Wednesday, September 21, 2011
By Mary Kay Cabot
Cleveland Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND
Browns safety T.J. Ward has no idea why some folks dog his coverage skills.
“I’ve always thought I was one of the better cover safeties, even in college and still now,” he said. “You compare me to any safety, and I think my cover skills are right there with some of the best. But for some reason, I guess me being a tackler, a big hitter, I can’t cover. But I never fell into that trap.”
During Sunday’s 27-19 victory over the Colts, Ward effectively shut down two-time All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark, helping to hold him to 32 yards on four catches. He caught a 6-yard TD against Ward with 24 seconds remaining, but the Browns had the game in hand by then.
“I just tried to focus in,” said Ward. “I knew he was going to be one of the main targets. I tried to keep him with no catches. He got that one at the end, but overall, I think we played him as a team pretty well.”
STEELERS
PITTSBURGH
The latest version of a revolving-door offensive line satisfied Steelers coach Mike Tomlin Sunday. Good thing, too, as it’s highly possible each will start again this week.
Tomlin said on Tuesday that starting left guard Chris Kemoeatu will be evaluated throughout the week to see if he can practice at full speed after he missed the 24-0 win over Seattle with a knee injury.
Tomlin praised the play of fill-in Ramon Foster as well as that of rookie Marcus Gilbert, who had his first NFL start at right tackle after Willie Colon was placed on injured reserve.
Tomlin also characterized defensive end Brett Keisel as “questionable at best” for Sunday night’s game at Indianapolis (0-2) after he sustained a knee sprain against Seattle.
Ziggy Hood would start at end if Keisel cannot play for the Steelers (1-1).
Ravens
OWINGS MILLS, Md.
The Baltimore Ravens signed defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to a five-year, $61 million contract on Tuesday.
His agent, Mike McCartney, said Ngata will get $40 million in the first two years of the deal. The All-Pro defensive tackle has 10 tackles, six solos, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
“It just feels awesome,” Ngata said in a statement. “I won’t have to worry about my family, my kids, with money problems. For me to be here another five years is great. Hopefully, I can be here and retire here.”
The deal came before Tuesday’s NFL deadline to sign a multiyear contract or extension to a franchise player. Ngata headed into this season with a $12.4 million franchise tender that was fully guaranteed.
Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
Todd Haley is finding success to be just as fleeting as all the goodwill that comes with it.
The Chiefs coach was on the short list of just about every award after taking a 4-12 team his first year to a 10-6 finish last season. With emerging stars such as Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry, Kansas City won the AFC West and was thought of as a team on the rise.
Well, Charles and Berry are out with torn ACLs, along with tight end Tony Moeaki. The Chiefs are off to one of the worst starts through two games in NFL history, getting blitzed 89-10 by a pair of teams that won just 10 games last season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.