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Cleveland Browns

Berea

Cleveland Browns running back Montario Hardesty was slammed down hard and got up smiling. The thud of him hitting the sunbaked turf, a 300-pound defensive lineman crashing down upon him made Hardesty a happy man Sunday. “I feel like a football player again,” he said, flashing a smile seldom seen his first two years in Cleveland. Hardesty is playing while prized rookie Trent Richardson recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Aug. 9. Coach Pat Shurmur remains hopeful that Richardson, th No. 3 overall pick, may play the season opener Sept. 9. “Trent’s getting better every day, so his progress has been outstanding,” Shurmur said. “He’s about where we thought he’d be, probably a little bit ahead. So he’ll be out here soon.” Regarding Hardesty, the coach said: “I haven’t at all been disappointed in his performance.” Well, except for Hardesty’s costly fumble on Cleveland’s first snap Thursday that led to a Green Bay touchdown. “We can’t have ball security issues,” Shurmur said. “He knows that. He came back after a very bad play, had some good hard runs, did a nice job on pass protection and I think he’s making progress.” Hardesty gained 45 yards on 12 carries with a 1-yard scoring run in Cleveland’s 35-10 win. The 25-year-old Hardesty is not happy that Richardson is out, but is delighted to show the Browns he has recovered from even more serious surgeries on both knees.

Oakland Raiders

NAPA, Calif.

Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen says linebacker Aaron Curry is running out of time to get back on the practice field from his injured knees in time to start the season opener. Curry is back with the team after spending last week in Los Angeles getting his injured knees examined. He worked out on the side before watching most of practice Sunday for the Raiders. Curry was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp because of the injuries. Allen says he won’t be taken off until he is able to change directions at full speed. The injury has given rookie Miles Burris a chance to start for Oakland.

Associated Press