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Topics this week include the Browns next steps at quarterback, rookie signal-caller?Carson Wentzs sensational debut -- and what could have been -- plus, the connection Texans coach Bill OBrien had to his first-round pick.Browns forced to change QB plans -- againFor now, the best guess on the time?Robert Griffin III will miss is 10-12 weeks, per sources. With Griffin sidelined with a shoulder injury, Josh McCown becomes the starter, and rookie third-round pick Cody Kessler becomes the backup. But there are more questions there, as is usually the case at quarterback in Cleveland.Browns sources say Kessler is not close to?being ready to play -- which doesnt mean he wont -- but expectations for him arent particularly high. Yet there are those in the Browns building who think Griffins injury could turn out to be a good thing for the franchise, because coach Hue Jackson was so focused on righting Griffin. The team now can move on and do what it needs.Where the Browns?go and what they do next are significant issues. Their recent track record at quarterback is not overly favorable. The quarterbacks the Browns loved in the offseason?were Jared Goff, Kessler and Griffin, per team sources. The quarterbacks they didnt care for were Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott, per the same sources. Those same men who?appear to have missed last offseason will be in charge of finding Clevelands next quarterback, whoever that is, this offseason. They need to find Clevelands quarterback of the future, which is tied to the other issue.Since rejoining the NFL in 1999, the Browns have had 25 starting quarterbacks, the most in the NFL. At the rate this is going, Kessler is likely to be the 26th, practice squad quarterback Kevin Hogan could be the 27th ... and either Deshaun Watson or DeShone Kizer, two of college footballs top QBs, could be the 28th.--?Adam SchefterIts early, but Carson Wentz has traits to succeedTo be fair, it will take more than one game and probably more than a year to determine whether the Cleveland Browns blew it by not giving more consideration to draft Carson Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick.Nevertheless, before the Browns traded that pick to the Eagles, there were some NFL evaluators who agreed that Wentz fit the mold of an AFC North quarterback.At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, Wentz has the prototype size of QBs such as the Steelers Ben Roethlisberger, the Ravens Joe Flacco and former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. Current Bengals QB Andy Dalton, though not as?big as those three quarterbacks, does not have a frail frame.The dome-free AFC North is portrayed as the NFLs real black-and-blue division because of its physical DNA. One personnel man opined that the quarterbacks in the division will not go physically unscathed but argued that their stature allows them to recover from injuries. In fact, every one of the aforementioned quarterbacks -- Roethlisberger, Flacco, Palmer and Dalton -- have missed games because of injuries.Wentz also is not immune to injury. Last October, he broke his wrist. The injury required surgery, but he came back to lead North Dakota State to an FCS national title. He also fractured ribs last month in his first preseason game,?but the Eagles deemed him ready to open the season as the starter when Sam Bradford was traded to the Vikings. They see him as a physically and mentally resilient quarterback but still emphasize that he needs to get the ball out of his hands quickly, because the pounding takes its toll.More than one personnel man also suggested Wentzs hand size (10 inches) projected well in a division that often plays in inclement weather later in the season (the NFC East would also qualify).Then is it a worthy counterpoint to note that Wentz played his college home games indoors at the Fargodome at North Dakota State? That did not bother one general manager, who pointed out that the Green Bay Packers largely practice indoors when the weather turns frosty, yet have a decided home-field advantage outdoors at Lambeau Field. The GM said Wentz being acclimated to?that?climate all his life was a more favorable factor.Its nothing more than a snapshot, but it was a snapshot taken by some evaluators before the 2016 draft.-- Chris MortensenBill OBrien commits to former commitmentAs the 2016 NFL draft approached, most expected Texans coach Bill OBrien to make a major push for one of his former Penn State recruits. And he did.Only it wasnt Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, but rather Notre Dame wide receiver Will Fuller.When Fuller was starring at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, his first scholarship offer came from none other than OBrien and Penn State. Fuller verbally committed to OBrien and Penn State. But when the Jerry Sandusky sanctions were handed down, he opened his recruiting again and opted for Notre Dame.When OBrien had another chance to land Fuller last spring, he and the Texans traded up one slot in the first round to draft the wide receiver who?escaped Penn State.Sure enough, Fuller reeled in five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. When OBrien was asked about how Fuller was able to bounce back with a strong game after dropping the first pass thrown in his direction, he knew why, perhaps better than anyone.The one thing I know about Will, having known him for a while, hes a very resilient guy, OBrien said. He grew up in a great family, hard-working parents. Im sure they taught him about, Look, sometimes youre going to get knocked down. You have to be able to pick yourself back up. Thats something he does well.OBrien knows Fuller, trusts Fuller and believes in Fuller. Now, with Houston heading into Week 2 matchup vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, he has already been rewarded by him, too.-- Adam SchefterHammerhead?shows why fullbacks matterWhen Denver Broncos rookie fullback Andy Janovich broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown run in the season-opening win over the Panthers, the NFLs first rushing score of the 2016 season, former Cowboys great Daryl Moose Johnston noted that when he glanced at his Twitter account there were three mentions that he says were almost identical: Somewhere, Moose Johnston is smiling.Johnston was indeed smiling. He believes the fullback position, which was on a path toward NFL extinction, still has a future.Were seeing defenses, especially teams like the Arizona Cardinals, that are loading up the back eight essentially using a safety as that extra linebacker, and it gives an offense an opportunity for a fullback like Janovich to create some favorable matchups in blocking, said Johnston, who studies the game when prepping for his Fox Sports broadcast assignments. The big thing, though, is you have to find that guy who is not just a thumper, but one who can be versatile in formations, on a free release where he can recognize coverages and be a viable receiver down in that red zone, where points are a premium. Janovich appears to have that type of ability.A sixth-round draft pick, Janovich was a walk-on at Nebraska who earned a scholarship and became known as Hammerhead when he was the often the lead blocker for Ameer Abdullah, who had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons before being drafted by the Lions in 2015. Janovich also was a special teams standout, a must if a fullback is going to land a job in the NFL. His Hammerhead moniker has stuck with the Broncos. Janovich was on the field for almost half the offensive snaps in the opener against the Panthers.-- Chris MortensenGrowing branches from Patriots-Colts rivalryThe rivalry between New England and Indianapolis has been so good that it has had a lasting impact on four teams this weekend not named the Patriots or the Colts.The general managers of the Titans and the Lions, who play each other Sunday, are Bill Belichick disciples. Tennessee GM Jon Robinson spent 12 years in New England (2002-2013), during which time he worked with Bob Quinn, who was with the Patriots from 2000-2015 and is now Detroits GM. The Patriot Ways already have come into play in Tennessee and Detroit, with Robinson and Quinns own influence on their respective rosters.The general managers of the Jaguars and the Chargers, who play each other Sunday, are Bill Polian disciples. Jacksonville GM Dave Caldwell spent 10 years with the Colts (1998-2007), during which time he worked with Tom Telesco, who was with the Colts from 1998-2012 and is now San Diegos GM. The Colts Ways already have come into play in Jacksonville and San Diego, with Caldwell and Telescos own influence on their respective rosters.So even in the NFL, trees grow branches. The tree that was the home of the NFLs best rivalry this century, Patriots vs. Colts, produced branches that now will be tangled Sunday.-- Adam SchefterEmptying out the notebookBrowns veteran QB Josh McCown, who takes over the starting job for injured Robert Griffin III, had a reasonable protest about the notion the Browns should tank for the No. 1 pick in 2017. McCown mentioned the need to respect veterans on the team such as tackle Joe Thomas. Thats not lip service to Thomas, who declined to push the front office for a trade to the Broncos last October when it was in discussion. The same sources say Thomas then privately cited the loyalty to other veterans in the Browns locker room and the organization that made him the third overall pick in 2006.The most surprising statistic about Spencer Wares opening game for the Chiefs was?his seven catches for 129 yards. He had just?six catches for 5 yards in 2015. Hes got good hands, Chiefs general manager?John Dorsey said. He was a pretty good baseball player in high school, good enough to play baseball at LSU his freshman year. You cant be a good baseball player and have bad hands.When the Ravens passed on overpaying pending free-agent receiver Torrey Smith in 2015, they knew they were subtracting a player who played to one of quarterback Joe Flaccos strengths -- deep-ball accuracy. Thats one reason they drafted Breshad Perriman (4.25 in the 40-yard dash)?last year, but Perriman missed his rookie season with an injury. Then GM Ozzie Newsome got insurance with Mike Wallace (4.33 in the 40) this offseason. Big plays from Flacco to Wallace (66-yard TD) and to Perriman (35 yards to help set up a field goal) were moments the Ravens needed to beat the Bills 13-7 in their opener.Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells has never been a proponent of paying cornerbacks huge bucks, though he acknowledges the cost of doing business is going up. Parcells, however, is a proponent of loading up on defensive backs. I tell my guys still coaching that you need more than four or five cornerbacks. You better have seven of those guys in todays game.The Patriots play the Dolphins on Sunday, one of three consecutive home games before Tom Brady returns from suspension. A breeze after a tough road win at Arizona? Maybe not. The Seahawks believe the Dolphins defense will be a challenge for any opponent after a narrow 12-10 home-opening win over Miami. Theyre pretty darn good, Seahawks GM John Schneider said. Theyre deep, especially on the defensive line. ... Theyve got talented guys positionally playing where they should play.Titans coach Mike Mularkey this weekend will indirectly face his son, Patrick Mularkey, who is the Lions pro scouting coordinator. Its pretty neat, Mike Mularkey said. I actually asked him yesterday -- it never really dawned on me -- who my wife and his mom is rooting for to win this game. I havent asked her yet, but its special, because Im proud of him. Very proud of the job hes done. I love that hes in this business, because I think hes really good at what he does. Regardless, I think theres a win in this somehow, in the outcome of this game.Adam Ottavino Jersey . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Don Mattingly Yankees Jersey . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. https://www.cheapyankees.com/1081g-austin-romine-jersey-yankees.html . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Don Larsen Yankees Jersey . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Aaron Judge Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season.CHICAGO -- Penn State coach James Franklin sees an improved team in Happy Valley -- and a program that cant escape the shadow cast by the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.Franklin made some pointed comments about negative recruiting against the Nittany Lions, saying there are issues that need to be addressed possibly at the conference level.I think theres a fine line to that, he said at Big Ten Media Days on Monday. I think some things need to be addressed. I do think theres a line you do not cross. But I guess in some ways thats the nature of the beast. I think some people are going to look for weaknesses and try to take advantage of those. But to me, there is a line that you do not cross. Well see how that whole thing plays out. There is a time and a place for everything.Franklins comments came in the wake of recently disclosed allegations from men who have accused Sandusky of sexual abuse that raised fresh questions about what his fellow Penn State assistant coaches might have seen or known before his November 2011 arrest -- and why they have largely kept quiet. The allegations have also raised questions about just how far back late coach Joe Paterno became aware of the situation.Negative recruiting happens all over the country. Everyone is dealing with it, Franklin said.But other programs arent dealing with a situation like this one. Franklin said Nittany Lions coaches probably have to answer more tough questions than any other staff, particularly on the recruiting trail.When reports surface, he said he calls recruits as well as their families and coaches to answer questions they might have about the direction of the program.And he made a point to say Monday that it is headed in the right direction. Now that they are free of sanctions and back to the full 85 scholarships, Franklin insisted the Nittany Lions are ready to make a jump after going 7-6 and making bowl games each of his first two seasons.Theres very few programs that would have been able to come through what weve come through with the tyype of success that weve had, two bowl games in a row, he said.dddddddddddd. Never had a losing season through the challenges. So theres positives there to build on.But can he lead the Nittany Lions back toward the top of a conference with no shortage of big-name coaches.Michigan in particular has huge expectations after regaining its swagger and going 10-3 in Jim Harbaughs first season.We have big hopes, Harbaugh said. Weve got big dreams. Weve got lofty goals. And all those are achievable. And they have to be worked for. You can accomplish anything if the work is realized. And those things have to be earned. So we are in the position right now to work to get the things we want. Thats the fact. Thats the mentality. Thats the attitude.Wolverines tight end Jake Butt sees a team with no major weaknesses.Weve got an experienced offensive line, weve got an experienced run game, weve got a proven run game, he said. We have a defense that we know we can trust. Weve got special teams that we know are going to put us in great positions. Theyre all little pieces of the puzzle that come together.While Ohio State lost 16 starters, J.T. Barrett is returns for his junior season with a 15-2 record and the knowledge that he is the No. 1 quarterback after losing out to Cardale Jones last year and then replacing him.Barrett and Iowa cornerback Desmond King -- the 2015 Thorpe Award winner as the countrys top defensive back -- highlighted the preseason all-Big Ten selections on Monday.Barrett was selected to the East Division team along with Michigan defensive back Jabrill Peppers, Michigan State defensive lineman Malik McDowell, Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan and Penn State running back Saquon Barkley by a media panel. Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard and King, Northwestern running back Justin Jackson and linebacker Anthony Walker, and Wisconsin running back Corey Clement were the West picks. ' ' '