Titans hand Browns 24-3 defeat
The debuts of Cleveland's Jeff Garcia and Kellen Winslow were less than spectacular.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Chris Brown gave the Tennessee Titans an early reason not to miss Eddie George. Jeff Garcia will need a little more time to make a good impression on the Cleveland Browns.
Brown ran for 46 yards on only six carries, and Steve McNair threw for a touchdown as the Titans downed Cleveland 24-3 Saturday night in the exhibition opener for both teams.
Brown, the Titans' third-round draft pick in 2003, missed the entire preseason last year because of a strained hamstring. But he averaged 7.7 yards per carry in his first work as the Titans' starting tailback, the job held by George -- the team's career leading rusher who was released last month in a pay dispute.
Brown hit holes quickly and had a long run of 18 yards. George totaled 72 yards on 32 carries in the 2003 preseason with his best run a 6-yarder.
McNair almost perfect
McNair would have been perfect if one pass hadn't bounced off the hands of Drew Bennett and into Daylon McCutcheon's arms for an interception. McNair was 5-of-6 for 54 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown to Derrick Mason that gave the Titans a 7-0 lead on the next drive.
That was all for the NFL's defending co-MVP on this night.
Garcia and Kellen Winslow could have had smoother debuts with the Browns.
The Titans, who chose to go with youth on the defensive line rather than spend big bucks to keep Jevon Kearse and Robaire Smith, greeted Cleveland's new quarterback by sacking him twice in his first three plays and forcing a quick punt on the opening drive.
Garcia was 3-of-5 for 23 yards in three series, and he set up Phil Dawson's 50-yard field goal with a 10-yard toss to Winslow on the first play of the second quarter.
Draws personal foul penalty
Winslow's arrival in camp was delayed by a 12-day holdout before he signed a contract that makes him the highest paid tight end in the NFL. But he quickly added his first penalty to his first catch.
He drew a personal foul in the second quarter for a shoving match with Titans safety Lamont Thompson and wiped out a completion by Kelly Holcomb to Dennis Northcutt.
Holcomb, who had eight starts last season, nearly got the Browns into the end zone. But linebacker Rocky Boiman hit Andre King at the goal line just after he caught a pass on fourth-and-3 in the second quarter.
Titans backup quarterback Billy Volek looked just as sharp as McNair. He was 11-of-14 for 119 yards with a 30-yard TD toss to Jake Schifino for a 14-3 lead. Undrafted rookie Vic King added a 1-yard touchdown and 42 yards on 10 carries.
Titans kicker Joe Nedney, who tore a ligament in his right, non-kicking leg in the season opener last year, had much better luck with a 44-yard field goal at the end of the first half. The ball hit the right upright, then bounced off the crossbar and over to make it 17-3.
Notes
Titans starting left cornerback Andre Dyson hurt his quadriceps muscle. Coach Jeff Fisher said Dyson's leg started swelling as soon as he came off the field. ... The Titans rested defensive starters cornerback Samari Rolle and tackle Albert Haynesworth (right foot). ... King suffered a mild concussion after being hit by Boiman.
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