INFIELDERS: 1B Prince Fielder 2B Rickie Weeks SS Alcides Escobar 3B Casey McGehee INF Craig Counsell INF/OF Joe Inglett OUTFIELDERS: LF Ryan Braun CF Chris Dickerson RF Corey Hart OF Lorenzo Cain


Trevor Hoffman - Doug Melvin - Rick Peterson - Prince Fielder - Corey Hart

NOTES, QUOTES

--RHP Mike McClendon made his major-league debut Saturday night in Colorado in fantastic fashion. McClendon took over for LHP Chris Narveson to begin the sixth inning and retired all nine hitters he faced to help the Brewers eventually take a 5-4, 10-inning victory. McClendon is the first pitcher in club history to retire his first nine batters in the same game. --RHP John Axford has done yeoman's duty in picking up a save and victory in his last two outings. Axford converted a five-out save Thursday against Arizona, then took over in the ninth inning Saturday night in Colorado with the score tied and pitched the last two innings of the Brewers' 5-4 victory. Axford has a 7-1 record to go with his 17 saves in 19 chances. --2B Rickie Weeks (72 RBIs) and RF Corey Hart (78 RBIs) have combined for 150 RBIs, the most of any Nos. 1 and 2 hitters in the major leagues. Weeks has a chance to be the first NL leadoff hitter to drive in 100 runs. --3B Casey McGehee's nine-game hitting streak came to an end Sunday with a 0-for-4 day in a 6-5 loss to Colorado. During the streak, McGehee batted .472 (17 for 36) including a club-record spree of nine hits in nine consecutive at-bats. --LHP Manny Parra's winless streak reached seven starts Sunday when he received a no-decision (five innings, five runs, two earned) in the Brewers' 6-5 loss in Colorado. Parra (3-9, 5.36) has not won since July 3 at St. Louis. BY THE NUMBERS: 79 -- Walks by 1B Prince Fielder, the most in the National League. QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is professional baseball. You've got to go out and have some kind of consistency." -- Manager Ken Macha, referring to the wild ups and downs the Brewers have experienced this season.


Trevor Hoffman - Doug Melvin - Rick Peterson - Prince Fielder - Corey Hart

INSIDE PITCH

It's hard to know what to make of the Brewers' offensive numbers this season because they are so badly skewed by 10 games in which they scored in double-figures. Entering play Sunday, the Brewers were having one of the best Augusts of any NL club, ranking first with 136 hits, 73 runs scored and 68 runs batted in. But, as manager Ken Macha noted, those numbers included an 18-1 rout in Chicago and 11-6 victory over Houston at home. "We're playing at about on par for what we've done all year," said Macha. "We went down to Houston (at the end of July) and scored two runs in three games. Then we go to Chicago and score 18 in one game. "That's on par with what we've been doing. We've had some big games, and if you put the total number of runs out there, yeah, we're right up there amongst the league leaders. But we don't have those runs on a consistent basis. "If we had consistent numbers instead of the gigantic numbers on some days, we'd end up with a better win-loss record." Macha said the offense could achieve that consistency by not focusing on home runs as much as situational hitting, including putting the ball in play to move runners over and get them in. "I know how much we've stressed hitting the ball the other way," said Macha. "I think the best you can do whenever that happens is be as reinforcing as you can on the bench when they come in. "Make sure everybody knows how pleased you are with that type of (approach)." Macha singled out third baseman Casey McGehee and right fielder Corey Hart as two hitters who focus on hitting the ball up the middle and to the opposite field. As a result, both players are having solid run-production seasons. ROCKIES 6, BREWERS 5: The Brewers tied the game with two outs in the top of the ninth on a two-run error by Colorado second baseman Clint Barmes, only to lose in the bottom of the inning on a two-out RBI single by Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki off RHP Trevor Hoffman. The Brewers lost two of three games to the Rockies in a competitive series decided at the end of each game. 2B Rickie Weeks led the Brewers' attack with four hits in four at-bats, and LF Ryan Braun collected three hits. LHP Manny Parra surrendered five runs in five innings but only two were earned, with Parra hurting his own cause with a throwing error that led to two runs.


Trevor Hoffman - Doug Melvin - Rick Peterson - Prince Fielder - Corey Hart

Rockies 6, Brewers 5

Troy Tulowitzki rescued Clint Barmes and Colorado with one clutch swing.


Colorado Rockies - Troy Tulowitzki - Milwaukee Brewers - Run batted in - Sports

UW BADGER FOOTBALL NEWS

Taylor to undergo knee surgery

Wisconsin outside linebacker Mike Taylor will undergo a second surgery on his right knee and will miss at least the season-opener against UNLV.


Surgery - Wisconsin - Linebacker - Medicine - Health

Clay has unfinished work as a Badger

Wisconsin running back John Clay dismissed the idea of declaring for the NFL draft almost immediately after the 2009 season. Clay, a 6-foot-1, 248-pound bowling ball of a running back, was Big Ten Conference offensive player of the year after rushing for 1,517 yards last year as a sophomore. He led the Badgers to 10 victories, including against Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl. With a season like that, most backs would jump to the NFL and its riches.


John Clay - Big Ten Conference - NFL - Badger Wisconsin - Miami

Neals gets first SEC offer

Local corner likes Miami

MILWAUKEE BUCKS NEWS

ROSTER REPORT

ARRIVALS: --F Jon Brockman (sign-and-trade with Kings) --F Drew Gooden (free agent from Clippers) --F Chris Douglas-Roberts (trade with Nets) --F Corey Maggette (trade with Warriors) DEPARTURE: --G Luke Ridnour (free agent, signed with Timberwolves) --C Dan Gadzuric (traded to Warriors) --G Charlie Bell (traded to Warriors) PLAYER NOTES: --G Brandon Jennings doesn't believe he's a rookie anymore and, during the recent NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, he had a couple of Bucks rookies get him some food. However, Bucks trainer Mark Boff told Jennings he isn't officially a second-year player until Sept. 1 and had the "rookie" carry his bags. --G Michael Redd is squelching talk that he won't ever play again. Redd, who is rehabbing from knee surgery for the second straight season, has told his friends he expects to return this season, and he fully intends on signing a new contract next summer when he is an unrestricted free agent. --G Keyon Dooling said he's familiar with several of his new teammates on the Bucks, including F Corey Maggette. When Dooling was drafted by the Magic -- the 10th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft -- he, Maggette and Derek Strong were dealt to the Clippers for a future first-round draft pick. DRAFT PICKS: --Larry Sanders, PF, 6-11, Virginia Commonwealth (first round, No. 15) --- Sanders is one of the best interior defenders in the draft, having averaged 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots last season as a junior. Sanders has played organized basketball only since his junior year in high school, and Bucks officials are impressed with his constant improvement. General manager John Hammond believes Sanders, while raw offensively, could play decent minutes in his rookie season. --Darington Hobson, G, 6-6, New Mexico (second round, No. 37) --- Bucks officials are impressed with Hobson's versatility -- he's capable of playing small forward, shooting guard and point guard. General manager John Hammond said they had rated Hobson considerably higher than the 37th overall pick. Hobson led the Lobos in scoring (15.9 points), rebounds (9.3) and assists (4.6), thus becoming the first player in New Mexico history to lead the team in those categories in the same season. --Keith "Tiny" Gallon, PF, 6-9, Oklahoma (second round, No. 47) -- Bucks general manager John Hammond said Gallon "is a very, very talented guy." At the Chicago pre-draft camp, Gallon weighed 302 pounds and had 15.1 percent body fat. Before attending Oklahoma, Gallon played one season at Oak Hill Academy, where one of his teammates was Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings. He did not impress coach Scott Skiles with his play in the Las Vegas Summer League.


Brandon Jennings - Andrew Bogut - Scott Skiles - Basketball - Eastern Conference

NOTES, QUOTES

--F Ersan Ilyasova said he's excited about playing for Turkey in the FIBA World Championship but conceded there'll be a lot of pressure on him and his teammates. Said Ilyasova: "The World Championships are in Istanbul (Turkey) and the people there will want us to get a medal. It's not going to easy." --The Bucks will play only two preseason games in the Bradley Center. The Bucks open their eight-game preseason schedule against the Bulls at the BC on Oct. 5 and end their preseason schedule against the Timberwolves at the BC on Oct. 22. The Bucks' only other "home game" will be against the Bobcats on Oct. 9 at the Resch Center in Green Bay. --Rookie swingman Darington Hobson has yet to play an NBA game, but he already has changed agents. Hobson had signed with Michael Hodges before the draft in June but then left him for Stu Lash, who also represents Bucks veteran F Drew Gooden. Hobson didn't explain why he changed agents. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think this team is headed in the right direction. I think we have one of the best centers in the game (Andrew Bogut), I think Brandon (Jennings) is one of the up-and-coming point guards, I think Johnny Salmons is one of the most underrated players in our game, and we have a lot of depth. This was a great opportunity for me to come and kind of bring my brain to this organization. I think I can be a positive force for this team." -- Recently signed veteran free agent point guard Keyon Dooling on joining the Bucks.


Brandon Jennings - Andrew Bogut - Scott Skiles - Basketball - Eastern Conference

GETTING INSIDE

Ever since becoming the Bucks' general manager in 2008, John Hammond has repeatedly stated the summer of 2011 would be a "big one" for the franchise. Hammond's game plan was for the Bucks to be significantly under the cap at that point and be in position to pursue some quality free agents. But Hammond now acknowledges those plans have changed. "Our offseason priority was to not take a step backward if possible," Hammond said. "We had an unexpected season last year. We won more games than most people thought we were going to do. "So that's probably changed our direction and focus to an extent." The Bucks won 46 games and ended a four-year playoff hiatus last season after most prognosticators had predicted they would be a lottery team. In light of the Bucks' surprising success, the bar has been raised, prompting Hammond to accelerate his master plan. Hammond not only shelled out significant money this summer to re-sign shooting guard John Salmons, sign free-agent power forward Drew Gooden and acquire small forward Corey Maggette, he committed to giving each of them long-term term deals. As such, the summer of 2010 instead of 2011 might turn out to be the "big one" for the Bucks.


Brandon Jennings - Andrew Bogut - Scott Skiles - Basketball - Eastern Conference

Q&A: Rasheed wasted much of his talent

Rasheed should have been so much better.


Business - Arts - iPod - Police - Apple

PACKERS NEWS

Buzz: Latest from NFL training camps

Buzz: Latest news from around NFL training camps.


NFL - Sports - Football - American - History

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Head coach Mike McCarthy following Saturday night's 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns gave the most definitive answer thus far in the preseason that the Packers' critical punting competition is far from resolved. "It's going to take (all) four games to evaluate the punting situation, I'm sure," McCarthy said. Australian rookie Chris Bryan and first-year Tim Masthay each had three punts in the first exhibition game as they alternated kicks throughout the game. They were fit to be tied with a gross average of 47.3 yards, but the left-footed Bryan was considerably better in the net numbers with an average of 41.3 yards to the right-footed Masthay's 35.7. While noting strong starts by the two candidates -- Bryan boomed his first punt 57 yards, and Masthay answered in the next Green Bay series with a 56-yard strike -- McCarthy lamented lackluster kicks from each late in the game as the Packers were trying to pin the Browns deep in Cleveland's comeback from a 24-21 deficit. The punting battle also extends to the holding chores on kicks for Mason Crosby. A coin flip allowed Masthay to handle the job the entire game Saturday, and there were no apparent miscues as Crosby connected on a 33-yard field goal and went 3-for-3 on extra points. PLAYER NOTES --RB Ryan Grant, who fumbled on the Packers' first play from scrimmage, left Saturday's preseason opener two plays into the next series after taking a hard hit from Cleveland Browns linebacker Chris Gocong and cornerback Sheldon Brown on a run play. Initial tests indicated Grant didn't sustain a concussion, but the Packers held him out as a precaution. --TE Tom Crabtree aggravated a hand injury late in the first half while blocking on a bungled punt return and didn't return to action. X-rays done during the game on the hand were inconclusive, so a scan was scheduled Sunday. --WR Donald Driver opened the game in his customary starting spot and had three catches for 19 yards. Driver was questionable to play after a calf injury that may have stemmed from offseason surgery on both of his knees flared up during the first week of training camp. --LB Clay Matthews is expected to be sidelined another week, which will keep him out of the second preseason game Saturday at the Seattle Seahawks, because of a left hamstring injury he aggravated in the team's Aug. 7 scrimmage. Brady Poppinga started in Matthews' place at the left outside spot Saturday. --S Will Blackmon has been sidelined most of camp by soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. Blackmon, the team's preferred kick returner, is confident he will be ready for the Sept. 12 season opener at the Philadelphia Eagles. --CB Al Harris continues to do rehab work away from practice as he aims to play in the season opener, nine months after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his left knee. Harris is on the PUP list. --S Atari Bigby, like Harris a returning starter on PUP, will miss the entire preseason after having a cleanup procedure done on his surgically repaired left ankle Aug. 6. Rookie Morgan Burnett has replaced Bigby in the starting lineup and figures to stay there when the season starts. --RB James Starks could be running out of time to make the season-opening roster. The sixth-round draft pick, who hasn't played since 2008 after he had shoulder surgery before his final college season at Buffalo, is on PUP with a hamstring injury. BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Daryn Colledge vs. Bryan Bulaga for left guard -- The team's decision-makers on the field and in the front office needed to see only a week of training camp to set the wheels in motion on a potential changing of the guard. Following the intrasquad scrimmage Aug. 7, would-be backup left tackle Bulaga began splitting first-team practice reps with incumbent starter Colledge. The battle between the two high draft picks -- Colledge was taken in the second round (No. 47 overall) in 2006, and Bulaga went in the first round (No. 23) this year -- seemingly is favoring the rookie in the aftermath of the Packers' preseason opener Saturday. Colledge, who opened the game as the starter, and Bulaga switched off the first four series, each getting two cracks with the starting line. At first blush, Bulaga had the stronger performance, especially when Colledge let down his guard in exposing No. 2 quarterback Matt Flynn to a few shots late in the first half as Colledge stayed at left guard and Bulaga kicked out to left tackle to spell Chad Clifton. The powerful and technically sound Bulaga's ascension to a starting role could be in the offing when the team returns to practice Monday. OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: Chris Bryan vs. Tim Masthay for punter -- Head coach Mike McCarthy said after Saturday's game the highly scrutinized showdown between the two young combatants will last through all four preseason contests, the last of which is Sept. 2 at the Kansas City Chiefs. The left-footed Bryan and the right-footed Masthay continued to be in a dead heat as they had an identical gross average of 47.3 yards in three punts apiece on an alternate basis Saturday. Bryan was better in the all-important net category -- average 41.3 yards to Masthay's 35.7 -- but Masthay didn't drop the ball in having exclusive holding duties on Mason Crosby's kicks, which also will play a factor in who emerges the victor. ... Brandon Chillar vs. Brad Jones for starting ROLB -- Despite a hamstring injury sustained by Clay Matthews a week into camp and his absence for at least two weeks, the coaches are preserving the Chillar-Jones battle on the right side, rather than have one slide over to the left side to fill the big void on the left side until Matthews returns, which may not be until the start of the regular season. Jones had the starting nod Saturday, but nothing should be read into that since the Packers were vanilla on defense and didn't give the Browns a lot of blitz looks, where Chillar excels. ... Brandon Underwood vs. Pat Lee for nickel back -- Underwood took another step toward winning the job if veteran starter Al Harris isn't deemed ready for the start of the season because of reconstructive knee surgery late last year. Underwood had an easy pick of a badly underthrown ball by Browns rookie Colt McCoy in the end zone and ran it out for 35 yards. Underwood, who played at both cornerback spots, led the Packers with six tackles and also was credited two pass breakups. PLAYER OF THE WEEK: QB Aaron Rodgers -- Rodgers made the most of the planned 20 snaps that were fulfilled on the number in the preseason kickoff Saturday. Rodgers was a near-perfect 12-of-13 throwing -- the lone incompletion was on a drop by James Jones -- for 159 yards and a touchdown without an interception. That translated into a dazzling passer rating of 143.3. Rodgers completed passes to seven players in starting the game 10-of-10 for 146 yards. His primary targets being wideouts Greg Jennings (three catches, 68 yards, 25-yard touchdown) and Donald Driver (three catches, 19 yards) and tight end Jermichael Finley (two catches, 30 yards). Rodgers won't need much of the preseason to prove he's on the upward swing in his third year as a starter on the heels of his prolific, Pro Bowl-earning season in 2009. What's more, Rodgers, who was sacked a league-high 50 times last season, received decent to good protection and didn't incur a sack in the four series the starters played Saturday. ROOKIE REPORT: OL Bryan Bulaga (first round) is a serious candidate to open the season as the starting left guard after the natural left tackle was moved inside after the first week of camp to challenge shaky incumbent Daryn Colledge. Bulaga also remains the top backup to Chad Clifton at left tackle. ... DE Mike Neal (second round) played extensively in the preseason opener Saturday, primarily as the No. 2 right end behind Cullen Jenkins, and has impressed early in camp with his power and good instincts. ... S Morgan Burnett (third round) had an up-and-down preseason debut Saturday in an extended stint as the starter in place of injured incumbent Atari Bigby. Burnett's playmaking skills are top notch, but he was weak on an open-field tackle of fullback Peyton Hillis on a screen pass that went for 26 yards. ... RB James Starks (sixth round) remains on the PUP list because of a hamstring injury he suffered in the preseason. He faces an uphill climb because of the prolonged absence to win a roster spot. ... CB Sam Shields (undrafted) continues to have trouble getting his hands around the football. He had what could have been a costly muff of a punt he had to run under after calling for a fair catch -- the Packers snuffed out the Cleveland Browns' subsequent red-zone with an interception in the end zone. Shields later dropped what should have been an interception on a breakup of a high throw. ... RB Quinn Porter (undrafted) has the inside track to the No. 3 halfback job, particularly with Starks sidelined indefinitely. Porter showed Saturday the burst that has been on occasional display early in camp, finishing with 38 yards (long of 15) in nine carries. INJURY REPORT: RB Ryan Grant wasn't believed to have suffered a concussion in the hard hit he endured on a run midway through the first quarter of Saturday's preseason opener. A woozy Grant walked off the field under his own power and pronounced himself fine, though the team held out its featured back as a precaution. ... TE Tom Crabtree left the game late in the first half after aggravating a hand injury while blocking on a punt return. X-rays were done on the hand during the game, but they weren't conclusive. A scan was planned for Crabtree's hand Sunday. ... Notables who didn't suit up for the game were Matthews, S Will Blackmon (knee) and OL Jason Spitz (calf). All of them are out indefinitely. ... Starks, CB Al Harris (knee) and S Atari Bigby (ankle) remain on the active PUP list.


Atari Bigby - Al Harris - Chad Clifton - Free agent - American football positions

Presented By:

NOTES, QUOTES

Bryan Bulaga's time as a starter on the Packers' offensive line could come sooner than expected. The team initiated some early training camp controversy when it moved Bulaga, the No. 23 pick in the first round of this year's draft, to left guard after only a week of practices to challenge incumbent Daryn Colledge. "Bryan Bulaga has earned the opportunity to compete for a starting position," head coach Mike McCarthy said. "Our intent was to keep him at one position, which we did throughout the spring and (at the outset of camp). I am really impressed with his body of work so far." Bulaga, a starter at left tackle his last two years of college at Iowa, still is veteran Chad Clifton's top backup at the key position of protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers' blind spot. Yet, the Packers appear ready to get Bulaga on the field from the get-go this season at left guard, where he started five games as a true freshman in 2007 with the Hawkeyes. The 6-5, 314-pound Bulaga has by and large made a seamless transition from the college to the pro game, bringing a formidable combination of size, athleticism, brute strength, quick feet and football acumen. "Wherever I can fit in, I'll fit in, that's just kind of the way I'm looking at it," Bulaga said. "If it's at tackle, it's at tackle. If it's at guard, it's at guard. I'm just working to get on the field." Neither McCarthy nor offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was ready to anoint Bulaga as the starting left guard after the Packers lost 27-24 to the Cleveland Browns in a preseason opener at Lambeau Field last Saturday. Still, the coaches gave the rookie a positive review. "Does he look comfortable? Does he look confident? Does it look like he's got a future there?" Philbin posed. "If he does, I'm sure we'll keep it up." That's not good news for Colledge, who has started 60 games, primarily at left guard, since his rookie season in 2006. The Packers have tolerated Colledge's inconsistent play in the past, but they didn't have a player of Bulaga's caliber in reserve to push for the starting job until this year. "I have to go into every day believing that I'm the best player on this offensive line and the best left guard," said Colledge, a former second-round draft pick. "If I stray away from that, then a guy like Bulaga will step up and take my job." The latter scenario could leave Colledge's future in Green Bay murky. Colledge, a restricted free agent in the offseason, is signed only through this season. Getting some value in return for Colledge -- he has started at least 13 games every season as a pro -- by making a trade before the season starts could be under consideration if he were to fall to No. 2 on the depth chart. The future of Jason Spitz, a third-round pick by the Packers in '06 with 45 starts in the interior of the offensive line, also is up in the air. Spitz, who missed most of last season with a bad back, had been working behind center Scott Wells and right guard Josh Sitton before he suffered a calf injury a little more than a week into this year's camp. --Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said it's no secret why he finished a blistering 12-of-13 for 159 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown lob to Greg Jennings on a double move, in the Packers' 27-24 loss to the visiting Cleveland Browns in a preseason opener Saturday. "We've got a lot of weapons," Rodgers said. "When you can throw the ball to the kind of guys we can throw it to, it's going to be just on me to be accurate. (Saturday) I think Mike (McCarthy, the team's head coach and play caller for the offense) allowed me to get in a good flow. We're always talking about rhythm on offense, and the play calling I really felt like got us into a good rhythm." Rodgers and the starting group were on the field for the first four series and a total of 20 plays, the latter of which was McCarthy's plan before the game. Rodgers completed his first 10 passes for 146 yards to seven different receivers. "I thought Aaron was sharp," McCarthy said. "He managed the huddle very well, saw a lot of pressure and made the appropriate checks. He took advantage of the one-on-one opportunities." --Incumbent starter Daryn College and rookie Bryan Bulaga, the team's first-round draft pick, worked in a rotation at left guard in the No. 1 offense's first four possessions. They alternated series, each getting two cracks, in a big battle that was hatched just a week into training camp. "It is what it is for right now," Colledge said. "Obviously, I would like to be in there for all of the reps, but that's not the situation. Bryan's doing a good job, he's a talented player, and they're going to give him an opportunity to compete and show what he has." Colledge continued at left guard for the final two series of the first half, alongside Bulaga at left tackle. Bulaga, who was penciled in to be a backup left tackle, remains veteran Chad Clifton's top understudy at the spot. "It's going to take a little while to get comfortable at guard," Bulaga said. "I just moved there (Aug. 9). It's going to take more snaps, more reps to really get feeling good out there. "I thought, overall, I did some good things but made some mistakes." --Featured back Ryan Grant wasn't so much concerned about his unsteady health as he was his critical blunder earlier in Saturday's game. Grant fumbled the football on a run on the Packers' first play from scrimmage. Browns nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin came off a block by center Scott Wells to make the strip with his right hand, and cornerback Sheldon Brown made the recovery and returned it 11 yards to the Green Bay 13-yard line. Cleveland took advantage of the short field to score a second straight touchdown to increase its lead to 14-0 only 6 1/2 minutes into play. "I've just got to do a better job of ball security with that," said Grant, who will enter the regular season with a career-best streak of 291 carries without a fumble, the longest active streak in the NFL. "That's not a trait of mine," Grant added. "I take that very serious, that's the number one priority, and I think that sets the tone as a backfield. So, that's unacceptable. But, we'll clean it up." Grant left the game after back-to-back runs to start Green Bay's next series. He said he had "his bell rung a little bit" when he was sandwiched by linebacker Chris Gocong and Brown on a cut into the middle at the line of scrimmage. Grant stumbled as he got to his feet but did walk off under his own power. A concussion was initially ruled out after the medical staff performed a battery of alertness tests with Grant on and off the field. --Undrafted rookie cornerback Sam Shields, one of the early camp standouts, did himself no favors in trying to make the team by muffing a punt late in the first half Saturday. The speedy Shields has dropped the football on several return chances in camp. The blunder in the game occurred when he called for a fair catch, then ran up to get under a short kick. The Browns recovered the football at the Green Bay 30 but promptly turned it back over three plays later on an interception by cornerback Brandon Underwood in the end zone. "Just a lack of focus," Shields said. "Just keeping my eyes on the ball like I keep working on in practice. I guess I was worrying about what was around me instead of catching the ball." The Packers desperately need Will Blackmon back on the field to provide sure-handed stability on returns. Blackmon has missed most of camp so far because of lingering soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. He is optimistic about playing in the season opener Sept. 12 at the Philadelphia Eagles. --The Packers placed cornerback Josh Bell on injured reserve and signed first-year linebacker Maurice Simpkins on Aug. 10. Bell, a third-year player, suffered a right foot injury in the team's Aug. 7 scrimmage. The 6-foot, 236-pound Simpkins was a standout in the Indoor Football League earlier this year with the Green Bay Blizzard. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was not happy with the way we started the game, and that was communicated to our football team. And, they're not happy with the way we started the game. It's an experience that we need to make sure we learn from. You don't start football games that way. It doesn't matter who you're playing, where you're playing, especially at Lambeau Field." -- Head coach Mike McCarthy on the Packers' mistake-laden start to their 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns in a preseason opener Saturday.


Atari Bigby - Al Harris - Chad Clifton - Free agent - American football positions

UW MENS BASKETBALL

Rising Senior Will Take Some Trips

Ross Travis Sets Visits to Iowa, Penn State

Will Devin Coleman Case Hurt Iowa in Philly?

ScoutTV: Bronson Koenig

UW WOMENS BASKETBALL

TOP SPORTS HEADLINES (from foxnews.com)

Kaymer captures PGA in playoff

Martin Kaymer wins the PGA in a playoff.

Don't blame PGA for Johnson's gaffe

Dustin Johnson has only himself to blame for his PGA penalty.

Haslem cited for marijuana at traffic stop

Heat forward Udonis Haslem was arrested Sunday for possession of marijuana following a traffic stop in Miami-Dade County.

Twins' reliever blows no-hitter, shutout

Kevin Slowey held Oakland without a hit for seven innings and Minnesota took a team no-hitter into the eighth as the Twins defeated the Athletics 4-2 on Sunday.