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Submitted by linchao » Mon 20-Jan-2020, 16:20

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BEREA David Njoku Jersey , Ohio (AP) — Wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry are elite NFL players and quarterback Baker Mayfield is the most popular athlete in Cleveland.Their star power at Browns training camp has been magical for fans — and for the team’s defense, which has been turned invisible by their presence.“Our offense has a lot of weapons, we know that, and it’s exciting for everyone,” rookie cornerback Greedy Williams said Sa ... ay after practice. “But at the end of the day, you’ve got to have defense to win.“We don’t care what anybody is saying about us or not saying. Our defense just comes out every day and tries to make things better for all of us by competing as hard as we can.”Cleveland allowed the third-most yards in the NFL last season and ranked in the bottom quarter of the league against the pass and run. Major changes followed as interim coach/defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was not retained and starters Jamie Collins, Emmanuel Ogbah and Jabrill Peppers were sent packing.General manager John Dorsey subsequently added Pro Bowl defensive end Olivier Vernon from the Giants, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson from the Vikings, and safety Eric Murray from the Chiefs. The Browns’ top two draft picks were Louisiana State product Williams and Brigham Young linebacker Sione Takitaki.“We have the best of both worlds, but defense wins championships,” said defensive end Myles Garrett, the No. 1 overall selection in 2017. “We’ve seen that many times throughout the years and it’s never going to change. If they can’t score the ball and we can, then we’re going to win every time.”The defense held its own on the third day of camp, ending the three-hour, full-pad session with Murray’s pick-6 of backup Drew Stanton. Williams had a pair of interceptions Friday and the new-look line appears to be jelling quickly, though it continues to fly under the radar.First-year coach Freddie Kitchens and new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks have no problem with that side of the ball being ignored around the NFL. Nor does Garrett.“It doesn’t bother me at all because I don’t mind not getting any attention,” Garrett explained. “I don’t mind it on the field, either. If you don’t want to block me, I’ll be willing to take the sack Myles Garrett Jersey White , too. I’m not a spotlight kind of guy. The offense can have all of that.”Even when the defense wins an 11-on-11 play, the offense is often the focal point. Case in point: Mayfield used very strong language to chew out his receivers for not extending their routes when he was flushed out of the pocket.Starting linebacker Christian Kirksey felt compelled to yell to the crowd, “That means the defense is looking good.”Kitchens plans on keeping the team in pads indefinitely and will permit tackling to the ground soon. When the latter occurs, the defense will be a focal point, whether it likes it or not.“This time of year in the NFL, you’re either going to get exposed or you’re going to get exposure,” Kitchens said. “Getting exposed means you probably aren’t going to be here when the calendar turns to September.”NOTES: RB Duke Johnson (right hamstring) did not practice after limping off the field Friday, and RB Kareem Hunt (groin) remains on the active/non-football injury list. Cleveland signed RB A.J. Ouellette for depth. “Duke is a quick healer, but we need to make sure this injury doesn’t linger,” Kitchens said. “It’s kind of a day-to-day thing.” . Beckham continued to impress his teammates by making a number of one-handed catches. “He’s one of the greatest I’ve ever seen at that position,” Williams said. . Former Browns QB Brian Sipe, DT Jerry Sherk and G Robert E. Jackson addressed the squad on the field. “Our guys can see the passion from our fans, but I also want them to know about the history of the Cleveland Browns,” Kitchens said. The lowly Arizona Cardinals pulled off an upset at Lambeau Field that was so much a stunner that the Green Bay Packers fired coach Mike McCarthy after the game.Zane Gonzalez kicked a 44-yard field goal with 1:41 left, Green Bay's Mason Crosby missed a 49-yard attempt as time expired and the Cardinals braved wintry conditions to hold on for a 20-17 victory on Sunday.The Packers (4-7-1) announced McCarthy's dismissal following the postgame availabilities with the media. Team president Mark Murphy made the move after Green Bay took another debilitating hit to its fading playoff hopes."The 2018 season has not lived up to the expectations and standards of the Green Bay Packers," Murphy said in a statement. "As a result, I made the difficult decision to relieve Mike McCarthy of his role as head coach, effective immediately."For McCarthy, a tenure highlighted by a Super Bowl win in the 2010 season ends with a loss to Arizona (3-9) Womens David Njoku Jersey , one of the worst teams in the league.After the game, but before the Packers fired McCarthy, the Cardinals were joking and yelling in the visitor's locker room as if they didn't believe what had just happened."We did that! We did that," some emotional players yelled.Cardinals rookie Josh Rosen struggled for much of the afternoon, but hit Larry Fitzgerald for a sliding 32-yard completion on third-and-23 to help set up Gonzalez's winning kick."It's hard to win in this league and it's been a long time since we won a football game," coach Steve Wilks said.It was Oct. 28, to be exact, when the Cardinals beat San Francisco at home. Until Sunday, their only other victory this season came on the road against the 49ers.Crosby pushed his kick wide right, with the flags atop Lambeau blowing in toward the field at the time of the play. Green Bay's playoff hopes took another significant blow."It was clearly a very disappointing loss, it was a game we needed to win," McCarthy said in his final press conference, before his firing was announced.Gonzalez just joined the team this week after Phil Dawson was placed on injured reserve. The Cardinals had a patchwork offensive line, which didn't bode well for what had been the league's worst offense coming into the day."All the things that were said on the outside, these guys circled the wagons and came together," Wilks said.Green Bay has lost three straight and five of six.Aaron Rodgers was 31 of 50 for 233 yards and a touchdown. A couple throws looked off, especially in the first half, and receivers had a few drops.The offense regained some swagger after Rodgers orchestrated a 95-yard drive that led to Aaron Jones' 8-yard touchdown run with 5:26 left, tying it at 17. Davante Adams tip-toed the sideline for a 19-yard catch to extend that drive.But too many missed opportunities and drops caught up with the Packers in the end. They struggled on third down Womens Odell Beckham Jersey , going 3 for 14 in the continuation of a season-long theme.Rookie Chase Edmonds ran for two touchdowns for Arizona. Rosen was 11 of 26 for 149 yards, making just enough plays in front of a makeshift offensive line."Other than (center Mason Cole), I don't think a single one of those guys start the season," Rosen said. "They're doing a hell of a job."IT'S FITZFitzgerald's 32-yard reception gave him 1,281 for his career, matching Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for most receptions in NFL history with one team."I'm not big on the records," Fitzgerald said. "This is a difficult place to get a win and we needed it badly. It's been a rough year. Mostly, I'm just happy we were able to c


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