nfl preseason roundup

Dolphins 10, Buccaneers 7

MIAMI

In the matchup of new receivers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins, rookie Mike Williams outplayed Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall. The Bucs’ Williams caught a deep pass for a 30-yard gain to set up the only score by either first-team offense Saturday night, while Miami’s Marshall dropped both passes thrown his way in the Dolphins’ victory. Williams, a fourth-round draft pick who has already made the starting unit, beat cornerback Vontae Davis along the sideline and caught Josh Freeman’s pass for a gain to the Miami 13-yard line. “This could be the start of something good,” Williams said. “It was good to start like that.” Coach Raheem Morris agreed, calling Williams’ reception “awesome.” “Seeing him get open against one-on-one coverage, which you have to do in this league, that was promising,” Morris said. “I want to see more of that.” Williams is well aware he was considered a risky pick by some NFL scouts because of off-the-field issues at Syracuse. “I try not to listen to it: ‘This guy is bad, he’s going to ruin the team, why did you take him here?”’ Williams said. “I don’t listen. They’re going to say what they have to say. I just go out and play.” Two plays after Williams’ catch, Freeman threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sammie Stroughter, who outmaneuvered cornerback Sean Smith to cap a 60-yard drive. Miami’s first-teamers played four series and netted only 39 yards in 15 plays with two first downs. Marshall, acquired from Denver in an offseason trade, failed to pull in a chest-high pass as he cut over the middle wide open. “I just dropped it,” Marshall said. “I get paid a lot of money to catch that. In my short time in the NFL I’ve caught a lot of balls, so it’s nothing to panic about.” He also dropped a short pass when cornerback E.J. Biggers got a hand on the ball. “Every time I touch the ball, I need to have it,” Marshall said. Miami’s Brian Hartline also dropped a pass from Chad Henne, who finished 5 of 11 for 19 yards. Ronnie Brown carried five times for 20 yards.

Vikings 28, Rams 7

ST. LOUIS

Sam Bradford took the field to a big ovation. Soon enough, reality sank in for the centerpiece of the St. Louis Rams’ rebuilding effort. The No. 1 overall pick had an early case of the jitters, short-arming a pitch and bobbling a snap the first two plays, looked poised while hitting four of his first five passes, then ended with an extended rough patch. Sage Rosenfels, chasing Tarvaris Jackson for the Vikings’ quarterback job while Brett Favre waffles on his future, was a standout even though both starting wide receivers are out with injuries. Rosenfels threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the second quarter against the Rams’ second-teamers and added a 71-yarder to Marko Mitchell in the third quarter, finishing 23 of 34 for 310 yards. Jackson started but wasn’t out there for long, taking six snaps on the opening series while going 2 of 4 for 11 yards. Bradford completed only two of his last eight passes against Vikings second-teamers, finishing 6 of 13 for 57 yards while getting sacked four times. The Vikings gave the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner’s surgically repaired right shoulder a battle test with Jayme Mitchell getting 1.5 sacks on consecutive plays in the second quarter.

Cardinals 19, Texans 16

GLENDALE, Ariz.

Houston’s Matt Schaub had a short, highly efficient night and teammate Mario Williams didn’t look like someone slowed by a hip injury, especially to Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart. Schaub completed 5 of 6 passes for 78 yards, directing Houston to a field goal on its first possession and throwing a 44-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson on the second before retiring. Rookie John Skelton directed two late touchdown drives against the Texans’ reserves to give Arizona the victory. Williams, battling a hip problem, sacked Leinart twice as Houston took a 16-0 lead. Leinart completed 6 of 7 for 49 yards.

Associated Press