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Topics this week include the Browns next steps at quarterback, rookie signal-caller?Carson Wentzs sensational debut -- and what could have been -- plus, the connection Texans coach Bill OBrien had to his first-round pick.Browns forced to change QB plans -- againFor now, the best guess on the time?Robert Griffin III will miss is 10-12 weeks, per sources. With Griffin sidelined with a shoulder injury, Josh McCown becomes the starter, and rookie third-round pick Cody Kessler becomes the backup. But there are more questions there, as is usually the case at quarterback in Cleveland.Browns sources say Kessler is not close to?being ready to play -- which doesnt mean he wont -- but expectations for him arent particularly high. Yet there are those in the Browns building who think Griffins injury could turn out to be a good thing for the franchise, because coach Hue Jackson was so focused on righting Griffin. The team now can move on and do what it needs.Where the Browns?go and what they do next are significant issues. Their recent track record at quarterback is not overly favorable. The quarterbacks the Browns loved in the offseason?were Jared Goff, Kessler and Griffin, per team sources. The quarterbacks they didnt care for were Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott, per the same sources. Those same men who?appear to have missed last offseason will be in charge of finding Clevelands next quarterback, whoever that is, this offseason. They need to find Clevelands quarterback of the future, which is tied to the other issue.Since rejoining the NFL in 1999, the Browns have had 25 starting quarterbacks, the most in the NFL. At the rate this is going, Kessler is likely to be the 26th, practice squad quarterback Kevin Hogan could be the 27th ... and either Deshaun Watson or DeShone Kizer, two of college footballs top QBs, could be the 28th.--?Adam SchefterIts early, but Carson Wentz has traits to succeedTo be fair, it will take more than one game and probably more than a year to determine whether the Cleveland Browns blew it by not giving more consideration to draft Carson Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick.Nevertheless, before the Browns traded that pick to the Eagles, there were some NFL evaluators who agreed that Wentz fit the mold of an AFC North quarterback.At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Wentz has the prototype size of QBs such as the Steelers Ben Roethlisberger, the Ravens Joe Flacco and former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. Current Bengals QB Andy Dalton, though not as?big as those three quarterbacks, does not have a frail frame.The dome-free AFC North is portrayed as the NFLs real black-and-blue division because of its physical DNA. One personnel man opined that the quarterbacks in the division will not go physically unscathed but argued that their stature allows them to recover from injuries. In fact, every one of the aforementioned quarterbacks -- Roethlisberger, Flacco, Palmer and Dalton -- have missed games because of injuries.Wentz also is not immune to injury. Last October, he broke his wrist. The injury required surgery, but he came back to lead North Dakota State to an FCS national title. He also fractured ribs last month in his first preseason game,?but the Eagles deemed him ready to open the season as the starter when Sam Bradford was traded to the Vikings. They see him as a physically and mentally resilient quarterback but still emphasize that he needs to get the ball out of his hands quickly, because the pounding takes its toll.More than one personnel man also suggested Wentzs hand size (10 inches) projected well in a division that often plays in inclement weather later in the season (the NFC East would also qualify).Then is it a worthy counterpoint to note that Wentz played his college home games indoors at the Fargodome at North Dakota State? That did not bother one general manager, who pointed out that the Green Bay Packers largely practice indoors when the weather turns frosty, yet have a decided home-field advantage outdoors at Lambeau Field. The GM said Wentz being acclimated to?that?climate all his life was a more favorable factor.Its nothing more than a snapshot, but it was a snapshot taken by some evaluators before the 2016 draft.-- Chris MortensenBill OBrien commits to former commitmentAs the 2016 NFL draft approached, most expected Texans coach Bill OBrien to make a major push for one of his former Penn State recruits. And he did.Only it wasnt Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, but rather Notre Dame wide receiver Will Fuller.When Fuller was starring at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, his first scholarship offer came from none other than OBrien and Penn State. Fuller verbally committed to OBrien and Penn State. But when the Jerry Sandusky sanctions were handed down, he opened his recruiting again and opted for Notre Dame.When OBrien had another chance to land Fuller last spring, he and the Texans traded up one slot in the first round to draft the wide receiver who?escaped Penn State.Sure enough, Fuller reeled in five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. When OBrien was asked about how Fuller was able to bounce back with a strong game after dropping the first pass thrown in his direction, he knew why, perhaps better than anyone.The one thing I know about Will, having known him for a while, hes a very resilient guy, OBrien said. He grew up in a great family, hard-working parents. Im sure they taught him about, Look, sometimes youre going to get knocked down. You have to be able to pick yourself back up. Thats something he does well.OBrien knows Fuller, trusts Fuller and believes in Fuller. Now, with Houston heading into Week 2 matchup vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, he has already been rewarded by him, too.-- Adam SchefterHammerhead?shows why fullbacks matterWhen Denver Broncos rookie fullback Andy Janovich broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown run in the season-opening win over the Panthers, the NFLs first rushing score of the 2016 season, former Cowboys great Daryl Moose Johnston noted that when he glanced at his Twitter account there were three mentions that he says were almost identical: Somewhere, Moose Johnston is smiling.Johnston was indeed smiling. He believes the fullback position, which was on a path toward NFL extinction, still has a future.Were seeing defenses, especially teams like the Arizona Cardinals, that are loading up the back eight essentially using a safety as that extra linebacker, and it gives an offense an opportunity for a fullback like Janovich to create some favorable matchups in blocking, said Johnston, who studies the game when prepping for his Fox Sports broadcast assignments. The big thing, though, is you have to find that guy who is not just a thumper, but one who can be versatile in formations, on a free release where he can recognize coverages and be a viable receiver down in that red zone, where points are a premium. Janovich appears to have that type of ability.A sixth-round draft pick, Janovich was a walk-on at Nebraska who earned a scholarship and became known as Hammerhead when he was the often the lead blocker for Ameer Abdullah, who had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons before being drafted by the Lions in 2015. Janovich also was a special teams standout, a must if a fullback is going to land a job in the NFL. His Hammerhead moniker has stuck with the Broncos. Janovich was on the field for almost half the offensive snaps in the opener against the Panthers.-- Chris MortensenGrowing branches from Patriots-Colts rivalryThe rivalry between New England and Indianapolis has been so good that it has had a lasting impact on four teams this weekend not named the Patriots or the Colts.The general managers of the Titans and the Lions, who play each other Sunday, are Bill Belichick disciples. Tennessee GM Jon Robinson spent 12 years in New England (2002-2013), during which time he worked with Bob Quinn, who was with the Patriots from 2000-2015 and is now Detroits GM. The Patriot Ways already have come into play in Tennessee and Detroit, with Robinson and Quinns own influence on their respective rosters.The general managers of the Jaguars and the Chargers, who play each other Sunday, are Bill Polian disciples. Jacksonville GM Dave Caldwell spent 10 years with the Colts (1998-2007), during which time he worked with Tom Telesco, who was with the Colts from 1998-2012 and is now San Diegos GM. The Colts Ways already have come into play in Jacksonville and San Diego, with Caldwell and Telescos own influence on their respective rosters.So even in the NFL, trees grow branches. The tree that was the home of the NFLs best rivalry this century, Patriots vs. Colts, produced branches that now will be tangled Sunday.-- Adam SchefterEmptying out the notebookBrowns veteran QB Josh McCown, who takes over the starting job for injured Robert Griffin III, had a reasonable protest about the notion the Browns should tank for the No. 1 pick in 2017. McCown mentioned the need to respect veterans on the team such as tackle Joe Thomas. Thats not lip service to Thomas, who declined to push the front office for a trade to the Broncos last October when it was in discussion. The same sources say Thomas then privately cited the loyalty to other veterans in the Browns locker room and the organization that made him the third overall pick in 2006.The most surprising statistic about Spencer Wares opening game for the Chiefs was?his seven catches for 129 yards. He had just?six catches for 5 yards in 2015. Hes got good hands, Chiefs general manager?John Dorsey said. He was a pretty good baseball player in high school, good enough to play baseball at LSU his freshman year. You cant be a good baseball player and have bad hands.When the Ravens passed on overpaying pending free-agent receiver Torrey Smith in 2015, they knew they were subtracting a player who played to one of quarterback Joe Flaccos strengths -- deep-ball accuracy. Thats one reason they drafted Breshad Perriman (4.25 in the 40-yard dash)?last year, but Perriman missed his rookie season with an injury. Then GM Ozzie Newsome got insurance with Mike Wallace (4.33 in the 40) this offseason. Big plays from Flacco to Wallace (66-yard TD) and to Perriman (35 yards to help set up a field goal) were moments the Ravens needed to beat the Bills 13-7 in their opener.Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells has never been a proponent of paying cornerbacks huge bucks, though he acknowledges the cost of doing business is going up. Parcells, however, is a proponent of loading up on defensive backs. I tell my guys still coaching that you need more than four or five cornerbacks. You better have seven of those guys in todays game.The Patriots play the Dolphins on Sunday, one of three consecutive home games before Tom Brady returns from suspension. A breeze after a tough road win at Arizona? Maybe not. The Seahawks believe the Dolphins defense will be a challenge for any opponent after a narrow 12-10 home-opening win over Miami. Theyre pretty darn good, Seahawks GM John Schneider said. Theyre deep, especially on the defensive line. ... Theyve got talented guys positionally playing where they should play.Titans coach Mike Mularkey this weekend will indirectly face his son, Patrick Mularkey, who is the Lions pro scouting coordinator. Its pretty neat, Mike Mularkey said. I actually asked him yesterday -- it never really dawned on me -- who my wife and his mom is rooting for to win this game. I havent asked her yet, but its special, because Im proud of him. Very proud of the job hes done. I love that hes in this business, because I think hes really good at what he does. Regardless, I think theres a win in this somehow, in the outcome of this game. Serge Ibaka Raptors Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Marc Gasol Jersey . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/Authentic-Fred-VanVleet-Jersey/ . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Norman Powell Raptors Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Jodie Meeks Raptors Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. By Reid SpencerNASCAR Wire ServiceJimmie Johnson has been there before -- more than any other driver in the past two decades.But this trip to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Sundays Ford EcoBoost 400 (2:30 p.m. ET) is different. In the first place, Johnson has his first opportunity to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship under the 16-driver elimination format introduced by the sanctioning body in 2014.Beyond that, in what is the transcendent story of this years Chase, Johnson has a chance to win a seventh series title, one that would tie him for the all-time lead with NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.And crew chief Chad Knaus has been with the driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for every mile of the journey -- well, almost every mile, the occasional suspension notwithstanding.Yeah, its a little different for sure, Knaus said of the elimination format. Obviously weve been able to go down to Homestead and bid for the championship in a lot of different scenarios, with a points deficit, with a points lead, and this is definitely unique, starting at zero and just going out there for the best man to win. Im comfortable with it. Im looking forward to it.Quite honestly, I think the Lowes Chevrolet has been fast over the course of the last handful of weeks. Our pit crew has been performing very well. Jimmie is very comfortable and in a good state of mind. Im really excited about it. Im looking forward to getting down there for sure.Knaus could tie Richard Pettys long-time crew chief, Dale Inman (another NASCAR Hall of Famer) with seven titles with the same driver. In fact, continuity has been the hallmark of the No. 48 teams effort since day one.Whats really cool about it is, if we were able to pull this off, it would be seven titles with the same driver, same crew chief, same sponsor (Lowes) and same team, which would be even more phenomenal, Knaus said. Its been an honor to be able to work with Jimmie, Lowes and Hendrick Motorsports throughout this portion of my career. Looking forward to it extending a long time.But being able to represent this company and our associates the way that we have has been a lot of fun. To Jimmie personally, obviously he is by far one of my best friends, and to be able to have seen him grow and mature into the driver and the family man that he is has been awesome. Its been a great ride.A seventh title for Johnson, however, is far from a given. Joe Gibbs Racing has two entries with defending Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, and they have two sets of data to use in preparation for the Championship 4 race.Additionally, Edwards participated in a tire test at Homestead in October, and crew chief Dave Rogers feels that gives his driver a slight edge over his teammate.Yeah, I think testing there is an advantage, Rogers said. We talked early in the seasoon about which teams want to test where, and then we all agreed on which teams would test at each track.dddddddddddd It was important for Carl and I to test at Homestead because we do think its an advantage. Its absolutely open notebook. All of our teammates have every bit of data.I took my personal notes, what I thought, things I saw, when the clouds came in, when the rain showers came in, how I thought it affected the race car beyond what you see in the data, and I gave that to all of our crew chiefs, including Adam (Stevens, Buschs crew chief). So they have that information.But its the personal experience. Its living it. Its seeing the cars with your own eyes. Its seeing the expression in the drivers face. That live experience, theres something to it. I think our teammates are going to get 85 to 90 percent by looking at our notes and looking at our data, but that extra 10 percent is just being there and living through it.Stevens, on the other hand, feels he can rely on the data gather by Edwards and Rogers.With regard to the test, in my eyes theres really not much difference from my perspective of being at the test or having a teammate go, said Stevens, who won the title last year in his first year as Buschs Sprint Cup crew chief. The biggest benefit from acquiring the test data is literally getting the track data from the car and the driver to use to develop our simulation tools.We could have sent anybody down there to do that. Certainly Carl and Dave gathered that information for us and shared everything they could to help make our program as good as it can be. Would it have been nice to go? Yes. But that also takes away from preparing for that weeks event. As tight as the schedules are, you kind of have to balance that out and spread that workload out amongst the teams.Joey Logano didnt participate in the Homestead tire test, but he has performed admirably on tracks that have featured the same tire codes as the ones in use at Homestead this weekend. Logano was runner-up in the Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway and finished second to Edwards at Texas.We led a lot at Texas, Loganos crew chief, Todd Gordon said. I felt like we were very strong there. Finished second to Carl on a rain-shortened race. Id have loved to have seen where that race went. But I feel very strong about our chances going forward here. I feel really good about the improvements weve made.I felt like at Charlotte we had speed, and we had a tire failure, but showed some of that. We finished well and were second at Chicago on the same tire. We were second at Texas on this tire that weve got at Homestead. I feel like weve been able to battle for it, and were continuing to make our stuff better. I love our chances going to Homestead. ' ' '