Texans value Blue’s durability and reliability

Three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant visited the Browns’ headquarters in Berea, Ohio, on Thursday and there’s a chance the meeting could lead to Bryant signing with Cleveland.

T he 29-year-old was released by the Dallas Cowboys after eight seasons in April and has been waiting to latch on with another team. He turned down a three-year contract offer from the Baltimore Ravens, who may still have interest in him.

Bryant has 531 catches for 7,459 yards and 73 touch- downs in his career. Last season, Bryant caught 69 passes for 838 yards and six TDs.

Bills: Coach Sean McDer- mott won’t say who’s starting at quarterback against the Browns tonight, but the expectation is AJ McCarron will get his turn after Nathan Peterman started in the preseason opener against Car- olina last week.

Raiders: Coach Jon Gruden called off practice Thursday, ending training camp a day earlier than originally planned. No reason was given for the change.

The switch gives the players an extra day of rest before Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Broncos: John Elway might need a veteran backup quarterback, but one man he won’t call is Colin Kaeper- nick .

“Colin had his chance to be here,” Elway said Thursday.

“We offered him a con- tract. He didn’t take it.”

Top-ranked Simona Halep needed only eight points to complete a gritty comeback that was put on hold overnight by rain, beating qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, on Thursday.

Halep was scheduled to face Ashleigh Barty in the last match Thursday night, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals.

Amanda Anisimova beat qualifier Petra Martic 6-4, 6-3 in a match suspended overnight, and fourth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro beat Hyeon Chung 6-2, 6-3. No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki retired from her match late Wednesday because of an injured left knee.

Alabama is planning extensive renovations to Bryant-Denny Stadium and Coleman Coliseum, reducing capacity at both venues but adding premium seating.

Athletic Director Greg Byrne said Thursday the stadium will “most likely” go from 101,821 seats to sub-100,000, with a mas- sive video board going up in the South end zone.

Byrne said Coleman Coliseum capacity after reno- vations would drop down to 9,500 to 10,000 seats, which would represent a cut of 5,000-plus.

NA S CAR driver Kasey Kahne said Thursday he is retiring after 15 Cup seasons. Kahne will retire from fulltime racing in NASCAR and plans to focus on the sprint car team he owns.

Kahne, from Enumclaw, Washington, made it to NASCAR via sprint car racing and his Kasey Kahne Racing team competes in the World of Outlaws series.

The former Hendrick Motorsports driver has 18 victories, including a play- off-clinching win last season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Kahne’s announcement came one day after 43-yearold Elliott Sadler said he will walk away from NASCAR after 21 seasons.

Texans backup running back Alfred Blue is the antithesis of flashy.

Blue prides himself on his blue-collar work ethic and team-first attitude.

He’s tough, strong, versatile and reliable. Blue is also durable.

He made a speedy recovery last season from a painful high-ankle sprain, rushing for 262 yards and one touchdown.

The Texans value Blue’s contributions, re-signing him in free agency to a oneyear, $880,000 contract that included a $90,000 signing bonus and a $790,000 base salary.

“I think the running back position is all about avail- ability,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think if you’re available, you’re dependable, but if you’re never available, it’s hard to depend on you.

“Blue has been an avail- able player for us for most of his career here. That’s what we’re looking for at running back, guys that are available that are going to be out there every day.”

Blue is operating as the primary backup to starter Lamar Miller with D’Onta Foreman on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.

Blue appreciates what O’Brien had to say about him.

“It’s a good compliment,” he said. “I’m a professional. I take care of my body. If any- thing happens, I do whatever it takes to get back as good as possible. Last year, I had a high-ankle sprain. I was supposed to be out four to six weeks and I came back in four weeks.

“I was right back out there with my teammates trying to help them win. For me, this is the time you grind and build that chemistry. Everybody is building that bond. You put in that time to be out there on Sundays.”

Blue rushed for a touch- down during the Texans’ season finale loss to the India- napolis Colts, finishing with 39 yards on 13 carries. He also caught four passes for 36 yards.

As an unrestricted free agent, he drew interest from the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants and other NFL teams.

In four seasons for the Texans, the 6-2, 225-pound Louisiana native has rushed for 1,908 yards and six touch- downs and caught 49 passes for 316 yards and two scores.

“I feel good,” Blue said. “I’m just out here trying to help my team win a championship. I did a lot of taking care of my body, a lot of movement stuff.

“As you get older, you got to keep that range of motion. I did a lot of repetitions and band stuff to keep that mobility.”