QB Kizer looking polished for Browns
BEREA, Ohio — Nothing screams rookie about
After wrapping up a news conference Friday, when he handled questions about Cleveland’s three-way quarterback competition with the finesse of a polished politician, Kizer was escorted into the Browns’ facility with two members of the team's media relations staff flanking him.
If he’s not the starter, Kizer certainly is being treated like one. Kizer took snaps with the starting offense during the Browns' first practice of training camp on Thursday and coach acknowledged afterward that the former Notre Dame standout has made significant progress since minicamp. Kizer is not making the same mistakes and he is moving with a confidence that indicates he knows he belongs.
“The way that they've thrown me into the fire in the last couple months has been one that has allowed me to grow quickly and to become comfortable pretty fast,” he said before Friday's workout. “It's [the starting job] out of my hands, and I look forward to just trying to play well when my time does come.”
The second-round pick is competing with veterans
and to be Cleveland's Week 1 starter, a job that has been mostly a part-time gig in recent years because of injuries and roster shakeups.
But while Kizer lacks the experience of Osweiler (13 NFL wins) or Kessler (eight career starts), the 6-foot-4, 233-pounder appears to have all the necessary tools to handle starting duties.
At Notre Dame, Kizer played on a big stage nearly every week, and Irish coach prepared him for the scrutiny he'll get as a pro by demanding perfection on every play. the
and wideout Fighting
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Patriots have had more than their share of luck when it comes to getting the most out of their receivers during the
era. Last season that guy was This season, are hoping can have similar success as he joins a loaded receiving corps that includes Hogan, Patriots
secondyear
“There's competition everywhere,” Edelman said. “Competition makes the best out of players. We've got a room with a lot of guys that can do a lot of things, so it's going to make us better.”
The addition of 23-year-old Cooks from New Orleans not only brings in a player that is coming off back-to-back 1,100-yard receiving seasons but injects more youth to a unit that was beginning to trend older. While both Amendola and Edelman are expected to continue to play big roles in the offense, having a deep ball threat like Hogan and elusive players in the open field like Cooks and Mitchell give QB even more choices. SANTA CLARA, Calif. —
signed his contract, rushed to the locker room to throw on a jersey and cleats, and ran out to the field to join the rest of his San Francisco 49ers teammates at the first training-camp practice under coach
“It was amazing to get out here and be here Day 1 with my team,” the defensive-front college star said Friday. “I'm just very glad we got this done as quickly as possible.”
The No. 3 overall pick from Stanford was able to pass the conditioning test while his teammates practiced and then watched the team drills in the final half of practice. He is expected to jump right in today.