Jim Harbaugh: Sam Bradford will be a star
The final week of preseason ends and a number of former Oklahoma Sooners players gave it one last shot to prove they are ready for 2010.
Some players already know their standing heading into next week’s regular season games while others are still fighting for a job.
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham played into the second quarter and finished the game with two receptions on three targets for 15-yards. He will come into the 2010 season entrenched in the lineup as the Bengals starting tight end.
Cincinnati beat the Indianapolis Colts 30-28.
"To sum it up, we had an opportunity to look at the guys that we wanted to look at,"
head coach Marvin Lewis said. "It was a close game throughout, and every time the Colts were able to score, we went back and answered, which was a good thing. I think the only negative that I'd like to clean up was on special teams."
St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford started, as expected, but only played one series and was finished for the evening. The series was a perfect six-for-six for 68 yards and a touchdown.
While head coach Steve Spagnuolo wouldn’t hint at who he was leaning at starting, Baltimore head coach Jim Harbaugh was sold on the rookie.
"He's going to be a star, there isn't any question about it,"
Harbaugh said.
Atlanta rested their entire starting offensive lineup and seven of their defensive starters Thursday night as well. This gave Dominique Franks another chance to try to earn more playing time on defense but only finished the game with one tackle and one assist. He also returned one punt for negative five yards.
Over in Washington, despite Trent Williams needing the extra work, neither he nor fellow Oklahoma Sooners alumni Jammal Brown suited up for the game. Mike Shanahan rested all 22 starters in his team’s final preseason loss to Arizona.
Former Sooners receiver Malcolm Kelly looked like he might get one more chance to make the Redskins team in this final game but Washington put him on the injured reserve list, ending his season early. The Redskins also cut safety Lendy Holmes.
The New Orleans Saints, who employ more former Sooners than any other team other than Tampa Bay, lost to the Tennessee Titans by a score of 27-24. Kicker Garrett Hartley continued his solid play, hitting three field goals in three attempts with a long of 45. He also added an extra point.
On the defensive side of the ball, Remy Ayodele finished with one tackle and an assist while Jimmy Wilkerson has two tackles of his own.
Other notable Oklahoma alumni include wide receivers Manual Johnson of Dallas (3 receptions, 50 yards) and Juaquin Iglesias of Chicago (1 reception for 39 yards).
